Excitement ran through the ship as word was passed from man to man. It was time.
Bill's people and the crew clustered around in anticipation. The sled began to whir as the Scorpion started to move. It was officially being rolled out to go to work.
As classy as the Horizon was, the Scorpion was a piece of space age technology that captured everyone's imagination.
Captain Hertzog rolled the craft into view. Rolf operated the crane. Dolf attached the cable as the crane lifted it from its resting place. It swung out over the side of the ship as Dolf guided it into the water from above.
Sidney Peacock kept an eye on every aspect of the roll out in case there was a glitch somewhere along the way. Greek worried about the pot of sauce he left bubbling on the stove as he came to see the submersible being put into the water. The two engineers stood next to the main passageway to supervise the activity.
Bill, Clay, and Dylan stood at the railing to watch. They'd take the first ride.
Logan got his closeup with the 16mm camera he carried to film scenes like this one. The Scorpion was the star of the show. Logan shot it being rolled into view and while it swung out over the side of the ship. He shot Dolf gently guiding the pod into the water. Scrambling down the side to release the cable, Dolf attached the Scorpion to the ship with the tether he carried around his waist.
It was time to see what the Scorpion could do.
The submersible saved Bill endless hours of diving to find the perfect spot to do the research at this site. What once took many dives to accomplish he could do in a couple of trips to the bottom in the Scorpion. He didn't even need to get his feet wet. Bill and Clay stood side by side to watch.
“It's far more impressive in the water, Bill,” Clay said.
He felt his heart thumping with excitement as he spoke.
“Wait until you see it in action from inside. It's right out of Jules Verne, Clayton,” Bill said. “Can you believe it's mine?”
“Can I go? I'd like a look under water here,” Dylan said.
Bill was surprised by the request. He thought about it for a minute. The Scorpion had two seats.
“Yes, there's a space for air tanks behind the two seats. Someone can sit there. We won't be diving out of it at this point. We'll put the air tanks in the equipment locker and you can ride along.”
“Kewl,” Dylan said, even more excited than his father.
“We'll be checking all the systems on the first dive. Make sure everything is in good working order,” Bill said.
“He doesn't need to go along, Bill,” Clay said, not wanting Bill to think they were pressuring him.
“I do too, Dad. He said, 'Yes.'” Dylan objected. “I need to see what's down there. I want to see it from the Scorpion. Quit trying to complicate my life.”
Logan stood filming the pod from above. He'd been waiting to get film of the submersible from the first day out. He'd never been in one before. He intended to get a ride and film from inside it while they got a good look at what was on the bottom.
“And after you take him down you can bring him back and take me,” Logan said. “I'll need some footage taken from the Scorpion.”
“You can let me take the pictures from the Scorpion and you won't need to bother with going for a ride,” Dylan said jokingly.
“Listen, young man, I know when I want to take the pictures. You're not the only one who wants a ride in the pod,” Logan retorted.
They both laughed.
“Children,” Bill said in a professorial voice. “We're here for weeks to come. Everyone will get a turn. Dylan asked first. He'll go first. Logan, you're next.”
Bill figured it out like a patient father.
Logan laughed.
“OK, Dad,” he said.
“When do I get a turn?” Dolf asked.
“Crew members don't get turns, Dolf,” Bill said firmly.
“I've got everything done that I need to do before we begin diving. A couple of trips to look at the reef are in order. Dylan asked first, he'll go before lunch and Logan can go after lunch,” Bill said. “Dylan, bring your camera. It's filmed from inside the pod before.”
“Kewl,” Dylan said, heading for his cabin to get the camera.
The two single air tanks that were part of the standard equipment came out. Dylan replaced them. It was a tight fit but it now qualified as the backseat.
Bill slipped into the operator's seat and Clay positioned himself in the seat beside him. It was snug but plenty good enough for short excursions. It would be an effective way to view the reef. The tether was released as the plastic bubble top was lowered, Logan filmed the pod moving away from the ship. It had begun to submerge before it got far. As it did, Bill explained the controls and how to take the craft down as it moved forward.
“Once we go down a couple of times, I'll let you drive, It's not complicated. You never know when you might need to drive,” Bill said.
“Dylan, you are along for the ride. Don't think for a minute that every time we go underwater, you'll be going with us,” Clay said.
