Chapter 805: The Story of Ling and Heng (68)
Feng Ling followed Qiao Fei as they rushed towards the sea.
A helicopter had already approached and was gradually descending to the surface of the water.
The rescue ships and vehicles dispatched by the US military were also stationed nearby.
The cruise had already travelled more than two thousand miles; the fire on the cruise was spreading rapidly. Initially, they could only see the thick black fumes above the cruise. By the time the rescue team descended, the flames at the rear end of the ship were prominent.
Several of the terrorists in-charge of moving Mr. Ted’s family had jumped off of the boat and into the water as an attempt to escape.
However, Mr. Ted and his family were nowhere within sight; it was likely they were trapped in the cruise cabin awaiting death.
The US military’s rescue ships were cooperating with their rescue team’s helicopter and preparing to approach. However, the strong wind caused the ships to sway heavily, affecting their movements.
At this moment, the rescue team leader’s voice could be heard through the headset: “Report, the wind is too strong right now. It’s impossible for us to board the cruise to save the victims. The rescue team is requesting for the rafts to be released. Command center, please inform the military rescue members to put on their life vests and be on standby. My team members shall immediately take the necessary measures to board the ship and rescue the victims; we need to retrieve them before the fire worsens.”
The command center immediately informed the rescue boat sent by the military.
Feng Ling and Qiao Fei had already boarded the nearest military rescue ship. Although the ship could not approach, the two had their gaze fixed firmly on the cruise. They were awaiting their next orders.
Very quickly, an orange raft that could fit more than ten people was thrown off of the rescue shift. Two rescue team members jumped off of the helicopters and landed smoothly. They immediately began another attempt to approach the cruise surrounded by thick smoke.
By now, they could not see anyone aboard the ship. However, Mr. Ted and his family were still inside, and their situation was unclear.
Qiao Fei and Feng Ling sat on the other raft thrown out by the rescue ship and also began their approach.
After two to three minutes, they finally leaned close to the cruise. Everyone quickly climbed up the sides. They held onto anything they could grip against and forced their bodies upward, successfully climbing aboard the burning cruise ship.
The rescue team’s helicopter was still circling around them in the sky, awaiting the next set of orders. After all, with the way the cruise was currently burning, the helicopter would only bring undesired risks if it leaned too close.
Feng Ling, Qiao Fei and the rescue team members were wearing gas masks. They headed off in four separate directions and charged in through the various entrances into the cabin.
There were six floors in this cabin; every floor was around three to four hundred square meters wide. They needed to expend a lot of effort to look for the people through the thick smoke.
After entering, Feng Ling immediately charged upstairs while the rest began searching from the first floor. They needed to search through any corner the family could possibly be hidden in.
On the fifth floor storey. Feng Ling abruptly paused in her footsteps. She turned to scan the balcony not far away; a large wooden crate was left there, almost fully hidden from view by the thick black smoke.
After pausing for a moment, Feng Ling abruptly approached with rapid steps. She kicked apart the lock and lifted the heavy lid. As expected, Mr. Ted and his family were all trapped in there.
The man, the woman, and the three year old child were all restrained. Black cloths were also used to block their vision. After inhaling large amounts of smoke, the three no longer had the strength to struggle. When the black cloth was abruptly ripped off, the first person to look up was the thirty-year old woman. She was likely Mayor Ted’s wife.
When the woman saw Feng Ling, her eyes held fear. After seeing the smoke and flames outside, her gaze immediately turned pleading. She turned to her frightened child, whose eyes were tear-filled and reddened from the smoke. The desire to live in her eyes were even more pronounced than the thick smoke surrounding them.
“Don’t be afraid. I’m here to save you,” Feng Ling spoke in English to the mayor’s wife. At the same time, she ripped off the black tape on their lips.
When the mayor’s wife regained the freedom to speak, she immediately cried out emotionally: “Please save us… we don’t wish to die… save the children…”
“Don’t worry. I’m from the XI base. I’ll definitely ensure your safety,” Feng Ling comforted her and quickly cut open the ropes restraining the child. She then did the same for the mayor and his wife.
“What happened to him?” Feng Ling asked as she supported the child out of the box; unlike his wife and child, the man was fully unconscious.
“After our kidnapping, my husband repeatedly endured through several beatings. He is covered in wounds. When he was brought onto this ship, he received a heavy blow to his head and has been unconscious ever since.” The mayor’s wife was crying as she stood up with some difficulty. She watched this young man carry her child in his arms, and stared at Feng Ling with gratitude. She reached out to help Feng Ling support her unmoving husband out.
“Feng Ling?” At this moment, the rescue team members rushed onto the fifth storey. After hearing the movements on this end, they quickly approached.
“Hurry, support the mayor down first. He has been unconscious for quite some time and has inhaled too much smoke,” as she spoke, Feng Ling tugged off the gas mask on her head and pressed it onto the crying child in her arms. She then turned to eye the mayor’s wife: “Our people will send the mayor down first. Are you able to walk?”
The woman nodded at her frantically; her anxious gaze was fixed on the child in Feng Ling’s arms. It was clear she wished to leave with Feng Ling and the child; she did not want to be separated from her child.
The two rescue team members carried Mr. Ted who weighed more than 100 kilograms and left first. Feng Ling held the crying child in her arms and indicated for the mayor’s wife to follow her.
When the two were moving down the stairs, Qiao Fei quickly approached: “How is it? Are there any more victims upstairs?”
“No, only their family of three. Mayor Ted is unconscious. His wife and child are currently still conscious,” Feng Ling did not falter in her rapid steps even as she answered him.
“If this cruise burns any further, the oil tank will likely explode,” in order not to frighten the mayor’s wife, Qiao Fei softly whispered to Feng Ling.
“I know,” Feng Ling’s expression was serious. However, the child in her arms was both frightened and uncomfortable. She kept pushing her feet against Feng Ling with force. Feng Ling held the child firmly and prevented her from charging out of the cabin.