A faint uneven rhythm caught her attention. It wasn’t loud, but it didn’t sound quite right either.
She listened carefully, focusing on the pattern of the engine. Something about it felt off.
After a moment, she straightened up and walked back toward Captain Harris, her expression calm but serious.
“Dad,” she said, “the engine doesn’t sound completely right. It’s a bit uneven.”
Captain Harris barely looked away from steering. “It’s an old boat, Sophie. It’s fine. It always sounds like that.”