《Gift and Power series 2: The Other Big Secret (Christian/Romance/Thought-hearing/Sci-Fi)》


 TOBS 1: Must He Die?: Ch. 1: Introductions

    The Other Big Secret 1: Must He Die?


    <h2>Must He Die? / Ch. 1:Introductions</h2>


    </a>Saturday, September the 18th, 1909


    Jacob had been doing a lot of praying recently, for a very traditional reason. He was twenty-five, had no sense that God had called him to live out his life as a bachelor, and he was sure that none of the women he knew were going to be his wife. He was a gifted young man, trained as an engineer, and like many young men in those days, fascinated by the new scientific and missionary discoveries that were opening up the world. His elderly parents had died, leaving him their home and fortune, and he had a good job. He should have been an ideal catch. But he had standards and unusual abilities and no fortune-hunter was going to trick him.


    He''d thought, once, that his second cousin Mabel might be the one, but God had said no, not her. Today he''d just been a witness at her wedding. She''d been gloriously happy, her new husband was Jacob''s friend from university, a good sound Christian, and he was happy for them both. They were not well off, but they were perfectly suited for one another. So, Jacob rejoiced with them, and then, that evening, privately in his room, he sought the Peace about his own future.


    <hr>


    [I''ve had what people here call the call.] He told the other gifted the next morning.


    [You''re going to be a missionary? But, what of your other God-given tasks?]


    [Our Good Lord has told me I must leave them to another, I must pray for her to receive the gift, and I must leave for a strange land. Help her learn, my brothers and sisters, for she married my best friend yesterday, and I will not be able to teach her in person. I leave before they return from honeymoon. And when I arrive at my destination, there will be so many things that none must know ¡ª it is not God''s time yet ¡ª that it would be better if you do not call to me, and nor should you seek to find me.]


    [You sound like you are sure.]


    [I am sure.]


    [And you have no doubts?]


    [God tells me I will meet my wife there, and that his gospel must be preached to all of creation.]


    <hr>


    </a>Tuesday, September the 21st, 1909 A.D.


    ¡°You are certain of this?¡± his lawyer asked.


    ¡°I''m called to be a missionary and Bible translator to a remote tribe. I have no need of a house here, and my good friend William Smith has a new wife and lives in rented accommodation that will not suffice for children.¡± Jacob answered.


    ¡°And you also name him and his wife your heirs?¡±


    ¡°For half of my estate yes. The fact is, I doubt I''m coming back, myself --- you know the statistics for tropical diseases, and I have no real ties here. And she is, after all, my second cousin. So... I will seek to write and reassure all that I live, but I anticipate travel might be very hard, and translation is a long work. But who knows, perhaps one day I will marry and have heirs. It would be remiss of me not to plan for their future at all.¡±


    The lawyer looked at him in horror ¡°You plan to go native? Marry some heathen woman?¡±


    ¡°Not at all.¡± Jacob answered the second question ¡°I would never marry a non-Christian. I just wish to plan for any eventuality. Should it be that the good Lord bring a decent young woman into my care as wife, far be it from me to leave her and any children unprovided for.¡±


    ¡°Oh, very good sir.¡± the lawyer felt his racist concerns had been addressed, and Jacob had no intention of disabusing him of that notion. The idea that there might be anything positive in a culture without the steam engine, gunpowder or rampant tuberculosis hadn''t quite become popularly acceptable.


    ¡°But,¡± Jacob continued, ¡°if letters are lost and I am declared dead, that would be somewhat difficult, so I believe a trust is in order, is it not?¡±


    ¡°Oh, yes, sir. But how would identity be proven?¡±


    ¡°It is a little archaic, perhaps, but could possession of my grandfather''s signet ring be taken as proof?¡±


    ¡°A unique family heirloom, alongside a letter from yourself telling your son or widow our address? The law would allow it, sir.¡±


    ¡°Excellent!¡±


    <hr>


    </a>Friday, September the 18th, 1914


    Five years later, Jacob sat in what he thought of as his work room, though others would probably call it a prison. Beside him, the warrior who''d caught him. He hadn''t seen her often recently, though she had come frequently before. He was very glad, on this anniversary that she was prepared to spend time with her prisoner. He''d told her the story of the wedding at Cana, but when he''d translated the first draft he had really struggled to find the word for wedding, eventually settling on ''celebration joining man and woman''. And he kept using it as they discussed it, and though she had looked at him strangely she did not correct the phrase. Eventually, she said, almost as an accusation, ¡°I think you know nothing about this ''celebration joining man and woman'' among us, do you?¡±


    ¡°You have not told me, nor has any other. But I am sure it happens. Will you tell me?¡±


    ¡°Among my people, if a man traps a warrior woman, and she is pleasant in his sight, then he chains her, and he takes her to his home. None may interfere once she is caught. And if she still pleases him still after a week then he asks ''will you vow that you will not harm me if I release you?'' and if she vows it, then after the vow, they go and hunt together and share the meal of their first hunt with friends. It is called their ''first hunt meal''. She is then his companion and, until they tire of each other, she fights and hunts beside him. Her vow remains until death. If she does not agree to take the vow, she stays his slave, and she can kill him for dishonouring her when she gets the chance, or, if he tires of her, she can choose to fight him or just leave, it is her choice. If she does not please him even for a week, then he has a problem. He must give her her choice of weapon and they fight to the death. Else there would be much dishonour.¡±


