Eleven – The Knots
The Training Center – Division Two (4.2)
I don't usually have dreams or nightmares. They're not vivid enough for me to remember, but they were clear on this night. They strangely switch from my mother hugging me without Algo on the train, my sister throwing me onto the couch which transforms into the chariot, where I stand with Radia and also our mentors, all in flashing lights. The dreams are so weird I notice myself distressed. I see President Snow staring into my eyes even though we have never looked at each other directly, then I'm suddenly in the arena of the Sixty-fifth Hunger Games, struggling to swim in the water. The dream shifts, finding myself in the tropical islands and then trapped inside a net. I can't escape the thing, and the next thing I stare at is Finnick Odair's dashing eyes and his spectacular golden trident. Before he could attack my helpless body, I see myself replacing the District 3 girl, Cash, travelling with the Career alliance. Only they were costumed like the outfits in the parade, and had faces of the Career tributes this year.
I wake up with a start, sweaty and my heart hammering against my chest. I don't feel at all tired, so I must have had a long, restful sleep. The dark setting on my window probably disables in the morning, because now my room is slightly lit up from the rising sun outside. I check my watch and it's only six. Four hours until training.
I stay in my bed for a while and then, because my room is so big, I'm able to do a small run to warm up and stretch my body. I take another shower to feel refreshed and change into another brown shirt and pants before making my way to the dining room.
Coincidentally, I meet with Radia, Beetee and Jovan at the exact same time. But it's apparent Jovan just woke up minutes ago, because he is looking a little shaggy in his flannel.
We all bid each other a good morning and fill our plates from an enormous breakfast buffet. I serve myself some eggs, sausages, and fried rice on one plate, and a bunch of fruit in another. Rice is quite rarely produced these days. Of course most of the grain is sent to the Capitol.
We take our seats at the dining table.
"Why isn't Martinus with us?" I ask.
"I don't know." says Jovan. "I think he'll be wearing magenta today. Anyway, let's get down to business."
"I think he'll be looking a little green today." guesses Radia.
"Red." I say. A random guess.
"Blue." says Beetee. "So it will be your first day of training today. First things first, we ask this every year but I feel like we already know the answer. Do you both want to be coached separately?"
"Why would we want that?" Says Radia.
Jovan puts down his fork after taking a bite of a sausage. "You don't have any skills you want to be kept secret from each other?" he asks, then he gets distracted by his food. "Wow, this sausage is good. I can devour so many more sausages."
Radia giggles.
"What skills?" I ask. "I don't have any that Radia already doesn't know."
"Same. We suck." says Radia. "Let's all just talk together. It's better that way."
"We figured." says Beetee. "Okay, what are each of you good at? What are your strengths and skills for the arena?"
"Absolutely nothing." I say immediately.
"That's a load of crap, H." says Jovan. "You're both good at something."
I think for a bit. "I can sing."
"I can read really fast." adds Radia.
"That's good, but think of something more relevant to your survival in the Games." instructs Beetee.
"I really don't know." I admit. I have no idea how to use a weapon, or fight melee. I don't have much knowledge of plants and trees either.
"I can stack books on top of my head." pipes up Radia.
I gasp. "You can?"
"Let's not get too far off-topic here." settles Beetee. "So, we're District 3. So are you both good at remembering things?"
"Yes." Radia and I both say. The fact that I completely forgot that my memory can serve me really well is ironic.
"Great." Jovan takes a bite of his sausage. "We were going to ask you to save your best skill for the gamemakers in your private session. But you don't know your best skill yet, and that's fine."
"Instead, what we want you to do in training is to try as many stations as you can." says Beetee. "Learn as much as you can. The ones that require you to memorise some items, like some of the survival stations, you can master easily if you spend enough time on them. Then, after the third day, you should have an idea of your greatest skill that you can showcase to the gamemakers."
"And if we don't?" I ask.
"Find one." answers Beetee immediately. "Also, our brains actually have a small advantage every second year recently, even though the Careers still win the Games. The head Gamemaker, Gaea, incorporates some puzzles which can reap rewards to the solver. There wasn't a puzzle last year, so there might be one this year. If you have no other skill you master, show anything that exhibits your smarts to the gamemakers."
"So that's priority number one." Jovan emphasises. "Learn and find your strength."
