“Look, if it weren’t for Lizzy, I’d probably be thinking the same—”
Ein interrupted. “The thing is, I don’t believe you.”
Teddy blinked, taken aback. “What?”
“I don’t believe you about Lizzy.” Ein looked him in the eye, frowning. “You’ve had a chip on shoulder ever since we left Tucson. I’m not sure what exactly happened to you there, but you can’t lay that guilt at my feet and expect me to bear the burden.”
Ein turned and started heading towards the pier.
Teddy was equally pissed and stunned by the kid’s naivety, but as he watched him walk away, he realized it wasn’t that at all—he was in denial.
He supposed that it didn’t matter in the end if the kid admitted to himself or not.
Once they got to the barrier islands, he knew there wouldn’t be anybody for Ein to infect.
When it came to gathering supplies, Teddy could manage on his own.
Ein would stay behind and keep watch over the camp, but he wouldn’t have much choice in the matter.
After all, there was no way he’d ever allow Ein to step inside another community ever again.
He just couldn’t allow it.
Teddy gave the woman and child one last heartbreaking glance and then limped after Ein with a hand pressed against his wound.
CHAPTER 41
JANUARY 13th
1:13 PM
The boat they found was a thirsty speedster, but it had enough gas to get them where they needed to go.
Maneuverability became an issue as abandoned barges drifted with the steadily increasing current and crashed against each other at every bend of the river.
Each of them took turns at the helm, but neither spoke much ever since leaving Baton Rouge.
Silence suited Teddy just fine.
He welcomed it.
It was Ein’s turn at the helm.
Teddy sat back on the bench and changed his gauze dressing while carefully inspecting the wound for any sign of infection.
It wasn’t pretty and would heal up into something hideous looking, but the antibiotics seemed to have done the job.
Ein kept the boat steady between two drifting oil barges and glanced off at the swampy shoreline. “Do you want to stop for lunch?”
Teddy secured the gauze pad with scotch tape and rolled his shirt back down. “No. We’re making good time.”
“Should be passing New Orleans soon.”
“Maybe by morning, yeah.” Teddy gestured out at the barges. “These jams are only going to get worse the closer we get to the major ports, so going by night is out of the question. Even at daybreak, we’ll have to go slow and not get swept away by the current.”
“I don’t think it’ll be too bad.” Ein pushed the throttle forward and accelerated past the wayward barges.
“Orleans is a big city, though. Lots of ships pass through there.”
“Yeah, it’s a big city,” Ein agreed. “Do you think that there’s anybody there?”
“It doesn’t matter if there is. We’re headed past it and going out into the gulf.”
“And then what? Are you still planning on stopping at one of the islands?”
“Plans haven’t changed as far as I’m concerned.”
“They’ve changed plenty ever since you got it in your head that I’m sick.”
Teddy sighed. “I’m not trying to argue with you. Sick or not, it won’t matter once we get where we’re going.”
Ein turned and gave him a disapproving look. “It’d be nice to have a say in all of this.”
“If you don’t like it, feel free to go the fuck back to Baton Rouge.” Teddy crossed his arms over his chest.
Ein gave a quiet sigh and turned his attention back towards the river.
Teddy leaned his head back and closed his eyes. “Trust me; this is all for the best.”
Ein didn’t say a word—he was too busy forming plans of his own.
CHAPTER 42
After sunset, the current grew treacherous, and the riverbank became swollen from heavy winter storms up north.
Barges, tug boats, and large pieces of scrap jetted wildly across the water. They struck and rebounded off one another as the river carried them towards the gulf.
Ein narrowly avoided a collision when the stern of a riverboat suddenly jaunted up out of the dirty water like the tip of a dangerous iceberg.
At Teddy’s insistence, they decided to call it a night.
They docked at an industrial pier that was flooded by the river's rising water.
Teddy tied the boat to one of the lampposts and waded up towards the concrete parking lot while holding his backpack over his head. He kept his pistol tucked in his waistband.
