Голодные игры
Chapter 1
Concealedbyaclumpofbushes,Iflattenoutonmybellyandslideunderatwo-footstretchthat’sbeenlooseforyears. Thereareseveralotherweakspotsinthefence, butthisoneissoclosetohomeIalmostalwaysenterthewoodshere.
AssoonasI’minthetrees,Iretrieveabowandsheathofarrowsfromahollowlog. Electrifiedornot,thefencehasbeensuccessfulatkeepingtheflesh-eatersoutofDistrict12. Insidethewoodstheyroamfreely, andthereareaddedconcernslikevenomoussnakes,rabidanimals,andnorealpathstofollow. Butthere’salsofoodifyouknowhowtofindit. Myfatherknewandhetaughtmesomebeforehewasblowntobitsinamineexplosion. Therewasnothingeventobury. Iwaseleventhen. Fiveyearslater,Istillwakeupscreamingforhimtorun.
Eventhoughtrespassinginthewoodsisillegal andpoachingcarriestheseverestofpenalties, morepeoplewouldriskitiftheyhadweapons. Butmostarenotboldenoughtoventureoutwithjustaknife. Mybowisararity,craftedbymyfatheralongwithafewothersthatIkeepwellhiddeninthewoods,carefullywrappedinwaterproofcovers. Myfathercouldhavemadegoodmoneysellingthem, butiftheofficialsfoundouthewouldhavebeenpubliclyexecutedforincitingarebellion. MostofthePeacekeepersturnablindeyetothefewofuswhohunt becausethey’reashungryforfreshmeatasanybodyis. Infact,they’reamongourbestcustomers. ButtheideathatsomeonemightbearmingtheSeamwouldneverhavebeenallowed.
