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CATCHING FIRE -- CHAPTER 17
The Gamemakers all react differently to what Katniss has just done, but they all more or less are shocked. She’s dismissed by the new Head Gamemaker and she heads on out to get ready for dinner.
During dinner, Katniss sees the camouflage paint that is still on Peeta’s hands. Haymitch then inquires on their performances. First, Peeta explains what he did: he used dyes to paint a picture of a deceased tribute from the last Hunger Games, Rue. Rue was Katniss’ ally and friend in the last Games. An innocent little girl, she was killed by another tribute and Katniss decorated her corpse in flowers as a final act of respect before she died. Apparently, Peeta wanted the Gamemakers to take another look at the innocent girl they had killed.
Katniss then explains what she did with the target dummy. They are all a little shocked. It was almost as if Katniss and Peeta prepared to do all of this ahead of time. However, the only thing that Katniss and Peeta did plan out and discuss so far was to not have allies in the game except for each other.
Soon, the points are revealed. The Gamemakers give the tributes a score between one and twelve, twelve being the best. Katniss and Peeta both earn a score of twelve. It’s apparent that with such high scores, the Gamemakers want to make them both targets so that they can be killed off first. The faster the toughest tributes are out of the Quell, the easier it will be for the other tributes to proceed in playing.
Katniss and Peeta head off to bed. Before sleep, Katniss decides that she should make it evident that she is rebelling up until her last breath. Such actions will give the people of Panem fuel to continue their uprisings. Furthermore, if she dies as a martyr and Peeta survives, then he can use his emotions as a drive to continue talking against the Capitol.
Katniss and Peeta awake next to each other. Unlike their normal nights alone, this night is nightmare free.
The two get up and learn that today’s coaching session with Haymitch and Effie will not happen. Today, they were supposed to be coached on how to act in public, but Haymitch and Effie are confident that the two have already have had enough practice in the public eye.
Katniss and Peeta decide to use their free time on the rooftop of the Training Center. There, up on the roof, they choose to have a fun-filled, day-long picnic. They even skip out on dinner with the others just so that they can spend more time with each other. The time on the roof gives them the opportunity to really reconnect.
They sleep in the same bed that night, and are awoken by their prep team. Peeta exits to get ready, and Katniss is left in her room to get ready with a saddened Venia and Flavius. Not only did the prep team see Katniss and Peeta rekindle their romance, but now they are also going to have to observe them go back into the arena with each other. Venia says thank you to Katniss before Cinna comes into take the lead.
Cinna shows Katniss the dress she will be wearing tonight for the interview. It’s the white wedding dress that the people voted on and were expecting Katniss to wear when she got married to Peeta. The wedding, of course, didn’t happen, but President Snow still wants Katniss to wear the winning dress.
Katniss tries on the dress, finding it to be incredibly heavy. Cinna lets her know that it’s heavier because he had to alter it a bit to cope with the studio lights. He also suggests that Katniss twirls around in it, something that Caesar will certainly ask her to do.
When they reach the studio, the other tributes just stare at Katniss. They’re certainly surprised that she’s wearing a wedding dress. Before the interviews begin Katniss speaks to Johanna and she says, “Make him [President Snow] pay for it.” Katniss then realizes how upset the victors are for having to return to the arena.
During the interviews, almost all of the victors seem to question the Quarter Quell. They don’t seem to understand why all the victors are in it and why the rules aren’t changed for it. The audience is going through an emotional upheaval with their heroes before them, speaking of how unfair the Quell is. When it’s Katniss’ turn to be interviewed, her dress makes the situation all that much worst for the audience. They are really saddened by the situation.
Katniss concludes her interview by twirling around like Cinna instructed. As she twirls, Katniss’ dress seems to catch on fire. There’s smoke rising from the bottom of the dress and it begins to burn off. Katniss fears for her safety for a moment, but she doesn’t know what to do so she just continues twirling. Eventually, when the burning stops, she’s left in a black, feathery gown that looks just like her old wedding dress, except it’s black and it has wing-like sleeves. It then dawns on Katniss that she looks just like a mockingjay. Katniss might be making President Snow pay for it, after all.
by Suzanne Collins
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