Page 20 (2/2)

He gave his invisible data, or whatever it was, a small nod "Has she seemed in better spirits to you since then?"

"She’s okay, I guess" Just a little self- to start her own very disturbing clique "I haven’t seen her since this bogus rain started co down, actually But me and her are best friends forever"

The last words cahed a little, which wasof Dr Anders’s concerned slad to hear that, Tally And you’re feeling all right as well, aren’t you?"

"Bubbly," she said "A little hungry, though"

"Yes, yes You and Zane reallya bit thin, and I’ar was terribly lohen he came in"

"I’ll make sure he has so rooood friend, Tally" He stood, offering his hand "Well, I see that Zane’s all patched up, so I won’t keep you Thanks for your time, and make sure you let me know if you or any of your friends ever need to talk"

"Oh, I will," she said, giving the doctor her prettiest sreat"

Outside, the cold rain embraced Tally like an old and unavoidable friend, the discomfort almost a relief after Dr Anders’s radiant sh her cuff was bound up again, she spoke softly enough for the wind to tear her words away as they clihed when she was done "Sounds like they’re as worried about her as we are"

"Yeah Theyat me in a very unpretty way"

"Perfect" His teeth were bared against the cold It didn’t look like the painkillers they’d given hi Zane’s headachetheir balance cluup" Tally allowed herself a thin sratulation This one time, at least, she hadn’t betrayed Shay She hoped

"Of course you didn’t, Tally Shay ht need help, but not froet her out into the wild and give her the real cure As soon as possible"

"Yeah The pills are a lot better than cutting yourself" If they don’t wind up giving you brain dae, she didn’t add Tally had decided not to tell Zane about her resolve to take him to the hospital the next time he had an attack; hopefully it wouldn’t come to that "So hoere your doctors?"

"The usual They spent the first hour lecturingmy bones up, I was only unconscious about tenskinny, they didn’t see weird about me"

"Good"

"Of course, that doesn’t mean I’m fine They didn’t look at my head, after all, just etting worse, aren’t they?"

"I think it waselse"

She shook her head "I haven’t eaten anything today either, Zane, and you didn’t see et about my head, Tally! I’m not any worse or any better It’s Shay’s arled his board closer and lowered his voice "They’re going to be keeping an eye on her, too, now If your Dr Re to herself, all hell will break loose"

"Yeah I can’t argue with that" Tally visualized the row of scars along Shay’s arht they were tattoos, but from close up, anyone would knohat they were If Dr

Anders saw them, Tally doubted very much that he would have a so off all over the city, and the wardens’ interest in everyone who’d been involved in the stadiuo way off the scale

Tally reached out and brought the her voice to just above a whisper "We don’t have much time, then He could decide to talk to Shay any day now"

Zane took a deep breath "You’ll have to talk to Shay first Tell her to lay off the cutting"

"Oh Fun What if she doesn’t want to?"

"Tell her we’re about to leave Tell her well get her the real cure"

"Leave? How?"

"We just go - tonight, if we can I’ll pack up everything we need, you get the other Crims ready"

"What about these?" She was too exhausted to raise her swaddled wrist, but he took her ht There’s a trick I’ve been saving"

"What trick, Zane?"

"I can’t tell you yet It’ll work, though - it’s just a little risky"

Tally frowned She and Zane had tried every tool they could think of, and nothing had so much as scratched the cuffs "What is it?"

"I’ll show you tonight," he said, his jaw tight

Tally sed "Must be more than a little risky" Zane stared at her, his face pale and half-starved, his eyes dull through the goggles "Give the girl a hand" He chuckled "Might need one"

Tally had to turn her eyes away from his smile

CRUSHER

The shop shed wasn’t far from the hospital, on the downstream end of New Pretty Tohere the two arht, the lathes, i tables, and injection ht came froin here," Tally said She could see the words coiling frohts The rain had finally stopped while they were getting the Crims ready to run, but the air was still damp and chill Even inside the shed, Tally, Fausto, and Zane were huddled in their winter coats