26/10/12
The Maze Runner by James Dashner
Pages 96-175

1) This section of the book begins with Thomas waking up after a long night of no sleep. Newt wakes him up, and Thomas asks about Runners. This time, he gets answers. He then goes to work in the gardens with Zart, the Keeper of the track-hoes, those who works in the garden and farm. Alby and Minho had gone out early in the morning to check out the dead Griever that Minho had found, but didn't return near their return time. This worried Newt very much, and when dark approached, he and Thomas waited outside the West door for the two missing Gladers. Just as the doors were scheduled to close, Thomas saw a faint image of figures moving toward him. It was Minho, dragging a very disoriented and injured Alby. Minho was screaming that Alby had been stung. It was apparent that they were not going to make it in before the doors closed, and disobeying the #1 Rule of the Glade and Newt's orders, Thomas ran out to them just as the door slammed shut. After Minho shunned Thomas for doing so and the darkness of night set in, Thomas could hear the chilling sound of Grievers coming toward them. Minho fled immediately, leaving Thomas there alone with a near death Alby. Thomas got to work trying to hoist Alby and himself up the wall of the maze using the vines growing on them, and there he waited, about 30 feet above the ground. They waited there, and soon a Griever turned down the corridor they were on. Thomas stayed completely still, but he was panicking  severely inside. The Griever stopped right below them, and started to climb the wall. Trying to divert the creature from Alby, Thomas started to swing vine from vine to escape. The Griever began gaining on him, and a couple close calls later, Thomas found himself cornered, facing 3 more Grievers with the previous one still behind him. He decided to go down fighting, and charged the Griever that was chasing him. Thomas jumped over it and turned a corner, running into Minho. Minho told him to be quiet and follow him. He had an idea. Minho led him to the Cliff, an infinite drop off. They would use the same tactic that Thomas used, and wait for the Grievers to charge them. Then they would jump over the creatures as they fell off the Cliff. The creatures approached them, and they did exactly that, nearly dying in the process. The last Griever fell off the Cliff, and the two boys collapsed in exhaustion. As dawn approached, the boys made their way back to the Glade, barely managing a slow walk for they had been sprinting the entire night.The doors opened, and they were greeted by the Gladers, amazed that they survived. The three boys were the only ones to do so. They were escorted to the Homestead, where they were healed, fed, and they slept. Alby was stung by a Griever, so he began the Changing. When Thomas was well enough, a Gathering of the Keepers was held for him. Each Keeper gave their input on what they thought should be done with Thomas, some saying he should be rewarded, and others say he should be put in jail. Minho said he thought that Thomas should replace him as the Keeper of the Runners, which caused an uproar of approval and objections. Gally, a very irritable and mean Keeper, said this was a stupid idea and insulted both Thomas and Minho. Minho pushed him over and warned him, disregarding the respect rules of the Gathering. Gally left in a huff, almost psychotic, warning Thomas that something was wrong about him, and that he'd watch himself if he was Thomas. The Gathering was disbanded, and Chuck ran in, saying that Alby wanted to talk to Thomas. Thomas went to him, and Alby told him that he knew where they came from, and he knew their life before the Glade. Alby then began to strangle himself and twitch. Thomas yelled for Newt, and they contained Alby.  As Thomas and Newt left the room, Alby told them "Be careful with the girl." The door was closing, and Alby said "Protect the Maps," and rolled over to sleep.

2) "Newt caught Thomas's gaze and gestured for the door. Thomas had no problem leaving that crazy house-he followed Next out and into the hall. Then, just as they stepped through the doorway, Alby mumbled something for his bed.
         Both boys stopped in their tracks. "What?" Newt asked.
         Alby opened his eyes for a brief moment, then he repeated what he'd said, a little more loudly. "Be careful with the girl." Then his eyes slid shut.
         There it was again-the girl. Somehow things always led back to the girl. Newt gave Thomas a questioning look, but Thomas could only return it with a shrug. He had no idea what was going on.
         "Let's go," Newt whispered.
         "And Newt?" Alby called again from the bed, not bothering to open his eyes.
         "Yeah?"
         "Protect the Maps." Alby rolled over, his back telling them he'd finally finished speaking.
         Thomas didn't think that sounded very good. Not good at all. He and Newt left the room and softly closed the door." I chose this quote for a few reasons. One of these would be just the fact that this quote finished off a chapter. Generally, author's want to end chapters strongly with some type of cliffhanger ending that has significance, and this chapter is no exception. This ending of the chapter definitely seems very significant, mostly because of what Alby says. Alby had just recently gone through the Changing, which it is rumored that you can see your life before the Glade. Alby says that Newt and Thomas should be careful with the girl, and that they should protect the maps. The girl is constantly being mentioned throughout the book, so you can assume that she will play a big part of the future of the Glade after she wakes up from her coma. Also, the maps are the the most important part of Glade life, and Alby saying that they should protect them is very worrying. Alby's words contain enormous amounts of foreshadowing that one can expect to see later in the story, which makes the quote even more significant.

3) In this section of the book, as well as the rest of the book, I believe that I am very similar to Thomas in the way that he thinks and acts. The first similarity that caught my attention was when Thomas impulsively runs out to meet Minho and Alby as they fail to get to the doors in time. I think of myself to be impulsive sometimes, and never really planning my next move, but doing things strictly from what thoughts flash past my brain. I also think that the way that Thomas thought leaving the two Gladers out there alone was inhumane is comparable to what I would think in that same situation. I consider myself to be equally considerate to other humans as Thomas was.