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第46部分（第1页）

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。　Itˇs　about　the　Capitol　and　the　Gamemakers　and　the　audience。　Although　I　do　not　yet　understand　Cinnaˇs　design；　itˇs　a　reminder　the　Games　are　not　quite　finished。　And　beneath　his　benign　reply；　I　sense　a　warning。　Of　something　he　canˇt　even　mention　in　front　of　his　own　team。

We　take　the　elevator　to　the　level　where　we　trained。　Itˇs　customary　for　the　victor　and　his　or　her　support　team　to　rise　from　beneath　the　stage。　First　the　prep　team；　followed　by　the　escort；　the　stylist；　the　mentor；　and　finally　the　victor。　Only　this　year；　with　two　victors　who　share　both　an　escort　and　a　mentor；　the　whole　thing　has　had　to　be　rethought。　I　find　myself　in　a　poorly　lit　area　under　the　stage。　A　brand…new　metal　plate　has　been　installed　to　transport　me　upward。　You　can　still　see　small　piles　of　sawdust；　smell　fresh　paint。　Cinna　and　the　prep　team　peel　off　to　change　into　their　own　costumes　and　take　their　positions；　leaving　me　alone。　In　the　gloom；　I　see　a　makeshift　wall　about　ten　yards　away　and　assume　Peetaˇs　behind　it。

The　rumbling　of　the　crowd　is　loud；　so　I　donˇt　notice　Haymitch　until　he　touches　my　shoulder。　I　spring　away；　startled；　still　half　in　the　arena；　I　guess。

¨Easy；　just　me。　Letˇs　have　a　look　at　you；〃　Haymitch　says。　I　hold　out　my　arms　and　turn　once。　¨Good　enough。〃

Itˇs　not　much　of　a　pliment。　¨But　what？〃　I　say。

Haymitchˇs　eyes　shift　around　my　musty　holding　space；　and　he　seems　to　make　a　decision。　¨But　nothing。　How　about　a　hug　for　luck？〃