The Titanic Enigma Read Online Free PDF

said, unrolling a schematic of the
ship’s interior. ‘The ocean floor is strewn with wreckage, but the source of the radiation is not there. It’s definitely inside the ship. Commander Milford has been concentrating
on narrowing down the precise location.’
    ‘We now think the epicentre of the radiation source is situated towards the bow of the ship beyond the forward Grand Staircase, two floors down from the boat deck.’ She pointed it
out on the diagram. ‘Our best bet is here – a First Class cabin, C16. We’ve tried, but we haven’t been able to get a remote probe that far into the ship.’
    ‘Isn’t that a little worrying?’ Kate said, still looking at the schematic.
    ‘Why? You mean, if a probe can’t get in there, how can we?’ Milford asked.
    ‘Precisely.’
    ‘I appreciate your concerns,’ Derham responded. ‘But no probe is that manoeuvrable. Also, the radiation down there interferes with the signal we use to control them.’
    ‘Most importantly, though,’ Milford interrupted, ‘there’s no substitute for human eyes and ears. This is the whole reason we need you both. You are world authorities in
the study of marine wrecks.’
    Derham pointed to the print on the table. ‘The latest images we have show the best way to get into the wreck is close to the port anchor . . . here.’ He then found another close-up
and a computer-enhanced image of the exterior. They could make out every dent and rivet. ‘You can see here the displaced sediment rises up either side of the hull almost reaching the anchor.
It’ll be perilous, but we should be able to reach the boat deck using some of the holes and protrusions in the hull above the anchor. It’s then a question of finding an entranceway into
the ship and locating cabin C16. I can’t reiterate too many times just how dangerous this trip is going to be. The ocean floor nearly two and a half miles beneath the surface is as
inhospitable as deep space.’
    ‘I don’t think either of us is expecting it to be a walk in the park,’ Kate remarked.
    ‘You’re certainly right there,’ Milford said quietly, and she glanced round at the three of them with a very serious expression. ‘And, there is one more thing you
probably should know. The suits. We’ve just had the final tests conducted on three sets at Norfolk. The technicians have emailed over the results.’
    ‘When was this?’ Derham asked, suddenly concerned.
    ‘Just five minutes ago, sir.’
    ‘Is there a problem?’
    ‘No,’ Milford replied emphatically. ‘No problem, but the final tests show that suit integrity can only be guaranteed for up to sixty-two minutes forty-four seconds.’
    Kate looked grave. ‘And what happens then?’
    Milford shrugged. ‘Maybe nothing. The suit might be fine for a long time after that.’
    ‘But at some point?’
    ‘At some point, the liquid metal carbon of the suit will reconfigure.’
    ‘Reconfigure?’ It was Lou. He gave Milford a hard look.
    ‘It changes state . . . The suit becomes a solid block of carbon.’

6
    An hour later they were pulling on thermal suits – the standard uniform while they were aboard the
JVs
where the temperature and pressure levels were
computer-controlled.
Jules Verne 1
was ready to power up, the final systems checks almost completed.
    The interior of the sub was extremely cramped and utilitarian. Four seats were set out in two pairs of two. The front left was the pilot’s seat; next to that, the copilot. Two passenger
seats had been squeezed into the restricted space in the second row. The designers had packed the craft with the latest communications and navigational technology. There were no windows. Instead,
visual displays relayed images from a set of cameras mounted on the exterior of the sub. Two large control panels were in front of the pilot and co-pilot’s chairs. All the controls were
digital, touch-sensitive pads set into flat plastic.
    ‘You guys didn’t waste money on soft furnishings,