Vladimir Todorov - Archipelago N.Y. - Flynn

“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.