Голодные игры

           Terrified.Uh,ridiculous,someofthem."Animagepopsintomymind."Onemantrippedbackwardintoabowlofpunch."

           HaymitchguffawsandweallstartlaughingexceptEffie,althoughevensheissuppressingasmile."Well,itservesthemright.It’stheirjobtopayattentiontoyou.AndjustbecauseyoucomefromDistrictTwelveisnoexcusetoignoreyou."Thenhereyesdartaroundasifshe’ssaidsomethingtotallyoutrageous."I’msorry,butthat’swhatIthink,"shesaystonooneinparticular.

           "I’llgetaverybadscore,"Isay.

           "Scoresonlymatterifthey’reverygood,noonepaysmuchattentiontothebadormediocreones.Foralltheyknow,youcouldbehidingyourtalentstogetalowscoreonpurpose.Peopleusethatstrategy,"saidPortia.

           "Ihopethat’showpeopleinterpretthefourI’llprobablyget,"saysPeeta."Ifthat.Really,isanythinglessimpressivethanwatchingapersonpickupaheavyballandthrowitacoupleofyards.Onealmostlandedonmyfoot."

           IgrinathimandrealizethatI’mstarving.Icutoffapieceofpork,dunkitinmashedpotatoes,andstarteating.It’sokay.Myfamilyissafe.Andiftheyaresafe,norealharmhasbeendone.

           Afterdinner,wegotosittingroomtowatchthescoresannouncedontelevision.Firsttheyshowaphotoofthetribute,thenflashtheirscorebelowit.TheCareerTributesnaturallygetintheeight-to-tenrange.Mostoftheotherplayersaverageafive.Surprisingly,littleRuecomesupwithaseven.