The businessman Alger only stayed in Torpoint for one night, and left early the next morning with his companions and the little girl.
Accompanying him, in addition to the newly joined Maca, was also the nobleman from France, Mr. Vincent.
Maka noticed that the timid little girl seemed to have been looking for opportunities to talk to him, but Alger was very cautious and there was no chance for them to talk yet.
Seeing that the little girl's behavior was quite abnormal, Maka became more and more sure of her judgment.
Soon, they arrived at the dock and approached some connected ships.
"Come on, kid!" Alger greeted kindly.
Maka pretended to be unfamiliar and stepped on the boarding board, followed Alger unsteadily and boarded the largest ship. Behind him was the young lady, who pulled the little girl up.
Sailing is a very boring thing. Perhaps at first, you will be attracted by the majestic sea, lying on the railing of the ship's side and looking at the distant sky.
But trust me, you will lose interest in it all within a few days.
Maka is very accustomed to sailing, so naturally he won't look around curiously - not to mention, he is here to "work" this time.
This is a cargo ship, but this time the "cargo" is obviously a living creature... No, there are two now. Alger arranged Maka and the little girl in the cargo hold.
The cargo here has been unloaded, and apart from some waterproof tarpaulins, there is only a small pile of empty wooden boxes left in the cargo hold.
Maka and the little girl sat on a wooden box respectively, and they were "accompanied" by the two men who were traveling with them.
This was of course not to prevent them from escaping - sailing on the vast ocean, where could they run to - it was just to separate them so that the little girl would not say something to Maka that she should not say.
In fact, this little girl knew what they were doing; and she herself was the first cargo of this deal.
Maka sat on the wooden box bored, casually chatting with the two men, trying to extract some useful information... Or maybe he just wanted to relieve his boredom.
During some intentional or unintentional conversations and observations, Maka found that they all seemed a little absent-minded. Although the two men looked at them honestly, they did not show their determination in what they were doing.
To put it bluntly, they were just ordinary caravan crews before, and this was the first time they had done such a job.
"Sir, I feel..." Maka opened her eyes wide, making herself look a little innocent, "I miss my father..."
"Well... kid, I mean," the man looked awkwardly at the door of the cargo hold. The blue sky outside formed a sharp contrast with the depression inside the cabin, "well... we will help you go home. When the time comes, you Then you can see your father."
The other man seemed to be less talkative. He lowered his head and looked at the floor, wondering what he was thinking.
"Oh - I think so," Maka nodded, "Thank you, you are all good people! Mom always said that those who like to help others are good people!"
"...can you give me some water?"
Maka was chatting with the two men when suddenly, the little girl sitting not far away spoke.
This was the first time Maka heard the little girl's voice. Although it was still sweet, it was a little hoarse - she seemed to be thirsty.
The man who had been silent took a kettle from his waist and handed it to the little girl.
Maka noticed that the little girl seemed a little disappointed. It seemed that she was trying to lure someone away. But this little trick suddenly came to nothing.
Maka secretly shook her head, thinking that the little girl might be quite smart when she grows up, and she should also have a lot of courage - but now she is far from qualified.
Even if you can distract people, you can only distract one, which is of no use.
"This... have you drunk it?" The little girl suddenly pursed her lips, showing a look of reluctance.
"We are on a ship. Except for 'people', everyone belongs to everyone." The man frowned, "If you don't want to drink, don't drink!"
This man is obviously not as talkative as the one just now. Although he doesn't talk much, it's not because he is introverted or honest at all.
When the little girl was yelled at by him, she couldn't help but shrink back and didn't dare to say anything anymore.
"Give me a drink too!" Maka said suddenly.
After he waited for the girl to take a few sips, he reached for the kettle and drank a lot without politeness.
"Save it!" The man grabbed the kettle with a fierce look on his face.
"Hey! Don't scare the kids..." Another man pushed him and then turned around and said, "The fresh water on the ship is limited. It is a habit when sailing on the sea to save water."
"Oh, I'm sorry... I understand." Maka nodded obediently to show her understanding.
