Across the Dark Water

Across the Dark Water by Richard Kadrey

Please give my Amazon review a helpful vote - https://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-reviews/RBT6NX3UCR25U?ref=pf_ov_at_pdctrvw_srp

A plague has wrecked society in the near future. A grave robber hires a guide to lead him out of a shattered quarantined city. The thief and guide overcome difficulties and express mutual contempt for each other. They ultimately come to the location of the Turk, who will sell the papers the thief needs to escape. The thief discovers something surprising and fulfills a prophecy.

I liked the setting, namely the shattered world that seems close to our own. Naturally, because this is a Tor short story, it can't fill out the backstory in the way I would have liked. I didn't find the characters particularly compelling or the plot very logical.