Chapter 27 Chapter 27

The national anthem played, and after that I heard Kaiser Flickman greeting the audience.Does he know that every word he says will matter from now on?It seems he knows, and he wants to help us too.When the design team came on stage, the audience burst into applause.I imagine Flavius, Venia, and Octavia all dancing with joy and bowing to everyone in ridiculous poses, it seems that they don't know the truth.Next, introduce Effie.How long had she been waiting for this moment?I hope she enjoys the moment.However misguided she is, she also has extraordinary instincts, and she should at least suspect that we are in trouble.Portia and Cinna were warmly welcomed and, of course, they did a great job designing costumes to shine at the opening.At this time, I finally understood the purpose of Cinna in choosing this outfit for me. He wanted to make me look like an innocent little girl as much as possible.When Haymitch appeared on stage, the audience stamped their feet in unison for at least five minutes in admiration.Yeah, he got it right the first time.Let not only one, but also the other "tribute" survive.What if he hadn't warned me in time?How differently would I behave?The moment you brag about devouring berries in front of the Capitol?No, I wouldn't do that, but it's certainly not as authentic as speaking now.At this moment, Yuanpan is lifting me onto the stage.

The dazzling light and thunderous roar made the metal plate under my feet tremble slightly.Then Peeta came on stage, only a few yards away from me.He looked so clean, handsome, and healthy, I could barely recognize him.But he still had the same big smile on his face, whether in the mud, on the Capitol, or whenever I saw him.I took three steps in parallel and threw myself into his arms.He took two steps back, nearly losing his balance, when I saw what he was holding in his hand was a slender box that I thought was metal but was made of rattan.He stood his ground, we hugged tightly, and the audience went wild.He kissed me, and I kept thinking, "You know we're in danger again?" About ten minutes later, Caesar Flickman tapped Peeta on the shoulder, signaling the celebration to continue.But Peeta pushed him away without even looking at him, and the audience went even crazier.Whether Peeta realizes it or not, he, as usual, gets the audience just right.

In the end, it was Haymitch who interrupted us and kindly pushed us to the winner's seat.Usually, this is a single, richly decorated seat where the winner watches the highlights of the game, but this time because there were two of us, the contest organizers prepared a Changsha covered with red velvet for us send.Not a big sofa, my mother would call it a lover's sofa, I think.I'm sitting so close to Peeta, it's almost like I'm sitting on his lap, but Haymitch gives me a wink that means we're not close enough.I took off my sandals, bent my legs, and rested my head on Peeta's shoulder, his arms naturally wrapped around me.I feel like I'm back in the cave again, snuggled up to Peeta to keep warm.His shirt was the same yellow as mine, but Portia made him wear black trousers.Instead of sandals, he wore sturdy black boots, steady and down-to-earth.I wish Cinna designed something similar for me, I feel weak in this flowy dress.But maybe that's what Cinna wanted.

Caesar Flickman made a few more jokes, and then the formal ceremony began.The show lasted about three hours, and the whole nation of Panham demanded to watch it.The light dimmed and the city emblem appeared on the screen. I suddenly felt that I was not mentally prepared. I didn't want to watch the process of my twenty-two companions die. Watching them die for the first time was enough.My heart was pounding hard and I had a strong urge to run away.How can the other victors face it all alone?During the replay of the highlights, a small picture-in-picture keeps showing the victor's reaction at this time.I think back to many years ago when the show was played, some victors showed the joy of victory, some pumped their fists in the air, some beat their chests, and most of the victors were just surprised.The only reason I know I'm still able to sit on this lover's couch right now is because of Peeta.He put his arm around my shoulders, and with his other hand he took both of mine.The difference, of course, is that the previous victors didn't have a Capitol waiting to destroy them.

It is indeed not easy to condense the past few weeks into three hours, especially when many cameras are shooting a large amount of video at the same time, and the editor of the film needs to highlight a certain theme.This year, for the first time, they have a love theme.Obviously, Peeta and I won the match, but there was a disproportionate amount of content about us, and it's been that way since the beginning.But I'm also happy because it highlights our love story, that is, we don't have time to think about it in the face of death, and it justifies our defiance of the Capitol. In the first 30 minutes or so, it mainly reviewed the highlights before the game, the chariot passing through the Capitol, our training results, and our TV interviews.The cheers that appeared on the TV screen again and again made people feel more miserable, because almost all the people who appeared in the film died.

