波波小说

第17部分（第1页）

Caesar；　he　really　does　his　best　to　make　the　tributes　shine。　Heˇs　friendly；　tries　to　set　the　nervous　ones　at　ease；　laughs　at　lame　jokes；　and　can　turn　a　weak　response　into　a　memorable　one　by　the　way　he　reacts。

I　sit　like　a　lady；　the　way　Effie　showed　me；　as　the　districts　slip　by。　2；　3；　4。　Everyone　seems　to　be　playing　up　some　angle。　The　monstrous　boy　from　District　2　is　a　ruthless　killing　machine。　The　fox…faced　girl　from　District　5　sly　and　elusive。　I　spotted　Cinna　as　soon　as　he　took　his　place；　but　even　his　presence　cannot　relax　me。　8；　9；　10。　The　crippled　boy　from　10　is　very　quiet。　My　palms　are　sweating　like　crazy；　but　the　jeweled　dress　isnˇt　absorbent　and　they　skid　right　of　if　I　try　to　dry　them。　11。

Rue；　who　is　dressed　in　a　gossamer　gown　plete　with　wings；　flutters　her　way　to　Caesar。　A　hush　falls　over　the　crowd　at　the　sight　of　this　magical　wisp　of　a　tribute。　Caesarˇs　very　sweet　with　her；　plimenting　her　seven　in　training；　an　excellent　score　for　one　so　small。　When　he　asks　her　what　her　greatest　strength　in　the　arena　will　be；　she　doesnˇt　hesitate。　¨Iˇm　very　hard　to　catch；〃　she　says　in　a　tremulous　voice。　¨And　if　they　canˇt　catch　me；　they　canˇt　kill　me。　So　donˇt　count　me　out。〃

¨I　wouldnˇt　in　a　million　years；〃　says　Caesar　encouragingly。

The　boy　tribute　from　District　11；　Thresh；　has　the　same　dark　skin　as　Rue；　but　the　resemblance　stops　there。　Heˇs　one　of　the　giants；　probably　six　and　a　half　feet　tall　and　built　like　an　ox；　but　I　noticed　he　rejected　the　invitations　from　the　Career　Tributes　to　join　their　crowd。　Instead　heˇs　been　very　solitary；　speaking　to　no　one；　showing　little　interest　in　training。　Even　so；　he　scored　a　ten　and　itˇs　not　hard　to　imagine　he　impressed　the　Gamemakers。　He　ignores　Caesarˇs　attempts　at　banter　and　answers　with　a　yes　or　no　or　just　remains　silent。

If　only　I　was　his　size；　I　could　get　away　with　sullen　and　hostile　and　it　would　be　just　fine！　I　bet　half　the　sponsors　are　at　least　considering　him。　If　I　had　any　money；　Iˇd　bet　on　him　myself。

And　then　theyˇre　calling　Katniss　Everdeen；　and　I　feel　myself；　as　if　in　a　dream；　standing　and　making　my　way　center　stage。　I　shake　Caesarˇs　outstretched　hand；　and　he　has　the　good　grace　not　to　immediately　wipe　his　off　on　his　suit。

¨So；　Katniss；　the　Capitol　must　be　quite　a　change　from　District　Twelve。　Whatˇs　impressed　you　most　since　you　arrived　here？〃　asks　Caesar。

What？　What　did　he　say？　Itˇs　as　if　the　words　make　no　sense。

My　mouth　has　gone　as　dry　as　sawdust。　I　desperately　find　Cinna　in　the　crowd　and　lock　eyes　with　him。　I　imagine　the　words　ing　from　his　lips。　¨Whatˇs　impressed　you　most　since　you　arrived　here？〃　I　rack　my　brain　for　something　that　made　me　happy　here。　Be　honest；　I　think。　Be　honest。

¨The　lamb　stew；〃　I　get　out。

Caesar　laughs；　and　vaguely　I　realize　some　of　the　audience　has　joined　in。

¨The　one　with　the　dried　plums？〃　asks　Caesar。　I　nod。　¨Oh；　I　eat　it　by　the　bucketful。〃　He　turns　sideways　to　the　audience　in　horror；　hand　on　his　stomach。　¨It　doesnˇt　show；　does　it？〃　They　shout　reassurances　to　him　and　applaud。　This　is　what　I　mean　about　Caesar。　He　tries　to　help　you　out。

¨Now；　Katniss；〃　he　says　confidentially；　¨When　you　came　out　in　the　opening　ceremonies；　my　heart　actually　stopped。　What　did　you　think　of　that　costume？〃

