第26部分(第2/7 頁)

r　a　moment　and　then　I　push　the　whole　thing　out　of　my　mind　because　for　some　reason　Gale　and　Peeta　do　not　coexist　well　together　in　my　thoughts。

So　I　focus　on　the　one　really　good　thing　thatˇs　happened　since　I　landed　in　the　arena。　I　have　a　bow　and　arrows！　A　full　dozen　arrows　if　you　count　the　one　I　retrieved　in　the　tree。　They　bear　no　trace　of　the　noxious　green　slime　that　came　from　Glimmerˇs　body　�　which　leads　me　to　believe　that　might　not　have　been　wholly　real　�　but　they　have　a　fair　amount　of　dried　blood　on　them。　I　can　clean　them　later；　but　I　do　take　a　minute　to　shoot　a　few　into　a　nearby　tree。　They　are　more　like　the　weapons　in　the　Training　Center　than　my　ones　at　home；　but　who　cares？　That　I　can　work　with。

The　weapons　give　me　an　entirely　new　perspective　on　the　Games。　I　know　I　have　tough　opponents　left　to　face。　But　I　am　no　longer　merely　prey　that　runs　and　hides　or　takes　desperate　measures。　If　Cato　broke　through　the　trees　right　now；　I　wouldnˇt　flee；　Iˇd　shoot。　I　find　Iˇm　actually　anticipating　the　moment　with　pleasure。

But　first；　I　have　to　get　some　strength　back　in　my　body。　Iˇm　very　dehydrated　again　and　my　water　supply　is　dangerously　low。　The　little　padding　I　was　able　to　put　on　by　gorging　myself　during　prep　time　in　the　Capitol　is　gone；　plus　several　more　pounds　as　well。　My　hip　bones　and　ribs　are　more　prominent　than　I　remember　them　being　since　those　awful　months　after　my　fatherˇs　death。　And　then　there　are　my　wounds　to　contend　with　�　burns；　cuts；　and　bruises　from　smashing　into　the　trees；　and　three　tracker　jacker　stings；　which　are　as　sore　and　swollen　as　ever。　I　treat　my　burns　with　the　ointment　and　try　dabbing　a　bit　on　my　stings　as　well；　but　it　has　no　effect　on　them。　My　mother　knew　a　treatment　for　them；　some　type　of　leaf　that　could　draw　out　the　poison；　but　she　seld