by Divya Singh
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The next two days were almost eventless. I got to read nothing. I had to eat nothing. I had not needed to drink a thing since I was on the IV drip. I just turned back and forth to pass the time. I got the news that the creature at the bottom floor was killed. He was a mutated person, who had been incorrectly termed as deceased and buried in coffins. While he woke up, he ate other corpses and kept alive, growing rather stronger. While ZA-vi kept sitting by my side. Devon, Despondra, and KEAH kept coming here regularly and Devon used to show his anger over my going down to the bottom floors without informing him. Though he was just worried as a friend and he was not being a rude ruler.
11:00 am, 15th April 2461
The 3rd day of being hospitalized I was being discharged, though still I could not eat anything like raw food or solids, but just juices and liquids, though somehow peeled fruits could be eaten. Then Devon entered this eventful day, he was buzzing some song, which felt really funny to me. He would make for the worst singer of the contemporary world. Despondra, standing at my left, was removing the patient tag from my wrist; she joined me in bursting out into laughter directed at Devon.
Despondra: “Your Romeo is happy today, Dani!”
Devon: “Yes! Mr. Juliet is being discharged today!” he said keeping a basket full of fruits on my lap.
I replied: “Careful Dev! You wouldn’t want to antagonize Mr. Juliet and yet keep some bombs with him to throw at you.” I said, rolling an apple in my right-hand fingers and thumb and pointing towards him. Devon would bend down, and move sideways; trying to avoid any apples I would throw at him. He had not grown up! Old little fellow! I thought.
Then entered ZA-vi another character, he had Lois with him!
I shouted in joy! :”Lois! Where have you been sweet pea?”
ZA-vi: “Hi madam! I have brought Lo, to you today. She has been declared completely fit and genetically pure by Dr. Von and Shelly, see this testimonial and their message to you.”
He extended the device which he held in his hand. The screen read:
‘The girl named Lois, age 11 years and 5 months 2 days, biological parents unknown is found to be having pure DNA and is free of any contagious diseases. She is given proper authorization to roam about on the deck and the whole ship. Her passkey is LOISPRP01. Next routine medical checkup to renew passkey will be due six months hence'
I read it out loud, and smiles flew across the room.
Despondra: “Welcome aboard Lois! Dani keeps on talking and talking about you. We are happy to have you here.”
Lois smiled and said: “Thank you!” Dressed in a white top and denim hot pants, neat blond hair she looked very pretty wearing the smile. She thanked! How civilized? Where would she have learned it? I thought, smiling to myself.
ZA-vi: “Von and Shelly have sent you their congratulation message to you. It says, ‘Congratulations madam! Your girl Lois is free to roam about with you. We have one more girl to the healthy human squad. Have faith!”
Soon, KEAH entered with a smile. Today seemed to be a happy day. I was freed from the patient bed. I got up and was feeling healthy.
All of a sudden there was a shudder followed by a loud bang, I had just stood up on my feet and immediately fell off onto the floor. It shook us all, and I saw that every person was trying to balance himself.
Then the alarm went off; it was a very shrill and loud sound like a blast. A monotonic voice-over started announcing-
“Emergency! Emergency! Emergency! Everyone on the ship is required to reach the muster station in the Navigation Chambers. Immediately drop what you are doing. Do not carry anything with you, except oxygen masks. Pick up the Emergency manual from the elevators. The stairs are opened for the first time. Please do not panic. It’s Emergency……..” It kept repeating over and over again.
All the others except me and Devon rushed towards the Navigation Chambers. I had begun changing to a white T-shirt, leather jacket and denim. I had almost no time now. I asked everyone else to go. But Devon did not leave my side. He put the black leather jacket on me. All the time I tried not to panic.
Devon: “Hurry up Dani! It seems like the ship is going down.” He said putting my left hand into the jacket.
