Archipelago N.Y.: Flynn Read Free

make an attempt on Leo Van Zandt's life? No way! The bullet holes were most
probably there from the Olden Days, the time when all survivors had fought for
every boat, every piece of floating hardware, anything useful they could lay
their hands on... And besides, Leo didn’t just have one boat. He had a whole
fleet at his disposal waiting for him on the Upper Side…
    Today, Leo Van
Zandt was riding in a fiberglass number called the Fury , and apart from
the damage on its windshield, the boat was otherwise in excellent condition. He
cut the engine off and brought the boat to a quick stop, ramming its bow into the Seeker ’s starboard. The jolt almost sent Tony and Flynn flying, but again
both boys managed to stay on their feet. They braced for what was to follow… “ For
the Greater Good !” they cried, saluting Leo Van Zandt as was the custom
when greeting members of the Government.  
    “Well, well, look
what we have here!” Leo removed his goggles and eyed the boys up and down with
a smirk on his face. “Someone’s been scavenging in unchartered waters! Am I
right, or what?” he said and snickered loudly.
    Flynn and Tony
didn’t answer. While Tony kept his eyes lowered, Flynn threw a quick glance at
the guards and stared back at Leo Van Zandt.
    “You’re
trespassing, scum boys! Care to explain yourselves?” barked Leo. “What’re you
doing so far out of the permitted zone?”
    “Fishing,” Flynn replied,
trying to keep his voice steady and calm.
    “Really? Fishing
you say…” Leo drawled, addressing his posse. “Did you hear that, guys?” he
asked, bursting out in mock laughter. “Well, now!” Leo looked back at Flynn and
Tony, feigning surprise. “You must really suck at fishing, then! Where’s your
catch? I don't see any fishing gear, either!” His eyes darted away from Flynn as
he scanned the raft.
    “We caught a shark,
but it got away… and took our net with it,” Flynn lied without missing a beat.
    “A shark...” Leo
turned his full attention back to Flynn. “You look kind of familiar… Have I met
you before, scum boy?"
    “I don't think so!”
Flynn said, knowing he had just told another bold lie.
    “Really?” Leo's
eyes narrowed. “What's your name?”
    “Flynn.”
    “Flynn who?” Leo
barked again. He had taken a small computer pad out of his pocket and was now
tapping its screen.
    “Perry. P-E-R-R-Y.”
    Leo looked up and
fixed his gaze on Flynn. He studied the boy’s face for a long moment, his eyes
penetrating… searching. Flynn's expression remained blank as he stared back at
Leo.
    “All right,” Leo
said finally, pointing at Tony. “Who’s your scrawny little friend there?”
    “Anthony Romero,”
Flynn answered.
    “How old?”

 

     
     

“Sixteen.”
    “Is your friend a
retard? Or just deaf and dumb?” Leo sneered and continued typing. When he had
finished entering the information, he pressed a key and scowled at the screen.
“Says here, Romero’s not sixteen yet… which makes him underage… and in breach
of being on a water vessel so far from the zone.”
    “He’s with me and
I’m sixteen,” Flynn said.
    Leo shook his head,
ignoring Flynn’s words. “This Romero kid looks more like a sick old man to me!
And we all know what happens to sick old men, don’t we?” Leo snickered again as
he looked back at his friends. They were all laughing at Tony now.
    Flynn clenched his
fists and leaned forward, but Tony squeezed his elbow. Leo’s eyes darted
between the two and focused on Flynn again.
    “Did you want to
say something, Perry boy?”
    “No!” Flynn
swallowed hard.
    “Thought not,” Leo
flashed his teeth and slipped the pad back in his pocket. “Well, Perry and
Romero... you know who I am, right?”
    Flynn and Tony
nodded. Of course, they knew who he was! Who didn't? Leo was the one and only
son of Marcus Van Zandt, the head of Governing Council, the man who ruled the
whole of the Archipelago. The Van Zandt family had been in power since