the hunger games-飢餓遊戲(英文版)

第24部分 (第6/7頁)

I　think。　Itˇs　sedated　them。　This　was　the　one　defense　the　rebels　found　to　battle　the　wasps。

The　seal　of　the　Capitol　shines　above　me　and　the　anthem　blares　out。　Itˇs　now　or　never；　I　think；　and　begin　to　saw。　Blisters　burst　on　my　right　hand　as　I　awkwardly　drag　the　knife　back　and　forth。　Once　Iˇve　got　a　groove；　the　work　requires　less　effort　but　is　almost　more　than　I　can　handle。　I　grit　my　teeth　and　saw　away　occasionally　glancing　at　the　sky　to　register　that　there　were　no　deaths　today。　Thatˇs　all　right。　The　audience　will　be　sated　seeing　me　injured　and　treed　and　the　pack　below　me。　But　the　anthemˇs　running　out　and　Iˇm　only　three　quarters　of　the　way　through　the　wood　when　the　music　ends；　the　sky　goes　dark；　and　Iˇm　forced　to　stop。

Now　what？　I　could　probably　finish　off　the　job　by　sense　of　feel　but　that　may　not　be　the　smartest　plan。　If　the　wasps　are　too　groggy；　if　the　nest　catches　on　its　way　down；　if　I　try　to　escape；　this　could　all　be　a　deadly　waste　of　time。　Better；　I　think；　to　sneak　up　here　at　dawn　and　send　the　nest　into　my　enemies。

In　the　faint　light　of　the　Careersˇ　torches；　I　inch　back　down　to　my　fork　to　find　the　best　surprise　Iˇve　ever　had。　Sitting　on　my　sleeping　bag　is　a　small　plastic　pot　attached　to　a　silver　parachute。　My　first　gift　from　a　sponsor！　Haymitch　must　have　had　it　sent　in　during　the　anthem。　The　pot　easily　fits　in　the　palm　of　my　hand。　What　can　it　be？　Not　food　surely。　I　unscrew　the　lid　and　I　know　by　the　scent　that　itˇs　medicine。　Cautiously；　I　probe　the　surface　of　the　ointment。　The　throbbing　in　my　fingertip　vanishes。

¨Oh；　Haymitch；〃　I　whisper。　¨Thank　you。〃　He　has　not　abandoned　me。　Not　left　me　to　fend　entirely　for　myself。　The　cost　of　this　medicine　must　be　astronomical。　Probably　not　one　but　many　sponsors　have　contributed　to　buy　this　one　tiny　pot。　T