Голодные игры

           Particularlyifwe’retryingforbiggergame.Butalsointhelittlerthings,havingapartnerlightenedtheload,couldevenmakethearduoustaskoffillingmyfamily’stableenjoyable.

           IhadbeenstrugglingalongonmyownforaboutsixmonthswhenIfirstranintoGaleinthewoods.ItwasaSundayinOctober,theaircoolandpungentwithdyingthings.I’dspentthemorningcompetingwiththesquirrelsfornutsandtheslightlywarmerafternoonwadinginshallowpondsharvestingKatniss.TheonlymeatI’dshotwasasquirrelthathadpracticallyrunovermytoesinitsquestforacorns,buttheanimalswouldstillbeafootwhenthesnowburiedmyotherfoodsources.Havingstrayedfartherafieldthanusual,Iwashurryingbackhome,luggingmyburlapsackswhenIcameacrossadeadrabbit.Itwashangingbyitsneckinathinwireafootabovemyhead.Aboutfifteenyardsawaywasanother.Irecognizedthetwitch-upsnaresbecausemyfatherhadusedthem.Whenthepreyiscaught,it’syankedintotheairoutofthereachofotherhungryanimals.I’dbeentryingtousesnaresallsummerwithnosuccess,soIcouldn’thelpdroppingmysackstoexaminethisone.Myfingerswerejustonthewireaboveoneoftherabbitswhenavoicerangout."That’sdangerous."

           IjumpedbackseveralfeetasGalematerializedfrombehindatree.Hemusthavebeenwatchingmethewholetime.Hewasonlyfourteen,butheclearedsixfeetandwasasgoodasanadulttome.I’dseenhimaroundtheSeamandatschool.Andoneothertime.