s　favor；　we're　too　late。　If　they　say　no；　and　he

es　up　with　a　plan　to　offend

them　quickly　enough；　we're　too　late。　If　he　gives　into　his　more　theatrical

tendencies　we　might　have

time。〃

〃Let's　go！〃

〃Listen；　Bella！　Whether　we　are　in　time　or　not；　we　will　be　in　the　heart　of　the

Volturi　city。　I　will　be

considered　his　acplice　if　he　is　successful。　You　will　be　a　human　who　not

only　knows　too　much；　but

also　smells　too　good。　There's　a　very　good　chance　that　they　will　eliminate　us

all—though　in　your　case　it

won't　be　punishment　so　much　as　dinnertime。〃

〃This　is　what's　keeping　us　here？〃　I　asked　in　disbelief。　〃I'll　go　alone　if

you're　afraid。〃　I　mentally　tabulated

what　money　was　left　in　my　account；　and　wondered　if　Alice　would　lend　me　the

rest。

〃I'm　only　afraid　of　getting　you　killed。〃

I　snorted　in　disgust。　〃I　almost　get　myself　killed　on　a　daily　basis！　Tell　me

what　I　need　to　do！〃

〃You　write　a　note　to　Charlie。　I'll　call　the　airlines。〃

〃Charlie；〃　I　gasped。

Not　that　my　presence　was　protecting　him；　but　could　I　leave　him　here　alone　to

face

〃I'm　not　going　to　let　anything　happen　to　Charlie。〃　Jacob's　low　voice　was　gruff

and　angry。　〃Screw　the

treaty。〃

I　glanced　up　at　him；　and　he　scowled　at　my　panicked　expression。

〃Hurry；　Bella；〃　Alice　interrupted　urgently。

I　ran　to　the　kitchen；　yanking　the　drawers　open　and　throwing　the　contents　all

over　the　floor　as　I　searched

for　a　pen。　A　smooth；　brown　hand　held　one　out　to　me。

〃Thanks；〃　I　mumbled；　pulling　the　cap　off　with　my　teeth。　He　silently　handed　me

the　pad　of　paper　we　wrote

phone　messages　on。　I　tore　off　the　top　sheet　and　threw　i