《5 midnight sun午夜阳光》第66章

straight　line　through　the　sleeping　forest。　It　took　less　time　than　the　first　journey　in　the　speeding　car。　It　was　just　minutes　later　that　I　scaled　the　side　of　her　house　and　slid　her　window　out　of　my　way。　I　sighed　silently　with　relief。　Everything　was　just　as　it　should　be。　Bella　was　safe　in　her　bed；　dreaming；　her　wet　hair　tangled　like　seaweed　across　the　pillow。　But；　unlike　most　nights；　she　was　curled　into　a　small　ball　with　the　covers　stretched　taut　around　her　shoulders。　Cold；　I　guessed。　Before　I　could　settle　into　my　usual　seat；　she　shivered　in　her　sleep；　and　her　lips　trembled。　I　thought　for　a　brief　moment；　and　then　I　eased　out　into　the　hallway；　exploring　another　part　of　her　house　for　the　first　time。　Charlie　s　snores　were　loud　and　even。　I　could　almost　catch　the　edge　of　his　dream。　Something　with　the　rush　of　water　and　patient　expectation　fishing；　maybe？　There；　at　the　top　of　the　stairs；　was　a　promising　looking　cupboard。　I　opened　it　hopefully；　and　found　what　I　was　looking　for。　I　selected　the　thickest　blanket　from　the　tiny　linen　closet；　and　took　it　back　into　her　room。　I　would　return　it　before　she　woke；　and　no　one　would　be　the　wiser。　Holding　my　breath；　I　cautiously　spread　the　blanket　over　her；　she　didn　t　react　to　the　added　weight。　I　returned　to　the　rocking　chair。　While　I　waited　anxiously　for　her　to　warm　up；　I　thought　of　Carlisle；　wondering　where　he　was　now。　I　knew　his　plan　would　go　smoothly　Alice　had　seen　that。　Thinking　of　my　father　made　me　sigh　Carlisle　gave　me　too　much　credit。　I　wished　I　was　the　person　he　thought　me　to　be。　That　person；　the　one　who　deserved　happiness；　might　hope　to　be　worthy　of　this　sleeping　girl。　How　different　things　would　be　if　I　could　be　that　Edward。　As　I　pondered　this；　a　strange；　uncalled　image　filled　my　head。　For　one　moment；　the　hagfaced　fate　I　d　imagined；　the　one　who　sought　Bella　s　destruction；　was　replaced　by　the　most　foolish　and　reckless　of　angels。　A　guardian　angel　something　Carlisle　s　version　of　me　might　have　had。　With　a　heedless　smile　on　her　lips；　her　skycolored　eyes　full　of　mischief；　the　angel　formed　Bella　in　such　a　fashion　that　there　was　no　way　that　I　could　possibly　overlook　her。　A　ridiculously　potent　scent　to　demand　my　attention；　a　silent　mind　to　enflame　my　curiosity；　a　quiet　beauty　to　hold　my　eyes；
a　selfless　soul　to　earn　my　awe。　Leave　out　the　natural　sense　of　selfpreservation　so　that　Bella　could　bear　to　be　near　me　and；　finally；　add　a　wide　streak　of　appallingly　bad　luck。　With　a　careless　laugh；　the　irresponsible　angel　propelled　her　fragile　creation　directly　into　my　path；　trusting　blithely　in　my　flawed　morality　to　keep　Bella　alive。　In　this　vision；　I　was　not　Bella　s　sentence；　she　was　my　reward。　I　shook　my　head　at　the　fantasy　of　the　unthinking　angel。　She　was　not　much　better　than　the　harpy。　I　could　not　think　well　of　a　higher　power　that　would　behave　in　such　a　dangerous　and　stupid　manner。　At　least　the　ugly　fate　I　could　fight　against。　And　I　had　no　angel。　They　were　reserved　for　the　good　for　people　like　Bella。　So　where　was　her　angel　through　all　this？　Who　was　watching　over　her？　I　laughed　silently；　startled；　as　I　realized　that；　just　now；　I　was　filling　that　role。　