As Jack turned his gaze towards Georgia, he found her fixated on the boat ahead, her eyes reflecting a mixture of determination and anticipation. Deep inside him, a well of impatience stirred. It felt almost cruel to burden her with his revelations on such a joyous occasion.
Perhaps it would be wiser to postpone such conversations until they return. Today was meant to make up for the lost moments, after all.
He lowered his voice, a gentle tone masking his inner turmoil, "Do you wish to win?"
Georgia responded with unwavering resolve, "Absolutely."
With a nod, Jack concurred, "Then, let's go for that red flag too."
The boat's acceleration was gradual, carrying them closer to the cluster of bushes where the red flag was concealed. Georgia leaned in, extending her head over the edge, and finally spotted a hint of red hidden amidst the foliage.
"I see a red flag there!"
Jack acknowledged her discovery and eased the boat closer to the bush. With deliberate precision, he reached out, plucking the red flag from its earthy nest.
Taking hold of the prize, Georgia's eyes danced with excitement as she waved it triumphantly, exclaiming, "Fantastic! Let's continue searching!"
A subtle smile tugged at the corners of Jack's lips as he continued guiding their vessel.
Their journey, thus far, had been unexpectedly smooth, as they managed to locate five red flags.
Glancing at the time, Jack turned his gaze toward the woman by his side and inquired, "Shall we seek out another one?"
Georgia nodded resolutely, determination etched in her expression. This time, they were determined to win. Their previous delay due to her oversight was not to be repeated; this time, they would coordinate flawlessly.
Pressing on, Jack skillfully navigated the boat, distancing themselves from most of the other vessels. The boat weaved through twists and turns around the thickets, and Georgia's sharp eyes soon spotted yet another red flag, secured to a higher point on a bush.
"Look, there's one over there!"
The flag was positioned slightly out of reach, flanked by mucky terrain on both sides. Jack approached with caution, carefully retrieving the flag before attempting to reverse the boat.
However, an unexpected hum emanated from the vessel, inexplicably preventing it from moving backward.
Georgia's puzzlement was evident as she queried, "What's going on?"
Jack tried a few more times to reverse the boat, but it stubbornly refused to budge. There were no visible obstacles around, making the situation all the more bewildering.
Worry lines etched themselves onto Jack's face as he turned to Georgia, his voice heavy with concern, "The boat won't move."
Perplexed, Georgia pondered, "Could something be obstructing it?"
In response, Jack retrieved a spare oar from the boat's storage, placing it against the muddy terrain beneath the boat. As he did so, the vessel gradually began to inch forward.
"It's not stuck," Jack remarked, his unease growing. "Perhaps there's something wrong with the engine."
Georgia swiftly grasped the gravity of the situation. It was becoming evident that their predicament was more dire than initially presumed. She reached for her mobile phone with the intention of calling for help, but as her fingers danced across the screen, her heart sank. The signal strength indicator displayed a disheartening half bar.
A sense of helplessness washed over her as she realized that her phone had no signal. How could they seek assistance in such a situation?
Witnessing Georgia's prolonged inaction, Jack turned to her, his concern deepening, "What's the matter?"
Georgia, her phone held in her trembling hand, managed a wry smile amid her mounting anxiety, "There's no signal on my phone."
Upon hearing this, Jack withdrew his own phone, glancing at the screen and experiencing a sinking feeling of his own. The signal strength was, indeed, a mere half bar, rendering any attempts at communication or internet access futile.
Their situation had become increasingly dire. Trapped on the boat with no clear way out, uncertainty loomed ominously over them.