Сумерки

           HewasatmysidebeforetheotherscouldaskAlicewhatwaswrong.

           "Alice?"Esme’svoicewastense.

           "Ididn’tsee-Icouldn’ttell,"shewhispered.

           Alltheothersweregatheredbythistime.

           "Whatisit,Alice?"Carlisleaskedwiththecalmvoiceofauthority.

           "TheyweretravelingmuchquickerthanIthought.IcanseeIhadtheperspectivewrongbefore,"shemurmured.

           Jasperleanedoverher,hispostureprotective."Whatchanged?"heasked.

           "Theyheardusplaying,anditchangedtheirpath,"shesaid,contrite,asifshefeltresponsibleforwhateverhadfrightenedher.

           Sevenpairsofquickeyesflashedtomyfaceandaway.

           "Howsoon?"Carlislesaid,turningtowardEdward.

           Alookofintenseconcentrationcrossedhisface.

           "Lessthanfiveminutes.They’rerunning-theywanttoplay."Hescowled.

           "Canyoumakeit?"Carlisleaskedhim,hiseyesflickingtowardmeagain.

           "No,notcarrying-"Hecutshort."Besides,thelastthingweneedisforthemtocatchthescentandstarthunting."

           "Howmany?"EmmettaskedAlice.

           "Three,"sheansweredtersely.

           "Three!"hescoffed."Letthemcome."Thesteelbandsofmuscleflexedalonghismassivearms.

           Forasplitsecondthatseemedmuchlongerthanitreallywas,Carlisledeliberated.OnlyEmmettseemedunperturbed;thereststaredatCarlisle’sfacewithanxiouseyes.

           "Let’sjustcontinuethegame,"Carlislefinallydecided.Hisvoicewas

           coolandlevel."Alicesaidtheyweresimplycurious."

           Allthiswassaidinaflurryofwordsthatlastedonlyafewseconds.