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the hunger games-饥饿游戏(英文版)-第38部分
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Surprisingly； he just laughs。 ¨Look； I can handle Cato。 I fought him before； didnˇt I？〃
Yeah； and that turned out great。 You ended up dying in a mud bank。 Thatˇs what I want to say； but I canˇt。 He did save my life by taking on Cato after all。 I try another tactic。 ¨What if you climbed up in a tree and acted as a lookout while I hunted？〃 I say； trying to make it sound like very important work。
¨What if you show me whatˇs edible around here and go get us some meat？〃 he says； mimicking my tone。 ¨Just donˇt go far； in case you need help。〃
I sigh and show him some roots to dig。 We do need food； no question。 One apple； two rolls； and a blob of cheese the size of a plum wonˇt last long。 Iˇll just go a short distance and hope Cato is a long way off。
I teach him a bird whistle not a melody like Rueˇs but a simple two…note whistle which we can use to municate that weˇre all right。 Fortunately； heˇs good at this。 Leaving him with the pack； I head off。
I feel like Iˇm eleven again； tethered not to the safety of the fence but to Peeta； allowing myself twenty； maybe thirty yards of hunting space。 Away from him though； the woods e alive with animal sounds。 Reassured by his periodic whistles； I allow myself to drift farther away； and soon have two rabbits and a fat squirrel to show for it。 I decide itˇs enough。 I can set snares and maybe get some fish。 With Peetaˇs roots； this will be enough for now。
As I travel the short distance back； I realize we havenˇt exchanged signals in a while。 When my whistle receives no response； I run。 In no time； I find the pack； a neat pile of roots beside it。 The sheet of plastic has been laid on the ground where the sun can reach the single layer of berries that covers it。 But where is he？
¨Peeta！〃 I call out in a panic。 ¨Peeta！〃 I turn to the rustle of brush and almost send an arrow through him。 Fortunately； I pull my bow at the last second and it sticks in an oak trunk to his left。 He jumps back； flinging a handful of berries into the foliage。
My fear es out as anger。 ¨What are you doing？ Youˇre supposed to be here； not running around in the woods！〃
¨I found some berries down by the stream；〃 he says； clearly confused by my outburst。
¨I whistled。 Why didnˇt you whistle back？〃 I snap at him。
¨I didnˇt hear。 The waterˇs too loud； I guess；〃 he says。 He crosses and puts his hands on my shoulders。 Thatˇs when I feel that Iˇm trembling。
¨I thought Cato killed you！〃 I almost shout。
¨No； Iˇm fine。〃 Peeta wraps his arms around me； but I donˇt respond。 ¨Katniss？〃
I push away； trying to sort out my feelings。 ¨If two people agree on a signal； they stay in range。 Because if one of them doesnˇt answer； theyˇre in trouble； all right？〃
¨All right！〃 he says。
¨All right。 Because thatˇs what happened with Rue； and I watched her die！〃 I say。 I turn away from him； go to the pack and open a fresh bottle of water； although I still have some in mine。 But Iˇm not ready to forgive him。 I notice the food。 The rolls and apples are untouched； but someoneˇs definitely picked away part of the cheese。 ¨And you ate without me！〃 I really donˇt care； I just want something else to be mad about。
¨What？ No； I didnˇt；〃 Peeta says。
¨Oh； and I suppose the apples ate the cheese；〃 I say。
¨I donˇt know what ate the cheese；〃 Peeta says slowly and distinctly； as if trying not to lose his temper； ¨but it wasnˇt me。 Iˇve been down by the stream collecting berries。 Would you care for some？〃
I would actually； but I donˇt want to relent too soon。 I do walk over and look at them。 Iˇve never seen this type before。 No； I have。 But not in the arena。 These arenˇt Rueˇs berries； although they resemble them。 Nor do they match any I learned about in training。 I lean down and scoop up a few； rolling them between my fingers。
My fatherˇs voice es back to me。 ¨Not these； Katniss。 Never these。 Theyˇre nightlock。 Youˇll be dead before they reach your stomach。〃