"What's priority number two?" questions Radia.
"We sort of touched on it last night." says Beetee. "This is a new goal we're setting for the two of you only, considering the different approach we've had."
Beetee pauses to let Jovan speak. It's like the two of them know when to talk or lay back when teaching us. "Priority number two is to form alliances with the other tributes."
I grit my teeth. Creating relationships with people who are about to die or who are about to kill me is going to be difficult, especially since I haven't made friends except for Radia and our mentors, who I'm stuck with. But if Jovan was able to become outgoing, then I should too. I almost stop eating my breakfast to focus on their advice.
"We really think that you need other people to survive in these Games." Jovan continues. "Other tributes join alliances as a once-off because they usually have no choice. We didn't follow this strategy with the other District 3 kids because they were better off hiding alone. But the two of you are capable. Likeable."
"They're going to be jealous of us." Radia beats me to it.
"You have three days to change their mind and prove your worth in being an ally without coming out as too much of a threat." responds Jovan. "Like the two of you, you might even become more than allies with somebody. It's going to be their loss if they decide to be alone."
"But alliances never really work." I mention. Only the Careers succeed, but for other cross-district alliances, they break apart as soon as they get thrown into the arena. It becomes every man for himself and therefore, I don't think I can trust anybody.
"That's why you start now." Beetee says. "You have enough time to make the alliances strong so it's harder for anybody to renege on them."
"Do you have any idea who we should align with?" Probes Radia. "Like the Careers?"
I almost shoot her a look. If there's one group of tributes that I don't want to align with, it's the Careers.
"Anybody." Answers Beetee. "The best people are the ones who look interested in working with you. The girl from 7 who you've already met is a good start."
I think about how they know so much even though they've never taught anybody about making alliances. They must have put some real thought into it to help us. I will never stop being thankful for the work they're doing.
"But you can increase the chances of that yourself by both approaching and being approachable." Jovan says. "Try to find a station with somebody so you can talk to them. 'Hi, do you want to be in an alliance?' If they say yes, don't let them go."
This is inducing my anxiety. This is like having to introduce yourself to my new classmates at the start of a new school year. I never go out of my way to meet someone, but only if the circumstances seem natural. I might have to take my chances in being approached. That way, I won't have a choice.
"And for being approachable, just smile." It's funny for Beetee to be saying this because he rarely does any of that. "Don't smile psychotically. If you are alone, just look like you're enjoying training. If you make eye contact with someone, smile as well."
"Oh, and do the same at lunch." adds Jovan. "That's when you all have the most time to talk. It will be hard, but just fake it until you make it."
"Cool." says Radia. "I'm good. Let's do it."
The eyes point to me. Even though I'm not good with this plan, it's the best one for me. I think of Jovan having to struggle socially after winning his Games, and my words to Radia.
"I'll try." I finally decide.
"Great!" exclaims Jovan. "And Radia's always there for you if you need help."
Beetee checks his watch. "You have a bit more than an hour before you have to meet Martinus at the elevator. Be there early."
"For now, let's finish our breakfast." says Jovan. "I'm so excited to see how you guys go! Make sure you tell us everything after lunch. Who you've met. What stations you're good at."
"What else are we going to do after Training?"
"We'll give you time to relax and then we're going to watch a few of the past Games to help you." says Beetee.
"We're going to watch Beetee's and Wiress' tonight." reveals Jovan. "Teach you a thing or two about our skills and possibly give you ideas."
Other than all the confronting gore, I'm a bit excited to finally see how our victors won. I remember Beetee's skill with electrocution, and after dumbing myself down, only now do I remember how experienced I am with explosives.
"Wait, bombs and mines." I say. "Do they have a station?"
Jovan and Beetee look at each other for confirmation. I'm not positive, since explosives in the Training Center would be more dangerous than a stray arrow from a bow. Jovan shakes his head.
"Not that we know of this year." says Beetee. "Maybe there is, but it will have to be closed off. Just keep your eyes peeled for it when you're there."
Then he sits up straight.
"I have a proposition." he begins. "Are you good at rewiring mines?"
I reply with a yes.
Beetee nods. Jovan doesn't appear to know what Beetee's thinking. "I'll tell you my idea after training, where I will have it all laid out."
