Hands grasped Tally’s shoulders in the darkness.
“You made it!” It was David’s voice.
In her surprise, Tally couldn’t speak, but pulled himclose, burying her face in his chest.
“Who else is with you?”
She shook her head.
“Oh,” David whispered. Then his grip tightened as thecave shuddered around them. The roar of a hovercarpassed slowly overhead, and Tally imagined the Specials’
machines searching every crevice in the rock for signs oftheir prey.
Had she led them to David? That would be perfect, herfinal betrayal.
The low rumble of pursuit passed over them again, andDavid pulled her deeper into the blackness, down a long,twisting path that grew colder and darker. A stillness settledaround her, damp and chill, and Tally imagined again thetrainload of dead Rusties buried among the stones.
They waited in silence for what seemed like hours,holding each other, not daring to speak until long after thesounds of the cars had faded.
Finally David whispered, “What’s happening back atthe Smoke?
“The Specials came this morning.”
“I know. I saw.” He held her tighter. “I couldn’t sleep, soI took my board up the mountain to watch the sunrise.
They went right over me, twenty hovercars at once comingacross the ridge. But what’s happening now?”
“They put everyone in the rabbit pen, separating usinto groups. Croy said they’re going to take us all back toour cities.”
“Croy? Who else did you see?”
“Shay, a couple of her friends. The Boss might havemade it out. He and I made a break together.”
“What about my parents?”
“I don’t know.” She was glad for the darkness. The fearin David’s voice was painful enough. His parents hadfounded the Smoke, and they knew the secret of the operation.
Whatever punishment awaited the other Smokies, itwould be a hundred times worse for them.
“I can’t believe it finally happened,” he said softly.
Tally tried to think of something comforting to say. Allshe could see in the darkness was Dr. Cable’s mockingsmile.
“How did you get away?” he asked.
She pulled his hands to feel her wrists, where the320 Scott Westerfeldplastic bracelets of the handcuffs remained. “I cut throughthese, got up onto the roof of the trading post, and stoleCroy’s hoverboard.”
“With Specials guarding you?”
She bit her lip, saying nothing.
“That’s amazing. My mother says they’re superhuman.
Their second operation augments all their muscles andrewires their nervous system. And they’re so scary-looking,a lot of people just panic the first time they see one.” Heheld her tighter. “But I should have known you wouldescape.”
Tally closed her eyes, which made no difference in theutter darkness. She wished they could stay in there forever,never having to face what was outside. “It was just goodluck.”
Tally was amazed that she was lying again, already. Ifshe had only told the truth about herself in the first place,the Smokies would have known what to do with the pendant.
They could have attached it to some migratory bird,and Dr. Cable would be on her way to South Americainstead of in the library overseeing the destruction of theSmoke.
But Tally knew she couldn’t tell the truth, not now.
David would never trust her again, not after she’d destroyedhis home, his family. She’d already lost Peris, Shay, and hernew home. She couldn’t bear to lose David as well.
And what good would a confession do now? DavidUGLIES 321would be left alone, and so would she, when they mostneeded each other.
His hands ran across her face. “You still amaze me,Tally.”
She felt herself shudder, the words twisting in her likea knife.
In that moment, Tally made a deal with hers............