Chapter 10
When Finnick and Ron get to the square, the Mayor is tied by his hands to pole, looking out over the crowd. Normally, the man is unremarkable, but, at this moment, he seems brave and determined, and his grey eyes are cold and resolute. Despite this show of fortitude, Finnick is disgruntled with the man and his history, so Craven's show of courage causes more loathing than admiration. Next to the mayor is a Capitol official. These terrible agents were known throughout Panem as inquisitors or hunters. These officials were Capitol citizen commanders of the Peacekeeper corps chiefly interested in maintaining the loyalty and integrity of the people and leaders of the Districts; in particular, they came to the more rebellious districts, Three, Four, Six, Seven, and Eight, and to search out, arrest and probably execute rebel leaders. But Finnick, through the many secrets he's gathered and the knowledge of his father, has never heard of a Capitol official arresting a mayor. The official, who is pierced wildly all over his face, and has a no hair on his head, is looking through the crowd, probably for dissidents. He draws his pistol which sends most in the crowd in retreat.
"The Mayor of District Four is changing. The days of your carefree, unkempt lives are over!" This causes boos and screams. Ron looks at Finnick then starts gruffly shoving people out of the way.
"Move! We have to go! Move!" Finnick and Ron make it to the stage just as the Capitol official points his weapon at the Mayor.
"Stop!" Finnick yells, clambering onto the stage, but one peacekeeper, in the brand new white uniform of a recent Capitol addition, comes forward and smacks Finnick across his beautiful, beautiful face, and sends him back to the ground under the stage. The fall is painful, and Finnick feels like he's been paralyzed for a moment, but at Ron's behest, he pulls himself up, and looks hatefully at the peacekeeper.
"Where was I? Oh yes, now, Mayor Craven, any last words?"
"I got one!" Ron yells, "Get out of my district!" Ron flings his trident backwards. The back of the weapon knocks one peacekeeper onto his back, while Finnick uproots another. Finnick takes the back of his trident and smacks the peacekeeper in the gut leaving him stunned and rolling in pain. Ron gets onto the stage, knocks another peacekeeper off with the force of his body, while Finnick's does a full flourish, kicking another down steps while also slamming the point of the trident into the rope holding the Mayor. He drops to the ground, and Finnick and Ron turn their weapons to the Capitol official, who is holding his pistol high.
"What sort of rebellion is this?" he asks, moving it between the two. He knows he's not in a good place, they are both quite skilled with tridents, and Ron picks his up and holds it back, ready to throw, while Finnick approaches with his weapon forward.
"Let the mayor go…or let us appoint a new one ourselves…" Finnick says. Ron looks at him and lowers his weapon, clearly a little confused with Finnick. Ron raises it again as the pistol points back toward him.
"He has broken the laws of Panem! And for you to select a mayor…why that's downright treasonous…" the official says.
"Wait! Why is the mayor like this?" A voice cries out from the back of the crowd. William frantically moves through the people and goes onto the stage, grabbing Craven. Ron's father Terrance, and Librae are with him, and they look to the official.
"I don't have to explain myself to some laymen…or a victor for that matter!" the official says, the gun going back and forth between Ron and Finnick. But Finnick's too close, and makes a quick move with the trident which causes the pistol to fire harmlessly in the air and smacks the Capitol official hard in the chest. He falls to his knees, but as Finnick raises his weapon, William throws his hand out.
"Wait! Please, we don't want anyone else hurt! Just tell us…why is the Mayor being ousted?"
"Because…" the official starts, obviously feeling a bit outdone, "…he has failed to capture and prosecute two musicians who have clear ties to the rebellion."
"Two musicians…" William says, freezing. Finnick turns to him with concern, and but Terrance steps forward, looking clear headed and strong.
"Those musicians were not rebellion," the official looks up, furious but confused. William chimes in.
"No they weren't. They were in my home. And I assure you, they were not playing in support of any rebellion," William says. Terrance nods and continues.
"If you are referring to the four note song those girls, Rue and Katniss, performed in the games, it is actually part of a commonly known song of District Four."
"What song?" the official says. William smiles.
