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¨Not sure。 Thereˇs a marshy area over that way。 Some kind of waterbird；〃 she says。
Itˇd be nice to cook them； but neither of us wants to risk a fire。 My guess is the tribute who died today was a victim of the Careers； which means theyˇve recovered enough to be back in the Games。 We each suck out the insides of an egg； eat a rabbit leg and some berries。 Itˇs a good breakfast anywhere。
¨Ready to do it？〃 I say； pulling on my pack。
¨Do what？〃 says Rue； but by the way she bounces up； you can tell sheˇs up for whatever I propose。
¨Today we take out the Careersˇ food；〃 I say。
¨Really？ How？〃 You can see the glint of excitement in her eyes。 In this way； sheˇs exactly the opposite of Prim for whom adventures are an ordeal。
¨No idea。 e on； weˇll figure out a plan while we hunt；〃 I say。
We donˇt get much hunting done though because Iˇm too busy getting every scrap of information I can out of Rue about the Careersˇ base。 Sheˇs only been in to spy on them briefly； but sheˇs observant。 They have set up their camp beside the lake。 Their supply stash is about thirty yards away。 During the day； theyˇve been leaving another tribute； the boy from District 3； to watch over the supplies。
¨The boy from District Three？〃 I ask。 ¨Heˇs working with them？〃
¨Yes； he stays at the camp full…time。 He got stung； too； when they drew the tracker jackers in by the lake；〃 says Rue。 ¨I guess they agreed to let him live if he acted as their guard。 But heˇs not very big。〃
¨What weapons does he have？〃 I ask。
¨Not much that I could see。 A spear。 He might be able to hold a few of us off with that； but Thresh could kill him easily；〃 says Rue。
¨And the foodˇs just out in the open？〃 I say。 She nods。 ¨Somethingˇs not quite right about that whole setup。〃
¨I know。 But I couldnˇt tell what exactly；〃 says Rue。 ¨Katniss； even if you could get to the food； how would you get rid of it？〃
¨Burn it。 Dump it in the lake。 Soak it in fuel。〃 I poke Rue in the belly； just like I would Prim。 ¨Eat it！〃 She giggles。 ¨Donˇt worry； Iˇll think of something。 Destroying things is much easier than making them。〃
For a while； we dig roots； we gather berries and greens； we devise a strategy in hushed voices。 And I e to know Rue； the oldest of six kids； fiercely protective of her siblings； who gives her rations to the younger ones； who forages in the meadows in a district where the Peacekeepers are far less obliging than ours。 Rue； who when you ask her what she loves most in the world； replies； of all things； ¨Music。〃
¨Music？〃 I say。 In our world； I rank music somewhere between hair ribbons and rainbows in terms of usefulness。 At least a rainbow gives you a tip about the weather。 ¨You have a lot of time for that？〃
¨We sing at home。 At work； too。 Thatˇs why I love your pin；〃 she says； pointing to the mockingjay that Iˇve again forgotten about。
¨You have mockingjays？〃 I ask。
¨Oh； yes。 I have a few that are my special friends。 We can sing back and forth for hours。 They carry messages for me；〃 she says。
¨What do you mean？〃 I say。
¨Iˇm usually up highest； so Iˇm the first to see the flag that signals quitting time。 Thereˇs a special little song I do；〃 says Rue。 She opens her mouth and sings a little four…note run in a sweet； clear voice。 ¨And the mockingjays spread it around the orchard。 Thatˇs how everyone knows to knock off；〃 she continues。 ¨They can be dangerous though； if you get too near their nests。 But you canˇt blame them for that。〃
I unclasp the pin and hold it out to her。 ¨Here； you take it。 It has more meaning for you than me。〃
¨Oh； no；〃 says Rue； closing my fingers back over the pin。 ¨I like to see it on you。 Thatˇs how I decided I could trust you。 Besides； I have this。〃 She pulls a necklace woven out of some kind of grass from her shirt。 On it； hangs a roughly carved wooden star。 Or maybe itˇs a flower。 ¨Itˇs a good luck charm。〃
¨Well； itˇs worked so far；〃 I say； pinning the mockingjay back on my shirt。 ¨Maybe you should just stick with that。〃
By lunch； we have a plan。 By early afternoon； we are poised to carry it out。 I help Rue collect and place the wood for the first two campfires； the third sheˇll have time for on her own。 We decide to meet afterward at the site where we ate our first meal together。 The stream should help guide me back to it。 Before I leave； I make sure Rueˇs well stocked with food and matches。 I even insist she take my sleeping bag； in case itˇs not possible to rendezvous by nightfall。
¨What about you？ Wonˇt you be cold？〃 she asks。
¨Not if I pick up another bag down by the lake；〃 I say。 ¨You know； stealing isnˇt illegal here；〃 I say with a grin。
At the last minute； Rue decides to teach me her mockingjay signal； the one she gives to indicate the dayˇs work is done。 ¨It might not work。 But if you hear the mockingjays singing it； youˇll know Iˇm okay； only I canˇt get back right away。〃
¨Are there many mockingjays here？〃 I ask。
¨Havenˇt you seen them？ Theyˇve got nests everywhere；〃 she says。 I have to admit I havenˇt noticed。
¨Okay； then。 If all goes according to plan； Iˇll see you for dinner；〃 I say。
Unexpectedly； Rue throws her arms around me。 I only hesitate a moment before I hug her back。
¨You be careful；〃 she says to me。
¨You； too；〃 I say。 I turn and head back to the stream； feeling somehow worried。 About Rue being killed； about Rue not being killed and the two of us being left for last； about leaving Rue alone； about leaving Prim alone back home。 No； Prim has my mother and Gale and a baker who has promised she wonˇt go hungry。 Rue has only me。
Once I reach the stream； I have only to follow it downhill to the place I initially picked it up after the tracker jacker attack。 I have to be cautious as I move along the water though； be211 cause I find my thoughts preoccupied ost of which concern Peeta。 The cannon that fired early this morning； did that signify his death？ If so； how did he die？ At the hand of a Career？ And was that in revenge for letting me live？ I struggle again to remember that moment over Glimmerˇs body； when he burst through the trees。 But just the fact that he was sparkling leads me to doubt everything that happened。
I must have been moving very slowly yesterday because I reach the shallow stretch where I took my bath in just a few hours。 I stop to replenish my water and add a layer of mud to my backpack。 It seems bent on reverting to orange no matter how many times I cover it。
My proximity to the Careersˇ camp sharpens my senses； and the closer I get to them； the more guarded I am； pausing frequently to listen for unnatural sounds； an arrow already fitted into the string of my bow。 I donˇt see any other tributes； but I do notice some of the things Rue has mentioned。 Patches of the sweet berries。 A bush with the leaves that healed my stings。 Clusters of tracker jacker nests in the vicinity of the tree I was trapped in。 And here and there； the black…and…white flash of a mockingjay wing in the branches high over my head。
When I reach the tree with the abandoned nest at the foot； I pause a moment； to gather my courage。 Rue has given specific instructions on how to reach the best spying pla