How long have I been out? It was morning when I lost reason。 Now itˇs afternoon。 But the stiffness in my joints suggests more than a day has passed; even two possibly。 If so; Iˇll have no way of knowing which tributes survived that tracker jacker attack。 Not Glimmer or the girl from District 4。 But there was the boy from District 1; both tributes from District 2; and Peeta。 Did they die from the stings? Certainly if they lived; their last days must have been as horrid as my own。 And what about Rue? Sheˇs so small; it wouldnˇt take much venom to do her in。 But then again 。 。 。 the tracker jackers wouldˇve had to catch her; and she had a good head start。

A foul; rotten taste pervades my mouth; and the water has little effect on it。 I drag myself over to the honeysuckle bush and pluck a flower。 I gently pull the stamen through the blossom and set the drop of nectar on my tongue。 The sweetness spreads through my mouth; down my throat; warming my veins with memories of summer; and my home woods and Galeˇs presence beside me。 For some reason; our discussion from that last morning es back to me。

¨We could do it; you know。〃

¨What?〃

¨Leave the district。 Run off。 Live in the woods。 You and I; we

could make it。〃

And suddenly; Iˇm not thinking of Gale but of Peeta and 。 。 。 Peeta! He saved my life! I think。 Because by the time we met up; I couldnˇt tell what was real and what the tracker jacker venom had caused me to imagine。 But if he did; a