Vladimir Todorov - Archipelago N.Y. - Flynn

“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.”

“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.