Голодные игры

           Iwaveitteasinglyaboveherhead,asifthiswasthesolepurposeofretrievingit,whenactuallyImeantouseitifIevergetthechance.Icouldkillthem,everyoneofthem,ifthosesilverweaponswereinmyhands.

           TheCareersregrouponthegroundandIcanhearthemgrowlingconspiratoriallyamongthemselves,furiousIhavemadethemlookfoolish.Buttwilighthasarrivedandtheirwindowofattackonmeisclosing.Finally,IhearPeetasayharshly,"Oh,letherstayupthere.It’snotlikeshe’sgoinganywhere.We’lldealwithherinthemorning."

           Well,he’srightaboutonething.I’mgoingnowhere.Alltherelieffromthepoolwaterhasgone,leavingmetofeelthefullpotencyofmyburns.Iscootdowntoaforkinthetreeandclumsilyprepareforbed.Putonmyjacket.Layoutmysleepingbed.Beltmyselfinandtrytokeepfrommoaning.Theheatofthebag’stoomuchformyleg.Icutaslashinthefabricandhangmycalfoutintheopenair.Idrizzlewateronthewound,myhands.

           Allmybravadoisgone.I’mweakfrompainandhungerbutcan’tbringmyselftoeat.EvenifIcanlastthenight,whatwillthemorningbring?Istareintothefoliagetryingtowillmyselftorest,buttheburnsforbidit.Birdsaresettlingdownforthenight,singinglullabiestotheiryoung.Nightcreaturesemerge.Anowlhoots.Thefaintscentofaskunkcutsthroughthesmoke.Theeyesofsomeanimalpeeratmefromtheneighboringtree-apossummaybe-catchingthefirelightfromtheCareers’torches.Suddenly,I’mupononeelbow