Chapter 54: Proposal
Peeta and Katniss are settling into some kind of routine nearly two weeks after their return from the Capitol. Peeta had seen Haymitch the morning after their return. He wanted to save Katniss the heartache of having to reveal the news. Haymitch had reacted badly, of course, and Peeta had gone on to tell him about Gale's visit to the hospital and how he was expecting to hear from Gale any day now. Haymitch poured them both a drink after this, but it wasn't the celebratory one they had been hoping to have. It was more an act of commiseration and it wasn't long before Haymitch decided to pour himself another.
Gale has Paylor's permission to return to District 12 and see Katniss and Peeta. He wants to explain the situation to them himself. Gale knows calling Peeta back to the Capitol so soon after Pik's birth will be difficult for Katniss and he isn't sure how Peeta will react to his plan. Peeta had been resistant to Coin's original idea of putting the Capitol's children into the Arena, but Pik's diagnosis had changed everything. Maybe it had changed Peeta's mind, too. Gale wonders if the fact that Katniss now has children of her own might alter her thinking in relation to these Games. What Gale does know is that the Games will go ahead regardless of how the Victors feel.
Gale returns to District 12 in a military vehicle which arrives at the Barracks late at night. He wants to see Peeta and Haymitch right away, but decides it would be better to wait until morning when everyone is rested. It will be hard enough to confront the stakes of his next plan and Gale wants them all to have clear heads when they discuss what is about to happen. He's not sure how Katniss will feel about her exclusion. She has as much, if not more, invested in the outcome. At the same time, Katniss can be unpredictable. Gale remembers how she reacted to his plan to bomb the area around the Nut, telling him it was always personal, and then how single minded she was in her desire for revenge after Prim had died. He really doesn't know how she will react.
The following morning, Gale decides to visit Haymitch first who is surprised to see Gale standing on his doorstep. Haymitch ushers Gale inside and offers him a drink. It's too early, so Gale turns him down, but Haymitch is in the mood for some liquor and doesn't hestitate to pour himself one. He is looking a little the worse for wear and Gale wonders if it is because Haymitch has not taken the news of Pik's diagnosis too well either.
Their conversation is short and to the point. Gale tells Haymitch that Coin's original idea is being resurrected and they are going to utilize the Games to get information from the Capitol Rebels about Snow's whereabouts. Paylor has agreed. The Capitol's children are going into the Arena and Plutarch is already planning the setting for the Games. He is fast tracking the building of the Arena and, as the last head Gamemaker, he should have plenty of ideas on how to create a good show. Haymitch doesn't need any convincing and agrees. Gale goes on to explain that the former Victors are to become Mentors to the Capitol children. Haymitch sits and shakes his head. How is it possible to mentor your enemy when the last thing you want is for them to survive? Gale reminds Haymitch the goal of the Games is to recapture Snow. If this happens, the Games could be brought to a stop at any time. Haymitch isn't sure the bloodlust of the Districts will be that easy to manipulate once the Games have started. They obviously have a lot more to talk about.
Gale wants Haymitch to call Peeta over before he sees Katniss. He wants to gauge Peeta's reaction to his plan and get some idea of how Katniss might respond. Haymitch goes across to the house on the pretext of needing Peeta to help him with something and they leave Katniss wondering what could be so important at this time in the morning.
Peeta is not surprised to see Gale and knows he has a plan. Gale tells Peeta what he needs to know and explains that he had floated the idea with Paylor in the past, around the time Katniss was captured. He reveals that convincing Rebel prisoners the Games were being planned was how he had gotten the information he needed to rescue Katniss. That is enough to convince Peeta. Rather than being shocked or dismayed, he reacts with steely determination. He wants to bring this thing to an end once and for all and if this is the only way they can do that, then Peeta agrees.
"Let's do it" he says to Gale without hesitation.
Gale lets Peeta know that Katniss will not be expected to take part and wonders how she might react. Peeta wonders himself. Katniss had supported the original proposal when Coin had made it, but a lot had happened since then and now they had children of their own. Some of Katniss' grief over Prim's death had dissipated, but now with Pik's diagnosis he really didn't know what her response might be. Peeta tells Gale that he will need to talk to Katniss himself.