At depth
Erick Poladov

© Erick Poladov, 2024

ISBN 978-5-0062-7088-6

Создано в интеллектуальной издательской системе Ridero

PROLOGUE

It was a dimly lit room hidden twenty-five meters underground. The bunker was surrounded everywhere by one-and-a-half-meter layer of monolithic reinforced concrete. A man of about forty in a gray suit entered the room. He stopped in front of the main table, but did not sit down, immediately starting to leaf through the contents of the folder that was with him. Without introducing himself to those present, he began to speak in a low voice:

– Please sit down. You have already been introduced to the essence of the work ahead. In view of this, I will not waste my time and steal yours, so I will get straight to the point. All research expeditions to the most closed places on our planet, as a rule, are initiated and financed by departmental structures, and the results of such research are stored in closed archives classified as «secret». This expedition is organized by the company «Best Technologies». It was initiated personally by the company’s president, Martin Hogan. Therefore, it is worth immediately bringing some clarity. All finds you discover and discoveries made during the expedition are the property of the company. The expedition is closed. Under no circumstances should it be known to third parties. Further. None of you has the right to publicize your discoveries or disclose any data directly or indirectly related to the expedition. Only the company has the right to publish information about certain discoveries and findings, while indicating the names of the people who had a hand in this. We determined the route you will follow in advance, taking into account data on points on the map where events of a strange and little-studied nature took place. During the expedition, if any valuable finds are discovered, a deviation from the heading is allowed, followed by a return to the original trajectory. From the beginning to the end of the entire expedition, you will report to the captain of the boat. Everyone acts in accordance with his instructions. Any of his orders is carried out without discussion. This is necessary both for the successful completion of the mission and to ensure the safety of all crew members. Questions?

There was only silence in response.

– Then that’s all. A helicopter awaits at the top, which will take you to Heathrow, from where you will depart to your destination. You will receive further instructions upon arrival on the island directly from the submarine commander. – Closing the folder, the man in the suit added: – Have a successful expedition to everyone.

1. LUTHER DE BONT

He stepped off a ramp onto a pier, waiting for passengers to arrive. In a side pocket of his jacket a few hours ago there was a pack with last two sticks of chewing gum. Quitting cigarettes turned out to be difficult, but now, after two months of abstinence, the old habit made itself felt less often and the desire to smoke seemed less strong. Now it became clear that if he could endure a little longer, the craving for cigarettes would exhaust itself forever. Even service in the navy was unable to curb the addiction to this poison. And now, when he managed to gradually begin to kill the bad habit, there was no chewing gum in his pocket and thoughts about a cigarette occupied his brain more and more every minute.

A man dressed to the nines appeared on the pier. He was a tall black man with short hair. His eyes were hidden behind narrow sunglasses with thin, neat frames. He was dressed in an expensive beige suit, the jacket of which was thrown over his shoulder, holding it with a hook from his index and middle fingers.

The stranger walked along the pier with ease until he approached, after which he said:

– Good morning.

– Good morning.

– Mr. De Bont, I suppose? – asked the stranger.

– Yes – the captain answered with some suspicion.

The man in the suit extended his hand and introduced himself:

– My name is Stephen Frost. Nice to meet you. Do you have five minutes?

Captain De Bont looked at his watch and said:

– Judging by the fact that the concept of «punctuality» is alien to some people, I probably have extra time.

With these words, the captain, with a gesture of his hand, suggested having a conversation while walking along the rest of the pier.

– In that case, I will try to be as brief as possible.

– By the way, do you happen to have any chewing gum with you? – interrupted the captain.

– Only lollipops.

– Fine.

Stephen Frost placed five lollipops in a rustling wrapper on the captain’s palm and continued his thought:

– I represent the company «Best Technologies».

– Yes, I heard about you. You are involved in technical development.

– That’s right – Frost answered, smiling slightly. – But these are all rather basic developments. We, as a rule, conduct research, and their results are then used by manufacturers of some consumer goods, transport and various equipment.

– But you also had a hand in the technology of the Ministry of Defense, right?

– Yes. Software and electronic stuffing are our business. But in recent years we have moved into production. Innovative technology, as it turned out, is always in demand and even exorbitant prices are unable to stop the crazy demand – Frost answered, again bursting out with his snow-white smile. He lightly scratched his nose with his index finger, paused, and then continued: – Mr. De Bont, when was the last time you led a crew on a submarine?

– Last year I had a fixed-term contract with the Ministry of Defense for seven months.

– Where did you command?

– Bay of Bengal. Mediterranean Sea. Antarctic. A little near the Panama Canal.

– Why didn’t they want to renew your contract?

– The commander, whom I replaced, recovered from a course of chemotherapy and returned to duty.

– So what, the British fleet is so perfect that it doesn’t need such an experienced captain with a crystal clear reputation?

– They didn’t have any vacancies for the position of captain. They offered me the position of chief mate, but do I look like the kind of person who would be grateful for a demotion?

Frost shook his head slightly and said:

– Yes, it’s an insult.

– But they still didn’t want to let me go and offered me command of a surface ship. They were just about to launch a new aircraft carrier and wanted to entrust it to a not very old, but experienced captain, so that one person would be assigned to the ship for a long time and would not have to constantly change the commander. It was considered that a forty-nine-year-old captain with submariner experience was perfectly suited to manage affairs on this ship.

– So you also have experience with surface ships?

– I started with them, and at thirty-one I became a senior mechanic on a submarine.

– And you refused?

Captain De Bont took a deep breath and said:

– I prefer immersion. It’s hard to understand. And it’s even more difficult to explain. And so, as a result, now I am steering the yacht of a moneybag.

Stephen Frost wiped the sweat between his nose and upper lip, then spoke in a slightly different tone:

– Well, I won’t beat around the bush so as not to delay you too much. Let’s get down to business. Our company wants to offer you a job. The case concerns the operation of a submarine designed for civilian purposes.

– Someone created a submarine for a civilian?

– I agree, it sounds a little strange.

– And what is this submarine?

– Unfortunately, I do not have the authority to disclose such information. I can name only a few parameters. Length – thirty-five, displacement – two thousand and… basically, that’s all.

– Where are you planning to swim?

– Well, this detail will still be clarified. At the moment, all that is known is that it will be the Atlantic.

– Deadlines? – Luther de Bont asked in a somewhat doubtful voice.

– Launching is planned in approximately eight to twelve months.

– That is, the boat is already at the assembly stage.

– At the moment we have seventy percent of the assembly. As you understand, given the specifics of our company’s activities, this submarine is much more advanced than those in service with any military superpower. But I repeat, the ship is intended for civilian purposes, and more precisely, for scientific purposes.

Captain De Bont looked thoughtfully at the port waters and asked:

– How long is the voyage planned for?

– From sixty to eighty days. But if the swim turns out to be successful and the vessel performs well, then we will be ready to offer you cooperation on an ongoing basis. I’m not rushing you to make the decision. You still have more than enough time. And then, I understand perfectly well that you will want to look at the submarine with your own eyes before giving an answer.

– Sorry, but there’s no way without this.

– No, no. No hard feelings. This is understandable. Therefore, our company invites you to conduct practical tests of the vessel during launching. Of course, for a certain fee.

The captain ran his fingers over his chin and asked:

– Why did you contact me? Or is there a queue in which I am far from the first?

