1269_UgliesFreeBook

UGLIES 141
as she climbed the rapids, and Tally hoped that Shay was
right about metal deposits being found in every river.
Otherwise, this could be a very long trip.
Of course, at this speed she wouldn’t have time to stop
if the lights suddenly went out. Which would make it a
very short trip.
But the lights stayed on, and Tally’s nerves were
soothed by the roar of white water, the cold slap of spray in
her face, the thrill of bending her body through curve after
curve in the moon-speckled darkness. The board was
smarter than her old one, learning her moves in a matter of
minutes. It was like graduating from a tricycle to a motorbike:
scary, but thrilling.
Tally wondered if the route to the Smoke had a lot of
rapids to ride. Maybe this really would be an adventure. Of
course, at the end of the journey there would only be
betrayal. Or worse, she would discover that Shay’s trust in
David had been misplaced, which could mean . . . anything.
Probably something horrible.
She shivered, deciding not to think about that possibility
again.
When Tally reached the turnoff, she slowed and turned
the board around, taking a last look at the city. It shone brilliantly
in the dark valley, so distant that she could blot it out
with one hand. In the clear night air, Tally could make out
individual fireworks unfolding like bright flowers, everything
in perfect miniature. The wild around her seemed so