Next is the game in the arena. The film pays attention to every detail of the bloody fight, and alternates between the death scene of the players and our live situation from time to time.In fact, there is no doubt that Peeta has the main task of staging this romance.Now I can watch it from the perspective of a spectator—he stayed up all night before the stalker-bees attacked them, fighting with Cato to try and get me out; Softly call my name.I seemed ruthless by comparison—dodging fireballs, throwing hives at pros, blowing up supplies—until I hunted down Lulu.The film played the whole process of her death, how she was hit by a spear, how I saved her, how I shot an arrow in the throat of a boy from District 1, how Lulu died in my arms, and I sang for her.Watching this made me feel so sad and numb to everything around me, it was like watching a stranger in another Hunger Games.But I also noticed that they didn't play the scene where I put flowers on Lulu.

Yes, this action also smacks of rebellion. My lens reappeared in the frame.When they announced that there could be two winners in the same division, I couldn't help calling out Peeta's name, and I put my hand over my mouth.If at first I seemed unfeeling to Peeta, the camera made up for it.I sought him out, nursed him, restored him to health, feasted for medicines, gave him tender kisses.Frankly, I still get the chills when I see the images of the dogs and Cato's tragic death, but at this moment, I feel again as if it happened to someone I didn't even know. Then there's the scene where we're getting berries, and I can hear the "shhhhh" of the audience telling each other to be quiet, and everyone's afraid to miss a word.At the end of the TV film, there was a scene where the winner was announced, and at the same time, when Peeta was rescued, I screamed his name and knocked on the glass door on the helicopter. pregnancy.

In the telecast of the night, this momentary image is the most powerful evidence of my survival. The national anthem was played again, President Snow stood in the middle of the stage, and the little girl behind him was holding the crown in her hands, which was placed on a velvet pillow.However, there is only one crown on the velvet pillow, and the audience can be heard whispering, whose head will this crown be placed on?At this time, President Snow twisted his hand, and two crowns appeared.He was smiling, putting one crown on Peeta's head; he was still smiling as he put the other on me, but clearly in his eyes inches from me. It's the stern look that won't forgive me.

That's when I realized that, while we could both die from poison berries, I shouldn't have suggested it.I started it first and I should be punished. After the awards were presented, we bowed and thanked everyone, and the audience cheered.I was waving to the audience, and when my arms were about to fall off, Kaiser Flickman said good night to the audience and reminded them not to forget to watch the final TV interview tomorrow, as if the audience had other options like. Peeta and I soon arrived at the presidential residence for a celebratory dinner there.We didn't even bother to eat. Capitol officials, especially those sponsors, squeezed through the crowd one by one to take photos with us.Faces flashed in front of us, and the night was fading, but everyone became more and more intoxicated in the atmosphere of night celebrations.Occasionally, I would glance at Haymitch and feel very at ease in my heart.But when I saw President Snow, I felt very scared.But when I took pictures with everyone, I still smiled and kept expressing my thanks.But no matter what I did, I never let go of Peeta's hand.

When we returned tiredly to our residence on the twelfth floor of the training center, the sun had quietly emerged on the horizon.I thought it was finally time to say a word to Peeta alone, but Haymitch sent him and Portia to try on clothes for the interview, and he accompanied me to the door of my room alone. "Why can't I talk to him?" I asked. "We'll have plenty of time to talk when we get home," Haymitch said. "Go to sleep, you guys start streaming at two o'clock." Despite Haymitch's intervention, I decided to meet Peeta in private.After tossing and turning in bed for hours, I sneaked out to the hall.My first feeling was to go to the roof to have a look, but there was no one on the roof.The streets downstairs were also empty after yesterday's celebration activities.I went back to bed for a while and then decided to go straight to his room.But when I turned the doorknob, I found that the door had been locked from the outside.At first I suspected that Haymitch did it, and then a more terrifying thought came to my mind, maybe the Capitol was watching and imprisoning me.Escape had been impossible for me since the beginning of the Hunger Games, but it felt different now, it seemed personal, as if I was being held for a crime awaiting sentencing.I rushed to bed and pretended to sleep until Effie Trinket woke me up for another "long, long, long day"!