Ein staggered along behind him, dropping his pack twice in the water, nearly losing it. He managed to grab it and then held the soaked backpack over his head as he followed after him.
Old aluminum awnings and a derelict shipping crane stood at the end of the pier next to a warehouse that had most of its roof missing, and every window shattered. Cargo containers vandalized with gang graffiti and bullet holes lay scattered throughout the lot.
Teddy pointed at one of the nearby cargo containers that had its doors open. “We can make camp in there so we can keep an eye on our boat. What do you think?”
Ein didn’t answer.
Annoyed, Teddy turned towards him.
Ein had stopped walking and stared downriver at the twinkling neon casino lights of New Orleans just a few miles away. He looked entranced as he had the dripping backpack slung over one shoulder and watched the colorful display with an almost open-mouthed stare.
“Hey, did you hear me?”
Ein snapped out of it and looked over his shoulder at him. “Huh?”
Teddy pointed at the container again. “What do you think of making camp over there?”
Ein glanced at the container, gave a slight frown, and shrugged. “I guess.”
“You guess?” Teddy held his arms out at his side, separated. “I give up. You were the one crying about not having enough of a say in things, so if you have another idea, I’m all ears!”
“Whatever you want,” Ein said passively. He sauntered past him with the sack still hung off his shoulder. “I think we should’ve stayed on the water.”
Teddy narrowed his eyes and followed after him. “We would’ve died trying to navigate that obstacle maze in the dark.”
“My eyes work just fine.”
“Yeah, sure, kid, I guess that’s why we almost smacked against that sinking ship.”
Ein didn’t respond.
Teddy grumbled and scratched at the back of his neck. “Anyway, we’ll be past the city and in the Gulf of Mexico soon. We need sunlight to find a decent island.”
“An uninhabited island, you mean, right?”
“As I said—decent.”
“Decent,” Ein repeated. He scoffed, shook his head, and went inside the container. He hurled his pack unceremoniously in the back and flattened some of the cardboard boxes to make a sleeping pad.
Teddy stood at the entrance and watched him. He stepped inside with a sigh and took his backpack off. “I guess I’ll stay near the front and keep an eye on things.”
Ein didn’t say anything and flopped down on the cardboard. He rolled over onto his side with his back facing him.
Teddy flattened some cardboard and made a bed right near the open doors. He used his pack as a pillow and tucked his pistol carefully underneath it. “Goodnight, kid.”
“Night.”
Teddy lay down with his back turned towards Ein and closed his eyes. As he rested his head against his pack, he kept one hand tucked under it and on the pistol.
CHAPTER 43
JANUARY 14th
2:07 AM
Under cover of moonlight, Ein sloshed through the cold, murky river with his backpack over his head. The current was strong, and the water was choppy. It pushed him side-to-side as he got deeper.
Ein
hurled the pack into the speedboat and hurried to the lamppost, where he immediately went to work trying to untie the knot.
He became so engaged in the task at hand that he didn’t even notice the shadowy figure wading its way towards him just a few yards away.
“Going somewhere, kid?”
Ein jumped at the sound of the voice and then looked up at Teddy. He gave him a puckish smile and went back to unfasten the knot. “I figured that you weren’t asleep.”
“How could I sleep?” Teddy took a step towards him and shook his head with disappointment. “I was afraid you’d pull something like this, but I hoped that you wouldn’t.”
“Didn’t give me much choice, did you?”
“It’s a good plan!”
“You may be okay going off in exile and dying on some miserable strip of sand, but I’m not.” Ein finally broke the knot and held onto the rope as he looked at Teddy. “I can’t do that type of lifestyle… I already told you.”
“Do you plan on getting inside the safe zone?” Teddy nodded towards New Orleans.
“I snuck inside Baton Rouge, didn’t I?” Ein asked defiantly. “I don’t think this one will be any harder.”
