Stealth Journeys with the Steam Mapper

Chapter 71: The Revelations of MYKA

Meeting a Cousteau was a great opportunity to learn so much more about the Cousteau Foundation.  But, in hindsight, becoming friends with MYKA  was the best thing to have happened to Stef on this trip.  MYKA's anonymity meant that the two junior scientists could have long conversations without interruptions by others wanting to bend the ear of a Cousteau.

Soon after getting acquainted, Stef was sworn to secrecy about a Cousteau cousin being part of the scientific team.   Afterwards, MYKA with some reluctance shared some family stories.  Stef was intrigued to learn some modest details of the family's many inventions and projects. 

The excitement of hearing firsthand about the submersible the Zodiac, zooming about undersea like a flying saucer fueled StLF's imagination.  Hearing about Fabien and Celine Cousteau and their two-seater sting-ray going 300 feet deep and supplementing their investigation with a tethered ROV sounded vaguely familiar.  (Later, Stef realized that it was a Science Channel episode of Mysteries of the Deep, watched before with Dad.)  Being patient, a good listener, and a well-informed conversationalist, StLF  thought "I'm just the kind of companion MYKA needs."

MYKA had revealed some more of the personal side of the family tree.   Great Uncle Philippe Cousteau had died in a freak accident long before MYKA was born, way back in 1979.  He was testing a repair made on a PBY Catalina Seaplane which was named the "Flying Calypso".  He had acquired it way back in 1974, and had a huge amount of experience in flying it, as well as other flying machines: helicopters, gyro copters, planes, etc.  The accident happened near Lisbon, Portugal, during a high speed taxi run.  The plane nosed over, a propeller detached from the engine, and Philippe was killed instantly.  He was survived by his former model wife, who went by "Jan", and their child, with another on the way.   Philippe Cousteau, Jr. was born six months after his father died.   So tragic, Great Uncle Philippe was only 38 years old.  He had already shared so much with his family in their oceanic expeditions, having learned to SCUBA when he was a young boy, and had the same sense of adventure as his father.

It was fitting that Philippe Cousteau who died at age 38 in 1979, was given what today is called an "eco burial" and was submerged in a fitting burial at sea off of the coast of Portugal.

Today, it is a preferred way to honor the wishes of the deceased environmentalists.  Burial at sea, or burial without embalming preservatives, other chemicals, cosmetics, jewelry, dentures, prostheses or other hard to decompose materials.   A simple biodegradable casket holding a body wrapped in natural fibers.

Surprisingly, cremation is not considered eco-friendly because of the energy used in reducing bodies to ash and the release of carbons in the process.   It is a common choice because the grave site is so much smaller, or ashes can be distributed as desired.  Some choices even involve creating memory balls containing the ashes of a loved one being used to develop an artificial reef.  Some see it as a compromise of trying to do something memorable and good, without burying bodies loaded with embalming fluid into traditional grave sites.

The irony is that one of the greatest environmentalists of all times, Jacques Cousteau, who died of a heart attack in 1997, is buried in a cemetery in Aquitaine, France, and did not have the choice of an eco-burial.   His importance to the citizens of France and to all of the world, meant a fitting memorial for all to reflect upon.

Philippe's young death was mourned by many including his wife, Jan and their two children, Alexandra and Philippe. His son, Philippe Cousteau, Jr. and his journalist wife Ashlan have along with Alexandra continued to advance the environmental causes of Jacques Cousteau's foundations, have co-founded Eco Earth.

MYKA  alluded to StLF, that as a descendant of Jacques and Simone Cousteau's elder son, Jean- Michel, who had both a daughter and a son, was the offspring of the  daughter Celine, who graduated from college and had a secret marriage when very young.   Her younger brother, Uncle Fabien is best known for his film productions on understanding sharks.  MYKA had never opened up with so much information on any previous chats and rushed to get it out, almost as though it had been recently committed to memory.  And no questions were answered whenever there was a chance to get one in edgewise.  MYKA was totally in control.   This meant that Stef often had confusion in following MYKA's offhand comments.  Throwing out words like unexpected and love child, when StLF zeroed in on wanting to know about Celine, and then clamming up when pressed for details.  Something sounded fishy.

