“Nothing gets young love amped up like a little danger,” said Donny.

Donny tried to dodge the glove she threw at his face, but Heather was too fast. “He died for me, you fucking shyster. No wonder Dad talked about you that way.”

Donny could imagine Lou trying to use his bad example to teach kids valuable lessons at the dinner table.

“Tell me the real story, and I really will get you out of here,” said Donny.

“What if I don’t want to leave?” said Heather.

“That’s what I was afraid of,” said Donny.

But the truth was, he didn’t believe that either.

35

Donny found a pedicab that would take him close enough to Joyce’s place that he was unlikely to encounter any wildlife. The cab rode uptown, along Magazine Street, which was still paved, and still aboveground, but most of the old shops and restaurants were abandoned. The cabbie explained that there wasn’t much infrastructure past the Garden District, except around the college campuses that still had their own generators, and so the places that were dark, most of which also had no water, were left to the more intrepid resettlers.

The place where she let Donny off was near the end of Magazine Street. To the north was Audubon Park, which had always been verdant, but now was untamed, a literal urban jungle. You could see paths leading back in there still, where once there had been paving, but even that had mostly been overtaken by foliage. The sound of the birds was intense, even in afternoon, like a chorus of cackling little dinosaurs. The smell of spring was more intense, an acrid intoxication of exotic pollens.

In the other direction was the river. And on the stretch of land between Magazine and the river was the site of the old zoo. There was even a sign still there, but the only letter you could see through the vines that covered it was one fungal-looking O. The cabbie pointed at a cluster of buildings back there, behind the trees, and said that’s where she stays.

Donny said how do I get back, and the cabbie said there should be a bike around to borrow, and if not you can walk up through the park to the streetcar. Should be fine as long as you get going before the sun starts to set.

What happens then? asked Donny. She laughed and then did the weirdest meow-meow cat sound he had ever heard.

Donny tried to laugh with her, then tried to pay her, but she said it’s free. So he gave her a business card and said let me know if you ever need help. No thanks, she said, handing the card back.

He hadn’t walked far before he heard the music coming from the direction of the buildings. He recognized the song. An old song Joyce liked to play that always put him to sleep or made him cry.