69novels Chapter 438 Successfully reunited with Han Ting!
Chapter 438 Successfully reunited with Han Ting!
Chapter 438 Successfully reunited with Han Ting!
Lin Yu'an took one last look at the rock wall that he had given new meaning to, and then focused all his attention on the orange package beside him.
The package contained not only Evelyn's body, but also all the equipment she used in her life.
The underwater computer on her wrist is the only "black box" to unlock the mystery of this tragedy.
The real challenge has only just begun. Because the return journey is a long and meticulous climb.
Lin Yu'an could not ascend quickly immediately. Although Evelyn's life had passed and she was no longer at risk of decompression sickness, the majesty of the laws of physics applied equally to the living and the dead.
At 31 atmospheres of pressure, the gas inside her body was like a series of miniature bombs ready to explode.
Any reckless, rapid ascent would cause the gases to expand violently, disfiguring her remains beyond recognition.
Lin Yu'an silently said in his heart, "I will take you home, the way you came."
He had to guide her through all the decompression rules, just like escorting a living dive buddy who was decompressing.
At an extremely slow pace, station by station, they safely and dignifiedly returned to the ground from this 308-meter abyss.
He gently opened a fine-tuning vent valve on the body bag, allowing the gas inside to slowly escape as it rose, maintaining neutral buoyancy.
Then the thrusters were activated, and at a speed of no more than 10 meters per minute, the long escort mission that crossed the line between life and death began.
Ascent is a far greater test of a diver's discipline than descent.
Lin Yu'an's gaze was fixed on the screen of the Shearwater Perdi 2 diving computer on his left wrist.
The bright, color screen clearly displays the current depth, ascent rate, and the depth and required dwell time at the next decompression station.
On his right wrist, he also wore a spare computer of the same model, with the data on the screen completely synchronized with the main computer.
In this abyss, these two small screens are his only map to home.
Based on his preset decompression model, the computer has calculated a decompression plan from 308 meters to 150 meters.
At 210 meters, he paused for the first time.
When the computer indicated that they had arrived at the first decompression station, he turned off the thrusters, suspending himself and the body bag stably in the endless darkness.
Duration of stay: 3 minutes.
These short three minutes are a crucial step in the entire stress-relief process.
It can effectively inhibit the premature formation of tiny bubbles in the body's "fastest tissues," laying the foundation for subsequent safe decompression.
In this absolute silence and high pressure, Lin Yu'an began the gas switching process.
He shut off the rarefied helium-oxygen mixture in his CCR for extremely deep depths and switched to the first backup cylinder, which contained a slightly richer decompression gas.
He carefully checked his oxygen partial pressure (PO02) to ensure it remained at a safe level of around 1.4.
180 meters, second stop.
When the dive computer indicated that they had reached a depth of 180 meters, Lin Yu'an shut off the thrusters. This was his second preset depth.
It is also a crucial decompression stop.
Duration of stay: 5 minutes.
This is the position where he executed the "phased deployment" tactic during his dive.
He risked his life and wasted precious time touching the bottom during his dive to do this, all for this very moment.
After a deep dive, when you're exhausted and carrying a heavy "package" on your return journey, you can regain complete safety here.
He temporarily secured the body bag containing Evelyn to the main guide rope with a short rope, and then methodically began to retrieve the "life supplies" he had left behind.
The first thing he retrieved were the two spare gas cylinders filled with shallow decompression gas.
At a depth of 180 meters underwater, any unnecessary movements will greatly increase breathing costs and physiological burden.
But he was like an astronaut working in a weightless environment, moving slowly but precisely and efficiently, without wasting a single moment.
He first checked the pressure gauges on the two gas cylinders to make sure they were intact before reattaching them to the D-rings on both sides of his body.
The crisp "click" of the metal buckle, in this absolute silence, was as reassuring as a war drum.
Then, he retrieved the toolbox and reattached it to the leg bag.
After doing all this, Lin Yu'an took a deep breath.
At this moment, his gas reserves had once again reached their maximum.
This is not just a few extra bottles of gas; it is the greatest source of confidence for the upcoming ten-hour decompression journey and the absolute capital to cope with any unexpected situation.
Foresight and strategic planning are always the most important survival rules for top explorers.
When the decompression time was over, he untied the short rope of the body bag, regained control of it, glanced at the endless darkness above, and restarted the thrusters.
He knew that at the end of that darkness, 150 meters away, a light was waiting for him.
160 meters, the final deep water zone.
Duration of stay: 8 minutes.
This was his last stop before reuniting with Raven.
He could feel the immense pressure slowly fading as the depth decreased.
However, the total amount of inert gases in the body has reached its peak, and the body is in its most saturated and vulnerable state.
He dared not be careless in the slightest, closely monitoring the "tissue saturation" chart on the diving computer, and used a flashlight to check the condition of the transport bag again to ensure that the exhaust valve was working properly.
After completing these three crucial deep stops, Lin Yu'an adjusted the thruster speed to the lowest setting and began the ascent to 15.
The final sprint at the 0-meter support station.
At a depth of 150 meters, Raven hovered in the darkness, like a lonely sentinel.
