Chapter 26

           Ispewtheberriesfrommymouth,wipingmytonguewiththeendofmyshirttomakesurenojuiceremains.Peetapullsmetothelakewherewebothflushourmouthswithwaterandthencollapseintoeachother’sarms.

           "Youdidn’tswallowany?"Iaskhim.

           Heshakeshishead."You?"

           "GuessI’dbedeadbynowifIdid,"Isay.Icanseehislipsmovinginreply,butIcan’thearhimovertheroarofthecrowdintheCapitolthatthey’replayingliveoverthespeakers.

           Thehovercraftmaterializesoverheadandtwoladdersdrop,onlythere’snowayI’mlettinggoofPeeta.IkeeponearmaroundhimasIhelphimup,andweeachplaceafootonthefirstrungoftheladder.Theelectriccurrentfreezesusinplace,andthistimeI’mgladbecauseI’mnotreallysurePeetacanhangonforthewholeride.Andsincemyeyeswerelookingdown,Icanseethatwhileourmusclesareimmobile,nothingispreventingthebloodfromdrainingoutofPeeta’sleg.Sureenough,theminutethedoorclosesbehindusandthecurrentstops,heslumpstothefloorunconscious.

           Myfingersarestillgrippingthebackofhisjacketsotightlythatwhentheytakehimawayittearsleavingmewithafistfulofblackfabric.Doctorsinsterilewhite,maskedandgloved,alreadypreppedtooperate,gointoaction.Peeta’ssopaleandstillonasilvertable,tubesandwiresspringingoutofhimeverywhichway,andforamomentIforgetwe’reoutoftheGamesandIseethedoctorsasjustonemorethreat,onemorepackofmuttsdesignedtokillhim.