第123章

  — until president snow gives it a
  twist and it separates into two halves. he places the first
  around peeta’s brow with a smile. he’s still smiling when he
  settles the second on my head, but his eyes, just inches from
  mine, are as unforgiving as a snake’s.
  that’s when i know that even though both of us would have
  eaten the berries, i am to blame for having the idea. i’m the in-
  stigator. i’m the one to be punished.
  much bowing and cheering follows. my arm is about to fall
  off from waving when caesar flickerman finally bids the au-
  dience good night, reminding them to tune in tomorrow for
  the final interviews. as if they have a choice.
  peeta and i are whisked to the president’s mansion for the
  victory banquet, where we have very little time to eat as capi-
  357
  tol officials and particularly generous sponsors elbow one
  another out of the way as they try to get their picture with us.
  face after beaming face flashes by, becoming increasingly in-
  toxicated as the evening wears on. occasionally, i catch a
  glimpse of haymitch, which is reassuring, or president snow,
  which is terrifying, but i keep laughing and thanking people
  and smiling as my picture is taken. the one thing i never do is
  let go of peeta’s hand.
  the sun is just peeking over the horizon when we straggle
  back to the twelfth floor of the training center. i think now i’ll
  finally get a word alone with peeta, but haymitch sends him
  off with portia to get something fitted for the interview and
  personally escorts me to my door.
  “why can’t i talk to him?” i ask.
  “plenty of time for talk when we get home,” says haymitch.
  “go to bed, you’re on air at two.”
  despite haymitch’s running interference, i’m determined to
  see peeta privately. after i toss and turn for a few hours, i slip
  into the hall. my first thought is to check the roof, but it’s emp-
  ty. even the city streets far below are deserted after the cele-
  bration last night. i go back to bed for a while and then decide
  to go directly to his room, but when i try to turn the knob, i
  find my own bedroom door has been locked from the outside.
  i suspect haymitch initially, but then there’s a more insidious
  fear that the capitol may by monitoring and confining me. i’ve
  been unable to escape since the hunger games began, but this
  feels different, much more personal. this feels like i’ve been
  imprisoned for a crime and i’m awaiting sentencing. i quickly
  358
  get back in bed and pretend to sleep until effie trinket comes
  to alert me to the start of another “big, big, big day!”
  i have about five minutes to eat a bowl of hot grain and
  stew before the prep team descends. all i have to say is, “the
  crowd loved you!” and it’s unnecessary to speak for the next
  couple of hours. when cinna comes in, he shoos them out and
  dresses me in a white, gauzy dress and pink shoes. then he
  personally adjusts my makeup until i seem to radiate a soft,
  rosy glow. we make idle chitchat, but i’m afraid to ask him
  anything of real importance because after the incident with
  the door, i can’t shake the feeling that i’m being watched con-
  stantly.
  the interview takes place right down the hall in the sitting
  room. a space has been cleared and the love seat has been
  moved in and surrounded by vases of red and pink roses.
  there are only a handful of cameras to record the event. no
  live audience at least.
  caesar flickerman gives me a warm hug when i. come in.
  “congratulations, katniss. how are you faring?”