d the berries。 It was Peetaˇs own ignorance that brought her down。 Iˇve spent so much time making sure I donˇt underestimate my opponents that Iˇve forgotten itˇs just as dangerous to overestimate them as well。
That brings me back to Cato。 But while I think I had a sense of Foxface； who she was and how she operated； heˇs a little more slippery。 Powerful； well trained； but smart？ I donˇt know。 Not like she was。 And utterly lacking in the control Foxface demonstrated。 I believe Cato could easily lose his judgment in a fit of temper。 Not that I can feel superior on that point。 I think of the moment I sent the arrow flying into the apple in the pigˇs mouth when I was so enraged。 Maybe I do understand Cato better than I think。
Despite the fatigue in my body； my mindˇs alert； so I let Peeta sleep long past our usual switch。 In fact； a soft gray day has begun when I shake his shoulder。 He looks out； almost in alarm。 ¨I slept the whole night。 Thatˇs not fair； Katniss； you should have woken me。〃
I stretch and burrow down into the bag。 ¨Iˇll sleep now。 Wake me if anything interesting happens。〃
Apparently nothing does； because when I open my eyes； bright hot afternoon light gleams through the rocks。 ¨Any sign of our friend？〃 I ask。
Peeta shakes his head。 ¨No； heˇs keeping a disturbingly low profile。〃
¨How long do you think weˇll have before the Gamemakers drive us together？〃 I ask。
¨Well； Foxface died almost a day ago； so thereˇs been plenty of time for the audience to place bets and get bored。 I guess it could happen at any moment；〃 says Peeta。
¨Yeah； I have a feeling todayˇs the day；〃 I say。 I sit up and look out at the peaceful terrain。 ¨I wonder how theyˇll do it。〃
Peeta remains silent。 Thereˇs not really any good answer。
¨Well； until they do； no sense in wasting a hunting day。 But we should probably eat as much as we can hold just in case we run into trouble；〃 I say。
Peeta packs up our gear while I lay out a big meal。 The rest of the rabbits； roots； greens； the rolls spread with the last bit of cheese。 The only thing I leave in reserve is the squirrel and the apple。
By the time weˇre done； all thatˇs left is a pile of rabbit bones。 My hands are greasy； which only adds to my growing feeling of grubbiness。 Maybe we donˇt bathe daily in the Seam； but we keep cleaner than I have of late。 Except for my feet； which have walked in the stream； Iˇm covered in a layer of grime。
Leaving the cave has a sense of finality about it。 I donˇt think there will be another night in the arena somehow。 One way or the other； dead or alive； I have the feeling Iˇll escape it today。 I give the rocks a pat good…bye and we head down to the stream to wash up。 I can feel my skin； itching for the cool water。 I may do my hair and braid it back wet。 Iˇm wondering if we might even be able to give our clothes a quick scrub when we reach the stream。 Or what used to be the stream。 Now thereˇs only a bone…dry bed。 I put my hand down to feel it。
¨Not even a little damp。 They must have drained it while we slept；〃 I say。 A fear of the cracked tongue； aching body and fuzzy mind brought on by my previous dehydration creeps into my consciousness。 Our bottles and skin are fairly full； but with two drinking and this hot sun it wonˇt take long to deplete them。
¨The lake；〃 says Peeta。 ¨Thatˇs where they want us to go。〃
¨Maybe the ponds still have some；〃 I say hopefully。
¨We can check；〃 he says； but heˇs just humoring me。 Iˇm humoring myself because I know what Iˇll find when we return to the pond where I soaked my leg。 A dusty； gaping mouth of a hole。 But we make the trip anyway just to confirm what we already know。
¨Youˇre right。 Theyˇre driving us to the lake；〃 I say。 Where thereˇs no cover。 Where theyˇre guaranteed a bloody fight to the death with nothing to block their view。 ¨Do you want to go straightaway or wait until the waterˇs tapped out？〃
¨Letˇs go now； while weˇve had food and rest。 Letˇs just go end this thing；〃 he says。
I nod。 Itˇs funny。 I feel almost as if itˇs the first day of the Games again。 That Iˇm in the same position。 Twenty…one tributes are dead； but I still have yet to kill Cato。 And really； wasnˇt he always the one to kill？ Now it seems the other tributes were just minor obstacles； distractions； keeping us from the real battle of the Games。 Cato and me。
But no； thereˇs the boy waiting beside me。 I feel his arms wrap around me。
¨Two against one。 Should be a piece of cake；〃 he says。
¨Next time we eat； it will be in the Capitol；〃 I answer。
¨You bet it will；〃 he says。
We stand there a while； locked in an embrace； feeling each other； the sunlight； the rustle of the leaves at our feet。 Then without a word； we break apart and head for the lake。
I donˇt care now that Peetaˇs footfalls send rodents scurrying； make birds take wing。 We have to fight Cato and Iˇd just as soon do it here as on the plain。 But I doubt Iˇll have that choice。 If the Gamemakers want us in the open； then in the open we will be。
We stop to rest for a few moments under the tree where the Careers trapped me。 The husk of the tracker jacker nest； beaten to a pulp by the heavy rains and dried in the burning sun； confirms the location。 I touch it with the tip of my boot； and it dissolves into dust that is quickly carried off by the breeze。 I canˇt help looking up in the tree where Rue secretly perched； waiting to save my life。 Tracker jackers。 Glimmerˇs bloated body。 The terrifying hallucinations 。 。 。
¨Letˇs move on；〃 I say； wanting to escape the darkness that surrounds this place。 Peeta doesnˇt object。
Given our late start to the day； when we reach the plain itˇs already early evening。 Thereˇs no sign of Cato。 No sign of anything except the gold Cornucopia glowing in the slanting sun rays。 Just in case Cato decided to pull a Foxface on us； we circle the Cornucopia to make sure itˇs empty。 Then obediently； as if following instructions； we cross to the lake and fill our water containers。
I frown at the shrinking sun。 ¨We donˇt want to fight him after dark。 Thereˇs only the one pair of glasses。〃
Peeta carefully squeezes drops of iodine into the water。 ¨Maybe thatˇs what heˇs waiting for。 What do you want to do？ Go back to the cave？〃
¨Either that or find a tree。 But letˇs give him another half an hour or so。 Then weˇll take cover；〃 I answer。
We sit by the lake； in full sight。 Thereˇs no point in hiding now。 In the trees at the edge of the plain； I can see the mockingjays flitting about。 Bouncing melodies back and forth between them like brightly colored balls。 I open my mouth and sing out Rueˇs four…note run。 I can feel them pause curiously at the sound of my voice； listening for more。 I repeat the notes in the silence。 First one mockingjay trills the tune back； then another。 Then the whole world es alive with the sound。
¨Just like your father；〃 says Peeta。
My fingers find the pin on my shirt。 ¨Thatˇs Rueˇs song；〃 I say。 ¨I think they remember it。〃
The music swells and I recognize the brilliance of it。 As the notes overlap； they pliment one another； forming a lovely； unearthly harmony。 It was this sound then； thanks to Rue； that sent the orchard worker