Danger in the Deep Sea by Kate B. Jerome

Author:Kate B. Jerome
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Earth Aware Editions
Published: 2023-05-02T00:00:00+00:00

“It’s a beauty, all right,” agreed Colin. “But it’s not happy with Chimaera.”

Sure enough, at the next pass, the swordfish made a stab at the ROV with its sharp bill.

“It must think it’s prey,” Anna said. “You know this fish can swim at really high speeds. Do you think it can do any damage?”

Just as Anna asked the question, the swordfish came into view again. Although the fish was fast, everything seemed to go in slow motion as we watched it spear a hose underneath the ROV with its bill.

Alarms immediately went off. The big fish thrashed in fury. Oil began leaking from the hole it was making with its bill.

I automatically retracted the manipulator arm to get it out of harm’s way.

“Good move, Marena,” Colin said as he reached for the controls and I moved away to give him his seat.

“Let’s see if we can pull away without hurting this swordfish,” the pilot said as he expertly flew Chimaera at an upward angle.

“Boy, that’s going to be a nasty hole in the hose,” he added.

The mood in Mission Control was tense, but controlled. Everyone concentrated on their job to assist the pilot.

Lucas and I didn’t speak. Our eyes were glued to the screen as we watched the struggle. Then, as quickly as it had begun, it was suddenly over. The swordfish broke away and swam into the darkness of the ocean. By the way it moved, it didn’t seem to be hurt.

For a moment no one said anything. We all looked at the hose of the ROV. How bad would the oil leak become?

But the oil wasn’t leaking anymore.

Colin was the first to figure it out.

“Can you believe it?” asked Colin. “The tip of the swordfish’s bill broke off in that tug-of-war. And now it’s plugging the hole!”

We all stared at the screen. He was right! The swordfish had left a built-in fix.

“Easy now,” the pilot said as he flew the ROV slowly back toward the ship. “Let’s get Chimaera up for repairs while our luck still holds. Whew. That was a close one!”

We all breathed a sigh of relief. A happier mood came over Mission Control.

“That was the coolest thing I’ve ever seen!” Lucas exclaimed.

I wasn’t yet sure.

“Do you think the swordfish will be okay without the tip of its bill?” I asked.

“I think so,” Anna said. “Swordfish sometimes spear their prey with their bill. Most of the time, they are successful in the kill. But sometimes the prey gets away. And we’ve found bits of bill left behind before.”

“Not a bad first day, Marena,” Colin said, turning to me. “You really did well with the manipulator arm. And you learned the most important rules of exploration.”

I did?

“Umm… just to be sure… what are they again?” I asked.

“Always be prepared for the unexpected,” Colin answered. “And when the unexpected does happen, don’t panic. Just think your way through it.”

I solemnly nodded my head at his good advice. And for the rest of the day I couldn’t get that one phrase out of my head.

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