《the hunger games-饥饿游戏(英文版)》饥饿游戏(英文版)-第67章

er　if　they　think　heˇs　covering　me　when　I　go　in　for　the　backpack。
But　where　is　it？　The　arena　has　lightened　enough　for　me　to　remove　my　glasses。　I　can　hear　the　morning　birds　singing。　Isnˇt　it　time？　For　a　second；　Iˇm　panicked　that　Iˇm　at　the　wrong　location。　But　no；　Iˇm　certain　I　remember　Claudius　Templesmith　specifying　the　Cornucopia。　And　there　it　is。　And　here　I　am。　So　whereˇs　my　feast？
Just　as　the　first　ray　of　sun　glints　off　the　gold　Cornucopia；　thereˇs　a　disturbance　on　the　plain。　The　ground　before　the　mouth　of　the　horn　splits　in　two　and　a　round　table　with　a　snowy　white　cloth　rises　into　the　arena。　On　the　table　sit　four　backpacks；　two　large　black　ones　with　the　numbers　2　and　11；　a　medium…size　green　one　with　the　number　5；　and　a　tiny　orange　one　　really　I　could　carry　it　around　my　wrist　　that　must　be　marked　with　a　12。
The　table　has　just　clicked　into　place　when　a　figure　darts　out　of　the　Cornucopia；　snags　the　green　backpack；　and　speeds　off。　Foxface！　Leave　it　to　her　to　e　up　with　such　a　clever　and　risky　idea！　The　rest　of　us　are　still　poised　around　the　plain；　sizing　up　the　situation；　and　sheˇs　got　hers。　Sheˇs　got　us　trapped；　too；　because　no　one　wants　to　chase　her　down；　not　while　their　own　pack　sits　so　vulnerable　on　the　table。　Foxface　must　have　purposefully　left　the　other　packs　alone；　knowing　that　to　steal　one　without　her　number　would　definitely　bring　on　a　pursuer。　That　should　have　been　my　strategy！　By　the　lime　Iˇve　worked　through　the　emotions　of　surprise；　admiration；　anger；　jealousy；　and　frustration；　Iˇm　watching　that　reddish　mane　of　hair　disappear　into　the　trees　well　out　of　shooting　range。　Huh。　Iˇm　always　dreading　the　others；　but　maybe　Foxface　is　the　real　opponent　here。
Sheˇs　cost　me　time；　too；　because　by　now　itˇs　clear　that　I　must　get　to　the　table　next。　Anyone　who　beats　me　to　it　will　easily　scoop　up　my　pack　and　be　gone。　Without　hesitation；　I　sprint　for　the　table。　I　can　sense　the　emergence　of　danger　before　I　see　it。　Fortunately；　the　first　knife　es　whizzing　in　on　my　right　side　so　I　can　hear　it　and　Iˇm　able　to　deflect　it　with　my　bow。　I　turn；　drawing　back　the　bowstring　and　send　an　arrow　straight　at　Cloveˇs　heart。　She　turns　just　enough　to　avoid　a　fatal　hit；　but　the　point　punctures　her　upper　left　arm。　Unfortunately；　she　throws　with　her　right；　but　itˇs　enough　to　slow　her　down　a　few　moments；　having　to　pull　the　arrow　from　her　arm；　take　in　the　severity　of　the　wound。　I　keep　moving；　positioning　the　next　arrow　automatically；　as　only　someone　who　has　hunted　for　years　can　do。
Iˇm　at　the　table　now；　my　fingers　closing　over　the　tiny　orange　backpack。　My　hand　slips　between　the　straps　and　I　yank　it　up　on　my　arm；　itˇs　really　too　small　to　fit　on　any　other　part　of　my　anatomy；　and　Iˇm　turning　to　fire　again　when　the　second　knife　catches　me　in　the　forehead。　It　slices　above　my　right　eyebrow；　opening　a　gash　that　sends　a　gush　running　down　my　face；　blinding　my　eye；　filling　my　mouth　with　the　sharp；　metallic　taste　of　my　own　blood。　I　stagger　backward　but　still　manage　to　send　my　readied　arrow　in　the　general　direction　of　my　assailant。　I　know　as　it　leaves　my　hands　it　will　miss。　And　then　Clove　slams　into　me；　knocking　me　flat　on　my　back；　pinning　my　shoulders　to　the　ground；　with　her　knees。