"California…come on Terrance. Finnick, Ron, you know it too." And they start. As the four of them go through it, more and more from the crowd follow the song, adding their voices. In fact, Finnick notices that even the lieutenant peacekeepers, Marcia and Hadrian, who apparently came with his father, start singing it as well. At this, the Capitol official sees his options running low, and turns back to William.
"How…why have I not heard this?"
"You can explain that to President Snow…or better, contact one of his lieutenants, Scipio Mellark, a Capitol official manager I think. He'd be happy recount the song for you, last time he visited our humble district, he was quite familiar," the official's eyes grow wide as he hears Scipio's name. The official continues, but is visibly shaken.
"But…those two still attacked my peacekeepers and me."
"And you attacked our mayor. I'd put it at even. Look, for both of our sakes, why don't you report you found and killed some rebels, and we'll all reaffirm our dedication to the Capitol," William says out toward the crowd. Finnick groans and looks at William.
"We do have another option. We'll hand him over if we can pick our own mayor." William's eyes grow big. He grabs his son's arm and pulls him away.
"Now is not the time for personal family vengeance, boy!"
"Then when is it?"
"I don't know. But ousting Craven won't solve anything. Beside, I'd rather have an easily controlled weakling than someone who could threaten us later." William turns his son toward the recovering official and points.
"Say you're sorry to the man. You meant no offense…" Finnick sighs, then nods.
"Yes, I apologize for the misunderstanding. I assure you, I have one loyalty, and it is to the Capitol," Finnick says this through gritted teeth. Terrance moves in for the rescue.
"Agreed. One panem. Panem today, Panem tomorrow…" Terrance looks to the crowd, which a large number finish, "Panem forever." The official is angry, but clearly, so he gathers his keepers and starts to direct them back.
"I'll…report that the Mayor made a large scale effort and proved his loyalty."
"District Four thanks you…" William says. The man leaves, and William looks to his son, who grabs hold of the mayor the moment the official leaves. Ron raises his trident but Terrance pulls him back, leaving Finnick to show down with the mayor.
"Craven…your family stole this District from ours! You're one of Snow's cronies, a terrible one, but my enemy, nonetheless. This is the last time I save you!" Finnick throws Craven against a pole. The man looks at Finnick and appears bewildered.
"What are you talking about?"
"I know your history, I know your ancestor, Bartholomew, helped betray my ancestor with Snow's grandfather and took control of District Four!"
"Bartholomew? My grandfather didn't rule District Four! He was a shopkeeper in Eight. My grandmother was a mayor's daughter, but the laws of Panem don't allow for mayor's children or descendants to rule a district they managed."
"What…?" Finnick looks at him in confusion. Craven sighs and rolls his eyes.
"My family is one of mayors, yes, but we have not ruled Four before me. Neither of my grandfathers ever left Eight," Finnick looks at the man, then jumps off the stage and races away, back toward his father's house. He assumes his father, Ron, Librae, and perhaps even the rest of District Four are behind him, but he doesn't care. He bursts through the main doors, pushes past Mica, and goes into the library. The book, with its page marked, it still sitting on the table. Finnick opens it to the page, and sees the Odair name, their symbol of a fish, spear, and star, but underneath is a long and dry explanation about ancient military commanders and later mayors of the Warring State of California. It doesn't go beyond the unification of Panem.
"Finnick…" his father calls him softly. Finnick looks up.
"Come here, look at this!" Finnick says, turning the book around. William looks at it, then looks up.
"There was more than one page on our family?"
"No, there was only one. Scipio was making his page up…" Finnick says, trying to sort this out. He is so confused, so lost. The only person he could think of who could solve this is Beetee, but he was on the other side of Panem in District Three. Finnick runs his fingers through his hair, thinking as hard as he can.
"What…he gave other districts, didn't he…What names and districts?" William pauses and thinks, then looks at the book.
"Uh…District Thirteen, Lillia Coin…or something like that…"
"Not helpful…what else…"
"Uh…District Three…Lawrence… Lawrence L something…"
"Lawrence Laiter. Because Lawrence Laiter isn't real. That's Beetee's last name. Oliver Odair was the second…"
"Madeline…Mason I think…from Seven…Is that girl who convinced everyone she was weak…?"
