Hunger Games 1

Chapter 39 Romance (2)
The butcher was a stocky woman named Luba, who came to open the door for us when there was a knock at the door.Luba usually doesn't bargain with people, she says it's a buy-it-yourself price, you can sell it or go away, but the price she gives is also quite fair.We accepted her price, but she gave us a discount to get some pieces of venison after the slaughter.We split the money in two and never got so much money in our life.We decided to keep it a secret and surprise the family by showing the venison and money the next night.

That's how I got the money to buy the sheep, but what I told Peeta was that I smuggled Mommy's silver jewelry box, so no one was hurt.I moved on to the afternoon of Prim's birthday.

Gail and I went to the market on the square to buy some dress fabric.I was stroking a piece of dark blue cotton when something caught my eye.An old man kept a flock of sheep on the other side of the "seam". I don't know his name, but everyone called him Old Sheep.His bloated knees were bent, and he was always coughing. It was obvious that he had worked in the mines for many years.Over the years, he has saved a lot to feed the sheep, and now he has something to do besides slowly waiting to die of starvation.He was dirty and impatient, but the sheep were clean; if you could afford it, you could always get milk from him.

There was a sheep, black and white, lying on a cart.Its front elbow seemed to be bitten by a dog, and it was so red and swollen that the old sheep had to hug it and milk it.But I know who can cure it.

"Gail," I whispered, "I want to give that sheep to Prim."

Owning a dairy goat can make a huge difference in life for the people of District [-].The animal outlives almost anything, and the "pasture" is ideal for sheep, producing four quarts of milk a day.It can be drunk, made into cheese, or sold, and it's not illegal.

"It's badly hurt, we'd better get a closer look," Gale said.

We walked over, bought a cup of milk to drink, and then walked to the sheep, as if we were idle and curious about the sheep.

"Don't touch it," said the old sheep.

"Just look at it," Gail said.

"Look quickly, it will be slaughtered soon, and no one will buy its milk, and they only pay half of the price." The old sheep said.

"How much does the butcher pay?" I asked.

The old sheep shrugged.

"Let's walk around again." I turned around and saw Luba walking across the square towards us.

"It's just right that you are here." When she came over, the old sheep man said to her.

"That girl is looking at your sheep." Luba said.

"If you don't tell me, I haven't noticed yet." I said casually.

Luba looked me up and down, then at the sheep, and frowned.

"It's not a very good sheep. Look at the front elbow. Half the meat is rotten, I bet. It won't even make a sausage."

"What?" said the old sheep man, "We've talked about it."

"We have agreed that there are several tooth marks on the sheep, but not this one. Sell it to that girl, if she is stupid enough to want it." Luba said, striding away Yes, winked at me.

The old sheep man was furious, but he still wanted to sell the sheep.We spent half an hour haggling over the price, and a bunch of people around us were also commenting.If the sheep can live, it's a good deal; if the sheep dies, I will lose my capital.Everyone was talking about it, and I finally bought the sheep.

Gail is willing to carry it for me, he must want to see Prim happy as much as I do.On impulse, I bought another red ribbon, tied it around the sheep's neck, and hurried home.

You should have seen how delighted Prim was when we brought the sheep home.You must know that the girl shed tears in order to save the cat named Buttercup.She was so excited that she cried and laughed at the same time.The mother saw the wound on the sheep, but she was not sure whether it could be cured.But the two of them got busy right away, smashing herbs and pouring medicinal soup for the sheep.

"Sounds like they're healing with herbs, just like you," Peeta said.I almost forgot he was still there.

"Oh, no, Peeta, their medical skills are magical, as long as the sheep is obedient, it will not die." Speaking of this, thinking of my clumsy hands and my inability to save the dying Peeta, he must have listened. If it doesn't taste good, I immediately bite my lip.

"Don't worry, I won't be disobedient," he joked. "Finish the story."

"Oh, that's it. I remember Prim making sure to sleep on a blanket by the fireside with 'the lady' that night, and when she was half asleep, the sheep went to lick her face, as if to say hello to her. Goodnight." I said.

"He sure likes her. Does he still have the red ribbon on?" he asked.

"It must be still on," I said. "What's the matter?"

"I imagined what it would be like," he said thoughtfully. "I can see why you were so happy that day."

"Well, that sheep was a little gold mine," I said.

"Yeah, that's what I'm talking about. You love your sister, you're in the Hunger Games for her, she's happy with sheep, and that's not all you're happy about," Peeta said dryly.

"That sheep also contributed, several times more than its value." I said proudly.

"Well, you saved his life and he wouldn't dare do anything else," Peeta said. "Me too."

"Really? What have I done for you?" I asked.

"You've got yourself in a lot of trouble. Don't worry, you'll get paid," he said.

"You're talking nonsense again." I said, and touched his forehead with my hand. The fever didn't go away at all, but it got worse. "Your temperature has dropped a little."