This　is　it；　I　think；　and　hope　for　Primˇs　sake　it　will　be　fast。　But　Clove　means　to　savor　the　moment。　Even　feels　she　has　time。　No　doubt　Cato　is　somewhere　nearby；　guarding　her；　waiting　for　Thresh　and　possibly　Peeta。
¨Whereˇs　your　boyfriend；　District　Twelve？　Still　hanging　on？〃　she　asks。
Well；　as　long　as　weˇre　talking　Iˇm　alive。　¨Heˇs　out　there　now。　Hunting　Cato；〃　I　snarl　at　her。　Then　I　scream　at　the　top　of　my　lungs。　¨Peeta！〃
Clove　jams　her　fist　into　my　windpipe；　very　effectively　cutting　off　my　voice。　But　her　headˇs　whipping　from　side　to　side；　and　I　know　for　a　moment　sheˇs　at　least　considering　Iˇm　telling　the　truth。　Since　no　Peeta　appears　to　save　me；　she　turns　back　to　me。
¨Liar；〃　she　says　with　a　grin。　¨Heˇs　nearly　dead。　Cato　knows　where　he　cut　him。　Youˇve　probably　got　him　strapped　up　in　some　tree　while　you　try　to　keep　his　heart　going。　Whatˇs　in　the　pretty　little　backpack？　That　medicine　for　Lover　Boy？　Too　bad　heˇll　never　get　it。〃
Clove　opens　her　jacket。　Itˇs　lined　with　an　impressive　array　of　knives。　She　carefully　selects　an　almost　dainty…looking　number　with　a　cruel；　curved　blade。　¨I　promised　Cato　if　he　let　me　have　you；　Iˇd　give　the　audience　a　good　show。〃
Iˇm　struggling　now　in　an　effort　to　unseat　her；　but　itˇs　no　use。　Sheˇs　too　heavy　and　her　lock　on　me　too　tight。
¨Forget　it；　District　Twelve。　Weˇre　going　to　kill　you。　Just　like　we　did　your　pathetic　little　ally　。　。　。　what　was　her　name？　The　one　who　hopped　around　in　the　trees？　Rue？　Well；　first　Rue；　then　you；　and　then　I　think　weˇll　just　let　nature　take　care　of　Lover　Boy。　How　does　that　sound？〃　Clove　asks。　¨Now；　where　to　start？〃
She　carelessly　wipes　away　the　blood　from　my　wound　with　her　jacket　sleeve。　For　a　moment；　she　surveys　my　face；　tilting　it　from　side　to　side　as　if　itˇs　a　block　of　wood　and　sheˇs　deciding　exactly　what　pattern　to　carve　on　it。　I　attempt　to　bite　her　hand；　but　she　grabs　the　hair　on　the　top　of　my　head；　forcing　me　back　to　the　ground。　¨I　think　。　。　。〃　she　almost　purrs。　¨I　think　weˇll　start　with　your　mouth。〃　I　clamp　my　teeth　together　as　she　teasingly　traces　the　outline　of　my　lips　with　the　tip　of　the　blade。
I　wonˇt　close　my　eyes。　The　ment　about　Rue　has　filled　me　with　fury；　enough　fury　I　think　to　die　with　some　dignity。　As　my　last　act　of　defiance；　I　will　stare　her　down　as　long　as　I　can　see；　which　will　probably　not　be　an　extended　period　of　time；　but　I　will　stare　her　down；　I　will　not　cry　out。　I　will　die；　in　my　own　small　way；　undefeated。
¨Yes；　I　donˇt　think　youˇll　have　much　use　for　your　lips　anymore。　Want　to　blow　Lover　Boy　one　last　kiss？〃　she　asks；　I　work　up　a　mouthful　of　blood　and　saliva　and　spit　it　in　her　face。　She　flushes　with　rage。　¨All　right　then。　Letˇs　get　started。〃
I　brace　myself　for　the　agony　thatˇs　sure　to　follow。　But　as　I　feel　the　tip　open　the　first　cut　at　my　lip；　some　great　form　yanks　Clove　from　my　body　and　then　sheˇs　screaming。　Iˇm　too　stunned　at　first；　too　unable　to　process　what　has　happened。　Has　Peeta　somehow　e　to　my　rescue？　Have　the　Gamemakers　s