Chapter 24 Chapter 24 Strange things emerge one after another

The next morning, Thomas sat restless and sweating in a chair, facing the eleven boys who sat around him.Their seats were arranged in a semicircle around him.As soon as he sat down, Thomas realized that these people were the so-called Guardians.To his annoyance, Gary was sitting among them.And the chair directly in front of Thomas was empty, needless to say, he also knew that it belonged to Alby. They were sitting in a large room in the big house where Thomas had never been.There was not much furniture except chairs and a small table in the corner.The walls are wood, as is the floor.Whoever designed the place didn't seem to have given a thought to how to make it a warm place - there are no windows and the room smells of mustiness and old books.Thomas didn't feel cold, but his body was shaking uncontrollably.

He was relieved to see that Newt was there.Newt was sitting next to the empty chair that belonged to Alby. "Our leader is still sick in bed, and I'm announcing the meeting on his behalf." He rolled his eyes slightly, as if to express his distaste for this ritual, "As you all know, our lives have been pretty crazy these days. Much of it has to do with our rookie, Tommy, sitting in front of us." Thomas' face burned red with embarrassment. "He's not a rookie anymore," Gary said, his voice rough and grim, sounding comically. "He's a rule-breaker now."

The remark sparked a murmur of discussion, and Newt motioned them to be quiet.Thomas suddenly wanted to get out of here, as far away as possible. "Gary," Newt said, "behave. If you're going to talk a lot when I'm talking, you'd better figure it out. Shut up or get the hell out of here. I'm not in a good mood. " Hearing this, Thomas really wanted to cheer for him. Gary crossed his arms and leaned back in his chair, suppressing his anger.The look made Thomas almost laugh.Thomas couldn't believe it more and more, he was afraid of him before - now he looked very stupid, even pathetic.

Newt gave Gary a hard look, and continued: "This problem is solved, that's good." He rolled his eyes again, "The reason for this meeting is that in the last day or two, people in the open space Almost every kid in my family came to me, someone complaining about Thomas, someone who was going to live with him forever. We had to discuss what to do with him." Gary leaned forward, but before he could speak, Newt spoke again: "Gary, when you speak. Come one by one. As for you, Tom, we don't ask you, you just ask." Don't say a word, understand?" Thomas nodded reluctantly in agreement.Newt pointed to the child sitting on the far right and said, "Zart the fart, let's start with you."

There was a roar of laughter, and the big, quiet man who tended the vegetable garden moved out of his chair and looked at Thomas as if Thomas were just a carrot or a tomato. "Okay," Zate began.His eyes wandered, as if waiting for someone to tell him what to say. "I can't say. He violated our most important rule, and we can't let everyone feel that it's okay to do so." He paused, looked down at his hands, and rubbed them together, "But then again, he... …changed us. Now we know we can survive even outside, and we can beat the Griever.” Thomas felt a burst of relief: someone was on his side.He swore to himself that he would treat Zate well in the future.

"Oh, come on," Gary interjected, "I bet it's Minho who actually got rid of that shit." "Gary, keep your mouth shut!" Newt yelled, standing up this time, and Thomas was delighted again. "Now I'm the chairman, and if I hear another word come out of your mouth, I'll do it for you." You arrange another deportation meeting!" "Please." Gary muttered in a low voice, his anger was suppressed, and he leaned back in the chair sullenly. Newt sat down and motioned Zat to continue. "Is that all? Any other formal suggestions?"

Zat shook his head. "Okay, it's your turn, Frypan." The cook's smile radiated through his beard, and he sat up straight. "This rookie has more guts than all the pigs and cows I've fried in the last year combined." He paused, as if waiting for a laugh, but no one said, "How stupid of us to do this! He Saved Alby's life, killed a few Grimes, and we're sitting here yelling what to do with him. To use one of Chuck's catchphrases doesn't make sense." Thomas really wanted to go over and take Frypan's hand—he said exactly what Thomas was thinking.

"So what's your suggestion?" Newt asked. Frypan folded his arms. "Let him join the council, arrange for him to train us. Teach us everything he does outside the clearing." Voices came from all directions, and it took Newt half a minute to silence everyone.Thomas frowned: Frypan's suggestion was a little too much, and it made the well-founded words he just said seem weak. "Okay, write down everything he said," Newt said, taking notes. "Everyone shut up, I'm serious. You all clearly stipulate that-any suggestion can be adopted-when you vote , You can say whatever you think.” After recording, Newt pointed to the third member of the council.Thomas had never seen him, and he had black hair and freckles.

