Голодные игры

           Hegiveshisorangecorkscrewlocksashakeandappliesafreshcoatofpurplelipsticktohismouth."Ifthere’sonethingwecan’tstand,it’sawhiner.Greaseherdown!"

           VeniaandOctavia,aplumpwomanwhoseentirebodyhasbeendyedapaleshadeofpeagreen,rubmedownwithalotionthatfirststingsbutthensoothesmyrawskin.Thentheypullmefromthetable,removingthethinrobeI’vebeenallowedtowearoffandon.Istandthere,completelynaked,asthethreecircleme,wieldingtweezerstoremoveanylastbitsofhair.IknowIshouldbeembarrassed,butthey’resounlikepeoplethatI’mnomoreself-consciousthanifatrioofoddlycoloredbirdswerepeckingaroundmyfeet.

           Thethreestepbackandadmiretheirwork."Excellent!Youalmostlooklikeahumanbeingnow!"saysFlavius,andtheyalllaugh.

           IforcemylipsupintoasmiletoshowhowgratefulIam."Thankyou,"Isaysweetly."Wedon’thavemuchcausetolookniceinDistrictTwelve."

           Thiswinsthemovercompletely."Ofcourse,youdon’t,youpoordarling!"saysOctaviaclaspingherhandstogetherindistressforme.

           "Butdon’tworry,"saysVenia."BythetimeCinnaisthroughwithyou,you’regoingtobeabsolutelygorgeous!"

           "Wepromise!Youknow,nowthatwe’vegottenridofallthehairandfilth,you’renothorribleatall!"saysFlaviusencouragingly."Let’scallCinna!"

           Theydartoutoftheroom.It’shardtohatemyprepteam.They’resuchtotalidiots.Andyet,inanoddway,Iknowthey’resincerelytryingtohelpme.