第17部分(第2/7 页)

emains　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　m