1269_UgliesFreeBook

184 Scott Westerfeld
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The helicopter landed in a swirl of dust, the white flowers
bending in a wide circle around the touchdown spot.
“Thanks for the ride,” Tally said.
“Good luck,” Tonk said. “Hope you like the Smoke.”
“Me too.”
“But if you change your mind, Tally, we’re always looking
for volunteers in the rangers.”
Tally frowned. “What’s a volunteer?”
The ranger smiled. “That’s when you pick your own job.”
“Oh, right.” Tally had heard you could do that in some
cities. “Maybe. In the meantime, keep up the good work.
Speaking of which, you’re not setting any fires around here,
are you?”
The rangers laughed, and Tonk said, “We just work the
edges of the infestation, to keep the flowers from spreading.
This spot is right smack in the middle. No hope left.”
Tally looked around. There wasn’t a glimpse of any
color but white as far as she could see. The sun had set an
hour ago, but the orchids glowed like ghosts in the moonlight.
Now that she knew what they were, the sight chilled
Tally. What had he called it? Biological zero.
“Great.”
She jumped out of the helicopter and yanked her hoverboard
from the magnetic rack next to the door. She backed
away, careful to crouch as the rangers had warned her to.
The machine whined back to life, and she peered upward