Голодные игры
Chapter 16
Ithasmoremeaningforyouthanme."
"Oh,no,"saysRue,closingmyfingersbackoverthepin."Iliketoseeitonyou.That’showIdecidedIcouldtrustyou.Besides,Ihavethis."Shepullsanecklacewovenoutofsomekindofgrassfromhershirt.Onit,hangsaroughlycarvedwoodenstar.Ormaybeit’saflower."It’sagoodluckcharm."
"Well,it’sworkedsofar,"Isay,pinningthemockingjaybackonmyshirt."Maybeyoushouldjuststickwiththat."
Bylunch,wehaveaplan.Byearlyafternoon,wearepoisedtocarryitout.IhelpRuecollectandplacethewoodforthefirsttwocampfires,thethirdshe’llhavetimeforonherown.Wedecidetomeetafterwardatthesitewhereweateourfirstmealtogether.Thestreamshouldhelpguidemebacktoit.BeforeIleave,ImakesureRue’swellstockedwithfoodandmatches.Ieveninsistshetakemysleepingbag,incaseit’snotpossibletorendezvousbynightfall.
"Whataboutyou?Won’tyoubecold?"sheasks.
"NotifIpickupanotherbagdownbythelake,"Isay."Youknow,stealingisn’tillegalhere,"Isaywithagrin.
Atthelastminute,Ruedecidestoteachmehermockingjaysignal,theoneshegivestoindicatetheday’sworkisdone."Itmightnotwork.Butifyouhearthemockingjayssingingit,you’llknowI’mokay,onlyIcan’tgetbackrightaway."
"Aretheremanymockingjayshere?"Iask.
"Haven’tyouseenthem?They’vegotnestseverywhere,"shesays.IhavetoadmitIhaven’tnoticed.
"Okay,then.Ifallgoesaccordingtoplan,I’llseeyoufordinner,"Isay.
