Chapter 8 Chapter 8 TV Counterattack

That's when Boggs appeared in front of me. He grabbed my arm firmly, but I didn't want to run anymore.I looked back at the hospital just in time to see the last shelf give way and my inner struggle was over.Everyone—the hundreds of wounded, their relatives, the doctors from District Thirteen—was dead.I turned to look at Boggs, his face swollen from Gale's kick.Although I am not an expert, I can conclude that the bridge of his nose has been broken.His tone of voice was not so much angry as helpless. "Go back to the plane." I stepped forward obediently, but the pain in my right knee made me turn.The adrenaline was so high I couldn't feel the pain, and now every part of my body was against me.I was hit so badly, I was bleeding, and it felt like someone was knocking from the inside on my left temple.After a quick check of my face, Boggs picked me up and ran toward the landing site.Halfway through the run, I spit on his bulletproof vest.I didn't tell him because he was running out of breath, but I think he did sigh.

A small helicopter of a different model than the one we arrived in was waiting there.As soon as our group boarded the plane, the plane took off immediately.The plane lacked comfortable seats and portholes and appeared to be a cargo plane.Boggs gave first aid to the injured so they could make it to Ward Thirteen.I want to take off the bulletproof vest because it's full of my vomit too.But it's too cold, and I don't want to think about it.I lay on the floor with my head on Gale's lap.The last thing I can remember is Boggs covering me with a sack sack. When I woke up again, I was already lying on my original hospital bed, warm on my body.Mom is here too, examining me. "how does it feel?"

"A little tired, but okay." I said. "Nobody ever told us you were leaving, we didn't know until you were gone," she said. I felt a pang of guilt.My family has seen me go to the Hunger Games twice, and telling them where I am going is something that should not be forgotten. "I'm sorry. They didn't expect an attack. I was just visiting a patient," I explained. "Next time, I'm going to ask them to make it clear to you." "Katniss, no one is going to explain anything to me," she said. That's right.I didn't even tell her.Dad stopped telling her the truth after he died.Why pretend? "Well, anyway, I'll let them...notify you."

On the table next to the bed lay a piece of shrapnel from my leg.The doctor was more concerned about the damage to my brain from the explosion, as I hadn't fully healed from my last concussion.But I didn't experience blurred vision or other adverse effects, and my thinking was very clear.I fell asleep all afternoon and night.Already hungry now.My breakfast was still minimal and disappointing.Just a few slices of bread, soaked in hot milk.I've been called to the headquarters for the morning meeting.I got up slowly, but they were going to push the bed straight to the command post.I wanted to walk, but they wouldn't allow it, so I negotiated with them to let me go in a wheelchair.I feel fine, really, but the wounds in my head and legs still hurt a bit, and I feel like throwing up a few minutes after eating.Maybe being in a wheelchair isn't such a bad idea.

On the way to the headquarters in a wheelchair, I suddenly felt uneasy about the situation I was about to face.Gale and I directly violated orders yesterday, and Boggs is still injured to prove it.This incident will definitely have adverse effects.But it's not enough for Cohen to rescind the victor's pardon deal?Am I taking away the protection that should have been given to Peeta? When I got to the headquarters, only Cressida, McSara and the Beatles were there.McSara smiled and said, "Look, our little star is here!" Others also responded with sincere smiles, so I had to smile to everyone.I was really impressed when they were in District 8.Climb up to the roof with me during the bombing and have Plutarch provide backup so we can get the footage we need.They don't just do their job well, they take pride in it, just like Cinna.

I have a weird feeling that if it were an arena, I'd be allied with them.Cressida, Messara, and—and—"I can't call you 'Beetles' anymore," I blurted out to the cameraman.Then I explained to them that I didn't know their names at first, but I saw that their camera boxes looked like beetles, so I called them that.They don't seem to mind the metaphor.Even without the camera box, they look alike.Light brown hair, red beard, blue eyes.One of the photographers, who bit his nails baldly, introduced himself as Castor, and the other was his brother Poros.I was still waiting for Pollux to greet me, but he just nodded.I suddenly realized something—from his sunken lips, the way he swallowed with effort—and I knew it before Castor told me.Boros is an Avax whose tongue has been cut out and he will never be able to speak.I no longer have to wonder what made them risk their lives to overthrow the Capitol.

