Голодные игры

           I’mwonderingifwemightevenbeabletogiveourclothesaquickscrubwhenwereachthestream.Orwhatusedtobethestream.Nowthere’sonlyabone-drybed.Iputmyhanddowntofeelit.

           "Notevenalittledamp.Theymusthavedraineditwhileweslept,"Isay.Afearofthecrackedtongue,achingbodyandfuzzymindbroughtonbymypreviousdehydrationcreepsintomyconsciousness.Ourbottlesandskinarefairlyfull,butwithtwodrinkingandthishotsunitwon’ttakelongtodepletethem.

           "Thelake,"saysPeeta."That’swheretheywantustogo."

           "Maybethepondsstillhavesome,"Isayhopefully.

           "Wecancheck,"hesays,buthe’sjusthumoringme.I’mhumoringmyselfbecauseIknowwhatI’llfindwhenwereturntothepondwhereIsoakedmyleg.Adusty,gapingmouthofahole.Butwemakethetripanywayjusttoconfirmwhatwealreadyknow.

           "You’reright.They’redrivingustothelake,"Isay.Wherethere’snocover.Wherethey’reguaranteedabloodyfighttothedeathwithnothingtoblocktheirview."Doyouwanttogostraightawayorwaituntilthewater’stappedout?"

           "Let’sgonow,whilewe’vehadfoodandrest.Let’sjustgoendthisthing,"hesays.

           Inod.It’sfunny.Ifeelalmostasifit’sthefirstdayoftheGamesagain.ThatI’minthesameposition.Twenty-onetributesaredead,butIstillhaveyettokillCato.Andreally,wasn’thealwaystheonetokill?Nowitseemstheothertributeswerejustminorobstacles,distractions,keepingusfromtherealbattleoftheGames.Catoandme.