    He wanted to say that was terrible, but he''d made that mistake too many times before, and even bore some scars to prove it. ¡°What happens if a warrior woman finds a man who is pleasant in her sight?¡±


    ¡°Then she secretly brings the chains.¡± she said, with a small smile. ¡°One of my sisters did this.¡±


    ¡°It is very different among our people.¡±


    ¡°Your favourite phrase. I expected it would be.¡±


    ¡°And is there dishonour in her bringing the chains?¡±


    ¡°No. But... it should not be publicly done.¡±


    ¡°But you are a powerful warrior, I doubt many could overpower you.¡±


    ¡°Not when I am alert.¡± she agreed, ¡°And I have good hearing, and I do not sleep unprotected. No one gets near me with chains.¡±


    ¡°So any that would seek to chain you would have to use guile?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡± she agreed. ¡°One tried. He was young and foolish and I showed him his folly and let him live. His scars will heal, eventually.¡±


    ¡°And it must be chain?¡± he asked.


    ¡°No. It could be rope, or vine.¡±


    ¡°But if he ties her hands, she must be unable to escape?¡±


    ¡°What is the point of tying her hands if she is able to escape?¡± she asked, confused.


    ¡°Among my people, the proper way is that she is free to choose; perhaps not entirely ¡ª perhaps her parents encourage her or she feels that circumstances force her, but she should be free to choose. He asks if she is willing to be his companion for life. And then the priest asks if she is willing. And then are vows made, in public. And then they are man and wife, and there is a celebration, then he takes her to his home. And there is no fighting to the death, and no slavery, or dishonouring.¡±


    ¡°Your people are not warriors.¡±


    ¡°Oh yes, they are, sadly. My people fight wars all over this world. But for us the war should not happen in the home, not in marriage. If my people knew of your people... they would come with chains and nets and guns.¡±


    ¡°We would fight.¡±


    ¡°And you would die. I have told you of guns before.¡±


    ¡°Yes. We have seen them too, the sticks that kill men, and the barrels that kill boats.¡±


    ¡°You did not say.¡±


    ¡°You did not ask. But now I ask you. What happens when a man takes a woman in chains to his house among your people?¡±


    ¡°Our women are not warriors, normally, so he may not need chains, maybe just a knife. It is a crime. A terrible crime.¡±


    ¡°Dishonour?¡±


    ¡°If he is caught, we do not give him a blade or a spear to hurt the woman more. He is taken in chains and a rope is tied around his neck, and the rope is tied to a piece of wood above him, and he is dropped. He dies without honour.¡±


    ¡°So what of the men of your people who my ancestors saw do this to dark-skinned women, and who would do this to us?¡± She was speaking of the slave trade. Jacob had not known they were so knowledgeable.


    ¡°I am ashamed of my people.¡± Jacob said. ¡°There are many, even now who think the colour of skin makes the dark-skinned people not people. It is not right, but it has happened. Among us, men are the warriors and the women not... I am sure you can guess the rest. If they treated white skinned women this way, they would die without honour. If they treated animals as women, they would be locked away as evil men. But this sin, that treats people as slaves is among us still, and some even think it is acceptable. The law does not, God does not. But the crowds...? I do not know.¡±


    ¡°So, our people would be treated as animals still, you believe?¡± He would have to explore that later.


    ¡°I expect so. You are not unwise to lock me up, though I will not try to leave, and I am not a risk to you.¡±


    ¡°How did you find us?¡± it was a question she''s asked before, many times.


    ¡°God told me to come.¡± He''d answered as before, many times.


    ¡°How?¡±


    ¡°I am unusual. Most of my people cannot even hear thoughts.¡±


    ¡°Nor can you.¡± she accused.


    ¡°Not when I am in water, no, not naturally. But I''ve told you, I have a special gift from God: supernaturally, I could know your every thought if I chose to. But I do not. It is how I first came to understand your language, because it is part of my gift that I understand any language when in thought.¡± She was half sitting in the pool in the cave where he was held prisoner, this powerful beauty of her people, her long skirt and top were smooth against her skin ¡ª scandalous for his home but better for swimming ¡ª and her long dark hair was held back with a hollowed shell.


    ¡°You avoid touch, too.¡± she said.


    ¡°Of course.¡±


    ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°You who hear thoughts ask me this?¡±


    ¡°You have secrets.¡±


    He glanced into her sea-green eyes. ¡°Not as many as you.¡± It wasn''t a challenge, just a statement of fact.


    ¡°How did your God tell you to come here?¡±


    ¡°My gift allows me to know where people are. He told me to look for a certain person.¡± He admitted, finally. Knowing immediately it had been a mistake, or maybe not, perhaps it was time.


    ¡°Who?¡± It was the obvious response. He''d hidden his thoughts, knowing that she mustn''t hear the answer that sprang to his mind ¡ª that God had told him to use his gift to find the woman he would marry, after she''d turned to Christ.


    Knowing where she was, he''d picked his time and simply walked along on the lonely beach and waited outside the little cave. He''d checked: there were no other exits. She''d waited for him to go, but he hadn''t, he''d simply sat and read his Bible. She''d come out, blade and spear in hand, ready to fight, and he''d simply looked up at her, unafraid of what would come next. After all, if she would marry him, then he didn''t need to be very afraid of this strange warrior maid.


    ¡°I am still your prisoner, I have no weapon. Do you insist that I utter this woman''s name? You may not like the answer.¡±


    She nodded.


