第19部分(第1/7 頁)

pletely　savage　and　the　Gamemakers　had　to　have　him　stunned　with　electric　guns　to　collect　the　bodies　of　the　players　he'd　killed　before　he　ate　them。　There　are　no　rules　in　the　arena；　but　cannibalism　doesn't　play　well　with　the　Capitol　audience；　so　they　tried　to　head　it　off。　There　was　some　speculation　that　the　avalanche　that　finally　took　Titus　out　was　specifically　engineered　to　ensure　the　victor　was　not　a　lunatic。

I　don't　see　Peeta　in　the　morning。　Cinna　es　to　me　before　dawn；　gives　me　a　simple　shift　to　wear；　and　guides　me　to　the　roof。　My　final　dressing　and　preparations　will　be　alone　in　the　catabs　under　the　arena　itself。　A　hovercraft　appears　out　of　thin　air；　just　like　the　one　did　in　the　woods　the　day　I　saw　the　redheaded　Avox　girl　captured；　and　a　ladder　drops　down。　I　place　my　hands　and　feet　on　the　lower　rungs　and　instantly　it's　as　if　I'm　frozen。　Some　sort　of　current　glues　me　to　the　ladder　while　I'm　lifted　safely　inside。

I　expect　the　ladder　to　release　me　then；　but　I'm　still　stuck　when　a　woman　in　a　white　coat　approaches　me　carrying　a　syringe。　〃This　is　just　your　tracker；　Katniss。　The　stiller　you　are；　the　more　efficiently　I　can　place　it；〃　she　says。

Still？　I'm　a　statue。　But　that　doesn't　prevent　me　from　feeling　the　sharp　stab　of　pain　as　the　needle　inserts　the　metal　tracking　device　deep　under　the　skin　on　the　inside　of　my　forearm。　Now　the　Gamemakers　will　always　be　able　to　trace　my　whereabouts　in　the　arena。　Wouldnˇt　want　to　lose　a　tribute。

As　soon　as　the　trackerˇs　in　place；　the　ladder　releases　me。　The　woman　disappears　and　Cinna　is　retrieved　from　the　roof；　An　Avox　boy　es　in　and　directs　us　to　a　room　where　breakfast　has　been　laid　out。　Despite　the　tension　in　my　stomach；　I　eat　as　much　as　I　can；　although　none　of　the　delectable　food　makes　any　impression　on　me。　Iˇ