“And then they’ll die—just like Baton Rouge!” Teddy shouted. “You’re okay murdering all of those people?!”
“I didn’t murder anyone!” Ein shouted back, striking a fist at the choppy water. “I’m not sick!”
“We both know that’s bullshit.”
“No! What’s bullshit is how you’ve been treating me this entire time! I’m not some half-witted kid!” Ein’s eyes widened as he stepped forward and pointed at himself. “I saved you! I brought you inside! I’m the one who helped you!”
“All you did is got those people killed!”
“They were already sick! How many times do I have to tell you!? I’m not sick!”
“You wiped out Baton Rouge just like Dover…”
Ein edged towards the boat and wagged a finger at Teddy, shaking his head. “No—I didn’t make Lizzy sick… You’re lying to me!”
Teddy gave him a pitiful look and cocked his head. “To what end, Ein? Why would I lie about something like that? Think about it…”
“Oh, I’ve done plenty of thinking, trust me… I figured it out.” Ein slit his eyes and pointed at him. “You need me to come with you, and that’s why you’re making up this story.”
“I need you?” Teddy asked skeptically. “I think you’ve seriously overestimated your usefulness.”
Ein gave him a dour look and shook his head. “No… I don’t think I have… You don’t have anybody else. The girlfriend or whatever she was and the kid are gone, and you never talk about any family. I think that bothers you, and I think that’s why you like having me around.”
Teddy glared at him.
Ein continued as he kept backing towards the boat and collecting the rope. “You like having someone you can boss around and who doesn’t ask too much about the fucked up life choices that landed you in prison. I think normal people frighten you and I think that’s why you hated Lizzy so much. You can’t warm up to anybody new. It all makes me wonder just how much you’ve told me about that woman is even true.”
Teddy’s face reddened. “You better watch the shit you’re spewing.”
“Why? It’s the truth, isn’t it?” Ein gave a little shrug and tossed the rope inside the boat. “It’s kind of pathetic…”
“Shut the fuck up. Tie the boat back and get on the shore,” Teddy ordered through clenched teeth, balled fists trembling.
Ein ignored him and climbed inside the boat. He walked over towards the helm and started messing with the key.
Teddy pulled the pistol out of his waistband and pointed it at him. “I’m not asking you again.”
Ein froze and lost his smug demeanor. A glint of fear returned to his eyes as he stared at the weapon.
“I can’t let you go infect another city… I can’t let you kill kids.” Teddy cocked the hammer back and sighted the weapon in at Ein’s face. “Get out of the boat.”
The two men stood motionless.
The longer that Ein stared at the weapon, the more relaxed his tense, fearful expression became. He eventually looked up in Teddy’s eyes and smiled. “You won’t shoot me.”
“You’re at the wrong end of a gun to start getting cocky…” Teddy stepped forward and realigned his sights. “Get off the boat!”
Ein started the engine and put his hands on the helm. “If you’re going to shoot, do it already. After you went through all of the trouble of saving me so many times, why would you kill me? We both know that you harbor some weird fascination with me. I think it’s because I’m one of the only people who could stand being with you longer than five minutes.”
Teddy’s eyes watered, and the gun trembled in his hands. He slowly shook his head. “Goddammit… Why are you making me do this?”
“Just go your way, and I’ll go mine… It’s a big world out there. Maybe you should go explore it.” Ein waved goodbye and turned the boat as he pushed the throttle forward.
Teddy had the gun pointed at Ein’s back as the boat started to accelerate. “Don’t do this, kid! Come back!”
Ein waved again without turning around.
Teddy hesitated and then pulled the trigger six times.
Ein threw his hands over his head and ducked under the helm, but the shots weren’t meant for him—the bullets targeted the outboard motor.
The motor threw out sparks and spritzed oil. Plumes of black smoke rose from it as it died.
Ein stood back up and spun towards the motor. He ran his fingers through his hair and looked down at it with horror. “What did you do?! Christ!”
With the engine dead, the boat started drifting at the mercy of the current.
