the hunger games-饥饿游戏(英文版)-第35部分

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en　relying　on　it。　Probably　not　Thresh　though。　Iˇve　got　a　feeling　he　must　share　some　of　Rueˇs　knowledge　on　how　to　feed　yourself　from　the　earth。　Are　they　fighting　each　other？　Looking　for　us？　Maybe　one　of　them　has　located　us　and　is　just　waiting　for　the　right　moment　to　attack。　The　idea　sends　me　back　to　the　cave。
Peetaˇs　stretched　out　on　top　of　the　sleeping　bag　in　the　shade　of　the　rocks。　Although　he　brightens　a　bit　when　I　e　in；　itˇs　clear　he　feels　miserable。　I　put　cool　cloths　on　his　head；　but　they　warm　up　almost　as　soon　as　they　touch　his　skin。
¨Do　you　want　anything？〃　I　ask。
¨No；〃　he　says。　¨Thank　you。　Wait；　yes。　Tell　me　a　story。〃
¨A　story？　What　about？〃　I　say。　Iˇm　not　much　for　storytelling。　Itˇs　kind　of　like　singing。　But　once　in　a　while；　Prim　wheedles　one　out　of　me。
¨Something　happy。　Tell　me　about　the　happiest　day　you　can　remember；〃　says　Peeta。
Something　between　a　sigh　and　a　huff　of　exasperation　leaves　my　mouth。　A　happy　story？　This　ore　effort　than　the　soup。　I　rack　my　brains　for　good　memories。　Most　of　them　involve　Gale　and　me　out　hunting　and　somehow　I　donˇt　think　these　will　play　well　with　either　Peeta　or　the　audience。　That　leaves　Prim。
¨Did　I　ever　tell　you　about　how　I　got　Primˇs　goat？〃　I　ask。　Peeta　shakes　his　head；　and　looks　at　me　expectantly。　So　I　begin。　But　carefully。　Because　my　words　are　going　out　all　over　Panem。　And　while　people　have　no　doubt　put　two　and　two　together　that　I　hunt　illegally；　I　donˇt　want　to　hurt　Gale　or　Greasy　Sae　or　the　butcher　or　even　the　Peacekeepers　back　home　who　are　my　customers　by　publicly　announcing　theyˇd　breaking　the　law；　too。
Hereˇs　the　real　story　of　how　I　got　the　money　for　Primˇs　goat；　Lady。　It　was　a　Friday　evening；　the　day　before　Primˇs　tenth　birthday　in　late　May。　As　soon　as　school　ended；　Gale　and　I　hit　the　woods；　because　I　wanted　to　get　enough　to　trade　for　a　present　for　Prim。　Maybe　some　new　cloth　for　a　dress　or　a　hairbrush。　Our　snares　had　done　well　enough　and　the　woods　were　flush　with　greens；　but　this　was　really　no　more　than　our　average　Friday…night　haul。　I　was　disappointed　as　we　headed　back；　even　though　Gale　said　weˇd　be　sure　to　do　better　tomorrow。　We　were　resting　a　moment　by　a　stream　when　we　saw　him。　A　young　buck；　probably　a　yearling　by　his　size。　His　antlers　were　just　growing　in；　still　small　and　coated　in　velvet。　Poised　to　run　but　unsure　of　us；　unfamiliar　with　humans。　Beautiful。
Less　beautiful　perhaps　when　the　two　arrows　caught　him；　one　in　the　neck；　the　other　in　the　chest。　Gale　and　I　had　shot　at　the　same　time。　The　buck　tried　to　run　but　stumbled；　and　Galeˇs　knife　slit　his　throat　before　he　knew　what　had　happened。　Momentarily；　Iˇd　felt　a　pang　at　killing　something　so　fresh　and　innocent。　And　then　my　stomach　rumbled　at　the　thought　of　all　that　fresh　and　innocent　meat。
