Голодные игры

           Maybe,ifwecangetthemoffsoonenough,we’llavoidtheworstburns.It’sbadthough.They’llthrowusintothearenanomatterwhatconditionwe’rein."IknowwepromisedHaymitchwe’ddoexactlywhattheysaid,butIdon’tthinkheconsideredthisangle."

           "WhereisHaymitch,anyway?Isn’thesupposedtoprotectusfromthissortofthing?"saysPeeta.

           "Withallthatalcoholinhim,it’sprobablynotadvisabletohavehimaroundanopenflame,"Isay.

           Andsuddenlywe’rebothlaughing.Iguesswe’rebothsonervousabouttheGamesandmorepressingly,petrifiedofbeingturnedintohumantorches,we’renotactingsensibly.

           Theopeningmusicbegins.It’seasytohear,blastedaroundtheCapitol.Massivedoorsslideopenrevealingthecrowd-linedstreets.TheridelastsabouttwentyminutesandendsupattheCityCircle,wheretheywillwelcomeus,playtheanthem,andescortusintotheTrainingCenter,whichwillbeourhome/prisonuntiltheGamesbegin.

           ThetributesfromDistrict1rideoutinachariotpulledbysnow-whitehorses.Theylooksobeautiful,spray-paintedsilver,intastefultunicsglitteringwithjewels.District1makesluxuryitemsfortheCapitol.Youcanheartheroarofthecrowd.Theyarealwaysfavorites.

           District2getsintopositiontofollowthem.Innotimeatall,weareapproachingthedoorandIcanseethatbetweentheovercastskyandeveninghourthelightisturninggray.ThetributesfromDistrict11arejustrollingoutwhenCinnaappearswithalightedtorch.