Голодные игры

           Afteraminuteorso,Ruepressesagloppygreenwadofchewedleavesandspitonmyknee.

           "Ohhh."ThesoundcomesoutofmymouthbeforeIcanstopit.It’sasiftheleavesareactuallyleachingthepainrightoutofthesting.

           Ruegivesagiggle."Luckyyouhadthesensetopullthestingersoutoryou’dbealotworse."

           "Domyneck!Domycheek!"Ialmostbeg.

           Ruestuffsanotherhandfulofleavesinhermouth,andsoonI’mlaughingbecausethereliefissosweet.InoticealongburnonRue’sforearm."I’vegotsomethingforthat."Isetasidemyweaponsandanointherarmwiththeburnmedicine.

           "Youhavegoodsponsors,"shesayslongingly.

           "Haveyougottenanythingyet?"Iask.Sheshakesherhead."Youwill,though.Watch.Thecloserwegettotheend,themorepeoplewillrealizehowcleveryouare."Iturnthemeatover.

           "Youweren’tjoking,aboutwantingmeforanally?"sheasks.

           "No,Imeantit,"Isay.IcanalmosthearHaymitchgroaningasIteamupwiththiswispychild.ButIwanther.Becauseshe’sasurvivor,andItrusther,andwhynotadmitit?SheremindsmeofPrim.

           "Okay,"shesays,andholdsoutherhand.Weshake."It’sadeal."

           Ofcourse,thiskindofdealcanonlybetemporary,butneitherofusmentionsthat.

           Ruecontributesabighandfulofsomesortofstarchyroottothemeal.Roastedoverthefire,theyhavethesharpsweettasteofaparsnip.Sherecognizesthebird,too,somewildthingtheycallagrooslinginherdistrict.Shesayssometimesaflockwillwanderintotheorchardandtheygetadecentlunchthatday.