Chapter 163: 162, Breaking Out Of The Bermuda Death Storm, New York Laguardia Airport, Trinity Church Friendship
The sky suddenly darkened, and the bad weather came extremely fast, with no reaction time at all.
Lin Shuiwang, as an old sailor, had some understanding of the ocean weather in the Atlantic Ocean.
He urgently shouted, “The Atlantic Ocean’s storm season starts in June and ends in November, with multiple storms appearing during this period, but the exact appearance times are uncertain.”
“What storms might appear in June?” Fang Wen calmly asked.
For hurricanes, there are designations to represent human cognition of them.
But in this era, hurricanes were not named with various names, but numbered.
Lin Shuiwang replied without thinking, “It should be Hurricane No. 5; only it blows from the northeast direction toward the southeast.”
At this point, Lin Shuiwang’s face changed dramatically.
“General Manager, it’s not Hurricane No. 5; it’s the Death Hurricane. We must shake it off.”
“What Death Hurricane?” Fang Wen asked while controlling the airplane to stay away from the storm center.
Lin Shuiwang explained with a pale face, “We sailors running cargo ships to Europe and America fear this hurricane the most; it will carry our ships into an area called Bermuda, where many ships have disappeared.”
Fang Wen had heard of Bermuda.
For the transatlantic voyage, he had studied various dangerous situations in the Atlantic Ocean.
Strictly speaking, it should be called the Bermuda Triangle.
It mainly refers to a mysterious area in the North Atlantic—the Bermuda Triangle（, also known as the Devil’s Triangle）. This area is formed by connecting Florida, Bermuda, and Puerto Rico, and has long been filled with mystery and danger, with many airplanes and ships mysteriously disappearing there, sparking countless speculations and legends about supernatural phenomena.
And the most dangerous is the sea area near the Bermuda Islands.
From the records Fang Wen had checked, not all were baseless; there were real records as well.
In 1872, the cargo ship Mary Celeste set sail from Panama and mysteriously disappeared in the Bermuda sea area shortly after, with all 23 crew members perishing and no distress signal sent.
In 1840, the ship “Rosalie” that set sail from France lost contact near Cuba, and weeks later was found by the navy in the Bermuda Triangle sea area, but there was no one on board; all crew members had vanished into thin air.
In March 1918, the US Navy’s cargo ship “Cyclops” loaded with manganese ore sand in Brazil disappeared on its way back to Norfolk, Virginia. This 165-meter giant cargo ship carrying 309 sailors was the largest disappearance in recent records.
Fang Wen immediately became highly alert.
He took out the map and checked their current position.
（Satellite map simulation）
After looking at the map, Fang Wen rapidly calculated in his mind.
The area where the airplane currently was located was more than 2000 kilometers from the Bermuda Islands.
The problem was that the airplane was now in the storm area, with strong airflow blowing from the northeast direction toward the southeast direction, and flying against its path would produce enormous pressure, causing serious damage to the airplane.
The best way was to fly along the direction of the cyclone and then look for an opportunity to break free from the cyclone control at a weak point midway.
This was very important; once flying along the Death Hurricane’s cyclone direction to Bermuda, greater danger might descend, so they must detach midway.
Fang Wen unhesitatingly shouted loudly, “Get ready; there will be some turbulence midway. Tie yourselves up with rope.”
Indiana and Lin Shuiwang had never seen Fang Wen so serious; they hurriedly found rope and did as instructed.
While they tied themselves, Fang Wen secured himself to the pilot seat and then entered the mechanical perception state.
In the mechanical perception state, he became an aerial giant bird.
But in the hurricane, it seemed exceptionally small.
Strong airflow blew from the northeast, and the aircraft fuselage trembled slightly under the strong air pressure.
Just as Fang Wen had judged, flying against the storm was impossible; it would only cause the fuselage to be crushed and crash into the ocean.
He controlled the airplane to turn and fly southwest.
This reduced the pressure a lot, and the airplane’s speed even increased passively.
Now to try how to break free from this moving Death Hurricane’s control.
The airplane lowered its fuselage, but after just a moment of small-angle adjustment, Fang Wen immediately pulled it back.
Too dangerous; descending altitude was simply suicidal.
At that moment, he clearly perceived the danger and timely stopped that action.
Fang Wen made the judgment that lowering flight altitude would expose the airplane to a stronger storm environment; the lower the altitude, the more dangerous the storm below.
