第26部分(第3/7 頁)

om　had　cause　to　use　it；　and　I　donˇt　even　remember　its　name　let　alone　its　appearance。

Water　first；　I　think。　You　can　hunt　along　the　way　now。　Itˇs　easy　to　see　the　direction　I　came　from　by　the　path　of　destruction　my　crazed　body　made　through　the　foliage。　So　I　walk　off　in　the　other　direction；　hoping　my　enemies　still　lie　locked　in　the　surreal　world　of　tracker　jacker　venom。

I　canˇt　move　too　quickly；　my　joints　reject　any　abrupt　motions。　But　I　establish　the　slow　hunterˇs　tread　I　use　when　tracking　game。　Within　a　few　minutes；　I　spot　a　rabbit　and　make　my　first　kill　with　the　bow　and　arrow。　Itˇs　not　my　usual　clean　shot　through　the　eye；　but　Iˇll　take　it。　After　about　an　hour；　I　find　a　stream；　shallow　but　wide；　and　more　than　sufficient　for　my　needs。　The　sunˇs　hot　and　severe；　so　while　I　wait　for　my　water　to　purify　I　strip　down　to　my　underclothes　and　wade　into　the　mild　current。　Iˇm　filthy　from　head　to　toe；　I　try　splashing　myself　but　eventually　just　lay　down　in　the　water　for　a　few　minutes；　letting　it　wash　off　the　soot　and　blood　and　skin　that　has　started　to　peel　off　my　burns。　After　rinsing　out　my　clothes　and　hanging　them　on　bushes　to　dry；　I　sit　on　the　bank　in　the　sun　for　a　bit；　untangling　my　hair　with　my　fingers。　My　appetite　returns　and　I　eat　a　cracker　and　a　strip　of　beef。　With　a　handful　of　moss；　I　polish　the　blood　from　my　silver　weapons。

Refreshed；　I　treat　my　burns　again；　braid　back　my　hair；　and　dress　in　the　damp　clothes；　knowing　the　sun　will　dry　them　soon　enough。　Following　the　stream　against　its　current　seems　the　smartest　course　of　action。　Iˇm　traveling　uphill　now；　which　I　prefer；　with　a　source　of　fresh　water　not　only　for　myself　but　possible　game。　I　easily　take　out　a　strange　bird　that　must　be　some　form　of　wild　turkey。　Anyway；　it　looks　plenty　edible　to　me。　By　late　after