18 Floors Above the Apocalypse novel Chapter 425

Stella felt a pang of regret for rushing off so quickly that day. If only she had taken a moment to check things out first.

Jasper chuckled at her thoughts, “You know, you can actually train to hold your breath underwater.”

Most people can manage a minute or two underwater, but world record holders can last up to 22 minutes. It’s amazing what humans can do when pushed to their limits.

You can also train for speed while free-diving, with the best reaching speeds of a hundred meters per minute. So, Iran’s ability to stay underwater for long periods wasn’t all that surprising.

Stella couldn’t help but marvel at the world’s wonders. The sea stretched endlessly, and the sky was painted with the fiery hues of a sunset.

Tired of being cooped up in the submarine, the trio and their dog decided to enjoy a meal in the open air. They had been living on bland box lunches, so they opted for a spicy hot pot instead.

They set up a folding table and chairs, placed a portable gas stove on top, and laid out plates of thinly sliced beef, lamb, meatballs, mushrooms, seaweed, winter melon, tofu skin, and an assortment of greens. The broth bubbled fiercely, its spicy aroma carried away by the sea breeze.

Jasper popped open a bottle of red wine, and the glasses clinked in the golden light. Rosie laughed, “To my favorite brother and sister-in-law, cheers!”

Cooper, who couldn’t handle the spice or the wine, barked pitifully, pawing at the ground and turning away from his bowl of chicken breast and bones. He glanced longingly at the ocean, drool betraying his discontent.

Stella, feeling bad for him, gave him some freeze-dried treats. After the fiery meal, they felt refreshed, the gloom lifted, their spirits high.

Indeed, there seemed to be nothing a good hot pot couldn’t fix. Full and content, they submerged the submarine to wash up and sleep.

They woke naturally to a calm and well-lit sea, predicting another day of serene weather. After Blue Blue finished scratching an itch and seeing Cooper eager for exercise, Stella decided to bring out the yacht.

Rosie took the opportunity to sun the flowers, while Cooper dashed up and down the decks in a display of canine parkour.

Having learned their lesson, they kept a close watch for any rapid changes in the weather, which could be as quick as flipping a page in a book.

Around noon, a breeze picked up, but it wasn’t severe. The pair went down for a nap, and Stella told Jasper to take over in two hours.

After he left, she indulged in a luxurious face mask, lounging in a beach chair and scanning the sea with her binoculars.

Just as she washed her face and was about to apply her skincare, a foul stench hit her. She sniffed, thinking it smelled like rotten fish. Could it be that they hadn’t properly cleaned up after the flying fish last time? Impossible, Jasper was meticulous about cleanliness.

She grabbed her binoculars and scanned the area with heightened alertness. There was a boat! Upwind, a small vessel appeared, drifting slowly with the wind. The stench was undoubtedly coming from that direction.

Stella studied the boat, a sense of familiarity creeping in. A few more looks, and she recognized it – wasn’t that a Thai fishing boat? Damn it, a ghost ship? They were more than a hundred nautical miles away, and yet it had drifted here on the current.