    ¡°Her full name?¡± he asked, knowing that they treated full names as important.


    ¡°You do not know anyone''s full name, prisoner.¡± She challenged. ¡°Let me hear your guess, so I may laugh at your so-called gift.¡±


    He looked deeply at the skin of the cave, and found her name. ¡°You do not yet know the power of God who made all things, knows all things, and gives gifts to people, Sathzakara Karella Lamura.¡±


    Instantly her knife was at his throat, but not touching, since the knife was metal, and she knew that trick.


    ¡°How do you know that?¡± she demanded.


    There was always someone watching him, teaching him. They''d decided he was mostly harmless quite quickly, and Sathzakara had refused to kill him. He''d heard arguments, conversations, but they normally just called her Sath. He certainly hadn''t learned her name from any of them. ¡°Your name sounds like the waves breaking on the shore, but that is not your full name. You also have the names Wavesong Tidestrong and Moon-glint.¡± he added other names from what he''d seen. Thinking he was somehow hearing her thoughts, she backed away.


    ¡°I hope you know you don''t need to fear me. The full name of the woman I was sent to meet is your name. Sathzakara Karella Wavesong Tidestrong Korelia Moon-glint Glad-eyes bnt Karella Japathe hi Lamura. This much I saw from my God, just now, at your request. But I knew I was sent to meet you, and that you were alone in that cave, which is why I waited for you to come out.¡±


    ¡°Glad-eyes? You even heard Glad-eyes from me?¡± she asked, not really believing his words.


    ¡°No, I said, I was not searching your mind. I sought to know the full name of the woman in this cave. Is it not your name?¡±


    ¡°I''ve not heard it since I was a child. Why were you not afraid of me? I hold your life in my hands.¡±


    ¡°It is a secret I must try to keep, I think.¡±


    ¡°Your fantasy that you will catch me, and we will be companions?¡±


    ¡°Ah. Then you know.¡± It explained her recent questioning. ¡°I hoped to hide that knowledge from you.¡±


    ¡°You are a peculiar man. Why?¡±


    ¡°Why what?¡±


    ¡°Why did you seek me out? Why aren''t you afraid of my spear?¡±


    ¡°The whole truth?¡± he shrugged ¡°Not that I have any secrets from you, now. I sought you out because five years ago today, God told me that sometime, after you had become his follower like I am, we would one day become companions for life, and that I would translate this book about God for your people. So I left my comfortable home and my friends and came to find you. Why should I be afraid of your spear if I know we will be companions one day?¡±


    ¡°So, you think one day you will trick me into putting down even my knife, somehow chain my hands, and force yourself on me?¡±


    ¡°No! I would never force myself on you more than I have done, that would be a great sin.¡±


    ¡°More than you have?¡± she was confused.


    ¡°I knew you were in the cave, I sat and waited for you to come out. In a way I forced myself upon you, there.¡±


    ¡°Ha! That''s not forcing yourself on me. What you call a great sin, we call finding a companion. Either the girl is naive or she knows what the man plans. You have said your God tells you I will be your partner, but you will not seek to catch me?¡± She laughed, ¡°You are going to look very silly when someone else does. I warn you, I will not bring you any chains. I am not such a one as that, it is not my nature to choose slavery to anyone.¡±


    ¡°Do I have a rival?¡± he asked.


    ¡°It depends on your point of view.¡± she said, ambiguously. Then laughed, ¡°If you try only as hard as you''ve promised, old age will catch me before you do. So, how long would you have waited by the cave?¡±


    ¡°I had tools to make a fire. I had water, and food. I had planned to cook a meal for two, if you didn''t come out. I would have put your portion near the cave, so that you could eat further from me, if you desired.¡±


    ¡°You would have cooked for me?¡± She was surprised, shocked even. Among her people the men hunted, the women defended the camp against predators ¡ª human and animal ¡ª and cooked.


    ¡°Yes. I think I am quite a good cook.¡±


    ¡°That I would like to see.¡±


    ¡°I think it would not be good to light a fire here.¡± There was a narrow crack of an opening which let in light and fresh air, but a fire would have quickly filled his prison cave with smoke. ¡°Your men do not even cook for themselves on hunting trips?¡±


    She shook her head. ¡°Among us, only women cook.¡±


    Jacob thought about how to explain the restaurant trade. ¡°Among us, the most important, or at least, the richest, women do not cook, and often they pay money to eat meals cooked for them by men who have trained specially for this.¡±


    ¡°You use this money for a lot of things, don''t you?¡±


    ¡°Yes. It is the way of our people. One man makes something, and another exchanges money for it, and then perhaps the man who now has that money puts it with other money and buys his wife a gift he could not make himself. Money goes from person to person, and it is up to the people how they use it. Some people use their money for stupid things, other people use it to travel faster than they can walk. I used some to come on the ship that brought me to the island where I found you. My parents gave a lot of money for the house I gave to my friends. They give me no money, but they repay my gift by praying to God for me, for this work I am doing.¡±


    ¡°You are a strange man, from a strange place.¡±


    ¡°Yes, I''ve told you that before. Or perhaps you are a strange people, and I am a strange man because I have left a normal place. Sathzakara. I have a question for you, now that you know my great secret.¡±


    ¡°What is it, strange man?¡±


    ¡°A little under five years ago, I spoke to you mind. I said ''This strange man from a strange place wishes you no harm.'' May I again?¡±


    ¡°It was you? Speaking to my mind with no touch? Prove it!¡±


    [I spoke to you like this.]


