"What are you afraid of, then?" he whispered intently.
“那么,你在害怕着什么?”他专注地看着我,耳语道。
But I couldn't answer. As I had just that once before, I smelled his cool breath in my face. Sweet, delicious, the scent made my mouth water. It was unlike anything else. Instinctively, unthinkingly, I leaned closer, inhaling.
但我没有回答。就像之前我曾经试过一次那样,我闻到了他冰冷的呼吸,呼在我脸上。甜腻,美味,这种香味让我口齿生津。它不像别的任何味道。我本能地,不假思索地靠得更近些,轻嗅着。
And he was gone, his hand ripped from mine. In the time it took my eyes to focus, he was twenty feet away, standing at the edge of the small meadow, in the deep shade of a huge fir tree. He stared at me, his eyes dark in the shadows, his expression unreadable.
然后他消失了,他的手从我的手中挣脱出来。当我凝眸望去的时候,他已在二十英尺外,站在这片小小的草地的边缘,在一棵巨大的杉树的浓重的树荫里。他注视着我,他的眼睛在阴影里暗沉着,他的表情难以读懂。
I could feel the hurt and shock on my face. My empty hands stung.
我能感到自己脸上的痛楚和震惊。我空空的手心刺痛着。
"I'm… sorry… Edward," I whispered. I knew he could hear.
“我……很抱歉……爱德华。”我低声说着。我知道他能听见。
"Give me a moment," he called, just loud enough for my less sensitive ears. I sat very still.
“给我一点时间。”他喊道,声量仅仅是我敏感的耳朵刚能听到的程度。我一动不动地坐着。
After ten incredibly long seconds, he walked back, slowly for him. He stopped, still several feet away, and sank gracefully to the ground, crossing his legs. His eyes never left mine. He took two deep breaths, and then smiled in apology.
在漫长得难以置信的十分钟以后,他用对他来说相当缓慢的速度走过来。他停在了在几英尺外的地方,优雅地坐到了地上,盘起腿。他的目光从未离开过我的眼睛。他做了两次深呼吸。然后满怀歉意地笑了。
"I am so very sorry." He hesitated. "Would you understand what I meant if I said I was only human?"
“我非常抱歉。”他迟疑道。“如果我说我也只是个人类,你能明白我的意思吗?”
《暮光之城》
与图书题目相得益彰的是,“暮光之城”系列别具匠心的封面设计则很好地传达出了每本书内在的深远寓意。斯蒂芬妮·梅尔指出《暮色》封面上的苹果代表“创世纪” 内善恶树上的禁果。象征贝拉和爱德华之间人类与吸血鬼禁忌的爱恋。在书的开头引用了“创世纪”217页的内容:“只是分别善恶树上的果子,你不可吃,因为你吃的日子必定死。”这同时也代表了贝拉如何分辨善恶——选择是否吃下那颗禁忌的果实,这比喻了选择跟爱德华在一起或远离他。