Голодные игры

           Thenfinally,thetimearriveswhenIcometoandthere’snothingpluggedintomyrightarm.TherestraintaroundmymiddlehasbeenremovedandIamfreetomoveabout.Istarttositupbutamarrestedbythesightofmyhands.Theskin’sperfection,smoothandglowing.Notonlyarethescarsfromthearenagone,butthoseaccumulatedoveryearsofhuntinghavevanishedwithoutatrace.Myforeheadfeelslikesatin,andwhenItrytofindtheburnonmycalf,there’snothing.

           Islipmylegsoutofbed,nervousabouthowtheywillbearmyweightandfindthemstrongandsteady.Lyingatthefootofthebedisanoutfitthatmakesmeflinch.It’swhatallofustributesworeinthearena.IstareatitasifithadteethuntilIrememberthat,ofcourse,thisiswhatIwillweartogreetmyteam.

           I’mdressedinlessthanaminuteandfidgetinginfrontofthewallwhereIknowthere’sadoorevenifIcan’tseeitwhensuddenlyitslidesopen.Istepintoawide,desertedhallthatappearstohavenootherdoorsonit.Butitmust.AndbehindoneofthemmustbePeeta.NowthatI’mconsciousandmoving,I’mgrowingmoreandmoreanxiousabouthim.HemustbeallrightortheAvoxgirlwouldn’thavesaidso.ButIneedtoseehimformyself.

           "Peeta!"Icallout,sincethere’snoonetoask.Ihearmynameinresponse,butit’snothisvoice.It’savoicethatprovokesfirstirritationandtheneagerness.Effie.

           Iturnandseethemallwaitinginabigchamberattheendofthehall-Effie,Haymitch,andCinna.