“I won't,” Dylan said, moving the camera away from his eye. “It sure is quiet.”
“Battery operated. It'll whine from time to time but you can hardly hear it. We'll go under the water now.
“We take on water for ballast once I switch into dive mode. It'll slowly take on water to allow us to submerge. When we are ready to return to the ship, I start blowing the ballast out of the tank and we'll be able to surface.”
“Oh, Dad, it's beautiful. Look at the color. The fish.”
Dylan remembered he had his camera with him and he was soon photographing in every direction.
“Like being inside a fishbowl in the ocean. Only the fish get to look at us,” Bill said.
Dylan laughed.
“Dad, we've got to get one of these. I'm taking underwater movies without getting wet,” Dylan exclaimed. “Wow. This is like totally kewl.”
“Oh my god,” Clay said. “I never imagined it being like this. It beats SCUBA diving all to hell.”
“This is the latest reef I've explored. I wanted to come back because I suspect there will be some change we'll be able to see. Not to the naked eye but I took samples of specimens here last year. I plan to take some of the same samples this year. Compare them. It's why I wanted you to come along. I want you to see what I see. If there is any change from last year's samples, we'll see it and you can give me your opinion,” Bill explained to Clay.
Bill maneuvered the Scorpion to within thirty or forty feet of the corner of the reef. The Scorpion settled smoothly onto the bottom. It was a remarkable vantage point. It gave them a view of how the reef slowly curved away from them.
Fish dashed and darted here and there upon their arrival. As they watched the reef slowly go back to business as usual. The presence of the strange newcomer was soon disregarded as nothing to be concerned about.
It seemed to represent no threat and so the sea creatures swam in and out of the reef's crevices and along the contours of the coral. The underwater activity slowly filled in the space between the reef and the Scorpion. It was like they weren't there to the sea creatures.
The view was spectacular.
Heads inside the submersible moved from side to side in an attempt to see it all. There was no conversation as the amazed passengers took it all in. There was no way to see it all.
Dylan giggled as a yellow fish tried to kiss him through the plastic of the clear bubble top. Another odd looking fish stopped to take a gander at the strange looking creatures inside the people bowl. Dylan filmed some of the scene and he stayed busy watching the rest of the time. There was too much activity to focus on any one spot.
The view from the pod was breathtaking. Nothing needed to be said to describe the beauty as life on the reef forgot about the interlopers and swam here, there, and everywhere around them.
There was a bump and the pod rocked as a very large shark swam up in front of the pod as the beautiful fish scattered and disappeared in short order. The shark returned to glide above the pod's bubble top. It was almost as big as the Scorpion.
“What is it, Dad?” Dylan wanted to know.
“Great white,” Clay said.
“Very good, Clay. Have you seen one in the wild?” Bill asked.
“No. I've seen pictures. I've seen film of great whites off South Africa. They seem to gather there.”
“Oh my god,” Dylan said.
The great white swam casually away from the pod and toward the reef. It glided up and over it before going out of site. A minute or two later the more daring fish began to reappear. The shark lost interest in fish too small to even be considered for a snack. “They aren't particularly native to these waters, but you can find a great white almost anywhere there's deep water,” Bill said. “I've seen several here but never that close. We've been blessed today.”
“In jaws they ate people at the beach,” Dylan said alarmed.
“Yes, they swim and eat and make baby sharks as I recall,” Bill said. “When you keep swimming you're going to reach a beach sooner or later. With all those snacks splashing around it'll get a shark's attention every time. Great whites too.”
“In the Gulf?” Dylan asked.
“They swim and eat. One might follow the Straits of Florida into the Gulf. They're deep cold water creatures that can swim anywhere. The Gulf a bit warm for a great white's cold water taste.”
“I'll think about that,” Dylan said. “But we definitely need a pod.” “You'll need to save your pennies. This retails for a hundred thousand dollars,” Bill said. “Probably one and a quarter by now and I'd sure John Sinclair gave himself a significant discount on this baby. It was his company that designed and constructed it to be part of the Horizon's standard equipment.”
“I need a bigger piggy bank, Dad,” Dylan said.
Bill backed away from the reef and he circled the main section of it before Heading back toward the Horizon. As they moved higher in the water a dark shadow came straight at Bill from the left. Bill didn't see it until the last second and he ducked as if whatever it was was going to collide with him and it gave the Scorpion a soft bump.
