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But because two can play at this game； I stand on tiptoe and kiss his cheek。 Right on his bruise。
6
The Training Center has a tower designed exclusively for the tributes and their teams。 This will be our home until the actual Games begin。 Each district has an entire floor。 You simply step onto an elevator and press the number of your district。 Easy enough to remember。
Iˇve ridden the elevator a couple of times in the Justice Building back in District 12。 Once to receive the medal for my fatherˇs death and then yesterday to say my final goodbyes to my friends and family。 But thatˇs a dark and creaky thing that moves like a snail and smells of sour milk。 The walls of this elevator are made of crystal so that you can watch the people on the ground floor shrink to ants as you shoot up into the air。 Itˇs exhilarating and Iˇm tempted to ask Effie Trinket if we can ride it again； but somehow that seems childish。
Apparently； Effie Trinketˇs duties did not conclude at the station。 She and Haymitch will be overseeing us right into the arena。 In a way； thatˇs a plus because at least she can be counted on to corral us around to places on time whereas we havenˇt seen Haymitch since he agreed to help us on the train。 Probably passed out somewhere。 Effie Trinket； on the other hand； seems to be flying high。 Weˇre the first team sheˇs ever chaperoned that made a splash at the opening ceremonies。 Sheˇs plimentary about not just our costumes but how we conducted ourselves。 And； to hear her tell it； Effie knows everyone whoˇs anyone in the Capitol and has been talking us up all day； trying to win us sponsors。
¨Iˇve been very mysterious； though；〃 she says； her eyes squint half shut。 ¨Because； of course； Haymitch hasnˇt bothered to tell me your strategies。 But Iˇve done my best with what I had to work with。 How Katniss sacrificed herself for her sister。 How youˇve both successfully struggled to overe the barbarism of your district。〃
Barbarism？ Thatˇs ironic ing from a woman helping to prepare us for slaughter。 And whatˇs she basing our success on？ Our table manners？
¨Everyone has their reservations； naturally。 You being from the coal district。 But I said； and this was very clever of me； I said； ˉWell； if you put enough pressure on coal it turns to pearls！ˇ¨ Effie beams at us so brilliantly that we have no choice but to respond enthusiastically to her cleverness even though itˇs wrong。
Coal doesnˇt turn to pearls。 They grow in shellfish。 Possibly she meant coal turns to diamonds； but thatˇs untrue； too。 Iˇve heard they have some sort of machine in District 1 that can turn graphite into diamonds。 But we donˇt mine graphite in District 12。 That was part of District 13ˇs job until they were
destroyed。
I wonder if the people sheˇs been plugging us to all day either know or care。
¨Unfortunately； I canˇt seal the sponsor deals for you。 Only Haymitch can do that；〃 says Effie grimly。 ¨But donˇt worry； Iˇll get him to the table at gunpoint if necessary。〃
Although lacking in many departments； Effie Trinket has a certain determination I have to admire。
My quarters are larger than our entire house back home。 They are plush； like the train car； but also have so many automatic gadgets that Iˇm sure I wonˇt have time to press all the buttons。 The shower alone has a panel with more than a hundred options you can choose regulating water temperature； pressure； soaps； shampoos； scents； oils； and massaging sponges。 When you step out on a mat； heaters e on that blow…dry your body。 Instead of struggling with the knots in my wet hair； I merely place my hand on a box that sends a current through my scalp； untangling； parting； and drying my hair almost instantly。 It floats down around my shoulders in a glossy curtain。
I program the closet for an outfit to my taste。 The windows zoom in and out on parts of the city at my mand。 You need only whisper a type of food from a gigantic menu into a mouthpiece and it appears； hot and steamy； before you in less than a minute。 I walk around the room eating goose liver and puffy bread until thereˇs a knock on the door。 Effieˇs calling me to dinner。
Good。 Iˇm starving。
Peeta； Cinna； and Portia are standing out on a balcony that overlooks the Capitol when we enter the dining room。 Iˇm glad to see the stylists； particularly after I hear that Haymitch will be joining us。 A meal presided over by just
Effie and Haymitch is bound to be a disaster。 Besides； dinner isnˇt really about food； itˇs about planning out our strategies； and Cinna and Portia have already proven how valuable they are。
A silent young man dressed in a white tunic offers us all stemmed glasses of wine。 I think about turning it down； but Iˇve never had wine； except the homemade stuff my mother uses for coughs； and when will I get a chance to try it again？ I take a sip of the tart； dry liquid and secretly think it could be improved by a few spoonfuls of honey。
Haymitch shows up just as dinner is being served。 It looks as if heˇs had his own stylist because heˇs clean and groomed and about as sober as Iˇve ever seen him。 He doesnˇt refuse the offer of wine； but when he starts in on his soup； I realize itˇs the first time Iˇve ever seen him eat。 Maybe he really will pull himself together long enough to help us。
Cinna and Portia seem to have a civilizing effect on Haymitch and Effie。 At least theyˇre addressing each other decently。 And they both have nothing but praise for our stylistsˇ opening act。 While they make small talk； I concentrate on the meal。 Mushroom soup； bitter greens with tomatoes the size of peas； rare roast beef sliced as thin as paper； noodles in a green sauce； cheese that melts on your tongue served with sweet blue grapes。 The servers； all young people dressed in white tunics like the one who gave us wine； move wordlessly to and from the table； keeping the platters and glasses full。
About halfway through my glass of wine； my head starts feeling foggy； so I change to water instead。 I donˇt like the feeling and hope it wears off soon。 How Haymitch can stand walking around like this full…time is a mystery。
I try to focus on the talk； which has turned to our interview costumes； when a