Голодные игры

           Heliststhedisasters,thedroughts,thestorms,thefires,theencroachingseasthatswallowedupsomuchoftheland,thebrutalwarforwhatlittlesustenanceremained.TheresultwasPanem,ashiningCapitolringedbythirteendistricts,whichbroughtpeaceandprosperitytoitscitizens.ThencametheDarkDays,theuprisingofthedistrictsagainsttheCapitol.Twelveweredefeated,thethirteenthobliterated.TheTreatyofTreasongaveusthenewlawstoguaranteepeaceand,asouryearlyreminderthattheDarkDaysmustneverberepeated,itgaveustheHungerGames.

           TherulesoftheHungerGamesaresimple.Inpunishmentfortheuprising,eachofthetwelvedistrictsmustprovideonegirlandoneboy,calledtributes,toparticipate.Thetwenty-fourtributeswillbeimprisonedinavastoutdoorarenathatcouldholdanythingfromaburningdeserttoafrozenwasteland.Overaperiodofseveralweeks,thecompetitorsmustfighttothedeath.Thelasttributestandingwins.

           Takingthekidsfromourdistricts,forcingthemtokilloneanotherwhilewewatch-thisistheCapitol’swayofremindingushowtotallyweareattheirmercy.Howlittlechancewewouldstandofsurvivinganotherrebellion.

           Whateverwordstheyuse,therealmessageisclear."Lookhowwetakeyourchildrenandsacrificethemandthere’snothingyoucando.Ifyouliftafinger,wewilldestroyeverylastoneofyou.JustaswedidinDistrictThirteen."