    ¡°I thought I had imagined it, or it was from a god.¡±


    ¡°Indirectly it was. I used the special gift that is from God. I would not lie using it.¡±


    ¡°You can think to me without touch?¡± She dived into the pool and quickly swam to the other side. ¡°Even over here?¡±


    He laughed. [Anywhere. I could have talked to you from my home, which is far far away.] he switched to voice. ¡°But I am not listening to your replies. May I?¡±


    ¡°Why do you ask?¡±


    ¡°Because it is like touching, closeness. But I do not want to force myself on you.¡±


    She regarded him for a long time. This strange, crazy, miracle man. He couldn''t swim properly, he couldn''t hunt, his skills were alien and he viewed the normal as sin. Were there crimes he would think normal? She doubted it. She had thought she knew all about him, but maybe that was not the case. He should have been terrified, but he was so certain. She was also becoming sure that his god was not a complete stranger to her people. But, she had no alternative, and pronounced the death sentence: ¡°My sisters are fed up with feeding you when you do not hunt. My brothers are fed up with hunting for you when you neither hunt nor fish.¡±


    ¡°It is hard to hunt from this cave.¡±


    ¡°That keeps us safe. We know well your marks that carry meaning, since you have been teaching them to us. You could so easily betray us. Tell others where we are.¡±


    ¡°Really? That is all you are afraid of? That I send out a message saying ''Help, I am held prisoner'', and tell them where?¡±


    ¡°You have said it yourself, that we are not unwise to keep you locked up.¡±


    ¡°I have also told you more, all my secrets, and you are clear of thought, Sathzakara.¡±


    He was always doing this to her; making her think, setting her puzzles. ¡°You said you are no threat to us. How are you no threat?¡±


    ¡°How did I find you?¡± he fired back the question.


    ¡°You asked your God where your future companion was.¡±


    ¡°No. God told me to look. How far away could I talk to you?¡±


    ¡°Across the sea, you said, all the way to your homeland.¡±


    ¡°Yes. How do I know this, for sure? How do I know my friends pray for my work?¡±


    Her eyes narrowed and she tightened her grip on her spear, as a dreadful realisation came to her. ¡°You can talk to them. You do talk to them. There are others like you, with this gift.¡±


    ¡°There are others. I talk to them, one lives in the house I gave to her and her companion for life. I ask God to help them with their problems. They ask God to help me with mine. Their problems are greater. My home country is at war. Half the world is at war.¡±


    ¡°You exaggerate.¡±


    ¡°I do not think so. It is a new kind of war. Already tens of thousands are dead, perhaps hundreds of thousands. News travels fast, now. I have told you of radio and telegraph and telephone. Attacks are planned and orders given by people who never see the horrors their orders cause. The guns are more powerful, more accurate. I keep watch. So far, there are no battles near here, but soldiers are getting closer.¡±


    ¡°Your troubles are smaller?¡±


    ¡°I think so.¡±


    ¡°You have told me you can communicate with outsiders. You do communicate with outsiders.¡±


    ¡°Yes. So you have no need to hold me prisoner, it is not unwise, but in my case it accomplishes nothing.¡±


    ¡°Or I should have killed you five years ago.¡±


    ¡°I''m glad you didn''t.¡± he smiled at her.


    ¡°I have not been to see you until today, for a long time.¡±


    ¡°That is true.¡± he agreed.


    ¡°What I told you, it is your death. I could not bear to say it, but I could not delay more. Even today, I wanted to pretend it was not true, so we have talked as though you had a future. Now, you tell me I have betrayed my people, by letting you live a second after I saw you.¡±


    Stolen novel; please report.


    ¡°Sathzakara, I have not betrayed your people. I will not betray your people.¡±


    ¡°What proof have I?¡±


    ¡°My word of honour.¡±


    ¡°If you are an honourable man, your word is good. If you are a dishonourable man, your word has no value.¡±


    ¡°Have I shown you dishonour?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Not recently. Not intentionally.¡±


    ¡°You need more proof?¡±


    ¡°How can you prove intentions?¡±


    ¡°Past actions? I have lived here for four and a half years. I have learned your language and I have taught you mine. I have told you why I came, and why I will stay.¡±


    ¡°I have told you why you will die.¡±


    ¡°By your hand?¡±


    ¡°I wish it were not so. I wish your God would save you from what I must do, would save me from doing this, and that he would give me a way out. There is none.¡±


    As a crazy idea formed in his mind, he hid his thoughts. It might work, but first, there was the question of her soul. He''d explained much, in their talks. He was sure she knew enough to decide.


    ¡°His book says everyone who calls to him will be saved. Do you wish this enough to trust him? To put your future in his hands? To accept the humiliation of asking him for forgiveness? You cannot serve him and another god, for bowing to other spirits than the creator God is exchanging the truth for a lie. Do you wish God to save you?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡± she said, realizing it was true.


    ¡°Beautiful Sathzakara, will you give me a piece of your hair?¡±


    ¡°You want to cut my hair like Samson''s?¡± she asked ¡°I don''t think you will overpower me that way.¡±


    ¡°Probably not, and it would be a shame to try. But one hair?¡±


    ¡°It is part of the ritual? How much?¡± she held her knife to her hair.


