第39部分(第1/7 页)

¨Thatˇs　exactly　the　kind　of　topic　Haymitch　told　me　to　steer　clear　of；〃　I　say　evasively；　although　Haymitch　never　said　anything　of　the　kind。　In　fact；　heˇs　probably　cursing　me　out　right　now　for　dropping　the　ball　during　such　an　emotionally　charged　moment。　But　Peeta　somehow　catches　it。

¨Then　Iˇll　just　have　to　fill　in　the　blanks　myself；〃　he　says；　and　moves　in　to　me。

This　is　the　first　kiss　that　weˇre　both　fully　aware　of。　Neither　of　us　hobbled　by　sickness　or　pain　or　simply　unconscious。　Our　lips　neither　burning　with　fever　or　icy　cold。　This　is　the　first　kiss　where　I　actually　feel　stirring　inside　my　chest。　Warm　and　curious。　This　is　the　first　kiss　that　makes　me　want　another。

But　I　donˇt　get　it。　Well；　I　do　get　a　second　kiss；　but　itˇs　just　a　light　one　on　the　tip　of　my　nose　because　Peetaˇs　been　distracted。　¨I　think　your　wound　is　bleeding　again。　e　on；　lie　down；　itˇs　bedtime　anyway；〃　he　says。

My　socks　are　dry　enough　to　wear　now。　I　make　Peeta　put　his　jacket　back　on。　The　damp　cold　seems　to　cut　right　down　to　my　bones；　so　he　must　be　half　frozen。　I　insist　on　taking　the　first　watch；　too；　although　neither　of　us　think　itˇs　likely　anyone　will　e　in　this　weather。　But　he　wonˇt　agree　unless　Iˇm　in　the　bag；　too；　and　Iˇm　shivering　so　hard　that　itˇs　pointless　to　object。　In　stark　contrast　to　two　nights　ago；　when　I　felt　Peeta　was　a　million　miles　away；　Iˇm　struck　by　his　immediacy　now。　As　we　settle　in；　he　pulls　my　head　down　to　use　his　arm　as　a　pillow；　the　other　rests　protectively　over　me　even　when　he　goes　to　sleep。　No　one　has　held　me　like　this　in　such　a　long　time。　Since　my　father　died　and　I　stopped　trusting　my　mother；　no　one　elseˇs　arms　have　made　me　feel　this　safe。

With　the　aid　of　the　glasses；　I　lie　watching　the　drips　of　water　splatter　on　the　cave　floor。　Rhythmic　and