Uglies

Tally looks out over the settlement and is disturbed to see that the Smokies have cut down trees to build their homes. Shay talks to Tally about one of the projects she works on (building a hover grid) and takes Tally to the library. Tally is horrified to see an old ugly in his forties talking on a phone; Shay identifies the man as “Boss.” While waiting for him, Shay shows Tally old magazines filled with pictures of famous people who were also ugly, including women Tally suspects have eating disorders. Tally almost activates the locket when Shay briefly leaves but is interrupted by her return. When Shay asks about the locket, Tally almost confesses. She is interrupted by Boss, who yells at them for touching the magazines without wearing gloves. When he mentions giving Tally a work assignment and she doesn’t understand his meaning, Shay and Boss laugh.

Shay takes Tally to where some other teenage uglies sit and eat; some of them were part of Shay’s old friend group. She notes that the city teenagers have started to show David’s confidence, though they are all eager for news from home. They ask Tally about her journey, and she dramatizes the truth, adding lies to cover up the four days that passed between her birthday and departure.