I replied: “Yeah! I hope it is not so!” I was a little worried. All kinds of horrific thoughts kept crossing my mind. As soon as I was done Devon pulled me out of the room and we ran at full speed on an unstable jerky ground. We ran till we made it to the elevators. There wasn’t much rush as I had expected. The elevators were almost empty. We entered in the one on which there was no one aboard. There we saw a basket hanging from the roof of elevators. I put my right hand inside and pulled out a manual.
It was shaking so badly that it was hard to term the small letters of the manual as legible. We rushed to the Navigation floor. I handed it over to Devon, he tried to read it and shook his head as if had understood it letter by letter. I knew he was still playing the clown.
The doors slid open on the Navigation floor. We rushed to The Navigator’s chamber. Hardly 50 people must have gathered there, in the chambers, i.e. muster station for now. Despondra, ZA-vi, KEAH, Von and Shelly, Albert, Dr. Parker, Dr. Jain, Taner, and many others whom I failed to recognize. The Navigator announced on the mike-
There were a couple of massive and ginormous earthquakes and aftershocks. Doctor Gary Williamson, our chief geophysicist will tell you more about it.
Dr. Williamson: “We have detected three earthquakes. The first one and the weakest of these was, situated 120 miles, northeast of New Guinea islands, an Mw 6.8 on the Moment Magnitude Scale. The shudder you have just felt was from the impact of Tsunami colliding with Perpetua. The Australian major plate has subducted the Pacific plate by about 50 meters.”
The tall old man, Dr. Williamson was pointing on the projected map of today’s world which looked different to me; he pointed towards the epicenter of the tremor. All of the faces in the hall looked terrified and pale with fear. Devon held my left arm, yes he considered me superior in handling pressure situations, however recently I have discovered he was more practical when dealing when them.
Dr. Williamson: “The other reports of two major earthquakes are being received. The first one is being received from the Kamchatka Peninsula with epicenter almost on the Cape Lopatka, Mw 9.2 magnitude on the Moment Magnitude Scale. The Kamchatka peninsula is a part of what once was known as the Russian Federation. Frequent volcanic and seismic activities are always frequently registered from the peninsula. The Cape Lopatka is often washed out by Frequent Tsunamis. The Megathrust Earthquake caused under the water with a focus 67 kilometers under the water directly below the Kuril-Kamchatka Trench has produced a massive Tsunami. This Tsunami will cross our way in precisely half an hour. It is being predicted that given all the conditions, it is going to be a maximum of a 61 meter high, but at the minimum, 23 meters; still massive for a big ship in the sea, like us.”
The animations were playing clearly on the screen and the look I observed on the faces was of terror and fright. My eyes were searching for the little girl Lois, who I have not even got a proper chance to talk to. Suddenly right then I felt soft little fingers curling onto my right palm, I looked back and saw a pleasant sight. Lois stood clinging onto me. I gestured her, about where she was, and she pointed towards the waiting room on the right of the corridor.
Dr. Williamson continued: “The third and, the most terrible megathrust recorded 9.6 on the Moment Magnitude Scale has occurred in the Northern Pacific Ocean, 11 kilometers under the ocean, epicenter being somewhere in the Japan Trench, off northeast of once known Japan, following the one at Kamchatka, 46 minutes after that one. The Pacific Plate has subducted a good 47 kilometers beneath the Okhotsk Plate, concluded as being the cause of this massive megathrust. Now the real problem facing us is the resultant series of Trans-Oceanic Tsunamis.”
He paused to show the animations appropriately on the sc
reen, but mostly probably because he wanted to think over again, about what he was going to say to all these frightened faces before him staring straight into his spectacled eyes.
Dr. Williamson: “The real problem is that all these events will be causing high Trans-Oceanic Tsunamis, considering the drawback magnitudes, Tsunamis capable of transmitting their energies to far off places. The enormity of Trans Oceanic Tsunamis is also determined by many local factors, related to the areas they travel to. So they could dissipate till they hit us.”
