the hunger games-饥饿游戏(英文版)-第10部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


ity。　I　can　see　by　the　light　that　it　must　be　around　noon；　although　the　sunny　sky　has　turned　overcast。　Cinna　invites　me　to　sit　on　one　of　the　couches　and　takes　his　place　across　from　me。　He　presses　a　button　on　the　side　of　the　table。　The　top　splits　and　from　below　rises　a　second　tabletop　that　holds　our　lunch。　Chicken　and　chunks　of　oranges　cooked　in　a　creamy　sauce　laid　on　a　bed　of　pearly　white　grain；　tiny　green　peas　and　onions；　rolls　shaped　like　flowers；　and　for　dessert；　a　pudding　the　color　of　honey。
I　try　to　imagine　assembling　this　meal　myself　back　home。　Chickens　are　too　expensive；　but　I　could　make　do　with　a　wild　turkey。　Iˇd　need　to　shoot　a　second　turkey　to　trade　for　an　orange。　Goatˇs　milk　would　have　to　substitute　for　cream。　We　can　grow　peas　in　the　garden。　Iˇd　have　to　get　wild　onions　from　the　woods。　I　donˇt　recognize　the　grain；　our　own　tessera　ration　cooks　down　to　an　unattractive　brown　mush。　Fancy　rolls　would　mean　another　trade　with　the　baker；　perhaps　for　two　or　three　squirrels。　As　for　the　pudding；　I　canˇt　even　guess　whatˇs　in　it。　Days　of　hunting　and　gathering　for　this　one　meal　and　even　then　it　would　be　a　poor　substitution　for　the　Capitol　version。
What　must　it　be　like；　I　wonder；　to　live　in　a　world　where　food　appears　at　the　press　of　a　button？　How　would　I　spend　the　hours　I　now　mit　to　bing　the　woods　for　sustenance　if　it　were　so　easy　to　e　by？　What　do　they　do　all　day；　these　people　in　the　Capitol；　besides　decorating　their　bodies　and　waiting　around　for　a　new　shipment　of　tributes　to　roll　in　and　die　for　their　entertainment？
I　look　up　and　find　Cinnaˇs　eyes　trained　on　mine。　¨How　despicable　we　must　seem　to　you；〃　he　says。
Has　he　seen　this　in　my　face　or　somehow　read　my　thoughts？　Heˇs　right；　though。　The　whole　rotten　lot　of　them　is　despicable。
¨No　matter；〃　says　Cinna。　¨So；　Katniss；　about　your　costume　for　the　opening　ceremonies。　My　partner；　Portia；　is　the　stylist　for　your　fellow　tribute；　Peeta。　And　our　current　thought　is　to　dress　you　in　plementary　costumes；〃　says　Cinna。　¨As　you　know；　itˇs　customary　to　reflect　the　flavor　of　the　district。〃
For　the　opening　ceremonies；　youˇre　supposed　to　wear　something　that　suggests　your　districtˇs　principal　industry。　District　11；　agriculture。　District　4；　fishing。　District　3；　factories。　This　means　that　ing　from　District　12；　Peeta　and　I　will　be　in　some　kind　of　coal　minerˇs　getup。　Since　the　baggy　minerˇs　jumpsuits　are　not　particularly　being；　our　tributes　usually　end　up　in　skimpy　outfits　and　hats　with　headlamps。　One　year；　our　tributes　were　stark　naked　and　covered　in　black　powder　to　represent　coal　dust。　Itˇs　always　dreadful　and　does　nothing　to　win　favor　with　the　crowd。　I　prepare　myself　for　the　worst。　
¨So；　Iˇll　be　in　a　coal　miner　outfit？〃　I　ask；　hoping　it　wonˇt　be　indecent。
¨Not　exactly。　You　see；　Portia　and　I　think　that　coal　miner　thingˇs　very　overdone。　No　one　will　remember　you　in　that。　And　we　both　see　it　as　our　job　to　make　the　District　Twelve　tributes　unforgettable；〃　says　Cinna。
Iˇll　be　naked　for　sure；　I　think。
¨So　rather　than　focus　on　the　coal　mining　itself；　weˇre　going　to　focus　on　the　coal；〃　says　Cinna。　Naked　and　covered　in　black　dust；　I　think。　¨And　what　do　we　do　with　coal？　We　burn　it；〃　says　Cinna。
¨Youˇre　not　afraid　of　fire；　are　you；　Katniss？〃　He　sees　my　expression　and　grins。