Time passed day by day, and during the long sailing journey, Maka gradually became familiar with the man who was more talkative. And until one day, the other party casually mentioned to Maka...
"... It's time to dock tomorrow," he said, and then added after thinking, "We need to replenish fresh water and food, and it's time for her to disembark."
He pursed his lips towards the little girl, but didn't say much, but his expression looked a little worried.
"Then when can we get to London?" Maka blinked and asked.
"Oh - well, soon." The man grinned at him, but the smile looked stiff.
"I want to drink some water, and then it's time to go to bed... Can you tell me a story today?" Maka said innocently.
The other party asked for the kettle for him, handed it to him, and said, "Of course! What do you want to hear today?"
"I fell asleep before I finished listening to the story about the 'Sea Wizard' yesterday. Can you continue to tell me..."
Not long after, Maka huddled in the slightly damp quilt and fell asleep listening to the man's monotonous story. On the other side, the little girl still couldn't sleep. She turned sideways and looked at the clear starry sky outside. The tears in her eyes flowed helplessly to the pillow.
"Let's rest too! We can go ashore tomorrow to relax..."
"You have to be more careful on the shore!"
"Oh... yes, indeed..."
Both of them took a few sips of water, and then one of them just leaned on the deck of the door and dozed off; while the other, the man who didn't talk much, was still sitting on the box, taking turns as usual. First half of the night.
I have to say that Alger's arrangements were quite cautious - even if they were just two children, the rules couldn't be changed, so it was right to be careful.
However, the kettle that Maka touched could not be easily drank.
Not to mention the one who was sleeping, even the man who was on duty to watch the night fell down on the board of the ship soon after.
Maka kindly reached out to help him to prevent him from flopping down and making too much noise.
"Are you not asleep?" Maka quietly got up and asked softly towards the little girl.
The little girl was obviously shocked by him - she didn't expect that Maka, who had always ignored her, would actually talk to her in the dead of night.
She turned around suddenly, and then looked at the man who had fallen on the board of the boat in surprise. At this time, her face was still full of tears.
"what's your name?"
Maka, who was checking the two men, turned around, smiled at her, and asked casually as if she had nothing to say.
"I'm Sarah... you... what did you do?"
"It's nothing," Maka said, "I'm here to save you, do you understand?"
"...you know?" the girl said in surprise.
"Shh! Keep your voice down... I do know, but it's probably not as clear as you think." Maka finished checking the two men, then turned sideways and looked out the door, "Where did they snatch you from?" ?”
“Norwich…”
"As long as you know the place..." Maka nodded and then said, "You wait here - they won't wake up suddenly. We can go back after I finish the matter."
"Go back? How to go back?" Sarah asked doubtfully, "We are still on the boat..."
"Don't worry."
Maka said, and walked to the deck lightly...
When Maka came back after circling around, he immediately waved Sarah to the side of the ship.
On the deck next to the ship's side, two crew members were leaning there, and not far away, an escape boat could be seen outside the ship's side that had been put on the sea.
"Can you climb ropes?"
Maka asked tentatively, but the answer he waited for was a natural "no".
Fortunately, he was prepared.
"Put this on and follow me..." Maka handed Sarah a life vest, and after she put it on, she climbed to the railing with her.
Sarah thought he would have some good ideas! However…
"Remember, don't scream! If other crew members hear it, we won't be able to escape!" Maka warned in a low voice.
"Huh? Oh..."
"Remember! Don't scream!"
After giving instructions again, Maka reached out and pushed without hesitation, and Sarah fell into the sea with a plop.
She still screamed out, but Maka's warning worked, the scream was not loud, and she suppressed it after half a cry.
For Sarah, failure to escape was obviously much scarier than the water.
After Sarah got off, Maka slid along the rope to the escape boat. He quickly dragged Sarah onto the boat, then picked up the oar and started paddling.
It was not far from the coast, but Maca did not choose the same direction as the cargo ship - he rowed along the vertical direction of the cargo ship's route, farther and farther, and finally disappeared on the dark sea.
"Why did you push me down like that!" Sarah, who had been holding back for a long time, finally couldn't help but ask.