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the hunger games-饥饿游戏(英文版)-第19部分
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have to break several of what used to be her fingers with a stone to free the bow。 The sheath of arrows is pinned under her back。 I try to roll over her body by pulling on one arm； but the flesh disintegrates in my hands and I fall back on the ground。
Is this real？ Or have the hallucinations begun？ I squeeze my eyes tight and try to breathe through my mouth； ordering myself not to bee sick。 Breakfast must stay down； it might be days before I can hunt again。 A second cannon fires and Iˇm guessing the girl from District 4 has just died。 I hear the birds fall silent and then one give the warning call； which means a hovercraft is about to appear。 Confused； I think itˇs for Glimmer； although this doesnˇt quite make sense because Iˇm still in the picture； still fighting for the arrows。 I lurch back onto my knees and the trees around me begin to spin in circles。 In the middle of the sky； I spot the hovercraft。 I throw myself over Glimmerˇs body as if to protect it but then I see the girl from District 4 being lifted into the air and vanishing。
¨Do this！〃 I mand myself。 Clenching my jaw； I dig my hands under Glimmerˇs body； get a hold on what must be her rib cage； and force her onto her stomach。 I canˇt help it； Iˇm hyperventilating now； the whole thing is so nightmarish and Iˇm losing my grasp on whatˇs real。 I tug on the silver sheath of arrows； but itˇs caught on something； her shoulder blade； something； and finally yank it free。 Iˇve just encircled the sheath with my arms when I hear the footsteps； several pairs； ing through the underbrush； and I realize the Careers have e back。 Theyˇve e back to kill me or get their weapons or both。
But itˇs too late to run。 I pull a slimy arrow from the sheath and try to position it on the bowstring but instead of one string I see three and the stench from the stings is so repulsive I canˇt do it。 I canˇt do it。 I canˇt do it。
Iˇm helpless as the first hunter crashes through the trees； spear lifted； poised to throw。 The shock on Peetaˇs face makes no sense to me。 I wait for the blow。 Instead his arm drops to his side。
¨What are you still doing here？〃 he hisses at me。 I stare unprehendingly as a trickle of water drips off a sting under his ear。 His whole body starts sparkling as if heˇs been dipped in dew。 ¨Are you mad？〃 Heˇs prodding me with the shaft of the spear now。 ¨Get up！ Get up！〃 I rise； but heˇs still pushing at me。 What？ What is going on？ He shoves me away from him hard。 ¨Run！〃 he screams。 ¨Run！〃
Behind him； Cato slashes his way through the brush。 Heˇs sparkling wet； too； and badly stung under one eye。 I catch the gleam of sunlight on his sword and do as Peeta says。 Holding tightly to my bow and arrows； banging into trees that appear out of nowhere； tripping and falling as I try to keep my balance。 Back past my pool and into unfamiliar woods。 The world begins to bend in alarming ways。 A butterfly balloons to the size of a house then shatters into a million stars。 Trees transform to blood and splash down over my boots。 Ants begin to crawl out of the blisters on my hands and I canˇt shake them free。 Theyˇre climbing up my arms； my neck。 Someoneˇs screaming； a long high pitched scream that never breaks for breath。 I have a vague idea it might be me。 I trip and fall into a small pit lined with tiny orange bubbles that hum like the tracker jacker nest。 Tucking my knees up to my chin； I wait for death。
Sick and disoriented； Iˇm able to form only one thought： Peeta Mellark just saved my life。
Then the ants bore into my eyes and I black out。
15
I enter a nightmare from which I wake repeatedly only to find a greater terror awaiting me。 All the things I dread most； all the things I dread for others manifest in such vivid detail I canˇt help but believe theyˇre real。 Each time I wake； I think； At last； this is over； but it isnˇt。 Itˇs only the beginning of a new chapter of torture。 How many ways do I watch Prim die？ Relive my fatherˇs last moments？ Feel my own body ripped apart？ This is the nature of the tracker jacker venom； so carefully created to target the place where fear lives in your brain。
When I finally do e to my senses； I lie still； waiting for the next onslaught of imagery。 But eventually I accept that the poison must have finally worked its way out of my system； leaving my body wracked and feeble。 Iˇm still lying on my side； locked in the fetal position。 I lift a hand to my eyes to find them sound； untouched by ants that never existed。 Simply stretching out my limbs requires an enormous effort。 So many parts of me hurt； it doesnˇt seem worthwhile taking inventory of them。 Very； very slowly I manage to sit up。 Iˇm in a shallow hole； not filled with the humming orange bubbles of my hallucination but with old； dead leaves。 My clothingˇs damp； but I donˇt know whether pond water； dew； rain； or sweat is the cause。 For a long time； all I can do is take tiny sips from my bottle and watch a beetle crawl up the side of a honeysuckle bush。
