r18novel Chapter 388 Cuba-Jama Channel
Chapter 388 Cuba-Jama Channel
Chapter 386 Cuba-Jama Channel
The alley was deathly silent. Only the distant hustle and bustle of the dock and the cries of seabirds seemed to come from another world.
Raven covered her mouth, her eyes brimming with tears.
Mike removed his captain's hat, bowed his head, and remained silent for a long time, paying the highest respect to his recently deceased old friend as a sailor.
Just then, Jose's left hand, which had been clenched into a fist, slowly loosened as life faded away.
"Clang—"
A crisp sound, like metal colliding with pebbles, rang out.
The 1714 Spanish Royal Gold Coin, which he cherished as his life, slipped from his loosened fingers, rolled half a circle on the ground, and finally came to rest at Lin Yu'an's feet. The golden surface of the coin shimmered with its last rays of light in the morning glow.
Mike and Raven's gazes both fell on Lin Yu'an with some surprise.
Lin Yu'an bent down and picked up the gold coin that still carried the last warmth of the old man.
Then he bent down and gently unbuttoned the top two buttons of José's well-tailored suit, revealing a clean white shirt underneath.
He carefully and solemnly placed the Spanish royal gold coin, which carried Anya's last warmth and José's lifelong wait, into the old man's shirt pocket, the pocket closest to his heart.
After doing all this, she re-buttoned his suit jacket one by one and straightened his equally meticulous bow tie.
"Let's go, soldier," he whispered in an almost inaudible voice.
"Let her take you home."
Mike looked at Lin Yu'an's solemn actions, a look of understanding and emotion flashing in his eyes. He knew that there must be other stories behind this, far more serious than he had imagined.
There was no time for grief to settle; the realities of life immediately followed. Mike did not remain immersed in grief; he began to deal with Jose's funeral arrangements.
He first contacted the local police station and hospital in Samana, showing them the envelope left by Jose, which contained a legally valid death statement and will that had already been notarized by a lawyer.
The statement clearly states that due to his advanced age, he chose to end his life peacefully through "assisted suicide" while he was of sound mind, and that this matter had nothing to do with anyone else.
In the Catholic country of the Dominican Republic, such behavior is discouraged, but no one would question it further for a respected centenarian who is about to turn 100.
That afternoon, a very simple funeral was held in a small cemetery by the sea in Samana.
There was no memorial service, no elaborate ceremonies, and not even a priest.
There were only four people: Lin Yu'an, Ruiwen, Mike, and Fernando, the fat guy who was notified by Mike to come and had always wanted to buy the bar.
They buried Jose's simple pine coffin in a grave facing the sea. Mike himself shoveled the first handful of soil onto him.
There was no tombstone, only a simple wooden cross. It bore no name, no dates of birth or death, only one word—"Going Home."
That evening, in the salon of the North Star's cabin.
The atmosphere was somewhat heavy. Mike silently poured himself and Lin Yu'an two glasses of rum, while Raven made herself a cup of hot tea.
Mike placed the Canon digital camera that Jose had left behind on the table. The camera looked quite old, with many signs of use on the body, but the lens was still clean and bright.
He turned on the camera and pressed play. The camera's LCD screen displayed only one video file.
Mike connected the camera to the ship's large-screen TV via a data cable.
He pressed play.
The video shook for a few moments before settling down. The high-definition video clearly showed José's study, filled with memories of bygone days. Behind him was the bookshelf leading to the safe.
A few seconds later, José walked into the frame. He looked to be in good spirits, with even a relieved smile on his face, as if he were about to complete his final mission.
He clearly fixed the camera on a tripod and recorded this video himself.
Lin Yu'an thought he would tell some legendary stories about his life in this will.
However, in the video, José did not reminisce about his life, nor did he mention anything about the war or the KGB.
Even Anya's matter.
His narration was calm, clear, and pragmatic, like a captain about to embark on a long voyage, explaining the last few trivial matters before leaving port.
"—In my wine cellar, there's that bottle of 1945 Havana Club rum. I remember leaving it for Louis at the dock; that old guy's been talking about it for years."