    ¡°Don''t cut lots! Just one hair, if you are willing. Please.¡±


    ¡°This is a strange ritual.¡± She swam over to him, and gave him a hair.


    ¡°You will understand soon. Do you believe that you cannot do anything to earn God''s love, because he loves you fully and unconditionally already?¡± he asked.


    Realising she did, she replied ¡°I do.¡±


    ¡°Do you believe that our rebellion against God deserves death?¡±


    ¡°I do.¡±


    ¡°Do you believe that God who made the stars, the sun, the land and water was born as a man, Jesus, in order to die, to pay the penalty we could not pay and so save us from our sins? And that he sends his spirit on those who trust him, to teach them and guide them¡± he asked her, holding the hair carefully.


    ¡°I do.¡±


    ¡°Then ask God who is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit to save you, call on his name, and reject all other gods, ask him to wash away your sin.¡±


    ¡°Jesus, save me, please. I can''t do this, I don''t want to hurt Jacob, my friend. I don''t want to live with that sin. I don''t want to die a sinner. make me clean, take away my sins please.¡±


    With his heart trembling he checked the Christians in the cave, and with joy he said ¡°By my gift, I know your true confession and prayer have been heard by God. So I tell you that your name has been written in the book of life, you have turned from death to life, and that the Holy Spirit will guide you in all truth. I have told you of baptism.¡± Jacob prompted.


    ¡°Yes. Symbol of burial and of rebirth. Of washing and cleansing. I would like to be baptised.¡± she stood up at the edge of the pool. ¡°Do you need the hair for that? You didn''t mention it ever.¡±


    ¡°No, not for baptism either.¡± but he wrapped it around his finger a few times, just to be sure it didn''t float away. He stepped into the water beside her, showed her how to hold her hands, and said. ¡°On confession of your faith, Sathzakara, I baptise you into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.¡± And he did. She, who was almost as at home in the water as out, was still a little dizzy from the motion as she came up. She staggered and as he put her on her feet once more, and he supported her and then, shifting his grip from encircling her fingers to one where he held her wrists together, he wrapped her hair around them, binding her hands together.


    As he did, he thought to her [I deceived you a little, warrior woman.] he admitted to her. [I did not need the hair for any ritual from my people. I am uneasy that there was deception at all, and I ask your forgiveness if I have sinned. But it seems to me that I have now bound your hands together. If you are cross with me for the deception, you can break the bonds, I am sure. But I think you said none may interfere between us now.]


    ¡°You thought to bind my hands with a hair?¡± she asked, incredulously, shocked but not breaking the bonds.


    ¡°I have no chain.¡± he pointed out simply.


    ¡°I could break this without any effort.¡± but she didn''t.


    ¡°Yes. So as with your people, I have tied your hands together. As with my people, I ask a question ¡ª are you willing to stay bound? But first I will remind you of the story of Ruth. If you choose to be bound by me, then never will I leave you, never will I abandon you. Where you go I will go and where you stay, I will stay. My God is now your God, but your people will be my people.¡±


    ¡°You thought you could tie me with one of my own hairs?¡± she repeated, still flabbergasted.


    ¡°Not really. But with a choice.¡±


    ¡°You haven''t even taken my knife from me.¡±


    ¡°Should I? You said you didn''t want to use it on me.¡±


    ¡°What would happen, if I went to your country?¡±


    ¡°If you dressed as women in my country, and behaved as women of my country, and spoke my language, I could explain your skin colour by telling them that you had Greeks in your ancestry.¡±


    ¡°That is true. Not the whole truth, though. And not exactly recently.¡±


    ¡°Nevertheless, it is not a lie. They would say I had a beautiful wife, and perhaps some would ask if you had any sisters. But if they ever saw the skin between your toes, and found out you can swim underwater for more than ten minutes, they would want to know how, and some would say you are not human, and want to cut you up to find out how different you are, others would want to put you on display for people to look at. You would have a terrible life.¡±


    ¡°And if I wore my clothes, with my spear?¡±


    ¡°Then they would certainly put you in a tank and say, come and look at the barbarian mermaid. And on one hand, people would be disappointed to find your skirt is not part of you, but on the other, the question that school-children have often asked, of how mer-children are born into the world if a mermaid is a fish from the waist down, would be answered.¡±


    She laughed at that and then said ¡°But knowing that our people are so different, you still bind my hands?¡±


    ¡°I knew before I came. I told people at home that I would probably not return, that the travel would be difficult. But if you wish, we could visit.¡±


    ¡°How did you know?¡±


    ¡°Five years ago today, when I looked to see where you were, you were swimming around a sunken ship. At first I thought you had been on the ship when it sunk, but no, you were going in and out, for a long time. And I told my friends, who share my gift, do not look for me, for there are so many things no-one must know. It is not yet God''s time to tell where some of the grandsons of Noah found their wives.¡±


    ¡°You believe that old story?¡±


    ¡°It explains quite a lot, I think, don''t you?¡±


    She shook her head. ¡°I do not know. I was amazed at how much your book says similar things as the old tales without being the same. There are not many land people who have come among us, and they were not the sort of men to tell of the founding of the Earth.¡±


    ¡°You have still not broken your bonds.¡±


    She looked at her hands, and his which held the hair. ¡°I choose not to at the moment.¡± she said, glancing at him, through her hair.


