One Saturday morning, Dad shook Kyri awake with a big grin on his face. “Come on, Kyri—get dressed. We’re going on an adventure!”
“What kind of adventure?” Kyri asked, rubbing his eyes.
Dad held up a piece of paper with a scribbled drawing on it. “We’re going to find The Lost Submarine.”
Kyri’s eyes widened. “A real submarine?”
“Not just any submarine,” Dad said mysteriously. “It’s an old explorer’s submarine, lost deep in Lake Hollow, and we’re going to be the first ones to find it.”
Kyri jumped out of bed, pulling on his boots. “Let’s go!”
The Journey to Lake Hollow
They packed supplies: sandwiches, torches, a compass, and Kyri’s waterproof notebook (for drawing important discoveries). Dad loaded everything into the car and gave Kyri a wink.
“Lake Hollow is tricky,” Dad said. “It’s deep, dark, and full of secrets. Did you know the deepest lake on Earth is over 1,600 metres deep? That’s taller than a skyscraper!”
Kyri scribbled that fact in his notebook. “Is Lake Hollow that deep?”
“Not quite,” Dad said, steering the car. “But deep enough to hide a submarine.”
The Strange Boat
When they reached the lake, the water was still and glassy, surrounded by thick trees. A thin mist clung to the surface, making it look mysterious and a little eerie.
On the shore, tied to an old wooden dock, was a very strange boat. It wasn’t an ordinary rowboat—it had metal sides, a big hatch on top, and a long periscope sticking up like a giraffe’s neck.
“It’s a mini-submarine!” Kyri gasped.
“Built for explorers like us,” Dad said proudly. “Shall we see if it works?”
Kyri climbed inside, his heart pounding with excitement. The little submarine had seats, levers, buttons, and even a control panel with blinking lights. It smelled a bit like wet socks, but Kyri didn’t care.
“Prepare for launch!” Dad said, flipping a big lever.
With a creak and a splutter, the mini-sub shuddered, then slowly slipped into the water.
“We’re diving!” Kyri shouted, gripping the controls.
Beneath the Surface
The water outside the submarine’s window grew darker and greener as they sank deeper into the lake. Sunlight filtered through in patches, and tiny fish swam past, staring at them with wide eyes.
“Did you know,” Kyri said, peering through the glass, “that the pressure underwater gets stronger the deeper you go? That’s why submarines need strong walls.”
“Exactly right, Captain Kyri,” Dad said, steering the sub forward.
Suddenly, something huge loomed out of the murky water. Kyri’s heart raced. “What’s that?”
“It’s the old underwater forest,” Dad explained. “These trees used to stand tall before the lake flooded, and now they’re frozen in time.”
They glided past the ghostly tree trunks, their branches reaching upward like hands. The deeper they went, the quieter it became—just the soft hum of the submarine and the occasional creak of water pressing against the hull.
The Lost Submarine
After what felt like hours, Kyri spotted something in the distance. “Dad! Over there!”
Through the gloom, the shape of a giant metal submarine appeared on the lakebed, half-buried in silt. Its surface was rusty, and its periscope was cracked, but the submarine was still magnificent.
“We found it!” Kyri whispered, pressing his face against the window.
Dad carefully steered the sub closer. “This is incredible. It’s like a time capsule down here.”
Kyri grabbed his notebook and started sketching. “Did you know submarines can stay underwater for months without coming up? They use special systems to recycle air and water.”
Dad nodded. “And this one was probably used for science—mapping the lake, discovering new fish.”
The Danger Below
As they circled the submarine, the little sub jolted suddenly—clunk!
“What was that?” Kyri said, eyes wide.
Dad frowned and checked the controls. “We’re caught on something.”
Outside, Kyri spotted a thick, black vine wrapped around the mini-sub’s propeller.
“It’s the underwater forest,” Dad said. “The vines are holding us here.”
Kyri’s heart thudded. “How do we get out?”
“Don’t worry,” Dad said calmly. “I brought tools.”
He opened a small panel and handed Kyri a remote-control claw attached to the sub. “You’re my co-pilot, Kyri. Think you can untangle us?”
Kyri grinned nervously. “I’ll try!”
Co-Pilot Kyri to the Rescue
Kyri used the joystick to steer the claw arm, guiding it carefully toward the tangled vine. “Easy… easy…”
The claw gripped the vine, and with a tug, it snapped free. The mini-sub shuddered as it floated upward.
“We’re free!” Kyri shouted.
Dad laughed. “You did it, Captain Kyri! That was top-level piloting.”
As they rose toward the surface, Kyri looked back at the lost submarine, sitting quietly on the lakebed. “It’s like it’s waiting for someone else to find it.”
Dad nodded. “Maybe one day, you’ll come back with a real submarine of your own.”
Back to Shore
When they surfaced, the sun was starting to set, turning the lake golden. They climbed out of the submarine, soggy but triumphant.
“I can’t believe we found a submarine,” Kyri said, scribbling notes in his book. “And I got to save us from the vines!”
“You were brilliant,” Dad said, ruffling Kyri’s hair. “Maybe you’ll be an explorer and a scientist.”
Kyri grinned. “I’ll be both.”
That night, as they drove home, Kyri stared out the window at the stars. The lake still held its secrets, but they’d found one of them. And tomorrow, he’d have another adventure to add to his notebook.