The common room of the submarine smelled of disinfectant and cleaning agent mixed with that of the machines and the water. Xiao Dao sat down with his friends and fastened his safety belt. It wasn't long before the submarine detached itself from the lock. A jolt went through the boat.
For a moment, Ding Wei was filled with a feeling of weightlessness. It reminded him of his first trip over the rooftops. Just attached to a rope, gliding high above the city from one skyscraper to another. He had loved it.
The sound of the engine filled the room with a dull roar.
“I hope I don't get seasick too,” muttered Zhijian.
Xiao Dao opened his eyes again. His gaze wandered around the room. There was no one here but them. “It wasn't the ship. It was just the situation that upset me. Their secrecy is making me mad. It's not as if they're on the short end of the stick.” With a deep sigh, he tightened his belt, which let out a soft click.
“Don't let them drive you crazy.”
Wenjie's well-meant words missed their mark.
“They've intercepted the courier,” he grumbled.
“What?!” Zhijian started up. Only the seatbelt pulled him back onto the seat.
Ding Wei nodded sullenly. “I tried to talk my way out of it. Don't think it worked. And that damn submarine is covering the rest of our tracks.”
“Then we're trapped,” Zhiyue whispered.
Wenjie put one hand over hers. While he spoke to her, he scratched the metal between his seat and Ding Wei's with the other.
Xiao Dao blinked. Wait a minute. What was his friend doing? Morse code? He took a closer look.
“You're playing a false game,” he informed him. “This gives us the opportunity to negotiate the release of our friends again. Xu Zhengqing has no interest in them.”
Ding Wei remembered what he had learned about Morse code from his father. Then he replied to Wenjie. “Do you think he's behind everything?”
“Yes.”
“But why all this?” Xiao Dao ran both hands over his head.
“He's testing us,” Wenjie tapped in Morse code. “Our resilience, our loyalty to each other, our willingness to cooperate with the police or other criminals to outsmart him.”
Ding Wei really hoped, Wenjie was wrong. However, it seemed unlikely to him. After six months, Xu Zhengqing would certainly have the resources and contacts he needed to get a submarine. With his father or Madame Hong, it seemed doubtful to him. Especially since his father must have other worries at the moment.
“What should we do?”
“You go on with your plan. Go back being the gangster you used to be. Betray me, if you have to. Push them. They have to react to that. I trust you.”
He then turned to Zhijian. “Give me your laptop.”
“Do you think we have reception here?” Zhijian looked at him doubtfully. He clung tightly to his backpack, as if it were his anchor.
Wenjie shook his head. “Let me try something else.” He undid the seatbelt and stood up.
Wordlessly, Zhijian unpacked the laptop and handed it to his friend.
Ding Wei watched skeptically as Wenjie walked to the window through which they could see the sea. The men were still nowhere to be seen. Even at second glance, he didn't spot any CCTV. Without further ado, he undid his seatbelt and joined the younger man. With one hand resting on the lower frame of the window, he waited.
Wenjie calmly opened the laptop. Then he waved Zhijian over and temporarily turned back to Ding Wei. “Distract those guys, while I send signals.”
Xiao Dao frowned. “This won't work,” he muttered. “We're too deep. Light signals and acoustic signals with the laptop are not...” He faltered. Oh. Now he understood. Zhijian was supposed to help him hack into the system.
Wenjie nodded to him and pointed to the door. Ding Wei was struggling with himself. If the guys found out that Zhijian, not Wenjie, had hacked into the system, they would certainly not let him go. Xu Zhengqing could also use guys like him.
“Wait. If you can access the internal network. Then we could simply simulate a malfunction in one of the systems in the engine room or trigger an alarm, couldn't we?”
Zhijian nodded. “That's possible. But what use is that to us?”
“If the problem can be fixed only from the outside, the engine room might remain unguarded for a short time,” Wenjie continued the train of thought. “Then one of us could go in and send out a signal directly. That would increase our chances of being found. If there's an alarm, they might send someone from the bridge and then be forewarned.”
“Isn't that far too dangerous? Surely they can see everything from the bridge,” asked Zhiyue. “It would be easier to send signals from a ship.”
“Probably,” agreed Ding Wei. “But they won't give us much time once we're off the submarine. And if we go through with the plan, it would also be possible to send out an additional message with the laptop, wouldn't it?”
“I can do that, once I'm on the internal network.” Zhijian seemed pretty confident. Wenjie hopefully had a plan to cover up his buddy's involvement in the whole thing. If, that is, the guys didn't already know what Zhijian could do.
Lin Zhiyue was less convinced. Her face was pale. Wenjie stood up and took her hands. ''I know it's risky. And I made it a point for them to catch me in the engine room.”
“What?” Zhijian gasped.
Wenjie looked down at his friend. “Your action must go unnoticed. Then your signal will go through. For that to happen, the focus of these men must be on Xiao Dao and me. I want them to let you go.”
“Wenjie,” Zhiyue whispered. Tears welled up in her eyes.
“Trust me. Once you're out, you can give the police clues about our possible location.”
Besides, Ding Wei thought, even riskier maneuvers would then be possible. Because Wenjie would have to worry less about the safety of his friends. He was afraid, it would all go south. But if it worked, there would be hope again.
to be continued ...