Conversely, the higher the flight altitude, the lower the pressure received.
After obtaining this major discovery through mechanical perception, Fang Wen immediately adjusted the escape plan.
He carefully adjusted the flight angle so that the wing formed an angle with the airflow, perfectly allowing the airflow during movement to generate greater upward lift on the airplane.
At the same time, the engine increased power output, and under the cooperation of these two internal and external forces, the airplane suddenly ascended more than 1500 meters.
This altitude had exceeded the d.332’s altitude limit.
Yet it made Fang Wen feel completely at ease.
At this moment, the airplane broke through the pitch-black cloud layer, and sunlight bathed the fuselage.
And in the rear cabin.
It was a mess, with a large amount of supplies scattered; Lin Shuiwang and Indiana, tied with rope, were flung to the rear.
The two stood up disheveled, looking at the bright sunlight outside, as if it were a miracle.
Buddha’s light shining everywhere or holy light baptism?
They couldn’t help but feel different sensations.
“Third Prince protect us, turning danger into safety.” Lin Shuiwang clasped hands toward the east and bowed; the Third Prince was from the East China Sea, and helping to save them in the Atlantic Ocean must have pulled a lot of strings. Upon return, he needed to burn a big incense and hold a grand roaming god procession.
“The Lord has blessed us.” Indiana devoutly knelt before the True Cross, praying and regarding this as God’s gift.
Facing the two’s relaxation, Fang Wen showed no slackening.
Although the altitude increase reduced the crisis, they were still within the Death Hurricane’s range and must fly out of this area as soon as possible.
He controlled the airplane to turn and fly west.
An hour later, they finally broke free from the Death Hurricane’s range.
Fang Wen then relaxed.
In the mechanical perception state of human-machine unity, he observed the Death Hurricane center behind and below.
There, a massive vortex formed, sweeping up clouds, airflow, and ocean, turning that area into a desperate situation of danger.
The central area was the Bermuda Islands.
Fang Wen couldn’t help but wonder if such a bizarre and mysterious area might have things similar to the Four-faced Buddha and the amber cross.
In the human-machine unity state, he focused his energy and tried to probe the storm’s center point.
There was nothing there that made him feel beneficial to his mechanical perception ability.
But at the very center, there was a danger that made Fang Wen’s heart palpitate.
It seemed that place was not something he could approach now; Fang Wen dispelled the idea of further probing and piloted the airplane toward the North American Continent.
Due to the sudden appearance of the Death Hurricane, the flight path deviated.
To accurately fly to New York, Fang Wen had to re-determine the flight path.
Lin Shuiwang took out the sextant to start measuring and marked it on the map.
Fang Wen looked at it.
Due to the hurricane, they had deviated by hundreds of kilometers, but with sufficient fuel reserves, readjusting the heading posed no problem for reaching New York.
Immediately, Fang Wen adjusted the new course and continued flying toward New York.
2300 kilometers from New York; at the d.332’s speed, they would arrive in just over 7 hours.
It would be past midnight by then.
Looking at the lights below, Fang Wen searched for the airport’s position.
It wasn’t easy to pinpoint, and Fang Wen didn’t want to expose too much of his abilities.
He turned on the radio device.
“This is Taishan Airlines’ transatlantic crew calling LaGuardia Airport; if you hear, please respond.”
After calling repeatedly, a response came.
“Received. Airport lighting guidance device activated; confirm and you may proceed with landing.”
Fang Wen saw that in the southern part of New York City, an area lit up with runway guidance lights.
That was LaGuardia Airport in Queens, New York; it was chosen for landing because it was the closest airport to Trinity Church, convenient for transporting the True Cross.
He controlled the airplane to circle in the air, adjust the landing angle, and steadily land on the airport runway.
Subsequently, airport staff on overtime guided the airplane into the hangar.
Once the airplane was parked, the long-waiting reporters eagerly came over for interviews.
Fang Wen looked at Lin Shuiwang and suddenly felt that Lin Shuiwang was very suitable for handling external propaganda work.
He said in a low voice, “You handle these reporters’ interviews; Indiana and I will go meet those priests.”
“What should I say?” Lin Shuiwang asked blankly.
“Say what they want to hear.” After instructing, Fang Wen walked to the other side of the hangar.
There, Indiana was talking with several black-robed figures.
