Голодные игры

           Itdoesn’ttakelongtoreachthespotwhereIpeeledofftogotheCareers’camp.There’sbeennosignofPeeta,butthisdoesn’tsurpriseme.I’vebeenupanddownthisstretchthreetimessincethetrackerjackerincident.Ifhewerenearby,surelyI’dhavehadsomesuspicionofit.Thestreambeginstocurvetotheleftintoapartofthewoodsthat’snewtome.MuddybankscoveredintangledwaterplantsleadtolargerocksthatincreaseinsizeuntilIbegintofeelsomewhattrapped.Itwouldbenosmallmattertoescapethestreamnow.FightingoffCatoorThreshasIclimbedoverthisrockyterrain.Infact,I’vejustaboutdecidedI’monthewrongtrackentirely,thatawoundedboywouldbeunabletonavigategettingtoandfromthiswatersource,whenIseethebloodystreakgoingdownthecurveofaboulder.It’slongdriednow,butthesmearylinesrunningsidetosidesuggestsomeone-whoperhapswasnotfullyincontrolofhismentalfaculties-triedtowipeitaway.

           Huggingtherocks,Imoveslowlyinthedirectionoftheblood,searchingforhim.Ifindafewmorebloodstains,onewithafewthreadsoffabricgluedtoit,butnosignoflife.Ibreakdownandsayhisnameinahushedvoice."Peeta!Peeta!"ThenamockingjaylandsonascruffytreeandbeginstomimicmytonessoIstop.Igiveupandclimbbackdowntothestreamthinking,Hemusthavemovedon.Somewherefartherdown.

           MyfoothasjustbrokenthesurfaceofthewaterwhenIhearavoice.

           "Youheretofinishmeoff,sweetheart?"

           Iwhiparound.