Голодные игры

           He’dlosthisfatherinthesameblastthatkilledmine.InJanuary,I’dstoodbywhilehereceivedhismedalofvalorintheJusticeBuilding,anotheroldestchildwithnofather.Irememberedhistwolittlebrothersclutchinghismother,awomanwhoseswollenbellyannouncedshewasjustdaysawayfromgivingbirth.

           "What’syourname?"hesaid,comingoveranddisengagingtherabbitfromthesnare.Hehadanotherthreehangingfromhisbelt.

           "Katniss,"Isaid,barelyaudible.

           "Well,Catnip,stealing’spunishablebydeath,orhadn’tyouheard?"hesaid.

           "Katniss,"Isaidlouder."AndIwasn’tstealingit.Ijustwantedtolookatyoursnare.Minenevercatchanything."

           Hescowledatme,notconvinced."Sowhere’dyougetthesquirrel?"

           "Ishotit."Ipulledmybowoffmyshoulder.Iwasstillusingthesmallversionmyfatherhadmademe,butI’dbeenpracticingwiththefull-sizeonewhenIcould.IwashopingthatbyspringImightbeabletobringdownsomebiggergame.

           Gale’seyesfastenedonthebow."CanIseethat?"Ihandeditover."Justremember,stealing’spunishablebydeath."

           ThatwasthefirsttimeIeversawhimsmile.Ittransformedhimfromsomeonemenacingtosomeoneyouwishedyouknew.ButittookseveralmonthsbeforeIreturnedthatsmile.

           Wetalkedhuntingthen.ItoldhimImightbeabletogethimabowifhehadsomethingtotrade.Notfood.Iwantedknowledge.Iwantedtosetmyownsnaresthatcaughtabeltoffatrabbitsinoneday.Heagreedsomethingmightbeworkedout.