the hunger games-饥饿游戏(英文版)-第2节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


Thatˇs　why　my　mother　and　Prim；　with　their　light　hair　and　blue　eyes；　always　look　out　of　place。　They　are。　My　motherˇs　parents　were　part　of　the　small　merchant　class　that　caters　to　officials；　Peacekeepers；　and　the　occasional　Seam　customer。　They　ran　an　apothecary　shop　in　the　nicer　part　of　District　12。　Since　almost　no　one　can　afford　doctors；　apothecaries　are　our　healers。　My　father　got　to　know　my　mother　because　on　his　hunts　he　would　sometimes　collect　medicinal　herbs　and　sell　them　to　her　shop　to　be　brewed　into　remedies。　She　must　have　really　loved　him　to　leave　her　home　for　the　Seam。　I　try　to　remember　that　when　all　I　can　see　is　the　woman　who　sat　by；　blank　and　unreachable；　while　her　children　turned　to　skin　and　bones。　I　try　to　forgive　her　for　my　fatherˇs　sake。　But　to　be　honest；　Iˇm　not　the　forgiving　type。
Gale　spreads　the　bread　slices　with　the　soft　goat　cheese；　carefully　placing　a　basil　leaf　on　each　while　I　strip　the　bushes　of　their　berries。　We　settle　back　in　a　nook　in　the　rocks。　From　this　place；　we　are　invisible　but　have　a　clear　view　of　the　valley；　which　is　teeming　with　summer　life；　greens　to　gather；　roots　to　dig；　fish　iridescent　in　the　sunlight。　The　day　is　glorious；　with　a　blue　sky　and　soft　breeze。　The　foodˇs　wonderful；　with　the　cheese　seeping　into　the　warm　bread　and　the　berries　bursting　in　our　mouths。　Everything　would　be　perfect　if　this　really　was　a　holiday；　if　all　the　day　off　meant　was　roaming　the　mountains　with　Gale；　hunting　for　tonightˇs　supper。　But　instead　we　have　to　be　standing　in　the　square　at　two　oˇclock　waiting　for　the　names　to　be　called　out。
¨We　could　do　it；　you　know；〃　Gale　says　quietly。
¨What？〃　I　ask。
¨Leave　the　district。　Run　off。　Live　in　the　woods。　You　and　I；　we　could　make　it；〃　says　Gale。
I　donˇt　know　how　to　respond。　The　idea　is　so　preposterous。
¨If　we　didnˇt　have　so　many　kids；〃　he　adds　quickly。
Theyˇre　not　our　kids；　of　course。　But　they　might　as　well　be。　Galeˇs　two　little　brothers　and　a　sister。　Prim。　And　you　may　as　well　throw　in　our　mothers；　too；　because　how　would　they　live　without　us？　Who　would　fill　those　mouths　that　are　always　asking　for　more？　With　both　of　us　hunting　daily；　there　are　still　nights　when　game　has　to　be　swapped　for　lard　or　shoelaces　or　wool；　still　nights　when　we　go　to　bed　with　our　stomachs　growling。
¨I　never　want　to　have　kids；〃　I　say。
¨I　might。　If　I　didnˇt　live　here；〃　says　Gale。
¨But　you　do；〃　I　say；　irritated。
¨Forget　it；〃　he　snaps　back。
The　conversation　feels　all　wrong。　Leave？　How　could　I　leave　Prim；　who　is　the　only　person　in　the　world　Iˇm　certain　I　love？　And　Gale　is　devoted　to　his　family。　We　canˇt　leave；　so　why　bother　talking　about　it？　And　even　if　we　did　。　。　。　even　if　we　did　。　。　。　where　did　this　stuff　about　having　kids　e　from？　Thereˇs　never　been　anything　romantic　between　Gale　and　me。　When　we　met；　I　was　a　skinny　twelve…year…old；　and　although　he　was　only　two　years　older；　he　already　looked　like　a　man。　It　took　a　long　time　for　us　to　even　bee　friends；　to　stop　haggling　over　every　trade　and　begin　helping　each　other　out。
