1269_UgliesFreeBook

218 Scott Westerfeld
“They are doctors.”
“Huh. But . . . hang on. Doctors? How old were they
when they ran away?”
“Old enough. They weren’t uglies anymore. I think it’s
called being a middle pretty?”
“Yeah, at least.” New pretties worked or studied, if they
wanted to, but few people got serious about a profession
until their middle years. “Wait. What do you mean they
weren’t uglies?”
“They weren’t. But they are now.”
Tally tried to get her mind to process his words. “You
mean, they never did the third operation? They still look
middle, even though they’re crumblies?”
“No, Tally. I told you: They’re doctors.”
A shock ran through her. This was more stunning than
the felled trees or the cruel pretties; as overwhelming as
anything she’d felt since Peris had gone away. “They reversed
the operation?”
“Yes.”
“They cut each other? Out here in the wild? To make
themselves . . .” Her throat closed on the word, as if she was
going to gag.
“No. They didn’t use surgery.”
Suddenly the dark cave seemed to be crushing her,
squeezing the air from her chest. Tally forced herself to
breathe.
David pulled his hand away, and with a corner of her