Голодные игры

           ThatI’mmorethanjustapieceintheirGames."Andforthefirsttime,Iunderstandwhathemeans.

           Iwanttodosomething,righthere,rightnow,toshamethem,tomakethemaccountable,toshowtheCapitolthatwhatevertheydoorforceustodothereisapartofeverytributetheycan’town.ThatRuewasmorethanapieceintheirGames.AndsoamI.

           Afewstepsintothewoodsgrowsabankofwildflowers.Perhapstheyarereallyweedsofsomesort,buttheyhaveblossomsinbeautifulshadesofvioletandyellowandwhite.IgatherupanarmfulandcomebacktoRue’sside.Slowly,onestematatime,Idecorateherbodyintheflowers.Coveringtheuglywound.Wreathingherface.Weavingherhairwithbrightcolors.

           They’llhavetoshowit.Or,eveniftheychoosetoturnthecameraselsewhereatthismoment,they’llhavetobringthembackwhentheycollectthebodiesandeveryonewillseeherthenandknowIdidit.IstepbackandtakealastlookatRue.Shecouldreallybeasleepinthatmeadowafterall.

           "Bye,Rue,"Iwhisper.Ipressthethreemiddlefingersofmylefthandagainstmylipsandholdthemoutinherdirection.ThenIwalkawaywithoutlookingback.

           Thebirdsfallsilent.Somewhere,amockingjaygivesthewarningwhistlethatprecedesthehovercraft.Idon’tknowhowitknows.Itmusthearthingsthathumanscan’t.Ipause,myeyesfocusedonwhat’sahead,notwhat’shappeningbehindme.Itdoesn’ttakelong,thenthegeneralbirdsongbeginsagainandIknowshe’sgone.