40 degrees North, 180 degrees West, North Pacific. 5,500 meters deep. The Hughes Glomar Explorer, carrying what remains of the front end of the Soviet K-129, finishes scanning the surface to ensure there are no floating objects that might reveal the nature of the cargo: the Soviet tugboat SB-10 is still a few hundred meters away. At a certain point, the SB-10 turns toward the Kamchatka, the entire crew gathers at the stern, and the sailors lower their pants to expose their pale buttocks to the American sailors. Some American sailors on the bridge do the same, amid roars of laughter. Then the SB-10 departs for Russia. At 9:20 PM that same day, the Clementine arrives aboard the Hughes Glomar, with its precious cargo, albeit partial.
