Vladimir Todorov

ARCHIPELAGO N.Y.

(Flynn)

ONE

New York City, Year 0055.

Drenched in sweat and struggling to breathe, Tony Romero felt a sharp pain shoot up his right leg. The boy knew his thigh muscle was going to cramp at any moment now. It was a given. He’d been working the Seeker’s oxygen pump for so long. Pressing on the pedal with his foot for a good twenty minutes… maybe more… He wasn’t sure… But it felt like hours had passed since the oxygen supply cord had last sounded its shrill little rattle. The rattle was attached to the side of his scavenger raft, and it was his cue to pump more fresh air down to the diving bell - a hundred feet below the water’s surface.

Tony was exhausted, but he knew the drill. Panting hard, and with his lungs on fire, there was no way he could stop! He had to keep pumping, until the rattle told him his diver had enough air to come back up to the raft… Besides, this was no ordinary diver scavenging the depths of the ocean below. This was his best friend, Flynn Perry. Tony was Flynn’s Crew Mate and his one and only lifeline back to safety. Besides, everybody knew a Crew Mate’s job was to look after his diving buddy… no matter what!

Grunting, Tony switched feet and glanced down at the pitiful rubber pump that had long forgotten its original color. How he wished they had one of those air compressors instead! The few that remained were servicing the big Industrial Salvage rafts. Fat chance of ever getting their hands on one, Tony thought bitterly, wiping the sweat from his face. Air compressors were precious commodities, impossible to have… forbidden for amateur scavengers like him and Flynn.

Suddenly, Tony began to cough, his lungs fighting to get as much of the thick, humid air inside them as they could. Gasping and retching, he doubled over. Somehow, Tony managed to keep his foot on the pump, willing Flynn to give him the signal to stop. And then, as his head began to spin into darkness, Tony’s desperate prayers were finally answered… He heard the rattle, and it was the sweetest sound he had ever heard! Stumbling back, Tony took his foot off the oxygen pump. His frail body collapsed on top of the battered car seat he had chained down to the stern of the Seeker. He lay there heaving, trying desperately to catch his breath. Slowly, his hand fumbled inside the pocket of his tattered, sun-bleached shorts and found the inhaler. Tony sucked on it hard once, shook the little bottle and sucked again. Frowning, Tony stared at the inhaler for a long moment, threw it in the water and slumped back on the seat.

The Seeker swayed gently under the glare of the scorching mid-afternoon sun. No other vessel could be seen across the large expanse of green tinged water. Tony and Flynn had sneaked out at the crack of dawn and dropped anchor at a spot far from the Archipelago’s official scavenging zones. It was so quiet here… peaceful… Tony listened to the sound of the little waves lapping against the row of empty oil drums and car tires that kept the raft’s platform afloat. The Seeker’s deck was cobbled together from all kinds of salvaged and recycled junk. A rusty car bonnet and sheets of corrugated metal were welded onto layers of ancient billboards. Pieces of plastic and broken road signs were held in place by frayed ropes and strips of duct tape. Luckily, Flynn had scavenged a well-preserved stash of this adhesive tape on a recent dive… enough to last them a full year if they used it wisely… Tony groaned. He had such a long list of items that needed repairing… and so little time!

Suddenly, Tony heard splashing in the water to the raft’s starboard, followed shortly by a familiar voice: “Ahoy, there!” A big mesh sack landed with a thud on the platform. Seconds later, a head popped up. Flynn Perry was finally back from his dive. Oversized goggles covered half his face, making him look like some monstrous sea creature that had risen from the bottom of the ocean. Flynn spat out a mouthful of water, grabbed the tube railing at the edge of the platform and pulled himself over. Rolling swiftly onto the deck, he sprang back on his feet without missing a beat. His tall, lean and tanned body threw a shadow across Tony’s almost skeletal frame.

“You OK, buddy?” Flynn took off his goggles, spraying droplets of cold water all over his Crew Mate and buddy.

“Yeah…,” Tony mumbled as he pushed himself up on the seat with a loud grunt. “Did you get any of my stuff, amigo?”

“It’s your lucky day!” Flynn unfastened his shoulder harness, dug into his diving satchel and took out a large plastic zipper bag. “Catch!”

Tony caught the bag and began to rummage inside, his fingers now trembling with excitement. He pulled out a vacuum-packed bottle, brushed away the algae slime covering it and squinted at the label. He glanced up at Flynn, his face full of disappointment. “This is cough syrup…”

“Keep looking!” Flynn gave him a quick reassuring smile.

Tony shoved his hand back in the bag and took out a few more well-sealed bottles. “Aspirin, Tylenol, multi-vitamins… these are all great finds, but…” He was now muttering to himself, turning the bag upside-down and shaking it, spilling all its contents onto the car seat. “Aha!” Tony whooped with joy as he spotted the two inhalers. His pale face had regained some of its color. “These should last me for a good while… Thanks, amigo!”

“There’s more of this stuff down below,” said Flynn. He was now taking more scavenged items from his satchel and lining them up on the seat next to Tony: a set of sealed scalpels, a pair of scissors, a bar of soap, a stethoscope… all vacuum-packed and undamaged. “The pharmacy is loaded! And it’s still virgin turf. No one’s found it yet.” With his satchel emptied, Flynn turned around and crouched over the big mesh sack. “We’ve got to come back tomorrow, Tony.” Flynn unfastened the sack with a happy grin on his face. “You know… get a few bigger bags and carry on scavv’ying the place, till we’ve picked it clean. And guess what! There’s a liquor store down there, too. Plenty of stuff to trade on the Black Market, eh! What do you say?”

There was no answer from Tony.

“What’s the matter?” Flynn asked, studying his friend over his shoulder.

Tony stared back at Flynn for a long moment before finally looking away. He fingered the big shark tooth that hung on a string around his neck. The tooth was from the great white Flynn had killed more than a year ago. Tony knew his friend had gone through a lot of trouble to give it to him… In fact, Flynn was lucky to be alive! The angry looking scar on Flynn’s forearm was a constant reminder of what could have happened…‘They say a shark’s tooth will give you strength,’ Flynn had told Tony back then… Well, it hadn’t! Tony knew he was becoming weaker with every passing day, losing strength instead of gaining any… He kept his hand over the tooth for another moment, before meeting Flynn’s eyes. “I think you should find yourself a new Crew Mate… You know… someone who’s strong… and healthy!” Tony said.

Flynn laughed. “You’re joking, right?”

“No, I’m dead serious, amigo! Don’t think I can do this anymore…”

Flynn grabbed a rusty soda can from the sack, scraped the black silt off with his diving knife and tossed it to Tony. “Here you go. That’ll cheer you up!”

The can landed in Tony’s lap. “No, it won’t!” Tony cried and slammed the can down on the seat without even looking at it. “Don’t you get it, amigo? I’m putting you at risk here… What if I’d passed out? Let you run out of air… on a deep dive like this…”

“Well, you didn’t!” Flynn had turned away from his friend and was now busy pulling a thick rope out of the water. “You’ll be fine, Tony! Now, stop with all that sorry talk and help me get the diving bell out.”

“I’m no quitter, but…” Tony picked up the slack end of the rope and started coiling it around a piece of rusty pipe sticking out of the platform’s side. “You know we won’t pass the Scavenger Trials together! Not if I’m your Crew Mate.”

Flynn paused, the muscles on his back suddenly tensing. The Scavenger Trials!… Their big day! The moment Flynn and Tony had been waiting for so long… their one and only chance of becoming proper divers. Free Scavengers! And getting their hands on all the perks and privileges that came with the title… All the wonderful stuff that people on the Lower Side didn’t have! It would be their ticket to the Upper Side… and to living like those who were in power… But to get there, Flynn and Tony would not only have to pass the Trials… they would have to actually win the whole damn competition!

And now, after years of training hard, hundreds of dangerous dives, practicing and fine-tuning their teamwork, the Trials were almost upon them… Soon, it would be time for Flynn and Tony to face their ultimate challenge… Compete in the Trials… determine their future. The two boys had reached the age of maturity and the moment when every boy and girl on the Archipelago was assigned a job for life… A job you had to do till you were retired and sent away at the Departure Ceremony, thought Flynn, feeling the bile rise up his throat… There would be no second chances for him and Tony… Flynn knew he was ready for the challenge. But he wasn’t so sure about Tony anymore. His friend’s health was failing fast, and Flynn was seriously worried. He wasn’t going to show it, though. He never did… Flynn would rather pretend everything was fine… just like he was doing now.

Shaking his head, Flynn went back to pulling the rope in silence, until the diving bell popped up on the surface. It was a small, one-man diving device, crudely made out of pieces of plastic, stitched and taped together. Crude, but effective, Flynn thought proudly as he admired the capsule he and Tony had built from scratch. They had been inspired by the Wet Bell, an invention as old as the world. All divers knew it was one of the earliest types of equipment for underwater work and exploration. Open at the bottom like a moon pool and ballasted with weights to keep it upright, it allowed the water pressure to trap the air inside, turning it into a make-shift diving chamber. No Scavenger worth his salt would go down on a deep dive without a bell. But a scavvy also needed a Crew Mate to pump the bell full of fresh air… A good, strong and healthy Crew Mate, Flynn thought with a heavy heart as he stole a quick glance at Tony.

Flynn took his time securing the bell to the side of the raft. When he was done with it, he turned his attention to the scavenged booty in his sack. First, he scrubbed each item clean of the silt and slime. Then, he arranged everything into separate piles: soda cans, beer cans, bottles of alcohol. Finally, he wiped dry and neatly stacked half a dozen magazines, still sealed and intact in their airtight plastic wrappings. Flynn knew those were even more valuable than the booze and canned food he had found. Magazines had something inside them that could be enjoyed over and over again. They were full of pictures… Full of images from the past! And this made them a big trade on the Black Market… Or a great bribe when dealing with Government officials, Flynn thought with a wicked smile on his face… Everybody knew that old magazines and books, even with their faded and tattered pages, always went for a very good price. Brand new ones, still glossy and untouched, were a real treasure! He was going to make a real killing with them, for sure.

“Flynn!” Tony cried out, his voice now full of exasperation. “Did you hear what I just said? You won’t pass the Trials with me on board!”

“And who do you think I’ll pass the Trials with, then?” Flynn asked, trying to keep calm. “Got any suggestions?”

“Madison Ray would be a good choice,” Tony replied. “Can’t think of anyone better for the job.”

“What?!?” Flynn swung around and stared at Tony. “You crazy? There’s no way I’m having a girl on my raft!”

“Why not, amigo?”

“Because it won’t work!” said Flynn. He hesitated for a moment, then scooped one of his scavenged piles and stuffed all the items back in his sack. “I need to hide this stash,” he said, trying hard to avoid Tony’s eyes. Without saying anther word, he dragged the bag to the edge of the raft, picked it up and disappeared overboard.

Tony waited patiently, until a few minutes later Flynn’s head emerged next to the Seeker’s platform. “Besides…” Flynn said, spitting water and blowing his nose, “…Madison’s busy with her stupid pigeons… Don’t think she cares much for scavvy’ing anymore!”

“Trust me, she does!”

“Yeah, right!” Flynn grunted as he clambered back onto the raft. He began to pull on the rope which had kept the Seeker secured to the end of a lone power pole. The pole was sticking only six feet above the surface of the ocean, but had done its job well enough. The Seeker had stayed in one place and not drifted away from their diving location.

“Madison sure misses being on the water, you know… misses what we used to do together,” Tony said.

The raft bumped into the pole and Flynn raised the truck-tire he had threaded on it earlier that day. He hoisted the makeshift anchor out of the water and threw it back on deck.

“I’ve been talking to Madison a lot lately,” Tony began cautiously. “You know how she brings my mom and me pigeon eggs… Well, she’s been asking ‘bout you… like, how’s your training going… stuff like that…” Tony paused briefly to study his friend, then continued with a mischievous smile on his face, “I think it’s ‘cause she likes you, amigo! Always has.”

“Shut up!” Flynn growled.

“And she wants to dive again! Try her hand at scavvy’ing.”

“Tony!” Flynn pointed a warning finger at his friend’s face. “Enough! I don’t want to hear anymore about it!”

The boys would have continued to argue if it wasn’t for the sudden sound of motor engines reaching their ears. Instantly, they both fell silent. Flynn turned on his heels and felt his heart begin to race. In the far distance, two speed boats were fast approaching, heading straight for the Seeker. “Damn,” Flynn spat when he saw that the first vessel was flying the Archipelago’s yellow Government banner, with the letters LVZ emblazoned over its enormous crest. “It’s Leo Van Zandt.”

Grabbing a long sheet of sun-bleached tarpaulin from under the car seat, Flynn threw it hastily over the scavenged booty still on deck. Tony was now standing next to him with a worried look on his face. “Don’t say anything… I’ll deal with this!” said Flynn, rolling the diving bell overboard and letting it sink until it was no longer visible. He then stood waiting, hands on hips, trying to ignore the pounding in his chest.

Within minutes, the two power boats were circling the Seeker, causing the raft to rise and fall precariously in their wake. Somehow, Tony and Flynn were able to keep their balance. They made out a group of giggling boys in the boat with the banner. A couple of burly security guards with their weapons aimed at the Seeker were riding in the second. Finally, the two vessels began to slow down. Leo Van Zandt, a boy not much older than Flynn and Tony, stood up in the bigger boat. His long blond hair was tucked underneath a faded ‘I love N.Y.’ baseball cap, his eyes hidden behind a pair of old aviator goggles.

Both boys noticed Leo’s oversized and worn-out bulletproof vest and the gun holstered at the hip… Who would dare shoot at him, wondered Flynn… No one on the Lower Side had guns. Then he noticed the bullet holes on the boat’s windshield… Had someone finally dared to make an attempt on Leo Van Zandt’s life? No way! The bullet holes were most probably there from the Olden Days, the time when all survivors had fought for every boat, every piece of floating hardware, anything useful they could lay their hands on… And besides, Leo didn’t just have one boat. He had a whole fleet at his disposal waiting for him on the Upper Side…

Today, Leo Van Zandt was riding in a fiberglass number called the Fury, and apart from the damage on its windshield, the boat was otherwise in excellent condition. He cut the engine off and brought the boat to a quick stop, ramming its bow into the Seeker’s starboard. The jolt almost sent Tony and Flynn flying, but again both boys managed to stay on their feet. They braced for what was to follow… “For the Greater Good!” they cried, saluting Leo Van Zandt as was the custom when greeting members of the Government.

“Well, well, look what we have here!” Leo removed his goggles and eyed the boys up and down with a smirk on his face. “Someone’s been scavenging in unchartered waters! Am I right, or what?” he said and snickered loudly.

Flynn and Tony didn’t answer. While Tony kept his eyes lowered, Flynn threw a quick glance at the guards and stared back at Leo Van Zandt.

“You’re trespassing, scum boys! Care to explain yourselves?” barked Leo. “What’re you doing so far out of the permitted zone?”

“Fishing,” Flynn replied, trying to keep his voice steady and calm.

“Really? Fishing you say…” Leo drawled, addressing his posse. “Did you hear that, guys?” he asked, bursting out in mock laughter. “Well, now!” Leo looked back at Flynn and Tony, feigning surprise. “You must really suck at fishing, then! Where’s your catch? I don’t see any fishing gear, either!” His eyes darted away from Flynn as he scanned the raft.

“We caught a shark, but it got away… and took our net with it,” Flynn lied without missing a beat.

“A shark…” Leo turned his full attention back to Flynn. “You look kind of familiar… Have I met you before, scum boy?”

“I don’t think so!” Flynn said, knowing he had just told another bold lie.

“Really?” Leo’s eyes narrowed. “What’s your name?”

“Flynn.”

“Flynn who?” Leo barked again. He had taken a small computer pad out of his pocket and was now tapping its screen.

“Perry. P-E-R-R-Y.”

Leo looked up and fixed his gaze on Flynn. He studied the boy’s face for a long moment, his eyes penetrating… searching. Flynn’s expression remained blank as he stared back at Leo.

“All right,” Leo said finally, pointing at Tony. “Who’s your scrawny little friend there?”

“Anthony Romero,” Flynn answered.

“How old?”

“Sixteen.”

“Is your friend a retard? Or just deaf and dumb?” Leo sneered and continued typing. When he had finished entering the information, he pressed a key and scowled at the screen. “Says here, Romero’s not sixteen yet… which makes him underage… and in breach of being on a water vessel so far from the zone.”

“He’s with me and I’m sixteen,” Flynn said.

Leo shook his head, ignoring Flynn’s words. “This Romero kid looks more like a sick old man to me! And we all know what happens to sick old men, don’t we?” Leo snickered again as he looked back at his friends. They were all laughing at Tony now.

Flynn clenched his fists and leaned forward, but Tony squeezed his elbow. Leo’s eyes darted between the two and focused on Flynn again.

“Did you want to say something, Perry boy?”

“No!” Flynn swallowed hard.

“Thought not,” Leo flashed his teeth and slipped the pad back in his pocket. “Well, Perry and Romero… you know who I am, right?”

Flynn and Tony nodded. Of course, they knew who he was! Who didn’t? Leo was the one and only son of Marcus Van Zandt, the head of Governing Council, the man who ruled the whole of the Archipelago. The Van Zandt family had been in power since the beginning of time, and they were here to stay. There was no replacing them, everyone knew that… When Marcus died, or if he decided to step down, Leo was going to be his successor, then Leo’s children, and so on… People had no say in who would govern them. There were no elections… as if anyone even remembered or knew what an election was… And Leo was every part the spoilt heir to the Van Zandt throne, already acting like he was in charge.

“Good!” Leo continued, “Are you aware you have no business out here? That everything underneath these waters is Government property, and I can have you two scum boys charged with trespassing?”

Flynn and Tony had no choice but to nod again.

“I’ll be watching you two!” said Leo, pointing a finger at Flynn. “Especially you, Perry boy! You look like trouble to me… And I can smell trouble from miles away.”

Leo Van Zandt gave Flynn a long cold stare.

Flynn stared back, trying hard not to flinch. Nobody knew, not even Tony, that he and Leo had crossed paths before… back when they were little kids… Flynn had been practicing his free dives off the edge of the Main Pier when a bunch of Upper Side boys had arrived. They were speeding on their jet-skis, fooling around, showing off, recklessly zigzagging round moored boats and floating pontoons. One of the jet-skis had made a sharp turn, flinging a boy with long blond hair into the water. Two heart beats later, when the kid had not resurfaced, Flynn had sprung into action. He had found the boy sinking fast with his hands ensnared in the leather straps of a pair of binoculars still around his neck. Flynn had managed to cut him free with his diving knife and bring the boy back to the safety of the pier. With the help of some fishermen, they had hoisted the limp body out of the water and made sure the boy was breathing. ‘You just saved Leo Van Zandt! Bet you’ll get a reward for that,’ Flynn had heard the men say… But instead of gratitude, Flynn had received only hatred and abuse. He still remembered Leo’s eyes flashing with anger and wounded pride as he snatched at his binoculars… ‘I could’ve reached the Pier all by myself, you prick! Don’t you know who I am?’ Leo had spat in Flynn’s face and then yelled, ‘I didn’t need your help, scum boy! And you’ve also ruined my binoculars! Look! The straps are gone!’ Before Flynn could say anything, Leo was screaming for his guards and calling Flynn a thief. ‘You’d better make yourself scarce kid,’ one of the fisherman had whispered in Flynn’s ear and he had taken off like the wind. Leo’s guards had chased him up and down the pier, until Flynn finally managed to give them the slip. Instinctively, Flynn knew he had made a powerful enemy that day… Later, Flynn’s father had explained it best: ‘You showed everybody that the Van Zandt boy’s weak. And that was a mistake… But the good news is Leo never took your name down, so you’re safe.’

Had Leo Van Zandt recognized him now? Flynn hoped not. They had both changed, grown up… looked different… Flynn was just one of the many anonymous faces from the Lower Side… And as much as he hated the feeling, he felt safe in the knowledge that he was simply another “scum boy” and nothing else.

“Err… Mr. Van Zandt,” one of the guards broke the silence, “we should be going, sir. Your father said…”

“I know what my father said!” Leo cut him off. He sat down behind the wheel of his powerboat, started the engine and pushed down on the throttle. The engine roared, and the Fury took off, followed closely by its companion.

Flynn watched the speeding vessels as they faded into the distance. “Privileged bastards!” he yelled, shaking his fist at them.

“There’s no point getting angry, amigo!” Tony stepped next to him. “It’s just the way it is…”

“We’ll see about that! Things are going to change after we win the Trials,” said Flynn. “Leo Van Zandt won’t ever talk to us that way again!” Flynn spat in the water and threw himself on the car seat, patting the space next to him. “Let’s head back, Tony… I’ll do all the pedaling.”

Flynn placed his feet on the pair of rusty pedals sticking out of the square well-hole cut into the platform. Tony sat next to him and allowed his tired body to finally relax. “Home, sweet home!” cried Flynn, popping open a can of soda that had long lost its original fizz. He took a swig and then pressed on the pedals. Suddenly, he felt his spirits rise. He loved the Seeker. Although it was a very basic type of water vessel, the raft had served him well over the years. Flynn grabbed the steering rudder and the raft started to turn slowly, until it faced the setting sun.

Far in the distance, surrounded by miles of water, were the familiar buildings of their Archipelago… or what once used to be known as the City of New York. Of course, Flynn knew these buildings looked different from the Olden Days. He had seen enough faded photos of the city before the Flood… For a start, the skyscrapers had been much taller… Today, they were half their original size. What remained of the fabled and once proud metropolis now rose straight out of the ocean, creating a string of islands. With no solid land to build on, there were awkward-looking structures sticking up from every single rooftop that had remained… And a spider-web of cables had been strung between them, with cable cars moving back and forth… and bridges and walkways, suspended in mid-air, connecting the old skyscrapers… What had once been Manhattan was no longer a single island… It had become a string of inhabitable outposts, little pockets of life, a seemingly haphazard cluster of everyday survival above the waterline. This was the Archipelago and the place Flynn and Tony called home.

“See that building there, Tony?” Flynn pointed to a tower on the Upper Side, not far from the one they used to call the Empire State. “That’s where we’re going to live in just a week, my friend! Let’s see how the Van Zandt boy can stop me from moving in right next door to him!”

“If you win the Trials, that is!”

“Of course we’ll win. We’ve got to win, Tony!”

Tony said nothing. He just shook his head and stared at his aching feet.

TWO

Mike Foley stood on the edge of the Customs Platform. Overweight and puffy faced, he didn’t look like the majority of the Archipelago’s people. Unlike Mike, most were lean and fit… But then again, Mike didn’t get to do much physical work… he just sat counting boats and rafts passing by his designated outpost. His station was a mid-sized pontoon, moored between the roofs of two partially submerged buildings, with only their top three stories still above the water line. The space in the middle worked like a gate for the boat traffic to pass through. The last two floors of these derelict buildings were used to temporarily store the Customs booty. Mike’s checkpoint was on the west side of town, over what once used to be called Brooklyn. It was one of the many stations positioned at regular intervals around the Archipelago. The stations were connected with big nets to prevent unauthorized traffic, forcing all rafts and boats to go through these gate-like checkpoints.

Of course, the Government officials couldn’t possibly keep an eye on the miles of nets encircling the Archipelago’s limits. Holes kept appearing, allowing vessels to sneak in and out unnoticed and to constantly supply the city’s Black Market. It was a risky business, though. If the traffickers could bypass the nets, they then faced a much harder task… that of evading the sharp eyes of the Watchers. These men kept a constant vigil over the waters around the Archipelago from their Watch Towers… And they were watching Mike Foley, too! He had to be careful.

The day was almost over. All of the big rafts had already passed through and gone back towards the city. Mike was not expecting a lot of traffic between now and the end of his shift. He squinted at the setting sun, then, just to be sure, glanced behind his shoulder at Big Al, his shift mate. The man was snoring like a boat engine in major distress; his huge body slumped against a pile of dirty fishing nets. A bleached out Customs sign threw a long shadow over him as he slept. Mike took one last puff from his hand-rolled seaweed cigarette and tossed the butt in the water. He repositioned the short spear gun from his hip to the small of his back and crouched down. His fingers dug under the edges of a sheet of faded plastic and pulled it back, revealing a square hole in the deck. Furtively, he pushed his pudgy hand in the opening, found the wire string and yanked it up. A rusty six-pack, dripping with water was tied to the end of the string. Mike took a can from the plastic holder, lowered the remaining cans back in the hole and closed the lid. He popped the can open, remembering to turn his back on the Watch Towers.

Mike Foley closed his eyes and savored the taste of the cold beer. He loved his job, especially the perks that came with it… As a Customs officer, he had first-hand pick of all the items salvaged and brought home to the Archipelago. Every vessel entering the Outer Zone had to stop at one of the check points and offload its salvaged goods. The stuff deemed valuable was kept in Customs and later shipped to the city’s distribution wharfs. The Scavenging Crews were allowed to keep the junk for their own personal use.

Mike had worked the Customs shifts from the age of sixteen, continuing the family tradition, like his father had done before him. He didn’t consider it stealing when it came to keeping small quantities of the booty for himself… Everyone was doing it, he knew that much. And if you were to get caught… Well, there was no such thing as prisons any more. Depending on the crime, you were either given the worst job in town, like working on the Garbage Collection rafts for life, or worse…. You were banished from the Archipelago! Sent away on the open seas to die a slow and agonizing death… Mike shuddered at the thought. But the beer in his mouth tasted so good! Nothing like that algae moonshine they home-brewed and passed around as alcohol… Mike took another swig from the can, relishing its bitter taste and slowly opened his eyes.

“Damn!” Much to his annoyance, he had seen a small raft approaching his checkpoint. Mike swore again under his breath, hiding the beer can in the large pocket of his faded cargo pants. He shifted the spear gun back on his hip and grabbed for his uniform’s hat.

“Hey there, Mikey!” a voice called out.

Mike Foley relaxed. He had now recognized the raft as belonging to Flynn Perry and the Romero boy. Within seconds, the beer can was back in his hand again.

Flynn took his feet off the pedals, allowing the Seeker to slow down and glide gently, until it bumped into the row of car tires that lined the side of the Customs platform. “How’s it going, Mikey?” he asked.

“Shh! Don’t shout like that, you idiot!” Mike hissed, glancing back at Big Al. “And stop calling me Mikey! I ain’t your friend, y’know. Have some respect, and follow the protocol.”

“Alright, Officer Foley,” said Flynn, grinning. He raised his hand in a mock salute, “For the Greater Good, sir!”

Mike Foley greeted him back with a growl.

Flynn then nodded his head toward Big Al. “Something wrong with him?”

“Nothin’s wrong! I just don’t wanna share, that’s all.” Mike finished his beer and shoved the empty can in his pocket. “Now,” he said, clearing his throat and straightening his back, “got anythin’ to declare?” He began to make his way slowly toward the edge of the Customs platform.

“Well, not much for today… That’s all I’ve got,” said Flynn, lifting up his sack with just a few cans and bottles in it.

Mike looked back at Big Al and stepped closer to the raft, eyeing greedily the booze in the sack. “Y’know I’ve gotta confiscate all that scavvy stuff in there, don’t ya?”

“I know, Mikey. Sorry… I mean Officer Foley!” Flynn handed him the sack.

Mike grabbed the sack and hid it quickly between a stack of tires. “Come pick up your bag tomorrow.”

“No problem. Can we go now?” Flynn asked as he sat back on the car seat.

“C’mon kid, y’know the deal… I’ve gotta inspect your raft.” Mike pointed his head back at the Archipelago. “They never stop watchin’!”

Flynn stood up and waved at the city.

“Who ya wavin’ at, ya fool?” Mike barked.

“My dad, of course!” replied Flynn, proudly. “He’s watching from the East Tower.”

“Ah…” said Mike, making a dismissive gesture with his hand, “…he’s watchin’, but seein’ nothin’! Your daddy’s blind as a bat, Perry boy!”

“What did you say?” Flynn glared at the man.

But Officer Foley didn’t answer. He was tugging at the swiping device. This was nothing more than a slack wire lying in the water between the two check-point platforms and underneath the passing vessels. If anyone tried to smuggle stuff attached under their raft or boat, the wire would catch it. He rolled the crank and the wire tightened.

“Run your crappy raft over this, Perry boy.”

Still glaring at the man, Flynn pushed on the pedals. The Seeker glided smoothly over the wire and stopped. There was nothing underneath. Mike grabbed a piece of pipe and banged it on the drums supporting Flynn’s raft, listening. Empty barrels sounded one way, those stuffed with hidden goodies differently. Satisfied with his inspection, he leaned on the pipe.

“What was that about my dad?” asked Flynn again. He wasn’t going to let anyone insult his father.

“Don’t ya look at me that way!” Mike sneered at him. “I just happen to know a thing or two ‘bout your old man, that’s all…”

“You know nothing about him!” Flynn yelled back. “See for yourself!” He was now pointing in the direction of the Watch Tower. “That’s my dad there… signaling to me. Look!”

And sure enough, a sharp flash of light could be seen coming from the top of the East Tower… But Officer Foley didn’t seem impressed. “Oh, I know everythin’, about everybody,” he said. “People are talkin’, you know…”

“What are they saying, then?”

“True, your daddy’s been the best Watchman for a long, long time, but I’ll bet ya good money he’ll be on the List this year… and we’ll be sayin’ bye-bye to him at the Departure Ceremony!”

“Watch it, Mikey!” Flynn stepped forward, his fists clenched.

“Hah! You watch it, kid!” Mike lifted the pipe and waved it at Flynn.

There was a loud cough behind his back. Big Al was awake.

“Hey Mike, what’s goin’ on here?” Big Al grunted, rubbing his swollen eyes with a fat knuckle.

“Nothin’ much Al, just the Perry boy and his pal passin’ through,” said Mike over his shoulder, not taking his eyes off Flynn. “They’re empty handed as usual… Useless kids! Ain’t never gonna be good scavvies, you know.” He was laughing now. “Off ya go, boy!” he said to Flynn. “Or I’ll board your piece of junk and take a proper look at it.”

Flynn spat in the water, then stepped back and took his seat next to Tony. His friend was pale and clammy, his breathing hard. “It’s OK,” Flynn said and pushed on the pedals. The Seeker lurched forward, peeling quickly away from the Customs platform.

“What’s up with your buddy there, eh?” Mike shouted after them. “He don’t look too good to me, either…. Might be joinin’ your daddy on the Departure List! Think I’ll put a wager on Romero with my bookies… Make me some money, he will, hah!”

“Don’t pay any attention to him… And don’t look back!” Tony whispered to Flynn. “The guy’s just a jerk!” He closed his eyes, trying hard not to think about what Officer Foley had just said.

“I know!” said Flynn and pushed furiously on the pedals.

The raft sped up towards Lower Side Manhattan… or whatever was left of it.

THREE

What remained of Manhattan was a strange sight indeed… Only the tallest buildings were left standing, with their last ten or twenty stories left sticking out of the water. Everything else was submerged, lost a long time ago. The new calendar said they were in the year 0055 now… and it stated the day of the Flood as Day One. Very few people remembered how long ago that day really was… Nobody really talked about the past, about the Big Wave… or the Flood Virus and the awful deaths that came in its wake. It made no difference. Most people had chosen to forget… Collective amnesia was a coping skill, a way to deal with the nightmare of what had happened. People’s lives had changed forever, but life had to go on somehow… What New York had lost under water was added on top of the surviving buildings. Defying the laws of gravity, new structures rose up like giant porous mushrooms from all rooftops, transforming the once familiar look of the Manhattan skyline.

Flynn’s raft was gliding through Midtown, which had all but disappeared after the Flood. It had become part of the new ocean, completely disconnecting the Upper Side from the Lower. Nothing but the tops of a few buildings remained, dotting the water like little islands. They now supported the crude vertical columns of the bridges erected above them, and the cable-car system that operated between the two sides of the Archipelago.

And right down the middle of that stretch of water ran the Archipelago’s life support system: the Van Zandt Water Pipeline. Made out of thousands of floating barrels, it swayed on the surface like a gargantuan snake, delivering fresh water from the Upper to the Lower Side. And of course, no one could get near it… It was the third most guarded structure in the city, right after the Van Zandt Building and the Van Zandt Desalination Plant… But that didn’t stop people from trying to breach its perimeter… Every now and then, Flynn would hear about yet another raid on the Pipeline… Driven by desperation, people would try to sneak in at night, punch holes in the pipes and fill up their containers with fresh water. Some risked their lives for themselves and their families, others stole so they could sell, or trade this most precious of commodities. Most were caught and killed on the spot. Very few succeeded and got away.

Flynn glanced at Tony, who had dozed off on the seat next to him, still clutching the new inhaler bottle. A deep crease of worry appeared on Flynn’s forehead as he watched his friend sleep. Tony’s breathing was shallow, but steady. He looked peaceful, almost happy… the way he used to be… when his lungs were working just fine… Mikey’s words were still ringing in Flynn’s ears, and they made his stomach twist into a painful knot. Officer Foley had spoken of the List and the Departure Ceremony that always followed! Flynn had not thought about this event for almost a year, and now that day was creeping up on them again… The Government would be gearing up to retire the Archipelago’s “dead weight”, drawing up the annual List… Everyone knew that this list was made up of people who were too old to contribute to the community, or too sick and beyond medical help. Tony could be one of them! And then Flynn began to worry about his own father. He wondered how old Alan Perry was… Could he be that old? Was Officer Foley just making it up, or was his father really losing his eyesight… unable to do his job anymore? Had someone on the Upper Side noticed and recorded this? Flynn shook his head, forcing these dark thoughts away to the back of his mind.

The Seeker was now approaching the huge fishing nets lined along the lower end of the Archipelago. These contraptions were based on an old Chinese design and looked like the giant skeletons of prehistoric birds, dipping their long bones into the water. Fashioned out of broken up electricity poles, traffic lights and long rusty pipes, swathed in miles of netting, they had proven to be a very reliable method of catching fish. It was the Asians who had completely taken over the fishing industry on the Archipelago, their nets forming a big semi-circle around the entire Lower Side. There were other fishermen, of course, who went chasing the big fish, like tuna, swordfish, marlin and shark… But they were specialty catchers, moving around alone on their rafts and boats, not organized in large groups like the Asians. The same could be said of the sealers and whalers. Catching big fish was unreliable, though. And very often, these fishermen would return home empty handed, after having spent days and sometimes weeks out on the water. The everyday fish trade belonged to the Asians. No one remembered when and how it had happened, but they were the only ones permitted to fish in large quantities and so close to the shores of the Archipelago.

The nets were being lifted out of the water now. Their supporting scaffolds were screeching under the weight of the day’s catch. Flynn saw the thrashing mass of fish that was being dumped onto the large floating platforms. The place was buzzing with activity. Water vessels of various shapes and sizes floated around the platforms, waiting to be loaded. Hundreds of squawking seagulls blackened the sky, circling above them all. Some were brave enough to dive down to the nets in an attempt to steal a piece of herring or mackerel. Those birds were swiftly speared by the assigned Seagull Catchers, always ready and waiting with their deadly harpoons.

Suddenly, Flynn pulled the steering rudder towards him and turned the raft in the direction of the nets. Tony sat up in his seat, puzzled by the swift change in movement. “What are you doing?” He rubbed his eyes and glanced around to get his bearings.

“How about some fresh fish for dinner?” Flynn asked with a big grin on his face.

“You crazy, amigo?” Tony was wide awake now. “The place is crawling with Security Guards… Especially at this time of day.”

“Hey, it’s not like we haven’t done it before, right?”

Flynn positioned the Seeker directly behind one of the cargo boats leaving the dockside wharves. The fish were being processed on the spot by the skilled Asian fishermen. Skinned and deboned, the fillets were taken by boats, like the one Flynn was now following. Their final destination: the Fish House on Lower Manhattan’s former Meat District. The skin and bones were then ferried to other processing facilities and made into clothes, shoes, glue and pigeon food. Nothing was ever wasted on the Archipelago. Everything was recycled and used again and again… And all that dirty work was carried out on the Lower Side, of course.

“Too risky, I think!” Tony tried to reason with his friend. “We can always get some fish at the Floating Market.”

“Yeah, like tails and fins! All the good stuff is going straight to the Upper Side. You know that.”

“Well…”

“Do you want to eat fish steak tonight, or not?” Flynn was getting angry. “’Cause I am!”

“Yes, but…”

“Hold the rudder for me,” said Flynn. “Stay right behind that boat and pedal. Don’t get too close. I won’t be long.” Flynn rolled off the seat and quietly slipped into the water. Briefly, he swam alongside the raft. Then, taking a deep breath, he dived under it and disappeared from view.

Following Flynn’s instructions, Tony started to pedal slowly. The sun was setting and the sky was turning a dark shade of orange, making it harder for Tony to see in the dusky light. He tried to keep his eyes focused on the boat in front, now heading toward Broadway Canal. Several men, wearing large brimmed coolie hats, were busy working around the barrels full of fish meat.

A lone Security Guard, armed with a spear gun, stood at the back of the boat. To Tony’s dismay, the man had a holstered handgun on his belt, too.

For a long moment the guard stood still, then his head jerked, and he pointed his spear gun down at something floating in the water. Tony strained his eyes and saw Flynn’s head bobbing up and down next to the boat. The guard’s spear was pointing straight at his friend. Tony froze in his seat, his heart pounding… Flynn was going to get in trouble this time! Most guards were corrupt and easy to bribe… But every now and then, there would be someone who would stick to the rules. Would this guard arrest Flynn, or shoot him on the spot? With no way of knowing, Tony closed his eyes, praying for his friend’s safety. He couldn’t bear to watch Flynn being speared through the head, dying for a piece of fish!

A long moment passed before Tony opened his eyes again, expecting the worst… only to see the guard now leaning over the side of the boat, his weapon shouldered. It appeared as if he was talking to Flynn… Then the guard reached down and dipped his hand in the water. It emerged seconds later, holding a large plastic bottle. The man tucked it quickly under his uniform’s jacket. He then walked over to the barrels and came back, handing something over to Flynn. The boy’s head disappeared instantly under water.

Tony breathed a sigh of relief and stopped pedaling. His fear was quickly turning into anger now… They had lucked out again… No, Flynn had lucked out again! He was the one always taking risks… but sooner or later, Flynn would run out of luck…. things would go wrong, and then it would be too late… Tony shook his head, pushing that awful thought away. He knew he wasn’t really angry at Flynn. He was mad at himself… Deep down, Tony wished he was more like Flynn… reckless and carefree… not giving a damn about anything. But there was also a selfish streak to Flynn, and that was beginning to bother Tony. Of course, he knew that most people on the Archipelago were like that, too… Selfish!… At least the ones who survived the best were. Tony, unfortunately, wasn’t one of them.

Just as the boat ahead disappeared down Broadway Canal, Flynn emerged with a splash out of the water. He pulled himself back on the raft, holding two grimy plastic bags. “Here!” he said triumphantly, handing one to Tony. “Your mom’s going to be happy!”

The tempting smell of fresh sea bass hit Tony’s nose, but he was too upset with his friend to care. “You crazy idiot!” he cried, glaring at Flynn. “I thought the guy was gonna take your brains out!”

“Hah!” Flynn rolled his eyes at those words. He then popped his ears to drain the water out and sat next to Tony. “I know how to deal with these cone heads.”

Tony stared at his friend¸ not sure whether to punch him or to give him a hug. “What did you tell him, amigo?”

“Said it’s my birthday today!” laughed Flynn and took the steering rudder from Tony.

“Is it?”

“Just kidding… I gave him a gallon of spring water from my stash.”

Tony was shaking his head again in disapproval.

“What? You think it’s too much?” Flynn cocked an eyebrow. “Told you there’s plenty of the stuff down where we went today… We’ll scavv for more of that water tomorrow, don’t worry.”

“I ain’t coming with you tomorrow!”

“C’mon, Tony! Don’t be like that,” said Flynn, frowning. “I got you the inhalers. You’ll be fine.”

Tony avoided his gaze. “I’m not feeling well, Flynn!” he mumbled under his breath.

“OK, OK… I know… Sorry!” Flynn patted Tony on the shoulder and said, “Tell you what… Rest for a few days… then we’ll go again.”

“I don’t think so! Go see Madison, amigo.”

“Enough!” Flynn clenched his jaw and stared ahead. “I don’t want to talk about this anymore.”

Tony shrugged and looked away. It was getting dark. Dim lights started to flicker behind the windows of the intricate web of shacks which protruded from the sides of the buildings along Broadway Canal. His eyes wandered up and followed the outlines of the makeshift homes, sticking out at odd angles, each overhanging the one below. The Lower Side was a vertical shanty town. These shacks had engulfed and in some places completely hidden the original facades of the buildings. They looked like living creatures that had grown in all directions, their tentacles gripping the walls. Most windows were just gaping holes. Some were covered with plastic sheets for more privacy, or just a vain attempt to resemble glass.

Proper glass windows could only be seen on the Upper Side, thought Tony. Buildings there didn’t have barnacle-like housing extensions… But the Lower Side didn’t look strange to him… It was his home, all he had ever known. And yet, he wondered who had braved these heights and built all this… Was there ever a plan, any logic behind all the added constructions? Or did these homes simply grow out of each other? And more importantly, how long would they be able to defy the laws of gravity?

Shouts ahead made Tony tear his gaze away from the shacks. Flynn had stopped the Seeker a few feet from the back of a dingy boat. All sorts of drab floating vessels lined both sides of the canal. No one was moving. A traffic cop on a rusty water-bike pedaled past them, blowing his whistle loudly.

“What’s happening?” Tony craned his neck, trying to see.

“I think there’s been an accident ahead,” said Flynn, standing up on his seat to get a better look. Tony got up and stood next to him. Then they saw it… A block away, one of the suspension bridges, connecting two of the buildings on either side of the canal, had partially collapsed. It was hanging upside down, dangling from its broken cables. Both boys knew that whoever was on the bridge would have been tossed into the water, with very little hope of surviving the fall. They spotted the tiny, ant-like silhouettes of a few survivors, still clinging to the bridge’s twisted frame. Several were slowly crawling up, inching their way to the safety of the nearby building. Rescue Crews were rushing toward them, rappelling down on ropes from the upper floors. The boys couldn’t see what was happening at water level, but could easily imagine the scene… The Waste Crews would be there already, gathering all the dead bodies and taking them away to the morgue at the Waste Pits.

Flynn and Tony had seen this scene play itself out many times over… Accidents occurred almost daily on the Archipelago… especially on the Lower Side. Constructed out of all kinds of salvaged materials, most of the bridges and walkways were engineering miracles, challenging any known structural law. Unfortunately, they were also death traps, claiming their victims regularly, showing no mercy. But people continued using them, fixing and rebuilding the broken bridges in the same devil-may-care manner. It was the way of life here. And life on the Lower Side wasn’t worth much! Survival was simply a given and no big deal. You either made it or you didn’t.

“Looks like we’ll be stuck here for a while,” Flynn said finally.

“I think I’m gonna walk home, amigo.” Tony stepped down from the seat.

“You want to walk on one of those bridges? After what just happened!”

“Can’t wait for all this traffic to clear…. My mom’s probably worried sick by now.”

Flynn slumped down on the seat. “Sorry, but I’m not coming with you… Can’t leave the Seeker here, can I?”

“No problem, I’ll manage,” Tony said. He grabbed on to the corroded railing running along the wall next to their raft and hopped off quickly. Having landed on a window’s ledge a couple of feet above the water line, Tony stopped to see where he needed to go next. A little to his right was another large gaping window. He knew this would be his entrance into the building and the first of many dangerous steps to getting home.

“Hey! Don’t forget your dinner!” Flynn tossed the bag of fish and Tony caught it without losing his balance. “See you tomorrow, right?”

Tony hesitated for a moment and shook his head. “Seriously, Flynn… you’d better go and see Madison.” And then, before Flynn had a chance to reply, Tony disappeared inside the dark building.

FOUR

Flynn pedaled past the Waste Collection platform moored against the side of his apartment building. It had been positioned directly under the gaping mouth of the garbage shoot. A lone rat poked its head out from one of the filthy barrels that lined the platform. The rodent stared indifferently at Flynn for a moment then disappeared back inside. Another movement caught Flynn’s eye. He turned to take a better look and was surprised to see the men from the Waste Crew… Their barge was rounding the corner, coming to collect the barrels full of raw sewage that the residents had thrown out that day.

The men looked awful! Terrible! Even Flynn’s torn and faded clothes appeared decent and new compared to what these men were wearing… just pieces of burlap wrapped around their hips, like deformed extensions of their skeletal bodies. Smeared with unimaginable filth from head to toe, the Waste Crew moved silently around the trash bins. Long strands of matted hair hung from their bony skulls. All of them had scraggly beards, reaching down to their chests. With all the water around the Archipelago, these men had not bothered to wash… And they stank to high heaven… No wonder people avoided them at all cost, thought Flynn, holding his breath and trying not to gag.

The Waste Crew worked late at night, and Flynn knew their appearance at such an early hour was because of the collapsed bridge. They had come out to pick up the dead bodies and were now doing their rounds. But he had never seen them this close before. He also knew that all these men were considered criminals… Lower Siders who had broken the law… Men who had committed petty crimes like wasting fresh water, illegal scavenging and trading goods on the Black Market…. activities Flynn was quite familiar with himself…

He had recently sailed past their living quarters, just outside the city limits and next to the Waste Plots. The Waste Crew’s home was a large floating shack, its roof covered in layers of sea-gull droppings and birds’ feathers. As for the Waste Plots, those were huge open-top tankers full of human waste and garbage. The Archipelago’s gardeners were the only ones who actually ventured out there, but that was because their job required it. They had to make trips to the Waste Plots and stock up on sewage for their compost tumblers. The thick humus they produced then went to the numerous green-houses to help grow all the fruit and vegetables on the Upper Side. Of course, the privileged bastards who lived there would never dream of coming anywhere near the Waste Plots, thought Flynn. And they would never find themselves in such close proximity to the men of the Waste Crews…

Now, Flynn also wanted to get away from them, but the Waste Crew barge had docked next to his building’s platform and was blocking the Seeker. There were half a dozen men on it, their eyes staring ahead, their bodies moving as one grim and soulless apparition. A pack of rats scurried out of one of the barrels, dived in the water and swam away. The men didn’t even notice the rats. Slowly, they began to empty out the garbage. One of them jerked his head and his watery eyes met Flynn’s. The Waste Crews were not allowed to approach and make contact with the regular citizens… but the man didn’t lower his gaze… he kept staring. His nose twitched and his eyes darted to the plastic bag with the fish fillets on the seat next to Flynn. The man licked his thin, dry lips and swallowed hard. Flynn instinctively grabbed the fish bag and pulled it closer. He should leave, he thought, get out of here! But the man’s eyes were back on Flynn, hungry and pleading.