"—The old Chevrolet pickup truck in the garage, the key is in the bar drawer. Give it to Aunt Maria next door, she needs a car to go to the market to sell fruit every day—"
"—Finally," in the video, Jose's gaze pierced through the lens, as if he were having a life-or-death confrontation with the microphone in front of the screen.
"This bar is yours, my friend. The ledgers and property documents are in the study drawer."
He laughed. "I suggest you sell the bar to that fat Fernando. He may be greedy, but he genuinely loves this bar and will run it well."
"Take that money, buy the best sail in the world for your sailboat, and then—continue your voyage and go see this peaceful world."
At the end of the video, José raised his glass.
"Alright, instructions complete. Cheers to the sea, cheers to freedom. Goodbye, friends."
He gave the camera a relieved smile, then reached out and turned off the recording. The screen went dark.
This is the last image he left for the world. Clean, decisive, without a trace of superfluous emotion. Like any mission he carried out as a secret agent.
Mike silently turned off the video and remained silent for a long time.
He picked up his glass and drank the wine in one gulp, but his eyes were already brimming with tears.
Jose is gone, and it would be unfair to Mike and Raven, as team members, to continue to keep that shocking secret about nuclear fraud completely hidden.
He selectively told one version of the story.
He simply told Mike and Raven the love story that Jose had personally recounted: the boy from the "Storm Tribe," the girl named Anya, and the gold coin that served as a token of their love.
The entire incident can be defined as a cenotaph built in that cave by a veteran KGB agent to protect the last secret between him and his lover, a tomb filled with lies and disguises.
Under the sunlight, Raven was deeply moved as she listened to this sorrowful story that spanned half a century and was filled with war, separation, and a lifetime of waiting.
Looking at the boundless sea, she said softly, "So—he wasn't protecting any state secrets, he was just—waiting for someone who will never come back."
"Yes." Lin Yu'an nodded.
Although this story is not the whole truth, it is the most authentic core in terms of emotion.
It provides the most human-like explanation for all of Hesai's actions. Ultimately, it concludes with a love story filled with regret and sorrow.
[Day 16 of the voyage, 7:00 AM, Samana Port]
When the first rays of morning sunlight bathed the mast of the North Star in gold, the atmosphere on board was no longer filled with the excitement of an impending voyage, but rather with a complex mix of sadness and melancholy.
Mike stayed up all night, handling all the legal documents and the handover of the bar.
When Fernando, that fat guy, got the bar key, he was so excited he almost kissed Mike's hand.
Mike deposited the enormous sum of money, far exceeding expectations, into an anonymous Swiss bank account—José's final legacy to him.
Now, it's time to leave.
"Are we... still going to Cuba?" Raven asked softly, standing beside the helm.
Her gaze turned southwest, toward Havana, the legendary place they had originally planned to visit, a place filled with the aroma of cigars and rum.
Mike didn't speak, but just looked at Lin Yu'an, leaving the final decision to the young captain.
Lin Yu'an was at the bridge, carefully planning a new route. Instead of looking southwest towards Cuba, he zoomed in on the electronic chart northward, all the way to the coastline of Florida, USA.
He slowly raised his head, his gaze sweeping over Raven and Mike, and said, "No, we're not going to Cuba."
"Why?" Raven asked, somewhat surprised.
"Because the chessboard has changed." Lin Yu'an's answer was concise yet full of profound meaning. "The moment we uncovered Jose's secret, we transformed from explorers into moving targets carrying top secrets."
His gaze sharpened: "Cuba is the core springboard of Operation Swift. At this point, with us appearing in the port of Havana, what do you think will happen in the future?"
"Our every move could be unearthed by some organization in the future. Our family visit might be interpreted by them as a signal of some kind of handover."
"This will leave us with enormous trouble in the future, and we may never be able to clear it up."
"Sometimes," he concluded, "the wisest choice is not to advance, but to retreat. To temporarily disappear from the chessboard."
This calm, almost ruthless analysis instantly shattered the last glimmer of hope in Raven's heart.
They all understood that Lin Yu'an was right. They were no longer free navigators; they carried a secret that could ignite the world.
"So where are we going?" Mike asked.
"Let's go home." A slight smile finally appeared on Lin Yu'an's face. He pointed to the beautifully planned arc on the screen. "We'll go straight back to Fort Lauderdale."
