the hunger games-饥饿游戏(英文版)-第27部分

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After　the　war；　the　Capitol　destroyed　all　the　nests　surrounding　their　city；　but　the　ones　near　the　districts　were　left　untouched。　Another　reminder　of　our　weakness；　I　suppose；　just　like　the　Hunger　Games。　Another　reason　to　keep　inside　the　fence　of　District　12。　When　Gale　and　I　e　across　a　tracker　jacker　nest；　we　immediately　head　in　the　opposite　direction。
So　is　that　what　hangs　above　me？　I　look　back　to　Rue　for　help；　but　sheˇs　melted　into　her　tree。
Given　my　circumstances；　I　guess　it　doesnˇt　matter　what　type　of　wasp　nest　it　is。　Iˇm　wounded　and　trapped。　Darkness　has　given　me　a　brief　reprieve；　but　by　the　time　the　sun　rises；　the　Careers　will　have　formulated　a　plan　to　kill　me。　Thereˇs　no　way　they　could　do　otherwise　after　Iˇve　made　them　look　so　stupid。　That　nest　may　be　the　sole　option　I　have　left。　If　I　can　drop　it　down　on　them；　I　may　be　able　to　escape。　But　Iˇll　risk　my　life　in　the　process。
Of　course；　Iˇll　never　be　able　to　get　in　close　enough　to　the　actual　nest　to　cut　it　free。　Iˇll　have　to　saw　off　the　branch　at　the　trunk　and　send　the　whole　thing　down。　The　serrated　portion　of　my　knife　should　be　able　to　manage　that。　But　can　my　hands？　And　will　the　vibration　from　the　sawing　raise　the　swarm？　And　what　if　the　Careers　figure　out　what　Iˇm　doing　and　move　their　camp？　That　would　defeat　the　whole　purpose。
I　realize　that　the　best　chance　Iˇll　have　to　do　the　sawing　without　drawing　notice　will　be　during　the　anthem。　That　could　begin　any　time。　I　drag　myself　out　of　my　bag；　make　sure　my　knife　is　secured　in　my　belt；　and　begin　to　make　my　way　up　the　tree。　This　in　itself　is　dangerous　since　the　branches　are　being　precariously　thin　even　for　me；　but　I　persevere。　When　I　reach　the　limb　that　supports　the　nest；　the　humming　bees　more　distinctive。　But　itˇs　still　oddly　subdued　if　these　are　tracker　jackers。　Itˇs　the　smoke；　I　think。　Itˇs　sedated　them。　This　was　the　one　defense　the　rebels　found　to　battle　the　wasps。
The　seal　of　the　Capitol　shines　above　me　and　the　anthem　blares　out。　Itˇs　now　or　never；　I　think；　and　begin　to　saw。　Blisters　burst　on　my　right　hand　as　I　awkwardly　drag　the　knife　back　and　forth。　Once　Iˇve　got　a　groove；　the　work　requires　less　effort　but　is　almost　more　than　I　can　handle。　I　grit　my　teeth　and　saw　away　occasionally　glancing　at　the　sky　to　register　that　there　were　no　deaths　today。　Thatˇs　all　right。　The　audience　will　be　sated　seeing　me　injured　and　treed　and　the　pack　below　me。　But　the　anthemˇs　running　out　and　Iˇm　only　three　quarters　of　the　way　through　the　wood　when　the　music　ends；　the　sky　goes　dark；　and　Iˇm　forced　to　stop。
Now　what？　I　could　probably　finish　off　the　job　by　sense　of　feel　but　that　may　not　be　the　smartest　plan。　If　the　wasps　are　too　groggy；　if　the　nest　catches　on　its　way　down；　if　I　try　to　escape；　this　could　all　be　a　deadly　waste　of　time。　Better；　I　think；　to　sneak　up　here　at　dawn　and　send　the　nest　into　my　enemies。
In　the　faint　light　of　the　Careersˇ　torches；　I　inch　back　down　to　my　fork　to　find　the　best　surprise　Iˇve　ever　had。　Sitting　on　my　sleeping　bag　is　a　small　plastic　pot　attached　to　a　silver　parachute。　My　first　gift　from　a　sponsor！　Haymitch　must　have　had　it　sent　in　during　the　anthem。　The　pot　easily　fits　in　the　palm　of　my　hand。　What　can　it　be？　Not　food　surely。　I　unscrew　the　lid　and　I　know　by　the　scent　that　itˇs　medicine。　Cautiously；　I　probe　the　surface　of　the　ointment。　The　throbbing　in　my　fingertip　vanishes。
