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the hunger games-饥饿游戏(英文版)-第18部分
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¨Think I will；〃 says the same boy。
¨Here； take this； Cato；〃 says the girl from District 1； and she offers him the silver bow and sheath of arrows。 My bow！ My arrows！ Just the sight of them makes me so angry I want to scream； at myself； at that traitor Peeta for distracting me from having them。 I try to make eye contact with him now； but he seems to be intentionally avoiding my gaze as he polishes his knife with the edge of his shirt。
¨No；〃 says Cato； pushing away the bow。 ¨Iˇll do better with my sword。〃 I can see the weapon； a short； heavy blade at his belt。
I give Cato time to hoist himself into the tree before I begin to climb again。 Gale always says I remind him of a squirrel the way I can scurry up even the slenderest limb。 Part of itˇs my weight； but part of itˇs practice。 You have to know where to place your hands and feet。 Iˇm another thirty feet in the air when I hear the crack and look down to see Cato flailing as he and a branch go down。 He hits the ground hard and Iˇm hoping he possibly broke his neck when he gets back to his feet； swearing like a fiend。
The girl with the arrows； Glimmer I hear someone call her ugh； the names the people in District 1 give their children are so ridiculous anyway Glimmer scales the tree until the branches begin to crack under her feet and then has the good sense to stop。 Iˇm at least eighty feet high now。 She tries to shoot me and itˇs immediately evident that sheˇs inpetent with a bow。 One of the arrows gets lodged in the tree near me though and Iˇm able to seize it。 I wave it teasingly above her head； as if this was the sole purpose of retrieving it； when actually I mean to use it if I ever get the chance。 I could kill them； everyone of them； if those silver weapons were in my hands。
The Careers regroup on the ground and I can hear them growling conspiratorially among themselves； furious I have made them look foolish。 But twilight has arrived and their window of attack on me is closing。 Finally； I hear Peeta say harshly； ¨Oh； let her stay up there。 Itˇs not like sheˇs going anywhere。 Weˇll deal with her in the morning。〃
Well； heˇs right about one thing。 Iˇm going nowhere。 All the relief from the pool water has gone； leaving me to feel the full potency of my burns。 I scoot down to a fork in the tree and clumsily prepare for bed。 Put on my jacket。 Lay out my sleeping bed。 Belt myself in and try to keep from moaning。 The heat of the bagˇs too much for my leg。 I cut a slash in the fabric and hang my calf out in the open air。 I drizzle water on the wound； my hands。
All my bravado is gone。 Iˇm weak from pain and hunger but canˇt bring myself to eat。 Even if I can last the night； what will the morning bring？ I stare into the foliage trying to will myself to rest； but the burns forbid it。 Birds are settling down for the night； singing lullabies to their young。 Night creatures emerge。 An owl hoots。 The faint scent of a skunk cuts through the smoke。 The eyes of some animal peer at me from the neighboring tree a possum maybe catching the firelight from the Careersˇ torches。 Suddenly； Iˇm up on one elbow。 Those are no possumˇs eyes； I know their glassy reflection too well。 In fact； those are not animal eyes at all。 In the last dim rays of light； I make her out； watching me silently from between the branches。 Rue。
How long has she been here？ The whole time probably。 Still and unobserved as the action unfolded beneath her。 Perhaps she headed up her tree shortly before I did； hearing the pack was so close。
For a while we hold each otherˇs gaze。 Then； without even rustling a leaf； her little hand slides into the open and points to something above my head。
14
My eyes follow the line of her finger up into the foliage above me。 At first； I have no idea what sheˇs pointing to； but then； about fifteen feet up； I make out the vague shape in the dimming light。 But of 。 。 。 of what？ Some sort of animal？ It looks about the size of a raccoon； but it hangs from the bottom of a branch； swaying ever so slightly。 Thereˇs something else。 Among the familiar evening sounds of the woods； my ears register a low hum。 Then I know。 Itˇs a wasp nest。
