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Her mother pursed her lips in silence

"It’s not her fault, Sol," Tally said "She just didn’t want to turn pretty"

"So, she’s an independent thinker Fine But she should have had better sense than to drag so ht here" Tally looked out theat the familiar view of New Pretty Town "Where I’ll be forever, apparently"

"No," Ellie said "They said that once you’ve helped theo ahead as normal"

"It won’t make any difference if the operation happens a few days late It’ll be a great story when you’re old" Sol chuckled

Tally bit her lip "I don’t think I can help them"

"Well, you just do your best," Ellie said

"But I can’t I mean, I promised Shay that I wouldn’t tell anyone her plans"

They were silent for aone of her hands in his They felt so war, al in his wood shop Tally realized that she hadn’t visited her parents since the week of suet back to hanging out with Shay full-tiood to see them now

"Tally, we allan ugly - everything’s exciting and intense and irow out of it After all, you don’t owe this girl anything She’s done nothing but cause you trouble"

Ellie took her other hand "And you’ll only be helping her, Tally Who knohere she is now and what’s happening to her? I’m surprised you let her run off like that Don’t you kno dangerous it is out there?"

Tally found herself nodding Looking into Sol’s and Ellie’s faces, everything see with Dr Cable would really be helping Shay, and would set things back on course for herself But the thought of Dr Cable made her wince "You should have seen these people The ones investigating Shay? They look like"

Sol laughed "I guess it would be a bit of a shock at your age, Tally But of course we old folks know all about Special Circu their jobs, you know It’s a tough world out there"

Tally sighed Maybe her reluctance was just because the cruel pretties had scared her so much "Have you ever met them? I couldn’t believe the way they looked"

Ellie furrowed her brow "Well, I can’t say I’ve actuallyh "Well, you wouldn’twant tonow, you probably won’t everwe can all do without"

Tally looked at her father, and for aother than wisdom and confidence in his expression It was alhed off Special Circu that went on outside the city For the first ti to acompletely reassured, a realization that ht that Sol knew nothing about the outside world Shay had fled to

Maybe ht all about the Rusties and early history, but at school they never said a single thing about people living outside the cities right now, people like David Until she’d ht about it either

But she couldn’t dis the way her father had

And she had ly, a pro to have to think about this"

For a moment, an aard silence filled the roo they hadn’t expected

Then Ellie laughed and patted her hand "Well, of course you do, Tally"

Sol nodded, back in co"

"Sure But in the meantime," Tally said, "maybe I could come home with you?"

Her parents shared another look of surprise

"Ihere now Everyone knows that II’m not scheduled for classes any home for autumn break, but a little early"

Sol recovered first, and patted her shoulder "Now, Tally, don’t you think it would be even stranger for you out in Crumblyville? I mean, there’s no other kids out there this time of year"

"You’re ," Ellie added "You’re only a few oodness, we don’t have your roo could be worse than this," Tally said

"Oh, just order up soet that wallscreen back the way you want it," Sol said

"I didn’t mean the room - "

"In any case," Ellie interrupted, "why make a fuss? This’ll all be over in no time Just have a nice chat with Special Circu, and you’ll be headed where you really want to be"

They all looked out theat the towers of New Pretty Town

"I guess so"

"Sweetheart," Ellie said, patting her leg, "what other choice do you have?"