第22部分(第1/7 页)

inuing　down　into　this　valley　isnˇt　a　bad　thing。　If　I　could　just　locate　a　game　trail　or　spot　a　particularly　green　patch　of　vegetation；　these　might　help　me　along；　but　nothing　seems　to　change。　Thereˇs　just　the　slight　gradual　slope；　the　birds；　the　sameness　to　the　trees。

As　the　day　wears　on；　I　know　Iˇm　headed　for　trouble。　What　little　urine　Iˇve　been　able　to　pass　is　a　dark　brown；　my　head　is　aching；　and　thereˇs　a　dry　patch　on　my　tongue　that　refuses　to　moisten。　The　sun　hurts　my　eyes　so　I　dig　out　my　sunglasses；　but　when　I　put　them　on　they　do　something　funny　to　my　vision；　so　I　just　stuff　them　back　in　my　pack。

Itˇs　late　afternoon　when　I　think　Iˇve　found　help。　I　spot　a　cluster　of　berry　bushes　and　hurry　to　strip　the　fruit；　to　suck　the　sweet　juices　from　the　skins。　But　just　as　Iˇm　holding　them　to　my　lips；　I　get　a　hard　look　at　them。　What　I　thought　were　blueberries　have　a　slightly　different　shape；　and　when　I　break　one　open　the　insides　are　bloodred。　I　donˇt　recognize　these　berries；　perhaps　they　are　edible；　but　Iˇm　guessing　this　is　some　evil　trick　on　the　part　of　the　Gamemakers。　Even　the　plant　instructor　in　the　Training　Center　made　a　point　of　telling　us　to　avoid　berries　unless　you　were　100　percent　sure　they　werenˇt　toxic。　Something　I　already　knew；　but　Iˇm　so　thirsty　it　takes　her　reminder　to　give　me　the　strength　to　fling　them　away。

Fatigue　is　beginning　to　settle　on　me；　but　itˇs　not　the　usual　tiredness　that　follows　a　long　hike。　I　have　to　stop　and　rest　frequently；　although　I　know　the　only　cure　for　what　ails　me　requires　continued　searching。　I　try　a　new　tactic　�　climbing　a　tree　as　high　as　I　dare　in　my　shaky　state　�　to　look　for　any　signs　of　water。　But　as　far　as　I　can　see　in　any　direction；　thereˇs　the　same　unrelenting　stretch　of　forest。

Determined　to　go　on　until　ni