“But on the contrary, they might also accentuate their energies and hit us harder. Now I am concerned with, whether we should try to sail out of this peril, or lay dormant, at the will of nature. The reality is that we cannot escape this onslaught by outsmarting it, even if we chart a course backward, towards the Southern Pacific Ocean, out of the Pacific Ring of Fire. But it is really, really long way to go, as we are heading towards the Philippines a long way from the Ring. Trying to get out of the western edge of Ring of Fire, by going in it first by taking the U-turn is a dangerous route not even promising us a secure escape. We also cannot dock at any land form, in a period of time given, 37 minutes; the time we have calculated for the Tsunamis to hit us. By the time I will finish briefing this evil news to you, we will have seven more minutes lost to us. But time is not valuable constant here because we have to face it anyway, irrespective of what we choose.”
Continued Dr. Williamson: “The combined effect of these two major Trans-Oceanic Tsunamis coming from the Kamchatka and Japanese Trench cannot be calculated with the equipment and technology on this ship, as these are dependent on many conditions, mostly local. They could combine their forces together and form a mammoth wave or could counteract to reduce the effect of each of them taken individually.”
Dr. Williamson: “What is in our hands is that how we brace up for the impact. There are only two options available to us. One is that we believe in inaction; we lie dormant and leave ourselves to Nature’s peril. The second is that we chart a course all the way backward, and try to outrun the Tsunamis, believing that at least they will grow weaker as we go further. But the last theory could go utterly wrong, and they might not have lost as much of their energy as we want them to, rather we will still be struck hard. Remember that they are Trans-Oceanic Tsunamis, capable of transmitting their energies to far off places, so even if we tried to outrun them, we might still be in their range.”
I raised my hand to throw some of my opinions on board-
I said: “Excuse me, Doctor! I think we must wait for them and leave ourselves to their might. They are nature’s forces and I sense no worth in going back all the way. Sorry for sounding pessimist, but I believe in flexibility. I think there is a natural precedent for it. The strong holding big trees standing erect firmly on the ground are uprooted by a storm coming their way because they oppose the brutal force of nature standing up front. While the trees which are flexible and bend before the force of nature are saved. Also, as you are saying that we cannot outrun the Tsunamis, the second option doesn’t seem feasible and worthy to me.”
Dr. Williamson looked up at me saying: “What is your name? I like your opinion!”
I replied: “Sir, I am Danielle Spearhead! Thank you!”
All eyes looked at me, in disbelief. I had sensed opposition in the looks. Dr. Williamson continued-
Dr. Williamson: “So, I have chosen the first option. If there is a chance, it is how we do it. We will wait for the impact to hit us. For your knowledge, our ship is capable of absorbing a high impact, but like every other intelligent machinery that we have in this era, our ship also has its threshold limits. Optimistically saying, we will be swept away in the Tsunami while the other way around, we could be overturned when the waves strike us. We will be witnessing something very unlikely and different. But I believe that we are prepared for it! We have backup engines, retrograde engines, extra propellers and we can transform into a Submarine if need be. If the worst happens, we have all the life boats we need for everyone on the ship, the ones on which you can make it to the land all by yourselves. In short, there is no room for panic. Although the challenge before us is majestic, still I trust in ourselves and that is exactly what I am looking forward to seeing as a reflection in all the eyes in this hall and on this ship.
So now, tell me do I have your support?”
Dr. Williamson, I realized was a great orator and motivator himself. Above all, he was an utterly positive man. I was glad we have had proficient people on our ship. The seemingly, never-ending session of ‘ifs’ and ‘buts’ began in the hall. The ship had ceased shaking, indicating that the first wave of Tsunami had gone past us. I looked at Devon and smiled at him, instilling the ‘we can do it’ spirit. He smiled back and clenched my arms tighter. Then I looked at Lois, who was a bit perplexed, as it was all new and terrifying for her to cope up with. I bent down on my knees before her and said-
I said: “Lo! We are going to make it! Don’t worry; I have been through a lot worse than this. We can do anything if we are strong! Didn’t you hear Dr. Williamson? We need not panic. We have everything we need and we will get through it smooth and strong. Don’t be afraid! Life supports only the stronger, so be strong. Right?”
