波波小说

第25部分（第1页）

in　my　bag　before　I　plunge　into　sleep。

A　bird　perched　just　a　few　feet　from　me　alerts　me　that　a　new　day　is　dawning。　In　the　gray　morning　light；　I　examine　my　hands。　The　medicine　has　transformed　all　the　angry　red　patches　to　a　soft　baby…skin　pink。　My　leg　still　feels　inflamed；　but　that　burn　was　far　deeper。　I　apply　another　coat　of　medicine　and　quietly　pack　up　my　gear。　Whatever　happens；　Iˇm　going　to　have　to　move　and　move　fast。　I　also　make　myself　eat　a　cracker　and　a　strip　of　beef　and　drink　a　few　cups　of　water。

Almost　nothing　stayed　in　my　stomach　yesterday；　and　Iˇm　already　starting　to　feel　the　effects　of　hunger。

Below　me；　I　can　see　the　Career　pack　and　Peeta　asleep　on　the　ground。　By　her　position；　leaning　up　against　the　trunk　of　the　tree；　Iˇd　guess　Glimmer　was　supposed　to　be　on　guard；　but　fatigue　overcame　her。

My　eyes　squint　as　they　try　to　perate　the　tree　next　to　me；　but　I　canˇt　make　out　Rue。　Since　she　tipped　me　off；　it　only　seems　fair　to　warn　her。　Besides；　if　Iˇm　going　to　die　today；　itˇs　Rue　I　want　to　win。　Even　if　it　means　a　little　extra　food　for　my　family；　the　idea　of　Peeta　being　crowned　victor　is　unbearable。

I　call　Rueˇs　name　in　a　hushed　whisper　and　the　eyes　appear；　wide　and　alert；　at　once。　She　points　up　to　the　nest　again。　I　hold　up　my　knife　and　make　a　sawing　motion。　She　nods　and　disappears。　Thereˇs　a　rustling　in　a　nearby　tree。　Then　the　same　noise　again　a　bit　farther　off。　I　realize　sheˇs　leaping　from　tree　to　tree。　Itˇs　all　I　can　do　not　to　laugh　out　loud。　Is　this　what　she　showed　the　Gamemakers？　I　imagine　her　flying　around　the　training　equipment　never　touching　the　floor。　She　should　have　gotten　at　least　a　ten。

Rosy　streaks　are　breaking　through　in　the　east。　I　canˇt　afford　to　wait　any　longer。　pared　to　the　agony　of　last　nightˇs　climb；　this　one　is　a　cinch。　At　the　tree　limb　that　holds　the　nest；　I　position　the　knife　in　the　groove　and　Iˇm　about　to　draw　the　teeth　across　the　wood　when　I　see　something　moving。　There；　on　the　nest。　The　bright　gold　gleam　of　a　tracker　jacker　lazily　making　its　way　across　the　papery　gray　surface。　No　question；　itˇs　acting　a　little　subdued；　but　the　wasp　is　up　and　moving　and　that　means　the　others　will　be　out　soon　as　well。　Sweat　breaks　out　on　the　palms　of　my　hands；　beading　up　through　the　ointment；　and　I　do　my　best　to　pat　them　dry　on　my　shirt。　If　I　donˇt　get　through　this　branch　in　a　matter　of　seconds；　the　entire　swarm　could　emerge　and　attack　me。

Thereˇs　no　sense　in　putting　it　off。　I　take　a　deep　breath；　grip　the　knife　handle　and　bear　down　as　hard　as　I　can。　Back；　forth；　back；　forth！　The　tracker　jackers　begin　to　buzz　and　I　hear　them　ing　out。　Back；　forth；　back；　forth！　A　stabbing　pain　shoots　through　my　knee　and　I　know　one　has　found　me　and　the　others　will　be　honing　in。　Back；　forth；　back；　forth。　And　just　as　the　knife　cuts　through；　I　shove　the　end　of　the　branch　as　far　away　from　me　as　I　can。　It　crashes　down　through　the　lower　branches；　snagging　temporarily　on　a　few　but　then　twisting　free　until　it　smashes　with　a　thud　on　the　ground。　The　nest　bursts　open　like　an　egg；　and　a　furious　swarm　of　tracker　jackers　takes　to　the　air。

