Konopo spoke in a serious tone. “This island is inhabited. We stand in a hallowed place. We should not linger here.”
Waylin said, “I think this island
was
inhabited but is now forgotten.”
“No,” the Carib seaman replied. “These are not ruins.”
“Konopo is right,” added Bart. “Look around, Waylin. If the island were abandoned, this courtyard would be a mess. The sand would surely be windswept and the pools would be sullied. Those thrones are un-weathered and the sculptures are pristine. This place has been maintained.”
“I see no footprints from the caretakers,” added Waylin. “No signs indicating man’s inhabitance.”
Owen chimed in, “That’s because men do not live here and the caretakers do not have feet.”
I motioned for Owen to be silent, then addressed the crew.
“I agree with Konopo. This place is not abandoned. They must be a seafaring people. How else could they settle an island? They may return. We should make for the sloop and inform the others. Leave the jewels and gold where they are. We take only the necklace.”
~~~~~~
I spoke to Grant in the privacy of our quarters. We sat at a short wooden table with a bottle of ale opened in front of us. “Here, look at this.” I pulled the ruby clamshell from my shirt, took it off my neck, and handed it to him. “Owen found this in the sand. There is a word on the back.”
He turned it around. “Cora must be the woman who owns this. So, what’s the next part of our plan?”
“I was hoping you might have an idea or two.”
“We need to fix the bow. We’ll tear apart these quarters and use the wood from the raised quarterdeck. There’s enough wood here to get the ship seaworthy, at least enough to get us to the mainland.”
“From the island, I saw the extent of the damage. It’s much worse than you think.”
Grant drank from the bottle of ale. “In the morning, we’ll send down our most skilled swimmers for a thorough examination of the bow and keel.”
~~~~~~
Two of our men, Miley and Smirks, offered to dive under the ship. They tied ropes around their waists and entrusted the opposite ends to our mighty friend, Hammock. He stood near the rails, ready to haul them in if they tugged the line.
Not long after the two entered the water, Hammock’s line pulled. Hand over hand, Hammock lifted the divers from the ocean. The men pulled themselves aboard.
“What’s wrong, mates?” asked Hammock.
“We saw something down there.” Smirks wiped the saltwater from his eyes with trembling hands. He stared at the lapping ocean. “It was a monster of some sort.”
Miley said, “It looked like a dolphin but with a man’s face. It had long hair and a beard that looked like seaweed. It came for us fast and when it got close, two enormous arms came out from its sides. Thank God you pulled us up, or we’d surely be dead.”
“Did you get a look at the bow as instructed?” asked Grant.
“Yes. I can make a drawing in a few minutes.”
Grant dismissed the crewmates. He and I stood near the bow, looking over the edge and into the choppy waves. “What do you think?” I asked him.
“The crew is tired. The last several days have not been easy. Hard times such as this affect people in different ways. The most important issue at hand is the bow and how we will repair it. Let’s concentrate on fixing this ship and setting sail.”
The sun and moon wheeled overhead, and it felt as though the days were getting longer. We were running out of water and bottled ale. Hunger gripped the crew. I wished for rain, but the sky remained cloudless. In the nights, no one told stories or played games. The men struggled to sleep with groaning bellies. Repairs on the ship had stopped. Without wood or the means to dry dock, the bow could not be fixed.
On the morning of the tenth day, Grant and I discussed plans for another expedition to the island. This time, we intended to barrel and bottle fresh water from the stream we had found. The watchmen’s bell sounded, and we hurried to the man positioned at the stern.
“What is it?” asked Grant.
“Look yonder,” said the watchman. He pointed to the sea and handed Grant a long telescope. “There is a large family of dolphins coming this way. I have never seen so many.”
Grant put the scope to his eye and looked out. “There are nearly fifty dolphins heading in our direction. That’s quite the sight.” He handed me the telescope.
The dolphins crested from the water and fluttered above the waves like gray feathers tumbling in the wind. As they drew near, we could hear the cackling laughter that pierced the air.
Destiny’s
crew heard the approaching commotion and gathered around the edge of the ship.
