the hunger games-饥饿游戏(英文版)-第28章

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Hugging　the　rocks；　I　move　slowly　in　the　direction　of　the　blood；　searching　for　him。　I　find　a　few　more　bloodstains；　one　with　a　few　threads　of　fabric　glued　to　it；　but　no　sign　of　life。　I　break　down　and　say　his　name　in　a　hushed　voice。　¨Peeta！　Peeta！〃　Then　a　mockingjay　lands　on　a　scruffy　tree　and　begins　to　mimic　my　tones　so　I　stop。　I　give　up　and　climb　back　down　to　the　stream　thinking；　He　must　have　moved　on。　Somewhere　farther　down。
My　foot　has　just　broken　the　surface　of　the　water　when　I　hear　a　voice。
¨You　here　to　finish　me　off；　sweetheart？〃
I　whip　around。　Itˇs　e　from　the　left；　so　I　canˇt　pick　it　up　very　well。　And　the　voice　was　hoarse　and　weak。　Still；　it　must　have　been　Peeta。　Who　else　in　the　arena　would　call　me　sweetheart？　My　eyes　peruse　the　bank；　but　thereˇs　nothing。　Just　mud；　the　plants；　the　base　of　the　rocks。
¨Peeta？〃　I　whisper。　¨Where　are　you？〃　Thereˇs　no　answer。　Could　I　just　have　imagined　it？　No；　Iˇm　certain　it　was　real　and　very　close　at　hand；　too。　¨Peeta？〃　I　creep　along　the　bank。
¨Well；　donˇt　step　on　me。〃
I　jump　back。　His　voice　was　right　under　my　feet。　Still　thereˇs　nothing。　Then　his　eyes　open；　unmistakably　blue　in　the　brown　mud　and　green　leaves。　I　gasp　and　am　rewarded　with　a　hint　of　white　teeth　as　he　laughs。
Itˇs　the　final　word　in　camouflage。　Forget　chucking　weights　around。　Peeta　should　have　gone　into　his　private　session　with　the　Gamemakers　and　painted　himself　into　a　tree。　Or　a　boulder。　Or　a　muddy　bank　full　of　weeds。
¨Close　your　eyes　again；〃　I　order。　He　does；　and　his　mouth；　too；　and　pletely　disappears。　Most　of　what　I　judge　to　be　his　body　is　actually　under　a　layer　of　mud　and　plants。　His　face　and　arms　are　so　artfully　disguised　as　to　be　invisible。　I　kneel　beside　him。　¨I　guess　all　those　hours　decorating　cakes　paid　off。〃
Peeta　smiles。　¨Yes；　frosting。　The　final　defense　of　the　dying。〃
¨Youˇre　not　going　to　die；〃　I　tell　him　firmly。　¨Says　who？〃　His　voice　is　so　ragged。　¨Says　me。　Weˇre　on　the　same　team　now；　you　know；〃　I　tell　him。
His　eyes　open。　¨So；　I　heard。　Nice　of　you　to　find　whatˇs　left　of　me。〃
I　pull　out　my　water　bottle　and　give　him　a　drink。　¨Did　Cato　cut　you？〃　I　ask。
¨Left　leg。　Up　high；〃　he　answers。
¨Letˇs　get　you　in　the　stream；　wash　you　off　so　I　can　see　what　kind　of　wounds　youˇve　got；〃　I　say。
¨Lean　down　a　minute　first；〃　he　says。　¨Need　to　tell　you　something。〃　I　lean　over　and　put　my　good　ear　to　his　lips；　which　tickle　as　he　whispers。　¨Remember；　weˇre　madly　in　love；　so　itˇs　all　right　to　kiss　me　anytime　you　feel　like　it。〃
I　jerk　my　head　back　but　end　up　laughing。　¨Thanks；　Iˇll　keep　it　in　mind。〃　At　least；　heˇs　still　able　to　joke　around。　But　when　I　start　to　help　him　to　the　stream；　all　the　levity　disappears。　Itˇs　only　two　feet　away；　how　hard　can　it　be？　Very　hard　when　I　realize　heˇs　unable　to　move　an　inch　on　his　own。　Heˇs　so　weak　that　the　best　he　can　do　is　not　to　resist。　I　try　to　drag　him；　but　despite　the　fact　that　I　know　heˇs　doing　all　he　can　to　keep　quiet；　sharp　cries　of　pain　escape　him。　The　mud　and　plants　seem　to　have　imprisoned　him　and　I　finally　have　to　give　a　gigantic　tug　to　break　him　from　their　clutches。　Heˇs　still　two　feet　from　the　water；　lying　there；　teeth　gritted；　tears　cutting　trails　in　the　dirt　on　his　face。
¨Look；　Peeta；　Iˇm　going　to　roll　you　into　the　stream。　Itˇs　very　shallow　here；　okay？〃　I　say。
