Chapter 15 Week 14: crossing the sea

Rachel never imagined that one day she would be so excited just because she stepped on the land of Tsim Sha Tsui. When she got out of the smelly water of Victoria Harbor and climbed up the stone steps of the pier in Tsim Sha Tsui East with her body in thermal clothing, Rachel was paralyzed from exhaustion, and felt relaxed immediately.She couldn't help laughing loudly in the night-although she knew it was very dangerous. Rachel is a proficient triathlon athlete, and crossing the distance of Victoria Harbor is not difficult for her; but she was surprised at sea that the physical exertion was far greater than expected, which was caused by the adrenaline produced by intense tension.

After a while, Rachel collected her mood, took off her swimming goggles and snorkeling tube, and walked onto the street wet. In the dark and unlit East Tsim Sha Tsui, glass-curtained buildings are like huge black and cold stone monuments, commemorating the death of a city. Although there seemed to be no one around, Rachel first hid in a dark corner under a pedestrian bridge, and then began to check whether the items she brought were lost in the sea. At this moment Rachel's mood returned to the heaviness of departure. She thought again: what an important mission she had, and how many people had lost their lives to make her successful.

The first thing Rachel identified was the old cell phone, which was protected by a triple plastic bag.The mobile phone was lying safely in the pocket with a pile of dry food. Rachel got it from Professor Lai two weeks ago at a rally in Victoria Park that turned into a "declare war rally". When the crowd fell into a frenzy, Rachel desperately approached Professor Lai.Seeing that Professor Lai's clothes and hair were being pulled by several "Xinfutang" people, it was very difficult to save her.During the confusion, Professor Lai stuffed the phone into Rachel's hand.Rachel will never forget the look in Professor Lai's eyes at that moment: extreme despair and hope are mixed in it.

That was the last time Rachel saw her.The next moment, Professor Lai was pulled into the crowd and disappeared forever.Two days later, Rachel heard the news that the "false prophet" Professor Lai was brutally skinned and executed. Rachel checked the mobile phone, and then understood the meaning of Professor Lai's parting eyes: the mobile phone recorded all the speeches of the Victoria Park assembly.Including Pastor Liang's incitement to declare war, as well as the crazy slogans of the masses. What Professor Lai wants to ask is very clear: tell the people on the other side of the harbour!

Rachel was very nervous after leaving Victoria Park.If people from the "Guanghua Church" knew that she was hiding this thing, the consequences would be unimaginable—it would probably become a "holy meal", right? Rachel was terrified of being recognized - she had only been to Heart Blessing Hall not long ago.For weeks afterward she felt stalked, but wasn't entirely sure.With trepidation, she began to collect the items needed to escape from Hong Kong Island. That Pastor Liang was not only a fanatical agitator, but his strategy was also not simple - just look at the way he led people to raid the Victoria Park rally.Immediately after the declaration of war, he ordered the entire island to be sealed off, strictly preventing anyone from fleeing to the other side to report.

All cross-harbour tunnels and railways are guarded.There are more patrols along the coast. ——It's ridiculous to think about it: in a city that is blocked, the people inside are also blocking themselves. Rachel has never dared to take the risk to set out—seeing those patrolmen wearing T-shirts with the logo of "Guanghua Church" and holding knives or spears on the street really scared her; but seeing the many violent groups on Hong Kong Island in Liang Under the leadership of the pastor, the "Guanghua United Army" is actively preparing for the battle day by day. She is getting more and more anxious, and finally mustered up the courage to escape by night tonight.

She kept thinking about what Professor Lai said before his death: ——Let's not be defeated by fear! At midnight, Rachel was about to go into the water quietly in the Causeway Bay Typhoon Shelter, when suddenly a black shadow rushed towards her!Before she could react, another figure appeared, blocking the attacker. In the darkness, she couldn't see how the two figures were entangled. Until the last shot was fired. A bespectacled man in his fifties, with a smoking revolver in his hand, walked over to Rachel over the body of the "Heart Blessing Church" worker.She froze with fear.

Rachel was surprised by the man's next move: he shoved the gun into her hand. "He's been following you all the time." The old horse said as he took off his backpack, "I know, because I've been following you too." "Why?" Rachel felt her voice hoarse. "Because we all saw that Professor Lai handed over things to you. He waited for so long to see if you still have any accomplices." As the old horse said, he stuffed many things in the rucksack to Rachel: A pile of food supplies, as well as his precious notebooks and ink pens, have all been packed in waterproof packaging, and it seems that they have been prepared for a long time.

"There is no time! His companions will come over soon when they hear the gunshots. Let's go! Remember, these notes are very important, they record the truth of everything! Let everyone read it!" Running footsteps came from a distance Voice. Rachel didn't even have time to say a word of gratitude before jumping into the water.After swimming in the water for a while, she turned her head and saw that the old horse had been beaten and kicked by several people. At the moment in Tsim Sha Tsui East, Rachel took out a police gun to watch.She didn't dare to think about what would happen to the old horse now.

It's just that looking back now, the old horse's speech and expression just now had a very calm composure, as if he was very willing to accept any result... Rachel touched the cell phone and the notebooks wrapped in plastic bags.She was determined to protect them even if she died. ——She felt that this life no longer only belonged to her. The evening wind in November blew against her drenched body, making her tremble uncontrollably. She undoubtedly held very important news and truth in her hands. The question is, to whom?How can everyone be warned and informed? Rachel slanted the police gun into her belt, picked up her bag, and walked in the direction of Nathan Road in a daze.

—Mom, bless me.