Голодные игры

           Themoretimethatpasses,thelesshopefulIamthatthisisaninjurythatwillheal.

           WhenIreachthesiteofourfirstmeeting,Ifeelcertainit’sbeenundisturbed.There’snosignofRue,notonthegroundorinthetrees.Thisisodd.Bynowsheshouldhavereturned,asit’smidday.Undoubtedly,shespentthenightinatreesomewhere.WhatelsecouldshedowithnolightandtheCareerswiththeirnight-visionglassestrampingaroundthewoods.Andthethirdfireshewassupposedtoset-althoughIforgottocheckforitlastnight-wasthefarthestfromoursiteofall.She’sprobablyjustbeingcautiousaboutmakingherwayback.Iwishshe’dhurry,becauseIdon’twanttohangaroundheretoolong.Iwanttospendtheafternoontravelingtohigherground,huntingaswego.Butthere’snothingreallyformetodobutwait.

           Iwashthebloodoutofmyjacketandhairandcleanmyever-growinglistofwounds.TheburnsaremuchbetterbutIuseabitofmedicineonthemanyway.Themainthingtoworryaboutnowiskeepingoutinfection.Igoaheadandeatthesecondfish.Itisn’tgoingtolastlonginthishotsun,butitshouldbeeasyenoughtospearafewmoreforRue.Ifshewouldjustshowup.

           Feelingtoovulnerableonthegroundwithmylopsidedhearing,Iscaleatreetowait.IftheCareersshowup,thiswillbeafineplacetoshootthemfrom.Thesunmovesslowly.Idothingstopassthetime.Chewleavesandapplythemtomystingsthataredeflatedbutstilltender.Combthroughmydamphairwithmyfingersandbraidit.