《2 new+moon新月》第117章

as　I"d　remembered　it—the　piano　and　the　white　couches　and　the　pale；　massive　staircase。　No　dust；　no　
white　sheets。　
Edward　called　out　the　names　with　no　more　volume　than　I"d　use　in　regular　conversation。　〃Carlisle？　Esme？　
Rosalie？　Emmett？　Jasper？　Alice？〃　They　would　hear。　
Carlisle　was　suddenly　standing　beside　me；　as　if　he"d　been　there　all　along。　〃Wele　back；　Bella。〃　He　
smiled。　〃What　can　we　do　for　you　this　morning？　I　imagine；　due　to　the　hour；　that　this　is　not　a　purely　social　
visit？〃　
I　nodded。　〃I"d　like　to　talk　to　everyone　at　once；　if　that"s　okay。　About　something　important。〃　
I　couldn"t　help　glancing　up　at　Edward"s　face　as　I　spoke。　His　expression　was　critical；　but　resigned。　When　I　
looked　back　to　Carlisle；　he　was　looking　at　Edward；　too。　
〃Of　course；〃　Carlisle　said。　〃Why　don"t　we　talk　in　the　other　room？〃　
Carlisle　led　the　way　through　the　bright　living　room；　around　the　corner　to　the　dining　room；　turning　on　lights　
as　he　went。　The　walls　were　white；　the　ceilings　high；　like　the　living　room。　In　the　center　of　the　room；　under　
the　lowhanging　chandelier；　was　a　large；　polished　oval　table　surrounded　by　eight　chairs。　Carlisle　held　out　
a　chair　for　me　at　the　head。　
I"d　never　seen　the　Cullens　use　the　dining　room　table　before—it　was　just　a　prop。　They　didn"t　eat　in　the　
house。　
As　soon　as　I　turned　to　sit　in　the　chair；　I　saw　that　we　were　not　alone。　Esme　had　followed　Edward；　and　
behind　her　the　rest　of　the　family　filed　in。　
Carlisle　sat　down　on　my　right；　and　Edward　on　my　left。　Everyone　else　took　their　seats　in　silence。　Alice　
was　grinning　at　me；　already　in　on　the　plot。　Emmett　and　Jasper　looked　curious；　and　Rosalie　smiled　at　me　
tentatively。　My　answering　smile　was　just　as　timid。　That　was　going　to　take　some　getting　used　to。　
Carlisle　nodded　toward　me。　〃The　floor　is　yours。〃　
I　swallowed。　Their　gazing　eyes　made　me　nervous。　Edward　took　my　hand　under　the　table。　I　peeked　at　
him；　but　he　was　watching　the　others；　his　fate　suddenly　fierce。　
〃Well；〃　I　paused。　〃I"m　hoping　Alice　has　already　told　you　everything　that　happened　in　Volterra？〃　
〃Everything；〃　Alice　assured　me。　
I　threw　her　a　meaningful　look。　〃And　on　the　way？〃　
〃That；　too；〃　she　nodded。　
〃Good；〃　I　sighed　with　relief。　〃Then　we"re　all　on　the　same　page。〃　
They　waited　patiently　while　I　tried　to　order　my　thoughts。　
〃So；　I　have　a　problem；〃　I　began。　〃Alice　promised　the　Volturi　that　I　would　bee　one　of　you。　They"re　
going　to　send　someone　to　check；　and　I"m　sure　that"s　a　bad　thing—something　to　avoid。　
〃And　so；　now；　this　involves　you　all。　I"m　sorry　about　that。〃　I　looked　at　each　one　of　their　beautiful　faces；　
saving　the　most　beautiful　for　last。　Edward"s　mouth　was　turned　down　into　a　grimace。　〃But；　if　you　don"t　
want　me；　then　I"m　not　going　to　force　myself　on　you；　whether　Alice　is　willing　or　not。〃　
Esme　opened　her　mouth　to　speak；　but　I　held　up　one　finger　to　stop　her。　
〃Please；　let　me　finish。　You　all　know　what　I　want。　And　I"m　sure　you　know　what　Edward　thinks；　too。　I　
think　the　only　fair　way　to　decide　is　for　everyone　to　have　a　vote。　If　you　decide　you　don"t　want　me；　then…　