How long have I been out？ It was morning when I lost reason。 Now itˇs afternoon。 But the stiffness in my joints suggests more than a day has passed； even two possibly。 If so； Iˇll have no way of knowing which tributes survived that tracker jacker attack。 Not Glimmer or the girl from District 4。 But there was the boy from District 1； both tributes from District 2； and Peeta。 Did they die from the stings？ Certainly if they lived； their last days must have been as horrid as my own。 And what about Rue？ Sheˇs so small； it wouldnˇt take much venom to do her in。 But then again 。 。 。 the tracker jackers wouldˇve had to catch her； and she had a good head start。
A foul； rotten taste pervades my mouth； and the water has little effect on it。 I drag myself over to the honeysuckle bush and pluck a flower。 I gently pull the stamen through the blossom and set the drop of nectar on my tongue。 The sweetness spreads through my mouth； down my throat； warming my veins with memories of summer； and my home woods and Galeˇs presence beside me。 For some reason； our discussion from that last morning es back to me。
¨We could do it； you know。〃
¨What？〃
¨Leave the district。 Run off。 Live in the woods。 You and I； we
could make it。〃
And suddenly； Iˇm not thinking of Gale but of Peeta and 。 。 。 Peeta！ He saved my life！ I think。 Because by the time we met up； I couldnˇt tell what was real and what the tracker jacker venom had caused me to imagine。 But if he did； and my instincts tell me he did； what for？ Is he simply working the Lover Boy angle he initiated at the interview？ Or was he actually trying to protect me？ And if he was； what was he doing with those Careers in the first place？ None of it makes sense。
I wonder what Gale made of the incident for a moment and then I push the whole thing out of my mind because for some reason Gale and Peeta do not coexist well together in my thoughts。
So I focus on the one really good thing thatˇs happened since I landed in the arena。 I have a bow and arrows！ A full dozen arrows if you count the one I retrieved in the tree。 They bear no trace of the noxious green slime that came from Glimmerˇs body which leads me to believe that might not have been wholly real but they have a fair amount of dried blood on them。 I can clean them later； but I do take a minute to shoot a few into a nearby tree。 They are more like the weapons in the Training Center than my ones at home； but who cares？ That I can work with。
The weapons give me an entirely new perspective on the Games。 I know I have tough opponents left to face。 But I am no longer merely prey that runs and hides or takes desperate measures。 If Cato broke through the trees right now； I wouldnˇt flee； Iˇd shoot。 I find Iˇm actually anticipating the moment with pleasure。
But first； I have to get some strength back in my body。 Iˇm very dehydrated again and my water supply is dangerously low。 The little padding I was able to put on by gorging myself during prep time in the Capitol is gone； plus several more pounds as well。 My hip bones and ribs are more prominent than I remember them being since those awful months after my fatherˇs death。 And then there are my wounds to contend with burns； cuts； and bruises from smashing into the trees； and three tracker jacker stings； which are as sore and swollen as ever。 I treat my burns with the ointment and try dabbing a bit on my stings as well； but it has no effect on them。 My mother knew a treatment for them； some type of leaf that could draw out the poison； but she seldom had cause to use it； and I donˇt even remember its name let alone its appearance。
Water first； I think。 You can hunt along the way now。 Itˇs easy to see the direction I came from by the path of destruction my crazed body made through the foliage。 So I walk off in the other direction； hoping my enemies still lie locked in the surreal world of tracker jacker venom。
I canˇt move too quickly； my joints reject any abrupt motions。 But I establish the slow hunterˇs tread I use when tracking game。 Within a few minutes； I spot a rabbit and make my first kill with the bow and arrow。 Itˇs not my usual clean shot through the eye； but Iˇll take it。 After about an hour； I find a stream； shallow but wide； and more than sufficient for my needs。 The sunˇs hot and severe； so while I wait for my water to purify I strip down to my underclothes and wade into the mild current。 Iˇm filthy from head to toe； I try splashing myself but eventually just lay down in the water for a few minutes； letting it wash off the soot and blood and skin that has started to peel off my burns。 After rinsing out my clothes and hanging them on bushes to dry； I sit on the bank in the sun for a bit； untangling my hair with my fingers。 My appetite returns and I eat a cracker and a strip of beef。 With a handful of moss； I polish the blood from my silver weapons。
