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the hunger games-饥饿游戏(英文版)-第24部分
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be so popular with the audience that condemning it would jeopardize the success of the Games。 No thanks to me。 All Iˇve done is managed not to kill Peeta。 But whatever heˇs done in the arena； he must have the audience convinced it was to keep me alive。 Shaking his head to keep me from running to the Cornucopia。 Fighting Cato to let me escape。 Even hooking up with the Careers must have been a move to protect me。 Peeta； it turns out； has never been a danger to me。
The thought makes me smile。 I drop my hands and hold my face up to the moonlight so the cameras can be sure to catch it。
So； who is there left to be afraid of？ Foxface？ The boy tribute from her district is dead。 Sheˇs operating alone； at night。 And her strategy has been to evade； not attack。 I donˇt really think that； even if she heard my voice； sheˇd do anything but hope someone else would kill me。
Then thereˇs Thresh。 All right； heˇs a distinct threat。 But I havenˇt seen him； not once； since the Games began。 I think about how Foxface grew alarmed when she heard a sound at the site of the explosion。 But she didnˇt turn to the Woods； she turned to whatever lies across from it。 To that area of the arena that drops off into I donˇt know what。 I feel almost certain that the person she ran from was Thresh and that is his domain。 Heˇd never have heard me from there and； even if he did； Iˇm up too high for someone his size to reach。
So that leaves Cato and the girl from District 2； who are now surely celebrating the new rule。 Theyˇre the only ones left who benefit from it besides Peeta and myself。 Do I run from them now； on the chance they heard me call Peetaˇs name？ No； I think。 Let them e。 Let them e with their night…vision glasses and their heavy； branch…breaking bodies。
Right into the range of my arrows。 But I know they wonˇt。 If they didnˇt e in daylight to my fire； they wonˇt risk what could be another trap at night。 When they e； it will be on their own terms； not because Iˇve let them know my whereabouts。
Stay put and get some sleep； Katniss； I instruct myself； although I wish I could start tracking Peeta now。 Tomorrow； youˇll find him。
I do sleep； but in the morning Iˇm extra…cautious； thinking that while the Careers might hesitate to attack me in a tree； theyˇre pletely capable of setting an ambush for me。 I make sure to fully prepare myself for the day eating a big breakfast； securing my pack； readying my weapons before I descend。 But all seems peaceful and undisturbed on the ground。
Today Iˇll have to be scrupulously careful。 The Careers will know Iˇm trying to locate Peeta。 They may well want to wait until I do before they move in。 If heˇs as badly wounded as Cato thinks； Iˇd be in the position of having to defend us both without any assistance。 But if heˇs that incapacitated； how has he managed to stay alive？ And how on earth will I find him？
I try to think of anything Peeta ever said that might give me an indication as to where heˇs hiding out； but nothing rings a bell。 So I go back to the last moment I saw him sparkling in the sunlight； yelling at me to run。 Then Cato appeared； his sword drawn。 And after I was gone； he wounded Peeta。 But how did Peeta get away？ Maybe heˇd held out better against the tracker jacker poison than Cato。
Maybe that was the variable that allowed him to escape。 But heˇd been stung； too。 So how far could he have gotten； stabbed and filled with venom？ And how has he stayed alive all these days since？ If the wound and the stingers havenˇt killed him； surely thirst would have taken him by now。
And thatˇs when I get my first clue to his whereabouts。 He couldnˇt have survived without water。 I know that from my first few days here。 He must be hidden somewhere near a source。 Thereˇs the lake； but I find that an unlikely option since itˇs so close to the Careersˇ base camp。 A few spring…fed pools。 But youˇd really be a sitting duck at one of those。 And the stream。 The one that leads from the camp Rue and I made all the way down near the lake and beyond。 If he stuck to the stream； he could change his location and always be near water。 He could walk in the current and erase any tracks。 He might even be able to get a fish or two。
Well； itˇs a place to start； anyway。
To confuse my enemiesˇ minds； I start a fire with plenty of green wood。 Even if they think itˇs a ruse； I hope theyˇll decide Iˇm hidden somewhere near it。 While in reality； Iˇll be tracking Peeta。
The sun burns off the morning haze almost immediately and I can tell the day will be hotter than usual。 The waters cool and pleasant on my bare feet as I head downstream。 Iˇm tempted to call out Peetaˇs name as I go but decide against it。 I will have to find him with my eyes and one good ear or he will have to find me。 But heˇll know Iˇll be looking； right？ He wonˇt have so low of an opinion of me as to think Iˇd ignore the new rule and keep to myself。 Would he？ Heˇs very hard to predict； which might be interesting under different circumstances； but at the moment only provides an extra obstacle。
