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"What’re you tryin’ to say, Gally?" Newt asked "How ’bout having a bloody point?"

"I think he’s a spy from the people who put us here"

Another uproar exploded in the roo but shake his head--he just didn’t get how Gally could come up with all these ideas Newt finally calain, but Gally wasn’t finished

"We can’t trust this shank," he continued "Day after he shows up, a psycho girl co that freaky note We find a dead Griever Thoht, then tries to convince everyone he’s a hero Well, neither Minho nor anyone else actually saw hi in the vines Hoe knoas the Greenie who tied Alby up there?"

Gally paused; no one said a word for several seconds, and panic rose inside Tho? He was anxious to defend himself and almost broke his silence for the first tiain

"There’s tooon, and it all started when this shuck-face Greenie showed up And he just happens to be the first person to survive a night out in the Maze Soure it out, I officially recommend that we lock his butt in the Slammer--for a s broke out, and Nerote soave Thoe of hope

"Finished, Captain Gally?" Newt asked

"Quit being such a s red "I’m dead serious How can we trust this shank after less than a week? Quit voting "

For the first time, Thomas felt a little empathy for Gally--he did have a point about hoas treating him Gally was a Keeper, after all But I still hate hiht

"Fine, Gally," Newt said "I’m sorry We heard you, and we’ll all consider your bloody recoht"

With no more words for Gally, Newt pointed at Minho "Go ahead, last but not least"

Thomas was elated that it was finally Minho’s turn; surely he’d defend hiuard "I was out there; I sahat this guy did--he stayed strong while I turned into a panty-wearin’ chicken No blabbin’ on and on like Gally I want to say my recommendation and be done with it"

Tho what he’d say

"Good that," Newt said "Tell us, then"

Minho looked at Thomas "I nominate this shank to replace me as Keeper of the Runners"

CHAPTER 25

Complete silence filled the room, as if the world had been frozen, and every member of the Council stared at Minho Tho for the Runner to say he’d been kidding

Gally finally broke the spell, standing up "That’s ridiculous!" He faced Newt and pointed back at Minho, who had taken his seat again "He should be kicked off the Council for saying so so stupid"

Any pity Thomas had felt for Gally, however remote, completely vanished at that stateree with Minho’s recommendation--like Frypan, who clapped to drown out Gally, cla to take a vote Others didn’t Winston shook his head ada that Tho at once, Thomas put his head in his hands to wait it out, terrified and awed at the saht Newt said it takes forever just to beco he were a thousand miles away

Finally, Newt put his notepad down and stepped out fro at people to shut up Thomas watched on as at first no one seeh, order was restored and everyone sat down

"Shuck it," Newt said "I’ve never seen solike teat-suckin’ babies We may not look it, but around these parts we’re adults Act like it, or we’ll disband this bloody Council and start from scratch" He walked fro each of them in the eye as he spoke "Are we clear?"

Quiet had swept across the group Thomas expected more outbursts, but was surprised when everyone nodded their consent, even Gally

"Good that" Nealked back to his chair and sat down, putting the pad in his lap He scratched out a few lines on the paper, then looked up at Minho "That’s some pretty serious klunk, brother Sorry, but you need to talk it up to er to hear the response

Minho looked exhausted, but he started defending his proposal "It’s sure easy for you shanks to sit here and talk about soroup, and the only other one here who’s even been out in the Maze is Newt"

Gally interjected: "Not if you count the time I--"

"I don’t!" Minho shouted "And believe htest clue what it’s like to be out there The only reason you were stung is because you broke the sa Thomas for That’s called hypocrisy, you shuck-faced piece of--"