Голодные игры

           Anothermockingjay,ayoungonebythelookofit,landsonabranchbeforemeandburstsoutRue’smelody.

           Mysong,thehovercraft,weretoounfamiliarforthisnovicetopickup,butithasmasteredherhandfulofnotes.Theonesthatmeanshe’ssafe.

           "Goodandsafe,"IsayasIpassunderitsbranch."Wedon’thavetoworryabouthernow."Goodandsafe.

           I’venoideawheretogo.ThebriefsenseofhomeIhadthatonenightwithRuehasvanished.Myfeetwanderthiswayandthatuntilsunset.I’mnotafraid,notevenwatchful.Whichmakesmeaneasytarget.ExceptI’dkillanyoneImetonsight.Withoutemotionortheslightesttremorinmyhands.MyhatredoftheCapitolhasnotlessenedmyhatredofmycompetitorsintheleast.EspeciallytheCareers.They,atleast,canbemadetopayforRue’sdeath.

           Noonematerializesthough.Therearen’tmanyofusleftandit’sabigarena.Soonthey’llbepullingoutsomeotherdevicetoforceustogether.Butthere’sbeenenoughgoretoday.Perhapswe’llevengettosleep.

           I’mabouttohaulmypacksintoatreetomakecampwhenasilverparachutefloatsdownandlandsinfrontofme.Agiftfromasponsor.Butwhynow?I’vebeeninfairlygoodshapewithsupplies.MaybeHaymitch’snoticedmydespondencyandistryingtocheermeupabit.Orcoulditbesomethingtohelpmyear?

           IopentheparachuteandfindasmallloafofbreadIt’snotthefinewhiteCapitolstuff.It’smadeofdarkrationgrainandshapedinacrescent.Sprinkledwithseeds.