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Frypan paused a second, then said, "They never messed with me in the kitchen, now, did they?"
"Yeah, well, we’ll just have to find you a new place to cook" Newt grabbed Thoroup "I’ve heard enough bloody argu on one of those beds"
Minho reached over and squeezed Newt’s shoulder "Me neither"
"Same here," Tho inside hi and act nice," he whispered "But as soon as we get a chance, we’re going to fight our way out of this place"
CHAPTER 7
Rat Man returned before Newt or Minho could respond But judging by the looks on their faces, Thomas was sure they were on board One hundred percent
More people were piling into the roo on Everyone who’d joined thereen suit with WICKED written across the chest It struck Thoaht out Could it be that the very naanization had been one of the Variables fro? A ith obvious ood? It was probably just another poke to see how their brains reacted, what they felt
It was all a guessing ga
Each doctor--Thomas assumed they were doctors, like Rat Man had said--took a place next to one of the beds They fidgeted with thethe tubes, tinkering with knobs and switches Thoned each of you a bed," Rat Man said, looking down at papers on a clipboard he’d brought back with hi in this roo Sonya and Aris, but not Thomas or any of the Gladers "If I didn’t call your name, please follow me"
The whole situation had taken on a bizarre taint, too casual and run-of-the-sters yelling out roll call before they slaughtered a group of weeping traitors Thoht moment presented itself
He and the others silently followed Rat Man out of the roo at another door Their guide read froain, and Frypan and Neere included this ti it," Newt announced "You said we could choose and that’s ry look with Thoo crazy
"That’s fine," Rat Man replied "You’ll change your h Stay witheveryone else"
"What about you, Frypan?" Tho to hide his surprise at how easily the Rat Man had relented with Newt
The cook suddenly looked sheepish "I … think I’ to let them do it"
Thomas was shocked
"Are you crazy?" Minho asked
Frypan shook his head, bearing himself up a little defensively "I want to remember Make your own choice; let ," Rat Man said
Frypan disappeared into the roouo--for now, he could only worry about hi a way out Hopefully he could rescue everyone else once he did
Rat Man didn’t call for Minho, Teresa and Tho with Harriet and two other girls from Group B So far Newt had been the only one to say no to the procedure
"No thanks," Minho said when Rat Man gestured for everyone to enter the rooood ti it, either," Tho to feel the rush of anticipation They had to take a chance soon, try so time, his face unreadable
"You okay, there, Mr Rat Man?" Minho asked
"My name is Assistant Director Janson," he replied, his voice low and strained, as if it was hard work to stay calm His eyes never left Thomas "Learn to show respect for your elders"
"You quit treating people like animals andat Thoaze to Minho "Because there are hter "But very well We said you could choose for yourselves, and we’ll stand by that Everyone co to participate"
Again, Thoh his body TheirHe knew it And by the expression on Minho’s face, he knew it, too They gave each other a slight nod and followed Rat Man into the room
It looked exactly like the first one, with six beds, the hangingwas already hureen clothes as the doctors in the first room stood next to each bed
Tho next to a bed at the very end of the row, dressed in green, was Brenda She looked way younger than everyone else, her brown hair and face cleaner than he’d ever seen theave hiaze to Rat Man; then, before Tho across the roo He squeezed back, coo
"Brenda, what are you doing!" Janson yelled at her "Get back to your post!"
She pressed her lips against Tho, so quietly he could barely hear her, "Don’t trust thee, Thomas Ever No one else"
"Brenda!" the Rat Man practically screa away "Sorry," she h Phase Three I forgot myself" She walked back to her post and turned to face theain, her face blank