博炮作文网

第33部分（第2页）

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　structure