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PART III

"THE ASSASSIN"

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I&039;ve never really seen Boggs angry before Not when I&039;ve disobeyed his orders or puked on hiry when he returns fro he does is instruct Soldier Jackson, his second in couard on Peeta Then he takestent encampment until our squad is far behind us

"He&039;ll try and kill me anyway," I say "Especially here Where there are so many bad memories to set him off"

"I&039;ll keep his

"Why does Coin want me dead now?" I ask

"She denies she does," he answers

"But we know it&039;s true," I say "And you ives , hard look before he answers "Here&039;s as much as I know The president doesn&039;t like you She never did It was Peeta she wanted rescued froreed It ive the other victors immunity But even that could be overlooked in view of hoell you&039;ve performed"

"Then what is it?" I insist

"Sometime in the near future, this ill be resolved A new leader will be chosen," says Boggs

I rollto be the leader"

"No They don&039;t," he agrees "But you&039;ll throw support to someone Would it be President Coin? Or someone else?"

"I don&039;t know I&039;ve never thought about it," I say

"If your immediate answer isn&039;t Coin, then you&039;re a threat You&039;re the face of the rebellion You le person," says Boggs "Outwardly, the most you&039;ve ever done is tolerated her"

"So she&039;ll kill me to shut me up" The minute I say the words, I know they&039;re true

"She doesn&039;t need you as a rallying point now As she said, your pris reminds me "These current propos could be done without you There&039;s only one last thing you could do to add fire to the rebellion"

"Die," I say quietly

"Yes Give us ato happen underfor you to have a long life"

"Why?" This kind of thinking will only bring hi"

"Because you&039;ve earned it," he says "Now get back to your squad"

I know I should feel appreciative of Boggs sticking his neck out for me, but really I&039;m just frustrated Ihih without this whole new layer of debt I already owe hi the cause ofhis tent back at our site makes me furious

"What time is my watch?" I ask Jackson

She squints at et my face in focus "I didn&039;t put you in the rotation"

"Why not?" I ask

"I&039;m not sure you could really shoot Peeta, if it came to it," she says

I speak up so the whole squad can hear one

Johanna&039;s right It&039;d be just like shooting another of the Capitol&039;shorrible about him, out loud, in public, after all the humiliation I&039;ve felt since his return

"Well, that sort of co you either," says Jackson

"Put her in the rotation," I hear Boggs say behind me

Jackson shakes her head and ht to four You&039;re on with me"

The dinner whistle sounds, and Gale and I line up at the canteen "Do you want et us both sent back for sure," I say But even though I&039;m furious, the brutality of the offer rattles me "I can deal with him"

"You mean until you take off? You and your paper et your hands on it?" So Gale has not missed my preparations I hope they haven&039;t been so obvious to the others None of the on leaving me behind, are you?" he asks

Up until this point, I was But havingpartner to watch my back doesn&039;t sound like a bad idea "As your fellow soldier, I have to strongly recommend you stay with your squad But I can&039;t stop you frorins "No Not unless you want me to alert the rest of the army"

Squad 451 and the television crew collect dinner froather in a tense circle to eat At first I think that Peeta is the cause of the unease, but by the end of the meal, I realize more than a few unfriendly looks have been directed my way This is a quick turnaround, since I&039;m pretty sure when Peeta appeared the whole teaht be, especially to h to Hay to do? Provoke him into an attack?" he asks me

"Of course not I just want him to leave me alone," I say