第23部分(第1/7 页)

nˇt　extinguished。　This　is　all　I　have；　what　I　carry　on　my　back；　and　itˇs　little　enough　to　survive　with。

In　a　matter　of　minutes；　my　throat　and　nose　are　burning。　The　coughing　begins　soon　after　and　my　lungs　begin　to　feel　as　if　they　are　actually　being　cooked。　Disfort　turns　to　distress　until　each　breath　sends　a　searing　pain　through　my　chest。　I　manage　to　take　cover　under　a　stone　outcropping　just　as　the　vomiting　begins；　and　I　lose　my　meager　supper　and　whatever　water　has　remained　in　my　stomach。　Crouching　on　my　hands　and　knees；　I　retch　until　thereˇs　nothing　left　to　e　up。

I　know　I　need　to　keep　moving；　but　Iˇm　trembling　and　lightheaded　now；　gasping　for　air。　I　allow　myself　about　a　spoonful　of　water　to　rinse　my　mouth　and　spit　then　take　a　few　swallows　from　my　bottle。　You　get　one　minute；　I　tell　myself。　One　minute　to　rest。　I　take　the　time　to　reorder　my　supplies；　wad　up　the　sleeping　bag；　and　messily　stuff　everything　into　the　backpack。　My　minuteˇs　up。　I　know　itˇs　time　to　move　on；　but　the　smoke　has　clouded　my　thoughts。　The　swift…footed　animals　that　were　my　pass　have　left　me　behind。　I　know　I　havenˇt　been　in　this　part　of　the　woods　before；　there　were　no　sizable　rocks　like　the　one　Iˇm　sheltering　against　on　my　earlier　travels。　Where　are　the　Gamemakers　driving　me？　Back　to　the　lake？　To　a　whole　new　terrain　filled　with　new　dangers？　I　had　just　found　a　few　hours　of　peace　at　the　pond　when　this　attack　began。　Would　there　be　any　way　I　could　travel　parallel　to　the　fire　and　work　my　way　back　there；　to　a　source　of　water　at　least？　The　wall　of　fire　must　have　an　end　and　it　wonˇt　burn　indefinitely。　Not　because　the　Gamemakers　couldnˇt　keep　it　fueled　but　because；　again；　that　would　invite　accusations　of　boredom　from　the　audience。　If　I　could　get　back　behind　the　fire　line；　I　could　avoid　meeting　up　w