On that note, we continue eating our breakfast and asking each other about how our sleeps last night were like, and what our mentors will be doing while we're gone.
"We're going to try hype you up to the people." promises Jovan. "We'll be going outside and talking."
I'm grateful, but I really hope they don't bring the citizens' hopes up.
Radia and I do whatever in our bedrooms until quarter to 10, where we head out to meet Martinus at the elevator.
"He's wearing green like Tatiana!" Radia exclaims.
I was too occupied thinking about training that I totally forgot about our game.
"Looking like you're going to get Jovan's love." I tease.
Martinus greets us as we enter the elevator. He presses the button leading to the actual training rooms that are below ground level. I instinctively pick at my nails in nervousness, except I have none to work on since they've been cut short.
Martinus wishes us a high pitched "Good luck!" when the doors open into a massive gymnasiums filled with all the skill stations and a number of different weapons and obstacle courses. There are a number of trainers around too, looking surprisingly normal for being in the Capitol. I guess they're unable to keep fit while having loads of make-up on. There are already five pairs of tributes there, including all of the Careers I recognise, standing in an incomplete circle. Radia and I silently join the circle and we get pinned a cloth square of our district number to our shirts, like the tributes around us.
As I assess them, Connie from District 7 catches my eye and smiles, and Radia and I do the same back. Radia bumps me and gives me a look that says that we should go and talk to them when training starts. I don't know. It's really hard to trust her, or anybody here except Radia. I'm not sure if Connie is that eager to get into the Games, is making an act just so she can have allies to help her, or if she's genuinely friendly. But out of everybody so far, she's the best choice.
Ringo doesn't pay us any attention, and we don't look so flashy any more around the Careers, especially the largely-built pair from District 2. The girl from District 1 is the smallest of the Careers, but her expression was no less scary. Even the pair from District 5 were on the stronger side, still intimidating to me. I really don't see why any of them would want us in an alliance. They're all west of the Capitol, the richer side, and they don't need somebody who's half their strength holding them back.
The rest of the tributes come in pairs, except for the ones from 9 and 10, coming in at the same time. In their normal clothes, they still look as threatening as the tributes from Districts 1 and 4. Again, no way they would want me. I catch the pair from 9 sizing me up. The dark-skinned girl continues to judge me with a twinkle in her eye while the boy just winks.
As the other tributes arrive, I completely realise Radia and I are weak. The tributes from the richer districts have an edge in combat, while the meek-looking boys and girls from the outlying districts probably have a greater edge in survival. Even though they've been fed with Capitol fare, they still appear like they have starved for a living. They can probably last days without food in the arena.
Radia and I can't do any of that so well. Hope is disappearing.
As soon as the final pair of tributes, the tall but slender ones from District 8, complete the circle, the head trainer, an athletic young woman named Atala steps up to explain the training schedule and our instructions. We will be free to travel from station to station per our desires. We are strictly forbidden to fight with the other tributes. There are professional trainers at each station to help us with combat requiring another person. Her advice is to not ignore the survival skills, as we will die from natural causes if we manage the avoid the other tributes long enough in the harsh outdoor conditions. Then she reads out the list of all skill stations we are allowed to try, around thirty of them. I try to find any that I'm good at, but the only one that catches my ears is the grenade-throwing station. I think it will be useful for me to train there, since I can't even throw that well and I could possibly injure myself and the trainer accompanying me. And I don't think they will appreciate me opening up the grenades and examining them for manipulation either. Maybe I'll visit once, to check out which sort of grenade they have and hopefully recognise them.
Atala finally releases us and, seemingly ignoring the advice about survival, the Careers sprint off to the physical stations. Some other tributes knew exactly where to go, like the girl from 10 joining the girl from 1 in archery. Others, like Radia and I, dawdle for a bit, unsure of what to do.
"So, what do you want to do?" Radia asks me.
"I don't know. I'm pretty nervous." I say.
I know we were told to approach people during training, but I look around for an area with exactly the opposite. A lot of the nearby stations were already occupied, but I find the knot-tying station vacant, the trainer just slowly walking around.
"There." I point. "Let's tie some knots."
I start to jog towards the rope but Radia pulls me back. "There's nobody there."
"Let's take it slow." I plead. "I'm not ready yet. And I want to learn how to tie a knot."
