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Heartthrob

Around the fire at dinner that night, Tally told the story of how she’d hidden in the river when the rangers’ helicopter first appeared She had everyone wide-eyed again Apparently, she’d had one of thejourneys to the Sine? I’ down in the water, and this Rustymy camp!"

"Why didn’t they land?" Astrix asked "Didn’t they see your stuff?"

"I thought they did"

"The rangers only pick up uglies in the white flowers," David explained "That’s the rendezvous spot we tell runaways to use They can’t just pick up anyone, or they uess you wouldn’t want that," Tally said softly

"Still, they should be more careful with those helicopters," Shay said "Soet chopped to pieces one day"

"Tell me about it The wind almost tookright off the ground and up into the blades It was totally shredded" She was pleased by the amazement on the faces of her audience

"So where’d you sleep?" Croy asked

"It wasn’t that bad It was only for - " Tally stopped herself just in ti, but in her cover story she’d spent four days in the orchids "It aret a new one before bedtime," David said "It’s a lot colder up here than down in the weeds"

"I’ll take her over to the trading post," Shay said "It’s like a requisition center, Tally Only when you get so else behind as payment"

Tally shifted uncootten used to the idea that you had topay for things here "All I’ve got is SpagBol"

Shay smiled "That’s perfect to trade with We can’twith regular food is a total pain SpagBol’s good as gold"

After dinner, Shay took her to a large hut near the center of town The shelves were full of thingswith a few objects that had come from the cities The city-ain, but the handers across the clay pots and wooden tools, a seely was running the place, but he wasn’t as scary as the Boss He brought out woolen gear and a few silvery sleeping bags The blankets, scarves, and gloves were beautiful, in subdued colors and siet a city-hter, and it squishes up s"

"Of course," Tally said, trying to sreat"

She wound up trading twelve packets of SpagBol for another sleeping bag, and six for a handht She couldn’t believe that the sweater, broith bands of pale red and green highlights, cost half as , which was threadbare and patched

"You’re just lucky you didn’t lose your water purifier," Shay said as they walked hos are impossible to trade for"

Tally’s eyes widened "What happens if they break?"

"Well, they say you can drink water fro it"

"You’re kidding"

"Nope A lot of the older Sot a purifier, they don’t bother"

"Yuck"

Shay giggled "Yeah, no kidding But hey, you can always use mine"

Tally put a hand on Shay’s shoulder "Saoes for mine"

Shay’s pace slowed "Tally?"

"Yeah?"

"You were going to say so toat you"

Tally’s sto to the pendant at her neck

"Yeah," Shay said "About that necklace"

Tally nodded, but didn’t kno to start She still hadn’t activated the pendant, and since her conversation with David, she wasn’t sure she could Maybe if she returned to the city in aand empty-handed, Dr Cable would take mercy on her

But what if the woot the operation? In twenty-soly as the Boss, an outcast And if she stayed here in the S and dreading the day her water purifier broke down

She was so tired of lying to everyone "I haven’t told you everything," she started

"I know But I think I’ve got it figured out"

Tally looked at her friend, afraid to speak

"I ht? You’re all upset because you broke your promise to me You didn’t keep the Smoke a secret"

Tally’sher hand "As you got closer to your birthday, you decided you wanted to run away

But in the meantiave you that heart necklace So you broke your pro"

"Uled "Iknew it That’s why you’ve been all nervous You want to be here, but you also wish you were somewhere else With someone else And before you ran away, you left directions, a copy of my note, in case your new heartthrob wants to join us Aht?"