“Please… Flynn… please,” the man said, his voice hoarse and full of pain.

Suddenly, Flynn recognized the face under the thick layers of dirt! The man used to be his neighbor. Lived in the very same building… before disappearing a few years back. Mullins was his name, Flynn remembered, and he had worked as a doctor’s aide in the Infirmary. Once a healthy young man, big and strong and full of energy, Mullins was now a shadow of his former self! The sight of his gaunt face and sunken eyes sent shivers down Flynn’s spine. He remembered all the whispering that went on after Mullins had disappeared… That he might have been involved with a rebel group… planning some kind of an uprising against the Government… talking about change, a new beginning! And then, Mullins was gone! Everybody thought him dead, killed by the Van Zandt militia… But here he was, alive… just barely so! A crushed and broken man… an example of what awaited those who dared to rock the boat!

Slowly, the man raised his arm and extended a hand toward Flynn. The hand was shaking like a leaf, begging silently. Flynn threw a quick glance around. There was no one else, just him and the Waste Crew. The men had stopped moving and were staring at him and the fish. Flynn stood stock still. To his surprise, an overwhelming sense of pity began to choke him. Normally, Flynn would ignore other people’s misery and carry on with whatever he was doing. Hardship on the Lower Side was taken for granted… you just got on with your life… But now, without thinking, he dug into the bag, took out the largest of the fish steaks and tossed it to Mullins.

Trembling with excitement, the man caught the fish, bowed his head and whispered his thanks. Flynn nodded and stepped on the pedals, somehow managing to squeeze his raft past the Waste Crew’s barge, without retching his guts out. Just before going round the corner, he glanced back over his shoulder. All four men were tearing at the fish like a pack of wild animals, grunting as they gnawed at the raw meat.

Shaken from his encounter with Mullins, Flynn turned and steered the Seeker into the entrance of his building. Its large doorway was nothing more than a gaping hole in the outer wall, with rusty armature wires sticking out from its broken edges. Once inside, Flynn realized he was still holding his breath… Not that the place smelled that much better, but compared to the Waste Crew’s barge, the stench of rot and decay inside the building was a lot more bearable. Flynn was now moving through the building’s docking area, where the entire sea-level floor had been gutted out to make room for dozens of boat slips. With all partition walls removed, Flynn’s building boasted one of the largest and most cavernous spaces on the Lower Side. The only remaining parts of the original structure’s interior were its staircase, the elevator shaft and the support beams. Those were covered in black slime and barnacles, rising from the murky pool of water and reaching two stories up. Before the Flood, the docking area had been the thirtieth floor. Testament to this was the stenciled number ‘30’, still visible on one of the columns. Now, it was known simply as the “Marine Floor”.

A few dim lights flickered on the damp walls, barely illuminating the floating slips. This was where the boats and rafts of the residents were safely moored for the night. Flynn’s raft glided through the greenish-brown water, pushing away the floating garbage in its way. It bumped gently against the car tires that lined Flynn’s designated docking spot. After securing the Seeker to the tires with some rope, Flynn bent over the side and reached under the raft’s platform. His hand found the hatch to his secret compartment hidden inside one of the rusty barrels. Flynn pulled it open. With a brief glance over his shoulder to make sure no one was looking, he started taking his stash out, stuffing it inside a mesh sack. He worked quickly, his movements well practiced. A minute later, the compartment was empty. Flynn closed the hatch, shouldered his sack, collected the rest of his diving gear and headed for the stairwell.

The smell in the air changed as he climbed higher up the building. He was now negotiating the rusty metal steps of the fire escape which ran all the way to the main roof. Gradually, the stench of the sewer barge and the rot in the basement were replaced by the delicious smell of cooked food. The whiff of fried fish and mussel stew was so overpowering, it made Flynn’s stomach rumble loudly. He had also picked up the very distinct aroma of fried meat… Rat meat and squab. Flynn felt his mouth water and remembered the day when Madison Ray had sneaked a couple of pigeons from her farm for them to cook…. Squab was a rare treat… Rat meat was more common on the Lower Side. But rats were hard to catch, no matter how many traps were set around, usually using fresh water as bait. They were clever little bastards, thought Flynn. And how did they manage to find drinking water was anybody’s guess… But having seen them in the waste barrels, Flynn had gone off rat meat. He was no longer tempted even by the delicious, Peking-style ones, cooked in spicy seaweed and octopus ink.

Flynn climbed past the first few floors, trying not to stare at the people who lived there. This had once been a magnificent office building, but by now nothing remained of its former glory. It was an indoor maze. All kinds of junk had been used to create partitions and to turn the open spaced floors into tiny, makeshift apartments. What was considered an apartment on the Lower Side was more or less a small cubicle of a room, and not much else. Residents who were single weren’t allowed an apartment of their own… Like it or not, they had to share bunk-beds with others… Sometimes as many as seven occupants would cram into one unit and call it their home… Those who were fortunate enough to occupy cubicles next to the outer walls had built extensions and could enjoy a little bit more space. These add-on living quarters would protrude outward from the building, some of them reaching so far out as to create a bridge to the building across.

Clotheslines, heavy with the day’s laundry, were strung everywhere. The washing of clothes was done in the canal waters below. There were hoists with baskets at the backside of each building, used by the occupants to lower their clothes to the Laundry Platform at water’s level. That was where everybody washed too, but personal hygiene was not top of the list on the Lower Side… Well, those who cared to stay clean did their best, thought Flynn… The ones who didn’t, simply went about their business, not giving a damn, stinking of rancid sweat and dirty feet. Most of the kids Flynn knew fell into that category… Unlike them, he was proud of his overall appearance. He would spend so much of his time diving that his skin and hair were in excellent condition. He had only two pairs of shorts and three shirts, but he made sure they were always clean and mended… And people were beginning to comment on how handsome he was looking… Flynn had to admit he was enjoying all the attention… especially from some of the girls in the building… Just now, he had caught a couple of them peeking from behind their cubicle doors, giggling and blushing as he passed.

But instead of stopping to chat, Flynn chose to ignore them. He kept climbing, taking two, three steps at a time. Finally, he emerged onto the main rooftop and looked up at the building’s tower extension rising before him. It was an awkward, shabby construction, crooked and tilting dangerously to one side, wrapped in its tangle of ladders, walkways and cables. Built out of scaffolding poles, covered with sheets of corrugated metal and plastic, the tower was almost as tall as the building on which it stood. Halfway up the tower was Flynn’s tiny apartment… the home he shared with his father and luckily with nobody else. He placed his foot on the first ladder rung, hesitated for a moment then stepped down. It had been a long day… with at least ten difficult dives, all at a depth of two hundred feet… Starving and truly exhausted, Flynn wasn’t looking forward to any more stairs… “Hey Dino!” he shouted, then blow-whistled.

A heavy-set man stepped out of a shack, nestled at the base of the tower. He was dressed in faded rags made from fish and seal skins. Chewing on a piece of dried rat’s thigh-bone, Dino glared at Flynn. “Wadyawant Perry boy?” the man roared, his voice as loud as thunder. “The water rations ain’t here yet!”

“I need a ride up.”

“Get lost!” Dino spat a piece of bone and disappeared back inside his shack.

“C’mon, man… I don’t feel like climbing all the way up tonight!”

Dino’s head popped out. “I said get…,” he began, but stopped and squinted. Like a pendulum, a can of soda was dangling on a piece of string, inches from his face. He scratched his hairy chest then dragged his feet towards Flynn. “Gimmy that!” Dino cried, grabbing for the can. His massive hand closed over empty air.

Too late! Flynn had jumped a step back and stood grinning at the man. “First, you give me a ride in the elevator… Then I’ll give you this,” Flynn said and dangled the can again for Dino to see.

Dino’s eyes followed the swaying can, hypnotized by the sight of the rare drink. Grunting, he licked his lips. “Alright… Last time I’m doin’ it for you!”

Flynn was now walking behind Dino toward the elevator. From the back, you could easily mistake Dino for a gorilla, thought Flynn with a smile… He and Tony had come across a book about a giant ape called King Kong, and they had spent hours looking at the pictures inside. But it wasn’t just the ape that had fascinated the two boys. It was the images of New York City, with its original skyline before it had all changed. Dino was like a miniature King Kong, living on the roof and terrorizing the residents who had to walk past him every day. His hunched back was massive and covered with tufts of hair, his muscular arms reaching just below his knees. Yet, Dino’s stout legs seemed wobbly, struggling to carry his huge frame. He was getting old, Flynn thought. They would retire him soon, and the man would be gone…

Dino stopped by a rusty box frame that held an old truck wheel in its cradle. There was a crank sticking out of it. A cable coiled over the wheel, went up to the top of the tower, over another wheel, then down again, ending attached to a caged platform. More of a crude hoist than an elevator, really. “Hop in!” Dino barked and extended his open hand for the promised drink.

“You owe me two rides for this,” said Flynn, handing over the can. He stepped inside the cage and held on to its bars.

Dino shoved the can inside a small cubby hole, spat on his hands and grabbed the crank. The muscles on his arms bulged as he started working the winch. The platform jerked. The cage lifted off the ground and slowly started to rise, taking Flynn up, two feet at a time. He could hear a lot of grunting and swearing coming from below.

“Gettin heavy, boy!” Dino shouted.

“More like you’re running out of steam!” Flynn yelled back.

“Shut ya mouth!” Dino’s voice was fading as the elevator rose more quickly now.

Flynn took a deep breath and closed his eyes. The air was fresh up here, cooler and cleaner than anywhere else on the Archipelago… The ocean breeze gently ruffled his hair and, for the first time that day, Flynn allowed himself to relax a little. When he opened his eyes again, he turned to look at the other towers around him. With their meager lights flickering in the darkening sky, they resembled giant trees, planted on the rooftops and playing host to hundreds of fireflies.

The elevator slowed down and finally stopped. Flynn stepped onto the walkway encircling the tower, peered down and whistled. The cage began its noisy descent. The floor shook and creaked under Flynn’s feet as he headed toward the Perrys’ apartment. It was almost like the whole structure had come alive. It swayed and rattled with the wind, shuddered and groaned under the weight and movement of its inhabitants. But that didn’t bother Flynn one little bit… To him walking on a plank, hundreds of feet high in the sky, seemed like the most natural thing in the world… He didn’t know any different.

Flynn rounded the corner and stopped before the window of his apartment. He could see two shadows through the dirty plastic sheet covering the square hole in the wall. One was definitely his father’s, but Flynn couldn’t make out who their visitor was. He put his ear against the thin wall and listened to the voices inside.

“…I’m telling you Alan, this place is falling apart…” the visitor was saying, “These buildings won’t be standing tall for much longer. Trust me! Their foundations are crumbling… The water pressure… the corrosion… they’re doing their destructive work slowly, but surely! And then the supplies we all rely on… how much more do you think is left down there? We can’t scavenge the ocean bed forever, you know!”

“So?” Now, Flynn heard his father speak. “Clearly, there’s nothing we can do about it, is there?”

“Oh, but there is! And I’m not the only one who thinks that… There’re others, you know…”

“Others?” Alan Perry’s voice had fallen to a loud whisper. “Surely not more foolish talk of an uprising! You know what happened last time… Mullins and the rest of them are all gone!”

“Not that, Alan, not that!”

“What then?”

“I’m talking about… a way out of this place!”

“Escape from the Archipelago? Where could you go?”

“Dry Land!” said the man and then there was a long pause.

“You’re joking, right!” Flynn heard his father laugh hoarsely. “Where’s that? The Hudson Highlands… the Catskill Mountains… It’s just a bunch of contaminated lifeless rocks, you know that.”

“Farther west, Alan…. Much farther,” the man replied. “Here, hold the end of that wire, we’re almost done.”

“There’s no vessel on the Archipelago that can go that far… wherever this Dry Land is!”

“Ah, I won’t be so sure, Alan!”

“And even if you get that far… what about the Flood Virus?”

“There’s healthy land out there, I’m sure!”

“It’s just a dream, Walter!” Alan Perry said, sounding annoyed. “We’re just wasting time talking about it! Better see to that stove here.”

Both men went quiet for a while, busy with what they were doing. Flynn cleared his throat to let them know he was at the door and called out: “Hi, Dad! I’m back!” He then pulled the door flap aside and walked in.

The Perrys’ apartment was nothing more than a small room, crammed full of stuff, and with shelves and racks taking up all of the space along its four walls. All the racks were cobbled together from pieces of pipe and wood. The shelves and the sturdy filing cabinet were remnants of the office furniture that had survived the pillaging of their building after the Flood. Every shelf was piled high with junk, collected over many years. There were rusty cans, tins and glass jars filled with bits and pieces, as well as an assortment of broken electrical goods. There was even a lifeless computer sitting proudly in one corner. “You never know! We may need it for something one day,” Flynn’s dad liked to say, every time he brought home a pocketful of nails and screws or some object of no apparent value. Flynn had followed his example… he had kept all kinds of non-descript treasures from his dives, adding them to Alan Perry’s collection… and a lot of them had come in handy, one way or another. Of course, they weren’t the only ones hoarding stuff. The Lower Side was home to an extremely thrifty community, where every salvaged item could be used again to fix something broken… or to build something new. The main problem was that the Perry household was running out of storage and respectively, living space… But father and son kept their inventory growing, anyway.

A recent addition to their home was the “dining table” that Alan Perry had built from his hoard of junk. He had used dilapidated wooden crates, thrown a piece of plaster board over them and covered it all with a surprisingly intact plastic sheet. Flynn had found a couple of chairs, with their backs and a couple of legs missing, but his father had fixed those in no time. By the window were Flynn’s pride and joy… two rubber air-mattresses he had scavenged from a submerged warehouse. Next to the sleeping area was the kitchen counter where all the cooking was done. And finally, at the back of the room was the only luxury they could afford… their toilet. Most of the residents in their tower didn’t have the room for it, but the Perrys had enough space for a tiny curtained-off cubicle… This provided privacy for the household’s designated slop bucket.

Flynn now saw that the second figure, standing next to his father, was that of Mr. Walter Kowalski. He was a friend and a resident in their building. “For the Greater Good, gentlemen!” Flynn greeted the pair with exaggerated pathos and a cheeky grin on his face.

“Don’t be disrespectful, son!” Alan Perry scowled then added quickly, “You know these walls have ears!”

“Ah, the young Perry is back,” cried Mr. Kowalski, his face suddenly animated by a toothless smile. He was holding a piece of thick copper wire, coiled tight to form a flat disk. Mr. Kowalski belonged to a very small group of people who everyone called ancients. They were all well past the average retirement age of fifty-five. That was the cut-off point if you were healthy and made it that far along in life… If you were sick, crippled, or for any other reason unable to work and contribute to the community, you were retired much earlier. No one knew exactly how old Mr. Kowalski was… But everyone agreed he had to be at least seventy, if not older. The only reason he had not been put on the Departure List was because the man was a genius and therefore, irreplaceable… Everybody knew that Mr. Kowalski was the most brilliant of electricians and inventors that had ever lived on the Archipelago. He was kept around not only because he could fix anything electrical, but because he often performed miracles with the few tools and resources available on the city. The Government needed him, so that he could train a new generation of electricians, pass on the torch and teach them his tricks.

The reason the Lower Side had working lights, stoves and energy was thanks to Mr. Kowalski. The man had reinvented and rewired the ruined electrical system after the Flood. He and a group of other ancients were behind the unimaginably difficult task of restoring whatever energy sources remained… fixing the existing roof solar panels and adding new, algae-based ones for support. And these technical wizards were behind the building and maintenance of the two Generators, one for the Upper Side and other for the Lower. The Archipelago owed him big time… and the Government knew that.

Of course, Mr. Kowalski had been offered a much nicer place to live on the Upper Side, but he had declined. “I’ve lived on the Lower Side all my life,” he kept saying… “So I want to spend my last living days in the old neighborhood.” He had accepted one perk, though. Having never married, he was supposed to share his living space with others like him… But using his position with the Government, he had asked for an apartment of his own. Not for himself, really… Mr. Kowalski was a frugal man with little needs… No, he needed the space for his vast collection of tools and spare parts, which happened to be many times the size of the one the Perrys had amassed. And the reason his hoard was so huge was because he had a quirky fixation on the number 3! He had to have three of everything! Three identical pieces of wire, three stoves, three windows, three light-bulbs hanging from his ceiling… With three screwdrivers always in his back pocket, he would circle the building three times on his raft before entering it…. His apartment was on what was now considered the thirty-third floor… and, of course, three doors to the left of the elevator shaft. Yes, Mr. Kowalski was a strange man indeed…. But he was also a very nice man. A decent and kind man, Flynn thought, and he liked him a lot… and his amazing tool belt! As far as Flynn was concerned, Mr. Kowalski owned the coolest tool belt on the Lower Side… if not on the whole Archipelago.

“Flynn!” Alan Perry said, folding his arms across his chest. “What time do you call this?”

“Dad…”

“You should’ve been home hours ago, young man!”

“Traffic was bad… there was an accident…”

“No, no! Don’t give me any of that stuck-in-traffic stuff! I’ve heard it all before.” Flynn’s father had now gone red in the face. “That’s it… No diving tomorrow! You’re coming with me to the Watch Tower!”

“Go easy on him, Alan!” Mr. Kowalski said softly. “You were young once, too. He’s a good lad!”

“I know Walter,” Alan Perry said. “But… I come back from my shift… the stove wire blows up… Flynn’s nowhere to be found! If it wasn’t for Mr. Kowalski, we might’ve had a fire on our hands.”

Flynn shuddered at the thought… It brought memories of not so long ago when a fire had ripped through one of the towers across from their building. It had burned down in minutes. Flynn still remembered the faces of the terrified occupants, their clothes ablaze, leaping out of windows and falling in the water below. No one had survived.

“Ah, but we fixed the problem, didn’t we, Alan!” Mr. Kowalski grinned and waved the copper wire disk. “All we need now…,” he said as he leaned over the kitchen counter, his fingers dancing around the stove and doing their magic, “…is to connect this wire… then tie a few loose ends, and… there you are! You’ve got yourself a new stove!”

“I don’t know how to repay you for this Walter…”

“Oh, no worries, Alan. You owe me nothing.” Mr. Kowalski started to gather his tools. “I know it’s hard to find copper down here… Like everything else, it all goes to the Upper Side… and nowadays, it’s never enough even there!”

“Are you serious?” Flynn’s father cocked an eyebrow. “Shortages on the Upper Side? I’ve heard rumors, but…”

“It’s the truth, Alan! Things don’t look good!” Mr. Kowalski sighed, lowering his voice. “The Scavenger Crews are bringing up less and less copper… we’ll run out sooner, rather than later… I’ve been saying this for a few years now, but Van Zandt doesn’t want to hear any bad news…”

“Hey, I can find you wire!” said Flynn. “No sweat!”

They both looked at him.

“There must be tons of it down in the Subway system,” Flynn told them. “Next time I go there, I can…”

“You’ll do no such thing, young man!” Alan Perry’s firm voice cut him off. “That’s way too deep of a dive! Even the best Free Scavs haven’t tried to go down there! And for a very good reason, too.”

“But…” Flynn tried to argue, “I’ve already been there…”

“Your dad’s right, Flynn.” Mr. Kowalski patted him on the shoulder. “It’s good to be brave, but being reckless is another thing.”

Alan Perry nodded his head in agreement.

“We just have to find other solutions,” said Mr. Kowalski solemnly, “otherwise, this place is doomed!”

Alan Perry gave his son a hard stare then turned back to Mr. Kowalski. “Well, at least stay and have dinner with us, won’t you?”

“Perhaps another time, Alan,” said Mr. Kowalski. “I’ve cooked myself a nice little stew of red peppers tonight. I was fixing the wires at one of the rooftop greenhouses and… you know… they’ve just had their new crop harvest… so they gave me a whole basket to take home.” Mr. Kowalski shrugged and smiled sheepishly. “The perks of my job,” he mumbled as he zipped his tool bag and started toward the door.

“Mr. Kowalski, wait!” Flynn rummaged through his sack and produced a dark green bottle. “Here’s something to go with your dinner, then.”

“Aha!” Mr. Kowalski’s face lit up, taking the bottle. “It’s been a long time since I’ve had one of those! Looks like wine to me…” He was examining the bottle, turning it in his hands.

“Flynn!” Alan Perry cried, his face turning red again. “Have you been scavenging in the restricted zones again?”

But before Flynn could say anything, they all heard a bell ring outside and the rush of footsteps along the walkway.

Mr. Kowalski slipped the bottle quickly in his satchel. “The water’s here! I’d better hurry!”

“No worries, Mr. Kowalski,” said Flynn, grabbing the four empty plastic jugs under the table. “I’ll get your rations for you tonight.”

“Don’t forget to let the ladies and kids go first, Flynn,” Alan Perry said.

“I won’t!” cried Flynn. And with those words, he ran quickly out the door, glad at the opportunity to escape from his father’s reproachful stare.

FIVE

The Water Rations had arrived! This was fresh, drinking water, delivered down through the pipeline from the Upper Side reservoirs, tapped and distributed around by the Government rafts and barges. The Government owned the water… Or to be more precise, a company called Van Zandt Water Solutions owned the water and, therefore, owned the people. It was that simple. Everyone was held hostage by a small group of men who had the good fortune to be in possession of the desalination formula… It was the group that had made it possible to sustain life on the Archipelago after the Flood… and to rule over the whole place. The Government could not control rain water, of course, but that hardly mattered… Rain was such a rare thing… and it never snowed…

Flynn stood in the long line of people, moving slowly down the walkway, everyone waiting patiently for their turn to come. It was a well-practiced routine, repeated at the same time each evening. At exactly 8:00 pm, the valves at the Upper Side end of the pipeline were opened. Heavily guarded rafts waited at the Lower Side station to fill up their barrels. All other traffic was shut down. From that point on, the street canals and all waterways were to be used only by the rafts ferrying the Water Rations. Those who had not made it home on time didn’t get any water, until the next day. It worked perfectly for the Government, imposing a kind of voluntary curfew over the Lower Side.

Flynn stepped toward the elevator. It was the same one he had used earlier, except now its platform was lined with large plastic barrels full of water. Thanks to Dino’s man-power, the platform would make its way up, stop at each floor and wait for the residents to fill up their containers. Each person was allowed a daily ration of two gallons and not a drop more.

After having let several women and their children go ahead of him, it was Flynn’s turn now. He glanced quickly at the Water Warden standing at the corner of their floor’s walkway, watching everybody with great intensity. The man was one of their neighbors, a volunteer in the self-policing practices which the Government encouraged… Water Wardens would report those who dared to be careless with the water supply. Anyone who spilled or stole extra rations was punished on the spot. Wasteful usage was a crime!

“For the Greater Good!” Flynn mumbled as he filed past the Warden. Flynn hated the man, but he knew it was wise to hide his feelings… When the Trials were over, Flynn thought, he would never have to worry about these Wardens again… He would be living on the Upper Side, where nobody had to ration water…

One by one, Flynn dipped his jugs in the nearest barrel, careful not to spill a single drop.

Alan Perry was waiting for Flynn. Lying on the table was an open plastic bag with two fat, juicy fish fillets in it. “Sit down Flynn,” his father said, then pointed at the fish. “Where did you get these?”

“I traded for them,” Flynn shrugged and poured himself a cup of water.

“Was it a legal trade, then?”

“No.”

“Well…. at least you’re honest.” The harshness in Alan Perry’s voice was still there, but his eyes had taken on a gentler look as he spoke. “I’m worried, Flynn! All this illegal stuff you keep bringing home… all this diving, scavving…”

“C’mon, Dad! It’s not the first time I’ve done that!”

“I know it’s not! I pretend I don’t see… I don’t ask. But… every time you bring something like this home… my heart skips a beat! My son got lucky again, is what I think!”

“You sound just like Tony.”

“Well, he’s got more common sense than you do! You think this is some kind of a game you’re playing?”

“Dad! I know what I’m doing!” Flynn cried.

“Really?”

Their eyes met and stayed locked for a long, awkward moment. There was a lot of sadness and reproach in Alan Perry’s eyes. Flynn knew that look very well. His father didn’t approve of the scavenging and the kind of future Flynn had in mind for himself. He had seen that look many times in the last year… It was the look of disappointment, because Flynn was going against tradition. He had refused to do what was expected of him, and what every good kid in town did when they came of age… They chose to take on their fathers’ jobs, no matter what… and Flynn had no such plans. He wasn’t going to be a Watchman, even though he had grown up in his father’s Watch Tower and knew everything there was to know about the job.

Flynn’s mother had died shortly after he was born, so with no one else to take care of the baby, Alan Perry had strapped his infant son to his back and returned to his job… And the little boy had loved the Watch Tower in the beginning… Perched high above all the other buildings, Flynn felt like he was on top of the world. Back then, it seemed like there was no job more important than that of a Watchman… His father was his hero, always on the lookout for danger, ready to raise the alarm and keep the Archipelago safe…

Until one day, Flynn had spotted the Scavenger Crews and watched the divers go to work! Going down to the ocean bed and coming back with their amazing finds… He also noticed the respect they had among the people of the Archipelago, especially those who held the title of Free Scavengers. The golden badges they all wore were the mark of great success… Those badges were known as Duncan’s Gold, named after Duncan Roth, the man who was in charge of all official scavenging operations. And then, Flynn had learnt of the privileges that came with their job and couldn’t believe his ears… These guys had things that the Lower Siders could only dream of… housing on the Upper Side, good food, running water, no Wardens spying on them… The list of perks was long.

By then, Flynn had been old enough to figure out who the real heroes were… His visits to the Watch Tower became less and less frequent, until he completely stopped going up there… He had met Tony Romero hanging round the Scavenger Crews, and they had built their first raft. They had also made a vow… They were going to become Free Scavengers, earn their Duncan Gold, even if it killed them… And so, for the past six years, the boys had spent their days diving and getting ready for the Trials. They were going to win and change their lives forever. Flynn had made up his mind about what he wanted… Even if it meant breaking his father’s heart. Looking at Alan Perry’s sad eyes now, Flynn felt a prick of guilt… But there was no going back, and he didn’t care what his father was going to say to him.

After having studied his son’s face for a very long time, Alan Perry lowered his gaze.

“Flynn, I’m not going to talk about what you do… or what you plan to do…” The man was struggling to find the words with which to continue. “…I tried to raise you as best as I could… to prepare you for the harsh reality of life here… to keep you safe and out of trouble…”

“Yeah, I know that,” said Flynn, looking down at his feet.

“You’re a big boy now… and soon I’ll be gone.”

“Hey! Don’t say that!” Flynn’s eyes were now on his father.

“Let’s not pretend, son! You know I’m not going to be around for much longer. I’ll be on the Departure List sooner rather than later… My time’s running out!”

“But…” Flynn’s eyes were getting wider with every word, “they’ll keep you, right? Like Mr. Kowalski… You’re one of their best Watchmen… they won’t let you go. They’ll make you an ancient…”

“Flynn!” Alan Perry leaned forward, holding his head in his hands. “I can’t see that well anymore!”

“But you saw me today, didn’t you?” There was a note of hope in Flynn’s voice. “I was on the East border… I waved at you… and then you gave me the signal from the Tower…”

“No, son,” Alan Perry said, shaking his head now. “I’m sorry, I didn’t! Uncle Dale saw you. He set the signal off… He’s been covering for me quite a bit of late… but it won’t go unnoticed.”

Flynn jumped up and turned away from the table. He had expected an argument with his father over the scavenged wine bottle, the fish he had traded, the Trials… anything but this… Officer Foley’s words were echoing in his ears now… and Dino’s… both had said something about his father being on the Departure List this year… Flynn knew how things were going to play out if his father wasn’t able to do his job as a Watchman any more… Alan Perry had been preparing him for that moment ever since he was old enough to understand… And in a way, Flynn, like all the kids on the Lower Side, understood it all… It seemed perfectly normal to them… It was what happened to people when they got to a certain age… No longer able to work and contribute to the community, these people became a burden that the rest couldn’t carry around. They were dead weigh, and they had to make room for the young blood, the new working force. The old and infirm simply had to go!

The Government had not announced the date for the Departure Ceremony, but Flynn knew it could be any day now. They would let people get complacent, hopeful that they might get lucky, borrow some more time… And then, the Departure List would come out with the names of the people who were going to be retired. The Government would throw a big farewell party, known as the Departure Ceremony, thanking those on the List for all their hard work and contribution to the community… They would then put the chosen ones on a raft and escort them away from the city. The raft would be supplied with a small quantity of food and water and set adrift… And that was that! What became of the people on the raft was anybody’s guess… they either died from thirst and starvation, or from the Flood Virus, if they reached the contaminated mountain ridges west of the Archipelago. .. Nobody ever came back.

Yes, Flynn had always known this day would come… that his father would end up on the List and go to the Ceremony… Then Flynn’s turn would come, if he ever lived to be that age… He would have to leave, just like all those before him. This was how things worked, thought Flynn… His mind had been so focused on the Trials and getting ready for the big day that he had stopped paying attention, forgotten about the Archipelago’s tradition and ignored his own father. Flynn had always thought he would be ready for this moment when it arrived… that he would be able to handle it well… accept it and get on with life… But now, he wasn’t so sure.

“If you’re on the List,” said Flynn, “then we’ll think of something…”

“There’s nothing we can do, son.” Alan Perry shook his head.

“There must be!” Flynn began to pace up and down the little room, thinking furiously on his feet. “I’ll hide you, Dad!” he cried. “I know of places… underwater… air pockets… You’ll be OK… I’ll bring you plenty of food and…”

“Flynn, stop!” Allan Perry whispered. “Don’t even think of doing such a foolish and dangerous thing. If I’m on the List, then so be it… Don’t fight it.”

Flynn opened his mouth to say something then closed it. He saw the resignation in his father’s eyes… Alan Perry had always been a stickler to the rules… He had obeyed the Greater Good protocols and never broken a single law in his life… Suddenly, Flynn felt angry at his father. How could the man be such a coward?

“So, you’ll just let them take you away?” Flynn asked. “You won’t let me try to help you?”

“No, I won’t let you.”

“You’d rather die, then?”

“Who knows? Maybe it won’t be the end of me… Maybe I’ll reach Dry Land and live…”

Startled, Flynn looked up. “You know there’s nothing but ocean out there! Everybody knows that!”

“Mr. Kowalski would disagree,” Alan Perry said and laughed suddenly. He got up, walked over to Flynn and threw his arm around his shoulders. “Forget everything I’ve told you… Right now we’ve got us some fresh fish to cook. What do you say, son?”

Flynn swallowed hard then looked at his father. He knew the man was done talking, and Flynn had to respect that. “Sure,” he mumbled and managed a weak smile. “Let’s do that.”

But Flynn was no longer hungry. The last thing he wanted to think about was food…

SIX

Marcus Van Zandt stood by the window and took a sip of his instant coffee. It tasted bitter, although he had dropped two spoonfuls of sugar in his cup and some of that powdered milk they still had in his well-stocked kitchen pantry. He knew the bitterness came from the water. No matter how they treated and filtered it, the Archipelago’s drinking water still had traces of salt. Van Zandt had, of course, enough supplies of bottled water, but he thought it was a waste to use it for his morning coffee… He tried to recall the taste of real coffee and real milk then brushed that memory away quickly. Let bygones be bygones… These things from the past would never make it back into his life. Real or not, he was holding a mug of steaming coffee in his hand! Who else in this city, all things considered, had such a privilege these days? No one, except him and a handful of his most trusted men. That fact always gave him great pleasure. His thin lips stretched into a smile. It was the smile of a survivor… a truly victorious survivor.

Van Zandt leaned on the window and gently drummed his fingers on the glass. Yes, he had real glass on his windows, not those nasty nylon sheets that the Lower Siders used. A few scattered bullet holes dotted the glass, but Van Zandt never bothered having them covered up, or the glass replaced. They were a reminder of the battle that had raged in his building many years ago… The battle that his father had fought and won! It had become his ritual to start the day here at the observation deck, on what used to be the 102nd floor of the Empire State Building. Of course, it was no longer called that… Now it was known as the Van Zandt Building and from its penthouse windows, he had a 360 degree view of the sprawling Archipelago. His Archipelago!

He was looking north at an area once called Central Park, and which now lay buried under millions of gallons of ocean water. It was home to his Floating Desalination Plant, part of the Van Zandt Water Solutions Company… The company that gave him the power to hold the Archipelago and its people in his iron grip… The only source of fresh water that sustained life in this God-forsaken place, he thought happily.

Marcus wasn’t even born, when his father had established Van Zandt Water Solutions. Shortly after the Flood and the initial chaos, a group of wealthy survivors had realized two things. First, that the rooftop water-tank supplies won’t last for very long and that collecting rain water was a futile mission. Second, they had to find a long-term solution if they were to survive. By sheer good luck, Van Zandt Senior had the answer to everyone’s problem… He had found himself stranded in the same building with a marine scientist and a brilliant desalination expert named Nakamura. Van Zandt, who had already formed a powerful militia to guard his neighborhood’s water tanks, had quickly seen an opportunity… he had taken Nakamura under his wing and Van Zandt Water Solutions had been born. After his father’s death, Marcus had stepped in his shoes and solidified the Van Zandt rule of law over the Archipelago. He was pushing sixty now, but appeared at least ten years younger. With his ash-blond hair combed back, tall and slim, he knew he looked good. No one had patent shark-skin shoes and leather jackets like he did!

Marcus Van Zandt took another sip from the steaming cup and his eyes fell on the lone spires of St. Patrick’s Cathedral, sticking out of the water and now used as a mooring dock for rafts and various seafaring vessels… Those spires were sad relics of the past, no longer having any meaning, half buried under water and long forgotten. There was no place for religion on the Archipelago… Van Zandt was the one calling all the shots. He was the people’s savior, and the Greater Good Doctrine was their new religion! If people prayed, they did that behind closed doors and kept it quiet.

Van Zandt glanced at his watch, drained his cup and left it on the windowsill for the maid to pick up. He went down the spiral staircase of his penthouse, nodded to his butler standing at the door and took the pair of gloves the man was holding on a silver tray. Van Zandt loved these gloves and never went anywhere without them. Now, flanked by a couple of his guards, he was ready to start the day by taking the elevator down two floors to his boardroom.

“For the Greater Good, gentlemen!” Marcus Van Zandt greeted his Council members, who were already gathered around the long, polished oak table. He waved his hand when they rose from their seats to salute him. “Please, sit down,” he said. Van Zandt eased into the big chair at the head of the table and studied the men’s faces for any signs of discomfort… and possible betrayal… There they were, all his cohorts and partners in crime, waiting for him to speak… First, there was Vince Jordan, his Chief of Security, a large black man in his fifties. He had the habit of constantly playing with the buckle of the pistol holster hanging on his belt. Clasping and unclasping, always ready, even during their board meetings. “Can’t take your hands off your gun, can you Vincent?” Van Zandt said, jokingly. “No one’s threatening us in here!”

Jordan snapped to attention and quickly placed his massive hands on the table in front of him. His expression was that of a scolded child. Jordan was the spitting image of his father. The Old Jordan had been a high ranking police officer at the time of the Flood, stuck by chance in the same building with Van Zandt’s father. It hadn’t taken him long to assess the new situation and team up with Van Zandt. Surrounded with a solid group of armed officers, they had fiercely guarded the water stored in the rooftop tanks and everything else that was of value. There were fights, blood was spilled in the turf war that followed… many died in the struggle for survival… Later, when things began to settle down, Old Jordan had managed to gather all the remaining police officers, firefighters, security personnel, and virtually anyone who was carrying a badge or a weapon, and he had created the Archipelago’s New Security Force. All firearms were confiscated and gathered in one place, away from the hands of the population. Anything salvaged underwater had to be surrendered to the Security Force. Those caught with an illegal weapon were killed on the spot! With all the firepower on their side, Old Jordan and Van Zandt had established and enforced the new laws of the land. Those who rebelled against the Van Zandt Government were severely punished and paid with their lives. When Old Jordan passed the torch to his son, Vince Jordan had quickly become Marcus Van Zand’s second most trusted man.

Van Zandt’s eyes shifted quickly over to Ted Junior. He was Nakamura’s son and had taken the seat next to Jordan. He had also followed in his father’s steps and was overseeing the desalination and water distribution process between the Upper and the Lower Side. Van Zandt considered him the weakest link in his chain of command. Son of a scientist, the man was too soft and unfit to deal with the brutal realities of life on the Archipelago. His ideas of freeing up the water distribution, and increasing the daily rations were driving Van Zandt crazy. Of course, he would have gotten rid of Ted Nakamura a long time ago, but his hands were tied. Nakamura was the only one who knew the desalination formula, and he was the only one capable of making it work properly.

And then there was Duncan Roth, the Rottweiler. Marcus looked at the man and gave him a slight nod of appreciation. Duncan was something else! He was in charge of the Free Scavengers, of every scavenging operation and the distribution of all precious salvaged goods from the waters of the Archipelago. But Duncan was also an engineer and often supervised construction sites, making sure that none of the salvaged materials were being wasted. He was the only one on the board who held two positions… And the man performed both jobs with unmatched ruthlessness and superb attention to detail. Everybody feared the Rottweiler! And precisely because of this, Van Zandt trusted him even more. He was his best and most trusted ally.

Marcus greeted the rest of the Council members with a cold stare and waited for them to take out their handheld computer devices. Silently, he blessed his father for having the foresight to order the Security Force confiscate as many of them as it could. Before the Flood, most of these devices used to be phones, but they no longer worked as such. No one could place a call on them even if they tried… All lines of communication had gone silent decades ago… But as long as their batteries lasted, they could still perform other valuable functions. They were now used for organizing, record keeping, event planning, adding and subtracting, and the making of lists. Only Government officials of the highest rank were issued with such hardware, and Van Zandt had instructed everybody to guard them with their lives.

“Well, who wants to start?” Van Zandt eyed the group.

“I’ll start,” said a short, chubby man, clearing his throat. Doctor Oscar Zamora, the person responsible for assessing the overall health of the citizens, now pressed the screen on his handheld pad. “I’m pleased to announce that we’ve finalized the Departure List! This year we have a few kids among the group… According to our medical opinion, all of them are cases which are beyond any hope of healing.”

“Speak plainly, Oscar!” Van Zandt sounded annoyed. “You mean the kids are useless to us because they’re dying, right?”

“Correct, sir,” Dr. Zamora nodded.

“Well, if it’s for the greater good of all concerned, I won’t object,” said Van Zandt, folding his arms over his chest and leaning back in his chair. “Losing young blood is always regrettable, but we need our Lower Side population to be strong and productive,” he addressed the table.

“Perhaps, sir, we should look into holding our annual Day of Pairing… Have it shortly after the Departure… This way, we’ll be encouraging the start of a new generation,” Dr. Zamora suggested.

“Excellent idea!” Van Zandt seemed suddenly very animated. “Find out who’s come of age. Help those boys and girls pair up… The sooner they start making babies the better. We’ll replenish our livestock on the Lower Side in no time.” Van Zandt laughed, feeling very pleased with himself. “Now, read that Departure List to me.”

“We have fifty-three people altogether. Forty-eight adults and five kids. I’ll start in alphabetical order: Greg Andrews, Sandy Chia…”

Suddenly, Dr. Zamora was interrupted by rapid tapping sounds coming from outside one of the boardroom’s big windows.

“Hold on Oscar,” Van Zandt said, getting out of his chair. “Looks like we’ve got some urgent mail…” He walked briskly over to the window where a steel-grey pigeon was waiting. It had landed on a small perch attached to the window’s sill. The bird tapped its beak on the glass again. Van Zandt opened the window, scooped the bird in his hand, and then carefully retrieved a folded scrap of paper out of the pouch round the bird’s neck. All eyes were on him as he opened the note and silently read it. “It’s from Jenkins,” he said, frowning. “Another tower’s partially collapsed on the Lower Side! It’s taken down two bridges… Quite a lot of casualties!”

“I’m on my way!” Duncan Roth stood up immediately and was already half way out of the room.

“Me too!” Jordan said and followed the Rottweiler.

“Go to work, gentlemen!” Van Zandt peered out of the window in the direction of the Lower Side. “The Departure List will have to wait.”

SEVEN

“Antonio’s not feeling well today, Flynn!” Mrs. Romero shook her head, her eyes full of worry and pain.

Flynn was trying to peek inside Tony’s apartment, but his mother had now completely blocked the low doorway with her body. “Can I come in and see him? Just for a minute?”

“Better not…. I want him to rest… not get too excited.”

“But we’ve got to…” Flynn began to say something and stopped. “Never mind, I’ll go and get him some more medicine… That’ll fix him.”

“It won’t help much, Flynn!”

“Then what will, Mrs. Romero?”

“Dr. Omar says Tony needs stronger food, mountain air… whatever that is anyway… we don’t have it,” said Mrs. Romero wringing her hands. “And he’s had to report Tony’s condition to the Government…. to Dr. Zamora’s people!” The poor woman choked up, her eyes filling with tears.

“Mom, who is it?” Tony’s voice came from inside the apartment. It sounded weak.

“Nobody, son,” Mrs. Romero said over her shoulder, never taking her eyes away from Flynn. “I’ll be right in.”

“Well, I’ll drop by tomorrow, then,” Flynn said.

“Please, don’t! He’s not going out any time soon!” She hesitated then grabbed Flynn’s hand and leaned closer. “Tony doesn’t have a pair of lungs like you do… made out of steel… he can barely breathe, Flynn!” she whispered, her voice full of bitterness. Mrs. Romero let go of Flynn, stepped back inside and closed the door flap.

Flynn felt terrible. He had truly believed the medicine would help Tony get better, keep him going…. It had been Tony’s last hope after all those visits to Dr. Omar and the Lower Side Infirmary, the miserable little hospital ward on the corner of Bridge and Broad Street Canals. It occupied the lowest two floors of the building, so patients didn’t have to be carried up and down stairs and walkways. The Archipelago had a much better medical facility on the Upper Side, but it was off-limits for the Lower Siders. Dr. Omar did all he could for the sick and those wounded in accidents around town. He was another ancient, spared from the Departure List, like Mr. Kowalski. Over the years the man had performed miracles, considering the lack of medical supplies and the appalling conditions he was working under. He had even come up with a few break-through medical solutions… using algae and various types of jellyfish, he had successfully developed replacements for conventional and long lost medicines. And he had also done an amazing job with Flynn, stitching him up after the shark tooth incident… Flynn could easily have lost his arm if it weren’t for the good doctor… But there wasn’t much the old man could do for Tony, apart from suggesting the boy continue with the nightly algae inhalations. Every time he examined the ailing boy, he would look at Mrs. Romero and shake his head in despair. Dr. Omar knew he was helpless and had pretty much given up on Tony.

Flynn stood in front of the Romero’s door, scratching his head… Now what? Mountain air? Where the hell was he going to get that from? Mountains didn’t exist, he knew that. Only in pictures and in tales of what the world was like before the Flood… Flynn remembered staring for hours at the faded photographs of snow-capped mountain peaks, green valleys and fields covered with flowers… of dark blue lakes and lush forests… They were all in the old magazines and books his father kept hidden away in their apartment. Allan Perry had used them for teaching Flynn to read and write. There were no schools anymore… Parents on the Lower Side were left to their own devices when it came to educating their children. Most didn’t bother at all. Those who did would stick mainly to the basics — reading and writing. No one cared about teaching Geography and History. Who needed to know about things of the past, buried under tons of water and never coming back!

Yes, Flynn had seen the pictures of what used to be out there, but they were just that… pictures. You couldn’t breathe fresh mountain air from a picture, could you! Last night, he had eavesdropped on the conversation between his father and Mr. Kowalski… heard all that nonsense about some magical healthy Dry Land far in the West… Mr. Kowalski was getting old and losing his mind, Flynn thought. There was nothing out there! Nothing, but ocean and tiny outposts with contaminated waste.

He glanced once more at Tony’s door, turned away and slowly started to climb up the filthy steps of the Romero’s apartment building. He had to stop fooling himself. Tony wasn’t going to be fit to partner him in the Trials. But who else was there? All the boys his age had teamed up already. Except… Flynn stopped suddenly, sucking in his breath… This wasn’t going to work, but what the heck… It was worth a try, he thought as he rushed up to the roof of the building.

He had not come with his raft to check on Tony, since the boy lived only a block away from him. Flynn had walked the distance. He had used the big bridge over Greenway Canal and then a couple of suspended walkways between buildings to get to Tony’s… Now, he had to cross all the way to the east corner of the Lower Side… and walking was out of the question. Flynn knew that he had no other choice, but to get on one of the cable cars.

The Baldwin Cable Car system was the brainchild of Dan Baldwin, a member of the First Government and a close associate of Van Zandt Senior. The man was long dead, but his cable-car system lived on. It was regarded by the Government as the work of a genius, a great achievement in providing public transportation and helping to ease the traffic on the waterways. They were especially proud of the cables connecting the Upper and Lower Side. Those ran the length of the submerged Midtown section, on both sides of the Van Zandt’s Pipeline, with cable cars crawling up and down above Midtown Bay.

Well, Flynn hated the cable car service. It was slow, unreliable and often dangerous, he thought as he climbed onto the shaky station platform. The platform jutted out from the roof of the building and its corrugated sheets of metal wobbled under Flynn’s feet. Stepping cautiously toward the edge, he grabbed the side railings to steady himself. He took a look around and felt dwarfed by the wind turbines, towering above him from the rooftops of the surrounding buildings. Half a dozen huge fans, covered in grime and bird droppings, rotated slowly, the shadows of their blades dancing all around Flynn. Coils of power cables hung from the turbines’ motors and stretched down to the Lower Side Generator building. Relics from the past, some of the generators still worked, providing energy alongside the clusters of solar panels. But, one by one, these machines were failing, due to the diminishing number of spare parts needed to keep them up and running. As hard as they tried, the Free Scavenger crews weren’t bringing up anything that could help Mr. Kowalski and his team help fix the problem.