Just then； the cannon fires。 I whip around； expecting Peeta to collapse to the ground； but he only raises his eyebrows。 The hovercraft appears a hundred yards or so away。 Whatˇs left of Foxfaceˇs emaciated body is lifted into the air。 I can see the red glint of her hair in the sunlight。
I should have known the moment I saw the missing cheese。 。 。 。
Peeta has me by the arm； pushing me toward a tree。 ¨Climb。 Heˇll be here in a second。 Weˇll stand a better chance fighting him from above。〃
I stop him； suddenly calm。 ¨No； Peeta； sheˇs your kill； not Catoˇs。〃
¨What？ I havenˇt even seen her since the first day；〃 he says。 ¨How could I have killed her？〃
In answer； I hold out the berries。
24
It takes a while to explain the situation to Peeta。 How Foxface stole the food from the supply pile before I blew it up； how she tried to take enough to stay alive but not enough that anyone would notice it； how she wouldnˇt question the safety of berries we were preparing to eat ourselves。
¨I wonder how she found us；〃 says Peeta。 ¨My fault； I guess； if Iˇm as loud as you say。〃
We were about as hard to follow as a herd of cattle； but I try to be kind。 ¨And sheˇs very clever； Peeta。 Well； she was。 Until you outfoxed her。〃
¨Not on purpose。 Doesnˇt seem fair somehow。 I mean； we would have both been dead； too； if she hadnˇt eaten the berries first。〃 He checks himself。 ¨No； of course； we wouldnˇt。 You recognized them； didnˇt you？〃
I give a nod。 ¨We call them nightlock。〃
¨Even the name sounds deadly；〃 he says。 ¨Iˇm sorry； Katniss。 I really thought they were the same ones youˇd gathered。〃
¨Donˇt apologize。 It just means weˇre one step closer to home； right？〃 I ask。
¨Iˇll get rid of the rest；〃 Peeta says。 He gathers up the sheet of blue plastic； careful to trap the berries inside； and goes to toss them into the woods。
¨Wait！〃 I cry。 I find the leather pouch that belonged to the boy from District 1 and fill it with a few handfuls of berries from the plastic。 ¨If they fooled Foxface； maybe they can fool Cato as well。 If heˇs chasing us or something； we can act like we accidentally drop the pouch and if he eats them 〃
¨Then hello District Twelve；〃 says Peeta。
¨Thatˇs it；〃 I say； securing the pouch to my belt。
¨Heˇll know where we are now；〃 says Peeta。 ¨If he was anywhere nearby and saw that hovercraft； heˇll know we killed her and e after us。〃
Peetaˇs right。 This could be just the opportunity Catoˇs been waiting for。 But even if we run now； thereˇs the meat to cook and our fire will be another sign of our whereabouts。 ¨Letˇs make a fire。 Right now。〃 I begin to gather branches and brush。
¨Are you ready to face him？〃 Peeta asks。
¨Iˇm ready to eat。 Better to cook our food while we have the chance。 If he knows weˇre here； he knows。 But he also knows thereˇs two of us and probably assumes we were hunting Foxface。 That means youˇre recovered。 And the fire means weˇre not hiding； weˇre inviting him here。 Would you show up？〃 I ask。
¨Maybe not；〃 he says。
Peetaˇs a whiz with fires； coaxing a blaze out of the damp wood。 In no time； I have the rabbits and squirrel roasting； the roots； wrapped in leaves； baking in the coals。 We take turns gathering greens and keeping a careful watch for Cato； but as I anticipated； he doesnˇt make an appearance。
When the foodˇs cooked； I pack most of it up； leaving us each a rabbitˇs leg to eat as we walk。
I want to move higher into the woods； climb a good tree； and make camp for the night； but Peeta resists。 ¨I canˇt climb like you； Katniss； especially with my leg； and I donˇt think I could ever fall asleep fifty feet above the ground。〃
¨Itˇs not safe to stay in the open； Peeta；〃 I say。
¨Canˇt we go back to the cave？〃 he asks。 ¨Itˇs near water and easy to defend。〃
I sigh。 Several more hours of walking or should I say crashing through the woods to reach an area weˇll just have to leave in the morning to hunt。 But Peeta doesnˇt ask for much。 Heˇs followed my instructions all day and Iˇm sure if things were reversed； he wouldnˇt make me spend the night in a tree。 It dawns on me that I havenˇt been very nice to Peeta today。 Nagging him about how loud he was； screaming at him over disappearing。 The playful romance we had sustained in the cave has disappeared out in the open； under the hot sun； with the threat of Cato looming over us。 Haymitch has probably just about had it with me。 And as for the audience 。 。 。
