Голодные игры

           Mymotherwaslesssure,seeingtheinjury,butthepairofthemwenttoworkonit,grindingupherbsandcoaxingbrewsdowntheanimal’sthroat.

           "Theysoundlikeyou,"saysPeeta.Ihadalmostforgottenhewasthere.

           "Oh,no,Peeta.Theyworkmagic.Thatthingcouldn’thavediedifittried,"Isay.ButthenIbitemytongue,realizingwhatthatmustsoundliketoPeeta,whoisdying,inmyincompetenthands.

           "Don’tworry.I’mnottrying,"hejokes."Finishthestory."

           "Well,that’sit.OnlyIrememberthatnight,PriminsistedonsleepingwithLadyonablanketnexttothefire.Andjustbeforetheydriftedoff,thegoatlickedhercheek,likeitwasgivingheragoodnightkissorsomething,"Isay."Itwasalreadymadabouther."

           "Wasitstillwearingthepinkribbon?"heasks.

           "Ithinkso,"Isay."Why?"

           "I’mjusttryingtogetapicture,"hesaysthoughtfully."Icanseewhythatdaymadeyouhappy."

           "Well,Iknewthatgoatwouldbealittlegoldmine,"1say.

           "Yes,ofcourseIwasreferringtothat,notthelastingjoyyougavethesisteryoulovesomuchyoutookherplaceinthereaping,"saysPeetadrily.

           "Thegoathaspaidforitself.Severaltimesover,"Isayinasuperiortone.

           "Well,itwouldn’tdaredoanythingelseafteryousaveditslife,"saysPeeta."Iintendtodothesamething."

           "Really?Whatdidyoucostmeagain?"Iask.

           "Alotoftrouble.Don’tworry.You’llgetitallback,"hesays.

           "You’renotmakingsense,"Isay.Itesthisforehead.Thelever’sgoingnowherebutup."You’realittlecoolerthough."