1269_UgliesFreeBook

UGLIES 411
got to change the world. Well, I don’t need that. And I don’t
need those.”
“Okay, then.” Maddy picked up the pills and put them
in her pocket. “That’s all I have to say.”
“What do you mean?” Tally asked.
David squeezed her hand. “That’s all we can do, Tally.”
“What? You said we could cure her.”
Maddy shook her head. “Only if she wants to be cured.
These are experimental, Tally. We can’t give them to someone
against her will. Not when we don’t know if they’ll
work.”
“But her mind . . . she’s got the lesions!”
“Hello,” Shay called. “She is sitting right here.”
“Sorry, Shay,” Maddy said mildly. “Tally?”
Maddy pulled aside the Mylar barrier, stepping out
onto what the New Smokies called the balcony. It was really
just part of the top floor of the building, where the roof had
entirely collapsed, leaving sweeping views of the ruins.
Tally followed. Behind her, Shay was already talking
about what was for dinner. David came out a moment later.
“So, we give her the pills secretly, right?” Tally whispered.
“No,” Maddy said firmly. “We can’t. I’m not going to do
medical experiments on unwilling subjects.”
“Medical experiments?” Tally swallowed.
David took her hand. “You can’t know for sure how
something like this will work. It’s only a one-percent chance,
but it could screw up her brain forever.”