All that she did was giving me a reluctant but agreeing nod with her eyes welled up. I rose up on my feet and stood. It was actually strange to live an eventful life like this, where you can’t breathe in peace; every moment was adventurous and surprising. You feel like you are running along to cope up with.
ZA-vi: “Do you need anything, madam?”
I replied: “I have not drunk a drop of water since I got up from the bed. Get me a bottle of fresh water; something certainly to help me. Thanks, ZA-vi! What would I do without you?”
ZA-vi went away, to fetch some water for us while amidst chaos before us I saw KEAH emerge before me. She was certainly not happy, I knew she feared death and it went pale on her face.
KEAH: “Miss! So is it time? Do we have only some 30 minutes of our existence? Is it how it ends? I am being honest; I don’t want to die at this young age. I have yet to learn a lot. I am not ready.” She faked a small smile, as usually did; failing to hide the fear she visibly carried on her face.
I opposed: “KEAH! No! We are not going to get scratched! Ok, we might get scratched, but we are not going to die! We will live! Don’t be weak and stand tall on your feet girl! Don’t lose hope; didn’t you hear what the doctor said?”
KEAH took her right hand up and held her forehead with it. ZA-vi had brought a water bottle. I took it from him, it felt cold. Devon left my arm and said to KEAH-
Devon: “Hey there girl! Why don’t you go sit in that seat over there?” He pointed towards a little stool kept in the right corner of the hall. But she was slightly reluctant to go alone, so we all decided to get out of the crowd and comfort ourselves in the corner. I had drunk the water bottle half, and handed it over to KEAH-
I said: “Here! Have this and chill yourself!” Although she took the bottle, but she did not drink from it, rather she rubbed it on her red hot cheeks, heat being radiated from the element of fear she was being haunted with. She sat on the stool traumatized.
I said: “KEAH! Trust my words on the rock; you’re the smartest girl I have ever met. You have brought me back to life. I cannot see a brilliant girl like you lose hope like this! So come on, be brave!”
She nodded in harmony with me and thanked me. Despondra who was busy talking to Dr. Williamson saw us all consoling KEAH and walked towards us; the expressionless Dr. Allen Parker and his assistant Dr. Amit Jain accompanied her towards us.
Despondra: “I don’t think that the odds are against us. We will make it. That’s what we were discussing with Dr. Williamson. But Dani! Being dormant and not acting despite the knowledge of what is coming is not a very good idea.” Then she saw KEAH. “Now what is it with her?” She asked with surprise.
Dr. Parker: “Look I am basically a biologist, but as far as I could underst
and, Danielle’s opinion is the best. We must live with glory and not show our backs on the battlefield.”
Dr. Amit who looked confused with what Dr. Parker just said, interrupted-
Dr. Amit: “I think we should not think all that much. We will sail out of it successfully. I remember having read somewhere that a ship, although not as big had survived the Tsunami attacks, without even overturning….”
He was further interrupted by Taner-
Taner: “Danielle! That’s it! Thank God I know you better now! You wouldn’t have told me even your name by yourself!” He giggled. Seeing no one not getting along well with him, he said, “If the ship goes down, I will pray to God that he takes me down with the ship but save my plants!”
He made everyone laugh this time. KEAH looked up at Taner and finally smiled at the boy’s lively spirits.
Suddenly the brief laughter we had broke with the voice of The Navigator-
The Navigator: “We have calculated the time of the impact. We have precisely 11 minutes and 13 seconds, as I speak. So people on the ship calm down and do not panic.”
He stopped and the monotonous voice of the automated announcer began-
The announcer: “11 minutes for Tsunami to hit us.”
Hearing this, all the people in the navigation hall started panicking. They seemed restless and scared for life as the time came nearer second by second. As the announcing voice started the countdown, some of the women and girls began shrieking out of fear. It was getting unbearable to hear and see panic everywhere. I decided to go up to the front and speak. I pounced forward and grabbed the mike from The Navigator-
I addressed: “Everybody! Simmer down! Keep your calm! The Doctors and physicists and all the intelligent people on the ship believe that we will survive this onslaught. The ship is capable and sophisticated enough to go through this….”
