Голодные игры

           IcanseethehillsIclimbedthismorningwithGale.Foramoment,Iyearnforsomething.theideaofusleavingthedistrict.makingourwayinthewoods.butIknowIwasrightaboutnotrunningoff.BecausewhoelsewouldhavevolunteeredforPrim?

           Haymitchiswhiskedawayonastretcher,andEffieTrinketistryingtogettheballrollingagain."Whatanexcitingday!"shewarblesassheattemptstostraightenherwig,whichhaslistedseverelytotheright."Butmoreexcitementtocome!It’stimetochooseourboytribute!"Clearlyhopingtocontainhertenuoushairsituation,sheplantsonehandonherheadasshecrossestotheballthatcontainstheboys’namesandgrabsthefirstslipsheencounters.Shezipsbacktothepodium,andIdon’tevenhavetimetowishforGale’ssafetywhenshe’sreadingthename."PeetaMellark."

           PeetaMellark!

           Oh,no,Ithink.Nothim.BecauseIrecognizethisname,althoughIhaveneverspokendirectlytoitsowner.PeetaMellark.

           No,theoddsarenotinmyfavortoday.Iwatchhimashemakeshiswaytowardthestage.Mediumheight,stockybuild,ashyblondhairthatfallsinwavesoverhisforehead.Theshockofthemomentisregisteringonhisface,youcanseehisstruggletoremainemotionless,buthisblueeyesshowthealarmI’veseensoofteninprey.Yetheclimbssteadilyontothestageandtakeshisplace.

           EffieTrinketasksforvolunteers,butnoonestepsforward.Hehastwoolderbrothers,Iknow,I’veseentheminthebakery,butoneisprobablytoooldnowtovolunteerandtheotherwon’t.