Into the Abyss (Tom Swift, Young Inventor) Read Online Free PDF Page A

previous model. For instance, the prototype, the
Jules Verne-0
, is a one-seater that can dive to fifteen thousand feet. This one can carry a crew of four to a depth of up to twenty thousand feet.”
    This was going to be
Jules Verne-1
’s first actual dive, but I didn’t mention it to Bud or Yo. I figured, why worry them?
    What did it matter, anyway? Everything would go just fine. The submersible would work perfectly, just as it was designed to do.
    In theory, at least.
    Why did those words keep repeating themselves in my brain? And what was that queasy feeling I got whenever they did?
    I’m not usually afraid of the unknown. You can’t be if you’re a scientist. But I couldn’t shake the sense that something terrible was about to happen.
    Much to our surprise, breakfast was delicious—even Yo said so.
    Scully, the ship’s cook, told us he used to be the short-order cook at a “greasy spoon” in Rhode Island.
    His pancakes were awesome, and we ate more than our fill—especially Yo. The way she can pack in the food is amazing!
    Anyway, it was shaping up to be a beautiful day. The sun had risen, and the water was as smooth as glass on Shopton Bay as we cast off.
    The bay is pretty huge, and it took nearly an hour to reach the point where the bay’s waters gave wayto the open ocean. We knew we were there, though, because all of a sudden, the boat started rocking.
    At first it was just swells, but they kept getting larger and larger. Then, as we passed the cape at the head of the bay, the wind kicked up something fierce, and the swells became waves—great big ones with deep troughs between them.
    The captain—who was at the helm himself, I noticed—had us pointed directly into the chop. The boat rose and fell, rose and fell, rose and fell …
    And so did all those pancakes we’d eaten.
    The three of us were standing at the port rail, staring out at the shifting horizon. A pod of bottlenose dolphins were racing with us, leaping and smiling their amazing smiles as they leaped out of the waves and plunged back in.
    It didn’t seem to bother them that we were being rocked back and forth like a cradle gone wild.
    The first wave of nausea took me by surprise. I had to fight not to lose my pancakes right then and there. It took a couple more big waves before I began to get used to the pitch and roll. After that, I was okay.
    I wondered about Bud, though—this being hisfirst time at sea. But obviously I had nothing to worry about. He was laughing and whooping each time a wave crested the bow of the boat, and every time we slammed down hard.
    “HAHAHAHA!!!!” he cackled. “This is better than the best roller coaster! Bring it on, King Neptune! It’s me, Ulysses, King of the World! WHOO-HOO!”
    Wow
. Who would have thought it? Bud had the cast-iron stomach of a born sailor.
    “Auuggghhh …”
    Bud and I both turned to look at Yo. She looked distinctly green.
    “Why … did I eat those … pancakes …
aauughhh
…”
    Bud and I turned away as the inevitable happened. When Yo had finished losing her pancakes, we helped her down the stairs and up into her bunk. “Cruise ships never rock like this,” she said. “I think this boat is gonna sink. … Aughh …”
    That was all Bud had to hear. After he had been made fun of all morning because he was a “landlubber,” it turned out
Yo
was the one who couldn’t handle it when the going got tough!
    It was a rare moment, and Bud wasn’t going to let it go without some serious payback. “I wonder what timelunch is served,” he started. “Hmmm … let’s see …. Here’s the menu …. We’ve got soft-boiled eggs … creamed spinach … ooo, and sushi! Mmmm …”
    “Aughhh! Cut it out, you beast!” Yo begged.
    I have to admit, I couldn’t resist making a few comments myself. I mean, Yo had been bragging about her experiences at sea ever since that afternoon in the ice cream parlor. Besides, we knew she would get back at us sooner or later. She always seemed