"I have no idea," he said. "What?" Newt was annoyed. "You've got the right guy for the council!" "Sorry, I really don't have any opinion." He shrugged. "If I really want to say something, then I agree with Frypan. He saved a life, why should he be punished?" "In other words, you still have ideas, don't you?" Newt asked forcefully, holding a pen in his hand. The kid nodded, and Newt wrote quickly.Thomas felt more and more relaxed, and most of the Guardians seemed to be on his side.But he still felt uncomfortable: at the moment he could only sit like this, unable to speak for himself.He forced himself to obey Newt's orders anyway, keeping his mouth shut.

Next up is a pimple-faced Winston, keeper of the House of Blood. "I think he has to be punished. I don't mean to offend you by saying this, rookie. But Newt, you've always followed order. If we don't punish him, we're setting a bad example, after all, he broke the law." Our most important principles.” "Okay," Newt wrote his words in the notepad, "then you suggest punishing him, what kind of punishment?" "I think he should be put in a cell for a week and given only bread and water. We should also let everyone know so everyone can learn from it."

Gary clapped his hands, Newt gave him a blank look, and Thomas' heart sank. Two more Guardians spoke.One for Frypan, another for Winston, and then it was Newt's turn. "I basically agree with what you said. He should be punished, but we also have to think of a way to use his talents. I reserve my opinion and wait until I hear everyone's ideas. Next." Thomas didn't want to hear the word "punishment" more than shutting him up.But deep down, he couldn't argue with that—even if he'd done some great things, it was true that he'd broken major rules. Everyone spoke one after another. Some people think that he should be praised, some people want him to be punished, and some people think that both measures should be carried out at the same time.Thomas couldn't take it anymore, he was eager to hear the opinions of the last two Guardians - Gary and Minho.Minho hasn't said a word since Thomas entered the room, he just slumped on the chair, looking like he hasn't slept in a week. Gary said: "I think my point is clear to everyone." All right, Thomas thought, then you should just shut up. "Okay." Newt rolled his eyes again, "Go ahead, Minho, it's your turn." "No!" Gary yelled, and two people jumped out of their chairs. "I have something to say." "Speak quickly, then," Newt responded.Seeing that the chairman of the interim council held Gary in the same contempt as he did, Thomas felt a little better.Thomas wasn't afraid of him, he just hated him from the bottom of his heart. "Just think about it," Gary said. "This little slick came out of the transfer box, acting confused and frightened. A few days later, he was dealing with the Griever in the maze, as if he was the master here." .” Thomas ducked back into his chair, hoping the others weren't thinking that way. Gary continued to scold: "I think he's just acting. It's only been a few days. How can one person do so much? I don't believe it." "What the hell are you trying to say, Gary?" Newt asked. "Say something real, okay?" "I think he's a spy, sent by the people who keep us here!" The room erupted, and Thomas couldn't help shaking his head—he didn't know where Gary was coming from.Newt calmed everyone down again, but Gary wasn't finished yet. "We can't trust this idiot," he continued. "The day after he came, a crazy girl came, talking nonsense, saying everything was going to change. We found a dead Griever, and Thomas happened to be there that night. Into the maze and now trying to make him a hero. Well, but no one, Minho or anyone, actually saw him handle those vines. How do we know if he made Al than hanging up?" Gary paused, no one spoke for a while, and Thomas felt a surge of fear: Will they believe Gary?He was eager to defend himself, and was about to say something when Gary spoke again. "There have been a lot of strange things lately, all since the appearance of this unlucky ghost. He happened to be the first person to survive the night in the maze again. Until we find out the truth, I strongly recommend that he be locked in a cell , and make a decision after a month." The discussion sounded again, and Newt wrote down his words in the notebook again, shaking his head as he wrote-a glimmer of hope ignited in Thomas. "Are you done, Colonel Gary?" Newt asked sarcastically. "Don't be an idiot, Newt," he snapped, his face flushed. "I'm serious. How can we trust him in less than a week? Think about what I said before denying me." For the first time in a long time, Thomas felt sympathy for Gary—he did have a lot to complain about the way Newt treated Gary, who was also a Guardian after all.I still hate him though.Thomas thought. "Okay, Gary," Newt said, "I'm sorry. We've heard your point and will take it seriously. Have you finished?" "Yes, I'm done, and I'm right." Gary finished speaking, and Newt pointed at Minho: "Your turn, the last one." Thomas was very happy, finally it was Minho's turn, and Minho would definitely support him. Minho stood up abruptly, everyone was a little surprised. "I was also in the maze and saw what he did. He was strong when I was scared to pee my pants. I'm not going to blah blah blah like Gary, I just want to give my opinion and end. " "Okay," Newt said, "you go ahead." Minho looked at Thomas: "I propose to let this kid replace me as the guardian of Walker."