¨Oh；　Haymitch；〃　I　whisper。　¨Thank　you。〃　He　has　not　abandoned　me。　Not　left　me　to　fend　entirely　for　myself。　The　cost　of　this　medicine　must　be　astronomical。　Probably　not　one　but　many　sponsors　have　contributed　to　buy　this　one　tiny　pot。　To　me；　it　is　priceless。
I　dip　two　fingers　in　the　jar　and　gently　spread　the　balm　over　my　calf。　The　effect　is　almost　magical；　erasing　the　pain　on　contact；　leaving　a　pleasant　cooling　sensation　behind。　This　is　no　herbal　concoction　that　my　mother　grinds　up　out　of　woodland　plants；　itˇs　high…tech　medicine　brewed　up　in　the　Capitolˇs　labs。　When　my　calf　is　treated；　I　rub　a　thin　layer　into　my　hands。　After　wrapping　the　pot　in　the　parachute；　I　nestle　it　safely　away　in　my　pack。　Now　that　the　pain　has　eased；　itˇs　all　I　can　do　to　reposition　myself　in　my　bag　before　I　plunge　into　sleep。
A　bird　perched　just　a　few　feet　from　me　alerts　me　that　a　new　day　is　dawning。　In　the　gray　morning　light；　I　examine　my　hands。　The　medicine　has　transformed　all　the　angry　red　patches　to　a　soft　baby…skin　pink。　My　leg　still　feels　inflamed；　but　that　burn　was　far　deeper。　I　apply　another　coat　of　medicine　and　quietly　pack　up　my　gear。　Whatever　happens；　Iˇm　going　to　have　to　move　and　move　fast。　I　also　make　myself　eat　a　cracker　and　a　strip　of　beef　and　drink　a　few　cups　of　water。
Almost　nothing　stayed　in　my　stomach　yesterday；　and　Iˇm　already　starting　to　feel　the　effects　of　hunger。
Below　me；　I　can　see　the　Career　pack　and　Peeta　asleep　on　the　ground。　By　her　position；　leaning　up　against　the　trunk　of　the　tree；　Iˇd　guess　Glimmer　was　supposed　to　be　on　guard；　but　fatigue　overcame　her。
My　eyes　squint　as　they　try　to　perate　the　tree　next　to　me；　but　I　canˇt　make　out　Rue。　Since　she　tipped　me　off；　it　only　seems　fair　to　warn　her。　Besides；　if　Iˇm　going　to　die　today；　itˇs　Rue　I　want　to　win。　Even　if　it　means　a　little　extra　food　for　my　family；　the　idea　of　Peeta　being　crowned　victor　is　unbearable。　
I　call　Rueˇs　name　in　a　hushed　whisper　and　the　eyes　appear；　wide　and　alert；　at　once。　She　points　up　to　the　nest　again。　I　hold　up　my　knife　and　make　a　sawing　motion。　She　nods　and　disappears。　Thereˇs　a　rustling　in　a　nearby　tree。　Then　the　same　noise　again　a　bit　farther　off。　I　realize　sheˇs　leaping　from　tree　to　tree。　Itˇs　all　I　can　do　not　to　laugh　out　loud。　Is　this　what　she　showed　the　Gamemakers？　I　imagine　her　flying　around　the　training　equipment　never　touching　the　floor。　She　should　have　gotten　at　least　a　ten。
Rosy　streaks　are　breaking　through　in　the　east。　I　canˇt　afford　to　wait　any　longer。　pared　to　the　agony　of　last　nightˇs　climb；　this　one　is　a　cinch。　At　the　tree　limb　that　holds　the　nest；　I　position　the　knife　in　the　groove　and　Iˇm　about　to　draw　the　teeth　across　the　wood　when　I　see　something　moving。　There；　on　the　nest。　The　bright　gold　gleam　of　a　tracker　jacker　lazily　making　its　way　across　the　papery　gray　surface。　No　question；　itˇs　acting　a　little　subdued；　but　the　wasp　is　up　and　moving　and　that　means　the　others　will　be　out　soon　as　well。　Sweat　breaks　out　on　the　palms　of　my　hands；　beading　up　through　the　ointment；　and　I　do　my　best　to　pat　them　dry　on　my　shirt。　If　I　donˇt　get　through　this　branch　in　a　matter　of　seconds；　the　entire　swarm　could　emerge　and　attack　me。
