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I reached the corner, but a swift glance revealed that it was only a blind drive to the back of another building. I was half-turned in anticipation; I had to hurriedly correct and dash across the narrow drive, back to the sidewalk. The street ended at the next corner, where there was a stop sign. I concentrated on the faint footsteps behind me, deciding whether or not to run. They sounded farther back, though, and I knew they could outrun me in any case. I was sure to trip and go sprawling if I tried to go any faster. The footfalls were definitely farther back. I risked a quick glance over my shoulder, and they were maybe forty feet back now, I saw with relief. But they were both staring at me.
我走到拐角處，飛快地瞥了一眼，發現那只是通往另一幢建筑物的斷頭路。我中途改變了主意。我不得不趕緊改變方向，沖過那條狹窄的車道，然后回到人行道上。這條道路在下一個拐角處中斷了。那里有一個停下的標志。我把注意力集中在身后微弱的腳步聲上，考慮著要不要逃跑。但是，他們聽起來在背后更遠的地方，而且我知道無論如何他們都會跑過我的。如果我試圖跑快些，我一定會被絆到，然后躺倒在地上。腳步聲顯然是從后面更遠的地方傳來的。我冒險飛快地向肩膀后掃了一眼，然后寬慰地看到，他們現在在離我大概有四十英尺的距離。但他們都在盯著我。
It seemed to take forever for me to get to the corner. I kept my pace steady, the men behind me falling ever so slightly farther behind with every step. Maybe they realized they had scared me and were sorry. I saw two cars going north pass the intersection I was heading for, and I exhaled in relief. There would be more people around once I got off this deserted street. I skipped around the corner with a grateful sigh.
我似乎永遠也不可能走到拐角處。我盡量讓自己的步子踏得穩一些，那兩個被我遠遠地拋在后面的男人每一步都走得那么的輕。也許是他們意識到自己嚇著我了，所以感到抱歉。我看見兩輛車一路向北開進了我正在前往的那個十字路口，我寬慰地松了口氣。等我離開這條荒蕪的街道的時候，周圍一定會有更多人的。我輕快地跳過拐角，感激地嘆了口氣。
And skidded to a stop.
然后腳下一滑，停在那里。
The street was lined on both sides by blank, doorless, windowless walls. I could see in the distance, two intersections down, streetlamps, cars, and more pedestrians, but they were all too far away. Because lounging against the western building, midway down the street, were the other two men from the group, both watching with excited smiles as I froze dead on the sidewalk. I realized then that I wasn't being followed.
這條街道兩旁全是空白的，沒有門窗的墻。我能看見在遠處兩個十字路口以外的地方，有街燈，有車流，還有更多的行人，但那些都太遠了。因為在這條街的中部，在西邊的建筑物旁閑逛著的，正是那伙人中另外兩個。當我僵在人行道上的時候，他們都興奮地笑著看著我。然后我意識到，我沒有被跟蹤。
I was being herded.
我被堵截了。
《暮光之城》與圖書題目相得益彰的是，“暮光之城”系列別具匠心的封面設計則很好地傳達出了每本書內在的深遠寓意。斯蒂芬妮·梅爾指出《暮色》封面上的蘋果代表“創世紀” 內善惡樹上的禁果。象征貝拉和愛德華之間人類與吸血鬼禁忌的愛戀。在書的開頭引用了“創世紀”217頁的內容：“只是分別善惡樹上的果子，你不可吃，因為你吃的日子必定死。”這同時也代表了貝拉如何分辨善惡——選擇是否吃下那顆禁忌的果實，這比喻了選擇跟愛德華在一起或遠離他。
