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ined　streets。　The　ride　lasts　about　twenty　minutes　and　ends　up　at　the　City　Circle；　where　they　will　wele　us；　play　the　anthem；　and　escort　us　into　the　Training　Center；　which　will　be　our　home/prison　until　the　Games　begin。
The　tributes　from　District　1　ride　out　in　a　chariot　pulled　by　snow…white　horses。　They　look　so　beautiful；　spray…painted　silver；　in　tasteful　tunics　glittering　with　jewels。　District　1　makes　luxury　items　for　the　Capitol。　You　can　hear　the　roar　of　the　crowd。　They　are　always　favorites。
District　2　gets　into　position　to　follow　them。　In　no　time　at　all；　we　are　approaching　the　door　and　I　can　see　that　between　the　overcast　sky　and　evening　hour　the　light　is　turning　gray。　The　tributes　from　District　11　are　just　rolling　out　when　Cinna　appears　with　a　lighted　torch。　¨Here　we　go　then；〃　he　says；　and　before　we　can　react　he　sets　our　capes　on　fire。　I　gasp；　waiting　for　the　heat；　but　there　is　only　a　faint　tickling　sensation。　Cinna　climbs　up　before　us　and　ignites　our　headdresses。　He　lets　out　a　sign　of　relief。　¨It　works。〃　Then　he　gently　tucks　a　hand　under　my　chin。　¨Remember；　heads　high。　Smiles。　Theyˇre　going　to　love　you！〃
Cinna　jumps　off　the　chariot　and　has　one　last　idea。　He　shouts　something　up　at　us；　but　the　music　drowns　him　out。　He　shouts　again　and　gestures。
¨Whatˇs　he　saying？〃　I　ask　Peeta。　For　the　first　time；　I　look　at　him　and　realize　that　ablaze　with　the　fake　flames；　he　is　dazzling。　And　I　must　be；　too。
¨I　think　he　said　for　us　to　hold　hands；〃　says　Peeta。　He　grabs　my　right　hand　in　his　left；　and　we　look　to　Cinna　for　confirmation。　He　nods　and　gives　a　thumbs…up；　and　thatˇs　the　last　thing　I　see　before　we　enter　the　city。
The　crowdˇs　initial　alarm　at　our　appearance　quickly　changes　to　cheers　and　shouts　of　¨District　Twelve！〃　Every　head　is　turned　our　way；　pulling　the　focus　from　the　three　chariots　ahead　of　us。　At　first；　Iˇm　frozen；　but　then　I　catch　sight　of　us　on　a　large　television　screen　and　am　floored　by　how　breathtaking　we　look。　In　the　deepening　twilight；　the　firelight　illuminates　our　faces。　We　seem　to　be　leaving　a　trail　of　fire　off　the　flowing　capes。　Cinna　was　right　about　the　minimal　makeup；　we　both　look　more　attractive　but　utterly　recognizable。
Remember；　heads　high。　Smiles。　Theyˇre　going　to　love　you！　I　hear　Cinnaˇs　voice　in　my　head。　I　lift　my　chin　a　bit　higher；　put　on　my　most　winning　smile；　and　wave　with　my　free　hand。　Iˇm　glad　now　I　have　Peeta　to　clutch　for　balance；　he　is　so　steady；　solid　as　a　rock。　As　I　gain　confidence；　I　actually　blow　a　few　kisses　to　the　crowd。　The　people　of　the　Capitol　are　going　nuts；　showering　us　with　flowers；　shouting　our　names；　our　first　names；　which　they　have　bothered　to　find　on　the　program。
The　pounding　music；　the　cheers；　the　admiration　work　their　way　into　my　blood；　and　I　canˇt　suppress　my　excitement。　Cinna　has　given　me　a　great　advantage。　No　one　will　forget　me。　Not　my　look；　not　my　name。　Katniss。　The　girl　who　was　on　fire。
For　the　first　time；　I　feel　a　flicker　of　hope　rising　up　in　me。　Surely；　there　must　be　one　sponsor　willing　to　take　me　on！　And　with　a　little　extra　help；　some　food；　the　right　weapon；　why　should　I　count　myself　out　of　the　Games？
Someone　throws　me　a　red　rose。　I　catch　it；　give　it　a　delicate　sniff；　and　blow　a　kiss　back　in　the　general　direction　of　the　giver。　A　hundred　hands　reach　up　to　catch　my　kiss；　as　if　it　were　a　real　and　tangible　thing。
¨Katniss！　Katniss！〃　I　can　hear　my　name　being　called　from　all　sides。　Everyone　wants　my　kisses。
