Голодные игры
Chapter 26
WhenImanagetopullmyeyesawayfromtheflickeringfabric,I’minforsomethingofashock.Myhair’sloose,heldbackbyasimplehairband.Themakeuproundsandfillsoutthesharpanglesofmyface.Aclearpolishcoatsmynails.Thesleevelessdressisgatheredatmyribs,notmywaist,largelyeliminatinganyhelpthepaddingwouldhavegivenmyfigure.Thehemfallsjusttomyknees.Withoutheels,youcanseemytruestature.Ilook,verysimply,likeagirl.Ayoungone.Fourteenatthemost.Innocent.Harmless.Yes,itisshockingthatCinnahaspulledthisoffwhenyourememberI’vejustwontheGames.
Thisisaverycalculatedlook.NothingCinnadesignsisarbitrary.Ibitemyliptryingtofigureouthismotivation.
"Ithoughtit’dbesomethingmore.sophisticated-looking,"Isay.
"IthoughtPeetawouldlikethisbetter,"heanswerscarefully.
Peeta?No,it’snotaboutPeeta.It’sabouttheCapitolandtheGamemakersandtheaudience.AlthoughIdonotyetunderstandCinna’sdesign,it’saremindertheGamesarenotquitefinished.Andbeneathhisbenignreply,Isenseawarning.Ofsomethinghecan’tevenmentioninfrontofhisownteam.
Wetaketheelevatortothelevelwherewetrained.It’scustomaryforthevictorandhisorhersupportteamtorisefrombeneaththestage.Firsttheprepteam,followedbytheescort,thestylist,thementor,andfinallythevictor.Onlythisyear,withtwovictorswhosharebothanescortandamentor,thewholethinghashadtoberethought.Ifindmyselfinapoorlylitareaunderthestage.
