第2部分(第2/7 頁)

inful　weeks　to　e。

We　make　out　well。　The　predators　ignore　us　on　a　day　when　easier；　tastier　prey　abounds。　By　late　morning；　we　have　a　dozen　fish；　a　bag　of　greens　and；　best　of　all；　a　gallon　of　strawberries。　I　found　the　patch　a　few　years　ago；　but　Gale　had　the　idea　to　string　mesh　s　around　it　to　keep　out　the　animals。

On　the　way　home；　we　swing　by　the　Hob；　the　black　market　that　operates　in　an　abandoned　warehouse　that　once　held　coal。　When　they　came　up　with　a　more　efficient　system　that　transported　the　coal　directly　from　the　mines　to　the　trains；　the　Hob　gradually　took　over　the　space。　Most　businesses　are　closed　by　this　time　on　reaping　day；　but　the　black　marketˇs　still　fairly　busy。　We　easily　trade　six　of　the　fish　for　good　bread；　the　other　two　for　salt。　Greasy　Sae；　the　bony　old　woman　who　sells　bowls　of　hot　soup　from　a　large　kettle；　takes　half　the　greens　off　our　hands　in　exchange　for　a　couple　of　chunks　of　paraffin。　We　might　do　a　tad　better　elsewhere；　but　we　make　an　effort　to　keep　on　good　terms　with　Greasy　Sae。　Sheˇs　the　only　one　who　can　consistently　be　counted　on　to　buy　wild　dog。　We　donˇt　hunt　them　on　purpose；　but　if　youˇre　attacked　and　you　take　out　a　dog　or　two；　well；　meat　is　meat。　¨Once　itˇs　in　the　soup；　Iˇll　call　it　beef；〃　Greasy　Sae　says　with　a　wink。　No　one　in　the　Seam　would　turn　up　their　nose　at　a　good　leg　of　wild　dog；　but　the　Peacekeepers　who　e　to　the　Hob　can　afford　to　be　a　little　choosier。

When　we　finish　our　business　at　the　market；　we　go　to　the　back　door　of　the　mayorˇs　house　to　sell　half　the　strawberries；　knowing　he　has　a　particular　fondness　for　them　and　can　afford　our　price。　The　mayorˇs　daughter；　Madge；　opens　the　door。　Sheˇs　in　my　year　at　school。　Being　the　mayorˇs　daughter；　youˇd　expect　her　to　be　a　snob；　but　sheˇs　all　right。　She　just　keeps　to　herself。　Like