Radia sighs. "Fine. Let's hope somebody joins us."
The trainer looks up and grins, excited to see some tributes so soon. He enthusiastically teaches us a variety of knots and a number of useful snares that can catch some wild game or trap a tribute.
Radia has a bit more trouble memorising the knots but we still complete the tasks in about thirty minutes. We still aren't masters at them, so I plan to return to the knots another day because we were once taught we remember processes better when repeating every day rather than doing it all in one huge block.
Nobody came to us while we were tying some knots, but as we figure out where to head to next, the girl from District 8 finds her place where we once were. A bit of a missed opportunity there.
"Where to next?" Radia asks. "One where there is somebody we can talk to this time."
"We can talk to the trainers." I joke, but Radia is insistent.
I quickly scan the place to find the Careers still working the gauntlets and other weapons, except for the boy from 4 who has decided to master some fish hooks. Then I find the girl from District 11 almost finished painting her arm as a tree trunk.
"To camouflage!" I say. "It has got somebody this time."
Radia looked pleased, and came with me to the station. I admit, I'm still not ready to talk to people, so I chose the tribute I know is close to being done with the skill. I try to pawn it off as not my fault when the girl leaves just as we arrive.
"Aw, that sucks." Radia complains.
"Aw, that's great!" The trainer responds. "Let's learn a bit of camouflage!"
She is a little over-the-top about her job, but it doesn't affect Radia and I in any way. It turns out we're quite skilled at swirling a mix of mud, clay, and berries to the perfect colour, and copying a tree. We're gifted artists.
Radia hides herself under some vines and leaves. "I'm District 7." We share a laugh.
Once again we were out of there quick. Around twenty gamemakers have decided to watch the tributes train on elevated stands looking over the gymnasium. I try to ignore them so I don't get too nervous. Most of the Careers are still occupying the weapon and fighting areas but have appeared to swap around. It seems their purpose is to intimidate the other tributes for being so versatile with various weapons, but I just witness the girl from District 4 miss the target completely with her bow and arrow.
"Over there!" Radia signals to the hammock-making station, occupied with the boy from District 8 in the middle of his creation. "Let's go."
I know I cannot back away this time, and I tag along with Radia. The boy from 8 appears Radia's age and quite gangly like Radia and I, but is a lot taller even when squatting. It's almost like he took advice from our mentors because he has a kind face and is smiling a bit, which definitely makes me want to choose him as somebody to talk to. Yet like many of the other tributes, he still is a little quiet.
"He has similar eyes as you." Radia whispers in my ear. She is a little right. Almond-shaped but slightly downturned. His eyes are just a tad thinner.
After the trainer teaches us the prominent weaving technique to form the hammock, Radia begins to make conversation with the boy.
"Hey there." she says. "How are you?"
I try to stop myself from protesting against Radia's question.
The boy pays attention to us for the first time. "Hey." He says, turning to us with a smile, yet I can tell he's a bit nervous inside. "I'm okay. This is a lot easier than I thought. How are you two?"
"We're cool." Radia then elbows me so that I should talk to the boy.
"Um, yeah, we're fine. Just making hammocks. So, um, are you from District 8?" I immediately regret saying that. I feel Radia cringing next to me.
The boy chuckles a bit. "Yeah. Weaving is our thing." I notice he's already almost finished with the hammock. "I actually work in dyeing."
"Oh no." I exclaim. The boy looks at me as if I overreacted learning he is working to die, but then I realise he means dyeing clothes and fabric. I feel myself turning red. Radia elbows me again but I already realise my mistake. "Oh, dyeing. Blood- I mean, paint!"
"Or just dye. It's weird, because I'm colour-blind." smiles the boy. That's quite impressive of him. "How about you, District 3? Do a lot of weaving in your time?"
"No. Nothing like this." answers Radia. "More like making pieces and putting them together to make more pieces."
The boy looks puzzled. "What?"
"It doesn't matter, but it looks like weaving is very useful to have!" Radia says. "Sorry, we haven't introduced ourselves yet. I'm Radia and this is Henry."
Radia goes so far as to shake the boy's hand. I have to do the same, keeping the other on the ropes where I'm making the hammock.
"Hi, I'm Greig." Says the boy. "With an 'i'."
"Grig?" I question aloud.
Greig spells his name out to us.
