True Love Waits

Chapter 437 A Rescue To Remember

Kasie nervously tugged at Wesley's sleeve before he left for the rescue. "Colonel Li, please. Make sure they come back safe and sound. Please!" she begged, her voice shaking. Wesley broke free from her grip and assured her, "Don't worry. I will." And that was when Kasie realized she was being a bit foolish. She withdrew her hands, and looked down.

After the search and rescue team left, Blair sat on a bench, chin propped up in her hands as she watched the ship sail away. She prayed in her mind, 'Dear God, please bring all of them home safe..." Half an hour later, the rescue ship that Wesley was in began to slow a little when they were some miles from the coastline.

Wesley carefully observed the area through a set of binoculars, hoping to find an island or anything from Carlos and Debbie's yacht. He knew he could only see about 3 miles out due to the curvature of the earth, but the digital magnification and enhancement were what he was after. No sign of a yacht or his friends, but he did spot a killer whale leaping out and diving into the sea some distance away. It was common to see killer whales around here, so he paid it no mind. He continued to focus on searching for what he wanted.

Time passed quickly. Still, nothing-nothing but the endless sea that stretched to the horizon. Wesley listened to the reports from the rescue team in the helicopters. "One klick south by southeast, nothing. Over."

"Two klicks northeast, no sign. Over."

Still no good news. Wesley was beginning to think this might be a fool's errand.

Wesley continued to look into the distance through the binoculars. The killer whale came into view again, but this time, it was much closer to the boat. 'I hope that big guy's careful. He doesn't need to get caught by our propeller.'

When he was about to shift his gaze away from the whale, something on its mouth caught his eye. 'Is it hurt, or is that just some fish?' He zoomed in for a closer look, but it dove again before he could figure ou what that was. When the thing surfaced again, he got another chance.

Wesley quickly directed the lens towards the killer whale again. It swam closer and closer to them. He got a better look. It was dark blue, and seemed as if it were a torn piece of cloth. Wasting no time, he told the captain to bring the cutter alongside the killer whale.

When he was close enough to observe the orca without the help of the binoculars, he asked the captain to stop the ship. Magically, the killer whale instantly sprang up, breaking the surface of the water, and made sounds, like it was trying to communicate. It sounded like someone was letting air out of a balloon, deliberately making it squeak.

The whale leapt up, and Wesley was able to pull the piece of cloth from the whale's mouth. 'Did it eat someone? That doesn't sound right. They don't do that, usually, ' he thought. He examined the shred of clothing carefully. 'There! That tag! Mazu Resortwear Classic Swim Shorts! That's what Carlos wears!' he thought excitedly.

Next to Wesley, Niles also recognized the piece of cloth. He looked at the killer whale with excitement in his eyes. "Are they alive, though? He keeps swimming in one direction, and then wheeling back to us!" After another squeal, the killer whale dove into the sea and swam towards the northwest.

Wesley radioed the rescue team in the helicopters, telling them to fly northwest.

hands and passed the recently shelled lobster

mind." Debbie grabbed the slice of lobster and took a bite. 'It's not bad. Sweeter and lighter than the crab we cooked up,' she

off and lifted it to his lips. "Take a

"I'll stick

don't

a little pause, he corrected, "If you like

for a short while and smiled. "I really think we'll get off

in the eye. He

in front of his lips again,

when he looked at Debbie, she looked content. She was really a trooper. Debbie shouldn't spend the rest of her life on such a

get her back home,'

lobster, they heard a loud sound above their heads. They

there, and several more were on an approach vector. When she spotted them, Debbie immediately threw away the lobster, sending the carcass skidding across the sand. She jumped up and down, waving her hands vigorously. "Over here! Hey!" she shouted to the helicopters in English.

clapped the food debris off his hands. Looking

in doubt, "Didn't you say that it would be better

But..." He pointed to the cutter with their national flag flying in the wind; the killer whale was right alongside the

guy? Look, Carlos! It brought them here!" she exclaimed excitedly

that he didn't have to sit in the office

ran up to them, leaving his brother to

Wesley with a fist bump and a hug. "Thanks, man!" That was all he said. But the two words carried a lot more meaning than

her chest, but she didn't mind. She bent over, kissed it and said sincerely, "Thank you so much, big guy! You saved us." The killer whale let out a cheerful sound and rubbed against her body, just like Piggy snuggling

piled into the raft and boated over to the cutter. They climbed the ladder on the side of the patrol boat to leave the raft. When they were finally safely aboard, Carlos pulled off Niles' shirt and put it on Debbie. The man's shirt was too large for her, so it covered her

but Carlos

keeping a safe distance from the ship, but close enough to be seen. Seeing its dorsal fin cutting