the hunger games-饥饿游戏(英文版)-第14章

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¨They　were　from　here？〃　he　asks；　and　he　secures　a　button　at　my　neck。
I　nod。　Theyˇd　had　that　Capitol　look　about　them。　The　boy　and　the　girl。
¨Where　do　you　suppose　they　were　going？〃　he　asks。
¨I　donˇt　know　that；〃　I　say。　District　12　is　pretty　much　the　end　of　the　line。　Beyond　us；　thereˇs　only　wilderness。　If　you　donˇt　count　the　ruins　of　District　13　that　still　smolder　from　the　toxic　bombs。　They　show　it　on　television　occasionally；　just　to　remind　us。　¨Or　why　they　would　leave　here。〃　Haymitch　had　called　the　Avoxes　traitors。　Against　what？　It　could　only　be　the　Capitol。　But　they　had　everything　here。　No　cause　to　rebel。
¨Iˇd　leave　here；〃　Peeta　blurts　out。　Then　he　looks　around　nervously。　It　was　loud　enough　to　hear　above　the　chimes。　He　laughs。　¨Iˇd　go　home　now　if　they　let　me。　But　you　have　to　admit；　the　foodˇs　prime。〃
Heˇs　covered　again。　If　thatˇs　all　youˇd　heard　it　would　just　sound　like　the　words　of　a　scared　tribute；　not　someone　contemplating　the　unquestionable　goodness　of　the　Capitol。
¨Itˇs　getting　chilly。　We　better　go　in；〃　he　says。　Inside　the　dome；　itˇs　warm　and　bright。　His　tone　is　conversational。　¨Your　friend　Gale。　Heˇs　the　one　who　took　your　sister　away　at　the　reaping？〃
¨Yes。　Do　you　know　him？〃　I　ask。
¨Not　really。　I　hear　the　girls　talk　about　him　a　lot。　I　thought　he　was　your　cousin　or　something。　You　favor　each　other；〃　he　says。
¨No；　weˇre　not　related；〃　I　say。
Peeta　nods；　unreadable。　¨Did　he　e　to　say　good…bye　to　you？〃
¨Yes；〃　I　say；　observing　him　carefully。　¨So　did　your　father。　He　brought　me　cookies。〃
Peeta　raises　his　eyebrows　as　if　this　is　news。　But　after　watching　him　lie　so　smoothly；　I　donˇt　give　this　much　weight。　¨Really？　Well；　he　likes　you　and　your　sister。　I　think　he　wishes　he　had　a　daughter　instead　of　a　houseful　of　boys。〃
The　idea　that　I　might　ever　have　been　discussed；　around　the　dinner　table；　at　the　bakery　fire；　just　in　passing　in　Peetaˇs　house　gives　me　a　start。　It　must　have　been　when　the　mother　was　out　of　the　room。
¨He　knew　your　mother　when　they　were　kids；〃　says　Peeta。
Another　surprise。　But　probably　true。　¨Oh；　yes。　She　grew　up　in　town；〃　I　say。　It　seems　impolite　to　say　she　never　mentioned　the　baker　except　to　pliment　his　bread。
Weˇre　at　my　door。　I　give　back　his　jacket。　¨See　you　in　the　morning　then。〃
¨See　you；〃　he　says；　and　walks　off　down　the　hall。
When　I　open　my　door；　the　redheaded　girl　is　collecting　my　unitard　and　boots　from　where　I　left　them　on　the　floor　before　my　shower。　I　want　to　apologize　for　possibly　getting　her　in　trouble　earlier。　But　I　remember　Iˇm　not　supposed　to　speak　to　her　unless　Iˇm　giving　her　an　order。
¨Oh；　sorry；〃　I　say。　¨I　was　supposed　to　get　those　back　to　Cinna。　Iˇm　sorry。　Can　you　take　them　to　him？〃
She　avoids　my　eyes；　gives　a　small　nod；　and　heads　out　the　door。
Iˇd　set　out　to　tell　her　I　was　sorry　about　dinner。　But　I　know　that　my　apology　runs　much　deeper。　That　Iˇm　ashamed　I　never　tried　to　help　her　in　the　woods。　That　I　let　the　Capitol　kill　the　boy　and　mutilate　her　without　lifting　a　finger。
Just　like　I　was　watching　the　Games。