I　guess　I"ll　go　back　to　Italy　alone。　I　can"t　have　them　ing　here。〃　My　forehead　creased　as　I　considered　
that。　
There　was　the　faint　rumble　of　a　growl　in　Edward"s　chest。　I　ignored　him。　
〃Taking　into　account；　then；　that　I　won"t　put　any　of　you　in　danger　either　way；　I　want　you　to　vote　yes　or　no　
on　the　issue　of　me　being　a　vampire。〃　
I　halfsmiled　on　the　last　word；　and　gestured　toward　Carlisle　to　begin。　
〃Just　a　minute；〃　Edward　interrupted。　
I　glared　at　him　through　narrowed　eyes。　He　raised　his　eyebrows　at　me；　squeezing　my　hand。　
〃I　have　something　to　add　before　we　vote。〃　
I　sighed。　
〃About　the　danger　Bella"s　referring　to；〃　he　continued。　〃I　don"t　think　we　need　to　be　overly　anxious。〃　
His　expression　became　more　animated。　He　put　his　free　hand　on　the　shining　table　and　leaned　forward。　
〃You　see；〃　he　explained；　looking　around　the　table　while　he　spoke；　〃there　was　more　than　one　reason　why　
I　didn"t　want　to　shake　Aro"s　hand　there　at　the　end。　There"s　something　they　didn"t　think　of；　and　I　didn"t　
want　to　cine　them　in。〃　He　grinned。　
〃Which　was？〃　Alice　prodded。　I　was　sure　my　expression　was　just　as　skeptical　as　hers。　
〃The　Volturi　are　overconfident；　and　with　good　reason。　When　they　decide　to　find　someone；　it"s　not　really　a　
problem。　Do　you　remember　Demetri？〃　He　glanced　down　at　me。　
I　shuddered。　He　took　that　as　a　yes。　
〃He　finds　people—that"s　his　talent；　why　they　keep　him。　
〃Now；　the　whole　time　we　were　with　any　of　them；　I　was　picking　their　brains　for　anything　that　might　save　
us；　getting　as　much　information　as　possible。　So　I　saw　how　Demetri"s　talent　works。　He"s　a　tracker—a　
tracker　a　thousand　times　more　gifted　than　Jarres　was。　His　ability　is　loosely　related　to　what　I　do；　or　what　
Aro　does。　He　catches　the…　flavor？　I　don"t　know　how　to　describe　it…　the　tenor…　of　someone"s　mind；　
and　then　he　follows　that。　It　works　over　immense　distances。　
〃But　after　Aro"s　little　experiments；　well…〃　Edward　shrugged。　
〃You　think　he　won"t　be　able　to　find　me；〃　I　said　flatly。　
He　was　smug。　〃I"m　sure　of　it。　He　relies　totally　on　that　other　sense。　When　it　doesn"t　work　with　you；　they"ll　
all　be　blind。〃　
〃And　how　does　that　solve　anything？〃　
〃Quite　obviously；　Alice　will　be　able　to　tell　when　they"re　planning　a　visit；　and　I"ll　hide　you。　They"ll　be　
helpless；〃　he　said　with　fierce　enjoyment。　〃It　will　be　like　looking　for　a　piece　of　straw　in　a　haystack！〃　
He　and　Emmett　exchanged　a　glance　and　a　smirk。　
This　made　no　sense。　〃But　they　can　find　you；〃　I　reminded　him。　
〃And　I　can　take　care　of　myself。〃　
Emmett　laughed；　and　reached　across　the　table　toward　his　brother；　extending　a　fist。　
〃Excellent　plan；　my　brother；〃　he　said　with　enthusiasm。　
Edward　stretched　out　his　arm　to　smack　Emmett"s　fist　with　his　own。　
〃No；〃　Rosalie　hissed。　
〃Absolutely　not；〃　I　agreed。　
〃Nice。〃　Jasper"s　voice　was　appreciative。　
〃Idiots；〃　Alice　muttered。　
Esme　just　glared　at　Edward。　
I　straightened　up　in　my　chair；　focusing。　This　was　my　meeting。　
〃All　right；　then。　Edward　has　offered　an　alternative　for　you　to　consider；〃　I　said　coolly。　〃Let"s　vote。〃　
I　l