Голодные игры

           Ihavetocockmyheadaroundtothesidetobesure,butthereitisagain.Rue’sfour-notetunecomingoutofamockingjay’smouth.Theonethatmeansshe’sallright.

           Igrinandmoveinthedirectionofthebird.Anotherjustashortdistanceahead,picksuponthehandfulofnotes.Ruehasbeensingingtothem,andrecently.Otherwisethey’dhavetakenupsomeothersong.Myeyesliftupintothetrees,searchingforasignofher.Iswallowandsingsoftlyback,hopingshe’llknowit’ssafetojoinme.Amockingjayrepeatsthemelodytome.Andthat’swhenIhearthescream.

           It’sachild’sscream,ayounggirl’sscream,there’snooneinthearenacapableofmakingthatsoundexceptRue.AndnowI’mrunning,knowingthismaybeatrap,knowingthethreeCareersmaybepoisedtoattackme,butIcan’thelpmyself.There’sanotherhigh-pitchedcry,thistimemyname."Katniss!Katniss!"

           "Rue!"Ishoutback,sosheknowsI’mnear.So,theyknowI’mnear,andhopefullythegirlwhohasattackedthemwithtrackerjackersandgottenaneleventheystillcan’texplainwillbeenoughtopulltheirattentionawayfromher."Rue!I’mcoming!"

           WhenIbreakintotheclearing,she’sontheground,hopelesslyentangledinanet.Shejusthastimetoreachherhandthroughthemeshandsaymynamebeforethespearentersherbody.