第24部分(第2/8頁)

entures　up　to　pluck　the　highest　fruit；　or　rob　the　most　remote　bird　nests。　I　must　weigh　at　least　fifty　or　sixty　pounds　less　than　the　smallest　Career。

Now　I　smile。　¨Howˇs　everything　with　you？〃　I　call　down　cheerfully。

This　takes　them　aback；　but　I　know　the　crowd　will　love　it。

¨Well　enough；〃　says　the　boy　from　District　2。　¨Yourself？〃

¨Itˇs　been　a　bit　warm　for　my　taste；〃　I　say。　I　can　almost　hear　the　laughter　from　the　Capitol。　¨The　airˇs　better　up　here。　Why　donˇt　you　e　on　up？〃

¨Think　I　will；〃　says　the　same　boy。

¨Here；　take　this；　Cato；〃　says　the　girl　from　District　1；　and　she　offers　him　the　silver　bow　and　sheath　of　arrows。　My　bow！　My　arrows！　Just　the　sight　of　them　makes　me　so　angry　I　want　to　scream；　at　myself；　at　that　traitor　Peeta　for　distracting　me　from　having　them。　I　try　to　make　eye　contact　with　him　now；　but　he　seems　to　be　intentionally　avoiding　my　gaze　as　he　polishes　his　knife　with　the　edge　of　his　shirt。

¨No；〃　says　Cato；　pushing　away　the　bow。　¨Iˇll　do　better　with　my　sword。〃　I　can　see　the　weapon；　a　short；　heavy　blade　at　his　belt。

I　give　Cato　time　to　hoist　himself　into　the　tree　before　I　begin　to　climb　again。　Gale　always　says　I　remind　him　of　a　squirrel　the　way　I　can　scurry　up　even　the　slenderest　limb。　Part　of　itˇs　my　weight；　but　part　of　itˇs　practice。　You　have　to　know　where　to　place　your　hands　and　feet。　Iˇm　another　thirty　feet　in　the　air　when　I　hear　the　crack　and　look　down　to　see　Cato　flailing　as　he　and　a　branch　go　down。　He　hits