Chapter 53: Deliberation
The following day Peeta and Katniss return to District 12. Katniss' mother has kept her distance and accepts that Katniss was not ready to hear what she was telling her. The fact is, it's going to take a long time for Katniss to come to terms with Pik's diagnosis and her mother just hopes Peeta will be strong enough for the both of them. Seeing her off at the stop in District 4, Peeta and Katniss travel the rest of the way alone, mostly in silence, as the children sleep.
When they arrive in District 12, Haymitch is there to meet them. He is excited to see the new addition to the family and, as soon as Prim sees him, she puts her arms out to get a big hug. Haymitch obliges, of course. He loves Prim and has missed her over the last couple of weeks. Katniss has Pik in her arms and Haymitch moves across to take a peek at the new baby. He is all smiles, but can see Peeta and Katniss are tired, so he waits for them to gather themselves before asking
"How about an introduction?"
Peeta takes Pik from Katniss and holds him so Haymitch can get a good look at him.
"His name is Pictor Gale Everdeen Mellark" Peeta says.
"Whoa, that's quite a name you got there, little buddy" says Haymitch smiling.
"We call him Pik for short" says Peeta.
"Well, that'll make it easier" Haymitch replies, wondering about the choice of name. They obviously have given Gale his due in naming Pik after him and Haymitch wonders whose idea that was. He decides there will be plenty of time for conversation tomorrow and helps to gather the bags as they all head back to the Victor's Village.
Haymitch notices Katniss is unusually quiet, but guesses going to the Capitol for Pik's birth must have been quite an ordeal. He doesn't want to add to it by asking too many questions so, once they get back to the house, he takes his leave and promises to catch up with them first thing in the morning.
Katniss is not looking forward to it. She's not looking forward to having to give anyone the explanation of Pik's diagnosis. How can she, when it means confessing her own part in what has happened to Pik? She knows it is not her fault, yet it was her body and her actions that helped produce the outcome and somehow that makes her responsible. Peeta had no part to play in the outcome. He can afford to be more self assured in dealing with the situation.
Peeta can see Katniss is tired and not in the mood for small talk. He helps to get Prim ready for bed and it doesn't take her long to settle into her cot which is now in the room beside Peeta and Katniss. Peeta has done it up for her so she can feel cosy and they are using Prim's old cradle for Pik. After Katniss has fed him, she lays him down to sleep. He will be up again in a few hours, so she needs to get some rest. Peeta gently rocks the cradle while Katniss gets ready for bed.
It doesn't take long for the two of them to draw close as they try to wind down from the day.
"I love you" Peeta tells Katniss as he kisses her gently.
"Love you" Katniss replies just before she turns over to go to sleep.
Peeta holds her close. He wants her to rest and recover. The two of them fall into an exhausted sleep while they wait for Pik to call them to attention again. It won't be long.
Gale has made the time to return to the apartment and has found Peeta's note. The news contained in the note is devastating and Gale can't even imagine how Peeta and Katniss must feel. Full of wrath, Gale decides to go immediately and see Paylor. He is ready to devise the next step in their plan.
Gale walks in to Paylor's office unannounced and she does not attempt to usher him out. He obviously has something to tell her and looks extremely agitated.
"We need to talk" Gale tells her.
"Have you got news on Snow?" she asks him.
"No, not yet. But what I have got is news on Katniss and Peeta and it changes everything" Gale says with emotion.
Paylor waits for him to go on.
"Peeta and Katniss had their new baby a month ago. I found today that the child is profoundly deaf. That is a direct consequence of the drugs administered to Katniss after Snow had captured her and allowed her wound to fester".
Paylor is shocked. She had no idea. She had heard that Katniss was pregnant again, but assumed all was well. There had been no word of the outcome until now.
"I'm sorry, Gale". Paylor didn't know what else to say.
"So am I. The time for undercover operations is over. We haven't been able to get any useful information on Snow's whereabouts over the last few months, so I propose we go with my original suggestion to get the information we need" he tells her.
Paylor has already rejected this proposal, but the situation has changed. She knows she can't stall forever in the hope that Snow will reveal himself. And, if she doesn't act, Gale will take the situation out of her hands.
"Gale, I rejected your proposal the first time round thinking we could avoid more bloodshed. I know that is no longer the case. This situation has to be brought to an end once and for all. I am going to agree to your proposal on the basis that I set the ground rules" Paylor says.
"We need Plutarch on board for this, too" Gale tells her "and we will need to inform the Victors as well".
Paylor agrees. The Capitol Games are to go ahead, with the children already chosen…except for one.
"I will inform the necessary people and we will need to meet here again in one week to help formulate the plans for the Games" Paylor says.
Gale needs to talk to Peeta. He will be required to return to the Capitol along with the other Victors. As a nursing mother, Katniss will not have to attend. He is not sure about Annie. Haymitch, of course, will also need to come along with Johanna, Beetee and Enobaria. The reason for this is that Tributes must have a Mentor. It is written into the rules of the Games in order to help create a sense of giving the Tributes a fighting chance. Paylor intends to use the same rulebook, only this time the Mentors will not be their friends, but their enemies. Of course, there are no Mentors in the Capitol because Capitol children were never forced to enter the arena.
The aim, though, is not to get these children killed, but to get the prisoners and the rest of the Capitol rebels talking. It's not a difficult decision for Gale to make, nor Paylor at this stage. Neither of them had a vote at the table with Coin, but if they had, they would have voted with Katniss. Gale has always wanted these people to know the suffering his own people endured. This will test the resilience of the Rebels and, in particular, the resilience of Coriolanus Snow.