ict 12。 In fact； I know if I was watching Iˇd loathe any tribute who didnˇt immediately ally with their district partner。 Besides； it just makes sense to protect each other。 And in my case � being one of the star…crossed lovers from District 12 � itˇs an absolute requirement if I want any more help from sympathetic sponsors。
The star…crossed lovers 。 。 。 Peeta must have been playing that angle all along。 Why else would the Gamemakers have made this unprecedented change in the rules？ For two tributes to have a shot at winning； our ¨romance〃 must be so popular with the audience that condemning it would jeopardize the success of the Games。 No thanks to me。 All Iˇve done is managed not to kill Peeta。 But whatever heˇs done in the arena； he must have the audience convinced it was to keep me alive。 Shaking his head to keep me from running to the Cornucopia。 Fighting Cato to let me escape。 Even hooking up with the Careers must have been a move to protect me。 Peeta； it turns out； has never been a danger to me。
The thought makes me smile。 I drop my hands and hold my face up to the moonlight so the cameras can be sure to catch it。
So； who is there left to be afraid of？ Foxface？ The boy tribute from her district is dead。 Sheˇs operating alone； at night。 And her strategy has been to evade； not attack。 I donˇt really think that； even if she heard my voice； sheˇd do anything but hope someone else would kill me。
Then thereˇs Thresh。 All right； heˇs a distinct threat。 But I havenˇt seen him； not once； since the Games began。 I think about how Foxface grew alarmed when she heard a sound at the site of the explosion。 But she didnˇt turn to the Woods； she turned to whatever lies across from it。 To that area of the arena that drops off into I donˇt know what。 I f