Frost carefully took off his glasses, after which he smiled again and answered:

– No, Mr. De Bont. There is no queue. At the very least, it depends on you whether it will appear at all. Since we often carry out government orders for the Ministry of Defense, our representatives have extensive connections in the department. So we requested information about officers who had the opportunity to command on submarines, but, due to reasons beyond their control, are not currently in His Majesty’s military service. In addition to you, recommendations have been received for nine more captains. But all of them are either near retirement age or do not have impressive achievements or valuable skills in their track records. And judging by what is indicated in your personal file, you have mastered the art of underwater maneuvering extremely well, enjoyed impressive authority among the personnel, over your entire career, ninety-eight percent of the shells fired hit the target; moreover, each new crew that came at your disposal demonstrated dramatic progress and organization in their work. As for the results of psychological tests, you didn’t disappoint either. You have been described as an organized and pragmatic commander, with no tendency to make impulsive decisions, cool-headed and able to sensibly set priorities when emergency situations arise. There is also emotional stability, which is maintained during a long voyage. But most of all I liked what was indicated in the «flaws» column – a strong addiction to smoking.

Frost said his last words not without laughing.

– My bosses almost fought with me over this. I constantly heard that a person who organizes an entire crew is not able to show his own organization.

– Stop it. Our company is not an army. With us you can smoke as much as your heart desires.

Captain De Bont rubbed the lollipop in his mouth more carefully with his tongue when Frost mentioned cigarettes.

Frost stopped and, after rummaging a little in the inside pocket of his jacket, said:

– I’ll leave you my number. As soon as you decide on your decision regarding practical testing of the submarine…

– I agree – the captain interrupted. He wanted to quickly inflate and explode a gum ball, but suddenly he remembered that he had a lollipop in his mouth, not gum.

Frost extended his hand.

– Glad to hear that. – Shaking the captain’s hand, he added: – But I’ll still leave the number for you in case any questions suddenly arise. I will be available to you twenty-four hours a day.

– Oh, really. Very rare even for hotlines.

Frost again burst out with his snow-white smile, which all dark-skinned people have. Suddenly he remembered:

– Oh yes, and one more thing. Mr. De Bont, do you have a smart chief mate in mind?

– Sure. He and I have been serving together for eleven years – we step on a board together, we leave it together.

– And can we count on him?

– Of course.

– Then great.

After a short pause Luther said with some doubt:

– Mister… Frost?

– Yes.

– Of course, I haven’t seen this submarine yet, but with such parameters I don’t think that two people will be enough to control it.

– You’re right. There will also be an engineer. But don’t worry about that. We will provide the engineer.

– And as far as I understand, this conversation did not happen?

– Now I have no doubt that this is a military man in front of me. You understand everything correctly. More questions?

Captain De Bont gave a negative answer.

Frost shook his hand again and slowly walked away. On the way back he took his phone out of his pocket, dialed a number and put it to his ear.

At this time, Captain De Bont looked at his boss’s yacht for the thousandth time. Suddenly the boat disgusted him more than usual. At the mere thought that today he would once again have to steer a toy-sized surface ship, Luther wanted to return to this ship even less. But it didn’t take long before he started smiling. This might have surprised even Luther himself, but there was nothing strange about it. He just thought that he wouldn’t have long to drift on this toy. Soon he will leave this boat.

A few seconds later, Luther de Bont looked at the figure of the owner of the yacht and a provocatively dressed girl, whom he carefully hugged by the fillet, who appeared on the pier.

2. HECTOR CAGE

– Doctor Cage. Dr. Cage – a student called, jogging along a corridor after the teacher.

– Whoa-whoa. Don’t rush, Margaret. Everything will fall out of your hands now.

– Sorry. Just wanted to ask.

– I’m not running a hundred meters here. There is no need to rush so much – the forty-two-year-old teacher continued in a soft tone.

Margaret only smiled in response.

– Well, ask.

– Dr. Cage, I wanted to ask you about the essay on cetaceans that you said to be done by next week.

– Are you having any difficulties? – the teacher asked puzzledly, continuing to leisurely walk along the corridor with the leather briefcase.

– As if… in general, I couldn’t really find enough data about dorudon. Even on the Internet, all information comes down to only a mention of their existence in the Eocene era, and in the library there are only a few encyclopedias, which only provide a definition of biological and species affiliation.

– Why did you even choose dorudon?

– I just wanted to write about some monster. Well, you know, a hefty predator, and it has an unusual appearance. I liked it in the movie you showed.

– I’ll give you some of my monographs. But it is unlikely that it will be possible to draw objective conclusions based on them. Still, my advice to you is to choose someone else. Let’s say kutchicetus or protocet. These are also representatives of the Eocene. But there is a little more information about them, and their body structure is much more interesting.

– Then, can I change it?

– Certainly.

– Thank you.

– No problem.

– Goodbye, Dr. Cage.

Hector Cage collapsed into the seat of his Ford, sighing with ease that the work week was over. Teaching at the new university was not easy for him. This is his second year of work and he has never yet managed to get a place on a research expedition to go study new and rare species of fish. And something told him that this would not happen very soon. At his previous job, he systematically found himself as part of an expedition, going on research to Australia, Thailand, Japan and Malaysia. Now all his work boiled down to continuous lectures and listening to the tedious remarks of many students who were not able to distinguish different types of living fish, not to mention the swimming creatures that inhabited the Earth in the era of dinosaurs.

In order not to get to the point where he begins to feel sick from working with the same materials twenty times a week, Hector had to turn to a private psychoanalyst for a prescription for a sedative. Otherwise, the old story that got him fired from his previous university may repeat itself.

It was already dark outside. The city streets were shrouded in natural darkness, diluted by the glow of street lamps and car headlights.

Having crossed the threshold of his rented apartment, Hector set water to boil for a cup of strong tea. Turning on the kettle, he went to the laptop, hit the keyboard several times, and after a couple of seconds the sounds of the song «Mamy Blue» began to be heard from the stereo system. While waiting for the kettle to boil, Hector Cage sat back on the sofa, listening to the voice of Julio Iglesias and feeling how all the accumulated negativity was gradually evaporating somewhere. This continued until the craving for sleep set in and Hector’s consciousness turned off, falling soundly into a deep sleep.

Only in the morning did Hector lift his face from the upholstery of the sofa six minutes after he realized exactly where his body was. He managed to get to his feet only after his bones had at least woken up a little, namely after an hour and a half.

Turning off the music, he decided to boil water to make a cup of tea that had not happened the day before. But at the last moment the ichthyologist preferred to drink coffee.

Hector looked in the mirror and wondered who he saw in it. He looked as if he had been subjected to severe torture, not allowing him to sleep all weekdays. It was already noticeable how the bags under the eyes were looming, and the hairstyle, shabby due to the lack of a pillow, only emphasized the condition called «vegetable».

The clock showed twenty minutes to nine when the doorbell rang.

At the threshold stood a tall dark-skinned man dressed in a respectable suit.

– Good morning. Dr. Hector Cage?

– Yes. Hello. Yes. It’s me, confused in the flow of words, Hector answered.

– My name is Stephen Frost – said the man at the threshold, holding out his hand. – Nice to meet you. I represent the company «Best Technologies». May I steal some time from you?

With a gesture of his hand, the scientist offered to go to his modest apartment.

– Sorry for the mess. I just can’t find the time with work.

