Сумерки

           Itwasalargerlandscapeindullfallcolors-anempty,shadowedmeadowinaforest,withacraggypeakinthedistance.

           "Whenheknewwhathehadbecome,"Edwardsaidquietly,"herebelledagainstit.Hetriedtodestroyhimself.Butthat’snoteasilydone."

           "How?"Ididn’tmeantosayitaloud,butthewordbrokethroughmyshock.

           "Hejumpedfromgreatheights,"Edwardtoldme,hisvoiceimpassive."Hetriedtodrownhimselfintheocean...buthewasyoungtothenewlife,andverystrong.Itisamazingthathewasabletoresist...feeding...whilehewasstillsonew.Theinstinctismorepowerfulthen,ittakesovereverything.Buthewassorepelledbyhimselfthathehadthestrengthtotrytokillhimselfwithstarvation."

           "Isthatpossible?"Myvoicewasfaint.

           "No,thereareveryfewwayswecanbekilled."

           Iopenedmymouthtoask,buthespokebeforeIcould.

           "Sohegrewveryhungry,andeventuallyweak.Hestrayedasfarashecouldfromthehumanpopulace,recognizingthathiswillpowerwasweakening,too.Formonthshewanderedbynight,seekingtheloneliestplaces,loathinghimself.

           "Onenight,aherdofdeerpassedhishidingplace.Hewassowildwiththirstthatheattackedwithoutathought.Hisstrengthreturnedandherealizedtherewasanalternativetobeingthevilemonsterhefeared.Hadhenoteatenvenisoninhisformerlife?Overthenextmonthshisnewphilosophywasborn.Hecouldexistwithoutbeingademon.Hefoundhimselfagain.

           "Hebegantomakebetteruseofhistime.He’dalwaysbeenintelligent,eagertolearn.