第11部分(第2/7 页)

gain。　If　I　tell　him　the　truth　about　the　girl；　somehow　that　might　even　things　up。　How　can　it　hurt　really？　Even　if　he　repeated　the　story；　it　couldnˇt　do　me　much　harm。　It　was　just　something　I　witnessed。　And　he　lied　as　much　as　I　did　about　Delly　Cartwright。

I　realize　I　do　want　to　talk　to　someone　about　the　girl。　Someone　who　might　be　able　to　help　me　figure　out　her　story。

Gale　would　be　my　first　choice；　but　itˇs　unlikely　Iˇll　ever　see　Gale　again。　I　try　to　think　if　telling　Peeta　could　give　him　any　possible　advantage　over　me；　but　I　donˇt　see　how。　Maybe　sharing　a　confidence　will　actually　make　him　believe　I　see　him　as　a　friend。

Besides；　the　idea　of　the　girl　with　her　maimed　tongue　frightens　me。　She　has　reminded　me　why　Iˇm　here。　Not　to　model　flashy　costumes　and　eat　delicacies。　But　to　die　a　bloody　death　while　the　crowds　urge　on　my　killer。

To　tell　or　not　to　tell？　My　brain　still　feels　slow　from　the　wine。　I　stare　down　the　empty　corridor　as　if　the　decision　lies　there。

Peeta　picks　up　on　my　hesitation。　¨Have　you　been　on　the　roof　yet？〃　I　shake　my　head。　¨Cinna　showed　me。　You　can　practically　see　the　whole　city。　The　windˇs　a　bit　loud；　though。〃

I　translate　this　into　¨No　one　will　overhear　us　talking〃　in　my　head。　You　do　have　the　sense　that　we　might　be　under　surveillance　here。　¨Can　we　just　go　up？〃

¨Sure；　e　on；〃　says　Peeta。　I　follow　him　to　a　flight　of　stairs　that　lead　to　the　roof。　Thereˇs　a　small　dome…shaped　room　with　a　door　to　the　outside。　As　we　step　into　the　cool；　windy　evening　air；　I　catch　my　breath　at　the　view。　The　Capitol　twinkles　like　a　vast　field　of　fireflies。　Electricity　in　District　12　es　and　goes；　usually　we　only　have　it　a　few　hours　a　day。　Often　the　evenings　are　spent　in　candlelight。　The　only　time　you　can　count　on　it　is　when　theyˇre　airing　the