"Ohh." I say. "Nice to meet you Greig."
"Same here." The boy suddenly looks sullen and returns to blitzing the hammock-making.
I turn to Radia and mouth "What did I do?" And she just shrugs.
For some reason it's clear Greig doesn't wish to talk to us anymore. I'd normally feel relieved, but I only feel bad and try to figure out why. A mental condition? Does he feel bad meeting someone under these circumstances of the Hunger Games? Did he remember not to trust anybody, including us? It's all understandable.
"Are you okay?" asks Radia.
"I'm fine. How about you?" I respond.
"Not you." Radia says. "Greig."
"Oh."
Greig stands up to attach one end of his hammock to a wide pole. "I'm okay." He holds out the end. "Almost done."
We praise him as he lies down in his hammock suspended between two poles, without it breaking.
"I'll see you later." Greig says, and he leaves in a hurry.
Radia and I look at each other, discussing why he doesn't seem okay and feeling sorry for him. We complete our hammocks in silence, clearly thinking about Greig, and the trainer gives us the thumbs up when we successfully sit on our hammocks without them collapsing.
Radia and I then move onto fish hooks, which has no other tribute at the station at the moment. There, Radia feels a little impatient that we aren't talking to as many people as we should.
"Why don't we split up?" she suggests. "That way, we have a better chance of finding more people to ally with."
She's correct, but I selfishly don't want to train without Radia by my side.
"Can't we stick together for today?" I beg.
"No, we don't have enough time to do that." she says. "Look, I think it's a little harder if it's the two of us. They might think we're close and a threat. If we talk alone to the others, they might be more open."
She does have a great point I can't argue with.
"I'll find some people." I concede. "After we finish these hooks."
The hooks take even quicker than the knots. We prepare to separate.
"I'm going to look around over there." Radia refers to the other side of the gymnasium. "You look over here. Be brave, Henry!"
She leaves me feeling overwhelmed. I try to constantly think about how I present myself to the tributes when I approach them while also trying to figure out which skill I am the best at. The knots?
I don't feel comfortable yet trying out a weapon-based station, or even the ropes course and the gauntlets. The grenade station has somebody in it, too, so I decide to stick to all the survival skills for today.
I chicken out and choose to study edible and inedible plants where nobody is stationed at. While I examine the leaves of a certain shrub, I distract myself looking for Radia. I eventually spot her at the slingshots, striking up a lively conversation with Connie. I guess she's attempting to strengthen that bond.
But I do feel a little guilty having her do all the work, so I bid myself to try find somebody for the next station. No matter how hard it is.
In the end, I score perfectly on the edible plants test, impressing the trainer and even me, since the only plants at home are at the reserve which I don't visit and the trees seldom found on the street junctions. It, however, still does not help me decide on my best strength. Like with some of the other stations, I plan on returning to improve my memory of the plants and get a faster time on the test.
I look around, and because I have just finished with the edible plants, why not do edible insects? Conveniently, the boy from District 11 is there. The bad news, I'm also quite afraid of insects. Luckily the ones at the station were dead, but I figure in the arena I would not be able to muster up the courage to kill one, let alone eat it.
I join the very young boy from 11. I glance at him as we study in silence awkwardly. He's dark-skinned, which seems to be the prominent trait in District 11 like ours is ashen. He has a strange tic where he clicks his fingers but I don't question it further. He must be good at farming, remembering District 11's specialty. My mother once told me that 11 used to fare really well in the Games, but not so much anymore. Poverty took over. The boy looks like he could outrun me and have way more knowledge about plants than I do.
I know I need to talk to him, and I do because he seems nice, but I just can't bring myself to it. I know Jovan managed to, but he's had years. I've probably only had two hours of having the opportunity to meet with the other tributes.
In addition, he isn't smiling like Greig was. If anything, he's not ready to talk to me yet. That makes my choice a little easier.
I start to think about lunch, but the insects laid out on the tables with holograms displaying information do not make me salivate. I wonder how much time we have left? I just want to move on.
I make one mistake on the edible insects test and I take too much time, probably because I'm too busy trying not to let my stomach rumble in front of the poor trainer.
I can't really spot where Radia or Connie are, and I figure we have enough time for one more station to be at. I give up on the second priority for now and try to work on shelter-making alone with the trainer.