    ¡°I am glad. But you have still not answered my question.¡±


    ¡°Which one?¡±


    ¡°Will you consent to me listening to your thoughts?¡±


    ¡°Jacob, you are a strange man. You have bound me, I have not freed myself, so I am your slave, to do with what you will, and you ask me about hearing my thoughts which is so normal?¡±


    ¡°I will own no slave, Sathzakara. I would rather you free yourself than think of yourself as my slave. Must I pretend to others you are my slave before I can ask you for your vow?¡±


    ¡°Must I take a vow before I know how you will treat me?¡± she threw back the question.


    [{Pain} Do you not know me well enough?] he thought to her.


    She touched her head to his [Sorry. You will treat me as kindly as you know how. In answer to your question. Your gift, how much can you know?]


    [If I look with my gift at you, your inner being, I will know the thoughts behind the thoughts you do not even know you have, if you are close to me. Or I can choose to know less if I look with my gift at you heart, I will learn only the reasons for your worries. If I look at the top of your skin I will know only if you are hot or cold, hungry or thirsty. If I look a little deeper then it is like this.]


    [You can know my every thought?]


    [Yes. I cannot follow your thoughts ¡ª but I can take a glimpse.]


    [Even the ones I do not know... So, tell me what they are.]


    [Now?]


    [I do not know what I think about your question. To take a vow before the week is over? It is something from a story.]


    [Did the story end well?]


    [The story is of a foolish girl who thinks she knows the man well. She takes a vow to her image of him, and finds he is not like his image. But then it is too late, he beats her every night. She has vowed not to harm him, but has taken no vow about not harming herself, so she kills herself because she cannot stand more beatings.]


    [I do not ask you to accept beatings.]


    [You do not need to. We take vows seriously.]


    [So do I.] ¡°I vow to you, by my faith in God and by the gift he has given me, Sathzakara, that you will be guiltless of harming me if it is to stop me from harming you. If you ever need to defend yourself against my brutality, then let any curse from vow-breaking fall upon me and not on you. I will repeat this vow before your elders or any who should hear it.¡±


    [{shock}]


    [A Christian husband loves his wife as Christ loved the church, and gives his life for her. I ask you to be my wife, not my slave or my concubine.]


    She looked at him in wonder, as his gift allowed her to finally understand what he was


    asking properly. ¡°You do not want me as your companion.¡± she said, quietly. ¡°You want me as your life-bonded-one.¡±


    [Companion is your word for what I called concubine?]


    [Your last word? Yes.]


    [Will you tell me of how a man and a maid become each other''s life-bonded-one?]


    [I do not know.] She said [It is a word from stories.]


    [Who would know?]


    [Perhaps my grandmother. She is eldest.]


    [Can you ask her?]


    [All think I am here to kill you. If I leave, then they will come to remove your body. That they do not insist I do. This hair saves your life if someone comes. Maybe. But it is so fragile! If I swim, then I am sure it would break.]


    [Perhaps some more? ''A cord of three strands is not so easily broken.'' Or perhaps I could call someone?]


    [You could. Yes. My mother is the best to call, I think. If you tell her that Sathzakara Glad-eyes smiles at you, and asks you to call her, then I expect she will be here quickly.]


    [I have not met her.]


    [No. She thinks you are dangerous and does not approve of you. But perhaps I can convince her eventually. At least if she reports you have bound me then you will be safer.]


    [What is her name?]


    [Karella, of course.]


    Including Sathzakara in his thoughts, he called [Karella, honoured mother of Sathzakara. I am Jacob, the land-man, not a spirit. Your daughter often tells me I am a strange man with strange ideas. She asks me now to use a gift I have from my God and tell you this: Sathzakara Glad-eyes smiles at me and asks me to call you and beg you to come.]


    As Sathzakara had predicted it didn''t take long, and her mother was not alone; emerging with her from the pool was a mer-man also. Both were armed, of course.


    ¡°Mother, Father.¡± Sathzakara said, ¡°Thank you for coming. We were all correct. You were right, father: he could be dangerous, he could be more dangerous than any thought, but he is not. And you were right, mother. He has turned my head.¡±


    ¡°You told him your child-name?¡± Lamura, her father asked.


    ¡°No, father. I now realise what I should have known earlier. Jacob has not kept secrets from us, but I did not understand. He is a servant of the god Yah, the creator, and the book he translates tells of the promised serpent-crusher. Jacob has the same powers that are spoken of in the story of Eved. It was easy for him to tell me my child-name; my full name. He knew me as a mer before he left his home, and one who would be his life-bonded-one, and has protected the secret. He has been able to talk to others as he talked to you, mother, all the time he has been here, but just as Eved, he has kept the secret. At my request, Jacob told me how to start to follow his God. Yet, still I thought I must kill him. But he tricked me into giving him a piece of my hair, and after he had baptised me in obedience to Jesus, the serpent-crusher, he bound my hands.¡±


    ¡°What manner of binding is one that you could break so easily!¡± her mother asked.


    ¡°A strong one, surely, if I choose not to break it? Already he has vowed to me that he will consider our people his people, and he will hold me guiltless should I harm him in self-defence, and has called on our God that any curse for harming him fall on him rather than me. But it is not what he wishes, that I should become his companion. He asks rather that I become his life-bonded-one.¡±


    ¡°As a servant of Yah, it is an appropriate request. The servants of Yah always taught against anything but a life-bond.¡± Her father said.


