Read Archipelago N.Y.: Flynn for Free Online

it without losing
his balance. “See you tomorrow, right?”
    Tony hesitated for
a moment and shook his head. “Seriously, Flynn…you’d better go and see Madison.”
And then, before Flynn had a chance to reply, Tony disappeared inside the dark building.

FOUR
     
    Flynn pedaled past
the Waste Collection platform moored against the side of his apartment building.
It had been positioned directly under the gaping mouth of the garbage shoot. A
lone rat poked its head out from one of the filthy barrels that lined the
platform. The rodent stared indifferently at Flynn for a moment then
disappeared back inside. Another movement caught Flynn’s eye. He turned to take
a better look and was surprised to see the men from the Waste Crew… Their barge
was rounding the corner, coming to collect the barrels full of raw sewage that
the residents had thrown out that day.
    The men looked
awful! Terrible! Even Flynn's torn and faded clothes appeared decent and new
compared to what these men were wearing… just pieces of burlap wrapped around
their hips, like deformed extensions of their skeletal bodies. Smeared with
unimaginable filth from head to toe, the Waste Crew moved silently around the
trash bins. Long strands of matted hair hung from their bony skulls. All of
them had scraggly beards, reaching down to their chests. With all the water
around the Archipelago, these men had not bothered to wash… And they stank to
high heaven… No wonder people avoided them at all cost, thought Flynn, holding
his breath and trying not to gag.
    The Waste Crew
worked late at night, and Flynn knew their appearance at such an early hour was
because of the collapsed bridge. They had come out to pick up the dead bodies
and were now doing their rounds. But he had never seen them this close before. He
also knew that all these men were considered criminals…Lower Siders who had
broken the law… Men who had committed petty crimes like wasting fresh water,
illegal scavenging and trading goods on the Black Market…. activities Flynn was
quite familiar with himself…
    He had recently
sailed past their living quarters, just outside the city limits and next to the
Waste Plots. The Waste Crew’s home was a large floating shack, its roof covered
in layers of sea-gull droppings and birds’ feathers. As for the Waste Plots,
those were huge open-top tankers full of human waste and garbage. The
Archipelago’s gardeners were the only ones who actually ventured out there, but
that was because their job required it. They had to make trips to the Waste
Plots and stock up on sewage for their compost tumblers. The thick humus they
produced then went to the numerous green-houses to help grow all the fruit and
vegetables on the Upper Side. Of course, the privileged bastards who lived
there would never dream of coming anywhere near the Waste Plots, thought Flynn.
And they would never find themselves in such close proximity to the men of the
Waste Crews…
    Now, Flynn also wanted
to get away from them, but the Waste Crew barge had docked next to his building’s
platform and was blocking the Seeker . There were half a dozen men on it,
their eyes staring ahead, their bodies moving as one grim and soulless
apparition. A pack of rats scurried out of one of the barrels, dived in the
water and swam away. The men didn't even notice the rats. Slowly, they began to
empty out the garbage. One of them jerked his head and his watery eyes met
Flynn's. The Waste Crews were not allowed to approach and make contact with the
regular citizens… but the man didn't lower his gaze… he kept staring. His nose
twitched and his eyes darted to the plastic bag with the fish fillets on the
seat next to Flynn. The man licked his thin, dry lips and swallowed hard. Flynn
instinctively grabbed the fish bag and pulled it closer. He should leave, he
thought, get out of here! But the man's eyes were back on Flynn, hungry and
pleading.
    “Please…
Flynn…please,” the man said, his voice hoarse