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They donˇt know about the arrows and the apples。 They assume the booby trap was faulty； but that the tribute who blew up the supplies was killed doing it。 If there was a cannon shot； it could have been easily lost in the subsequent explosions。 The shattered remains of the thief removed by hovercraft。 They retire to the far side of the lake to allow the Gamemakers to retrieve the body of the boy from District 3。 And they wait。
I suppose a cannon goes off。 A hovercraft appears and takes the dead boy。 The sun dips below the horizon。 Night falls。 Up in the sky； I see the seal and know the anthem must have begun。 A moment of darkness。 They show the boy from District 3。 They show the boy from District 10； who must have died this morning。 Then the seal reappears。 So； now they know。 The bomber survived。 In the sealˇs light； I can see Cato and the girl from District 2 put on their night…vision glasses。 The boy from District 1 ignites a tree branch for a torch； illuminating the grim determination on all their faces。 The Careers stride back into the woods to hunt。
The dizziness has subsided and while my left ear is still deafened； I can hear a ringing in my right； which seems a good sign。 Thereˇs no point in leaving my hiding place； though。 Iˇm about as safe as I can be； here at the crime scene。 They probably think the bomber has a two… or three…hour lead on them。 Still itˇs a long time before I risk moving。
The first thing I do is dig out my own glasses and put them on； which relaxes me a little； to have at least one of my hunterˇs senses working。 I drink some water and wash the blood from my ear。 Fearing the smell of meat will draw unwanted predators fresh blood is bad enough I make a good meal out of the greens and roots and berries Rue and I gathered today。
Where is my little ally？ Did she make it back to the rendezvous point？ Is she worried about me？ At least； the sky has shown weˇre both alive。
I run through the surviving tributes on my fingers。 The boy from 1； both from 2； Foxface； both from 11 and 12。 Just eight of us。 The betting must be getting really hot in the Capitol。 Theyˇll be doing special features on each of us now。 Probably interviewing our friends and families。 Itˇs been a long time since a tribute from District 12 made it into the top eight。 And now there are two of us。 Although from what Cato said； Peetaˇs on his way out。 Not that Cato is the final word on anything。 Didnˇt he just lose his entire stash of supplies？
Let the Seventy…fourth Hunger Games begin； Cato； I think。 Let them begin for real。
A cold breeze has sprung up。 I reach for my sleeping bag before I remember I left it with Rue。 I was supposed to pick up another one； but what with the mines and all； I forgot。 I begin to shiver。 Since roosting overnight in a tree isnˇt sensible anyway； I scoop out a hollow under the bushes and cover myself with leaves and pine needles。 Iˇm still freezing。 I lay my sheet of plastic over my upper body and position my backpack to block the wind。 Itˇs a little better。 I begin to have more sympathy for the girl from District 8 that lit the fire that first night。 But now itˇs me who needs to grit my teeth and tough it out until morning。 More leaves； more pine needles。 I pull my arms inside my jacket and tuck my knees up to my chest。 Somehow； I drift off to sleep。
When I open my eyes； the world looks slightly fractured； and it takes a minute to realize that the sun must be well up and the glasses fragmenting my vision。 As I sit up and remove them； I hear a laugh somewhere near the lake and freeze。 The laughˇs distorted； but the fact that it registered at all means I must be regaining my hearing。 Yes； my right ear can hear again； although itˇs still ringing。 As for my left ear； well； at least the bleeding has stopped。
I peer through the bushes； afraid the Careers have returned； trapping me here for an indefinite time。 No； itˇs Foxface； standing in the rubble of the pyramid and laughing。 Sheˇs smarter than the Careers； actually finding a few useful items in the ashes。 A metal pot。 A knife blade。 Iˇm perplexed by her amusement until I realize that with the Careersˇ stores eliminated； she might actually stand a chance。 Just like the rest of us。 It crosses my mind to reveal myself and enlist her as a second ally against that pack。 But I rule it out。 Thereˇs something about that sly grin that makes me sure that befriending Foxface would ultimately get me a knife in the back。 With that in mind； this might be an excellent time to shoot her。 But sheˇs heard something； not me； because her head turns away； toward the drop…off； and she sprints for the woods。 I wait。 No one； nothing shows up。 Still； if Foxface thought it was dangerous； maybe itˇs time for me to get out of here； too。 Besides； Iˇm eager to tell Rue about the pyramid。
Since Iˇve no idea where the Careers are； the route back by the stream seems as good as any。 I hurry； loaded bow in one hand； a hunk of cold groosling in the other； because Iˇm fa224 mished now； and not just for leaves and berries but for the fat and protein in the meat。 The trip to the stream is uneventful。 Once there； I refill my water and wash； taking particular care with my injured ear。 Then I travel uphill using the stream as a guide。 At one point； I find boot prints in the mud along the bank。 The Careers have been here； but not for a while。 The prints are deep because they were made in soft mud； but now theyˇre nearly dry in the hot sun。 I havenˇt been careful enough about my own tracks； counting on a light tread and the pine needles to conceal my prints。 Now I strip off my boots and socks and go barefoot up the bed of the stream。
The cool water has an invigorating effect on my body； my spirits。 I shoot two fish； easy pickings in this slow…moving stream； and go ahead and eat one raw even though Iˇve just had the groosling。 The second Iˇll save for Rue。
Gradually； subtly； the ringing in my right ear diminishes until itˇs gone entirely。 I find myself pawing at my left ear periodically； trying to clean away whatever deadens its ability to collect sounds。 If thereˇs improvement； itˇs undetectable。 I canˇt adjust to deafness in the ear。 It makes me feel off…balanced and defenseless to my left。 Blind even。 My head keeps turning to the injured side； as my right ear tries to pensate for the wall of nothingness where yesterday there was a constant flow of information。 The more time that passes； the less hopeful I am that this is an injury that will heal。
When I reach the site of our first meeting； I feel certain itˇs been undisturbed。 Thereˇs no sign of Rue； not on the ground or in the trees。 This is odd。 By now she should have returned； as itˇs midday。 Undoubtedly； she spent the night in a tree somewhere。 What else could she do with no light and the Careers with their night…vision glasses tramping around the woods。 And the third fire she was supposed to set although I forgot to check for it last night was the farthest from our site of all。 Sheˇs probably just being cautious about making her way back。 I wish sheˇd hurry； because I donˇt want to hang around here too long。 I want to spend the afternoon traveling to higher ground； hunting as we go。 But thereˇs