Голодные игры

           "Allright,I’llmakeadealwithyou.Youdon’tinterferewithmydrinking,andI’llstaysoberenoughtohelpyou,"saysHaymitch."ButyouhavetodoexactlywhatIsay."

           It’snotmuchofadealbutstillagiantstepforwardfromtenminutesagowhenwehadnoguideatall.

           "Fine,"saysPeeta.

           "Sohelpus,"Isay."Whenwegettothearena,what’sthebeststrategyattheCornucopiaforsomeone-"

           "Onethingatatime.Inafewminutes,we’llbepullingintothestation.You’llbeputinthehandsofyourstylists.You’renotgoingtolikewhattheydotoyou.Butnomatterwhatitis,don’tresist,"saysHaymitch.

           "But-"Ibegin.

           "Nobuts.Don’tresist,"saysHaymitch.Hetakesthebottleofspiritsfromthetableandleavesthecar.Asthedoorswingsshutbehindhim,thecargoesdark.Therearestillafewlightsinside,butoutsideit’sasifnighthasfallenagain.IrealizewemustbeinthetunnelthatrunsupthroughthemountainsintotheCapitol.ThemountainsformanaturalbarrierbetweentheCapitolandtheeasterndistricts.Itisalmostimpossibletoenterfromtheeastexceptthroughthetunnels.Thisgeographicaladvantagewasamajorfactorinthedistrictslosingthewarthatledtomybeingatributetoday.Sincetherebelshadtoscalethemountains,theywereeasytargetsfortheCapitol’sairforces.

           PeetaMellarkandIstandinsilenceasthetrainspeedsalong.ThetunnelgoesonandonandIthinkofthetonsofrockseparatingmefromthesky,andmychesttightens.Ihatebeingencasedinstonethisway.