I was only allowed five minutes to grab a warm bowl of rice stew and then the design team came down.All I have to say is one sentence: "Everyone loves you!" No more talking for the rest of the hours.When Cinna came in, he threw everyone else out and put me in a white muslin dress and pink shoes.Then I personally adjusted my makeup until my face looked pink and soft.We chatted for a while, but I was afraid to ask him anything important.Ever since the locked door happened last night, I always feel that I am being watched all the time. The interview took place in the foyer at the end of the hall, where enough space has been cleared and the lovers' sofa has been moved in, adorned with red and pink roses.Only a few cameras filmed the interview, and there was no audience during the live broadcast. Kaiser Flickman hugged me warmly when I walked in. "Congratulations, Katniss, how are you?" "I'm fine. I'm nervous about the interview," I said. "Don't be nervous, our conversation will be very pleasant!" He said, patting my face lightly as if comforting me. "I'm not good at talking about myself," I said. "Nothing you say can be wrong," he said. I thought, "Oh, Caesar, if only that were the case. Actually, President Snow is waiting for me to have an accident." Peeta, who was sitting nearby, looked handsome in red and white, pulled me closer and said, "It's hard for me to see you, Haymitch always seems to be trying to keep us apart." Haymitch wants us to live, but there are so many ears around, so I just say, "Yeah, Haymitch has been very responsible lately." "So that's the only activity left, and when we get home, he can't keep looking at us," Peeta said. I couldn't help but shiver, and didn't have time to analyze why, because they had already prepared it for us.We sat down more formally on the lovers couch, ready to start, but Caesar said, "Oh, no, just snuggle up to him if you want, it looks sweet." So I put my legs on the couch, skin Ta pulls me closer to him too. Countdown, start!Our program will be broadcast live nationwide from now on.Caesar Flickman, he gags, jokes, improvises.He and Peeta had a lot of good-natured banter, and their rapport was built on the night of the first interview.I just smiled and said as little as possible.Talk about it, of course, but turn the conversation over to Peeta whenever possible. At the end of the interview, however, Caesar asked his questions to be answered more fully and completely. "So, Peeta, your love for her began at first sight, at what age, five?" Caesar asked. "From the first moment I set eyes on her," Peeta said. "So, Katniss, what was your relationship like? I think for the audience, what's really exciting is seeing you fall in love. When did you realize you were in love with him?" Caesar asked. "Oh, this question is difficult to answer..." I smiled slightly shyly, then looked down at my hands.help! "Well, what I remember most is when you called his name from the tree that night." "Thank you, Caesar!" I thought, and followed him. "Yeah, I think that's when. Before that, to be honest, I couldn't tell what I felt about him. If I really liked him, it would only make things worse. But, at that moment , that moment in the tree, everything changed," I said. "Then, what kind of change do you think this is?" Caesar continued to ask. "Maybe...I feel like I'm getting a chance to...be with him for the first time," I said. I saw Haymitch let out a slight sigh of relief behind the camera, and I knew I was right.Caesar was so moved that he took out a handkerchief and wiped away his tears.Peeta rested his forehead on my temple and asked, "Now that you have me, what are you going to do to me?" I turned my head and looked at him, "Hide you in a place where you can never be harmed".There were sentimental sighs from the room as he kissed me. From here, Caesar naturally brings the conversation to our adventures in the arena, how we were burned, how we were stung by bees, and what other injuries we suffered.But until I get to the wild dogs, I always remember that I'm sitting in front of the camera.When Caesar asked Peeta how his "new legs" were, I couldn't help myself. "New legs?" I said.Involuntarily, I reach out and lift Peeta's pants. "Oh, no," I whispered. His leg had been replaced with a metal and plastic prosthesis. "Did no one tell you?" Caesar asked in a soft voice.I shake my head. "I haven't had a chance to tell her," Peeta said, shrugging slightly. "It's my fault for using a tourniquet," I said. "Yeah, it's your fault that I'm still alive," Peeta said. "He's right," Caesar said, "without the tourniquet he would have bled to death." I think it is, but I still feel uneasy, and tears are coming to my eyes.But the whole country was watching me, so I buried my face in Peeta's shirt, and it took them a minute or two to talk me over.Better to bury my face in Peeta's shirt so no one can see me.When I was a little calmer, Caesar asked me no more questions, but left me alone for a while, until finally he asked about the berries. "Katniss, I know you're a little emotional right now, but I'm going to ask you anyway. What were you thinking when you took out the berries? . . . huh?" he asked. For a while, I couldn't answer right away, and I wanted to try my best to sort out my messy threads.It seemed like only a long, dramatic speech could answer the question fully, but I murmured, almost inaudibly, "I can't tell, I just...can't bear...losing him. " "Peeta, is there anything else you want to add?" Caesar asked. "No, it's our shared thinking," he said. Caesar signaled the end, and the show ended here.Some of us cried, some laughed, and some