Since making a shelter requires physical exertion, I find I'm not the best at it, but I end up managing anyway. It's actually kind of fun to create something I can huddle under.
While I try to reinforce the roof to stop water from leaking through, another tribute comes to me.
"Hello, there." says the trainer. "I don't think there's enough time-"
"It's fine." The boy from District 9 interrupts. I'm a bit put off by his behaviour. Very entitled-like. It outweighs his physical attractiveness. "I'm just here to talk quickly to this guy."
He comes and squats next to me. I show no interest in talking to him because he's not an ally I would like to have. But he speaks anyway.
"Hey, flashy big brain boy."
"Hey-"
"What do you think of the Careers?" he asks. I'm a bit taken aback on why he's so abrupt. "Like them or not like them?"
"Umm..." I struggle. For some reason I feel that if I say the wrong thing, there'll be consequences. "Not really?"
"I figured." says the boy. "Since you're from a poor district like me. Well, anyway, there's an alliance going on to defeat the Careers and I want you in it. So you in?"
"Umm, what?"
"Think about it." The boy pats my shoulder and makes a smile which would catch my eyes if I wasn't so confused right now. "But the best thing for you and us is to say yes!"
The boy struts off. I don't know what just happened. The boy's pleasing face and body offset by his arrogant language. The existence of an apparent anti-Career alliance. The sweet-sounding possibility of the outlying districts banding to defeat the tributes from districts who always win. The fact that I can be in an alliance by only saying "Umm." And finally, the boy not even telling me his name or bothering to ask for mine.
I finish off my shelter to the satisfaction of my trainer. And I'm soon approached by another tribute. It's the girl from District 9 this time, just as attractive as the boy.
"Hey, was that my partner talking to you just before?"
I nod.
"I hope he didn't put you off or anything." She says. "He can be a little..."
"Cocky?" I finish.
"Confident." the girl corrects me. "He a bit too out there. Anyway, I'm Steffi."
I shake Steffi's hand. "Henry." I introduce myself.
"You look a bit frazzled, Henry." she notices. "Did he tell you about a coalition to defeat the Careers?"
"Is it true?" I ask. "Your partner was so quick talking to me I didn't know if the alliance was real."
"I don't know." says Steffi. "I've only heard about it now, but it sounds like a great idea, don't you think?"
"Yeah." I say reluctantly. I have no idea whether I'm saying the right things to these people. For all I know, they might be working with the Careers and targeting whoever bad-mouths them. But Steffi seems genuine. "For sure it's a good idea. I mean, they've been winning all the time, right?"
"Exactly!" exclaims Steffi. "It's unfair."
Right then, Atala's loud voice orders us to stop training as the session is over, calling everybody over to the dining room for our meal.
"We'll talk a bit more at lunch." Steffi tells me, before running off to find her district partner, probably to tell him that I'm open to the alliance.
I think of going back to Radia myself, but I catch her still conversing with Connie as we walk to the dining room, with Ringo tagging along. I'm too nervous to join them. I'm not as great talking in groups than I am one-to-one.
In the room, I serve myself lunch with the other tributes from the carts arranged all around. Jovan was right. This is the perfect time to socialise with the other tributes and form alliances. If it wasn't already clear at training, the Careers make it clear that they're one strong group, gathering rowdily around one table. The boy from District 1 often appears to be looking out at the other tributes, whatever that means for him.
Others, like me for now, sit and eat alone. Radia spots me as Connie serves herself some food, signalling for me to come and talk with her, but I get interrupted by Steffi returning to talk with me. I couldn't find Ringo with them or anywhere, but I don't bother to look behind me.
"Hey, Henry. Ugh, the Careers are so obnoxious." She groans as she takes a seat. "Let somebody else be the victor. Just because they're rich, nobody stops them from training before the Games."
I haven't yet taken a bite of my food. I can't talk with somebody and eat at the same time. I'm a bit worried about talking with my mouth full or accidentally spitting something out. It just doesn't feel right.
"They've won the last five years." I agree. "They have an unfair handicap."
"District 9 hasn't won in seventeen years." says Steffi.
"Fifteen for us." I say. "Do you think it'll finally change for you?"
"I hope so." responds Steffi. "I mean, I'm good with a scythe. But I'll think you and District 3 would be able to win, based on what I saw. What are you good with?"