A new sound made Flynn shift his gaze. The thick suspension cable above his head was now vibrating madly with a low hum. He was in luck today. A cable car was coming right on schedule. Flynn glanced to his left, and there it was, swaying in the air and slowly making its way toward him. The car’s cabin was a rusting shell of a bus, salvaged from the depths of the Archipelago’s waters. It had been stripped clean of its wheels, gears and engine, leaving only its tattered seats inside. An effort had been made to scrub away the thick crust of barnacles which clung to the bus’ sides, but a row of them still remained along its undercarriage.

All of the Archipelago’s cable cars operated on human power. A couple of sturdy bicycle-like frames were welded inside every cabin, with pulley cables running from their gears through a hatch in the roof. The pulley lines were attached to the cable car’s double-wheel cradle, which allowed the cabin to roll along the main suspension line. As it got closer, Flynn could see the sweaty and pained faces of the two drivers who were pushing on the pedals of the bicycle contraption. He pitied the guys… Yes, they worked short shifts, had longer breaks than most, but theirs was one hell of a tough job! Flynn waved his hand and the cable car came screeching to a stop at the platform’s edge. He hopped in and the car lurched forward, starting to move again.

The cabin was half empty, with no more than a dozen passengers inside, but it reeked of their unwashed bodies and hair. Flynn chose to sit closer to the open door where he hoped the air would be fresher. There was an elderly man dozing quietly in the seat next to him. Flynn stole a glance and recognized his face. It was Mr. Chow! The man who made the best fish-skin shoes in the whole Lower Side… Everyone wanted to get a pair from his stall at the market, only he couldn’t make them fast enough to satisfy the demand. Flynn stared at his own feet. Today, he was wearing a pair of Mr. Chow’s sturdy moccasins, a present from his father for Flynn’s sixteenth birthday. Unlike the superb quality of his shoes, Mr. Chow’s own clothes were in a horrific state… even by Lower Side standards… His colorless seal-skin coat had so many holes that it looked like he was draped in nothing but a fraying fish net. Mr. Chow’s bald head wobbled on his thin neck as the cable car went swinging on its way to the next stop. His grubby, knotty hands held on to a big fish-skin bag in his lap. Mr. Chow looked old and tired. It occurred to Flynn that Mr. Chow could be on the List, too… and that there was no one who would be taking over his trade… Both his sons had died when their rubber dingy was sideswiped by one of the Van Zandt’s powerboats.

Suddenly, there were loud gasps from the passengers behind Flynn. They were looking to the right of the cable car. Flynn craned his neck for a better view and saw immediately what had caused all the commotion. In the near distance, a mid-sized roof tower had partially collapsed. It had fallen against an adjacent tower. Luckily, this had stopped the first from falling all the way down into the water… But there was already quite a lot of damage to both structures… Little shack-like units had detached themselves from the main truss frames of the towers and were hanging upside-down, dangling precariously over the waterway below. The bridges and walkways surrounding the towers had also taken a hit. With most now vertical, they were beginning to disintegrate before everybody’s eyes. Rescue Crews and residents were moving like ants around all the carnage, doing their best to help the survivors get out of harm’s way. Nothing new here, Flynn thought… Nothing out of the ordinary for life on the Lower Side… After the Trials, he would be living on the Upper Side where the buildings were solid and safe. People didn’t live in such makeshift extensions. They all had apartments with proper rooms and decent furniture. He had heard that the Upper Side even had running water coming out of taps…

By the time Flynn had finished daydreaming of the life that awaited him, the cable car had moved on. Now, he could see the silhouettes of the Pigeon Towers, shimmering ahead in the morning sun. “Getting off at the next stop!” he shouted to the drivers as he stood up.

The two men slowed down on the pedals, applied the brakes, and the cable car came to a screeching halt alongside another rooftop platform. Flynn hopped off, but he had made no more than a few steps when a loud bang made him jump. He turned, just in time to see the pulley cradle snap in half. It crashed onto the cable car’s roof and tumbled into the canal down below. The cabin hung in mid air for a moment, then lurched forward as its nose lost support and began to tilt. The shift in gravity flung all the passengers toward the front.

Flynn watched in horror as Mr. Chow rolled off his seat and slid out the open door. Somehow, the old man managed to grab hold of the door step with one hand and stop his fall.

But Flynn knew that Mr. Chow was still in grave danger, because his whole body was now outside the cable car, dangling in mid air.

Having run back to the edge of the platform, Flynn threw himself flat on his stomach. He could see Mr. Chow better and couldn’t believe that the man was still clutching his bag with the other hand. “Drop the bag!” Flynn shouted, reaching out over the ledge. “Give me your hand!”

Mr. Chow looked up and their eyes met. He said nothing. The man just kept hanging there, staring at Flynn.

“C’mon! Drop your bag and grab my hand!” Flynn stretched his arm, his fingers now only inches from Mr. Chow. He glanced at the old man’s hand holding the doorstep. Flynn could tell that his grip was weakening… he was losing his hold. Seconds later, Flynn watched helplessly as Mr. Chow, still holding his bag, let go of the step and plummeted toward his death. Flynn heard the faint splash when the man’s body hit the water. “Damn it!” he cried and banged his fist on the platform. “Damn it!”

By now, the cable car was hanging only by a thread. The overhead wire couldn’t hold the weight of the car for much longer… It gave a terrible screeching sound, louder than the screams coming from inside. Flynn stood up and looked around in frustration. There was nothing he could do! Groups of people had gathered on the surrounding rooftops, waiting for the inevitable… There was one final snap, the suspension cable broke, and the car went tumbling down toward the water… Flynn fell to his knees and covered his ears with his hands, blocking out the sound of the cable car as it plunged into the canal…

He had seen plenty of lives being lost over the years, but today’s events had been too close to home… It could have been him. Trying to slow down his breathing and calm his pounding heart, Flynn counted his blessings… He was alive and nothing else mattered! It was the Archipelago’s way of thinking… a philosophy that kept you getting up in the morning and making it through the day. Feeling exceptionally lucky, Flynn headed in the direction of the nearest bridge, his mind already preoccupied with what he had to do next.

EIGHT

Madison Ray sat at the very top of her Pigeon Tower. There were five towers to the farm built on the rooftop of the Rays’ Lower East Side building. Hers was the tallest among them, a good sixty feet tall. It was a conical structure, made from old water tanks and pieces of junk, but it was exceptionally sturdy, able to withstand the strongest gusts of the Archipelago’s easterly winds. Small, round pigeon holes covered the tower from top to bottom. Slowly, Madison wrapped her head in a long scarf, making sure she had covered her face well… especially her nose and mouth… One of the many hazards of her job was breathing in the dangerous dust from all the bird droppings. Right now, Madison had to concentrate on her task for the day, which was to scrub clean all the pigeon poles sticking out of the tower walls.

As usual, she would start from the top and gradually make her way down. When finished, she had to scoop all the dried droppings into buckets and send them off across to the Brooklyn floating warehouses. There, the pigeon droppings were stored and later used to soften seal skins for shoes and clothing. The stench of the pigeon towers had stopped bothering Madison years ago. For as long as she could remember, she had been helping her mom and dad with their pigeon farm. Like the other farms scattered around the Lower Side rooftops, theirs was used to raise pigeons for squab, the only decent bird meat available on the Archipelago. The meat that came from seagulls was hard to chew and didn’t taste that good. The farm also produced pigeon eggs, a delicacy that went straight to the Upper Side… but Madison always managed to hide some of the eggs for her family or to trade them on the Black Market.

Madison’s own tower was different from the rest on the farm. Her pigeons were not bred for food. Her pigeons were special! They were homing pigeons, trained by Madison to be couriers. After the Flood, people had gone back to using birds to deliver their messages, and it was the quickest way of communicating around the Archipelago. Most of her carrier pigeons went on to service the Government, but she had kept two pairs for her own personal use, and she often did favors for people on the Lower Side. When someone needed to send an urgent word to Dr. Omar at the Infirmary, Madison was the person they would seek out. She liked that part of the job, but wished she could avoid the bird slaughtering and the plucking of feathers… Unfortunately, she had no choice… Madison was almost sixteen now, and ready to take on a bigger role in the family’s trade. It was her duty.

But deep in her heart Madison knew she didn’t belong here. Not on a pigeon farm and so high up in the sky… Madison took in the vastness of the ocean all around her. Her eyes followed the tiny dots of vessels sailing between the Brooklyn Bridge towers. Of course, only the tower tops were visible, several feet above the waterline, giving them the appearance of two perfectly symmetrical islands. How long was it since she had last swum in those waters? When was the last time she had gone diving with Tony and Flynn, helping them scavenge and dream of winning the Trials? It had been more than a year… Furious at herself for thinking of the past, Madison rolled up her sleeves and began scrubbing.

Madison had just finished cleaning the first pole and was swinging her leg over the next one when she heard a voice say, “Hello there!” Startled, Madison spun around, almost losing her balance. A boy sat perched on a pole a few feet away, grinning at her. It took Madison a few seconds before she realized who he was… “Flynn Perry, you idiot!” she cried, the scarf over her mouth, muffling her angry voice. “Don’t creep up on me like that! I almost fell!”

“Boy, it stinks up here!” Flynn scrunched up his nose in disgust. “I should’ve worn a gas mask.”

“Why did you bother coming, then?” Madison’s eyes flashed between the folds of her scarf. She started scrubbing again, trying to ignore her unexpected visitor… trying to recover from the shock of seeing Flynn there… only an arm’s reach away.

Flynn rummaged in his satchel and took out a soda can. “Here, I brought you something,” he said.

Madison’s hand shot out and snatched the can. “I’ll drink it later… when I take my gear off,” she mumbled and put the can in one of her egg baskets. “Thanks…”

“You’re welcome,” Flynn replied.

“So… what brings you up here? What do you want?” Madison asked, trying to keep her voice steady.

“Nothing… Well… Tony’s sick!”

“I know.”

“He says you might be, you know… interested in…”

“Scavv’ying?/Scavenging?”

“Yeah… Be my Crew Mate at the Trials.”

“I’ll have to think about it… Maybe I will, maybe I won’t,” Madison replied and went back to scrubbing.

“Great! Then it’s a deal,” Flynn grinned and started to climb down the tower.

“I didn’t say yes, did I?” Madison shouted after him. “I said, I’ll think about it!”

“See you tomorrow at ten,” Flynn yelled when he had reached the bottom. “You know where to find me, right?”

Of course, Madison knew… and her heart skipped a beat. Good thing her face was so well covered, she thought, or Flynn would have seen her cheeks blush a bright shade of red.

Was Madison going to join him on the Seeker? Up on the tower, Flynn had acted as if he was taking it for granted that she would… But the truth was that he wasn’t at all sure. He could only hope that she would… hope she would be able to step into Tony’s shoes without losing precious time. True, she hadn’t trained with him and Tony for a while, but Flynn knew she was fit and strong. Climbing up and down those stinky pigeon towers was no small feat… And she loved being in the water. That’s why he and Tony had noticed her in the first place. A little girl swimming like a fish… Most girls on the Archipelago couldn’t even float… they weren’t encouraged to go in the water, and Madison had surprised everybody with what she could do… She had outraced all the boys with her powerful freestyle, and she could hold her breath just as long as Tony could… Yes, Madison was a great swimmer and an excellent backup scavvy diver, thought Flynn, as he began to make his way home.

Flynn had now walked out of the shadows of the Pigeon Towers, but there was no way he was going to take the cable car… Not after what had happened earlier. He began to jog along the bridge-way, which connected Madison’s building to the one across Water Street Canal. Might as well go through some training exercises, he thought as he picked up speed… It was the perfect distance for his Breath Hold Practice, a drill he had been doing almost daily for the past few years. First, he would run slowly for an hour, while performing a sequence of breathing exercises… Those always started with running two steps, holding his breath, followed by ten steps of running and breathing normally… Then he would increase to four, six, eight steps… and keep increasing, until finally, he was holding his breath for twenty and breathing normally for ten.

The Breath Hold Practice was a great way to accustom a diver’s body to high levels of carbon dioxide and low levels of oxygen… Just one of the many things Flynn had learned from Ann Baxter on how to be a great scavenger… Suddenly, the woman’s name brought a rush of memories into Flynn’s head… The famous Ann Baxter… the only woman diver to ever make it among the top Free Scavengers! The woman who had been Duncan Roth’s team mate and his equal… That had been before the Rottweiler had shot up the ranks to become Marcus Van Zandt’s right-hand man. Rumor had it that Baxter and Roth had been more than just members of the same crew. They had been lovers, but something had made them part ways…

It was Ann Baxter who had become Flynn’s mentor from the moment he had stepped on her raft and demanded to be her apprentice. What had made Ann accept Flynn on the spot remained a mystery to him… It could have been the sheer boldness of the act itself… No one had ever dared to approach a Free Scavenger with such a request. There was always a long line of hopefuls, waiting to be noticed, but never daring to ask… Whatever the reason, Ann had taken Flynn under her wing, teaching him all there was to know about free diving. And more than that… She had filled a big void in his life. For a brief moment in time, Ann had become the mother he never had… But Ann had disappeared on the day Flynn had turned fifteen! She had gone on one of her regular dives and not come back… And like most free divers, her body was never found. Ann Baxter had died doing her job… and that was it… another casualty of life on the Archipelago. As much as Flynn didn’t want to admit it, he missed her terribly… especially now… He wished his old teacher was still around to see him compete in the Trials… and to see him win!

The thought of winning the Trials helped focus Flynn back on the present… Without missing a beat, he hopped from the bridge-way on to the ledge of the next rooftop and headed toward the crossing over Pearl Street Canal. He kept running at an even pace, loving every minute of every step he took. It felt like running on top of the world, the city sprawled beneath his feet. The view was breathtaking… But this wasn’t the best time of the day for Flynn to be going through such a routine… There were so many pedestrians rushing back and forth on the walkways that it was now more of an obstacle course… Luckily for Flynn, most people stepped out of his way, letting him pass. They knew what he was doing. No one else ran like that on the Archipelago, except for the young blood training for the Scavenger Trials.

Flynn had reached his tower and was only a few feet from his apartment when he felt a rush of wind as something swooped over his head. He heard the flapping of wings and saw a carrier pigeon land on the walkway’s railing. Glancing around, Flynn came to an abrupt stop. Apart from a few neighbors walking in the distance, it was just him and the bird. But was the pigeon here for Flynn or somebody else, then? There was a red ribbon tied round one of its feet, which meant a message was waiting to be delivered… The pigeon inched its way closer and cocked its head to one side. A small beady eye was now staring at him. Flynn reached for the pouch hanging round the bird’s neck, took out a tiny piece of paper and read it.

The note said: I’ll be there, M.

After ruffling its feathers, the pigeon flapped its wings again and took off in the direction of the Pigeon Towers. Flynn stood still, watching the bird fly away. When he could see it no longer, Flynn shoved the note in his pocket and, with a huge smile on his face, opened the door flap to his apartment. Yes, Madison Ray was going to make one hell of a Crew Mate.

NINE

Flynn leaned over the side of the Seeker and peered at the water. He could just about make out the outline of a moving shadow under its surface. It was growing bigger, coming closer. Finally, Madison’s head burst through with a big splash. She spat some water and took a big, noisy gulp of air.

“Good job!” Flynn said, extremely pleased with the girl’s progress. “That’s enough diving for today.”

Madison removed her goggles; grabbed Flynn’s outstretched hand, and let him hoist her up on deck. She rolled on her back, eyes closed, trying to catch her breath, her chest heaving from all the strain of rigging up the diving bell. Water dripped from her glistening skin, forming a small pool on the raft’s platform.

Flynn caught himself staring at Madison… again… and shaking his head in total disbelief… Yesterday, Madison had been wearing a pair of scruffy overalls… her face covered with a grimy scarf… Today, she had arrived at the docks in cut-off cargo pants, a tank top, and her face no longer hidden by a scarf… And she had given Flynn the surprise of his life… Back at the dock, he had stared at the girl before him, at first not realizing it was Madison Ray. True, he had not seen her in over a year, but the person before him bore only the faintest resemblance to the old Madison… In his head, she had been this quirky kid… one of the boys… and nothing special… But looking at her now, he couldn’t help noticing the incredible transformation that had taken place… Gone was the awkward looking child with spindly legs, matted hair and a mouth too big for its face… With her long and slender limbs, her cascading waves of sun-streaked hair and full lips, Madison Ray had turned into a real beauty. She was, by far, the most stunning girl Flynn had seen on the Archipelago… It was hard not to stare!

Madison’s long eyelashes fluttered and she opened her eyes. Flynn looked away, but not fast enough. “What?” she asked, propping herself up on her elbows.

“Err… nothing!” Flynn picked up a jar filled with seal fat, scooped a handful and slapped it on his chest. Avoiding any eye contact with Madison, he started smearing the grease all over his body.

Madison rubbed her arm, sniffed her fingers and scrunched up her nose. “Ugh! This stuff stinks worse than my pigeons!”

“Yeah! But it sure keeps you warm when you’re in the water.”

“This is harder than I thought, Flynn… I’m not sure if I can keep pace with you….”

“You’re doing fine for someone who hasn’t practiced in a while,” said Flynn, reassuringly. He was covered from head to toe in grease now. “A lot to catch up on, but we can’t do it in just a few days.”

“I thought I was only going to work on the pedals and the air-pump…”

“You will be… But, as my Crew Mate, you’ve got to dive well enough in case of an emergency. You’re here to watch my back,” said Flynn, stretching out his hand. “Goggles, please!”

“Hey! I thought you said enough diving for today.”

“I need to get something… Just one quick dive and we’re going back.”

Madison untangled the goggles from her hair and handed them to Flynn. Then she shook out her long, wet mane, sending a cloud of tiny water drops flying in the air.

“You know, you’ll have to cut it all off,” Flynn said.

“Why?”

“Can’t take unnecessary risks… with hair like that… It can get caught in something down there. Trap you, or strangle you…. And you’ll be dead before you know it.” Flynn stepped to the edge of the raft, closed his eyes and relaxed his body. Standing perfectly still, he looked like a golden statue, his oiled skin catching the light of the strong afternoon sun.

“What’re you doing?”

Flynn opened one eye slightly, caught Madison looking at him then closed it. “Concentrating… Slowing down my heart beat.”

“Really… you can do that… by concentrating?”

“Just watch… I’ll teach you all the tricks of deep free diving after the Trials.”

“Aren’t you supposed to take deep breaths… get more oxygen before you dive?”

“Bad idea.”

“Why?”

Flynn gave up, opened his eyes and faced Madison. With all her questions, she was making it really hard for him to concentrate. “’Cause I’ll be hyper-ventilating then, and black out. That’s why.”

“Oh… that makes sense,” she said, scowling. “You must think I’m stupid for asking.”

“No, I don’t!” Flynn felt like kicking himself. The last thing he needed was for Madison to get offended and give up on the whole Crew Mate deal. “I think you’re very wise, asking me about stuff…” he mumbled… Wise and very pretty, Flynn thought, not realizing he was staring at Madison again.

“So, are you going in, or not?”

Flynn looked away from the girl and began to scan the horizon. “Just making sure we’re alone,” he said. Flynn had positioned the Seeker at the same spot he and Tony had last scavenged. Yes, he knew that he was pushing his luck, and he shouldn’t be there… Not so soon after being caught “trespassing”, anyway… But, he also knew there was so much more stuff to be scavvied/found in the pharmacy down below. It would be such a shame to abandon it now. Most importantly, there was medicine that could help Tony get better. He had to risk it.

“Looks like the coast’s clear!” He snapped his goggles on. “OK, one more time… When you hear the rattle, start pumping. The second time you hear it go off, you stop. Are we good?”

Madison nodded, took her position on the seat and placed her foot on the oxygen pump.

“See you in a bit.”

Flynn attached his mesh sack to his belt and without looking back at Madison, he dived in. Kicking his feet, he made a few wide breast strokes which propelled him deeper down in the water. Then, he placed his arms beside his torso and let himself sink. His body went rigid and straight as an arrow, something Flynn would do on purpose to conserve energy and air as long as possible. Now he was sinking, using his own weight.

The sun beams penetrated the turquoise water around him, the colors gradually becoming a darker shade of blue as he kept going deeper and deeper. A school of silver bellied fish shot past his head, but he paid them no attention. Flynn was following the length of the rope and the hose attached to the diving bell. The bell would be his first destination. Without stopping, he pinched his nose and blew against his closed lips to equalize the pressure building up in his body. The water was dark blue now, and he could see the diving bell, only a few feet away. In just under three minutes, Flynn had successfully completed the first phase of his dive to the ocean bed. The bell was his little safe haven. He dove under it, and his head popped up in the bell’s air bubble.

Flynn took a deep breath. The air was good enough to replenish his oxygen intake. He anchored his feet to the small platform, attached to the bottom of the bell, and rummaged inside his satchel. He found the flashlight, tightly sealed and secured with duct tape, felt for the switch under the plastic wrap and pressed it. A beam of bright light illuminated the bell, making its dome glow like a lantern in the murkiness of the water outside. Flynn fastened the flashlight to the strap of his goggles, took a few short breaths and swam out of the bell. This was the second phase of his dive, and soon, the beam of his light was bouncing off the submerged buildings of the city below.

It was always an eerie sight, serene and hauntingly beautiful. Flynn swam down towards a mass of twisted metal, crusted with barnacles, covering the length of what was once a suburban Queens’ street. There were cars, trucks and buses, piled on top of each other, having found and settled into their final resting place after the Flood. Flynn dove under the tangled power cables, still hanging from tilted electricity poles, and made his way through the rusty cab of a large overturned truck. He spotted the human remains, lying in a heap on the driver’s seat. The bones were polished clean by the fish and crabs. Flynn knew that skeletons were everywhere when he went on such deep dives… especially in the old residential areas. Nothing out of the ordinary, he thought. The ocean bed around the Archipelago was one big cemetery… Flynn inspected quickly the remains for anything worth scavenging… Sometimes, he would find a watch or a piece of jewelry, a golden tooth crown, a pair of shoes or an item of clothing that could still be worn… the kind of stuff he could easily trade on the Black Market… This time, he found nothing of value in the cab and swam on toward his final destination.

As expected, and without much trouble, his flashlight located the pharmacy’s sign from the day before. Flynn dived through a gap in the wall and swam straight for the row of silt covered cabinets at the back of the shop. His hand wiped the black slime away, revealing the cabinets’ glass doors. Behind them were shelves stacked with vacuum-packed medicine. Flynn pulled at one of the doors, but it was sealed shut by the thick crust of a dozen giant clams. Not wasting any time, he rotated his arms, backed up and kicked the glass with his heel. The glass cracked and caved in a little. He gave it another kick and it imploded. Water rushed in, sweeping the packages into a frothy whirlpool. Avoiding the sharp pieces of glass, Flynn grabbed at the floating packs, and began to stuff them in his sack. He had practiced these moves many times. As always, Flynn was fast and efficient.

Halfway through his scavenging run, Flynn stopped, turned and swam away. He had been holding his breath for about three and a half minutes, and he knew it was time to head back to the diving bell for some more air. A few moments later, he was inside the bell’s dome and immediately noticed that the air in the capsule had become stuffy… It needed more oxygen… Flynn reached up and pulled on the piece of rope, hanging above his head. Up on the raft, the rattle would tell Madison that she needed to pump him some more fresh air. They had practiced the drill a hundred times that day, so Flynn had no reason to worry. He headed straight down to the pharmacy again, without giving the oxygen pump a second thought.

Back at the cabinets, he gathered the remaining floating packs, took one last look around, and his eyes fell on an overturned vending machine. It was lying on the floor, half-buried in sea shells and kelp weeds. With its backside cracked open, there were a few soda cans that had spilled out, and Flynn collected them quickly in his sack. He then reached inside the vending machine, hoping to find some more of its valuable stash. As his hand closed over a can, Flynn suddenly felt an electrical current run through his whole body. His hand shot back out of the crack, followed by a huge eel. Its jaws snapped shut, inches from Flynn’s fingers. Instantly, the eel coiled back into the vending machine, its mouth wide open, waiting to strike again. For a split second Flynn thought about killing the eel and taking it home for dinner, but then decided to let the creature live… It would have been too risky! He was now dangerously close to running out of oxygen again. It was time for Flynn to turn around and swim back to the bell.

Once inside, Flynn realized that the air had become much worse than before. “What’s she doing up there!” he shouted, grabbing for the rope. He gave it a sharp tug, then rested his feet on the bell’s platform and waited… A few moments passed. Nothing! No fresh air was coming down the hose. “C’mon Madison!” Flynn’s voice sounded hollow inside the little dome as he looked up in frustration… He was beginning to feel dizzy. The air inside the bell was now heavy with carbon dioxide.

And then, the bell lurched violently, sending Flynn crashing into the wall behind him. If he had not grabbed hold of the hose, he would have slipped out of the bell and into the watery abyss below. What the hell was that? Flynn’s mind was now racing… Was it a seal… or a shark? Flynn shone his flashlight through the clear plastic wall into the darkness outside. He could see no farther than a few feet anyway… Seconds later, he felt another jolt, and then to Flynn’s surprise, the diving bell began to move. This was all wrong, he thought, trying desperately to keep his balance. Something was dragging the bell slowly to the right with Flynn still inside it, and with very little air left for him to survive such a ride.

Flynn knew he had to act fast. Taking one last quick breath, he dived out of the bell, and then following the hose, swam up as fast as he could. Soon he could see the rectangular outline of the Seeker above, but his raft was not alone… It was flanked by the silhouettes of two other vessels. Flynn wasn’t sure, but they looked like boats… He kicked his feet harder, and as he got closer to the surface, he saw that the boats had powerful propellers, churning away in the water… Suddenly, there was no longer any doubt in Flynn’s mind… the Seeker had two motor boats for company and they were Government boats!

Usually, like most experienced divers, Flynn would scream during the last few feet before surfacing from a deep dive, in order to get all the air out of his lungs. This time, he held his breath and came up behind his raft, making sure he was as silent as he could possibly be. He forced himself to suppress the urge to take a deep breath, taking a few shallow ones instead. Then he grabbed hold of one of the tires at the back of the Seeker and slowly hoisted himself up, his head peeking an inch above the platform. There was no sign of Madison! The raft was deserted… the oxygen pump pedals stood abandoned. Flynn pulled himself up a little higher and saw the motor boats in front of him. The bigger of the two was the Fury. She was leisurely tugging the Seeker in her wake, and at her helm stood the familiar figure of Leo Van Zandt.

TEN

“Damn!” Flynn lowered himself stealthily back into the water, cursing his bad luck… He had taken a huge gamble by coming back to this spot. Tony had warned him to stay away, and he should have listened to him… His friend was right… Flynn had become too cocky and reckless for his own good. But it was too late to do anything about it… He had no choice, but to face the Van Zandt boy.

Grasping onto the tires and ropes which hung on the side of the Seeker, Flynn began to move carefully toward the front. Once there, he pulled out his knife, hesitated for a moment, then reached up and cut the tug rope. Suddenly, free from the weight of the Seeker, Leo’s boat jumped forward; made a wide U-turn and came to a stop, facing the raft. The other boat made the same maneuver, cutting off its engine. Flynn was standing now on the deck of the Seeker with the knife still in his hand.

“Flynn!” Madison cried and jumped up in the Van Zandt boat. The two boys sitting beside her dragged her down.

“So…” Leo Van Zandt slowly rose from his seat. “Our trespasser decided to show his sorry face, after all!” He chuckled, then pushed the throttle and moved his boat forward. Her prow bumped roughly into the Seeker, making Flynn stumble back. Regaining his balance, he glared at Leo, his knuckles white from gripping the knife so hard.

The guards in the second boat rose immediately, cocking their guns, but Leo waved them down. “I told you, I’d be watching you, Perry boy!” said Leo. He then patted the pair of binoculars hanging round his neck. “You think you’re smarter than me? Or just plain stupid?” he asked.

There was no response from Flynn. He was trying not to stare at Leo’s binoculars… the exact same pair Leo had on him when he had nearly drowned at the Pier… So, Leo had recognized him, Flynn thought, and that could only mean more trouble.

“What’s your story this time?” Leo continued. “Fishing again?”

“We were training…” replied Flynn, keeping his voice steady, “…for the Trials.”

“Hah! And you think you’ll make it to the Trials,” Leo scoffed. “After all your illegal activities here? You won’t be allowed to compete, scum boy!” Leo’s smile had disappeared. “I see only one future job for you, Perry! The closest you’ll ever get to scavenging is by picking garbage from the Junk Nets! Or even better… join the Waste Crew on their stinking rafts!”

Flynn tensed at the memory of the Waste Crew. The Junk Nets around the northern part of the Archipelago were there to catch any floating garbage from the ocean’s waters… a slightly better option than the Waste Crew, but a horrible punishment, nevertheless. Flynn holstered his knife, suddenly feeling lightheaded. He wasn’t going to let Leo Van Zandt intimidate him, no matter what! If Tony had been there, he would have been shocked by the words Flynn was about to speak. Shocked and petrified, but Flynn didn’t care… “I definitely won’t be working the Junk Nets, or the Waste Crew!” he said slowly, holding his chin up in sheer defiance of the danger he was in. “I’m one of the best divers in town!”

“Is that so?” Leo raised an eyebrow.

“Yes! I don’t think the Government would want to waste my skills on collecting garbage… that’s what the Greater Good Doctrine states…”

“Enough!” Leo cut him off angrily. “It’s not for you to say who or what the Government needs, scum boy!”

“Well, it’s the truth…” Flynn took a step closer to Leo’s boat. “Ask your father. Ask Duncan Roth.”

The guards immediately raised their weapons, their muzzles pointing at him. There was a long, tense moment of silence. Leo and Flynn stood no more than a few feet apart, not taking their eyes off each other.

“Tell you what, tough guy,” said Leo icily, “I’ll make you an offer… A chance to get yourself out of this mess… and prove what a great diver you are.”

“I’m listening.”

“I want you to go down there, a straight dive, no bell, no extra air, and bring me…”

Leo scratched his chin, thinking. “What do we need, guys?” he asked, turning to look at his posse of friends with a wicked grin on his face.

“Beer!” one of the boys shouted.

“Any liquor stores down below, Perry?” asked Leo. “I believe you know the area well by now.”

Flynn gave a slight nod.

“Well, that’s your challenge, then. Bring up some beer… You do that, and I promise I won’t report you… I’ll forget we met here, and you’ll get your chance to compete in the Trials.”

“Why should I trust you?”

“Why indeed?” Leo drawled. “For starters, you don’t have much of a choice! And because I don’t believe you can do it… So, it’s a pretty safe bet on my side.”

Flynn stared at Leo for a long moment. A hint of a smile appeared on his lips.

“All right, I’ll do it!” he said.

“Flynn! No!” Madison shouted and tried to get up again from her seat. “Are you crazy? You’ll get yourself killed!” She struggled to break free, but the boys held her down.

Leo threw a quick glance at her then turned to Flynn and said, “Deal?”

“Deal,” Flynn replied as he snapped his goggles over his eyes and stepped to the edge of the raft.

“Don’t listen to him!” Madison cried. “It’s not worth it! You hear me…”

Flynn didn’t hear her. He had already gone overboard and was on a dive which Madison knew was impossible to survive.

Leo’s eyes lingered over the ripples that Flynn’s body had left on the surface of the water. There was no mistake, he thought… It was him! Flynn Perry was the boy who had made him look like a fool… It was the same kid who had humiliated him in front of so many people at the Pier. Back then, Leo had vowed to have his revenge… But the boy had simply vanished into the slums on the Lower Side. It had taken a long time for their paths to cross again, to put a name to the face… At first, when Leo had caught the Seeker outside the zone, he had not recognized who Flynn Perry was… But later that day, while lying in his hot bathtub, it had suddenly hit him… That’s why the Perry boy had looked so familiar… Well, Leo had finally found the bastard… And he was extremely pleased with himself.

Peeling his eyes away from the water, Leo Van Zandt now checked his watch. “Let’s see… I say he’ll be up in a minute or two, empty handed. Or he won’t come back at all! Who wants to make a bet?” He turned to his friends, and then his eyes fell on Madison’s horrified face. Leo swept back his blond hair and curled his lip. Here was another reason for him to be so pleased, Leo thought… The girl was such a bonus to finding the elusive Flynn Perry… Leo had expected the Romero boy to be standing watch when he and his mates had swooped on the Seeker. He had not been prepared for an encounter with the gorgeous girl, now sitting in his boat. And Leo had to admit, he was struck by Madison’s beauty from the start… She was what his father would call a ‘fine specimen’… In fact, it was only yesterday that Marcus Van Zandt had spoken to him on a subject related to girls… With Leo’s coming of age just around the corner, it was time for the young Van Zandt to be paired up… It was the Archipelago’s tradition to match boys with girls, so that they could create new family units and ensure the healthy birth of future Archipelago citizens. “We’ll hold our annual Day of Pairing soon,” his father had said, “right after we get the Departure Ceremony out of the way.”

Leo, of course, was well aware that he was the most eligible bachelor in town… There would be no shortage of female candidates, all trying to catch his attention… His father had already compiled a short-list with girls from a variety of respectable Upper Side families… Leo knew them all… And some he knew really well… Little sluts, the whole lot of them, he thought, and not one came close to being so ravishingly beautiful… Yes, this Madison Ray was something else! One thing was certain now… Leo Van Zandt wanted this girl… And he knew he would have her. That was a given.

“Worried, aren’t we?” Leo sat down next to Madison.

“Why are you doing this?” she asked, glaring at him. “You know it’s an impossible dive!”

“Is it?” Leo pointed at the water, feigning surprise. “He’s supposed to be one of the best divers, right? As my father likes to say, it should be a walk in the park for our hero down there, then!”

“Walk in the what? There’s no park…” Madison stopped mid sentence.

“Smart girl!” Leo laughed. “You got that right! There’re no parks to walk in! Your friend’s not coming back!”

“You’re a monster!” Madison spat at him.

Leo stared at her. Nobody had ever spoken to him that way… and certainly no girl had ever dared to do so… Suddenly, he found that extremely exciting and pleasurable. He could feel his pulse racing. “Oh? I thought you liked me!” Leo drawled. “I was just about to invite you to dinner tonight!”

Madison gave him a long, cold stare. Leo allowed his eyes to linger over her for a moment and licked his lips. He then checked his watch and grinned. “It’s been three minutes already!” he announced as he got up and looked at the water. Everyone followed his gaze. There was no sign of Flynn. “Well,” Leo said, “…I’m afraid we may have lost one of the Archipelago’s best young divers!” Starting his boat’s engine, he turned to the guards. “Secure Perry’s raft. We’re heading back!”

“Wait!” Madison shouted. A single tear rolled down her cheek. “Give him some more time… please!”

“Hah! Looks like Miss Ray believes in miracles!” Leo laughed and began to turn the boat toward the Archipelago. The second boat followed slowly, towing the Seeker in its wake.

Madison slumped on her seat and buried her head in her hands. She felt dizzy. They were really going to leave Flynn to drown… This was cold blooded murder! And there was nothing she could do about it. Overwhelmed by the horror of it all, she felt her whole body begin to shake… But it was also Flynn’s fault, she thought angrily, catching her breath and wiping away her tears. Yes, Leo Van Zandt was a monster, but why did Flynn take the challenge? How could he be such an idiot?

The boats were picking up speed, when Madison suddenly heard Flynn’s voice rise above the roar of the engines. “Stop!” she cried, trying to stand up. “Stop the boat!”

“Hey! Van Zandt!” Flynn was yelling louder now for all to hear.

Leo and his friends all turned to look. The sight of Flynn’s head bobbing in the water wiped the smile from Leo’s face. He made a sharp U-turn and headed back toward Flynn. “Look who’s back!” said Leo, struggling to hide his anger and disappointment. “Empty handed I guess?”

Grinning, Flynn raised his hand above his head. He was holding a six-pack of algae covered cans. “Catch!” he shouted and hurled the cans at Van Zandt.

Leo almost fell back as he caught the pack. He stared at it for a moment then tossed it to his friends. “Have some beer, boys!” said Leo, trying hard to sound cool and indifferent to what had just taken place… But history was repeating itself! The scum boy had made him appear stupid and weak in front of so many people… His face darkened as he followed Flynn out of the water.

Flynn now stood on the Seeker’s deck. “So…” he began, with a note of victory in his voice, “…I kept my part of the deal!”

Leo’s eyes narrowed. He pointed a finger at Flynn. “You lucked out this time, Perry boy! It won’t happen again. One wrong move and I’ll make sure you’re banished! Is that clear?”

Flynn nodded as he bent down to cut his raft free from the Van Zandt power boat.

Leo shifted his gaze to Madison. “As for you,” he said, “…my dinner invitation still stands… I bet you won’t miss your hero boy, once you get a taste of the Upper Side!”

“Really?” Madison flashed her teeth at him. “I can’t wait!”

“Oh, you won’t have to wait, my dear,” said Leo and turned to his friends. “You can let the girl go.”

The moment his friends loosened their grip, Madison broke free and was back on the Seeker in a flash. She stood next to Flynn, trying to match his defiant stance. “I think I’ll stay here for now!” she said, throwing her shoulders back.

Leo Van Zandt cocked an eyebrow. The corner of his mouth twitched. “Your loss, beautiful!” he said and blew her a kiss. Then, pushing down on the throttle, he backed the Fury away from the raft and sped toward the Archipelago.

With the Van Zandt boats a safe distance away, Madison swung around and slapped Flynn hard on the face. “You jerk!” she cried, hitting him again. “I thought you’d drowned down there!”

Stunned, Flynn tried to shield himself from her angry fists, but Madison kept coming at him. Throwing his arms around Madison, he pinned her hands down in a tight grip. He felt her struggle against his body. Eventually, the girl began to calm down, and allowed her head to rest on his chest. They stayed like that, locked in an awkward embrace, until Flynn slowly released his grip… Madison pushed away from him gently and stepped back. Still a little teary, she studied his face. Flynn felt his face grow hot and lowered his gaze.

“How did you do it?” she asked, finally breaking their awkward silence. “How did you manage to stay underwater for so long?”

“Well…” said Flynn, clearing his throat… After having held Madison in his arms, he was finding it hard to regain his composure. “I’ve got this secret compartment…”

“Secret compartment, huh?”

“Yeah, in one of the barrels under the Seeker, you know…” Flynn was now relieved to change the subject and not to be standing so close to Madison. “…Some of my stash was still in there and…. when the bastard challenged me, I thought…”

“Oh! So, all that time you were hiding under the raft?”

“Yeah… I could hear everything, and… thanks for your concern back there! You sounded really worried about me.”

Madison stared at him for a moment then shook her head. “Don’t mention it!” she said and slumped down on the battered car seat.

“Disappointed?” Flynn sat next to her. “Well, sorry I’m not the incredible hero you thought I was!”

A tiny smile forced up the corner of Madison’s lips. “I’m glad you’re not! Otherwise, you’d be dead.”

“It’s not too late to go and have dinner with Leo Van Zandt!”

Madison’s eyebrows shot up and her eyes narrowed. “You still don’t get it, do you?”

“What?”

She rolled her eyes, leaned in and kissed Flynn lightly on the lips. “Can you take me home now? It’s been a really long day,” she whispered.

“Sure!” Flynn grinned, trying not to think about the little kiss. “Home, sweet home it is…”

ELEVEN

“I knew this was gonna happen, amigo! That prick will make your life hell,” Tony said shaking his head. Flynn had just finished telling him about his encounter with Leo Van Zandt.

The two boys were sitting on the roof of Tony’s building, their feet dangling over the ledge. Before them, sprawled the bright green rectangle of the Algae Farm. It was enormous in size. A good three square miles and dotted with at least a hundred harvester rafts. These specialized vessels were crisscrossing the thick algae surface, leaving black trails behind them. The farming of algae was vital to the Archipelago’s existence. As food, algae crops were a great source of protein, minerals and vitamins. They also had amazing medicinal properties and were used to cure just about anything. But most importantly, this algae crop was the Archipelago’s main source of energy.

Legend had it that Nakamura’s ancestors had discovered a microbe living in the seaweed, and under the right conditions, it could extract sugar from the plant. The sugar was transformed into ethanol and that in turn was used as fuel. All the engines in the city ran on it… But right now, the boys were chewing on the spicy seaweed sticks Flynn had brought. They were delicious! Tony had felt a bit better that day, so Mrs. Romero had finally agreed to let him out for a little walk on the roof… To catch some sun rays. The fresh pigeon eggs Flynn had bartered from Madison also helped in winning the woman over.

Tony’s face was pale, his eyes tired. “What’re you gonna do now, amigo?” he asked, glancing up at Flynn.

“Keep training, of course… Nothing’s really changed.”

“You sure ‘bout that?” Tony looked worried. “Leo Van Zandt ain’t gonna take this lying down, you know… And he’s invited Madison to have dinner with him.”

“That’s his problem,” Flynn said and spat out a wad of seaweed.

“I’ve got a really bad feeling ‘bout this. You should find someone else to be your Crew Mate.”

“But you were the one who told me to go ask Madison… There’s no one else, Tony!” Flynn shook his head. “The Trials are next week… everyone’s teamed up already… I’m going in with her on board.”

“You’ll be putting Madison at risk… Messing with Leo Van Zandt like you two did… Crazy shit!”

“She’s not afraid of the bastard! And she really wants to be on my team.”

“Yeah, ’coz she digs you, amigo!” said Tony, staring intently at his friend.

“Alright, I think I get it now!” Flynn began to laugh. “You’re jealous… of Madison…  You’re jealous she’s on the team.”

Tony shook his head and swore under his breath. Flynn couldn’t be more wrong. “No, I ain’t jealous of Madison…”

“Then what is it?”

“I’m just trying to look out for you and the girl, amigo… Like I said, I’ve got a bad feeling bout this… That’s all…”

“Listen Tony, once you get better, you’re coming back with me on the Seeker. We’ll be the best team in town. Madison’s only temporary, OK?”

Tony looked away into the distance. The two boys sat in silence for a long moment then Tony began to cough. He pulled a dirty rag out of his pocket, wiped his mouth and showed it to Flynn… The rag was covered in specks of blood.

“See! I’m never gonna to get better,” Tony said. “I keep thinking ‘bout Mr. Chow and what you said he did on that cable car… How he chose to end it all…”

“What are you saying, Tony!” Flynn’s cried. “That’s crazy talk!”

“Sometimes I wish…” Tony looked down at the twenty storey drop to the water below, “I wish I was brave enough to push myself off this ledge, and be done… Instead of waiting for the Government to do it for me! Waiting for the day my name shows up on the List!”

“Stop it! You’re not going to be on nobody’s list!”

“I know it’s against the law!” Tony looked up at Flynn. “…But at least it’ll be my choice, not theirs!”

Their eyes met and they stared at each other. Tony sat in quiet resignation, while Flynn tried desperately not to choke up, struggling to find the right words. What could he say? Just offer more false encouragements to his best friend… more lies…

“Tony Romero! Where are you?”

The two boys turned at the same time. In a way, Flynn was relieved to hear Mrs. Romero’s voice. It had put a stop to what Tony had been saying… Her head poked from behind the roof’s row of solar panels. When she spotted where the boys were sitting, her eyes grew wide with fear. “Get down from there right now!” she yelled as she rushed toward them.

Tony swung his legs back over the ledge and stood up, followed by Flynn. “Don’t worry, Mom. We’ve done this a million times.”

“I don’t want to hear about it!” She glanced angrily at Flynn and grabbed Tony by the hand. “Enough fresh air for you today! Soup’s ready!” She dragged Tony away, leaving Flynn to stand alone.

He stared after them until they had disappeared, then punched the nearest wall. Knuckles bleeding, Flynn kept pounding at the bricks with all his strength… The pain stopped him from thinking about Tony and everything his friend had said… What prevented him from smashing his hand into a hundred little pieces was the low rumble of thunder over his head. Flynn looked up at the sky and caught his breath… Dark, ominous clouds were gathering over the Archipelago… Finally, he thought, the Lower Side was going to get a break. Rain was on its way! And he knew it would be a huge event! A moment later, he heard the sirens, announcing the approaching and long awaited storm.

Flynn hurried down to the nearest walkway bridge and broke into a run.

By the time he reached his building, the sky was a swirl of angry blackness. The tower was screeching and rattling with every powerful gust of wind. A few raindrops fell on his face as he rushed into his apartment. Flynn’s father was already there, gathering together all kinds of pots, pans, buckets, anything that could be filled with water.

“Just in time, Flynn!” Alan Perry cried. “Give me a hand here.”

Flynn grabbed as many containers as he could carry and ran outside. A flash of lightning lit up his excited face. Seconds later, came the deafening clap of thunder. And then rain began pouring down from the sky. The storm was right above them. Flynn’s father walked out shirtless, wearing only a coarse piece of cloth around his hips. “Quick! Get the soap!” Alan Perry shouted over the sound of more thunder.

Flynn sprinted inside and reappeared a moment later, holding a small lump of home-made soap. He quickly stripped down to only his shorts and kicked his shoes off. There was a flurry of activity around them now. Half-naked people were rushing out of their apartments, carrying pots and pans, placing them on the walkways to catch the fresh rain water. Flynn quickly lathered his body and passed the soap to his dad. Alan Perry scrubbed away the thick layer of salty grime from his skin and then began to work on his matted hair. When he had finished, he just stood under the cascading rain, letting it rinse him clean. The water was warm and pleasant, pounding his body, washing away the foamy scum. Flynn watched his dad. The man was grinning like a child, whistling a tune as he ran his hands over his body.

Flynn shifted his gaze to the crowd around them… Everybody was doing the same. Scrubbing, washing… their faces full of happiness… All this joy over something as simple as being able to clean yourself and your dirty laundry with fresh and unrestricted water… The rain storm was like a gift of life for the people on the Lower Side, pouring down from the skies, a reason to celebrate… Jubilant shouts and laughter rose above the sound of buckets being filled by the driving rain. Singing could be heard, mixed with the howl of the wind and the creaking of the tower.

From a distance it looked like the rooftop had come to life. But it was only a crowd of singing, soaking-wet people, united in some kind of a tribal dance, all their hardships forgotten for a brief moment in time… There they all were… a wild party in full swing, illuminated by the flashes of lightning… Unfortunately, the storm didn’t last very long… The rain stopped as abruptly as it had started. Like someone had turned the tap off, thought Flynn. The wind had blown the clouds over the Archipelago and was now carrying them away over the ocean. The sky cleared and the sound of thunder grew more and more distant, until it finally died away.

