第19部分(第5/7 頁)

eir　value　decreasing　the　farther　they　are　from　the　horn。　For　instance；　only　a　few　steps　from　my　feet　lays　a　threefoot　square　of　plastic。　Certainly　it　could　be　of　some　use　in　a　downpour。　But　there　in　the　mouth；　I　can　see　a　tent　pack　that　would　protect　from　almost　any　sort　of　weather。　If　I　had　the　guts　to　go　in　and　fight　for　it　against　the　other　twenty…three　tributes。　Which　I　have　been　instructed　not　to　do。

Weˇre　on　a　flat；　open　stretch　of　ground。　A　plain　of　hardpacked　dirt。　Behind　the　tributes　across　from　me；　I　can　see　nothing；　indicating　either　a　steep　downward　slope　or　even　cliff。　To　my　right　lies　a　lake。　To　my　left　and　back；　spars　piney　woods。　This　is　where　Haymitch　would　want　me　to　go。　Immediately。

I　hear　his　instructions　in　my　head。　¨Just　clear　out；　put　as　much　distance　as　you　can　between　yourselves　and　the　others；　and　find　a　source　of　water。〃

But　itˇs　tempting；　so　tempting；　when　I　see　the　bounty　waiting　there　before　me。　And　I　know　that　if　I　donˇt　get　it；　someone　else　will。　That　the　Career　Tributes　who　survive　the　bloodbath　will　divide　up　most　of　these　life…sustaining　spoils。　Something　catches　my　eye。　There；　resting　on　a　mound　of　blanket　rolls；　is　a　silver　sheath　of　arrows　and　a　bow；　already　strung；　just　waiting　to　be　engaged。　Thatˇs　mine；　I　think。　Itˇs　meant　for　me。

Iˇm　fast。　I　can　sprint　faster　than　any　of　the　girls　in　our　school　although　a　couple　can　beat　me　in　distance　races。　But　this　forty…yard　length；　this　is　what　I　am　built　for。　I　know　I　can　get　it；　I　know　I　can　reach　it　first；　but　then　the　question　is　how　quickly　can　I　get　out　of　there？　By　the　time　Iˇve　scrambled　up　the　packs　and　grabbed　the　weapons；　others　will　have　reached　the　horn；　and　one　or　two　I　might　be　able　to　pick　off；　but　say　thereˇs　a　dozen；　at　that　close　range；　they　co