Or maybe they were just acting like bubbleheads again.
She laughed. "You've seen fireworks before, haven't you?"
He shook his head. "Not very many. They're amazing."
"Yeah. Cities aren't so bad, David." Tally smiled, hoping that the nightly fireworks displays had returned now that the war was ending. With all the convulsions about to unsettle her city, maybe that one tradition should never change. The world needed more fireworks—especially now that there was going to be a shortage of beautiful, useless things.
As she prepared herself to speak, a shiver of nerves played through Tally. Whether she was a Special-head or not, this message needed to come out icy and convincing. The world depended on it.
Then suddenly, she was ready.
As they stood there watching New Pretty Town glow, their eyes tracking the slow ascent of the rockets and their sudden blossoming, Tally spoke clearly over the water's roar, letting the chip in her jaw catch her words.
She sent them all—Shay, Maddy, and Peris—the same reply…
Manifesto
I don't need to be cured. Just like I don't need to cut myself to feel, or think. From now on, no one rewires my mind but me.
Back in Diego, the doctors said that I could learn to control my behavior, and I have. You all helped, in one way or another.
But you know what? It's not my behavior I'm worried about anymore. It's yours.
That's why you won't be seeing me for a while, maybe a long time. David and I are staying out here in the wild.
You all say you need us. Well, maybe you do, but not to help you. You have enough help, with the millions of bubbly new minds about to be unleashed, with all the cities coming awake at last. Together, you're more than enough to change the world without us.
So from now on, David and I are here to stand in your way.
You see, freedom has a way of destroying things.
You have your New Smokes, your new ideas, whole new cities and New Systems. Well…we're the new Special Circumstances.
Whenever you push too far into the wild, we'll be here waiting, ready to push back. Remember us every time you decide to dig a new foundation, dam a river, or cut down a tree. Worry about us. However hungry the human race becomes now that the pretties are waking up, the wild still has teeth. Special teeth, ugly teeth. Us.
We'll be out here somewhere—watching. Ready to remind you of the price the Rusties paid for going too far.
I love you all. But it's time to say good-bye, for now.
Be careful with the world, or the next time we meet, it might get ugly.
—Tally Youngblood
About The Author
SCOTT WESTERFELD's teen novels include The Last Days, an ALA Best Book for Young Adults and the sequel to Peeps; So Yesterday, an ALA Best Book for Young Adults; and the Midnighters trilogy. Scott was born in Texas, and alternates summers between Sydney, Australia, and New York City. Visit his website at www.scottwesterfeld.com.