minutes； and they were already prepared to leave。 In the corner； Jacob was human again； with Renesmee
on his lap； both of them watching us with wide eyes。
Rosalie had traded her silk wrap dress for a sturdy…looking pair of jeans； running shoes； and a
button…down shirt made of the thick weave that backpackers used for long trips。 Esme was dressed
similarly。 There was a globe on the coffee table； but they were done looking at it； just waiting for us。
The atmosphere was more positive now than before； it felt good to them to be in action。 Their hopes
Page 330
Generatedby ABC Amber LIT Converter； www。processtext。com/abclit。html
were pinned on Alice's instructions。
I looked at the globe and wondered where we were headed first。
〃We're to stay here？〃 Edward asked； looking at Carlisle。 He didn't sound happy。
〃Alice said that we would have to show people Renesmee； and we would have to be careful about it；〃
Carlisle said。 〃We'll send whomever we can find back here to you—Edward； you'll be the best at fielding
that particular minefield。〃
Edward gave one sharp nod； still not happy。 〃There's a lot of ground to cover。〃
〃We're splitting up；〃 Emmett answered。 〃Rose and I are hunting for nomads。〃
〃You'll have your hands full here；〃 Carlisle said。 〃Tanya's family will be here in the morning； and they
have no idea why。 First； you have to persuade them not to react the way Irina did。 Second； you've got to
find out what Alice meant about Eleazar。 Then； after all that； will they stay to witness for us？ It will start
again as the others come—if we can persuade anyone to come in the first place。〃 Carlisle sighed。 〃Your
job may well be the hardest。 We'll be back to help as soon as we can。〃
Carlisle put his hand on Edward's shoulder for a second and then kissed my forehead。 Esme hugged us
both； and Emmett punched us both on the arm。 Rosalie forced a hard smile for Edward and me； blew a
kiss to Renesmee； and then gave Jacob a parting grimace。
〃Good luck；〃 Edward told them。
〃And to you；〃 Carlisle said。 〃We'll all need it。〃
I watched them leave； wishing I could feel whatever hope bolstered them； and wishing I could be alone
with the computer for just a few seconds。 I had to figure out who this J。 Jenks person was and why Alice
had gone to such
lengths to give his name to only me。
Renesmee twisted in Jacob's arms to touch his cheek。
〃I don't know if Carlisle's friends will come。 I hope so。 Sounds like we're a little outnumbered right now；〃
Jacob murmured to Renesmee。
So she knew。 Renesmee already understood only too clearly what was going on。 The whole
imprinted…werewolf…gives…the…object…of…his…imprinting…whatever…she…wants thing was getting old pretty
fast。 Wasn't shielding her more important than answering her questions？
I looked carefully at her face。 She did not look frightened； only anxious and very serious as she
conversed with Jacob in her silent way。
〃No； we can't help； we've got to stay here；〃 he went on。 〃People are coming to see you； not the
scenery。〃
Renesmee frowned at him。
Page 331
Generatedby ABC Amber LIT Converter； www。processtext。com/abclit。html
〃No； I don't have to go anywhere；〃 he said to her。 Then he looked at Edward； his face stunned by the
realization that he might be wrong。 〃Do I？〃
Edward hesitated。
〃Spit it out；〃 Jacob said； his voice raw with tension。 He was right at his breaking point； just like the rest
of us。
〃The vampires who are coming to help us are not the same as we are；〃 Edward said。 〃Tanya's family is
the only one besides ours with a reverence for human life； and even they don't think much of werewolves。
I think it might be safer—〃
〃I can take care of myself；〃 Jacob interrupted。
〃Safer for Renesmee；〃 Edward continued； 〃if the choice to believe our story about her is not tainted by
an association with werewolves。〃
〃Some friends。 They'd turn on you just because of who you hang out with now？〃
〃I think they would mostly be tolerant under normal circumstances。 But you need to understand
—accepting Nessie will not be a simple thing for any of them。 Why make it even the slightest bit harder？〃
Carlisle had explained the laws about immortal children to Jacob last night。 〃The immortal children were
really that bad？〃 he asked。
