Double layer

Intro

Double layer A cruise into hell AT Digital Publishing 1st Edition

Copyright

Copyright Š 2013 by Angelo R. Todaro Cover design by Angelo R. Todaro Book design by AT digital publishing

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No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means including information storage and retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the author. The only exception is by a reviewer, who may quote short excerpts in a review.

ISBN 9788897894070

Preface

A" normal" cruise" quickly" turns" into" a" nightmare." After" leaving" Taiwan" and" directing"to"Japan,"the"Silver'Star"suddenly,"literally"disappears"in"front"of"a"young" sailor’s"eyes"on"a"Japanese"cargo"following"the"same"route."

What"happened"to"the"beautiful"ship"full"of"lights?"

Nevertheless" the" Silver' Star" continues" its" navigation," but" the" ofBicers" immediately" notice" inconsistencies," which" get" more" and" more" obvious" and" alarming,"until"the"trip"dips"in"a"horror,"in"a"world"populated"by"monsters."It"is"as"if" the" vessel" is"sailing" in"a"second" layer"..." shocking!"However,"this" does"not"prevent" two"love"stories"among"the"ofBicers,"different"but"at"the"same"time"intense."

Thus," the" story" characters," the" ofBicers" and"the" passengers" of" the" cruise" liner" and"the"sailors"of"the"Japanese"cargo"continue"to"live"different"but"linked"together" terrifying"experiences,"until"the"epilogue"..."with"surprise."

Chapter 1

The terrible news

It"was"a"night"in"July"on"the"East"China"Sea,"dimly"lit"by"the"moon,"which"was"in" its"last"quarter"and"already"close"to" setting."On"that"quiet,"black"sea"a"ship"with"its" six"upper"decks"completely"illuminated,"clearly"visible"from"a"considerable"distance" was"sailing."It"was"the"Silver'Star,"a"U.S."Blagged"cruise"ship.

It"wasn't"a"huge"ship,"not"one"of"those"bloated"and"towering"above"the"sea"that" carry" more" than" 4000" passengers" besides" the" crew." It"was" a"smaller," but" no" less" charming" and" impressive" type" than" the" other" ones" or" with" fewer" amenities" and" attractions"to" cheer"passengers"up,"especially"when"the"ship"was"sailing"on"a"route" that" wouldn’t" dock" in" a" port" every" day." The" general" characteristics" of" the" ship" stated"that"the"Silver'Star"had"a"tonnage"of"more"than"thirty"thousand"tons,"was"180" meters"long"and"could"carry"700"passengers"and"400"members"of"the"crew.

The" ship" had"recently" left" Keelung" Harbor," the" international" port" of" Taipei" in" the"north"of"the"island"of"Taiwan,"once"known"as"Formosa."Taipei"also"has"another" smaller" harbour" in" the" south" of" the" Tamshui" River" estuary," facing" west" over" the" Straits"of"Taiwan."Keelung"Harbor"is"located"34"nautical"miles"to"the"East,"and"from" Taipei"it"can"be"reached"in"about"35"minutes,"in"normal"trafBic"conditions."Keelung" Harbor"moors"large"vessels,"including"cruise"liners.

Two"days"earlier,"the"Silver'Star"had"set"sail"from"Hong"Kong"to"arrive"at"its"Binal" destination," Osaka" in" Japan." Being" a" cruise" ship," its" passage" was" fairly" slow;" its" stages"and"stops"following"a"detailed"travel"plan,"called"passage'planning"or"voyage' planning."The"travel"plan"of"the"Silver'Star"was,"after"the"stop"in"Taiwan,"planned"to" get"in"Shanghai,"then"in"Cheju"or"JejuZdo,"the"beautiful"volcanic"island"located"to"the" South" of" the" Korean" peninsula" with" its" breath" taking" coastline," high" cliffs" and" spectacular" waterfalls." The" trip" would" continue" to" Pusan," the" largest" port" city" of" South"Korea,"from"which,"on"a"longer"route,"would"reach"the"city"of"Osaka"in"Japan," then" return" to" Hong" Kong" after" a" stop" to" enjoy" a" stay" in" Wakayama," which," according"to" the"guide"references,"is" a"city"that"exudes" an"atmosphere"of" timeless" romanticism.

