Susannah shakes her head. "Well, if you meant to keep it a secret from the Gamemakers, honey, you probably oughtn't to have said it out loud like that. We can't be sure they don't have a hidden camera in this store. It's best to presume they do. From the other tributes... I don't know if it will. Most of the people I'd call allies would help him whether he was your son or just a friend of ours--and enough would do it just because he's young."

She frowns. "Actually, I don't know if he ought to be more cautious about the other kids his age and the teenagers. Those that play the game to win won't hesitate to fight another kid like an adult might--though you shouldn't necessarily trust adults either, Jake. Or anyone we haven't vouched for, unless they prove themselves."