第4部分(第1/7 页)

tulate　me。　¨Look　at　her。　Look　at　this　one！〃　he　hollers；　throwing　an　arm　around　my　shoulders。　Heˇs　surprisingly　strong　for　such　a　wreck。　¨I　like　her！〃　His　breath　reeks　of　liquor　and　itˇs　been　a　long　time　since　heˇs　bathed。　¨Lots　of　。　。　。　¨　He　canˇt　think　of　the　word　for　a　while。　¨Spunk！〃　he　says　triumphantly。　¨More　than　you！〃　he　releases　me　and　starts　for　the　front　of　the　stage。　¨More　than　you！〃　he　shouts；　pointing　directly　into　a　camera。

Is　he　addressing　the　audience　or　is　he　so　drunk　he　might　actually　be　taunting　the　Capitol？　Iˇll　never　know　because　just　as　heˇs　opening　his　mouth　to　continue；　Haymitch　plummets　off　the　stage　and　knocks　himself　unconscious。

Heˇs　disgusting；　but　Iˇm　grateful。　With　every　camera　gleefully　trained　on　him；　I　have　just　enough　time　to　release　the　small；　choked　sound　in　my　throat　and　pose　myself。　I　put　my　hands　behind　my　back　and　stare　into　the　distance。

I　can　see　the　hills　I　climbed　this　morning　with　Gale。　For　a　moment；　I　yearn　for　something　。　。　。　the　idea　of　us　leaving　the　district　。　。　。　making　our　way　in　the　woods　。　。　。　but　I　know　I　was　right　about　not　running　off。　Because　who　else　would　have　volunteered　for　Prim？

Haymitch　is　whisked　away　on　a　stretcher；　and　Effie　Trinket　is　trying　to　get　the　ball　rolling　again。　¨What　an　exciting　day！〃　she　warbles　as　she　attempts　to　straighten　her　wig；　which　has　listed　severely　to　the　right。　¨But　more　excitement　to　e！　Itˇs　time　to　choose　our　boy　tribute！〃　Clearly　hoping　to　contain　her　tenuous　hair　situation；　she　plants　one　hand　on　her　head　as　she　crosses　to　the　ball　that　contains　the　boysˇ　names　and　grabs　the　first　slip　she　encounters。　She　zips　back　to　the　podium；　and　I　donˇt　even　have　time　to　wish　for　Galeˇs　safety　when　sheˇs　reading　the　name。　¨Peeta　Mellark。〃

Peeta　Mel