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UGLIES 131
“We took the liberty of making a copy of that the first
time you were here.”
Tally glared at Dr. Cable, realizing she’d been duped.
“Then why do you need me? I don’t know anything more
than what I just said. I didn’t ask her to tell me any more.
And I didn’t go with her, because I just . . . wanted . . . to
be pretty!” A lump rose in her throat, but Tally decided that
under no circumstances—special or not—was she going to
cry in front of Dr. Cable.
“I’m afraid that we find the instructions on the note
rather cryptic, Tally.”
“You and me both.”
Dr. Cable’s hawk-eyes narrowed. “They seem to be
designed to be read by someone who knows Shay quite
well. By you, perhaps.”
“Yeah, well, I get some of it. But after the first couple of
lines, I’m lost.”
“I’m sure it’s very difficult. Especially after a long night
of . . . trees. I still think you can help us, however.”
Dr. Cable opened a small briefcase on the desk
between them. Tally’s tired brain struggled to make
sense of the objects in the case. A firestarter, a crumpled
sleeping bag . . .
“Hey, that’s like the survival stuff that Shay had.”
“That’s right, Tally. These ranger kits go missing every
so often. Usually just about the same time that one of our
uglies disappears.”