Into Thin Air: The Forty-Second Hunger Games

Chapter 24

Caesar Flickerman

I almost didn't notice the envelope tucked behind the mirror in my dressing room. It was my first year as interviewer, and I was more nervous than the Tributes. I opened it and found the last thing I would have expected.

Hail Caesar,

Hey, this is Harlequin. I guess you're the new interviewer, since I got fired. Not that I'm mad. It's not your fault. Here's a tip: don't get involved with the Tributes. Anyway, there's sort of a tradition among interviewers. My predecessor left me a note my first time- I put it in the envelope along with this one. When it's your time to go, could you send along his, mine, and yours to the next one?

There's a few things I should tell you. I hope you're not sensitive or prone to compassion, because this'll mess you up if you are. Try to keep a sense of humor. It got easier for me after I started chalking everything up to karma. It's not always that simple, but it helps to pretend. Don't be afraid to sass them back if they get difficult. We have more influence than people think. You help determine the Victor. I hope you use this power for good. Above all else, try not to take your work home with you.

You're probably afraid you're not good enough. But out of about a million billion people who wanted this job, you got it. You're gonna be fine. The first year will be really scary, but no one cares after it's over. If you mess up, everyone's going to forget about it. So congratulations and knock em' dead.

Harlequin Marceau, the best interviewer in the world (Except Seutonius)

I felt like part of a secret, exclusive club after that. I was still nervous as could be, but it felt good to know Harlequin thought I could do it. She had a short run, but she was good. Maybe someday I'd be that good.

"Onyx, it must have been very educational going to the Academy," I said to my first interviewee, wincing as the microphone caught my stutter. Ugh, that was the most boring question ever. I'm bombing."

"I didn't go to the Academy," Onyx said. Even better.

I was filled with relief when Rhoda took the stage. I didn't have to worry about making her look good. She'd do all the work for me.

"We're honored to have you here, Miss Hamilton," I said. I couldn't think of any more questions. I was too star-struck. She looked resplendent in her sleek white dress.

"Thanks so much. Really, the honor is mine. I'm so proud to be able to do this for my country," she said.

"Any plans for after you win?" I asked Tuesday.

"I'm going to write a book," she said. I didn't know what to say to that. I didn't know Careers knew how to write.

"It's good to meet you, Jason. Picking up where your sister left off?" I asked. He glared at me so hard I shrank away, but it only lasted a second. Then he was back to looking bored.

"I guess so," he said absently.

"You must be Quintic," I said to the next boy, who was dressed in a strange gray suit.

"You must be Caesar. I thought you'd be taller," Quintic said, and the crowd laughed. I was just glad they were laughing and not stone quiet.

Gidget was crossing her arms over her lap, since her dress wasn't doing a good job of covering the goods. She kept tugging the material down over her swollen belly.

"Are you due before the Games or-" I started. Then I froze. The dress was so tight it had burst Gidget's stomach. She looked down and noticed the liquid running down her legs. The blood left my face as I stared in horror.

"Oh, my water broke," she said, but I didn't hear it. The thoughts in my head scrambled and I panicked. I jumped up, knocking my chair backwards. Gidget bent over and pressed her hands to her stomach with a pained face.

"OH MY GOD!" I yelled. "OH MY GOD! WHAT DO I DO? CALL A DOCTOR! SOMEONE CALL A DOCTOR!" I ran to her side, then backed away, afraid I'd make it worse. It was the worst thing that possibly could have happened. My first year, and a Tribute died on stage. Two medics came onstage and bent over her.

"LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, DON'T PANIC! DOCTORS ARE COMING! PLEASE DO NOT PANIC! OH MY GOOOOOOOOD!" My heart fluttered and everything started spinning. One of the doctors ran at me right as I face-planted.