〃You can't imagine the depth of the scars they've left in the collective vampire psyche。〃
〃Edward 。。。〃 It was still odd to hear Jacob use Edward's name without bitterness。
〃I know； Jake。 I know how hard it is to be away from her。 We'll play it by ear— see how they react to
her。 In any case； Nessie is going to have to be incognito off and on in the next few weeks。 She'll need to
stay at the cottage until the right moment for us to introduce her。 As long as you keep a safe distance
from the main house 。。。〃
〃I can do that。 Company in the morning； huh？〃
〃Yes。 The closest of our friends。 In this particular case； it's probably better if we get things out in the
open as soon as possible。 You can stay here。 Tanya knows about you。 She's even met Seth。〃
〃You should tell Sam what's going on。 There might be strangers in the woods soon。〃
〃Good point。 Though I owe him some silence after last night。〃
〃Listening to Alice is usually the right thing。〃
Jacob's teeth ground together； and I could see that he shared Sam's feelings about what Alice and
Jasper had done。
While they were talking； I wandered toward the back windows； trying to look distracted and anxious。
Not a difficult thing to do。 I leaned my head against the wall that curved away from the living room
toward the dining room； right next to one of the computer desks。 I ran my fingers against the keys while
Page 332
Generatedby ABC Amber LIT Converter； www。processtext。com/abclit。html
staring into the forest； trying to make it look like an absentminded thing。 Did vampires ever do things
absentmindedly？ I didn't think anyone was paying particular attention to me； but I didn't turn to make
sure。 The monitor glowed to life。 I stroked my fingers across the keys again。 Then I drummed them very
quietly on the wooden desktop； just to make it seem random。 Another stroke across the keys。
I scanned the screen in my peripheral vision。
No J。 Jenks； but there was a Jason Jenks。 A lawyer。 I brushed the keyboard； trying to keep a rhythm；
like the preoccupied stroking of a cat you'd all but forgotten on your lap。 Jason Jenks had a fancy
website for his firm； but the address on the homepage was wrong。 In Seattle； but in a different zip code。 I
noted the phone number and then stroked the keyboard in rhythm。 This time I searched the address； but
nothing at all came up； as if the address didn't exist。 I wanted to look at a map； but I decided I was
pushing my luck。 One more brush； to delete the history___
I continued staring out the window and brushed the wood a few times。 I heard light footsteps crossing
the floor to me； and I turned with what I hoped was the same expression as before。
Renesmee reached for me； and I held my arms open。 She launched herself into them； smelling strongly of
werewolf； and nestled her head against my neck。
I didn't know if I could stand this。 As much as I feared for my life； for Edward's； for the rest of my
family's； it was not the same as the gut…wrenching terror I felt for my daughter。 There had to be a way to
save her； even if that was the only thing I could do。
Suddenly； I knew that this was all I wanted anymore。 The rest I would bear if I had to； but not her life
being forfeited。 Not that。
She was the one thing I simply had to save。
Would Alice have known how I would feel？
Renesmee's hand touched my cheek lightly。
She showed me my own face； Edward's； Jacob's； Rosalie's； Esme's； Carlisle's； Alice's； Jasper's； flipping
through all our family's faces faster and faster。 Seth and Leah。 Charlie； Sue； and Billy。 Over and over
again。 Worrying； like the rest of us were。 She was only worrying； though。 Jake had kept the worst from
her as far as I could tell。 The part about how we had no hope； how we all were going to die in a month's
time。
She settled on Alice's face； longing and confused。 Where was Alice？
〃I don't know；〃 I whispered。 〃But she's Alice。 She's doing the right thing； like always。〃
The right thing for Alice； anyway。 I hated thinking of her that way； but how else could the situation be
understood？
Renesmee sighed； and the longing intensified。
〃I miss her； too。〃
I felt my face working； trying to find the expression that went with the grief inside。 My eyes felt strange
Page 333
Generatedby ABC Amber LIT Converter； www。processte