Голодные игры

           "No,youcan’tkillyourself,"Isay.I’monmyknees,desperatelyplasteringthebandagebackontohiswound.

           "Katniss,"hesays."It’swhatIwant."

           "You’renotleavingmeherealone,"Isay.Becauseifhedies,I’llnevergohome,notreally.I’llspendtherestofmylifeinthisarenatryingtothinkmywayout.

           "Listen,"hesayspullingmetomyfeet."Webothknowtheyhavetohaveavictor.Itcanonlybeoneofus.Please,takeit.Forme."Andhegoesonabouthowhelovesme,whatlifewouldbewithoutmebutI’vestoppedlisteningbecausehispreviouswordsaretrappedinmyhead,thrashingdesperatelyaround.

           Webothknowtheyhavetohaveavictor.

           Yes,theyhavetohaveavictor.Withoutavictor,thewholethingwouldblowupintheGamemakers’faces.They’dhavefailedtheCapitol.Mightpossiblyevenbeexecuted,slowlyandpainfullywhilethecamerasbroadcastittoeveryscreeninthecountry.

           IfPeetaandIwerebothtodie,ortheythoughtwewere.

           Myfingersfumblewiththepouchonmybelt,freeingit.Peetaseesitandhishandclampsonmywrist."No,Iwon’tletyou."

           "Trustme,"Iwhisper.Heholdsmygazeforalongmomentthenletsmego.Iloosenthetopofthepouchandpourafewspoonfulsofberriesintohispalm.ThenIfillmyown."Onthecountofthree?"

           Peetaleansdownandkissesmeonce,verygently."Thecountofthree,"hesays.

           Westand,ourbackspressedtogether,ouremptyhandslockedtight.

           "Holdthemout.Iwanteveryonetosee,"hesays.

           Ispreadoutmyfingers,andthedarkberriesglisteninthesun