Fear shoots through me； but I have enough sense to keep still。 After all； I donˇt know what kind of wasp lives there。 It could be the ordinary leave…us…alone…and…weˇll…leave…youalone type。 But these are the Hunger Games； and ordinary isnˇt the norm。 More likely they will be one of the Capitolˇs muttations； tracker jackers。 Like the jabberjays； these killer wasps were spawned in a lab and strategically placed； like land mines； around the districts during the war。 Larger than regular wasps； they have a distinctive solid gold body and a sting that raises a lump the size of a plum on contact。 Most people canˇt tolerate more than a few stings。 Some die at once。 If you live； the hallucinations brought on by the venom have actually driven people to madness。 And thereˇs another thing； these wasps will hunt down anyone who disturbs their nest and at184 tempt to kill them。 Thatˇs where the tracker part of the name es from。
After the war； the Capitol destroyed all the nests surrounding their city； but the ones near the districts were left untouched。 Another reminder of our weakness； I suppose； just like the Hunger Games。 Another reason to keep inside the fence of District 12。 When Gale and I e across a tracker jacker nest； we immediately head in the opposite direction。
So is that what hangs above me？ I look back to Rue for help； but sheˇs melted into her tree。
Given my circumstances； I guess it doesnˇt matter what type of wasp nest it is。 Iˇm wounded and trapped。 Darkness has given me a brief reprieve； but by the time the sun rises； the Careers will have formulated a plan to kill me。 Thereˇs no way they could do otherwise after Iˇve made them look so stupid。 That nest may be the sole option I have left。 If I can drop it down on them； I may be able to escape。 But Iˇll risk my life in the process。
Of course； Iˇll never be able to get in close enough to the actual nest to cut it free。 Iˇll have to saw off the branch at the trunk and send the whole thing down。 The serrated portion of my knife should be able to manage that。 But can my hands？ And will the vibration from the sawing raise the swarm？ And what if the Careers figure out what Iˇm doing and move their camp？ That would defeat the whole purpose。
I realize that the best chance Iˇll have to do the sawing without drawing notice will be during the anthem。 That could begin any time。 I drag myself out of my bag； make sure my knife is secured in my belt； and begin to make my way up the tree。 This in itself is dangerous since the branches are being precariously thin even for me； but I persevere。 When I reach the limb that supports the nest； the humming bees more distinctive。 But itˇs still oddly subdued if these are tracker jackers。 Itˇs the smoke； I think。 Itˇs sedated them。 This was the one defense the rebels found to battle the wasps。
The seal of the Capitol shines above me and the anthem blares out。 Itˇs now or never； I think； and begin to saw。 Blisters burst on my right hand as I awkwardly drag the knife back and forth。 Once Iˇve got a groove； the work requires less effort but is almost more than I can handle。 I grit my teeth and saw away occasionally glancing at the sky to register that there were no deaths today。 Thatˇs all right。 The audience will be sated seeing me injured and treed and the pack below me。 But the anthemˇs running out and Iˇm only three quarters of the way through the wood when the music ends； the sky goes dark； and Iˇm forced to stop。
Now what？ I could probably finish off the job by sense of feel but that may not be the smartest plan。 If the wasps are too groggy； if the nest catches on its way down； if I try to escape； this could all be a deadly waste of time。 Better； I think； to sneak up here at dawn and send the nest into my enemies。
In the faint light of the Careersˇ torches； I inch back down to my fork to find the best surprise Iˇve ever had。 Sitting on my sleeping bag is a small plastic pot attached to a silver parachute。 My first gift from a sponsor！ Haymitch must have had it sent in during the anthem。 The pot easily fits in the palm of my hand。 What can it be？ Not food surely。 I unscrew the lid and I know by the scent that itˇs medicine。 Cautiously； I probe the surface of the ointment。 The throbbing in my fingertip vanishes。
¨Oh； Haymitch；〃 I whisper。 ¨Thank you。〃 He has not abandoned me。 Not left me to fend entirely for myself。 The cost of this medicine must be astronomical。 Probably not one but many sponsors have contributed to buy this one tiny pot。 To me； it is priceless。
I dip two fingers in the jar and gently spread the balm over my calf。 The effect is almost magical； erasing the pain on contact； leaving a pleasant cooling sensation behind。 This is no herbal concoction that my mother grinds up out of woodland plants； itˇs high…tech medicine brewed up in the Capitolˇs labs。 When my calf is treated； I rub a thin layer into my hands。 After wrapping the pot in the parachute； I nestle it safely away in my pack。 Now that the pain has eased； itˇs all I can do to reposition myself 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
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