Голодные игры

           Istaredowntheemptycorridorasifthedecisionliesthere.

           Peetapicksuponmyhesitation."Haveyoubeenontheroofyet?"Ishakemyhead."Cinnashowedme.Youcanpracticallyseethewholecity.Thewind’sabitloud,though."

           Itranslatethisinto"Noonewilloverhearustalking"inmyhead.Youdohavethesensethatwemightbeundersurveillancehere."Canwejustgoup?"

           "Sure,comeon,"saysPeeta.Ifollowhimtoaflightofstairsthatleadtotheroof.There’sasmalldome-shapedroomwithadoortotheoutside.Aswestepintothecool,windyeveningair,Icatchmybreathattheview.TheCapitoltwinkleslikeavastfieldoffireflies.ElectricityinDistrict12comesandgoes,usuallyweonlyhaveitafewhoursaday.Oftentheeveningsarespentincandlelight.Theonlytimeyoucancountonitiswhenthey’reairingtheGamesorsomeimportantgovernmentmessageontelevisionthatit’smandatorytowatch.Butheretherewouldbenoshortage.Ever.

           PeetaandIwalktoarailingattheedgeoftheroof.Ilookstraightdownthesideofthebuildingtothestreet,whichisbuzzingwithpeople.Youcanheartheircars,anoccasionalshout,andastrangemetallictinkling.InDistrict12,we’dallbethinkingaboutbedrightnow.

           "IaskedCinnawhytheyletusuphere.Weren’ttheyworriedthatsomeofthetributesmightdecidetojumprightovertheside?"saysPeeta.

           "What’dhesay?"Iask.

           "Youcan’t,"saysPeeta.Heholdsouthishandintoseeminglyemptyspace.There’sasharpzapandhejerksitback.