A summary of Ivan Okhlobystin’s "The Mystery of Two Oceans"

Ivan Okhlobystin’s "The Secret of Two Oceans" is a satirical work that reimagines the classic plot of the novel of the same name. The text was written in the first decade of the twenty-first century. The book’s most important feature is its blend of spy thriller elements, science fiction, and grotesque humor, placing familiar characters in an absurd modern reality.

Secret negotiations and strange happenings

In the deep darkness of the night, a secret meeting takes place. The room is located on the fortieth floor of a high-rise building, where a holographic plastic card lies on a table. A bright neon cone of light falls on the center of the Atlantic Ocean. Two men discuss a secret operation. One is a Yakut programmer named Matvey Petrovich Ivashev. The other, a man named Krok, is distinguished by his exceptionally tall stature and broad bones.

The two argue over the coordinates of the Sargasso Station. Ivashev demands constant reports from Kroc. Kroc is obligated to provide the coordinates of the ship’s long stops along the entire route. In exchange, the programmer promises to ensure Anna Nikolaevna’s safety. The girl is suffering from a serious illness. Ivashev claims she is already free, as the best doctors on the ship "ECIT" are caring for her health.

Krok expresses dissatisfaction with the new terms, as the original plan was to transmit the coordinates of only the first station. Ivashev reassures his partner. A helicopter from the ship "Jidai" will pick Krok up before the ship arrives at its final destination. Krok’s call sign is "INA 2." The evacuation date is set for August 23rd. Ivashev gives the yakuza his word to back up his guarantee, and Krok plans to buy an island and write a novel.

Lieutenant Sergeyev and Maksimov inspect the crime scene. Maeda’s apartment window is wide open, and the exterior cornice shows no scratches or marks. The enormous man has vanished without a trace. The lieutenant tries to pocket the packet of tobacco. Suddenly, a swift attack occurs. Maeda, the Japanese man, lunges at the lieutenant with a laser cutter. A brief struggle ensues. Two bodies fall to the floor, and the fallen laser tool clanks. The operatives quickly restrain the attacker’s hands. The captain is carried to the sofa, as the Japanese man is in a deep swoon.

Meanwhile, unusual events are unfolding below. A pensioner named Markin is walking his pug. A stranger in a long leather coat emerges from the flowerbed. He’s eating a candy bar and holding an oblong device. The stranger introduces himself as a scientist, claiming to be writing a dissertation on radioactive contamination levels. Markin shows genuine interest in the device and exclaims, "How interesting!"

A blue spark flashes, and the device reveals itself to be a powerful stun gun. Markin falls to the ground unconscious, and the young man uses the device on the dog. Later, investigators bring evidence to the apartment. They found a portable Grig-14 parachute hanging from the branches of a tree. The parachute has a titanium frame and a plastic belt. A candy wrapper from a "Golden Key" candy is found in the pug’s anus. The lieutenant concludes that the enemy poses a high threat.

The wreck of the Diogenes and the emergence of the Pioneer

The ocean is raging after a violent hurricane. Industrialist Andrei Buynyak is aboard the ship "Diogenes." He’s packing his credit cards in a crocodile-skin wallet. The father promises his son, Pavlik, a quick return to the villa. At that moment, a huge iceberg emerges from the predawn darkness. A gigantic, cold wave crashes onto the ship, and it instantly sinks. Only colorful plastic cards remain floating on the surface of the water.

The submarine Pioneer surfaces near the crash site. The sub is shaped like a blue-green mound of corrugated metal. Three people stand on a fenced-in area. A tall captain in a white uniform scans the horizon through binoculars. He reports the absence of survivors: "Apparently, the boy really is dead." A stocky man with a magnificent black beard asks the captain to continue the search.

Ice Mountains and the Secrets of the Crew

Rescued Pavlik is getting used to the submarine. The boy is talking with zoologist Arsen Davidovich. The underwater parts of icebergs appear on the screens, and the scientist explains the physics of ice. Sunlight destroys the above-water portions. The underwater portions are much better preserved. Icebergs are submerged to a depth of three hundred meters. The total height of an ice mountain can reach seven hundred meters.

Pavlik is genuinely amazed by such dimensions. He recalls his training as a broker. A zoologist explains the origins of freshwater ice. Continental ice covers Greenland in abundance. Over centuries, the snow is compressed under its own weight. Glacial tongues slowly slide into deep water. Waves break off chunks of ice, forming floating ice mountains.

The captain retreats to his cabin and turns on the computer. A classified file on engineer Gorelov appears on the screen. This man frequently visited Tokyo and Nagasaki, where he met the Abrosimov family. Gorelov’s daughter, Anna, is engaged to be married. The girl is gravely ill with a rare blood disorder. Gorelov lived lavishly, and the sources of his income raise serious questions. Rumors circulate about the engineer’s gambling. No secret connections with Anna’s father have been discovered. The captain turns off the computer and walks thoughtfully around the cabin. The engineer’s behavior requires a detailed investigation.

Giant Serpent Attack

The zoologist invites Gorelov to go overboard. The engineer happily agrees. The submarine hovers at a depth of three thousand meters. Seven men gather in the exit chamber and don diving suits. Two security officers suddenly appear. The commissioner immediately requests duty diver Krutitsky to inspect the diving equipment depot.

The zoologist descends to the very bottom. A huge shadow looms over the scientist. The monster throws Bagrova back with a powerful blow of its gigantic tail. Later, the woman awakens in the submarine’s hospital. She falls into despair and screams about Lord’s abduction. Gorelov dismisses her visions as mere delusions. Scientist Akhmed confirms the attack. An unidentified object completely damaged hydrophysical station number three. Instruments were torn from their buoys at a depth of three hundred meters. The monster was moving from north to south at incredible speed.

Gorelov attempts to abandon the submarine. He requests permission to clear the two left-hand nozzles. The engineer cites clogged mechanisms. The captain quickly recognizes this lie. The power loss is only eight percent. The commander forbids Gorelov from leaving the submarine. He orders an immediate pursuit of the monster. The scientists leave their instruments unattended.

Zoologist Lord contacts the creature via radio. He is alive and held captive by the creature. An unknown force has entwined his body with a thick rope. The rings are thirty centimeters in diameter. His spacesuit reliably protects him from the colossal pressure, and Lord feels no pain at all. He is intensely curious. He studies the enormous bony plates on the creature’s body. Pyramidal tubercles lie tile-like and move freely on top of one another. A thick layer of phosphorescent mucus thickly coats the scales. Lord holds the compass to his eyes and tells the captain his north-north-east heading. The monster’s speed rapidly increases. The captain prepares to steer the boat on the giant serpent’s trail.