Сумерки

           "Edwardstaredoffintospaceforalongmoment.Suddenlyheseemedtorecallhispurpose.Hetappedhisfingeragainstthehugepaintinginfrontofus.

           "HewasstudyinginItalywhenhediscoveredtheothersthere.TheyweremuchmorecivilizedandeducatedthanthewraithsoftheLondonsewers."

           Hetouchedacomparativelysedatequartetoffigurespaintedonthehighestbalcony,lookingdowncalmlyonthemayhembelowthem.Iexaminedthegroupingcarefullyandrealized,withastartledlaugh,thatIrecognizedthegolden-hairedman.

           "SolimenawasgreatlyinspiredbyCarlisle’sfriends.Heoftenpaintedthemasgods,"Edwardchuckled."Aro,Marcus,Caius,"hesaid,indicatingtheotherthree,twoblack-haired,onesnowy-white."Nighttimepatronsofthearts."

           "Whathappenedtothem?"Iwonderedaloud,myfingertiphoveringacentimeterfromthefiguresonthecanvas.

           "They’restillthere."Heshrugged."Astheyhavebeenforwhoknowshowmanymillennia.Carlislestayedwiththemonlyforashorttime,justafewdecades.Hegreatlyadmiredtheircivility,theirrefinement,buttheypersistedintryingtocurehisaversionto’hisnaturalfoodsource,’astheycalledit.Theytriedtopersuadehim,andhetriedtopersuadethem,tonoavail.Atthatpoint,CarlisledecidedtotrytheNewWorld.Hedreamedoffindingotherslikehimself.Hewasverylonely,yousee.

           "Hedidn’tfindanyoneforalongtime.But,asmonstersbecamethestuffoffairytales,hefoundhecouldinteractwithunsuspectinghumansasifhewereoneofthem.Hebeganpracticingmedicine.