第23部分(第2/7 页)

ith　the　Careers。　Iˇve　just　decided　to　try　and　loop　back　around；　although　it　iles　of　travel　away　from　the　inferno　and　then　a　very　circuitous　route　back；　when　the　first　fireball　blasts　into　the　rock　about　two　feet　from　my　head。　I　spring　out　from　under　my　ledge；　energized　by　renewed　fear。

The　game　has　taken　a　twist。　The　fire　was　just　to　get　us　moving；　now　the　audience　will　get　to　see　some　real　fun。　When　I　hear　the　next　hiss；　I　flatten　on　the　ground；　not　taking　time　to　look。　The　fireball　hits　a　tree　off　to　my　left；　engulfing　it　in　flames。　To　remain　still　is　death。　Iˇm　barely　on　my　feet　before　the　third　ball　hits　the　ground　where　I　was　lying；　sending　a　pillar　of　fire　up　behind　me。　Time　loses　meaning　now　as　I　frantically　try　to　dodge　the　attacks。　I　canˇt　see　where　theyˇre　being　launched　from；　but　itˇs　not　a　hovercraft。　The　angles　are　not　extreme　enough。　Probably　this　whole　segment　of　the　woods　has　been　armed　with　precision　launchers　that　are　concealed　in　trees　or　rocks。　Somewhere；　in　a　cool　and　spotless　room；　a　Gamemaker　sits　at　a　set　of　controls；　fingers　on　the　triggers　that　could　end　my　life　in　a　second。　All　that　is　needed　is　a　direct　hit。

Whatever　vague　plan　I　had　conceived　regarding　returning　to　my　pond　is　wiped　from　my　mind　as　I　zigzag　and　dive　and　leap　to　avoid　the　fireballs。　Each　one　is　only　the　size　of　an　apple；　but　packs　tremendous　power　on　contact。　Every　sense　I　have　goes　into　overdrive　as　the　need　to　survive　takes　over。　Thereˇs　no　time　to　judge　if　a　move　is　the　correct　one。　When　thereˇs　a　hiss；　I　act　or　die。

Something　keeps　me　moving　forward；　though。　A　lifetime　of　watching　the　Hunger　Games　lets　me　know　that　certain　areas　of　the　arena　are　rigged　for　certain　attacks。　And　that　if　I　can　just　get　away　from　this　section；　I　might　be　able　to　move　out　o