1269_UgliesFreeBook

UGLIES 179
She tried to speak but could only cough.
“It’s getting bad,” another figure said. “Jenks wants to
take her back up.”
“Jenks can wait.”
Tally cleared her throat. “My board.”
The man smiled beautifully and glanced up. “It’s
headed over. Hey! Somebody stick that thing to the chopper!
What’s your name, kid?”
“Tally.” Cough.
“Well, Tally, are you ready to move? The fire won’t wait.”
She cleared her throat and coughed again. “I guess so.”
“Okay, come on.” The man helped her up and pulled
her toward the machine. She found herself pushed inside,
where the noise was much less, crowded into the back with
three others in bug-eyed masks. A door slammed shut.
The machine rumbled, and then Tally felt it lift from
the ground. “My board!”
“Relax, kid. We got it.” The woman pulled her mask off.
She was another young pretty.
Tally wondered if these were the people in the clue.
The “fire-bug eyes.” Was she supposed to be looking for
them?
“Is she going to make it?” a voice popped through the
cabin.
“She’ll live, Jenks. Make the usual detour, and work the
fire a little on the way home.”
Tally looked down as the machine climbed. Their flight