he　sound　that　escaped　out　of　my　mouth　was　very　quiet；　but　Alice　seemed　to

understand　that　it　was　a

cry　of　pain。　She　wrapped　her　thin；　strong　arm　around　my　shoulders。

〃We'll　do　what　we　can；　Bella。　It's　not　over　yet。〃

〃Not　yet。〃　I　let　her　fort　me；　though　I　knew　she　thought　our　chances　were

poor。　〃And　the　Volturi　will

get　us　if　we　mess　up。〃

Alice　stiffened。　〃You　say　that　like　it's　a　good　thing。〃

I　shrugged。

〃Knock　it　off；　Bella；　or　we're　turning　around　in　New　York　and　going　back　to

Forks。〃

〃What？〃

〃You　know　what。　If　we're　too　late　for　Edward；　I'm　going　to　do　my　damnedest　to

get　you　back　to

Charlie；　and　I　don't　want　any　trouble　from　you。　Do　you　understand　that？〃

〃Sure；　Alice。〃

She　pulled　back　slightly　so　that　she　could　glare　at　me。　〃No　trouble。〃

〃Scout's　honor；〃　I　muttered。

She　rolled　her　eyes。

〃Let　me　concentrate；　now。　I'm　trying　to　see　what　he's　planning。〃

She　left　her　arm　around　me；　but　let　her　head　fall　back　against　the　seat　and

closed　her　eyes。　She　pressed

her　free　hand　to　the　side　of　her　face；　rubbing　her　fingertips　against　her

temple。

I　watched　her　in　fascination　for　a　long　time。　Eventually；　she　became　utterly

motionless；　hei　face　like　a

stone　sculpture。　The　minutes　passed；　and　if　I　didn't　know　better；　I　would　have

thought　she'd　fallen　asleep。

I　didn't　dare　interrupt　her　to　ask　what　was　going　on。

I　wished　there　was　something　safe　for　me　to　think　about。　I　couldn't　allow

myself　to　consider　the　horrors

we　were　headed　toward；　or；　more　horrific　yet；　the　chance　that　we　might　fail—

not　if　I　wanted　to　keep

from　screaming　aloud。

I　couldn't　an