“This is the junior cadets diving exploration club of the Armitage Luiop maritime school . I’m Mrs Spaldings and we are at the the moment exploring the Great barrier reef.” Mrs Spaldings was a woman of tall stature and orderly position. Her hair was curled immaculately but tightly. Her military posture and uniform. Cassandra craned her neck to see a thriving reef outside the school’s sub window. “In a moment we are going to go diving outside. Does anyone know anything about the Great barrier reef.” Mrs Spaldings endless queries and explanations faded into the background. Cassandra frowned and stared taking notes. Her mind became a rushing river. Everyone was nervous and the atmosphere was just like a volcano minutes before it erupts. Cassandra was loud and proud. Her eyes were stormy grey. A mop of brown hair obscured an eye.

This silly mess was started in her dormitories in the motherShip. The motherShip was basically the main education submarine it was home to the notorious principal W-ing. W-ing was a mysterious figure but his or her mind was as sharp as a knife. Somehow his or her whirlwind success in electronics had made this W-ing character hundreds of billions.With this money W-ing founded the most prominent Maritime school that was actually underwater. At least that what the school website said when you clicked on SCHOOL STORY. A huge notice had been on the front cover of the schools “Morning Oceans journal.” The poster promoted the Junior cadets diving club in eye-catching letters. “Junior cadets explorer club. Exploration badge to anyone who joins. Meet the kind and caring Mrs Spaldings.” In reality, Mrs Spaldings was military and strict. On the tiny edge of the poster a small cluster of words read: cancellation is only allowed if students participated for four months.

“Suit up kids.” The great scrambling was deafening. The view of the reef was awe-inspiring. Schools of fish swarmed intricately like the dance of the ocean. Algae thrived on rocks. Sea turtles swam lazily by.

The junior exploration club continued on for more months. In June they visited Ningaloo reef, swimming alongside tranquil whale sharks. In August they snorkelled in the perfect water of Vanuatu.

Until one day, whispers of a new visitor swept around the school. “I’ve heard that the person has ten suitcases that they wheel around on a elephant.” exclaimed a red-headed girl. Cassandras sister lowered her voice conspiratorially “Cassandra, your about to be teached by that visitor, Mrs De Longi the deputy said would come today. Whoever he or she is you must be careful. This person is dangerous. My friends said that the visitor was held in a maximum security prison before W-ing released the person. At lunchtime, a small crowd had gathered around the moonpool. The moon pool was normally a pool for the students.But it was occasionally used for submarine entry in “the Aurelia”. Small ripples had startled everyone. The ripples were getting bigger and bigger. Splashes echoed around the moonpool. “WHOOSH!” A small submarine burst out of the pool. Elegant steps grew out from the moonpool to the futuristic door of the small submarine. Murmurs grew louder. Suddenly the pressure lock deactivated with a loud sigh. A victorian man with a well groomed curly moustache stepped out. He wore a army green explorers suit holding the army green hat. “So this is W-ings place.”

At the junior cadets explorer club Mrs Spaldings was replaced by the visitor. “I’m Mr Albron.” He stroked the curly end of moustache. “This is the list of reefs still to be visited by the club.” “But we are.”Mr Albron tore the list in half. “NOT” he tore it into quarters. “ “Going into the ocean.” Mr Albron tore it into eighths and sprinkled the pieces like fairy dust. Cruising through Amazon river, they saw electric eels. “We are going to spend two weeks with selected partners.” Mr Albron touched the dreaded online partner-picker button. Each pair had a buggy with their survival packs in the boot.She was paired with a girl whos hand shot up like a rocket whenever a teacher asks a question “W-ing’s not going to be happy.”

“Now chop chop. We have the get through a least ¾ of the forest. Set up camp kids. “
The hammering and the feverish assembly of the tent was directed by Mr Albron.
He sat in a wing armchair having tea and scones while playing a pre-recorded tape of the instructions on a old-fashioned gramophone.

That night Cassandra slept soundly and had cooking duty next day. Through some herbs in a stirring a soup the smell spread around the forest. The clatter of knifes and forks over the picnic table echoed. “Back in the victorian times when my great-grandfather lived they thought South America was a land of myth. Anyway I saw this on the chip and dislodged it.” “Ummm Sir thats a memory chip that is crucial with the navigation. How are we going to get back.” The best navigator in the class fainted.”HOW ARE WE GONNA GET BACK!!!!” someone howled. But Mr Albrons expression was indifferent. “We’re stuck halfway across the world in a hostile rainforest the that-could-99%-kill-us kind.” Cassandra yelled.Her voice echoed around the forest and sent some birds flying. Cassandra hated the people who stood back and just let it go a way.