The Pressure Drop

The Pacific looked very big. Polly flew above the water. Her glasses slid down her beak. She pushed them back. Far below, a small white ship was moving.

She flew down in slow circles. The ship made a long white line behind it.

The air was warm and salty. She landed on the railing. The ship's name was PRESSURE DROP.

The crew did not see her. They were busy. They wound cables. They moved crates.

Polly looked at the small submarine on the deck. It was round and silver, like a steel pumpkin.

A young engineer read his list. "Pressure tested. Battery good." He spoke softly.

A thick cable was on the deck. Two crew members rolled another cable onto a drum.

The sun was going down. The sky was orange. The wood was warm under Polly's yellow feet.

A cook came outside. He wore a white apron. He did not see Polly.

The light turned red, then dark. Lights came on around the ship.

The lights shone on the silver submarine. Polly fluffed her feathers. The air was cool.

Below the ship, the Mariana Trench was very deep. Polly tucked her head under her wing. Tomorrow, the dive.