Chapter 285: Turned Toward Them

Shichen kept his hand beneath the panel while the last vibration faded from the pump.

He had been listening to it for hours without really thinking about the sound. Now that it was silent, he could hear water moving around his wrist and Qinghe breathing each time he lifted the bucket.

"Zeyu, switch the pump off," Shichen called, following its housing with his fingers. "Let me check whether something’s caught in it before we try again."

Zeyu reached for the switch while Hanchuan settled Zhiyi back against the cushion.

Shichen saw her trying to look past him, then lowered his head when Jingwei moved the flashlight closer.

He could make out the pump beneath the water, but the light reflected off the surface whenever he moved his hand.

He had installed equipment in spaces smaller than this. He had also done it with dry tools, steady footing, and enough light to see what he was touching.

"Hold the beam there," Shichen told Jingwei. "I can see the edge now."

Qinghe worked beside them, passing each bucket to Hanchuan so he could empty it without getting in Shichen’s way.

Gradually, the water dropped enough for Shichen to reach the pump’s intake. Something soft had collected against it.

He drew out a wad of cloth fibers and grit, laying it on the removed panel before feeling around for more.

The fibers looked like they had come from the torn fabric floating in the compartment when they first opened it. Some had worked farther inside than he could reach.

Shichen sat back long enough to straighten his shoulders. He wanted the narrow pliers, but the tools had been moved since he last used them.

Zhiyi found them by touch in the seat locker and passed them through Hanchuan.

He took his time after that, although every bucket lifted beside him made him want to hurry. He freed another strip, then a small piece of hard debris that clicked against the pliers.

When he was satisfied he had removed what he could, he drew both hands clear.

"Try it now," Shichen said, watching the housing while Zeyu turned the switch.

The pump shuddered and began moving water. Qinghe paused with the bucket resting against his knee, and Shichen held his hand above the housing, feeling its vibration without touching it.

For a few moments, it sounded close to normal. Then the rough rattle returned, weaker this time, and Shichen looked up.

"Turn it off again. There’s still something wrong inside."

Zeyu obeyed without asking him to try once more. Shichen stayed where he was, looking at the pieces he had pulled free.

Clearing the intake had helped, but he couldn’t tell what had been damaged without opening the pump farther.

That would mean small parts, poor light, and the chance of losing something they couldn’t replace.

Hanchuan lowered the empty bucket beside Qinghe. "Can you work on it here?" he asked.

"I can try," Shichen replied, rubbing his wet fingers against his trousers. "But I don’t want to take it apart while the boat’s moving this much. If I drop a screw down there, I may never find it."

Hanchuan studied the water, then looked toward Qinghe. "Keep it below that fitting. We’ll change places before anyone’s hands give out."

Shichen started to reach for the bucket, but Hanchuan caught his wrist.

"You’ve been bent over this since she found it," Hanchuan told him. "Sit back for a while. Tell me if the board moves."

Shichen let himself settle against the seat. His knees hurt when he straightened them, and the side he had struck during their escape ached beneath his shirt.

He could still work. He was simply glad, for the moment, that no one needed him to move.

Zeyu turned the engine off once the waves had eased enough to let them drift. The silence afterward made everyone look toward him.

"We’re not heading anywhere we can see," Zeyu explained, taking his hand from the key. "I’d rather have fuel left when we need it."

Hanchuan nodded and returned to the bucket.

Without the engine, Shichen could hear the faint scrape of the rope against the board. He checked it whenever the boat rolled, keeping one hand near the knot until he was sure it hadn’t loosened.

Darkness gathered around them slowly.

The water remained visible for a while after the horizon disappeared, its surface catching what little light remained beneath the clouds.

Eventually, Shichen could see only the section beside the boat and the pale edge of Qinghe’s sleeve as he passed the bucket.

Jingwei switched off the flashlight between checks.

They all remembered where the opening was now, and Shichen could feel whether the board had shifted.

He disliked working in the dark, but he disliked the thought of losing the light altogether more.

Across from him, Zhiyi tried to sleep against Hanchuan whenever he rested. Each time the bucket changed hands, she opened her eyes. After the third time, she sat up and reached toward Qinghe.

"I can fill it if someone else lifts it out," Zhiyi said. "My shoulder doesn’t hurt as much when I stay close to the opening."

Hanchuan shifted so she could sit between his knees, with his arm around her waist to keep her steady.

Qinghe showed her where to lower the bucket without catching the rope, then took it from her when she had scooped enough.

Shichen watched them find a rhythm.

Zhiyi filled less than the men did, but she kept going while Qinghe emptied it. Hanchuan supported her through the rolls, his chin occasionally brushing her hair.

T

here had been a cake on the kitchen counter that morning.

Shichen remembered moving his plate so Zeyu could put it down. The only thing he couldn’t remember whether he had finished eating before the noise at the windows.

His stomach cramped, and he pressed a hand against it until the feeling eased.

When Jingwei came to relieve him, Shichen moved forward beside Zeyu. Neither spoke for a while.

Zeyu had both hands resting loosely on the wheel, although there was nothing to steer toward. He kept looking into the darkness ahead.

"Lie back if you need to," Shichen told him. "I’ll watch for anything coming close."

Zeyu rubbed his face before moving away from the helm. He lowered himself onto the narrow space beside the seat, using his folded arm beneath his head.

Within minutes, his breathing changed, and Shichen found himself watching to make sure he was sleeping.

He had begun to doze himself when a pale flash appeared beyond the bow.

Shichen straightened and waited.

Nothing followed immediately. He wondered whether he had seen the reflection of Jingwei’s flashlight, but another flash came from the same place, followed by a weaker light that stayed on.

"Hanchuan," Shichen called quietly. "There’s someone ahead of us."

Hanchuan moved beside him while Jingwei covered their own flashlight with his hand. The distant light rose, vanished behind a wave, and appeared again.

Then a second light showed farther to its right.

Shichen reached toward Zeyu’s shoulder and woke him gently. As his friend sat up, an engine became audible across the water.

One of the lights turned toward them.