Голодные игры

           "Hecan’tbe,"Isay.

           "Theymusthavefiredthecannonduringthethunderandwemissedit,"saysPeeta.

           "Areyousure?Imean,it’spouringbucketsoutthere.Idon’tknowhowyoucanseeanything,"Isay.Ipushhimawayfromtherocksandsquintoutintothedark,rainysky.Forabouttenseconds,IcatchadistortedglimpseofThresh’spictureandthenhe’sgone.Justlikethat.

           Islumpdownagainsttherocks,momentarilyforgettingaboutthetaskathand.Threshdead.Ishouldbehappy,right?Onelesstributetoface.Andapowerfulone,too.ButI’mnothappy.AllIcanthinkaboutisThreshlettingmego,lettingmerunbecauseofRue,whodiedwiththatspearinherstomach.

           "Youallright?"asksPeeta.

           Igiveanoncommittalshrugandcupmyelbowsinmyhands,huggingthemclosetomybody.Ihavetoburytherealpainbecausewho’sgoingtobetonatributewhokeepssnivelingoverthedeathsofheropponents.Ruewasonething.Wewereallies.Shewassoyoung.ButnoonewillunderstandmysorrowatThresh’smurder.Thewordpullsmeupshort.Murder!Thankfully,Ididn’tsayitaloud.That’snotgoingtowinmeanypointsinthearena.WhatIdosayis,"It’sjust.ifwedidn’twin.IwantedThreshto.Becauseheletmego.AndbecauseofRue."

           "Yeah,Iknow,"saysPeeta."Butthismeanswe’reonestepclosertoDistrictTwelve."Henudgesaplateoffootintomyhands."Eat.It’sstillwarm."

           ItakeabiteofthestewtoshowIdon’treallycare,butit’slikeglueinmymouthandtakesalotofefforttoswallow.