Time lost its meaning here; her world consisted only of the faint hissing sound of her CCR respirator cycling, like a countdown to her death.
And then there's the small patch of floating, suspended particles illuminated when the main light beam pierces the darkness.
She dared not look at the time on the underwater computer. Every time she did, it felt like a giant hand from the abyss was squeezing her heart.
How long has Lin Yu'an been down there? Thirty minutes? Or sixty minutes?
At this depth, every minute spent hitting the bottom means that the subsequent decompression time will increase exponentially.
Has he found Evelyn? Is he—still safe?
Countless questions churned in her mind, but she forced herself not to think about them. Panic was the most deadly enemy in this depth.
All she could do was check her remaining gas level, the pressure of the spare gas cylinder, and her physical condition over and over again.
Force yourself to maintain an absolutely calm state of mind, ready to fight at any moment.
She knew that Lin Yu'an had entrusted his back to her. She was his logistical fortress in this subterranean world.
Suddenly, at the end of her main beam of light, in that pure darkness, a faint, almost imperceptible disturbance seemed to appear.
It's not light, but a feeling.
Immediately afterwards, a faint, will-o'-the-wisp light slowly rose from the darkness below!
Raven felt her heart skip a beat and almost instinctively gripped the thruster handle.
The light grew closer and brighter. She recognized him—it was Lin Yu'an! Beside him was a huge orange package!
When Lin Yu'an's figure and that orange hue representing hope finally appeared within the range of her light, Raven's eyes instantly filled with tears.
But she didn't cry. She just blinked hard to force back the tears, then quickly composed herself and went to meet them.
She didn't say much, or even make any gesture other than "OK". She simply stepped forward and took the other handle of the body bag from Lin Yu'an.
Their eyes met, piercing through the mirror of their faces, and all their worries, joys, and weariness were conveyed in a single glance.
Silent companionship is worth more than a thousand words.
Meanwhile, 150 meters above them in the darkness, lies another dimension of loneliness.
Han did not stay at the 100-meter support platform.
After watching Lin Yu'an and Ruiwen disappear into the abyss 100 meters below, he did not wait there in vain.
That would greatly deplete his precious reserve gas and add unnecessary pressure to himself.
As a seasoned explorer, he executed the most efficient "dynamic support" tactic.
Alone, he slowly ascended, eventually hovering at a depth of 30 meters.
This is a perfect "standby point". The water pressure is relatively low, and the gas consumption rate is only a quarter of that at a depth of 100 meters.
At the same time, this area is completely outside the critical zone of nitrogen anesthesia, allowing him to maintain an absolutely clear mind.
He turned off all unnecessary lights on his body, leaving only a dim beacon light, and entered an energy-saving state similar to "hibernation".
My eyes were closed, but my brain was like a fine Swiss watch, calmly calculating the time.
According to the pre-set plan, Lin Yu-an and Rui-wen will separate at 100 meters, and Lin Yu-an is expected to return from 308 meters to 150 meters to meet up with Rui-wen.
Then the two of them ascend together to the 100-meter platform, and the whole process takes about an hour and a half.
His task was to conserve his energy and stamina as much as possible during that hour and a half.
Then, at the agreed time, they appeared precisely at the 100-meter rendezvous point.
Time passed by, second by second.
In Han's mind, Plan B and Plan C were repeatedly processed, like the most sophisticated computer.
He set a "trigger time" for himself.
If Lin Yu-an and Rui-wen have not appeared on the 100-meter platform by the last minute of the scheduled rendezvous time, he will not hesitate to activate the Level 1 emergency plan.
He would immediately take an emergency medical kit and a spare air cylinder and dive to the second support point at a depth of 150 meters to check on Raven's condition.
If Raven is safe, but Lin Yu-an has not returned, then the problem lies in the deepest area, 150 meters below.
If even Raven has disappeared, then a more complex disaster has likely occurred.
After confirming the situation, he will activate the Level 2 emergency response plan as needed—conducting a limited search in deeper areas while ensuring his own safety.
He knew that once the Level 2 contingency plan was activated, it would mean that this perfect expedition plan had completely failed, and the goal of the operation would change from "rescuing one person" to "rescuing three people".
He himself will transform from a supporter into a frontline fighter facing death head-on.
He closed his eyes, forcing himself to banish these worst possibilities from his mind.
As a safety officer, you must anticipate all tragedies, but before a tragedy occurs, you must have the greatest hope.
Han's heart was not without turmoil. He recalled the despair and grief he experienced three years ago when he led his team to salvage the bodies of his two dear friends who had perished in the disaster in the same waters.
He knew better than anyone what a forbidden zone was for the Nine-Bun Skylight below 150 meters!
Can that young man named Lin Yu'an really create a miracle? Or will he become just another soul lost in this abyss?
He dared not think about the worst possible outcome and could only force himself to believe in the inhuman miracles that the young man had performed in the pressurization chamber.
When 80 minutes had passed, Han suddenly opened his eyes.
Time is up.
Without the slightest hesitation, he immediately turned on his main light, checked his equipment, adjusted his posture, and began his second crucial dive along the guide rope.