This"was"the"great"journey"that"684"tourists"on"board"were"going"to"make";"but" now," since" it" was" late" at" night," many" of" them" were" in" their" cabins" resting," some"

passengers"were"savouring"the"midnight"snack"on"the"main"deck,"other"ones"were" chatting" or" were" taking" a" walk" on" the" deck," though" very" sleepy" and" so" close" to" retiring.

All"the"ofBicers," however," were"on" the" command" bridge" at"dock" 8,"awake" and" vigilant." There" were" the" secondZinZcommand," the" Birst" ofBicer," the" helmsman," an" observer" and" even" Captain" Jim," as" James" Ferguson," the" master" of" the" ship," was" called." Captain" Jim" was," of" course," not" always" on" the" bridge," having" other" commitments" on" board," including" Billing" up" an" extraordinary" amount" of" travelZ related"paperZworks,"keeping"them"up"to" date,"and"what"was"not"always"pleasant," dining"with"some"passengers"or"entertaining"others."That"night"Captain"Jim,"instead" of"being"in"his"cabin"to"rest,"was"sitting"on"a"comfortable"black"leather"armchair"in" his"spot"on"the"bridge.

The"bridge" was" a"long" room," with"a" long"bow" window"allowing" visibility"over" the"ship"bow;"the"window"tilted"forward"allowing"a"good"view"perpendicular"to"the" front" and" on" the" sides" when" the" ship" was" mooring." Coming" out" of" the" side" extensions,"you"could"completely"see"the"sides"of"the"ship"as"far"as"the"stern.

In" the" centre" of" the" bridge," about" Bive" meters" from" the" windowed" bulkhead" there"was"a"console,"a"long"UZshaped"structure"enlarged,"about"a"meter"high;"next" to"this,"from"the"ceiling"down"a"second"structure"lower,"but"straightforward."In"the" long" UZshaped"section," and" in"that" which" came" down" from"above," there"were"the" typical" instruments" on" board," with" little" lights" and" various" buttons," magnetic" compass"and"gyrocompass,"slide"and"joystick"that"resembled"those"of"video"games;" on" the"console"bridge"there"were"equipment"and"also"several"monitors"of" various" sizes," including" one" echo" sounder" and" one" radar," and" other" screens" showing" the" topography"and"morphology"of"the"coast"and"depth"through"digital"nautical"charts" and," in" particular," the" display" of" the" global" navigation" satellite" system" or" GNSS." Leaning"forward"there" was" also" a"helm" similar"to" those" of" the" sailing" vessels," but" much"smaller,"not"larger"than"a"forearm."However,"the"helmsman"Bob"Brozman"did" not"use"it,"because"navigation"was"entrusted"to" autopilot,"which"followed"the"route" laid"down"in"passage"planning,"managed"by"SatNav,"which"encompassed"the"route," the" various"landings"to" come,"the"narrow"passages" and"changes" in"route"provided" during"the"entire"trip.

You"would"say"that"steer"that"ship"was"a"piece"of"cake!" However,"the"presence" of" satellite" technology" did" not" exclude" the" use" of" traditional" celestial" navigation," using"the"visible"astral"bodies:"stars,"planets,"sun"and"moon."The"ofBicers"on"board," therefore,"had"to"be"well"trained"in"this"ancient"technique"of"navigation,"and"in"fact," sometimes," they" used" it," just" to" have" conBirmation" of" what" the" satellite" screen" displayed."Indeed,"the" celestial"navigation" is" still" the"most" reliable"method"among" those"used"by"sailors,"despite"the"satellite"methodology."Trust"is"good,"but"‌"better" check."So"the"celestial"navigation"is"an"excellent"alternative"methodology"when"you"

are" away" from" the" coast" and" the" optical" references" such" as" lighthouses," lights," signals"and"conspicuous"points"of"land,"i.e."points"easily"recognizable,"lack."Near"the" coast,"ships"usually"sail""on"sight".

Obviously," the" captain" of" a" ship," under" special" circumstances," may" review" or" change" the"route"to" his"liking,"and"also" the"stop"of"the"vessel,"but"he"is" obliged"to" communicate" the" reason" to" his" shipping" company," which" through" the" satellite" continuously"monitors"the"location"of"its"ships.

