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the hunger games-饥饿游戏(英文版)-第34部分
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We go back to my room and Cinna disappears for a while as the prep team gets me ready。
¨Oh； they did a full body polish on you；〃 says Flavius enviously。 ¨Not a flaw left on your skin。〃
But when I look at my naked body in the mirror； all I can see is how skinny I am。 I mean； Iˇm sure I was worse when I came out of the arena； but I can easily count my ribs。
They take care of the shower settings for me； and they go to work on my hair； nails； and makeup when Iˇm done。 They chatter so continuously that I barely have to reply； which is good； since I donˇt feel very talkative。 Itˇs funny； because even though theyˇre rattling on about the Games； itˇs all about where they were or what they were doing or how they felt when a specific event occurred。 ¨I was still in bed！〃 ¨I had just had my eyebrows dyed！〃 ¨I swear I nearly fainted！〃 Everything is about them； not the dying boys and girls in the arena。
We donˇt wallow around in the Games this way in District 12。 We grit our teeth and watch because we must and try to get back to business as soon as possible when theyˇre over。 To keep from hating the prep team； I effectively tune out most of what theyˇre saying。
Cinna es in with what appears to be an unassuming yellow dress across his arms。
¨Have you given up the whole ˉgirl on fireˇ thing？〃 I ask。
¨You tell me；〃 he says； and slips it over my head。 I immediately notice the padding over my breasts； adding curves that hunger has stolen from my body。 My hands go to my chest and I frown。
¨I know；〃 says Cinna before I can object。 ¨But the Gamemakers wanted to alter you surgically。 Haymitch had a huge fight with them over it。 This was the promise。〃 He stops me before I can look at my reflection。 ¨Wait； donˇt forget the shoes。〃 Venia helps me into a pair of flat leather sandals and I turn to the mirror。
I am still the ¨girl on fire。〃 The sheer fabric softly glows。 Even the slight movement in the air sends a ripple up my body。 By parison； the chariot costume seems garish； the interview dress too contrived。 In this dress； I give the illusion of wearing candlelight。
¨What do you think？〃 asks Cinna。
¨I think itˇs the best yet；〃 I say。 When I manage to pull my eyes away from the flickering fabric； Iˇm in for something of a shock。 My hairˇs loose； held back by a simple hairband。 The makeup rounds and fills out the sharp angles of my face。 A clear polish coats my nails。 The sleeveless dress is gathered at my ribs； not my waist； largely eliminating any help the pad348 ding would have given my figure。 The hem falls just to my knees。 Without heels； you can see my true stature。 I look； very simply； like a girl。 A young one。 Fourteen at the most。 Innocent。 Harmless。 Yes； it is shocking that Cinna has pulled this off when you remember Iˇve just won the Games。
This is a very calculated look。 Nothing Cinna designs is arbitrary。 I bite my lip trying to figure out his motivation。
¨I thought itˇd be something more 。 。 。 sophisticated… looking；〃 I say。
¨I thought Peeta would like this better；〃 he answers carefully。
Peeta？ No； itˇs not about Peeta。 Itˇs about the Capitol and the Gamemakers and the audience。 Although I do not yet understand Cinnaˇs design； itˇs a reminder the Games are not quite finished。 And beneath his benign reply； I sense a warning。 Of something he canˇt even mention in front of his own team。
We take the elevator to the level where we trained。 Itˇs customary for the victor and his or her support team to rise from beneath the stage。 First the prep team； followed by the escort； the stylist； the mentor； and finally the victor。 Only this year； with two victors who share both an escort and a mentor； the whole thing has had to be rethought。 I find myself in a poorly lit area under the stage。 A brand…new metal plate has been installed to transport me upward。 You can still see small piles of sawdust； smell fresh paint。 Cinna and the prep team peel off to change into their own costumes and take their positions； leaving me alone。 In the gloom； I see a makeshift wall about ten yards away and assume Peetaˇs behind it。
The rumbling of the crowd is loud； so I donˇt notice Haymitch until he touches my shoulder。 I spring away； startled； still half in the arena； I guess。
¨Easy； just me。 Letˇs have a look at you；〃 Haymitch says。 I hold out my arms and turn once。 ¨Good enough。〃
Itˇs not much of a pliment。 ¨But what？〃 I say。
Haymitchˇs eyes shift around my musty holding space； and he seems to make a decision。 ¨But nothing。 How about a hug for luck？〃
Okay； thatˇs an odd request from Haymitch but； after all； we are victors。 Maybe a hug for luck is in order。 Only； when I put my arms around his neck； I find myself trapped in his embrace。 He begins talking； very fast； very quietly in my ear； my hair concealing his lips。
¨Listen up。 Youˇre in trouble。 Word is the Capitolˇs furious about you showing them up in the arena。 The one thing they canˇt stand is being laughed at and theyˇre the joke of Panem；〃 says Haymitch。
