1269_UgliesFreeBook

260 Scott Westerfeld
“We don’t force anyone to live here,” Maddy said.
“That’s not what I mean,” David said. “I think she should
know, before she decides about going back to the city.”
Tally looked from David to his parents, quietly amazed.
The way they communicated was so strange, not like uglies and
crumblies at all. It was more like uglies arguing. Like equals.
“I should know what?” she asked softly.
They all looked at her, Maddy and Az measuring her
with their eyes.
“The big secret,” Az said, “the one that made us run
away almost twenty years ago.”
“One we usually keep to ourselves,” Maddy said evenly,
her eyes on David.
“Tally deserves to know,” David said, his eyes locked
with his mother’s. “She’ll understand how important it is.”
“She’s a kid. A city kid.”
“She made it here alone, with only a bunch of gibberish
directions to guide her.”
Maddy scowled. “You’ve never even been to a city,
David. You have no idea how coddled they are. They spend
their whole lives in a bubble.”
“She survived alone for nine days, Mom. Made it
through a brush fire.”
“Please, you two,” Az interjected. “She is sitting right
here. Aren’t you, Tally?”
“Yeah, I am,” Tally said quietly. “And I wish you’d tell
me what you’re talking about.”