Refreshed； I treat my burns again； braid back my hair； and dress in the damp clothes； knowing the sun will dry them soon enough。 Following the stream against its current seems the smartest course of action。 Iˇm traveling uphill now； which I prefer； with a source of fresh water not only for myself but possible game。 I easily take out a strange bird that must be some form of wild turkey。 Anyway； it looks plenty edible to me。 By late afternoon； I decide to build a small fire to cook the meat； betting that dusk will help conceal the smoke and I can quench the fire by nightfall。 I clean the game； taking extra care with the bird； but thereˇs nothing alarming about it。 Once the feathers are plucked； itˇs no bigger than a chicken； but itˇs plump and firm。 Iˇve just placed the first lot over the coals when I hear the twig snap。
In one motion； I turn to the sound； bringing the bow and arrow to my shoulder。 Thereˇs no one there。 No one I can see anyway。 Then I spot the tip of a childˇs boot just peeking out from behind the trunk of a tree。 My shoulders relax and I grin。 She can move through the woods like a shadow； you have to give her that。 How else could she have followed me？ The words e out of my mouth before I can stop them。
¨You know； theyˇre not the only ones who can form alliances；〃 I say。
For a moment； no response。 Then one of Rueˇs eyes edges round the trunk。 ¨You want me for an ally？〃
¨Why not？ You saved me with those tracker jackers。 Youˇre mart enough to still be alive。 And I canˇt seem to shake you nyway；〃 I say。 She blinks at me； trying to decide。 ¨You hungry？〃 can see her swallow hard； her eye flickering to the eat。 ¨e on then； Iˇve had two kills today。〃
Rue tentatively steps out into the open。 ¨I can fix your tings。〃
¨Can you？〃 I ask。 ¨How？〃
She digs in the pack she carries and pulls out a handful of eaves。 Iˇm almost certain theyˇre the ones my mother uses。 Whereˇd you find those？〃
¨Just around。 We all carry them when we work in the orchards。 hey left a lot of nests there；〃 says Rue。 ¨There are a lot ere； too。〃
¨Thatˇs right。 Youˇre District Eleven。 Agriculture；〃 I say。 Orchards； huh？ That must be how you can fly around the rees like youˇve got wings。〃 Rue smiles。 Iˇve landed on one of the few things sheˇll admit pride in。 ¨Well； e on； then。 Fix me up。〃
I plunk down by the fire and roll up my pant leg to reveal the sting on my knee。 To my surprise； Rue places the handful of leaves into her mouth and begins to chew them。 My mother would use other methods； but itˇs not like we have a lot of options。 After a minute or so； Rue presses a gloppy green wad of chewed leaves and spit on my knee。
¨Ohhh。〃 The sound es out of my mouth before I can stop it。 Itˇs as if the leaves are actually leaching the pain right out of the sting。
Rue gives a giggle。 ¨Lucky you had the sense to pull the stingers out or youˇd be a lot worse。〃
¨Do my neck！ Do my cheek！〃 I almost beg。
Rue stuffs another handful of leaves in her mouth； and soon Iˇm laughing because the relief is so sweet。 I notice a long burn on Rueˇs forearm。 ¨Iˇve got something for that。〃 I set aside my weapons and anoint her arm with the burn medicine。
¨You have good sponsors；〃 she says longingly。
¨Have you gotten anything yet？〃 I ask。 She shakes her head。 ¨You will； though。 Watch。 The closer we get to the end； the more people will realize how clever you are。〃 I turn the meat over。
¨You werenˇt joking； about wanting me for an ally？〃 she asks。
¨No； I meant it；〃 I say。 I can almost hear Haymitch groaning as I team up with this wispy child。 But I want her。 Because sheˇs a survivor； and I trust her； and why not admit it？ She reminds me of Prim。
¨Okay；〃 she says； and holds out her hand。 We shake。 ¨Itˇs a deal。〃
Of course； this kind of deal can only be temporary； but neither of us mentions that。
Rue contributes a big handful of some sort of starchy root to the meal。 Roasted over the fire； they have the sharp sweet taste of a parsnip。 She recognizes the bird； too； some wild thing they call a groosling in her district。 She says sometimes a flock will wander into the orchard and they get a decent lunch that day。 For a while； all conversation stops as we fill our stomachs。 The groosling has delicious meal thatˇs so fatty； the grease drips down your face when you bite into it。
¨Oh；〃 says Rue with a sigh。 ¨Iˇve never had a whole leg to myself before。〃
Iˇll bet she hasnˇt。 Iˇll bet meat hardly ever es her way。 ¨Take the other；〃 I say。
¨Really？〃 she asks。
¨Take whatever you want。 Now that Iˇve got a bow and arrows； I can get more。 Plus Iˇve got snares。 I can show you how to set them；〃 I say。 Rue still looks uncertainly at the leg。 ¨Oh； take it；〃 I say； putting the drumstick in her hands。 ¨It will only keep a few days anyway； and weˇve got the whole bird plus the rabbit。〃 Once sheˇs got hold of it； her appetite wins out and she takes a huge mouthful。
¨Iˇd have thought； in District Eleven； youˇd have a bit more to eat than us。 You know； since you grow the food；〃 I say。
Rueˇs eyes widen。 ¨Oh； no； weˇre not allowed to eat the crops。〃
¨They arrest you or something？〃 I ask。
¨They whip you and make everyone else watch；〃 says Rue。 ¨The mayorˇs very strict about it。〃
I can tell by her expression that itˇs not that unmon an occurrence。 A public whippingˇs a rare thing in District 12； although occasionally one occurs。 Technically； Gale and I could be
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