¨Excellent；〃　he　says。
I　crouch　down　beside　him。　No　matter　what　happens；　I　tell　myself；　donˇt　stop　until　heˇs　in　the　water。　¨On　three；〃　I　say。　¨One；　two；　three！〃　I　can　only　manage　one　full　roll　before　I　have　to　stop　because　of　the　horrible　sound　heˇs　making。　Now　heˇs　on　the　edge　of　the　stream。　Maybe　this　is　better　anyway。
¨Okay；　change　of　plans。　Iˇm　not　going　to　put　you　all　the　way　in；〃　I　tell　him。　Besides；　if　I　get　him　in；　who　knows　if　Iˇd　ever　be　able　to　get　him　out？
¨No　more　rolling？〃　he　asks。
¨Thatˇs　all　done。　Letˇs　get　you　cleaned　up。　Keep　an　eye　on　the　woods　for　me；　okay？〃　I　say。　Itˇs　hard　to　know　where　to　start。　He　so　caked　with　mud　and　matted　leaves；　I　canˇt　even　see　his　clothes。　If　heˇs　wearing　clothes。　The　thought　makes　me　hesitate　a　moment；　but　then　I　plunge　in。　Naked　bodies　are　no　big　deal　in　the　arena；　right？
Iˇve　got　two　water　bottles　and　Rueˇs　water　skin。　I　prop　them　against　rocks　in　the　stream　so　that　two　are　always　filling　while　I　pour　the　third　over　Peetaˇs　body。　It　takes　a　while；　but　I　finally　get　rid　of　enough　mud　to　find　his　clothes。　I　gently　unzip　his　jacket；　unbutton　his　shirt　and　ease　them　off　him。　His　undershirt　is　so　plastered　into　his　wounds　I　have　to　cut　it　away　with　my　knife　and　drench　him　again　to　work　it　loose。　Heˇs　badly　bruised　with　a　long　burn　across　his　chest　and　four　tracker　jacker　stings；　if　you　count　the　one　under　his　ear。　But　I　feel　a　bit　better。　This　much　I　can　fix。　I　decide　to　take　care　of　his　upper　body　first；　to　alleviate　some　pain；　before　I　tackle　whatever　damage　Cato　did　to　his　leg。
Since　treating　his　wounds　seems　pointless　when　heˇs　lying　in　whatˇs　bee　a　mud　puddle；　I　manage　to　prop　him　up　against　a　boulder。　He　sits　there；　unplaining；　while　I　wash　away　all　the　traces　of　dirt　from　his　hair　and　skin。　His　flesh　is　very　pale　in　the　sunlight　and　he　no　longer　looks　strong　and　stocky。　I　have　to　dig　the　stingers　out　of　his　tracker　jacker　lumps；　which　causes　him　to　wince；　but　the　minute　I　apply　the　leaves　he　sighs　in　relief。　While　he　dries　in　the　sun；　I　wash　his　filthy　shirt　and　jacket　and　spread　them　over　boulders。　Then　I　apply　the　burn　cream　to　his　chest。　This　is　when　I　notice　how　hot　his　skin　is　being。　The　layer　of　mud　and　the　bottles　of　water　have　disguised　the　fact　that　heˇs　burning　with　fever。　I　dig　through　the　first…aid　kit　I　got　from　the　boy　from　District　1　and　find　pills　that　reduce　your　temperature。　My　mother　actually　breaks　down　and　buys　these　on　occasion　when　her　home　remedies　fail。
¨Swallow　these；〃　I　tell　him；　and　he　obediently　takes　the　medicine。　¨You　must　be　hungry。〃
¨Not　really。　Itˇs　funny；　I　havenˇt　been　hungry　for　days；〃　says　Peeta。　In　fact；　when　I　offer　him　groosling；　he　wrinkles　his　nose　at　it　and　turns　away。　Thatˇs　when　I　know　how　sick　he　is。
¨Peeta；　we　need　to　get　some　food　in　you；〃　I　insist。
¨Itˇll　just　e　right　back　up；〃　he　says。　The　best　I　can　do　is　to　get　him　to　eat　a　few　bits　of　dried　apple。　¨Thanks。　Iˇm　much　better；　really。　Can　I　sleep　now；　Katniss？〃　he　asks。
¨Soon；〃　I　promise。　¨I　need　to　look　at　your　leg　first。〃　Trying　to　be　as　gentle　as　I　can；　I　remove　his　boots；　his　socks；　and　then　very　slowly　inch　his　pants　off　of　him。　I　can　see　the　tear　Catoˇs　sword　made　in　the　fabric　over　his　thigh；　but　it　in　no　way　prepares　me　for　what　lies　underneath。　The　deep　inflamed　gash　oozing　both　blood　and　pus。　The　swelling　of　the　leg。　And　worst　of　all；　the　smell　of　festering　flesh。
