第30部分(第1/7 頁)

eersˇ　stores　eliminated；　she　might　actually　stand　a　chance。　Just　like　the　rest　of　us。　It　crosses　my　mind　to　reveal　myself　and　enlist　her　as　a　second　ally　against　that　pack。　But　I　rule　it　out。　Thereˇs　something　about　that　sly　grin　that　makes　me　sure　that　befriending　Foxface　would　ultimately　get　me　a　knife　in　the　back。　With　that　in　mind；　this　might　be　an　excellent　time　to　shoot　her。　But　sheˇs　heard　something；　not　me；　because　her　head　turns　away；　toward　the　drop…off；　and　she　sprints　for　the　woods。　I　wait。　No　one；　nothing　shows　up。　Still；　if　Foxface　thought　it　was　dangerous；　maybe　itˇs　time　for　me　to　get　out　of　here；　too。　Besides；　Iˇm　eager　to　tell　Rue　about　the　pyramid。

Since　Iˇve　no　idea　where　the　Careers　are；　the　route　back　by　the　stream　seems　as　good　as　any。　I　hurry；　loaded　bow　in　one　hand；　a　hunk　of　cold　groosling　in　the　other；　because　Iˇm　fa224　mished　now；　and　not　just　for　leaves　and　berries　but　for　the　fat　and　protein　in　the　meat。　The　trip　to　the　stream　is　uneventful。　Once　there；　I　refill　my　water　and　wash；　taking　particular　care　with　my　injured　ear。　Then　I　travel　uphill　using　the　stream　as　a　guide。　At　one　point；　I　find　boot　prints　in　the　mud　along　the　bank。　The　Careers　have　been　here；　but　not　for　a　while。　The　prints　are　deep　because　they　were　made　in　soft　mud；　but　now　theyˇre　nearly　dry　in　the　hot　sun。　I　havenˇt　been　careful　enough　about　my　own　tracks；　counting　on　a　light　tread　and　the　pine　needles　to　conceal　my　prints。　Now　I　strip　off　my　boots　and　socks　and　go　barefoot　up　the　bed　of　the　stream。

The　cool　water　has　an　invigorating　effect　on　my　body；　my　spirits。　I　shoot　two　fish；　easy　pickings　in　this　slow…moving　stream；　and　go　ahead　and　eat　one　raw　even　though　Iˇve　just　had　the　groosling。　The　second　Iˇll　save　for　Rue。

Gradually；　subtly；　the　r