Голодные игры

           Butno,there’stheboywaitingbesideme.Ifeelhisarmswraparoundme.

           "Twoagainstone.Shouldbeapieceofcake,"hesays.

           "Nexttimeweeat,itwillbeintheCapitol,"Ianswer.

           "Youbetitwill,"hesays.

           Westandthereawhile,lockedinanembrace,feelingeachother,thesunlight,therustleoftheleavesatourfeet.Thenwithoutaword,webreakapartandheadforthelake.

           Idon’tcarenowthatPeeta’sfootfallssendrodentsscurrying,makebirdstakewing.WehavetofightCatoandI’djustassoondoithereasontheplain.ButIdoubtI’llhavethatchoice.IftheGamemakerswantusintheopen,thenintheopenwewillbe.

           WestoptorestforafewmomentsunderthetreewheretheCareerstrappedme.Thehuskofthetrackerjackernest,beatentoapulpbytheheavyrainsanddriedintheburningsun,confirmsthelocation.Itouchitwiththetipofmyboot,anditdissolvesintodustthatisquicklycarriedoffbythebreeze.Ican’thelplookingupinthetreewhereRuesecretlyperched,waitingtosavemylife.Trackerjackers.Glimmer’sbloatedbody.Theterrifyinghallucinations.

           "Let’smoveon,"Isay,wantingtoescapethedarknessthatsurroundsthisplace.Peetadoesn’tobject.

           Givenourlatestarttotheday,whenwereachtheplainit’salreadyearlyevening.There’snosignofCato.NosignofanythingexceptthegoldCornucopiaglowingintheslantingsunrays.JustincaseCatodecidedtopullaFoxfaceonus,wecircletheCornucopiatomakesureit’sempty.