His descent was incredibly fast, yet every movement was rhythmic, like a sailfish blending into the darkness.
When he reached the platform 100 meters deep again, he glanced at his dive computer and saw that there were less than fifteen minutes left until the scheduled rendezvous time.
He quickly checked the supply packs he had set up, took down two brand-new spare gas cylinders, and hung them in the most easily accessible position beside him.
Then adjust your neutral buoyancy so that you float quietly beside the guide rope like a satellite.
The beam of the headlamp was directed down into the endless darkness that swallowed both light and time.
He is now a beacon on Lin Yu'an and Ruiwen's path back to the human world.
At a depth of 100 meters, Lin Yu'an and Ruiwen were escorting Evelyn, completing yet another long decompression stop.
Raven glanced at her underwater computer; there were less than five minutes left until her scheduled rendezvous time with Han.
She shone the light into the deep darkness diagonally above, where there was nothing but endless silence.
Will Han show up on time?
Just as a moment of doubt flashed through her mind, a powerful beam of light shot down precisely from the darkness!
It enveloped them firmly! It was Han!
Han's figure stood there like a pillar of strength, already waiting.
His headlamp beam, like a lighthouse, guided the two returning from deeper within.
When Han saw the orange bag, this resolute man also sighed silently behind his mask.
Instead of immediately stepping forward, he first gave Lin Yu-an and Rui-wen an "OK" gesture to indicate their status.
Only after receiving affirmative replies from both of them did he swim over.
He didn't touch the body bag, but instead pointed to the spare gas cylinders on Lin Yu'an and Ruiwen, which had already used up some of their gas.
Then he pointed to the supply pack he had brought and made a "swap" gesture.
This means you have already used up a lot of gas. Please replace the gas cylinder with a new spare one to ensure a safe reserve.
Lin Yu-an and Rui-wen immediately did as Han instructed, and with Han's assistance, they replaced the gas cylinders with brand new ones full of spare gas.
After the gas exchange was completed, Han took over Raven's position.
With his greater experience, he helped Lin Yu'an more precisely control the buoyancy changes of the transport bag during decompression. He also took charge of handling all the technical minutiae.
Then he made a gesture, first pointing to his own mouth and making a chewing motion, then pointing to Lin Yu'an and Ruiwen, and then pointing to the time on the underwater computer.
This means you need to replenish your energy, so take advantage of this stress-relief time to eat.
Lin Yu'an and Ruiwen nodded. After undergoing extreme deep diving and several hours of immersion in low temperatures, their bodies were indeed beginning to warn them of energy depletion.
Raven pulled a high-energy gel, packaged like a toothpaste tube and treated with pressure resistance, from a special pocket in her leg bag.
Lin Yu'an also took out the same thing from his own equipment.
The two exchanged a glance, and then, as if following a standard procedure they had performed countless times, began this unique "underwater dinner."
They first moved closer to each other, and Lin Yu'an reached out and gently supported Raven's CCR respirator as a stable support.
Raven took a deep breath skillfully, then held it, temporarily removing the CCR mouthpiece from her mouth.
In absolute silence, she tore open the seal of the gel, quickly squeezed the thick, lemon-scented, sweet liquid into her mouth, and swallowed it forcefully.
Immediately, she put the mouthpiece back in her mouth and made two forceful drainage movements to ensure that her breathing loop was absolutely dry before resuming steady breathing.
The entire process was smooth and quick, taking no more than fifteen seconds.
After finishing, she gave Lin Yu'an an "OK" sign.
Next, it was Lin Yu'an's turn.
This time, it was Raven who reached out and gently supported his shoulder. Lin Yu'an also quickly completed the feeding and resuscitation process.
The high concentration of carbohydrates injected a precious warmth into their bodies, which had become sluggish from the cold and fatigue, dispelling some of the chill.
Han Ting watched this scene quietly from the side, his eyes filled with approval.
Temporarily abandoning life support systems to eat in 100-meter-deep water is an extremely risky operation.
Any panic or choking could lead to disastrous consequences.
But the two young men in front of me cooperated so well that it was as if one person was using two hands, and every movement was filled with absolute trust in each other.
After replenishing their energy, Raven and Lin Yu'an closed their eyes, seizing this precious time to de-stress.
Force your body into a semi-dormant state to maximize energy recovery and prepare for the longer ascent ahead.
After a short rest, their ascent was no longer continuous, but became a series of "stop-and-go" stair-step journeys.
At 75 meters, they conducted their first formal decompression gas switch.
Following the prompts from the dive computer, Lin Yu-an and Rui-wen switched from CCR breathing to a side-mounted spare air tank.
It contains a helium-nitrogen-oxygen mixture with a slightly higher oxygen content (around 35%). This can more efficiently "flush out" the dissolved helium in the body.
At 50 meters, they switched to a high-oxygen gas with an oxygen content as high as 50%.
Each stop lasts between ten and twenty minutes.
In this dark and cold underwater world, time becomes incredibly tangible.
All they can do is hover, wait, and constantly monitor their physical condition.
Exhaustion and cold, like invisible demons, are constantly eroding their will.
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