Голодные игры

           Peetashakeshishead,andlooksatmeexpectantly.SoIbegin.Butcarefully.BecausemywordsaregoingoutalloverPanem.AndwhilepeoplehavenodoubtputtwoandtwotogetherthatIhuntillegally,Idon’twanttohurtGaleorGreasySaeorthebutcheroreventhePeacekeepersbackhomewhoaremycustomersbypubliclyannouncingthey’dbreakingthelaw,too.

           Here’stherealstoryofhowIgotthemoneyforPrim’sgoat,Lady.ItwasaFridayevening,thedaybeforePrim’stenthbirthdayinlateMay.Assoonasschoolended,GaleandIhitthewoods,becauseIwantedtogetenoughtotradeforapresentforPrim.Maybesomenewclothforadressorahairbrush.Oursnareshaddonewellenoughandthewoodswereflushwithgreens,butthiswasreallynomorethanouraverageFriday-nighthaul.Iwasdisappointedasweheadedback,eventhoughGalesaidwe’dbesuretodobettertomorrow.Wewererestingamomentbyastreamwhenwesawhim.Ayoungbuck,probablyayearlingbyhissize.Hisantlerswerejustgrowingin,stillsmallandcoatedinvelvet.Poisedtorunbutunsureofus,unfamiliarwithhumans.Beautiful.

           Lessbeautifulperhapswhenthetwoarrowscaughthim,oneintheneck,theotherinthechest.GaleandIhadshotatthesametime.Thebucktriedtorunbutstumbled,andGale’sknifeslithisthroatbeforeheknewwhathadhappened.Momentarily,I’dfeltapangatkillingsomethingsofreshandinnocent.Andthenmystomachrumbledatthethoughtofallthatfreshandinnocentmeat.