But" on"the"Silver"Star" they" didn’t"need"that,"and"the"pilot"only" had" to" keep" an" eye"on"the"instruments" in" front"of" him." Only" the"departure" and"the"arrival" of" the" ship"required"more"attention,"but"in"this"case"the"ship"made"use"of"an"experienced" ship-handler" with" a" deep" knowledge" of" local" waterways," who" boarded" at" the" appropriate" time." Only" a" local" pilot" has" the" chance" to" know" in" real" time" the" situation" of" the"port" waters,"the"ship"movement"or"particular"conditions," like"the" temporary" failure" of" a" marine" signalling" light" and" similar" things." However," even" using" a"harbour" pilot"who" boards"the"ship"as" a"consultant,"and"during" the" arrival" and" the" departure" of" the" ship," the" responsibility" of" the" ship" is" always" of" the" shipmaster"and"his"ofBicers."

Behind"the" UZshaped"structure," there"were" only"two" seats,"one" for" the"captain" and"the"other"one"for"the"helmsman,"the"other"ofBicers"stood"close"to" the"window."

Behind" them," on" a" wallZfurniture" with" low" lateral" extensions," there" were" other" electronic"panels,"with"the"controls"of"the"propellers,"anchors,"intercom"and"radiointercom" system," the" alarm" panel" and" the" recognition" device" alarms," the" Bire" detection"system,"the"safety"of"the"lifts"and more else.

On" the" bridge," behind" the" wall" furniture," but" facing" aft," there" was" the" radio" console" managed" by" two" radioZoperator" ofBicers." It" was" equipped" with" a" radioZ telephone" MF/HF" SSB," satellite" communication" equipment," a" telex" via" HF" radio," computers" and" printers." Thanks" to" satellite" communications," the" GMDSS" (Global" Maritime" Distress" System)," e" mail" and" other" modern" technology," the" romantic" Bigure"of" the" radioman"with"headphones" on,"trying"desperately"to" connect" with" a" land"station,"no"longer"existed."One"of"the"two"ofBicers"sitting"at"the"console"was"the" Birst" communication" operator" George" Phillips," with" a" good" experience" made" on" cargo"and"cruise"ships."That"private"room,"so"it"seemed,"communicated"directly"and" easily" with" the" bridge" towards" the" bow," where" the" captain" and" /or" his" deputies" were." You" would" only" go" round" the" wall" furniture" either" side" or" you" could" also" easily"communicate"verbally.

All"the"men"on"the"bridge"wore"their"beautiful"white"uniforms."It"was"the"same" for"everyone:"long"or"short"trousers"and"opened"collar"shirt"with"short"sleeves;"the" only" difference" consisted" on" their" rank" devices," gold" bars" on" black" shoulder" patches,"starting"from"four"for"the"Captain,"fewer"for"the"others.

Captain"Jim"was"visibly"worried."He"was"a"handsome"man"nearly"Bifty"with"short" black" hair" and" a" slight" whiteness" at" the" temples," slightly" balding," a" lean" and" handsome"Bigure,"over"six"feet"tall."He"had"always"preferred"to"wear"long"trousers," because" they"made"him"look" more"elegant" and" this" came" handier" because"he"had" contacts"with"passengers."Captain"Jim"had"started"his"maritime"career"aboard"cargo" ships,"arriving"for"the"Birst"time"on"board"a"passenger"ship"with"the"rank"of"second" ofBicer."But"because"of"his"knowledge,"only"30,"he"had"got"the"command"of" a"cargo" ship;"he"had"sailed"with"it"for"about"ten"years,"until"he"was"appointed"commander" of"a"cruise"liner."At"the"moment"he"was"at"his"12th"embarkation"on"board"the"Silver' Star,"each"lasting"6Z8"months"and"two"rest"periods."So,"he"had"spent"many"years"at" sea,"almost"all"of"them"in"the"PaciBic"and"the"Asian"seas."That"was"a"long"time"which" had"always"prevented" him" from" getting"married," to" start"a" family."«How" can"you" have"a"family"when"you're"always"at"sea?»"he"thought."So"he"had"only"Bleeting"and" occasional" affairs" with" women," between" an" embarkation" and" another…" and" not" always…"This"was"his"relationship"with"the"fair"sex."

