Krafft's Anomaly Notes

Chapter 425 Nonlinearity

They saw land.

At the end of the blizzard and the waves, it's like a lonely knot in the folds of fabric, reminding one of the stitches it might be connected to.

An island.

At sea, it is roughly equivalent to a raised seabed, clusters of reefs, and possible shoals and sheltered areas.

"Boss, should we move closer?" The second mate came over and asked the question that everyone was most concerned about.

The boat slowly turned right, following the changes in the waves. At this rate, they would glide along an arc past the island, watching it slide from the left front to the left side and finally land to the left rear.

If you want to try to get close, it's best to start preparing now, because the current won't allow him to force a left turn and position the boat sideways in front of the waves.

The correct approach is to risk partially unfurling the sails and slowly push the boat to the left using the wind. This awkward method allows the boat to stay as close to the island as possible while keeping its bow constantly off course.

If you're lucky, the sea conditions near the island might be different, and you might be able to find a place to anchor.

If you're unlucky or not close enough, you might miss it and never have a chance to turn back.

The second mate looked expectantly at the only person who could decide the course; the old sailor had already pressed the sail winch, waiting for just one word.

William pursed his lips.

His eyes, blurred by the snowmelt, squinted, his arm outstretched, thumb raised, pressing against the right edge of the silhouette.

To be honest, he didn't expect to measure it precisely; he just wanted to estimate its size.

A considerable amount of time has passed since the island was first discovered, but it has hardly changed in sight; in fact, there has been virtually no perceptible change.

At its current speed, propelled by the waves, it should be closer and larger. But it's just like a shadow fixed on the horizon, about the size of a thumbnail, with no details visible.

It could be that the distance was really too far, the boat was rocking too much, or the snow was too heavy and the fog was too thick; there are many plausible explanations, and rationally, they are enough to convince myself.

But intuitively, something stirring deep within him made it difficult for him to empathize with the joy of others grasping at a lifeline.

Time and opportunity slipped away in hesitation. The second mate hesitated several times, glancing frequently at the deck, where there were a dozen anxious hands and a dozen pairs of feet yearning for land and stability.

"Mainmast, keep the sail still, mainsail...lower it a little, slow it down!"

The weighing of pros and cons overcame instinct and intuition.

What could be better than a piece of land amidst a terrible blizzard?

According to simple logic, if you encounter trouble at sea, whether it's a storm or something else, you will eventually reach the coastline.

He should certainly move closer to the safe haven, both for safety reasons and to appease the public sentiment.

Even the most authoritative captain cannot go against the reasonable wishes of the majority.

If they're lucky, and the lost Iceberg also finds this island, they might be able to reunite here.

The sailors cheered as they untied the ropes, the visible hope temporarily dispelling the cold and fatigue. However, their movements were not as clean and efficient as usual, with some small, unsightly gestures that made people frown.

Every now and then you can see someone turning their head to the side, rubbing their collar against their neck; or clenching their arms and legs together, rubbing against the rough fabric.

A visible tingling sensation spread across the deck. William unconsciously scratched his face; his skin was abnormally sensitive, and even the ice shards in the wind felt like mosquitoes crawling on his skin.

Along with a subtle stinging sensation, a few scattered, unmelted white specks appeared on the surface of the dark brown leather glove.

I took a closer look and saw that they were bits of dead skin, something people who don't often have a chance to wash their hair would be familiar with. But what was different from usual was that the bits of skin were fresh and still retained the soft texture of the skin, curling up as they were rubbed.

He wiped his gloves clean on his body, then couldn't help rubbing them again. This time, even more dandruff appeared, covering his palms like snowflakes. The slight stinging sensation was mixed with the itching, making it unbearable.

After relaying the order, the second mate returned and suddenly remembered the conversation that had been interrupted by the island.

"Oh right, boss, I was just about to say your face is a little red, don't drink too much."

"blush?"

William pulled out the flask and shook it; it was still more than half full. The silver-wrapped flask was uneven, salt-corroded, and grayish, barely reflecting a person's image.

Her face, damp and distorted, was flushed with a touch of red. Unlike the flush of drunkenness or the purplish-red of a cold wind, it was deeper, seeping into her skin, reminding one of a woman struggling to make a living at the port, her thick powder obscuring whether it was makeup that hadn't been removed properly or bruises left by a slap, carrying an undeniable sense of sickness.

I've never seen this color on myself before, yet it looks strangely familiar, as if I've seen it not long ago.

My head felt a little dizzy, and I could feel a slight warmth on my forehead in the cold wind, which seemed to be a sign of impending illness.

Misfortune never comes singly; there's reason to suspect that I might have offended God the Father. I should probably donate some money to the church after I arrive in Hong Kong.

"Go away, go away, I can drink several pots of wine like this, I'm perfectly sober."

After shooing away the meddlesome second mate, William leaned against the helm, rubbed his forehead, and stood there for a while. The heat hadn't subsided and had even spread to his cheeks.

I was sweating, or at least probably sweating; the hot and humid air, so different from the surrounding environment, made my skin and clothes stick together.

An unbearable itch rose from the damp heat, and scratching through the clothes had little effect.

Compared to our Heavenly Father, what we need more right now is a doctor, a real doctor, not those quacks in the harbor who only sell mercury and mysterious ointments.

He knew a doctor like that, but that person was probably in the heart of the kingdom, handling some profound matters that were difficult for ordinary people to understand, and his status was becoming increasingly noble. He really couldn't think of any favor or important matter that would allow him to come out.

A strong gust of wind swept in, billowing the sails, and he instinctively looked up to check.

A striking black spot came into view; it was the island.

It got bigger.

In that brief moment when I looked away, it transformed from a silhouette barely visible on the horizon into something with volume and shape.

William rubbed his eyes in disbelief, then straightened his arm again and gave a thumbs up.

From the water's surface to the highest point of the island, it occupies an entire section the size of a thumb, nearly twice the size of before.

Although it is still far away and small, if you look closely, you can vaguely see its arc-shaped outline. It does not quite conform to the rugged and broken mountain shapes commonly seen on ice fields, and there are no jagged sea cliffs and rocky shores.

The curve wasn't the gentle, gradually rising and falling shape of hills; it tapered steeply on both sides but remained flat in the middle, resembling an arch rising from the sea.

The boat did not accelerate noticeably, but the distance seemed to have suddenly closed by a large margin.

William's gaze swept across the deck and landed on another person who still had the energy to keep track of the voyage.

The second mate was right under the mainmast, his lips slightly parted, silently watching them.

Her face was flushed with surprise and an unhealthy blush.

(°ー°〃) Still alive...