The Maze Runner, #1
The Maze Runner
by James Dashner
Contents
Chapter 26
Overview
After Gally’s outburst, the Council resumes and debates Thomas’s fate. Thomas defends his choice to break the rule, and Newt’s proposal passes: one day in the Slammer and immediate promotion to Runner. Minho’s push to make Thomas Keeper is deferred. The chapter ends with urgent news—Alby, delirious, specifically demands Thomas.
Summary
In the stunned quiet after Gally’s threat to kill Thomas, Newt reprimands Minho for escalating the fight while Minho insists Gally is dangerous. Winston hesitantly suggests Gally’s accusation matters because Gally has memories from the Changing and claims Thomas looks familiar. The group debates how much weight to give Gally’s words.
Thomas breaks his silence, rejecting Gally’s hatred and asserting that he acted to save lives, rule or not. Newt steers the meeting back to its purpose. He proposes a balanced outcome: punish Thomas with one day in the Slammer for breaking the Number One Rule, and make him a Runner based on his night in the Maze. He rejects making Thomas Keeper immediately.
Minho argues Thomas is the best and should be Keeper now; Newt compromises to revisit that after a month. The Council votes—everyone agrees with Newt’s plan except Winston, who warns that Thomas’s arrival coincided with upheaval. Newt closes the meeting, telling Thomas to begin training with Minho and to serve his punishment tomorrow.
As the room clears, Thomas and Minho exchange relieved banter. Chuck arrives with urgent news from the Med-jacks: Alby is thrashing and acting crazy. Newt moves to go, but Chuck says Alby refuses everyone except Thomas, heightening the mystery around Thomas’s connection to recent events.
Who Appears
- ThomasDefends breaking the rule to save lives; punished one day; appointed Runner; summoned by delirious Alby.
- NewtChairs the meeting; proposes punishment and Runner promotion; defers Keeper decision; manages tensions.
- MinhoDefends Thomas; argues he should be Keeper; accepts a month trial; prepares to train Thomas.
- WinstonQuestions ignoring Gally’s claims; casts the lone dissenting vote; urges caution about Thomas’s impact.
- FrypanPushes to expedite the vote; sides with Newt’s proposal; mocks the idea Thomas is a Griever.
- GallyStorms out after threatening Thomas; cited as unstable yet his Changing memories spark debate.
- ChuckDelivers urgent message from the Med-jacks that Alby is thrashing and wants Thomas.
- AlbyOff-screen, delirious from the Changing; thrashes and demands to speak with Thomas.