The" second"in" command" Alessandro" Guagliardo," on" the" contrary," preferred"to" wear" shorts." Alessandro" was" a" few" years" younger" than" the" captain," and" he" was" ItalianZAmerican."He,"too,"was"lean,"wore"a"thin"moustache"under"a"slightly"aquiline" nose,"which"had"earned"him"the"joking"nickname"of"“Al"the"Eaglet”,"meaning"that"he" was"trying"to"Bly"but"never"could."In"fact,"the"nickname"had"also"another"motivation:" Alessandro" tried" to" seduce" a" lot" of" women" aboard," women" of" the" crew" and" passengers,"but"it"seemed" he" didn’t"do" much…"So" it"seemed." He" was" really" a"nice" guy,"he"could"take"a"joke,"but"he"became"stern"when"needed."He"too"was"unmarried," but" for"another" reason:"he" loved"women"too" much" to" be" able" to" marry" only" one!"

Only"one" woman"would"never" be"enough"for"him," he" said" to" everyone."But" really," how"many"women"did"he"have?"He"too"had"a"maritime"experience"similar"to"that"of" the" captain," so" many" years" on" cargo" ships" as" a" second" ofBicer," but" he" had"sailed" across"the"Atlantic"Ocean"on"routes"to"Europe"and"Africa."Then"he"had"embarked"as" Birst"ofBicer"on" a"cruise" liner,"which"was" sailing"in"the"Caribbean"sea," until"he"was" appointed" secondZinZcommand" on" the" Silver' Star." At" that" time" he" was" in" his" 7th" embarkation," he" had" an" excellent" knowledge" of" the" ship" and" crew" (most" people" were"the"same"for"years)"and"could"call"himself"a"friend"of"Captain"Jim. Alessandro"came"near"Captain"Jim. —"Jim,"why"don't"you"go"to"sleep?"—"Alessandro"asked."—"You"look"very"tired."I" can"take"control"…

—"No,"Alessandro." I"wouldn’t"sleep"…"after"the"news"Chiao" Chuang"gave"me"…"

He"made"me"feel"anxious.

—"But"you"know"…"it"could"not"happen"anything"…"—"Alessandro"replied"—"and" all" your" tension" would" be" groundless…"thereby," what" should" you" do?" Never"you" sleep"all"cruise"long?

—" There" have" been" other" similar" alarms," —" the" Birst" ofBicial" Charles" Morphy" added,"joining"in"the"conversation"—"but"then"nothing"happened"…

Charles"Morphy" was"younger"than" the"other"two," but"not"lean."He"had" started" his"career"at"sea"from"ordinary"seaman."He"made"a"very"fast"career,"because"he"was" twentyZone" years" old" when" he" moved" up" to" 2nd" deck" ofBicer" on" a" Panamanian" cargo"ship."A"few"years"later,"he"arrived"First"OfBicer"aboard"the"Silver'Star.

—"But"Chiao"is"positive:"it"will"happen"—"Captain"Jim"went"on"saying."—"I"read" it"on"his"face"and"he"might"be"right.

Dr"Chiao"Chuang" was" a"geologist"of" the" Institute"of" Geophysics" of" Taiwan"who" worked"at"the"Seismological"Observation"Center"in"Taipei,"a"seismological"research" centre."He"had"met"with"Captain" James" Ferguson"just"the"previous"evening."Chiao" was"born"in"Taiwan,"was"57"years"old,"short,"round"and"funny"face,"almondZshaped" eyes,"grey"hair"and"wore"glasses."He"had"graduated"in"geological"engineering"in"his" native" country" in" 1978,"specializing"in"Geology" at"the"University" of" London."Chiao" and" Captain" Jim" had" become" good" friends," since" they" had" known" and" esteemed" each"other"for"years;"they" met"often," not"always" in"Taiwan,"having"been"involved" with" meetings," dinners" and" parties" in" various" Asian" cities:" Singapore," Kuala" Lumpur,"Jakarta,"Tutong,"Hong"Kong"and"more.

At"that"moment,"as"in"a"Blashback,"Captain"Jim"saw"the"meeting"with"his"friend" Chiao," which" had" taken" place" in" a" restaurant" in" Taipei" a" few" hours" before" the" departure"of"the"Silver'Star.