He turned the screen toward the two of them and began explaining the new route.
"Mike, come look. We're in luck! It's April, the best sailing season in the Caribbean! A steady northeast trade wind will push us along from our right rear!"
He pointed to the shipping route on the map: "We will sail along this classic Cuban Hama route, passing through the northern Turks and Caicos Islands."
"Then head northwest along the deep waters between Cuba and the Bahamas. This route is deep and calm, with no dangerous shallows."
"The most exciting part is the second half," he said, pointing to the western side of the Bahamas. "When we round it and enter the Florida Straits, we'll be joined by the powerful Gulf Stream! It's a blue highway with speeds exceeding four knots!"
"Following the wind, and with the current—" He looked at Mike, his eyes gleaming. "Mike, do you understand what this means?"
When Mike saw this route, his eyes, which had become slightly dim due to Jose's passing, were instantly rekindled with the old captain's passion for speed and the sea!
"Of course I understand!" He laughed, his previous gloom vanishing. "This means we're not just sailing, we're flying! The North Star can easily maintain a speed of over 6 knots! A 700-nautical-mile voyage won't even take us four days!"
"That's right." Lin Yu'an nodded. "So, cheer up, guys. Forget about the sadness and secrets. The next few days will be pure speed and passion!"
These words, like a northeast trade wind, instantly dispelled the heavy clouds that had hung over the ship.
"Weigh anchor!" Lin Yu'an gave the order.
The massive anchor chain, laden with the last drops of water from the harbor of Samana, rose slowly from the sea. The Polaris, propelled by its engines, glided silently out of the harbor.
As the ship entered open waters, Lin Yu'an and Mike raised the mainsail and jib together. The huge white sails, billowing in the strong northeast trade winds, instantly filled with wind, like two enormous wings.
Lin Yu'an turned off the engine.
The world fell silent instantly, with only the hissing of the sails cutting through the air and the splashing of the bow breaking through the blue waves.
The North Star tilted slightly and began to speed along the sea surface in a heart-pounding manner, heading towards the endless deep blue of the northwest!
Raven stood at the bow of the ship, letting the warm sea breeze blow through her long hair.
She looked back and saw the dark green mountains of the Dominican Republic and the small town that buried a legendary story rapidly shrinking in size.
She quickly turned around and walked back to the cockpit, her face beaming with that radiant smile that resembled the Caribbean sun.
"Captain, the first mate reporting for duty! Is there anything I can do for you?" she asked Lin Yu'an playfully as he adjusted the autopilot.
Lin Yu'an looked at her radiant face and smiled, "Of course. Go check all the sails and ropes, and then—make me one of your best cocktails. We need to celebrate the North Star's new record!"
"A new record?"
"Look at that!" Lin Yu'an pointed to the GPS screen on the cockpit that displayed the speed.
The bright red number above is steadily jumping up and down to "12.5KTS"!
"My God!" Raven exclaimed. 12.5 knots—for a non-race heavy keelboat, that's practically the theoretical maximum speed!
"That's the power of the trade winds!" Mike exclaimed excitedly, his face flushed. Like a child who had just received his beloved toy, he kept fine-tuning the angle of the mainsail, trying to squeeze out just one last 0.1 knots of speed from the wind.
"The wind speed is stable at 20 knots, with a wind angle of 135 degrees—a perfect crosswind!"
"The waves are gentle, and the boat is stable! God, if I could sail on a route like this every day, I'd trade all my rum for it!"
The Polaris, at this moment, seemed like a white cheetah whose soul had been awakened. It was no longer leisurely cruising, but embarking on a thrilling sprint.
The sturdy bow, like a sharp blue battle axe, fiercely cleaves through every surging wave in front of it, cutting the azure seawater into two magnificent tracks of rolling white foam.
The massive mainsail and foresail, hardened by the strong trade winds, provided a continuous source of power for this behemoth.
This is the ultimate enjoyment for seafarers. It's the ultimate thrill of perfect harmony between man, ship, and nature.
As evening fell, Raven emerged from the cabin carrying three cocktails made with Jamaican dark rum, ginger ale, and lime.
