Study Guide

The Scorch Trials Chapter 23

By James Dashner

Chapter 23

When Thomas wakes up, a storm is brewing. Yeah, a storm in the desert.
Something tells us this might be a Variable.
Anyway, the boys start their march again but find an old guy lying in the sand underneath some blankets.
Thomas investigates, as he does with everything.
The man isn't dead, but he isn't moving, either. He just sort of blinks.
But then the man starts whispering, and Thomas makes out the words, "Storm coming... full of terror... brings out... stay away... bad people" (23.45). Great.
Then the man starts shouting, "Storm! Storm! Storm!" (23.46).
This is totally creepy, so the boys start running toward the city.