Chapter 25 Chapter 25 Bit's Trap

I wake up with a fleeting but sweet feeling of bliss, and there's Peeta for it.Of course, happiness, at this moment, is a ridiculous word.According to the current assumption, I will die in a day.If I can eliminate all the enemies in the arena by then, including myself, and let Peeta take the crown of the century, that will be the most ideal ending.But anyway, the bliss was so unexpected and sweet that I would have liked to hold on to it, if only for a moment, before the rough sand, the hot sun, and itchy skin woke me up to the real world. Everyone woke up when a parachute landed on the sand.I ran over to look, and the rolls came again, the same ones we had received the night before.Twenty-four bread rolls from the third district.So we have thirty-three in total.We each took five and kept eight for spare.No one mentioned it, but by the time the next person died, the eight were exactly the same.But, in broad daylight, there's nothing funny about joking about who's going to live to eat the leftover rolls.

How long can this alliance of ours last?I don't think people think that the number of players is going to decrease anytime soon.I think everyone is protecting Peeta, what if that idea is wrong?What if it's just a coincidence, or everyone is just trying to gain our trust so they can kill us more easily, or I don't know what's really going on?Without if, I really didn't figure out the real situation.If so, now is the time for me and Peeta to get out. On the beach, I sat next to Peeta, eating a roll.For some reason, I dare not look him in the face.Maybe it was because of last night's tender kiss—even though it wasn't the first time we kissed, he didn't seem to feel any different from usual; maybe it was because I knew in my heart that our time together was running out The common purpose of both is to keep the other alive.

After we finished eating, I dragged him to the water's edge. "Come on, I'll teach you how to swim." I needed to take him aside so I could talk about breaking away from the others.This has to be done in a way that no one else can tell, or we'll be targeted by everyone as soon as they know we're breaking away from them. If I were really teaching him to swim, the buoyant leash would have to be removed, but what does it matter now?So, I just teach him the basics and let him swim back and forth at waist deep.At first, I noticed Johanna watching us carefully, but eventually, she lost interest and went off to take a nap.Finnick is making fishnets out of rattan, and Pete is tinkering with wire.I know now is the time.

When Peeta was swimming, I found that the scabs on my body were all warped. I grabbed a handful of sand and rubbed it gently on my arms, and the scabs could be rubbed off. I rubbed all the scabs off, revealing the tender flesh inside .I quickly told Peeta not to swim, and pretended to teach him how to get rid of the itchy scab.While we were rubbing the hard scabs, we secretly discussed about leaving the alliance. "Look, it's almost the last eight people, we should go." I whispered, whether others could hear me, I was still drumming. Peeta nods, and he can tell he's considering my suggestion, wondering if it's in our best interest. "The way I see it, we'll wait until we've got Bruto and Inobelli out. I guess Beetle is working on a trap to capture them, and then we'll go," he said.

I don't think he made the right decision.But on the other hand, if we leave now, there will be two groups of people chasing and killing us, maybe three groups, who knows what state Chaf is in; besides, we have to consider avoiding various dangers in the arena; Consider bits.Johanna brought him to me, and she'd kill him for sure if we left.Only then did I realize that I couldn't protect Bit either.Because the game can only have one winner, and that person has to be Peeta.I have to accept this reality, and I can only make decisions based on Peeta's survival needs. "Okay, we'll wait until the pros die, and then we'll separate from them," I said.

I turned around and called for Finnick to come over, "Hey, Finnick, come here! We have a way to make you beautiful again!" The three of us wiped off all the scabs on our bodies, and helped each other wipe off the scabs on our backs. Our skin was as fresh as the pink sky.Then I applied some ointment to prevent sunburn on the fresh and tender skin. The ointment is not ugly when applied to smooth skin. Besides, this color is still a protective color in the jungle. Beet called us all over, and it turned out he'd been fiddling with wire for a reason, and he had a plan. "I think everyone agrees that our next plan is to kill Bruto and Inobelli," he said calmly, "I think they won't attack us openly again, because their There are fewer people than us. We should follow them, but it is dangerous and tiring."

