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I know I need to keep moving, but I’m trembling and lightheaded<br />

now, gasping for air. I allow myself about a spoonful of<br />

water to rinse my mouth and spit then take a few swallows<br />

from my bottle. You get one minute, I tell myself. One minute to<br />

rest. I take the time to reorder my supplies, wad up the sleeping<br />

bag, and messily stuff everything into the backpack. My<br />

minute’s up. I know it’s time to move on, but the smoke has<br />

clouded my thoughts. The swift-footed animals that were my<br />

compass have left me behind. I know I haven’t been in this<br />

part of the woods before, there were no sizable rocks like the<br />

one I’m sheltering against on my earlier travels. Where are the<br />

Gamemakers driving me? Back to the lake? To a whole new<br />

terrain filled with new dangers? I had just found a few hours<br />

of peace at the pond when this attack began. Would there be<br />

any way I could travel parallel to the fire and work my way<br />

back there, to a source of water at least? The wall of fire must<br />

have an end and it won’t burn indefinitely. Not because the<br />

Gamemakers couldn’t keep it fueled but because, again, that<br />

would invite accusations of boredom from the audience. If I<br />

could get back behind the fire line, I could avoid meeting up<br />

with the Careers. I’ve just decided to try and loop back<br />

around, although it will require miles of travel away from the<br />

inferno and then a very circuitous route back, when the first<br />

fireball blasts into the rock about two feet from my head. I<br />

spring out from under my ledge, energized by renewed fear.<br />

The game has taken a twist. The fire was just to get us moving,<br />

now the audience will get to see some real fun. When I<br />

hear the next hiss, I flatten on the ground, not taking time to<br />

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