Голодные игры

           Butthestiffnessinmyjointssuggestsmorethanadayhaspassed,eventwopossibly.Ifso,I’llhavenowayofknowingwhichtributessurvivedthattrackerjackerattack.NotGlimmerorthegirlfromDistrict4.ButtherewastheboyfromDistrict1,bothtributesfromDistrict2,andPeeta.Didtheydiefromthestings?Certainlyiftheylived,theirlastdaysmusthavebeenashorridasmyown.AndwhataboutRue?She’ssosmall,itwouldn’ttakemuchvenomtodoherin.Butthenagain.thetrackerjackerswould’vehadtocatchher,andshehadagoodheadstart.

           Afoul,rottentastepervadesmymouth,andthewaterhaslittleeffectonit.Idragmyselfovertothehoneysucklebushandpluckaflower.Igentlypullthestamenthroughtheblossomandsetthedropofnectaronmytongue.Thesweetnessspreadsthroughmymouth,downmythroat,warmingmyveinswithmemoriesofsummer,andmyhomewoodsandGale’spresencebesideme.Forsomereason,ourdiscussionfromthatlastmorningcomesbacktome.

           "Wecoulddoit,youknow."

           "What?"

           "Leavethedistrict.Runoff.Liveinthewoods.YouandI,wecouldmakeit."

           Andsuddenly,I’mnotthinkingofGalebutofPeetaand.Peeta!Hesavedmylife!Ithink.Becausebythetimewemetup,Icouldn’ttellwhatwasrealandwhatthetrackerjackervenomhadcausedmetoimagine.