Stealth Journeys with the Steam Mapper

Chapter 58: Getting in Very Deep

The third day for a submersible dive was conducted by VLAD, and by MAHA (which was the code name chosen by Dr. Mariko Hayashi) who had been partnered with MYKA the day before, during the successful locating and retrieving of the large hydrothermal vent.

MYKA had shared the personal comments made by Dr. MAHA during their dive the day before.  The Japanese scientist was quiet and very focused on work, but began to succumb to MYKA's charm as hours passed.  "Turns out both her first and last names are very common in Japan.   Like being 'Mary Smith' in the U.S.   And, that has caused frequent occasions of embarrassment."

"She has booked rooms in five star hotels and discovered unexpected perks, like gigantic fruit baskets and exclusive upgrades.   She has made last minute requests for reservations at restaurants where she is treated like royalty.   Then it comes out that it is a case of mistaken identity.   The staff is expecting a very popular award-winning writer, whose work is made into movies and television shows, and who shares the same name!   I told her, I'd just go along with the mistaken identity and enjoy the perks!  Milk it for all its worth!  What's the worst that can happen?"

"She laughed and explained that would be foolish because the truth would come out.  For example, at the last hotel incident, the other Mariko Hayashi was there for a very special occasion.  She was part of an exclusive committee selecting the new imperial era's name.  She was in Tokyo for the ceremony revealing that the new Japanese era is called 'Reiwa', which became effective when the new emperor took the throne from his father."

"The chosen new name 'Reiwa' was taken from seventh century poetry and means something like 'culture is born and nurtured as the people beautifully care about each other'.  What a beautiful idea.  Like the Age of Aquarius.  The previous era was called something meaning 'achieving peace'.  Guess the era name only changes when a new emperor comes to the throne.  This era business has been going on way more than a thousand years.  I suppose it is the equivalent of referring to the Reagan Era or Dust Bowl Era but it also relates to generations like Baby Boomers or Gen-Xers or Millennials.    Guess the last era began after the surrender of Japan at the end of World War II."

"It must have been awkward for the staff to have two women arrive on the same day and scurry to greet the one who was there for the national event, after fanfare for the scientist who arrived just one hour earlier.  But the celebrity treatment continued when they heard she is tops in her field.  She is something like an Erin Brockovich in her country, sounding alarms about nuclear waste pollution.  She is one of several women very vocal about this."

StLF and MYKA used their time together to watch and participate in the ongoing lab work.  They were both happy to know that the MAPR device worked so well in determining the sea conditions found within the plumes generated by the hydrothermal vents.   They also agreed to compare notes about their individual dives and their impressions of their dive mates.   It would have to wait for a time when others could not overhear their conversation.  

A break from each other came sooner than expected.   The chief scientist pulled MYKA  aside and asked, "Would you care to join us?   A few of the scientists are comparing notes on the species they have expected to see near these vents."  StLF was fine with being alone to focus on the evaluations of the MAPR devices in use and waved MYKA off with a smile.

The smile soon disappeared, as the Korean scientist and his translator approached StLF wearing angry scowls and waving their arms aggressively.  The translator spoke up in a threatening tone,  "We know it was you who took our smartphones.  We saw you eyeing them while you were at the lab yesterday evening and we demand them back at once!  They are our private property and have personal information.  They are not part of the research program and you had no right to touch them!  We will report that you are a thief if you do not return them at once!"

StLF stared back in disbelief and wished that MYKA was present to hear this crazy talk and be a witness to this confrontation.  "I most certainly did not touch your stupid phones," said in a quavering voice.   And then, gaining some inner strength at the indignation, "Why would I have any interest in your old out of date phones?  You know Consumer Reports said they are not as water resistant as advertised.  SNL made fun of them for reports of explosions. I was eyeing them because I could not believe that you, on an expedition as important as this one, would be using smartphones from way back in 2016."

"You know, technology changes at lightning speed these days.  Did your country just recycle the ones they confiscated from the 2016 Olympics in Rio?  I remember the model that Samsung gifted all of the athletes was the Galaxy S7 smartphone.  I remember that North Korea had a team manager take them from the athletes and they could not use them, even for opening ceremony.   That's what you've been carrying around.  Why would I take anything of yours, anyway?  I'm NOT a thief!"

This angry outburst from StLF did not satisfy the two Koreans, who demanded to search through StLF's belongings.  "No way without the ship's captain and our chief scientist present!" retorted the angry junior scientist, suddenly realizing the chief scientist was in a meeting at that moment.  The frustration was mounting as StLF took great pride in being as honest as they come.  At this point, Stef bolted from the deck, down the "ladder" steps to the berths below.  Fortunately, others were resting close by in the bunk area.   Safety in numbers.  Stef tried to calm down and found those old memories of a vacation in Carrabelle flooding into consciousness.

The ugliness of a false accusation, brought on the very first wave of homesickness and memories that had been long forgotten of another time when Stef was a child of seven and the family was vacationing in Carrabelle, Florida.  Stef was accused of stealing back then, and even after vindication, the sting of such an insult remains.