Голодные игры

           Peetaeatswithoutcomplaint,evenscrapingoutthepottoshowhisenthusiasm.Heramblesonabouthowdeliciousitis,whichshouldbeencouragingifyoudon’tknowwhatfeverdoestopeople.He’slikelisteningtoHaymitchbeforethealcoholhassoakedhimintoincoherence.Igivehimanotherdoseoffevermedicinebeforehegoesoffhisheadcompletely.

           AsIgodowntothestreamtowashup,allIcanthinkisthathe’sgoingtodieifIdon’tgettothatfeast.I’llkeephimgoingforadayortwo,andthentheinfectionwillreachhisheartorhisbrainorhislungsandhe’llbegone.AndI’llbehereallalone.Again.Waitingfortheothers.

           I’msolostinthoughtthatIalmostmisstheparachute,eventhoughitfloatsrightbyme.ThenIspringafterit,yankingitfromthewater,tearingoffthesilverfabrictoretrievethevial.Haymitchhasdoneit!He’sgottenthemedicine-Idon’tknowhow,persuadedsomegaggleofromanticfoolstoselltheirjewels-andIcansavePeeta!It’ssuchatinyvialthough.ItmustbeverystrongtocuresomeoneasillasPeeta.Arippleofdoubtrunsthroughme.Iuncorkthevialandtakeadeepsniff.Myspiritsfallatthesicklysweetscent.Justtobesure,Iplaceadroponthetipofmytongue.There’snoquestion,it’ssleepsyrup.It’sacommonmedicineinDistrict12.Cheap,asmedicinegoes,butveryaddictive.Almosteveryone’shadadoseatonetimeoranother.Wehavesomeinabottleathome.