When the room was full, I braced myself for unpleasant accusations.But the only ones who disagreed were Haymitch, who was always out of touch with the people around him, and Fulvia Cardoo, who kept his face down.Boggs's face was covered by a flesh-colored mask from his upper lip to the brow—he had a broken nose, I guessed right—so it was hard to read his facial expressions.Cohn and Gale are talking, and seem to be getting along. When Gail sat next to me, I said to him, "New friends?" He glanced at the president, then at me and said, "Well, one of us must be approachable." He tapped my temple gently and said, "How does it feel?"

They must have had garlic and squash for breakfast this day.The more people in the headquarters, the stronger the garlic smell.My stomach started to churn, and the lights suddenly felt too bright. "A little dizzy, how about you?" I said. "Very good, a few shrapnel out, no major problems," he said. Cohen called everyone's attention that the meeting was about to begin. "Our TV counterattack is officially underway, and if any of you missed the premiere at 20:00 yesterday - or the seventeen reruns Bit managed to pull off - we can rerun it." Rerun?So not only do they have video, but they've made it into a TV show that keeps reruns?My palms start to sweat at the thought of being on TV.What if I'm still that bad?What if my movements are still stiff and my words are not expressive like I was in the studio?What if they give up trying to improve?Then a TV screen appeared on everyone's desk, the lights dimmed, and the room fell silent.

At first, the screen was black, then a small dot appeared in the center of the screen.The bright spots continued to expand, silently lighting up the black screen, until finally, a flame appeared on the entire screen.The fire is so real, it seems to jump out of the screen in the imagination.Then my Mockingjay brooch appeared on the screen, glowing gold against the firelight.Then came the deep, magnetic voice that haunted my dreams, the voice of the official Capitol announcer, Claudius Templesmith, "Katniss Everdeen, burning girl, she Keep burning." Suddenly, the image of the Mockingjay disappeared and I appeared on screen, with the real smoke and fire of District 8 in the background. "I want to say to the rebels, I'm alive. I'm here, District 8. Capitol planes just bombed the hospital here, there are unarmed men, women and children, there will be no more survivors." The scene cuts to a burning and collapsing hospital and people watching in despair.My voiceover continued, "I want to tell you that if you think that the Capitol will treat us well if you stop the fire, you are very wrong. Because you know exactly who they are and what they are going to do." The camera came back to me, and I was reaching out, pointing at everything that was destroyed around me, "This is what they did! We must fight!" Then there was a series of different scenes: bombs were falling from the sky, we were Running in the wilderness, I get blown away by a bomb - Close-up of my bleeding wound - I climb the roof, rush into the bunker, the rebels shoot hard, Gale and I - mostly my shots - Shoot the plane with an arrow.Then the camera cuts back to a close-up of my face. "Didn't President Snow say he sent us a message? Well, I'll send him a message too. You can torture us, bomb us, burn our district down, but did you see that?" TV The picture moved with our eyes, and the screen showed a plane burning on the roof of the warehouse, and finally the picture froze on the Capitol emblem on the wing, and then the picture turned to my face, and I shouted at the president: " The raging flames have been ignited, and if we are ignited, you will die in the flames like us!" The entire screen was engulfed by flames again.It appeared in clear boldface:

If we are set on fire, you will die in the flames like us!This line of words was also ignited by raging flames, and finally the screen turned black again. There was silence in the room, and then burst into applause, with demands for a second look.Cohen was also very lenient to everyone, and pressed the replay button again.This time, since I already knew what was being broadcast, I simply regarded it as watching TV at home in the "sandwich".This is a manifesto against the Capitol.Nothing like this has ever been shown on TV before.True, not in my lifetime. As soon as the replay ended, I eagerly asked the question: "Will this show be broadcast throughout Panham? Can it be seen on the Capitol?"

