第29部分(第2/7 页)

ssing。　Iˇm　genuinely　thinking　of　trying　to　re…create　Foxfaceˇs　trip　up　to　the　pyramid　in　hopes　of　finding　a　new　means　of　destruction　when　my　eyes　light　on　the　burlap　bag　of　apples。　I　could　sever　the　rope　in　one　shot；　didnˇt　I　do　as　much　in　the　Training　Center？　Itˇs　a　big　bag；　but　it　still　might　only　be　good　for　one　explosion。　If　only　I　could　free　the　apples　themselves　。　。　。

I　know　what　to　do。　I　move　into　range　and　give　myself　three　arrows　to　get　the　job　done。　I　place　my　feet　carefully；　block　out　the　rest　of　the　world　as　I　take　meticulous　aim；　The　first　arrow　tears　through　the　side　of　the　bag　near　the　top；　leaving　a　split　in　the　burlap。　The　second　widens　it　to　a　gaping　hole。　I　can　see　the　first　apple　teetering　when　I　let　the　third　arrow　go；　catching　the　torn　flap　of　burlap　and　ripping　it　from　the　bag。

For　a　moment；　everything　seems　frozen　in　time。　Then　the　apples　spill　to　the　ground　and　Iˇm　blown　backward　into　the　air。

17

The　impact　with　the　hard…packed　earth　of　the　plain　knocks　the　wind　out　of　me。　My　backpack　does　little　to　soften　the　blow。　Fortunately　my　quiver　has　caught　in　the　crook　of　my　elbow；　sparing　both　itself　and　my　shoulder；　and　my　bow　is　locked　in　my　grasp。　The　ground　still　shakes　with　explosions。　I　canˇt　hear　them。　I　canˇt　hear　anything　at　the　moment。　But　the　apples　must　have　set　off　enough　mines；　causing　debris　to　activate　the　others。　I　manage　to　shield　my　face　with　my　arms　as　shattered　bits　of　matter；　some　of　it　burning；　rain　down　around　me。　An　acrid　smoke　fills　the　air；　which　is　not　the　best　remedy　for　someone　trying　to　regain　the　ability　to　breathe。

After　about　a　minute；　the　ground　stops　vibrating。　I　roll　on　my　side　and　allow　myself　a　moment　of　satisfaction　the　sight　of　the　smoldering　wreckage　that　was　recently　the　pyra