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to have any worthwhile effect on the population。 People would need to know what you did。 But they canˇt since itˇs secret； so itˇd be a waste of effort；〃 says Haymitch。 ¨More likely theyˇll make your life hell in the arena。〃
¨Well； theyˇve already promised to do that to us any way；〃 says Peeta。
¨Very true；〃 says Haymitch。 And I realize the impossible has happened。 They have actually cheered me up。 Haymitch picks up a pork chop with his fingers； which makes Effie frown； and dunks it in his wine。 He rips off a hunk of meat and starts to chuckle。 ¨What were their faces like？〃
I can feel the edges of my mouth tilting up。 ¨Shocked。 Terrified。 Uh； ridiculous； some of them。〃 An image pops into my mind。 ¨One man tripped backward into a bowl of punch。〃
Haymitch guffaws and we all start laughing except Effie； although even she is suppressing a smile。 ¨Well； it serves them right。 Itˇs their job to pay attention to you。 And just because you e from District Twelve is no excuse to ignore you。〃 Then her eyes dart around as if sheˇs said something totally outrageous。 ¨Iˇm sorry； but thatˇs what I think；〃 she says to no one in particular。
¨Iˇll get a very bad score；〃 I say。
¨Scores only matter if theyˇre very good； no one pays much attention to the bad or mediocre ones。 For all they know； you could be hiding your talents to get a low score on purpose。 People use that strategy；〃 said Portia。
¨I hope thatˇs how people interpret the four Iˇll probably get；〃 says Peeta。 ¨If that。 Really； is anything less impressive than watching a person pick up a heavy ball and throw it a couple of yards。 One almost landed on my foot。〃
I grin at him and realize that Iˇm starving。 I cut off a piece of pork； dunk it in mashed potatoes； and start eating。 Itˇs okay。 My family is safe。 And if they are safe； no real harm has been done。
After dinner； we go to sitting room to watch the scores announced on television。 First they show a photo of the tribute； then flash their score below it。 The Career Tributes naturally get in the eight…to…ten range。 Most of the other players average a five。 Surprisingly； little Rue es up with a seven。 I donˇt know what she showed the judges； but sheˇs so tiny it must have been impressive。
District 12 es up last； as usual。 Peeta pulls an eight so at least a couple of the Gamemakers must have been watching him。 I dig my fingernails into my palms as my face es up； expecting the worst。 Then theyˇre flashing the number eleven on the screen。
Eleven！
Effie Trinket lets out a squeal； and everybody is slapping me on the back and cheering and congratulating me。 But it doesnˇt seem real。
¨There must be a mistake。 How 。 。 。 how could that happen？〃 I ask Haymitch。
¨Guess they liked your temper；〃 he says。 ¨Theyˇve got a show to put on。 They need some players with some heat。〃
¨Katniss； the girl who was on fire；〃 says Cinna and gives me a hug。 ¨Oh； wait until you see your interview dress。〃 ¨More flames？〃 I ask。 ¨Of a sort；〃 he says mischievously。
Peeta and I congratulate each other； another awkward moment。 Weˇve both done well； but what does that mean for the other？ I escape to my room as quickly as possible and burrow down under the covers。 The stress of the day； particularly the crying； has worn me out。 I drift off； reprieved； relieved； and with the number eleven still flashing behind my eyelids。
At dawn； I lie in bed for a while； watching the sun e up on a beautiful morning。 Itˇs Sunday。 A day off at home。 I wonder if Gale is in the woods yet。 Usually we devote all of Sunday to stocking up for the week。 Rising early； hunting and gathering； then trading at the Hob。 I think of Gale without me。 Both of us can hunt alone； but weˇre better as a pair。 Particularly if weˇre trying for bigger game。 But also in the littler things； having a partner lightened the load； could even make the arduous task of filling my familyˇs table enjoyable。
I had been struggling along on my own for about six months when I first ran into Gale in the woods。 It was a Sunday in October； the air cool and pungent with dying things。 Iˇd spent the morning peting with the squirrels for nuts and the slightly warmer afternoon wading in shallow ponds harvesting katniss。 The only meat Iˇd shot was a squirrel that had practically run over my toes in its quest for acorns； but the animals would still be afoot when the snow buried my other food sources。 Having strayed farther afield than usual； I was hurrying back home； lugging my burlap sacks when I came across a dead rabbit。 It was hanging by its neck in a thin wire a foot above my head。 About fifteen yards away was another。 I recognized the twitch…up snares because my father had used them。 When the prey is caught； itˇs yanked into the air out of the reach of other hungry animals。 Iˇd been trying to use snares all summer with no success； so I couldnˇt help dropping my sacks to examine this one。 My fingers were just on the wire above one of the rabbits when a voice rang out。 ¨Thatˇs dangerous。〃
I jumped back several feet as Gale materialized from behind a tree。 He must have been watching me the whole time。 He was only fourteen； but he cleared six feet and was as good as an adult to me。 Iˇd seen him around the Seam and at school。 And one other time。 Heˇd lost his father in the same blast that killed mine。 In January； Iˇd stood by while he received his medal of valor in the Justice Building； another oldest child with no father。 I remembered his two little brothers clutching his mother； a woman whose swollen belly announced she was just days away from giving birth。
¨Whatˇs your name？〃 he said； ing over and disengaging the rabbit from the snare。 He had another three hanging from his belt。
¨Katniss；〃 I said； barely audible。
¨Well； Catnip； stealingˇs punishable by death； or hadnˇt you heard？〃 he said。
¨Katniss；〃 I said louder。 ¨And I wasnˇt stealing it。 I just wanted to look at your snare。 Mine never catch anything。〃
He scowled at me； not convinced。 ¨So whereˇd you get the squirrel？〃
¨I shot it。〃 I pulled my bow off my shoulder。 I was still using the small version my father had made me； but Iˇd been practicing with the full…size one