The Long Tether

The open stern deck of a survey vessel on Lake Ontario on a cold October afternoon, low sun over grey-green water, a box-shaped underwater vehicle two metres long on two skid runners hanging from a crane cable over the side, seen from behind and to one side, two light-grey riveted aluminium hoods on top, below them an open frame full of black and red cables, a silver propeller in a round duct at the side, a black lamp on a short arm at the front, a thick black tether running back to a large drum on deck, two hands in orange rubber gloves guiding the tether, every surface plain and unmarked.