Голодные игры

           Twoboysandthreegirls.Theoneswholunchedtogether.

           Foramoment,Ihearthemcheckingthegirlforsupplies.Icantellbytheircommentsthey’vefoundnothinggood.IwonderifthevictimisRuebutquicklydismissthethought.She’smuchtoobrighttobebuildingafirelikethat.

           "Betterclearoutsotheycangetthebodybeforeitstartsstinking."I’malmostcertainthat’sthebrutishboyfromDistrict2.Therearemurmursofassentandthen,tomyhorror,Ihearthepackheadingtowardme.TheydonotknowI’mhere.Howcouldthey?AndI’mwellconcealedintheclumpoftrees.Atleastwhilethesunstaysdown.Thenmyblacksleepingbagwillturnfromcamouflagetotrouble.Iftheyjustkeepmoving,theywillpassmeandbegoneinaminute.

           ButtheCareersstopintheclearingabouttenyardsfrommytree.Theyhaveflashlights,torches.Icanseeanarmhere,abootthere,throughthebreaksinthebranches.Iturntostone,notevendaringtobreathe.Havetheyspottedme?No,notyet.Icantellfromtheirwordstheirmindsareelsewhere.

           "Shouldn’twehaveheardacannonbynow?"

           "I’dsayyes.Nothingtopreventthemfromgoinginimmediately."

           "Unlesssheisn’tdead."

           "She’sdead.Istuckhermyself."

           "Thenwhere’sthecannon?"

           "Someoneshouldgoback.Makesurethejob’sdone."

           "Yeah,wedon’twanttohavetotrackherdowntwice."

           "Isaidshe’sdead!"

           Anargumentbreaksoutuntilonetributesilencestheothers."We’rewastingtime!I’llgofinishherandlet’smoveon!"

           Ialmostfalloutofthetree