Голодные игры
Chapter 25
I’mabletohaulhimbackontothehornwherewedragourselvestowardthetopwherethelesseroftwoevilsawaits.
Catohasstillnotregainedhisfeet,buthisbreathingisslowingandIknowsoonhe’llberecoveredenoughtocomeforus,tohurlusoverthesidetoourdeaths.Iarmmybow,butthearrowendsuptakingoutamuttthatcanonlybeThresh.Whoelsecouldjumpsohigh?Ifeelamoment’sreliefbecausewemustfinallybeupabovethemuttlineandI’mjustturningbacktofaceCatowhenPeeta’sjerkedfrommyside.I’msurethepackhasgothimuntilhisbloodsplattersmyface.
Catostandsbeforeme,almostatthelipofthehorn,holdingPeetainsomekindofheadlock,cuttingoffhisair.Peeta’sclawingatCato’sarm,butweakly,asifconfusedoverwhetherit’smoreimportanttobreatheortryandstemthegushofbloodfromthegapingholeamuttleftinhiscalf.
IaimoneofmylasttwoarrowsatCato’shead,knowingit’llhavenoeffectonhistrunkorlimbs,whichIcannowseeareclothedinaskintight,flesh-coloredmesh.Somehigh-gradebodyarmorfromtheCapitol.Wasthatwhatwasinhispackatthefeast?Bodyarmortodefendagainstmyarrows?Well,theyneglectedtosendafaceguard.
Catojustlaughs."Shootmeandhegoesdownwithme."
He’sright.IfItakehimoutandhefallstothemutts,Peetaissuretodiewithhim.We’vereachedastalemate.Ican’tshootCatowithoutkillingPeeta,too.Hecan’tkillPeetawithoutguaranteeinganarrowinhisbrain.
