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en guess whatˇs in it。 Days of hunting and gathering for this one meal and even then it would be a poor substitution for the Capitol version。
What must it be like； I wonder； to live in a world where food appears at the press of a button？ How would I spend the hours I now mit to bing the woods for sustenance if it were so easy to e by？ What do they do all day； these people in the Capitol； besides decorating their bodies and waiting around for a new shipment of tributes to roll in and die for their entertainment？
I look up and find Cinnaˇs eyes trained on mine。 ¨How despicable we must seem to you；〃 he says。
Has he seen this in my face or somehow read my thoughts？ Heˇs right； though。 The whole rotten lot of them is despicable。
¨No matter；〃 says Cinna。 ¨So； Katniss； about your costume for the opening ceremonies。 My partner； Portia； is the stylist for your fellow tribute； Peeta。 And our current thought is to dress you in plementary costumes；〃 says Cinna。 ¨As you know； itˇs customary to reflect the flavor of the district。〃
For the opening ceremonies； youˇre supposed to wear something that suggests your districtˇs principal industry。 District 11； agriculture。 District 4； fishing。 District 3； factories。 This means that ing from District 12； Peeta and I will be in some kind of coal minerˇs getup。 Since the baggy minerˇs jumpsuits are not particularly being； our tributes usually end up in skimpy outfits and hats with headlamps。 One year； our tributes were stark naked and covered in black powder to represent coal dust。 Itˇs always dreadful and does nothing to win favor with the crowd。 I prepare myself for the worst。
¨So； Iˇll be in a coal miner outfit？〃 I ask； hoping it wonˇt be indecent。
¨Not exactly。 You see； Portia and I think that coal miner thingˇs very overdone。 No one will remember you in that。 And we both see it as our job to make the District Twelve tributes unforgettable；〃 says Cinna。
Iˇll be naked for sure； I think。
¨So rather than focus on the coal mining itself； weˇre going to focus on the coal；〃 says Cinna。 Naked and covered in black dust； I think。 ¨And what do we do with coal？ We burn it；〃 says Cinna。
¨Youˇre not afraid of fire； are you； Katniss？〃 He sees my expression and grins。
A few hours later； I am dressed in what will either be the most sensational or the deadliest costume in the opening ceremonies。 Iˇm in a simple black unitard that covers me from ankle to neck。 Shiny leather boots lace up to my knees。 But itˇs the fluttering cape made of streams of orange； yellow； and red and the matching headpiece that define this costume。 Cinna plans to light them on fire just before our chariot rolls into the streets。
¨Itˇs not real flame； of course； just a little synthetic fire Portia and I came up with。 Youˇll be perfectly safe；〃 he says。 But Iˇm not convinced I wonˇt be perfectly barbecued by the time we reach the cityˇs center。
My face is relatively clear of makeup； just a bit of highlighting here and there。 My hair has been brushed out and then braided down my back in my usual style。 ¨I want the audience to recognize you when youˇre in the arena；〃 says Cinna dreamily。 ¨Katniss； the girl who was on fire。〃
It crosses my mind that Cinnaˇs calm and normal demeanor masks a plete madman。
Despite this morningˇs revelation about Peetaˇs character； Iˇm actually relieved when he shows up； dressed in an identical costume。 He should know about fire； being a bakerˇs son and all。 His stylist； Portia； and her team acpany him in； and everyone is absolutely giddy with excitement over what a splash weˇll make。 Except Cinna。 He just seems a bit weary as he accepts congratulations。
Weˇre whisked down to the bottom level of the Remake Center； which is essentially a gigantic stable。 The opening ceremonies are about to start。 Pairs of tributes are being loaded into chariots pulled by teams of four horses。 Ours are coal black。 The animals are so well trained； no one even needs to guide their reins。 Cinna and Portia direct us into the chariot and carefully arrange our body positions； the drape of our capes； before moving off to consult with each other。
¨What do you think？〃 I whisper to Peeta。 ¨About the fire？〃
¨Iˇll rip off your cape if youˇll rip off mine；〃 he says through gritted teeth。
¨Deal；〃 I say。 Maybe； if we can get them off soon enough； weˇll avoid the worst burns。 Itˇs bad though。 Theyˇll throw us into the arena no matter what condition weˇre in。 ¨I know we promised Haymitch weˇd do exactly what they said； but I donˇt think he considered this angle。〃
¨Where is Haymitch； anyway？ Isnˇt he supposed to protect us from this sort of thing？〃 says Peeta。
¨With all that alcohol in him； itˇs probably not advisable to have him around an open flame；〃 I say。
And suddenly weˇre both laughing。 I guess weˇre both so nervous about the Games and more pressingly； petrified of being turned into human torches； weˇre not acting sensibly。
The opening music begins。 Itˇs easy to hear； blasted around the Capitol。 Massive doors slide open revealing the crowdlined 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