《the hunger games-饥饿游戏(英文版)》饥饿游戏(英文版)-第83章

Iˇm　dressed　in　less　than　a　minute　and　fidgeting　in　front　of　the　wall　where　I　know　thereˇs　a　door　even　if　I　canˇt　see　it　when　suddenly　it　slides　open。　I　step　into　a　wide；　deserted　hall　that　appears　to　have　no　other　doors　on　it。　But　it　must。　And　behind　one　of　them　must　be　Peeta。　Now　that　Iˇm　conscious　and　moving；　Iˇm　growing　more　and　more　anxious　about　him。　He　must　be　all　right　or　the　Avox　girl　wouldnˇt　have　said　so。　But　I　need　to　see　him　for　myself。
¨Peeta！〃　I　call　out；　since　thereˇs　no　one　to　ask。　I　hear　my　name　in　response；　but　itˇs　not　his　voice。　Itˇs　a　voice　that　provokes　first　irritation　and　then　eagerness。　Effie。
I　turn　and　see　them　all　waiting　in　a　big　chamber　at　the　end　of　the　hall　　Effie；　Haymitch；　and　Cinna。　My　feet　take　off　without　hesitation。　Maybe　a　victor　should　show　more　restraint；　more　superiority；　especially　when　she　knows　this　will　be　on　tape；　but　I　donˇt　care。　I　run　for　them　and　surprise　even　myself　when　I　launch　into　Haymitchˇs　arms　first。　When　he　whispers　in　my　ear；　¨Nice　job；　sweetheart；〃　it　doesnˇt　sound　sarcastic。　Effieˇs　somewhat　teary　and　keeps　patting　my　hair　and　talking
about　how　she　told　everyone　we　were　pearls。　Cinna　just　hugs　me　tight　and　doesnˇt　say　anything。　Then　I　notice　Portia　is　absent　and　get　a　bad　feeling。
¨Whereˇs　Portia？　Is　she　with　Peeta？　He　is　all　right；　isnˇt　he？　I　mean；　heˇs　alive？〃　I　blurt　out。
¨Heˇs　fine。　Only　they　want　to　do　your　reunion　live　on　air　at　the　ceremony；〃　says　Haymitch。
¨Oh。　Thatˇs　all；〃　I　say。　The　awful　moment　of　thinking　Peetaˇs　dead　again　passes。　¨I　guess　Iˇd　want　to　see　that　myself。〃
¨Go　on　with　Cinna。　He　has　to　get　you　ready；〃　says　Haymitch。
Itˇs　a　relief　to　be　alone　with　Cinna；　to　feel　his　protective　arm　around　my　shoulders　as　he　guides　me　away　from　the　cameras；　down　a　few　passages　and　to　an　elevator　that　leads　to　the　lobby　of　the　Training　Center。　The　hospital　then　is　far　underground；　even　beneath　the　gym　where　the　tributes　practiced　tying　knots　and　throwing　spears。　The　windows　of　the　lobby　are　darkened；　and　a　handful　of　guards　stand　on　duty。　No　one　else　is　there　to　see　us　cross　to　the　tribute　elevator。　Our　footsteps　echo　in　the　emptiness。　And　when　we　ride　up　to　the　twelfth　floor；　the　faces　of　all　the　tributes　who　will　never　return　flash　across　my　mind　and　thereˇs　a　heavy；　tight　place　in　my　chest。
When　the　elevator　doors　open；　Venia；　Flavius；　and　Octavia　engulf　me；　talking　so　quickly　and　ecstatically　I　canˇt　make　out　their　words。　The　sentiment　is　clear　though。　They　are　truly　thrilled　to　see　me　and　Iˇm　happy　to　see　them；　too；　although　not　like　I　was　to　see　Cinna。　Itˇs　more　in　the　way　one　might　be　glad　to　see　an　affectionate　trio　of　pets　at　the　end　of　a　particularly　difficult　day。
They　sweep　me　into　the　dining　room　and　I　get　a　real　meal　　roast　beef　and　peas　and　soft　rolls　　although　my　portions　are　still　being　strictly　controlled。　Because　when　I　ask　for　seconds；　Iˇm　refused。
¨No；　no；　no。　They　donˇt　want　it　all　ing　back　up　on　the　stage；〃　says　Octavia；　but　she　secretly　slips　me　an　extra　roll　under　the　table　to　let　me　know　sheˇs　on　my　side。
