第11部分(第5/7 頁)

s　kindness。　A　friend　would　do　that；　right？

¨They　were　from　here？〃　he　asks；　and　he　secures　a　button　at　my　neck。

I　nod。　Theyˇd　had　that　Capitol　look　about　them。　The　boy　and　the　girl。

¨Where　do　you　suppose　they　were　going？〃　he　asks。

¨I　donˇt　know　that；〃　I　say。　District　12　is　pretty　much　the　end　of　the　line。　Beyond　us；　thereˇs　only　wilderness。　If　you　donˇt　count　the　ruins　of　District　13　that　still　smolder　from　the　toxic　bombs。　They　show　it　on　television　occasionally；　just　to　remind　us。　¨Or　why　they　would　leave　here。〃　Haymitch　had　called　the　Avoxes　traitors。　Against　what？　It　could　only　be　the　Capitol。　But　they　had　everything　here。　No　cause　to　rebel。

¨Iˇd　leave　here；〃　Peeta　blurts　out。　Then　he　looks　around　nervously。　It　was　loud　enough　to　hear　above　the　chimes。　He　laughs。　¨Iˇd　go　home　now　if　they　let　me。　But　you　have　to　admit；　the　foodˇs　prime。〃

Heˇs　covered　again。　If　thatˇs　all　youˇd　heard　it　would　just　sound　like　the　words　of　a　scared　tribute；　not　someone　contemplating　the　unquestionable　goodness　of　the　Capitol。

¨Itˇs　getting　chilly。　We　better　go　in；〃　he　says。　Inside　the　dome；　itˇs　warm　and　bright。　His　tone　is　conversational。　¨Your　friend　Gale。　Heˇs　the　one　who　took　your　sister　away　at　the　reaping？〃

¨Yes。　Do　you　know　him？〃　I　ask。

¨Not　really。　I　hear　the　girls　talk　about　him　a　lot。　I　thought　he　was　your　cousin　or　something。　You　favor　each　other；〃　he　says。

¨No；　weˇre　not　related；〃　I　say。

Peeta　nods；　unreadable。　¨Did　he　e　to　say　good…bye　to　you？〃

¨Yes；〃　I　say；　observing　him　carefully。　¨So　did　your　father。　He　brought　me　cookies。〃

Peeta　raises　his　eyebrows　as　if　this　is　news。　But　after　watching　him　lie　so　smoothly；　I　donˇt　give　this　much　weight。　¨Really？　Well；　he　likes　you　and　your　sister。