I reach up and give him a kiss。 ¨Sure。 Letˇs go back to the cave。〃
He looks pleased and relieved。 ¨Well； that was easy。〃
I work my arrow out of the oak； careful not to damage the shaft。 These arrows are food； safety； and life itself now。
We toss a bunch more wood on the fire。 It should be sending off smoke for a few more hours； although I doubt Cato assumes anything at this point。 When we reach the stream； I see the water has dropped considerably and moves at its old leisurely pace； so I suggest we walk back in it。 Peetaˇs happy to oblige and since heˇs a lot quieter in water than on land； itˇs a doubly good idea。 Itˇs a long walk back to the cave though； even going downward； even with the rabbit to give us a boost。 Weˇre both exhausted by our hike today and still way too underfed。 I keep my bow loaded； both for Cato and any fish I might see； but the stream seems strangely empty of creatures。
By the time we reach our destination； our feet are dragging and the sun sits low on the horizon。 We fill up our water bottles and climb the little slope to our den。 Itˇs not much； but out here in the wilderness； itˇs the closest thing we have to a home。 It will be warmer than a tree； too； because it provides some shelter from the wind that has begun to blow steadily in from the west。 I set a good dinner out； but halfway through Peeta begins to nod off。 After days of inactivity； the hunt has
taken its toll。 I order him into the sleeping bag and set aside the rest of his food for when he wakes。 He drops off immediately。 I pull the sleeping bag up to his chin and kiss his forehead； not for the audience； but for me。 Because Iˇm so grateful that heˇs still here； not dead by the stream as Iˇd thought。 So glad that I donˇt have to face Cato alone。
Brutal； bloody Cato who can snap a neck with a twist of his arm； who had the power to overe Thresh； who has had it out for me since the beginning。 He probably has had a special hatred for me ever since I outscored him in training。 A boy like Peeta would simply shrug that off。 But I have a feeling it drove Cato to distraction。 Which is not that hard。 I think of his ridiculous reaction to finding the supplies blown up。 The others were upset； of course； but he was pletely unhinged。 I
wonder now if Cato might not be entirely sane。
The sky lights up with the seal； and I watch Foxface shine in the sky and then disappear from the world forever。 He hasnˇt said it； but I donˇt think Peeta felt good about killing her； even if it was essential。 I canˇt pretend Iˇll miss her； but I have to admire her。 My guess is if they had given us some sort of test； she would have been the smartest of all the tributes。 If； in fact； we had been setting a trap for her； I bet sheˇd have sensed it and avoided the berries。 It was Peetaˇs own ignorance that brought her down。 Iˇve spent so much time making sure I donˇt underestimate my opponents that Iˇve forgotten itˇs just as dangerous to overestimate them as well。
That brings me back to Cato。 But while I think I had a sense of Foxface； who she was and how she operated； heˇs a little more slippery。 Powerful； well trained； but smart？ I donˇt know。 Not like she was。 And utterly lacking in the control Foxface demonstrated。 I believe Cato could easily lose his judgment in a fit of temper。 Not that I can feel superior on that point。 I think of the moment I sent the arrow flying into the apple in the pigˇs mouth when I was so enraged。 Maybe I do understand Cato better than I think。
Despite the fatigue in my body； my mindˇs alert； so I let Peeta sleep long past our usual switch。 In fact； a soft gray day has begun when I shake his shoulder。 He looks out； almost in alarm。 ¨I slept the whole night。 Thatˇs not fair； Katniss； you should have woken me。〃
I stretch and burrow down into the bag。 ¨Iˇll sleep now。 Wake me if anyt
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