A　vampire　angel　there　was　a　stretch。　After　about　a　half　hour；　Bella　relaxed　out　of　the　tight　ball。　Her　breathing　got　deeper　and　she　started　to　murmur。　I　smiled；　satisfied。　It　was　a　small　thing；　but　at　least　she　was　sleeping　more　fortably　tonight　because　I　was　here。　Edward；　she　sighed；　and　she　smiled；　too。　I　shoved　tragedy　aside　for　the　moment；　and　let　myself　be　happy　again。　11。　Interrogations　N　broke　the　story　first。　I　was　glad　it　hit　the　news　before　I　had　to　leave　for　school；　anxious　to　hear　how　the　humans　would　phrase　the　account；　and　what　amount　of　attention　it　would　garner。　Luckily；　it　was　a　heavy　news　day。　There　was　an　earthquake　in　South　America　and　a　political　kidnapping　in　the　Middle　East。　So　it　ended　up　only　earning　a　few　seconds；　a　few　sentences；　and　one　grainy　picture。　Alonzo　Calderas　Wallace；　suspected　serial　rapist　and　murderer　wanted　in　the　states　of　Texas　and　Oklahoma；　was　apprehended　last　night　in　Portland；　Oregon　thanks　to　an　anonymous　tip。　Wallace　was　found　unconscious　in　an　alley　early　this　morning；　just　a　few　yards　from　a　police　station。　Officials　are　unable　to　tell　us
at　this　time　whether　he　will　be　extradited　to　Houston　or　Oklahoma　City　to　stand　trial。　The　picture　was　unclear；　a　mug　shot；　and　he　d　had　a　thick　beard　at　the　time　of　the　photograph。　Even　if　Bella　saw　it；　she　would　probably　not　recognize　him。　I　hoped　she　wouldn　t；　it　would　make　her　afraid　needlessly。　The　coverage　here　in　town　will　be　light。　It　s　too　far　away　to　be　considered　of　local　interest；　Alice　told　me。　It　was　a　good　call　to　have　Carlisle　take　him　out　of　state。　I　nodded。　Bella　didn　t　watch　much　TV　regardless；　and　I　d　never　seen　her　father　watching　anything　besides　sports　channels。　I　d　done　what　I　could。　This　monster　no　longer　hunted；　and　I　was　not　a　murderer。　Not　recently；　anyway。　I　d　been　right　to　trust　Carlisle；　as　much　as　I　still　wished　the　monster　had　not　gotten　off　quite　so　easily。　I　caught　myself　hoping　he　would　be　extradited　to　Texas；　where　the　death　penalty　was　so　popular　No。　That　didn　t　matter。　most　important。　I　would　put　this　behind　me；　and　concentrate　on　what　was　I　was　already　aching　to　see　her　I　d　left　Bella　s　room　less　than　an　hour　ago。　again。　Alice；　do　you　mind　She　cut　me　off。　Rosalie　will　drive。　She　ll　act　pissed；　but　you　know　she　ll　enjoy　the　excuse　to　show　off　her　car。　Alice　trilled　a　laugh。　I　grinned　at　her。　See　you　at　school。　Alice　sighed；　and　my　grin　became　a　grimace。　I　know；　I　know；　she　thought。　Not　yet。　I　ll　wait　until　you　re　ready　for　Bella　to　know　me。　You　should　know；　though；　this　isn　t　just　me　being　selfish。　Bella　s　going　to　like　me；　too。　I　didn　t　answer　her　as　I　hurried　out　the　door。　That　was　a　different　way　of　viewing　the　situation。　Would　Bella　want　to　know　Alice？　To　have　a　vampire　for　a　girlfriend？　Knowing　Bella　that　idea　probably　wouldn　t　bother　her　in　the　slightest。　I　frowned　to　myself。　separate　things。　What　Bella　wanted　and　what　was　best　for　Bella　were　two　very　I　started　to　feel　uneasy　as　I　parked　my　car　in　Bella　s　driveway。　The　human　adage　said　that　things　looked　different　in　the　morning　that　things　changed　when　you　slept　on　them。