A Games Unlike Any Other
Chapter 14 Snow's Evaluation
"I am nothing if not critical" - Iago in Shakespeare's OTHELLO.
"This year's Games were rather unsatisfactory," commented Coriolanus Snow.
His complaint was ostensibly addressed to the Chief Gamesmaster, who was sitting uncomfortably at the other end of the table. But the real target was the new President of Panem, Philemon Philippe, who was sitting at the side ostensibly as an "observer".
"Penelope Thread told me about your concerns about the electoral procedures," said the President," and of course there was the scandal about the nature of the arena leaking out. Do you have other complaints?"
"About food. Of course the Gamesmasters are supposed to allow the tributes to obtain food somehow in the arena, even without sponsors , but it's usually in the form of wild plants and animals. Not in the form of square meals, complete with silverware!"
"The challenge was in FINDING the food," the Chief Gamesmaster said. "As it turned out, only two groups found the food. Diana exploring alone, and Sean and Arianna as a team. As for supplying a real dinner, I thought that would be an entertaining novelty."
"I think we should allow the Chief discretion here," said the President. "Anything else?"
"The nature of the final melee. In normal Games, it's a violent fight to the death. Entertaining to the audience, but it also serves to present the representatives of the Districts as capable of savage, animal violence. This year they actually had a civilized conversation, and some savants of the Capitol were rather impressed. We're not supposed to present the tributes as the embodiment of civilization."
This time the President answered directly. "The Gamesmasters can hardly control the reactions of the tributes to a situation. It is unfortunate that this year's conclusion raised rather a lot of sympathy in the Capitol, but we've told the media to limit the number of times the final melee will be broadcast. Eventually it will be forgotten."
"You know best," Snow said silkily. "One more thing. Miss Farmer has, of course, been granted a Victory Mansion in District 7. But reports say that she is sharing it with rather a lot of people. Her "gang", who only a month ago were given severe public floggings to teach people not to break the law. Miss Agatha Katelin, who was the victim of an unfortunately mistake by District 7's Peacekeepers. Miss Rose Buck, whose only qualification seems to be that she was nearly raped by the late Bruce Wallenston."
"I'm the GAMESMASTER," said the Chief. "I'm not responsible for what the Victor does with her winnings."
"I think the relevant phrase here is 'To the Victor belongs the spoils'," said the President.
"Maybe. But it may be dangerous to let a Victor, who already has extreme prestige, to share her bounty like this. It could give her a lot of power in a poor community."
"We'll monitor the situation," said the President. "Is that it?"
"Oh, yes," said Snow. "I only wanted to express my concerns." The records of the meeting would look as if he offered certain observations to the Chief Gamesmaster and new President, and had been rebuffed. But Snow knew that there were people out there who were not particularly fond of either the Chief or the President. If things went wrong in the future, they might remember Snow as a man who offered clear-eyed criticisms, and deserved attention.
Someday, Snow thought as he exited the office, he might be in charge of a Quarter Quell himself. And things would be very different.
THE END