Iris had a length of cord that wouldn’t break, but it wasn’t a rope. He still had her tie her hand to the side of the boat and kneel down in the middle of it.
Justin balanced his weight right in front of hers and heaved against the oars, trying to get past the break in the ocean. His muscles strained as he tried again and then again, but the heavy waves beat them back every time.
With his shoulders burning, he stopped rowing and let the waves push the boat away from the island.
“What are we going to do?” Iris asked, panic evident in her voice.
“I’m going to get us over the break,” he said. “And then the waves will just push us in.” He eyed the cliffs to the right, knowing he’d probably need to steer them away from those even over the break.
“How are you so calm?”
“No one’s shooting a