"Do you think they've figured out the reason for the big clock?" I asked. "Even if not, they will figure it out soon. Maybe not as precise as us, but at least they understand that different areas will launch different attacks, and they will be carried out in a circular way. The last match was intentionally Intervention, it is impossible for them not to notice. The extreme race organizers want us to lose our sense of direction, and they will definitely ask themselves the same question. In this way, they will quickly understand the fact that the arena is a big clock. So , I think our best way is to design a trap." Bit said.

"Wait, let me wake Johanna up. She's going to be mad again if she knows she missed something so important," Finnick said. "Yeah." I muttered, she always does.But I didn't stop him. If it was me, I would be angry if I didn't tell me such an important matter. Johanna was called over a moment later, and Beetle told us all to step back a little to make room for him to draw diagrams in the sand.He drew a circle on the ground and divided it into twelve equal parts. This is the arena.He didn't draw it as carefully as Peeta did, but sketched it roughly because he had more complex issues on his mind.

"If you were Brutal and Inobeli, where would you feel safest after knowing what was going on in the jungle?" Beetle asked. Although his tone of voice is not condescending, I still feel that he is very much like a teacher who teaches children in school.The reason for this feeling may be that he is much older than us, or that he is indeed a hundred times smarter than us. "That's where we are, the beach. It's safest here," Peeta said. "Then why didn't they come to the beach?" Beetle said. "Because we're here," Johanna said impatiently.

"Exactly. We're here, we've got the place, so where are you going?" Beetle said. I think the jungle is dangerous and the beach is occupied. "I'll hide on the edge of the jungle. If someone attacks, I can run away and monitor their activities at the same time," I said. "You can still find food. The jungle is full of strange animals and plants. But from watching us, they know that the life in the water is safe." Finnick said. Beetle smiled at us, as if our understanding had exceeded his expectations. "Very well, you see, here is my plan: what happens at noon and midnight when the clock strikes twelve?"

