Creaks and Groans
The climb was nerve-wracking. The corroded ladder groaned and squealed with each bootstep, threatening collapse. The rungs were slick, damp, and uneven beneath their weight. Several times, the ladder swayed violently with the sea breeze, threatening to pitch men sideways. A fall meant crashing into the turbulent waves below. “Keep moving,” Morgan called evenly. “Don’t stop. The faster we’re up, the safer we are.” Still, each step forward felt heavier, their tension mounting steadily.
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