Dark Day in the Deep Sea

learn more about sea exploration, sir,” said Jack.
    “Well, you’ve come to the right place!” said the man. “Allow me to introduce myself. I am Professor Thomson, the scientific director of the
Challenger.
”
    “The professor is one of the world’s most renowned experts on the ocean,” said Henry.
    “Wow,” said Annie.
    “Well, I don’t know about
that
,” the professor said modestly. But he put his thumbs in his vest and began speaking as if he were giving a lecture. “Since the beginning of time, the secrets of the deep have been hidden from us. But now, with our expedition, we have learned many things.”
    “Like what?” asked Jack.
    “We have used miles and miles of steel wire to measure the depth of the sea,” said the professor.“We have lowered thermometers to measure temperatures in the deep. But perhaps most important of all, we are learning about the amazing creatures who live in the dark regions far beneath the ocean waves—”
    “That is all well and good, Professor,” the captain broke in. “But I want these children off this ship immediately! Before the weather gets worse. Do you hear, Mr. Moseley? Off the ship!”

T he captain turned and strode away.
    “Sorry, friends,” Henry said to Jack and Annie. “But the captain’s in charge.” He looked around. “I see Joe and Tommy are helping the men bring up the catch now. As soon as they are free, I will ask them to take you back to shore. I am very sorry.”
    “That’s okay,” said Annie. “You did what you could.”
    “Before you young people leave, perhaps you would like to see today’s specimens?” asked the professor.
    “Sure!” said Jack and Annie together.
    “Then come along!” said the professor. “Every single day we make new discoveries!”
    Hurrying with Annie across the deck, Jack couldn’t wait to see what had just been brought up from the deep. They followed Henry and the professor to a team of sailors pulling up large nets. The nets were shaped like giant bags with mops attached to the bottom.
    “What are those mops for?” asked Annie.
    “They sweep up sea animals from the floor of the ocean,” explained Henry.
    “We pull them from pitch-darkness into the light of day,” said the professor.
    “That must scare them!” said Annie.
    But the professor didn’t seem to hear her. “Over the years, we’ve hauled up tens of thousands of specimens!” he said.
    As the sailors dumped the bags onto the deck, Jack saw mostly mud. But lying in the mud were tiny, squirmy pink and yellow fish and fiery orange sea stars.
    “No monsters there, huh?” asked Annie.
    The professor looked at her. “Not today, my dear,” he said.
    “I was just kidding,” said Annie. “Do you believe in monsters?”
    “Oh. Well …” The professor looked serious. “The sea is very deep, my dear. It covers nearly three-quarters of the world. So I say to myself, ‘Might it not indeed hold many mysterious creatures, including monsters?’”
    Good point
, thought Jack.
    “But don’t be afraid, children!” said the professor. “Someday we’ll catch all the monsters and study them! We will conquer our fears through knowledge! Won’t we, Henry?”
    “Yes, sir,” said Henry.
    “Conquer our fears through knowledge!” The professor repeated his thought with enthusiasm. “I shall add that to my lectures.”
    Low thunder rolled in the sky.
    Jack looked up. Black clouds hovered overhead. A strong gust of wind swept over the deck.
    “Attention!” the captain shouted, heading toward them. “A squall is headed our way! For now, take the children below to the main deck.”
    “Yes, sir!” said Henry. He smiled at Jack and Annie. “Well, friends, I suppose you get to stay with us a while longer, after all.”
    “Yay!” Annie said softly.
    “Only those on watch stay on deck!” the captain shouted to his crew. “Everyone else get below.”
    Henry led Jack and Annie away just as the rain began to pour down. Water dripped from Jack’s hair and backpack and life vest as he and Annie followed Henry down a steep flight of stairs to a dimly lit hallway.
    “Our ship was converted from a war vessel to a ship of sea laboratories,” Henry said. “The navy removed sixteen of the eighteen guns on board to make room for them. Would you like to see mine?”
    “Oh, yes!” said Jack. He couldn’t wait to see an actual sea laboratory.
    “Follow me.” Henry unlocked a door andshowed Jack and Annie into a large, dim room.