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He didn’t turn around. “It’s fine,” he said calmly. “We’re still moving.” Even as he spoke, he kept listening to the engine’s rhythm. There it was again—a slight drop in rhythm, then steady again. He adjusted the throttle slightly, carefully testing the response. For a brief moment, everything felt normal again. Then the engine dipped once more, this time lasting longer. The boat slowed slightly, enough for people to notice something was wrong.