When Fang Wen arrived, he specially introduced him.
“It was he who discovered the True Cross. If he hadn’t given up exploration rights to the True Cross, I couldn’t have brought the cross back, and it was also he who piloted the airplane across 6000 kilometers, encountering Bermuda’s death assault, to bring the True Cross back.”
Indiana spoke very seriously; after experiencing the Death Hurricane, he felt humanity’s smallness and God’s greatness, hence this statement.
Precisely because of this, the specially mentioned Fang Wen became the key figure in the entire event.
In the eyes of the clergy, all this had special significance.
One elder said solemnly, “This is God’s test; Bermuda’s Death Hurricane was hell’s devil trying to take the holy relic. You did well; God will bless you.”
Fang Wen thought to himself, God blessing Indiana makes sense, but I don’t believe in Him; how would He bless me?
Better to have something practical.
Thinking this, he couldn’t let face stop him from asking, so he directly said, “I want your help.”
“Your actions deserve reward. What help?”
“Haven’t thought of it yet, but it won’t put you in a difficult position; at most, within your abilities, help me make connections and introduce some big figures I can’t reach. My coming to the United States may require their assistance.”
Just introductions were fine; the people from Trinity Church even felt they could help this good person who brought the holy relic to the church a bit more.
They immediately agreed to Fang Wen’s request; just come to the church later to specify who needs introduction. They had strong connections in New York.
With this reply, it was worth Fang Wen’s 6000-kilometer journey to deliver the item. Subsequently, he and Indiana and several young priests carefully lifted the True Cross from the cargo hold and placed it in the truck carriage.
Then, Fang Wen entered the airplane alone, shouldered a backpack, and came out.
He called to Lin Shuiwang, who had finished cooperating with the reporters’ interviews, locked the hangar door, and got in the church’s truck with Lin Shuiwang to leave.
The truck left LaGuardia Airport, traveled through the streets of Queens, then crossed the sea bridge to Manhattan Island.
Finally stopping at the southernmost Trinity Church on Manhattan Island.
There, the church people began busily unloading the cross; Fang Wen and the others no longer needed to help.
Fang Wen said farewell, “The item is delivered; we should go.”
The eldest among the black-robed priests took out a car key and pointed to a car nearby.
“Thank you for your efforts. I think you need a car for getting around; take mine. Please accept this small token of gratitude.”
Fang Wen looked over there.
It was a four-seater car that looked very nice.
He took the key and asked, “What car is this?”
“Chevrolet Confederate,” the elder replied.
“Thank you.” Fang Wen gladly accepted.
He got into the pilot seat, placed the backpack under the seat, and called the two to get in.
“Let’s go.”
Indiana and Lin Shuiwang got in the car; the automobile started and drove on the quiet streets of Lower Manhattan.
It was already 1 a.m., with no pedestrians on the streets.
“Is there a place to eat?” Fang Wen asked.
“Even Sicilian and you Chinese people’s restaurants are closed now,” Indiana replied.
“I know where to find a place to eat; go to Mott Street,” Lin Shuiwang said.
Mott Street wasn’t far, also in Lower Manhattan; under Lin Shuiwang’s guidance, the car turned right at the intersection ahead and arrived at the destination.
It was a not-very-wide street, just wide enough for one car to pass.
Fang Wen drove the car into it and, by moonlight, saw a familiar scene.
There were many Chinese signs here; it should be the earliest Chinese gathering place.
After driving a bit, Lin Shuiwang pointed out the right-hand window and said:
“I remember it’s just ahead; his place opens the door at night if you knock, open for business anytime. A few years ago when I sailed ships to the United States, my friends and I found this at night.”
Immediately, the car stopped; Lin Shuiwang got out first and knocked hard on the closed storefront.
Shouting in Cantonese, “Open the door; we’re hungry and want to eat.”
After a while, someone inside actually responded.
“What do you want to eat?”
“Eat roast goose, eat char siu.”
After some communication, the storefront door opened, and the shop-owning couple really opened for business at 1 a.m.
Then, Lin Shuiwang negotiated with the boss and ordered a bunch of things.
Roast goose, honey-glazed char siu, porridge and snacks prepared for tomorrow’s sale, etc.
The three sat down in the shop to eat, and Fang Wen talked about his plan.
“This trip, I plan to set up some industry in the United States, open a casino company, buy some stocks, and bring back some good stuff.”
