Chen Hao pulled his feet off the deck and stared at the sea for two seconds.

Let's go.

As soon as he finished speaking, Carl released the rope tied to the stake. The boat rocked slightly and slowly moved away from the shore. Susan squatted beside the crate, her hand still clutching the corner of the supply bag. Nana stood in the center of the boat, her eyes slightly gleaming, as if she were looking at something unseen by others.

The boat drifted twenty meters, the water already above knee-deep. Chen Hao sat behind the helm, his hands resting on the crossbar, feeling a little unreal. They were really out to sea.

The wind was light, and the boat moved steadily.

"It went more smoothly than I expected," he said.

"You're imagining the boat capsizing?" Carl tightened the straps on the last buoyancy bucket at the stern.

"I imagine getting stuck in shallow water as soon as I step out the door."

Susan looked up at the sky. "The clouds have dispersed a bit; it shouldn't rain."

Nana suddenly spoke up: "The stress value in the mid-starboard section is too high."

Nobody moved.

"What do you mean?" Chen Hao asked.

"The connection point may become loose due to excessive stress."

Chen Hao turned to look at her. Nana didn't blink, her expression remained the same, but her tone was slightly more subdued than before.

“Let’s dock,” he said.

Carl immediately grabbed the oar and rowed back. Susan tightened the supply bag again and casually touched the seams of the boat's planks. Chen Hao didn't speak again, staring at the spliced ​​wooden beam on the starboard side. It looked fine on the surface, but now, with every sway, he felt the sound was off.

When the hull of the boat scraped against the sand, the water only reached their calves. The four men jumped in and together pushed the boat to a dry spot.

“Investigate from the beginning,” Chen Hao said.

Nana stepped forward and placed her palm on the side of the starboard wooden beam. A few seconds later, she moved her fingers to the middle nail.

“Here,” she said, “the wood has shrunk, the joints aren’t properly sealed, and it’s only supported by the nails.”

Susan crouched down to look at it. "Can it be fixed?"

"It has to be fixed." Karl had already rummaged through his toolbox. "Otherwise, it'll crack open if it gets tossed around at sea."

Chen Hao, holding onto the side of the boat, asked, "How do we do it?"

“A wedge.” Carl took out a piece of hardwood. “Shape it at an angle, hammer it in to hold the gap open, and then seal it with glue.”

Do you have resin?

“There’s still half a jar left.” Susan got up and walked towards the base. “I’ll go brew some more.”

"hurry up."

She didn't turn around, but quickened her pace.

Carl took the saw and began cutting the wood strips. Nana continued pressing down on the planks, counting aloud: "Current pressure is 3.7, safety threshold is 5."

"Still rising?"

"The slow ascent is likely due to the increased vibrations from the dragging process, which exacerbated the gap."

Chen Hao frowned. "How long can it last?"

"Uncertain. But above 4.5, the nail will break first."

"Then don't let it reach 4:50."

Susan returned carrying a small pot filled with freshly boiled resin, steaming hot. She poured it into a basin and then tore off some scraps of cloth and stirred it in.

"This makes it more durable."

Carl took the mixture and applied it to the joint with a scraper. Then he aligned the shaved wooden wedge with the gap and raised the hammer.

"I knocked."

With one hammer blow, the wooden wedge was driven in halfway.

"Knock again."

With the second hammer blow, the wedge was fully embedded. Karl pushed it with his hand, but it wouldn't budge.

"Alright."

Nana put her hand back. "The pressure level has dropped; it's 2.8 now."

"seal."

Susan applied the resin paste all over the seam, covering even the nail heads. She wrapped it twice with strips of cloth and pressed it down firmly.

"Let it air dry for two hours."

“We can’t wait that long,” Chen Hao said. “The tide will come in three hours, so we have to try once before then.”

“Then we can test it now.” Carl stood up. “Under light load conditions, a short run.”

"I'll go move the sandbags." Susan turned and walked back to the base.

Ten minutes later, they placed four sandbags on the boat to simulate half the load. Chen Hao steered, Carl sat at the stern to observe the buoyancy tanks, Susan kept an eye on the repair work, and Nana monitored the data throughout.

The boat was 30 meters from the shore when the water became deeper.

"How are you feeling?" Chen Hao asked.

“No unusual noise,” Carl said.

"The pressure level is stable," Nana said.

The boat continued forward, and when it was fifty meters away, Chen Hao gently turned the course. The boat turned without rocking.