hugged us.I still feel uneasy.I asked Haymitch softly, "Can I?" "It's perfect," he replied. I went back to my room to gather my things and found that I had nothing left to take except for the Mockingjay brooch March had given me.Someone left it in my room after the game.They drove us through town with black-coated windows.The train is waiting for us.We barely had time to say goodbye to Cinna and Portia.We'll see them again in a few months, as we celebrate the victors in the districts.That's how the Capitol tells people that the Hunger Games aren't quite over, that we'll be given all kinds of useless souvenirs, and that people will pretend they love us. The train starts to move, and soon we will be entering the dark tunnel again.After emerging from the tunnel, I breathed a deep sigh of relief, breathing freely for the first time since the Harvest ceremony.Effie will accompany us back to District 12, and of course, Haymitch.We had a big meal and then watched the tapes of the interview quietly in front of the TV.As the Capitol drifted away, I started thinking about everything at home, about Prim, Mom, and Gale.I found an excuse, changed my clothes, and put on ordinary clothes.When I carefully and thoroughly washed off the make-up from my face and put my hair back into its original braid, I was the old me again—Katniss Everdeen, the one who lived in the "Sandwich" in the woods A girl who hunts and trades in the black market.I looked at myself in the mirror and carefully remembered who I was and who I wasn't.When I was among them again, Peeta's arm on my shoulder looked so foreign.The train stopped for refueling, we could go out for some fresh air, and there was no longer any need to keep an eye on us.Peeta and I walked hand in hand down the track, and I had nothing to say when we were alone.He stopped and picked an armful of wild flowers for me and offered them to me, and I tried to look happy because he didn't know that the pink and white wild flowers were the flowers of wild onions, and these flowers reminded me only of the The time when I picked wild flowers together. Gail, only a few hours to see Gail and my heart is churning.But why?I can't figure it out, I just feel like I've lied to someone I trust, or rather, two people.I kept it hidden until now because of the Hunger Games.But when I got home, there was no Hunger Games shelter for me. "What's wrong?" Peeta asked. "Nothing." I replied.We continued walking until we reached the end of the train. I knew there was no way a camera could be hidden in the bushes next to the railway, but I still had no words. Haymitch's hand on my shoulder startled me.Even now, with the game over, his voice is muffled, "Good job, you two. Keep that up in District 12 until the cameras are completely removed. We should be fine." .I see him walking toward the car, avoiding Peeta's eyes. "What does he mean?" Peeta asked me. "It's the Capitol, they didn't like the scene when we ate the berries," I blurted out. "What? What are you talking about?" he said. "That seemed so rebellious, so Haymitch spent the last few days teaching me how to do it so I didn't screw it up," I said. "Taught you? Not me," Peeta said. "He knows you're smart enough to handle it," I said. "I don't know what to deal with at all," Peeta said. "So, these last days you're talking about, oh, I guess, and being in the arena, were planned by the two of you." "No, look, I can't talk to him at all in the arena, can I?" I stammered. "But you know he wants you to, don't you?" Peeta says, and I bite my lip. "Katniss?" he said, throwing my hand away, and I couldn't help but take a step forward, as if trying to steady my heels. "It's all about the Hunger Games," Peeta said. "You did a great job." "Not exactly." I said, clenching the flowers in my hand even more. "So how much is there? Oh, never mind, my concern is how much is left at home?" he said. "I don't know. The closer I get to District 12, the more confused I get," I said.He waited, waiting for me to explain further, but I couldn't say anything more. "So, tell me when you came up with this idea," he said, pain in his voice. I knew my ears had healed, and despite the noise of the train engine, I could clearly hear his heavy footsteps as he walked back to the carriage.When I got back to the car, Peeta had already gone to bed.I didn't see him the next morning either.In fact, when I saw him again, the train had already reached the 12th arrondissement and was about to pull in.He nodded at me, his face expressionless. I wanted to tell him it wasn't fair, we were strangers then.I'm doing it just so I can live, for the both of us to live.I can't explain my relationship with Gail because I can't explain it myself.It's useless for Peeta to love me, because I won't get married; if he hates me now, he won't hate me again; family, there will be no children.How can he do this?How could he be like this after all we've been through together? I wanted to tell him how much I missed him and that it wasn't fair for him to do that. However, we just stood quietly, watching the small dark station in the 12th district approach a little bit.Through the car window, I saw many cameras on the platform, and everyone was looking forward to our return home. Out of the corner of my eye I see Peeta reaching out, and I look at him, not sure what to do. "Do it again? For the audience?" he said.His voice wasn't angry, just hollow, which was worse.The boy who brought me the bread is gradually drifting away from me. I take his hand, hold it tight, ready for the camera; but secretly, I ache at having to finally let go of Peeta's hand. [End of the first part]