—" Jim," —"Chiao" said" to" him"at" a"certain" time"of"the"dinner," in"front" of" a"huge" dish"of"big"crabs" sautée"in"pepper,"the"captain"was"greedy"of" —"I"would"have"told" you"anyway"…"I'm"worried.

—"I"can"see"it"—"Captain"Jim"responded."—"Your"face,"tonight,"is"black"instead"of" yellow.

—"And"for"a"good"reason!"Now"I"have"decided"to"warn"all"the"vessels"operating" in"this"area."It"is"better"to"run"the"risk"of"raising"an"unnecessary"alarm,"rather"than" pretend"nothing"has"happened.

—"Why?"What"is"the"problem?

—"An"earthquake,"Jim"…"a"devastating"earthquake"that"may" happen"very" soon" in"the"Philippines"Sea,"here"near"us!

—"An"earthquake?"But…"are"you"sure?

—"Nobody"can"be"sure"of"it."But"the"clues"are"all"there."You"know"we"constantly" monitor" the" seismic" situation" of" these" seas," which" are" always" at" risk." And" they" aren’t" taken" under" control" only" in" Taipei." There" are" many" other" seismological" centres,"and"all"of"whom"we"have"exchange"of"information.

—"Of"course"…"but,"why"do"you"say"this?

—" Well," you" know" …" a" main" earthquake" is" always" preceded" by" a" series" of" smaller"tremors"for"energy,"but"they"get"more"and"more"frequent"as"the"time"of"the" main-shock"gets"closer.

—"Ok,"so"what?"…

—" So," that's" what" we're" detecting" now." Increasingly" frequent" shocks," of" low" value," a" few"people"are" aware"of,"but" that"seismographs"record"very"well."But"the" tremors"are"increasing"more"frequent,"with"a"magnitude"that"at"times"gets"up,"even" if"slightly,"sometimes"gets"down.

—"Well,"but"is"this"enough"to"suspect"a"major"earthquake?"Small"tremors"in"the" earth's"crust"are"common,"I"think"…"—"Captain"Jim"added.

—" Yes,"it" is" so" …"But"besides" that," in" the" Philippines" Sea"we" have"recorded" a" similar"situation,"that"is"shocks"of"low"energy"but"increasingly"frequent,"even"in"the" southZeast"of"China," in"the" mainland,"…"I"mean"…"similar"situations," in" two" places" not"very"far"from"each"other,"are"deBinitely"related.

—"Wow! —"You"see,"Jim,"if"we"analyse"what"happened"in"the"last"few"years,"it"seems"that" the" Earth" has" awakened" from" a" deep" sleep," and" today" it" is" shaken" by" tremors" bouncing"from"place"to" place"on"the"planet."So"that,"an"earthquake"in"an"area"may," in"some"cases,"increase"the"risk"that"another"earthquake"occurs"in"an"adjacent"zone," but" also" in" a" distant" area." Once" we"geologists" didn’t" think" this" could"happen," we" said" that" every" earthquake" was" an" event" in" itself," that" could" not" possibly" affect" other"areas"of"the"planet,"but"today"we"have"changed"our"minds."In"fact,"some"faults" may"start"moving"if"they"are"also"affected"by"pressures"of"low"value"and"can"involve" other"planar"fractures"at"short"or"long"distance.

—"Is"it"true?"Really?

—" Let's" scroll" the" latest" events" …" —" Chiao" Chuang" went" on" saying." —" In" September" 2009,"an"earthquake"of" magnitude" 8.1" shook" the" Samoa"Islands"in"the" PaciBic" Ocean," causing" dozens" of" victims" and" generating" a" massive" tsunami" that" crossed" the" entire" ocean." Sixteen" hours" later," another" violent" earthquake" of" magnitude"7.6"struck"the"south"of"Sumatra,"causing"hundreds"of"deaths.

—"Yes,"that's"true"…

—" What" is" the" distance" between" the" two" places?" Nearly" ten" thousand" kilometres" …" But" before" Samoa," if" you" remember," between" Sumatra" and" the" Andaman" Islands" another" terrible" earthquake" occurred" in" December" 2004," magnitude"9"on"the"Richter"scale"…

—"Yes,"I"remember"that"incident."At"that"time"I"was"in"Malaysia.

