第42部分(第1/7 页)

；　wrapped　in　leaves；　baking　in　the　coals。　We　take　turns　gathering　greens　and　keeping　a　careful　watch　for　Cato；　but　as　I　anticipated；　he　doesnˇt　make　an　appearance。

When　the　foodˇs　cooked；　I　pack　most　of　it　up；　leaving　us　each　a　rabbitˇs　leg　to　eat　as　we　walk。

I　want　to　move　higher　into　the　woods；　climb　a　good　tree；　and　make　camp　for　the　night；　but　Peeta　resists。　¨I　canˇt　climb　like　you；　Katniss；　especially　with　my　leg；　and　I　donˇt　think　I　could　ever　fall　asleep　fifty　feet　above　the　ground。〃

¨Itˇs　not　safe　to　stay　in　the　open；　Peeta；〃　I　say。

¨Canˇt　we　go　back　to　the　cave？〃　he　asks。　¨Itˇs　near　water　and　easy　to　defend。〃

I　sigh。　Several　more　hours　of　walking　�　or　should　I　say　crashing　�　through　the　woods　to　reach　an　area　weˇll　just　have　to　leave　in　the　morning　to　hunt。　But　Peeta　doesnˇt　ask　for　much。　Heˇs　followed　my　instructions　all　day　and　Iˇm　sure　if　things　were　reversed；　he　wouldnˇt　make　me　spend　the　night　in　a　tree。　It　dawns　on　me　that　I　havenˇt　been　very　nice　to　Peeta　today。　Nagging　him　about　how　loud　he　was；　screaming　at　him　over　disappearing。　The　playful　romance　we　had　sustained　in　the　cave　has　disappeared　out　in　the　open；　under　the　hot　sun；　with　the　threat　of　Cato　looming　over　us。　Haymitch　has　probably　just　about　had　it　with　me。　And　as　for　the　audience　。　。　。

I　reach　up　and　give　him　a　kiss。　¨Sure。　Letˇs　go　back　to　the　cave。〃

He　looks　pleased　and　relieved。　¨Well；　that　was　easy。〃

I　work　my　arrow　out　of　the　oak；　careful　not　to　damage　the　shaft。　These　arrows　are　food；　safety；　and　life　itself　now。

We　toss　a　bunch　more　wood　on　the　fire。　It　should　be　sending　off　smoke　for　a　few　more　hours；　although　I　doubt　Cato　assumes　anything　at　this　point。　When　we　reach　the　stream；　I　see　the　water　has　dropped　considerab