– No, everything is fine. Do not worry. If you saw my apartment, you would understand that your simply shines.

– Tea? Coffee?

– At your discretion.

While Hector poured the invigorating instant drink, Stephen Frost carefully examined the bookshelf, on which most of the books were devoted to river and ocean fauna. Among them were reference books about the inhabitants of the world’s oceans, divided by time periods of the geochronological scale from the Triassic period to the Calymmian period. Judging by the titles on the spines of the books, it was clear that the scientist was particularly interested in cetaceans.

Hector placed two cups of coffee on the coffee table, after which he invited Frost to sit on the sofa, and he sat down on the chair on the opposite side.

– Well… – Hector said, inviting Frost to get down to business.

– Your library is impressive.

The scientist looked at his collection of books with an indifferent glance for the thousandth time and said:

– I spent my whole life on this.

– Do you have to study rare fish species from time to time?

– Well, it happened before. Actually, that’s what I liked about my job. Observe live what few people have seen before. And to explore…

– Have you written any manuals in your field?

– Manuals? No. A mountain of monographs, but not a single book. It was in the plans, but a change of job got in the way. So what did you want to talk about?

Stephen Frost leaned slightly towards Cage and began to expound:

– Mr. Cage, our company is planning an expedition to the waters of the Atlantic Ocean. In order for it to take place, we need a highly qualified expert in the field of marine fauna…

From such words Hector experienced a noticeable rush of blood to the brain. It was like an injection of adrenaline into the very heart, which was about to beat much harder. It seemed that Hector had finally woken up. It was as if he heard a bomb explode near his ear and went deaf, losing for some time the ability to hear at least some sounds. Instead of sounds a ringing thundered in his ears, and Frost’s lips moved silently for some time.

– … never had to before.

– And what is the purpose of the expedition?

– A complex of scientific research at the intersection of biology, ichthyology and paleontology.

Thinking a little, Hector tried to say something, but Frost interrupted:

– Are you interested in payment?

– No, no. How long is the work planned for?

– Two month. Maybe a little more.

– When do you intend to start?

– Possibly in the coming months. The time frame can vary from three to seven months. Now the question is about recruiting the expedition. At the moment we are interested in the ichthyologist.

Dr. Cage pondered in absolute silence, his gaze cast somewhere to the side.

– In any case, we do not require an urgent response. You have time to think.

Hector looked around his apartment, the scattered books, the countless educational and lecture materials that he had to grind a hundred times every day. He thought about what his life had become. Its colors remained as gloomy as his rented apartment.

But suddenly Hector came to his senses and decided that he needed to at least pretend to have doubts.

– Can I ask one question?

– Sure. Ask – Frost answered, taking a sip from his cup.

– Since you’re talking about payment, can you provide some clarity?

– Oh, of course. For two months of work you will be paid, well, let’s say, enough so that you can afford to quit teaching and not think about it for a very, very, very long time. To be more precise, it will be…

Frost took out a notepad with a pen from the inside pocket of his jacket, wrote down the amount and pushed the notebook across the table towards his interlocutor.

– But, just so you understand, Mr. Cage, this is the amount that you will receive regardless of the results of your work. – Frost began to drink coffee in large sips. – We understand perfectly well that this is largely a matter of luck and the number of individuals and species discovered does not depend on you. Therefore, the contract will provide for a fixed salary. The amount you see will be paid regardless of the results of the expedition. And if any discoveries are made, new species are discovered, then… well, you understand me.

Hector Cage actively scratched his nose, while Frost added:

– I’ll leave you my business card. Do not hurry. Think it over carefully.

– Sorry, – Hector interrupted, – Mr…

– Stephen.

– If such an offer had come a couple of years ago, I would have thought a thousand times. But under the current circumstances, such a vacancy creates too strong a contrast with my current job to think about anything. I agree.

– Glad to hear that. Oh, and I forgot to mention one more thing. If individuals of rare biological species are caught, you will be offered a job on a long-term basis. You will study or manage the progress of scientific work on the study of those individuals that will be at our disposal. And one last thing. How do you feel about greater depths?

– Excuse me? – Hector Cage said perplexedly, frowning his eyebrows.

– The expedition, that our company is planning, will take place near the ocean floor at a depth of about seven and a half to eight thousand meters.

– And do you have suitable equipment for this?

– Actually, we produced this device. There are no analogues. At least for now.

Cage thought even harder, and Frost had already finished his coffee by this time.

Gradually, a kind of thirst began to appear on Hector’s face. After some time he said:

– Where to sign?

Hearing these words, Frost burst into a wide smile. But as soon as that smile faded, he immediately spoke in a serious voice:

– Mr. Cage, I have one request for you.

– I’m listening.

– No one should know about my visit to you, as well as about this conversation. Is this possible?

– I don’t see a problem.

– I like it. And finally, so that you don’t get bored, I will leave one gift. Maybe you can come up with a few new theories.

Frost placed a piece of paper with the image on the coffee table and added:

– Take a look sometime. Thanks for the coffee. It was delicious. And I didn’t say this out of politeness.

They shook hands, after which Hector escorted his guest to the door.

Almost reaching the threshold, Frost turned around and asked:

– Mr. Cage, may I ask you one question?

Hector spread his arms.

– Why were you fired from your previous university with such success in science?

Hector felt a surge of energy. Now no bad memories could spoil his sharply increased enthusiasm. He straightened his back, put his hands in his pockets and answered in a confident tone:

– I knocked out eight teeth of a graduate student who was diving into my wife.

– I respect you – Frost said before leaving.

3. KAYLA FOX

In a lecture hall filled with students, with the lights off, the voice of thirty-five-year-old Kayla Fox, Doctor of Biological Sciences, sounded. She commented on the next image that came from the projector:

– Here is a sample of a human zygote – the result of the fusion of two different-sex gametes. In other words, this is what happens when you forget about contraception.

There was synchronized laughter in the lecture hall.

– In this image we can see how the tail of the sperm has already dissolved in the cytoplasm of the egg. The nuclei of both gametes of opposite-sex individuals begin the process of fusion, after which the diploid set of chromosomes is restored. Thus, in the cell of the future organism, the formation of genetic material occurs, half of which comes from the egg, and the other from the sperm. And so, from two haploid cells a diploid cell is formed with a full set of chromosomes, which are carriers of hereditary information. What questions will you have regarding this part?

– Miss Fox? – the voice of one of the students was heard.

– Yes?

– What happens if several sperm get into one egg? How will the nuclei behave then?

– Good question. The fact is that to penetrate the egg, it is not enough for the sperm to reach it. The egg is surrounded by a membrane that must dissolve so that sperm can penetrate. And here is the most interesting thing. For this shell to dissolve, the egg must be surrounded by at least three hundred million sperm, because only in this quantity can they secrete a sufficient amount of the enzyme hyaluronidase and protease, which will be able to dissolve the shell of the egg. And when the sperm penetrates inside, the membrane begins to thicken, which does not allow other sperm to penetrate inside.

The voice of a girl from the back row was heard in the hall:

– This is love. One and only for life.

There was laughter in the room, and the teacher involuntarily joined in.

– What kind of love is there? – objected the guy from the previous row. – She let him into her bungalow, and then locked the door. Darling, it’s called dictatorial matriarchy.

The laughter became stronger and died down only at the moment the bell rang.

