Голодные игры

           ThelayerofpineneedlesthatmufflesmyfootstepsalsomakestrackinganimalsharderwhenIneedtheirtrailstofindwater.AndI’mstillheadingdownhill,deeperanddeeperintoavalleythatseemsendless.

           I’mhungry,too,butIdon’tdarebreakintomypreciousstoreofcrackersandbeefyet.Instead,Itakemyknifeandgotoworkonapinetree,cuttingawaytheouterbarkandscrapingoffalargehandfulofthesofterinnerbark.IslowlychewthestuffasIwalkalong.Afteraweekofthefinestfoodintheworld,it’salittlehardtochokedown.ButI’veeatenplentyofpineinmylife.I’lladjustquickly.

           Inanotherhour,it’sclearI’vegottofindaplacetocamp.Nightcreaturesarecomingout.Icanheartheoccasionalhootorhowl,myfirstcluethatI’llbecompetingwithnaturalpredatorsfortherabbits.AstowhetherI’llbeviewedasasourceoffood,it’stoosoontotell.Therecouldbeanynumberofanimalsstalkingmeatthismoment.

           Butrightnow,Idecidetomakemyfellowtributesapriority.I’msuremanywillcontinuehuntingthroughthenight.ThosewhofoughtitoutattheCornucopiawillhavefood,anabundanceofwaterfromthelake,torchesorflashlights,andweaponsthey’reitchingtouse.IcanonlyhopeI’vetraveledfarandfastenoughtobeoutofrange.

           Beforesettlingdown,Itakemywireandsettwotwitch-upsnaresinthebrush.Iknowit’sriskytobesettingtraps,butfoodwillgosofastouthere.AndIcan’tsetsnaresontherun.Still,Iwalkanotherfiveminutesbeforemakingcamp.