第19部分(第2/7 页)

m　so　nervous；　I　could　be　eating　coal　dust。　The　one　thing　that　distracts　me　at　all　is　the　view　from　the　windows　as　we　sail　over　the　city　and　then　to　the　wilderness　beyond。　This　is　what　birds　see。　Only　theyˇre　free　and　safe。　The　very　opposite　of　me。

The　ride　lasts　about　half　an　hour　before　the　windows　black　out；　suggesting　that　weˇre　nearing　the　arena。　The　hovercraft　lands　and　Cinna　and　I　go　back　to　the　ladder；　only　this　time　it　leads　down　into　a　tube　underground；　into　the　catabs　that　lie　beneath　the　arena。　We　follow　instructions　to　my　destination；　a　chamber　for　my　preparation。　In　the　Capitol；　they　call　it　the　Launch　Room。　In　the　districts；　itˇs　referred　to　as　the　Stockyard。　The　place　animals　go　before　slaughter。

Everything　is　brand…new；　I　will　be　the　first　and　only　tribute　to　use　this　Launch　Room。　The　arenas　are　historic　sites；　preserved　after　the　Games。　Popular　destinations　for　Capitol　residents　to　visit；　to　vacation。　Go　for　a　month；　rewatch　the　Games；　tour　the　catabs；　visit　the　sites　where　the　deaths　took　place。　You　can　even　take　part　in　reenactments。　They　say　the　food　is　excellent。

I　struggle　to　keep　my　breakfast　down　as　I　shower　and　clean　my　teeth。　Cinna　does　my　hair　in　my　simple　trademark　braid　down　my　back。　Then　the　clothes　arrive；　the　same　for　every　tribute。　Cinna　has　had　no　say　in　my　outfit；　does　not　even　know　what　will　be　in　the　package；　but　he　helps　me　dress　in　the　undergarments；　simple　tawny　pants；　light　green　blouse；　sturdy　brown　belt；　and　thin；　hooded　black　jacket　that　falls　to　my　thighs。　¨The　material　in　the　jacketˇs　designed　to　reflect　body　heat。　Expect　some　cool　nights；〃　he　says。

The　boots；　worn　over　skintight　socks；　are　better　than　I　could　have　hoped　for。　Soft　leather　not　unlike　my　ones　at　home。　These　have　a　narrow　flexible　ru