Голодные игры
Chapter 23
Thenheblowsakissouttoheringeneralandcalls,"Wemissyou,Effie!"
Icoverhismouthwithmyhand,butI’mlaughing."Stop!Catocouldberightoutsideourcave."
Hegrabsmyhandaway."WhatdoIcare?I’vegotyoutoprotectmenow,"saysPeeta,pullingmetohim.
"Comeon,"Isayinexasperation,extricatingmyselffromhisgraspbutnotbeforehegetsinanotherkiss.
Oncewe’repackedupandstandingoutsideourcave,ourmoodshiftstoserious.It’sasthoughforthelastfewdays,shelteredbytherocksandtherainandCato’spreoccupationwithThresh,weweregivenarespite,aholidayofsorts.Now,althoughthedayissunnyandwarm,webothsensewe’rereallybackintheGames.IhandPeetamyknife,sincewhateverweaponsheoncehadarelonggone,andheslipsitintohisbelt.Mylastsevenarrows-ofthetwelveIsacrificedthreeintheexplosion,twoatthefeast-rattleabittoolooselyinthequiver.Ican’taffordtoloseanymore.
"He’llbehuntingusbynow,"saysPeeta."Catoisn’tonetowaitforhispreytowanderby."
"Ifhe’swounded-"Ibegin.
"Itwon’tmatter,"Peetabreaksin."Ifhecanmove,he’scoming."
Withalltherain,thestreamhasoverrunitsbanksbyseveralfeetoneitherside.Westoptheretoreplenishourwater.IcheckthesnaresIsetdaysagoandcomeupempty.Notsurprisingwiththeweather.Besides,Ihaven’tseenmanyanimalsorsignsoftheminthisarea.
"Ifwewantfood,webetterheadbackuptomyoldhuntinggrounds,"Isay.
"Yourcall.
