«We’re not cousins,» Gale and I say together.

«Right, but we should probably keep that up for appearances’ sake on camera,» says Plutarch. «Off camera, he’s all yours. Anything else?»

I’m rattled by the turn in the conversation. The implications that I could so readily dispose of Peeta, that I’m in love with Gale, that the whole thing has been an act. My cheeks begin to burn. The very notion that I’m devoting any thought to who I want presented as my lover, given our current circumstances, is demeaning. I let my anger propel me into my greatest demand. «When the war is over, if we’ve won, Peeta will be pardoned.»

Dead silence. I feel Gale’s body tense. I guess I should have told him before, but I wasn’t sure how he’d respond. Not when it involved Peeta.

«No form of punishment will be inflicted,» I continue. A new thought occurs to me. «The same goes for the other captured tributes, Johanna and Enobaria.» Frankly, I don’t care about Enobaria, the vicious District 2 tribute. In fact, I dislike her, but it seems wrong to leave her out.

«No,» says Coin flatly.

«Yes,» I shoot back. «It’s not their fault you abandoned them in the arena. Who knows what the Capitol’s doing to them?»

«They’ll be tried with other war criminals and treated as the tribunal sees fit,» she says.

«They’ll be granted immunity!» I feel myself rising from my chair, my voice full and resonant. «You will personally pledge this in front of the entire population of District Thirteen and the remainder of Twelve. Soon. Today. It will be recorded for future generations. You will hold yourself and your government responsible for their safety, or you’ll find yourself another Mockingjay!»

My words hang in the air for a long moment.

«That’s her!» I hear Fulvia hiss to Plutarch. «Right there. With the costume, gunfire in the background, just a hint of smoke.»

«Yes, that’s what we want,» says Plutarch under his breath.

I want to glare at them, but I feel it would be a mistake to turn my attention from Coin. I can see her tallying the cost of my ultimatum, weighing it against my possible worth.

«What do you say, President?» asks Plutarch. «You could issue an official pardon, given the circumstances. The boy…he’s not even of age.»

«All right,» Coin says finally. «But you’d better perform.»

«I’ll perform when you’ve made the announcement,» I say.

«Call a national security assembly during Reflection today,» she orders. «I’ll make the announcement then. Is there anything left on your list, Katniss?»

My paper’s crumpled into a ball in my right fist. I flatten the sheet against the table and read the rickety letters. «Just one more thing. I kill Snow.»

For the first time ever, I see the hint of a smile on the president’s lips. «When the time comes, I’ll flip you for it.»

Maybe she’s right. I certainly don’t have the sole claim against Snow’s life. And I think I can count on her getting the job done. «Fair enough.»

Coin’s eyes have flickered to her arm, the clock. She, too, has a schedule to adhere to. «I’ll leave her in your hands, then, Plutarch.» She exits the room, followed by her team, leaving only Plutarch, Fulvia, Gale, and myself.

«Excellent. Excellent.» Plutarch sinks down, elbows on the table, rubbing his eyes. «You know what I miss? More than anything? Coffee. I ask you, would it be so unthinkable to have something to wash down the gruel and turnips?»

«We didn’t think it would be quite so rigid here,» Fulvia explains to us as she massages Plutarch’s shoulders. «Not in the higher ranks.»

«Or at least there’d be the option of a little side action,» says Plutarch. «I mean, even Twelve had a black market, right?»

«Yeah, the Hob,» says Gale. «It’s where we traded.»

«There, you see? And look how moral you two are! Virtually incorruptible.» Plutarch sighs. «Oh, well, wars don’t last forever. So, glad to have you on the team.» He reaches a hand out to the side, where Fulvia is already extending a large sketchbook bound in black leather. «You know in general what we’re asking of you, Katniss. I’m aware you have mixed feelings about participating. I hope this will help.»

Plutarch slides the sketchbook across to me. For a moment, I look at it suspiciously. Then curiosity gets the better of me. I open the cover to find a picture of myself, standing straight and strong, in a black uniform. Only one person could have designed the outfit, at first glance utterly utilitarian, at second a work of art. The swoop of the helmet, the curve to the breastplate, the slight fullness of the sleeves that allows the white folds under the arms to show. In his hands, I am again a mockingjay.

«Cinna,» I whisper.

«Yes. He made me promise not to show you this book until you’d decided to be the Mockingjay on your own. Believe me, I was very tempted,» says Plutarch. «Go on. Flip through.»

I turn the pages slowly, seeing each detail of the uniform. The carefully tailored layers of body armor, the hidden weapons in the boots and belt, the special reinforcements over my heart. On the final page, under a sketch of my mockingjay pin, Cinna’s written, I’m still betting on you.

«When did he…» My voice fails me.

«Let’s see. Well, after the Quarter Quell announcement. A few weeks before the Games maybe? There are not only the sketches. We have your uniforms. Oh, and Beetee’s got something really special waiting for you down in the armory. I won’t spoil it by hinting,» says Plutarch.

«You’re going to be the best-dressed rebel in history,» says Gale with a smile. Suddenly, I realize he’s been holding out on me. Like Cinna, he’s wanted me to make this decision all along.

«Our plan is to launch an Airtime Assault,» says Plutarch. «To make a series of what we call propos—which is short for ‘propaganda spots’—featuring you, and broadcast them to the entire population of Panem.»

«How? The Capitol has sole control of the broadcasts,» says Gale.

«But we have Beetee. About ten years ago, he essentially redesigned the underground network that transmits all the programming. He thinks there’s a reasonable chance it can be done. Of course, we’ll need something to air. So, Katniss, the studio awaits your pleasure.» Plutarch turns to his assistant. «Fulvia?»

«Plutarch and I have been talking about how on earth we can pull this off. We think that it might be best to build you, our rebel leader, from the outside…in. That is to say, let’s find the most stunning Mockingjay look possible, and then work your personality up to deserving it!» she says brightly.

«You already have her uniform,» says Gale.

«Yes, but is she scarred and bloody? Is she glowing with the fire of rebellion? Just how grimy can we make her without disgusting people? At any rate, she has to be something. I mean, obviously this»—Fulvia moves in on me quickly, framing my face with her hands—«won’t cut it.» I jerk my head back reflexively but she’s already busy gathering her things. «So, with that in mind, we have another little surprise for you. Come, come.»

Fulvia gives us a wave, and Gale and I follow her and Plutarch out into the hall.

«So well intended, and yet so insulting,» Gale whispers in my ear.

«Welcome to the Capitol,» I mouth back. But Fulvia’s words have no effect on me. I wrap my arms tightly around the sketchbook and allow myself to feel hopeful. This must be the right decision. If Cinna wanted it.

We board an elevator, and Plutarch checks his notes. «Let’s see. It’s Compartment Three-Nine-Oh-Eight.» He presses a button marked 39 , but nothing happens.

«You must have to key it,» says Fulvia.

Plutarch pulls a key attached to a thin chain from under his shirt and inserts it into a slot I hadn’t noticed before. The doors slide shut. «Ah, there we are.»

The elevator descends ten, twenty, thirty-plus levels, farther down than I even knew District 13 went. It opens on a wide white corridor lined with red doors, which look almost decorative compared to the gray ones on the upper floors. Each is plainly marked with a number 3901, 3902, 3903 …