Dr. Kayla Fox outlined an assignment that would need to be completed for the next class, after which the students began to disperse, emptying the lecture hall.

This was the last lesson. Kayla gathered all her study materials into her bag and hurried to the parking lot. As she walked down the stairs, she thought about the garish message she’d read on one of her students’ T-shirts. The caption read: «CHOCOLATE AND MILK MIX». Below the inscription was the face of a dark-skinned boy. Then Kayla remembered a joke. It was told in the morning by the presenter of one of the radio stations when he announced the rating of the most unfunny and ridiculous jokes. He literally said the following: «Why should scientists all over the world rack their brains trying to revive animals that have long been extinct? Isn’t it better to take a roundabout route? Take a motherfucker, cross it with an orthodontist, and you get a mastodon».

On the way back, Kayla stopped at a supermarket. Approaching the checkout, she stood in line behind a young married couple with a boy of about three years old. The child did not attract any attention to himself until he dropped the toy car from his hands. Kayla removed her hands from the cart to pick up the toy. While handing it over to the boy, she accidentally glanced at the cover of a popular science magazine that comes out every week. This issue was dedicated to modern genetic diseases, as well as pathologies that were previously unknown to medicine. Kayla began scrolling, her eyes scanning the article headlines. When it was her turn, Kayla placed all the goods on the checkout counter and continued to scan the pages while the cashier punched the barcodes. The magazine talked about the identification of new genetic diseases. In Melbourne doctors were faced with an unprecedented case. The fetus had to be cut out of the woman’s belly in the sixth month. The reason for this decision was the fact that the fetus had a visible tail. Something similar occurs in the early stages of pregnancy. But in this case, the tail not only did not disappear, but grew at a faster rate than the fetus itself. The doctors were especially shocked by the fact that, having terminated the pregnancy, they did not kill the fetus, and after removing it, certain sounds began to come from the mouth. And there were a lot of such articles.

– Will you take it?

Kayla asked without taking her eyes off page fourteen:

– What?

– Will you take the magazine? – the cashier repeated.

– Oh, yes – Kayla answered, handing over the magazine in order to punch the barcode.

The journey from the supermarket to home usually took eighteen to twenty minutes without traffic jams. This time Kayla arrived in thirteen.

The first thing she did was take out all the food that needed to be placed in the refrigerator. Kayla put everything else aside for later, leaving the bags and work bag lying in the kitchen. To save time, she decided not to change clothes. Once in her home laboratory, into which she had converted one of the bedrooms, Kayla put on medical gloves, and then began studying new samples of her months-long experiment. She took out a chicken egg from the incubator. Before starting work, Kayla turned on the voice recorder on her phone:

– Study of sample number «forty-five». Twelve days have passed since fertilization. The appearance of the egg is healthy. There are no damage or defects observed on the shell around the hole through which fertilization took place. I’m autopsying the egg.

Kayla lightly tapped the shell with a scalpel and poured the contents into a plastic container.

– As in all previous attempts, the yolk and white are missing. Instead, there is the same liquid watery consistency, which in some places is yellow in color, and most of it is dark gray. There is a fetus inside.

Kayla picked up the creature with tweezers, which was covered in mucus from the environment in which it lived. She transferred it to a wide glass container and continued the audio recording:

– The fetus has a flesh-colored pale pink tint. The sample size is about four to five centimeters in length and up to one centimeter in width. The shape is different from most of the previous ones. At one end there is a black bulge, similar to an eye. In the middle of the body along the edges there is something resembling limbs that have not yet had time to ripen and separate. There is also a gap visible at the opposite end, the length of which is about one and a half centimeters. The sample makes slight movements in the area of the black bulge. Compared to previous attempts, this sample is more similar to a human embryo. Perhaps the higher temperature at which the egg was stored had an effect.

Kayla fixed the moving creature with tweezers, took the scalpel with her other hand and said, without taking her eyes off the twitching limb:

– I’m performing an autopsy.

Dr. Fox made a longitudinal incision, after which she took blood samples using a syringe, which she immediately placed on a slide glass and covered with a second one, causing the drop to expand. Kayla placed the glass with the samples under the microscope and began to examine the contents. At that moment the intercom rang.

With a feeling of irritation and impatience, after the seventh ring, Kayla still went into the hallway.

– Who’s there?

– Hello. Dr. Fox?

– Yes.

– My name is Stephen Frost. I am looking for a broad-spectrum specialist in the field of biology. You were recommended by our mutual friend, Miguel Guimaraes. He said that you have considerable experience in hydrobiology, molecular and microbiology. In this regard, I have a business proposal for you. Will I bother you too much if I take a few minutes?

A grimace of impatience appeared on Kayla’s face. She answered, trying to imitate politeness in her voice as much as possible:

– Not at all. Come on in.

Pressing the button on the intercom body, Kayla hurried to close the laboratory door with the key.

Pulling the front door towards her, from the threshold she saw the tall man in a business suit and highly polished shoes walking along the courtyard path in her direction.

– Hello again – Frost said with a smile.

Kayla Fox nodded in greeting and invited him inside. Before he had even taken a few steps around the house, Frost turned to her:

– Miss Fox, I will try not to take up a lot of your time, because I understand that you are a busy person, and I have to rush all day today. Therefore, with your permission, I will get straight to the point.

Kayla suddenly noticed that the man was saying these words without taking his eyes off her hands. And only now she remembered that she had not taken off her laboratory rubber gloves.

– Oh, that’s what you’re talking about. It’s OK.

– So I didn’t distract you from anything important? Can we talk?

– Of course – Kayla answered, continuing to perform the play in her own small drama theater. – Let’s sit down.

Frost sat down on the soft upholstery of the leather chair and waited for Kayla to sit down on the chair on the opposite side of the coffee table.

– I represent the company «Best Technologies». Have you heard about this?

– Still would. This year all laboratories of our university were equipped with your centrifuges and microscopes.

– So we can omit this part. – Frost then pulled out several printed images from his inside jacket pocket and handed them to Kayla, adding: – Before we start our conversation, would you do me a favor and take a look at something?

Kayla took the pictures and began to examine the contents in detail.

– What will be your opinion? – Frost asked, waiting for her reaction.

The biologist looked at the pictures in bewilderment for almost a full minute. She turned the pictures around, looking at the image from different angles, and then asked, without taking her eyes off the pictures:

– And if it’s not a secret, where did you photograph this?

– Several years ago, our company began a program for the development of deep ocean layers. A group of specialists developed and lowered an unmanned amphibious vehicle to the ocean floor. And this is what this device discovered.

The first two photographs showed an individual of a fish species unknown to modern science. The first thing that caught an eye were the fins on the sides with pointed ends, the absence of eyes and the translucent purple color. The other two photos showed a strange creature that looked like a cross between a crab and a squid. The main part of the organism resembled a squid, but instead of tentacles there were legs, like crabs.

– The quality of the pictures is not very high. We had to shoot under floodlights because it was completely dark. But the main details can be seen.

Kayla said, sighing in surprise:

– Well, it’s hard for me to say anything specific. This appearance may be the result of adaptation to a specific external environment. Organisms are formed as they are by the environment in which they live. That is, here we are no longer talking about evolution or long-term adaptability to external conditions. Rather, they are simply characteristics of organisms that ensure survival in a particular ecosystem.

