第48部分(第1/6 頁)

¨I　havenˇt　had　the　chance；〃　says　Peeta　with　a　slight　shrug。

¨Itˇs　my　fault；〃　I　say。　¨Because　I　used　that　tourniquet。〃

¨Yes；　itˇs　your　fault　Iˇm　alive；〃　says　Peeta。

¨Heˇs　right；〃　says　Caesar。　¨Heˇd　have　bled　to　death　for　sure　without　it。〃

I　guess　this　is　true；　but　I　canˇt　help　feeling　upset　about　it　to　the　extent　that　Iˇm　afraid　I　might　cry　and　then　I　remember　everyone　in　the　country　is　watching　me　so　I　just　bury　my　face　in　Peetaˇs　shirt。　It　takes　them　a　couple　of　minutes　to　coax　me　back　out　because　itˇs　better　in　the　shirt；　where　no　one　can　see　me；　and　when　I　do　e　out；　Caesar　backs　off　questioning　me　so　I　can　recover。　In　fact；　he　pretty　much　leaves　me　alone　until　the　berries　e　up。

¨Katniss；　I　know　youˇve　had　a　shock；　but　Iˇve　got　to　ask。　The　moment　when　you　pulled　out　those　berries。　What　was　going　on　in　your　mind　。　。　。　hm？〃　he　says。

I　take　a　long　pause　before　I　answer；　trying　to　collect　my　thoughts。　This　is　the　crucial　moment　where　I　either　challenged　the　Capitol　or　went　so　crazy　at　the　idea　of　losing　Peeta　that　I　canˇt　be　held　responsible　for　my　actions。　It　seems　to　call　for　a　big；　dramatic　speech；　but　all　I　get　out　is　one　almost　inaudible　sentence。　¨I　donˇt　know；　I　just　。　。　。　couldnˇt　bear　the　thought　of　。　。　。　being　without　him。〃

¨Peeta？　Anything　to　add？〃　asks　Caesar。

¨No。　I　think　that　goes　for　both　of　us；〃　he　says。

Caesar　signs　off　and　itˇs　over。　Everyoneˇs　laughing　and　crying　and　hugging；　but　Iˇm　still　not