Голодные игры

           Itwasslow-goingatfirst,butIwasdeterminedtofeedus.Istoleeggsfromnests,caughtfishinnets,sometimesmanagedtoshootasquirrelorrabbitforstew,andgatheredthevariousplantsthatsprungupbeneathmyfeet.Plantsaretricky.Manyareedible,butonefalsemouthfulandyou’redead.Icheckedanddouble-checkedtheplantsIharvestedwithmyfather’spictures.Ikeptusalive.

           Anysignofdanger,adistanthowl,theinexplicablebreakofabranch,sentmeflyingbacktothefenceatfirst.ThenIbegantoriskclimbingtreestoescapethewilddogsthatquicklygotboredandmovedon.Bearsandcatsliveddeeperin,perhapsdislikingthesootyreekofourdistrict.

           OnMay8th,IwenttotheJusticeBuilding,signedupformytesserae,andpulledhomemyfirstbatchofgrainandoilinPrim’stoywagon.Ontheeighthofeverymonth,Iwasentitledtodothesame.Icouldn’tstophuntingandgathering,ofcourse.Thegrainwasnotenoughtoliveon,andtherewereotherthingstobuy,soapandmilkandthread.Whatwedidn’tabsolutelyhavetoeat,IbegantotradeattheHob.Itwasfrighteningtoenterthatplacewithoutmyfatheratmyside,butpeoplehadrespectedhim,andtheyacceptedme.Gamewasgameafterall,nomatterwho’dshotit.Ialsosoldatthebackdoorsofthewealthierclientsintown,tryingtorememberwhatmyfatherhadtoldmeandlearningafewnewtricksaswell.Thebutcherwouldbuymyrabbitsbutnotsquirrels.Thebakerenjoyedsquirrelbutwouldonlytradeforoneifhiswifewasn’taround.