I feel dread coursing through me now； but I laugh as though Haymitch is saying something pletely delightful because nothing is covering my mouth。 ¨So； what？〃
¨Your only defense can be you were so madly in love you werenˇt responsible for your actions。〃 Haymitch pulls back and adjusts my hairband。 ¨Got it； sweetheart？〃 He could be talking about anything now。
¨Got it；〃 I say。 ¨Did you tell Peeta this？〃
¨Donˇt have to；〃 says Haymitch。 ¨Heˇs already there。〃
¨But you think Iˇm not？〃 I say； taking the opportunity to straighten a bright red bow tie Cinna must have wrestled him into。
¨Since when does it matter what I think？〃 says Haymitch。 ¨Better take our places。〃 He leads me to the metal circle。 ¨This is your night； sweetheart。 Enjoy it。〃 He kisses me on the forehead and disappears into the gloom。
I tug on my skirt； willing it to be longer； wanting it to cover the knocking in my knees。 Then I realize itˇs pointless。 My whole bodyˇs shaking like a leaf。 Hopefully； it will be put down to excitement。 After all； itˇs my night。
The damp； moldy smell beneath the stage threatens to choke me。 A cold； clammy sweat breaks out on my skin and I canˇt rid myself of the feeling that the boards above my head are about to collapse； to bury me alive under the rubble。 When I left the arena； when the trumpets played； I was supposed to be safe。 From then on。 For the rest of my life。 But if what Haymitch says is true； and heˇs got no reason to lie； Iˇve never been in such a dangerous place in my life。
Itˇs so much worse than being hunted in the arena。 There； I could only die。 End of story。 But out here Prim； my mother； Gale； the people of District 12； everyone I care about back home could be punished if I canˇt pull off the girl…drivencrazy… by…love scenario Haymitch has suggested。
So I still have a chance； though。 Funny； in the arena； when I poured out those berries； I was only thinking of outsmarting the Gamemakers； not how my actions would reflect on the Capitol。 But the Hunger Games are their weapon and you are not supposed to be able to defeat it。 So now the Capitol will act as if theyˇve been in control the whole time。 As if they orchestrated the whole event； right down to the double suicide。 But that will only work if I play along with them。
And Peeta 。 。 。 Peeta will suffer； too； if this goes wrong。 But what was it Haymitch said when I asked if he had told Peeta the situation？ That he had to pretend to be desperately in love？
¨Donˇt have to。 Heˇs already there。〃
Already thinking ahead of me in the Games again and well aware of the danger weˇre in？ Or 。 。 。 already desperately in love？ I donˇt know。 I havenˇt even begun to separate out my feelings about Peeta。 Itˇs too plicated。 What I did as part of the Games。 As opposed to what I did out of anger at the Capitol。 Or because of how it would be viewed back in District 12。 Or simply because it was the only decent thing to do。 Or what I did because I cared about him。
These are questions to be unraveled back home； in the peace and quiet of the woods； when no one is watching。 Not here with every eye upon me。 But I wonˇt have that luxury for who knows how long。 And right now； the most dangerous part of the Hunger Games is about to begin。
27
The anthem booms in my ears； and then I hear Caesar Flickerman greeting the audience。 Does he know how crucial it is to get every word right from now on？ He must。 He will want to help us。 The crowd breaks into applause as the prep teams are presented。 I imagine Flavius； Venia； and Octavia bouncing around and taking ridiculous； bobbing bows。 Itˇs a safe bet theyˇre clueless。 Then Effieˇs introduced。 How long sheˇs waited for this moment。 I hope sheˇs able to enjoy it because as misguided as Effie can be； she has a very keen instinct about certain things and must at least suspect weˇre in trouble。 Portia and Cinna receive huge cheers； of course； theyˇve been brilliant； had a dazzling debut。 I now understand Cinnaˇs choice of dress for me for tonight。 Iˇll need to look as girlish and innocent as possible。 Haymitchˇs appearance brings a round of stomping that goes on at least five minutes。 Well； heˇs acplished a first。 Keeping not only one but two tributes alive。 What if he hadnˇt warned me in time？ Would I have acted differently？ Flaunted the moment with the berries in the Capitolˇs face？ No； I donˇt think so。 But I could easily have been a lot less convincing than I need to be now。 Right now。 Because I can feel the plate lifting me up to the stage。
Blinding lights。 The deafening roar rattles the metal under my feet。 Then thereˇs Peeta just a few yards away。 He looks so clean and healthy and beautiful； I can hardly recognize him。 But his smile is the same whether in mud or in the Capitol and when I see it； I take about three steps and fling myself into his arms。 He staggers back； almost losing his balance； and thatˇs when I realize the slim； metal contraption in his hand is some kind of cane。 He rights himself and we just cling to each other while the audience goes insane。 Heˇs kissing me and all the time Iˇm thinking； Do you know？ Do you know how much danger weˇre in？ After about ten minutes of this； Caesar Flickerman taps on his shoulder to continue the show； and Peeta just pushes him aside without even glancing at him。 The audience goes berserk。 Whether he knows or not； Peeta is； as usual； playing the crowd exactly right。
