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第31部分（第1页）

Deep　in　the　meadow；　hidden　far　away

A　cloak　of　leaves；　a　moonbeam　ray

Forget　your　woes　and　let　your　troubles　lay

And　when　again　itˇs　morning；　theyˇll　wash　away。

Here　itˇs　safe；　here　itˇs　warm

Here　the　daisies　guard　you　from　every　harm

The　final　lines　are　barely　audible。

Here　your　dreams　are　sweet　and　tomorrow　brings　them　true

Here　is　the　place　where　I　love　you。

Everythingˇs　still　and　quiet。　Then；　almost　eerily；　the　mockingjays　take　up　my　song。

For　a　moment；　I　sit　there；　watching　my　tears　drip　down　on　her　face。　Rueˇs　cannon　fires。　I　lean　forward　and　press　my　lips　against　her　temple。　Slowly；　as　if　not　to　wake　her；　I　lay　her　head　back　on　the　ground　and　release　her　hand。

Theyˇll　want　me　to　clear　out　now。　So　they　can　collect　the　bodies。　And　thereˇs　nothing　to　stay　for。　I　roll　the　boy　from　District　1　onto　his　face　and　take　his　pack；　retrieve　the　arrow　that　ended　his　life。　I　cut　Rueˇs　pack　from　her　back　as　well；　knowing　sheˇd　want　me　to　have　it　but　leave　the　spear　in　her　stomach。　Weapons　in　bodies　will　be　transported　to　the　hovercraft。　Iˇve　no　use　for　a　spear；　so　the　sooner　itˇs　gone　from　the　arena　the　better。

I　canˇt　stop　looking　at　Rue；　smaller　than　ever；　a　baby　animal　curled　up　in　a　nest　of　ting。　I　canˇt　bring　myself　to　leave　her　like　this。　Past　harm；　but　seeming　utterly　defenseless。　To　hate　the　boy　from　District　1；　who　also　appears　so　vulnerable　in　death；　seems　inadequate。　Itˇs　the　Capitol　I　hate；　for　doing　this　to　all　of　us。

Galeˇs　voice　is　in　my　head。　His　ravings　against　the　Capitol　no　longer　pointless；　no　longer　to　be　ignored。　Rueˇs　death　has　forced　me　to　confront　my　own　fury　against　the　cruelty；　the　injustice　they　inflict　upon　us。　But　here；　even　more　strongly　than　at　home；　I　feel　my　impotence。　Thereˇs　no　way　to　take　revenge　on　the　Capitol。　Is　there？

Then　I　remember　Peetaˇs　words　on　the　roof。　¨Only　I　keep　wishing　I　could　think　of　a　way　to　。　。　。　to　show　the　Capital　they　donˇt　own　me。　That　Iˇm　more　than　just　a　piece　in　their　Games。〃　And　for　the　first　time；　I　understand　what　he　means。

I　want　to　do　something；　right　here；　right　now；　to　shame　them；　to　make　them　accountable；　to　show　the　Capitol　that　whatever　they　do　or　force　us　to　do　there　is　a　part　of　every　tribute　they　canˇt　own。　That　Rue　was　more　than　a　piece　in　their　Games。　And　so　am　I。

A　few　steps　into　the　woods　grows　a　bank　of　wildflowers。　Perhaps　they　are　really　weeds　of　some　sort；　but　they　have　blossoms　in　beautiful　shades　of　violet　and　yellow　and　white。　I　gather　up　an　armful　and　e　back　to　Rueˇs　side。　Slowly；　one　stem　at　a　time；　I　decorate　her　body　in　the　flowers。　Covering　the　ugly　wound。　Wreathing　her　face。　Weaving　her　hair　with　bright　colors。

Theyˇll　have　to　show　it。　Or；　even　if　they　choose　to　turn　the　cameras　elsewhere　at　this　moment；　theyˇll　have　to　bring　them　back　when　they　collect　the　bodies　and　everyone　will　see　her　then　and　know　I　did　it。　I　step　back　and　take　a　last　look　at　Rue。　She　could　really　be　asleep　in　that　meadow　after　all。

¨Bye；　Rue；〃　I　whisper。　I　press　the　three　middle　fingers　of　my　left　hand　against　my　lips　and　hold　them　out　in　her　direction。　Then　I　walk　away　without　looking　back。

The　birds　fall　silent。　Somewhere；　a　mockingjay　gives　the　warning　whistle　that　precedes　the　hovercraft。　I　donˇt　know　how　it　knows。　It　must　hear　things　that　humans　canˇt。　I　pause；　my　eyes　focused　on　whatˇs　ahead；　not　whatˇs　happening　behind　me。　It　doesnˇt　take　long；　then　the　general　birdsong　begins　again　and　I　know　sheˇs　gone。

Another　mockingjay；　a　young　one　by　the　look　of　it；　lands　on　a　branch　before　me　and　bursts　out　Rueˇs　melody。

My　song；　the　hovercraft；　were　too　unfamiliar　for　this　novice　to　pick　up；　but　it　has　mastered　her　handful　of　notes。　The　ones　that　mean　sheˇs　safe。