第52部分(第4/7 頁)

better

than　the　window　shade。

I　was　grateful　that　I'd　had　so　many　months'　practice　with　controlling　my

thoughts。　Instead　of　dwelling　on

the　terrifying　possibilities　that；　no　matter　what　Alice　said；　I　did　not　intend

to　survive；　I　concentrated　on

lesser　problems。　Like；　what　I　was　going　to　say　to　Charlie　if　I　got　back：'　That

was　a　thorny　enough

problem　to　occupy　several　hours。　And　Jacob？　He'd　promised　to　wait　for　me；　but

did　that　promise　still

apply？　Would　I　end　up　home　alone　in　Forks；　with　no　one　at　all？　Maybe　I　didn't

want　to　survive；　no

matter　what　happened。

It　felt　like　seconds　later　when　Alice　shook　my　shoulder—I　hadn't　realized　I'd

fallen　asleep。

〃Bella；〃　she　hissed；　her　voice　a　little　too　loud　in　the　darkened　cabin　full　of

sleeping　humans。

I　wasn't　disoriented—I　hadn't　been　out　long　enough　for　that。

〃What's　wrong？〃

Alice's　eyes　gleamed　in　the　dim　light　of　a　reading　lamp　in　the　row　behind　us。

〃It's　not　wrong。〃　She　smiled　fiercely。　〃It's　right。　They're　deliberating；　but

they've　decided　to　tell　him　no。〃

〃The　Volturi？〃　I　muttered；　groggy。

〃Of　course；　Bella；　keep　up。　I　can　see　what　they're　going　to　say。〃

〃Tellme。〃

An　attendant　tiptoed　down　the　aisle　to　us。　〃Can　I　get　you　ladies　a　pillow？〃

His　hushed　whisper　was　a

rebuke　to　our　paratively　loud　conversation。

〃No；　thank　you。〃　Alice　beamed　at　up　at　him；　her　smile　shockingly　lovely。　The

attendant's　expression　was

dazed　as　he　turned　and　stumbled　his　way　back。

〃Tell　me；〃　I　breathed　almost　silently。

She　whispered　into　my　ear。　〃They're　interested　in　him—they　think　his　talent

could　be　uselul。　They're　goi