The setting sun was burning the western sky and sea into a magnificent, indescribable orange-red and golden-purple hue.
"To the North Star!" Mike raised his glass.
"To freedom!" Raven added.
"Respect—next stop." Lin Yu'an said softly, looking at the setting sun in the distance.
Three wine glasses gently clinked together in the magnificent sunset.
That evening, at 9:00 PM
The night, like the purest deep blue velvet, enveloped the entire world.
Far removed from all land-based light pollution, the Caribbean night sky displays its most awe-inspiring grandeur.
Under the precise control of the autopilot, the Polaris continued to sail smoothly at a speed of over 10 knots on this dreamlike sea composed of starlight and phosphorescence.
The waves that broke through the bow stirred up countless blue plankton that flickered with the waves, like two flowing galaxies drawn on a black canvas.
Mike had already returned to his cabin and was fast asleep. The excitement of the day had exhausted the old captain.
Only Lin Yu'an and Ruiwen remained in the cockpit.
Raven didn't go to sleep. She quietly brewed two cups of hot tea and sat down beside Lin Yu'an. Neither of them spoke, but simply gazed side by side at the endless sea of stars before them.
The pale green data on the navigation computer screen, along with the starlight in the sky, reflected on their young faces.
"Lin," Raven broke the silence after what seemed like an eternity, her voice soft as if afraid of disturbing the tranquility, "Thank you."
"Why are you saying thank you?" Lin Yu'an turned her head and looked at her.
Under the faint starlight, her profile appeared exceptionally soft, and her blue eyes seemed to hold the entire Milky Way.
"Thank you—" she whispered, "and thank you—for everything you did in Miami."
She didn't go into more detail, but they both knew the answer.
Lin Yu'an was silent for a moment. He could smell the faint scent of shampoo coming from her hair, mixed with the smell of the sea breeze, creating a comforting aroma.
"I just did what I was supposed to do," he replied.
“No,” Raven shook her head, turned to look at him intently, “you have done far more than you should have.”
Her gaze was bold and direct, filled with undisguised affection, like two warm flames about to engulf him.
Lin Yu'an's heart skipped a beat.
Under Raven's clear yet intense gaze, any attempt to dodge would seem like cowardice and hypocrisy.
He remembered that crazy yet tender night at the Miami hotel, and how she looked peacefully asleep, nestled in his arms, when he woke up that morning.
Some things, once they happen, can no longer be ignored.
He remained silent, not saying a word, but his silence itself was a form of acquiescence.
Seeing that he didn't flinch, Raven grew bolder. Slowly and tentatively, she moved closer to him until they were almost touching.
She could clearly feel the warmth emanating from his body and his steady, powerful heartbeat.
"Lin," she spoke again, her voice as soft as if in a dream, yet clear enough to reach his ears, "in Miami—that wasn't a mistake, was it?"
This question, like a silent arrow, instantly pierced the last line of defense in Lin Yu'an's heart.
He slowly turned his head and met her gaze again.
"No," he replied, his voice a little hoarse but incredibly firm.
Upon receiving this answer, Raven's face instantly blossomed into a radiant smile, as dazzling as the stars.
Without any further hesitation, she tilted her head slightly and took the initiative to gently press her lips against his.
This kiss was completely different from the one in Miami, which was full of catharsis and passion.
It was light and gentle, carrying a hint of sea breeze saltiness and the fragrance of hot tea. Like a feather, it lightly and tentatively brushed past...
Lin Yu'an's body stiffened for a moment, but this time, he did not hesitate at all.
He reached out, not to support her shoulders, but to gently cradle the back of her neck, and then deepened the kiss.
From probing to responding, and then to intimacy.
In this secluded, deep blue world, witnessed only by starlight and phosphorescence, two equally proud and lonely hearts finally opened themselves completely and without reservation to each other.
After an unknown amount of time, when the two separated, their breathing had become somewhat rapid.
Lin Yu'an looked at Raven's eyes, glistening with emotion, and her red lips, more alluring than starlight. Some things are destined, and some things simply happen naturally.
He didn't say anything more, but bent down and picked her up in his arms.
Raven let out a soft gasp and instinctively wrapped her arms around his neck.