A　deer！　Gale　and　I　have　only　brought　down　three　in　all。　The　first　one；　a　doe　that　had　injured　her　leg　somehow；　almost　didnˇt　count。　But　we　knew　from　that　experience　not　to　go　dragging　the　carcass　into　the　Hob。　It　had　caused　chaos　with　people　bidding　on　parts　and　actually　trying　to　hack　off　pieces　themselves。　Greasy　Sae　had　intervened　and　sent　us　with　our　deer　to　the　butcher；　but　not　before　itˇd　been　badly　damaged；　hunks　of　meat　taken；　the　hide　riddled　with　holes。　Although　everybody　paid　up　fairly；　it　had　lowered　the　value　of　the　kill。　This　time；　we　waited　until　dark　fell　and　slipped　under　a　hole　in　the　fence　close　to　the　butcher。　Even　though　we　were　known　hunters；　it　wouldnˇt　have　been　good　to　go　carrying　a　150…pound　deer　through　the　streets　of　District　12　in　daylight　like　we　were　rubbing　it　in　the　officialsˇ　faces。
The　butcher；　a　short；　chunky　woman　named　Rooba；　came　to　the　back　door　when　we　knocked。　You　donˇt　haggle　with　Rooba。　She　gives　you　one　price；　which　you　can　take　or　leave；　but　itˇs　a　fair　price。　We　took　her　offer　on　the　deer　and　she　threw　in　a　couple　of　venison　steaks　we　could　pick　up　after　the　butchering。　Even　with　the　money　divided　in　two；　neither　Gale　nor　Ihad　held　so　much　at　one　time　in　　our　lives。　We　decided　to　keep　it　a　secret　and　surprise　our　families　with　the　meat　and　money　at　the　end　of　the　next　day。
This　is　where　I　really　got　the　money　for　the　goat；　but　I　tell　Peeta　I　sold　an　old　silver　locket　of　my　motherˇs。　That　canˇt　hurt　anyone。　Then　I　pick　up　the　story　in　the　late　afternoon　of　Primˇs　birthday。
Gale　and　I　went　to　the　market　on　the　square　so　that　I　could　buy　dress　materials。　As　I　was　running　my　fingers　over　a　length　of　thick　blue　cotton　cloth；　something　caught　my　eye。　Thereˇs　an　old　man　who　keeps　a　small　herd　of　goats　on　the　other　side　of　the　Seam。　I　donˇt　know　his　real　name；　everyone　just　calls　him　the　Goat　Man。　His　joints　are　swollen　and　twisted　in　painful　angles；　and　heˇs　got　a　hacking　cough　that　proves　he　spent　years　in　the　mines。　But　heˇs　lucky。　Somewhere　along　the　way　he　saved　up　enough　for　these　goats　and　now　has　something　to　do　in　his　old　age　besides　slowly　starve　to　death。　Heˇs　filthy　and　impatient；　but　the　goats　are　clean　and　their　milk　is　rich　if　you　can　afford　it。
One　of　the　goats；　a　white　one　with　black　patches；　was　lying　down　in　a　cart。　It　was　easy　to　see　why。　Something；　probably　a　dog；　had　mauled　her　shoulder　and　infection　had　set　in。　It　was　bad；　the　Goat　Man　had　to　hold　her　up　to　milk　her。　But　I　thought　I　knew　someone　who　could　fix　it。
¨Gale；〃　I　whispered。　¨I　want　that　goat　for　Prim。〃
Owning　a　nanny　goat　can　change　your　life　in　District　12。　The　animals　can　live　off　almost　anything；　the　Meadowˇs　a　perfect　feeding　place；　and　they　can　give　four　quarts　of　milk　a　day。　To　drink；　to　make　into　cheese；　to　sell。　Itˇs　not　even　against　the　law。