Somebody, I couldn’t get who shouted-
“But we are gonna die!”
I turned towards his voice and put my point more aggressively-
I screamed: “If you think you will die, you probably will and nobody can save you. But if you trust in our resources and able brains on the ship and the wonderful ship engineering and most importantly yourself, then you won’t die. If you trust me, although you might not have seen me before, but if you do, believe me, I have seen the ship up close, Believe it or not, this is not how we die! We have survived 180 years, and we are not gonna die like this today! Now, keep calm and find your best survival strategy, while letting others do their best to save you from the mouth of death.” I silenced them all and now the announcer’s voice could be hear clear.
I climbed down the small podium; Devon had reached there by then and said-
Devon: “That was impressive Dani! I think you will make a great leader.”
The announcer: “9 minutes to the collision.”
The Navigator: “We have taken out all the lifeboats on the decks and fastened them for use in case of emergency.” He announced.
Dr. Williamson who was sitting before the screen and studying the data carefully; said to me-
Dr. Williamson: “You have a great spirit, Danielle, exceptionally vigorous survival instincts!” He resumed his much important work. All the navigator staff was now busy in accumulating as much important data they were getting and some of them summarizing and calculating the predictions.
The announcer: “5 minutes to the collision.”
I asked The Navigator about where everybody else of the ship was. We certainly were not so less as to be just 50 in numbers.
The Navigator told me: Everybody here has some or the other work; they are all online on the Ship Network and get the real time data ASAP. They know all that is happening in our chambers. They know the safety procedures too. Don’t worry, they are all safe!” I nodded in accord.
The duo of Dr. Von and Shelly were seen approaching me-
VON: “Hi madam! So is that it? We are getting hit by majestic Tsunamis. But like you said; we will make it!” Von sounded positive.
SHELLY: “Look! We have had our differences, but I have a special affinity towards you who is one of our most challenging cases, through which we gained our professional excellence. I will always be grateful that you have believed in us with your life. I will always be thankful that you happened to us!” Von nodded. Like it or not, emotions soar up at such times of difficulty.
I said: “No Doctor Shelly I am grateful that I was made by your able hands! I owe you guys my new life; I owe it to the contributions which you two have made in bringing me back to life.”
It was not exactly in words, but it was in conduct; a goodbye for all the intents and purposes. Devon pulled my left wrist and pulled me away from everybody else.
The announcer: “3 minutes to the collision.”
Devon: “Dani! My dear angel! I know we are not going to sink, just as you said. But if we do…..Oh damn! I am bad at saying goodbyes! But you know this is it. I could not be the one I wanted to, towards you, but there was too less time. If this is all this life had to give, just so little you know, it was worth it!” His eyes gleamed and I knew my this little boy was going to get emotional. Those blue sapphire eyes were breaking my heart. I slapped his cheek.
I said: “You silly!” But I was breaking from inside out. I knew we could drown and I have committed too many mistakes and stabbed so many hearts that I could not be absolved of guilt because I have not done anything good enough to blot my sins out.
Devon: “Can I breach the proximity standards for one last time?” I nodded and he embraced me from my back facing him, wrapping his big strong arms around my shoulders. I saw Despondra making her way towards me hastily as the time was fleeting.
The announcer: “2 minutes to collision!”
Despondra: “Dani! I hope we are not enemies anymore now? I wanted to be sorry once again for having offended you.”
I said: “Its fine doctor. No! You are my friend Pondra! There is no room for bitterness at all.” She sealed it with a smile and I replied back.
KEAH got up from the seat and approached me, she held my hand and so did Lois. I consoled both the terrified little girls with gestures.
The announcer: “1 Minute to the collision. Impact imminent, 60, 59, 58, 57……”
The Navigator: “Hold onto something! Anything you find! Brace up!”
I hope everybody found something to hold onto.
The announcer: “31, 29, 28, 27, 26….”
