I sympathized with him. It must be a hard thing, to be a father; living in fear that your daughter would meet a boy she liked, but also having to worry if she didn't. How ghastly it would be, I thought, shuddering, if Charlie had even the slightest inkling of exactly what I did like.
我开始有点同情他了。对一个父亲来说,这实在是件难事,活在这样或那样的忧虑里,生怕自己的女儿会遇上她喜欢的男孩,但又得操心万一她遇不上该怎么办。我一想到,如果查理知道,哪怕是得到最轻微的暗示,我确切喜欢着的是什么人的话,不禁打了个冷战。
Charlie left then, with a goodbye wave, and I went upstairs to brush my teeth and gather my books. When I heard the cruiser pull away, I could only wait a few seconds before I had to peek out of my window. The silver car was already there, waiting in Charlie's spot on the driveway. I bounded down the stairs and out the front door, wondering how long this bizarre routine would continue. I never wanted it to end.
然后,查理挥手道别,离开了。我走上楼去刷牙,把书收拾好。当我听到巡逻车开走的声音时,我只等了几秒钟,便迫不及待地跑过去向窗外偷看。那辆银色的车已经在那里了,就在车道上查理的位置那儿等着。我跳着下了楼,奔出前门,想知道这样不同寻常的例行公事般的日子能够持续多久。我永远都不想让它结束。
He waited in the car, not appearing to watch as I shut the door behind me without bothering to lock the dead-bolt. I walked to the car, pausing shyly before opening the door and stepping in. He was smiling, relaxed — and, as usual, perfect and beautiful to an excruciating degree.
他在车里等着,当我关上门,懒得锁上那个该死的门闩的时候,他似乎没在看我。我走向车子,在开门上车以前羞涩地停住了。他微笑着,很放松——还有,像往常一样,完美和出色得到了折磨人的地步。
"Good morning." His voice was silky. "How are you today?" His eyes roamed over my face, as if his question was something more than simple courtesy.
“早上好。”他的声音如丝绸一样柔软。“今天感觉怎么样?”他的目光在我的脸上徘徊着,仿佛他的提问比起单纯的礼节有着更深的意味。
"Good, thank you." I was always good — much more than good — when I was near him.
“很好,谢谢。”当我和他在一起时,我总是很好——甚至比好更好。
His gaze lingered on the circles under my eyes. "You look tired."
他的目光落在了我眼睛底下的黑眼圈上。“你看上去很疲倦。”
"I couldn't sleep," I confessed, automatically swinging my hair around my shoulder to provide some measure of cover.
“我睡不着。”我坦白交代,下意识地把头发拨到肩后,作为某种程度上的掩饰。
"Neither could I," he teased as he started the engine. I was becoming used to the quiet purr. I was sure the roar of my truck would scare me, whenever I got to drive it again.
“我也是。”他揶揄着,发动了引擎。我开始习惯这种安静的嗡嗡声了。我敢肯定,无论何时我再去开我那辆卡车,它的轰鸣声都会吓着我的。
《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。