"The Capitol can't see it. We don't have access to their broadcast system even though the Bitters are working on it, but it's available in every other jurisdiction. We can even broadcast it in District 2, maybe at this time there than in the Capitol." Special broadcasts are more valuable." "Claudius Templehammitch is here too, with us?" I asked. This made Plutarch laugh out loud: "It's just his voice, we just take the ready-made voice, we don't even need to do special processing. When you participated in the Hunger Games for the first time, he himself said Say this." He tapped the table with his hand, "I propose, a round of applause to Cressida and her amazing team, and of course our talented cast!" I also applauded, and then I realized that I was the one who appeared on the scene, and it was too immodest to applaud myself, but no one paid attention.I watched Fulvia's face go from blue to white, as she watched Haymitch's idea succeed under Cressida's direction, while the one she did in the studio failed miserably, and I I think she must be quite unhappy. Cohen may have run out of patience with everyone's self-appreciation. "Yes, congratulations. This is far better than we imagined. But I still have to question the huge risks you took when you acted. I know that this air strike was completely unexpected, but the question of whether Kate was allowed Nice is in action and we should talk about that too." Decide?Will I be allowed to go into actual combat?So she didn't know about my flagrant disobedience, ripping off my headset, throwing off my bodyguard, etc.?What else were they hiding from her? "It's a hard question to decide," Plutarch said, frowning, "but the general consensus is that if we put her in the bunker every time a shot is fired, we won't get anything. Something of value." "And you think it's okay too?" the president asked. Gail kicked me under the table before I realized she was talking to me. "Oh yeah, I'm totally fine. I feel good, do something, change." "Well, we have to be sensible about whether she's overexposed, especially now that the Capitol knows what she's capable of," Cohen said.Everyone in the venue agreed. No one tipped off Gale and I for disobeying orders.Not Plutarch, despite our disregard for his authority; not Boggs, despite his broken nose; nor the Beetle, despite our dragging them into battle.Neither did Haymitch—no, wait, Haymitch was smiling slyly at me.He said tenderly, "Yeah, our little mockingjay is finally singing and we don't want to lose her." I've been careful not to end up alone in the room with him, apparently he's still ok with that stupid headset thing. brooding. "So, what other plans do you have?" the president asked. Plutarch nodded to Cressida, and Cressida looked at the notepad: "We still have a great video of Katniss at District Eight Hospital, so there should be another show called ' You know who they are and what they're doing'. We're going to focus on Katniss coming into contact with the wounded, especially the wounded children. Also, there's the bombing of the hospital and the destruction of the hospital. McSara is editing. We There's also a Mockingjay album in the works, featuring Katniss at her best, interspersed with rebel riots and war scenes. We're calling the album 'Burning Fire'. Also, Fulvia has a really good idea." When Fulvia heard this, the expression of sour grapes on his face immediately turned into a surprised expression, and then returned to normal, "Well, it's hard to say how great this idea is, I just think we can Is it possible to make a TV series called 'We Should Remember'. Each episode focuses on recording a dead 'tribute', like Lulu from District 11 and Mags from District 4. This series of programs Creativity is to have a humanized embodiment for each district.” "That is to say, perform one by one the 'tribute' you selected." Plutarch said. "It's really good," I said sincerely, "it reminds people why they're fighting, and it's the best way to do it." “I think it would work, we could have Finnick introduce different characters and situations, especially some interesting ones,” she said. "Frankly, I don't know how to make so many episodes of 'We Should Remember'. Can you start filming today?" Cohen said. "Of course," said Fulvia, whose inner balance had clearly been brought about by Cohen's attention. The gesture Cressida made was a nice balance of relationships in the television creative department.Her earnest praise of Fulvia was actually a good idea, clearing the way for her to do the Mockingjay show.Interestingly, Plutarch seems to have no need for recognition at all.All he wants is for the televised counter-action to come to fruition.I suddenly remembered the identity of the organizer of the Plutarch competition.He is not a member of the team, nor is he a pawn in the game, so his value is determined not by one factor but by the success of the entire operation.If we win, then will Plutarch take the helm and expect to be rewarded for his efforts. After the meeting, the president told everyone to take their seats and get to work.Gail pushed me back to the ward, and we chatted on the way.We both thought it was funny how secretive everyone was at the meeting.Gale said no one would admit that they couldn't control us, lest they put themselves in an embarrassing situation.I put it mildly, since they've got good shots, they don't have to shake us both out.Either way, Gale and I may be right.After a while, Gale said he was going to see Beet in the Special Ordnance Department, and I fell asleep in a daze. I felt like I had only slept for a few minutes, and when I woke up with Haymitch sitting a few feet from my hospital bed, I felt uneasy.He has been waiting.If the watch is correct, perhaps he has been waiting for hours.I really wanted to call a witness, but then I realized that sooner or later I would have to face him. Haymitch leaned forward, dangling in front of my eyes with something tied on a thin