The tower’s occupants took their buckets inside, laughing and joking, slamming their doors behind them. Soon life would be back to normal, Flynn thought… Back to the measly evening water rations again.

Marcus Van Zandt watched the last few rain drops slide down the window pane and turned away from the dark window. “Well, after such a generous offering from the skies, there should be no water distribution for let’s say…”

“A day?” suggested Duncan Roth, looking up from his handheld device. He was sitting alone at the big boardroom table.

“Three days!” Van Zandt said with a wicked grin on his face. “Let them suffer a bit! A reminder that their life sustenance doesn’t come for free… It has to be earned!”

Duncan Roth nodded and typed something on his screen.

“Now, what’s the name of that boy again?” Van Zandt’s eyes shifted from Duncan to Leo, who was lounging comfortably on a leather couch and enjoying the warmth of the crackling fireplace before him.

“Perry!” Leo spat out the name, “Flynn Perry.”

“And you’re suggesting what exactly…” Van Zandt was pacing back and forth.

“I want him gone!” Leo’s eyes were suddenly ablaze with hatred.

Van Zandt stopped pacing. He looked at his son, then at Duncan Roth. “What do you think, my friend?”

“The Departure List comes out two days after the Scavenger Trials… I can put him on the List right away, Marcus!” said Duncan Roth, his face showing no emotion. It was impossible to read.

“Hmm…” Van Zandt rubbed his chin, “that’ll be a waste of talent, don’t you think? You did say he’s extremely good!”

“He is… I’ve been watching him for a while now. But no one’s irreplaceable, Marcus. You know, I value the rules above all else… And no amount of skill can compensate for the kind of disobedience the boy has allegedly shown. We can’t afford that!”

“I know, Duncan, I know… Let me think.”

“It’s your call.” Duncan Roth leaned back in his chair and folded his arms.

“Dad, I want him gone!” Leo sprang up on his feet. “And Duncan’s right… Flynn Perry doesn’t know how to obey orders… Doesn’t know his place! He’ll be nothing but trouble.”

“Sit down and be quiet!” said Marcus Van Zandt, pointing a finger at his son.

The boy slumped back on the couch while his father turned to Duncan Roth again.

“How many old Scavengers are we losing in our Departure this year?”

Duncan Roth checked his handheld. “More than we’ll be gaining in the Trials, according to the numbers,” he said.

Van Zandt started pacing the room again. “We need all the fresh blood we can get. Especially in the scavenging business… We need your divers to be bringing up stuff… go deeper to get us the supplies we need.”

“Indeed, we do.” Duncan Roth nodded. “We’re running low on some vital supplies. I’ve got a whole new sector on the East Side grid that’s scheduled for exploration and recovery… I’ll definitely need all the divers I can get.”

“So this Perry boy is reckless and dangerous,” Marcus Van Zandt was now rubbing his chin and back to pacing the room.

“I’m telling you he is…” Leo began, but Van Zandt shot him an angry look, and he fell silent.

“I’ll keep a close eye on him,” said Duncan Roth. “They don’t call me the Rottweiler for nothing.” He slipped his handheld device in his pocket and stood up. “If things get out of control, I’ll make him disappear!”

“Then, I’ll leave it in your capable hands, Duncan… I trust your good judgment.”

Duncan Roth nodded, excused himself and with a curt salute left the room.

Leo got up, furious at what had just happened, but his father waved him down.

“You stay!” Marcus Van Zandt said. “We need to talk.”

TWELVE

“About time you showed up!” Madison greeted Flynn, crouching on top of the raft’s seat, “’Cause I’m done with guarding the Seeker!”

Madison had gotten up very early that morning, cleaned her pigeon tower and made it to the docking bay way ahead of Flynn. She had tidied up their diving gear, sorted through the mess under the car seat and swept the deck. She had just sat down to eat her breakfast when she had spotted a pair of gleaming red eyes, staring at her from under one of the tarpaulins… Madison had nearly choked on her seaweed roll.

“What’s wrong?” Flynn asked. He stopped at the edge of the dock and eyed the long wooden oar Madison was now brandishing in the air. Then he saw the big, slimy rat poking its head out of the filthy water, circling the raft. Madison screamed and shoved the oar at it, but the rat was faster. It dived and disappeared under the dock’s platform.

“Didn’t think you’d be scared of a little mouse,” Flynn laughed as he boarded the Seeker.

“I’m not scared! And it was a rat, not a mouse!” Madison slid down the seat and placed the oar under it. “Just don’t like them anywhere near me!”

“Not much different from pigeons, if you ask me,” Flynn grinned, pointing at the small bird cage close to Madison’s feet. A couple of her grey pigeons sat inside, huddled together.

“Hey! Don’t insult my birds!” The girl thumped him on the shoulder. “They’re great messengers and very intelligent creatures… I’m going to train these two to follow us out on the water. They’re homing pigeons, not some stinking rodents!”

“I don’t know who’s smarter, actually…” Flynn untied the raft and hopped on the seat next to her, “…and who’s more stinky?”

“Flynn…” Madison frowned at him, “do me a favor and get us out of here!”

“Sure thing,” said Flynn, laughing again.

The Seeker pulled away from the dock, turned and Flynn began to negotiate his way out between the other moored vessels and platforms. He exited through the building’s gaping entrance and made a right onto the West Street Canal, then headed up toward Midtown Bay.

The traffic was typical for that hour on the Lower Side. All kinds of shabby rafts, boats and water bikes were moving up and down the waterways at their regular speed. Nothing unusual, thought Flynn as he relaxed in his seat. He was about to ask Madison about her pigeon training, when suddenly, he heard shouts up ahead… One by one, all the vessels started to swerve and disappear into the side canals to their right. West Street Canal was becoming rapidly deserted.

“What’s happening? What’s all the excitement about?” Madison stood up to get a better look.

“I don’t know,” replied Flynn, “but we’ll find out in a second.” He pressed on the pedals and increased his speed, trying to catch up with the raft ahead. The man on that vessel was moving fast, sweating over the pedals, clearly in a great hurry. Flynn managed to get the Seeker close enough, and once leveled, he sprang off his seat. “Get behind the pedals!” he told Madison. “Keep the same speed as that guy and stay with him!” With those words, Flynn jumped effortlessly over to the other raft.

Madison obeyed immediately, taking his place. She stared ahead as she pedaled, but she could see Flynn with the corner of her eye. He was hunched over the man, talking fast. The man was saying something back, but she couldn’t hear anything from all the loud splashing of the two rafts. Flynn nodded, turned and jumped back on the Seeker.

“We’re in luck,” he said as he took the rudder from Madison and made a sharp right into a side canal.

“What is it?” she cried, nearly falling off her seat.

“The Black Market’s open for business!” Flynn said. “It’s on Fletcher Street Canal today! We’d better hurry before it’s gone.”

Rafts and pontoons of all shapes and sizes were lined up, side by side, along the length of Fletcher Street Canal. Colorful awnings stretched over them, forming a row of market-like stalls. But none of these vessels were moored. Huddled together, they floated freely, ready to disperse and be gone in seconds. Unlike other markets on the Lower Side, this one was illegal… Of course, everyone knew it existed, including the Government. It was like a living, breathing entity, without a permanent home. Always held in different spots and at different times of day, its location would quickly spread around by word of mouth. Because it was illegal, the market had a very short life, and would only last until the Government scouts had alerted the Wardens… who would then, in turn, send word to the cops. Once its whereabouts were discovered, the market would quickly disband and disappear, as if into thin air.

Madison had been to the Black Market a few times in the past, trading some pigeon meat and eggs, but generally, she preferred to avoid it… Not worth the risk, she believed, unless there was no other way to get what she needed. The Seeker had passed a few water-bike cops before entering the canal. They were all bribed, Madison thought, by the Black Market vendors, and that’s why they were turning a blind eye! She knew that much without Flynn telling her.

“What are you looking for?” she asked when they joined the line of vessels, moving slowly past the makeshift stalls.

“I’ll know it, when I see it,” Flynn replied, his eyes darting from one vendor to the next, quickly checking out their merchandise.

They were passing by a couple of food stalls now. The first was selling herbs and spices. The stall belonged to an Indian man, his head wrapped in a grimy turban. He stood behind his counter, arranging his bowls full of sun-dried algae, kelp and urchin powders. The next stall up was a meat vendor’s. There was a rope strung across the top of the vessel, heavy with the weight of glazed and roasted rats. Madison noticed an assortment of smoked, well-seasoned seagulls hanging from a dozen hooks. An old rusty grill stood at the back where skewered pigeons were slowly rotating over it as they cooked. The vendor was surrounded by all kinds of pots and pans with fish on the fry. As much as Madison was tempted by their delicious smell, she knew they wouldn’t be stopping. Plus, she didn’t like the way the man was looking at her pigeon cage. No, she definitely wasn’t going to trade her two little birds for anything in the world!

Flynn kept going, scanning one stall after another. He knew that everything out on display was considered innocent merchandise, mostly food or useless junk… The real good stuff, the illegal trade, was usually hidden under the counters. Being a frequent visitor, Flynn had befriended some of the regular vendors, but they were never at the same spot twice. He would have to go through the whole market if he wanted to find them.

“That’s the one!” Flynn cried suddenly. He had stopped next to a raft with a tiny shack built on top of its deck. The vendor’s front counter displayed a variety of household items, most of them completely useless and worth very little. Flynn swung a mesh bag full of canned vegetables over his shoulder. “Stay here, I’ll be back in a minute,” he told Madison, before stepping off the Seeker. He disappeared behind the shabby curtain on the side of the shack.

Madison grabbed a long hook and caught the tire hanging on the side of the vendor’s raft, trying to keep the Seeker from drifting away. A few minutes later, Flynn reappeared and was back next to her, holding a coil of nylon rope and two rolls of tin foil. He shoved them under the seat and rummaged through his bag. “These are for you,” he said, handing Madison a pair of goggles. “Every diver needs a good pair.”

“Thanks!”

“We’ll modify them later for a better fit.” Flynn was extremely pleased with his successful trade. He had haggled with the vendor over the final price and had managed to come out on top. “Now, let’s get the hell out of here,” he said, steering the Seeker away from the Black Market stalls.

“See that guy?” Flynn pointed at the dark-skinned teenage boy. “That’s Pharrell Lewis… him and Clay Adams, over there on the pedals, are our biggest competition!”

Madison squinted at the shabby raft approaching the Seeker. It was coming back from open waters, moving at a leisurely pace toward the eastern outskirts of the Lower Side. This was where Flynn had dropped anchor for their last day of training. He had decided to stick to the city limits during the week before the Trials, avoiding the risk of another encounter with Leo Van Zand. Madison had worked hard, going through all the drills without a hitch, and Flynn felt she was ready for the big day.

As their rafts slowly glided past each other, the tall black boy nodded at Flynn. His shaved head shone in the bright sun, and he had a pair of goggles round his unusually thick and muscular neck. Pharrell looked Madison up and down. His eyes stopped on the straw sticking out of her mouth. “This your new Crew Mate, Perry?” Pharrell laughed, pointing at Madison. “Still sucking on a straw, like a little baby!”

Madison shot him an angry look. She was about to say something back, but Flynn was quicker.

“Damn right, she is!” he said, throwing his arm over Madison’s shoulder. “And she’ll kick your butts at the Trials tomorrow!”

“Oh, we’re sooo scared, ain’t we Clay?” Pharrell shared a quick laugh with his buddy then turned back to Flynn, his hands trembling. “See, I’m already shakin’ with fear!”

The other boy giggled, pressed on the pedals, and their raft sped away quickly.

“Good luck tomorrow, guys!” Flynn shouted after them.

“Same to you, Perry!” Pharrell yelled back.

“Pharrell and Clay are a good team, but not as good as ours!” Flynn told Madison, and realized suddenly that his arm was still around her shoulder. He pulled it away. Luckily, Madison didn’t seem to notice his sudden discomfort. She was too busy glaring after the two boys.

“Don’t mind him,” Flynn said hastily. “Believe it or not, we’re friends.”

Madison’s eyebrows shot up in surprise. “Flue’ns?” She took the straw out of her mouth and said, “Friends? You’ve got to be kidding!”

“No, I’m dead serious. Doesn’t look it, but we are.”

Madison threw an angry look at Pharrell’s raft then studied the straw she was holding.

“Do I really have to keep breathing through this thing?”

“Yeah! I told you, it strengthens the muscles in your chest. It’s an important exercise.”

“It makes me look stupid!” Madison made a face, rolling the straw between her fingers. “It’s embarrassing!”

“Like I said, don’t pay any attention to Pharrell.” Flynn laughed and patted her on the shoulder reassuringly. “We’ll beat him and Clay tomorrow!”

“What’s the big deal anyway?” Madison asked. “Does it matter who’s first and who ends up last at the Trials? Everybody gets to be a Free Scavenger if they make it through to the end, right?”

“It’s not that simple… First, you’ve got to complete the challenge task… Fail that, and you are out.”

“There’s no way you’re going to fail… You’re brilliant at scavenging.”

“Wait, there’s more to this,” Flynn said and put the straw back into Madison’s mouth. “Those who make it through the challenge have to race to the finish line. The first three teams to get there earn a Duncan’s Gold.”

“Duncan’s Gold? What’s that?”

“It’s the gold badge Duncan Roth gives to all the winners. It means they can then scav for the good stuff, like canned food, drinks, medicine… the things you’ve seen me bring up… They’re allowed to work in small groups, sometimes with just their own Crew Mate… And they get to live on the Upper Side! It’s a great privilege, you know… Life gets really good once you’re there.”

“And the others?”

“Those who end up at the bottom stay on the Lower Side and join the big Industrial Scavenging crews, lifting up the heavy stuff… Vehicles, parts of buildings… and that’s kind of boring, really,” replied Flynn and looked around. “Like these guys over there… C’mon, I’ll show you.” Flynn sat behind the pedals and steered his raft toward a platform, anchored a few hundred feet away.

The platform was huge and made of large pieces of salvaged pontoons, tied with ropes and held afloat by dozens of empty oil drums. All of its four sides were buffered with old tires. When the Seeker got closer, Madison noticed the big square hole that had been cut in the middle of the platform. Four rusty lamp posts were erected above the hole. Joined at the top, they formed the skeleton of a hoisting frame. A thick cable ran from the hole up, through hooks at the very top of the contraption, coiling around a massive wheel at one end of the platform. It served as a primitive pulley mechanism.

There was a flurry of activity going on the platform and all around its perimeter. Divers were getting out of the water and hopping onto the smaller rafts, which flanked the platform. Shouting at the top of their lungs, a large group of men had gathered around the hoist wheel. They all grabbed hold of its handles and working together, they began to turn it.

Madison could now see their muscles bulging under the weight of whatever was attached to the end of the cable. “What are they doing?” she asked.

“They’re pulling something heavy out of the water… My guess it’s a truck… or a bus,” Flynn replied. “The divers have found it, cleared the debris and attached it to the cables… These guys are bringing it up to the surface.”

The men were grunting now, their bodies covered in sweat. The wheel was turning slowly, the cable coiling around it. Suddenly, the nose of a van emerged from the hole. The crew hoisted the vehicle until its whole body, covered in barnacles and seaweed, was swinging from the frame above their heads. Water and silt were pouring out of its broken windows. Once the van was secured safely to the frame, two motor boats started tugging the platform towards the nearest harbor.

“That’s the kind of scavenging job I don’t want to end up doing!” Flynn said quietly, watching the whole procession disappear into the distance.

“I can see why,” Madison nodded in agreement.

“Here comes another one.”

Flynn pointed at a large raft approaching the Lower Side from the east. It carried a rusty section of a big airplane fuselage. He knew they were still exploiting one of the sunken airports, but this kind of cargo was a rare sight. Most planes had already been scavenged, their engines, seats, cockpits, miles of wires and cables pulled out and used for something else on the Archipelago. “Let’s go back now,” he said. “Get us some rest before the big day tomorrow.”

Flynn pressed on the pedals, turned the raft around… and froze in his tracks! His eyes had met the steely stare of none other than the man everyone called the Rottweiler. This was Duncan Roth, the high-ranking Government official who commanded the Scavenging operations on the Archipelago with an iron fist. But more importantly, he was the man in charge of the Scavenging Trials. Everybody knew that Duncan Roth had been the best free diver in town. His record for staying under water without oxygen was unbeaten to this day. And he had gone up through the ranks of the Free Scavenger Crews, rising quickly to his present lofty position. No one from the Lower Side had ever done this, gone that far and achieved so much. And for this very reason, Duncan Roth was hated and feared by many on the Lower Side… He wasn’t one of theirs anymore… According to Flynn’s father, Roth had betrayed them all by switching sides. “He’s a traitor,” Alan Perry would say… But Flynn didn’t think so… Duncan Roth represented something that Flynn wanted out of life… He wanted to follow in his footsteps… Just like Duncan Roth, Flynn was going to get to the top too… and he was going to make a name of himself.

Now, the man who ran the Scavenger Trials was standing in a speed boat, only a few feet away from Flynn’s raft. His muscled arms were folded over his chest, his weather-beaten face completely expressionless. Unblinking gray eyes were staring right back at Flynn. Looking at those eyes, Flynn was suddenly convinced that Duncan Roth knew everything about him… about all his illegal scavenging, his trips to the Black Market… and, worst of all, the Rottweiler knew about his two encounters with Leo Van Zandt. Of course, Leo had broken their deal and told Duncan Roth about finding the Seeker outside the permitted Zone, thought Flynn… How could he have been so stupid to think that someone like Leo would keep to his word? Tony had been right, warning him to be on the lookout for trouble… Was the Rottweiler about to accuse him of breaking the law? Was he going to banish Flynn from the Trials? Flynn would have to keep his mouth shut and not argue back… Being cocky with Leo was one thing… to disrespect this man would be another story… “For the Greater Good, sir,” Flynn said, swallowing hard and feeling his blood run cold.

Duncan Roth didn’t even acknowledge the greeting. He just kept staring at Flynn, saying nothing. Flynn slowly pressed on the pedals and started to move away. No sound came from behind, no movement in the water. Flynn increased his speed and threw a quick glance back. Duncan Roth was still there, looking at him… Flynn kept pedaling. After a while, when he was sure he wasn’t being followed, he breathed a sigh of relief.

“What was that about?” Madison finally asked.

“I don’t know,” said Flynn, trying hard to sound upbeat. “Guess the Rottweiler’s just keeping an eye on the teams, that’s all.” But deep down, he was sure there was more to this encounter… and that there would be trouble ahead.

Flynn dropped Madison off at the basement docks of her building and left without stopping to chat. She watched his raft exit through the gap in the wall, then turned and headed for the dimly lit stairs. Madison had only climbed a few steps, when a figure appeared out of the shadows. It was Leo Van Zandt, standing on the landing above, with a sinister smile on his face.

“Hello Madison!” Leo drawled as he came down toward her. “What’s wrong, beautiful? Aren’t you happy to see me?”

Madison took a step back. She glanced over her shoulder and saw Leo’s motor boat, full of his guards, entering the basement. When she turned round, Leo was standing right next to her.

“Now, Miss Ray,” he said, casually placing his hand around her shoulder, “will you be a good girl and follow me? I believe, I invited you to dinner… and tonight’s the big night.”

He took a step down, but Madison didn’t move. “Sorry!” she said, trying to keep her voice steady. “The Trials are tomorrow… I’ve got to rest.”

“No, you don’t.” Leo’s smile widened.

“What do you mean?” Madison asked.

“You’re not going to the Trials, I’m afraid,” said Leo, suddenly grabbing her hand.

“Let go of me!” Madison jerked her arm, trying to pull free, but Leo tightened his grip.

The smile on his face had vanished. “It’s no longer an invitation, Madison Ray! It’s an order!” he hissed in her ear. “I’ll let you in on a little secret… The Departure List comes out in forty-eight hours… and I know your parents are getting old, so… I think you get my drift?”

Madison felt as if someone had knocked the air out of her.

“I bet you don’t want to be saying goodbye to them, just yet!” Leo said with a little chuckle.

“You…” she gasped, struggling for words, “you can’t do that! They’ve got at least a few more years before their time is up… they’re both healthy and strong…”

“Oh, I can do anything I want!” Leo’s face was now inches from hers. “So… what’s it going to be, then? Join me for dinner, or we’ll have to make some additions to the List?”

Glaring at the boy, Madison stood for a long tense moment, her mind racing. And then she nodded slowly, resignation now etched on her face. She allowing her hand to slacken in his.

“That’s better,” Leo drawled, his smile reappearing. “Shall we go then, beautiful?”

“First, I’ll need to get something from my place.”

Leo frowned, his eyes narrowing. He hesitated for a second, then let go of Madison and folded his arms over his chest. “Fine! I’ll be waiting for you right here.”

Madison turned to go, but he grabbed her arm again. “Don’t try anything stupid!”

“Of course, I won’t,” she said, managing a weak smile. “I won’t be long.” And with those words, Madison shot past him and ran up the stairs. Taking three steps at a time, and trying not to cry, she headed straight for her Pigeon Tower.

THIRTEEN

Flynn was seriously worried now. He threw a nervous glance at the row of little rafts moored to the long floating platform of the Scavenger’s Dock. It was built right above the sunken old Ferry Terminals and spanned the base of One, New York Plaza building. All the competing Scavenging teams were already there; busy with their last minute preparations, checking their diving equipment, tightening ropes… Not all rafts were the same, though. Some had the advantage of using pedals and water wheels, while others were only equipped with crudely made oars and short wooden paddles.

Flynn looked to his right where Pharrell Lewis was fixing a piece of tape around the hose of his air pump. Their eyes met and Pharrell winked at him. Flynn nodded and looked away. He had come hours before dawn, way before all the other teams. He had checked and re-checked his gear many times over and was ready to go… Except, there was no sign of Madison! The Trials were about to begin, and Flynn had no Crew Mate! He could do it alone, he knew that… It was risky and dangerous, but not impossible. He had done many dives on his own, and he was confident enough he could do it again today. But the rules were clear… Anyone without a Crew Mate wasn’t allowed to compete and would be disqualified!

Flynn had kept telling himself that Madison would show up… But now, as he was counting the last minutes before the race, a terrible feeling of dread had crept in… What if she didn’t? The biggest day in his life was about to end in disaster! All his dreams and hopes for the future, shattered! With his stomach tied up in a knot, and his heart pounding in his chest, it was hard for Flynn to stay calm… Where the hell was Madison?

The sound of engines made him snap to attention again. Three motor boats shot out from behind the Plaza building, made a wide turn and approached the platform. Duncan Roth was in the first boat. Leo Van Zandt and his thugs were in the second, followed by a bunch of guards in the third. The boats stopped by the platform, killed their engines and the group disembarked. All the Scavenging teams stood up on their rafts and watched the Rottweiler walk over to the center of the platform. “For the Greater Good!” they all cried.

Flynn heard his own hoarse voice join in the salute. Duncan Roth, his face expressionless as always, slowly glanced over the rows of rafts. His piercing gray eyes stopped on Flynn for a moment, inspected the rest of the teams then returned back to Flynn. It was the same stone cold stare the man had given him the day before. The stare that had sent shivers down Flynn’s spine. Duncan Roth took out his handheld device. “Name?” he said dryly.

“Flynn Perry, sir.”

“Where’s your partner?”

“She…” said Flynn, feeling he was going to be sick, “…she’ll be here… any moment now, sir!”

His words were met with a loud snort of laughter from Leo Van Zandt, who was now standing right behind the Rottweiler. He folded his arms and locked eyes with Flynn, an arrogant smirk on his face. Flynn glared back at him.

Duncan Roth glanced at Leo, slightly raising his eyebrow then turned to Flynn. “Go home Perry!” There was no emotion in his voice. “You’ll be assigned to a new job tomorrow, together with all the others who’ve failed the Trials.”

Flynn felt like a hammer had hit him over the head. The blood drained from his face. His legs felt unsteady and his hands had suddenly gone numb. All eyes were on him now… “Sir!” cried Flynn, trying hard to compose himself. “I can do it… alone! Give me the chance, so I can prove it to you!”

“You know the rules, boy!” The Rottweiler’s unblinking eyes stared at Flynn. “You can’t compete without a Crew Mate! Go home!”

“But…” Flynn choked on his words. His eyes found Leo, only to see a victorious smile spread over the boy’s face. Flynn stood motionless for a long moment then started to untie the Seeker from the platform. It was all over! His future wiped out!

“Flynn, wait!”

Startled, Flynn looked up.

Panting and covered in sweat, a familiar figure was running down the Scavenger Dock toward them. Visibly exhausted, Tony Romero came to an abrupt stop in front of Duncan Roth. “Sir…” he gasped, struggling to catch his breath. “I’m his Crew Mate, sir! Sorry I’m late!”

“You?” Duncan Roth’s eyes narrowed. The boy looked like he could barely stand on his feet. “You think you’re fit to compete?”

“I can do it, sir!” replied Tony. “For the Greater Good, sir.”

The Rottweiler studied him for a moment then took out his handheld again. “Name?”

“Tony Romero, sir.”

“Fine,” Duncan Roth said, typing on his screen. “You’re signed in, and you may join your…”

“Duncan!” Leo cried out angrily. “You can’t allow this!”

Duncan Roth raised his hand to silence Leo’s protest then nodded to Tony. “Go on, boy. Join your team mate.” The Rottweiler then turned to face Leo. “Don’t ever interrupt me again!” he said and waved the boy away.

Leo, his face turning bright red, opened his mouth as if to say something then closed it. He stepped back angrily, shaking his head. Tony, still panting, scrambled onto the Seeker and stood next to his friend.

“Tony, what the hell are you doing here?” Flynn whispered.

“I’ll explain later.”

All teams were waiting for Duncan Roth to speak. The man was now holding a bullhorn.

“Listen up, everyone!” began the Rottweiler, his amplified voice rising over the Scavenger’s Dock. “Today you’ll be scavenging within the waters of the Lower Side. You won’t be leaving its boundaries. In a minute, you’ll be given maps with the co-ordinates of your individual challenge tasks. There’s a map for each team, with a different target for each one of you. I’ve personally planted all targets and drafted all the maps. Each target is unique and different from the rest. The targets are placed approximately at the same depth and not far from each other, so it’s a fair game… But expect surprises! Don’t try to cheat, fight or steal another team’s target. I’ll know! Anyone caught breaking the rules, will be disqualified! Is that clear?”

“Yes!” cried all the teams.

“I didn’t hear you!”

“Yes, sir! For the Greater Good, sir!” This time they all yelled like one, the echo of their voices bouncing back from the walls behind the docking platform.

“That’s better!” said Duncan Roth and started pacing again. “When you find your target, you’ll bring it back to me. You’ve got five hours to complete the course. The teams that haven’t come back by then… will be disqualified.”

His voice was monotonous, without emotion. “Now,” the Rottweiler continued, “the first three teams to complete their challenges and bring me their targets, earn the privilege to be Free Scavengers and members of the Scavenger Crews. All the others, regardless of the order they come back in, will be assigned to the Industrial Scavenging Crews… I’m sure you all knew that already.” Duncan Roth stopped at the edge of the water and added, “Any questions?”

The teams were quiet, tense and eager to start. Of course, they all knew the rules! Duncan Roth opened the flap of his canvas bag and took out a bundle of square-cut plastic maps. He started handing them out one by one to the teams. When he reached Flynn and Tony, he seemed to hesitate for a split second. Shuffling the maps, he took one from the middle and tossed it to Flynn. When all maps were handed out, Duncan Roth waited a few minutes to allow the crews to study their directions, then stood at the center of the platform and raised his hand in the air. He was now holding a large revolver. “Let the Trials begin,” he cried and fired a single shot.

The crews sprang into action immediately. Having stood perfectly still and quiet just moments earlier, they were now all scrambling like mad, running and shouting, in a feverish rush to head out. Loud insults flew back and forth. Rafts bumped and crashed into each other in their frenzied attempt to be the first to push away from the dock. A few punches were thrown; ugly curses and deadly threats exchanged… With so much at stake, there was no holding back. The water around the rafts was churning from the crazy speed of the pedals, and the pull of the oars.

Flynn had freed the Seeker with one swift move, and was already pushing on the pedals, skillfully navigating through the narrow gaps between the other rafts. “Sit back and take it easy. I’ll get us out of here in no time!” he shouted above all the noise to Tony. “Save your strength for the pump and the diving bell!”

In a couple of minutes, all the rafts had disappeared from the Scavenger’s Dock, leaving a big wake behind them.

“Tell me what happened?” Flynn finally asked Tony, after he had managed to put a good distance between him and the competition. Only two vessels were ahead of the Seeker. One belonged to Pharrell and his buddy, and the other to a crew he didn’t recognize. But Flynn’s raft was light and fast. He had no doubt he would catch up with those rafts, even overtake them round the next bend. They had to all go south, past the Fishing Nets, before swinging into the Lower Side canals. Flynn kept his speed steady as he turned to look at his friend. Tony lay sprawled on the seat next to him. Some color had returned to his face, and his breathing was back to normal.

“Well…” Tony began slowly, “first, don’t be mad at Madison!”

“Why shouldn’t I? She screwed up!”

“No Flynn, she didn’t! She had no choice…”

“What do you mean?”

“She got cornered by Leo last night… He threatened to put her parents on the List… and then he took her home with him… back to the Upper Side!”

“How do you know all that?”

“‘Coz she managed to send me one of her pigeons with a message.”

“Bastard!” Flynn’s face darkened. “You were right about him…. Should’ve listened to you.”

“Yeah. I knew Leo would do something… to make you pay… So, here I am, amigo. ”

“Thanks for doing this, Tony!”

“It wasn’t easy sneaking out… Mom’s sure gonna be mad as hell…,”said Tony and chuckled to himself.

Flynn smiled and looked ahead. “Here… take the map,” he said, “have a look at it… See where we’re heading, what’s the target… I’ve got to get past these guys.”

Tony buried his nose in the map, while Flynn doubled his effort and increased his speed.

Madison stood on her toes against the big glass window and squinted at the rising sun. She strained her eyes at the faint outlines of the Lower Side buildings, far in the distance to her right. She took in the tiny silhouettes floating on the water. The Archipelago’s rafts and boats appeared to be hovering over the smooth surface of the ocean, like little dragonflies. Somewhere out there was Flynn’s raft… She was supposed to be on the Seeker right now, next to Flynn and competing in the Trials… There was no way of knowing if her message had reached Tony… if he had been able to make it to the race on time… if Flynn had been allowed to compete… All she knew was that the Trials had started, and she could do nothing, but wait and hope for the best.

Madison stepped back and studied the window pane one more time. All the handles had been removed. She had checked and re-checked every inch of it, looking in vain for an opening. Madison had poked in all the holes and cracks, her fingers sore and her nails broken from trying to pry the window open. She had also given up on trying to open the room’s heavy wooden door. There was no way out! Madison had come as Leo Van Zandt’s dinner guest, but the truth was that she was his prisoner. She was a captive, locked in one of the many rooms of the Van Zandt luxurious apartment, somewhere at the top of the Empire State Building.

Madison had never set foot on the Upper Side, until Leo had whisked her there in his motor boat the night before. Everybody on the Lower Side knew their neighbors were privileged, but she had never seen or imagined that this kind of opulent life existed… all this solid furniture, thick soft carpets, wonderful smells… The room she was locked in had its own bathroom! A real bathroom! With porcelain toilet seat, bathtub and sink. Madison had marveled at the clean soft towels, the fragrant soap and bottles full of lovely scented lotions. The biggest surprise was when she had turned on the tap and fresh water had poured out, splashing in the sink, flowing freely… No rations and no limits here on the Upper Side… Madison had fought the desire to jump in the shower, or to fill the bathtub and just lie in it for an hour or two… In the end, she had turned the water off and walked away, hating her moment of weakness.

And then there was the food… the dinner Leo Van Zandt had promised her. She glanced at the table and the dozen different dishes and platters on it. The lavish spread included many delicacies she had heard of, but had rarely or never tasted. Madison couldn’t believe that there were so many different kinds of vegetables and fruit! Grown from seeds that had survived the Flood and cultivated exclusively in the Upper Side greenhouses, these were the rarest of pickings only the Government got to enjoy… Tomatoes and cucumbers, onions, beans and lettuce, cabbage and peppers, apples and pears, melon, oranges… They even had grapes!

It was a feast that could feed twenty people, but it was all laid out on the table exclusively for her! She had not touched any of it, though… How could she, when her stomach was a tight knot of nerves? She couldn’t even look at the table any more. Every time she did, she felt sick… Closing her eyes, Madison reached out and snatched a few grapes from a plate. She then crossed the room and slumped down on the big leather couch. In her feet was the small wicker basket she had brought with her. Slowly, she lifted its cloth cover, and a grey pigeon stuck its head out. She lowered her hand and the bird started to peck hungrily at the grapes. Madison smiled at her little friend, then leaned back and sank into the soft cushions of the couch.

Madison rubbed her temples, trying to stay awake. She had not slept a wink in twenty-four hours, and it was becoming harder to remain alert. Again, she went over the events of what had happened… Leo had brought her to this room and left her alone, but only after they had exchanged words… words which were still ringing in her ears…

Leo had spoken first in his usual, unnerving drawl: “I’ll be completely honest with you, Madison,” he had begun, “there’re two reasons you’re here tonight… First, it’s because I want the Perry boy kicked out of the Trials…”

Shocked at hearing this, Madison had cried, “You can’t do that!” and then, “Duncan Roth’s the only one who can.”

“Ah, you’re absolutely correct!” Leo had chuckled softly. “When you don’t show up at the Trials, he’ll have no other choice, but to disqualify your friend.”

Hearing this, Madison had felt her eyes well up with hot tears, but she had dug her nails into her palms and stopped herself from crying. “So, what’s the second reason?” Madison had managed to ask through clenched teeth.

“The second reason you’re here,” Leo had continued, getting uncomfortably close to her, “is because I find you absolutely irresistible… I won’t touch you until we’re officially paired, but you’re my property now… the future Mrs. Leo Van Zandt!”

Stunned and lost for words, Madison had stood there, unable to respond. The urge to cry had been even stronger than before. This time she had bitten her lip, drawing blood, but she had not shed a single tear in front of Leo Van Zandt.

“Enjoy your dinner, beautiful,” Leo had said, walking out the door. “I’ll see you in the morning… And don’t forget the Departure List comes out in forty-eight hours.”

As if Madison could forget such a thing… Worried sick about Flynn and her parents, she had paced the room up and down, all night long. She had gone over how things might play out between her and Leo upon his return… Madison knew he was somewhere in his vast apartment… possibly lurking behind that very door… It was part of the sick mind games he was playing! Trying to wear her down… Leo’s intentions toward her were more than clear now, and if Madison had been any other girl on the Archipelago, she would have been extremely flattered… But she wasn’t! In fact, being paired with Leo and becoming his wife was the worst thing she could imagine. It made her skin crawl.

Of course, her first impulse had been to reject him right away… to tell him to get lost! And then what? A little voice had spoken in her head… Condemn her parents? Jeopardize Flynn’s situation even further? No! The price was too high… As much as the thought of being with Leo repulsed her, Madison knew she had no choice. She would have to give in to his demands… Or could she trick him somehow? Convince him that she would go along with everything he wanted… Make him believe she was willing to be his? But Madison was so tired now… tired to the point where she felt like she might agree to just about anything in exchange for a few hours of proper rest…

Madison sank deeper into the couch and prayed Tony had read her message… and that Flynn had been allowed to compete… Her eyelids started to close. A minute later, her body went limp and Madison was asleep, having finally surrendered to exhaustion.

FOURTEEN

“Here!” Tony said and lifted his eyes from the map. “This is our spot, amigo.”

Flynn slowed down and let the Seeker glide until it bumped gently into the concrete wall of the Trump Building. He secured the raft and looked around.

They were on Wall Street Canal, which had been cleared from traffic because of the Trials. There was just one more raft moored nearby. It belonged to Pharrell and Clay… But Pharrell wasn’t on it any more, just his Crew Mate furiously pumping air down to his diving bell. Suddenly, shouts and whistles could be heard above their heads as the other rafts began to arrive. Flynn looked up. Spectators had gathered along the rooftops and walkways, cheering and clapping their hands. Hoping to see his father, Flynn quickly scanned the crowd… but Alan Perry wasn’t there.

Flynn checked the weights under his diving bell, lowered the contraption in the water and let it sink. He had already greased his body with seal fat and was ready to dive. “All set!” Flynn called out to Tony as he fastened his harness and adjusted his pouch. “No time to waste. Let me look at the map again.” He studied the map for a moment, shoved it in his harness and said, “Remember to save your energy! Only pump when I pull the hose. I’ll be fine!” Flynn gave his friend the thumbs up sign, and Tony did the same. They had practiced this so many times, that it was like second nature to them both. Flynn snapped his goggles on, stood still at the edge of the raft for a moment, and dived in.

Luckily, their assigned target was in fairly shallow waters, and the bright sunlight penetrated deep enough for Flynn to see clearly the outlines of the buildings below. He went straight down past his diving bell. Pharrell’s bell was swaying not too far away and appeared to be empty. Flynn reached the pile of mangled vehicles that littered the submerged street and slowed down his dive. He took out the map and switched on his flashlight. Flynn glanced at the murky silhouette of a building, a few yards to the left. According to the map, his target was supposed to be in there, and Flynn could only hope he had read the co-ordinates right.

Kicking his feet, Flynn swam under the fallen traffic light that was in his way, and in a matter of seconds, found himself at the building’s entrance. Flynn shone his light at the sign above the door. Like everything else around him, it was covered in barnacles and weeds, but he could still make out what it said: New York Stock Exchange! Yes, he had definitely found his the location of his target!

Unfortunately, the entrance was blocked by a heap of twisted metal, so Flynn turned back, looking for another way in. Suddenly, a faint light appeared in one of the windows to his right. He saw a shadow emerge quickly out of it, and then the big white grin of Pharrell Lewis as he glided past him. The boy gave him the thumbs up and swam toward his bell. So, Pharrell had located his target and was now in the lead, thought Flynn, his heart sinking a little. He looked back at the black hole from where Pharrell had exited the building and decided not to go back for more air… Without wasting any more precious time, Flynn went straight in.

A dark and cavernous space opened up before him with a row of kiosks, buried under rubble and tangled cables. Flynn’s beam bounced off the broken monitors covering the sides of the kiosks. Tubes came out of the tops, connecting the kiosks to a rusted pipeline, hanging from the ceiling. To Flynn, the place looked no different than any other underwater site. He had scavenged such buildings many times over. He checked his map again, and swam past the kiosks, looking at the numbers stenciled on their monitor screens. According to the map, he had to find a kiosk with the number 17 on it. Stopping at the one marked 10, Flynn then began to count seven spaces down, until he had found what he was looking for. The glass on the monitor screen was gone and it was now just a dark box. According to the map, his target had to be inside!

That was easy, Flynn thought. Without hesitating, he plunged his hand through the screen’s hole. His fingers touched the bottom and started groping for the target. Suddenly, they fell on a small object. His target! Grabbing it, Flynn tried to pull it out, but the object didn’t move. Something soft and very much alive was holding the target down. A second later, Flynn felt his hand locked in a tight grip. And then, a sharp pain shot through his wrist. He winced and tried to pull his arm out of the hole, but whatever had caught him wouldn’t let go. It was now tugging hard at his hand, pulling it back in. Trapped against the kiosk, Flynn realized that he was struggling to hold his breath! He knew that panic was every diver’s worst enemy… he had to stay calm, or all would be lost!

Anchoring his feet at the base of the kiosk and using all his strength, Flynn managed to pull his arm out. But it came wrapped in a bundle of bright red tentacles, followed by the bulbous body of a giant octopus. Still clutching the target, Flynn realized that his fingers were dangerously close to the hard beak of the octopus’ mouth. An inch or two, and his hand would be gone! Duncan Roth had warned them about surprises… Well, this was a very nasty one… and potentially lethal, Flynn thought as he reached for his diving knife. In one swift move, he had pulled the blade from his harness and was slashing at the tentacles. The octopus let go of his hand and furiously jetted away in a cloud of black ink. But the brief struggle had caused Flynn to lose his grip on the target. It was now attached to one of the tentacles and slipping quickly out of his reach. Waving the knife blindly at the murky ink cloud, Flynn managed to slice the tentacle off and grab it before it had disappeared together with the octopus.

Clutching Duncan Roth’s target, Flynn swam out of the building, his ears ringing and his lungs screaming for air. He had spent too much time at the bottom. Now, he had to get up to the bell as quickly as possible, or risk drowning. Surfacing under its dome and having taken a deep breath of air, Flynn let out a loud cry of relief. He knew he had just cheated death. A few more seconds, and he would have been gone! Flynn pulled the hose, waiting for more fresh air to come in, thanking Tony and his lucky stars for the second time that day.

With his breathing back to normal, Flynn removed the remaining bits of tentacle still stuck to his wrist. Then he took a closer look at the target. It was a small, purple glass bottle… Nothing special, he thought, but to him it was the most valuable scavenged find, ever! Careful not to drop it, Flynn put the target in his pouch, making sure it was safely tucked inside. Now it was time to get back to the surface and finish the race… Flynn pulled the hose again to let Tony know he was coming up, took one final deep breath and swam out.

He had only made a couple of strokes when he saw that Pharrell’s diving bell was moving. But instead of going up, the bell was sinking slowly toward the bottom! Its oxygen supply hose had been cut and left to dangle, a spray of air bubbles shooting out of its severed end. Flynn caught a glimpse of a boy swimming away, but he knew immediately it wasn’t his friend… Someone, half the size of Pharrell, had just destroyed the bell and was now making a quick escape.

Flynn looked back at the partially collapsed bell and to his horror, realized it wasn’t empty. There was a body trapped inside… And it could only be Pharrell, Flynn thought! As he got closer, he saw his friend kicking, trying frantically to get out. Without thinking, Flynn dove after the bell. Seconds later, he was slashing at the mangled dome with his knife. Somehow, Pharrell was able to push free, his eyes bulging, bubbles of air gurgling out of his mouth and nose. Flynn knew there was no time to get to the surface. He grabbed Pharrell’s hand and using all of his remaining strength, managed to swim back to the safety of his own diving bell.

Once inside, it took a good minute before Pharrell stopped coughing and gasping for air. “Thanks bro!” he finally said, his eyes full of gratitude. “You could’ve left me there!”

“Yeah, right! Did you see who did this to you?”

“No man, I was inside the bell! Just saw a blade slice through the plastic, and then water started pouring in… Next thing I know, the bell was taking me down!”

“Got your target?” Flynn asked.

Pharrell nodded. “Had to fight an eel for it, though.”

“The Rottweiler didn’t make it easy, did he?” Flynn looked at his wrist, still swollen from the tentacle’s suckers.

“He sure as hell didn’t.” Pharrel showed him the red welt on his forearm. “Booby trapped those targets real nice.”

They both laughed.

“Let’s get out of here!” Pharrel said.

Flynn swam out and up towards the surface, followed by his friend. Their heads popped up at the same time, a few feet away from their rafts. Pharrell swam toward his, where Clay was kneeling over the severed air hose and clearly in a state of sheer panic.

“I’m OK!” Pharrell called out to his Crew Mate. “I’m safe, bro!”

The look of relief on Clay’s face was indescribable.

“Race ya, Perry!” Pharrell shouted over his shoulder.

“All the way, pal!”

Flynn scanned the canal and spotted another head bobbing in the water, not far from the Seeker. It was one of the Gallagher twins, staring after Pharrell. The boy caught Flynn’s eyes, frowned and swam quickly back to his own raft. Flynn wondered if he was the one who had knifed Pharrell’s diving bell. And then, it struck him how lucky they had been. The Gallagher twin could have destroyed Flynn’s bell too… But there was no time to dwell on any of that… every second was precious… Shaking his head to get the water out of his ears and with a few powerful strokes, Flynn was back to his raft.

“You OK, amigo? Got the target?” asked Tony, his voice full of concern.

“Yeah!” Flynn hoisted himself up and jumped on the seat with his diving gear still on.

“What was all that about?” Tony pointed towards Pharrell’s raft. “His buddy went nuts!”

“Someone tried to kill Pharrell,” said Flynn, his feet on the pedals. “Let’s go.”

As soon as Tony sat down next to him, Flynn started pedaling. Pharrell’s raft was already a fair distance ahead of them. The Seeker chased in its wake. The other teams were not too far behind, and finishing in the top three was going to be tough! Flynn knew Pharrell would be taking a break now, while his Crew Mate was strong and rested. It would be Clay plowing ahead on the pedals. Then, the two boys would switch… Flynn had to do it all on his own. Tony was in no shape to take turns. But as tired as Flynn felt, he was going to do his best to catch up to Pharrell. The raft ahead was gaining speed, but so was the Seeker.

FIFTEEN

“Let me take over for a bit,” Tony pleaded with Flynn, ten minutes into the race. “You’re exhausted!”

“I’m fine! You’ve done more than enough,” Flynn said as he pushed harder on the pedals. Pharrell’s raft was heading down Broad Street Canal, clearly in the lead now. Chasing after him was not going to work, and Flynn knew it. “We’ll take a short cut!” he said, making a sharp right turn.

Flynn managed to swerve into a narrow alleyway between two buildings. It was so tight that the sides of the Seeker scraped the walls. At the end of the short stretch, Flynn took a left into another alleyway, then right again. He kept zigzagging like that for a while, skirting round corners. Tony had gone extremely quiet. Flynn glanced at his friend and saw that his face had turned green, his knuckles white from squeezing the edge of his seat.

“You gonna be sick?”

“I’ll be fine, amigo,” Tony said through clenched teeth. “Keep going!”

“Hang in there! One more turn… and we’re out!”

Flynn pressed ahead. His legs felt like they were on fire, but he tried to ignore the burning pain. As he exited the narrow alley and was about to rejoin the race path, Flynn caught a sharp movement with the corner of his eye. Seconds later, something rammed the Seeker from behind and spun the raft around. Suddenly, Flynn found himself face to face with the Gallagher twins.

“You crazy?” Flynn yelled as he fought to regain control of his raft.