Itˇs　not　until　we　enter　the　City　Circle　that　I　realize　I　must　have　pletely　stopped　the　circulation　in　Peetaˇs　hand。　Thatˇs　how　tightly　Iˇve　been　holding　it。　I　look　down　at　our　linked　fingers　as　I　loosen　my　grasp；　but　he　regains　his　grip　on　me。　¨No；　donˇt　let　go　of　me；〃　he　says。　The　firelight　flickers　off　his　blue　eyes。　¨Please。　I　might　fall　out　of　this　thing。〃
¨Okay；〃　I　say。　So　I　keep　holding　on；　but　I　canˇt　help　feeling　strange　about　the　way　Cinna　has　linked　us　together。　Itˇs　not　really　fair　to　present　us　as　a　team　and　then　lock　us　into　the　arena　to　kill　each　other。
The　twelve　chariots　fill　the　loop　of　the　City　Circle。　On　the　buildings　that　surround　the　Circle；　every　window　is　packed　with　the　most　prestigious　citizens　of　the　Capitol。　Our　horses　pull　our　chariot　right　up　to　President　Snowˇs　mansion；　and　we　e　to　a　halt。　The　music　ends　with　a　flourish。
The　president；　a　small；　thin　man　with　paper…white　hair；　gives　the　official　wele　from　a　balcony　above　us。　It　is　traditional　to　cut　away　to　the　faces　of　the　tributes　during　the　speech。　But　I　can　see　on　the　screen　that　we　are　getting　way　more　than　our　share　of　airtime。　The　darker　it　bees；　the　more　difficult　it　is　to　take　your　eyes　off　our　flickering。　When　the　national　anthem　plays；　they　do　make　an　effort　to　do　a　quick　cut　around　to　each　pair　of　tributes；　but　the　camera　holds　on　the　District　12　chariot　as　it　parades　around　the　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　death　and　then　yesterday　to　say　my　final　goodbyes　to　my　friends　and　family。　But　thatˇs　a　dark　and　creaky　thing　that　moves　like　a　snail　and　smells　of　sour　milk。　The　walls　of　this　elevator　are　made　of　crystal　so　that　you　can　watch　the　people　on　the　ground　floor　shrink　to　ants　as　you　shoot　up　into　the　air。　Itˇs　exhilarating　and　Iˇm　tempted　to　ask　Effie　Trinket　if　we　can　ride　it　again；　but　somehow　that　seems　childish。
Apparently；　Effie　Trinketˇs　duties　did　not　conclude　at　the　station。　She　and　Haymitch　will　be　overseeing　us　right　into　the　arena。　In　a　way；　thatˇs　a　plus　because　at　least　she　can　be　counted　on　to　corral　us　around　to　places　on　time　whereas　we　havenˇt　seen　Haymitch　since　he　agreed　to　help　us　on　the　train。　Probably　passed　out　somewhere。　Effie　Trinket；　on　the　other　hand；　seems　to　be　flying　high。　Weˇre　the　first　team　sheˇs　ever　chaperoned　that　made　a　splash　at　the　opening　ceremonies。　Sheˇs　plimentary　about　not　just　our　costumes　but　how　we　conducted　ourselves。　And；　to　hear　her　tell　it；　Effie　knows　everyone　whoˇs　anyone　in　the　Capitol　and　has　been　talking　us　up　all　day；　trying　to　win　us　sponsors。
¨Iˇve　been　very　mysterious；　though；〃　she　says；　her　eyes　squint　half　shut。　¨Because；　of　course；　Haymitch　hasnˇt　bothered　to　tell　me　your　strategies。　But　Iˇve　done　my　best　with　what　I　had　to　work　with。　How　Katniss　sacrificed　herself　for　her　sister。　How　youˇve　both　successfully　struggled　to　overe　the　barbarism　of　your　district。〃
Barbarism？　Thatˇs　ironic　ing　from　a　woman　helping　to　prepare　us　for　slaughter。　And　whatˇs　she　basing　our　success　on？　Our　table　manners？
¨Everyone　has　their　reservations；　naturally。　You　being　from　the　coal　district。　But　I　said；　and　this　was　very　clever　of　me；　I　said；　ˉWell；　if　you　put　enough　pressure　on　coal　it　turns　to　pearls！ˇ¨　Effie　beams　at　us　so　brilliantly　that　we　have　no　choice　but　to　respond　enthusiastically　to　her　cleverness　even　though　itˇs　wrong。
Coal　doesnˇt　turn　to　pearls。　They　grow　in　shellfish。　Possibly　she　meant　coal　turns　to　diamonds；　but　thatˇs　untrue；　too。　Iˇve　heard　they　have　some　sort　of　machine　in　District　1　that　can　turn　graphite　into　diamonds。　But　we　donˇt　mine　graphite　in　District　12。　That　was　part　of　District　13ˇs　job　until　they　were
