26
Summary
- Sejanus is supportive of Coriolanus's test results, which have been sent to the Capitol for grading.
- Coriolanus spends his guard duty shift contemplating his relationship with Lucy Gray, feeling jealous about Billy Taupe, and wishing to be with her instead of his dull duty.
- Coriolanus writes thank-you notes to Ma and Pluribus, asks for strings for Lucy Gray, and then sleeps deeply.
- Due to the summer heat, Coriolanus faces discomfort in daily tasks like kitchen duty and worries about smelling of onions for Lucy Gray.
- During training drills, Coriolanus deals with a heat rash and Beanpole collapses, leading Coriolanus to visit the clinic.
- Coriolanus feels relieved working with birds in the afternoon because they do not leave a lingering smell.
- In the forest, Coriolanus learns that his partner Bug has impressed Dr. Kay with his agility, so he has to work in tandem with her.
- Dr. Kay quizzes Coriolanus about his thoughts on the districts and they discuss the jabberjays and the history of their use in the war.
- Dr. Kay demonstrates how jabberjays record and mimic human speech but not background noises, impressing Coriolanus.
- Coriolanus learns about the jabberjays' capabilities, limitations, and how the rebels might have discovered their purpose during the war.
- While discussing the new species, mockingjays, Dr. Kay hints at wanting to study them, disturbing Coriolanus who feels they are unnatural and should be eliminated.
- Dr. Kay and Coriolanus converse about mockingjays' ability to mimic tunes and discuss a potential experiment to see if they can reproduce with each other.
- Despite catching many jabberjays, they fail to trap any mockingjays, which Dr. Kay attributes to their wild nature.
- Coriolanus and Bug assist the scientists with setting up a temporary home for the birds and agree to help care for them.
- During a hailstorm, Coriolanus and Sejanus engage in a playful ice ball fight before heading to breakfast.
- Coriolanus and Bug spend the afternoon caring for the jabberjays in a surprisingly cooler environment, which eases Coriolanus's heat rash.
- After realizing the jabberjays retain the ability to respond to audio commands, Bug questions if that is good for them, and Coriolanus reassures him about the scientists' care.
- Coriolanus struggles with whether to continue seeing Lucy Gray after her performance or to return to the base for curfew, ultimately deciding against waiting.
- Coriolanus is invited by Lucy Gray to join her and Sejanus for a swim at the lake the next day.
- Maude Ivory performs a special song, entitled after Lucy Gray, which seems to concern a lost child in a storm and Coriolanus initially misunderstands the meaning.
- Coriolanus feels frustrated trying to interpret Maude Ivory's song but resigns himself to praising it tomorrow, while Sejanus disappears.