第47部分(第3/7 页)

e　hushing　one　another；　not　wanting　to　miss　anything。　A　wave　of　gratitude　to　the　filmmakers　sweeps　over　me　when　they　end　not　with　the　announcement　of　our　victory；　but　with　me　pounding　on　the　glass　door　of　the　hovercraft；　screaming　Peetaˇs　name　as　they　try　to　revive　him。

In　terms　of　survival；　itˇs　my　best　moment　all　night。

The　anthemˇs　playing　yet　again　and　we　rise　as　President　Snow　himself　takes　the　stage　followed　by　a　little　girl　carrying　a　cushion　that　holds　the　crown。　Thereˇs　just　one　crown；　though；　and　you　can　hear　the　crowdˇs　confusion　�　whose　head　will　he　place　it　on？　�　until　President　Snow　gives　it　a　twist　and　it　separates　into　two　halves。　He　places　the　first　around　Peetaˇs　brow　with　a　smile。　Heˇs　still　smiling　when　he　settles　the　second　on　my　head；　but　his　eyes；　just　inches　from　mine；　are　as　unforgiving　as　a　snakeˇs。

Thatˇs　when　I　know　that　even　though　both　of　us　would　have　eaten　the　berries；　I　am　to　blame　for　having　the　idea。　Iˇm　the　instigator。　Iˇm　the　one　to　be　punished。

Much　bowing　and　cheering　follows。　My　arm　is　about　to　fall　off　from　waving　when　Caesar　Flickerman　finally　bids　the　audience　good　night；　reminding　them　to　tune　in　tomorrow　for　the　final　interviews。　As　if　they　have　a　choice。

Peeta　and　I　are　whisked　to　the　presidentˇs　mansion　for　the　Victory　Banquet；　where　we　have　very　little　time　to　eat　as　Capitol　officials　and　particularly　generous　sponsors　elbow　one　another　out　of　the　way　as　they　try　to　get　their　picture　with　us。　Face　after　beaming　face　flashes　by；　being　increasingly　intoxicated　as　the　evening　wears　on。　Occasionally；　I　catch　a　glimpse　of　Haymitch；　which　is　reassuring；　or　President　Snow；　which　is　terrifying；　but　I　keep　laughing　and　thanking　people　and　smiling　as　my　picture　is　taken。　The　one　thing　I　never　do　is