第5部分(第5/7 頁)

m　even　better。　When　she　sells　her　goat　cheeses　at　the　Hob；　she　puts　two　of　them　aside　for　him　and　he　gives　her　a　generous　amount　of　bread　in　return。　We　always　wait　to　trade　with　him　when　his　witch　of　a　wife　isnˇt　around　because　heˇs　so　much　nicer。　I　feel　certain　he　would　never　have　hit　his　son　the　way　she　did　over　the　burned　bread。　But　why　has　he　e　to　see　me？

The　baker　sits　awkwardly　on　the　edge　of　one　of　the　plush　chairs。　Heˇs　a　big；　broad…shouldered　man　with　burn　scars　from　years　at　the　ovens。　He　must　have　just　said　goodbye　to　his　son。

He　pulls　a　white　paper　package　from　his　jacket　pocket　and　holds　it　out　to　me。　I　open　it　and　find　cookies。　These　are　a　luxury　we　can　never　afford。

¨Thank　you；〃　I　say。　The　bakerˇs　not　a　very　talkative　man　in　the　best　of　times；　and　today　he　has　no　words　at　all。　¨I　had　some　of　your　bread　this　morning。　My　friend　Gale　gave　you　a　squirrel　for　it。〃　He　nods；　as　if　remembering　the　squirrel。　¨Not　your　best　trade；〃　I　say。　He　shrugs　as　if　it　couldnˇt　possibly　matter。

Then　I　canˇt　think　of　anything　else；　so　we　sit　in　silence　until　a　Peacemaker　summons　him。　He　rises　and　coughs　to　clear　his　throat。　¨Iˇll　keep　an　eye　on　the　little　girl。　Make　sure　sheˇs　eating。〃

I　feel　some　of　the　pressure　in　my　chest　lighten　at　his　words。　People　deal　with　me；　but　they　are　genuinely　fond　of　Prim。　Maybe　there　will　be　enough　fondness　to　keep　her　alive。

My　next　guest　is　also　unexpected。　Madge　walks　straight　to　me。　She　is　not　weepy　or　evasive；　instead　thereˇs　an　urgency　about　her　tone　that　surprises　me。　¨They　let　you　wear　one　thing　from　your　district　in　the　arena。　One　thing　to　remind　you　of　home。　Will　you　wear　this？〃　She　holds　out　the　circular　gold　pin　that　was　on　her　dress　earlier。　I　hadnˇt　paid　much　attention　to　it　before；　but　now