Having listened to the end, Frost began to expound:

– Our company is planning a research expedition to the abyssal of the Atlantic Ocean. To do this, we need a group of reputable scientists. How do you feel about your participation in this type of research?

Frowning, Kayla clarified:

– Did you say «abyssal»?

– Exactly.

– But how?

– Miss Fox, high technology is our specialty.

Maintaining a puzzled face, Dr. Fox for some time imagined traveling to such distant ends of the Earth. But it was still difficult to digest this. She asked another question:

– How long is this expedition planned?

– The voyage will last a little over two months.

– Is this a single expedition? Or…

– Considering the value of the data that we could obtain, one expedition could provide you with work for years, and maybe for the rest of your life. As you probably understand, if any organisms are discovered, you will be offered cooperation on an ongoing basis. You will be provided with a laboratory equipped with the latest technology, where you can fully examine your findings. – After a moment’s pause, Frost added: – And this is what concerns the financial side of the business.

Stephen indicated a specific amount with a pen on a notepad, and then handed the torn piece of paper to Kayla Fox.

– This does not take into account the bonus part, which will become possible if we manage to discover some deep-sea organisms.

Kayla thought about her experiment; about how much time she spent on it and what results she achieved. She understood perfectly well that she could spend her whole life on this research and get nothing in the end. And here it is… She left the pictures and a piece of paper with numbers on the table, crossed her legs, straightened a strand of her black hair and said:

– Well, what can I say? I am a scientist first and a teacher second. A person cannot be satisfied with one theory, and such an opportunity may no longer be available. In view of this situation, I think there is no point in thinking for a long time. I would say right now that I agree. But, you know, it takes me some time to get my head around where the end point is. I’ll be honest and say right away that there are hardly any reasons why I would want to refuse such a suggestion, but I still need some time.

– No, no, Miss Fox. No one is rushing you. Think it over carefully. Of course, such decisions are not made in a couple of seconds. It’s still not like going to a nightclub. So you don’t have to rush. You have time.

Kayla didn’t pay any attention to these words. She understood that there was nothing keeping her in her current job.

– But can I ask you, Miss Fox, one favor?

– Of course.

– Our conversation must remain between us. It must not go beyond these walls. Can I rely on you?

Without the slightest tremor in her voice, Kayla answered:

– One hundred percent.

The next day Kayla dialed the number of her college classmate, who worked overseas at one of the medical institutes in Austin.

– Hello? – a man’s voice was heard on the phone.

– Hello Miguel. This is Kayla. Fox.

– Hi beauty. What’s up?

At the word «beauty» Kayla involuntarily remembered how, during her student years in her first year at the institute, Miguel Guimaraes asked her out several times and each time suffered a fiasco, only managing to become close friends, like most of the guys who had their eyes on her.

– Everything according to the script – Kayla answered.

– Still married to her microscope?

– Yeah-ah-ah… Years go by, but your humor doesn’t change.

– Sorry. It’s just that for the first time in a whole week I woke up without diarrhea, so my mood is on the rise this morning.

– Actually, I said that your jokes don’t change, but I didn’t say that I don’t like them.

– Got it. My mistake.

Through the phone, it was noticeable how high Miguel’s mood was.

– Well, since you haven’t lost your sense of humor, maybe you can answer the question?

– Which?

– Are you still wearing the third, or have your twins grown to the fourth?

– I don’t know. I have no complaints about the gravity yet.

Miguel appreciated the joke with a loud laugh. After waiting for it to fade, Kayla asked:

– Am I not distracting you from anything there?

– Not really. There are traffic jams in the morning, so I have to walk to work. So everything’s fine. Tell me what you got.

– Listen, I’m calling to say thank you for recommending me to Frost.

– Sorry, I didn’t hear! Dump trucks passed here! Can you repeat it again?

– I say thank you for recommending me to «Best Technologies».

– What recommendation?

– What do you mean «what recommendation»? Frost came to see me today. He said you recommended me.

There was silence on the line for several seconds. Miguel then said:

– Brown-eyed, you are confusing something. I don’t know any Frost.

4. TUCKER HUGHES

With unprecedented bliss he got out of the SUV and headed to a bar near the beach thirty-five kilometers from the city of La Plata, anticipating rivers of rum and whiskey. Forty-five-year-old paleontologist Tucker Hughes spent almost a month in Argentina, leading a group of archaeologists. Over the heading of twenty-three days, they carefully dug up the remains of Megaraptor. Now he, along with his colleagues, planned to get completely drunk and relax to the point of disgrace.

The bar was located on the ocean shore, from where the breaking of waves could be heard beautifully and the sounds of the ocean, together with the moonlight, created an atmosphere especially favorable for parting with a sober mind slowly and in small sips.

Tucker was accompanied by his colleague, a junior researcher at the Department of Paleontology, Jan Vogel, and an employee of the Paleontological Museum in the city of Trelew, Fernando Rivera, who, in fact, reported on the possible find and asked the authorities for permission to involve foreign specialists with great expertise in the excavations.

Hardly had the group of archaeologists completed extracting the remains of Megaraptor when Tucker, Jan and Fernando immediately set off to the coast in unison, leaving behind their work clothes, which still had traces of sand on them.

The waitress took an order for a bottle of rum, a bottle of cognac and three bottles of beer as an aperitif.

Looking towards the arriving waves, Tucker said, keeping a dreamy grimace on his face:

– If in this world you could choose the moment when your life would end, I would choose this one. What could be better when you have the sounds of the surf in your ears, the moon and starry sky in front of your eyes, and a glass of excellent rum in your hand?

– Yes – Fernando confirmed. – Even the loss of virginity cannot be compared with this.

A shadow fell on the table from behind them. They turned around, expecting to see the waitress and their order on the tray.

– Gentlemen, good evening.

It was a stranger, dressed in white trousers and a black shirt with the sleeves rolled up to the elbows.

– Are you Dr. Tucker Hughes? – asked the stranger.

– Yes, it’s me.

– Stephen Frost. Very nice – with these words Frost extended his hand and shook Tucker’s hand. – Mr. Hughes, if you don’t think I’m being intrusive, can I distract you for a moment and discuss something privately?

Tucker didn’t even try to hide his surprise. The stranger spoke clear English, and this definitely indicated that he was not from Argentina, or from this continent at all. The accent was very British. Tucker found it difficult to even imagine that someone had flown across the ocean to talk to him about something. It was even more difficult for him to imagine the subject of conversation for which the stranger had crossed such a distance. He looked around, looking for the waitress with the order. Not finding her, he rose from the table and said, extending his hand to the other end of the bar’s veranda:

– Sure. Let’s pass.

Sitting down at a free table in the very corner, Frost asked:

– How is your fossil doing?

– Apparently, it was a large individual.

– Do you regret that it will remain here?

– Do I regret it? – Tucker Hughes said in an indifferent tone. He answered this question while maintaining an absolutely calm face. – No. I was given permission to work with the remains. I can fly here later and continue working on the skeleton at any time. I don’t really care that British schoolchildren won’t be able to see the skeleton of a huge prehistoric monster. In this regard, I am an egoist and a sociopath. Nothing can be done about it.

– I would say a very practical approach to business.

– So – Tucker said, offering to get down to business.

– I represent the company «Best Technologies». Our company is organizing a research expedition to the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean. We are recruiting a group of scientists. At the moment there is only one free place left. This is a vacancy for a paleontologist. We need a reputable specialist with extensive experience and knowledge of his field.