“What the hell was that,” Bill said, trying to find where it went.
Dylan laughed loudly.
“Tangle. He was watching us when we got on the Scorpion. He saw Dad, I think. Just letting him know he hasn't gone anywhere.”
“The porpoise you rescued is still following us?” Bill asked surprised.
“Yeah, it has been following us since we rescued it,” Clay said. “I didn't see him yesterday. We may have been out distancing him at the speed we were traveling, but he found us once we slowed down after turning south.”
“Amazingly intelligent creatures. I suppose you've made a friend,” Bill said. “I wish I had time to study such creatures exclusively. Maybe one day I'll tire of this and begin studying a few species that appeal to me.”
“I suppose,” Clay said. “I wish I knew what was on its mind.”
“You and me both,” Bill said.
Dylan considered a time when men and porpoises would be able to talk to each other.
*****
The first trip on the Scorpion took less than an hour. The craft operated flawlessly. It's clear plastic bubble top made the submersible excellent for the type of trip it just returned from. Everyone on board was impressed by the visibility and how it allowed them to become part of the habitat a few minutes after arriving on the scene.
It would be difficult to top the first trip in the Scorpion. For both Clay and Dylan, it was the most amazing thing they'd ever done.
Logan was on deck filming the Scorpion as it came out of the sea and moved back toward the Horizon. The summer's explorations were under way and Logan wanted all the footage of the pod he could get. It was great footage that would captivate the viewer's imagination.
Getting the futuristic looking vehicle on film was as good a place as any to start the on site filming of the summer's research.
Logan couldn’t wait for a turn inside the Scorpion. The footage he took from inside the vehicle would be as spectacular as film footage got. Audiences would be thrilled. They'd feel like they were on the bottom of the Pacific Ocean seeing its raw natural beauty.
Logan leaned out over the railing to film the three occupants clamber out and climb back onto the deck. He leaned again to film Dolf attaching the tether to the submersible. It was all footage he'd incorporate into the story his documentary would tell.
Bill was standing next to Logan by the time he had taken the shots he wanted.
“We'll have lunch and then I'll take you with me, Logan. I'm sure you'll want to shoot your own footage from the pod,” Bill said.
Dylan followed Logan to the film lab, where he unloaded his camera and set his film to one side. Logan developed film late each day. He didn't develop all the film every day, but he liked keeping caught up so he could watch the film they'd both taken.
“How was it?” Logan asked.
“The most fantastic thing I've ever done,” Dylan said with enthusiasm. “I won't tell you about it because anything I'd say would be inadequate. We saw a great white. You need to see it to believe it. It'll absolutely knock your socks off. I mean he was like this close.”
Dylan spread his arms apart.
“You're kidding me, right?” Logan asked.
“Not even. You'll see. I filmed it. That sucker was as big as the pod.”
“I can't wait to go,” Logan said. “I'll do some developing once I come back. I'll develop your film after I develop my own. We can see if you really filmed a great white. I think you kidding me. A great white sounds absolutely astounding.”
“You'll see,” Dylan said. “I got that sucker on film if it was in focus and the film hadn't run out.”
“I'll develop our film once I come back. We'll see what we have.” Greek had lunch on the table before long.
Logan had a million questions but they'd remain unasked as he anticipated his afternoon journey on the Scorpion. It would be an adventure of a lifetime and he was sure he'd shoot up a canister of film without really trying.
Lunch was pastrami sandwich with cole slaw and potato salad and a fat deli pickle on the side.
There were several styles of mustard to choose from. There was a mild standard mustard and two brands of middle of the road mustard. Then there was a rich brown mustard that was guaranteed to singe the nose hair.
During lunch, Logan got up to go into the pantry to get a gigantic bag of Ruffles he'd seen in the pantry. No one didn't like Ruffles. No one at the lunch table anyway.
“Nice touch, Logan,” Clay said. “Just what lunch needed.”
Greek watched from the kitchen side of the counter to see who reached for the four alarm mustard. When no one did, he sneered, going back to his own lunch. He slathered that hot mustard on top of the pastrami. He took a man sized bite, savoring the heat as he chewed. Greek wasn't a wuss. He took another bite as he sweated.