Thereˇs　no　sense　in　putting　it　off。　I　take　a　deep　breath；　grip　the　knife　handle　and　bear　down　as　hard　as　I　can。　Back；　forth；　back；　forth！　The　tracker　jackers　begin　to　buzz　and　I　hear　them　ing　out。　Back；　forth；　back；　forth！　A　stabbing　pain　shoots　through　my　knee　and　I　know　one　has　found　me　and　the　others　will　be　honing　in。　Back；　forth；　back；　forth。　And　just　as　the　knife　cuts　through；　I　shove　the　end　of　the　branch　as　far　away　from　me　as　I　can。　It　crashes　down　through　the　lower　branches；　snagging　temporarily　on　a　few　but　then　twisting　free　until　it　smashes　with　a　thud　on　the　ground。　The　nest　bursts　open　like　an　egg；　and　a　furious　swarm　of　tracker　jackers　takes　to　the　air。
I　feel　a　second　sting　on　the　cheek；　a　third　on　my　neck；　and　their　venom　almost　immediately　makes　me　woozy。　I　cling　to　the　tree　with　one　arm　while　I　rip　the　barbed　stingers　out　of　my　flesh。　Fortunately；　only　these　three　tracker　jackers　had　identified　me　before　the　nest　went　down。　The　rest　of　the　insects　have　targeted　their　enemies　on　the　ground。
Itˇs　mayhem。　The　Careers　have　woken　to　a　full…scale　tracker　jacker　attack。　Peeta　and　a　few　others　have　the　sense　to　drop　everything　and　bolt。　I　can　hear　cries　of　¨To　the　lake！　To　the　lake！〃　and　know　they　hope　to　evade　the　wasps　by　taking　to　the　water。　It　must　be　close　if　they　think　they　can　outdistance　the　furious　insects。　Glimmer　and　another　girl；　the　one　from　District　4；　are　not　so　lucky。　They　receive　multiple　stings　before　theyˇre　even　out　of　my　view。　Glimmer　appears　to　go　pletely　mad；　shrieking　and　trying　to　bat　the　wasps　off　with　her　bow；　which　is　pointless。　She　calls　to　the　others　for　help　but；　of　course；　no　one　returns。　The　girl　from　District　4　staggers　out　of　sight；　although　I　wouldnˇt　bet　on　her　making　it　to　the　lake。　I　watch　Glimmer　fall；　twitch　hysterically　around　on　the　ground　for　a　few　minutes；　and　then　go　still。
The　nest　is　nothing　but　an　empty　shell。　The　wasps　have　vanished　in　pursuit　of　the　others。　I　donˇt　think　theyˇll　return；　but　I　donˇt　want　to　risk　it。　I　scamper　down　the　tree　and　hit　the　ground　running　in　the　opposite　direction　of　the　lake。　The　poison　from　the　stingers　makes　me　wobbly；　but　I　find　my　way　back　to　my　own　little　pool　and　submerge　myself　in　the　water；　just　in　case　any　wasps　are　still　on　my　trail。　After　about　five　minutes；　I　drag　myself　onto　the　rocks。　People　have　not　exaggerated　the　effects　of　the　tracker　jacker　stings。　Actually；　the　one　on　my　knee　is　closer　to　an　orange　than　a　plum　in　size。　A　foulsmelling　green　liquid　oozes　from　the　places　where　I　pulled　out　the　stingers。
The　swelling。　The　pain。　The　ooze。　Watching　Glimmer　twitching　to　death　on　the　ground。　Itˇs　a　lot　to　handle　before　the　sun　has　even　cleared　the　horizon。　I　donˇt　want　to　think　about　what　Glimmer　must　look　like　now。　Her　body　disfigured。　Her　swollen　fingers　stiffening　around　the　bow　。　。　。　
The　bow！　Somewhere　in　my　befuddled　mind　one　thought　connects　to　another　and　Iˇm　on　my　feet；　teetering　through　the　trees　back　to　Glimmer。　The　bow。　The　arrows。　I　must　get　them。　I　havenˇt　heard　the　cannons　fire　yet；　so　perhaps　Glimmer　is　in　some　sort　of　a；　her　heart　still　struggling　against　the　wasp　venom。　But　once　it　stops　and　the　cannon　signals　her　death；　a　hovercraft　will　move　in　and　retrieve　her　body；　taking　the　only　bow　and　sheath　of　arrows　Iˇve　seen　out　of　the　Games　for　good。　And　I　refuse　to　let　them　slip　through　my　fingers　again！
I　reach　Glimmer　just　as　the　cannon　fires。　The　tracker　jackers　have　vanished。　This　girl；　so　breathtakingly　beautiful　in　her　golden　dress　the　night　of　the　interviews；　is　unrecognizable。　Her　features　eradicated；　her　limbs　three　times　their　normal　size。　The　stinger　lumps　have　begun　to　explode；　spewing　putrid　　green　liquid　around　her。　I　have　to　break　several　of　what　used　to　be　her