I　kick　off　my　shoes　and　climb　under　the　covers　in　my　clothes。　The　shivering　hasnˇt　stopped。　Perhaps　the　girl　doesnˇt　even　remember　me。　But　I　know　she　does。　You　donˇt　forget　the　face　of　the　person　who　was　your　last　hope。　I　pull　the　covers　up　over　my　head　as　if　this　will　protect　me　from　the　redheaded　girl　who　canˇt　speak。　But　I　can　feel　her　eyes　staring　at　me；　piercing　through　walls　and　doors　and　bedding。
I　wonder　if　sheˇll　enjoy　watching　me　die。

7
My　slumbers　are　filled　with　disturbing　dreams。　The　face　of　the　redheaded　girl　intertwines　with　gory　images　from　earlier　Hunger　Games；　with　my　mother　withdrawn　and　unreachable；　with　Prim　emaciated　and　terrified。　I　bolt　up　screaming　for　my　father　to　run　as　the　mine　explodes　into　a　million　deadly　bits　of　light。
Dawn　is　breaking　through　the　windows。　The　Capitol　has　a　misty；　haunted　air。　My　head　aches　and　I　must　have　bitten　into　the　side　of　my　cheek　in　the　night。　My　tongue　probes　the　ragged　flesh　and　I　taste　blood。
Slowly；　I　drag　myself　out　of　bed　and　into　the　shower。　I　arbitrarily　punch　buttons　on　the　control　board　and　end　up　hopping　from　foot　to　foot　as　alternating　jets　of　icy　cold　and　steaming　hot　water　assault　me。　Then　Iˇm　deluged　in　lemony　foam　that　I　have　to　scrape　off　with　a　heavy　bristled　brush。　Oh；　well。　At　least　my　blood　is　flowing。
When　Iˇm　dried　and　moisturized　with　lotion；　I　find　an　outfit　has　been　left　for　me　at　the　front　of　the　closet。　Tight　black　pants；　a　long…sleeved　burgundy　tunic；　and　leather　shoes。　I　put　my　hair　in　the　single　braid　down　my　back。　This　is　the　first　time　the　morning　of　the　reaping　that　I　resemble　myself。　No　fancy　hair　and　clothes；　no　flaming　capes。　Just　me。　Looking　like　I　could　be　headed　for　the　woods。　It　calms　me。
Haymitch　didnˇt　give　us　an　exact　time　to　meet　for　break…last　and　no　one　has　contacted　me　this　morning；　but　Iˇm　hungry　so　I　head　down　to　the　dining　room；　hoping　there　will　be　food。　Iˇm　not　disappointed。　While　the　table　is　empty；　a　long　board　off　to　the　side　has　been　laid　with　at　least　twenty　dishes。　A　young　man；　an　Avox；　stands　at　attention　by　the　spread。　When　I　ask　if　I　can　serve　myself；　he　nods　assent。　I　load　a　plate　with　eggs；　sausages；　batter　cakes　covered　in　thick　orange　preserves；　slices　of　pale　purple　melon。　As　I　gorge　myself；　I　watch　the　sun　rise　over　the　Capitol。　I　have　a　second　plate　of　hot　grain　smothered　in　beef　stew。　Finally；　I　fill　a　plate　with　rolls　and　sit　at　the　table；　breaking　oil　bits　and　dipping　them　into　hot　chocolate；　the　way　Peeta　did　on　the　train。
My　mind　wanders　to　my　mother　and　Prim。　They　must　be　up。　My　mother　getting　their　breakfast　of　mush。　Prim　milking　her　goat　before　school。　Just　two　mornings　ago；　I　was　home。　Can　that　be　right？　Yes；　just　two。　And　now　how　empty　the　house　feels；　even　from　a　distance。　What　did　they　say　last　night　about　my　fiery　debut　at　the　Games？　Did　it　give　them　hope；　or　simply　add　to　their　terror　when　they　saw　the　reality　of　twenty…　four　tributes　circled　together；　knowing　only　one　could　live？　Haymitch　and　Peeta　e　in；　bid　me　good　morning；　fill　their　plates。　It　makes　me　irritated　that　Peeta　is　wearing　exactly　the　same　outfit　I　am。　I　need　to　say　something　to　Cinna。　This　twins　act　is　going　to　blow　up　in　out　faces　once　the　Games　begin。　Surely；　they　must　know　this。　Then　I　remember　Haymitch　telling　me　to　do　exactly　what　the　stylists　tell　me　to　do。　If　it　was　anyone　but　Cinna；　I　might　be　tempted　to　ignore　him。　But　after　last　nightˇs　triumph；　I　donˇt　have　a　lot　of　room　to　criticize　his　choices。