¨Sheˇs　hurt　pretty　bad；〃　said　Gale。　¨We　better　take　a　closer　look。〃
We　went　over　and　bought　a　cup　of　milk　to　share；　then　stood　over　the　goat　as　if　idly　curious。
¨Let　her　be；〃　said　the　man。
¨Just　looking；〃　said　Gale。
¨Well；　look　fast。　She　goes　to　the　butcher　soon。　Hardly　anyone　will　buy　her　milk；　and　then　they　only　pay　half　price；〃　said　the　man。
¨Whatˇs　the　butcher　giving　for　her？〃　I　asked。
The　man　shrugged。　¨Hang　around　and　see。〃　I　turned　and　saw　Rooba　ing　across　the　square　toward　us。　¨Lucky　thing　you　showed　up；〃　said　the　Goat　Man　when　she　arrived。　¨Girlˇs　got　her　eye　on　your　goat。〃
¨Not　if　sheˇs　spoken　for；〃　I　said　carelessly。
Rooba　looked　me　up　and　down　then　frowned　at　the　goat。　¨Sheˇs　not。　Look　at　that　shoulder。　Bet　you　half　the　carcass　will　be　too　rotten　for　even　sausage。〃
¨What？〃　said　the　Goat　Man。　¨We　had　a　deal。〃
¨We　had　a　deal　on　an　animal　with　a　few　teeth　marks。　Not　that　thing。　Sell　her　to　the　girl　if　sheˇs　stupid　enough　to　take　her；〃　said　Rooba。　As　she　marched　off；　I　caught　her　wink。
The　Goat　Man　was　mad；　but　he　still　wanted　that　goal　off　his　hands。　It　took　us　half　an　hour　to　agree　on　the　price。　Quite　a　crowd　had　gathered　by　then　to　hand　out　opinions。　It　was　an　excellent　deal　if　the　goat　lived；　Iˇd　been　robbed　if　she　died。　People　took　sides　in　the　argument；　but　I　took　the　goat。
Gale　offered　to　carry　her。　I　think　he　wanted　to　see　the　look　on　Primˇs　face　as　much　as　I　did。　In　a　moment　of　plete　giddiness；　I　bought　a　pink　ribbon　and　tied　it　around　her　neck。　Then　we　hurried　back　to　my　house。
You　should　have　seen　Primˇs　reaction　when　we　walked　in　with　that　goat。　Remember　this　is　a　girl　who　wept　to　save　that　awful　old　cat；　Buttercup。　She　was　so　excited　she　started　crying　and　laughing　all　at　once。　My　mother　was　less　sure；　seeing　the　injury；　but　the　pair　of　them　went　to　work　on　it；　grinding　up　herbs　and　coaxing　brews　down　the　animalˇs　throat。
¨They　sound　like　you；〃　says　Peeta。　I　had　almost　forgotten　he　was　there。
¨Oh；　no；　Peeta。　They　work　magic。　That　thing　couldnˇt　have　died　if　it　tried；〃　I　say。　But　then　I　bite　my　tongue；　realizing　what　that　must　sound　like　to　Peeta；　who　is　dying；　in　my　inpetent　hands。
¨Donˇt　worry。　Iˇm　not　trying；〃　he　jokes。　¨Finish　the　story。〃
¨Well；　thatˇs　it。　Only　I　remember　that　night；　Prim　insisted　on　sleeping　with　Lady　on　a　blanket　next　to　the　fire。　And　just　before　they　drifted　off；　the　goat　licked　her　cheek；　like　it　was　giving　her　a　good　night　kiss　or　something；〃　I　say。　¨It　was　already　mad　about　her。〃
¨Was　it　still　wearing　the　pink　ribbon？〃　he　asks。
¨I　think　so；〃　I　say。　¨Why？〃
¨Iˇm　just　trying　to　get　a　picture；〃　he　says　thoughtfully。　¨I　can　see　why　that　day　made　you　happy。〃
¨Well；　I　knew　that　goat　would　be　a　little　gold　mine；〃　1　say。
