Katniss and Clove: Chapter Thirteen
I continue to follow her at more of a distance during the afternoon, my presence makes her nervous, she heads to the trapping station, a place she feels familiar and in control. I stand uselessly at a table nearby watching her shamelessly. When she is finishing up making an animal lure I approach her and offer her a trade - that lure in exchange for me showing her how to throw a knife.
She is very suspicious of me and so she ought to be. She weighs it up and concludes that she can protect her secret skill from me long enough to learn how to throw a knife. She doesn't know that I already know what it is and that I don't want it. I will never tell anyone she is an archer, she will need all the help she can get in the arena and that is my contribution. How do I know? It's taken me awhile, I admit, getting up close has helped me confirm it.
For a start, her back muscles are strong, and I mean tight. So hot. Also when we were at the Special skills station she did not even look at the bows or arrows, not even out of curiosity. Most novices assume that archery is less difficult than it really is and can't wait to fire off a few, only to find that it's virtually impossible without some initial help. She is an excellent judge of distance, demonstrates controlled breathing technique and is heavily right handed. On their own they do not signify but together suggest an archer's narrative.
She slaps the lure on the table between us and folds her arms. Point Clove. She stares into my eyes, daring me to be the villain she thinks I am. Indeed, I am no villain. Certainly I am a product of my environment, despite that I am genuinely a kind and loving person, and I think I would have had a sense of humour had not those things had not been actively dismantled within me. Unlike others, Cato for example, they do mean things because they can, they enjoy it. I do not, I do what I have to do to get by. And I have a conscience.
Over at the throwing station I show her the three kinds of knives; handle heavy, blade heavy and balanced and I explain the two fundamental principles accuracy and force. Same as bow and arrow I think but I don't say it. I demonstrate how to hold the knife with a light grip, between my thumb and forefinger, at the handle end. The back of the blade should rest along the webbing between said thumb and forefinger.
She picks up a knife similar to the one I selected and follows my instructions, when she has it I remind her to loosen her grip which she does. I demonstrate how to keep her wrist straight through the action and to release it with a flicking motion. I let a couple rip and when it is her turn I find myself hoping she is successful. No one would be happier if she hit the target every time. She doesn't but she's not bad, I suspect her hand eye coordination, judge of distance and overall aim are transferable skills.
The Careers start jeering at her, I have no idea why it certainly wasn't part of the plan. I wonder if Cato thinks he is helping me deceive her or if he has lost control of his pack. Without looking at them, I go around her and stand between them and her, with my back to them. "What's up with them?" she asks. "I don't know," I reply honestly.
I give her three handle heavies and she throws them, then three blade heavies and finally three balanced. An Avox wheels in a fresh trolley laden with new knives, sharpened and polished. She picks up three more balanced knives and is testing one in her hand. I mimic her gesture, I know what she is thinking and offer a distant smile, the balanced knives are my favourite too.
"There are throwing daggers, axes and stars and there are slingshots" Now if Katniss has been using a bow and arrow, chances are she has used a slingshot, but I have moved too fast and she is off. "Thanks, Clove" she said retreating.
I shoot Cato a look hoping to suggest that any perceived lack of success can be attributed to him and his band of fuck sticks. It appears to have worked because they do not look at me or Katniss again. I cease following her around for the rest of the afternoon but I stay well clear of the careers hoping the Tributes and other District teams will presume we've had a falling out. At the end of the day I slide up next to her and whisper, "Can we talk later?"