What do I say that would help me thinks I'm useful to her but not threatening? Maybe memory, or so far, nothing?
"Explosives." I reveal.
"Wow. Because you're smart, right?"
"Eh," I think. "I'm just as good with explosives as you are with a scythe." I proudly think that was a good thing to say in the conversation. And if I reveal any more, I might be too threatening.
We talk a bit more, I try to avoid topics that remind us of home, to preclude ourselves feeling sad. It's clear she's making that effort too.
"I'll be off, but remember we can't let the Careers know about the alliance." She then excuses herself to join her partner, noisily talking with the close pair from District 10.
Do I trust them? Has District 10 joined the alliance? I realise I should have asked Steffi who is part of the plan to defeat the Careers. And is this a good idea for me? The tributes from 9 and 10 look close, and could easily dispose of me. They may as well be the new Career group once they take care of the original.
Also, has Radia been told of the anti-Career alliance? I will have to talk to her about it, so we both could be a part of one, and that would achieve our goal.
My mind is a little fried. I'm so overwhelmed with having to talk with so many, like four, people. I look around, and I think I see Ringo with the boy from District 1, or he might be the boy from 5 instead. I spot Radia, not with Connie, but with the girl from 5.
I realise that if I need to have a strong alliance, I'd have to talk to every member of it like the Careers are doing with themselves. This means I will have to talk to Connie soon, and possibly the girl from 5 if we have to be close.
Maybe I will have to get Radia and Connie talking to Steffi as well, but if I'm the only one who is close with Steffi, I might have advantageous inroads with the group of tributes from 9 and 10. Is this leading to other smaller alliances? This is all too complex for me to think about. I'll need to draw a network or something for everything to make sense.
I spend the majority of lunchtime alone like the tributes from Districts 6 and 12, but then Greig approaches me once I have almost consumed my lunch.
"Hey, Henry." he says I greet him back.
"Sorry about before." he says softly. "Where I ignored both you and your partner."
"No, you're fine. You didn't ignore us." I assure him. "Sometimes I'm too scared of talking to people so I understand if you don't speak."
He smiles. "Thank you for talking to me, though. I haven't found anybody to talk to yet but you."
"Oh, thank Radia." I say. "That was all her. She's the chatty one. I'm a little awkward."
"Ha. It's adorable, though." he compliments.
"You're a bit adorable yourself." I say, but then he frowns. "Not when you look like that." I tell him. "But you're a smiley boy. Everyone now looks so tough or angry."
"That's true." he admits.
"Where's your district partner?" I ask.
He points to a table in the far corner. The girl from District 8 looks almost invisible. Thin, olive-skinned, and didn't look up.
"She's very sad all the time." says Greig. "I wish we were close as you with Radia."
I feel sorry for Greig, as I do with Connie. Even though they have their partners, they're still alone relationship-wise. I realise Radia and I could have been just like them, if I failed to give Radia hope or if I wasn't open to her excitement for the Games.
"Me too." I agree. "It's a bit sad how the Games can divide us."
"But they can also bring some of us together, since the people from some districts can never interact with people from another." responds Greig, like he's leading me to a point. "Did somebody come to you about an alliance?"
I frantically nod. "Yes. To defeat the Careers?" I assume, since Greig is also not from one of the wealthier districts. He nods as well.
"Who came to you about it?" I ask.
"I don't remember." he mutters. "She was so quick, and they all look the same." They don't, but I understand if some people can't really decipher faces, especially here in the Capitol. "You?"
"Both the boy and the girl from 9." I answer. Greig makes a face that says it's neither them who talked to him. "So are you in?"
"If you are." says Greig, playfully bumping my fist. "This is awesome!"
So this day of training wasn't entirely useless. Progress on both skills and alliances, but there's still way too much for me to figure out. We're eventually dismissed and we file into the elevator in two groups. I end up with Radia and we talk quietly to each other. Nobody could hear us, since Districts 9 and 10 who are with us are talking even louder.
"Can we talk before Beetee and Jovan see us?" I ask.
"I was thinking the same thing." Says Radia. "A lot has happened and I want to discuss with you first."
It's too late, though. On our floor waiting at the doors of the elevator are Martinus and our mentors.