Голодные игры

           Theydidtheirbest,butthemandied,justlikethedoctorsaidhewould.

           Mylegisinneedofattention,butIstillcan’tlookatit.Whatifit’sasbadastheman’sandIcanseemybone?ThenIremembermymothersayingthatifaburn’ssevere,thevictimmightnotevenfeelpainbecausethenerveswouldbedestroyed.Encouragedbythis,Isitupandswingmyleginfrontofme.

           Ialmostfaintatthesightofmycalf.Thefleshisabrilliantredcoveredwithblisters.Iforcemyselftotakedeep,slowbreaths,feelingquitecertainthecamerasareonmyface.Ican’tshowweaknessatthisinjury.NotifIwanthelp.Pitydoesnotgetyouaid.Admirationatyourrefusaltogiveindoes.Icuttheremainsofthepantlegoffatthekneeandexaminetheinjurymoreclosely.Theburnedareaisaboutthesizeofmyhand.Noneoftheskinisblackened.Ithinkit’snottoobadtosoak.GingerlyIstretchoutmylegintothepool,proppingtheheelofmybootonarocksotheleatherdoesn’tgettoosodden,andsigh,becausethisdoesoffersomerelief.Iknowthereareherbs,ifIcouldfindthem,thatwouldspeedthehealing,butIcan’tquitecallthemtomind.WaterandtimewillprobablybeallIhavetoworkwith.

           ShouldIbemovingon?Thesmokeisslowlyclearingbutstilltooheavytobehealthy.IfIdocontinueawayfromthefire,won’tIbewalkingstraightintotheweaponsoftheCareers?Besides,everytimeIliftmylegfromthewater,thepainreboundssointenselyIhavetoslideitbackin.Myhandsareslightlylessdemanding.