– You said «to the bottom of the ocean», right? – Tucker asked with some doubt, narrowing his eyes.

– Absolutely right.

The waitress approached the table. Tucker refused the order. Frost wanted a glass of cold mineral water, and then handed the Hispanic woman with the golden tan a fifty-dollar bill, asking her to bring the order when he left the table.

After the girl left, Tucker continued the conversation:

– Of course, I’ve heard a lot about your breakthrough technologies and therefore I won’t ask how you are going to overcome such depth. I don’t even doubt this. But I am overcome by strong doubts about something else. Mr. Frost, I don’t want to sound like a skeptic, but I don’t think there are any preserved remains of any creatures on the ocean floor.

Before Tucker could even finish speaking, Stephen Frost took out several printed photographs from the side pocket of his black shirt, unfolded them, placed on the table and said:

– I don’t want to mislead modern science either, Mr. Hughes, so I just suggest you look at something very interesting.

Tucker began examining photographs of the same object taken from different angles and with different degrees of brightness. For several minutes he assessed every detail of the object.

– You know, I would like to say that this is a montage, but I cannot say the opposite with 100% accuracy, because…

– Look at this – Frost interrupted, handing Tucker the phone with the video recording. – Taken from our unmanned deep-sea vehicle.

Tucker pressed play. Half a minute later he returned the phone.

– And do you have the coordinates of the location of these remains?

– Of course. Information is too valuable to be ignored. Have you ever seen anything like this? – Frost asked.

– During my student years, I was lucky enough to get to the excavations that were carried out by our university in the east of Algeria. There the professor asked me and my partner to take the tools and increase the depth of the hole, since he assumed that some fragments of the Spinosaurus could remain just below. The main part of the skeleton had been removed before us, so we expected to find some crushed bones, and that’s all. But while we were digging, a small part of the soil on the side crumbled, and we saw some kind of protruding bone. We thought it was another fragment from our dinosaur. We keep digging and digging, but the thing turns out to be huge, and has nothing to do with the Spinosaurus. It was a whole separate skeleton. I have no right to say what exactly it was. Bound himself with an oath. But I can say one thing – if information about this find is made public, then we can safely rewrite all the history textbooks about the Cretaceous period. And to answer your question, I won’t lie. Yes. I saw a lot of damn things that are difficult to explain.

– And what can you say about this find? – Frost asked, pointing to the photographs.

– Judging by the structure of the skeleton, from the outside it looks like a mermaid. But it’s hard to say. Half of the skeleton is buried. – Taking a deep breath, Tucker returned to the main topic: – Well, okay. What is this expedition like?

– You dive into the waters of the Atlantic and follow a given route. Your responsibility is to use the manipulator to pick up all finds whose dimensions allow this to be done. Those, that are too large, you will need to carefully film with a drone, record the location coordinates and do a superficial investigation, resorting only to visual contact. In the future, if these finds are worth it, the company will take steps to bring such remains to the surface. We will entrust the study of them to the one, who discovered them. As for the timing, the voyage will last about two months, maybe another week, taking into account delays on site to study the finds. The amount due for your services is indicated on the back of the photo.

Tucker didn’t look at the back of the photo, but immediately asked:

– When are you planning to sail?

– In a few days the submarine will be launched into the water. Practical tests will be carried out for some time and, if the ship demonstrates itself in accordance with all the declared characteristics and everything goes according to the established plan, then the expedition will start in three months.

The scientist looked somewhere into the distance towards the ocean and said:

– You know, I could refuse, because there are enough remains of all sorts of prehistoric creatures on earth. But I’m already tired of studying dinosaur bones, and then, who knows, maybe in a place, where no one has ever been, there’s a much greater chance of finding something extraordinary.

After finishing his tirade, Tucker Hughes extended his hand to Frost. Frost shook it and said:

– I will be sincerely glad to our cooperation. And since you’ve already made your decision, I have to add something. You will need to arrive at your destination two weeks before departure. You will undergo a medical examination so that your body is ready for the dive; You will also have to undergo instruction in the operation of the submarine, which will become your home for two whole months, and a few other minor procedures. Do you have any questions for me?

– None.

– In that case, I will leave you my contacts…

– I’m afraid, Mr. Frost, it’s useless. You see, my colleagues and I are now facing an alcohol marathon, and by the morning I will no longer be able to find my pants, not to mention your business card.

Stephen Frost spoke in a serious tone:

– Mr. Hughes, I think you didn’t quite understand the essence of the whole situation. You will have to maintain a sober mind, because other people should not find out about our conversation.

The paleontologist lowered his eyelids in annoyance, and when he raised them, he said:

– Of course.

– That’s wonderful. I was sincerely glad to have our conversation.

On that note, Frost rose from his chair.

– Me too – Tucker answered, languidly shaking Frost’s hand.

The waitress immediately brought a glass of water and handed it to Frost.

Returning to the table with his colleagues, Tucker called the waitress and ordered a non-alcoholic beer.

– I don’t understand – Fernando said indignantly.

– Yes, Mr. Hughes – Jan supported. – We planned to relax.

Taking a deep breath, Tucker replied:

– That’s right, we wanted to relax. I don’t want to relax too much today and have my head tense tomorrow morning.

5. PREPARATORY BASE

His name in the company was known only to those who headed it. He always wore same clothes – strict suits in dark tones of black or gray. It is noteworthy that shoes, polished to shine, always matched color of a suit. Short-haired, clean-shaven and with a low, ringing voice. On his left wrist he always wore a watch from an elite brand, which he changed in the same way as his ties – separate ones for each day of the week. Everyone addressed him as «Mr. Smith» or simply «Smith». He was appointed curator of the expedition.

He provided the recruit with information about scientists, whose candidates, in his opinion, were most suitable in order to attract them to work on board the submarine. But his main competence is considered to be the ability to obtain, buy, extort and steal data from closed archives. Thanks to successful work in this direction, Smith made the upcoming expedition possible. With the information, that he managed to collect, diving into the depths of the Atlantic will not be pointless and, most importantly, will not be conducted blindly, but along a clearly defined route.

The day of departure was approaching. The stage of physical training of the crew was coming to end. Medical and preventive procedures were completed.

Late in the evening Smith visited the medical laboratory at the base, where crew members were being examined. He approached Doctor Kate Moore, who had finished reviewing the results of the examination of the last crew member several hours earlier. She was to accompany the crew as a staff doctor. At the age of thirty-eight, Dr. Moore firmly linked her future with medicine, sacrificing a family that she saw no point in starting if she had to disappear at work for twelve hours a day, and sometimes not leave the research institute at all for two or three days in a row. While working for one of the «Best Technologies» subsidiaries, Kate was asked to escort the crew of the submarine. The authorities approached her with a request. But Kate understood that it was better to agree right away, because she did not work for an ordinary pharmaceutical company. Here management provided unlimited opportunities, in exchange for which they had to adapt to local corporate ethics, which never takes into account the opinions of the staff, as all employees knew. Previously she had to monitor the condition of volunteers, who took part in experiments testing new drugs. Now the work ahead was much simpler and more boring.

Kate looked at the monitor, studying the results of the blood test. At this moment Smith approached her. Leaning over, he asked:

– Well, what about their health?

– In principle, everything is normal. Only Kayla Fox has a slight strain on her lungs. They are not working at full capacity. But this is not critical. I’ve already done two injections. In a week she will be as healthy as an ox.