"Further away."

They walked until they reached a point 100 meters away, then circled around in a semi-circle before turning back. The entire journey was smooth.

"Okay." Susan breathed a sigh of relief. "At least for now, there's no problem."

“It’s not that it’s okay ‘now,’” Carl said, “it’s okay ‘temporarily.’”

"Same."

“It’s different. We don’t know if there are similar situations elsewhere.”

Chen Hao didn't speak. He looked down at the ship's plank, his fingers tracing the spot where he had just repaired it. The resin wasn't completely dry yet; it felt a little sticky to the touch.

"Nana".

"exist."

Can you check the other seams?

"Okay. It will take three minutes to start a full scan."

"Do it."

Nana closed her eyes and stood still, her fingers once again touching the hull. This time, she started from the port front and moved little by little backward.

Three minutes later, she opened her eyes.

"Two potential risk points were found: the third connection point on the port side aft section with a gap of 0.3 centimeters; and the loose bolts at the bottom of the bow triangular bracket."

“They’re all minor issues,” Carl said.

“Small problems can grow into big ones.” Chen Hao stood up. “Fix everything before you leave.”

Susan sighed, "It'll take time again."

"It's better than falling apart halfway through."

They pushed the boat back into the shallows and began to tackle the new problems. The same wedge and resin method was used to fix the gaps on the port side, while longer bolts and washers were added to the bow supports.

By the time the last spot was finished, it was already past noon. The sun was shining directly down, making one's forehead feel hot.

"This is the final test," Chen Hao said.

This time they went on a full-scale simulation, loading all the supply crates onto the ship, almost as if all the real people were sitting on it.

The boat was drafting a bit deeper, but it didn't tilt.

Chen Hao took the helm and slowly steered the boat out. Two hundred meters, three hundred meters, the boat remained stable throughout.

"The pressure level is normal," Nana said.

“No unusual noises.” Karl listened for a while while lying on the stern of the boat.

"The seams are dry." Susan reached out and touched the repaired area.

Chen Hao handed the helm to Karl and walked to the middle of the boat. He jumped once, and the boat rocked, but quickly recovered. He jumped twice more, this time with even more force.

"good."

"Don't be reckless," Carl said.

"It's just a test."

They eventually stopped about 400 meters from the shore. The color of the seawater changed from light green to deep blue. Fish could be seen swimming below.

"That's it," Chen Hao said. "Not too far, not too near, you could say it's at sea."

"Yes, it counts." Susan sat down against the suitcase. "It doesn't count as rummaging through it."

Nana stood still, her eyes flashing again, as if the background was still running programs.

“Continue monitoring,” she said.

"Keep a close eye on them."

Carl put the oars back in. "If we really go out to sea tonight, we'll have to take turns."

Who goes first?

"I'll cover the night shift."

“I’m second,” Susan said.

"Then I'll end it here," Chen Hao said, looking at Nana. "You don't need to sleep, right?"

"I don't need to rest."

"Then you're the worst off."

I don't think so.

The boat rocked gently. A gust of wind came from the side, pushing them forward a short distance.

Chen Hao walked to the bow of the boat and squatted down to look at the water. It was deep; he couldn't see the bottom. A fish darted past, its tail sweeping up a ripple.

"Are we really going to set sail?"

He spoke lightly, and no one responded.

After a few seconds, Carl said, "You're only asking now?"

"Before, I was only thinking about whether I could leave, not where I would leave."

"We'll see."

"What if there's no room?"

"Then let's find it."

Susan looked up. "There's always room."

Nana suddenly raised her hand.

"A change in water flow direction has been detected."

Chen Hao turned around. "What do you mean?"

"The ocean current deflects by 15 degrees, increasing the speed by 20 percent."

"Is the world about to change?"

"Not necessarily. It could be due to natural tidal changes."

"Be careful."

Chen Hao stood up and looked at the distant sea. It was flat.

He reached into his pocket, pulled out a compressed biscuit, and took a bite.

Dry, hard, and tasteless.

He chewed twice and swallowed.

"For tomorrow's meal."

Carl picked up the oar and gently paddled, aligning the bow of the boat with the direction of home.

Susan unbuckled her backpack strap, preparing to adjust her position.

Nana's eyes were still sparkling.

Chen Hao took one last look at the deep sea.

On the water's surface, a ring of ripples is spreading from afar.