376 | John W. Warner IV Nemo the tyrant… The Bear eased over the cliff and floated with the intense rapids as they entered the tunnel. Frothy churning water was all they could see. Vibration was minimal but steady. Descending, eighteen degrees down at the bow, said Alice. After an hour of churning water and no visibility, they entered a massive aquifer; the forward view became all dark green. Tiny white creatures danced and moved out of their path by the tens of thousands. Albino Krill, Euphausia superba, millions of them, said Geer, palms to plexiglass. Can you maneuver Bea? asked Bernie. Controls are sluggish and all dials read zero. Hes not designed for water. I think were moving forward, but Ive no reference. All ahead slow, were nothing but an oversized cork in an underground river. Bernie sat. Steady as she goes. Hope Dad was right… Last of the Iron Rations,” said Alice, handing them out at the mess table two days later. Everyone was hungry and had lost weight. Porsche patted his diminishing stomach. Not a bad thing for Walter and I. Excited, Geer came in with a large pan. I sucked some Krill from one of the fresh air intakes and used a screen for a strainer then fried them in oil. They will keep us alive anyway. The underground water is fresh and tasty, no worries there. Bitter but not bad, said Alice. Edmund and I have eaten much worse in the Amazon, said Schafer, pouring the last of the apple juice. Snakes, insects and such. All the power in the universe back there and no food. What a mess, said Bernie, examining a tiny .04 centimeter specimen, then crunched it between his teeth. Needs salt. Nice job, Edmund. Bea ate a spoonful. Well its certainly not Dover Sole Meuniere at the Ziirserhof Hotel, but itll A hefty bump jarred everyone. What the hell was that? / Everyone to the cockpitnow! yelled Klemperer over the intercom. As they scampered in, Schafer scanned instruments. Outside temperature is minus five and dropping.