Голодные игры
Chapter 7
Ayoungman,anAvox,standsatattentionbythespread.WhenIaskifIcanservemyself,henodsassent.Iloadaplatewitheggs,sausages,battercakescoveredinthickorangepreserves,slicesofpalepurplemelon.AsIgorgemyself,IwatchthesunriseovertheCapitol.Ihaveasecondplateofhotgrainsmotheredinbeefstew.Finally,Ifillaplatewithrollsandsitatthetable,breakingoilbitsanddippingthemintohotchocolate,thewayPeetadidonthetrain.
MymindwanderstomymotherandPrim.Theymustbeup.Mymothergettingtheirbreakfastofmush.Primmilkinghergoatbeforeschool.Justtwomorningsago,Iwashome.Canthatberight?Yes,justtwo.Andnowhowemptythehousefeels,evenfromadistance.WhatdidtheysaylastnightaboutmyfierydebutattheGames?Diditgivethemhope,orsimplyaddtotheirterrorwhentheysawtherealityoftwenty-fourtributescircledtogether,knowingonlyonecouldlive?
HaymitchandPeetacomein,bidmegoodmorning,filltheirplates.ItmakesmeirritatedthatPeetaiswearingexactlythesameoutfitIam.IneedtosaysomethingtoCinna.ThistwinsactisgoingtoblowupinoutfacesoncetheGamesbegin.Surely,theymustknowthis.ThenIrememberHaymitchtellingmetodoexactlywhatthestyliststellmetodo.IfitwasanyonebutCinna,Imightbetemptedtoignorehim.Butafterlastnight’striumph,Idon’thavealotofroomtocriticizehischoices.
I’mnervousaboutthetraining.Therewillbethreedaysinwhichallthetributespracticetogether.
