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


Three Years Later…


Tally woke up to find David already up and making breakfast. SpagBol. Great, Tally thought. David walked up to Tally who was now sitting up. He kissed her forehead. “How did you sleep?” Tally pausing shortly. “I had another dream about Shay” David sighed and sat down on the forest floor next to Tally. “Are you worried about her?” Tally sat there, not knowing how to respond. After another minute of silence Tally spoke up. “Shay is strong. I miss her so much. I think about her a lot and what she’s doing right now” David thought about this and quickly responded. “She’s probably helping rebuild the New Smoke with the other Cutters.” “I miss them too.” Tally looked as if she were about to cry. Then she realized she was a Cutter. She was strong. She was icy. She immediately sat up, straightened her back, and puffed out her chest. “You’re doing that thing again” Tally puzzled thought of what thing he could be referring to. “When you think about yourself being a Cutter you stiffen up and get pumped up with adrenaline” Tally had a look of understanding on her face. They just sat there for a long time. Then David broke the silence. “While your icy there’s something I have to tell you, the New Smoke is cutting down trees extremely rapidly. I think it’s time we go down there” Tally’s face instantly enlightened and they started to pack up her bags. After a 7 hour hoverboard flight Tally could see the massive clearing below. It had more than tripled then the last time she was there. This was a huge problem. Tally landed immediately and went to the newly remodeled town hall. She saw the mayor’s desk and saw a flash of the dark hair she was so used to, show slightly from the chair and knew instantly who was in charge….

Impressum

Tag der Veröffentlichung: 29.04.2011

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