Голодные игры

           Theycanhandlesmallbreaksfromthepool.SoIslowlyputmygearbackinorder.FirstIfillmybottlewiththepoolwater,treatit,andwhenenoughtimehaspassed,begintorehydratemybody.Afteratime,Iforcemyselftonibbleonacracker,whichhelpssettlemystomach.Irollupmysleepingbag.Exceptforafewblackmarks,it’srelativelyunscathed.Myjacket’sanothermatter.Stinkingandscorched,atleastafootofthebackbeyondrepair.Icutoffthedamagedarealeavingmewithagarmentthatcomesjusttothebottomofmyribs.Butthehood’sintactandit’sfarbetterthannothing.

           Despitethepain,drowsinessbeginstotakeover.I’dtaketoatreeandtrytorest,exceptI’dbetooeasytospot.Besides,abandoningmypoolseemsimpossible.Ineatlyarrangemysupplies,evensettlemypackonmyshoulders,butIcan’tseemtoleave.Ispotsomewaterplantswithediblerootsandmakeasmallmealwithmylastpieceofrabbit.Sipwater.Watchthesunmakeitsslowarcacrossthesky.WherewouldIgoanywaythatisanysaferthanhere?Ileanbackonmypack,overcomebydrowsiness.IftheCareerswantme,letthemfindme,Ithinkbeforedriftingintoastupor.Letthemfindme.

           Andfindme,theydo.It’sluckyI’mreadytomoveonbecausewhenIhearthefeet,Ihavelessthanaminuteheadstart.Eveninghasbeguntofall.ThemomentIawake,I’mupandrunning,splashingacrossthepool,flyingintotheunderbrush.Mylegslowsmedown,butIsensemypursuersarenotasspeedyastheywerebeforethefire,either.