That day Thomas spends with the gardeners and he gets put to a set of tasks. Weeding, pruning an apricot tree, planting squash and zucchini seeds, picking veggies. …was he there for a few days or do these people have an exceptionally small garden?  Weeding my own front yard takes most of an afternoon, after…

Alby is shocked at the idea of a dead Griever, so this hasn’t happened before, but they decide to leave the matter until tomorrow because running out to see it and coming back would be cutting things pretty close on timing. Then Alby turns on Thomas and issues the standard “you’d better not be hiding…

Thomas chases the bug into the forest until he loses sight of it. It had disappeared deep within the foliage—almost as if it had never existed. Almost as if…it’s the size of a bug and in a forest.  I thought you were supposed to be smart? “Shuck it,” Thomas whispered, almost as a joke. Almost.…

They decide to start the tour at the elevator shaft where Thomas came in.  Alby repeats the book’s summary by telling us that they get a new kid once a month, without fail, which just hammers the nails harder into the “why weren’t you prepared for this?” coffin.  Also they get supplies weekly, so there’s…

Thomas stands around outside doing absolutely jack-shit nothing while Chuck goes to get them something to eat.  He doesn’t bother to go see the kitchen or help make himself a meal or introduce himself to this “Frypan” character who seems to be in charge of food.  Nope, he just mopes around on his ass and…