A　few　hours　later；　I　am　dressed　in　what　will　either　be　the　most　sensational　or　the　deadliest　costume　in　the　opening　ceremonies。　Iˇm　in　a　simple　black　unitard　that　covers　me　from　ankle　to　neck。　Shiny　leather　boots　lace　up　to　my　knees。　But　itˇs　the　fluttering　cape　made　of　streams　of　orange；　yellow；　and　red　and　the　matching　headpiece　that　define　this　costume。　Cinna　plans　to　light　them　on　fire　just　before　our　chariot　rolls　into　the　streets。
¨Itˇs　not　real　flame；　of　course；　just　a　little　synthetic　fire　Portia　and　I　came　up　with。　Youˇll　be　perfectly　safe；〃　he　says。　But　Iˇm　not　convinced　I　wonˇt　be　perfectly　barbecued　by　the　time　we　reach　the　cityˇs　center。
My　face　is　relatively　clear　of　makeup；　just　a　bit　of　highlighting　here　and　there。　My　hair　has　been　brushed　out　and　then　braided　down　my　back　in　my　usual　style。　¨I　want　the　audience　to　recognize　you　when　youˇre　in　the　arena；〃　says　Cinna　dreamily。　¨Katniss；　the　girl　who　was　on　fire。〃
It　crosses　my　mind　that　Cinnaˇs　calm　and　normal　demeanor　masks　a　plete　madman。
Despite　this　morningˇs　revelation　about　Peetaˇs　character；　Iˇm　actually　relieved　when　he　shows　up；　dressed　in　an　identical　costume。　He　should　know　about　fire；　being　a　bakerˇs　son　and　all。　His　stylist；　Portia；　and　her　team　acpany　him　in；　and　everyone　is　absolutely　giddy　with　excitement　over　what　a　splash　weˇll　make。　Except　Cinna。　He　just　seems　a　bit　weary　as　he　accepts　congratulations。
Weˇre　whisked　down　to　the　bottom　level　of　the　Remake　Center；　which　is　essentially　a　gigantic　stable。　The　opening　ceremonies　are　about　to　start。　Pairs　of　tributes　are　being　loaded　into　chariots　pulled　by　teams　of　four　horses。　Ours　are　coal　black。　The　animals　are　so　well　trained；　no　one　even　needs　to　guide　their　reins。　Cinna　and　Portia　direct　us　into　the　chariot　and　carefully　arrange　our　body　positions；　the　drape　of　our　capes；　before　moving　off　to　consult　with　each　other。
¨What　do　you　think？〃　I　whisper　to　Peeta。　¨About　the　fire？〃
¨Iˇll　rip　off　your　cape　if　youˇll　rip　off　mine；〃　he　says　through　gritted　teeth。
¨Deal；〃　I　say。　Maybe；　if　we　can　get　them　off　soon　enough；　weˇll　avoid　the　worst　burns。　Itˇs　bad　though。　Theyˇll　throw　us　into　the　arena　no　matter　what　condition　weˇre　in。　¨I　know　we　promised　Haymitch　weˇd　do　exactly　what　they　said；　but　I　donˇt　think　he　considered　this　angle。〃
¨Where　is　Haymitch；　anyway？　Isnˇt　he　supposed　to　protect　us　from　this　sort　of　thing？〃　says　Peeta。
¨With　all　that　alcohol　in　him；　itˇs　probably　not　advisable　to　have　him　around　an　open　flame；〃　I　say。
And　suddenly　weˇre　both　laughing。　I　guess　weˇre　both　so　nervous　about　the　Games　and　more　pressingly；　petrified　of　being　turned　into　human　torches；　weˇre　not　acting　sensibly。
The　opening　music　begins。　Itˇs　easy　to　hear；　blasted　around　the　Capitol。　Massive　doors　slide　open　revealing　the　crowdlined　streets。　The　ride　lasts　about　twenty　minutes　and　ends　up　at　the　City　Circle；　where　they　will　wele　us；　play　the　anthem；　and　escort　us　into　the　Training　Center；　which　will　be　our　home/prison　until　the　Games　begin。
The　tributes　from　District　1　ride　out　in　a　chariot　pulled　by　snow…white　horses。　They　look　so　beautiful；　spray…painted　silver；　in　tasteful　tunics　glittering　with　jewels。　District　1　makes　luxury　items　for　the　Capitol。　You　can　hear　the　roar　of　the　crowd。　They　are　always　favorites。
