1269_UgliesFreeBook

380 Scott Westerfeld
“It won’t have any record of me.”
“And that will freak it out totally. Just don’t get too
close. It’s automatic.”
“Okay,” David said, nodding. “These doors are too
smooth, anyway. No place to fit a jack in. Let’s keep looking.”
Farther down the hall, a label caught Tally’s eye. “Long-
Term Detention,” she whispered. The door had a long
expanse of blank wall on either side, as if the room behind
it was bigger than the others. She put her ear to it, listening
for any hint of sound.
She heard a familiar voice. It was coming closer.
“David!” she hissed, pulling away from the door and throwing
herself against the wall. David looked around frantically
for a place to hide. Both of them were in plain view.
The door slid open, and Dr. Cable’s malevolent voice
poured out.
“You’re simply not trying hard enough. You just have to
convince her that—”
“Dr. Cable,” Tally said.
The woman spun to face Tally, her hawklike features
twisted in surprise.
“I’d like to give myself up.”
“Tally Youngblood? How—”
From behind, David’s powerjack thudded against the
side of Dr. Cable’s head, and she slumped to the floor.
“Is she . . . ,” David stammered. His face was white.
Tally knelt and turned Dr. Cable’s head to inspect the