1269_UgliesFreeBook

246 Scott Westerfeld
“Really?”
He nodded, still staring down at the white expanse of
flowers. “Most of the time, I bring them in.”
Tally remembered Shay, the last night they’d seen each
other in the city, saying that the mysterious David would
take her to the Smoke. Back then Tally had hardly believed
there was such a person. Now, sitting next to her, David
seemed very real. He took the world more seriously than
any other ugly she’d ever met—more seriously, in fact, than
middle pretties like her parents. In a funny way, his eyes
held the same intensity that the cruel pretties’ had, though
without their coldness.
“My mother used to in the old days,” he said. “But now
she’s too old.”
Tally swallowed. They always explained in school
about how uglies who didn’t have the operations eventually
became infirm. “Oh, I’m so sorry. How old is she, anyway?”
He laughed. “She’s plenty fit, but uglies have an easier
time trusting someone like me, someone their own age.”
“Oh, of course.” Tally remembered her reaction to the
Boss that first day. Only a couple of weeks later she was much
more used to all the different kinds of faces that age created.
“Sometimes, a few uglies will make it on their own, following
coded directions like you did. But it’s always been
three or four in a group. No one’s ever come all alone.”
“You must think I’m an idiot.”
“Not at all.” He took her hand. “I think it was really brave.”