Shortly after, Lory and Zhao Li Xin boarded the small fishing boat along with three other families. The vessel was old, its wood worn smooth by years of salt and sun, the air thick with the sour scent of fish and brine, but no one complained. No one dared. Escape had a way of dulling such discomforts.
The boatman and his two assistants moved with practiced ease, unfurling the sails before starting the engine to life. A moment later, they hear roared beneath their feet, and the boat lurched forward, cutting through the dark blue waters.
Lory stepped onto the deck and pulled out her phone. The screen flickered, searching… and searching, but no signal came. She frowned and checked the connection again. Then, as if realizing something, her expression sharpened.
Someone was jamming the signal.