Both Gallaghers seemed possessed with unspeakable rage… There was a look of sheer madness in their eyes as they backed up for another attack on the Seeker. The twins worked their pedals like a well-oiled machine, and within seconds another violent blow followed the first. The force of the impact sent Flynn’s raft crashing against the wall behind. Losing his balance, Tony was thrown out of his seat. Just as he was about to fall overboard, Flynn grabbed him by the belt of his shorts and yanked him back. The Seeker was now pinned between the wall and the Gallagher raft. One of the twins jumped from his seat, a long spear in his hand.

“Hand over the target and your map, Perry!” The boy stood legs apart, pointing the spear at Flynn.

“Don’t be stupid, man! You know you won’t get away with this!”

“Oh yeah?” the Gallagher twin growled. He flicked his wrist, and the spear went through one of the barrels supporting Flynn’s raft. The boy withdrew the spear and water rushed immediately into the jagged hole. “I’m gonna sink your sorry ass!” The Gallagher twin aimed his spear at the next barrel and yelled, “Here goes…!”

Flynn’s eyes darkened. He clenched and unclenched his fists. The twins were tough and strong… Fighting both of them was out of the question. The twin poked another hole in the barrel. Laughing hard, he was now taking aim to do it again. Flynn’s body tensed, ready for action.

As if reading his mind, Tony whispered, “Flynn, don’t!”

But Flynn ignored his friend’s warning. He had his eyes focused on the spear and the hand holding it.

“This should do it, now,” cried the twin as the spear flew in the air for the third time.

But Flynn was faster… He sprang up and caught the weapon, spun around and in one swift movement slashed the ropes holding the front barrels under the Gallagher raft.

It all took less than a second. The twins didn’t even have the time to cry out as Flynn placed his foot on their raft and kicked its hull away from the Seeker. Freed from the ropes, the barrels began to float off, leaving the Gallagher raft to tilt dangerously without their support. There was a loud snap as the front end of the twins’ platform broke apart and collapsed on itself. Arms flailing, the twins lost their footing, slid down the deck and with a loud splash, both fell into the water.

“Let’s get out of here!” cried Flynn. He tossed the spear overboard, sat back next to Tony and began to steer the Seeker away from all the debris of the Gallagher raft.

“Wow!” said Tony. “How the hell did you do that?”

Flynn just shrugged, pressed on the pedals, leaving the twins shouting and cursing behind him… A few moments later, he rounded the corner and was back on Broad Street Canal. There was no one ahead of him! His tactic had worked… He could clearly see the space where the canal ended and merged with the final stretch of the race. One more right turn there, and he would be within sight of the finishing line.

But then he heard the splashing of pedals. Turning, he saw that Pharrell was just a few feet behind the Seeker and going very fast. Their eyes met for a brief second. “Good to see you again, you sneaky bastard!” the boy yelled.

Flynn didn’t waste time replying. The docking platform was now two hundred yards ahead. The silhouettes of Duncan Roth and his group were clearly defined in the distance. This was it… One last push and Flynn would be the winner! “We’re almost there, Tony!” he shouted. “We can do it!”

“Flynn!” Tony cried. “Look!”

Flynn glanced to his right and saw Pharrell’s raft overtaking the Seeker. Pharrell had switched seats with his buddy Clay again, and they were gliding ahead effortlessly. Flynn’s raft was again left rocking in their wake. “Damn it!” Flynn spat and pushed harder. Victory had seemed so close, and now he was watching it slip away…

“It’s all right, Flynn!” said Tony. “Second place’s OK…”

“It’s not OK!” Flynn grunted in frustration… Pharrell was far ahead now. Flynn knew he couldn’t go any faster. His leg muscles were beginning to cramp up, the pain becoming excruciating unbearable… Only the adrenalin, rushing through his veins, kept his body going through the motions.

Suddenly, Pharrell’s raft slowed down, almost coming to a stop. Quickly, the Seeker gained the distance between them. “What are you doing?” Flynn shouted as he overtook Pharrell’s raft.

“I owe you one!” Pharrell said. “Go ahead, brother! Show’em who’s boss!”

Flynn’s surprise lasted only a second. He nodded his thanks and then pressed ahead… If the roles had been reversed, he would have done the same for Pharrell… Divers had a very strict code of honor and Pharrell was proof of how it worked… The same couldn’t be said of the Gallaghers, thought Flynn, clenching his jaw.

The Scavenger Dock was coming closer. A large crowd of spectators had gathered round the buildings directly behind it, cheering on the race. Flynn could now see Duncan Roth’s expressionless face, his eyes locked on him. Flynn glanced back. Pharrell was following at a leisurely pace, just a few feet behind. And then, the moment Flynn had dreamt of for so many years was finally upon him… The Seeker glided over the finishing line and bumped hard against the tires lining the platform. A celebratory roar rose over Flynn and Tony’s heads… A moment later, Pharrell’s raft slid in next to them. After securing the Seeker to the Scavenger’s Dock, Flynn and Tony stood up in front of Duncan Roth. Hands shaking, Flynn retrieved the small bottle from his pouch and held it out together with his map.

“Our target, sir!”

The Rottweiler nodded and took the bottle, examining it closely. Flynn’s eyes fell on Leo Van Zandt, standing a few steps behind the man. The boy looked furious… miserable… defeated… He glared back at Flynn, pure hatred etched on his face. Flynn held his stare for a moment then looked away. The remaining teams were arriving now. Flynn spotted among them the Gallagher twins, who had somehow managed to put their raft back together again and made it to the finishing line.

Duncan Roth cleared his throat. “Listen up! I hereby declare Flynn Perry and Tony Romero the winners of this year’s Scavenger Trials! Well done to the diver. His was one of the most difficult challenges and he showed remarkable courage in completing his dive.”

Leo threw a nasty look at Flynn, turned on his heels and stormed off in the direction of his power boat. Duncan Roth barely seemed to notice his departure. “Pharrell Lewis and Clay Adams came in second.” He paused briefly, his voice turning icy. “Now, I know there was an attempt on your life, Lewis! But mark my words, this act won’t go unpunished.”

Most of the rafts were back now, so there were gasps of shock, then angry shouts coming from their decks. But the teams were also eager to hear how they had performed in the Trials. Soon, a hush fell over them, allowing Duncan Roth to continue.

“And finally,” the man said, taking a step forward, “Dave Garcia and Ben Collins round up those to qualify as Free Scavengers… You know the drill. In two days’ time, all three teams will report directly to me for assignments! Also, you’ll be moving into your new living quarters on the Upper Side!”

Duncan reached into his satchel and took out a small wooden box. “The winning teams will now receive their badges,” said Duncan. He slowly produced the first golden badge. “Guard these with your lives and don’t abuse the privileges that come with wearing them.”

Flynn closed his eyes and took a deep breath… Duncan’s Gold… this was what he had fought for… He had never been so happy in his whole life!

“From now on…” Duncan Roth continued as he handed the badges to the three winning teams, “you’ll be wearing your badges at all time… They’ll give you unlimited access to the whole of the Archipelago, but don’t forget… it’s an honor you have to keep earning every day with your work… You can lose it as quickly as you’ve gained it.”

Here, Duncan Roth paused and glanced over the silent teams. They all looked battered, exhausted. Most held their targets up for him to see. Only a few stood empty handed. All eyes were on him, staring in anticipation. He took out his handheld and tapped on the screen. After reading out a long list of names, the Rottweiler said, “The teams that failed the Trials… step up here!”

A few boys walked onto the ramp and stopped in front of Duncan Roth. The Gallagher twins stood at the end of the line, their heads down.

“You won’t be joining the Scavenger Crews!” Duncan Roth spoke to the group. “Leave your vessels here and go home. In the next few days, your skills will be reassessed, and you’ll be given your new jobs. For the Greater Good, you’re dismissed!”

Without a word, the group turned to leave.

“Gallagher!” Duncan Roth called after the twins. “Stay back, the pair of you!”

The two boys froze. There was fear in their eyes now. Having glared at them for a long moment, the Rottweiler turned to face the crowd. “I wasn’t joking when said I’d know all your moves during the Trials!” He was pointing at the twins, his mouth barely moving as he spoke. “You not only failed to get your target, but you also tried to sabotage several other teams!”

The Gallaghers didn’t dare look up. Flynn watched them squirm and wished things had played out differently… If only they had stuck to the honor code and just done their job…

“For that reason,” Duncan Roth continued, “you’ll be assigned to the Waste Crews! That’s your punishment and it will last for as long as you live on the Archipelago!”

A murmur went through the crowd as five armed guards stepped over to the twins and led them away. A chill ran down Flynn’s spine at the thought of what awaited the Gallaghers… He didn’t like the twins, but couldn’t help feeling sorry for them… Their lives were over!

Duncan Roth waited a moment then faced the teams again. “As for those who found their targets… you’ll be notified about your Crew assignments… Now, go get some well deserved rest.” With those words, the man turned and walked toward his boat, followed by the rest of his guards.

The teams moved all at once, chatting excitedly, congratulating each other. Flynn and Tony were surrounded by well-wishers. The boys let everyone look at their shiny new badges. But as time passed, the rafts began to leave, drifting away from the dock, dispersing in all directions. The Trials were over, and Flynn was looking forward to what awaited him. No matter how much his body ached, he had achieved his goal and made his dream come true. Flynn dropped on his seat, flushed with happiness and relief. Of course, he wished his father had seen him win… and that Ann Baxter, his mentor, was still alive to witness this great day. She would have been so proud… He patted the spot next to him and said, “Come on, Tony. I’ll take you home!”

SIXTEEN

“Congratulations, son!” said Alan Perry. “So, you’re officially one of Duncan Roth’s boys now!” Flynn’s father leaned back on his chair, studying the golden badge in his hands.

Flynn sat across the table, watching his father closely. Alan Perry’s face was a mixture of resignation and worry. “You don’t seem too happy about it,” Flynn said after a long pause. “And you weren’t there to cheer for me, either!”

“I was at work, son.”

“Would you be happier if I’d failed the Trials, then?” asked Flynn, his voice heavy with sarcasm.

“You know how I feel about this scavenging business.”

“Yeah, Dad, I know…” said Flynn, now glaring at his father. “You would have preferred to see me fail, so I’d become a Watchman, like you.”

“It’s a good job, Flynn! It’s safer, for a start…”

“Oh, yeah? Look where it got you!” said Flynn, making a sweeping gesture at the shabby room they were sitting in. “Nowhere!”

Alan Perry said nothing, but his eyes were full of hurt and sadness.

“C’mon Dad,” Flynn broke the silence. “Like it or not, Duncan Roth’s my boss now!”

“And here you are, bound for glory, so sure of yourself…” Alan Perry shook his head, then leaned across the table. “Just remember, son… he’s one of them!”

“So what?” Flynn raised his eyebrows.

“For starters… there’re those rumors about Ann Baxter,” Alan Perry lowered his voice to almost a whisper.

“What rumors?” asked Flynn, surprised at hearing the woman’s name. He had no idea what his father was talking about.

“They say the Rottweiler was responsible for her death… They say he made her work on the really hard dives on purpose, because she’d become inconvenient for him… She was beginning to speak out against the Government, so he got rid of her… to save his own job and to sit on the board with Marcus Van Zandt.”

“Are you telling me that Duncan had Ann killed?” Flynn was shaking his head in total disbelief.

Alan Perry got up and started pacing around the table, waving his arms. “I just don’t trust him! This man’s evil, Flynn! He’s more protocol than the Van Zandts themselves! He’s sent more people away than…”

“Dad!” cried Flynn, shaking his head again. “You said it yourself… It’s all rumors… This man defended me from the Van Zandt boy today! I don’t know why, but he did! And he let me and Tony compete, despite everything Leo had told him… And I won! Are you forgetting that?” Flynn paused and stared at his father for a long moment. “Just when I’ve finally made it, when I’ve got a future… you go and ruin the moment.”

“Flynn, I’m happy about you winning… but going up the ranks in this place is dangerous! Getting too close to these people can be more trouble than you think… You’ll never be one of them!”

“Really?” Flynn sprang up and kicked his chair. “Just watch me!”

“Flynn, wait…” his father shouted after him, “I didn’t mean…”

The door flap slammed behind Flynn’s back. The walls vibrated; a tin fell from one of the shelves and rolled on the floor. Alan Perry closed his eyes and listened to the sound of his son’s angry footsteps die away on the walkway outside.

“So, shall I take the boy’s name off the List?” Vince Jordan, the burly Chief of Security, looked up from his hand-held device.

A long, tense silence fell over the boardroom table. Red-faced, Leo Van Zandt glared at Duncan Roth sitting across from him. Duncan was expressionless. The other board members shifted nervously in their seats. All eyes were on Marcus Van Zandt. He sat at the very end, his fingers drumming on the table’s surface. “No!” he finally said. “Winner or not, his name stays on the List! He’ll probably die in the next couple of months anyway!”

“Very well!” said Vince, getting up to leave. “The Departure List goes out tomorrow night… My people will start notifying the families shortly.” He was at the door, when Marcus stopped him.

“Remember to keep things nice and easy!” Van Zandt said with a smile. “I don’t want any drama! This should be a week of celebration!”

Vince Jordan nodded and left.

Marcus waited until he had closed the door. “You OK with that decision, Duncan?” he swung his chair to face his right-hand man.

“I’ll accept it, yes,” Duncan replied.

“Do you have a replacement for the boy? He was on one of your winning teams.”

“I’m thinking of someone… someone I’ve seen work with the diver.”

“I know who you’re thinking of!” Leo erupted suddenly. “You can forget about her, Duncan!”

“Leo!” Marcus Van Zandt exclaimed, slightly puzzled by their exchange.

Duncan Roth barely looked at the boy.

“Stop defending him, Dad! He shouldn’t have allowed Flynn Perry to compete in the first place. That boy’s nothing but a criminal!” Leo was now yelling, his voice shrill.

“Leave!” Marcus sprang out of his chair, pointing at the door.

“I’m old enough to be part of this Council!”

“You’ll be welcomed back when you learn some manners! Now go!”

The look on Leo’s face was that of a child whose toys had been unjustly taken away. His eyes were full of helpless anger, welling up with tears. He glared at his father, his lips trembling. Then he threw a nasty look at Duncan Roth and stormed out, slamming the door behind him.

A moment of silence followed Leo’s exit, then Marcus slowly eased back in his chair. “Teenagers!” he said, rolling his eyes. “Which reminds me! Next time we meet, we should have our Day of Pairing on the agenda… Must find Leo a fine specimen of a girl… so he can calm down a little.” Van Zandt chuckled. “As a bonus, he’ll provide me with some Van Zandt grandkids to keep me happy,” he added and winked at Duncan Roth.

“I suspect Leo’s already found himself a girl,” Duncan muttered under his breath.

But Marcus didn’t hear him. He was back to what they had been discussing earlier. “Got any new ideas about disposing of the people on the List?”

“Same as before,” Duncan replied dryly. “I see no reason to change the procedure.”

“If it ain’t broke, why fix it, right?” Van Zandt laughed. “They’re all yours, after the Departure Ceremony’s over… I trust you’ll do as good a job as always.”

“Rest assured, Marcus. All will go according to plan.”

“Well, then…” said Van Zandt, turning to face his other board members, “we’ve covered the results from the assignment trials held today… All in all, the new work force exceeds the numbers of those who’ll be leaving us. Congratulations for a job well done, gentlemen!”

There was a round of applause as Marcus rose from his chair. “I guess that’ll be all for now. For the Greater Good! You may leave.”

Madison opened one eye just a crack. The first thing she saw was the blurry outline of a tall figure. Slowly, her vision cleared, her eyes focused, and she realized Leo Van Zandt was sitting cross-legged just a few feet away from the couch. Staring at her!

“You look very pretty in your sleep, Madison Ray!” he drawled, his lips stretching into a lecherous smile.

Madison sat up in a flash, fully awake now. Her fish-skin top had rolled up and twisted above her waist, her shorts had ridden up her tights, revealing her long, tanned legs. She must have tossed and turned a lot in her sleep… But how long had she slept? How long had Leo been sitting here? Judging by the light outside the windows, the day was nearly gone. Hastily, she straightened her top and pulled at her shorts, trying to cover as much as she could of her bare flesh.

“Pity you had to do that!” Leo’s smile widened. “I was enjoying the view!”

“Were you now?” Madison snapped. She shot him an angry look and said, “Then you’re no different from any common Lower Side pervert!”

“Now, now, Madison!” Leo said, mockingly. He leaned forward, his hand reached to brush away a loose strand of hair from Madison’s face.

But she was faster than him. In an instant, Madison had scooted over to the far end of the couch, her knees drawn to her chest, her arms wrapped protectively over her shins. “Don’t touch me!” she hissed at him.

Leo’s eyebrows shot up in surprise. The corner of his mouth twitched. He stood with his arm outstretched, frozen in mid air for a long moment, then he let his hand fall down. “You’re right… I’m a Van Zandt after all,” he said. “Born and bred on the Upper Side… I should have impeccable manners…” He got up and walked over to the table, still laid out with the untouched food. Leo took a grape, tossed it in the air and caught it in his mouth. “To prove what a gentleman I can be, I’ll now engage Miss Ray in polite conversation,” he drawled. “I suppose you’d like to hear about the Trials, then? And their final outcome?” he spoke with his mouth full, chewing, his eyes fixed on hers.

Madison’s heart skipped a beat… Of course, she wanted to hear about the Trials! She was worried sick about Flynn… But she wasn’t going to give Leo the pleasure of seeing it written all over her face. She fought to suppress her emotions as she watched him pick another grape and pop it in his mouth. Calm and relaxed, he looked nothing like the Leo Van Zandt from the day before. The smirk on his face could only mean his plan had worked… He had succeeded and Flynn was either disqualified or had lost the race, or… worse, thought Madison. “What happened at the Trials?” she asked.

“Mmm…” Leo sucked on the grape for a moment, “these are excellent! Have you tried them?”

“Answer my question, Leo!”

Leo picked up the plate full of grapes, walked over and sat on the couch next to her. “Hmm, let me think now… What did happen at the Trials?” He leaned closer, offering her the plate. “I believe that your hero boy lost!” Leo paused for a second, clearly enjoying the impact of his words.

Madison’s face had gone white as a sheet.

“Not only did he fail to win,” Leo continued, “he also tried to sabotage one of the other contestants, and earned himself a place on the Waste Crews… So, it looks like you won’t be seeing him again!”

Madison felt she was going to be sick. It had all gone terribly wrong! She had betrayed Flynn… She had chosen to protect her parents from the threat of Departure… earned them a few more years of life on the Archipelago, but she had traded Flynn’s future for that… condemned him to the Waste Crews… His young life was ruined! And hers too! That was the end of it!

Leo sat in silence, studying her face. Suddenly, he burst out laughing. “Hah! Got you worried there for a moment, didn’t I?”

“What do you mean?” Madison shot him an icy look, trying to regain her composure.

“I mean, I was kidding! Your Lower Side friend’s safe… for now!”

“You’ve got a really twisted sense of humor, Van Zandt!” Madison sprang to her feet as if stung by a jellyfish and stepped away from the couch.

Leo was still laughing, extremely pleased with himself. “And you’re a smart girl, Madison! I’ve got to give you credit for what you managed to do yesterday,” he said, pointing to her basket. “You got a message out to that Romero boy, didn’t you?”

Madison refused to answer.

“Makes me like you even more… You and I will make such a good match, don’t you think?”

Madison said nothing, glaring at him.

Leo shrugged, reached down and lifted the basket’s cover. The pigeon’s head popped up. “Anyway…” Leo continued, as he fed the bird a piece of grape, “you’ll be pleased to hear, Perry’s got himself a position as a Free Scavenger and a golden badge… Not for long, though! Sooner or later, he’ll screw up, make the wrong move, and you my dear… will help me catch him in the act!” With those words Leo grabbed Madison’s pigeon, flicked his wrist and broke the little bird’s neck.

SEVENTEEN

“Turn back and go away! This is a restricted area, only Upper Side residents can enter!” the burly guard shouted at Flynn as the Seeker approached the check-point platform.

The whole length of Midtown Bay, the one bordering with the Upper Side, was cordoned off, check-point rafts at every hundred yards or so. Flynn glanced down at his tattered shorts and bare feet.

“I said turn back, scum boy!” the guard yelled again, cocking his gun. “Are you deaf, or somethin’?”

“I’m a Free Scavenger! I can go anywhere I want!” said Flynn and pointed his chin at the Empire State Building, two blocks away in the background.

“Hah! Is that so?” scoffed the guard. “Got any ID on you, wise guy?”

Flynn realized he had forgotten to put on his golden badge. It was instantly recognizable and allowed those who wore it free movement in all areas of the Archipelago. Of course, he had not yet gotten into the habit of wearing it… Flynn dug in his harness pouch, took the badge out and flashed it at the guard. “That good enough for you?” he asked, glaring back at the man.

At the sight of the badge, the guard’s grim face changed its expression. He lowered his weapon and started to back off. “Duncan’s Gold… You should be wearin’ it, you know!” the man said, but his tone had softened now. There was a definite note of respect in his voice.

“I’ll wear it when it pleases me!” Arrogantly, Flynn shoved the badge back in his pouch. “Can I go now?”

The guard nodded and stepped back.

Flynn steered his raft through the gap between the check-point platforms. As he was passing, his eyes met those of the guard. The man quickly looked away. Flynn pedaled ahead, smiling to himself. He was beginning to enjoy his new status and the power it gave him. The way he had dealt with the guard made him feel full of pride and self-importance… But the golden badge had done something else… It had suddenly rekindled Flynn’s anger toward his father… brought back their argument over Flynn’s future… Flynn wished his father could have seen this… how Flynn had entered the Upper Side with just a flash of his new badge! He knew damn well where his future was! Right here, staring at him! And his future home was in one of the tall buildings rising out of the water before him… Flynn had come to the Upper Side to collect the key to his new lodgings and start his new life.

And the way things stood, Flynn needed a roof over his head as soon as possible… After storming out of his apartment, Flynn had made it straight to Tony’s, hoping to camp on the Romero’s floor. But Mrs. Romero would have nothing to do with Flynn. No, he wasn’t going to see his friend, because Tony was resting after his ordeal at the Trials. She didn’t care about Flynn and Tony winning the damned race, or the cursed golden badges… What mattered to Mrs. Romero was that her son could barely breathe, was running a high fever and coughing up blood… And according to Mrs. Romero, Flynn was to blame for everything… Tony’s poor health was all Flynn’s fault… Having made all those accusations, Mrs. Romero had slammed the door in Flynn’s face… With nowhere else to go, he had spent a freezing and very uncomfortable night down at the Pier.

Now, the Seeker was passing by the big docks, surrounding the base of the Van Zandt Building. But Flynn’s plan wasn’t just to walk in there and get his key from Duncan Roth… He was also there for Madison Ray… He was going to negotiate her release, no matter what. The Rottweiler obviously had power over Leo Van Zandt, judging by the way the man had spoken to the boy on the day of the Trials. Everyone had seen Leo cower in the Rottweiler’s presence… As the winner of the Trials, Flynn felt confident he could persuade Duncan Roth to talk to Leo and have Madison come home. After all, he had all the evidence in the world to prove that Leo Van Zandt had tried to destroy his chances at competing… Madison’s note to Tony was tucked away safely in his pocket, and it clearly stated what Leo had done.

Flynn pedaled past a row of vessels moored along the floating platforms, looking for an empty slip. Suddenly, two familiar figures caught his eye. He jerked his head back and his feet froze on the pedals. No, there was no mistake! It was Madison, walking beside Leo Van Zandt. The two were making their way along one of the well-scrubbed gangways which connected the Van Zandt building to the docks! Flynn watched as Leo led Madison to his motor boat, jumped on board the Fury and held out his hand for her. Wait! Was that a smile on her face? Flynn’s chest tightened as he caught his breath… Madison didn’t look like a captive… No, she seemed to be following Leo willingly, enjoying herself. She giggled when Leo gunned his engine and his boat sprang forward. He steered it away from the dock, and in a slow and leisurely speed, headed north, toward the heart of the Upper Side.

Flynn stood still for a moment, puzzled and hurt by how Madison had acted. Then he pressed on the pedals and followed the motor boat. He trailed the Fury as it entered Park Avenue Canal and headed towards the Chrysler Building. With his jaw clenched and his knuckles white from gripping the steering column, Flynn kept his raft at a safe distance from Leo and Madison. He could see them well enough, though… he could see Leo showing off, pointing at the tall buildings flanking the canal. And there was Madison, looking admiringly at the boy…

“Bastard!” said Flynn, gritting his teeth. The Van Zandts owned not only the buildings, but the people in them… the people around them, he thought bitterly. And now, Leo had set his eyes on Madison and added her to his collection! “Damn it!” Flynn spat in the water, his anger growing with every passing second. Who was he kidding, really? Pretending that his golden badge and Free Scavenger position gave him power! Power over a bunch of guards and low-ranked officials… There was nothing Flynn could do to this Van Zandt kid! Nothing!

The boat ahead stopped suddenly. Flynn cursed again and quickly swerved to the right. He pressed his raft against the massive tires lining the wall of the nearby building, trying to hide in their shadow and avoid being spotted. He lowered his head, but kept his eyes pinned on the motor boat. Leo was gesturing again, pointing at the MetLife Building, home of the Van Zandt Security Force. Flynn had heard the building housed the Archipelago’s guards and the militia. All the weapons were kept in there, too. The MetLife building had been turned into a fortress… and it was Leo’s fortress, like everything else on the Upper Side.

Leo stopped waving his hand. His arm fell casually around Madison’s shoulders. But she didn’t pull away as Flynn had expected. No! She didn’t seem to mind one little bit. Madison had allowed Leo’s fingers to dance around her neck, playing with her long hair. Flynn felt his blood boiling inside him, rushing madly to his head! He couldn’t stand watching this anymore. He couldn’t bear the thought of these two together. But why did he feel such anguish at the sight Madison and Leo? The reason was simple and it took Flynn completely by surprise… Flynn was in love with Madison! He had been in love with her from the minute she had stepped on his raft. If only he had realized this sooner… but he had been way too busy with the Trials and blind to everything else, including his own feelings.

Throwing all caution to the wind and fearing nothing, Flynn pressed on his pedals and sped toward the boat. He was going to tell Madison how he felt about her and take her home… He was going to ram his raft into Leo’s boat, and sink the bastard! He was picking up speed, when suddenly Madison turned her head and saw him. There was a funny look on her face. She stared at Flynn, then leaned into Leo and whispered something in his ear. Seconds later, Leo gunned his boat’s engine. The Fury jumped forward and sped up the canal, leaving Flynn’s raft rolling in its wake.

“Damn you, Madison!” Flynn said, slamming his fist on the seat. There was no way he would ever catch up with them. The Fury was now a small dot, far out of his reach. It made a quick turn into one of the side canals and disappeared out of sight. Flynn lifted his feet from the pedals, letting the Seeker drift and buried his head in his hands. Betrayed! That’s how he felt… Betrayed and tossed away, like the useless piece of garbage that he was! He knew Madison had seen him, and she had turned her back on him! She had made her choice, he thought… She had picked Leo Van Zandt over him, and it was as simple as that.

The loud blowing of horns and angry shouting made Flynn jump out of his seat. His raft had floated into the middle of Park Avenue Canal, causing a small traffic jam. A red-faced water bike cop was pedaling toward him with one hand on his gun holster. Flynn took his badge out of the pouch and lifted it up over his head. Instantly, the cop made room for the Seeker to maneuver away from all the vessels… Duncan’s Gold had worked its magic again, but Flynn now felt little comfort in knowing that. Slowly, he made a wide U-turn and headed back in the direction of Midtown Bay. Flynn needed to get away from the Upper Side… Seeing Duncan Roth was the last thing he wanted to do… and getting the key to his new home was no longer on his mind. All he could think about was what Madison had just done to him…

She had broken his heart.

Madison flinched and looked away, trying to hide her worried face from Leo. His arm was still around her shoulders, his hand playing with her ear. The Fury was going at top speed, and it was an incredibly bumpy ride. Boats, rafts and all kinds of water vessels moved to either side of the canal, clearing a path for them. They knew whose boat it was and instantly got out of its way. Madison glanced back. To her great relief, there was no sign of Flynn… “Can we stop now?” she cried over the roar of the powerful engine. “I think I’m going to be sick.”

“Really?” Leo sounded genuinely surprised. He pushed back the throttle, and the boat slowed down. “You said you wanted to go fast, didn’t you?”

“I’m just… not used to it,” said Madison. Her face had turned green. It was true… she had never been on a speed boat before, never traveled in anything faster than a raft. As thrilling as it was, this first taste of high speed had made her stomach turn… But was it the speed that made her feel this way, or was she just worried sick about Flynn? Madison had seen him coming after them… she had seen the mad look in his eyes… and realized that Flynn was going to ram his raft into Leo’s boat. She had acted on the spur of the moment… The only way she could protect Flynn from the terrible consequences of what he was about to do was to get away from him… So, Madison had asked Leo to show her how fast his boat could go… and he had done just that… Well, it had worked! They had lost Flynn, with Leo none the wiser…

Madison leaned overboard and threw up. She fell back on the seat, her chest heaving. There were black spots swimming in front of her eyes and a funny ringing sound in her ears.

“Feeling better?”

Leo’s voice sounded muffled, distant. Slowly, the spots cleared and she could make out the shape of his face, leaning over her, his lips curled into a smile. Madison fought the urge to slap him away. “Yeah, I think so,” she said.

“Well, you better get used to it, beautiful.” Leo stretched back on his seat, tapped the steering wheel and grinned. “This’ll be part of your new life… If you keep your end of the bargain, that is!”

Madison said nothing. She pressed her mouth shut, trying not to choke on the bile rising up her throat again. Her end of the bargain! Leo didn’t need to remind her again. She knew the Departure List was going out that evening and that her parents had been spared. Madison was already playing her part… Sitting here, next to him, letting him touch her… Yes, she had accepted his offer. What else could she do? Refuse him? Fight him, drive him insane with rage and give Leo even a bigger reason to harm everybody she loved? No, she wasn’t going to fight, not now anyway. She would fight later, Madison thought. For now, she was going to play along, act normal and try to stay a few steps ahead of Leo.

But Madison knew Leo wasn’t stupid… He could smell a rat from a mile away. If she was faking it, he would sense it immediately and turn the game around. Madison would have to convince Leo that she was with him not out of fear, but because she really liked him… It was going to be hard! Luckily for Madison, she was good at acting and hiding her feelings… And right now, Leo was staring at her, studying her face, attempting to read her mind. Madison could feel his eyes burning holes in her skin, trying to peel off the false mask she was wearing… With the wave of sea sickness gone, she managed a coy smile. “It’s not a bargain, Leo!” she said, her hand finding his. “I think I can get used to this!”

“Really?”

Madison could feel his warm breath on her face.

“Give us a kiss then,” Leo said.

Madison leaned into him and pecked him on the cheek. Leo frowned, then tried to find her lips.

“Be patient, please!” whispered Madison, pulling away. “I… I need some time!”

The corners of Leo’s mouth dropped. He hesitated for a moment before relaxing back in his seat. “Fine,” he said dryly, “I can wait.”

They sat in silence for a moment, Leo drumming his fingers on the steering wheel, the engine purring gently as boats and rafts passed them by. “So…,” he finally said, “what would you like to see next?”

“The greenhouses… the rooftop gardens I’ve heard so much about.”

“Very well.” Leo pushed the throttle and the boat lurched forward.

“Not too fast, please!”

“OK, beautiful,” said Leo, turning his boat into Seventh Avenue Canal.

They were now moving slowly enough for Madison to really look at the Upper Side. Of course, the buildings were all weather beaten, with long vertical streaks of grime running down their sides. But they all had proper glass windows. Also, she could see their original facades. The buildings were free from any shack-like extensions so typical on the Lower Side. Yes, there was the occasional add-on structure, sticking out like a giant bird’s nest, and she did notice several outdoor pulley elevators and platforms… But here, the buildings had been left untouched, their silhouettes a lot more streamlined. There were no apartment towers rising from the rooftops… One thing that the Upper Side had in common with the Lower was the suspension bridges connecting the buildings and the cable cars crisscrossing the sky above.

The Fury exited the canal, and the vast space of Central Park Bay opened up before them. Leo took a leisurely left turn into Fifty Ninth Street Canal. On their right, the entire length of the waterway was fenced off, check-points at every block or so. The traffic here was heavy and there were armed guards everywhere.

“What’s that?” asked Madison, craning her neck to get a better view over the fence. She could see a number of giant water wheels turning slowly, pumping sea water into a web of pipe installations, mounted on large floating platforms. There was a flurry of activity going on around them. Huge rafts and barges, loaded with barrels, were moving back and forth between the floating docks.

“This…,” said Leo, “…is your life support! The one thing you can’t live without!”

“Which is what?” Madison turned back to look at the fenced area they had now left behind. There was a wry smile on her face. The one thing that Madison couldn’t live without was Flynn Perry… but she wasn’t going to tell Leo that…

“It’s the Van Zandt Desalination Plant, of course!” Leo announced proudly, not realizing that Madison had stopped listening.

Madison was completely spent… physically and emotionally drained. She sat slumped on her seat as Leo’s power boat entered the Lower Side, followed by his guards. He was taking her back home after they had spent hours at the Hanging Roof Gardens. It was dark now, the sun already gone… but the lush green colors of the gardens were still swimming in front of her eyes. The apple and orange trees, the grape vines, and the rows upon rows of planted tomatoes, cucumbers and salads… the terraced rooftops of several buildings at the corner of Central Park Bay were alive with all sorts of vegetation… Hanging Gardens they called them. True to their name, they really were hanging! Huge platforms connected by strings of bridges, a web of cables and pulleys, holding everything together… the gardens were a true marvel of engineering and water irrigation… and a luxury only afforded to the Upper Side Government.

But after her glimpse of paradise, Madison had also witnessed something horrific… She had seen a man’s lifeless body floating next to the platforms of the Van Zandt Pipeline, his scull caved in by a vicious blow. According to the guards, the man had tried to steal fresh water, and they had decided not to waste their bullets… It was a grim reminder of the harsh reality beneath the beauty of the Roof Gardens. This was what went on in the real world, Madison thought. Everything else was a cruel charade.

She swallowed hard and looked sadly down at her basket. Leo had killed her little pigeon without any remorse, but had filled the empty basket full of fruit and vegetables… a gift she was taking to her parents… things they had never seen or tasted in their lives… It was supposed to be a token of Leo’s love for her. As far as she was concerned, it was just a warning shot of what lay ahead.

“That’s it then, Miss Ray,” Leo said as he steered his boat through the entrance of her building and bumped the tires lining the docking platform. His guards stayed back, keeping their distance. Madison picked up her heavy basket and hopped on the platform.

“And don’t forget,” said Leo, pointing a finger at her, “I’ll be watching you, beautiful!”

Madison nodded and waved at him. She saw Leo turn his boat and exit, followed by the guards. She stood on the platform for a moment, her body trembling, relieved that Leo had finally let her go. She had done a good job in playing her game and done little to raise his suspicion… Madison had even allowed him to kiss her properly on the mouth… Trying to erase the memory of it, she turned and headed toward the stairs.

“Having fun, Miss Ray?”

A dark shadow detached itself from one of the support columns, and stepped slowly into the light.

“Flynn!” cried Madison, dropping her basket and running toward him. “Thank God! I’m so glad to see you!” She reached out to hug him, but he stepped back, leaving her to stand there with outstretched hands.

“I don’t think so, Miss Ray!” Flynn shook his head and stared icily at her.

“Flynn…” Madison reached out to touch him again. “Listen to me… It’s not what you think…”

“I saw enough today!” His voice sounded strangled, distant.

“You saw nothing!” cried Madison. “And you know nothing!”

“Really? You were all over Leo Van Zandt… couldn’t keep your hands off him.”

“I’m buying us some time… I’m doing it for my parents… doing it for you, damn it! It’s not for real!”

“How very generous of you!” Flynn sneered. His lip curled up in a sarcastic smile. “But I don’t need your sacrifice, beautiful.”

“Stop it! I had no choice…”

“And what exactly did you offer in return?”

Madison looked away.

“What was the deal, then?” Flynn shouted at her.

“I promised to marry Leo, after…”

“After what?”

“After I help him catch you out… catch you breaking the rules!” Madison said, looking to meet his eyes."I don’t know why, but he hates your guts, Flynn! He wants to destroy you… to send you off to the Waste Crews… he wants you dead!”

Flynn stared at her for a long moment, not saying a word.

“What did you do to make Leo so mad?” Madison asked.

“Nothing much… Saved his life once!”

“And he hates you for that? Why?”

“Never mind,” said Flynn, as he turned and walked over to his raft. “Good luck helping him out… I won’t interfere…”

“Flynn!” Madison shouted after him. “You know I’ll never do such thing! I made Leo believe that I would… so he’d let me go!”

“Good-bye, Madison!” Flynn said without turning. He pushed his raft away from the boat slip and pedaled towards the exit.

“Wait… please,” Madison called out, “I had no other choice!”

But Flynn was gone! Madison stared ahead into the darkness, her chin trembling. Suddenly, the terrible ordeal of the past twenty-four hours was too much for her to bear… Her knees buckled, and she collapsed on the steps… Shivering and exhausted, Madison Ray finally allowed herself to cry, letting her tears fall freely down her face.

EIGHTEEN

Alan Perry sat hunched over his dining table. Motionless, frozen like a statue, his eyes fixed on the door flap. He had been staring at it for many hours now, hoping that it would fly open, and Flynn would walk in… It was late. Way too late… way past the water distribution hour, way past dinner and bedtime… Their tower had gone quiet a long time ago, with all its tired occupants having surrendered to a comatose kind of sleep. He could hear loud snoring coming from the unit next door. But Alan Perry was wide awake. He couldn’t bring himself to lie down on the empty mattress. Couldn’t imagine falling asleep without hearing Flynn’s regular breathing next to him… His son had never done that! He had never failed to come back home. Ever!

Alan Perry’s eyes darted from the door flap to the rusty clock sitting on the shelf next to it. It was almost dawn. The sun would rise in an hour or so. Where was his boy? In his mind, he’d gone through all the possibilities… Flynn caught and arrested at the Black Market… injured in some kind of accident… lying dead at the bottom of the ocean… But deep down in his heart, Alan Perry knew it wasn’t any of that… He knew Flynn was safe somewhere out there, spending a second night alone because he was angry… Because Alan Perry had failed to praise his son on the biggest day of his life… to show respect and acknowledge Flynn’s achievement. He sighed and lowered his gaze. Suddenly, his eyelids felt heavy. He let them close and before he knew it, he had dozed off.

The sound of heavy footsteps outside on the tower’s walkway made Alan Perry jump in his seat. He turned his head back to the door, his eyes full of renewed hope. Was that Flynn? The steps stopped a few doors away. It was quiet for a moment. He strained his ears and listened. Someone was having a hushed conversation which ended abruptly and was followed by the slam of a door. A female voice cried out and then began to sob. He recognized it immediately. It was Mrs. Voinovich, their neighbor. He glanced at the clock again… it was the crack of dawn. This could only mean one thing, he thought as a cold shiver ran down his spine. The Departure List was out! It had begun, then!

Alan Perry rose stiffly from his chair. The footsteps echoed closer now. Two heart-beats later, there was a knock on his door. Slowly, he walked over and threw open the plastic flap. Vince Jordan, the burly Chief of Security, flanked by two of his guards, filled the door frame.

“For the Greater Good, gentlemen! How can I help you?” Alan Perry said softly.

Jordan checked his hand-held device then stared blankly at him. “Are you Alan Perry?”

“That’s me.”

Vince Jordan cleared his throat. “Mr. Perry, you’ve been selected for…”

“I know why you’re here,” Flynn’s father said quietly. “What do you want me to do?”

Expecting trouble or some kind of resistance, the two guards tensed, their hands gripping their gun holsters. Jordan looked into the room past Alan Perry’s shoulder. “You alone?”

“Yes, I am.”

“Very well!” Vince Jordan said, taking a deep breath before starting on his well-rehearsed speech. “You’ll be escorted to the designated platform from where the Departure car will take you the Van Zandt Building. That’s where you’ll be spending the week before the Ceremony takes place. Don’t bring anything, except small personal stuff you want to take with you on your journey. Everything else will be provided for you during your last days on the Archipelago. You’ll be allowed one visit, if you have any close relatives. That’s pretty much it, Mr. Perry!”

“Thank you,” said Alan Perry. “Can I have a minute to myself, please?” He couldn’t believe how calm he was. How easily he had accepted his fate. Not only that, but he was thanking them for delivering his death sentence! He was prepared, of course. He knew he wasn’t going to put up a fight, argue, or beg… but Alan Perry was still surprised at how peaceful his resignation had been.

Vince Jordan seemed equally puzzled. “OK, Mr. Perry,” he shrugged, took a step back then stopped, suddenly feeling suspicious. “Err…” he hesitated and threw a quick glance around the room, as if expecting to find a back door or some kind of secret exit out of the apartment. “Please, don’t make it difficult for us! We want you to go nice and easy, no drama!” Jordan had now adopted Van Zandt’s turn of phrase and was happy to be using it as his own.

“I won’t give you any trouble!” said Alan Perry, also glancing round the room.

“Your cooperation is appreciated.” Vince Jordan motioned to his guards, and they all stepped back.

Alan Perry slowly closed the plastic door flap and returned to the table. He leaned on it and stood like that for a long moment… Then, taking a piece of old algae-pressed paper and a piece of charcoal out of his pocket, he scribbled something on it. He slid the note under one of the plates on the table and took a deep breath. There was a soft knock on the door.

“Mr. Perry?” Jordan’s voice sounded impatient.

“I’m ready.”

Alan Perry didn’t bother taking anything with him. There was no point, he thought and stepped through the door of his apartment for the very last time.

Flynn woke up with a start, his body stiff and shivering. He wasn’t sure if it was his father talking to him in his dream, or the early morning chill that had interrupted his sleep. It was still dark, but the edge of the eastern horizon was starting to glow pink with the rising sun. His hand grabbed under the seat for something to cover himself with. He picked up a tangled fishing net and spread it over his body, then curled up for a few more hours of sleep. The sun would be soon be overhead, and then the heat would wake him up. He was starting to drift off back to sleep again, when… splat! The foul smelling blob of a seagull’s droppings landed on his face.

“Damn it!” Flynn cursed loudly and sat up. He used the fishing net to wipe himself quickly and shoved it back under the seat. What were the odds of that happening where he was? Far out to the west, with the Archipelago a good mile away in the distance, and nothing but water around him… He rubbed his eyes and stood up. Fully awake, all the dark thoughts from the night before came rushing back into his head… His father’s disappointment, Madison’s betrayal and Leo’s quest for revenge… They were all jostling for space… Flynn stretched and looked up at the sky. Although it was brighter and growing more cheerful in color, Flynn was in no mood to savor its beauty.

He threw his diving harness on and buckled it, then picked up the jar with the seal blubber and started to cover his skin with the thick layer of its heat preserving grease. Flynn knew that nothing cleared his head better than an early morning dive… Taking deep breaths of air to fill his lungs, Flynn walked to the edge of his raft. He focused on the spot where he was going to enter the water, stood on the tip of his toes and dived in.

The cable car screeched to a halt next to the rooftop platform. It was the usual converted school bus shell, except it had the word ‘Departure’ stenciled in black on its faded yellow paint. Alan Perry took one last look at the tower he had lived in for most of his life and stepped inside the cable car. He walked past the two guards standing by the door and found an empty seat. He had seen the Departure car in previous years, making its rounds and collecting its passengers on their final journey through the Lower Side. But then, Alan Perry had been looking from the outside, never paying much attention… it was just the way life went… Now it was different! He was inside, riding the car together with his own Departure group. He was a part of it and there was no going back!

Alan Perry glanced over the rest of his fellow passengers, men and women, all roughly around his age. Most sat on their own. Some were red eyed, some were sobbing quietly. Most looked stunned and lost to the world. He knew some of them, like Mrs. Voinovich, his neighbor… They were the only two chosen from their building… As for the rest of the passengers in the car, he was going to get to know them during their Departure week. No one spoke much. There was the occasional ‘You, too?’ and ‘Sorry to see you here!’ whispered when they stopped to pick up more people on their way to the Van Zandt Building.

Soon, all seats were taken. The cable car crept slowly over Broadway Canal, until it exited the Lower Side and began its slow journey above the vast expanse of water, heading straight toward the Upper Side. Alan Perry looked out of the window and down at what they called Midtown Bay. He tried to remember the last time he had taken that ride… It had been before Flynn was born… He was going there to be paired, as were a number of young bloods who had reached the age of maturity. Alan Perry shook his head, chasing away the memories. He could see the Van Zandt Pipeline below, snaking its way on the surface of the water and disappearing into the distance. They stopped briefly at a midway station to change drivers. With so many passengers on board, the cable car needed a fresh pair of legs to power it across to its final destination. Soon, the Departure car joined a dozen other cable cars. They had all arrived from different parts of the Lower Side and now formed a long line heading for the Van Zandt building.

The Van Zandt building stood alone, towering above the rest. As they got closer, Alan Perry could see the many scaffolding platforms gripping its outer walls: docking bays for the cable cars, outside elevators running up and down on cables, walkways overhanging each other.

The traffic was slowing down now. One by one, the cars were stopping at a large platform suspended some thirty stories above the water, offloading the Departure passengers and moving swiftly away. When Alan Perry’s car docked finally, everybody was ushered onto the platform. It was covered with a thread-bare carpet and cordoned off by fraying red ropes. Alan Perry and his group were immediately surrounded by armed guards. What were they afraid of? As if anyone would dare to escape… or storm the Van Zandt’s headquarters… Or try to steal the ropes, thought Alan Perry and couldn’t help but laugh out loud at the insanity of it all… Luckily, no one heard him.

They were greeted by a pompous looking Government official, standing at the entrance to the building. The man was dressed in a faded suit, a size too small for his great bulk. Everybody stared at him with a mixture of curiosity and dread. “Valued citizens of the Archipelago,” began the man with a big smile, “allow me, on behalf of the Government and Mr. Van Zandt, to welcome you to your Departure Suites! Please follow me inside.”

The Government official turned and walked briskly through the entrance. Alan Perry waited for the rest of his group to make their way in, until it was his turn to step over the threshold of the Van Zandt building… Alan Perry knew they had just entered a very well-appointed prison, and this was his last glimpse of the Archipelago as a free man.

