1269_UgliesFreeBook

370 Scott Westerfeld
“There they go,” David said.
Below them, a large circular opening had appeared in the
largest building’s roof, and three hovercars rose up through
the gap in quick succession, screaming toward the city. Tally
hoped that An, Dex, and Sussy had followed her advice and
were long gone from New Pretty Town. “Ready?” she said.
In answer, David tightened the straps of his bungee
jacket and jumped onto his boards.
They rode down the hill, turned around, and started back up.
For the tenth time, Tally checked the light on the collar
of her jacket. It was still green, and she could see David’s
light bobbing along beside her. No excuses now.
They gained speed as they climbed toward the dark sky,
the entire hill like a giant ramp before them. The wind
pushed Tally’s hair back, and she blinked as bugs pinged
against her face. She slid carefully toward the front of the
paired boards, the toes of one grippy shoe sticking out past
the riding surface.
Then the horizon seemed to slip away in front of her,
and Tally crouched, ready to jump.
The ground disappeared.
Tally pushed off with all her strength, forcing her hoverboards
down the steep side of the hill, where they would
bring themselves to a halt. She and David had switched off
their crash bracelets—they didn’t want the boards following
them over the wire. Not yet.