第45部分(第1/7 页)

¨You　didnˇt　swallow　any？〃　I　ask　him。

He　shakes　his　head。　¨You？〃

¨Guess　Iˇd　be　dead　by　now　if　I　did；〃　I　say。　I　can　see　his　lips　moving　in　reply；　but　I　canˇt　hear　him　over　the　roar　of　the　crowd　in　the　Capitol　that　theyˇre　playing　live　over　the　speakers。

The　hovercraft　materializes　overhead　and　two　ladders　drop；　only　thereˇs　no　way　Iˇm　letting　go　of　Peeta。　I　keep　one　arm　around　him　as　I　help　him　up；　and　we　each　place　a　foot　on　the　first　rung　of　the　ladder。　The　electric　current　freezes　us　in　place；　and　this　time　Iˇm　glad　because　Iˇm　not　really　sure　Peeta　can　hang　on　for　the　whole　ride。　And　since　my　eyes　were　looking　down；　I　can　see　that　while　our　muscles　are　immobile；　nothing　is　preventing　the　blood　from　draining　out　of　Peetaˇs　leg。　Sure　enough；　the　minute　the　door　closes　behind　us　and　the　current　stops；　he　slumps　to　the　floor　unconscious。

My　fingers　are　still　gripping　the　back　of　his　jacket　so　tightly　that　when　they　take　him　away　it　tears　leaving　me　with　a　fistful　of　black　fabric。　Doctors　in　sterile　white；　masked　and　gloved；　already　prepped　to　operate；　go　into　action。　Peetaˇs　so　pale　and　still　on　a　silver　table；　tubes　and　wires　springing　out　of　him　every　which　way；　and　for　a　moment　I　forget　weˇre　out　of　the　Games　and　I　see　the　doctors　as　just　one　more　threat；　one　more　pack　of　mutts　designed　to　kill　him。　Petrified；　I　lunge　for　him；　but　Iˇm　caught　and　thrust　back　into　another　room；　and　a　glass　door　seals　between　us。　I　pound　on　the　glass；　screaming　my　head　off。　Everyone　ignores　me　except　for　some　Capitol　attendant　who　appears　behind　me　and　offers　me　a　beverage。

I　slump　down　on　the　floor；　my　face　against　the　door；　staring　unprehendingly　at　the　crystal　glass　in　my　hand。　Icy　cold；　filled　with　orange　juice；　a　straw　with　a　frilly　white　collar