    ¡°A life-bond.¡± her mother shook her head. ¡°And to one gifted as Eved! Daughter, do you not understand the implications?¡±


    ¡°Not really, mother.¡±


    ¡°Eved''s prophesy:¡± Lamura said. ¡°''Upheaval and change, the mer nation will one day flee from death and discovery. The servant of Yah will have my gift, and will warn. His life-bonded-one will guide.'' And after the plague, the servants of Yah among us were killed by the madmen, hoping to invalidate the prophecy. Did you hear the scout''s report of war-boats?¡±


    ¡°No. But, Jacob says there is war as has never been seen before, that soldiers march almost the whole world.¡±


    ¡°I have not heard of this Eved.¡± Jacob said.


    ¡°Many centuries ago, when we first came to this island, there was a man called Eved who called many here to worship Yah. And he knew truth from lie and could find the lost and talk to thought-hearers, wherever they were.¡± Sathzakara said. ¡°My father has said the prophesy, I''d forgotten it. When my grandmother was young, there was a plague, or perhaps it was poison, but many died, on this island and others.


    Then ten mer, called the madmen, came here. They killed all who worshipped Yah, who I am sure is your God and now my God. Not just here, but others in other places too. The next morning they had been struck down dead, and the name of Yah has been treated with respect since.¡±


    ¡°Hallelujah is a word of the Hebrew language, which means praise Yah.¡± Jacob agreed. ¡°Yah is a short form of God''s name, which I learned means the one who is. He is the all-powerful God. Other spirits will all bow to him one day.¡±


    ¡°We will talk of this later.¡± Karella said. ¡°You should have said your Jacob was a servant of Yah, Sathzakara. Yah is truly a powerful god: though none now serve him, we fear him.¡±


    ¡°I only realised it today, mother.¡±


    ¡°But you are sure?¡±


    ¡°Both my parents can hear your thoughts, and it is better that way, I think. Jacob, tell my parents of your God, please.¡±


    [Among us, it is not normal to name the name of God, as if there were others, so great is He. We call him LORD, or God. For He alone is worthy of those titles. He made all things, visible and invisible. He made the Earth and the Sea and the Sky. He made light, and separated day from night. He put the stars in their places and made the Sun and the Moon to mark day and night and seasons. He created the birds of the air, the fish of the sea, the animals of the land, creatures that buzz and crawl and bury in the dirt, and He made people, male and female, alone of the creatures bearing likeness to Him. When He speaks the mountains shake, when He wills it the sun stands still. When He says silence, the storm stops. When he decides, the universe obeys, and when he gives the word, then time will stop. He is the all powerful one. He does not live in shrines or woods, for these things are made things, and he is the maker of all. He is the judge of the living and the dead, for all will have to give an account of their lives before his judgement seat. He is Holy, and in him there is no deception or darkness, nor does he change his mind as we do, for he is all knowing and all wise. The greatest command He gives is that we love Him with all of our being, the second is that we love one another as we love ourselves. Because He is Holy, and we are not, we would be doomed to eternal destruction, but He loves his creation, and he has made a way for all who trust in him to be saved. Nineteen hundred years ago, the immortal one became a baby, born of a virgin. His mother, and her life-bonded called the boy Jesus. He lived a life without sin, showed his nature and power in many ways and spoke to his chosen people, who knew God as Jehovah or Yahweh, telling them to turn from their sins. He fulfilled the prophesies that showed him to be Messiah or Christ, which means promised anointed King. The leaders hated and feared this man who was their God and had him killed. He was killed upon a cross of wood, a criminal''s death, and was buried. In doing this he sacrificed himself for our sins, and took them to the place of destruction. On the third day he rose from the grave, breaking the power of death itself, crushing the power of the serpent. He showed himself to his followers on many occasions. After a few weeks he returned to heaven, and his followers speak of him and the victory he won over sin and death wherever they go. In Him I trust, Him I obey, and He is the one who spoke to me five years ago today, telling me to come to your people and tell your people this good news, that all who turn from their sin and trust in him who made them will be saved from destruction, but will live with him eternally.]


    ¡°Daughter, you have trusted in this God?¡±


    ¡°I have, mother.¡±


    ¡°If you think this man''s words are true, that is appropriate. I cannot yet decide.¡±


    ¡°I am sure they are true.¡±


    ¡°You are in love, then?¡±


    ¡°I do not know. To symbolise the washing away of sin, and raising to life, Jacob put me backwards into the water, and lifted me out. It was disorientating. As I was recovering he bound my hands. If I break my bonds, I must kill him, must I not? I do not choose to do that.¡±


    ¡°It would not be good to kill a servant of Yah.¡± Her father agreed.


    ¡°And now I understand that he asks me to be his life-bonded. I do not know the ritual for that.¡±


    ¡°Nor I.¡± Her mother agreed.


    ¡°I know how it is done among us, but there are so many differences...¡±


    Jacob shrugged ¡°To me the exact ritual is not very important; I know they differ in different places. But there are limits to what I will accept. It would be a sin for me to chain your daughter and treat her as a slave. She thought that your honoured mother might know.¡±


    ¡°Even if my mother knows, she may not speak of it. She does not like to speak of those bad times.¡±


    ¡°May I try, mother?¡±


    ¡°You may try, both of you. None will interfere if you are bound, daughter.¡±


    ¡°If they see the hair.¡± Her father pointed out.


