第12部分(第2/7 頁)

rom　a　distance。　What　did　they　say　last　night　about　my　fiery　debut　at　the　Games？　Did　it　give　them　hope；　or　simply　add　to　their　terror　when　they　saw　the　reality　of　twenty…　four　tributes　circled　together；　knowing　only　one　could　live？　Haymitch　and　Peeta　e　in；　bid　me　good　morning；　fill　their　plates。　It　makes　me　irritated　that　Peeta　is　wearing　exactly　the　same　outfit　I　am。　I　need　to　say　something　to　Cinna。　This　twins　act　is　going　to　blow　up　in　out　faces　once　the　Games　begin。　Surely；　they　must　know　this。　Then　I　remember　Haymitch　telling　me　to　do　exactly　what　the　stylists　tell　me　to　do。　If　it　was　anyone　but　Cinna；　I　might　be　tempted　to　ignore　him。　But　after　last　nightˇs　triumph；　I　donˇt　have　a　lot　of　room　to　criticize　his　choices。

Iˇm　nervous　about　the　training。　There　will　be　three　days　in　which　all　the　tributes　practice　together。　On　the　last　afternoon；　weˇll　each　get　a　chance　to　perform　in　private　before　the　Gamemakers。　The　thought　of　meeting　the　other　tributes　face…to…face　makes　me　queasy。　I　turn　the　roll　I　have　just　taken　from　the　basket　over　and　over　in　my　hands；　but　my　appetite　is　gone。

When　Haymitch　has　finished　several　platters　of　stew；　he　pushes　back　his　plate　with　a　sigh。　He　takes　a　flask　from　his　pocket　and　takes　a　long　pull　on　it　and　leans　his　elbows　on　the　table。　¨So；　letˇs　get　down　to　business。　Training。　First　off；　if　you　like；　Iˇll　coach　you　separately。　Decide　now。〃

¨Why　would　you　coach　us　separately？〃　I　ask。

¨Say　if　you　had　a　secret　skill　you　might　not　want　the　other　to　know　about；〃　says　Haymitch。

I　exchange　a　look　with　Peeta。　¨I　donˇt　have　any　secret　skills；〃　he　says。　¨And　I　already　know　what　yours　is；　right？　I　mean；　Iˇve　eaten　enough　of　your　squirrels。〃

I　never　thought　about　Peeta　eating　the　squirrels　I　shot。　Somehow　I