Suddenly, a sound came from the speaker, which surprised me.I quickly stood up and came to the entrance of the cave, listening carefully, not wanting to miss a word.Much to my surprise, it was the voice of our friend Claudius Templesmith, who invited us to a party.We weren't too hungry, and I mentally declined his invitation right away.At this time he said again: "Wait a minute, some of you may be rejecting my invitation, but this is no ordinary banquet, and there are items you need urgently."

I do need some medicine for Peeta's legs urgently.

"At the Horn of Zeus this morning, everyone can find some items in the backpack marked with the number of the area. Think carefully about the consequences of refusing to participate. For you, this may be the last chance." Claudius Said.

When he finished speaking, his voice echoed in the air for a long time, I jumped up, and Peeta grabbed my shoulder from behind. "No, you can't risk your life for me," he said.

"Who said I was going?" I said.

"So you're not going?" he asked.

"Of course, I'm not going. Believe me, you think I'm going to run straight up and confront Cato, Graf, and Thrash? Don't be stupid," I said, helping him to lie down. "I want them to fight first, let's see who will appear in the video tomorrow night, and then make the next step."

"You're such a bad liar, Katniss, I don't know how you've been able to lie for so long." He began to imitate me. "I know that sheep is a little gold mine. Your temperature is a little Come down a bit. Of course I won't." He shook his head. "Never gamble with cards, you'll lose your last penny," he said.

I was so angry that my face turned red, "Okay, I'll go, but you can't stop me!"

"I can follow you, at least for a while, I can't reach the Horn of Zeus, but if I call your name, someone will find me, then I will die." He said.

"You can't even go a hundred yards with that leg," I said.

"Then I'll drag myself along. If you go, I'll go too," Peeta said.

He's so stubborn, maybe he still has some strength to do it.Follow me in the jungle, and if the other players can't find him, the beast will find him, and he's defenseless.Looks like I'll have to disguise the hole and go alone.God knows, maybe this trip will find something useful to him.

"What am I going to do? Sit here and watch you die?" I said.He must also know that this is not the way, and the audience will hate me too.And, frankly, I'd hate myself if I didn't try.

"If you promise not to go, I won't die, I promise," he said.

We froze there.I know it's useless to argue with him, so I don't argue with him anymore.I feigned reluctance.

"Then, you have to do as I tell you. Drink water, and you can call me whenever I tell you. No matter how disgusting it is, drink all the soup!" I said to him angrily.

"Agreed, ready?" he asked.

"Wait here." I said.The sun has not yet set, and the sky has begun to cool down.I guessed right, the organizers of the competition just want to let the temperature go up and down.I wondered if the item they said was urgently needed would be a blanket.The soup in the pot is still hot, and it actually tastes good.

Peeta eats without complaint, scooping out pebbles carefully to show he likes it, muttering about how good the soup is or something.If you don't know how bad a fever is, it's a relief to listen to him.Just like Haymitch was before he was drunk, he's incoherent now.I quickly gave him antipyretics before he was completely confused by the fever.

I went to the creek to wash, thinking that if I didn't come to the party he would die, and if it dragged on for a day or two, the infection would go to his heart or brain or lungs and he would die.I'll be here alone until someone else finds me...

I was so lost in thought that the parachute came down next to me and I almost didn't see it.I jumped up to get the parachute, dragged it out of the water, tore off the silver wrapping paper, and saw a vial inside.Haymitch did it!He got the medicine - I don't know how he got it, maybe he persuaded a bunch of romantic nerds to sell their jewelry - I can go save Peeta!This vial is so small, it must have worked well for Peeta's wound.However, a trace of doubt arose in my heart immediately, I unscrewed the cap, and sniffed it vigorously, and a strong sweet smell almost made me faint.In order to determine what it was, I licked it with the tip of my tongue. Yes, it was sleeping syrup. Or calm some patients, or put someone in pain to sleep.What's the use of a vial of this that makes Peeta sleepy all day?I was so angry that I was about to throw Haymitch's gift into the creek when I suddenly remembered something, all day?This time is enough for me.

I mashed a handful of berries and stuffed them so they wouldn't smell, added some mint leaves just to be sure, and went to the hole.

"I've brought you good food again, I found some berries down the stream."

Peeta took the first bite without hesitation, and frowned slightly as he took the second.

"The berries are sweet."

"Yes, it's sand candy. My mother used to make jam with it. Haven't you ever had it before?" I said, popping another spoonful into his mouth.

"Well, no," he said, with a confused look on his face, "but this smell is very familiar, is it called sand candy?"

"Well, it's not often found in the market, it's wild," I said.Another spoonful was given, and the last spoonful was left.

"Sweet as molasses," he said, taking his last bite. "It's molasses."

He knew it, and his eyes opened wide.I squeezed my hands over his mouth and nose, forcing him to swallow his last bite.He tried to throw up the stuff, but it was too late, his mind was foggy.Just when he was about to fall asleep, his eyes still showed reproach, as if to say how unforgivable my actions were.

I sat on my back heels, crouched in front of him, looked at him with mixed feelings of joy and sorrow.A berry fell on his chin and I wiped it off. "Who says I can't lie, Peeta?" I say, though he's out of hearing now.It doesn't matter, the whole country of Panam can hear it.

(End of this chapter)