Голодные игры
Chapter 1
Inthefall,afewbravesoulssneakintothewoodstoharvestapples. ButalwaysinsightoftheMeadow. AlwayscloseenoughtorunbacktothesafetyofDistrict12iftroublearises. "DistrictTwelve. Whereyoucanstarvetodeathinsafety,"Imutter. ThenIglancequicklyovermyshoulder. Evenhere,eveninthemiddleofnowhere, youworrysomeonemightoverhearyou.
WhenIwasyounger,Iscaredmymothertodeath, thethingsIwouldblurtoutaboutDistrict12, aboutthepeoplewhoruleourcountry,Panem,fromthefar-offcitycalledtheCapitol. EventuallyIunderstoodthiswouldonlyleadustomoretrouble. SoIlearnedtoholdmytongueandtoturnmyfeaturesintoanindifferentmask sothatnoonecouldeverreadmythoughts. Domyworkquietlyinschool. Makeonlypolitesmalltalkinthepublicmarket. DiscusslittlemorethantradesintheHob,whichistheblackmarketwhereImakemostofmymoney. Evenathome,whereIamlesspleasant,Iavoiddiscussingtrickytopics. Likethereaping,orfoodshortages,ortheHungerGames. Primmightbegintorepeatmywordsandthenwherewouldwebe?
InthewoodswaitstheonlypersonwithwhomIcanbemyself.Gale. Icanfeelthemusclesinmyfacerelaxing,mypacequickeningasIclimbthehillstoourplace,arockledgeoverlookingavalley.Athicketofberrybushesprotectsitfromunwantedeyes. Thesightofhimwaitingtherebringsonasmile. GalesaysIneversmileexceptinthewoods.
"Hey,Catnip,"saysGale. MyrealnameisKatniss, butwhenIfirsttoldhim, Ihadbarelywhisperedit.
