第24部分(第1/7 页)

back　on　my　pack；　overe　by　drowsiness。　If　the　Careers　want　me；　let　them　find　me；　I　think　before　drifting　into　a　stupor。　Let　them　find　me。

And　find　me；　they　do。　Itˇs　lucky　Iˇm　ready　to　move　on　because　when　I　hear　the　feet；　I　have　less　than　a　minute　head　start。　Evening　has　begun　to　fall。　The　moment　I　awake；　Iˇm　up　and　running；　splashing　across　the　pool；　flying　into　the　underbrush。　My　leg　slows　me　down；　but　I　sense　my　pursuers　are　not　as　speedy　as　they　were　before　the　fire；　either。　I　hear　their　coughs；　their　raspy　voices　calling　to　one　another。

Still；　they　are　closing　in；　just　like　a　pack　of　wild　dogs；　and　so　I　do　what　I　have　done　my　whole　life　in　such　circumstances。　I　pick　a　high　tree　and　begin　to　climb。　If　running　hurt；　climbing　is　agonizing　because　it　requires　not　only　exertion　but　direct　contact　of　my　hands　on　the　tree　bark。　Iˇm　fast；　though；　and　by　the　time　theyˇve　reached　the　base　of　my　trunk；　Iˇm　twenty　feet　up。　For　a　moment；　we　stop　and　survey　one　another。　I　hope　they　canˇt　hear　the　pounding　of　my　heart。

This　could　be　it；　I　think。　What　chance　do　I　have　against　them？　All　six　are　there；　the　five　Careers　and　Peeta；　and　my　only　consolation　is　theyˇre　pretty　beat…up；　too。　Even　so；　look　at　their　weapons。　Look　at　their　faces；　grinning　and　snarling　at　me；　a　sure　kill　above　them。　It　seems　pretty　hopeless。　But　then　something　else　registers。　Theyˇre　bigger　and　stronger　than　I　am；　no　doubt；　but　theyˇre　also　heavier。　Thereˇs　a　reason　itˇs　me　and　not　Gale　who　ventures　up　to　pluck　the　highest　fruit；　or　rob　the　most　remote　bird　nests。　I　must　weigh　at　least　fifty　or　sixty　pounds　less　than　the　smallest　Career。

Now　I　smile。　¨Howˇs　everything　with　you？〃　I　call　down　cheerfully。

This　takes　them　aback；　but　I　know　the　crowd　will　love　it。

¨Well