“We should go on,” Dmitry said. “I think Professor Granger is good idea to continue adventure now. Besides, what else can we do to Prusalka? Stick harpoons on her, or maybe we go in battleship?” He grinned sheepishly, and made a pointing motion – down.

Yegor spoke without turning. “We go back; create shielding for propeller, at least.”

“We’ll burn through resources going back, I believe, for nothing.” Mironov raised a single eyebrow. “We can expect to be tested, but I do not think that we run home every time that happens. This submersible can deal with anything now. We are already better for the experience. My vote; we proceed.” He smiled at Cate.

“Three for three.” Jack looked to Abby. “You’re the decider.”

The young geologist suddenly looked panicked as her eyes darted from Greg, to Jack, then to Cate.

“I don’t know what to do.” The woman’s eyes glistened.

Cate could see the inner turmoil written large on the young woman’s face. She was being torn apart… by her. Cate sighed, noisily, feeling a momentary bloom of anger, but then dampened it down, knowing Abby was scared out of her mind.

“Ah fuck.” Cate looked heavenward for a moment, feeling defeated. “It’s okay, Abby, don’t say anything.” The corner of Cate’s mouth quirked up. “I change my vote; I think we should go back as well. It wouldn’t hurt to at least see what we can do to protect the propeller shaft – an obvious potential point of failure.”

Abby looked down. “Thank you.”

Jack nodded to her, and immediately turned his seat back to the curved window. “We’ll move well out of the area before coming full about. If that Placoderm is as territorial as we think, then it should remain around here. Mr Gryzlov, stay at depth, and proceed one mile before coming about. We’ll stay low, keep our heads down, and then loop back,” Jack said.

“Da, Captain.” Yegor pushed the wheel forward. “Good idea.”

Jack half turned. “I think we should all stay quiet and in our seats for a little longer. No need to invite something in for a look-see.”

“Gets my vote,” Greg said, swinging back in his seat and hunching over his viewing screen. “Plenty to look at.”

“Steady as she goes, Yegor.” Jack half turned. “Dmitry, eyes open back there… and everyone else, keep watching your port and starboard screens. I want to know the minute you see of hear anything interesting.”

They travelled in silence, the minutes turning into hours, as Yegor took them far out to the northeast, before slowly coming around in a gigantic arc, and heading back towards the underwater cliff face.

“Cliff wall coming up,”’ Dmitry said. “Five hundred feet.”

“Take her in close, and then all stop. We’ll float up, slowly, see if anything is above the cliff line, before proceeding… at speed.”