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ht。 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 nothing really for me to do but wait。
I wash the blood out of my jacket and hair and clean my ever… growing list of wounds。 The burns are much better but I use a bit of medicine on them anyway。 The main thing to worry about now is keeping out infection。 I go ahead and eat the second fish。 It isnˇt going to last long in this hot sun； but it should be easy enough to spear a few more for Rue。 If she would just show up。
Feeling too vulnerable on the ground with my lopsided hearing； I scale a tree to wait。 If the Careers show up； this will be a fine place to shoot them from。 The sun moves slowly。 I do things to pass the time。 Chew leaves and apply them to my stings that are deflated but still tender。 b through my damp hair with my fingers and braid it。 Lace my boots back up。 Check over my bow and remaining nine arrows。 Test my left ear repeatedly for signs of life by rustling a leaf near it； but without good results。
Despite the groosling and the fish； my stomachˇs growling； and I know Iˇm going to have what we call a hollow day back in District 12。 Thatˇs a day where no matter what you put in your belly； itˇs never enough。 Having nothing to do but sit in a tree makes it worse； so I decide to give into it。 After all； Iˇve lost a lot of weight in the arena； I need some extra calories。 And having the bow and arrows makes me far more confident about my future prospects。
I slowly peel and eat a handful of nuts。 My last cracker。 The groosling neck。 Thatˇs good because it takes time to pick clean。 Finally； a groosling wing and the bird is history。 But itˇs a hollow day； and even with all that I start daydreaming about food。 Particularly the decadent dishes served in the Capitol。 The chicken in creamy orange sauce。 The cakes and pudding。 Bread with butter。 Noodles in green sauce。 The lamb and dried plum stew。 I suck on a few mint leaves and tell myself to get over it。 Mint is good because we drink mint tea after supper often； so it tricks my stomach into thinking eating time is over。 Sort of。
Dangling up in the tree； with the sun warming me； a mouthful of mint； my bow and arrow