At depth. Erick Poladov
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?
Конец ознакомительного фрагмента.
Текст предоставлен ООО «Литрес».
Прочитайте эту книгу целиком, купив полную легальную версию на Литрес.
Безопасно оплатить книгу можно банковской картой Visa, MasterCard, Maestro, со счета мобильного телефона, с платежного терминала, в салоне МТС или Связной, через PayPal, WebMoney, Яндекс.Деньги, QIWI Кошелек, бонусными картами или другим удобным Вам способом.