"Is the autopilot working properly?" she whispered in his ear, using the last shred of her sanity.
"The route set by Mike will take us safely to Florida even if we sleep for a whole day," Lin Yu'an replied, carrying her steadily towards the bedroom in the cabin.
The bedroom lights were off.
Only the dazzling Milky Way outside the porthole, and the phosphorescent light, like blue flames, stirred up by the bow as it cut through the waves, created a dreamlike interplay of light and shadow in the room.
The slightly cramped single bed rose and fell rhythmically and gently with the ship's movement, like an eternal cradle.
Lin Yu'an gently placed Ruiwen on the soft bed. Just as she straightened up, her body suddenly stiffened again.
Well--
This time, however, the stiffness was accompanied by a warm and comfortable 37 degrees Celsius, and everything became slow and precious.
Raven's singing gradually rose in pitch...
"Raven, darling, you might need to lower your volume..."
"I'm afraid if I wake Mike, he'll kill me."
"No, he was very sad today and drank a lot of rum."
(I really can't write anymore)
When everything calmed down, Raven nestled quietly in her arms, not wanting to move at all.
She felt as if her body had just been through a storm, and every inch of her skin, every cell, still retained that tingling, trembling sensation.
The cool starlight outside the porthole filtered through the thin gauze curtains, casting a hazy glow on her.
Her healthy, wheat-colored skin, now flushed with a charming, faint blush like the sunset, was due to the rush of blood from the intense exercise and the lingering shyness.
A few strands of golden hair, damp with sweat, clung messily to her smooth forehead and slightly heaving chest.
Those blue eyes, still shimmering with a hint of languid satisfaction from the moment they reached the summit, were now glistening with a dreamy light.
Unlike in Miami, Raven didn't fall asleep immediately due to extreme exhaustion.
With her eyes open, she looked out the porthole at the Milky Way flowing backward, feeling as if she were lying on a spaceship heading into the depths of the universe.
The man beside her was her only captain.
"Lin," she asked softly.
"Um?"
"You seem to have many secrets."
Lin Yu'an paused, her hand stroking Ruiwen's smooth back. She turned her head to look at Ruiwen, who was nestled in her arms.
In the hazy starlight streaming through the porthole, her blue eyes shone brighter than any star outside, gazing at him intently with a searching look.
"Everyone has secrets," he finally replied, his voice very soft.
"Then—will you tell me?" Raven's voice held a hint of something she herself didn't realize.
It's the way lovers act coquettishly and express their anticipation.
Lin Yu'an paused for a moment.
"You will someday, but right now I have a treasure to show you. Close your eyes first."
"Baby?" Raven asked, somewhat confused.
Raven's eyelashes fluttered gently like butterfly wings. Although she was full of curiosity, she obediently closed her beautiful blue eyes.
"Alright, open your eyes."
Raven slowly opened her eyes, filled with curiosity.
That was an Easter egg.
After confirming that she had completely closed her eyes, Lin Yu'an had a sudden thought.
The next second, a heavy object appeared silently in his empty hand.
He gently placed the object between the two of them.
"Alright, open your eyes."
Raven slowly opened her eyes, filled with curiosity.
Then, her breath caught in her throat the moment she saw what was in front of her!
That was an Easter egg.
Bathed in the soft starlight and phosphorescence of the ship's exterior, it radiated a gentle and noble glow—
Royal Easter Egg!
Its main body is made of pale blue and milky white enamel, with an elegant and serene tone. The surface of the egg is covered with Rococo-style scroll carvings made of gold, and is also adorned with countless tiny diamonds, like stars frozen on the eggshell.
The entire egg is supported by three majestic heraldic lions, standing firmly on an ornate pedestal. At the top of the egg is a miniature model of the Order of the Elephant, the highest honor of the Danish royal family.
"My God!" Raven was completely stunned by the unimaginable work of art before her.
"This is—" she murmured to herself, her mind blank.
"The Fabergé egg," Lin Yu'an announced softly, revealing its surname, and then uttering its legendary name, which only existed in legends and black-and-white photographs, "The Royal Danish Egg, 1903."
Upon hearing this name, Raven's shock reached its peak! She certainly knew the weight of this name!
