Голодные игры

           HaymitchandEffieareknockingonmydoor.Ishoutforthemtogoawayandeventuallytheydo.Ittakesatleastanhourformetocrymyselfout.ThenIjustlaycurleduponthebed,strokingthesilkensheets,watchingthesunsetovertheartificialcandyCapitol.

           Atfirst,Iexpectguardstocomeforme.Butastimepasses,itseemslesslikely.Icalmdown.TheystillneedagirltributefromDistrict12,don’tthey?IftheGamemakerswanttopunishme,theycandoitpublicly.WaituntilI’minthearenaandsicstarvingwildanimalsonme.Youcanbetthey’llmakesureIdon’thaveabowandarrowtodefendmyself.

           Beforethatthough,they’llgivemeascoresolow,nooneintheirrightmindwouldsponsorme.That’swhatwillhappentonight.Sincethetrainingisn’topentoviewers,theGamemakersannounceascoreforeachplayer.ItgivestheaudienceastartingplaceforthebettingthatwillcontinuethroughouttheGames.Thenumber,whichisbetweenoneandtwelve,onebeingirredeemablybadandtwelvebeingunattainablyhigh,signifiesthepromiseofthetribute.Themarkisnotaguaranteeofwhichpersonwillwin.It’sonlyanindicationofthepotentialatributeshowedintraining.Often,becauseofthevariablesintheactualarena,high-scoringtributesgodownalmostimmediately.Andafewyearsago,theboywhowontheGamesonlyreceivedathree.Still,thescorescanhelporhurtanindividualtributeintermsofsponsorship.Ihadbeenhopingmyshootingskillsmightgetmeasixoraseven,evenifI’mnotparticularlypowerful.