Голодные игры

           Shehasverycleverfingers,"hesays.

           Ihadexpectedsomeoneflamboyant,someoneoldertryingdesperatelytolookyoung,someonewhoviewedmeasapieceofmeattobepreparedforaplatter.Cinnahasmetnoneoftheseexpectations.

           "You’renew,aren’tyou?Idon’tthinkI’veseenyoubefore,"Isay.Mostofthestylistsarefamiliar,constantsintheever-changingpooloftributes.Somehavebeenaroundmywholelife.

           "Yes,thisismyfirstyearintheGames,"saysCinna.

           "SotheygaveyouDistrictTwelve,"Isay.Newcomersgenerallyendupwithus,theleastdesirabledistrict.

           "IaskedforDistrictTwelve,"hesayswithoutfurtherexplanation."Whydon’tyouputonyourrobeandwe’llhaveachat."

           Pullingonmyrobe,Ifollowhimthroughadoorintoasittingroom.Tworedcouchesfaceoffoveralowtable.Threewallsareblank,thefourthisentirelyglass,providingawindowtothecity.Icanseebythelightthatitmustbearoundnoon,althoughthesunnyskyhasturnedovercast.Cinnainvitesmetositononeofthecouchesandtakeshisplaceacrossfromme.Hepressesabuttononthesideofthetable.Thetopsplitsandfrombelowrisesasecondtabletopthatholdsourlunch.Chickenandchunksoforangescookedinacreamysaucelaidonabedofpearlywhitegrain,tinygreenpeasandonions,rollsshapedlikeflowers,andfordessert,apuddingthecolorofhoney.

           Itrytoimagineassemblingthismealmyselfbackhome.Chickensaretooexpensive,butIcouldmakedowithawildturkey.I’dneedtoshootasecondturkeytotradeforanorange.