Голодные игры
Chapter 21
Thetension,thefightgoesoutofmeatthememory.AndI’moverwhelmedbyRue,andthepaininmyhead,andmyfearofThresh,andthemoaningofthedyinggirlafewfeetaway.
"Tosleep?"Threshsaysgruffly.
"Todeath.Isanguntilshedied,"Isay."Yourdistrict.theysentmebread."MyhandreachesupbutnotforanarrowthatIknowI’llneverreach.Justtowipemynose."Doitfast,okay,Thresh?"
ConflictingemotionscrossThresh’sface.Helowerstherockandpointsatme,almostaccusingly."Justthisonetime,Iletyougo.Forthelittlegirl.Youandme,we’reeventhen.Nomoreowed.Youunderstand?"
InodbecauseIdounderstand.Aboutowing.Abouthatingit.IunderstandthatifThreshwins,he’llhavetogobackandfaceadistrictthathasalreadybrokenalltherulestothankme,andheisbreakingtherulestothankme,too.AndIunderstandthat,forthemoment,Threshisnotgoingtosmashinmyskull.
"Clove!"Cato’svoiceismuchnearernow.Icantellbythepaininitthatheseesherontheground.
"Youbetterrunnow,FireGirl,"saysThresh.
Idon’tneedtobetoldtwice.Iflipoverandmyfeetdipintothehard-packedearthasIrunawayfromThreshandCloveandthesoundofCato’svoice.OnlywhenIreachthewoodsdoIturnbackforaninstant.ThreshandbothlargebackpacksarevanishingovertheedgeoftheplainintotheareaI’veneverseen.CatokneelsbesideClove,spearinhand,begginghertostaywithhim.Inamoment,hewillrealizeit’sfutile,shecan’tbesaved
