“It must be that man’s perverse scheme.


    Whether or not we joined his game tonight, he nned to strand us here.


    ”


    Walking alongside Hannah, Bryson remarked, “His methods are too extreme to safeguard this ind.


    Even if it doesn’t sell at the auction this time, it’s bound to attract attention eventually.


    I’m not sure what he’s aiming for.


    ”


    Once they boarded the ferry, Hannah noted, “Everyone whoes here has deep pockets.


    He stands to make a fortune.


    I doubt he will give 5 billion to us, but coercing these wealthy individuals for 20 billion isn’t beyond him.


    With nomunication and no way off the ind, if we y his game, we’re trapped, with no way out.


    ”


    Hannah stumbled upon the cabin and immediately began searching for a way tomunicate with the maind.


    She located amunication device and activated it, but was greeted only by faint, unintelligible sounds.


    ‘s BunnyBookery


    It was just as she had anticipated.


    Undeterred, Hannah tried to power up the ferry, but as expected, there was no response.


    Observing her efforts, Bryson rolled up his sleeves and approached her.


    “Let me give it a shot,” he offered.


    He inspected the ferry thoroughly, then his expression turned grave.


    “The cables controlling the ferry arepletely severed, and it seems the power generator is damaged too.


    Even with experts on hand, fixing this ferry would be out of the question.


    ”


    Hannah, though braced for bad news, inhaled sharply and gazed toward the twinkling shoreline.


    “It looks like leaving by ferry isn’t an option,” she concluded.


    The ferry was nearly in ruins.


    Bryson suggested, “Let’s head back.


    We can revisit this mess tomorrow.Text property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org.


    ”


    Just as they prepared to leave, the ferry trembled slightly and someone appeared on deck!


    Hannah and Bryson exchanged a swift nce and quickly ducked into a nearby cabin outside the control room.


    The neer’s footsteps were steady, distinctly different from those of the man they had encountered in the corridor earlier.


    Hannah was about to peek out, but Bryson pressed her back against the wall.


    “Stay put!” he whispered urgently.


    The individual who boarded the ferry under cover of darkness clearly hadn’t anticipated anyone else’s presence on board.


    He made his way directly to the helm and began haphazardly manipting the controls.


    When the ferry failed to respond, frustration got the better of him, and he smacked the console sharply.


    The sound reverberated through the night air.


    Bang!


    The noise echoed in the control cabin, unmistakable to Hannah and Bryson, who were outside.


    They quickly surmised that this person wasn’t the mastermind of their predicament.


    His aim appeared to be simply to navigate the ferry out into the darkness.


    “f@ck!” he swore loudly.


    “I should’ve left during the day.


    These fools are no help at all.


    I wonder if I’ll even make it off this ind tomorrow.


    Damn it! If I do escape, I’m going to make sure this ce is wiped off the map!”