第10部分(第2/7 页)

e　circle　one　final　time　and　disappears　into　the　Training　Center。

The　doors　have　only　just　shut　behind　us　when　weˇre　engulfed　by　the　prep　teams；　who　are　nearly　unintelligible　as　they　babble　out　praise。　As　I　glance　around；　I　notice　a　lot　of　the　other　tributes　are　shooting　us　dirty　looks；　which　confirms　what　Iˇve　suspected；　weˇve　literally　outshone　them　all。　Then　Cinna　and　Portia　are　there；　helping　us　down　from　the　chariot；　carefully　removing　our　flaming　capes　and　headdresses。　Portia　extinguishes　them　with　some　kind　of　spray　from　a　canister。

I　realize　Iˇm　still　glued　to　Peeta　and　force　my　stiff　fingers　to　open。　We　both　massage　our　hands。

¨Thanks　for　keeping　hold　of　me。　I　was　getting　a　little　shaky　there；〃　says　Peeta。

¨It　didnˇt　show；〃　I　tell　him。　¨Iˇm　sure　no　one　noticed。〃

¨Iˇm　sure　they　didnˇt　notice　anything　but　you。　You　should　wear　flames　more　often；〃　he　says。　¨They　suit　you。〃　And　then　he　gives　me　a　smile　that　seems　so　genuinely　sweet　with　just　the　right　touch　of　shyness　that　unexpected　warmth　rushes　through　me。

A　warning　bell　goes　off　in　my　head。　Donˇt　be　so　stupid。　Peeta　is　planning　how　to　kill　you；　I　remind　myself。　He　is　luring　you　into　make　you　easy　prey。　The　more　likable　he　is；　the　more　deadly　he　is。

But　because　two　can　play　at　this　game；　I　stand　on　tiptoe　and　kiss　his　cheek。　Right　on　his　bruise。

6

The　Training　Center　has　a　tower　designed　exclusively　for　the　tributes　and　their　teams。　This　will　be　our　home　until　the　actual　Games　begin。　Each　district　has　an　entire　floor。　You　simply　step　onto　an　elevator　and　press　the　number　of　your　district。　Easy　enough　to　remember。

Iˇve　ridden　the　elevator　a　couple　of　times　in　the　Justice　Building　back　in　District　12。　Once　to　receive　the　medal　for　my　fatherˇs　deat