第11部分(第1/7 页)

mp　on　Peetaˇs　suggestion　gratefully。　¨Of　course；　thatˇs　who　I　was　thinking　of。　It　must　be　the　hair；〃　I　say。

¨Something　about　the　eyes；　too；〃　says　Peeta。

The　energy　at　the　table　relaxes。　¨Oh；　well。　If　thatˇs　all　it　is；〃　says　Cinna。　¨And　yes；　the　cake　has　spirits；　but　all　the　alcohol　has　burned　off。　I　ordered　it　specially　in　honor　of　your　fiery　debut。〃

We　eat　the　cake　and　move　into　a　sitting　room　to　watch　the　replay　of　the　opening　ceremonies　thatˇs　being　broadcast。　A　few　of　the　other　couples　make　a　nice　impression；　but　none　of　them　can　hold　a　candle　to　us。　Even　our　own　party　lets　out　an　¨Ahh！〃　as　they　show　us　ing　out　of　the　Remake　Center。

¨Whose　idea　was　the　hand　holding？〃　asks　Haymitch。

¨Cinnaˇs；〃　says　Portia。

¨Just　the　perfect　touch　of　rebellion；〃　says　Haymitch。　¨Very　nice。〃

Rebellion？　I　have　to　think　about　that　one　a　moment。　But　when　I　remember　the　other　couples；　standing　stiffly　apart；　never　touching　or　acknowledging　each　other；　as　if　their　fellow　tribute　did　not　exist；　as　if　the　Games　had　already　begun；　I　know　what　Haymitch　means。　Presenting　ourselves　not　as　adversaries　but　as　friends　has　distinguished　us　as　much　as　the　fiery　costumes。

¨Tomorrow　morning　is　the　first　training　session。　Meet　me　for　breakfast　and　Iˇll　tell　you　exactly　how　I　want　you　to　play　it；〃　says　Haymitch　to　Peeta　and　I。　¨Now　go　get　some　sleep　while　the　grown…ups　talk。〃

Peeta　and　I　walk　together　down　the　corridor　to　our　rooms。　When　we　get　to　my　door；　he　leans　against　the　frame；　not　blocking　my　entrance　exactly　but　insisting　I　pay　attention　to　him。　¨So；　Delly　Cartwright。　Imagine　finding　her　lookalike　here。〃

Heˇs　asking　for　an　explanation；　and　Iˇm　tempted　to　give　him　one。　We　both　know　he　covered　for　me。　So　here　I　am　in　his　debt　a