"Johanna Mason. And Fredrigard or whatever Snow is Cornelius Snow…but that he betrays and kills us…what does it mean…"
"Well…if its not the past perhaps it's the future…" William says looking to his side. He does a double take however, and Finnick turns to see Ron and surprisingly his father standing in the door.
"How long have you two been there…?" Finnick demands. They look like two caught school children and start looking around.
"No Finnick no more secrets…they deserve to know. It's time we were honest with each other…" William turns and looks at his son, "All of us…"
"Wow…all that happened?" Terrance says, clinking the ice around his glass of rum. It's his third one, though William is on his fourth. Finnick, who has gone last, after William and Ron, breathes deeply, looking at his lemonade, then finishes explaining.
"Yes…then after I got past the mutation, I planted a small device on Plutarch's computer which would apparently allow Beetee to download the information on the computer, then I came back to the apartments, got back on the train, and arrived at the funeral."
"D*mn. Did Beetee tell you what the information he got was?" Ron asks. Finnick shakes his head.
"Not yet. Beetee said it would take probably a week to decode it. He promised he'd let me know… somehow."
"Hmm…well, it's been about a week since the Games ended. Maybe he'll contact soon?" Ron says. William smiles.
"You and your little electronic friend."
"He's a super genius, father. He gave me the confidence to fight after the Career pack kicked me out. Though they re-added me once I got a ten in training…"
"Well…I've got far too much to think about…" Terrance mutters, "Is there any other details I'm missing, or should I just try and digest the mess we're in?"
"That's all I've got, but, I'd like to talk to you alone for a moment…" William says pointing at the old man. Terrance looks surprised, then shrugs. Finnick and Ron look at each other, then leave the room. William watches them leave, then returns his attention to Terrance.
"Well…you know we're in a sort of pickle trying to decide whether to rebel or not…" William starts. He breathes deeply, then forces himself to continue, "Nearly nine years ago, we had a plan made…a plan for revolt. The key figures in the plot were found out, but the plot itself was not…" William brings out a chest of terrible memories and sets it on the table. Terrance immediately recognizes the box and pain becomes visible on his face. He downs his rum then adjusts his glasses before responding.
"We need to think hard about this William."
"We both lost a lot in that plot…I know Terrance…"
"We both lost everything, William," the man shoots back, tears appearing in his eyes in a surprising show of emotion. He wipes his eyes quickly and returns to his normal contained manner.
"That of course is untrue…we haven't lost everything. We still have our boys," Terrance says. William looks to the window.
"No…maybe your right…the Capitol has taken them from us too. They are nothing but hateful shells of men…what was I thinking…feeling as though we could rebel again," William's voice becomes shaky, and he looks back at the table. Terrance stands up and puts his hand on William's shoulder.
"You were thinking about the fact that the Capitol has taken everything from us…" Terrance says. Somehow, it seems the two of them switched; he was now convincing William to rebel, "What are they going to do now? They took our children, our wives…what is there left?" Terrance opens the case and pulls out the equipment, a map of the district, pieces representing the peacekeepers and rebel forces, brooms to move the pieces, and pens and pencils to write out the plan.
"But…you know they could do more. Our boys' lives, everyone they know and love, our wealth and fame, even our own necks hanging on a noose could be the result."
"You and I both understand the Capitol is willing to do a lot to keep us loyal. But at this stage, when it seems that people within the Capitol are willing to assist in its destruction, when what we planned to defeat the Capitol is even more so relevant and possible, tell me this, are you still afraid of them?" Terrance asks. William stops and thinks about this.
"Afraid…"
"The Capitol's tactics, soldiers, weapons, they are numerous and overwhelming. But we are dedicated, brave, and frankly, what are we still, but determined. There is little left in us but the will to free ourselves and our children from the terror of the Capitol. Knowing this…are you afraid of them?"
"Terrance…" William feels an answer building up in him. And it feels like a "no."
"Do we have a spark in us, anymore, that would lead us to fight and free ourselves for the sake of our wives? Are we the men we decided we'd be when we made this plan nine years ago? Are we still that determined?" Terrance asks, looking up. William's fear, anguish, and concern, is being overwhelmed by that determination Terrance keeps mentioning.