—" Well," they" hadn’t" recorded" an" earthquake" of" magnitude" 8.5" or" greater" for" forty" years." That" earthquake"off" Sumatra"occurred"at"a"depth" of" 30"km"below"the" sea"level"and" generated"a" tsunami" that"developed" a"series" of" waves,"which"struck" large"coastal"areas" of"Asia…"There"were"six"waves"in"total,"they"occurred"until"ten"

hours"after"the"earthquake."The"most"powerful"wave"was"the"third,"twenty"meters" high."

—" What" devastation" the" tsunami" caused!" …" Many" countries" were" involved:" Indonesia,"Sri"Lanka,"India,"Thailand," Malaysia,"Burma,"Bangladesh"…"and"also"the" furthest"Maldives,"Somalia,"Kenya"…

—"In"fact,"the"tsunami"reached"places"more"than"4500"kilometres"far"from"the" epicentre" …" —" Chiao" added." —" Therefore," the" sequence" of" earthquakes" was" SumatraZSamoaZSumatra.

Then,"after"a"moment's"reBlection,"the"geologist"spoke"again.

—Always" in" the" area" of" Sumatra," in" succession," an" earthquake" occurred" in" March" 2005" with" a" magnitude" of" 8.6" and" in" September" 2007" an" earthquake" of" magnitude" 8.5" …"Well," to" be" sincere," in" the" area" of" Sumatra," from" 2009" to" 2010" there"have"been"as"many"as"four"earthquakes"with"a"magnitude"of"more"than"7"on" the"Richter"scale.

—"Why"so"many?"—"Captain"Jim"asked,"a"little"surprised.

—"Similar"enough"to" the"Sumatra"earthquake"was"that"one"which"took"place"in" December"2010"in"the"Vanuatu"islands,"at"two"thousand"kilometres"distance" from" Samoa,"hit"by"an"earthquake"of"magnitude"7.3"…"Take"note"that"those"islands"are"in" the"same"direction"of"Sumatra.

—"So"it's"not"a"coincidence…

—" No." Then," on" March" 11th," 2011" a" devastating" earthquake" broke" out," an" endless"shock"lasted"six"minutes"that"terriBied"Japan."It"reached"magnitude"9.0"and" occurred"off"the"coast"of"the"Tōhoku"region"in"northern"Japan.

—" Well," who" can" forget" that" earthquake?" It" generated" a" tsunami" with" waves" more" than" 10" meters" high" that" involved" many" countries" in" the" PaciBic" …" Some" Japanese" coasts"were"hit"by"a" wave" that"reached"the"extraordinary"height"of" 40.5" metres" …" and" the" earthquake" caused" the" automatic" shutdown" of" eleven" nuclear" power"plants"caused"by"the"emergency"systems."It"is"impossible"to"forget"the"great" disaster"occurred"at"the"nuclear"power"plant"in"Fukushima"DaiZChi"…

—"So" uh,"yeah"…"It"took"at"least"seventyZtwo" hours" for"the"waves" to" reduce"to" the"level"of"the"Bluctuations"observed"during"the"local"storms.

—" In" conclusion," Chiao," are"you"telling" me" that" large" earthquakes" always" and" only"occur"in"South"Asia?

—" No," certainly"not," Jim."This"is" not"what"I"want"to" tell"you."In"fact,"in" August" 2008"an"earthquake"occurred"in"Siberia,"and"it"was"of"magnitude"9.0;"another"one" took"place"in"Chile"in"February"2010,"with"a"magnitude"of"8.8"…

—"So"what"do"you"mean?

—"Well,"I"mean"that"at"least"six"major"earthquakes"have"occurred"in"only"seven" years,"but"after"forty" years" of" substantial"absence" of" similar"phenomena."What"do" those"events"tell"us?"Is"there"any"correlation"between"them?

—" Why" do" you" ask" me" about" that?" You" are" the" geologist" …" I’m" only" a" poor" cruise"liner"captain"—"Captain"Jim"said"smiling.

