第54部分(第5/7 頁)

all　pile　of　white　fabric　at　his　feet。　The　light　reflecting

from　the　pavement　of　the

square　gleamed　dimly　from　his　skin。

I'd　never　seen　anything　more　beautiful—even　as　I　ran；　gasping　and　screaming；

I　could　appreciate　that。

And　the　last　seven　months　meant　nothing。　And　his　words　in　the　forest　meant

nothing。　And　it　did　not

matter　if　he　did　not　want　me。　I　would　never　want　anything　but　him；　no　matter

how　long　I　lived。

The　clock　tolled；　and　he　took　a　large　stride　toward　the　light。

〃No！〃　I　screamed。　〃Edward；　look　at　me！〃

He　wasn't　listening。　He　smiled　very　slightly。　He　raised　his　foot　to　take　the

step　that　would　put　him　directly

in　the　path　of　the　sun。

I　slammed　into　him　so　hard　that　the　force　would　have　hurled　me　to　the　ground

if　his　arms　hadn't　caught

me　and　held　me　up。　It　knocked　my　breath　out　of　me　and　snapped　my　head　back。

His　dark　eyes　opened　slowly　as　the　clock　tolled　again。

He　looked　down　at　me　with　quiet　surprise。

〃Amazing；〃　he　said；　his　exquisite　voice　full　of　wonder；　slightly　amused。

〃Carlisle　was　right。〃

〃Edward；〃　I　tried　to　gasp；　but　my　voice　had　no　sound。　〃You've　got　to　get　back

into　the　shadows。　You

have　to　move！〃

He　seemed　bemused。　His　hand　brushed　softly　against　my　cheek。　He　didn't　appear

to　notice　that　I　was

trying　to　force　him　back。　I　could　have　been　pushing　against　the　alley　walls

for　all　the　progress　I　was

making。　The　clock　tolled；　but　he　didn't　react。

It　was　very　strange；　for　I　knew　we　were　both　in　mortal　danger。　Still；　in　that

instant；　I　felt　well。　Whole。　I

could　feel　my　heart　racing　in　my　chest；　the　blood　pulsing　hot　and　fast　through