– Is there anything else to come?

– No. I’m done.

– Do you remember everything?

– Saturday, twenty hours thirty-seven minutes, Heathrow, terminal six.

– Then see you soon – Smith said carefreely and left the laboratory for the psychoanalyst’s office.

– Ah, Mr. Smith – said sixty-five-year-old psychoanalyst Quentin Duff. – You’re just in time.

– So, – Smith said, as if drawing a preliminary line, – what’s wrong with our brains?

– Let’s go through it in order.

They sat down on the sofa and the doctor began going through the notes, while simultaneously talking about the results of the examination:

– Number one. Luther de Bont. Forty-nine years old. We may not particularly focus on it. I will only say that I would like to have the same nerves of steel. In the event of any emergency situation, he will maintain a cool mind and act rationally. I can say this with absolute certainty.

Putting aside the folder with the captain’s name, the doctor moved on to the next one:

– Number two. Morgan Sinclair. Thirty-seven years old. Senior mate. The captain himself found him. There is no doubt that it will withstand a long stay under water. The experience of serving on a submarine comes into play here. The candidacy is very good. He has well-developed phlegmatism. A situation that will not change for a long time is unlikely to throw him off balance. Let’s move on. Number three. Henry Mills. Forty-one years. Engineer. Your man.

– Yes. Ours – Smith confirmed. – How did he show himself?

– How should I say it? He is very interested in working with innovations. The time spent on practical tests was clearly not enough for him. He wants to watch longer how the submarine will behave. Has a quality that borders faintly on obsessive-compulsive disorder. In other words, he likes to check the same thing a thousand times. For example, if he closes the door before going to bed, then in five minutes he can check ten times whether he locked it.

– On the other hand, it’s good.

– Agree. With such a person, constant monitoring of the operation of the equipment will be ensured. Further. Number four. Hector Cage. Forty two years. Ichthyologist. There is internal depression against the background of labor dissatisfaction. Having changed his job, he stopped traveling around the world and studying rare species of fish. The new university does not provide him with such an opportunity. In this regard, he has high hopes for this expedition and is looking forward to its beginning. If negative energy accumulates, he will prefer to hold it in until someone is unlucky enough to meet him at the wrong time. But considering that he has not participated in marine fauna research for more than two years, his condition is quite suitable for diving. He will do his work with great zeal. So – sighing, Quentin Duff said, moving on to the next folder: – Number five. Kayla Fox. Thirty five years. Biologist. I must say, a very rare set of qualities. In her psychotype, such qualities as scrupulousness and pedantry emerge most clearly. But at the same time, curiously, she has some melancholic traits. Namely, a penchant for something creative. I wouldn’t be surprised, if somewhere in her home she’s conducting illegal experiments on growing some kind of centaur or alien. It is worth noting that she has a very valuable quality – she knows how to keep secrets. True, she can also store those that should be told to her superiors.

– Can she find something at the bottom and hide it from us? – Smith asked in a dubious voice.

– Considering, that she will have to work in a strictly limited space for a long time, I don’t think so. And then, she understands that in the future she can get permanent work with unique materials. So, it’s unlikely. Not in this case.

– Fine. Who do we have next?

– Sixth. Dr. Moore. I didn’t talk to her for a very long time. After all, we’ve been working together for several months now. I only asked about things that I couldn’t ask my colleague. Her general psychological portrait is quite transparent. There is only one weakness that can manifest itself during the swimming. She is not able to sit without work for a long time. In other words, if all the crew members are alive and well, then she will simply have nothing to do, and this in turn will affect her morale. Therefore, no matter how strange it may sound, healthy patients on board can become a problem for her.

Any problem can be solved – Smith thought instantly.

Duff continued:

– Ah! Number seven. The most interesting specimen. Tucker Hughes. Forty-five years. Paleontologist. Ready to work like a horse for months. But I bet that after finishing his long and fruitful work, he will boldly go to nearest brothel or tavern to remember the delights of life and fall into oblivion. It will also sound strange, but he is able to restrain his natural instincts and animal urges. My diagnosis: eligible.

– Wonderful – Smith concluded, shaking Duff’s hand.

Maintaining iron composure, Smith walked with a confident gait to the technical compartment. There he approached the only staff member and said:

– Connect me to the port.

– Got it – the engineer responded obediently. Having established a connection over a closed channel, he handed the phone to Smith.

As soon as the other end of the line answered the phone, the curator said only a few phrases:

– Smith says. No changes are planned. Everything is progressing strictly according to plan. The captain and senior mate must be at base by Friday. They will return with the rest of the crew at the scheduled time.

– Accepted.

– End of connection.

After a short conversation, Smith left the technical compartment. Having found the first free room, which turned out to be a warehouse with household equipment, Smith dialed the number from his mobile phone.

– This is Smith.

– Speak.

– Everything goes according to plan. But before diving you have to do something else.

– I’m listening.

– We need a pathogen.

– Which one?

– Mild, non-lethal, easily detected and quickly treated with standard medications. Several species with different incubation periods. The pathologies caused should not be transmitted to others.

– In what form should it be distributed?

– Through products.

– Deadlines?

– Thirty-six hours.

– I understand you.

6. «AMPHIBIA XXI»

At seven thirty in the morning Anguilla’s Clayton Lloyd International Airport was receiving a charter flight from Heathrow. After eleven hours of travel, the seven passengers were met by a thin man of average height, whom Captain De Bont, senior mate Morgan Sinclair and engineer Henry Mills knew well by sight. They called him Stanley. Whether this was his real name or not, they didn’t think about it. They met Stanley when they were conducting practical tests of the submarine. The others saw him for the first time. He was dressed like a typical resident of a resort town – a baseball cap with a curved visor, a loose shirt with multi-colored patterns and loose white trousers. All clothes were made of pure cotton. Stanley’s eyes were hidden behind wide sunglasses. If he took off his baseball cap from time to time when he found himself indoors, then even the captain, senior mate and engineer who spent three weeks with him during the tests did not know what color his eyes are.

Stanley helped load the travel bags into the trunk of the minibus. As soon as everyone was seated, he reversed and drove the car to the eastern part of the island, where an eight-seater seaplane was waiting at the pier. Stanley himself took the pilot’s seat. With a slight movement, he started both engines and began to pick up speed, developing it until the fuselage left the water, after which Stanley turned it towards the final destination.

Even before the seaplane began to descend into the water, an object located in the middle of the open water caught an eye through the porthole. Some kind of surface station had an impressive size, equal to two football pitches. Most of the area was hidden behind the roof, in the middle of which there was a sliding section with dimensions of twenty by forty meters. On the opposite side stood a control room with a radio tower and repeater. Another building was visible between them – a housing block. All three parts were connected by steel overhead bridges one and a half meters wide.

There was a pier along the perimeter on three sides. The seaplane stopped near one of them. Having moored the aircraft, Stanley led the crew along the pier towards the covered part of the station.

Finding themselves here for the first time, the scientists and the doctor looked around with curiosity. Through the glass windows in the control room, someone’s silhouette could be seen looming inside. Electronic locks were installed on the doors at the entrance to the housing block. The bridges, connecting the compartments, also had checkpoints in the form of lattice doors made of high-strength steel. On the side of the doors there were biometric locks with palm and retina scanners, as well as a microphone for voice reading and identification.