I　want　to　run　away。　Disappear　into　the　woods　like　I　did　that　day　they　brought　the　burn　victim　to　our　house。　Go　and　hunt　while　my　mother　and　Prim　attend　to　what　I　have　neither　the　skill　nor　the　courage　to　face。　But　thereˇs　no　one　here　but　me。　I　try　to　capture　the　calm　demeanor　my　mother　assumes　when
handling　particularly　bad　cases。
¨Pretty　awful；　huh？〃　says　Peeta。　Heˇs　watching　me　closely。
¨So…so。〃　I　shrug　like　itˇs　no　big　deal。　¨You　should　see　some　of　the　people　they　bring　my　mother　from　the　mines。〃　I　refrain　from　saying　how　I　usually　clear　out　of　the　house　whenever　sheˇs　treating　anything　worse　than　a　cold。　e　to　think　of　it；　I　donˇt　even　much　like　to　be　around　coughing。　¨First　thing　is　to　clean　it　well。〃
Iˇve　left　on　Peetaˇs　undershorts　because　theyˇre　not　in　bad　shape　and　I　donˇt　want　to　pull　them　over　the　swollen　thigh　and；　all　right；　maybe　the　idea　of　him　being　naked　makes　me　unfortable。　Thatˇs　another　thing　about　my　mother　and　Prim。　Nakedness　has　no　effect　on　them；　gives　them　no　cause　for　embarrassment。　Ironically；　at　this　point　in　the　Games；　my　little　sister　would　be　of　far　more　use　to　Peeta　than　I　am。　I　scoot　my　square　of　plastic　under　him　so　I　can　wash　down　the　rest　of　him。　With　each　bottle　I　pour　over　him；　the　worse　the　wound　looks。　The　rest　of　his　lower　body　has　fared　pretty　well；　just　one　tracker　jacker　sting　and　a　few　small　burns　that　I　treat　quickly。　But　the　gash　on　his　leg　。　。　。　what　on　earth　can　I　do　for　that？
¨Why　donˇt　we　give　it　some　air　and　then　。　。　。〃　I　trail　off。
¨And　then　youˇll　patch　it　up？〃　says　Peeta。　He　looks　almost　sorry　for　me；　as　if　he　knows　how　lost　I　am。
¨Thatˇs　right；〃　I　say。　¨In　the　meantime；　you　eat　these。〃　I　put　a　few　dried　pear　halves　in　his　hand　and　go　back　in　the　stream　to　wash　the　rest　of　his　clothes。　When　theyˇre　flattened　out　and　drying；　I　examine　the　contents　of　the　first…aid　kit。　Itˇs　pretty　basic　stuff。　Bandages；　fever　pills；　medicine　to　calm　stomachs。　Nothing　of　the　caliber　Iˇll　need　to　treat　Peeta。
¨Weˇre　going　to　have　to　experiment　some；〃　I　admit。　I　know　the　tracker　jacker　leaves　draw　out　infection；　so　I　start　with　those。　Within　minutes　of　pressing　the　handful　of　chewed…up　green　stuff　into　the　wound；　pus　begins　running　down　the　side　of　his　leg。　I　tell　myself　this　is　a　good　thing　and　bite　the　inside　of　my　cheek　hard　because　my　breakfast　is　threatening　to　make　a　reappearance。
¨Katniss？〃　Peeta　says。　I　meet　his　eyes；　knowing　my　face　must　be　some　shade　of　green。　He　mouths　the　words。　¨How　about　that　kiss？〃
I　burst　out　laughing　because　the　whole　thing　is　so　revolting　I　canˇt　stand　it。
¨Something　wrong？〃　he　asks　a　little　too　innocently。
¨I　。　。　。　Iˇm　no　good　at　this。　Iˇm　not　my　mother。　Iˇve　no　idea　what　Iˇm　doing　and　I　hate　pus；〃　I　say。　¨Euh！〃　I　allow　myself　to　let　out　a　groan　as　I　rinse　away　the　first　round　of　leaves　and　apply　the　second。　¨Euuuh！〃
¨How　do　you　hunt？〃　he　asks。
¨Trust　me。　Killing　things　is　much　easier　than　this；〃　I　say。　¨Although　for　all　I　know；　I　am　killing　you。〃
¨Can　you　speed　it　up　a　little？〃　he　asks。
¨No。　Shut　up　and　eat　your　pears；〃　I　say。
After　three　applications　and　what　seems　like　a　bucket　of　pus；　the　wound　does　look　better。　Now　that　the　swelling　has　gone　down；　I　can　see　how　deep　Catoˇs　sword　cut。　Right　down　to　the　bone。