"Royal Denmark?!" she exclaimed. "The one Tsar Nicholas II gave to his mother to commemorate the 6th anniversary of the Danish King's accession to the throne? I thought—I thought it, like the other six Easter eggs, had long since disappeared into history!"
"Right now, it's on our ship. Right in our bed." A hint of mischievous satisfaction appeared on Lin Yu'an's face.
It took Raven a long time to recover from the huge shock. She carefully touched the cold and gorgeous golden surface of the egg with her fingertips.
That unique, weighty, royal quality cannot be conveyed by any photograph.
"So—" She looked up at Lin Yu'an, her eyes filled with indescribable complex emotions, "this is one of your secrets?"
"I guess so." Lin Yu'an nodded. "It's a secret I'm willing to share with you."
He didn't tell her about the notebook's existence, nor did he reveal José's true identity. He simply presented her with this hidden gem, this relatively safe secret.
Raven looked at him, then at the Easter egg that looked unreal under the starlight.
This man chose to respond to her question in this way. He didn't answer directly, but gave her a more weighty and meaningful answer.
He was willing to share with her a priceless secret, a secret that would drive the whole world crazy. That was enough.
A genuine smile returned to her face. "Alright, I'll keep this secret for you for now."
Lin Yu'an lowered his head and placed a gentle kiss on her forehead.
"Alright, it's getting late. Go to sleep. You must be tired after a day's sailing." His voice carried a hint of doting affection that he himself didn't realize, an affection that seemed to have only ever appeared with Raven.
As he spoke, he prepared to get up and get out of bed.
However, the moment he moved, a soft arm, like a vine, swiftly and firmly wrapped around his waist.
"Where are you going?" Raven's voice came muffledly from behind him, carrying a hint of dependence and dissatisfaction from not wanting to be separated after their newly established intimate relationship.
"I'm going to the cockpit," Lin Yu'an explained somewhat helplessly. "Although we have an autopilot, according to navigation regulations, someone must be on duty in the cockpit when sailing at night. I'll keep an eye on the ship and, while I'm at it—also study our next route."
"Don't go." Raven's arms tightened around her even more.
"The ship has radar warning and an AIS collision avoidance system," she said, pressing her cheek against his broad back, her voice tinged with a sweet, coquettish tone. "The autopilot is very reliable. There's no danger here tonight, just the two of us."
She was like a clingy girlfriend who didn't want her boyfriend to go out to work overtime, using the softest approach to make the most firm attempt to keep him.
"Raven, stop it." Lin Yu'an tried to reason with her. "These are the rules—"
"I don't care about any rules!" Raven simply wrapped herself around him like an octopus, her legs clamping around his waist, firmly "locking" him to the bed.
"I command you, Captain Lin. As your first mate, and also as—your——um—"
She seemed to be searching for the right words, but in the end, she gave up and simply whispered in his ear, in a domineering tone, "—Anyway, tonight, you're not going anywhere. You're staying here with me."
Lin Yu'an could clearly feel the warm and soft touch coming from her body, as well as the warm breath that sprayed behind her ear, carrying a sweet scent.
His newly established rational defenses, which were based on his desire to investigate the secrets of the cockpit, crumbled instantly under this unreasonable yet incredibly sweet offensive.
He sighed inwardly. At this moment, the old saying that the emperor would not hold court in the morning became even more concrete.
Raven's clingy and affectionate nature is a quality that Arya, McCormick, and Emily do not possess.
He stopped struggling, gave up all resistance, lay back down, turned around, and hugged the unreasonable "octopus" and the soft silk quilt tightly into his arms.
"Alright," he surrendered, his voice filled with helplessness and a hint of amusement, "I'll listen to you, First Mate."
"That's more like it." Raven adjusted to a more comfortable position in his arms, a triumphant smile playing on her lips.
Outside the window, there is an endless starry sky and deep blue.
Inside the cabin, the two were embracing tightly.
At this moment, Lin Yu'an temporarily forgot everything else...only the tranquility and sweetness brought by the steady breathing of the girl in his arms remained.
(The November monthly pass lottery will begin at 8:00 PM tonight. The list of winners will be announced in a separate chapter.)