4 breaking dawn破晓-第13章

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storm　began。　Most　of　it　went　wide；　but　someone；　probably　Emmett；　threw　with　uncanny　precision；　and　I　
caught　a　lot　of　the　ricochets　off　Edward's　back。　

The　car　was　decorated　with　more　flowers　that　trailed　in　streamers　along　its　length；　and　long　gossamer　
ribbons　that　were　tied　to　a　dozen　shoes—designer　shoes　that　looked　brandnew—dangling　behind　the　
bumper。　

Edward　shielded　me　from　the　rice　while　I　climbed　in；　and　then　he　was　in　and　we　were　speeding　away　as　
I　waved　out　the　window　and　called　〃I　love　you〃　to　the　porch；　where　my　families　waved　back。　

The　last　image　I　registered　was　one　of　my　parents。　Phil　had　both　arms　wrapped　tenderly　around　Renee。　
She　had　one　arm　tight　around　his　waist　but　had　her　free　hand　reached　out　to　hold　Charlie's。　So　many　
different　kinds　of　love；　harmonious　in　this　one　moment。　It　seemed　a　very　hopeful　picture　to　me。　

Edward　squeezed　my　hand。　

〃I　love　you；〃　he　said。　

I　leaned　my　head　against　his　arm。　'That's　why　we're　here；〃　I　quoted　him。　

He　kissed　my　hair。　

As　we　turned　onto　the　black　highway　and　Edward　really　hit　the　accelerator；　I　heard　a　noise　over　the　
purr　of　the　engine；　ing　from　the　forest　behind　us。　If　I　could　hear　it；　then　he　certainly　could。　But　he　said　
nothing　as　the　sound　slowly　faded　in　the　distance。　I　said　nothing；　either。　

The　piercing；　heartbroken　howling　grew　fainter　and　then　disappeared　entirely。　




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5。　ISLE　ESME　

〃Houston？〃　I　asked；　raising　my　eyebrows　when　we　reached　the　gate　in　Seattle。　

〃Just　a　stop　along　the　way；〃　Edward　assured　me　with　a　grin。　

It　felt　like　I'd　barely　fallen　asleep　when　he　woke　me。　I　was　groggy　as　he　pulled　me　through　the　terminals；　
struggling　to　remember　how　to　open　my　eyes　after　every　blink。　It　took　me　a　few　minutes　to　catch　up　with　
what　was　going　on　when　we　stopped　at　the　international　counter　to　check　in　for　our　next　flight。　

〃Rio　de　Janeiro？〃　I　asked　with　slightly　more　trepidation。　

〃Another　stop；〃　he　told　me。　

The　flight　to　South　America　was　long　but　fortable　in　the　wide　firstclass　seat；　with　Edward's　arms　
cradled　around　me。　I　slept　myself　out　and　awoke　unusually　alert　as　we　circled　toward　the　airport　with　the　
light　of　the　setting　sun　slanting　through　the　plane's　windows。　

We　didn't　stay　in　the　airport　to　connect　with　another　flight　as　I'd　expected。　Instead　we　took　a　taxi　
through　the　dark；　teeming；　living　streets　of　Rio。　Unable　to　understand　a　word　of　Edward's　Portuguese　
instructions　to　the　driver；　I　guessed　that　we　were　off　to　find　a　hotel　before　the　next　leg　of　our　journey。　A　
sharp　twinge　of　something　very　close　to　stage　fright　twisted　in　the　pit　of　my　stomach　as　I　considered　that。　
The　taxi　continued　through　the　swarming　crowds　until　they　thinned　somewhat；　and　we　appeared　to　be　
nearing　the　extreme　western　edge　of　the　city；　heading　into　the　ocean。　

