Katniss and Clove: Chapter Eight
Later we meet our Stylist, who wants to get an idea of the essence of me and Cato, for our outfits and our theme. The Tribute Parade is an important part of the process, it marks the beginning of The Hunger Games, we are introduced to the Capitol and the Districts as Tributes. We will be dressed in a way that identifies us with our district, it's a way to get everyone involved, feeling that they all have a horse in the race.
District 2 is a mining district, primarily masonry. We are a district second only to the Capitol in terms of wealth and prestige so this year we are presented to the citizens of Panem as demiGods. It's been done before but where originality has been sacrificed, symbolism is strong. It makes District 2 feel powerful and united. Our bodies are dusted with gold paint body paint, we are wearing some ludicrous headgear, whatever. I am here.
Cato and I have been schooled on how to behave in every moment, how to stand, where to look and where not to look. Every moment will be recorded and every movement scrutinised and analysed by millions for all posterity. And there is always the thought of sponsors.
We ride on a horse drawn chariot through the crowds, the noise is deafening. It has been decided that Cato and I will reflect the status of District 2 by embodying god like status, waving to the crowd as though they are our people rather than we theirs. We bestow upon them our grace and mercy through generous smiles and magnanimous hand gestures.
The horses come to a stop before President Snow, his honoured guests and the administrators of all the districts. We are second to arrive behind the Capitol Tributes, Marvel and Glimmer. We met them this morning, they will be our allies for at least the first part of the Games, but we don't look at them, we are working and so are they. We aren't friends, we are allies. We wait for all the horses to come to a stop in a prearranged pattern to hear President Snow's speech which officially opens the Games.
There is a strange and unexpected hush falling over the crowd in a wave, it starts at the most distant end of the causeway. The silence seems to fall on the crowd like a heavy blanket, one after the other until it reaches the front. Like a mass choreographed wave surfing event featuring silence. And then it happens in reverse, the silence is replaced by an enormous eruption of cheering working its way through the crowd.
It is as though the crowd were unsure about something and then decided that they liked it after all. Something is happening and I don't know what, I can't turn my head to see, I have to keep looking forward like we have been instructed. Pretending that we are the gods and all attention is focussed upon us - where else would it be?
I don't learn what it was all about until we get off our horses and are joined by our mentors. District 12. It's all everyone is talking about. The gods have been displaced by coal miners. Apparently they made a terrific display of fire as they made their way down the line and that's what people were amazed by.
Cato is furious but I understand that we are all doing what we can to survive. There are going to be distractions, unexpected happenings, he is going to have to learn to take them in his stride, as I do. That's what I think until I see her. Then I almost never think again.