第1部分(第3/7 頁)

lways　take　a　moment　to　listen　carefully　for　the　hum　that　means　the　fence　is　live。　Right　now；　itˇs　silent　as　a　stone。　Concealed　by　a　clump　of　bushes；　I　flatten　out　on　my　belly　and　slide　under　a　two…foot　stretch　thatˇs　been　loose　for　years。　There　are　several　other　weak　spots　in　the　fence；　but　this　one　is　so　close　to　home　I　almost　always　enter　the　woods　here。　As　soon　as　Iˇm　in　the　trees；　I　retrieve　a　bow　and　sheath　of　arrows　from　a　hollow　log。　Electrified　or　not；　the　fence　has　been　successful　at　keeping　the　flesh…eaters　out　of　District　12。　Inside　the　woods　they　roam　freely；　and　there　are　added　concerns　like　venomous　snakes；　rabid　animals；　and　no　real　paths　to　follow。　But　thereˇs　also　food　if　you　know　how　to　find　it。　My　father　knew　and　he　taught　me　some　before　he　was　blown　to　bits　in　a　mine　explosion。　There　was　nothing　even　to　bury。　I　was　eleven　then。　Five　years　later；　I　still　wake　up　screaming　for　him　to　run。

Even　though　trespassing　in　the　woods　is　illegal　and　poaching　carries　the　severest　of　penalties；　more　people　would　risk　it　if　they　had　weapons。　But　most　are　not　bold　enough　to　venture　out　with　just　a　knife。　My　bow　is　a　rarity；　crafted　by　my　father　along　with　a　few　others　that　I　keep　well　hidden　in　the　woods；　carefully　wrapped　in　waterproof　covers。　My　father　could　have　made　good　money　selling　them；　but　if　the　officials　found　out　he　would　have　been　publicly　executed　for　inciting　a　rebellion。

Most　of　the　Peacekeepers　turn　a　blind　eye　to　the　few　of　us　who　hunt　because　theyˇre　as　hungry　for　fresh　meat　as　anybody　is。　In　fact；　theyˇre　among　our　best　customers。　But　the　idea　that　someone　might　be　arming　the　Seam　would　never　have　been　allowed。

In　the　fall；　a　few　brave　souls　sneak　into　the　woods　to　harvest　apples。　But　always　in　sight　of　the　Meadow。　Always　clo