After lunch, Bill and Clay spent some time in the biology lab going over some of what Bill found the year before. Clay had seen the reef where they'd be working for the next three weeks and he had plenty of questions. They engaged in a fast and loose conversation while Logan waited for his ride in the pod.
Dylan stood beside Logan as they both leaned on the starboard side railing. They were looking the Scorpion over as they talked about life on board a ship at sea.
“Have you been on a ship in the ocean before?” Dylan asked.
“Yes, I was on the Greenpeace ship while we went into the North Atlantic. I photographed from the ship. They didn't go into the water. We were searching for icebergs.
“I've done SCUBA diving and I've used an underwater camera while diving. I wasn't doing it for any particular reason. I was doing it for the experience of shooting underwater,” Logan said.
“I've only been using the underwater camera to photograph my father working underwater since April. Maybe I've gone diving ten times to film him underwater. I've been SCUBA diving since just before I was ten,” Dylan said.
“You're kidding me. Clay let you go diving before you turned ten. I find that hard to believe,” Logan said.
“It wasn't so much his idea as it was mine. I let him con me out of letting me dive for a couple of months. Then, I let him know that it was time. He'd made me a promise and I made him keep it. It was never his idea. You've got to know how to get parents to give you what you want,” Dylan said confidently.
Logan laughed.
“You are one remarkable kid. You played your father,” Logan said in amazement.
“I'm not a kid,” Dylan complained.
“You sure aren't. You're smarter than I am. I couldn't figure out how to get a kind word out of your father,” Logan said.
“Once he makes up his mind on something, he won't usually budge. I was afraid he'd nix me working with you before I learned anything. Then you saved that porpoise. That convinced my father that you were top notch in his book. He respects what you did.”
“He did it,” Logan said. “He cut Tangle loose. I was spinning my wheels.”
“Think about it, Logan. You were doing all within your power to save Tangle. My father thought it out and brought the right equipment to make the rescue. He wouldn't have known the porpoise was there if you hadn't been determined to save him. Everyone knows, your alertness saved Tangle, with a little help from your friends.”
“I guess you're right. I didn't think of it that way,” Logan said. “I'm not a smart guy. I wasn't good in school but I love photography.”
“School bores me,” Dylan said. “Teachers bore me. Except Aunt Lucy, she excites me in a way that makes me want to learn.”
“Your aunt is a teacher?” Logan asked.
“Not anymore. She's a state legislator,” Dylan said.
“She's Clay's sister?” Logan asked.
“Yeah, she's younger than my dad. She's about your age.”
“You, your father, and you aunt Lucy are peas in a pod. You must have some serious brain power in that family,” Logan said.
“Everyone says that aunt Lucy is the smartest person they've ever known. She is impressive. I've got to say that, she's my aunt. She's going to run for Harry's seat in congress.”
“She's going to run for congress?” Logan asked.
“Yep. Harry's a senator now and he has been after her to run for congress for some time. She wanted to stick with the state legislature until she learned enough to want to run for congress.”
“Amazing,” Logan said as he considered Dylan in a new light.
Dylan was doing what Logan loved to do. He was doing it to capture his father at work. He had a purpose for what he was doing with a 16mm motion picture camera. He'd been diving since before he was ten and at fourteen he was determined to take professional enough movies for his father to show an audiences he would speak to.
At fourteen, Logan didn't remember having any ambition at all. He was sixteen when He got his first camera. It was the first time he found something he liked. Oh, he liked tennis and he liked soccer, but he was a lousy athlete. No one wanted him on their team. He wasn't determined enough. He had no killer instinct and he didn't want any.
The first pictures Logan took froze something in time. He'd be able to see his photographs any time he wanted. That image would never change and he would know what he was thinking when he took the picture he went back to see.
That excited Logan like nothing did before.
He was told, 'You'll never be able to make a living taking pictures. Go to school and learn something useful.”
He'd gone to school and never found anything he liked. He loved photography, owned his own studio, and he'd established a reputation as a man who could get the shots. Hollywood studios called his studio to find location shots they were looking for.
This was easy money. He got location shots by going out with environmentally conscious people who needed a photographer to tell the story they wanted told about the destruction of the environment. Logan succeeded by finding something he loved doing. Then he learned all he could about his chosen field. He was still learning and he taught his love of photography to others.