Extraits

Katniss," he says. I go over to him and brush the hair back from his eyes. "Thanks for finding me."

"You would have found me if you could," I say.

How do you hunt ?" he asks.

"Trust me. Killing things is much easier than this," I say. "Although for all I know, I am killing you."

"Can you speed it up a little ?" he asks.

"No. Shut up and eat your pears," I say.

Spoiler(cliquez pour révéler)Peeta, it turns out, has never been a danger to me.

The thought makes me smile."

All of a sudden, I'm overwhelmed by the thought that Peeta may be already lost, bled white, collected, and in the process of being transported back to the Capital to be cleaned up, re-dressed, and shipped in a simple wooden box back to District 12."

The news sinks in. Spoiler(cliquez pour révéler)Two tributes can win this year. If they're from the same district. Both can live. Both of us can live.

Before I can stop myself. I call out Peeta's name.

Then I remember Peeta's words on the roof. "Only I keep wishing I could think of a way to ... to show the Capital they don't own me. That I'm more than just a piece in their game."

And for the first time, I understand what he means.

There's no point in comforting words, in telling her she'll be all right. She's no fool. Her hand reaches out and I clutch it like a lifeline. Spoiler(cliquez pour révéler)As if it's me who's dying instead of Rue.

"You blew up the food ?" she whispers.

"Every last bit," I say.

"You have to win," she says.

"I'm going to. Going to win for both of us now," I promise. I hear a cannon and look up.

Sick and disoriented, I'm able to form only one thought : Peeta Mellark just saved my life."

Ladies and gentlemen, let the Seventy-fourth Hunger Games begin !"

I don't know how to say it exactly. Only ... I want to die as myself. Does that make any sens ? he asks. I shake my head. How could he die as anyone but himself ? "I don't want them to change me in there. Turn me into some kind of monster that I'm not."

I bite my lip feeling inferior. While I've been ruminating on the availability of trees, Peeta has been struggling with how to maintain his identity. His purity of self.