第13部分(第1/7 页)

another　tribute。　There　are　assistants　on　hand　if　we　want　to　practice　with　a　partner。

When　Atala　begins　to　read　down　the　list　of　the　skill　stations；　my　eyes　canˇt　help　flitting　around　to　the　other　tributes。　Itˇs　the　first　time　weˇve　been　assembled；　on　level　ground；　in　simple　clothes。　My　heart　sinks。　Almost　all　of　the　boys　and　at　least　half　of　the　girls　are　bigger　than　I　am；　even　though　many　of　the　tributes　have　never　been　fed　properly。　You　can　see　it　in　their　bones；　their　skin；　the　hollow　look　in　their　eyes。　I　may　be　smaller　naturally；　but　overall　my　familyˇs　resourcefulness　has　given　me　an　edge　in　that　area。　I　stand　straight；　and　while　Iˇm　thin；　Iˇm　strong。　The　meat　and　plants　from　the　woods　bined　with　the　exertion　it　took　to　get　them　have　given　me　a　healthier　body　than　most　of　those　I　see　around　me。

The　exceptions　are　the　kids　from　the　wealthier　districts；　the　volunteers；　the　ones　who　have　been　fed　and　trained　throughout　their　lives　for　this　moment。　The　tributes　from　1；　2；　and　4　traditionally　have　this　look　about　them。　Itˇs　technically　against　the　rules　to　train　tributes　before　they　reach　the　Capitol　but　it　happens　every　year。　In　District　12；　we　call　them　the　Career　Tributes；　or　just　the　Careers。　And　like　as　not；　the　winner　will　be　one　of　them。

The　slight　advantage　I　held　ing　into　the　Training　Center；　my　fiery　entrance　last　night；　seems　to　vanish　in　the　presence　of　my　petition。　The　other　tributes　were　jealous　of　us；　but　not　because　we　were　amazing；　because　our　stylists　were。　Now　I　see　nothing　but　contempt　in　the　glances　of　the　Career　Tributes。　Each　must　have　fifty　to　a　hundred　pounds　on　me。　They　project　arrogance　and　brutality。　When　Atala　releases　us；　they　head　straight　for　the　deadliest…looking　weapons　in　the　gym　and　handle　them　with　ease。