1:4 The swordsman's challenge
I spend an hour learning map reading. By the time I'm finished the number of tributes in the training room has increased to fourteen. Haymitch is one of those who is absent. I talk to a few of the tributes during the short break. From my initial observations, I only rate Beetee and Wiress from District Three as potential allies. Finnick seems keen to make an alliance with me, but I'm very uncertain about him. I'll talk with Cato tonight and get his advice before making a decision about Finnick.
The Gamemakers make an announcement before we resume. A special combat training session using a new simulator is available for the next session. Participation is optional, but the Gamemakers make it clear it would be in our best interests to take up their offer. Even so, there are only eight of us who volunteer to take part. We are taken to a side room where a trainer explains how the simulator works. It seems simple enough. We each enter the simulator one at a time and must dodge, fight or trick our way past anyone or anything blocking our way to the exit on the other side. We are allowed ten minutes for our one and only attempt. Lots are drawn to establish the order in which we enter and we are all allowed to watch what is happening inside the simulator on a wide screen. A trainer enters first so as not to disadvantage Brutus, who will have the first attempt by a tribute.
The simulator shows a scene of a narrow and twisting canyon with steep walls. You can't see the end of the canyon from the start. It is perfect country for hiding traps and predators along the route. The trainer selects a sword and shield from a collection of weapons and other items on a table near the start line. We are allowed to take anything from the table before we start, but must carry what we select and we cannot return to the table once we begin. Our ten minutes begins as soon as we cross the line.
The trainer sets off at a brisk pace. He has barely gone twenty paces before a wild boar charges towards him from the nearby scrub. The trainer dodges the charge and lunges at the boar as it passes him. He only inflicts a minor wound and the boar quickly turns for another charge. The trainer decides to run for the nearby trees. A mistake. The boar catches him before he can reach the trees and gouges his leg. The trainer turns and stabs the boar, finally killing it. He hobbles further along the canyon, trying to stem the flow of blood from his leg wound.
After avoiding several traps he is in sight of the finish line when a swordsman wearing a long flowing black robe steps out in front of him. A deep hood hides the swordsman's face from our view. The trainer prepares to do battle but the wound in his leg is a major handicap. The swordsman quickly disarms the trainer, who promptly surrenders. A failure. A minute later the trainer rejoins us. His leg wound was not real and he seems none the worse for his experience.
"Be warned!" says the trainer before Brutus enters the simulator. "The traps and hazards will be different for each of you, but the swordsman will always be your last obstacle."
Brutus enters the simulator and takes a sword and spear from the table. He makes a more cautious start, expecting the boar to charge him, but nothing happens. He loses a precious minute in his cautious journey to the first line of trees. He is barely inside the tree line when a bear appears before him. To his credit Brutus responds quickly, and skilfully uses the spear to fend off the bear. But it costs him time. He loses even more time, as well as his spear, when he falls into a trap. A pit which fortunately doesn't contain anything nasty at the bottom. Brutus scrambles out of the pit and resumes his journey. By the time he reaches the swordsman he has only a minute left.
Brutus must realise he is short of time. As he engages the black robed swordsman he tries to work his way around the swordsman. A logical move which the swordsman anticipates and easily blocks. Blade for blade the pair are evenly matched, but time is on the swordsman's side. Brutus gets more desperate and in doing so makes a fatal mistake. In a swift movement, just like the one Cato once showed me, the swordsman lands a lethal stroke at Brutus's neck. Game over.
Brutus returns to our group a minute later, unharmed but for his wounded pride. He's eager to make another attempt but the trainer says 'no'. Cashmere from District One goes next, followed by her brother Gloss. Neither get past the swordsman although Cashmere manages to wound the swordsman. Like the injuries inflicted on us, the swordsman returns fully fit for the next contest.
My turn is next to last, with Finnick after me. Everyone has reached the swordsman but no one has made it past him. I've been studying the way the swordsman moves and I think I have a plan. I take the bow and the single arrow from the table. I also take the large yellow silk scarf. It seems totally out of place among the weapons. I decide it must therefore be useful. I tie the scarf around my waist and step across the start line. I notch my arrow to my bow and move briskly towards the trees. A boar comes charging towards me from the opposite direction to the one which charged the trainer. Using all my hunting skills I take aim and let fly with my arrow. A direct hit which brings the boar down. I move forward to retrieve my arrow but the boar simply vanishes into thin air taking my arrow with it. I hadn't anticipated that. None of the beasts the other tributes faced disappeared like that. Now I'm unarmed.
I don't dwell on my mistake and quickly make my way into the woods. I easily see the trip wire stretched between two trees and bypass that trap. In doing so I nearly step into a well disguised pit. Fortunately a rustling sound from a nearby bush had made me slow my pace and I manage to stop in time. I scan the area the sound came from and soon the source. A small animal. A black cat. But is it my black cat? My daemon? I send a questing thought in the direction of the cat and it responds by coming towards me. It is my daemon. It means this simulation is controlled by Ariadne.
Given the experience I gained when I disrupted Caesar Flickerman's simulated interview with Cato and I, it would be easy for me to take control of this simulation. But doing so would alert every Gamemaker and army expert to what I've done. Instead I settle for allowing the cat to show me a path through the maze of traps. I reach the swordsman with nearly five minutes left to me.
I've no weapon, but my plan requires brains rather than brawn. The swordsman is extremely skilful to have beaten all the tributes from Districts One and Two. Even if I were armed to the teeth, my ability to fight with blades is not up to the swordsman's skill level. While I was watching the other tributes battle the swordsman, I started to wonder how Cato would have faired against him. I've wrestled with Cato enough times to know his preferred movements and style, and this swordsman is remarkably similar. So similar, in fact, I begin to suspect the swordsman is Cato.
Not that I've any easy way to prove or disprove that theory. As I discovered from Peeta's experience at the end of the 74th Hunger Games, it is possible for a person to be inside the simulation but not recognise with whom they are interacting. If the swordsman is Cato, he may not be able to see my features. To him I may just be another opponent to defeat with his sword.
I turn towards the cat but it simply flicks its tail and returns to the undergrowth. It has decided I don't need its help any more. What a fickle ally! Then I realise it is confirming what I suspected. The swordsman is Cato. Not that that knowledge is going to help me until Cato realises this is me. At the moment he clearly doesn't since he is drawing his sword.
"Hi. Do you recognise me?" I ask tentatively. His answer is garbled. He heard me speak but couldn't make out my words. The simulation scrambled our words so we can't understand each other.
I need to try another ploy. I remove the yellow scarf tied around my waist and perform a dance in front of him using the scarf in a sensuous manner. The Harem-keeper's journal specifies that the dancing girl should be naked apart from the scarf, but I don't have time to undress. Cato must understand my actions but doesn't put away his sword. Instead he points the tip of his blade at the zip of my jacket. His motion clearly indicates he wants me to undress. I don't really have time for this, but he isn't going to let me pass until I've paid for my passage. I lower the zip and remove my jacket revealing my small singlet. It is only marginally decent attire in public. I remove my shoes and trousers on his unspoken command. He finally lifts his blade away from me. I take it as a sign I can leap into his arms and kiss him.
Cato throws his sword aside and returns my kiss. He picks me up and carries me to the finish line with only seconds left on the clock. While I would like to linger in his arms for a while, I cross the finish line and leave the simulation. I'm relieved to find I'm back to being fully dressed. My striptease was only simulated but I don't doubt those watching saw everything. When I join the other tributes they are speechless and just look at me in surprise.
"My turn," says Finnick. "I like your technique, Katniss, but I'm definitely NOT going to copy your method."
He might have lasted longer had he done so.