The Hunger Games Tribute Guide (8 page)

L
et’s follow the tributes into their quarters in the Training Center for a special glimpse into their lives before the Games.

Sometimes the tributes just need to grab some private time together. Maybe they’re discussing strategy. Or maybe they’re relaxing, taking a break from the lights and cameras and ardent fans that constantly follow them.

This is the stylish and modern bedroom of the District 12 female tribute, Katniss Everdeen. All the conveniences of the Capitol are provided here: high-tech shower, full-body blow-drying when you are done bathing, and a closet full of outfits designed to fit any taste.

The tributes usually dine with their mentors and stylists. Here, Katniss is joined by Effie Trinket, Cinna, and Portia. The Capitol treats them to all-you-can-eat banquets with the finest food Panem has to offer. Exotic sushi, mashed potatoes, wine, puffy bread, slices of pale purple melon, cheese and sweet blue grapes, hot chocolate . . . waited on hand and foot by Avox servers, the tributes live the high life in the days leading up to the Games.

T
he Gamemakers usually get a good sense of the tributes from the general training, but the most important part of training comes at the very end: the private sessions. Each tribute has a brief period alone in the gym to show the Gamemakers what they can do. Sometimes a good strategy is to intimidate the other players during training. But sometimes a clever strategy is to keep your talent hidden from the other tributes until you reach the arena, so you can take them by surprise. The private session is the perfect time to show the Gamemakers if you have any skills you’ve been keeping secret so far. Based on your session and your performance over the past few days, the Gamemakers will give a score from one to twelve. A higher score means they think you have a better chance of winning the Hunger Games.

Tributes sit on a long bench in the waiting area until they are called. Atala is there to usher them in. Katniss and Peeta from District 12 are the last two to be summoned. Their footsteps echo in the long hallway. Let’s hope they’re not too nervous to do a good job.

What happens in these private sessions is confidential, known to no one but the tribute and the Gamemakers. The rest of us have to wait for the scores to come out. Even then, we can only guess at what the tributes did to earn their rankings.

After all the private sessions with the Gamemakers have been conducted, the tributes return to their separate quarters and grab a quick dinner. Then they assemble in the viewing rooms to watch the results come in. Here, the District 12 team — Cinna, Effie, Haymitch, Katniss, Peeta, and Portia — gathers in their viewing room. As ever, an Avox waits in the background, ready to serve, but the team’s attention is fixed on the television. You can see in their postures how tense of a moment this is for them, as their scores are announced live to the nation.

“The tributes were rated on a scale of one to twelve, after three days of careful evaluation,” Caesar Flickerman announces. “The Gamekeepers want to acknowledge that it was an exceptional group of tributes, as the scores in a moment will indicate.”

One by one, the scores trickle in. The Careers get scores in the eight-to-ten range. Very respectable, but hardly a shock. The other players’ scores vary, but most are around a five. One surprise in the bunch is Rue, the tiny little tribute from District 11, who somehow manages to get a seven.

Last to be announced are the District 12 scores.

Caesar Flickerman: “And finally from District Twelve. Peeta Mellark. A score of eight.”

The group exchanges words of relief and encouragement. This is a solid score that could help Peeta in the arena. Cinna claps briefly, but Caesar’s still talking. . . .

“And our last tribute . . . Katniss Everdeen: a score of . . . ”

At this point, Caesar Flickerman pauses and double-checks his sheet. Did he read it right? Is this an error?

“. . . eleven.”