Waking Gods
Page 70

—Where are we?
—New Jersey. The highlands. That island over there is Sandy Hook.
—You’ve been there?
—No, but I saw brochures when I was a kid. Maybe a year or two younger than you are. My mother always wanted us to go. We never did. But I liked the brochures. Let’s see if I can eyeball us across that bay. Meh. Second time’s a charm. We’ll stay in the Hudson River until we get as far north as Central Park.
—We won’t see anything!
—Sure we’ll see. It’s shallow. Look! Our ass is above water. It won’t get deeper than that. We’re almost there, anyway.
—Can we walk the rest of the way?
—I’d rather not. God knows what’s down there. There are at least a couple tunnels in the Hudson between here and where we’re going. Here’s one. And…I think we missed one. What do you think? Think we’re far enough?
—I don’t know! Why don’t we walk on land…like normal people?
—Normal people can walk without tearing down every electrical wire. We can’t fit anywhere in the city. We’ll get stuck, destroy things. I’m gonna try and jump straight into the park. Google maps say it’s about five thousand feet from the river. If we’re in the right spot—
—You’ve been looking at your phone all along?
—Did you bring a map, Eva? Didn’t think so. Let’s do this. Are you ready?
—Go! Go!
—And…we’re there. Err…Maybe not.
—We’re in a river again.
—More or less. I think we’re on what’s left of a bridge. We’re in Harlem, we must have gone too far. I’ll turn us around. One more jump and we’re there, for real. Ready?
—You can stop asking. Just go…Holy shit! We’re right behind him!
—Damn! That guy is huge!
—Back up, Vincent! Back up!
—I am! Rose! Are you there? It won’t work! You need to turn around!
[Vincent! What are you doing here?]
Eva saw it. It won’t work! Get out of the way!
[Get out of here, Vincent! They’ll kill you!]
I said it first, Rose. Go! Run!
—Vincent. He’s turning around! Back off! Back off!
{Couture, is that you?}
—Yes, sir. Me and Eva.
{You goddamn son of a bitch! Get your dumb ass out of there before you get her killed.}
—Vincent! He’s gonna hit us. What do I do? Vincent?!
—Eva! Raise your arm! I can’t talk, sir. Bye…I’ll give you the shield. Raise your left arm, Eva. Like you’re…Yes, like that!
—AAARRGH!!
—That asshole knocked us on our ass again. Eva, you OK?
—It hurts! Make him stop! Can we leave?
—Not with the shield on. But let’s see if we can return the favor. Raise your right arm. Point it at…You’re good at this! Firing! Again! Again!
—It’s not doing anything! Vincent!
—We’re not done yet. Rose! We’re gonna try to knock his shield off for you with an energy burst, like we did in Denver. Do you understand?
[Wh…I need more time!]
No can do. Get as far away from us as you can. Eva, keep the shield up! When I tell you, push us off the ground with your right arm. I’ll get us up.
—What are we doing?
—Something your mother and I did once.
—Did it work?
—Well, we killed Rose. Now! Push! OK, we’re up. I’m running at him.
—We’re gonna hit him!
—Exactly. Wrap your arms around him and hold on!
—Like that? I’m scared, Vincent!
—Just hold on to him, Eva!
—I can’t!
—You have to! Just a bit longer!
—I CAN’T! He’s too strong! What are you doing?!
—I’m taking my helmet off. I’m coming to help you. Don’t let go!
—Who’ll control the legs?!
—We don’t need to use our legs. We just need to hold on. Themis will do the rest.
—Hurry! My arms are—
—We’re gonna die if you let go, Eva. I’m almost out. Pretend you’re in a storm at sea, and he’s the only thing you can hold on to.
—I’m not strong enough! I’m sorr—
—I’m here! I’m here, Eva! I’m gonna wrap my arms around you and we’ll hold on together.
—I can’t see with you standing in front of me.
—It’s OK. You don’t need to see him. Just look at me. Look at me, Eva. There. Biggest hug in history.
—What’s that noise?
—That’s Themis getting angry. She’s absorbing power from his energy field. That hiss means she’s about to overload. Rose! Ready or not! Close your eyes, Eva. It’s gonna get really bright.
—AAAAAHH! What just happened?
—His shield is out. Keep your arms around him while I get back to my station, then we’ll kick his ass.
—No! Don’t go! I can’t…He’s out! Vincent! He’s out! He’s grabbing us! He’s gonna throw us down! I can’t stop him!
—AAAAAARRRGGHHHH!
—Vincent! Vincent, are you OK? Answer me!
—I’m…not OK. I flew into the wall when we hit the ground. My shoulder…I think I broke my arm. My right leg’s all…bent. It won’t move at all. Roll us on our back, will you? I can’t see anything.
—How do I do that? OK, I got it.
—I’ll get to the console and turn on the shield again. He’s coming at us.
—Can you get us up?
—No. I can’t get into the controls. Let me get my helmet on…He looks like he’s about to punch us in the face. He is punching us in the…AAARGH! Calver! Can you hit him too?
—…
—Eva! I know this is scary but you need to snap out of it. Can you hit him?
—Our left arm is pinned under his foot. I can hit him with the right.
—Hit him in the gut.
—I can’t reach his gut.
—Doesn’t matter, I’ll fire when you get close. Now! Ha! That hurt, didn’t it?
—Keep firing, Vincent! Again!
—That’s my kid kicking your ass! You messed with the wrong ten-year-old!
—Again! Again! Again!…Again! Vincent, keep firing! He’s still up!