Two men and a woman emerge from the forest; the leader introduces himself as Laurent, and the others as James and Victoria. Laurent asks if they can play but Carlisle says they are just finishing. Laurent asks about their hunting range and is surprised that the Cullens are able to keep a permanent residence nearby. Carlisle invites them home to talk about this and also requests that they refrain from hunting in the immediate area. James suddenly pays attention to Bella, placing Edward on the defense. Laurent is surprised that a human is among them and Carlisle stresses that Bella is with them, which Laurent can not understand. While the others escort the trio of visitors to their home, Bella is taken back to the Jeep with Edward, Alice, and Emmett. Once in the car, Edward talks about sending Bella far away, to throw James off the trail for her. Edward tells Alice that James is a tracker, which Bella doesn't understand but has deeper meaning to the others. Edward then goes on to stress that James wants Bella and it is crucial to get her out of the area. Bella is concerned about Charlie and leaving him behind.
Bella proposes a plan: she goes back home, tells Charlie she is leaving
right away and wants to go home to Phoenix. This way, he won't call the
FBI over the sudden disappearance of his daughter. They wait until James
is watching and they'll run, so he won't stick around and harm Charlie.
Bella also adds that Edward can't accompany her or else his absence at
the same time as her will also make Charlie suspicious. Alice volunteers
herself and Jasper to accompany Bella. Bella says after a week and once
James is thrown off her scent, Edward can meet her in Phoenix. Edward
protests that James will hear that's where she's going and she reasons
that they'll make it sound like a ruse set up for him since they know
he's listening. Edward protests that she can be located via a phone book
but she insists she can get her own place. Emmett is surprised at this
plan, and reasons that there's less chance of somebody getting hurt if
she's not around. Edward accepts this plan and makes sure Alice and Jasper
can handle protecting Bella.
The ruse of Laurent posing as the leader of this vampire pack is the
first indication of how clever James is as a tracker. It also shows what
a corrupt authority figure he is, contrasting against such virtuous authority
figures of Carlisle Cullen and Charlie Swan; in effect, James is a bad
parent destroying the idyll of the Cullen and Swan families. Emmett's
surprise at Bella's clever plan shows how little he thinks of humans in
general, but also of his improving opinion of Bella in particular.
Charlie is awake at home, waiting for Bella to arrive; Edward confirms that James isn't there yet. Bella then rushes into the house, pretending to be upset and wanting to leave immediately for Arizona. Charlie asks if Edward broke up with Bella and she responds that she broke up with him, that she doesn't want to wind up stuck in Forks. Packing quickly, she's ready to leave the house when Charlie quickly asks her to wait a week: Renee called up, things aren't going well in Florida, and if Phil doesn't get signed they're moving back to Arizona so he can be a shortstop for the Sidewinders. Bella sticks to her plan, though, and repeats the words that Renee said when she left Charlie many years ago. This stuns Charlie and Bella makes good her escape. Edward drives Bella in her truck, with Alice and Emmet as escorts; Edward says that James is following them now. Bella is concerned about Charlie and Edward says he'll forgive her; she also wonders why James is so intent on her and Edward explains that James is thrilled by the challenge of hunting her with a coven of strong fighters as her protection. Further, while Victoria will fight with James, Laurent isn't as sure.
They arrive at the Cullen home. Carlisle confronts Laurent, who says
he can't stop James once he starts a hunt. Laurent decides to head north
to the settlement in Denali, warns about underestimating James, and apologizes
before finally leaving. Edward asks Rosalie to take Bella upstairs to
trade clothes but she refuses; he then asks Esme, who does as she's asked,
switching clothes to confuse James briefly on Bella's scent. They plan
to leave in three groups: Esme and Rosalie will take the truck while Carlisle
and Emmett and Edward will take the Jeep; Alice sees that James will track
the Jeep while Victoria will follow the truck. Once they give chase, Alice
and Jasper and Bella will head to Arizona in the Mercedes with dark-tinted
windows. Edward gives Bella a kiss goodbye before he leave, and the truck
and Jeep group depart. Alice gets a call confirming Victoria is on Esme's
trail; Jasper tells Bella that she's worth it, and they leave.
Bella repeating the words Renee used when leaving Charlie years ago is a striking
scene, again showing how fragile families can be. It's worth considering
that Renee is the person which threatens the stability of the Cullen family
as well; her presence is unstable as a Phoenix transplant in Forks as
well as a human in love with a vampire.
Clapsaddle, Diane. "TheBestNotes on A Long Way Gone".
TheBestNotes.com.
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