Голодные игры
Chapter 2
Theboytookonelookbacktothebakeryasifcheckingthatthecoastwasclear,then,hisattentionbackonthepig,hethrewaloafofbreadinmydirection.Thesecondquicklyfollowed,andhesloshedbacktothebakery,closingthekitchendoortightlybehindhim.
Istaredattheloavesindisbelief.Theywerefine,perfectreally,exceptfortheburnedareas.Didhemeanformetohavethem?Hemusthave.Becausetheretheywereatmyfeet.BeforeanyonecouldwitnesswhathadhappenedIshovedtheloavesupundermyshirt,wrappedthehuntingjackettightlyaboutme,andwalkedswiftlyaway.Theheatofthebreadburnedintomyskin,butIclutchedittighter,clingingtolife.
BythetimeIreachedhome,theloaveshadcooledsomewhat,buttheinsideswerestillwarm.WhenIdroppedthemonthetable,Prim’shandsreachedtotearoffachunk,butImadehersit,forcedmymothertojoinusatthetable,andpouredwarmtea.Iscrapedofftheblackstuffandslicedthebread.Weateanentireloaf,slicebyslice.Itwasgoodheartybread,filledwithraisinsandnuts.
Iputmyclothestodryatthefire,crawledintobed,andfellintoadreamlesssleep.Itdidn’toccurtomeuntilthenextmorningthattheboymighthaveburnedthebreadonpurpose.Mighthavedroppedtheloavesintotheflames,knowingitmeantbeingpunished,andthendeliveredthemtome.ButIdismissedthis.Itmusthavebeenanaccident.Whywouldhehavedoneit?Hedidn’tevenknowme.
