Голодные игры
Chapter 9
"Let’sgobackthen,tothemomenttheycalledyoursister’snameatthereaping,"saysCaesar.Hismoodisquieternow."Andyouvolunteered.Canyoutellusabouther?"
No.No,notallofyou.ButmaybeCinna.Idon’tthinkI’mimaginingthesadnessonhisface."Hername’sPrim.She’sjusttwelve.AndIlovehermorethananything."
YoucouldhearapindropintheCityCirclenow.
"Whatdidshesaytoyou?Afterthereaping?"Caesarasks.
Behonest.Behonest.Iswallowhard."Sheaskedmetotryreallyhardtowin."Theaudienceisfrozen,hangingonmyeveryword.
"Andwhatdidyousay?"promptsCaesargently.
Butinsteadofwarmth,Ifeelanicyrigiditytakeovermybody.Mymusclestenseastheydobeforeakill.WhenIspeak,myvoiceseemstohavedroppedanoctave."IsworeIwould."
"Ibetyoudid,"saysCaesar,givingmeasqueeze.Thebuzzergoesoff."Sorrywe’reoutoftime.Bestofluck,KatnissEverdeen,tributefromDistrictTwelve."
TheapplausecontinueslongafterI’mseated.IlooktoCinnaforreassurance.Hegivesmeasubtlethumbs-up.
I’mstillinadazeforthefirstpartofPeeta’sinterview.Hehastheaudiencefromtheget-go,though;Icanhearthemlaughing,shoutingout.Heplaysupthebaker’ssonthing,comparingthetributestothebreadsfromtheirdistricts.ThenhasafunnyanecdoteabouttheperilsoftheCapitolshowers."Tellme,doIstillsmelllikeroses?"heasksCaesar,andthenthere’sawholerunwheretheytaketurnssniffingeachotherthatbringsdownthehouse
