Archipelago N.Y.: Flynn

by Todorov, Vladimir

  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?”
<
br />   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.”