第37部分(第2/7 頁)

next。　Anyone　who　beats　me　to　it　will　easily　scoop　up　my　pack　and　be　gone。　Without　hesitation；　I　sprint　for　the　table。　I　can　sense　the　emergence　of　danger　before　I　see　it。　Fortunately；　the　first　knife　es　whizzing　in　on　my　right　side　so　I　can　hear　it　and　Iˇm　able　to　deflect　it　with　my　bow。　I　turn；　drawing　back　the　bowstring　and　send　an　arrow　straight　at　Cloveˇs　heart。　She　turns　just　enough　to　avoid　a　fatal　hit；　but　the　point　punctures　her　upper　left　arm。　Unfortunately；　she　throws　with　her　right；　but　itˇs　enough　to　slow　her　down　a　few　moments；　having　to　pull　the　arrow　from　her　arm；　take　in　the　severity　of　the　wound。　I　keep　moving；　positioning　the　next　arrow　automatically；　as　only　someone　who　has　hunted　for　years　can　do。

Iˇm　at　the　table　now；　my　fingers　closing　over　the　tiny　orange　backpack。　My　hand　slips　between　the　straps　and　I　yank　it　up　on　my　arm；　itˇs　really　too　small　to　fit　on　any　other　part　of　my　anatomy；　and　Iˇm　turning　to　fire　again　when　the　second　knife　catches　me　in　the　forehead。　It　slices　above　my　right　eyebrow；　opening　a　gash　that　sends　a　gush　running　down　my　face；　blinding　my　eye；　filling　my　mouth　with　the　sharp；　metallic　taste　of　my　own　blood。　I　stagger　backward　but　still　manage　to　send　my　readied　arrow　in　the　general　direction　of　my　assailant。　I　know　as　it　leaves　my　hands　it　will　miss。　And　then　Clove　slams　into　me；　knocking　me　flat　on　my　back；　pinning　my　shoulders　to　the　ground；　with　her　knees。

This　is　it；　I　think；　and　hope　for　Primˇs　sake　it　will　be　fast。　But　Clove　means　to　savor　the　moment。　Even　feels　she　has　time。　No　doubt　Cato　is　somewhere　nearby；　guarding　her；　waiting　for　Thresh　and　possibly　Peeta。

¨Whereˇs　your　boyfriend；　District　Twelve？　Still　hanging　on？〃　she　asks。

Well；　as　long　as　weˇre　talking　Iˇm　alive。　¨Heˇs　out　there