Голодные игры

           Muchbowingandcheeringfollows.MyarmisabouttofallofffromwavingwhenCaesarFlickermanfinallybidstheaudiencegoodnight,remindingthemtotuneintomorrowforthefinalinterviews.Asiftheyhaveachoice.

           PeetaandIarewhiskedtothepresident’smansionfortheVictoryBanquet,wherewehaveverylittletimetoeatasCapitolofficialsandparticularlygeneroussponsorselbowoneanotheroutofthewayastheytrytogettheirpicturewithus.Faceafterbeamingfaceflashesby,becomingincreasinglyintoxicatedastheeveningwearson.Occasionally,IcatchaglimpseofHaymitch,whichisreassuring,orPresidentSnow,whichisterrifying,butIkeeplaughingandthankingpeopleandsmilingasmypictureistaken.TheonethingIneverdoisletgoofPeeta’shand.

           ThesunisjustpeekingoverthehorizonwhenwestragglebacktothetwelfthflooroftheTrainingCenter.IthinknowI’llfinallygetawordalonewithPeeta,butHaymitchsendshimoffwithPortiatogetsomethingfittedfortheinterviewandpersonallyescortsmetomydoor.

           "Whycan’tItalktohim?"Iask.

           "Plentyoftimefortalkwhenwegethome,"saysHaymitch."Gotobed,you’reonairattwo."

           DespiteHaymitch’srunninginterference,I’mdeterminedtoseePeetaprivately.AfterItossandturnforafewhours,Islipintothehall.Myfirstthoughtistochecktheroof,butit’sempty.Eventhecitystreetsfarbelowaredesertedafterthecelebrationlastnight.