Stanley placed his palm on the panel and tilted his head closer to the retinal scanner. After a few seconds, the screen read: «Say «Picturesque bay».

Stanley said clearly into the microphone:

– Picturesque bay.

A signal sounded and the lock unlocked. Walking forward, Stanley held the door to let the crew members through. A few meters later, at the entrance to the covered part of the station, he performed the same actions, only this time, instead of «picturesque bay», the system required him to say «galvanic cell».

The full crew found themselves inside.

Stanley grabbed the switch, pulled it and the darkness was replaced by the glow of powerful LED lamps. An impressively sized surface hangar appeared before their eyes. Support underfoot was provided by only a quarter of the entire area in the form of a floor welded from a thick layer of steel, which was located along the perimeter of the hangar and had a depth of ten meters from the edge. All sorts of tools lay everywhere, including a welding machine, wrenches and adjustable wrenches, a grinder and a sharpening machine. Judging by the fact that only one of the many metal cabinets remained open, all these tools were used for some minor work, which, quite possibly, was carried out to eliminate minor defects. Somewhere at the far end of the hangar a manipulator was visible, which had obviously completed its work a long time ago. Two cargo boats were moored nearby below.

The views of all crew members, and especially those who arrived for the first time, were riveted on what was in the center of the hangar and was almost entirely hidden under water.

«Amphibia XXI» is an ultra-modern submarine, developed with the latest technology. The latest development of the «Best Technologies» company, representing the pinnacle of innovative achievements in the entire history of the company and a new milestone in global progress. The world’s only analog submarine capable of withstanding pressure up to eight hundred and fifty atmospheres, which allows it to reach almost maximum depths of the Atlantic Ocean. The displacement of Amphibia XXI when fully submerged under water is two thousand one hundred and fifty tons with a length of thirty-five meters. Equipped with a nuclear reactor and four engines, Amphibia XXI is capable of reaching underwater speeds of up to thirty-five knots and maintaining navigation autonomy for up to one hundred and ten days. Operating at the expense of a reactor, the submarine has on board an installation for autonomous generation of oxygen reserves. Thanks to a well-functioning system of equipment interconnection and centralized access to its management, the minimum number of crew required to maintain and operate the submarine is only three people.

Having passed all practical tests under the command of captain Luther de Bont, Amphibia XXI stood idle in the private bay located eighteen kilometers north of Island Harbor awaiting the start of its mission. So far, the only thing that could be seen above the water, was the top of the wheelhouse and the entrance hatch. The rest of the hull was hidden under water and what the actual dimensions of the submarine were, the ichthyologist, biologist, paleontologist and doctor could only guess.

Captain De Bont hit a button on the dashboard in the wall with his hand, after which a collapsible ladder began to extend from under the floor. The crew members followed it to the center of the hangar. The captain opened the entrance hatch and was the first to go inside the submarine, taking the others along with their travel bags.

Stanley remained upstairs. Or left the hangar. However, this was no longer important. The last stage of preparation remains before the start. All crew members had to quickly get used to life on a submarine. While this was a common occurrence for Captain De Bont and his senior mate Morgan Sinclair, and engineer Henry Mills managed to take his first steps, the rest of the crew needed some time to get used to the new environment.

– So, ladies and gentlemen, – Captain De Bont said, sighing loudly and spreading his arms wide, – let me give you a tour. Me, Morgan and Henry have already gotten used to it a little, but for you at first everything will be new. Follow me.

The captain elegantly turned around on his axis, beginning the briefing:

– This room is called the «central post». It is from here that we will control our beauty. Frankly, when they first brought me here and showed me this miracle of engineering, I was stunned. On a standard submarine, you have to have a whole group of specialists to simply correct the position of the boat. And here, using just keys and touch panels, you can manipulate all systems while sitting still. Add here some military equipment with shells, and there would be no price for such submarines in the military flotilla.

– Why «Amphibia»? – asked medic Kate Moore.

She immediately turned around when she heard Henry’s voice behind her, who answered the question posed:

– Some people believe that at the bottom of the ocean there is a completely different environment, which is very different from the sea we know and hides something new, previously unknown to mankind. There is also water there, but not at all the kind we are used to. And our Amphibia is heading exactly there.

– So, it turns out that you are one of those who built this boat?

– Something like that. I was the senior assistant to the chief designer.

– Why didn’t he go on the voyage?

– He is sixty-nine years old. He is too ancient for such walks.

The captain, meanwhile, continued to introduce the scientists to the central compartment, pointing to the chairs in front of the monitors:

– These are your jobs. Here, through monitors, you will watch what is happening in the ocean outside. There are cameras with spotlights throughout the submarine’s hull, so be careful and try not to miss anything. Please go to the next compartment.

Luther de Bont led the crew through a rectangular partition hatch into the next room, where he drew attention to the entrance to the compartment with the inscription above the entrance «biological laboratory».

– Miss Fox, this is your abode. Here you will perform your immediate responsibilities. Everything you need is here – a refrigerator, containers with liquid nitrogen, microscopes, a chamber with a vacuum pump, a centrifuge, all sorts of chemical liquids, tools. In general, you will understand. Now I ask you to go to the next compartment.

The room was equipped with an abundance of instruments for comprehensive measurements of parts of a skeleton, scales, tools for cleaning skeletons from dust and foreign substances, a computer with a database that stored information about all living beings on the planet, not only living today, but also ever lived.

– As you already understand, Mr. Hughes, this service bungalow is assigned to you. But I think you’re familiar with everything here, aren’t you?

Dr. Tucker Hughes nodded silently, carefully examining the room allocated for his work.

The next compartment belonged to Hector Cage. The difference between his computer and Tucker’s was that here on the hard drive there was all the detailed information about representatives of the fauna that live and once lived not only in the vastness of the ocean, but also in the aquatic environment anywhere on the planet, including rivers, seas and lakes. In addition, along two walls in the shape of a square there was a huge aquarium made of a high-strength alloy of glass and plastic, divided into thirty-four sections of different sizes. There was a control panel on the wall. Using it, by pressing one key, it was possible to open the inlet valve and fill a section with a specific number with water from the ocean through a system of hoses, the holes of which were led out through the hull of the submarine. In the same way, it was possible to pump water out of a specific section using a second tube that was connected to the drainage system.

The next compartment housed the infirmary. It was one of the most spacious rooms.

– And we will come here to complain to Dr. Moore about our health. But let’s hope that this cruise will take place without incidents and everyone will be as healthy as animals.

After an interim pep talk, Captain De Bont pointed out to Dr. Moore that there were two isolation rooms in place should anyone need to be kept away from the rest of the crew to avoid infection. On the back side there were cabinets and refrigerators with medicines, medical equipment, materials and other supplies. The infirmary was also equipped with the most advanced technology, including several microscopes, including electronic ones; pneumatic syringes, x-ray, transformable surgical table and ultrasound machine.

Next, the captain pointed the crew to two cabins, where they immediately left bags with personal belongings. Each cabin had parameters of three hundred ten by three hundred eighty centimeters. Inside there were two bunk beds and two double-leaf wardrobes with a crossbar for hangers and three shelves.

– Wait – Kate Moore slowed down, interrupting the captain. – There are five men and two women among us, and one cabin is designed for four. There are only two cabins. Is it possible that one of the men will keep Miss Fox and me company?

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