The sounds that alerted Ryker came from two directions: a low-pitched mechanical rumbling from the water side, and a more gentle patter and rustle from the road side.
An ambush? Or pure coincidence?
‘Get dressed,’ Ryker said to Henrik.
Both scrambled to get their clothes on. Ryker moved over to the ramshackle wall at the back of the building and peered between a two-inch gap where the slats of the wall had slid apart – not exactly a clear view because of the overgrown grounds that framed the gray, murky water beyond like a bleak postcard.
‘There’s a boat,’ Ryker said, not taking his eye from the craft which bobbed up and down, heading slowly from left to right, about a hundred yards out.
‘Let me see,’ Henrik said, coming up behind.
Ryker shifted out of the way and Henrik stood on tiptoes to peer through.
‘It’s a fishing boat,’ he said.
Ryker had thought the same. Did that mean it was no threat? He really couldn’t be sure.
‘It’s not coming this way,’ Henrik added.
Ryker agreed with that too.
‘What about out there?’ Henrik said as he turned back to Ryker.
Were they both being overly paranoid? Was it paranoia or simply caution? This was an alien place for Ryker, a place where he was already doubtful he could trust anyone. Perhaps the best thing to do, after all, as Henrik had suggested, was to steal a car and get as far away as fast as they could.
‘Wait by the fire,’ Ryker said. ‘Keep yourself warm.’
Henrik nodded. Ryker grabbed his coat. By far the thickest garment he had, it was still horribly damp compared to the rest of his things, but it would provide better protection from the cold than nothing at all. He slung it over his shoulders and crept to the door, at the ready, as though he expected someone to rush through at any moment.
No one did. Ryker pulled the door open and peered out. No one in sight, but the sounds from the nearby businesses amplified. Was that all they’d heard in the first place?
No. Ryker didn’t think so. He moved outside, eyes darting. Nothing he could see from this point other than fences, trees, bushes, rubbish, and the roofs of the adjacent warehouses, rising tall. Certainly, he saw no one up there.
Ryker moved forward, trekking back toward the road. He was several yards from the roadside fence when a car swept past in front. It caught him by surprise and he ducked to the side and hunched down.
The car was soon out of sight. No indication of anything untoward.
Ryker peeled away from his position, straightened up, looked ahead to the side fence opposite, and stopped dead, staring into the eyes of a man. Face heavily weathered, he stood the other side of the fence, next to a pile of discarded pallets. Blue coveralls. A cigarette dangled between his lips. He nodded to Ryker as if in greeting. Ryker nodded back. Then the frail-looking guy picked up two pallets, effortlessly swung them up over his head, turned, and sauntered off. Clearly not as frail as Ryker first thought.
Ryker moved back to the shed and pushed the door open.
‘What?’ Henrik said.
‘It’s nothing,’ Ryker said. ‘Just a guy from the factory.’
‘He saw you?’
‘He saw me, but—’
‘Then we need to go!’
‘No,’ Ryker said, though he wasn’t sure why he was so hesitant.
‘What if he tells someone?’
‘Why would he do that?’
‘We need a car,’ Henrik said. ‘We need to leave here.’
‘I already said—’
‘You don’t have to steal one.’
Ryker paused, waiting for Henrik to explain. Hoping he had a good plan about to come to the fore.
‘You don’t have to steal one,’ Henrik repeated. ‘But I could.’
Said with pure confidence. Interesting.
‘Same difference,’ Ryker said.
‘You said you didn’t want to steal because it’s not fair on the owner. But what if the owner is a motherfucker?’
Ryker cringed at the boy’s bad language. He wasn’t sure why. Except it just didn’t seem necessary. He thought about pulling him up on it, but he wasn’t his parent, nor was he exactly a role model for the younger generation.
‘What are you thinking?’ Ryker asked, more curious now.
‘I know where one of them lives,’ Henrik said. ‘It’s not far from here. Half a mile, maybe.’
‘One of them?’
‘One of the men you fought at the house. One of the men who’s been keeping me there.’
‘I thought you said you didn’t know them.’
‘I didn’t know them before. I looked in one of their wallets one time.’
Ryker thought. Did he believe him? ‘No,’ he said, even though the prospect of a little comeuppance for the kidnappers was genuinely promising. ‘Not yet, at least.’
Henrik shot Ryker a withering look.
‘We’re not ready,’ Ryker said. ‘It’s too soon. First, we’ll head into the town. We need supplies. Food. You need a coat. We’ll come back here. Stay a little longer to recuperate. Then when we’re ready we can get a car and get out of here.’
‘Why not just get a car now? We can get everything else after.’
Ryker had to admit he flitted between his own suggestion and Henrik’s, but he had more than one reason why he didn’t want to run out of town right away.
‘No,’ Ryker said. ‘Just trust me.’
‘Then I’ll stay here,’ Henrik said. ‘You’re a stranger, but if anyone saw me and you together…’
Ryker paused. He sensed Henrik’s fear, and the boy was right – the two of them together would draw a lot more attention.
‘I won’t be long,’ Ryker said. ‘Stay by the fire, stay warm. If anyone comes this way—’
‘What? Fight them? Run? Swim?’
Henrik smiled, though he was far from amused by those prospects, Ryker knew.
‘You’ll be fine here,’ Ryker said, hoping his words would reassure. ‘But if you get spooked, run into one of the factories. You want to be around lots of people. Run there. Cause havoc. I’ll be back soon enough.’
Ryker turned and left without waiting for another response.