Besides；　if　he　wants　kids；　Gale　wonˇt　have　any　trouble　finding　a　wife。　Heˇs　good…looking；　heˇs　strong　enough　to　handle　the　work　in　the　mines；　and　he　can　hunt。　You　can　tell　by　the　way　the　girls　whisper　about　him　when　he　walks　by　in　school　that　they　want　him。　It　makes　me　jealous　but　not　for　the　reason　people　would　think。　Good　hunting　partners　are　hard　to　find。
¨What　do　you　want　to　do？〃　I　ask。　We　can　hunt；　fish；　or　gather。
¨Letˇs　fish　at　the　lake。　We　can　leave　our　poles　and　gather　in　the　woods。　Get　something　nice　for　tonight；〃　he　says。
Tonight。　After　the　reaping；　everyone　is　supposed　to　celebrate。　And　a　lot　of　people　do；　out　of　relief　that　their　children　have　been　spared　for　another　year。　But　at　least　two　families　will　pull　their　shutters；　lock　their　doors；　and　try　to　figure　out　how　they　will　survive　the　painful　weeks　to　e。
We　make　out　well。　The　predators　ignore　us　on　a　day　when　easier；　tastier　prey　abounds。　By　late　morning；　we　have　a　dozen　fish；　a　bag　of　greens　and；　best　of　all；　a　gallon　of　strawberries。　I　found　the　patch　a　few　years　ago；　but　Gale　had　the　idea　to　string　mesh　s　around　it　to　keep　out　the　animals。
On　the　way　home；　we　swing　by　the　Hob；　the　black　market　that　operates　in　an　abandoned　warehouse　that　once　held　coal。　When　they　came　up　with　a　more　efficient　system　that　transported　the　coal　directly　from　the　mines　to　the　trains；　the　Hob　gradually　took　over　the　space。　Most　businesses　are　closed　by　this　time　on　reaping　day；　but　the　black　marketˇs　still　fairly　busy。　We　easily　trade　six　of　the　fish　for　good　bread；　the　other　two　for　salt。　Greasy　Sae；　the　bony　old　woman　who　sells　bowls　of　hot　soup　from　a　large　kettle；　takes　half　the　greens　off　our　hands　in　exchange　for　a　couple　of　chunks　of　paraffin。　We　might　do　a　tad　better　elsewhere；　but　we　make　an　effort　to　keep　on　good　terms　with　Greasy　Sae。　Sheˇs　the　only　one　who　can　consistently　be　counted　on　to　buy　wild　dog。　We　donˇt　hunt　them　on　purpose；　but　if　youˇre　attacked　and　you　take　out　a　dog　or　two；　well；　meat　is　meat。　¨Once　itˇs　in　the　soup；　Iˇll　call　it　beef；〃　Greasy　Sae　says　with　a　wink。　No　one　in　the　Seam　would　turn　up　their　nose　at　a　good　leg　of　wild　dog；　but　the　Peacekeepers　who　e　to　the　Hob　can　afford　to　be　a　little　choosier。　
When　we　finish　our　business　at　the　market；　we　go　to　the　back　door　of　the　mayorˇs　house　to　sell　half　the　strawberries；　knowing　he　has　a　particular　fondness　for　them　and　can　afford　our　price。　The　mayorˇs　daughter；　Madge；　opens　the　door。　Sheˇs　in　my　year　at　school。　Being　the　mayorˇs　daughter；　youˇd　expect　her　to　be　a　snob；　but　sheˇs　all　right。　She　just　keeps　to　herself。　Like　me。　Since　neither　of　us　really　has　a　group　of　friends；　we　seem　to　end　up　together　a　lot　at　school。　Eating　lunch；　sitting　next　to　each　other　at　assemblies；　partnering　for　sports　activities。　We　rarely　talk；　which　suits　us　both　just　fine。
Today　her　drab　school　outfit　has　been　replaced　by　an　expensive　white　dress；　and　her　blonde　hair　is　done　up　with　a　pink　ribbon。　Reaping　clothes。
¨Pretty　dress；〃　says　Gale。
