The restaurant wasn't crowded — it was the off-season in Port Angeles. The host was female, and I understood the look in her eyes as she assessed Edward. She welcomed him a little more warmly than necessary. I was surprised by how much that bothered me. She was several inches taller than I was, and unnaturally blond.
餐厅里并不拥挤——现在是天使港的淡季。店主是女的,当她审视着爱德华的时候,我读出了她眼里的神情。她热情地有些过火地欢迎他的光临。我吃惊地发现,这居然会让我如此心烦意乱。她比我高几英寸,漂亮得简直违背了自然规律。
"A table for two?" His voice was alluring, whether he was aiming for that or not. I saw her eyes flicker to me and then away, satisfied by my obvious ordinariness, and by the cautious, no-contact space Edward kept between us. She led us to a table big enough for four in the center of the most crowded area of the dining floor.
“有两个人的位置吗?”不管他是有意的还是无意的,他的声音都太诱人了。我看见她的眼睛飞快地瞥了我一眼,然后移开了。显然她对我的相貌平平,还有爱德华出于谨慎,在我们之间保持着的毫无身体接触的距离感到相当地满意。她把我们带到用餐区里人最多的地方的正中,一张足以坐下四个人的桌子旁。
I was about to sit, but Edward shook his head at me.
我正要坐下,爱德华却向摇了摇头。
"Perhaps something more private?" he insisted quietly to the host. I wasn't sure, but it looked like he smoothly handed her a tip. I'd never seen anyone refuse a table except in old movies.
“也许换个更私密些的地方?”他安静地向店主坚持着。我不太敢肯定,但看上去他熟练地给了她一点小费。我从没见过有人拒绝一个座位,除了在老电影里。
"Sure." She sounded as surprised as I was. She turned and led us around a partition to a small ring of booths — all of them empty. "How's this?"
“当然。”她听起来和我一样吃惊。她转身领着我们绕过一堵隔墙,走到小小的一圈卡座前——所有的卡座都是空的。“这里怎么样?”
"Perfect." He flashed his gleaming smile, dazing her momentarily.
“好极了。”他熠熠生辉的笑容一闪而过,立刻把她迷住了。
"Um" — she shook her head, blinking — "your server will be right out." She walked away unsteadily.
“呃。”——她摇了摇头,眨着眼睛——“你的侍者马上就到。”她步伐不稳地走开了。
"You really shouldn't do that to people," I criticized. "It's hardly fair."
“你真的不应该对别人这样做。”我批评道。“这太不公平了。”
"Do what?"
“做什么?”
"Dazzle them like that — she's probably hyperventilating in the kitchen right now."
“像那样迷得她们晕头转向——她现在可能正在厨房里大口大口地喘气呢。”
He seemed confused.
他似乎很困惑。
《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。