¨What　next；　Dr。　Everdeen？〃　he　asks。
¨Maybe　Iˇll　put　some　of　the　burn　ointment　on　it。　I　think　it　helps　with　infection　anyway。　And　wrap　it　up？〃　I　say。　I　do　and　the　whole　thing　seems　a　lot　more　manageable；　covered　in　clean　white　cotton。　Although；　against　the　sterile　bandage；　the　hem　of　his　undershorts　looks　filthy　and　teeming　with　contagion。　I　pull　out　Rueˇs　backpack。　¨Here；　cover　yourself　with　this　and　Iˇll　wash　your　shorts。〃
¨Oh；　I　donˇt　care　if　you　see　me；〃　says　Peeta。
¨Youˇre　just　like　the　rest　of　my　family；〃　I　say。　¨I　care；　all　right？〃　I　turn　my　back　and　look　at　the　stream　until　the　undershorts　splash　into　the　current。　He　must　be　feeling　a　bit　better　if　he　can　throw。
¨You　knoish　for　such　a　lethal　person；〃　says　Peeta　as　I　beat　the　shorts　clean　between　two　rocks。　¨I　wish　Iˇd　let　you　give　Haymitch　a　shower　after　all。〃
I　wrinkle　my　nose　at　the　memory。　¨Whatˇs　he　sent　you　so　far？〃
¨Not　a　thing；〃　says　Peeta。　Then　thereˇs　a　pause　as　it　hits　him。　¨Why；　did　you　get　something？〃
¨Burn　medicine；〃　I　say　almost　sheepishly。　¨Oh；　and　some　bread。〃
¨I　always　knew　you　were　his　favorite；〃　says　Peeta。
¨Please；　he　canˇt　stand　being　in　the　same　room　with　me；〃　I　say。
¨Because　youˇre　just　alike；〃　mutters　Peeta。　I　ignore　it　though　because　this　really　isnˇt　the　time　for　me　to　be　insulting　Haymitch；　which　is　my　first　impulse。
I　let　Peeta　doze　off　while　his　clothes　dry　out；　but　by　late　afternoon；　I　donˇt　dare　wait　any　longer。　I　gently　shake　his　shoulder。　¨Peeta；　weˇve　got　to　go　now。〃
¨Go？〃　He　seems　confused。　¨Go　where？〃
¨Away　from　here。　Downstream　maybe。　Somewhere　we　can　hide　you　until　youˇre　stronger；〃　I　say。　I　help　him　dress；　leaving　his　feet　bare　so　we　can　walk　in　the　water；　and　pull　him　upright。　His　face　drains　of　color　the　moment　he　puts　weight　on　his　leg。　¨e　on。　You　can　do　this。〃
But　he　canˇt。　Not　for　long　anyway。　We　make　it　about　fifty　yards　downstream；　with　him　propped　up　by　my　shoulder；　and　I　can　tell　heˇs　going　to　black　out。　I　sit　him　on　the　bank；　push　his　head　between　his　knees；　and　pat　his　back　awkwardly　as　I　survey　the　area。　Of　course；　Iˇd　love　to　get　him　up　in　a　tree；　but　thatˇs　not　going　to　happen。　It　could　be　worse　though。　Some　of　the　rocks　form　small　cavelike　structures。　I　set　my　sights　on　one　about　twenty　yards　above　the　stream。　When　Peetaˇs　able　to　stand；　I　half…guide；　half…carry　him　up　to　the　cave。　Really；　Iˇd　like　to　look　around　for　a　better　place；　but　this　one　will　have　to　do　because　my　ally　is　shot。　Paper　white；　panting；　and；　even　though　itˇs　only　just　cooling　off；　heˇs　shivering。
I　cover　the　floor　of　the　cave　with　a　layer　of　pine　needles；　unroll　my　sleeping　bag；　and　tuck　him　into　it。　I　get　a　couple　of　pills　and　some　water　into　him　when　heˇs　not　noticing；　but　he　refuses　to　eat　even　the　fruit。　Then　he　just　lies　there；　his　eyes　trained　on　my　face　as　I　build　a　sort　of　blind　out　of　vines　to　conceal　the　mouth　of　the　cave。　The　result　is　unsatisfactory。　An　animal　might　not　question　it；　but　a　human　would　see　hands　had　manufactured　it　quickly　enough。　I　tear　it　down　in　frustration。
¨Katniss；〃　he　says。　I　go　over　to　him　and　brush　the　hair　back　from　his　eyes。　¨Thanks　for　finding　me。〃
¨You　would　have　found　me　if　you　could；〃　I　say。　His　foreheadˇs　burning　up。　Like　the　medicineˇ