7. Boat Pilot
After returning to Tokyo.
“We had got the granulated methane. But what shall we do from now? It is too difficult to seek for the living Archaea without a deep-sea submarine.”
Akane deeply sighed. They had lost everything and perhaps been put under the monitoring of the Government. No way to act.
When they took a lunch at the dining room, another news has been coming in.
“The United States Government issued an official accusation against the China’s negative attitude to the Global Warming. According to the US President, they are preparing economic sanctions, unless China will return to COP26. The Japanese Government will be pressed for the difficult diplomatic choice between the US and China.”
The situation was going to be worse. The leadership competition between the US and China entered into a new phase.
“The United State, US? Yes, I have an idea.”
Youichi shouted.
“It is Tom. Thomas Smith. I remembered his name.”
“Who is Tom?”
“He is my friend in my University Period. When I studied at the California University, both of us had belonged to the same Laboratory. If I am not wrong, he is still working for the United State Meteorological Bureau.”
“It seems very good. But I think it is difficult to hire the deep-sea submarine.”
“Yes, off course. It may be impossible in the normal route. But we have a strong proof, the granulated solid methane. If we show them, the US Government will surely have an interest in the living Archaea. Can you make a study report about it?”
“Yes, understood. I will do it immediately.”
3 months later. Youichi had got a mail from Thomas. The answer was yes.
“I have a good news. The US Government officially decided to dispatch the Challenger, the latest deep-sea submarine. They seem to be serious to discover the living Archaea.”
“Incredible. I didn’t believe they would really send the submarine for such purpose.”
“But we have one problem. They ask us for a boat pilot.”
“Boat pilot?”
“Yes, they are not familiar with Ogasawara. Both of us are not, either. The excellent boat pilot would be essential to seek out the Archaea. Without a boat pilot the random searching would be a waste of time.”
“What kind of person do they need?”
“For example an officer of the Japan Coast Guard or the Ministry of Defense. Anyone who is working there frequently.”
“It’s difficult. Such officer is for the Government side. How about a fisherman?”
“Fisherman? Fish…, ah, Gengo, that old boy. He might be suitable.”
“Are you kidding? He is 80 years old.”
“But he had been working in Ogasawara for more than 50 years. Maybe he knows everything about Ogasawara. Anyhow we have not so much time. The Challenger will depart within this month. Let’s go to Shimoda again tomorrow.”
The next day, at Gengo’s home.
“No, I can’t agree. It’s too dangerous.”
Kenzo, Gengo’s son, was strongly against them.
“Recently all the boats are inspected by the Coast Guard each time we go out. It’s too difficult to pass through their inspection.”
“But I would like to help these people. You have also noticed that the recent Ogasawara is strange. I just want to make Ogasawara as before.”
“No, I can’t agree with you. If you want, do it by yourself.”
Kenzo had got out of his home.
Without any consent the departure day had come. Early in the morning Youichi, Akane and Gengo were hurrying on their way to the port. At that moment a man catch his arm from the darkness.
“Father, this way.”
“Kenzo. Do you intend to stop us? Never! I will go.”
“No, no. Contrary. The Coast Guards are in the port. You will be easily found out. I passed my ship over the cape last night. At that place we can depart secretly.”
“Thank you. Thank you. You are really my son.”
“Hurry, we had better depart before the dawn.”
The ship had gone out safely on the vast ocean.
After 2 days voyage they arrived at Ogasawara. Around noon time they received one radio communication.
“Hello, this is Thomas Smith of USA Challenger. Can you hear me?”
“Yes, I can. We are now situated at north latitude 25 degree 40 minutes and east longitude 140 degrees 15 minutes.”
“OK, confirmed. Wait at the point. We will join you soon. Not so far.”
One hour later a big white ship had been approaching. On the bridge they could see the Stars and Stripes clearly. The ship was 10 thousand tons displacement weight which was 100 times as big as that of Gengo’s small fishery boat.
They got on board climbing up the trap.
“Welcome to the Challenger. I am Thomas Smith, and this is the Captain Picard.”
“Nice to meet you. I am Youichi Koyama. And this is Akane Mizushima who discovered the granulated solid methane. I would like to say my gratitude for your cooperation.”
“It’s my pleasure. Who is this aged gentleman?”
“He is Mr. Gengo, a boat pilot for this voyage.”
“Is he? I’m sorry but, is he really reliable?”
“He had been working in this Ogasawara more than 50 years as a fisherman. He knows everything better than any other people.”
Gengo cleared his throat with a little unsatisfactory.
Soon after the meeting had started surrounding the large marine chart.
“This is Father’s Island and that is Mother’s Island.”
Youichi explained the chart for Gengo. Gengo had already concentrated on the chart like a completely different person. He took a red pen soon and started marking. The chart was filled with a lot of red dots immediately.
“What is this?”
“The spots we had caught the Sea Catfish recently.”
They were located surrounding one area. They could easily narrowed down the searching area thanks to his red dots.
“Well, from which place should we start?”
Tom asked wondering.
“How about this place?”
Akane pointed out the place near one dot. But Gengo had reacted against that
“No, that place is dangerous. There are many sunken rocks.”
“Sunken rocks? In such center of the Pacific Ocean? The chart indicates nothing.”
“No, no. We will never come close. We can see the many rocks from the boat at the spring-tide. It would be better for such huge ship to avoid this place.”
“Maybe he is correct. I have heard there had been a big island around this area during the Pacific War.”
The Captain Picard agreed to Gengo’s suggestion. Thomas eventually understood why they had chosen this Old Boy for this mission.
“Then how about this place?”
This time Youichi pointed out the center of round red dots.
“No, it is more dangerous. We had sometimes witnessed the color change of the sea water. Any fisherman will never go to this place.”
“The water color has changed, hasn’t it? It may be because of a submarine volcano.”
“But no sign of volcano in the chart. Is he correct?”
“It might be an unknown new volcano.”
Their discussion continued more than two hours. But finally Akane’s opinion had been decisive for their final choice.
“From the viewpoint of the marine biology, it is more likely to discover a new species near the hydrothermal deposit.”
“Hydrothermal Deposit?”
“Yes, in a ward it is a hot spring under the deep-sea. The hydrothermal deposit gushes out the hot water from the deep-sea beds which contains various minerals. There are many deep-sea lifeforms which are fed with such minerals as their nutrient sources. The environment of the hydrothermal deposit is said to be very similar to that of the ancient Archaea’s era. However dangerous it might be, it will be worthy enough for trying.”
To Be Continued
