the hunger games-饥饿游戏(英文版)-第16部分

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to　have　any　worthwhile　effect　on　the　population。　People　would　need　to　know　what　you　did。　But　they　canˇt　since　itˇs　secret；　so　itˇd　be　a　waste　of　effort；〃　says　Haymitch。　¨More　likely　theyˇll　make　your　life　hell　in　the　arena。〃
¨Well；　theyˇve　already　promised　to　do　that　to　us　any　way；〃　says　Peeta。
¨Very　true；〃　says　Haymitch。　And　I　realize　the　impossible　has　happened。　They　have　actually　cheered　me　up。　Haymitch　picks　up　a　pork　chop　with　his　fingers；　which　makes　Effie　frown；　and　dunks　it　in　his　wine。　He　rips　off　a　hunk　of　meat　and　starts　to　chuckle。　¨What　were　their　faces　like？〃
I　can　feel　the　edges　of　my　mouth　tilting　up。　¨Shocked。　Terrified。　Uh；　ridiculous；　some　of　them。〃　An　image　pops　into　my　mind。　¨One　man　tripped　backward　into　a　bowl　of　punch。〃
Haymitch　guffaws　and　we　all　start　laughing　except　Effie；　although　even　she　is　suppressing　a　smile。　¨Well；　it　serves　them　right。　Itˇs　their　job　to　pay　attention　to　you。　And　just　because　you　e　from　District　Twelve　is　no　excuse　to　ignore　you。〃　Then　her　eyes　dart　around　as　if　sheˇs　said　something　totally　outrageous。　¨Iˇm　sorry；　but　thatˇs　what　I　think；〃　she　says　to　no　one　in　particular。
¨Iˇll　get　a　very　bad　score；〃　I　say。
¨Scores　only　matter　if　theyˇre　very　good；　no　one　pays　much　attention　to　the　bad　or　mediocre　ones。　For　all　they　know；　you　could　be　hiding　your　talents　to　get　a　low　score　on　purpose。　People　use　that　strategy；〃　said　Portia。
¨I　hope　thatˇs　how　people　interpret　the　four　Iˇll　probably　get；〃　says　Peeta。　¨If　that。　Really；　is　anything　less　impressive　than　watching　a　person　pick　up　a　heavy　ball　and　throw　it　a　couple　of　yards。　One　almost　landed　on　my　foot。〃
I　grin　at　him　and　realize　that　Iˇm　starving。　I　cut　off　a　piece　of　pork；　dunk　it　in　mashed　potatoes；　and　start　eating。　Itˇs　okay。　My　family　is　safe。　And　if　they　are　safe；　no　real　harm　has　been　done。
After　dinner；　we　go　to　sitting　room　to　watch　the　scores　announced　on　television。　First　they　show　a　photo　of　the　tribute；　then　flash　their　score　below　it。　The　Career　Tributes　naturally　get　in　the　eight…to…ten　range。　Most　of　the　other　players　average　a　five。　Surprisingly；　little　Rue　es　up　with　a　seven。　I　donˇt　know　what　she　showed　the　judges；　but　sheˇs　so　tiny　it　must　have　been　impressive。
District　12　es　up　last；　as　usual。　Peeta　pulls　an　eight　so　at　least　a　couple　of　the　Gamemakers　must　have　been　watching　him。　I　dig　my　fingernails　into　my　palms　as　my　face　es　up；　expecting　the　worst。　Then　theyˇre　flashing　the　number　eleven　on　the　screen。
Eleven！
Effie　Trinket　lets　out　a　squeal；　and　everybody　is　slapping　me　on　the　back　and　cheering　and　congratulating　me。　But　it　doesnˇt　seem　real。
¨There　must　be　a　mistake。　How　。　。　。　how　could　that　happen？〃　I　ask　Haymitch。
¨Guess　they　liked　your　temper；〃　he　says。　¨Theyˇve　got　a　show　to　put　on。　They　need　some　players　with　some　heat。〃
¨Katniss；　the　girl　who　was　on　fire；〃　says　Cinna　and　gives　me　a　hug。　¨Oh；　wait　until　you　see　your　interview　dress。〃　¨More　flames？〃　I　ask。　¨Of　a　sort；〃　he　says　mischievously。
Peeta　and　I　congratulate　each　other；　another　awkward　moment。　Weˇve　both　done　well；　but　what　does　that　mean　for　the　other？　I　escape　to　my　room　as　quickly　as　possible　and　burrow　down　under　the　covers。　The　stress　of　the　day；　particularly　the　crying；　has　worn　me　out。　I　drift　off；　reprieved；　relieved；　and　with　the　number　eleven　still　flashing　behind　my　eyelids。