MYKA  did meet Great-grandfather Jacques on multiple occasions, but it all happened when just a baby and preschooler, so there is not much firsthand memory.  Unfortunately, Great-grandmother Simone died in 1990, and Jacques lost his star, his guiding light, and MYKA has only really known his step-great grandmother, Francine Triplet.

Francine was a longtime friend of Jacques.  For him to remarry was absolutely the right thing. Her two children with Jacques are actually close in age to MYKA and yet they are Aunt Diane and Uncle Pierre-Yves!   That Jacques found love and a second marriage so late in life only reiterates his zest for life.  Great-grandfather Jacques said his last two children were "his secret to eternal youth".   Although, the immortal Jacques Cousteau died in 1997, while raising money for a second Calypso, (the original R/V sank in Singapore Harbor, supposedly safely moored) and continuing his appearances and memoirs and robust swimming, his Cousteau clan has not stopped with their Ocean Futures Society and other environmental endeavors.

MYKA promised to tell  more about the Cousteau adventures of near destruction of the Calypso, and close calls with death, and amazing discoveries, in the near future, and reminded StLF  that many books had been published, but the best would be Jacques Cousteau's own words in "The Human, the Orchid, and the Octopus: Exploring and Conserving Our Natural World", an amazing title for an amazing book.

StLF listened intently as MYKA continued talking about the desire to learn more about dangerous sea creatures.   "One of my marine biology classes had a professor give an assignment to write a paper for a big part of our grade.  He said to have fun with it and choose a topic on something we really wanted to know about in depth.   I chose to write a paper I called 'Sea Devils of the Deep'.  I liked the 'Dr. Who' series about Sea Devils.   I caught that show in reruns.  I think it first aired in 1972.  Anyway, my paper was "in depth", including many species capable of living in the ocean depths.   I wrote all about Orcas and Great White Sharks, and how they battle for the same food.  Orcas win, of course- (bigger, faster, smarter).   And, I also covered some of the more interesting types of octopuses, and squid- (there's over 300 subspecies of squid).  Needless to say, my favorites were the Vampire Squid, Japanese Flying Squid, Humboldt Squid, Giant Squid, and Colossal Squid."

MYKA  suddenly grew quiet.  Then, finally spoke slowly.  "I just had a thought.  That professor was one of my three scientists to provide letters of recommendation for this expedition.   I wonder if he brought up my paper in the letter he sent in to this foundation, or mentioned it in the follow up interview.  Truthfully, I've been assuming that what was the deciding factor was the letter from my Cousteau marine biologist uncle who wrote on my behalf.  By the way, please don't share that with anyone else.  Because my last name isn't Cousteau, I don't think anyone knows that I'm related.   I don't want them to think I was chosen because of my connections to someone famous."

StLF laughed. "I guess we have something in common.  We thought we got the two junior assistant spots because we had top of their field experts vouching for us, and worried others would find out and think less of us.   Instead, maybe you are here because of your "in-depth" studies of certain elusive species, and I'm here because I have been trained using the MAPR and studying the more elusive hydrothermal vents.   I'll teach you what I know about hydrothermal vents, if you'll give me a thorough lesson on what you know about Orcas, Great Whites, and Giant and Colossal Squid, and, of course, a history on Kraken sightings.   We'll be prepared for whatever lies ahead."

The next few evenings would be spent using laptops to share their knowledge with one another. MYKA learned more about hydrothermal vents and types of MAPR devices and their importance in locating needed resources for many fields of technology.   It was more information than anyone could imagine existed, very technical and somewhat boring to learn from a laptop.    Hands on would be much more interesting to MYKA.