white string.Although I can't see it clearly, I know exactly what it is.He threw that thing on my bed sheet. "Here's your headset, I'll give you one more chance to put it on. If you take it off again, I'll put this on for you," he held up a metal headband that I immediately called a headband in my head. clip. "It's an audio-conducting device that's stuck in your skull and jaw, and can't be opened unless you use a key. And only I have the key, so you don't have to disable it at the first chance." Haymitch put the headband back on. Throw it on the bed, and then take out a small silver chip-"I have the right to order them to surgically implant this in your ear, so that I can talk to you twenty-four hours a day." Haymitch in my head twenty-four hours a day?I am terrified. "I will wear a headset." I muttered. "What did you say?" he said. "I'll be wearing a headset!" I said so loudly that half the hospital could hear me. "Are you sure? All three options look good to me anyway," he told me. "I'm sure." I said.As if to protect myself, I quickly grabbed the headset cord in my hand and threw the headband towards his face with the other hand, but he grabbed it with one hand.Maybe he expected me to throw it to him. "Anything else?" Haymitch stood up and was about to go, "I was waiting for you just now... I ate your lunch." Only then did I see that the dinner plates and stew bowls on the table were empty. "I'm going to sue you." I buried my mouth in the pillow and said. "Tell me, dear." He said, and he walked out, knowing that he was safe, because he knew that I was not the kind of person who liked to make small reports. I want to sleep, but my mind can't calm down.The scenes that happened yesterday were reflected in front of my eyes again.The bombings, the wreckage of burning planes, the faces of those injured but dead.I imagined all kinds of horrible ways to die in my heart.I died the moment the shell hit the ground; the plane I was on hit the ground after its wings were blown off; the roof of the warehouse fell on me, and I lay helpless on the camp bed.I think back to a pile of things, or saw it with my own eyes, or watched it on video.It all started with the arrow I shot, and I can never erase it from my memory. At dinner, Finnick came to my room with his dinner plate to see if we could watch the latest TV show together.He was also assigned to the same ward on the same floor, but his mind was in a state of confusion from time to time, so he basically stayed in the hospital all the time.The Rebels aired "You Know Who They Are and What They're Doing," edited by McSara.The program was interspersed with a commentary by Gail, Boggs and Cressida explaining what happened.When I see the scene of visiting the wounded in the hospital, I just don't want to watch it anymore because I know what's going to play next.I buried my face in my pillow when the image of the bomb falling on the roof of the hospital appeared.I didn't look up until the end when everyone was blown to death and my image appeared on the film. When the show ended, Finnick didn't applaud or seem happy.He simply said: "People deserve to know what's going on, and they do now." "Let's turn off the TV, Finnick, before they rerun it," I urged him.But when Finnick went to get the remote, I yelled, "Wait!" The Capitol was playing a clip that looked familiar.Yep, Kaiser Flickman is back, and I can guess who he's interviewing. Peeta's change in shape took me by surprise.When I saw him a few days ago, he was healthy and bright-eyed, but he had lost at least fifteen pounds and his hands were visibly shaking.He also touches up, but makeup can't hide the bags under his eyes, nor can his beautiful clothes hide the pain inside.His whole figure seemed to be destroyed. My mind raced, trying to figure out what was going on.I just saw him four days ago—no, five days ago.How could he have changed so much?What on earth had they done to him in such a short time?Slowly I seem to understand.I went back and forth to his first interview with Kaiser, recalling any traces that could be tied to time, but there was nothing.They probably filmed it a day or two after I blew up the arena, and then did whatever they wanted with him. "Oh, Peeta..." I whispered. Caesar makes small talk first, then asks Peeta if he's heard rumors of me doing TV shows for the precincts. "Obviously, they were using her to stir up rebel sentiment. I doubt she really understood the real situation of this war and who was at risk." "Is there anything you want to tell her?" Caesar asked. "Yes," Peeta said.He stared straight into the camera and said to me, "Don't be stupid, Katniss. Look out for yourself, they've turned you into a weapon and a tool to destroy humanity. If you really have any influence, then Use it to stop this war before it's too late. Ask yourself, do you really trust those with you? Do you really know what's going on? If you don't… …then find out.” The TV screen turns black.Coat of arms of Panham.The show is over. Finnick hits the power switch on the remote.It won't take long for someone to come in here and discredit Peeta for what he's in and what he's said.I'm going to defend him.But the truth is, I don't trust Plutarch and Cohn, and I can't hide the fact that I'm not sure they're telling me the truth.There were footsteps outside the door, which sounded getting closer. Finnick gripped my arm tightly, "Let's just say we didn't see it." "What?" I asked. "We didn't see Peeta, we just saw the TV show about District 8, and then we turned off the TV because it makes you uneasy. Got it?" he said.I nod. "Let's eat." I cheered up.I was stuffing my mouthful of bread and cabbage when Plutarch and Fulvia walked in, and Finnick was saying Gale was awesome on TV.We congratulate Plutarch and Fulvia on the success of the televised film, which was so powerful that we turned off the TV immediately after watching it.They looked relieved, they believed us. Nobody mentioned Peeta.