destroyed。
I　wonder　if　the　people　sheˇs　been　plugging　us　to　all　day　either　know　or　care。
¨Unfortunately；　I　canˇt　seal　the　sponsor　deals　for　you。　Only　Haymitch　can　do　that；〃　says　Effie　grimly。　¨But　donˇt　worry；　Iˇll　get　him　to　the　table　at　gunpoint　if　necessary。〃　
Although　lacking　in　many　departments；　Effie　Trinket　has　a　certain　determination　I　have　to　admire。
My　quarters　are　larger　than　our　entire　house　back　home。　They　are　plush；　like　the　train　car；　but　also　have　so　many　automatic　gadgets　that　Iˇm　sure　I　wonˇt　have　time　to　press　all　the　buttons。　The　shower　alone　has　a　panel　with　more　than　a　hundred　options　you　can　choose　regulating　water　temperature；　pressure；　soaps；　shampoos；　scents；　oils；　and　massaging　sponges。　When　you　step　out　on　a　mat；　heaters　e　on　that　blow…dry　your　body。　Instead　of　struggling　with　the　knots　in　my　wet　hair；　I　merely　place　my　hand　on　a　box　that　sends　a　current　through　my　scalp；　untangling；　parting；　and　drying　my　hair　almost　instantly。　It　floats　down　around　my　shoulders　in　a　glossy　curtain。
I　program　the　closet　for　an　outfit　to　my　taste。　The　windows　zoom　in　and　out　on　parts　of　the　city　at　my　mand。　You　need　only　whisper　a　type　of　food　from　a　gigantic　menu　into　a　mouthpiece　and　it　appears；　hot　and　steamy；　before　you　in　less　than　a　minute。　I　walk　around　the　room　eating　goose　liver　and　puffy　bread　until　thereˇs　a　knock　on　the　door。　Effieˇs　calling　me　to　dinner。
Good。　Iˇm　starving。
Peeta；　Cinna；　and　Portia　are　standing　out　on　a　balcony　that　overlooks　the　Capitol　when　we　enter　the　dining　room。　Iˇm　glad　to　see　the　stylists；　particularly　after　I　hear　that　Haymitch　will　be　joining　us。　A　meal　presided　over　by　just
Effie　and　Haymitch　is　bound　to　be　a　disaster。　Besides；　dinner　isnˇt　really　about　food；　itˇs　about　planning　out　our　strategies；　and　Cinna　and　Portia　have　already　proven　how　valuable　they　are。
A　silent　young　man　dressed　in　a　white　tunic　offers　us　all　stemmed　glasses　of　wine。　I　think　about　turning　it　down；　but　Iˇve　never　had　wine；　except　the　homemade　stuff　my　mother　uses　for　coughs；　and　when　will　I　get　a　chance　to　try　it　again？　I　take　a　sip　of　the　tart；　dry　liquid　and　secretly　think　it　could　be　improved　by　a　few　spoonfuls　of　honey。
Haymitch　shows　up　just　as　dinner　is　being　served。　It　looks　as　if　heˇs　had　his　own　stylist　because　heˇs　clean　and　groomed　and　about　as　sober　as　Iˇve　ever　seen　him。　He　doesnˇt　refuse　the　offer　of　wine；　but　when　he　starts　in　on　his　soup；　I　realize　itˇs　the　first　time　Iˇve　ever　seen　him　eat。　Maybe　he　really　will　pull　himself　together　long　enough　to　help　us。
Cinna　and　Portia　seem　to　have　a　civilizing　effect　on　Haymitch　and　Effie。　At　least　theyˇre　addressing　each　other　decently。　And　they　both　have　nothing　but　praise　for　our　stylistsˇ　opening　act。　While　they　make　small　talk；　I　concentrate　on　the　meal。　Mushroom　soup；　bitter　greens　with　tomatoes　the　size　of　peas；　rare　roast　beef　sliced　as　thin　as　paper；　noodles　in　a　green　sauce；　cheese　that　melts　on　your　tongue　served　with　sweet　blue　grapes。　The　servers；　all　young　people　dressed　in　white　tunics　like　the　one　who　gave　us　wine；　move　wordlessly　to　and　from　the　table；　keeping　the　platters　and　glasses　full。
About　halfway　through　my　glass　of　wine；　my　head　starts　feeling　foggy；　so　I　change　to　water　instead。　I　donˇt　like　the　feeling　and　hope　it　wears　off　soon。　How　Haymitch　can　stand　walking　around　like　this　full…time　is　a　mystery。
I　try　to　focus　on　the　talk；　which　has　turned　to　our　interview　costumes；　when　a　girl　sets　a　gorgeous…looking　cake　on　the　tab