Owen danced like a madman. “They’re here,” he cried. “They’ve come back at last! Now you’ll see. The keepers of the isle, the Merfolk have come!”
The dolphins raced by the sloop, missing the hull by mere inches and swerving around the stone pillars. The ocean whirled as their powerful fins fanned the water. They leapt from the waves as if to show off, and we felt the cool spray hit our faces. The dolphins paid us little mind. They tore through the sea effortlessly, their bottlenoses parting the water better than the bow of any ship. It wasn’t long before the last dolphin swam by. Soon, the commotion was over and the sea returned to it normal cadence. The dolphins were gone, undoubtedly swimming within the warm shallows of the blue crystalline island. Owen’s shouts and ridiculous dancing soon got everyone’s attention.
“In case you didn’t notice,” said Waylin, “those were dolphins. Not mermaids.”
“For the last time, they are called Mermaid
ens.
And anyone could plainly see those be dolphins.”
Waylin kept on, “Then why do you now sing that the Merfolk have arrived?”
“Are you that blind? You call yourself a man of the sea?” challenged Owen.
“Jacob,” yelled Waylin, “you talk to him. You seem to understand this lunatic better than all of us. I’m ready to maroon him!”
Grant and I motioned for Owen to follow us to our office.
“Explain your outburst about the Merfolk,” ordered Grant.
“The dolphins serve two primary purposes for the Mer,” he said. “They are cover.”
“What do you mean?” I asked.
“Just as zebra group together to appear as one. Just as the cunning tiger lays within grass the same color as her face, the Mer travel with the dolphins. That way, they are safe. Did you see the beautiful Mermaiden as she passed?”
“No,” I replied.
“Ahoy! Then it worked. Didn’t it? Ha!”
“What is the other purpose?” asked Grant.
“Dolphins are fierce warriors. If one dolphin can kill a shark, imagine what a group can defeat. The dolphin is sacred to the Mer. They value them as much as they value their own kin.”
“Can the Merfolk talk to dolphins?” asked Grant.
“Of course they can, like you can talk to a dog. It doesn’t mean the dolphins truly understand them. They may obey simple commands like a dog, but that is all.”
“Owen,” I started, “in the strange courtyard there were sculptures—a dolphin, a shark, and a sea turtle. What does this mean? Are these animals special to them also?”
“The dolphin represents family and wisdom. The shark is for strength and pride. The sea turtle is the totem for balance and peace. These six virtues are the core of their culture.”
I thought on this for a moment. I recalled the center pool. There were six thrones in the water. Six places for six people… one for each virtue. Owen’s claims were holding true.
“Lord Sydin and his tribe of five are the keepers of Cerulean Isle,” said Owen. “There are many Mer who dwell in these waters, but the six of them are the leaders. These things I know from my journeys. The Dariens alone told me a great deal about the ways of the Mer. More than I could ever write in that old journal.”
~~~~~~
The rest of the day was uneventful. As the sun fell away, I sat alone on the bow near the great cerulean rock that clutched
Destiny.
I held my fancy broadsword and thumbed the blade. The golden Mermaiden on the hilt stared at me, and the tight leather wrapping on the handle was still soft and clean. The mirror-finished blade reflected the colorful western sky. I saw blues, pinks, and shades of orange flash from the sword. I forced away my sadness. What was it my mother promised long ago on her deathbed? I recalled holding her frail hand. I heard her in my mind.
You will have my love so that you may overcome even the hardest of times. I promise to protect you from harm and Death itself.
I sheathed the Mersword and wrung the rails of the broken bow in my hands. I looked out to the darkening sky; the mysterious island turned to a shimmering shadow in the distance. I spoke to the black waves. “You promised to protect me, Mother. Where are you now? My crew is weak and each day death draws nearer. We will die. Can you hear me out there? Help us…please help.” I fell to my knees and leaned against the rails. There, alone at the bow, I fell asleep.
~~~~~~
I woke to loud cheers and laughter. I wiped the sleep from my eyes and saw one of the crewmates stuff a large chunk of smoked meat in his mouth.
Where did he get it?
I soon noticed strange wooden crates piled about the deck. The men hauled more of them from the sea.
