第38部分(第1/7 頁)

slowly　press　down　on　the　plunger。

My　hands　go　to　my　head　and　then　drop　to　my　lap；　slick　with　blood。

The　last　thing　I　remember　is　an　exquisitely　beautiful　greenand…　silver　moth　landing　on　the　curve　of　my　wrist。

22

The　sound　of　rain　drumming　on　the　roof　of　our　house　gently　pulls　me　toward　consciousness。　I　fight　to　return　to　sleep　though；　wrapped　in　a　warm　cocoon　of　blankets；　safe　at　home。　Iˇm　vaguely　aware　that　my　head　aches。　Possibly　I　have　the　flu　and　this　is　why　Iˇm　allowed　to　stay　in　bed；　even　though　I　can　tell　Iˇve　been　asleep　a　long　time。　My　motherˇs　hand　strokes　my　cheek　and　I　donˇt　push　it　away　as　I　would　in　wakefulness；　never　wanting　her　to　know　how　much　I　crave　that　gentle　touch。　How　much　I　miss　her　even　though　I　still　donˇt　trust　her。　Then　thereˇs　a　voice；　the　wrong　voice；　not　my　motherˇs；　and　Iˇm　scared。

¨Katniss；〃　it　says。　¨Katniss；　can　you　hear　me？〃

My　eyes　open　and　the　sense　of　security　vanishes。　Iˇm　not　home；　not　with　my　mother。　Iˇm　in　a　dim；　chilly　cave；　my　bare　feet　freezing　despite　the　cover；　the　air　tainted　with　the　unmistakable　smell　of　blood。　The　haggard；　pale　face　of　a　boy　slides　into　view；　and　after　an　initial　jolt　of　alarm；　I　feel　better。　¨Peeta。〃

¨Hey；〃　he　says。　¨Good　to　see　your　eyes　again。〃

¨How　long　have　I　been　out？〃　I　ask。

¨Not　sure。　I　woke　up　yesterday　evening　and　you　were　lying　next　to　me　in　a　very　scary　pool　of　blood；〃　he　says。　¨I　think　itˇs　stopped　finally；　but　I　wouldnˇt　sit　up　or　anything。〃

I　gingerly　lift　my　hand　to　my　head　and　find　it　bandaged。　This　simple　gesture　leaves　me　weak　and　dizzy。　Peeta　holds　a　bottle　to　my　lips　and　I　drink　thirstily。

¨Youˇre　better；〃　I　say。

¨Much　better。　Whatever　you　shot　into　my　arm　did　the　trick；〃　he　says。　¨By　this　morn