Голодные игры

           TheyretiretothefarsideofthelaketoallowtheGamemakerstoretrievethebodyoftheboyfromDistrict3.Andtheywait.

           Isupposeacannongoesoff.Ahovercraftappearsandtakesthedeadboy.Thesundipsbelowthehorizon.Nightfalls.Upinthesky,Iseethesealandknowtheanthemmusthavebegun.Amomentofdarkness.TheyshowtheboyfromDistrict3.TheyshowtheboyfromDistrict10,whomusthavediedthismorning.Thenthesealreappears.So,nowtheyknow.Thebombersurvived.Intheseal’slight,IcanseeCatoandthegirlfromDistrict2putontheirnight-visionglasses.TheboyfromDistrict1ignitesatreebranchforatorch,illuminatingthegrimdeterminationonalltheirfaces.TheCareersstridebackintothewoodstohunt.

           Thedizzinesshassubsidedandwhilemyleftearisstilldeafened,Icanheararinginginmyright,whichseemsagoodsign.There’snopointinleavingmyhidingplace,though.I’maboutassafeasIcanbe,hereatthecrimescene.Theyprobablythinkthebomberhasatwo-orthree-hourleadonthem.Stillit’salongtimebeforeIriskmoving.

           ThefirstthingIdoisdigoutmyownglassesandputthemon,whichrelaxesmealittle,tohaveatleastoneofmyhunter’ssensesworking.Idrinksomewaterandwashthebloodfrommyear.Fearingthesmellofmeatwilldrawunwantedpredators-freshbloodisbadenough-ImakeagoodmealoutofthegreensandrootsandberriesRueandIgatheredtoday.