¨Yes；　of　course　I　was　referring　to　that；　not　the　lasting　joy　you　gave　the　sister　you　love　so　much　you　took　her　place　in　the　reaping；〃　says　Peeta　drily。
¨The　goat　has　paid　for　itself。　Several　times　over；〃　I　say　in　a　superior　tone。
¨Well；　it　wouldnˇt　dare　do　anything　else　after　you　saved　its　life；〃　says　Peeta。　¨I　intend　to　do　the　same　thing。〃
¨Really？　What　did　you　cost　me　again？〃　I　ask。
¨A　lot　of　trouble。　Donˇt　worry。　Youˇll　get　it　all　back；〃　he　says。
¨Youˇre　not　making　sense；〃　I　say。　I　test　his　forehead。　The　leverˇs　going　nowhere　but　up。　¨Youˇre　a　little　cooler　though。〃
The　sound　of　the　trumpets　startles　me。　Iˇm　on　my　feet　and　at　the　mouth　of　the　cave　in　a　flash；　not　wanting　to　miss　a　syllable。　Itˇs　my　new　best　friend；　Claudius　Templesmith；　and　as　I　expected；　heˇs　inviting　us　to　a　feast。　Well；　weˇre　not　that　hungry　and　I　actually　wave　his　offer　away　in　indifference　when　he　says；　¨Now　hold　on。　Some　of　you　may　already　be　declining　my　invitation。　But　this　is　no　ordinary　feast。　Each　of　you　needs　something　desperately。〃
I　do　need　something　desperately。　Something　to　heal　Peetaˇs　leg。
¨Each　of　you　will　find　that　something　in　a　backpack；　marked　with　your　district　number；　at　the　Cornucopia　at　dawn。　Think　hard　about　refusing　to　show　up。　For　some　of　you；　this　will　be　your　last　chance；〃　says　Claudius。
Thereˇs　nothing　else；　just　his　words　hanging　in　the　air。　I　jump　as　Peeta　grips　my　shoulder　from　behind。　¨No；〃　he　says。　¨Youˇre　not　risking　your　life　for　me。〃
¨Who　said　I　was？〃　I　say。
¨So；　youˇre　not　going？〃　he　asks。
¨Of　course；　Iˇm　not　going。　Give　me　some　credit。　Do　you　think　Iˇm　running　straight　into　some　free…for…all　against　Cato　and　Clove　and　Thresh？　Donˇt　be　stupid；〃　I　say；　helping　him　back　to　bed。　¨Iˇll　let　them　fight　it　out；　weˇll　see　whoˇs　in　the　sky　tomorrow　night　and　work　out　a　plan　from　there。〃
¨Youˇre　such　a　bad　liar；　Katniss。　I　donˇt　know　how　youˇve　survived　this　long。〃　He　begins　to　mimic　me。　¨I　knew　that　goat　would　be　a　little　gold　mine。　Youˇre　a　little　cooler　though。　Of　course；　Iˇm　not　going。　He　shakes　his　head。　¨Never　gamble　at　cards。　Youˇll　lose　your　last　coin；〃　he　says。
Anger　flushes　my　face。　¨All　right；　I　am　going；　and　you　canˇt　stop　me！〃
¨I　can　follow　you。　At　least　partway。　I　may　not　make　it　to　the　Cornucopia；　but　if　Iˇm　yelling　your　name；　I　bet　someone　can　find　me。　And　then　Iˇll　be　dead　for　sure；〃　he　says。
¨You　wonˇt　get　a　hundred　yards　from　here　on　that　leg；〃　I　say。
¨Then　Iˇll　drag　myself；〃　says　Peeta。　¨You　go　and　Iˇm　going；　too。〃
Heˇs　just　stubborn　enough　and　maybe　just　strong　enough　to　do　it。　e　howling　after　me　in　the　woods。　Even　if　a　tribute　doesnˇt　find　him；　something　else　might。　He　canˇt　defend　himself。　Iˇd　probably　have　to　wall　him　up　in　the　cave　just　to　go　myself。　And　who　knows　what　the　exertion　will　do　to　him？
¨What　am　I　supposed　to　do？　Sit　here　and　watch　you　die？〃　I　say。　He　mu