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She woke up to the smell of PadThai

Croy had found the food packets and purifier in her knapsack and wasto placate Shay

"A little escape was one thing, but I didn’t know you guys were going to drag h with this whole rebellion thing, I’ve got a wicked hangover, and I really need to wash ht there," Croy said

"But it’s cold! I’usness"

Tally crawled out into the big part of the cave, every muscle stiff, every rock she’d slept on ih the curtain of the waterfall, dusk was falling She wondered if she’d ever be able to sleep at night again

Shay was squatting on a rock, digging into the PadThai, cogled, in dirty party clothes, her hair stuck to her face, she was still stunning Ryde and Astrix watched her silently, a bit awestruck by her looks They were two of Shay’s old friends who’d run away to the Smoke the time she’d chickened out, so it must have been months since they’d seen a pretty face

Everyone see

One thing about being pretty, people put up with your annoying habits

"Morning," said Croy "SwedeBalls or VegiRice?"

"Whatever’s faster" Tally stretched her et to the ruins as soon as possible

When darkness fell, Tally and Croy crept out fron of Specials in the sky She doubted anyone was searching this far out Fortyway

They gave the all-clear, and everyone rode farther upriver, to a place where the river’s course twisted closer to the ruins A long hike followed, the four uglies sharing the load of boards and supplies Shay had stopped coover silence The walk seemed easy for her Her wiry fitness from hard work at the Smoke hadn’t faded in teeks, and the operation actually firmed up a new pretty’s h Shay announced once that she wanted to go ho back on her own didn’t seem to have entered herto do with her She knew there was no simple fix Maddy and Az had worked for twenty years to no avail But they couldn’t leave Shay like this

Of course, the moment she was cured, her hatred for Tally would return

Which orse: a friend with brain dae, or one who despised you?

They reached the edge of the ruins afterwhere Tally and David had ca outside

He looked exhausted, the dark lines under his eyes visible even in starlight But he embraced Tally the ht around her, and she hugged him back hard "Are you okay?" she whispered, then felt idiotic What was he supposed to say to that? "Oh, David, of course you’re not I’m sorry, I - "

"Shhh I know" He pulled away and sh Tally, and she squeezed David’s hands, confir the realness of him "I missed you," she said

"Me too" He kissed her

"You two are just so cute," Shay said, coers after the windy ride

"Hi, Shay" David gave her a tired sry"

"Only if you have any non-bogus food," Shay said

"Afraid not Three kinds of reconstituted curry"

Shay groaned and pushed past hi His eyes followed her, but without any of the awe still in Ryde’s and Astrix’s faces It was as if David didn’t see her beauty

He turned back "We finally got soued face "Really?"

"We got that tablet working, the one Dr Cable was carrying Mo the phone part out so they couldn’t track us through it, and she got it to display Cable’s work data"

"About what?"

"All her notes onpretties into Specials Not just the physical part" - he pulled her closer - "but also how the brain lesions work It’s everything my parents weren’t told when they were doctors!"

Tally sed "Shay"

He nodded "Mom thinks she can find a cure"