District　2　gets　into　position　to　follow　them。　In　no　time　at　all；　we　are　approaching　the　door　and　I　can　see　that　between　the　overcast　sky　and　evening　hour　the　light　is　turning　gray。　The　tributes　from　District　11　are　just　rolling　out　when　Cinna　appears　with　a　lighted　torch。　¨Here　we　go　then；〃　he　says；　and　before　we　can　react　he　sets　our　capes　on　fire。　I　gasp；　waiting　for　the　heat；　but　there　is　only　a　faint　tickling　sensation。　Cinna　climbs　up　before　us　and　ignites　our　headdresses。　He　lets　out　a　sign　of　relief。　¨It　works。〃　Then　he　gently　tucks　a　hand　under　my　chin。　¨Remember；　heads　high。　Smiles。　Theyˇre　going　to　love　you！〃
Cinna　jumps　off　the　chariot　and　has　one　last　idea。　He　shouts　something　up　at　us；　but　the　music　drowns　him　out。　He　shouts　again　and　gestures。
¨Whatˇs　he　saying？〃　I　ask　Peeta。　For　the　first　time；　I　look　at　him　and　realize　that　ablaze　with　the　fake　flames；　he　is　dazzling。　And　I　must　be；　too。
¨I　think　he　said　for　us　to　hold　hands；〃　says　Peeta。　He　grabs　my　right　hand　in　his　left；　and　we　look　to　Cinna　for　confirmation。　He　nods　and　gives　a　thumbs…up；　and　thatˇs　the　last　thing　I　see　before　we　enter　the　city。
The　crowdˇs　initial　alarm　at　our　appearance　quickly　changes　to　cheers　and　shouts　of　¨District　Twelve！〃　Every　head　is　turned　our　way；　pulling　the　focus　from　the　three　chariots　ahead　of　us。　At　first；　Iˇm　frozen；　but　then　I　catch　sight　of　us　on　a　large　television　screen　and　am　floored　by　how　breathtaking　we　look。　In　the　deepening　twilight；　the　firelight　illuminates　our　faces。　We　seem　to　be　leaving　a　trail　of　fire　off　the　flowing　capes。　Cinna　was　right　about　the　minimal　makeup；　we　both　look　more　attractive　but　utterly　recognizable。
Remember；　heads　high。　Smiles。　Theyˇre　going　to　love　you！　I　hear　Cinnaˇs　voice　in　my　head。　I　lift　my　chin　a　bit　higher；　put　on　my　most　winning　smile；　and　wave　with　my　free　hand。　Iˇm　glad　now　I　have　Peeta　to　clutch　for　balance；　he　is　so　steady；　solid　as　a　rock。　As　I　gain　confidence；　I　actually　blow　a　few　kisses　to　the　crowd。　The　people　of　the　Capitol　are　going　nuts；　showering　us　with　flowers；　shouting　our　names；　our　first　names；　which　they　have　bothered　to　find　on　the　program。
The　pounding　music；　the　cheers；　the　admiration　work　their　way　into　my　blood；　and　I　canˇt　suppress　my　excitement。　Cinna　has　given　me　a　great　advantage。　No　one　will　forget　me。　Not　my　look；　not　my　name。　Katniss。　The　girl　who　was　on　fire。
For　the　first　time；　I　feel　a　flicker　of　hope　rising　up　in　me。　Surely；　there　must　be　one　sponsor　willing　to　take　me　on！　And　with　a　little　extra　help；　some　food；　the　right　weapon；　why　should　I　count　myself　out　of　the　Games？
Someone　throws　me　a　red　rose。　I　catch　it；　give　it　a　delicate　sniff；　and　blow　a　kiss　back　in　the　general　direction　of　the　giver。　A　hundred　hands　reach　up　to　catch　my　kiss；　as　if　it　were　a　real　and　tangible　thing。
¨Katniss！　Katniss！〃　I　can　hear　my　name　being　called　from　all　sides。　Everyone　wants　my　kisses。
Itˇs　not　until　we　enter　the　City　Circle　that　I　realize　I　must　have　pletely　stopped　the　circulation　in　Peetaˇs　hand。　Thatˇs　how　tightly　Iˇve　been　holding　it。　I　look　down　at　our　linked　fingers　as　I　loosen　my　grasp；　but　he　regains　his　grip　on　me。　¨No；　donˇt　let　go　of　me；〃　he　says。　The　firelight　flickers　off　his　blue　eyes。　¨Please。　I　might　fall　out　of　this　thing。〃
¨Okay；〃　I　say。　So　I　keep　holding　on；　but　I　canˇt　help　feeling　strange　about　the　way　Cinna　has　linked　us　together。　Itˇs　not　really　fair　to　present　us　as　a　team　and　then　lock　us　into　the　arena　to　kill　each　other。
The　twelve　chariots　fill　the　loop　of　the　City　Circle。　On　the　buildings　that　surround　the　Circle；　every　window　is　packed　with　the　most　prestigious　citizens　of　the　Capi