第30部分(第2/7 頁)

inging　in　my　right　ear　diminishes　until　itˇs　gone　entirely。　I　find　myself　pawing　at　my　left　ear　periodically；　trying　to　clean　away　whatever　deadens　its　ability　to　collect　sounds。　If　thereˇs　improvement；　itˇs　undetectable。　I　canˇt　adjust　to　deafness　in　the　ear。　It　makes　me　feel　off…balanced　and　defenseless　to　my　left。　Blind　even。　My　head　keeps　turning　to　the　injured　side；　as　my　right　ear　tries　to　pensate　for　the　wall　of　nothingness　where　yesterday　there　was　a　constant　flow　of　information。　The　more　time　that　passes；　the　less　hopeful　I　am　that　this　is　an　injury　that　will　heal。

When　I　reach　the　site　of　our　first　meeting；　I　feel　certain　itˇs　been　undisturbed。　Thereˇs　no　sign　of　Rue；　not　on　the　ground　or　in　the　trees。　This　is　odd。　By　now　she　should　have　returned；　as　itˇs　midday。　Undoubtedly；　she　spent　the　night　in　a　tree　somewhere。　What　else　could　she　do　with　no　light　and　the　Careers　with　their　night…vision　glasses　tramping　around　the　woods。　And　the　third　fire　she　was　supposed　to　set　�　although　I　forgot　to　check　for　it　last　night　�　was　the　farthest　from　our　site　of　all。　Sheˇs　probably　just　being　cautious　about　making　her　way　back。　I　wish　sheˇd　hurry；　because　I　donˇt　want　to　hang　around　here　too　long。　I　want　to　spend　the　afternoon　traveling　to　higher　ground；　hunting　as　we　go。　But　thereˇs　nothing　really　for　me　to　do　but　wait。

I　wash　the　blood　out　of　my　jacket　and　hair　and　clean　my　ever…　growing　list　of　wounds。　The　burns　are　much　better　but　I　use　a　bit　of　medicine　on　them　anyway。　The　main　thing　to　worry　about　now　is　keeping　out　infection。　I　go　ahead　and　eat　the　second　fish。　It　isnˇt　going　to　last　long　in　this　hot　sun；　but　it　should　be　easy　enough　to　spear　a　few　more　for　Rue。　If　she　would　just　show　up。

Feeling　too　vulnerable　on　the　ground　with　my　lopsided　hea