We　stopped　at　the　docks。　

Edward　led　the　way　down　the　long　line　of　white　yachts　moored　in　the　nightblackened　water。　The　boat　
he　stopped　at　was　smaller　than　the　others；　sleeker；　obviously　built　for　speed　instead　of　space。　Still　
luxurious；　though；　and　more　graceful　than　the　rest。　He　leaped　in　lightly；　despite　the　heavy　bags　he　carried。　
He　dropped　those　on　the　deck　and　turned　to　help　me　carefully　over　the　edge。　

I　watched　in　silence　while　he　prepared　the　boat　for　departure；　surprised　at　how　skilled　and　fortable　
he　seemed；　because　he'd　never　mentioned　an　interest　in　boating　before。　But　then　again；　he　was　good　at　
just　about　everything。　

As　we　headed　due　east　into　the　open　ocean；　I　reviewed　basic　geography　in　my　head。　As　far　as　I　could　
remember；　there　wasn't　much　east　of　Brazil。。。　until　you　got　to　Africa。　

But　Edward　sped　forward　while　the　lights　of　Rio　faded　and　ultimately　disappeared　behind　us。　On　his　
face　was　a　familiar　exhilarated　smile；　the　one　produced　by　any　form　of　speed。　The　boat　plunged　through　
the　waves　and　I　was　showered　with　sea　spray。　

Finally　the　curiosity　I'd　suppressed　so　long　got　the　best　of　me。　

〃Are　we　going　much　farther？〃　I　asked。　

It　wasn't　like　him　to　forget　that　I　was　human；　but　I　wondered　if　he　planned　for　us　to　live　on　this　small　
craft　for　any　length　of　time。　

〃About　another　half　hour。〃　His　eyes　took　in　my　hands；　clenched　on　the　seat；　and　he　grinned。　



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Oh　well；　I　thought　to　myself。　He　was　a　vampire；　after　all。　Maybe　we　were　going　to　Atlantis。　

Twenty　minutes　later；　he　called　my　name　over　the　roar　of　the　engine。　

〃Bella；　look　there。〃　He　pointed　straight　ahead。　

I　saw　only　blackness　at　first；　and　the　moon's　white　trail　across　the　water。　But　I　searched　the　space　
where　he　pointed　until　I　found　a　low　black　shape　breaking　into　the　sheen　of　moonlight　on　the　waves。　As　I　
squinted　into　the　darkness；　the　silhouette　became　more　detailed。　The　shape　grew　into　a　squat；　irregular　
triangle；　with　one　side　trailing　longer　than　the　other　before　sinking　into　the　waves。　We　drew　closer；　and　I　
could　see　the　outline　was　feathery；　swaying　to　the　light　breeze。　

And　then　my　eyes　refocused　and　the　pieces　all　made　sense：　a　small　island　rose　out　of　the　water　ahead　of　
us；　waving　with　palm　fronds；　a　beach　glowing　pale　in　the　light　of　the　moon。　

〃Where　are　we？〃　I　murmured　in　wonder　while　he　shifted　course；　heading　around　to　the　north　end　of　the　
island。　

He　heard　me；　despite　the　noise　of　the　engine；　and　smiled　a　wide　smile　that　gleamed　in　the　moonlight。　

〃This　is　Isle　Esme。〃　

The　boat　slowed　dramatically；　drawing　with　precision　into　position　against　a　short　dock　constructed　of　
wooden　planks；　bleached　into　whiteness　by　the　moon。　The　engine　cut　off；　and　the　silence　that　followed　
was　profound。　There　was　nothing　but　the　waves；　slapping　lightly　against　the　boat；　and　the　rustle　of　the　
breeze　in　the　palms。　The　air　was　warm；　moist；　and　fragrant—like　the　steam　left　behind　after　a　hot　
shower。　

〃Isle　Esme？〃　My　voice　was　low；　but　it　still　sounded　too　loud　as　it　broke　into　the　quiet　night。　