Iˇm　nervous　about　the　training。　There　will　be　three　days　in　which　all　the　tributes　practice　together。　On　the　last　afternoon；　weˇll　each　get　a　chance　to　perform　in　private　before　the　Gamemakers。　The　thought　of　meeting　the　other　tributes　face…to…face　makes　me　queasy。　I　turn　the　roll　I　have　just　taken　from　the　basket　over　and　over　in　my　hands；　but　my　appetite　is　gone。
When　Haymitch　has　finished　several　platters　of　stew；　he　pushes　back　his　plate　with　a　sigh。　He　takes　a　flask　from　his　pocket　and　takes　a　long　pull　on　it　and　leans　his　elbows　on　the　table。　¨So；　letˇs　get　down　to　business。　Training。　First　off；　if　you　like；　Iˇll　coach　you　separately。　Decide　now。〃
¨Why　would　you　coach　us　separately？〃　I　ask。
¨Say　if　you　had　a　secret　skill　you　might　not　want　the　other　to　know　about；〃　says　Haymitch。
I　exchange　a　look　with　Peeta。　¨I　donˇt　have　any　secret　skills；〃　he　says。　¨And　I　already　know　what　yours　is；　right？　I　mean；　Iˇve　eaten　enough　of　your　squirrels。〃
I　never　thought　about　Peeta　eating　the　squirrels　I　shot。　Somehow　I　always　pictured　the　baker　quietly　going　off　and　frying　them　up　for　himself。　Not　out　of　greed。　But　because　town　families　usually　eat　expensive　butcher　meat。　Beef　and　chicken　and　horse。
¨You　can　coach　us　together；〃　I　tell　Haymitch。　Peeta　nods。
¨All　right；　so　give　me　some　idea　of　what　you　can　do；〃　says　Haymitch。
¨I　canˇt　do　anything；〃　says　Peeta。　¨Unless　you　count　baking　bread。〃
¨Sorry；　I　donˇt。　Katniss。　I　already　know　youˇre　handy　with　a　knife；〃　says　Haymitch。
¨Not　really。　But　I　can　hunt；〃　I　say。　¨With　a　bow　and　arrow。〃
¨And　youˇre　good？〃　asks　Haymitch。
I　have　to　think　about　it。　Iˇve　been　putting　food　on　the　table　for　four　years。　Thatˇs　no　small　task。　Iˇm　not　as　good　as　my　father　was；　but　heˇd　had　more　practice。　Iˇve　better　aim　than　Gale；　but　Iˇve　had　more　practice。　Heˇs　a　genius　with　traps　and　snares。　¨Iˇm　all　right；〃　I　say。
¨Sheˇs　excellent；〃　says　Peeta。　¨My　father　buys　her　squirrels。　He　always　ments　on　how　the　arrows　never　pierce　the　body。　She　hits　every　one　in　the　eye。　Itˇs　the　same　with　the　rabbits　she　sells　the　butcher。　She　can　even　bring　down　deer。〃
This　assessment　of　my　skills　from　Peeta　takes　me　totally　by　surprise。　First；　that　he　ever　noticed。　Second；　that　heˇs　talking　me　up。　¨What　are　you　doing？〃　I　ask　him　suspiciously。
¨What　are　you　doing？　If　heˇs　going　to　help　you；　he　has　to　know　what　youˇre　capable　of。　Donˇt　underrate　yourself；〃　says　Peeta。
I　donˇt　know　why；　but　this　rubs　me　the　wrong　way。　¨What　about　you？　Iˇve　seen　you　in　the　market。　You　can　lift　hundredpound　bags　of　flour；〃　I　snap　at　him。　¨Tell　him　that。　Thatˇs　not　nothing。〃
¨Yes；　and　Iˇm　sure　the　arena　will　be　full　of　bags　of　flour　for　me　to　chuck　at