At　dawn；　I　lie　in　bed　for　a　while；　watching　the　sun　e　up　on　a　beautiful　morning。　Itˇs　Sunday。　A　day　off　at　home。　I　wonder　if　Gale　is　in　the　woods　yet。　Usually　we　devote　all　of　Sunday　to　stocking　up　for　the　week。　Rising　early；　hunting　and　gathering；　then　trading　at　the　Hob。　I　think　of　Gale　without　me。　Both　of　us　can　hunt　alone；　but　weˇre　better　as　a　pair。　Particularly　if　weˇre　trying　for　bigger　game。　But　also　in　the　littler　things；　having　a　partner　lightened　the　load；　could　even　make　the　arduous　task　of　filling　my　familyˇs　table　enjoyable。
I　had　been　struggling　along　on　my　own　for　about　six　months　when　I　first　ran　into　Gale　in　the　woods。　It　was　a　Sunday　in　October；　the　air　cool　and　pungent　with　dying　things。　Iˇd　spent　the　morning　peting　with　the　squirrels　for　nuts　and　the　slightly　warmer　afternoon　wading　in　shallow　ponds　harvesting　katniss。　The　only　meat　Iˇd　shot　was　a　squirrel　that　had　practically　run　over　my　toes　in　its　quest　for　acorns；　but　the　animals　would　still　be　afoot　when　the　snow　buried　my　other　food　sources。　Having　strayed　farther　afield　than　usual；　I　was　hurrying　back　home；　lugging　my　burlap　sacks　when　I　came　across　a　dead　rabbit。　It　was　hanging　by　its　neck　in　a　thin　wire　a　foot　above　my　head。　About　fifteen　yards　away　was　another。　I　recognized　the　twitch…up　snares　because　my　father　had　used　them。　When　the　prey　is　caught；　itˇs　yanked　into　the　air　out　of　the　reach　of　other　hungry　animals。　Iˇd　been　trying　to　use　snares　all　summer　with　no　success；　so　I　couldnˇt　help　dropping　my　sacks　to　examine　this　one。　My　fingers　were　just　on　the　wire　above　one　of　the　rabbits　when　a　voice　rang　out。　¨Thatˇs　dangerous。〃
I　jumped　back　several　feet　as　Gale　materialized　from　behind　a　tree。　He　must　have　been　watching　me　the　whole　time。　He　was　only　fourteen；　but　he　cleared　six　feet　and　was　as　good　as　an　adult　to　me。　Iˇd　seen　him　around　the　Seam　and　at　school。　And　one　other　time。　Heˇd　lost　his　father　in　the　same　blast　that　killed　mine。　In　January；　Iˇd　stood　by　while　he　received　his　medal　of　valor　in　the　Justice　Building；　another　oldest　child　with　no　father。　I　remembered　his　two　little　brothers　clutching　his　mother；　a　woman　whose　swollen　belly　announced　she　was　just　days　away　from　giving　birth。
¨Whatˇs　your　name？〃　he　said；　ing　over　and　disengaging　the　rabbit　from　the　snare。　He　had　another　three　hanging　from　his　belt。
¨Katniss；〃　I　said；　barely　audible。
¨Well；　Catnip；　stealingˇs　punishable　by　death；　or　hadnˇt　you　heard？〃　he　said。
¨Katniss；〃　I　said　louder。　¨And　I　wasnˇt　stealing　it。　I　just　wanted　to　look　at　your　snare。　Mine　never　catch　anything。〃
He　scowled　at　me；　not　convinced。　¨So　whereˇd　you　get　the　squirrel？〃
¨I　shot　it。〃　I　pulled　my　bow　off　my　shoulder。　I　was　still　using　the　small　version　my　father　had　made　me；　but　Iˇd　been　practicing　with　the　full…size　one　when　I　could。　I　was　hoping　that　by　spring　I　might　be　able　to　bring　down　some　bigger　game。
Galeˇs　eyes　fastened　on　the　bow。　¨Can　I　see　that？〃　I　handed　it　over。　¨Just　remember；　stealingˇs　punishable　by　death。〃
That　was　the　first　time　I　ever　saw　him　smile。　It　transformed　him　from　someone　menacing　to　someone　you　wished　you　knew。　But　it　took　several　months　before　I　returned　that　smile。