—" It"is" because" you"command"a" cruise" liner"that"I'm"saying"all"this…" A"vessel" navigating"in" these"waters…" Listen," even"in"the"50s"and" 60s" of" last"century" there" was" a" large" concentration" of" seismic" events," as" it" is" happening" now:" in" 1950" it" happened"in"Tibet,"magnitude"8.6,"in"1952"in"Kamchatka"in"Russia,"magnitude"9.0," in"1957"there"was"an"earthquake"magnitude"8.6"in"Alaska,"in"1960"in"Chile"of"9.5,"in" 1963"in"the"Kuril"Islands"with"a"magnitude"of"8.5,"in"1964"in"Alaska"of"9.2"and"again" in"Alaska"in"1965"with"magnitude"8.7"…

—"Well,"perhaps"at"that"time"the"Earth"had"a"down"on"the"northern"hemisphere" …"—"Captain"Jim"said,"able"to"joke"nevertheless.

—"This"series"of"events"as"well"—"Chiao"kept"talking"nonstop"—"had"taken"place" after"a" long"period"during" which"great" earthquakes," of" magnitude" greater"than"8," had"been"very"few."In"conclusion,"Jim,"I'm"convinced"that"the"Birst"great"earthquake" in" Indonesia" in" 2004" has" caused" an" increase" in" seismic" activity," particularly" in" South"Asia,"and"the"great"earthquakes,"occurred"right"after"that,"may"be"somewhat" connected"to" a"unique"and"powerful"trigger."It"went"this" way"in"the"50s,"when"the" Birst" trigger" to" shoot" was" in" Assam," Tibet." From" that" day," the" great" earthquakes" lasted"about"15"years.

—"So"you're"afraid"the"same"thing"is"happening"here"in"our"area.

—" Yes,"the" proof" is" an"earthquake"occurred" in"Sumatra" last" April" 11th," 2012," that" we" registered" of" magnitude" 8.6." It" was" a" unique" event" of" its" kind" for" many" reasons." An" earthquake" of" that" kind," due" to" the" sliding" of" continental" plates" underwater,"shouldn’t"have" had"a" magnitude"of"8.6!"Then,"why"have"we"recorded" that"datum?

—"Yeah"…"Why?"—"Jim"asked"himself.

—"That"was"a"rather"complex"earthquake,"with"many"fracture"lines"almost"at"a" right" angle" to" the" other." We" have" recorded" the" hypocentre" of" the" quake" at" 33" kilometres"depth"under"the"Indian"Ocean"…"I"don't"know"if"you"know"this,"but"the" hypocentre,"which"is"the"focus"of"the"earthquake,"is"that"place"we"mean"as"the"point" where" rupture" occurred," where" the" Birst" seismic" waves" started" out." Actually," the" fracture" always" occurs" along" a" more" or" less" extensive" plane," sometimes" some" hundred"kilometres,"so"if"you"say"hypocentre,"or"epicentre,"that"is"the"point"on"the" land"or"marine"surface"placed"exactly"on"the"vertical"of" hypocentre,"you"indicate"a" rough"point.

—"Which"may"extend"for"many"kilometres"…

—"That's"right."But"another"event"took" place:"two"hours"after"the"Birst"shock" in" April," the" seismograph" has" recorded" another" earthquake" of" 8.2" degrees" slightly" further"north"than"the"Birst"quake.

—" Good" Heavens!" Two" earthquakes" so" strong" and" close" in" two" hours" time" difference!

—" In" fact," apparently," they" have" occurred" along" the" subduction" of" the" IndoZ Australian"plate"under"the"Asian"one."On"the"island"of"Simeulue,"Indonesia,"the"sea" has" receded" about" 10" metres," and" you" know" that" this" is" usually" the" sign" of" an" imminent" tsunami." But" offshore" they" found" only" a" vertical" difference" of" 35" centimetres"from"the"top"of"the"wave.

—"For"a"large"ship"that"isn't"a"big"problem"…

—" On" the" coast" affected" by" a" possible" tsunami," the" people" who" recalled" the" devastating"waves" of" 2004,"panicked" and" took" refuge" on"high" places," but" luckily," this"time,"the"waves"of"destruction"didn’t"come.

—" We're" not" always" so" lucky…" So," do" you" think" another" earthquake" might" happen"here?

