One week later. Youichi received an E-mail from Akane.

“Please see the attached picture. I did it. Just I expected.”

In the picture Youichi found many small pearl like granulated balls. Akane’s exciting voice was on the phone.

“There is no such granulated solid methane in the natural world. It was surely synthesized by some bacteria.”

“You did it. How great it is. It may be the Novel Prize class discovery.”

“No, not yet. To prove it we need an actual living sample. For that purpose we need a deep-sea exploring submarine which can dive under the 3 thousand meters.”

“Ok, I have an idea. I will ask my colleague who is now working for the Department of the Seismic Observation.”

One month later Akane and Youichi got on board the exploring ship which was equipped with the deep-sea exploring submarine “Shinkai”.

The ship was making research periodically for the South Sea Mega Earthquake.

Youichi’s colleague, Mr. Suzuki, was the chief of this mission.

“We plan to make ten times diving during this research period. You may join the mission twice at third and fifth dives. Let’s me introduce my colleague, Mr. Nakai who will assist your work.”

“Nice to meet you. Thank you for your cooperation. We will do our best not to bother your works.”

“It’s my pleasure. Please say anything if you need.”

They shook hands each other.

The ship arrived Ogasawara 2 days after. And on the fifth day the first diving turn of Youichi and Akane had come. It was their first time to enter into the deep-sea submarine. The egg-shaped submarine had only 4 meters diameter and its inside was very narrow to bear the enormous water pressure. The capacity was only 4 persons.

Youichi, Akane, Mr. Nakai and a helmsman had got on board for the third mission. Soon after they got on board the hatch was shut and the hook was unlocked. The submarine was floated in the sea surface and slowly went down into the water. From the small round windows they could see only water shining by sunlight. Once inside water it became completely quiet and only the sonar sound monotonously echoed in the room.

“10 feet depth”

The helmsman started counting depth.

“It will take almost two hours to reach the bottom. During that time I will tell you how to use the robotic arms to collect the sample. It is not so difficult. Easier than TV games.”

Mr. Nakai smiled and started his explanetion.

“100 feet”

Outside the window it had already become twilight. Under the floor only the pitch-black darkness was spreading for several thousand feet.

“200 feet”

The numerous marine snow was drifting from below to above. The search light of the submarine could light up only 5 meters ahead.

About two hours later, sinking of the submarine had stopped with smoking mud.

“9200 feet depth, we are now reaching at the bottom.”

They could not see anything other than thick mud and waited for clearing up the cloud.

“It looks like an Octonoeuropa, a kind of ancient shrimp. It’s my first time to see the living one.”

Akane was excited. That place was filled with various small lifeforms in spite of the very cold and dark environment. But numerous shrimp shaped worms squirmed as far as their eyes could reach. At that moment.

“Kjaer!”

Akane shouted. Outside the window, only 50 cm ahead, they saw a huge black monster. 2 meters long, black slimy skin, huge mouth, it was the very Aquanoproteus, the Sea Catfish.

“It is, as I expected.”

Akane had been further excited with discovering the Sea Catfish.

“Now let’s gather the mud.”

Mr. Nakai proposed the start of works.

She manipulated a lever skillfully and move the robotic arm.

“Please push the button to shoot the sample bottle into the mud.”

When Akane pointed the target and pushed the button, the submarine was trembling violently and started tilting all of a sudden.

“Emergency, Air leaking. Emergency…”

With the big warning sound, the submarine had fallen over sideways. All of them had been fallen down on the floor and lights had gone out all at once. A sudden panic hit them.

“What happened?”

“Help me.”

They were shouting each other.

“Calm down. Calm. I will turn on the emergency lamp.”

Mr. Nakai’s voice echoed in the pitch-black.

The lamp illuminated and they found out the situation. The submarine had completely fallen over sideways and they laid down on the right wall.

“No injury?”

Mr. Nakai asked. Akane and Youichi had no problem. But they found a helmsman fallen down without consciousness. At that moment a beep sounded.

“Something wrong? Are you OK?”

It was from Mr. Suzuki on the mother ship. The submarine was monitored by the mother ship on the surface. Mr. Nakai reported.

“I am not sure details, but the submarine had fallen over sideways and the helmsman had lost his consciousness.”

“OK, I understood. I will pull you up soon. Leave it to me.”

For a while the submarine body had stood up gradually and departed from the bottom slowly.

“9100 feet depth”

Mr. Nakai counted the depth instead of the helmsman.

After a while a beep again.

“Bad news. An oxygen tank was burst. Remaining level is only 10 percent.”

“What? How about the spare?”

“It was also damaged. A supply pipe was broken. It will hold only one hour.”

“Only one hour? It will take two hours until the surface. What will become of us? Can you wind up more rapidly?”

“I will try. But such case is the first time for me. I am not sure the effect of rapid reduction of the water pressure. Anyhow I will help you absolutely. Don’t move as much as you can. If you move, oxygen consumption will increase. Do you understand?”

Akane and Youichi had thought the worst scenario. They will die here because of oxygen deficiency. Is that painful? As far as they know, it would not be so painful but like sleepy-head. But they had still a lot to do. They could not die here no matter what it took.

“5000 feet”

They felt hateful. It was only 1500 meters distance, 20 minutes by walk. But this place was under the deep-sea. They thought a human was really a pitiful animal in the water.

“4000 feet”

At this moment the computer voice warned.

“Emergency. Oxygen level is 2 percent. All crews should wear the oxygen cylinder. Repeating…”

They wore the emergency oxygen cylinder which was lasting no longer than 30 minutes. It was really the last resort.

“3000 feet”

Akane felt dizzy but still had consciousness. She grasped firmly Youichi’s hand. They got gradually sleepy-head and saw the dazzling light at last. Was that really the sunshine or the near-death experience?

“Prepare the stimulus 10 cc, and up the oxygen level by 20 percent.”

They felt a subtle sea breezing. Dazzling sunshine had glittered through the hatch.

“They might be dead if delayed 5 minutes longer.”

Finally they regained their consciousness and clearly confirmed they were alive.

To be continued