第14部分(第1/7 页)

I　miss　the　dummy　by　a　couple　of　inches　and　lose　what　little　attention　I　had　been　manding。　For　a　moment；　Iˇm　humiliated；　then　I　head　back　to　the　bullˇs…eye。　I　shoot　again　and　again　until　I　get　the　feel　of　these　new　weapons。

Back　in　the　center　of　the　gymnasium；　I　take　my　initial　position　and　skewer　the　dummy　right　through　the　heart。　Then　I　sever　the　rope　that　holds　the　sandbag　for　boxing；　and　the　bag　splits　open　as　it　slams　to　the　ground。　Without　pausing；　I　shoulder…roll　forward；　e　up　on　one　knee；　and　send　an　arrow　into　one　of　the　hanging　lights　high　above　the　gymnasium　floor。　A　shower　of　sparks　bursts　from　the　fixture。

Itˇs　excellent　shooting。　I　turn　to　the　Gamemakers。　A　few　are　nodding　approval；　but　the　majority　of　them　are　fixated　on　a　roast　pig　that　has　just　arrived　at　their　banquet　table。

Suddenly　I　am　furious；　that　with　my　life　on　the　line；　they　donˇt　even　have　the　decency　to　pay　attention　to　me。　That　Iˇm　being　upstaged　by　a　dead　pig。　My　heart　starts　to　pound；　I　can　feel　my　face　burning。　Without　thinking；　I　pull　an　arrow　from　my　quiver　and　send　it　straight　at　the　Gamemakersˇ　table。　I　hear　shouts　of　alarm　as　people　stumble　back。　The　arrow　skewers　the　apple　in　the　pigˇs　mouth　and　pins　it　to　the　wall　behind　it。　Everyone　stares　at　me　in　disbelief。

¨Thank　you　for　your　consideration；〃　I　say。　Then　I　give　a　slight　bow　and　walk　straight　toward　the　exit　without　being　dismissed。

8

As　I　stride　toward　the　elevator；　I　fling　my　bow　to　one　side　and　my　quiver　to　the　other。　I　brush　past　the　gaping　Avoxes　who　guard　the　elevators　and　hit　the　number　twelve　button　with　my　fist。　The　doors　slide　together　and　I　zip　upward。　I　actually　make　it　back　to　my　floor　before　the　tears　start　running　down　my　cheeks。　I　can　hear　the　others　calling　me　from　the