Голодные игры

           Bythetimewereachourdestination,ourfeetaredraggingandthesunsitslowonthehorizon.Wefillupourwaterbottlesandclimbthelittleslopetoourden.It’snotmuch,butouthereinthewilderness,it’stheclosestthingwehavetoahome.Itwillbewarmerthanatree,too,becauseitprovidessomeshelterfromthewindthathasbeguntoblowsteadilyinfromthewest.Isetagooddinnerout,buthalfwaythroughPeetabeginstonodoff.Afterdaysofinactivity,thehunthastakenitstoll.Iorderhimintothesleepingbagandsetasidetherestofhisfoodforwhenhewakes.Hedropsoffimmediately.Ipullthesleepingbaguptohischinandkisshisforehead,notfortheaudience,butforme.BecauseI’msogratefulthathe’sstillhere,notdeadbythestreamasI’dthought.SogladthatIdon’thavetofaceCatoalone.

           Brutal,bloodyCatowhocansnapaneckwithatwistofhisarm,whohadthepowertoovercomeThresh,whohashaditoutformesincethebeginning.HeprobablyhashadaspecialhatredformeeversinceIoutscoredhimintraining.AboylikePeetawouldsimplyshrugthatoff.ButIhaveafeelingitdroveCatotodistraction.Whichisnotthathard.Ithinkofhisridiculousreactiontofindingthesuppliesblownup.Theotherswereupset,ofcourse,buthewascompletelyunhinged.IwondernowifCatomightnotbeentirelysane.

           Theskylightsupwiththeseal,andIwatchFoxfaceshineintheskyandthendisappearfromtheworldforever.