We　go　back　to　my　room　and　Cinna　disappears　for　a　while　as　the　prep　team　gets　me　ready。
¨Oh；　they　did　a　full　body　polish　on　you；〃　says　Flavius　enviously。　¨Not　a　flaw　left　on　your　skin。〃
But　when　I　look　at　my　naked　body　in　the　mirror；　all　I　can　see　is　how　skinny　I　am。　I　mean；　Iˇm　sure　I　was　worse　when　I　came　out　of　the　arena；　but　I　can　easily　count　my　ribs。
They　take　care　of　the　shower　settings　for　me；　and　they　go　to　work　on　my　hair；　nails；　and　makeup　when　Iˇm　done。　They　chatter　so　continuously　that　I　barely　have　to　reply；　which　is　good；　since　I　donˇt　feel　very　talkative。　Itˇs　funny；　because　even　though　theyˇre　rattling　on　about　the　Games；　itˇs　all　about　where　they　were　or　what　they　were　doing　or　how　they　felt　when　a　specific　event　occurred。　¨I　was　still　in　bed！〃　¨I　had　just　had　my　eyebrows　dyed！〃　¨I　swear　I　nearly　fainted！〃　Everything　is　about　them；　not　the　dying　boys　and　girls　in　the　arena。
We　donˇt　wallow　around　in　the　Games　this　way　in　District　12。　We　grit　our　teeth　and　watch　because　we　must　and　try　to　get　back　to　business　as　soon　as　possible　when　theyˇre　over。　To　keep　from　hating　the　prep　team；　I　effectively　tune　out　most　of　what　theyˇre　saying。
Cinna　es　in　with　what　appears　to　be　an　unassuming　yellow　dress　across　his　arms。
¨Have　you　given　up　the　whole　ˉgirl　on　fireˇ　thing？〃　I　ask。
¨You　tell　me；〃　he　says；　and　slips　it　over　my　head。　I　immediately　notice　the　padding　over　my　breasts；　adding　curves　that　hunger　has　stolen　from　my　body。　My　hands　go　to　my　chest　and　I　frown。
¨I　know；〃　says　Cinna　before　I　can　object。　¨But　the　Gamemakers　wanted　to　alter　you　surgically。　Haymitch　had　a　huge　fight　with　them　over　it。　This　was　the　promise。〃　He　stops　me　before　I　can　look　at　my　reflection。　¨Wait；　donˇt　forget　the　shoes。〃　Venia　helps　me　into　a　pair　of　flat　leather　sandals　and　I　turn　to　the　mirror。
I　am　still　the　¨girl　on　fire。〃　The　sheer　fabric　softly　glows。　Even　the　slight　movement　in　the　air　sends　a　ripple　up　my　body。　By　parison；　the　chariot　costume　seems　garish；　the　interview　dress　too　contrived。　In　this　dress；　I　give　the　illusion　of　wearing　candlelight。
¨What　do　you　think？〃　asks　Cinna。
¨I　think　itˇs　the　best　yet；〃　I　say。　When　I　manage　to　pull　my　eyes　away　from　the　flickering　fabric；　Iˇm　in　for　something　of　a　shock。　My　hairˇs　loose；　held　back　by　a　simple　hairband。　The　makeup　rounds　and　fills　out　the　sharp　angles　of　my　face。　A　clear　polish　coats　my　nails。　The　sleeveless　dress　is　gathered　at　my　ribs；　not　my　waist；　largely　eliminating　any　help　the　pad348　ding　would　have　given　my　figure。　The　hem　falls　just　to　my　knees。　Without　heels；　you　can　see　my　true　stature。　I　look；　very　simply；　like　a　girl。　A　young　one。　Fourteen　at　the　most。　Innocent。　Harmless。　Yes；　it　is　shocking　that　Cinna　has　pulled　this　off　when　you　remember　Iˇve　just　won　the　Games。
This　is　a　very　calculated　look。　Nothing　Cinna　designs　is　arbitrary。　I　bite　my　lip　trying　to　figure　out　his　motivation。
¨I　thought　itˇd　be　something　more　。　。　。　sophisticated…　looking；〃　I　say。
¨I　thought　Peeta　would　like　this　better；〃　he　answers　carefully。
Peeta？　No；　itˇs　not　about　Peeta。　I