Голодные игры
Chapter 7
Theactualtrainingroomsarebelowgroundlevelofourbuilding.Withtheseelevators,therideislessthanaminute.Thedoorsopenintoanenormousgymnasiumfilledwithvariousweaponsandobstaclecourses.Althoughit’snotyetten,we’rethelastonestoarrive.Theothertributesaregatheredinatensecircle.Theyeachhaveaclothsquarewiththeirdistrictnumberonitpinnedtotheirshirts.Whilesomeonepinsthenumber12onmyback,Idoaquickassessment.PeetaandIaretheonlytwodressedalike.
Assoonaswejointhecircle,theheadtrainer,atall,athleticwomannamedAtalastepsupandbeginstoexplainthetrainingschedule.Expertsineachskillwillremainattheirstations.Wewillbefreetotravelfromareatoareaaswechoose,perourmentor’sinstructions.Someofthestationsteachsurvivalskills,othersfightingtechniques.Weareforbiddentoengageinanycombativeexercisewithanothertribute.Thereareassistantsonhandifwewanttopracticewithapartner.
WhenAtalabeginstoreaddownthelistoftheskillstations,myeyescan’thelpflittingaroundtotheothertributes.It’sthefirsttimewe’vebeenassembled,onlevelground,insimpleclothes.Myheartsinks.AlmostalloftheboysandatleasthalfofthegirlsarebiggerthanIam,eventhoughmanyofthetributeshaveneverbeenfedproperly.Youcanseeitintheirbones,theirskin,thehollowlookintheireyes.Imaybesmallernaturally,butoverallmyfamily’sresourcefulnesshasgivenmeanedgeinthatarea.