We looked at each other, all of us, KEAH and Despondra rushed away to find something to cling onto. While Devon and Lois held the door whose handles I had held.
The announcer: “Impact imminent! 13, 12, 11, 10…”
The Navigator: “Stand strong!!!”
The announcer: “3, 2, 1 GO! Turning the ship engines off.”
A strong bang came from our left side, and the ship overturned towards its right; there was a collective cry all over in the floor. Now all of us were hanging from whatever we held onto. I hung onto the handle of the door which got opened owing to the collision. It jerked me down; I couldn’t remain hung with both the hands, as my left hand flew down from the grip. Now I was hanging from an opened-out door which was swinging. I saw towards the right side wall of the chamber, which had now become our new floor, because of our overturned ship which stood on its right side now.
I saw many persons falling towards the right side wall. Some of them knocked against tables, machines and walls while one of them was Dr. Amit Jain. I was so sorry for him, for he seemed like he had got hurt real bad.
ZA-vi who now stood just below me on the left face of a table, extended his hands towards me to help me climb down. My right hand was about to lose its grip so it was better that I climbed down with the help of ZA-vi. I did as I thought and in two seconds I was down on the table standing with ZA-vi.
The Navigator: “Another wave of Tsunami is on its way. I am sorry, but it is not over yet.” The ship turned back on its hull, which fell with a thu
d on the water, we were afloat again. All fell on the original floor once again.
The announcer: “3 minutes to the collision. Switching the engines on.”
There was cry all over the place, some were hurt others terrified. Devon crawled towards me.
Devon: “You okay? I got scratched just a little.”
I cried: “Oh my goodness, your right toe is bleeding!”
He said: “Ah yes, it is just a small cut. A machine from inside the room fell and smashed against my foot. It was heavy!”
I suggested: “we must do something about your wound.”
He replied: “But there is no time; it is not enough for nursing a wound, rather we must prepare ourselves for another impact.”
The announcer: “1 Minute to the collision.”
The Navigator: “This time we will try to navigate with engines on, we will take the impact on Stern. This may minimize the impact on the ship, taking the blow laterally. The first impact did not damage the ship, except some bruise on the outer Port of the ship. I hope nobody is seriously hurt other than Dr. Amit Jain. We have secured him with us. Be careful with the next wave. We have received reports that this one is going to be higher than 30 meters when it hits us.”
The announcer: “30 seconds, 28, 27, 26……”
The Navigator: “try to hold something steady, not moving or could be opened with the shudder. We have many machines in the hall. Please adjust yourself quickly!”
The announcer: “…….7, 8, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1. Impact imminent!”
A smashing collision skidded the ship towards the right and turned it on its axis by a small angle, resulting it facing towards the direction. I saw everybody fall on the ground with a loud bang.
The Navigator: “To the Starboard!” He must have shouted to all the men engaged in navigation sitting before the screens. Soon in seconds’ time, the ship turned to the right, but we were still amidst the Tsunami waves. Something again hit the ship from the left side.
All of a sudden the Bow of the ship began turning down with a thunder. The ship now stood at an inclination of 30 degrees with the sea surface.
The Navigator: “Sadly our move has turned out to be a suicidal attempt. We pushed the ship with too much power to the Starboard, so we are losing the balance of our otherwise afloat hull. We have lost the main engine. It is sad, but it will not take long before we have our backup engines zooming. Please hold onto something. The roof of the ship is being shut because we might be going underwater for some time now.”
The announcer: “Starting the backup engine; covering the deck with waterproof roof; commencing Submarine transformation.” We heard noises in steps, it looked like the ship was being covered by the roof.
It went darker and darker as we saw the bow facing the dark ocean now. We were losing daylight on our glasses. The more and more sadistic face of the ocean was revealed as the bow started dipping in the ocean. There was panic and cry everywhere.
The announcer: “Descent! Descent! Descent!”