“Where did these provisions come from? Did a ship come?” “We don’t know,” said Grant. “This morning, at first light, the watchmen noticed dozens of crates floating around our ship.”
“And they heard and saw nothing during the night?”
“Nothing, but we can trouble ourselves over it later. Come, eat. You must regain your strength. Waylin is controlling the distribution and noting everything. Konopo and Bart are inspecting the food, water, and wine before anyone consumes it.”
~~~~~~
The food was as fresh as if packed only hours ago. The water was crisp and cold. I enjoyed several cuts of smoked fish and savored the sharp cheese and earthy nuts. The ship’s cook had taken a bundle of potatoes and prepared a spicy stew. I drank two bowls and took some wine. When all had bested their hunger, I ordered the men to rest under the shade of the sails. Slowly, morale returned as vigor was restored. As the evening fell around us, Bart led a team in stacking and labeling the containers.
The canopy of stars took light above our wrecked ship, and the men talked long and loud through the night. I joined them in card games and listened to Owen tell one of his adventure stories. Grant practiced a few rounds of swordplay with his good arm and we cheered when Konopo bested him. Eventually, the crew gave in to the pull of sleep. I walked about the deck, careful not to disturb anyone, and found myself at the broken bow.
The moon was full and high. Its silver light made the distant island quiver and shine. The starlight gleamed from the tips of the colorless waves. A breeze stirred the waves, and I thought of my mother. A dark cloud moved over the moon.
“Thank you for your help,” I said to the endless sea. Two pale lights glowed in the blackness near the hull. I focused my eyes and looked through the rippling waves. The lights were like two little stars, and as I stared in disbelief the stars came up to the surface and faded away, like candle flames suddenly extinguished. The moonlight returned and in its luminance, I saw a face in the water, a woman’s face looking at me.
I gasped and fell away from the edge, tripping and landing on my backside. There was a splash from below the bow, then silence. I shook my head, took a breath, and forced myself back to the rails. With a pounding heart, I looked into the water. The woman was gone.
Too much wine, Jacob,
I thought.
My eyes lifted to the island. I saw her again, fifty feet from the ship, a shimmering wet silhouette against the moonlight. Her hair was long and clung to her face and shoulders. She drifted effortlessly in the sea and remained out there, staring at me with an expression of wonder. I raised my hand and reached for her. In one graceful movement, she slipped soundlessly into the water. What I saw next, I’ll never forget. A majestic fin emerged from where she had been. It crested high above the waterline and opened in the moonlight. Seawater rained as it fanned to reflect the light of the stars. Even in the night, I could see its dazzling lavender hue. The fin fluttered and sank into the ocean.
Grant, asleep in a hammock, smelled of rum.
“I saw her! The Mermaiden from the tapestry is out there, and we must go to her.”
Grant stared at me, and then rolled out of the hammock, still careful of his broken arm. “Let’s get a rowboat ready, but you’ll have to do all the rowing.”
We informed the night watchmen of our departure, telling them we wanted to fish the surrounding waters and that we would return late in the morning. We lowered a lifeboat as quietly as possible. I thought about waking Owen, but he was too unpredictable, and an expedition such as this was no place for a mad old pirate. Grant brought a lantern and his rapier. I brought my broadsword.
“We’ll head to the spot where I last saw her.” I turned down the lantern, allowing only a faint glow. “In the meantime, look for lights.”
“Lights?”
“Yes. Before I saw her face, I saw two small white lights burning in the ocean. I think it was her eyes glowing. It sounds odd, but that’s what I saw. This is it,” I said, pointing to the side. “This is where her fin crested from the water. Right here.”
We peered into the ocean for several long minutes. The waves lifted and lowered our boat rhythmically. The breeze was cool and salty and we could hear the distant creaking of our trapped ship as the waves beat against its hull.
“I don’t see anything,” said Grant.
“What are you looking for?” asked a gentle female voice, followed by a soft splash.
Startled, we looked in every direction, seeing nothing.
“What…who was that?” asked Grant in near panic.
“Turn up the lantern,” I said. “It seems she’s been watching us.”