第2部分

請關閉瀏覽器的閱讀/暢讀/小說模式並且關閉廣告遮蔽過濾功能，避免出現內容無法顯示或者段落錯亂。

me。　Since　neither　of　us　really　has　a　group　of　friends；　we　seem　to　end　up　together　a　lot　at　school。　Eating　lunch；　sitting　next　to　each　other　at　assemblies；　partnering　for　sports　activities。　We　rarely　talk；　which　suits　us　both　just　fine。

Today　her　drab　school　outfit　has　been　replaced　by　an　expensive　white　dress；　and　her　blonde　hair　is　done　up　with　a　pink　ribbon。　Reaping　clothes。

¨Pretty　dress；〃　says　Gale。

Madge　shoots　him　a　look；　trying　to　see　if　itˇs　a　genuine　pliment　or　if　heˇs　just　being　ironic。　It　is　a　pretty　dress；　but　she　would　never　be　wearing　it　ordinarily。　She　presses　her　lips　together　and　then　smiles。　¨Well；　if　I　end　up　going　to　the　Capitol；　I　want　to　look　nice；　donˇt　I？〃

Now　itˇs　Galeˇs　turn　to　be　confused。　Does　she　mean　it？　Or　is　she　messing　with　him？　Iˇm　guessing　the　second。

¨You　wonˇt　be　going　to　the　Capitol；〃　says　Gale　coolly。　His　eyes　land　on　a　small；　circular　pin　that　adorns　her　dress。　Real　gold。　Beautifully　crafted。　It　could　keep　a　family　in　bread　for　months。　¨What　can　you　have？　Five　entries？　I　had　six　when　I　was　just　twelve　years　old。〃

¨Thatˇs　not　her　fault；〃　I　say。

¨No；　itˇs　no　oneˇs　fault。　Just　the　way　it　is；〃　says　Gale。　Madgeˇs　face　has　bee　closed　off。　She　puts　the　money　for　the　berries　in　my　hand。　¨Good　luck；　Katniss。〃　¨You；　too；〃　I　say；　and　the　door　closes。

We　walk　toward　the　Seam　in　silence。　I　donˇt　like　that　Gale　took　a　dig　at　Madge；　but　heˇs　right；　of　course。　The　reaping　system　is　unfair；　with　the　poor　getting　the　worst　of　it。　You　bee　eligible　for　the　reaping　the　day　you　turn　twelve。　That　year；　your　name　is　entered　once。　At　thirteen；　twice。　And　so　on　and　so　on　until　you　reach　the　age　of　eighteen；　the　final　year　of　eligibility；　when　your　name　goes　into　the　pool　seven　times。　Thatˇs　true　for　e