Голодные игры

           It’snotreallyfairtopresentusasateamandthenlockusintothearenatokilleachother.

           ThetwelvechariotsfilltheloopoftheCityCircle.OnthebuildingsthatsurroundtheCircle,everywindowispackedwiththemostprestigiouscitizensoftheCapitol.OurhorsespullourchariotrightuptoPresidentSnow’smansion,andwecometoahalt.Themusicendswithaflourish.

           Thepresident,asmall,thinmanwithpaper-whitehair,givestheofficialwelcomefromabalconyaboveus.Itistraditionaltocutawaytothefacesofthetributesduringthespeech.ButIcanseeonthescreenthatwearegettingwaymorethanourshareofairtime.Thedarkeritbecomes,themoredifficultitistotakeyoureyesoffourflickering.Whenthenationalanthemplays,theydomakeanefforttodoaquickcutaroundtoeachpairoftributes,butthecameraholdsontheDistrict12chariotasitparadesaroundthecircleonefinaltimeanddisappearsintotheTrainingCenter.

           Thedoorshaveonlyjustshutbehinduswhenwe’reengulfedbytheprepteams,whoarenearlyunintelligibleastheybabbleoutpraise.AsIglancearound,Inoticealotoftheothertributesareshootingusdirtylooks,whichconfirmswhatI’vesuspected,we’veliterallyoutshonethemall.ThenCinnaandPortiaarethere,helpingusdownfromthechariot,carefullyremovingourflamingcapesandheaddresses.Portiaextinguishesthemwithsomekindofsprayfromacanister.

           IrealizeI’mstillgluedtoPeetaandforcemystifffingerstoopen.Webothmassageourhands