Голодные игры

           Iopenmyeyesandfindthestarsfadinginthepalelightofdawn.Icansee,too,howbloodlessPeeta’sfacehasbecome.Howlittletimehehasleft.AndIknowIhavetogethimbacktotheCapitol.

           Still,nocannonhasfired.IpressmygoodearagainstthehornandcanjustmakeoutCato’svoice.

           "Ithinkhe’sclosernow.Katniss,canyoushoothim?"Peetaasks.

           Ifhe’snearthemouth,Imaybeabletotakehimout.Itwouldbeanactofmercyatthispoint.

           "Mylastarrow’sinyourtourniquet,"Isay.

           "Makeitcount,"saysPeeta,unzippinghisjacket,lettingmeloose.

           SoIfreethearrow,tyingthetourniquetbackastightlyasmyfrozenfingerscanmanage.Irubmyhandstogether,tryingtoregaincirculation.WhenIcrawltothelipofthehornandhangovertheedge,IfeelPeeta’shandsgripmeforsupport.

           IttakesafewmomentstofindCatointhedimlight,intheblood.Thentherawhunkofmeatthatusedtobemyenemymakesasound,andIknowwherehismouthis.AndIthinkthewordhe’stryingtosayisplease.

           Pity,notvengeance,sendsmyarrowflyingintohisskull.Peetapullsmebackup,bowinhand,quiverempty.

           "Didyougethim?"hewhispers.

           Thecannonfiresinanswer.

           "Thenwewon,Katniss,"hesayshollowly.

           "Hurrayforus,"Igetout,butthere’snojoyofvictoryinmyvoice.

           Aholeopensintheplainandasifoncue,theremainingmuttsboundintoit,disappearingastheearthclosesabovethem.

           Wewait,forthehovercrafttotakeCato’sremains,forthetrumpetsofvictorythatshouldfollow,butnothinghappens.