"No. The Capitol has made and will make many threats. But you're right. I no longer fear the Capitol," William says darkly. Terrance smiles when he hears this.
"I've been waiting a long time for you say those words," Terrance looks down at the map, "we are ready to rebel then. But I must raise a point. This Scipio figure you described sounds awfully shaky. There nothing to suggest he won't turn on you any moment and gain the glory himself and his boss, Plutarch."
"Very true. Which is why he's not calling the shots here. I am. And I'm going to need you and your son's help if I'm going to outdo both Scipio and the Capitol," Terrance wipes his glasses with his shirt.
"Then call the shots. Tell me and Ron what we need to do."
"Finnick, if we're going to survive this...I think at least your father needs to know about our work… …" Ron murmurs. This is a little out of the blue, so Finnick looks back at him furiously.
"I can't do that Ron! I'd be telling him too much! They'll punish me, us, severely for even talking about between us…" Finnick shoots. Ron shakes his head. He doesn't understand because he only has about a third of the clients. He doesn't know how intensely President Snow monitors Finnick.
"We're considering rebellion! Severe punishment is to be expected…" Ron says, throwing his hands in the air, "You know what this is? This is you not getting over when your father…"
"He abandoned me when my mother died!" Finnick yells. Ron holds his hands out and the man quiets slightly, "He left me to kill myself on alcohol and drugs. And if not for Mags, I'd be dead by now."
"And that has anything to do with right now because?" Ron asks. Finnick is really close to hitting him for this.
"It matters because he abandoned me and left me to die!"
"Eight million dollars in the games is pretty far from abandoning you…" Ron mutters. Finnick actually slaps him for this, which leads Ron to slap him back.
"He spent his fortune to save your life in the games!" Ron yells, "My father did too! It was wrong, it's so far from just or fair, it's disgusting, but it happened, and we're alive. And hating him won't help anybody! It breaks Mags' heart when you insult the man, it breaks Annie's heart!"
"Don't bring her up! You don't know Annie's heart!" Finnick yells. Ron sighs, his tone much calmer.
"You're right, I don't. But you do. And tell me, is this what she wants?" Ron asks. Finnick freezes. His thoughts are racing, split between anger and fear. Anger at Ron, and his father. But fear that Ron is right.
"Secrets aren't going to help anybody right now. If you can't be honest with your father, we're not going to succeed." Ron says, going into his home. Finnick watches him go, then looks to Annie's house down the road.
"…Do I even really know Annie's heart…?" Finnick says. He goes back to his home, fighting tears the whole way, then notices the trident Ron had sent to him in the Capitol sitting in his dining room. Finnick had not left the Capitol with it, nor did he know it was going to be delivered, but there it is, on his couch and with a faint, beeping red light in its center. Finnick, carefully, leans down and examines the weapon and sees in its center there is a small chip. When Finnick touches it, the chip comes out, and a small light on it is blinking.
"Beetee…" Finnick mutters. He looks at the device, then leaves his home and goes to Ron's, hoping that his friend might have more knowledge of technology than he did. When Ron opens the door, he raises his fists, ready for another fight with Finnick. However, Finnick holds his hands out.
"I'm sorry, I was being dumb earlier. But I need to ask you a question…what is this? This was in the trident you designed," Finnick says holding out the chip. Ron looks at it closer, but clearly is stumped.
"I don't know…it was in my trident…wait, how did you get it back from the Capitol…" Finnick shrugs.
"Beetee somehow I think. It just appeared in my sitting room…"
"Then I'd guess that chip was Beetee's doing, but I have no idea. Maybe a computer chip?" Ron says, shrugging too.
"This would plug into a computer?"
"Probably, but I haven't the slightest clue…" Ron says. Finnick looks down, knowing he needs to make things right with the man before him.
"Ron…Let me say…that I'm really sorry…You and I, we're mentor and tribute. You're probably the best friend I've got, and…I'm not very good at showing it…" Finnick says. Ron smiles.
"You did a pretty good job there. Alright, look, you make your own decision about our "work." I'll follow your lead…" Ron says.
"Thank you…" Finnick pats Ron's arm, then turns and goes back toward his house, feeling his friendship saved, and now moving his mind to more pressing matters.