Cinna　raises　one　eyebrow　at　me。　Be　honest。　¨You　mean　after　I　got　over　my　fear　of　being　burned　alive？〃　I　ask。

Big　laugh。　A　real　one　from　the　audience。

¨Yes。　Start　then；〃　says　Caesar。

Cinna；　my　friend；　I　should　tell　him　anyway。　¨I　thought　Cinna　was　brilliant　and　it　was　the　most　gorgeous　costume　Iˇd　ever　seen　and　I　couldnˇt　believe　I　was　wearing　it。　I　canˇt　believe　Iˇm　wearing　this；　either。〃　I　lift　up　my　skirt　to　spread　it　out。　¨I　mean；　look　at　it！〃

As　the　audience　oohs　and　ahs；　I　see　Cinna　make　the　tiniest　circular　motion　with　his　finger。　But　I　know　what　heˇs　saying。　Twirl　for　me。

I　spin　in　a　circle　once　and　the　reaction　is　immediate。

¨Oh；　do　that　again！〃　says　Caesar；　and　so　I　lift　up　my　arms　and　spin　around　and　around　letting　the　skirt　fly　out；　letting　the　dress　engulf　me　in　flames。　The　audience　breaks　into　cheers。　When　I　stop；　I　clutch　Caesarˇs　arm。

¨Donˇt　stop！〃　he　says。

¨I　have　to；　Iˇm　dizzy！〃　Iˇm　also　giggling；　which　I　think　Iˇve　done　maybe　never　in　my　lifetime。　But　the　nerves　and　the　spinning　have　gotten　to　me。

Caesar　wraps　a　protective　arm　around　me。　¨Donˇt　worry；　Iˇve　got　you。　Canˇt　have　you　following　in　your　mentorˇs　footsteps。〃

Everyoneˇs　hooting　as　the　cameras　find　Haymitch；　who　is　by　now　famous　for　his　head　dive　at　the　reaping；　and　he　waves　them　away　good…naturedly　and　points　back　to　me。

¨Itˇs　all　right；〃　Caesar　reassures　the　crowd。　¨Sheˇs　safe　with　me。　So；　how　about　that　training　score。　E…le…ven。　Give　us　a　hint　what　happened　in　there。〃

I　glance　at　the　Gamemakers　on　the　balcony　and　bite　my　lip。　¨Um　。　。　。　all　I　can　say；　is　I　think　it　was　a　first。〃

The　cameras　are　right　on　the　Gamemakers；　who　are　chuckling　and　nodding。

¨Youˇre　killing　us；〃　says　Caesar　as　if　in　actual　pain。　¨Details。　Details。〃

I　address　the　balcony。　¨Iˇm　not　supposed　to　talk　about　it；　right？〃

The　Gamemaker　who　fell　in　the　punch　bowl　shouts　out；　¨Sheˇs　not！〃

¨Thank　you；〃　I　say。　¨Sorry。　My　lips　are　sealed。〃

¨Letˇs　go　back　then；　to　the　moment　they　called　your　sisterˇs　name　at　the　reaping；〃　says　Caesar。　His　mood　is　quieter　now。　¨And　you　volunteered。　Can　you　tell　us　about　her？〃

No。　No；　not　all　of　you。　But　maybe　Cinna。　I　donˇt　think　Iˇm　imagining　the　sadness　on　his　face。　¨Her　nameˇs　Prim。　Sheˇs　just　twelve。　And　I　love　her　more　than　anything。〃

You　could　hear　a　pin　drop　in　the　City　Circle　now。

¨What　did　she　say　to　you？　After　the　reaping？〃　Caesar　asks。　Be　honest。　Be　honest。　I　swallow　hard。　¨She　asked　me　to　try　really　hard　to　win。〃　The　audience　is　frozen；　hanging　on　my　every　word。

¨And　what　did　you　say？〃　prompts　Caesar　gently。

But　instead　of　warmth；　I　feel　an　icy　rigidity　take　over　my　body。　My　muscles　tense　as　they　do　before　a　kill。　When　I　speak；　my　voice　seems　to　have　dropped　an　octave。　¨I　swore　I　would。〃

¨I　bet　you　did；〃　says　Caesar；　giving　me　a　squeeze。　The　buzzer　goes　off。　¨Sorry　weˇre　out　of　time。　Best　of　luck；　Katniss　Everdeen；　tribute　from　District　Twelve。〃

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