It doesnˇt take long to reach the spot where I peeled off to go the Careersˇ camp。 Thereˇs been no sign of Peeta； but this doesnˇt surprise me。 Iˇve been up and down this stretch three times since the tracker jacker incident。 If he were nearby； surely Iˇd have had some suspicion of it。 The stream begins to curve to the left into a part of the woods thatˇs new to me。 Muddy banks covered in tangled water plants lead to large rocks that increase in size until I begin to feel somewhat trapped。 It would be no small matter to escape the stream now。 Fighting off Cato or Thresh as I climbed over this rocky
terrain。 In fact； Iˇve just about decided Iˇm on the wrong track entirely； that a wounded boy would be unable to navigate getting to and from this water source； when I see the bloody streak going down the curve of a boulder。 Itˇs long dried now； but the smeary lines running side to side suggest someone who perhaps was not fully in control of his mental faculties tried to wipe it away。
Hugging the rocks； I move slowly in the direction of the blood； searching for him。 I find a few more bloodstains； one with a few threads of fabric glued to it； but no sign of life。 I break down and say his name in a hushed voice。 ¨Peeta！ Peeta！〃 Then a mockingjay lands on a scruffy tree and begins to mimic my tones so I stop。 I give up and climb back down to the stream thinking； He must have moved on。 Somewhere farther down。
My foot has just broken the surface of the water when I hear a voice。
¨You here to finish me off； sweetheart？〃
I whip around。 Itˇs e from the left； so I canˇt pick it up very well。 And the voice was hoarse and weak。 Still； it must have been Peeta。 Who else in the arena would call me sweetheart？ My eyes peruse the bank； but thereˇs nothing。 Just mud； the plants； the base of the rocks。
¨Peeta？〃 I whisper。 ¨Where are you？〃 Thereˇs no answer。 Could I just have imagined it？ No； Iˇm certain it was real and very close at hand； too。 ¨Peeta？〃 I creep along the bank。
¨Well； donˇt step on me。〃
I jump back。 His voice was right under my feet。 Still thereˇs nothing。 Then his eyes open； unmistakably blue in the brown mud and green leaves。 I gasp and am rewarded with a hint of white teeth as he laughs。
Itˇs the final word in camouflage。 Forget chucking weights around。 Peeta should have gone into his private session with the Gamemakers and painted himself into a tree。 Or a boulder。 Or a muddy bank full of weeds。
¨Close your eyes again；〃 I order。 He does； and his mouth； too； and pletely disappears。 Most of what I judge to be his body is actually under a layer of mud and plants。 His face and arms are so artfully disguised as to be invisible。 I kneel beside him。 ¨I guess all those hours decorating cakes paid off。〃
Peeta smiles。 ¨Yes； frosting。 The final defense of the dying。〃
¨Youˇre not going to die；〃 I tell him firmly。 ¨Says who？〃 His voice is so ragged。 ¨Says me。 Weˇre on the same team now； you know；〃 I tell him。
His eyes open。 ¨So； I heard。 Nice of you to find whatˇs left of me。〃
I pull out my water bottle and give him a drink。 ¨Did Cato cut you？〃 I ask。
¨Left leg。 Up high；〃 he answers。
¨Letˇs get you in the stream； wash you off so I can see what kind of wounds youˇve got；〃 I say。
¨Lean down a minute first；〃 he says。 ¨Need to tell you something。〃 I lean over and put my good ear to his lips； which tickle as he whispers。 ¨Remember； weˇre madly in love； so itˇs all right to kiss me anytime you feel like it。〃
I jerk my head back but end up laughing。 ¨Thanks； Iˇll keep it in mind。〃 At least； heˇs still able to joke around。 But when I start to help him to the stream； all the levity disappears。 Itˇs only two feet away； how hard can it be？ Very hard when I realize heˇs unable to move an inch on his own。 Heˇs so weak that the best he can do is not to resist。 I try to drag him； but despite the fact that I know heˇs doing all he can to keep quiet； sharp cries of pain escape him。 The mud and plants seem to have imprisoned him and I finally have to give a gigantic tug to break him from their clutches。 Heˇs still two feet from the water； lying there； teeth gritted； tears cutting trails in the dirt on his face。
¨Look； Peeta； Iˇm going to roll you into the stream。 Itˇs very shallow here； okay？〃 I say。
¨Excellent；〃 he says。
I crouch down beside him。 No matter what happens； I tell myself； donˇt stop until heˇs in the water。 ¨On three；〃 I say。 ¨One； two； three！〃 I can only manage one full roll before I have to stop because of the horrible sound heˇs making。 Now heˇs on the edge of the stream。 Maybe this is better anyway。
¨Okay； change of plans。 Iˇm not going to put you all the way in；〃 I tell him。 Besides； if I get him in； who knows if Iˇd ever be able to get him out？
¨No more rolling？〃 he asks。
¨Thatˇs all done。 Letˇs get you cleaned up。 Keep an eye on the woods for me； okay？〃 I say。 Itˇs hard to know where to start。 He so caked with mud and matted leaves； I canˇt even see his clothes。 If heˇs wearing clothes。 The thought makes me hesitate a moment； but then I plunge in。 Naked bodies are no big deal in the arena； right？