We　talked　hunting　then。　I　told　him　I　might　be　able　to　get　him　a　bow　if　he　had　something　to　trade。　Not　food。　I　wanted　knowledge。　I　wanted　to　set　my　own　snares　that　caught　a　belt　of　fat　rabbits　in　one　day。　He　agreed　something　might　be　worked　out。　As　the　seasons　went　by；　we　grudgingly　began　to　share　our　knowledge；　our　weapons；　our　secret　places　that　were　thick　with　wild　plums　or　turkeys。　He　taught　me　snares　and　fishing。　I　showed　him　what　plants　to　eat　and　eventually　gave　him　one　of　our　precious　bows。　And　then　one　day；　without　either　of　us　saying　it；　we　became　a　team。　Dividing　the　work　and　the　spoils。　Making　sure　that　both　our　families　had　food。
Gale　gave　me　a　sense　of　security　Iˇd　lacked　since　my　fatherˇs　death。　His　panionship　replaced　the　long　solitary　hours　in　the　woods。　I　became　a　much　better　hunter　when　I　didnˇt　have　to　look　over　my　shoulder　constantly；　when　someone　was　watching　my　back。　But　he　turned　into　so　much　more　than　a　hunting　partner。　He　became　my　confidante；　someone　with　whom　I　could　share　thoughts　I　could　never　voice　inside　the　fence。　In　exchange；　he　trusted　me　with　his。　Being　out　in　the　woods　with　Gale　。　。　。　sometimes　I　was　actually　happy。
I　call　him　my　friend；　but　in　the　last　year　itˇs　seemed　too　casual　a　word　for　what　Gale　is　to　me。　A　pang　of　longing　shoots　through　my　chest。　If　only　he　was　with　me　now！　But；　of　course；　I　donˇt　want　that。　I　donˇt　want　him　in　the　arena　where　heˇd　be　dead　in　a　few　days。　I　just　。　。　。　I　just　miss　him。　And　I　hate　being　so　alone。　Does　he　miss　me？　He　must。
I　think　of　the　eleven　flashing　under　my　name　last　night。　I　know　exactly　what　heˇd　say　to　me。　¨Well；　thereˇs　some　room　for　improvement　there。〃　And　then　heˇd　give　me　a　smile　and　Iˇd　return　it　without　hesitating　now。
I　canˇt　help　paring　what　I　have　with　Gale　to　what　Iˇm　pretending　to　have　with　Peeta。　Hootives　while　I　do　nothing　but　doubt　the　latterˇs。　Itˇs　not　a　fair　parison　really。　Gale　and　I　were　thrown　together　by　a　mutual　need　to　survive。　Peeta　and　I　know　the　otherˇs　survival　means　our　own　death。　How　do　you　sidestep　that？
Effieˇs　knocking　at　the　door；　reminding　me　thereˇs　another　¨big；　big；　big　day！〃　ahead。　Tomorrow　night　will　be　our　televised　interviews。　I　guess　the　whole　team　will　have　their　hands　full　readying　us　for　that。
I　get　up　and　take　a　quick　shower；　being　a　bit　more　careful　about　the　buttons　I　hit；　and　head　down　to　the　dining　room。　Peeta；　Effie；　and　Haymitch　are　huddled　around　the　table　talking　in　hushed　voices。　That　seems　odd；　but　hunger　wins　out　over　curiosity　and　I　load　up　my　plate　with　breakfast　before　I　join　them。
The　stewˇs　made　with　tender　chunks　of　lamb　and　dried　plums　today。　Perfect　on　the　bed　of　wild　rice。　Iˇve　shoveled　about　halfway　through　the　mound　when　I　realize　no　oneˇs　talking。　I　take　a　big　gulp　of　orange　juice　and　wipe　my　mouth。　¨So；　whatˇs　going　on？　Youˇre　coaching　us　on　interviews　today；　right？〃
¨Thatˇs　right；〃　says　Haymitch。
¨You　donˇt　have　to　wait　until　Iˇm　done。　I　can　listen　and　cat　at　the　same　time；〃　I　say。
¨Well；　thereˇs　been　a　change　of　plans。　About　our　current　approach；〃　says　Haymitch。
¨Whatˇs　that？〃　I　ask。　Iˇm　not　sure　what　our　current　approach　is。　Trying　to　appear　mediocre　in　front　of　the　other　tributes　is　the　last　bit　of　strategy　I　remember。
Haymitch　shrugs。　¨Peeta　has　asked　to　be　coached　separately。〃

9
Betrayal。　Thatˇs　the　first　thing　I　feel；　which　is　ludicrous。　For　there　to　be　betrayal；　there　would　have　had　to　been　trust　first。　Between　Peeta　and　me。　And　trust　has　not　been　part　of　the　agreement。　Weˇre　tributes。　But　the　boy　who　risked　a　beating　to　give　me　bread；　the　one　who　steadied　me　in　the　chariot；　who　covered　for　me　with　the　redheaded　Avox