—" Yes," I" am" convinced." It" will" happen" soon," in" the" Philippine" Sea" or," in" correspondence,"in"the"south"east"of"China."Maybe"in"a"few"days"…"or"a"few"hours…"

Who"knows?

—"Really?

—" If" it"happened" on" the"sea,"as" I"suppose," your"ship"could"be"run"over"by"the" wave."If"you're"still"offshore,"the"modest"height"of"the"long"wave,"which"could"be"30," 50"…"also" 80"centimetres,"wouldn’t"be"a"problem,"apart"drag"a"bit"off"course,"but"if" at"that"time"you"were"close"to"the"coast…

—"The"long"wave,"swelling"and"rising,"could"push"me"on"the"rocks."I"know"that" that's" the" risk" I" can" run." However," we" have" seen" it" on" other" occasions," it" is" not" certain"that"an"earthquake"in"the"sea"generates"devastating"waves"along"the"coast.

— I"know" it’s" this"way" …"but"who"can" tell?"Anyway," the"wave"would"have"the" strength" of" a" strong" tide," but" much" faster," it" would" be" like" a" big" raging" river," devastating,"which"drags"everything"it"Binds"in"its"path.

—"Sorry,"but…"I"can't"cancel"a"cruise"for"just"a"suspicion,"you"know…"The"shipowner"wouldn’t"allow"me;"it"would"be"a"great"loss"for"the"company."And…"if"nothing" happens,"or"there"is"only"a"little"shock?"…

—"Of"course"…"but"I"had"to"inform"you."It"may"happen"soon."Be"careful,"I'll"keep" you"constantly"informed."Meanwhile"eat"your"crabs;"they"must"be"cold,"now.

Chapter 2

The disappearance

Nobody"can"say"for"sure"that"an"earthquake"really"happens,"captain"Jim"thought" while"sitting"in"his"comfortable"black"armchair"on"the"bridge."But"how"can"you"rest" at" ease" knowing" that," all" of" a" sudden," a" wave" might" reach" you" and" in" the" same" moment,"if"you"were"near"a"coast,"drag"and"send"you"on"the"rocks?"Wasn’t"the"Silver' Star"travelling"near"the"coastline"of"China?

The"passage"planning"indicated"that"the"TaipeiZShanghai"route"was"369"nautical" miles" long,"and"the" Silver'Star"would"cover"it"in"about"21"hours;"actually," the"trip" lasted" longer," since" you" had" to" add" to" it" the" time" the" ship" needed" to" leave" the" harbour"of" Taipei"and"then"go" into" the" Shanghai" port"and"moor"alongside"a"quay," both"rather"slow"operations."In"total"it"took"more"than"a"day's"journey,"21"hours"of" which"in"the"open"sea.

SelBishly" thinking," Captain" Jim" would" feel" safe" from" exposure" to" the" open" Philippines" Sea"only" after"reaching"Shanghai,"which"was"partially"sheltered"by"the" islands" of" Okinawa." Much" better"would" be" to" reach" Cheju" Island." His" ship" would" repair" behind"it." In" fact" the" ship"would" dock" in" Jeju," which"is" in" the" North" of" the" island,"away"from"a"possible"tsunami."Then,"from"there,"the"ship"would"go"north"of" Japan"to" reach"Busan"in"Korea,"and"the"trip"to" Osaka"would"be"even"more"relaxed."

But..." what" if" an" earthquake" happened" on" the" way" back," on" the" route" along" the" south"of"Japan?

The" other" ofBicers" on" the" bridge" looked" more"relaxed,"but"they"hadn't"spoken" with" Chiao," they"had"not"been"excited"by"the"series"of" events" he" had"described"to" Jim."The"other"ofBicers"looked"more"relaxed,"but"a"great"fear"was" inside"them."The" danger"couldn’t"be"underestimated.

—"Would"you"like"some"coffee?

Everyone"looked"behind"them,"where"the"voice"came"from."A"charming"woman" of"about"forty,"junoesque,"as"we’d"say"in"her"case,"with"a"few"extra"pounds"but"well" distributed"in"the"right"places"had"come"to"the"bridge."Even"her"breast"was"well"in" evidence," so" that" her" white" shirt" with" black" shoulder" patches" was" struggling" to" contain"it,"and"the"skirt,"also"white,"squeezed"her"hips.