Голодные игры

           "ItalsomeansCatowillbebackhuntingus."

           "Andhe’sgotsuppliesagain,"saysPeeta.

           "He’llbewounded,Ibet,"Isay.

           "Whatmakesyousaythat?"Peetaasks.

           "BecauseThreshwouldhavenevergonedownwithoutafight.He’ssostrong,Imean,hewas.Andtheywereinhisterritory,"Isay.

           "Good,"saysPeeta."ThemorewoundedCatoisthebetter.IwonderhowFoxfaceismakingout."

           "Oh,she’sfine,"Isaypeevishly.I’mstillangryshethoughtofhidingintheCornucopiaandIdidn’t."ProbablybeeasiertocatchCatothanher."

           "Maybethey’llcatcheachotherandwecanjustgohome,"saysPeeta."Butwebetterbeextracarefulaboutthewatches.Idozedoffafewtimes."

           "Me,too,"Iadmit."Butnottonight."

           WefinishourfoodinsilenceandthenPeetaofferstotakethefirstwatch.Iburrowdowninthesleepingbagnexttohim,pullingmyhoodupovermyfacetohideitfromthecameras.IjustneedafewmomentsofprivacywhereIcanletanyemotioncrossmyfacewithoutbeingseen.Underthehood,Isilentlysaygood-byetoThreshandthankhimformylife.Ipromisetorememberhimand,ifIcan,dosomethingtohelphisfamilyandRue’s,ifIwin.ThenIescapeintosleep,comfortedbyafullbellyandthesteadywarmthofPeetabesideme.

           WhenPeetawakesmelater,thefirstthingIregisteristhesmellofgoatcheese.He’sholdingouthalfarollspreadwiththecreamywhitestuffandtoppedwithappleslices."Don’tbemad,"hesays."Ihadtoeatagain.Here’syourhalf."

           "Oh,good,"Isay,immediatelytakingahugebite.