Flynn couldn’t remember the last time he had gone on a solo dive, without the aid of a bell and a Crew Mate… It might have been in the early years, before he had become Ann Baxter’s student. Freediving was all about ease of movement, relaxation and the conserving of energy. It was both exhilarating and calming to be underwater without any support. And Flynn needed to be by himself… He wanted peace and quiet, and with every passing second, this solitary experience was working its magic on him. It helped clear his head, pushing all thoughts away, making him concentrate on the steps he needed to take in order to reach the ocean bed.

The first step had been Flynn’s entry in the water… He had started by floating on the surface, slowing his heart rate to around fifty beats per minute, breathing deep and taking his time. With the last complete breath, he had jackknifed, letting his feet rise up so that their weight could thrust his streamlined body downward. And then, he had begun a series of low frequency, stiff-legged kicks, staying as relaxed as possible… The trick was not to exert yourself, or as Ann Baxter liked to say, ‘trying to sleep your way down to the bottom’. Twenty seconds into the dive, and gliding along nicely, Flynn had already reached a depth of fifty feet. Soon he would have to equalize the water pressure in his ears, gain more momentum in reaching his final destination.

He switched on his flashlight as he approached the submerged city streets beneath him. The place looked undisturbed, and Flynn was sure no one had scavenged it yet. He was swimming in uncharted territory, but inevitably, everything about the site had a familiar feel to it… The piles of mangled vehicles, the twisted poles and cables which had been covered in thick layers of barnacles, seaweed and silt… It was no different from what Flynn had encountered on previous dives. The fact that the ocean bed around the Archipelago was a grave-yard never bothered him much. It didn’t feel sinister or scary to Flynn… Most people would have hated it, but not him… Flynn had always loved this eerie underworld, because it was a direct link to a long forgotten past. Ironically, it had also become a source of sustenance for those who lived in the present.

But now, as he coasted along the rooftops of a submerged row of houses, Flynn was struck by an overwhelming feeling of sadness… Suddenly, there was something strange and unpleasant about the dive. For the first time in his life, he felt like an intruder, disturbing the final resting place of so many lost souls. The place was full of ghosts, Flynn thought as he swam past the top floor of a brick building… And then, lodged between the narrow bars of one of its windows, Flynn saw the well-preserved remains of a child’s toy. He felt his heart stop. He used to have a toy like that. It was a little stuffed animal his father had given him when he was four years old… In a flash, the thought of Alan Perry made Flynn come to his senses. What was he doing down here? Running away from his problems wasn’t going to solve anything! Grabbing hold of one of the bars, Flynn managed to free the toy and tuck it safely in his diving harness. Flynn knew he had to go back and see his father… He had to apologize for what he had said and ask the man for his forgiveness. Kicking hard with his feet, Flynn shot up toward the surface.

Alan Perry had never entered the Van Zandt building before. He was following his guide as they made their way through a labyrinth of long corridors. He stared at the marble columns, the vaulted ceilings and polished wooden floors. There were even real paintings hanging on the walls! They were nothing like the pages torn from old magazines, or the tatty posters and billboards people would decorate their living spaces with… Real art didn’t exist anymore. At least not on the Lower Side… No one had the resources or the time to create art in that way… let alone to put it in a frame!

Walking in a daze, Flynn’s father felt like a child in a magical world that was unfolding slowly before his eyes. But he would be allowed only a brief glimpse of this world… only a week at the end of his life. Then the memories of what he had seen would disappear together with him and everybody on the List. His chest tightened. This week of celebration in the Van Zandt building was all a cruel tease… a perverse game the Government would play with his mind, because they knew that no one would object to it! Suddenly, Alan Perry felt sickened by everything he had been admiring.

“Mr. Perry!” A voice disturbed his thoughts. The guide now stood in front of a heavy wooden door. “This is your Departure Suite, sir.”

The door slid open silently, revealing a long dark hallway.

“This will be your residence for the rest of the week. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are served in our gala room. You’ll find a full list of instructions on your bed.” The guide paused, avoiding any eye-contact with Alan Perry. “Can you read, sir? We provide help for those who can’t.”

“I can read,” said Alan Perry and stepped inside the suite.

“Have a nice stay!” his guide mumbled as he closed the door firmly after him.

Flynn’s father heard it lock promptly from the outside, and then listened as the footsteps of the guide died away quickly down the corridor. He stood for a moment in the dusky hallway, his head resting against the nearest wall. Taking a deep breath to steady himself, he suddenly became aware of how different the air smelled. A sweet scent was drifting all around him, making him dizzy and aroused at the same time. His hand found the light switch and flicked it on. Instantly, the suite was bathed in bright light. “Well…” he said, now speaking to himself, “let’s explore our new home, shall we?”

The hallway led Alan Perry into a spacious living room and to the source of the wonderful, heady fragrance. There were half a dozen vases placed around the room and all of them were full of freshly cut flowers. Hypnotized, he walked slowly toward one of them. Flynn’s father reached out and touched the petals to see if they were real. Of course, they were! He had spent all his life thinking that flowers were a thing of the past… that they only existed in the memories of ancients and in pictures. Now, he realized they were still around, most probably grown in one of the greenhouses, exclusively for the pleasure of the Upper Side residents… The Government was wasting drinking water on flowers, while the Lower Side had to ration it, Alan Perry thought with disgust.

His eyes shifted to the huge glass window with a perfect view of the city below. No one had real glass on the Lower Side! Alan Perry dropped his bag on the leather sofa and walked over to the window. He rapped his knuckles on the glass then pressed his face against the window. Flynn was somewhere out there… Alan Perry clenched his fists, angry at himself. Why had he spoiled Flynn’s happiness with his harsh words? The boy would remember him by them… remember the bitterness of a failed man… A single tear rolled down Alan Perry’s cheek, then disappeared into the coarse stubble of his trembling chin.

NINETEEN

“Hey! Uncle Dale!”

“Well, look who’s here!” shouted Dale Baker from his lookout perch. The man lowered his binoculars, and his pale watery eyes hovered over Flynn. “You’re a foot taller since I last saw you!”

Flynn had known Dale for as long as he could remember… ever since he was a little boy, growing up in his father’s Watch Tower. Dale had been Alan Perry’s apprentice and then his Watch Tower buddy. “He’s the third member of our family,” Flynn’s father would say, and so the man was “Uncle” Dale to Flynn. Dale Baker was considered a kind of an oddity on the Lower Side. He was never “paired off,” and many suspected it was because he was born with a hare’s lip and lopsided eyes. Any deformity, especially such a visible one like Dale’s, meant never having a family of your own… Robbed of the chance to be a father, Dale had grown very fond of Flynn, playing with the little boy for hours at the “Top of the World”, a name they used for their Watch Tower… Their games had stopped when Flynn had discovered the Free Scavengers, and his visits to the Tower became less and less frequent. At some point, Flynn had stopped coming altogether.

But everything looked the same, Flynn thought as he stepped inside the circular observation deck. It was built at the highest point on the Lower Side, giving the Watchmen a 360-degree view over the entire Archipelago. The Watchmen had four big telescoping lenses trained on the horizon, far beyond the Junk Nets. It was their job to be constantly on the lookout for anything, dead or alive… anything that could possibly carry the Flood Virus into the city’s waters. Flynn saw the old rusty cage in the corner, covered in bird droppings. Inside were a couple of carrier pigeons, cooing softly, waiting to be dispatched with a warning message should the need arise. Yes, everything looked the same, except his father wasn’t there…

Dale noticed Flynn’s surprise and took a deep breath. There was now a concerned look on the man’s face. “Alan didn’t show up for work this morning, Flynn,” he spoke softly. “I thought, you might know where…”

Flynn shook his head… He didn’t know anything, because he had spent the last two nights on his raft, blinded by anger at his father… and then furious at Madison… jealous of Leo. He had gone for a quick dive that morning, cleared his head… and realized he had to find his father… Flynn had rushed to the Watch Tower to apologize… but where was Alan Perry?

“He might be sick, or something,” said Dale. “Decided to stay home… take a little break…”

“Uncle Dale!” Flynn raised his voice. “My dad’s never taken a sick day, ever! You know that!”

“I know, I know!” Dale raised his arms defensively. “But… he’s not that young anymore, is he?” Suddenly, a deep frown appeared across the man’s forehead. He stepped up to Flynn and said, “Maybe he was one of…” His voice trailed off. Dale was unable to finish what he was about to say.

“One of what?”

“I’m not suggesting anything… But I heard quite a few people got rounded up last night.” Dale looked away, avoiding Flynn’s eyes.

Flynn stared at him for a long moment, feeling sick to his stomach. He knew what it was that Dale couldn’t bring himself to say… The Departure List had come out! His father had mentioned the List and they had talked briefly about it… but Flynn had been so caught up in the Trials that he had forgotten all about it… He hadn’t been paying attention… In fact, Madison had spoken of the List too, but Flynn hadn’t listened… A chill ran down his spine.

“I… I just don’t know how to say it, Flynn,” said Dale, struggling to find the right words.

“Well, don’t say it!” Flynn shouted angrily, spun on his heels and shot out of the door.

“Flynn!” Dale ran after him, “I didn’t mean to…”

But Flynn was already climbing down the rope ladder and making his way to the base of the Watch Tower. Moments later, he disappeared into the maze of rooftop shacks below. Dale Baker banged his fist on the door frame, but there was nothing he could do to help his young friend. Such was life…

Flynn ran like the wind! The walkways shook and rattled under his pounding feet, he jumped from one platform to the next, pushing people out of his way, his mind focused on one thing only. To get home! To find his father! His heart was pumping like crazy in his chest. His strong legs were doing the work for him, taking him across the bridges and over the canals, his eyes fixed on his building in the distance, getting closer and closer. Almost there…

Flynn leaped from the bridge onto the roof and shot past Dino, dozing on a chair in front of his shack. There wasn’t any point asking the man for a ride in the elevator, so Flynn sprinted up the stairs, taking a few steps at the time. He was out of breath by the time he kicked back the door flap and entered his apartment.

“Dad!” he shouted as he skidded to a stop. Nothing but silence greeted Flynn! All he could hear was his own heavy breathing. His eyes darted across the room, searching, hoping against hope… “Dad!” Flynn’s voice pitched higher in desperation. “Answer me, damn it!”

There was no reply! He ran to the bathroom cubicle and threw back the curtain. Empty! There was no one there. Flynn stood still for a moment, then shot out of the apartment and tore down the stairs. Moments later, he was standing in front of Dino. The man was snoring softly under the shadow of the shack’s tattered awning. Flynn grabbed Dino’s massive shoulder and shook it hard. “Have you seen my dad?” he yelled.

Dino lifted his heavy eyelids, his bleary eyes trying to focus on Flynn. “I ain’t seen nothin’, Perry boy,” he mumbled.

“C’mon, man!” Flynn shook Dino’s shoulder again. “Where were you last night? Did they take him?”

“I was sleepin’, alright! Mindin’ my business.”

“The List came out… did they take my dad?” Flynn was shouting now.

Dino pushed Flynn and rose slowly from his chair. There was a smirk on his face now. “Let’s just say, your pa made me some dough last night,” said Dino, snickering. “’Coz I put a bet on ’im, see… I bet they’d take ’im… and they did… Now, get lost!” He stepped up to Flynn and shoved him roughly against the wall.

Flynn’s fingers curled into fists. “Don’t you dare touch me, you stupid idiot!”

Dino took a swing at Flynn, but Flynn was faster. He ducked quickly, letting Dino’s hand fly past his face and slam into the wall. The heavy body followed the swinging arm, and all Flynn had to do was kick Dino in the shin. The man hit the floor with a loud thud. Grunting, he rose to his knees and grabbed blindly for Flynn’s ankles. But Flynn wasn’t there anymore. He was already running up the stairs, ignoring Dino’s loud curses.

Back on his landing, Flynn stopped in front of their neighbor’s apartment and knocked on the door frame. “Mrs. Voinovich!” he shouted. “Have you seen my father?” He waited a beat then knocked again. “Mrs. Voinovich… Are you in there?” No answer. Flynn stepped over to the window and pressed his face against the dirty nylon sheet covering the hole in the wall. He could barely see the room through the stained plastic, but it seemed empty. No movement in there either. He pushed the door flap and walked inside.

The room was a mess. Personal belongings scattered on the floor, spilled food, an overturned chair… Flynn turned around and left. He walked back to his apartment and scanned the room again. Everything was in its place, neat and clean, the way Alan Perry liked it. Flynn’s eyes fell on the table and realized that his father had laid out two plates, one for him and one for Flynn. He had prepared their dinner as usual, and then left it untouched… He had been waiting for Flynn to come back… he had even cooked his favorite dish! Squid soup… Suddenly, Flynn spotted the note which Allan Perry had tucked under the soup bowl. Staring at the piece of paper, Flynn tried not to cry. His father had written “Goodbye, son! Please, forgive my harsh words.”

“I’m so sorry,” a voice whispered behind Flynn’s back. It was Mr. Kowalski, standing at the door, pale faced and wringing his hands. “You should’ve seen him last night, Flynn!” said the old man with a furtive glance over his shoulder. “Your father held his chin up high…,” the Archipelago’s ancient kept his voice low as he approached Flynn. “That takes remarkable strength!” Mr. Kowalski mumbled something under his breath and slowly backed out of the room.

Alone again, Flynn’s helplessness and despair turned into anger. He kicked furiously at the table then grabbed one of the chairs and threw it against the opposite wall. Sweeping boxes from their shelves, Flynn went on a mad rampage… When he was done, the little apartment looked like it had been hit by a tornado. Standing back to inspect the damage, Flynn felt his head begin to clear. Suddenly, Flynn knew what he had to do… He was going to find his father and save him… no matter what!

A flapping sound made Flynn turn his head. A bird had landed on the windowsill, and was tap-tapping its beak against the plastic sheet. Stepping outside, Flynn saw that it was a carrier pigeon, waiting for him. The red ribbon on its leg meant it was one of Madison’s, and there was a rolled up note around its neck.

“Go away!” Flynn cried, trying to shoo the bird away with his hand.

The pigeon took off, circled and landed quickly next to Flynn. Clearly, it wasn’t going to leave before its message had been delivered. What could the girl possibly want from him? He had made it clear that he would never speak to her again… Annoyed, Flynn reached out and took the roll of paper. Madison’s note was brief.

It said: Tony’s on the List.

“They took him! They took my boy!” Mrs. Romero wailed, choking on her tears. Her face was swollen, her eyes red and puffy. She stared blankly at Flynn, then buried her face in her hands and sank back into the shabby mattress.

Flynn had found her like that when he had burst into Tony’s apartment. Doubled over, Mrs. Romero’s voice was hoarse from crying all night long. Her frail shoulders trembled with every sob. He had also found Madison sitting next to the woman. The girl now had a cup of water in her hand. “Here Mrs. Romero, drink this,” Madison said gently.

Tony’s mother lifted her head, looked at the cup for a moment then burst into tears again.

“Mrs. Romero…” Flynn cleared his throat. “I’m sure it’s all some kind of mistake… And I’ll make sure they fix it.”

“My child’s gone!” the woman wailed. “He’s as good as dead now! Nothing matters anymore!”

“He’s not dead, Mrs. Romero…” Flynn started to say.

“Leave me alone!” the woman cried. “It’s all your fault… All that stupid diving, Flynn… you made my Tony sick… and now look what’s happened!”

“Mrs. Romero…” Flynn’s eyes darted to Madison, seeking help.

She shook her head, got up from the bed and came over to him. “Let’s go,” she whispered. “There’s nothing we can do here.”

Flynn nodded and turned to leave. He stopped at the door and glanced back at the poor woman. “I’ll find him, Mrs. Romero… I promise!”

He walked out and rushed down the stairs, followed by Madison. She caught up with him at the docking area and grabbed his shoulder.

“Flynn!”

“Let go!” Flynn jerked his shoulder free from her grasp.

“Wait… where’re you going?”

“To the Van Zandt building… I’ll talk to Duncan Roth. Tony’s my Crew Mate.”

“Don’t be stupid, Flynn! You’ll only make it worse.”

He didn’t answer.

“Listen…” Madison said, “I know what you’re thinking, but… we need to be rational here… we should come up with a plan.”

“We?” Flynn spat, narrowing his eyes. “There’s no we anymore!”

“You know you need me back on your team, Flynn!” Madison pleaded. “Tony’s my friend as much as he’s yours. I can help… you owe me that much!”

“I owe you nothing!” Flynn stuck a finger in her face. “Get that into your pretty head!” He turned and hurried down the stairs.

“Flynn… wait!”

“Go back to you boyfriend, Miss Ray!” he shouted over his shoulder. “Leo Van Zandt needs you more than I do!”

And with those words, Flynn was gone… leaving Madison to stare after him with a look of despair on her face.

Duncan Roth was leaning over his desk, studying the complicated blue-prints of an engine, when there was a knock on his door. He scooped all the pieces of paper and shoved them in the nearest drawer, then turned toward the door and said, “Yes?”

The door opened just a crack and a guard’s head appeared. “May I, sir?”

“Come in, Hopper.”

The guard pushed the door open and stepped in, dragging a boy behind him.

Flynn Perry stumbled, then found his footing and straightened up. It took him a second to scan his surroundings. He was standing in a huge room, smelling of leather and coffee, with big glass windows and an oak desk… Behind the desk sat his new boss, the man everyone called the Rottweiler.

“Found ’im lurking round this floor, sir!” said the guard, wiping the sweat off his brow. “Says he wants to speak with you! I was gonna get ’im arrested, but he showed me the badge… and I figured he mus’ be one of yours, so ‘ere we are.”

“Well done, Hopper. You can step outside.” Duncan Roth waited for the guard to leave then turned his cold, gray eyes on Flynn. “How did you get up here unannounced, Perry?” he finally asked.

Flynn tried to hold the Rottweiler’s stare. “Climbed the outside scaffolds, and then scaled the elevator shaft…,” he said.

“You think you’re good at finding your way around places, don’t you?” Duncan Roth arched an eyebrow.

“I am, sir!”

Duncan Roth studied Flynn’s face. “This is the last time you’ll ever break protocol!” he finally said. “Try to be smart with me again, I’ll strip you of all your privileges and send you to the Waste Crews! Is that clear?”

Flynn nodded.

“Now, why are you here?”

“It’s about Tony Romero, sir, my partner… He’s on the Departure List.”

“I’m aware of that!” said Duncan Roth, his face blank. “And so is your father, I believe.”

“But, there must be some mistake, sir! Tony’s still young, my age… that’s never happened before! Usually…”

“We don’t make mistakes, Perry! You know that!”

“But…”

“Romero’s sick and therefore unable to contribute to the community,” the Rottweiler said, studying his nails. “He’s on the List for the greater good of our city! It’s the law of the land.”

“Sir, we just won the Trials together! Surely, you can do something…”

“The matter’s closed! Don’t make it worse for yourself!” Duncan Roth paused for a second, pointing his finger at Flynn. “There’s someone here in this building… someone very powerful… who’ll be glad to see you join your father and your friend! Is that what you want?”

Flynn stared at Duncan Roth and clenched his fists. He knew that this someone was Leo Van Zandt.

“I strongly suggest,” the man said slowly, “that you forget about your father and Romero and concentrate on your career, young man! You’ve got a bright future ahead of you. And I expect you to be ready for work assignments as of tomorrow…. I’ve already selected a Crew Mate to replace your friend.”

Flynn took a deep breath… He wanted to scream at Duncan Roth.

“You can go now, Perry. Our little discussion is over!”

Flynn hung his head. He felt like an idiot! What was he thinking, really? That winning first place in the Trials made him special? That it gave him the right to demand favors, or that they would make an exception and bend the rules for him? Did he expect someone like the Rottweiler to change his mind? His father was right about the man after all… he really was the biggest bastard in town! Flynn had no doubt about it now… Duncan Roth had no heart, and Flynn was a complete fool to think he would spare Tony, or anybody else for that matter… Slowly, Flynn turned and opened the door. The guard was waiting for him.

“Take the boy back downstairs, Hopper… And make sure he uses the front door this time.”

Flynn heard Duncan laugh as the guard’s hand grabbed him by the collar and threw him out of the room.

TWENTY

The Midtown Bay’s Scavenging Station shimmered in the distance ahead. Its cargo hold was made of a rusting railway transfer bridge, kept afloat by dozens of barrels and tires, encircled by large floating pontoon docks. This was where the “newbie” Free Scavengers were supposed to gather and get their first instructions and assignments from their boss, Duncan Roth. Flynn slowed down the Seeker and let it glide slowly toward the nearest dock.

Pharrell and Clay were already there, their raft moored to the Station’s docking platform. Flynn was immediately struck by how quiet the two boys were. Always full of laughs and loud chatter, they were now sitting in silence. Pharrell turned to look at Flynn. “You alone?” the boy asked, puzzled.

“They took Tony,” Flynn said as he tied his raft next to theirs. “And my father!”

Pharrell nodded. He then looked away, his red-rimmed eyes wandering absently over the horizon. Flynn studied him for a moment, frowning, trying to figure out what was wrong with Pharrell… And then it hit him… The boy had lost someone close, someone who had been on the List, just like Flynn’s father.

“Who did they take?” Flynn asked quietly.

“Both my parents,” replied Pharrell, his face full of pain and misery now. “I was kind’a ready for my old man, but my mom… that came out of nowhere…”

“Were you there… when they came for them?”

“Yeah, man. Dad held it together, but my mom… she took it pretty bad, cryin’ an’ all that!”

“I wasn’t there for my dad,” said Flynn.

“That must’ve been rough, bro…”

“Yeah, real rough,” Flynn said and turned to Pharrell’s buddy. “Your family OK, Clay?”

“Mine’s safe!” Clay mumbled. “For now…”

Flynn sank into his seat and closed his eyes. He felt bad for Pharrell. The fact that he wasn’t alone in his loss didn’t make it less painful, though… In the course of only two days, Flynn had gone from the highest to the lowest point in his life… Winning and losing! But Flynn wasn’t prepared to lose! Not like that, not without a fight!

“Where’s the girl?” Pharrell’s voice brought him back to the present. “Wasn’t she your back-up Crew Mate?”

“Not anymore… Don’t need her!”

“You kiddin’?” Pharrell raised an eyebrow. “Duncan won’t let ya work without a Crew Mate, ya know…”

“The hell with work,” Flynn snapped, “…and Duncan Roth!”

Pharrell cocked his head. “What’s on your mind, bro? Fed up with life on the Upper Side already?”

“No, but if I don’t do something soon, my life will mean nothing!” Flynn jumped from his seat and hopped onto Pharrell’s raft. There was a new urgency in his voice. “I can’t just let them kill Tony and my dad, can I? You can’t let your parents go away… We’ve got to do something, Pharrell.”

The boy just stared at Flynn, stunned by his words.

“C’mon, we can come up with something… get them out of there…”

“They’re gone, man, they’re gone!” said Pharrell, shaking his head. “Give it up!”

“Give it up?” Flynn cried angrily. “You’re going to sit and watch you folks die, just like that? I never took you for a coward Pharrell…” He was now stabbing his finger in Pharrell’s face.

“I’m no coward!” Pharrell sprang from his seat. “But I ain’t stupid, either! I know the rules here, and I plan to stay alive for as long as I can! Get it?”

“Yeah, I get it!” shouted Flynn, glaring at him. “I’m stupid ‘cause I don’t want to accept their rules… and to keep my mouth shut…”

“You’ve lost your mind Perry boy! Quit with this reckless bullshit talk before you get us all into trouble.”

“Yeah? And live like a coward for the rest of my life!”

“Watch it!” Pharrell growled, pushing Flynn hard in the chest.

Flynn stumbled back, found his footing quickly and saw that Pharrell was now pointing a diving knife, inches away from his face. As the blade slashed sideways through the air, Flynn caught Pharrell by the wrist and drew his own knife… But before Flynn could strike, Pharrell had grabbed his wrist, too. Now, with their hands locked and arm muscles bulging, the two began to move around in circles.

“Hey, hey! Stop!” yelled Clay, trying to break up the fight. He managed to pull the boys apart and stood between them, hoping that he could get them to calm down. Flynn and Pharrell glared at each other, breathing heavily, their bodies tense and ready to pounce at each other again.

Suddenly, the loud sound of a motor boat made them all turn their heads. Duncan Roth was speeding toward the Station, his boat cutting through the glassy waters of Midtown Bay. He wasn’t alone. There was someone sitting next to him. Flynn squinted and lifted up his hand to shade his eyes against the glare of the sun. He saw a boy sitting next to the Rottweiler and his heart skipped a beat. “Tony!” he cried. Duncan Roth had changed his mind, Flynn thought happily. But as the boat approached, Flynn realized he had made a terrible mistake. “Shit!” Flynn spat in the water with disgust… It wasn’t his friend sitting next to Duncan Roth… It was Madison Ray, her long hair cropped to within inches of her scalp.

Flynn couldn’t believe his eyes. What the hell did she want? As if hooking up with Leo wasn’t enough, Madison was now hanging round Duncan Roth! Raging inside, Flynn watched the boat as it slowed down and slid next to the boys’ rafts. Avoiding his gaze, Madison got up and followed Duncan Roth onto the docking platform. Flynn noticed the golden badge pinned above her breast and his face darkened.

“Perry!” Duncan Roth turned to address Flynn. “As you’re well aware, Anthony Romero can no longer serve as your Crew Mate!”

Flynn felt his whole body tense. He stared furiously back at Duncan Roth.

“Therefore…” the man continued, “having trained with you prior to the Trials, Madison Ray will take his place.”

“No, sir!” said Flynn, lifting up his chin. “She won’t!”

Pharrell and Clay’s jaws dropped when they heard Flynn’s words. They had never seen such open defiance of authority. Stunned, their eyes darted back and forth between Duncan Roth and Flynn. Madison also shot a worried look at Flynn… No one dared talk back to the Rottweiler, no one!

At first, there wasn’t an immediate reaction from Duncan Roth. His cold eyes remained fixed on Flynn for a painfully long moment. “Perry!” he finally spoke, “I’ll pretend I didn’t hear that! And I strongly suggest you don’t repeat it again!”

Too late, thought Flynn. Blood was rushing to his head now. He had crossed the line, he knew that, but he couldn’t stop himself… He was beyond caring about the consequences… “I don’t need her! I can work alone!” he said.

Duncan Roth ignored him and turned to Madison. “Go ahead! Board his raft.”

Without any hesitation, Madison jumped down from the platform and walked over to Flynn. He glared at her, and then at Duncan Roth. “Sir, I won’t work with…” Flynn began to say.

“One more word out of you Perry…” Duncan Roth began, pointing a warning finger at Flynn, “and you’ll be joining the Departure List! Winner of the Trials or not! Is that clear?”

Flynn opened his mouth to speak, but Madison grabbed his elbow and squeezed.

“Stop!” she hissed in his ear. “You’ll ruin everything!”

“Get away from me!” he hissed back and pulled his arm free.

“I know how to save them all!” she whispered through her teeth.

Although her words were barely audible, Flynn heard them well. He threw a quick questioning glance at her and saw Madison nod her head. He looked back at Duncan Roth. Had the man heard her? Flynn hoped not… The Rottweiler’s expression had not changed, his finger still pointing at Flynn, waiting for his response. “Is that clear, Perry?” he asked again.

“Yes, sir!” Flynn straightened up, throwing his shoulders back. “For the Greater Good, sir!” he yelled.

The corner of Duncan Roth’s mouth twitched as he lowered his arm. “Now, let’s get going. I have your first Scavenging task for the day,” he said, addressing everybody.

But Flynn wasn’t listening. His heart was still pounding hard against his chest. Madison had stopped him from getting into serious trouble with Duncan Roth, but the die had been cast… Flynn knew that sooner or later, he would clash with that man again. There was a time when Flynn had looked up to Duncan Roth, and he had wanted to be like him… But the last twenty-four hours had changed everything. Now, he hated the man with a vengeance! Duncan Roth had allowed poor Tony to go on the List… And his father had been right all along… Those rumors about Ann Baxter were most probably all true, Flynn thought… He was sure that the Rottweiler was responsible for her death… If only Flynn could make the man pay for all of this! And then a thought struck Flynn like a bolt of lightning… He was going to rescue his father and Tony… and then kill Duncan Roth! That would be his revenge.

The section of Twenty Third Canal, between Fifth and Sixth Avenue Canal had not yet been scavenged properly. The mountain of mangled, rusting vehicles still littered the submerged street. This was quite an unusual sight for this stretch of Midtown Bay, at the edge of the Lower Side, where most cars, buses and trucks had already been salvaged and lifted up to the surface. Flynn had swum deep into the bowels of the large hardware store and was filling up his mesh sack with cans of adhesive glue, tubs of epoxy cement, vacuum-packed screwdrivers, pliers and power tools.

The Free Scavengers were on their assignments, following orders… Duncan Roth had sent them to this specific location with a long list of items to be gathered, and the teams were checking them off that list at a good rate. Nothing unusual about that job, Flynn thought, except they were to deliver the scavenged goods not at the officially designated holding port, but to a far-out spot in the Hudson Bay… He couldn’t care less where Duncan Roth wanted his stuff. It didn’t matter… What mattered to Flynn was to lay low and not draw any attention on himself. For the first time in his life, Flynn had made an effort to listen and to obey. Flynn knew he had to hold back his anger and save it for later… He couldn’t afford to raise anybody’s suspicion and spoil the plan.

The Plan!

Yes, they did have a plan… It was Madison’s, of course… Clever Madison! Flynn had trouble accepting that… accepting her back on the Seeker, but he had to give her credit for being so ingenious. Madison had found out a valuable piece of information about the Departure Ceremony. According to her, Duncan Roth would take the Departure raft with all the people on the List out into open waters and set it adrift… and Duncan Roth would do that alone! He had been doing this for the last couple of years… No guards, no one else around… The opportunity was unique… All they had to do was wait for the Ceremony to finish then trail the Rottweiler… Once away from the Archipelago, they would strike him down, grab his father, Pharrell’s parents and Tony… then hide them in one of the underwater air-pocket shelters Flynn had found on one of his dives…

Nobody had ever dared to carry out such a rescue mission in the history of the Archipelago! It was a good plan, though. All thanks to Madison, Flynn thought again… Madison had details about the Departure Ceremony known only to a few select members of the Government. Flynn tried hard not to think about how Madison had extracted all this information, but he was sure it all came from the mouth of Leo Van Zandt… Again, he felt the stab of jealousy… He knew he was now picking at a scab that had grown over a recent cut… yet Flynn couldn’t stop himself… Why would he be jealous? There was never anything serious between him and Madison… Just that one little kiss! She wasn’t even his type! For a brief moment in time, he had been in love with the girl, but not any more… Flynn had to stop thinking about her that way… and focus on his work.

He scooped up another can of glue from the shelf. Getting low on oxygen and with his mesh sack full and weighing him down, Flynn kicked his feet and turned to go. He swam between the aisles of the hardware store and out through the broken glass window toward his diving bell. Once inside, he took a breath to check the air quality. It was fresh. Madison was doing her job to perfection. Flynn knew she was working extra hard to impress him… trying to regain his trust… As much as he didn’t want to admit it, he was enjoying her efforts…

As far as Flynn was concerned, Madison had done her bit… He suspected that it was her way of trying to save face. Everyone knew that she was now Leo’s property. She had told him how the two of them would be paired after the Departure Ceremony… The Van Zandt boy had agreed to let her work as a Crew Mate on the Seeker until then, only because Duncan Roth had requested it. In fact, his father, Marcus Van Zandt, had ordered Leo to let her go… for the Greater Good of the Archipelago…

Flynn rested for another minute inside the bell, took a couple of deep breaths and went back out. Pharrell was also scavenging the store shelves below, his diving bell swaying close to Flynn’s. Pharrell and Clay were in on the rescue plan, and Flynn wondered what had made Pharrell take the risk. Whatever the reason, Pharrell had done something remarkable… Shortly after Duncan Roth had left them with their assignments, he and Clay had agreed to join in and follow Flynn. And Flynn was grateful for that. He would have gone alone, but the chances of succeeding had improved greatly with the two boys by his side… He wasn’t counting Madison in on the action, though… she had done her part, but she wasn’t one of them anymore.

Using his powerful dolphin kicks, Flynn began his rise back to the surface. The shadow of The Seeker was right above him now, no more than thirty feet away. Flynn screamed to let the last bit of air out of his lungs, and surfaced with a splash. After the peaceful underwater silence, the sounds of the outside world rudely blasted at his ears. The buzz of the early evening boat traffic, the shouts coming from the nearby fishing nets, the screaming of the Archipelago’s hungry seagulls… He heaved the sack on top of his raft and fell back in the water, spreading his arms wide, letting his body relax and float. He looked straight up at the sky, so that his ears dipped under the water to muffle the noises for another few more minutes of peace and quiet. The sun was low and the sky was a beautiful swirl of purple and orange.

With the corner of his eye, Flynn caught a glimpse of Madison. She was standing at the edge of the raft, her backlit silhouette towering above him like a bronze statue, her skin glistening. Damn it, she was beautiful, Flynn thought… Even with all her hair chopped off… She was talking to him, saying something he couldn’t hear. Flynn was listening to his own voice which was screaming loudly in his head… Madison was Leo’s girl! And no matter how Flynn fought it, the idea of these two being together really hurt… But there was nothing he could do about it… Saving his father and Tony were his top priority… He wouldn’t allow any of his feelings toward Madison to cloud his mind and jeopardize his mission… It was much easier to hate her, he thought. Happy with this decision, Flynn lifted his head out of the water.

“…going to be late, if we don’t head back soon.”

Flynn only caught the last part of Madison’s sentence. He was by the side of the raft in two powerful strokes. Ignoring her extended hand, he pulled himself up on the platform and crouched down by his sack. With his back to Madison, he started emptying its contents and adding them to the pile of scavenged hardware from his previous dives.

“Flynn!” She stood right behind him. “Look at me!”

He didn’t. Instead, he continued to fuss over his sack.

“Stop acting like I don’t exist!” she yelled at him. “Why won’t you talk to me?”

“Tell me…” he said without turning.

“What do you want to hear, Flynn?”

“Tell me, Miss Ray…”

“Stop calling me that!”

“Now, don’t get me wrong,” Flynn tried to keep his voice steady, “I’m very grateful for all your help… and the plan to save Tony and my dad…”

“But something’s been bothering you, right?” Madison interrupted him.

“I wouldn’t call it that,” Flynn continued to stack the next hoard of scavenged goods. “But I’m a little curious… ”

“You want to know if I and Leo have… you know…”

“Well, if you haven’t… I’m sure you will soon.”

A silent beat. Flynn turned slowly, just in time to see Madison step forward, her eyes full of hurt. And then, the girl raised her hand and slapped him hard on the face. Flynn almost lost his balance. Somehow he was back on his feet, grabbing her hand as Madison swung at him again. Immobilized, she kicked him in the shin instead. Ignoring the pain in his leg, Flynn rammed her with his shoulder. Snatching a handful of his hair, Madison stumbled backwards and dragged him down with her. They hit the deck with a loud thud, and Flynn finally pinned her down with the weight of his own body. Madison was twisting like an eel underneath him, trying to get free. She struggled furiously against him, stopping only when she had no more strength left in her. They lay still for a moment, their heavy breathing slowing down, until Flynn realized he was holding Madison in a tight embrace. Immediately, memories of their first kiss flooded in. He tried to break away, but she pulled him back down… Their faces were inches apart, their eyes locked. Her lips were dangerously close to his.

“Flynn,” she whispered fiercely, “grow up, will you!”

He held her gaze for a moment. The corner of his mouth twitched and curled up ever so slightly. Then, he pulled away, sat on the car seat and put his feet on the pedals. “Let’s go, Miss Ray,” he said dryly. “We’re done here.”

Madison bit her lip and looked away as the raft lurched forward.

TWENTY ONE

WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTRIBUTION!

YOUR HARD WORK WILL NOT BE FORGOTTEN!

FOR THE GREATER GOOD!

The Lower Side had woken up to a swathe of huge hand-written banners, announcing that the annual Departure Ceremony was around the corner. Hanging from the facades of buildings, bridges and walkways, these slogans had seemingly appeared over-night.

“I hate this!” Madison said.

Flynn glanced at Madison then followed her gaze. Up above them, workers were draping more banners at regular intervals between the buildings along the canal. They were getting that stretch of the waterway ready for the big parade. This was where the Departure raft would pass on its last journey through the Archipelago. Such was the tradition… Flynn had never paid much attention to those signs before, but now he felt sick to his stomach! “Let’s get out of here!” Flynn said, his eyes flashing.

Madison nodded, gripping the back of the car seat to steady herself for the ride.

Flynn took a sharp left onto Murray Street Canal and headed towards Midtown Bay. Duncan Roth had given them yet another bizarre task to perform. He and Madison were to gather enough supplies and build two diving bells, then leave them submerged at the same spot they had been ferrying stuff to for the past few days… They had dumped two dozen Ethanol barrels there, and so had Pharrell and Clay… Duncan Roth had instructed them to take everything to an area across the Hudson Bay, which Flynn knew was officially out of bounds.

No one ever went in these waters, because they were considered toxic. There was an abandoned Power Plant at the bottom and whatever had leaked out of it had poisoned a large parameter of ocean around the facility… But Duncan Roth, apparently, didn’t care what was in the water… Exposing his Free Scavengers to danger meant nothing to the man… Flynn had stopped questioning the Rottweiler’s strange requests… He was simply counting the days and hours to the Departure Ceremony… until the moment Flynn was going to finally kill the bastard!

“Let’s see what you’re up to now, Perry boy!” Leo Van Zandt lowered his binoculars, rubbed his bloodshot eyes and glued them back to the viewfinder.

He had spent the last few days in his apartment, at the top of his father’s building, tracking every move Madison and Flynn Perry made. Leo had sworn to himself he would catch the cocky son-of-a-bitch doing something illegal… and this time, Leo wasn’t going to let Flynn get away… Leo couldn’t wait for that moment when he would deliver the scum boy to his father! Yes, he was going to prove to the great Marcus Van Zandt that he had been right all along… That he was capable of taking matters into his own hands!

He wasn’t alone in his mission. He and Madison had cooked up the plan together. In fact, she was the one who had suggested going back on Flynn Perry’s raft as bait. A decoy that would lead Flynn into a trap! And she was the one who had suggested they go after Duncan Roth, too… Madison had been so perceptive. She had picked up on Leo’s resentment toward Duncan right away… What if she could find some dirt on the Rottweiler himself? Working for Duncan she would be Leo’s eyes and ears on the ground… According to Madison, there were rumors circulating on the Lower Side about the man… People were saying that he was stealing from the scavenged supplies… that he allegedly had a small network of buddies who did all the dirty work for him… Madison would let him know if Duncan was lining his own pockets through his ring of Black Market profiteers.

Madison had also convinced Leo to stay away from her until the pairing… to keep his distance and leave everything in her hands. And so far, she was doing her job really well. No one suspected their little game…. But Leo had some reservations… Madison was now in close contact with the Perry boy… She had been very concerned about Flynn’s fate in the Trials… Perhaps a little bit too concerned, and Leo had noted that… Of course, Madison had reassured him, in more ways than one, that there was nothing to worry about… In fact, Leo had witnessed something the day before which had put his mind at rest. As usual, he had been spying on the pair and seen Madison throw punches at the Perry boy… Unfortunately, at that precise moment, Leo’s father had stormed into his apartment, wanting to discuss some trivial matters concerning the Departure Ceremony… and Leo had put away his binoculars… Later, when he found Madison and Perry, they were sitting far apart from each other, the Seeker heading back towards the Archipelago.

Leo chuckled at the memory of Madison hitting Flynn over the head… He zoomed in on them and adjusted his focus. There they were! He recognized their raft right away. Madison was standing on the platform… His eyes lingered over her tall, lean body until she bent down and disappeared from his viewfinder. Leo shifted his binoculars, and there she was again… Crouching at the edge of the raft, talking to Flynn Perry.

“C’mon Perry boy, do something stupid! Really, really stupid!” Leo muttered through his teeth. It looked like Flynn was stringing something together, constructed out of sheets of plastic and floating in the water next to him. Something that looked like a diving bell… Yes, Leo was sure it was a bell… Madison was handing Flynn some kind of a tool now. She got up again, walked away, and came back carrying a big rock. The weight for the bell… So far, nothing out of the ordinary, thought Leo. The Free Scavengers were obviously doing their drills… Leo needed more.

“And where exactly are you?” he muttered and shifted his binoculars away from the raft, slowly scanning the area around it. He stopped at a crooked sign with the words “TOXIC WASTE!” written on it with big letters. Right next to the sign, hung another one, saying “DO NOT ENTER!” The signs were old and rusty, the letters faded. Obviously, no one had been at this site for years.

“What is that place?” Leo pulled back a bit, revealing four gigantic smokestacks sticking out of the water, surrounded by a makeshift chain-link fence. He readjusted his zoom and pulled back farther. Flynn’s raft appeared to be all the way across the Hudson Bay.

“Aha! I know where you are!” Leo couldn’t contain his excitement and lowered his binoculars. The Power Plant… the submerged and completely off-limits nuclear power station! What were these two doing there? Had they gone on their own, or had Duncan Roth sent them? The man’s name made Leo’s face turn red with anger and hatred… That bastard never wasted an opportunity to humiliate him… especially in front of his father. But it seemed impossible for Leo to weaken Duncan’s hold over his dad. Until now that is, he thought… Leo prided himself on smelling trouble from a mile away… and he was certain something was up…

Leo lifted up his binoculars and looked through the lenses again. It took him a second to find the raft. Perry was gone, along with the diving bell. Madison was standing alone on the deck, a pigeon perched on her shoulder. A moment later, Perry’s head reappeared in the water. He heaved himself back on the raft, walked over to Madison and put his hand on her shoulder.

“Don’t touch my girl, you prick!” cried Leo, flinched and lost his focus on them. When he found them again, they seemed to be arguing. Madison looked angry and was waving her hands. She appeared to be shouting at the Perry boy. “That’s more like it,” Leo muttered to himself and stepped away from the window. His mind was made up now. Something was going on at the Power Plant… He had to get a closer look at this place. Sneak in, wait and when the divers were gone, he would check out the site. Leo quickly gathered his stuff and left the apartment.

“Don’t be silly, Flynn!” Madison was seriously annoyed now. “We’ve done what we were asked to do! It’s time to get out.”

“Just one quick look, alright! I need to see what’s down there.”

Flynn stood on his raft in front of Madison, dripping water all over the deck. He had just dragged the last diving bell underwater and tied it to the bottom of what was a semi-submerged chain link fence, doing exactly what Duncan had asked. The job was done. They could go home now. But something was bugging him… They had been bringing stuff here two days in a row, dumping it and going back for more… Where was it all going? Simply sitting at the bottom of the ocean? Flynn was struggling to make sense of it… Why would Duncan bring their scavenged supplies to this abandoned old place? There had to be logic behind that. Otherwise, it was just plain crazy!

While attaching the last diving bell, Flynn had taken a good look down below. He had seen the smokestack disappear into the darkness, and felt the need to dive deeper and find out more about the site! Now he was itching to go, but Madison was not having any of it.

“It says TOXIC, in case you can’t read!” she shouted, pointing at the rusty sign on the fence. “You want to get yourself poisoned? Seen anyone else diving around here…”

“Madison!”

“Besides, if Duncan finds out… we’re done! It’s over…”

“Madison!” Flynn placed his hands on her shoulders, to steady her and stop her waving her hands in his face. “I’ve been in the water a few times already! Nothing’s wrong with it. If there was… I’d be ill by now, right?”

She said nothing, just glared at him.

“As for Duncan Roth…” said Flynn, glancing around, “he’s nowhere to be seen, is he? We’re alone here.”

The two of them looked at each other for a long moment. Then Madison pushed away from Flynn, walked over to the seat and slumped on top of it. “Go on, then!” She folded her arms across her chest. “But don’t expect any help from me! I’m not pumping any air down to your bell!”

“I don’t need any!” Flynn grinned and snapped his goggles on. “I’ll be in and out!”

He stood still at the edge of the raft for a second then dived in. The cool water swallowed him as he sank past the fence with the two new diving bells attached to it. He followed the vertical drop of the closest smokestack. Going down, Flynn saw the smokestack end where the outline of a huge rectangular structure began. He kept his dive steady along one of the outer walls of the building. There were no windows, no doors… no openings of any kind. It looked like one massive block of concrete, covered in barnacles and slimy, brown weeds. Flynn had never seen anything like it! He was almost at the bottom of the wall now. The murkiness of the water was making it harder for Flynn to see where he was going. He was about to switch his flashlight on, when a movement a few feet beneath him caught his attention. A school of fish shot out from the wall and swam away in a hurry. Where did they come from, wondered Flynn.

A moment later, a beam of light followed the fish and illuminated a small opening at the bottom of the building. Flynn looked desperately for a place to hide, saw none and flattened himself against the wall. Gripping the wall with his fingers and toes, he did his best not to float away and reveal himself. Despite the awkward angle, Flynn still managed to peer down at the source of the light. To his amazement, he saw a hand holding a torch emerge out of the opening, followed by the dark silhouette of a body. The mysterious diver made a few strokes and the light of the torch fell on what was an Ethanol barrel… This was another surprise for Flynn. He knew he had dumped at least twenty of these barrels in the past few days… but now, there was just one, lying on the ocean bed near the opening. The rest of the barrels were all gone! Flynn watched the diver loop a thick rope around the barrel and drag it back toward the opening.

It was at this precise moment that Flynn caught a glimpse of the diver’s face and felt his blood run cold… It was Ann Baxter’s! Stunned, Flynn lost his grip on the wall. He had just seen his teacher… But that was impossible… inconceivable, he thought as he recovered his position against the wall… The underwater light and shadows were playing tricks with his eyes… Ann Baxter was long dead… But the diver was definitely a woman! He was sure about that. Within seconds, the mysterious figure and the barrel had disappeared out of sight. Flynn tilted his body upward and began his ascend back to the surface… He couldn’t wait to tell Madison!

Leo watched the Perry boy heave himself out of the water and roll onto his raft. Madison was kneeling next to him, talking… A moment later, Perry was pacing excitedly up and down on the Seeker, holding his head in his hands… Something must have happened on that dive, thought Leo. Madison’s body language was strange, too. He saw her shrug her shoulders, then look at the water for a very long time, as if studying its depths. Eventually, she joined Flynn at the helm of the Seeker, and the two headed back toward the Archipelago.

