Archipelago N.Y.: Flynn

by Todorov, Vladimir

  “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 achi
eved 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!”