Голодные игры

           Twopiecesofgroosling,asmallmishmashofroots,andahandfulofdriedfruit.

           "Shouldwetryandrationit?"Peetaasks.

           "No,let’sjustfinishit.Thegroosling’sgettingoldanyway,andthelastthingweneedistogetsickoffspoiledfood,"Isay,dividingthefoodintotwoequalpiles.Wetryandeatslowly,butwe’rebothsohungryweredoneinacoupleofminutes.Mystomachisinnowaysatisfied."Tomorrow’sahuntingday,"Isay.

           "Iwon’tbemuchhelpwiththat,"Peetasays."I’veneverhuntedbefore."

           "I’llkillandyoucook,"Isay."Andyoucanalwaysgather."

           "Iwishtherewassomesortofbreadbushoutthere,"saysPeeta.

           "ThebreadtheysentmefromDistrictElevenwasstillwarm,"Isaywithasigh."Here,chewthese."Ihandhimacoupleofmintleavesandpopafewinmyownmouth.

           It’shardtoevenseetheprojectioninthesky,butit’sclearenoughtoknowtherewerenomoredeathstoday.SoCatoandThreshhaven’thaditoutyet.

           "WheredidThreshgo?Imean,what’sonthefarsideofthecircle?"IaskPeeta.

           "Afield.Asfarasyoucanseeit’sfullofgrassesashighasmyshoulders.Idon’tknow,maybesomeofthemaregrain.Therearepatchesofdifferentcolors.Buttherearenopaths,"saysPeeta.

           "Ibetsomeofthemaregrain.IbetThreshknowswhichones,too,"Isay."Didyougointhere?"

           "No.NobodyreallywantedtotrackThreshdowninthatgrass.Ithasasinisterfeelingtoit.EverytimeIlookatthatfield,allIcanthinkofarehiddenthings.Snakes,andrabidanimals,andquicksand,"Peetasays.