Голодные игры

           Adeer!GaleandIhaveonlybroughtdownthreeinall.Thefirstone,adoethathadinjuredherlegsomehow,almostdidn’tcount.ButweknewfromthatexperiencenottogodraggingthecarcassintotheHob.Ithadcausedchaoswithpeoplebiddingonpartsandactuallytryingtohackoffpiecesthemselves.GreasySaehadintervenedandsentuswithourdeertothebutcher,butnotbeforeit’dbeenbadlydamaged,hunksofmeattaken,thehideriddledwithholes.Althougheverybodypaidupfairly,ithadloweredthevalueofthekill.

           Thistime,wewaiteduntildarkfellandslippedunderaholeinthefenceclosetothebutcher.Eventhoughwewereknownhunters,itwouldn’thavebeengoodtogocarryinga150-pounddeerthroughthestreetsofDistrict12indaylightlikewewererubbingitintheofficials’faces.

           Thebutcher,ashort,chunkywomannamedRooba,cametothebackdoorwhenweknocked.Youdon’thagglewithRooba.Shegivesyouoneprice,whichyoucantakeorleave,butit’safairprice.Wetookherofferonthedeerandshethrewinacoupleofvenisonsteakswecouldpickupafterthebutchering.Evenwiththemoneydividedintwo,neitherGalenorIhadheldsomuchatonetimeinourlives.Wedecidedtokeepitasecretandsurpriseourfamilieswiththemeatandmoneyattheendofthenextday.

           ThisiswhereIreallygotthemoneyforthegoat,butItellPeetaIsoldanoldsilverlocketofmymother’s.Thatcan’thurtanyone.ThenIpickupthestoryinthelateafternoonofPrim’sbirthday.