Голодные игры

           Forawhile,allconversationstopsaswefillourstomachs.Thegrooslinghasdeliciousmealthat’ssofatty,thegreasedripsdownyourfacewhenyoubiteintoit.

           "Oh,"saysRuewithasigh."I’veneverhadawholelegtomyselfbefore."

           I’llbetshehasn’t.I’llbetmeathardlyevercomesherway."Taketheother,"Isay.

           "Really?"sheasks.

           "Takewhateveryouwant.NowthatI’vegotabowandarrows,Icangetmore.PlusI’vegotsnares.Icanshowyouhowtosetthem,"Isay.Ruestilllooksuncertainlyattheleg."Oh,takeit,"Isay,puttingthedrumstickinherhands."Itwillonlykeepafewdaysanyway,andwe’vegotthewholebirdplustherabbit."Onceshe’sgotholdofit,herappetitewinsoutandshetakesahugemouthful.

           "I’dhavethought,inDistrictEleven,you’dhaveabitmoretoeatthanus.Youknow,sinceyougrowthefood,"Isay.

           Rue’seyeswiden."Oh,no,we’renotallowedtoeatthecrops."

           "Theyarrestyouorsomething?"Iask.

           "Theywhipyouandmakeeveryoneelsewatch,"saysRue."Themayor’sverystrictaboutit."

           Icantellbyherexpressionthatit’snotthatuncommonanoccurrence.Apublicwhipping’sararethinginDistrict12,althoughoccasionallyoneoccurs.Technically,GaleandIcouldbewhippedonadailybasisforpoachinginthewoods-well,technically,wecouldgetawholelotworse-exceptalltheofficialsbuyourmeat.Besides,ourmayor,Madge’sfather,doesn’tseemtohavemuchtasteforsuchevents.