Голодные игры

           Sweatbreaksoutonthepalmsofmyhands,beadingupthroughtheointment,andIdomybesttopatthemdryonmyshirt.IfIdon’tgetthroughthisbranchinamatterofseconds,theentireswarmcouldemergeandattackme.

           There’snosenseinputtingitoff.Itakeadeepbreath,griptheknifehandleandbeardownashardasIcan.Back,forth,back,forth!ThetrackerjackersbegintobuzzandIhearthemcomingout.Back,forth,back,forth!AstabbingpainshootsthroughmykneeandIknowonehasfoundmeandtheotherswillbehoningin.Back,forth,back,forth.Andjustastheknifecutsthrough,IshovetheendofthebranchasfarawayfrommeasIcan.Itcrashesdownthroughthelowerbranches,snaggingtemporarilyonafewbutthentwistingfreeuntilitsmasheswithathudontheground.Thenestburstsopenlikeanegg,andafuriousswarmoftrackerjackerstakestotheair.

           Ifeelasecondstingonthecheek,athirdonmyneck,andtheirvenomalmostimmediatelymakesmewoozy.IclingtothetreewithonearmwhileIripthebarbedstingersoutofmyflesh.Fortunately,onlythesethreetrackerjackershadidentifiedmebeforethenestwentdown.Therestoftheinsectshavetargetedtheirenemiesontheground.

           It’smayhem.TheCareershavewokentoafull-scaletrackerjackerattack.Peetaandafewothershavethesensetodropeverythingandbolt.Icanhearcriesof"Tothelake!Tothelake!"andknowtheyhopetoevadethewaspsbytakingtothewater.Itmustbecloseiftheythinktheycanoutdistancethefuriousinsects.