第48部分(第2/5 頁)

ackened　windows；　and　the　trainˇs　waiting　for　us。　We　barely　have　time　to　say　good…bye　to　Cinna　and　Portia；　although　weˇll　see　them　in　a　few　months；　when　we　tour　the　districts　for　a　round　of　victory　ceremonies。　Itˇs　the　Capitolˇs　way　of　reminding　people　that　the　Hunger　Games　never　really　go　away。　Weˇll　be　given　a　lot　of　useless　plaques；　and　everyone　will　have　to　pretend　they　love　us。

The　train　begins　moving　and　weˇre　plunged　into　night　until　we　clear　the　tunnel　and　I　take　my　first　free　breath　since　the　reaping。　Effie　is　acpanying　us　back　and　Haymitch；　too；　of　course。　We　eat　an　enormous　dinner　and　settle　into　silence　in　front　of　the　television　to　watch　a　replay　of　the　interview。　With　the　Capitol　growing　farther　away　every　second；　I　begin　to　think　of　home。　Of　Prim　and　my　mother。　Of　Gale。　I　excuse　myself　to　change　out　of　my　dress　and　into　a　plain　shirt　and　pants。　As　I　slowly；　thoroughly　wash　the　makeup　from　my　face　and　put　my　hair　in　its　braid；　I　begin　transforming　back　into　myself。　Katniss　Everdeen。　A　girl　who　lives　in　the　Seam。　Hunts　in　the　woods。　Trades　in　the　Hob。　I　stare　in　the　mirror　as　I　try　to　remember　who　I　am　and　who　I　am　not。　By　the　time　I　join　theothers；　the　pressure　of　Peetaˇs　arm　around　my　shoulders　feels　alien。

When　the　train　makes　a　brief　stop　for　fuel；　weˇre　allowed　to　go　outside　for　some　fresh　air。　Thereˇs　no　longer　any　need　to　guard　us。　Peeta　and　I　walk　down　along　the　track；　hand　in　hand；　and　I　canˇt　find　anything　to　say　now　that　weˇre　alone。　He　stops　to　gather　a　bunch　of　wildflowers　for　me。　When　he　presents　them；　I　work　hard　to　look　pleased。　Because　he　canˇt　know　that　the　pink…and…white　flowers　are　the　tops　of　wild　onions　and　only　remind　me　of　the　hours　Iˇve　spent　gathering　them　with　Gale。

Gale。　The　idea　of　seeing　Gale　in　a　matter　of