"Lightning strikes a tree," I said. "Yes, so, I suggest that after the lightning at noon and before the lightning arrives at night, we connect the metal wire to the big tree on the mountain, and then lead it all the way to the salt water below the mountain. Of course, the conductivity of salt water is very high. Strong. When lightning strikes a big tree, the current will be conducted down the metal wire until it reaches the only water area. Of course, it will also be conducted to the surrounding beach. It just so happens that the beach is also affected by the huge wave just after ten o'clock. It's still wet. Anyone who touches the sand at this time will be electrocuted," Bit said. At this time, no one spoke, trying to understand Bit's plan.In my opinion, this is a bit too complex to be possible.But why not?I also set thousands of traps.Isn't this a more scientific and complex trap?Can this work?How can anyone doubt that our training is nothing more than fishing, logging, and coal mining?What do we know about the use of the currents of the sky? Or Peeta came up with a question: "Can this metal wire really carry that much electricity, Bit? This wire looks flimsy, will it burn out?" "Oh, yes, but the current can blow after passing through it. It's like a fuse, the difference is that the current can pass through." Bit said. "How do you know?" Johanna asked, clearly not convinced. "Because I invented it," said Beetle, seeming a little surprised. "It's not wires in the usual sense, and lightning isn't real lightning, and trees aren't real trees. You know trees better than we all, Johanna. After all this Multiple lightning strikes, it should be dead by now, right?" "Yes." She said sullenly. "Don't worry about the wire—it'll do exactly what I say it will do," Bit assured us. "So, where did we hide when all this happened?" Finnick said. "We're in a safe place in the jungle away from the incident," Beetle replied. "Then the pros, unless they're near water, are also safe." I pointed that out. "Yes," said Beetle. "That way, all the seafood is cooked," Peeta said. "It's not just overcooked, I'm afraid. We're likely to lose this food source. But you can find plenty of edible things in the jungle, right, Katniss?" Beetle said. "Yes, nuts and tree mice, and we have patrons," I said. "Well, well, I don't think this is a problem. Since we are allies, we have to do this together. Whether to do it or not, the four of you decide." Bit said. us?We are like students in school.It is absolutely impossible for us to doubt his theory, and we can only care about some of the most basic issues, and these issues are basically irrelevant to his plan.I looked at several other people, and everyone also looked at a loss. "Why not? If we fail, we don't hurt anyone; if we succeed, we still have a chance to kill them; if we don't kill them, but just kill the sea creatures, Brutal and Inobeli lose This food source." I said. "I said we could try. Katniss was right," Peeta said. Finnick looks up at Johanna, he won't take a stand until she speaks. "Well," she said at last, "it's better than chasing them in the jungle, anyway. I don't think they'll know what we're planning, because we don't quite understand it ourselves." Before wiring, Bit needs to check the big tree that was struck by lightning.Judging by the position of the sun, it is about nine o'clock in the morning.Anyway, we need to get off the beach quickly.So we packed up our camp, walked across the sandy beach near the lightning field, and headed toward the jungle.Beetle is too weak to climb the mountain, so Finnick and Peeta take turns carrying him.I put Johanna in the lead, as our way up the mountain was in a straight line, and she was unlikely to get lost; besides, my bow and arrows were more powerful than her axe, so it was best to be in the rear. The hot and humid air enveloped us, suffocating us.The weather has been like this since the race started.I wish Haymitch would stop sending us bread from District 3 and send us something from District 4, because I sweated two barrels the last two days.Even though we ate a lot of fish, I was craving something salty, and it would be nice to have some ice cubes or a cold drink.I'm grateful to still be able to drink the sap, but the temperature of the sap is the same as that of the sea, the air, the other players.We are like a hot dish stewed in a big pot. As we approached the tree, Finnick suggested that I lead. "Katniss can hear electromagnetic fields," he explained to Bit and Johanna. "Hear?" Beetle said. "I can only hear with the Capitol's repaired ear," I said. Guess who's the only one here I can't fool?bit.He must have remembered telling me how to identify the location of the electromagnetic force field.However, for whatever reason, he didn't ask me again. "So, let Katniss take the lead, anyway," he said, pausing to wipe the moisture off his glasses. "Electromagnetic fields are no joke." You can't go wrong with the tree that attracts the lightning. It stands tall and towers above the others.I let the others wait behind, and I took the branch with the nuts on it, threw it on the ground, and walked slowly up.But I discovered the EMF right away, before the nut even touched it, because it was only fifteen yards away.I scanned the greenery in front of me with a sharp eye, and soon spotted a wavy square to my upper right.I threw the branch to the front and immediately heard the sizzle. "Just under the tree that attracts lightning," I said to the others. We divided the work.Pete inspects the big tree, Finnick stands guard, Johanna fetches water from the tree, Peeta collects nuts, and I hunt nearby.Tree rats don't seem to be afraid of people at all, so I hit three easily.At ten o'clock the sound of the big waves reminded