Leo put the binoculars down, his lips stretching into a thin smile. The Fury swayed up and down, little waves lapping gently against its sides. He knew he was onto something… His gut was telling him Flynn Perry was up to no good, but for now it was just intuition, nothing specific… He had to be more patient. He would keep following the pair quietly. Flynn would make the wrong move, and then it would be all over… But first, Leo was going to check out the deserted Power Plant. The place had piqued his interest so much… He was only a mile out, a safe distance and clear of Flynn’s usual route. Leo glanced at his watch. The raft would be far away by now and safe enough for the Fury to slowly move in. He pressed the button on his dash board, and the boat’s engine roared to life.

TWENTY TWO

“Are we ready?” Marcus Van Zandt flicked away a speck of dust from his sleeve. He was wearing a velvet suit, which had once been maroon in color. As far as he was concerned, it was perfect for the grand occasion. Few owned suits in such good condition, and Van Zandt was very proud of that fact.

“They’re all here, Marcus!” Vince Jordan said. “You can start the Departure Ceremony at any time.”

Van Zandt leaned forward, pulled the curtain slightly and peered through the slit. The microphone stand was waiting for him, right in the middle of the grand stage, erected especially for the occasion. A huge crowd had gathered in front of it. The crescent bay of water, surrounding the Van Zandt building, was full with hundreds of vessels, all crammed together, jostling for room. Each and every one of these vessels had been decorated with whatever the people could find that was bright and colorful. The Government required that all vessels looked festive and cheerful… so improvised flags and streamers flew from masts, empty soda cans jangled on ropes and wires. Another requirement was for the people to make as much noise as possible. A cacophony of loud trumpets, shrieking horns and beating drums assaulted Van Zandt’s ears, but he wasn’t bothered by any of it. The more, the merrier, he thought, pleased with what he was seeing and hearing. It was going to be a day of great Departure fun.

The Upper Side residents had shown up in full force for the celebrations and were ready to party. It was one of the highlights of the year and few wanted to miss it. The people were shouting, cheering and clapping their hands in great anticipation. The Lower Side was also gearing up for the event. Most of its residents were in various stages of intoxication, thanks to the cheap Algae brandy the Government had provided for the occasion. It had been flowing freely for a week now, so the mood on the Archipelago was highly festive… drunkenly so, and that was exactly how Marcus Van Zandt wanted it to be.

He smiled and glanced to the right, where his Government ministers were seated on a floating pontoon. Duncan Roth was standing alone on his enormous power boat. Next to his boat was the Departure raft, which was docked securely to the stage. Rows of crudely built bench seats were ready and waiting for the raft’s passengers. Those had been nailed together hastily and with little thought to comfort. But a lot of effort had gone into decking out this one-way vessel and making it look as grand as possible… Banners and an assortment of rag-tag decorations hung over it, like a canopy of shredded rainbows. Everybody knew that the raft was missing a few crucial parts… there was no steering rudder, nor pedals or oars of any kind… it was not meant to be operational… It was meant to drift away smoothly into oblivion! It looked perfect, thought Marcus Van Zandt with pride! Everything about this Departure Ceremony was perfect.

“Let’s begin!” Van Zandt threw back the curtain, a wide smile on his face. He walked onto the stage, fully aware of the power he held over the people of the Archipelago. A loud roar welcomed him as he stepped toward the microphone. He waited for a few seconds then raised his arms to quiet the crowd.

“Greetings and for the Greater Good of everyone…” His voice crackled through the speakers, then faded into a loud feedback noise. Van Zandt scrunched up his face and glanced angrily behind him, where a pale-looking man frantically worked the knobs of a decrepit amplifier. A moment later, the jarring noise was gone, and Van Zandt turned back to face his hushed audience.

“It’s this time of year again…” said Van Zandt, teeth flashing in the light of the setting sun, “…the time, when we get together to say a big thank you to our departing citizens!” He paused to allow the crowd to cheer and clap. “All week we have been celebrating their lives,” he continued, “and the many years of hard work they’ve given us… to make our community a better place! Today, we also celebrate their noble and brave act of selflessness… the decision to step away and make room for the new workforce, which our Archipelago community so much needs!”

Van Zandt paused again to allow for more cheers and clapping of hands.

“As you all know, fresh water’s been flowing freely and without any restriction since the start of this Departure week! And it’ll continue to do so for another week, as a token of gratitude toward all of you… and especially to the people we’re saying good-bye to today!”

Hearing those words, the crowd erupted in a frenzy of excitement. People began to jump up and down on their rafts, making the water roil underneath. They rattled their empty soda cans, banged on drums and blew their horns, creating a terrible and deafening racket.

Flynn stared blankly at the spectacle playing out around him. He had stationed the Seeker as far away from the stage as possible. Pharrell and Clay’s raft was directly behind him. Flynn felt completely removed from the madness of the crowd and all the jubilation… An extra week without water rations! That was how much it took for all these people to go crazy with joy… to buy their love and absolute loyalty!

But Flynn knew he was once guilty of doing the same… He and his father had also come to watch Departure Ceremonies… same place… same excitement and euphoria. They had both cheered, they had clapped… they had played their part… And they had enjoyed their gifts of free water, food and all the little extras that came with such an event… But back then, Flynn had watched strangers being sent away on the Departure raft… Now, it was people that Flynn knew… People he loved and cared about…

Suddenly, Flynn felt someone tap him on his shoulder. Startled, he turned and saw Madison standing next to him. “What are you doing here?” Flynn shouted against the noise of the crowd.

“I’m coming with you,” replied Madison.

“No, you’re not! Stay out of this…”

“It’s my plan… remember?”

“Makes no difference… you can’t come,” Flynn was yelling now.

They would have argued longer if it wasn’t for Pharrell and Clay stepping in. The two boys had jumped onto Flynn’s raft and now stood between Flynn and Madison. “Stop it!” Pharrell growled. “You’re makin’ people stare, you know.”

“Let Madison come,” said Clay. “She’s got a point… it was her plan…”

Flynn was clearly outnumbered. He scowled and said, “Fine…”

But no one heard the rest of Flynn’s words, because the crowd erupted in the loudest of cheers. All eyes were on Van Zandt, who had stepped up to the microphone again.

“And now….,” the man said, “without further ado… allow me, on behalf of the Government, to welcome those on the Departure List!”

Music blared from the speakers, the curtain flew open. Flynn’s stomach turned when he saw his father walk out… Tony was right behind him. They lined up, each of them clutching a bag with their one-week food supply and whatever small personal belongings they had decided to take. Flynn watched the whole group shuffle onto the Departure raft. All of them appeared calm, and some were even waving to the crowd. The total acceptance of their fate seemed so unnatural to Flynn… The group was now shouting, “For the Greater Good!” His father, Tony, everybody…

“They’ve got to act happy,” whispered Madison in Flynn’s ear. “Leo says that if they don’t, their families pay the price… the threats of what they’ll do to them are horrific, Flynn… really horrific!”

Flynn nodded. It all made sense now… Everyone on the Departure List was trying to protect their loved ones. Pretend or be punished… And since no one ever came back, who was to know what these poor people were threatened with… before stepping on that stage…

The crowd exploded again, Van Zandt was still speaking, praising the group… but Flynn wasn’t listening anymore. The sounds around him became muffled as blood rushed to his head… All he could hear was his heart pounding in his chest. He was desperately seeking his father’s eyes. Alan Perry was now taking his seat on the Departure raft, and Flynn saw Tony on the row behind his father. Of course, there was no way either of them could see Flynn, but he hoped they felt his presence there… some comfort that they weren’t alone… and that help was on its way… “…and now, let their Departure journey begin!” Flynn caught the last words of Van Zandt’s speech.

Duncan Roth was ready, the engine of his motor boat running idle. The Departure raft was securely tied behind his boat with a thick towing rope. Security guards were pushing the crowd back, trying to clear a path for the procession. It was a difficult task, because of the large number of vessels, all vying to be in the same spot. There were angry shouts and curses coming from the crowd. Everyone wanted to see the parade, and by now most people were drunk and extremely rowdy. Finally, a few shots were fired in the air, forcing the crowd to part and make way. Duncan Roth raised his hand in a final salute to Van Zandt then gunned his engine. The boat lurched forward, and the Departure raft swiftly followed in its wake.

“Here we go,” cried Flynn, his face a mask of grim determination. He gripped the rudder and placed his feet on the pedals. The Seeker began to move slowly, peeling away from the crowd. Flynn made sure his raft remained close to the walls of the buildings, staying in their shadow. He threw a quick glance to his left and saw Pharrell doing the same… They had gone over the route of the parade a dozen times… until Flynn was satisfied they all knew it by heart… and that there would be no turning back.

“Well, that part’s over!” said Flynn as they watched Duncan Roth’s boat tow the Departure raft past the last Lower Side buildings and head out into open waters.

Keeping a safe distance, he and Pharrell had trailed the procession all the way from Midtown bay and through the Lower Side canals. They had managed to remain focused on the task, ignoring all the excitement and commotion going on around them. Both rafts had zigzagged past vessels and avoided numerous collisions along the waterways. They paid no attention to the madness that awaited them on the Lower Side. Here, the residents had also come out onto rooftops, bridges and walkways to cheer on the Departure raft. They blew on horns and banged on drums, drinking and dancing as Duncan’s boat passed beneath them. The “stars” of the parade waved back, with frozen smiles and blank eyes.

Flynn lifted his feet from the pedals and turned to Pharrell and Clay. “Let’s hang back for a while… We don’t want the Rottweiler to spot us.”

Pharrell nodded, squinting against the setting sun. Duncan’s boat and the Departure raft were past the South border now, heading towards the Junk nets. They were making headway fast, becoming smaller and smaller against the darkening horizon.

“I think we shouldn’t let him get away too far…” Madison said, glancing at Flynn. “They’ll be out of sight soon.”

“Not yet!” Flynn was looking up at the rooftops behind them. He knew the Watchmen were up in their towers, keeping their sharp eyes on the Departure raft. The same could be said of Van Zandt and his Government with their powerful binoculars… They were bound to be watching, Flynn thought… But it was getting dark, and soon they would all be invisible, swallowed by the night. Then it would be the time to strike… but for now they needed to wait. “Don’t worry, we won’t lose them.” Flynn dug under the seat, took out his dad’s old binoculars and glued them to his eyes. Duncan’s boat had started to make a wide turn to the east.

“Where do you think he’s going to dump them?” asked Madison, shifting nervously on her seat.

“Further east, in the Atlantic,” Flynn replied. “So the current doesn’t bring anybody drifting back in!”

As night fell, the pale three-quarter moon was now their only source of light. The Departure raft was just a silhouette, barely visible even through the lenses of the binoculars.

Suddenly, the powerful beam of the boat’s headlight went on.

“Perfect!” Flynn dropped the binoculars on the seat. “We can see them fine now and no one can see us.” He sat back and placed his feet on the pedals. “Ready Pharrell? With Duncan Roth on his own, he shouldn’t be a problem… The three of us will overpower the bastard in no time.”

“You mean the four of us,” Madison said.

“No, you’ll stay out of it.” Flynn glared at her. “And that’s an order, Miss Ray.”

“Not so sure it’ll be that easy, bro” Pharrell shook his head, “He’s armed!”

“Yeah, but he’s not expecting company,” Flynn argued. “His motor’s loud… we sneak from behind, get my dad, Tony and your parents… then we disappear and…”

“What about the others?” Madison interrupted.

Flynn shook his head. “We can’t save everybody…”

“Yes, we can!”

“Are you crazy?” Flynn snapped. “I can’t find a place to hide all of these people… that’s impossible!”

“We can try.”

“No!”

“Yes!”

“Hey!” Pharrell interrupted, sensing another fight boiling up between the two. “Enough! Flynn’s right… and if we don’t wanna lose them, we better get goin!”

“What happened?” Madison stood up on her seat, her voice full of alarm.

“He cut his lights off, that’s what happened!” Flynn had stopped pedaling and grabbed for his binoculars. They had been following Duncan Roth for more than an hour now. The man had abruptly changed direction twice, heading first west, then south. They had just cleared Hudson Bay and were going across the Jersey Bay, when Duncan’s headlights had suddenly gone out, as if swallowed by the ocean. They could hear the sound of his engine, though… Clearly, he was still on the move, thought Flynn, puzzled by Duncan’s new maneuver.

“Do you think he’s seen us, bro?” Pharrell whispered from his raft.

“Doubt it… We’re close, but not that close.”

“Maybe…,” said Madison, turning to look back at the Archipelago, “…he doesn’t want the Watchers to see where he’s going? Without the lights, they’ve lost him too!”

“Doesn’t make sense… Why would he hide from them?” Flynn was looking through his binoculars, searching the horizon. “Hah! There he is! He’s changed direction again… going west, now.”

“What do we do?” Pharrell strained his eyes. “I can’t see a thing!”

“We follow the sound of his engine!” Flynn lowered his binoculars and sat back behind the pedals. “C’mon!”

He began to pedal hard and steered to the left, trailing after the roar of Duncan’s motor boat. Pharrell and Clay followed. Flynn tried to keep to the same speed as before, not too fast and not too slow. Without seeing Duncan’s boat, and only using their ears, it was hard to guess how close they were to the boat ahead. They pedaled in silence for a while, when suddenly Duncan’s engine died! Flynn instantly lifted his feet off the pedals to cut out the splashing noise of the Seeker.

“What the hell…” Pharrell muttered under his breath, as he tried to kill the speed of his own raft.

Flynn stood up and listened for a moment. Nothing! No other sound, apart from that of water lapping against their two vessels. He raised the binoculars and pointed the lenses in the direction where he had last heard the motor. It was a blind search, but there was nothing else he could do.

“See anything?” Madison whispered.

“No!” he answered after a while, and lowered his binoculars.

“They can’t just disappear into thin air!” Madison hopelessly scanned the darkness ahead. She wasn’t going to give up so easily… “There!” said Madison, pointing her hand to the left.

“Where?” Flynn jerked his head, peering into the darkness… And then he saw them… the black outlines of four huge smokestacks, rising out of the water no more than a hundred feet ahead. He had missed seeing them because he was using the binoculars… and they were too close… Flynn had been looking for something much farther away. The smokestacks were so dark they had merged with the black sky. And grimy enough, for the moonlight not to bounce off them… making them virtually invisible. Duncan’s boat and the Departure raft had stopped by the fence that encircled the old Power Plant.

“Don’t make a sound!” Flynn hissed. “We’re right behind them now!” He raised his binoculars again and adjusted the focus. There was enough moonlight now for him to clearly see Duncan Roth standing up in his boat…. What the hell was he doing, Flynn wondered and then he saw the man unbuckle his gun belt and drop it inside the boat… Unarmed, the man was taking his jacket off, undressing himself in a great hurry… Duncan Roth was also saying something to the people on the Departure raft… The Seeker was now close enough for Flynn to hear the Rottweiler’s voice. He strained his ears and caught the words “get in the water!”

“Shit!” Flynn dropped his binoculars. “He’s going to drown them, right here, right now!”

“What?” Pharrell jumped up, his eyes full of horror.

“You heard me!” Flynn’s hand was clasping the hilt of his diving knife.

“Then we’re too late,” Clay moaned.

“No, we’re not!” Flynn shook his head… If ever there was an opportunity to strike down Duncan Roth, it was now… He sprang into action, slipping quietly into the water. “Pharrell, you ready?”

“Let’s do it, bro!”

Pharrell was next to Flynn in a flash. Both of them took a deep breath and dived silently in the direction of Duncan’s boat. Moments later, they found themselves underneath the hull and parted ways. Pharrell swam toward the stern. Flynn surfaced just under the bow, fighting the urge to gasp for air.

“So, this is how it ends, Mr. Roth? You’re going to drown us here, like rats?”

Flynn heard a familiar voice ring out from the Departure raft. Craning his neck out of the water, he saw that it belonged to his father… Alan Perry was the only one standing up on the raft. The rest of the group was huddled together in their seats. Although the man was just an outline in the dark, Flynn could see the defiance in his father’s pose.

“You won’t even give us the chance to die with dignity?” Alan Perry’s voice was getting louder, angrier.

“Hey, Roth, you sick bastard!” Another shadow rose next to Alan Perry. “Is that how you killed all the others before us, eh?”

“Quiet!” Duncan Roth said. “Keep your voices down!”

There was a low rumble on the raft now, as more people began to stand up.

Flynn wasn’t going to wait any longer! He grasped the side of the boat with one hand, knife in the other, and swung himself over. He landed with a thud and sprang on his feet. Pharrell was at the other end of the deck, already lunging at Duncan Roth. Flynn watched as the man moved swiftly, his foot connecting with Pharrell’s head, sending the boy back in the water.

In a flash, the Rottweiler had turned to face Flynn, his eyes narrowing on the knife in Flynn’s hand. Flynn saw a blur of rapid movement, and then Duncan Roth was on top of him. He felt the bones in his wrist shift, as the man squeezed and twisted his arm behind his back! The knife fell out of Flynn’s hand, and Duncan Roth punched him once, hard in the stomach. Flynn doubled over and dropped to his knees, gasping for air…

The sound of splashing water made Duncan Roth turn. He saw a raft coming at him, and before he knew it, it had rammed itself into the side of his boat. The jolt of the impact sent the Rottweiler sprawling across the deck. A second later, Madison had clambered on board and had thrown herself on top of Duncan Roth, sinking her teeth into his neck, with both hands clawing at his eyes. The man cursed loudly. Grabbing the girl round the waist, he flung her away from him like a rag doll. She landed with a cry, rolled up next to Flynn and sprang back up on her feet. Madison crouched and was ready to pounce again when she spotted the gun belt. It was just a few feet from where she was standing. Madison threw a quick glance back at Duncan Roth. He was coming toward her, blood running down his neck… Without thinking, she reached for the gun.

“Be still!” Duncan Roth roared. He was pointing a small revolver at her head.

Madison froze, her hand inches from the gun’s holster.

“No one’s going to die here tonight!” the man said and kicked the gun away from Madison. He turned his head and looked at the Departure raft. Everyone had gone quiet. “Listen carefully you lot!” Duncan Roth spoke in a low voice. “Do as I say. Get in the water like I told you, and it’ll be all over soon! No one’s going to get hurt… I’ll explain later…”

A few gasps came from the group and then there was silence. Madison and Flynn looked at each other, not sure if they had heard the man right.

TWENTY THREE

No one moved on the Departure raft. Everyone was staring at Duncan Roth, some with fear, others with defiance and suspicion.

“I repeat…,” the man said quietly, “…I’ve no intention of killing anyone! All of you’ll be safe soon, but we need to get going!” He glanced at the lights of the Archipelago, flickering in the far distance and scowled. Then he turned to Flynn and Madison with great urgency. “Flynn, can you stand up?”

Flynn? Duncan Roth had never called Flynn by his first name before… What was wrong with the Rottweiler, wondered Flynn, rubbing his sore wrist. He managed to get up on his feet, but felt dizzy. Madison sprang up and grabbed his elbow to keep him steady.

“I wasn’t planning on your company tonight…” Duncan Roth continued as he tied his boat to Flynn and Pharrell’s rafts, “…but since you’re here, I can do with some help… I believe you’ve got your diving bells with you?”

“Err… yes!” Flynn managed to speak at last.

“How about you, Pharrell?” Duncan Roth called out, looking for the boy. He found him standing with Clay on the Departure raft.

“It’s always with me,” Pharrell answered, wiping some blood off his face.

“Sorry about that knock on the head… Can you dive?” Duncan Roth asked.

“I think so.”

“Good! Go get your bells ready!” said Duncan Roth as he began to undress again. “Madison and Clay, you’ll be working the pumps, alright?”

Flynn’s head was spinning now… Duncan Roth was standing before them in his undershorts and nothing else. It was all happening too fast for him to make sense of this new turn of events… He stared at the Rottweiler, who was now adjusting a diving harness over his shoulders… Flynn was supposed to trust this man… someone he hated so much… someone he had intended to kill only a short while back…

“Flynn,” Duncan Roth called out, attaching a big flashlight to his diving belt, “…those bells you built last week, are they here?”

“Hanging along that fence, sir. Thirty feet under water.”

“Good. We’ll split the people in groups. Two at a time in each bell. We’ll have to do several dives to get everybody down, OK?”

“Sir!” Pharrell stood still, hands on his hips. “I ain’t going nowhere, till you tell us where…”

“Keep your voice down!” Duncan Roth cut him off. He then pointed at the nearest smokestack. “There’s an old Power Plant down below. That’s where we’re all going. You’ll follow me with your bells and we’ll take these people down, one by one, through an opening at the bottom of the structure.” Duncan Roth rummaged through his satchel, took out a roll of duct tape and started taping it around the bleeding wound on his neck. “We don’t want to attract any sharks now, do we?” He gave Madison a wry smile, tucking the end of his makeshift bandage and making it secure.

“Sorry, sir,” Madison mumbled. “I was only trying to…”

“No need to apologize… Whoever’s hurt better patch up before getting in the water.”   Duncan Roth turned to face the whole group. “I want to reassure everyone that you’ll be OK… It’s a short swim from the diving bells to the Power Plant’s opening, and then up to an air pocket inside the building. Once you make it in there, you’ll all be safe.” He snapped his diving mask over his eyes and said, “Leave your rations behind, you won’t need them anymore… Take only small personal stuff you can fit in your pockets. Now go… please!”

Flynn couldn’t believe the Rottweiler had just said ‘please’… This man didn’t sound like the Duncan Roth he knew… Was he really going to save everybody? Flynn knew that something extraordinary was happening! Something that was contrary to all of Flynn’s logic and expectations…

“Flynn, Pharrell! Let’s go!” Duncan’s voice made Flynn focus on the task at hand. He looked around, but the man was already gone. Flynn spotted him in the water next to the boat.

“Hurry up!” the man whispered loudly. “I’ll take the first bell down, you take the next one! No lights until you get below twenty feet, OK!” And with those words, his head disappeared underwater.

A hand touched Flynn’s shoulder. “Do you believe him?” Madison asked in a hushed voice.

“I… don’t know… Do you?”

“I think so,” Madison nodded. “Don’t ask me why… but I do.”

Their eyes met and they both smiled, then Flynn looked at the water again. He picked up his knife and jumped back on the Seeker. “Let’s hope you’re right!” he said, holding his hand out for Madison, helping her step off Duncan’s boat.

Clay was already on the other side of the Departure raft, lowering Pharrell’s diving bell into the water. Having remained speechless for so long, the raft’s passengers were now beginning to move about. There was a low murmur, then anxious whispering as they rummaged through their personal belongings, taking out small items and stuffing them in their pockets.

“Hey, amigos!” Tony Romero stepped shakily on Flynn’s raft, a wide grin on his face.

“Tony!” Madison and Flynn both threw their arms around him. A quick moment passed then Flynn pulled away… There was no time for getting all emotional now… not yet!

“You heard him…” Flynn motioned towards the water where Duncan Roth had disappeared, “What do you think?”

“We don’t have much of a choice, do we?” Tony paused for a second, “I say we do it, Flynn!”

Flynn knew that Tony was right and nodded solemnly. He dragged his diving gear from under the seat and said, “I’m taking you down first.”

“No, Flynn!”

“What?” Flynn stared at Tony in surprise.

“I’ll stay and help Madison!”

Tony’s words were spoken with such force that Flynn knew it was better not to argue with his friend. He hesitated for a moment then snapped on his goggles. “Alright, I’ll go get my dad, then. You and Madison can man the air pumps.”

Flynn made his way quickly to the Departure raft where most of the group appeared to have settled down, accepting their new fate… Trying to get to the Power Plant was frightening, but they had nothing left to lose!

“Dad!” Flynn called out.

“Over here, son!”

A shadowy figure stepped forward and Flynn saw his father standing only feet away from him. The two hugged each other briefly. There was no time to speak.

“Are you ready for this?” Flynn asked.

“You know my rule, son… Ladies go first!” With those words, Alan Perry turned and brought a woman to the front.

Flynn recognized Mrs. Voinovich, their neighbor. Dark as it was, he could see the terror in her eyes. She was shaking her head, clearly petrified to go down in the water.

“Take good care of her, son!” Alan Perry nudged the woman to go forward.

Flynn exchanged a quick glance with his father, nodded and gently took Mrs. Voinovich’s hand. “You won’t have to do much, Mrs. Voinovich, don’t worry!” He led her to the edge of the platform and said, “Just sit here, and wait for me. I’ll be back in a second.”

He turned to go and saw Duncan and Pharrell dragging the diving bells behind them.

“Flynn!” the man called out. “What are you waiting for? We don’t have all night!”

Flynn slid in the water, and with a few strokes was right by his raft. He detached his bell, grabbed it by the hose and swam back to the platform. Madison, Tony and Clay were already there with the air pumps. Flynn hooked up the bell to one of the pumps and swam back to Mrs. Voinovich. She sat frozen on the platform’s edge, arms locked around her knees, her eyes like saucers, staring at the dark water.

“C’mon, Mrs. Voinovich!” Flynn extended his hand. “Just ease yourself down, and I’ll take you to the bell.”

But the woman shook her head and inched away.

“Please! We’ve got to hurry!” Flynn moved in closer.

Mrs. Voinovich let go of her knees and anchored her hands on the edge of the platform. Flynn was losing patience. Tony was right by the bell, ready with the hoist, watching them. Their eyes met, and he gave Flynn a quick nod. Flynn glanced around. No one else was looking… It only took a split second for his hand to grab Mrs. Voinovich by the wrist and yank her hard toward him. He pulled her down, locking her in a tight embrace. She managed to let out a small yelp before Flynn clasped his hand over her mouth, pinching her nose to prevent her from swallowing any water.

Flynn took a deep breath and holding the woman, he began his dive. It was harder than he thought… Mrs. Voinovich was surprisingly strong… and was putting up a mighty struggle. He had her arms pinned, but her legs were free. She kicked him hard a few times, missing his groin by a fraction of an inch. Luckily for them, Flynn was able to get cleanly under the diving bell and into the air pocket inside without a problem. He waited a couple of seconds, before lifting his hand away from Mrs. Voinovich’s mouth. “You can breathe now,” he told her.

The woman took a big noisy gulp of air and followed it with a high-pitched scream. She kicked again and made Flynn lose his hold on her. Without his support, she lost her balance and slipped back in the water. Flynn fished her out quickly by the scruff of her neck.

“Mrs. Voinovich! Just listen to me!” Flynn was yelling now. “There’s a small platform you can stand on and rest your feet… And hang on to that rope handle next to your head.”

The woman went quiet again. Her panic attack had subsided. She followed Flynn’s instructions, like a helpless little child.

“There! Well done,” Flynn said, reassuringly. “Just relax now and we’ll be safely down in no time, alright.” He yanked the hose a few times, and the bell started to descend. The air inside remained fresh, allowing Flynn and Mrs. Voinovich to breathe normally. Tony and Madison were doing a great job, Flynn thought, grateful for having them above him. He waited a little, then fumbled with his torch and switched it on. The light flooded the bell’s domed roof, making Mrs. Voinovich blink a few times. Her eyes darted back and forth, checking out her surroundings.

“It’s OK. Nothing to worry about!” Flynn grinned. “It’s like going down in an elevator, except… it’s underwater!”

Unfortunately, instead of reassuring the woman, his words had the opposite effect… Mrs. Voinovich grabbed onto the handle with both hands and closed her eyes, frozen in terror again. Flynn felt sorry for her, but there was nothing he could do… He shrugged and leaned back against the plastic walls of his bell. A moment later, the bell jerked and came to a stop. It had reached the end of the line. Flynn knew this had been the easy part of the dive… The next phase was going to be much harder. He put his goggles back on, took one quick look at the woman’s petrified face, and dived down, leaving her inside the bell.

It took him a second to get his bearings… His bell was hanging about thirty feet above the bottom and the Power Plant. There were several lights placed along its walls, making it easier to see in the darkness. Flynn saw another diving bell, already there next to his, glowing like a lantern in the dark. The light inside moved down, and a moment later, Duncan Roth shot out from under the bell, followed closely by two figures. Flynn watched as Duncan led them down to a well-concealed gap in the Power Plant’s wall. Flynn would have missed it if he was on his own! Glancing up, he saw Pharrell’s bell descending and hurried back inside his.

Mrs. Voinovich was exactly as Flynn had left her, eyes shut tight, knuckles white from squeezing the handle. “We’ll have to do some more diving, now,” Flynn said, trying to sound cheerful, “…so hold your breath… as long as you can.”

Mrs. Voinovich’s eyes shot open and stared at him, wide with terror. She shook her head and closed them back tightly.

“Look…” Flynn said, “I… don’t want to drag you down again… but I will.”

Her eyes opened again and she nodded her head slowly… Flynn noticed that her lips had turned a dark shade of purple.

“All you’ve got to do is hold me round my waist… Do you think you can do that?”

Mrs. Voinovich swallowed hard then nodded again.

“Good!” Flynn turned around. “And try not to strangle me, alright.”

Slowly, she let go of the handle and clasped her arms around his middle.

“One last thing… You’ll feel some pressure in your ears. Just pinch your nose and blow with your mouth closed, OK?”

With Mrs. Voinovich now pressed tight against his back, Flynn dove under the bell. Her added weight helped him go down a lot faster. Soon, Flynn could see the opening in the wall, and swam straight for it. Just as he was about to enter, a strong beam of light blinded him. Flynn had to back up and let Duncan glide out. He gave Flynn the thumbs up sign and swam past him in a flash. Although this had been a small delay, Flynn could feel Mrs. Voinovich’s arms now tightening around his neck. She was running out of oxygen fast, and Flynn knew it. He kicked his feet and went through the hole, starting his ascend up a narrow chimney-like space.

There was a faint orange glow some twenty feet above him. Not far, but he knew he had to hurry. Swimming straight up, Flynn could feel the weight of Mrs. Voinovich now and the strain on all his muscles. They were almost there, only a few feet away from the light, when Mrs. Voinovich started trashing on his back… Flynn knew that the poor woman would open her mouth… take that dreaded involuntary breath… and fill her lungs with water… Flynn kicked his feet with all his strength, his powerful strokes breaking the surface with seconds to spare.

There was a loud gasp from behind him, as Mrs. Voinovich sucked in a huge gulp of air and began to cough. That was too damn close, Flynn thought, as he filled his screaming lungs with air. It was stale, but breathable enough. Flynn looked around and spotted a large floating deck to his left. Two people were lying on it, soaking wet and shivering. They were Duncan’s first charges and were glad to see Flynn swimming toward them. The two helped Mrs. Voinovich onto the platform then hoisted Flynn up. While they tended to Mrs. Voinovich, Flynn took a little break to get his bearings. He was in some kind of a large round shaft space, and although he had found air pockets in submerged buildings before, they were never as big as this. Flynn looked up and could see no ceiling. The shaft continued up and up, until its walls turned to black. He wondered if this was one of the four giant smokestacks of the Power Plant… Flynn studied his surroundings more carefully. The deck was moored next to a rusty staircase, leading up to a heavy metal door. There was an oil lamp burning above the door, the only source of light in the shaft. Flynn looked back at Mrs. Voinovich who now seemed fine, despite the cold.

“Thank you,” she said and smiled weakly at Flynn. “Hope the next one down treats you better.”

“You did great, Mrs. Voinovich,” Flynn said and slid back into the water.

“Well done everyone!” Duncan Roth had just finished doing his final head count. No one was missing from the Departure List. They were all huddled together on the floating deck now. Exhausted and freezing, but alive! He stood above them on the rusty staircase, water dripping from his tall frame, not showing even the slightest sign of being cold or tired.

Duncan looked like he had just come back from a leisurely swim, thought Flynn. They had all performed numerous dives, but Duncan had done the most. Flynn was more than impressed by his stamina and endurance…. The man had surprised him repeatedly in the past hour, and was continuing to do so… Unlike Duncan, Flynn was on the verge of collapsing from exhaustion… The dives had finally taken their toll… He could barely stand on his feet. Flynn had lost count of how many people he had ferried down. His last two trips had been to bring Tony and Madison. Now, they were all waiting to see what Duncan had in store for them next.

“I don’t think he brought us here just to show us this air pocket,” Madison whispered. “There must be more to this…”

Flynn had to agree with her.

“Please, come with me,” said Duncan, as if he had read their minds.

He was making his way up the flight of rusty stairs. Emotionally and physically drained, everybody had fallen silent again. No questions were asked. One by one, they all started up the stairs and followed Duncan through the heavy metal door at the top of the landing. Flynn and Madison were right behind him, both eager to find out where he was taking them.

The man led them down a dark corridor, up more flights of stairs and then into another corridor. The thick walls were made of solid concrete. There were cracks everywhere, and all surfaces were streaked with rusty stains from the metal fixtures running above their heads. Corroded pipes, broken electrical boxes and torn cables littered the floor.

Although the Power Plant appeared abandoned and completely derelict, there were lights along the passageways.

“Sir…” Flynn turned to Duncan Roth, “Where’s the electricity coming from?”

“You’ll find out in a minute… And Flynn…” Duncan stopped and turned, “you don’t have to call me sir! Not down here, anyway!”

Flynn exchanged a startled look with Madison then hurried after the man. A beam of strong light flooded the corridor as Duncan opened another metal door at its end. He held it open, but stood blocking the entrance and waiting for everybody to gather. Flynn stopped at the threshold and glanced at Duncan who gave him an encouraging nod. “Go on. We’ve arrived,” he said.

Flynn cautiously stepped through the door and onto a wide industrial walkway bridge high above a huge cavernous space. Taking another step forward, he froze in his tracks! Flynn was looking down at a brightly lit hall and at a gigantic vessel, the likes of which he had never seen before… It was suspended half-way up in the air, held by a dozen chains and hanging from a gigantic domed ceiling. Its massive hull was made out of what Flynn immediately recognized were salvaged materials: vehicle parts, pieces of corrugated metal and plastic, all welded together. The vessel was positioned above a pool of murky green water, surrounded by rafts and barges, piled high with more scavenged resources. Smaller rafts provided support for the crude scaffolding which encircled the sides of its hull. There were large holes in the vessel’s body, cables and wires sticking out of its unfinished sections. It had to be some kind of a sea-faring ship, Flynn thought. With its round tubular body, it resembled the old airplane fuselages he had seen carried by the Industrial Scavengers. But its overall shape reminded him more of a blue whale… a few years back, Flynn had seen one swim past, narrowly missing the Seeker… He felt Madison’s hand on his shoulder. She too was staring, mouth agape.

“What the hell’s that?” Flynn whispered, unable to take his eyes off the vessel.

But he was now being pushed to the side, as the rest of the group gathered behind him and Madison. The people were pressing against the railings, mesmerized by what they were seeing. A loud collective gasp of surprise could be heard. There was a ripple of excitement as everybody began to crane their necks to get a better look.

“What is it, Flynn?” Tony Romero had managed to squeeze himself through the wall of bodies.

“You tell me!” Flynn shifted sideways to make some space for his friend.

“Oh, wow!” Tony cried. “Looks like… a whale, amigo!”

“Welcome to the Ark!” Duncan Roth’s voice cut above the noise, and everyone was instantly silenced. They all turned. He stood a few feet away, leaning against the railing, studying their faces. “That’s your future home!” the man smiled, pointing at the vessel. “As you can see, she’s not finished yet. But now… with your additional help, I think we’ll be ready to sail in a couple of weeks!”

All eyes were glued on Duncan Roth, and for a long, silent moment nobody dared to react to what he had just said.

“Sail… to where?” someone asked finally.

Flynn turned. It was his father who had spoken up again.

“Dry Land.”

Duncan Roth’s words echoed around their heads.

Flynn couldn’t believe he had just heard those two forbidden words… But he wasn’t the only one who was shocked to hear them… Madison, Tony, Clay and Pharrell were just as stunned as he was… This was something nobody ever talked about… Dry Land was something that didn’t exist!

“Look, I’m fully aware of what you all think of me… and how hard it must be for you to trust me!” said Duncan and then paused. “First, I owe you all a big apology, then… an explanation! It’s a long story!” He started down the walkway. “But before you hear all the details, I’d like you to meet the others… They’ve been expecting you.”

TWENTY FOUR

“Others? What others?” Flynn asked Tony and Madison as they followed the mysterious Duncan Roth. Of course, none of them had an answer to the question. They were just as puzzled as Flynn.

Duncan Roth led them down through a web of walkways and onto the big floating platform moored under the Ark. They were all gathered together now in the shadow of the vessel’s massive hull, eyes wide with wonder. Who could have built such a thing? They didn’t have to wait long to find out. Duncan blow-whistled and a moment later a hatch in the hull opened. A face, smeared in grease, peered out of the hatch. It belonged to a very old man.

“Greetings everyone!” cried the man, swinging his legs stiffly over the opening.

Duncan Roth rushed to help him down on the platform. A toothless grin appeared on the man’s blackened face. Flynn thought the voice sounded familiar… and then he saw the three screwdrivers sticking out of the man’s pocket…

“My God! It’s Walter… Walter Kowalski!” Alan Perry cried first and rushed forward to embrace his old friend.

“Hello, Alan!” Mr. Kowalski patted Flynn’s father three times on the shoulder. “Glad to see you made it safely down!”

“But… what are you doing here, Walter?”

“Ah, this and that…” Mr. Kowalski shrugged. “Helping out Duncan… with his project here.”

“Walter’s being modest as usual,” said Duncan Roth, facing the group again. “I’m sure most of you know who Walter Kowalski is… We’ve been working on the Ark for… how many years now, Walter?”

“Too many! I’ve lost count.”

“Sixteen, to be precise!” Duncan’s face was beaming now. “Walter’s been with the Ark project from the very first day… In fact, we conceived the idea together, and he’s played a key part in getting us to where we’re today… From the initial designs and blueprints… to what you see now before your eyes… I couldn’t have done it without him!”

Duncan paused to give the group a moment to digest the information. Alan Perry’s eyes blinked in confusion, shifting between Duncan and Mr. Kowalski.

“I’d never have guessed, Walter,” Flynn’s father said quietly, “that you and him were so close…” There was a hint of reproach in his voice.

“It had to be that way, Alan,” Mr. Kowalski said with a sheepish grin. “You understand how serious… how dangerous this is? If anyone knew about us, especially about Duncan’s involvement… we had to keep everything top secret.”

“No one knows about this project, Mr. Perry,” said Duncan earnestly. “No one, but a few trusted friends on the outside, and they’ll be coming with us when we’re ready! I hope you can forgive me for all the secrecy… But in order for our endeavor to succeed, I had to act the way I did.”

Flynn tensed, unsure what reaction to expect from his father. The corner of Alan Perry’s mouth twitched as he studied Duncan’s grave face.

“Well, you certainly managed to deceive us all!” Alan Perry said. “And doing all this right under Van Zandt’s nose… I think it’s brilliant… You’ll easily be forgiven, Mr. Roth!”

Somebody began to clap, then one by one, the rest of the group joined in the applause. Duncan Roth waved his hand hastily for them to stop. “Thank you, but… it’s too early to celebrate! Let’s hope that soon we’ll have a reason to do so!” He glanced over his shoulder at the open hatch then turned to Mr. Kowalski. “Where are the others, Walter?”

“Err… inside, waiting!” Mr. Kowalski nodded at the Ark. “We thought we’d do it in small portions, you know! Didn’t want anyone here to have a heart-attack… after everything they’ve been through today!”

“I think they’ll be fine now,” said Duncan.

There was another exchange of puzzled looks among the group, as the man leaned over and knocked on the hull of the ship.

At first, nothing happened. Then, a tall, dark-skinned woman jumped out from the hatch and landed on the platform… Flynn felt his blood drain from his face, his legs suddenly unsteady. He took an involuntary step back, bumping into Madison.

“You’re not going to faint on me now, are you?” The woman walked purposefully over to Flynn.

“Ann Baxter!” Flynn struggled to find his words. “I thought… you’re dead…”

“No! I’m not dead… and I’m not a ghost… See for yourself!” Ann Baxter gave him a friendly punch on the shoulder. “Now, take a deep breath and introduce me to the young lady here… I guess she must be your girlfriend!”

“She’s not my girlfriend,” Flynn’s voice took on a steely edge, and he felt his face grow hot.

“My name’s Madison Ray… Nice to meet you.” Madison stepped in front of Flynn and extended her hand. “I’m just his Crew Mate.”

“I’m Ann.” The woman squeezed Madison’s hand in an iron handshake. “I used to babysit this young man when he was a kid!”

“He’s always spoken of you with great admiration.” Madison grinned, having taken an instant liking to Ann Baxter.

“Think I taught him everything there’s to know about free diving… Isn’t that right, Flynn?”

But Flynn wasn’t paying any attention… After the initial shock of seeing Ann Baxter, his thoughts had turned back to Madison. His girlfriend! That’s what Ann Baxter had called her… He remembered Madison’s determined face and the fury with which she had thrown herself at Duncan up on the boat… She had been willing to kill a man twice her size, to risk her own life for Flynn… He was about to say something to Madison, but the gasps from the group made him turn around.

“Look! They’re alive!”

Flynn turned and saw that people were coming out of the hatch, joining those on the platform. He recognized some of the faces. More ghosts… people whose names had also been on Departure Lists over the years… who were supposed to be long dead… coming back to life before his eyes… There were tears of joy flowing freely down their cheeks, hugs and kisses… They all seemed to be moving in slow motion now… Flynn had never been more bewildered in his entire life…

“Come!” Ann Baxter grabbed his hand. “Let’s sit down and I’ll explain everything!”

“It’s all true, then? What they’ve been saying about you?” asked Flynn. He and Madison were now sitting on an upturned barrel at the edge of the platform, away from the cheerful crowd.

“Yes and no,” said Ann Baxter as she moved an empty box in front of them and sat down. “Me and Duncan have been together since we were… I guess your age. Best Scavenging team in town, they used to call us. There were no Trials back then… Duncan came up with this competition when he got into Government.”

Flynn studied Ann as she leaned back against a heap of fishing nets and folded her bare, muscular arms over her chest. She hadn’t changed that much, he thought. Her hair was still cropped short, but it was no longer even in color. The black had turned grey around her temples and over the crown of her head. There were wrinkles in the corner of her eyes… But she was still a very beautiful woman and just as full of energy as he remembered her to be.

“Anyway,” Ann continued, “we were still together, when we discovered this Power Plant on one of our scavenging dives.”

She and Duncan had found air pockets before, but nothing like this one. Sealed by six foot thick walls, it was like a concrete coffin. Some water had managed to get in through the smokestacks with the initial high Flood wave, but not enough to completely drown the solid structure. And the smokestacks served as a fresh air supply, making the submerged building perfectly livable.

“We told them we’d seen the stain of a toxic leak down there, and the Government rushed to fence the area off… put up the warning signs… The place was made off limits for diving… No one would go near it! So it became our hiding place… And the perfect place to build the Ark!”

“To build it?” Flynn’s eyebrows rose up. “You mean you had the idea even back then?”

“Duncan did.” Ann smiled. “He was obsessed, you see… had this dream of Dry Land from very early on. He collected pictures, photographs… anything he could lay his hands on. He believed it was out there somewhere, waiting to be discovered, and… you have no idea how much he hated life on the Archipelago!” She paused for a moment before saying, “That’s why he joined the Government, Flynn!”

“He got all the way to the top, so he could… escape?”

“Yes, that was one of the reasons!” She leaned forward and looked Flynn straight in the eyes. “As much as he despised the Van Zandts and the system, Duncan thought it was the best way to gain access to all their resources, and the power it’d give him to get things done…” Ann took a deep breath and shook her head sadly. “It wasn’t easy for him, believe me! He had to do some terrible things to keep his cover, to make his allegiance to the Government look convincing! There was a price to pay…”

“You two had to separate…” Madison said quietly.

Ann Baxter nodded gravely. “He went his way, I went mine… I didn’t see much of him over the years, no! Not until we faked my accident and I joined him down here…”

She looked away and fell silent. Flynn followed her gaze and saw Duncan, holding court in the middle of the crowd. Smiling, shaking hands, people slapping him on the shoulder and thanking him. Excited chatter was echoing around the hall.

“You said,” said Flynn, turning back, “he had another reason to join the Government?”

Ann Baxter tore her gaze away from Duncan and looked at Flynn. “Yes, he did!” she whispered, her face full of pride. “He did it, so he could save all these people you see here!”

Flynn opened his mouth, then closed it and lowered his eyes. What could he say? He had felt such hatred for the Rottweiler… he had dreamt of killing the man… The Duncan Roth, the one Flynn thought he knew, seemed like a distant memory now… Fading fast… A world apart from the Duncan he had just met… Flynn had been left puzzled, and then astonished by him… but Flynn was feeling something different now… he had to admit he felt pure admiration for the man! Madison’s hand found his and squeezed gently. She was thinking the same. Flynn looked up. Duncan Roth was walking toward them.

“Enjoying your little reunion?” asked Duncan, placing his hand on Ann Baxter’s shoulder. “You know… I’ve been keeping an eye on you, Flynn… Ever since Ann told me you were one of her best students!” He paused for a moment then added, “She was right, of course! And as much as I hate to break your little party here… I need my top crew members back now… We’ve got a job to do!”

Flynn was up on his feet. Being praised by Duncan Roth made him suddenly feel extremely flustered. “Sir… I mean… Duncan!” He couldn’t stop stammering. “Can I ask you something?”

“Go on.”

“What is the Ark?”

Duncan rubbed his chin for a moment.

“It’s a submarine,” he answered then glanced at Ann, cocking his eyebrow. “A kind of… rescue vessel.”

“It is, indeed!” the woman said. “And it’s our only hope in getting away from the Archipelago.”

TWENTY FIVE

“Did you have any trouble with the final leg of our Departure Ceremony?” Marcus Van Zandt flicked the ashes of his cigar on the floor. It was ages since he had smoked his last real one. But these Algae replacements were not bad either, he thought.

“None whatsoever,” Duncan Roth replied and sipped his coffee across the table from Van Zandt. “It all went as planned.”

“Took you longer this time! You were gone for most of the night.”

“There was a strong current… Had to go farther out… or risk having dead bodies float back to our shores.”

Van Zandt nodded approvingly. “Yes, that would’ve been rather unfortunate.”

