第41部分(第1/7 页)

¨Heˇll　be　hunting　us　by　now；〃　says　Peeta。　¨Cato　isnˇt　one　to　wait　for　his　prey　to　wander　by。〃

¨If　heˇs　wounded　�〃　I　begin。

¨It　wonˇt　matter；〃　Peeta　breaks　in。　¨If　he　can　move；　heˇs　ing。〃

With　all　the　rain；　the　stream　has　overrun　its　banks　by　several　feet　on　either　side。　We　stop　there　to　replenish　our　water。　I　check　the　snares　I　set　days　ago　and　e　up　empty。　Not　surprising　with　the　weather。　Besides；　I　havenˇt　seen　many　animals　or　signs　of　them　in　this　area。

¨If　we　want　food；　we　better　head　back　up　to　my　old　hunting　grounds；〃　I　say。

¨Your　call。　Just　tell　me　what　you　need　me　to　do；〃　Peeta　says。

¨Keep　an　eye　out；〃　I　say。　¨Stay　on　the　rocks　as　much　as　possible；　no　sense　in　leaving　him　tracks　to　follow。　And　listen　for　both　of　us。〃　Itˇs　clear；　at　this　point；　that　the　explosion　destroyed　the　hearing　in　my　left　ear　for　good。

Iˇd　walk　in　the　water　to　cover　our　tracks　pletely；　but　Iˇm　not　sure　Peetaˇs　leg　could　take　the　current。　Although　the　drugs　have　erased　the　infection；　heˇs　still　pretty　weak。　My　forehead　hurts　along　the　knife　cut；　but　after　three　days　the　bleeding　has　stopped。　I　wear　a　bandage　around　my　head　though；　just　in　case　physical　exertion　should　bring　it　back。

As　we　head　up　alongside　the　stream；　we　pass　the　place　where　I　found　Peeta　camouflaged　in　the　weeds　and　mud。　One　good　thing；　between　the　downpour　and　the　flooded　banks；　all　signs　of　his　hiding　place　have　been　wiped　out。　That　means　that；　if　need　be；　we　can　e　back　to　our　cave。　Otherwise；　I　wouldnˇt　risk　it　with　Cato　after　us。

The　boulders　diminish　to　rocks　that　eventually　turn　to　pebbles；　and　then；　to　my　relief；　weˇre　back　on　pine　needles　and　the　gentle　incline　of　the　forest　floor。　For　the　first　time；　I　realize　we　have　a　problem。　Navigating　the　rocky