Madge　shoots　him　a　look；　trying　to　see　if　itˇs　a　genuine　pliment　or　if　heˇs　just　being　ironic。　It　is　a　pretty　dress；　but　she　would　never　be　wearing　it　ordinarily。　She　presses　her　lips　together　and　then　smiles。　¨Well；　if　I　end　up　going　to　the　Capitol；　I　want　to　look　nice；　donˇt　I？〃
Now　itˇs　Galeˇs　turn　to　be　confused。　Does　she　mean　it？　Or　is　she　messing　with　him？　Iˇm　guessing　the　second。
¨You　wonˇt　be　going　to　the　Capitol；〃　says　Gale　coolly。　His　eyes　land　on　a　small；　circular　pin　that　adorns　her　dress。　Real　gold。　Beautifully　crafted。　It　could　keep　a　family　in　bread　for　months。　¨What　can　you　have？　Five　entries？　I　had　six　when　I　was　just　twelve　years　old。〃
¨Thatˇs　not　her　fault；〃　I　say。
¨No；　itˇs　no　oneˇs　fault。　Just　the　way　it　is；〃　says　Gale。　Madgeˇs　face　has　bee　closed　off。　She　puts　the　money　for　the　berries　in　my　hand。　¨Good　luck；　Katniss。〃　¨You；　too；〃　I　say；　and　the　door　closes。
We　walk　toward　the　Seam　in　silence。　I　donˇt　like　that　Gale　took　a　dig　at　Madge；　but　heˇs　right；　of　course。　The　reaping　system　is　unfair；　with　the　poor　getting　the　worst　of　it。　You　bee　eligible　for　the　reaping　the　day　you　turn　twelve。　That　year；　your　name　is　entered　once。　At　thirteen；　twice。　And　so　on　and　so　on　until　you　reach　the　age　of　eighteen；　the　final　year　of　eligibility；　when　your　name　goes　into　the　pool　seven　times。　Thatˇs　true　for　every　citizen　in　all　twelve　districts　in　the　entire　country　of　Panem。
But　hereˇs　the　catch。　Say　you　are　poor　and　starving　as　we　were。　You　can　opt　to　add　your　name　more　times　in　exchange　for　tesserae。　Each　tessera　is　worth　a　meager　yearˇs　supply　of　grain　and　oil　for　one　person。　You　may　do　this　for　each　of　your　family　members　as　well。　So；　at　the　age　of　twelve；　I　had　my　name　entered　four　times。　Once；　because　I　had　to；　and　three　times　for　tesserae　for　grain　and　oil　for　myself；　Prim；　and　my　mother。　In　fact；　every　year　I　have　needed　to　do　this。　And　the　entries　are　cumulative。　So　now；　at　the　age　of　sixteen；　my　name　will　be　in　the　reaping　twenty　times。　Gale；　who　is　eighteen　and　has　been　either　helping　or　single…handedly　feeding　a　family　of　five　for　seven　years；　will　have　his　name　in　forty…two　times。　
You　can　see　why　someone　like　Madge；　who　has　never　been　at　risk　of　needing　a　tessera；　can　set　him　off。　The　chance　of　her　name　being　drawn　is　very　slim　pared　to　those　of　us　who　live　in　the　Seam。　Not　impossible；　but　slim。　And　even　though　the　rules　were　set　up　by　the　Capitol；　not　the　districts；　certainly　not　Madgeˇs　family；　itˇs　hard　not　to　resent　those　who　donˇt　have　to　sign　up　for　tesserae。
Gale　knows　his　anger　at　Madge　is　misdirected。　On　other　days；　deep　in　the　woods；　Iˇve　listened　to　him　rant　about　how　the　tesserae　are　just　another　tool　to　cause　misery　in　our　district。　A　way　to　plant　hatred　between　the　starving　workers　of　the　Seam　and　those　who　can　generally　count　on　supper　and　thereby　ensure　we　will　never　trust　one　another。　¨Itˇs　to　the　Capitolˇs　advantage　to　have　us　divided　among　ourselves；〃　he　might　say　if　there　were　no　ears　to　hear　but　mine。　If　it　wasnˇt　reaping　day。　If　a　girl　with　a　gold　pin　and　no　tesserae　had　not　made　what　Iˇm　sure　she　thought　was　a　harmless　ment。
As　we　walk；　I　glance　over　at　Galeˇs　face；　still　smoldering　underneath　his　st