Ein grabbed the helm with both hands and tried to steer, but the boat was unresponsive.
Teddy couldn’t make himself pull the trigger on the kid, but he still had to stop him one way or another—he couldn’t let him get ashore and enter inside the city.
He put the gun back in his waistband, dove into the water and started swimming after the vessel.
The current pulled the speedboat further out into a drifting graveyard of ships and barges.
Ein continued fighting with the helm.
Steel scrap and the floating remains of other ships struck the sides of the boat and gouged at the fiberglass hull.
A beam struck the rudder and bent it inwards.
As Teddy swam, a sliver of sheet metal gashed his forearm, and a piece of concrete struck his thigh, but he kept pushing onward even as the freezing water stung his eyes and stole his breath.
Ein’s expression sunk into a look of horror as he saw the boat careening towards an oil tanker that ran aground at a bend in the river. He tried fruitlessly to steer away from it, but the bent rudder was stuck.
Teddy shot a hand out of the river and clung onto the side of the boat. He pulled himself inside and flopped on his back, coughing up water.
Ein looked over at him, panicked, and then back at the oil tanker. “We’re going to crash! You’ve killed us!”
Teddy got on his feet and limped towards the controls, pushing Ein aside. “Move!” He grabbed the wheel and yanked it as hard as he could.
The rudder still wouldn’t turn, and the distance was closing fast.
“Okay, listen!” Teddy gripped the helm and crouched down to brace himself. “On my go, slam yourself as hard as you can against the portside! We have to tilt this thing if we want to avoid breaking apart!”
Ein looked around the boat, stumbling as the waves knocked it around. “The what side?!”
“That side!” Teddy shouted, pointing towards the left. “Get ready!”
Ein clung onto the bench and stared wide-eyed as the boat sped towards the tanker.
Just as it was about to crash, Teddy gave the order. “Now!!!”
Ein and Teddy flung themselves against the deck on the portside.
&nbs
p; The boat tilted and took on water as waves crashed over the gunwale.
The speedboat struck the side of the tanker and skirted off of it with a shower of sparks.
Ein and Teddy jostled side-to-side as the current knocked the boat against the tanker a few more times before pulling it further down the winding river.
As they cleared the tanker, Teddy got up and clung onto the helm to keep from getting knocked back down to the deck. Water was up to his shins and rising.
Ein crawled back onto the bench and held the back of it as he looked around.
Teddy looked anxiously at the shore and noticed for the first time that they passed the outskirts of the city.
The river narrowed as it passed under bridges and railways. Its banks were all encrusted with concrete that had culvert pipes jaunting out of them.
On one side of the river stood empty, darkened skyscrapers and streets full of abandoned vehicles.
On the other stood a vibrant, lighted section of downtown that was surrounded by a segmented wall that had watchtowers along the perimeter. Stenciled on the wall were the words: New Orleans Safe Zone.
Ein’s face brightened at the sight of the dazzling neon displays that were peaking just over the edge of the wall. He let go of the bench and tried to crawl overboard.
Teddy quickly reached out and grabbed him. “What the fuck are you doing?! You’ll die if you go out in that water!”
Ein twisted and struggled as he tried to get free. “Let me go! Let me go!”
Teddy yanked him back onto the deck and growled. “Are you fucking crazy?!”
The current swept them past the safe zone and out closer towards the boggy marshlands at the edge of the city.
Ein crawled to the stern and reached a hand out towards the diminishing lights of New Orleans as the safe zone slipped further and further away. He lowered his hand and started murmuring, cradling his face as he sat in the rising water. “I can’t do it… I can’t do it… I just can’t…”
Teddy shook his head and went back to the helm. “Forget about it already!” His voice was firm. “You showed your ass and took a stand, but New Orleans isn’t happening. You’re coming with me to the barrier islands, and that’s final. I don’t want to hear any more shit about it, understand?”
H7N9- The Complete Series Page 78