1269_UgliesFreeBook

22 Scott Westerfeld
rail, and teetered for a moment. Below her, pretties were
starting to spill out of Garbo Mansion onto the lawn and
down the hill. They were looking back up, searching for
smoke or flames. All they saw was her.
It was a long way down, and Tally’s stomach already
seemed to be in free fall. But she was thrilled, too. The
shrieking siren, the crowd gazing up at her, the lights of
New Pretty Town all spread out below like a million candles.
Tally took a deep breath and bent her knees, readying
herself to jump.
For a split second, she wondered if the jacket would
work since she wasn’t wearing an interface ring. Would it
hover-bounce for a nobody? Or would she just splat?
But she had promised Peris she wouldn’t get caught.
And the jacket was for emergencies, and there was a green
light on. . . .
“Heads up!” Tally shouted.
And jumped.