1269_UgliesFreeBook

352 Scott Westerfeld
any closer to the city than the ruins, so Tally took the lead
for once, following the vein of iron that Shay had shown
her months before.
“Do you think we’ll ever be friends again?” she asked as
they hiked toward the river, lugging their boards for the
first time the entire trip.
“You and Shay? Of course.”
“Even after . . . you and me?”
“Once we’ve rescued her from the Specials, I figure
she’ll forgive you for just about anything.”
Tally was silent. Shay had already guessed that Tally
had betrayed the Smoke. She doubted anything would ever
make up for that.
Once they reached the river, they shot down the white
water at top speed, glad to be finally free of the heavy
saddlebags. With the spray hitting her face, the roar of
water all around her, Tally could almost imagine this was
one of her expeditions, back when she was a carefree city
kid and not a . . .
What was she now? No longer a spy, and she couldn’t
call herself a Smokey anymore. Hardly a pretty, but she
didn’t feel like an ugly, either. She was nothing in particular.
But at least she had a purpose.
The city came into view.
“There it is,” she called to David over the churning
water. “But you’ve seen cities before, right?”
“I’ve been this close to a few. But not much closer.”