"Scott Westerfeld - Uglies 1 - Uglies" - читать интересную книгу автора (Westerfeld Scott)

A twig popped under her kneeЧTallyТs aching muscles had finally betrayed her. But the figurestill didnТt move. He or she must have heardЕ.

The warden was being kind, waiting for her to give herself up. Letting her surrender. The teachers did that at school, sometimes. Made you realize that you couldnТt escape, until you confessed everything.

Tally cleared her throat. A small, pathetic sound. УIТm sorry,Ф she said.

The figure let out a sigh. УOh, phew. Hey, thatТs okay. I must have scared you, too.Ф The girl leaned forward, grimacing as if she was also sore from remaining still so long. Her face caught the light.

She was ugly too.

а

Her name was Shay. She had long dark hair in pigtails, and her eyes were too wide apart. Her lips were full enough, but she was even skinnier than a new pretty. SheТd come over to New Pretty Town on her own expedition, and had been hiding here by the river for an hour. УIТve never seen anything like this,Ф she whispered. УThereТs wardens and hovercars everywhere!Ф

Tally cleared her throat. УI think itТs my fault.Ф

Shay looked dubious. УHowТd you manage that?Ф

УWell, I was up in the middle of town, at a party.Ф

УYou crashed a party? ThatТs crazy!Ф Shay said, then lowered her voice back to a whisper. УCrazy, but awesome. HowТd you get in?Ф

УI was wearing a mask.Ф

УWow. A pretty mask?Ф

УUh, more like a pig mask. ItТs a long story.Ф

Shay blinked. УA pig mask. Okay. So let me guess, someone blew your house down?Ф

УHuh? No. I was about to get caught, so I kind ofЕset off a fire alarm.Ф

УNice trick!Ф

Tally smiled. It was actually a pretty good story, now that she had someone to tell it to. УAnd I was trapped up on the roof, so I grabbed a bungee jacket and jumped off. I hover-bounced halfway here.Ф

УNo way!Ф

УWell, part of the way here, anyhow.Ф

УPretty awesome.Ф Shay smiled, then her face went serious. She bit at one of her fingernails, which was one of those bad habits that the operation cured. УSo, Tally, were you at this partyЕto see someone?Ф

It was TallyТs turn to be impressed. УHowТd you figure that out?Ф

Shay sighed, looking down at her ragged nails. УIТve got friends too, over here. I mean, theywere friends. Sometimes I spy on them.Ф She looked up. УI was always the youngest, you know? And nowЧФ

УYouТre all alone.Ф

Shay nodded. УItТs sounds like you did more than spy, though.Ф