第28部分(第1/7 页)

¨What　do　you　mean？〃　I　say。

¨Iˇm　usually　up　highest；　so　Iˇm　the　first　to　see　the　flag　that　signals　quitting　time。　Thereˇs　a　special　little　song　I　do；〃　says　Rue。　She　opens　her　mouth　and　sings　a　little　four…note　run　in　a　sweet；　clear　voice。　¨And　the　mockingjays　spread　it　around　the　orchard。　Thatˇs　how　everyone　knows　to　knock　off；〃　she　continues。　¨They　can　be　dangerous　though；　if　you　get　too　near　their　nests。　But　you　canˇt　blame　them　for　that。〃

I　unclasp　the　pin　and　hold　it　out　to　her。　¨Here；　you　take　it。　It　has　more　meaning　for　you　than　me。〃

¨Oh；　no；〃　says　Rue；　closing　my　fingers　back　over　the　pin。　¨I　like　to　see　it　on　you。　Thatˇs　how　I　decided　I　could　trust　you。　Besides；　I　have　this。〃　She　pulls　a　necklace　woven　out　of　some　kind　of　grass　from　her　shirt。　On　it；　hangs　a　roughly　carved　wooden　star。　Or　maybe　itˇs　a　flower。　¨Itˇs　a　good　luck　charm。〃

¨Well；　itˇs　worked　so　far；〃　I　say；　pinning　the　mockingjay　back　on　my　shirt。　¨Maybe　you　should　just　stick　with　that。〃

By　lunch；　we　have　a　plan。　By　early　afternoon；　we　are　poised　to　carry　it　out。　I　help　Rue　collect　and　place　the　wood　for　the　first　two　campfires；　the　third　sheˇll　have　time　for　on　her　own。　We　decide　to　meet　afterward　at　the　site　where　we　ate　our　first　meal　together。　The　stream　should　help　guide　me　back　to　it。　Before　I　leave；　I　make　sure　Rueˇs　well　stocked　with　food　and　matches。　I　even　insist　she　take　my　sleeping　bag；　in　case　itˇs　not　possible　to　rendezvous　by　nightfall。

¨What　about　you？　Wonˇt　you　be　cold？〃　she　asks。

¨Not　if　I　pick　up　another　bag　down　by　the　lake；〃　I　say。　¨You　know；　stealing　isnˇt　illegal　here；〃　I　say　with　a　grin。

At　the　last　minute；　Rue　decides　to　teach　me　her　mockingjay　signal；　the　one　she　gives　to　indicate　the　dayˇs　work　is　done。　¨It　might　no