The bow was dumped deeper in the water and the ship almost stood with the stern up in the air. All of a sudden with a loud rumble, the ship started falling straight and steep down. We had enough time to find something strong to hold onto. I had held a machine in the front part of the Navigator’s room, which had hard and strong handles. I figured it out that it was not a big deal because this machine was turned off. I almost climbed over it now as we were descending at a steep level, making almost 90 degrees with the surface of the water.
The announcer: “Descent! Descent! Descent! 10.9 kilometers to the seabed.”
I was horrified to know the depth of the ocean here! I needed answers-
I cried: “What! Why the hell is it 10.9 kilometers deep?”
The Navigator announced: “We had been sailing over the Mariana Trench. Now we are headed straight into the mouth of the Challenger Deep, the deepest point in the Trench and the Earth, which is more than 11 kilometers deep from sea level. But I am not concerned about drowning in the Hadal Zone; rather I am concerned about the pressure. I am calculating if our ship can actually bear the pressure of water on the ship if we went straight into it. The pressure on the bed of the ocean will be about 1100 times more than the pressure at the sea level. Our ship has not been designed to face it. So I do not want to let our ship fall so deep as to burst out due to the outer pressure of an 11-kilometer high column of sea water.”
The announcer: “Descent! Descent! Descent! 9 kilometers from the seabed.”
I was shocked out and shouted: “We are falling too quickly…!”
The Navigator: “I am trying to get our engines restarted. Start Astern Propulsion!”
The announcer: “Commencing Astern Propulsion. 7.2 kilometers from the seabed.”
The Navigator too, seemed to be panicked and horrified now. The situation was seemingly out of his control. The people at the navigation were falling off and trembling with fear. I heard Devon fall down too! He called out for my name and almost hit The Navigator himself, who caught him midway. I gasped as my heart pounded against my chest. But Devon seemed to be in extreme pain. He fell down below the glass screens holding his left hand with his right palm, he turned over and over again, I understood that he must have broken his arm. But it was not much of my concern now, because if something wasn’t done soon we all were going to die soon.
The announcer: “4.5 kilometers from the seabed.”
I was now shocked to see the sight before me, which glowed in the dark abyssal murky water now. The Lava rivers were flowing from the mouth of the Challenger Deep. The hot Golden lava mixing in the water gave a touch of ambiguity to the water. There were bubbles, and hot streams of water warmed up by the oozing lava were rising up imparting it a look of enormous Vortex, created by the mixing of lava in the sea water; the hot sea water rising and the colder water rushing to fill up the displacement of water. The bubbles were aerating the ocean water, leaving no chance of escape. The scene before me was inexplicably devastating! It was a glimpse of the hell itself and we were going to drown in the burning hell, unrestrained and certain. My eyes now were blind by looking into bright lava rivers. My heart was disintegrating and my breathing was labored. So there was no use looking at the Hell before me. I looked at Devon, whose eyes were closed in pain, then KEAH, Lois, Despondra and everybody else but all were looking only at the lava rivers before them, as they slipped into the mouth of Death itself. Only ZA-vi looked back at me. But he was devoid of emotions. Good for him!
I lost all hopes and closed eyes. There was nothing we could do, we were about to die and all the lectures I had delivered earlier of valor earlier turned out to being baseless and unworthy.
The announcer: “Descent! Descent! Descent! 1.8 kilometers from the seabed. Impact imminent!”
The announcer: “ 0.8 kilometers, 0.75, 0.7……”
There was silence everywhere; everybody; every machine were witnessing last moments of its existence.
The announcer: “The Astern Propulsion started. Backup engines started. Distance to impact- 0.65, 0.68, 0.72, 0.75, 0.78…….”
I opened my eyes to a rejoicing navigation team. They were shaking hands as I could see below my hanging feet; I sat on the machine astride. I shouted ‘Hurrah!’ in joy! Every face started glowing radiant with joy. Even Devon turned his head up to look at me and gave thumbs up. Everyone, Despondra, KEAH, Lois and ZA-vi smiled wearily at me. We made it! We were alive! We were together! A handful of humanity had won today!
Chapter 28: The Ultimate Explosion