Голодные игры

           "Anysignofourfriend?"Iask.

           Peetashakeshishead."No,he’skeepingadisturbinglylowprofile."

           "Howlongdoyouthinkwe’llhavebeforetheGamemakersdriveustogether?"Iask.

           "Well,Foxfacediedalmostadayago,sothere’sbeenplentyoftimefortheaudiencetoplacebetsandgetbored.Iguessitcouldhappenatanymoment,"saysPeeta.

           "Yeah,Ihaveafeelingtoday’stheday,"Isay.Isitupandlookoutatthepeacefulterrain."Iwonderhowthey’lldoit."

           Peetaremainssilent.There’snotreallyanygoodanswer.

           "Well,untiltheydo,nosenseinwastingahuntingday.Butweshouldprobablyeatasmuchaswecanholdjustincasewerunintotrouble,"Isay.

           PeetapacksupourgearwhileIlayoutabigmeal.Therestoftherabbits,roots,greens,therollsspreadwiththelastbitofcheese.TheonlythingIleaveinreserveisthesquirrelandtheapple.

           Bythetimewe’redone,allthat’sleftisapileofrabbitbones.Myhandsaregreasy,whichonlyaddstomygrowingfeelingofgrubbiness.Maybewedon’tbathedailyintheSeam,butwekeepcleanerthanIhaveoflate.Exceptformyfeet,whichhavewalkedinthestream,I’mcoveredinalayerofgrime.

           Leavingthecavehasasenseoffinalityaboutit.Idon’tthinktherewillbeanothernightinthearenasomehow.Onewayortheother,deadoralive,IhavethefeelingI’llescapeittoday.Igivetherocksapatgood-byeandweheaddowntothestreamtowashup.Icanfeelmyskin,itchingforthecoolwater.Imaydomyhairandbraiditbackwet.