Flood Quotes

“Roots are nice, but a tree can’t run.”
― Andrew Vachss, Flood

“From the very second that two people sat together around a fire in the forest, there was another human out there who felt better in the dark.”
― Andrew Vachss, Flood

“He had the radio turned to some Spanish-language station at a volume that reminded me of the holding tank at Riker's Island - and for an added touch of authenticity he screamed 'Maricon!' and waved his fist out the open window at another driver who had the audacity to attempt to share the road with us.”
― Andrew Vachss, Flood

“Pervasive abuse and neglect of children is a greater danger to our species than cocaine and Communism combined.”
― Andrew Vachss, Flood

“Max can’t hear or speak, but he communicates okay. He wasn’t programmed for fear—whoever rolled the genetic dice left that out too. If Mama asked Max to deliver a package to the Devil, Max would go straight to Hell. Unlike others of my acquaintance who had made that particular trip, I had complete confidence that Max would come back. Max the Silent is one tough boy. In fact, he’s so infamous that one time over in night court when he was being arraigned for attempted murder, nobody even laughed when the judge told him that he had the right to remain silent. They all knew that Max never attempted to murder anyone.”
― Andrew Vachss, Flood

“Your Honor,” Blumberg rang out, “every dog must have his day!” And he got perhaps the first standing ovation ever given in New York City night court.”
― Andrew Vachss, Flood

“EITHER THE DRIVER really worked a gypsy cab as a regular job or he was a hell of an actor. Even with my eyes closed I could feel the lurch of the miserably-maintained hunk of metal every time we floundered around a corner. Normal potholes put my head against the ceiling, and each genuine home-grown South Bronx edition almost knocked me unconscious. He had the radio tuned to some Spanish-language station at a volume that reminded me of the holding tank at Riker’s Island—and for an added touch of authenticity he screamed “Maricon!” and waved his fist out the open window at another driver who had the audacity to attempt to share the road with us.”
― Andrew Vachss, Flood

“My client had more than enough time to leave by the back window, and Devil nailed two of the cops before they got smart and retreated until the ASPCA arrived. Those clowns blasted my dog with a load of tranquilizers and carted her off to the pound. By the time I found out what went down, she was already behind bars waiting for adoption or execution, whichever came first. Just like a lot of kids in orphanages. The ASPCA wouldn’t return her to me at first, saying the Major Case Squad wanted her held for evidence. The jerks—I knew she’d never talk.”
― Andrew Vachss, Flood

“I just sat there, looking out the windshield to the street. Michelle looked over at me. “You got some more questions, honey, or did you change your mind about the kiss of life?” “One more question. Will you ask around about this freak I told you about?” “Anything you say, Burke. Is there any money in this? I still want to visit Denmark and come back a blonde.” The giggle again. “I honestly don’t know, Michelle, but there might be. I can give you this twenty on account,” and gave her a piece of last night’s cash. More giggling. “On account of what?” I touched my forehead in a half-salute and she slithered out of the car. I didn’t know which Michelle needed more … an operation on her plumbing or her head, but it didn’t matter to me. Maybe the guys who paid her twenty-five bucks for a car trick weren’t exactly sure what they were buying, but I was. Her gender might be a mystery, but in my world, it’s not who you are, it’s how you stand up.”
― Andrew Vachss, Flood

“People won't let you live the way you want to, but if you're strong enough or quick enough, at least you don't have to live the way they want you to. I live, though, no matter what.”
― Andrew Vachss, Flood