Iˇve got two water bottles and Rueˇs water skin。 I prop them against rocks in the stream so that two are always filling while I pour the third over Peetaˇs body。 It takes a while； but I finally get rid of enough mud to find his clothes。 I gently unzip his jacket； unbutton his shirt and ease them off him。 His undershirt is so plastered into his wounds I have to cut it away with my knife and drench him again to work it loose。 Heˇs badly bruised with a long burn across his chest and four tracker jacker stings； if you count the one under his ear。 But I feel a bit better。 This much I can fix。 I decide to take care of his upper body first； to alleviate some pain； before I tackle whatever damage Cato did to his leg。
Since treating his wounds seems pointless when heˇs lying in whatˇs bee a mud puddle； I manage to prop him up against a boulder。 He sits there； unplaining； while I wash away all the traces of dirt from his hair and skin。 His flesh is very pale in the sunlight and he no longer looks strong and stocky。 I have to dig the stingers out of his tracker jacker lumps； which causes him to wince； but the minute I apply the leaves he sighs in relief。 While he dries in the sun； I wash his filthy shirt and jacket and spread them over boulders。 Then I apply the burn cream to his chest。 This is when I notice how hot his skin is being。 The layer of mud and the bottles of water have disguised the fact that heˇs burning with fever。 I dig through the first…aid kit I got from the boy from District 1 and find pills that reduce your temperature。 My mother actually breaks down and buys these on occasion when her home remedies fail。
¨Swallow these；〃 I tell him； and he obediently takes the medicine。 ¨You must be hungry。〃
¨Not really。 Itˇs funny； I havenˇt been hungry for days；〃 says Peeta。 In fact； when I offer him groosling； he wrinkles his nose at it and turns away。 Thatˇs when I know how sick he is。
¨Peeta； we need to get some food in you；〃 I insist。
¨Itˇll just e right back up；〃 he says。 The best I can do is to get him to eat a few bits of dried apple。 ¨Thanks。 Iˇm much better； really。 Can I sleep now； Katniss？〃 he asks。
¨Soon；〃 I promise。 ¨I need to look at your leg first。〃 Trying to be as gentle as I can； I remove his boots； his socks； and then very slowly inch his pants off of him。 I can see the tear Catoˇs sword made in the fabric over his thigh； but it in no way prepares me for what lies underneath。 The deep inflamed gash oozing both blood and pus。 The swelling of the leg。 And worst of all； the smell of festering flesh。
I want to run away。 Disappear into the woods like I did that day they brought the burn victim to our house。 Go and hunt while my mother and Prim attend to what I have neither the skill nor the courage to face。 But thereˇs no one here but me。 I try to capture the calm demeanor my mother assumes when
handling particularly bad cases。
¨Pretty awful； huh？〃 says Peeta。 Heˇs watching me closely。
¨So…so。〃 I shrug like itˇs no big deal。 ¨You should see some of the people they bring my mother from the mines。〃 I refrain from saying how I usually clear out of the house whenever sheˇs treating anything worse than a cold。 e to think of it； I donˇt even much like to be around coughing。 ¨First thing is to clean it well。〃
Iˇve left on Peetaˇs undershorts because theyˇre not in bad shape and I donˇt want to pull them over the swollen thigh and； all right； maybe the idea of him being naked makes me unfortable。 Thatˇs another thing about my mother and Prim。 Nakedness has no effect on them； gives them no cause for embarrassment。 Ironically； at this point in the Games； my little sister would be of far more use to Peeta than I am。 I scoot my square of plastic under him so I can wash down the rest of him。 With each bottle I pour over him； the worse the wound looks。 The rest of his lower body has fared pretty well； just one tracker jacker sting and a few small burns that I treat quickly。 But the gash on his leg 。 。 。 what on earth can I do for that？
¨Why donˇt we give it some air and then 。 。 。〃 I trail off。
¨And then youˇll patch it up？〃 says Peeta。 He looks almost sorry for me； as if he knows how lost I am。
¨Thatˇs right；〃 I say。 ¨In the meantime； you eat these。〃 I put a few dried pear halves in his hand and go back in the stream to wash the rest of his clothes。 When theyˇre flattened out and drying； I examine the contents of the first…aid kit。 Itˇs pretty basic stuff。 Bandages； fever pills； medicine to calm stomachs。 Nothing of the caliber Iˇll need to treat Peeta。
¨Weˇre going to have to experiment some；〃 I admit。 I know the tracker jacker leaves draw out infection； so I start with those。 Within minutes of pressing the handful of chewed…up green stuff into the wound； pus begins running down the side of his leg。 I tell myself this is a good thing and bite the inside of my cheek hard because my breakfast is threatening to make a reappearance。
¨Katniss？〃 Peeta says。 I meet his eyes； knowing my face must be some shade of green。 He mouths the words。 ¨How about that kiss？〃
I burst out laughing beca
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