Uglies: Maddy and Az Summary & Analysis

As Tally and David ride over the ridge, Tally tells him that the Boss only died because he fought back. David says that his parents would fight too. The first chance David gets, he leaps off and races to the house. Tally unfolds the hoverboard to charge and then follows. Soon, she smells smoke and they see the house, charred. Tally goes inside, but finds no evidence of bodies. She steps back outside to announce her findings, and David tours the house. When he comes out, he tries to cut Tally’s handcuffs off with a long knife, which barely mars the plastic handcuffs. Tally has no idea how the Special severed them. She suggests it’s special plastic but insists she cut the cuffs on a sharp rock. David is confused: Az’s knife is high-tech and should cut through anything.

David says his parents didn’t escape—Az would’ve taken this knife if they had. He looks less panicked and he confirms that Tally still wants to go after everyone. David leads her to a cave near the house filled with survival equipment. He admits that he’s imagined this moment so many times and he starts to wonder what would’ve happened if he’d been home, but Tally points out that he’d be in custody. They rummage through a bag of instant food for dinner.