me that it was time to go back.I went back to where I was and started cleaning up the tree rats.Then draw a line on the ground a few feet away from the electromagnetic force field, reminding everyone not to approach.Peeta and I sit down and roast nuts and rat. Bit was still busy by the tree, measuring here and there for a while, and I don't know what he was busy with.After a while, he pulled off a long strip of bark, came to us, and threw the bark into the electromagnetic field.The bark bounced back and fell to the ground, burning red.After a while, the bark returned to its original color. "Well, that's pretty telling," said Beetle.I look at Peeta, trying not to laugh.That doesn't mean anything to any of us except Bit. At this point, we heard a rattling sound from the area opposite.That means it is already eleven o'clock.It sounded much louder in the jungle than it did yesterday on the beach.We all listened intently. "It's not a mechanical sound," Beetle said with certainty. "I guess an insect. Maybe a beetle," I said. "It's a pincer bug," Finnick said. The noise grew louder, as if the insects, alarmed by our soft voice, thought fresh prey was nearby.Whatever was making that rattling noise, I bet they'd be eating us all up in seconds. "We've got to get out of here anyway. Lightning strikes within an hour," Johanna said. Fortunately, we don't need to go very far, just walk to the same big tree in the bloody area.We simply squatted on the ground and had a picnic, eating bush food and waiting for the lightning signal.After the clicking had died down, Pete asked me to climb to the top of the tree to have a look.Lightning flashed across the sky in the opposite area, and even from this position, in bright sunlight, a dazzling light could be seen.The lightning struck the big tree in the distance, emitting a blue-white light, and the surrounding gas also crackled under the lightning strike.I climbed down the tree and reported to Bit what I saw.Although my words were not very good, he seemed satisfied. We went back to the beach at ten o'clock from the side road.The sand was smooth and damp, washed clean by the waves that had just passed by.Bit was busy tinkering with the wire, and we were on vacation.It's his weapon, and we're totally reliant on his knowledge, so it's a weird feeling that now he's letting us out of school early.At first we took turns napping in the shade of the trees at the edge of the woods, but in the evening everyone woke up and had nothing to do.We decided to have a seafood dinner, this is the last chance.Under Finnick's command, we spearfish, catch clams, and even dive for oysters.This last item is my favorite, not because I'm particularly fond of oysters.I've only had it once at the Capitol and I can't stand the slippery feeling.I just love the feeling of being underwater, like being in another world.The water there is particularly clear, and various colorful fish and exotic aquatic plants decorate the underwater world. Johanna stands guard while Finnick, Peeta and I clean the seafood.Peeta cracks open an oyster and can't help laughing. "Hey, look at this!" He held a shiny pearl the size of a bean. "You know, if you pressurize coal, it turns into pearls," he said seriously to Finnick. "No, it won't," Finnick said dismissively.But this made me laugh.I remember Effie Trinket pitching us to the Capitol just like that last year, before anyone knew us.When coal is crushed into pearls by the burden of our existence, all the beauty in the world undoubtedly comes from pain. Peeta washed the pearl and handed it to me, "Here you are." I put the pearl in the palm of my hand and saw it shining beautifully in the sunlight.Yes, I'm going to keep it close to my body for the last few hours of my life.This was Peeta's last gift to me, and the only one I could accept.Maybe this pearl will give me strength in my last moments. "Thank you." I said, clasping my palms together.I looked into his blue eyes with calm eyes. He has now become my greatest opponent, willing to sacrifice his life for my survival.And I swore to make his plan come to naught. The joy that flashed in his eyes suddenly disappeared, and he looked at me fixedly, as if he had read my mind. "The keepsake box on your necklace doesn't do you any good, does it, Katniss?" Peeta said, despite Finnick being around and everyone probably hearing it, and he didn't care. "It works," I said. "Not the way I want it," he said, and looked away.From that moment on, he kept his head down, staring at the oyster and never looking away. Just as we were about to start our meal, a parachute appeared and delivered two items, a bottle of spicy red sauce, and bread rolls from District Three, and of course, Finnick counted again, "Another two Fourteen," he said. That way we have a total of thirty-two rolls.Everyone takes five, and there are seven remaining, so it is impossible to divide evenly.There is a single one, which can only be eaten by one person. Salted fish meat, juicy clams, so delicious.The oysters also seemed to taste good after seasoning.We gorged ourselves until no one could take another bite.Even after eating like this, there is still a lot left.Seafood can't be stored, so we throw the rest in the water and leave it out for the pros.As for the shells, forget it.The waves will wash them away. There is nothing to do now but to wait.Peeta and I sat by the water, hand in hand, in silence.He had said a great deal last night, but my resolve remained the same, no words could change it.This time, Peeta's gift for eloquence is useless. I kept the pearl, rolled it up in a parachute with the cannula and ointment, and I hope the pearl will eventually be sent back to District 12. Of course, Mom and Prim will give it back to Peeta before I'm buried.