Wednesday, April 24, 2013

Chapters 31-33

I read 27 pages.

"Doesn't it bother you that the Keepers have these things and we don't?" said Matt.

Both Ton-Ton and Luna drew themselves up like offended rattlesnakes. "They earned it!" Luna said. "They put in their time; and when we put in our time, we'll have those things too!" (page 308)
It seems like the Keepers have somehow brainwashed the workers to make them think they are great, even though the Keepers treat them terribly. They probably lectured or beat it into everyone. I bet the workers don't know any better, so eventually they begin to believe that the Keepers are good people.

Chapter 31 Summary: Matt wakes up in the infirmary, where he and Ton-Ton are recovering from the previous night. He learns from Luna, Ton-Ton's friend and Keeper-in-training, that every boy trains to be a Keeper. This confuses Matt, because there are about 210 boys and only 20 Keepers. After talking to Ton-Ton for a while, Matt realizes that Ton-Ton isn't dumb, he's just a slow thinker and speaker. He also learns from Ton-Ton that Keepers have a luxurious life, and they have all kinds of entertainment and great foods. Ton-Ton says that the Keepers do laudanum every night, and Matt thinks this will help his escape plan. Turns out, Ton-Ton is from San Luis, and Matt wants Ton-Ton to go with him when Matt escapes, along with Chacho and Fidelito. The next day, Matt tells the boys that he wants to escape. Then, Ton-Ton tells the story of how Jorge saved him. Both of his parents disappeared over the border and Ton-Ton tried to run, too, but was nearly killed by the Farm Patrol. Jorge rescued him. He's got a grandmother in San Luis, but Jorge convinced him to stay at the orphanage to become a Keeper. Ton-Ton feels as if he owes his life to Jorge now. Then the boys go back to the factory, and Matt mentions Celia. Chacho asks who Celia is, and Matt say that was his mom. After that, Matt broke down and cried because he realized that Celia was one of the few people who ever loved him and cared about him. Chacho understands, and leaves Matt alone to get himself together.

Chapter 32 Summary: Jorge criticizes Matt yet again that night, but he also turns on Fidelito. Matt tries to step in and defend Fidelito, but Jorge won't let up and goes to beat Fidelito. Matt throws himself on Jorge and Chacho joins in. Soon all the boys are surrounding them and shouting. After a few minutes, Matt stops himself and then gets Chacho off of Jorge. Then Jorge goes outside and comes back with all twenty Keepers. Uh-oh. This can't be good. The other boys shout and exclaim that Jorge nearly killed Fidelito, which makes Carlos pause, but Jorge says they're lying. The Keepers try to leave, but Flaco gets everyone to surround the doors and trap them inside. Since there are two hundred boys and only 20 of them, the Keepers become nervous. They are greatly out-numbered. Jorge then tells everyone how Luna saw Matt's "Property of the Alacran Estate" tattoo on his foot when he was in the infirmary. Carlos says that's the name of the vampire from Dreamland. Then Jorge said that anyone who was the property of Alacran estate was either a worker or a zombie.
Ton-Ton says that even though he was trapped in Dreamland, he's not a bad person. He also says their parents went to Dreamland and were turned to zombies, but they still weren't bad. The majority of the kids are in denial about their parents, although they all know that it's true. Jorge tells Ton-Ton to shut up. The Keepers lock Matt and Chacho in a dark closet, with tape over their mouths.

Chapter 33 Summary: At dawn, Keepers come to get Matt and Chacho out of the closet. The boys are taken out to the pit of bones they had seen while working a few days earlier, which is known as the boneyard. Their feet and hands are bound together, and the Keepers throw them into the pit. The boys try to find a way out. Chacho is scared of the bats, and Matt has to calm him down so they don't get pushed down into the bones further. Using sharp bones, the boys get the tape off of their hands. Chacho asks Matt about the zombies, and Matt describes them. A storm approaches over the bone pit, but it only rains for a short length of time. Matt goes through the bones, and he eventually reaches dirt. He climbs his way out and calls out for Chacho. Not receiving a response, Matt begin to worry. He hears Chacho's snores moments later, and sees that he is okay but exhausted.

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