第43部分(第2/7 頁)

　he　thinks　itˇs　the　safest　place；　who　am　I　to　argue？　Besides；　even　if　I　could　make　it　to　the　trees；　it　would　be　impossible　for　Peeta　to　outrun　them　on　that　leg　�　Peeta！　My　hands　have　just　landed　on　the　metal　at　the　pointed　tail　of　the　Cornucopia　when　I　remember　Iˇm　part　of　a　team。　Heˇs　about　fifteen　yards　behind　me；　hobbling　as　fast　as　he　can；　but　the　mutts　are　closing　in　on　him　fast。　I　send　an　arrow　into　the　pack　and　one　goes　down；　but　there　are　plenty　to　take　its　place。

Peetaˇs　waving　me　up　the　horn；　¨Go；　Katniss！　Go！〃

Heˇs　right。　I　canˇt　protect　either　of　us　on　the　ground。　I　start　climbing；　scaling　the　Cornucopia　on　my　hands　and　feet。　The　pure　gold　surface　has　been　designed　to　resemble　the　woven　horn　that　we　fill　at　harvest；　so　there　are　little　ridges　and　seams　to　get　a　decent　hold　on。　But　after　a　day　in　the　arena　sun；　the　metal　feels　hot　enough　to　blister　my　hands。

Cato　lies　on　his　side　at　the　very　top　of　the　horn；　twenty　feet　above　the　ground；　gasping　to　catch　his　breath　as　he　gags　over　the　edge。　Nowˇs　my　chance　to　finish　him　off。　I　stop　midway　up　the　horn　and　load　another　arrow；　but　just　as　Iˇm　about　to　let　it　fly；　I　hear　Peeta　cry　out。　I　twist　around　and　see　heˇs　just　reached　the　tail；　and　the　mutts　are　right　on　his　heels。

¨Climb！〃　I　yell。　Peeta　starts　up　hampered　by　not　only　the　leg　but　the　knife　in　his　hand。　I　shoot　my　arrow　down　the　throat　of　the　first　mutt　that　places　its　paws　on　the　metal。　As　it　dies　the　creature　lashes　out；　inadvertently　opening　gashes　on　a　few　of　its　panions。　Thatˇs　when　I　get　a　look　at　the　claws。　Four　inches　and　clearly　razor…sharp。

Peeta　reaches　my　feet　and　I　grab　his　arm　and　pull　him　along。　Then　I　remember　Cato　waiting　at　the　top　and　whip　around；　but　heˇs　doubled　over　with　cramps　and　apparently　more　pr