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"Yeah, almost half our workers have disappeared over the last couple n of ’em, no explanations Which only roaned "Just keep us away from the crowds and put us somewhere safe until you find Newt"

"That’s ed "Okay As long as I get s away froroup to wait Thomas and the others huddled in sorown louder by the minute, and now, so close to most of the Palace’s population, it sounded as if aplace just around the corner Tho to those awful noises, wondering the whole tiuard would come back at all, much less with Newt in tow

About ten minutes after he’d left, two people came out of a little hut across the narrow pathway froot up and ran before he realized they didn’t look threatening in the least They were a couple, holding hands, and other than being a little dirty and wearing wrinkled and worn clothes, they seeroup and stopped in front of theet here?" the woman asked

Thomas fumbled for words, but Brenda spoke up

"We ca for our friend ith us His name is Newt--blond hair, has a limp Have you seen him?"

The man answered as if he’d just heard the dumbest question of his life "Lots of people with blond hair around here--hoe supposed to tell who’s who? What kind of name is Newt anyway?"

Minho opened hisfrom the center of town picked up and everyone turned to look The couple gave each other concerned looks Then, without a word, they scurried back inside their home They closed the door and Tho A few seconds later a wooden board appeared in their , covering it up; a sround outside

"They look about as happy to be here as we are," Thorunted "Real friendly I think I’ll co," Brenda said "I can’t i out you’re infected, being sent to live with Cranks, seeing what you’re about to becoht in front of you"

Thomas just shook his head slowly It’d be uards?" Minho asked, i does it take to find someone and tell ’euards reappeared around a corner Thomas and his friends jumped to their feet

"What’d you find out?" Minho asked in a rush

The short one see, as if he’d lost his brazenness from before, and Thomas wondered if a trip to what they’d called the Central Zone always did that to a person

His partner answered "Took souy Looks just like you described, and he turned toward us e called his nalance

"But what?" Minho pushed

"He said--very pointedly, I et lost"

CHAPTER 37

The words stabbed Thoine how Minho felt

"Shohere he is," his friend ordered curtly

The guard held up his hands "Did you not hear what I just said?"

"Your job’s not done," Thomas insisted He ith Minho one hundred percent It didn’t matter what Newt had said--if they were this close, they were going to talk to hiuard shook his head adamantly "No way You asked us to find your friend and we did Give us our e asked "No one ether"

Brenda didn’t say anything, but she stood next to Jorge and nodded to show her support Thoo to Newt despite the uards didn’t look happy at all, and they whispered back and forth, arguing

"Hey!" Minho barked "If you want that uard with the lare "Follow us"

They turned and headed back in the direction they’d coht on their heels, and then everyone else

As theythings couldn’t get worse, but they did The buildings were shabbier, the streets dirtier He saw several people lying on the sidewalks, their heads resting on filthy bags or wadded-up pieces of clothing Each one of thelazed expression, a look of oblivious glee The Bliss was aptly na their Launchers left and right at anyone who got within a dozen feet of the man--his clothes torn, his hair oo, skin covered in rashes--as he fell on a drugged-out teenager and started beating hi if they should help

"Don’t even think about it," the short guard said before Tho"

"But isn’t it your job to--"

The other guard cut his If we ht e’d never be done We’d probably be dead Those two can sort out their own probleet us to Newt," Minho said evenly

They continued, and Tholed scream that suddenly rose behind the archway that led to an open area full of people A sign at the top of the arch proclaiht letters that this was the Central Zone Tho on inside, but everyone seeuards stopped, and the one with theto ask once Are you sure you want to go in there?"

"Yes," Minho answered quickly