Finally； Haymitch interrupts us and gives us a good…natured shove toward the victorˇs chair。 Usually； this is a single； ornate chair from which the winning tribute watches a film of the highlights of the Games； but since there are two of us； the Gamemakers have provided a plush red velvet couch。 A small one； my mother would call it a love seat； I think。 I sit so close to Peeta that Iˇm practically on his lap； but one look from Haymitch tells me it isnˇt enough。 Kicking off my sandals； I tuck my feet to the side and lean my head against Peetaˇs shoulder。 His arm goes around me automatically； and I feel like Iˇm back in the cave； curled up against him； trying to keep warm。 His shirt is made of the same yellow material as my dress； but Portiaˇs put him in long black pants。 No sandals； either； but a pair of sturdy black boots he keeps solidly planted on the stage。 I wish Cinna had given me a similar outfit； I feel so vulnerable in this flimsy dress。 But I guess that was the point。
Caesar Flickerman makes a few more jokes； and then itˇs time for the show。 This will last exactly three hours and is required viewing for all of Panem。 As the lights dim and the seal appears on the screen； I realize Iˇm unprepared for this。 I do not want to watch my twenty…two fellow tributes die。 I saw enough of them die the first time。 My heart starts pounding and I have a strong impulse to run。 How have the other victors faced this alone？ During the highlights； they periodically show the winnerˇs reaction up on a box in the corner of the screen。 I think back to earlier years 。 。 。 some are triumphant； pumping their fists in the air； beating their chests。 Most just seem stunned。 All I know is that the only thing keeping me on this love seat is Peeta his arm around my shoulder； his other hand claimed by both of mine。 Of course； the previous victors didnˇt have the Capitol looking for a way to destroy them。
Condensing several weeks into three hours is quite a feat； especially when you consider how many cameras were going at once。 Whoever puts together the highlights has to choose what sort of story to tell。 This year； for the first time； they tell a love story。 I know Peeta and I won； but a disproportionate amount of time is spent on us； right from the beginning。 Iˇm glad though； because it supports the whole crazy…in…love thing thatˇs my defense for defying the Capitol； plus it means we wonˇt have as much time to linger over the deaths。
The first half hour or so focuses on the pre…arena events； the reaping； the chariot ride through the Capitol； our training scores； and our interviews。 Thereˇs this sort of upbeat soundtrack playing under it that makes it twice as awful because； of course； almost everyone on…screen is dead。
Once weˇre in the arena； thereˇs detailed coverage of the bloodbath and then the filmmakers basically alternate between shots of tributes dying and shots of us。 Mostly Peeta really； thereˇs no question heˇs carrying this romance thing on his shoulders。 Now I see what the audience saw； how he misled the Careers about me； stayed awake the entire night under the tracker jacker tree； fought Cato to let me escape and even while he lay in that mud bank； whispered my name in his sleep。 I seem heartless in parison dodging fireballs； dropping nests； and blowing up supplies until I go hunting for Rue。 They play her death in full； the spearing； my failed rescue attempt； my arrow through the boy from District 1ˇs throat； Rue drawing her last breath in my arms。 And the song。 I get to sing every note of the song。 Something inside me shuts down and Iˇm too numb to feel anything。 Itˇs like watching plete strangers in another Hunger Games。 But I do notice they omit the part where I covered her in flowers。
Right。 Because even that smacks of rebellion。
Things pick up for me once theyˇve announced two tributes from the same district can live and I shout out Peetaˇs name and then clap my hands over my mouth。 If Iˇve seemed indifferent to him earlier； I make up for it now； by finding him； nursing him back to health； going to the feast for the medicine； and being very free with my kisses。 Objectively； I can see the mutts and Catoˇs death are as gruesome as ever； but again； I feel it happens to people I have never met。
And then es the moment with the berries。 I can hear the audience hushing one another； not wanting to miss anything。 A wave of gratitude to the filmmakers sweeps over me when they end not with the announcement of our victory； but with me pounding on the glass door of the hovercraft； screaming Peetaˇs name as they try to revive him。
In terms of survival； itˇs my best moment all night。
The anthemˇs playing yet again and we rise as President Snow himself takes the stage followed by a little girl carrying a cushion that holds the crown。 Thereˇs just one crown； though； and you can hear the crowdˇs confusion whose hea
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