I　feel　a　second　sting　on　the　cheek；　a　third　on　my　neck；　and　their　venom　almost　immediately　makes　me　woozy。　I　cling　to　the　tree　with　one　arm　while　I　rip　the　barbed　stingers　out　of　my　flesh。　Fortunately；　only　these　three　tracker　jackers　had　identified　me　before　the　nest　went　down。　The　rest　of　the　insects　have　targeted　their　enemies　on　the　ground。

Itˇs　mayhem。　The　Careers　have　woken　to　a　full…scale　tracker　jacker　attack。　Peeta　and　a　few　others　have　the　sense　to　drop　everything　and　bolt。　I　can　hear　cries　of　¨To　the　lake！　To　the　lake！〃　and　know　they　hope　to　evade　the　wasps　by　taking　to　the　water。　It　must　be　close　if　they　think　they　can　outdistance　the　furious　insects。　Glimmer　and　another　girl；　the　one　from　District　4；　are　not　so　lucky。　They　receive　multiple　stings　before　theyˇre　even　out　of　my　view。　Glimmer　appears　to　go　pletely　mad；　shrieking　and　trying　to　bat　the　wasps　off　with　her　bow；　which　is　pointless。　She　calls　to　the　others　for　help　but；　of　course；　no　one　returns。　The　girl　from　District　4　staggers　out　of　sight；　although　I　wouldnˇt　bet　on　her　making　it　to　the　lake。　I　watch　Glimmer　fall；　twitch　hysterically　around　on　the　ground　for　a　few　minutes；　and　then　go　still。

The　nest　is　nothing　but　an　empty　shell。　The　wasps　have　vanished　in　pursuit　of　the　others。　I　donˇt　think　theyˇll　return；　but　I　donˇt　want　to　risk　it。　I　scamper　down　the　tree　and　hit　the　ground　running　in　the　opposite　direction　of　the　lake。　The　poison　from　the　stingers　makes　me　wobbly；　but　I　find　my　way　back　to　my　own　little　pool　and　submerge　myself　in　the　water；　just　in　case　any　wasps　are　still　on　my　trail。　After　about　five　minutes；　I　drag　myself　onto　the　rocks。　People　have　not　exaggerated　the　effects　of　the　tracker　jacker　stings。　Actually；　the　one　on　my　knee　is　closer　to　an　orange　than　a　plum　in　size。　A　foulsmelling　green　liquid　oozes　from　the　places　where　I　pulled　out　the　stingers。

The　swelling。　The　pain。　The　ooze。　Watching　Glimmer　twitching　to　death　on　the　ground。　Itˇs　a　lot　to　handle　before　the　sun　has　even　cleared　the　horizon。　I　donˇt　want　to　think　about　what　Glimmer　must　look　like　now。　Her　body　disfigured。　Her　swollen　fingers　stiffening　around　the　bow　。　。　。

The　bow！　Somewhere　in　my　befuddled　mind　one　thought　connects　to　another　and　Iˇm　on　my　feet；　teetering　through　the　trees　back　to　Glimmer。　The　bow。　The　arrows。　I　must　get　them。　I　havenˇt　heard　the　cannons　fire　yet；　so　perhaps　Glimmer　is　in　some　sort　of　a；　her　heart　still　struggling　against　the　wasp　venom。　But　once　it　stops　and　the　cannon　signals　her　death；　a　hovercraft　will　move　in　and　retrieve　her　body；　taking　the　only　bow　and　sheath　of　arrows　Iˇve　seen　out　of　the　Games　for　good。　And　I　refuse　to　let　them　slip　through　my　fingers　again！

I　reach　Glimmer　just　as　the　cannon　fires。　The　tracker　jackers　have　vanished。　This　girl；　so　breathtakingly　beautiful　in　her　golden　dress　the　night　of　the　interviews；　is　unrecognizable。　Her　features　eradicated；　her　limbs　three　times　their　normal　size。　The　stinger　lumps　have　begun　to　explode；　spewing　putrid　　green　liquid　around　her。　I　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

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