〃A　gift　from　Carlisle—Esme　offered　to　let　us　borrow　it。〃　

A　gift。　Who　gives　an　island　as　a　gift？　I　frowned。　I　hadn't　realized　that　Edward's　extreme　generosity　was　a　
learned　behavior。　

He　placed　the　suitcases　on　the　dock　and　then　turned　back；　smiling　his　perfect　smile　as　he　reached　for　
me。　

Instead　of　taking　my　hand；　he　pulled　me　right　up　into　his　arms。　

〃Aren't　you　supposed　to　wait　for　the　threshold？'71　asked；　breathless；　as　he　sprung　lightly　out　of　the　
boat。　

He　grinned。　〃I'm　nothing　if　not　thorough。〃　

Gripping　the　handles　of　both　huge　steamer　trunks　in　one　hand　and　cradling　me　in　the　other　arm；　he　
carried　me　up　the　dock　and　onto　a　pale　sand　pathway　through　the　dark　vegetation。　

For　a　short　while　it　was　pitch　black　in　the　junglelike　growth；　and　then　I　could　see　a　warm　light　ahead。　It　
was　about　at　the　point　when　I　realized　the　light　was　a　house—the　two　bright；　perfect　squares　were　wide　



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windows　framing　a　front　door—that　the　stage　fright　attacked　again；　more　forcefully　than　before；　worse　
than　when　I'd　thought　we　were　headed　for　a　hotel。　

My　heart　thudded　audibly　against　my　ribs；　and　my　breath　seemed　to　get　stuck　in　my　throat。　I　felt　
Edward's　eyes　on　my　face；　but　I　refused　to　meet　his　gaze。　I　stared　straight　ahead；　seeing　nothing。　

He　didn't　ask　what　I　was　thinking；　which　was　out　of　character　for　him。　I　guessed　that　meant　that　he　was　
just　as　nervous　as　I　suddenly　was。　

He　set　the　suitcases　on　the　deep　porch　to　open　the　doors—they　were　unlocked。　

Edward　looked　down　at　me；　waiting　until　I　met　his　gaze　before　he　stepped　through　the　threshold。　

He　carried　me　through　the　house；　both　of　us　very　quiet；　flipping　on　lights　as　he　went。　My　vague　
impression　of　the　house　was　that　it　was　quite　large　for　a　tiny　island；　and　oddly　familiar。　I'd　gotten　used　to　
the　paleonpale　color　scheme　preferred　by　the　Cullens；　it　felt　like　home。　I　couldn't　focus　on　any　
specifics；　though。　The　violent　pulse　beating　behind　my　ears　made　everything　a　little　blurry。　

Then　Edward　stopped　and　turned　on　the　last　light。　

The　room　was　big　and　white；　and　the　far　wall　was　mostly　glass—standard　decor　for　my　vampires。　
Outside；　the　moon　was　bright　on　white　sand　and；　just　a　few　yards　away　from　the　house；　glistening　waves。　
But　I　barely　noted　that　part。　I　was　more　focused　on　the　absolutely　huge　white　bed　in　the　center　of　the　
room；　hung　with　billowy　clouds　of　mosquito　ting。　

Edward　set　me　on　my　feet。　

〃I'll。。。　go　get　the　luggage。〃　

The　room　was　too　warm；　stuffier　than　the　tropical　night　outside。　A　bead　of　sweat　dewed　up　on　the　nape　
of　my　neck。　I　walked　slowly　forward　until　I　could　reach　out　and　touch　the　foamy　ting。　For　some　
reason　I　felt　the　need　to　make　sure　everything　was　real。　

I　didn't　hear　Edward　return。　Suddenly；　his　wintry　finger　caressed　the　back　of　my　neck；　wiping　away　the　
drop　of　perspiration。　

〃It's　a　little　hot　here；〃　he　said　apologetically。　〃I　thought。。。　that　would　be　best。〃　

〃Thorough；〃　I　murmured　under　my　breath；　and　he　chuckled。　It　was　a　nervous