Duncan was his usual expressionless self. But there were dark circles under his eyes.

“You look tired, my friend! Perhaps you need to rest for a day or two?”

“I’m fine, Marcus.” Duncan put his cup down and smiled ruefully. “You know me… I’ve got no time for rest!”

“I know, I know…” Van Zandt got up and walked over to his favorite spot by the big window. “I’m so lucky to have you by my side! Can’t think of anyone who could do what you do for us here.”

He looked at the bay surrounding his building then at the workers, who were taking down the Departure stage, banners and decorations… Life was returning back to normal, even after all the excessive drinking. Marcus Van Zandt knew that many people were not sober and were still walking around in a daze. In a state of oblivion… And that was how he wanted them… “It was a great ceremony, don’t you think?”

“Yes, it was!” Duncan nodded.

“We’ll make it even better next year! Bigger and grander!” Van Zandt swung on his heels and looked at Duncan. “You and I, my friend!”

“Of course, Marcus!”

“Perhaps we can let Leo run it… Give him a chance to shine, prove himself… I think I’ve been a bit too harsh on him… The boy’s been acting strangely of late… gone into hiding in the past couple of days… What do you think?”

“I think it’s a great idea.” Duncan’s eyebrow twitched a little. “Leo’s a very capable young man.”

“Yes, he is.” Van Zandt eased back into his chair. “But I’m keeping you, when I should let you go do your work.”

“Duty calls, Marcus,” said Duncan, standing up briskly.

“For the Greater Good, my friend!”

Duncan Roth gave Marcus Van Zandt a nod and rushed out of the room.

“What did your parents say?” Flynn shifted in his seat to make space for Madison.

“They’re coming!” She crashed next to him, out of breath, having hurried all the way from her house to the docks. “It took a while to convince them to join us, you know. They thought I was making it all up, said I’d lost my mind… almost locked me in one of the Pigeon Towers.”

“Don’t blame them.” Flynn grinned. “I still find it hard to believe… that this is happening.”

“Me too! It hasn’t sunk in yet.”

“Well, we better get on with it.” He stepped on the pedals. “Let’s go fetch Duncan his supply of Algae.”

“OK…” Madison said, frowning. “But can you wipe that smile off your face, please!” Madison glanced at the other rafts passing them in the canal. “You look way too happy for someone who’s just lost his dad and his best friend!”

“Oops!” Flynn grimaced, and the expression on his face changed. The mask of sadness that he had been wearing all morning was back again. People were watching, he knew that… And he was expected to look a certain way… subdued, solemn, grieving… Duncan had repeated those instructions over and over, after they had left the Power Plant. The Ark wasn’t finished! Duncan was hoping that with all the extra pair of hands, the vessel would be ready to sail in a week… But before that, he and his Scavenger crew had to all go back to the Archipelago and act like nothing had happened.

Under the cover of their official Scavenger duties, they were in for an intense few days of preparation, supplying the Ark with all the provisions necessary for the long journey ahead. Secrecy was of the uttermost importance, Duncan had warned them. Easy to say, Flynn thought… He found it extremely hard to hide the excitement bubbling inside his chest. How could he pretend to be anything, but happy…

“Flynn!”

“What?” Madison’s voice made him jump.

“You’re smiling again!” she hissed in his ear.

“Sorry!” Flynn clenched his jaw and focused on the task of steering his raft along their usual route to the Algae Farms.

They pedaled in silence for a while, each lost in their thoughts. With Tony and his father now safe, Flynn found himself thinking about Madison, his trust in her restored…. She was back in his heart… In fact, she had stormed back, lodged herself there and would not leave… Flynn wondered if Madison felt the same way about him… He wasn’t going to let Leo cloud his thoughts… he was going to stop being so foolish and jealous. Nothing had happened between Madison and Leo, and Flynn had decided to take her word for it.

Flynn looked at Madison with the corner of his eye and tried to steady his breathing. The night before, at the Power Plant, he had been ready to tell her how he felt about her… but never got the chance… Now, he was just going to come out and say it. He would tell her that he loved her… that she meant the world to him. Flynn took a deep breath, but Madison spoke first….

“Do you think it’s for real?” she asked, bringing her face close to his.

“Huh?” Flynn was startled by her question, not sure of what to say… Had she just read his mind?

“The map Duncan showed us last night? Do you think there’s really such a place?”

“Oh… the map!” said Flynn, tying to hide his disappointment. “After everything we’ve been through… I can’t see why he’d lie about it!”

Duncan had shown them “proof of Dry Land”, as he called it. A tattered map with the exact coordinates of the nearest Dry Land to the West of the Archipelago. It appeared to be a long way out, but it was there! The map was hand-drawn on parchment paper and extremely detailed. And the story behind it was even more astonishing…

During the initial years after the Flood, Duncan had said, small groups of survivors on rafts and boats had drifted in, seeking refuge on the Archipelago. All had come from smaller flooded cities in the surrounding area. And all had been infected, carrying the deadly Flood Virus. They had been fought off and either killed, or scared away by the Archipelago survivors who were protecting their turf. Both the Upper and the Lower Side had been placed under quarantine. Over time, less and less drifters kept coming, until they had completely stopped… For years no one had shown up, until one night, two Watchmen had spotted a group of sail boats approaching the Archipelago’s shores. It had quickly become clear that these people were not “savages” or “pirates” like all the others before them… And they were healthy, without a trace of the Virus. They claimed to be “emissaries”, coming from Dry Land, seeking survivors in the drowned cities to the east. They had carried maps and logs to prove that what they claimed was true. Marcus Van Zandt and Duncan were the only two people who heard their story and saw what they had brought. But after interrogating them for days, Marcus Van Zandt had sensed trouble. The idea of Dry Land had been dismissed after years of scouting the nearby mountain ridges left above water. Many of the scouts had never returned. Those who had made it back were infected with the Virus. The search for Dry Land was abandoned, all hope lost and the idea of an existing healthy Dry Land had become a myth and mostly forgotten. Any proof of its existence would now mean that the people of the Archipelago could leave. And such freedom would spell the end to the Van Zandt dynasty. They couldn’t simply chase these “emissaries” away like the drifters before them! They had to make the “emissaries” disappear, without the chance of them ever coming back. The same applied to all the evidence of Dry Land. It had to be destroyed! Duncan had been entrusted with the grim task of disposing of these “subversive elements” and covering up any traces of their existence. He had carried out his orders without a hint of opposition… but he made sure the emissaries’ deaths were merciful and swift. And instead of destroying their maps, he had secretly stashed them away.

“I wonder why Duncan wants to keep all of this a secret,” Madison said. “Why not reveal the truth… Everybody will follow him out of here…”

“Because there’ll be terrible bloodshed! Van Zandt and his people won’t give up all they’ve got without a fight.” Flynn paused, remembering something else. “And… like Duncan said, we can’t risk the lives of so many, until we’re absolutely sure Dry Land exists! We’ve got to find it first then come back and let everybody know…”

Flynn slowed down the raft as they approached the Algae Farm platforms on the West side of Midtown Bay. He went past the three huge Floating Towers, flanking the Ethanol processing plant. Pharrell and Clay were to collect a bunch of barrels full of algae fuel and take them back to the Ark. He and Madison had to get the raw algae. They were by the Harvesting docking area now, and the place was buzzing with life. At mid morning, all the farm workers from the Lower Side were there. They were busy harvesting the raw algae crop from the huge floating fields, loading it on barges to be carried away and processed.

“Which dock did Duncan say it was?” Flynn squinted, dazzled by the swathes of sparkling bright green algae.

“Seven… It’s right over there!” Madison pointed at the number stenciled on a pontoon, a few yards to the left from where their raft had stopped.

Flynn glanced around. Nobody was paying any attention to them. He pulled his goggles down over his eyes and slipped into the water. The two big nets, packed full with algae, were swaying under Platform #7, hidden and waiting for him, just like Duncan had said… Flynn unfastened the nets and swam back to his raft, hauling them underneath its platform. He secured the cargo with ropes to a row of hooks and cleats, making sure they remained out of view. It took less than a couple of minutes to complete the task.

“There!” Flynn said as he hopped back on the seat, dripping water all over it. “Let’s go!”

“I still don’t understand,” Madison said as they took off, “the Algae fuel is for The Ark’s engine, I get that… But what’s all this raw algae for?”

“We’ll find out soon enough, I guess,” said Flynn, trying hard not to smile again.

“Gotcha!” Leo Van Zandt lowered his binoculars, rubbed his bloodshot eyes and glued them back to the powerful viewfinder. He had spotted the Perry boy and Madison doing something around the Power Plant again. And the other two boys, Pharrell and Clay, kept coming and going… Something was obviously being ferried out there, that much Leo could see. But what was it? And where did it go? Flynn Perry had been busy in the water around his raft, and now Leo watched him disappear altogether. He was on one of his dives, and with him gone, Leo’s attention turned to Madison… She stood alone at the edge of the raft then slowly turned her face and stared in his direction, as if she knew he was watching her. Leo burst out laughing and shook his head… But of course she knew he was watching… He told her he would be!

“Let’s see your face, beautiful.” Leo adjusted his lens and zoomed in on Madison. Yes, she was looking at him. Not a friendly look! A glare! And now she was looking away at something else. Leo quickly refocused his vision and caught sight of Perry back on the raft. He watched as Madison gave the boy a hug. Leo was so angry that he fumbled with his viewfinder and completely lost focus on the two. What the hell was she playing at? It suddenly occurred to him that Madison was simply doing her job… Doing what she had promised him from the start… She would string the Perry boy along, so that Leo could catch him out and finally get his revenge on the cocky bastard.

When Leo found them again in his viewfinder, Madison was in the water with Perry. He watched them disappear beneath the surface. He waited a few minutes, focusing his lenses on the spot where he had last seen them. But they never resurfaced… These two had not gone for a casual swim. This was a proper deep dive! Again, Leo wondered what all this action round the Power Plant was all about… He grunted in frustration and spat in the water. He was done waiting, lurking in the distance! He had seen enough, and it was time for Madison to stop playing her role. The time to act was now!

“I need a raft!” he yelled as he threw his binoculars on the seat of his boat. “I need to get closer, without them hearing me.” He glared at his posse of friends who sat behind him, then at the guards in the boat next to his. With their engines turned off and a safe distance away from the smokestacks, they had all been waiting quietly for him to finish his little reconnaissance mission.

“Get me a good raft, Simmons!” Leo turned to one of his guards. “A fast and quiet one, alright! As soon as possible!”

“Err… you want us to build you one, sir,” said the guard, “…or to confiscate a raft from the Lower Side?”

“I don’t care, you moron!” Leo yelled and smashed his fist on the dashboard. “Just get me the bloody thing!”

He turned the key in the ignition and the engine roared. Leo pushed on the throttle. His posse cheered as the powerboat jumped forward and sped off in the direction of the Upper Side.

“Come! Let me show you, amigos.”

Tony Romero led Flynn and Madison down the narrow walkways surrounding the Ark. There was a flurry of activity all over the vessel. The newly arrived group had joined forces with the existing crew, working around the clock to finish the Ark and get her ready to sail as soon as possible. Like ants, they crawled up and down the scaffolding, laying down panels of salvaged metal over the hull and welding them together. Mr. Kowalski ran around from one group to the next, supervising the progress, making adjustments, testing the electrical systems and fitting all mechanical parts.

“There!” Tony pointed at the Ark.

The entire length of her starboard was covered in a thick layer of raw algae. The mixture had quickly dried up, turning from bright green to brownish gray, fusing the grooves and gaps between the panels like cement. Flynn’s father was with a group of people who were hanging from harnesses and working their way across the other side of the hull. Their job was to apply more of the fresh algae to the remaining bare parts of the hull.

“So, that’s what it’s for, then!” Flynn exclaimed. “All that algae we’d been lugging here!”

“Yes,” said Tony, “it’s like natural glue! Duncan calls it green mortar, whatever that is… it’ll seal the Ark, make her waterproof for when she goes under.”

“We’ll be sailing underwater?” Madison’s eyebrows shot up in surprise. “What kind of ship is this?”

“Mr. Kowalski calls it a submarine! Says it can go both above and below the surface of the water. Beats me if you ask!” Tony shrugged.

“I’ve seen submarines from the Olden Days!” Flynn stared at the Ark with renewed interest. “Only in pictures, though. Never for real… And those big fans at the back… what are they for?”

“Propellers! Old industrial fans Mr. Kowalski had modified and connected to the engine,” Tony explained. “Honestly Flynn, you should see the engine room and all the stuff inside! It’s amazing, amigo!”

“So, we’ll be powered, then! No more pedaling, eh!”

“Only for as long as the algae ethanol lasts!” Tony said. “No one really knows how far we’ll have to go!” He went on to describe the intricate system of ropes, pulleys and gears Mr. Kowalski and Duncan had designed as an alternative, man-powered mechanism for when they ran out of fuel. A simple switch shifted the propeller gears from the engine to the three rows of pedal benches that could seat up to fifty people at a time.

“So, sooner or later we’ll all have to pedal, I’m afraid.” Tony smiled.

“Knew it was too good to be true,” Flynn grinned back at his friend then glanced around the solid dome above their heads. “This is all great, but… how’re we going the get out of here when she’s all ready to sail?”

“Duncan hasn’t told anyone yet,” Tony replied. “I guess we’ll just have to trust him… trust that he knows what he’s doing.”

TWENTY SIX

“What is it?” Madison whispered in alarm. Flynn had stopped pedaling, and was now straining his eyes at the darkness behind them, his body tense. Flickering in the distance, the Archipelago lights were their only source of light.

“Thought I heard something!” Flynn said, looking back, trying to see in the darkness. “Sounded like a splash…”

“Probably a seal, or a dolphin,” Madison said. “What else could be out here at this hour?”

“I don’t know. It sounded more like…” Flynn stopped talking and waited a moment. It was dead quiet, not a single sound could be heard, except for the water lapping against the sides of the Seeker. “You’re right! It’s nothing.” He slid back on his seat and started pedaling again. “Maybe I’m just tired!”

Flynn wasn’t just tired! He was exhausted! He could barely keep his eyes open. He and Madison had hardly gotten any sleep for over a week now… A few hours here and there, stolen in between jobs. That was all. Flynn had never before performed so many dives in such a small period of time…. He felt drained! But all this work had to be done, no question about it. It was down to him and Madison, together with Pharrell and Clay to gather and supply the Ark with all the essentials for the trip. Duncan had given them a list with what was needed, and they had gone out searching. They had scavenged for vacuum packed medication, bottled water and canned food, tools of any kind, big and small, light bulbs, rechargeable batteries… the list went on and on! They had to dive for all that, and ferry it to the Ark’s cargo hold. Flynn had lost count of how many trips they had made back and forth between the Archipelago and the Power Plant. It didn’t matter. The Ark depended on him! And he wasn’t alone. Everyone involved had been working around the clock to finish the ship. A few more days, Flynn thought, and they’d be ready to sail. He could see the black shadows of the smokestacks now and steered the raft toward the chain-link fence.

“I don’t think I’ve got the strength to go down tonight!” Madison said as they glided toward the fence. She was half lying on the seat next to Flynn.

“Me too… I’m spent!” He yawned. “Let’s dump the cargo and go get some sleep.” Flynn got up, dragged his feet to the back of the raft and crouched down to untie the net holding his “catch of the day”. It consisted of a large load of canned food, a collection of tools and copper wires, which had been scavenged from three different locations. He was fighting with the knot, when he heard something and froze… The splashing sound again! Loud and clear this time, very rhythmical and coming closer… No, that wasn’t a seal, or a dolphin, or any other sea creature. Flynn knew what that sound was. A pedal-propelled raft! And they weren’t expecting any company, because Duncan and the rest of the gang were down below, working on the Ark.

Suddenly, the beam of powerful floodlights was upon them! Blinded, Flynn shielded his eyes and staggered back. Madison was up on her feet and by his side in an instant. Their raft was now a brightly lit stage, with the four smokestacks as its sinister backdrop. Instinctively, Flynn’s hand reached for his diving knife.

“Stay where you are, Perry boy!” Leo Van Zandt’s voice rang out from behind the strong light. “Or I’ll shoot you right there on the spot!”

Flynn let his hand fall and squinted. He could just about make out where Leo was standing and saw a pistol flash in his hand. The Van Zandt raft was now only a few feet away from them. Flynn did his best to scan the deck. It appeared empty, and that Leo had come alone. They still had a chance, he thought.

“Throw your knife in the water Perry boy,” Leo ordered. “Now!”

“You can’t touch us,” Flynn said, trying to keep his voice steady. “We’re Free Scavengers. Duncan Roth is our boss, and we only answer to him and your father.”

“Hah! You’re nothing, Perry!” Leo sneered. “You’re a criminal, that’s what you are! Do you honestly believe you’re so valuable to us? That I’ll get in trouble with my dad for killing lowlife scum like you?” He paused for a moment and pointed the gun at Flynn. “No, I won’t hesitate to shoot you! Your boss isn’t here to help you, now is he?”

Flynn and Madison stood frozen in the middle of their raft, staring back at Leo.

“But before I get rid of you Perry boy…” Leo drawled, “you’ll tell me exactly what’s so special about these waters here.” He waited for an answer, but none came. “I’ve watched you come and go all week long… So there’s got to be something down there.”

“There’s nothing… just random scavenging stuff,” Flynn lied.

“Really?… In that case, you won’t mind if my men drop some mines round here, would you?” Leo asked, pointing to the lights that had suddenly appeared in the distance. Motor boats! They were moving fast, heading towards the Power Plant.

Flynn clenched his fists and tried not to blink or say anything that might give away the terror he felt. It wasn’t just his and Madison’s lives that were in danger now. If Leo was going to mine the waters all around the Power Plant, then the Ark would never be able to sail away.

“Start talking,” Leo exploded, “or I’m going to count to three and put a bullet through your brain.”

Leo’s raft had now drifted almost against the Seeker, and the two vessels were only inches apart. What were his chances if he were to jump the bastard, Flynn wondered.

“One…” Leo had begun his countdown.

Flynn tensed his muscles. His mind was racing. He had to do something and the best he could think of was for Madison and him to try and dive into the water before getting shot. Madison squeezed his hand hard, as if she had read his mind.

“We’ve got to warn everybody,” Flynn whispered and she held on to his arm even tighter. “They’ve got to launch the Ark before it’s too late.”

“I know!” she whispered back. “But my parents… I can’t leave them behind, Flynn!” She turned to face him, and he saw the tears running down her cheeks. She quickly wiped her eyes dry and stepped away from him.

“Two!” Leo drawled.

Madison took a deep breath and shouted, “Leo, wait! I’ve got a better idea.”

Leo Van Zandt lowered his gun a fraction.

“There’s no need to shoot him,” Madison said as she moved farther away from Flynn. “We leave him here in the water, take his raft back, and he’ll be dead by tomorrow… Drowned or eaten by sharks.”

A sly smile spread over Leo’s face. He saw how Madison’s words had taken the Perry boy completely by surprise… “Great idea, beautiful! A slow and horrible death,” Leo said and aimed his gun back on Flynn. “Shooting him would be way too easy.”

Flynn felt as if someone had punched him straight in the face. He glared at Madison and couldn’t believe what he was hearing… In fact, he had stopped listening altogether. What was she doing?

“When they ask, I’ll say it was a diving accident,” Madison spoke quickly. “…And if you want, I can also blame Duncan Roth for Flynn’s death… I’ll tell your father how Duncan didn’t give us any proper instructions… How he sent us on all these dangerous late-night dives, in toxic waters with faulty equipment… that I nearly died too…”

“I love it!” Leo was now grinning from ear to ear. “That should get Roth in plenty of trouble with my dad.”

“Sure will,” Madison laughed and moved swiftly to the back of the Seeker. “But there’s more…” She knelt down by the net full of the provisions for the Ark.

“What’s that?” Leo craned his neck, his eyes never leaving Flynn. He could see that the Perry boy had gone very pale, even with the spotlight shining on him.

Flynn wanted to scream at Madison… She was going to tell Leo about the Ark? If only he could, he would have killed her right there on the spot… But Madison was now just too far for him to stop her.

“Just proof…,” Madison began to speak very slowly and clearly, “that Duncan was… involved with… all the Black Market profiteering going on behind the Government’s back.”

Flynn’s heart stopped in his mouth… Madison had not said a word about the Ark! And then as Madison’s words began to sink in, his heart soared like a bird… It took a second for him to realize what Madison had been doing from the very start. And doing it so brilliantly… She was playing the bastard! Giving Flynn a chance to get away… to save the Ark!

“Leo, come have a look at all this stuff,” Madison called out, still crouching by the net full of salvaged provisions. Now, she was trying to distract Leo Van Zandt, make him drop his guard.

But Leo didn’t move from the spot he was standing in. “It can wait,” he said and cocked his gun. “First, Perry boy has to go for a little swim… with the sharks.” Leo snickered and fired his gun.

Flynn felt the bullet whistle past his shoulder. He doubled over from the searing pain. Blood was gushing out of a small wound where the bullet had grazed his upper arm.

“What’re you doing, Leo!” cried Madison, her eyes wide with horror. “We said no shooting!”

“Just giving the great whites a head start,” Leo laughed. “If I wanted to shoot him properly, he’d be dead by now.” Leo motioned for Flynn to step forward and come to the edge of the raft. “Get in the water, scum boy!”

Flynn obeyed without protesting… This was where he wanted to be… In the water’s cold embrace… All his life, the ocean around the Archipelago had been his playground. He was in his full element here, surer of himself and more focused than when he was on dry land… For some reason, it made him feel invincible… And that was exactly how Flynn felt now, as he jumped off the raft and into the black water… Leo would be waiting for him to resurface and suspect nothing. He didn’t know of the air pocket inside the Power Plant, and that Flynn would be making his escape. He would head down and never come up for air. First stop would be the diving bell to catch his breath… then, another descent to the opening in the wall… This was what Madison wanted him to do… But Flynn wasn’t going to do that… He couldn’t leave her behind!

Luckily for Flynn, the light from Leo’s raft made it a lot easier to navigate as he swam back up toward the two vessels. His plan was to get underneath his own raft and to locate its hidden compartment. Inside, there was a tiny breathing space… and a much better weapon than the knife Flynn had lost… His harpoon!

He found the spot right under the starboard and squeezed in, glad that he could fill his screaming lungs with air again. With no source of light, Flynn had to feel his way around until his cold fingers unfastened the stash of the emergency gear. He had to stop the flow of blood from his arm immediately, or face the possibility of making Leo’s wish come true… There were sharks in these waters, so Flynn knew he was in real danger. A strip of duct tape served as a bandage, and Flynn quickly moved on to the next task at hand. He grabbed his harpoon… The weapon had served him well in the past. Flynn was a good shot and felt confident he would be able to take Leo out… Careful not to make any noise, he swam out to the back of the Seeker.

Seconds later, Flynn heard Madison’s voice above him and strained his ears to catch what she was saying.

“Leo, there’s no need to drop mines round the Power Plant… Trust me, there’s nothing here to worry about,” said Madison…. Flynn couldn’t make out what Leo’s response was, but Madison continued talking… “And I should know, right? Duncan was using the site to just stash away some of his Black Market booty… that’s all… Let’s go back home. It’s been such a long night.”

Flynn peeked over the side and saw Leo and Madison getting ready to leave. But he also saw half a dozen speed boats closing in! He knew he had precious little time to act. He aimed the harpoon at Leo, released the safety catch and watched the spear fly through the air… It struck Leo between the shoulder blades, knocking him down to the floor of the deck.

“Quick, Madison!” Flynn shouted. “Jump!”

But Madison remained where she was… A hand had gripped her arm in an iron hold… Leo was standing beside her again… He had been wearing his bulletproof vest under his jacket and the harpoon had merely taken the wind out of him. Now, holding Madison as a shield, Leo fired his gun at Flynn… and missed… The roar of the approaching motor boats had briefly taken his attention away from his target, but it had been enough for Flynn to disappear back underwater.

Within seconds, the shooting began again in earnest… and this time Leo wasn’t alone. Flynn knew there was nothing he could do anymore. He was outnumbered and with only a harpoon to defend himself and Madison… The security guards were emptying their rifles into the water, throwing nets around the perimeter… Flynn caught one final glimpse of Madison, filled his lungs with air and dived down.

He kicked his feet, going deeper fast… But someone had followed him. The beams of powerful flashlights told him that he was not alone. The entrance to the Power Plant was there, just feet away now, when… Flynn felt a hand grasp his foot. He swung his body around and was face to face with Leo, who was holding Flynn’s ankle with one hand… a knife in the other. He slashed with the knife and the sharp blade met with Flynn’s calf, making a deep cut. Flynn winced in pain, but held his breath and managed to grab Leo’s hand, twisting it away. For a moment, the two were lost in a cloud of blood, trashing around, fighting for their lives. The torchlight illuminated Leo’s face. There was madness in his eyes as he reached for Flynn’s throat. But, there was also something else which Flynn recognized immediately… Leo was about to run out of air! He was still holding on to Flynn, but he was struggling now, getting weaker. There was movement around them as a few shadows swam past Flynn. He glanced back, and saw two of Leo’s guards spreading a net, ready to throw it on top of him. With one swift move, Flynn swung Leo around and kicked him hard in the face, sending him straight into the net. It closed over Leo, trapping him inside. The guards scrambled, frantically trying to untangle the net and free their boss. The last thing Flynn saw before he swam away, were Leo’s eyes. They were bulging for lack of air and full of sheer terror! It was the look of a drowning man… and Flynn knew that Leo would never make it to the top alive.

“It’s only a surface wound! No major blood vessels damaged! You’ll live!” Ann Baxter said when she finished bandaging Flynn’s leg.

Flynn groaned. Not so much from the pain, but from the terrible sense of guilt! He had let everybody down… He had let Leo sneak up on them… didn’t raise the alarm in time… and he couldn’t save Madison… He had left her behind… Flynn knew everybody was staring at him, but didn’t dare look up and meet their eyes. They all stood in a circle around him. Duncan, Mr. Kowalski, his father, Tony, Pharrell, and those who had stopped work and gathered to hear the bad news… Everybody, except Madison, Flynn thought bitterly and slammed his fist against the wall.

“Flynn, stop blaming yourself,” Duncan finally spoke. Up until that moment he had been silent, a deep crease in his forehead. “You were extremely brave and did your best.”

Now all eyes were on Duncan Roth and everybody nodded… but Flynn saw how worried they looked.

“Alright!” Duncan said. “This is where we are… I was hoping for an extra day or two, but that’s out of question now!”

A ripple of nervous excitement went through the group. As his words spread, shouts of eager anticipation echoed in the great chamber hall. Duncan raised his hand.

“Our location’s been compromised,” he spoke with great urgency. “You all know what you’ve got to do and you’ve rehearsed the emergency procedure. So, let’s get the Ark ready for launch.”

Everybody scattered in different directions, splitting into small groups. The worried faces were suddenly full of purpose and determination. They knew where they were going and they did so with great urgency and a lot of noise. Confused, Flynn stood in the middle of the storm, not sure what to do.

“Walter,” Duncan placed his hand on Mr. Kowalski’s shoulder, “please check all hatches and windows… Make sure they’re all well sealed. OK?”

Mr. Kowalski nodded and hurried away.

“Flynn!” Duncan’s finger beckoned him. “You’re coming with me to the helm.”

“Me?” Flynn glanced around, unsure if Duncan wasn’t addressing someone else. But there wasn’t anyone else left, except the two of them.

“I need you to know how to work the controls, Flynn!” Duncan said as he led him up a walkway. “I need someone I can trust, in case I’m… not here to do it!”

“But, sir… err Duncan…” Flynn swallowed hard. “Surely there’re others here, who could do this… like Mr. Kowalski, or…”

“Walter’s a genius at pretty much everything else, except… navigation!” said Duncan, leading Flynn toward the Ark. “As for the rest of our crew, most are lacking either one skill or another, or simply can’t see well enough because of their age! You’re my best navigator here and you’re young! So, like it or not, you’ll have to be my second in command, Flynn!”

Flynn stared in amazement at the control panel in front of him. He and Duncan were standing inside the Ark’s cramped cockpit. Constructed out of an old truck cab, it looked like a hump protruding from the rounded bow of the Ark. Thick glass panels were fused into the window holes, giving the cockpit its three-hundred-and-sixty-degree view over the chamber hall. From this vantage point, Flynn could clearly see the frantic activity going on around the vessel… In a mad rush against time, support beams were being erected, anchoring the Ark to all four walls and ceiling. They would hold it against the tremendous pressure when the outer wall was blown out, and the water rushed in. Duncan had told him they were there to keep the vessel from being crushed against the ceiling. Walls blown out… Ceiling collapsing… This was going to be one hell of a launch, Flynn thought with a terrible feeling of dread in his gut.

“Now, pay attention here!” Duncan pointed at a dial on the control panel. “One of the most important instruments to keep a constant eye on is the depth gauge!”

He had already explained to Flynn what would happen to the unpressurized hull if they went too deep. The Ark could not sink below sixty feet without the risk of imploding. It all sounded unreal to Flynn. He was still having trouble accepting the idea that this massive ship could sail underwater. It was hard to believe.

“This is your sonar here,” Duncan continued, pointing at another instrument. “Your radar’s next to it. Then there is the machine section panel with the fuel gauges, lights and engine throttle…”

Duncan kept going as Flynn stared at all the amazing instruments he had never seen before. Instruments, Duncan and Mr. Kowalski had salvaged and collected painstakingly over the years. Instruments that now stood restored and fully functional in front of him!

“And finally…,” Duncan said, “…your radio! Once we get closer to Dry Land, we’ll try to pick up a signal. That’s if they’re still broadcasting any…”

He was interrupted by voices echoing inside the Ark’s belly. Shouting could be heard on deck and the banging of hatches being closed. Footsteps rattled the metal staircase leading up to the cockpit, and Mr. Kowalski’s head popped round the door.

“I think we’re ready, Duncan!” He wiped the beads of sweat from his blackened forehead.

“Everybody inside?” Duncan looked out of the windows of the cockpit.

“They’re all in and strapped to their seats!” Mr. Kowalski nodded as he squeezed himself inside next to Flynn. “It’s a bit packed down there, but space is tight, you know.”

“OK, Walter, grab a seat…” Duncan glanced at his watch. “We detonate the cluster bombs in five minutes!”

“Come on, Flynn.” Mr. Kowalski plopped himself on the long car seat bolted to the floor and tapped the space next to him.

Flynn’s heart was racing… It was happening now! For real! He felt dizzy as he ran the frayed seatbelt across his chest and buckled up. Duncan, still standing, checked his watch again and picked up a large remote control. Legs apart, firmly planted on the floor, he braced himself for the blast. Then he pressed the single red button on the remote!

Flynn shut his eyes and held his breath. He counted the seconds. One, two, three…. Nothing! Then… a loud bang near his head made him jump with a start. He opened his eyes. No, that wasn’t an explosion! It was Duncan. He had just smashed his fist on the dashboard! Flynn saw the look of anger and despair in his eyes… The Ark wasn’t going anywhere…

TWENTY SEVEN

“Let me do it, Duncan!” Mr. Kowalski moved away from the window and looked back at Duncan. “I know exactly where the charge is! I was there when we rigged the place. Besides… I’m too old to make this journey, really… I’m better off staying back here…”

Duncan shook his head. “I can’t let you go, Walter! You know the Ark inside out, all the systems… everything! There’s no one to replace you on board!”

“Duncan!”

“No!”

Flynn’s eyes shifted between the two. He had followed their argument for the past minute or so, after the explosive charge hadn’t gone off as planned… It had malfunctioned, and now it had to be detonated by hand… Someone had to go out of the Ark and do it manually. But that someone, even if he survived the blast, would never be able to get back inside the ship… It was going to be a suicide mission! Flynn’s mind was racing as he considered what was at stake… He knew he had to do something… He had failed so many people that night. He couldn’t even get Madison down to safety… and that weighed heaviest on his heart. The guilt, the anger, and the thought that he would never see her again made Flynn suddenly jump to his feet… Madison had been so selfless in her actions, and now it would be his turn. “I’ll go!” cried Flynn.

Both Duncan and Mr. Kowalski turned and stared at him for a long moment.

“Great! Another one who wants to be a hero, here!” Duncan finally spoke. “I don’t need sacrifices… I need people to sail the Ark away! I need people to find Dry Land!” He paused for a moment and looked them both in the eye. “You two are these people! Flynn… Sit yourself behind the steering column!”

“But…”

“Don’t argue!” Duncan took his belt and harness off as he was speaking, “You are now the captain of this ship! All these people at the back are your responsibility! Your father, Tony, Ann and the rest are counting on you… Walter will help you with everything else!” Duncan took out the map of Dry Land from his bag and slapped it on the dashboard. “You know what to do! Stay in your seats and brace yourselves… The blast will come in no more than a minute!” he told them, stepping towards the door.

“But, Duncan…” Flynn cried, “it’s your ship, you can’t just…”

“It’s yours now, Flynn!” Duncan smiled wryly. “Someone’s got to start building another one, don’t you think?” He winked at Flynn, and before anyone could speak, the man was gone.

The blast came shortly after Duncan had left the cockpit… A number of tremendously loud detonations shook the whole structure, and then a wall of water rushed in and slammed into the Ark. The vessel shuddered violently as it began to free itself from the braces holding it to the walls and ceiling… For a moment, all Flynn could see was the swirl of white foam engulfing the cockpit… Then the lights in the cavernous hall went out, the water shorting the circuits.

“What happens now?” Flynn shouted over the roaring noise.

“We wait!” Mr. Kowalski’s voice came from the darkness.

The Ark began to creak and moan from the rising water pressure. They heard a loud bang as something heavy crashed against the hull. It was followed by another crashing sound, and then another… They were being hit by hundreds of pieces of debris… Loose parts of broken rafts, barrels, scaffolding… everything that had not been cleared away in time was now whirling around and slamming violently against the ship. Flynn jumped in his seat as another thunderous jolt shook the ship… something else had broken away… The Ark trembled and began to list to one side.

“Ouch!” Mr. Kowalski grunted, but his face remained composed. “There goes the support pole!” he said to Flynn.

There were more cracking sounds as one by one the support beams snapped. Suddenly, the Ark was free and the water carried her up like a leaf. She began to spin around at dizzying speed… Any moment now, and they were going to get smashed against the ceiling! Flynn dug his nails into the seat, bracing for the impact. But instead of being crushed, the Ark slowed abruptly her spin, then bumped gently against the domed roof and began to slowly float back down.

“What happened? I thought…” Flynn whispered hoarsely in the darkness of the cockpit.

“We got lucky! The water hit the ceiling first, equalizing the pressure!” said Mr. Kowalski, his voice full of relief. “We made it through the blast stage, Flynn!”

Shouts came from the deck below them. There was a water leak. A small one, but they could not remain under water for too long. They had to hurry out!

“OK, OK, OK!” Mr. Kowalski was off his seat and working the controls with a manic look on his face, trying desperately to start the engines.

After a few failed attempts, they finally came to life with a sputter. “Go, go, go!” Mr. Kowalski screamed at the panel and crossed himself three times.

The sudden reassuring roar of the engines made the old man fall to his knees in silent prayer. Power was up. The headlights flickered and the beams shot through the murky water, illuminating hundreds of pieces of junk floating around them. “She’s all yours now, Flynn!” Mr. Kowalski grinned and moved aside. “Go easy on the throttle!”

Everything was up to Flynn, now! Trembling, he reached for the steering column, but his sweaty hands slipped over it. He wiped them quickly on the seat, then grabbed the steering wheel again and pressed on the throttle. Instantly, the Ark lurched forward, heading for the side wall, way too fast!

“How do I stop?” Flynn yelled.

“Put her in reverse, boy!”

Flynn pulled the throttle all the way back, the engines roared and the ship stopped a few feet from the wall. Then she started to back up slowly, tilting to one side and still dangerously close to the wall. Horrified, Flynn realized both his hands were on the throttle instead on the steering wheel. He grabbed for it and turned it all the way to the left. There was a terrible screeching sound as the hull scraped against the wall. Flynn kicked the throttle back into a forward position, and the Ark eased away from the wall. She was finally floating gently ahead.

“You’ll get the hang of it!” Mr. Kowalski patted his shoulder reassuringly.

Flynn was breathing hard. High on adrenaline, his face was flushed, his heart thumping in his chest. He moved the steering wheel to the right and cautiously pushed the throttle up just a fraction. The Ark instantly obeyed. Flynn turned left and gave the throttle another nudge. The Ark responded.

“I can do this,” said Flynn through gritted teeth as he scanned around feverishly for the blast hole and their exit. “There it is!” he cried. Fifty yards to his left, Flynn had spotted a huge, black gap in the wall. Its jagged edges were surrounded by heaps of unsettled rubble, and Flynn knew instantly that there was no way Duncan could have survived the explosion… The man was gone!

“I’m going for it, Mr. Kowalski!” Flynn said, steeling himself for what he had to do next… He tried to picture his own raft, and how he had navigated the Seeker through the narrow alleyways between buildings; squeezed past walls with not an inch to spare… how he had glided and docked into tight slips… dodged other vessels on the waterways without ever clipping their sides… Every fiber of his body remembered those moments, and he felt his confidence grow… Flynn Perry was ready to approach the exit… He bit his lip, steadied his heart and began to zigzag carefully between the floating debris. Slowly, he eased the Ark into the opening… Half of the hull was already through when the vessel’s headlight beams fell on something huge in the path ahead… One of the smokestacks had collapsed, blocking their way out!

“Damn!” This time Flynn reacted instantly, pushing the throttle in reverse. The Ark hovered idly, while he had his hands on the steering to keep it level. The hull was creaking. The pressure was too much… They had to get the ship to shallower water soon, otherwise…

“Now what, Mr. Kowalski?”

“Not to worry!” Mr. Kowalski had opened a small panel on the dashboard, his stubby fingers gripping a small lever. “I’ve got just the thing for this! Watch!”

Flynn shifted his eyes from the old man and strained his eyes to see what was happening outside. He stared in disbelief as a crude, mechanical arm extended slowly from the belly of the Ark. It then proceeded to sink its huge claws into the fallen smokestack, sending a murky cloud floating upward.

“There!” Mr. Kowalski grinned. “Your turn now! Go forward.”

Flynn pushed the throttle, the engines roared and the Ark inched forward again. But the smokestack refused to budge.

“Keep going!” Mr. Kowalski stared intently at the arm contraption.

Flynn applied more throttle… the Ark shuddered as the smokestack moved a bit.

“More!”

Flynn obeyed. Slowly, the smokestack began to cave in… it was disintegrating before their eyes. Suddenly, the Ark shook as the mechanical arm was ripped away from the hull. With its claws still embedded in the smokestack’s corpus, the arm began to fall away, sinking towards the bottom. The path ahead was finally clear!

“Go now, boy!” Mr. Kowalski shouted. “Never mind about the arm!”

Flynn steered the Ark through the gap and then tilted her nose up for the climb. He had to take her closer to the surface fast. They’d made it, alright! The rest should be easy, he though as they rose above the Power Plant.

But what Flynn saw next made his stomach turn. “We’re too late!” he cried, turning to Mr. Kowalski.

The submerged building was completely encircled by a thick net, stretching all the way down to the bottom. Flynn knew they were trapped! He looked up through the cockpit’s skylight and saw the silhouettes of the Van Zandt motor boats hovering above, their floodlights penetrating the surface. And then, to his horror, he saw the white streaks of bullets whizzing past the hull. They were shooting at the Ark!

“Full throttle ahead, Flynn!” Mr. Kowalski’s voice was unwavering. His grubby hands were buried inside the control panel again.

“But the nets…”

“Go! Go! Go!”

A shower of bullets was raining over them now. It was only a matter of time, before they would get hit and begin to take in water… Flynn pushed the throttle all the way, and the Ark leaped forward. She was gaining speed fast, accelerating toward the net. They were going to collide with it at any moment now, Flynn thought… get tangled in it… and that would be the end of them all! Suddenly, he caught a glimpse of another mechanical arm, just like the one they had lost, extending forward from the hull. But this arm didn’t have a claw. Instead, there was a huge, rotating blade attached to its end. Within seconds, it had sliced through the net, sending it flying in all directions.

Speechless, Flynn threw a glance at Mr. Kowalski who simply nodded and flicked some more switches. “We’re not out of the woods, yet,” he muttered and tapped the sonar. “What do you suppose those dots all over the screen are? Can’t be the Van Zandt boats…”

Flynn glanced at the instrument and instantly realized what they were looking at. Mines! Leo’s guards had managed to deploy them, and they were everywhere… Flynn’s mind was racing now… he knew what the currents were like in these waters, and at what speed they would carry anything that was afloat. He also knew the general direction of their flow at this time of year. Luckily for them, the Ark was moving against the current, meaning that the mines were drifting in the opposite direction.

Getting his bearings straight, Flynn calculated that at least five were in their direct path. He peered through the cockpit’s windows and scanned the way ahead. Sure enough, the cluster of deadly booby-traps were lying in wait, approximately twenty feet below the surface and coming their way. There was no time to go around them…. The only way was down… if they were to avoid a collision. Flynn threw a nervous glance at the depth gauge.

“Can’t go deeper, Flynn!” Mr. Kowalski shook his head. “The pressure’s too big! The Ark won’t survive the dive.”

“I’m gonna try anyway,” Flynn shouted, and tilted the bow down.

The engines groaned at the steep angle. The cluster of mines disappeared from view as they descended and Flynn turned his attention to the instruments, his eyes darting between the sonar and the depth gouge. Grinding his teeth, he counted the rate of descent… twenty feet… twenty three… twenty five… thirty. They should be deep enough now, but… there was no way to tell. The Ark shuddered and shook violently. Then she started to vibrate. The hull creaked and moaned. A horrible sound… as if some giant metal hand was dragging its fingernails along the walls. She would cave in any moment now, Flynn thought. If she managed not to scrape the mines, she would simply implode! He glanced at Mr. Kowalski and followed the old man’s gaze up. His eyes were locked on the glass ceiling, his lips moving silently.

Flynn looked back at the sonar. The blinking dots were right above them now, moving quickly towards the stern. They had managed to slide under. Lucked out! Any second, and they would be clear… Then… Flynn spotted the other two blips on the screen, just ahead! Very close! Too close! He looked out of the window and his eyes widened.

Flynn was staring at the last two mines which had dropped lower than the rest. They were now directly at eye-level… rushing at them at an alarming speed! How could he have missed the damned things!

“Up, up, up!” Mr. Kowalski’s cry forced Flynn to jump into action. He grabbed the steering column and pulled it all the way back towards him. The Ark’s bow rose sharply, throwing Mr. Kowalski off his seat. He grabbed for the nearest railing to steady himself then cried again, “Full speed ahead, boy! Go, go, go!”

With both hands holding on to the steering column, Flynn used his right foot to kick the throttle all the way down. The engines roared… The Ark lurched forward and started rising. He looked at the sonar for an instant, and then closed his eyes shut. What was the point? They would either make it, or… not! There was nothing more he could do.

The noise was deafening… the groan of the engines, the painful scream of the hull pushed to its limit… A long moment passed before the vibration started to ease a little… then stopped. Flynn cracked an eye open and checked the sonar. The mines were behind them. His eyes shifted to the depth gouge. They were now twenty feet under the surface.

He leveled the Ark and pulled the throttle back, then wiped the sweat off his forehead.

“You did it, Flynn!” Mr. Kowalski’s hand squeezed his shoulder.

“I guess…” Flynn took a deep breath and exhaled loudly.

“Didn’t think she’d make it…” Mr. Kowalski’s hand stroked the dashboard lovingly, “But she did… I’m so proud of her! We built her well, I suppose.”

Flynn kept the Ark sailing underwater for another ten miles, before he brought her up above the surface. Everyone was now free to unbuckle and move their weary legs about the deck. Hatches were opened to let fresh air in. The journey was on. There was a long way to go.

Flynn engaged the autopilot, opened the cockpit skylight, climbed up and sat on the roof deck. The sun was rising above the ocean. Another hatch opened nearby. Tony Romero squeezed through it, walked over and sat next to Flynn.

“Do you think we’ll find it, amigo?” he asked. “Dry Land, I mean?”

“Oh, yeah!” Flynn replied. “We’ve got to… For Duncan’s sake… and for everybody else we left behind…” His words were barely audible, his mood dark, his heart clenched like a fist.

The two of them sat in silence for a while, staring at the wide horizon, bathed in all shades of orange and pink.

“Look!” Tony pointed suddenly at the sky.

Flynn glanced over his shoulder. He saw a small black dot, coming closer… A bird? So far out? It appeared to be heading straight for the Ark.

“I think it’s a pigeon!” Tony exclaimed as the bird swooped over their heads.

And Tony was right.

Seconds later, the pigeon landed on the deck, cocked its head sideways, its little red eye staring curiously at the boys. Flynn reached out and picked it up. There was something wrapped around its leg… A message! Gently, Flynn removed the small roll of seaweed paper, unfolded it, and with his heart pounding, read the three simple words: I love you. They were written in squid ink, still wet round the loops of Madison’s beautiful letters.

Flynn’s lips stretched into a big smile. He moistened the tip of his finger, smeared whatever was left of the ink and drew a little heart at the bottom. Then he rolled the note and attached it back to the bird’s leg. The pigeon flapped its wings, rose up and began its flight back east, in the direction of the Archipelago.

“What did Madison say?” Tony grinned.

“Mind your own business, Tony!” Flynn laughed, his heart now soaring just like the little bird… his strength suddenly restored…

Finding Dry Land was only the beginning, he thought. Sooner or later, he would be back… and no matter what, the Archipelago and Madison Ray would be waiting for him.

THE END

Copyright

Text and Artwork Copyright © 2014 Vladimir Todorov

All Rights Reserved

Content

Vladimir Todorov
ARCHIPELAGO N.Y.
(Flynn)

ONE

TWO

THREE

FOUR

FIVE

SIX

SEVEN

EIGHT

NINE

TEN

ELEVEN

TWELVE

THIRTEEN

FOURTEEN

FIFTEEN

SIXTEEN

SEVENTEEN

EIGHTEEN

NINETEEN

TWENTY

TWENTY ONE

TWENTY TWO

TWENTY THREE

TWENTY FOUR

TWENTY FIVE

TWENTY SIX

TWENTY SEVEN

Copyright