The armored truck halted almost directly beneath me, oblivious to the chaos around it. A strange contraption, similar to a mounted gun, was attached to its roof. Officers surrounded the truck, their eyes glued on nearby Berserkers.
“The truck’s our best bet,” I said. “We hit the roof and then make a beeline for that building.”
“How do we get past the cops?”
“By putting our faith in the Berserkers.” I swung my legs over the railing and leapt into the sky. Hot wind pushed against my face. Smoke and debris filled my mouth, my lungs.
My tuxedo shoes hit the roof and skidded along the slick surface. My legs slid out from under me and I fell, smacking my back against metal and driving the smoke out of my lungs. I lay there for a second, face screwed up in pain.
“Ooaa.” I grunted in agony as Graham belly-flopped onto my chest and stomach. He bounced off of me and his back hit the roof with a soft thud. For a moment, we lay there, unable to move, unable to talk. Unable to do anything but stare at the flashing lights and moonlit sky.
“You…” I inhaled a few breaths. “You could’ve waited for me to get out of the way, you know.”
“Yeah.” Graham winced. “But then who would’ve broken my fall?”
Grunting, I rose to my knees, then to my feet. Twisting my neck, I looked past the mounted gun-like contraption and saw Saul’s gang. They stood off to the side, almost directly between us and the awning-covered entrance to 1199 Madison Avenue.
“It’s almost reunion-time,” I said. “Ahh, the good old days. Say, remember that time I punched Saul right in the kisser?”
“That was great. And how about that time he took a urine shower?”
“Another Saul classic.”
Graham watched as yet another gang of Berserkers tried and failed to break into 1199 Madison Avenue. “Quick question. How are we supposed to get in there anyway?”
“Let’s ask.” I rested my aching back against the contraption. Pulling out my satphone, I opened the texting program. We reached 1199 Madison Avenue, I typed on the virtual keyboard.
Malware’s reply was near-instantaneous. Not yet, you didn’t.
Clearly, Malware had eyes on the building. The door is locked, I wrote.
It’ll be open when — if — you get there. And Cy?
Yeah?
Six minutes. Then she dies.
Abruptly, a group of Berserkers rushed the officers and all hell broke loose in the middle of the intersection. The other officers abandoned the armored truck and ran headfirst into the battle.
I wrenched away from the contraption and… wait, was my back wet? Yes. Yes, it was. But was it just sweat? Or was I bleeding?
I felt the back of my jacket. It was wet, but not sticky. Glancing at my fingertips, I saw some moisture. It didn’t smell salty. In fact, it smelled a little like stale sewage.
I turned around. The contraption was soaked and not from condensation. In fact, it seemed to be leaking in multiple places.
“It’s a water cannon,” I said.
“Well, how about that?” Graham replied. “I haven’t seen one of these since the Civil Rights riots.”
“Apparently, they’re making a comeback.” I studied the cannon. It looked simple enough. Just aim the nozzle, turn on the water, and let her rip. “I’ll clear a path. Don’t stop running until you get inside.”
He shot me a salute. Then he slipped off the roof and disappeared from sight.
I took up position behind the water cannon and aimed the nozzle at Saul and his gang. Then I flicked a switch.
The cannon bucked in my hands as a thick stream of water shot out of the nozzle. It slammed into Saul and his gang. They sailed backward and to the sides. Some smacked into the building. Others, their legs taken out by the torrent of water, crashed to the sidewalk.
Just ahead, I saw Graham weave his way across the street. At the same time, I noticed Saul’s gang getting up, going after him.
Shifting the nozzle, I aimed a steady stream at the masked men, mowing them down.
As Graham neared the door, I saw Saul rise out of the foamy water. He took a second to get his bearings before lunging at Graham.
I shifted the nozzle. A burst of water slammed into his chest and he tumbled backward, head over heels. Then I glanced back toward Graham and…
What the…?
He was gone. He wasn’t outside the door or anywhere near it. I widened my gaze, wondering if I’d accidentally turned him into collateral damage. But no. He was nowhere to be seen.
Hmm… must be inside.
I checked my satphone. 9:17 p.m. Three minutes left.
I released the cannon. Water continued to shoot through the nozzle at great speed. But without me to steer it, it was all over the place, the mechanical equivalent of a bucking bronco. Water shot everywhere… at Berserkers, cops, smoldering cars, decorative trees, the awning, and nearby storefronts. At the same time, Saul and his gang were starting to recover, to regain their feet.
My breaths came short and fast. This wasn’t over.
Not yet.
Not by a long shot.
Chapter 14
Shifting the cannon, I unleashed another liquid strike on Saul’s gang. But they were ready this time and three of them, including Saul, escaped the attack.
Sweeping the cannon to the south, I cut down two of the masked men. However, Saul eluded me by hiding behind the mangled remains of a car. I shifted the nozzle, directing the spray through the broken windows. But he ducked down in the nick of time.
Scrapes sounded out behind me. Turning my head, I saw a couple of officers climbing onto the back of the truck. Twisting around again, I noticed the two masked men picking themselves off the sidewalk.
I shot another stream of water at them. It hit hard and they spun off in opposite directions. I aimed another burst at Saul for good measure. Then I turned off the cannon.
A pair of hands grabbed my tux from behind. Shaking loose, I leapt off the vehicle. The street came up fast and I barely had time to duck and roll. My jacket scraped across the asphalt and then I was on my feet, sprinting for the door.
Most of the masked men remained on the ground, conscious but sluggish. However, Saul was a different story. Sliding out from behind the ruined car, he ran to meet me.
Fists flying, we crashed into each other. His right fist struck my gut. My left one caught his jaw. He slipped on the foamy water, fell to his knees. I gave him another punch for good measure. Then I lunged for the door.
My fingers closed around a heavy knob. But it wouldn’t twist. I pounded my fist against the door. It felt like steel.
Come on, Malware… open up!
Glancing over my shoulder, I saw an officer take charge of the water cannon. Other officers hustled toward me, batons and riot shields clenched tight in their gloved hands.
To the side, I noticed the masked men shake their heads free of cobwebs. Meanwhile, Saul rose to his feet and spun toward me.
Metal clicked. The knob twisted in my hand. Swiftly, I wrenched the door open, exposing a black void. I hustled into it and shut the door. Metal clicked again and all sounds — the screams, the sirens, everything — vanished.
I grabbed my satphone, and flicked the screen just in time to see the time change to 9:20 p.m. I exhaled a soft breath. Then the phone dinged and a message appeared on the screen.
A deal’s a deal. She lives… for now.