    ¡°Sathzakara, daughter, will you continue to refuse to break this man''s binding?¡±


    ¡°I will, mother.¡±


    ¡°Then so that all may see you are bound, will you not lend him a chain?¡±


    ¡°I told him I was not such a one, mother. Of course, he has caught me.¡±


    ¡°Land-man, you refuse to chain my daughter?¡± Lamura asked


    ¡°Her honour and free choice are important to me.¡± Jacob asked.


    ¡°How strong are you? Could you carry her?¡± Karella asked.


    ¡°Will you allow me to try?¡± Jacob asked the woman he loved.


    ¡°You have bound me, you...¡± she started, then, learning, stopped herself, and smiled at him, ¡°Of course, Jacob.¡±


    ¡°You must carry her in a way that makes it clear her hands are bound.¡±


    Karella instructed him. ¡°Over your shoulder, or under one arm.¡±


    ¡°As a prize of a hunt or of war.¡± Lamura added.


    ¡°Unless a chain is preferable?¡± Karella asked.


    ¡°Shoulder.¡± Sathzakara replied to the question in his eyes.


    ¡°You are not heavy.¡± he said. ¡°Are you comfortable?¡±


    ¡°It is not dignified.¡±


    ¡°It''s not supposed to be. Tell him if you''d prefer a chain, stubborn daughter.¡±


    ¡°I''d prefer a chain. Jacob, please?¡±


    ¡°My watch!¡± he suddenly thought, putting her feet back on the ground.


    ¡°Pardon?¡±


    ¡°I do have a chain, I am sorry, I forgot.¡± He went to the watertight chest that he had brought his possessions in, and unwrapped an object from an oiled cloth ¡ª his pocket-watch. He carefully detached the gold chain and returned the watch to the cloth. Turning to Sathzakara, he asked her ¡°May I? It is not nearly as weak as the hair, but it is gold. I think you could break it if you wanted to.¡±


    ¡°It is still not as strong as my decision, Jacob.¡± she replied.


    <hr>


    ¡°Grandmother, I bring to you Jacob, who bound my wrists with a hair, but I told him that was too weak and now I have a thin gold chain.¡±


    ¡°Why do you bring him to me? Surely he should drag you off somewhere?¡± her grandmother asked, pointedly.


    ¡°Because he is a servant of the God we know as Yah.¡±


    ¡°What''s he doing messing about with chains then?¡±


    ¡°He does not know the ritual for life-bonding, grandmother. Nor did I, nor my mother.¡±


    ¡°I thought you were going to kill him today.¡± her grandmother accused.


    ¡°He bound me before I could. Not that I wanted to.¡± And she explained once again what had happened.


    ¡°Hah. So, do you want to be life-bonded, girl? Do you want to live with him until death parts you?¡±


    ¡°I can think of many worse futures.¡±


    ¡°Not good enough. You''re choosing him for forever. Think about it some more. He''s probably going to be patient, if he''s asking you, not dragging you off in chains.¡±


    ¡°But what is the ritual, no one seems to know!¡±


    ¡°What ritual, girl? There is no ritual! Walk with him hand in hand while you think about it, then when you''ve decided call the village together, throw a party, make your vows and swim off somewhere! You''ve really become a follower of Yah? Called on his name to be saved?¡±


    ¡°Yes, grandmother. I will worship no other god.¡±


    ¡°Good girl. He is a true god, not like many.¡±


    ¡°Did his followers speak of the serpent-crusher having come?¡±


    ¡°It was a big debate among them. Some said he had, others said no, it was not right. What do you say, friend of my granddaughter?¡±


    ¡°Nineteen hundred years ago..¡± Jacob began.


    ¡°Christus. The man on the cross.¡± Japathe, her grandmother interrupted, nodding.


    ¡°Yes.¡± Jacob agreed.


    ¡°We do not have much contact with you land-people. You carry diseases we cannot cure. Do not go among his people, granddaughter, for that is how the plague came. A hunter, and follower of Yah, got hurt and was healed of his wounds by a land-man priest. He learned a little of their language. He returned home, and told what he''d learned. There was division, and he was sent back with another to learn more, with a couple of others. They returned ill, and death followed. Thus the followers of Yah were blamed for the plague, and I was too afraid.¡±


    ¡°Too afraid? I don''t understand, honoured grandmother of my friend.¡±


    ¡°Too afraid to join them. Too afraid to ask for forgiveness. And now I am old and it is too late for me, I have no life left to give to him now.¡±


    ¡°No, it is not, grandmother.¡± Sathzakara corrected, ¡°Everyone who calls on His name will be saved.¡±


    ¡°When Christus was hanging on the cross,¡± Jacob said ¡°There were two thieves dying beside him. One heaped insults on him, saying ''you are supposed to be the serpent crusher, prove it by freeing us all.'' The other showed faith in him, and confessed his sin. Christus said to that man who had only a little time to live: ''I say to you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.'' It is never too late to seek forgiveness, for God is abounding in love, and does not wish any to perish.¡±


    ¡°Tell me, then granddaughter. How can I be forgiven for my life of hiding from your God?¡±


    <hr>


    It was early in the evening when the village elders assembled. ¡°Sathzakara, you were given a month to execute this intruder, but instead you walk with him hand in hand! Japathe, you honour us with your presence, but Karella, Lamura, why do you stand with her? Why does he still live?¡±


    ¡°Should we kill a servant of Yah the Judge, sent here by his God? If so, do you expect to live until morning?¡± Lamura asked.


    Sathzakara thanked her father and said ¡°I walk with Jacob hand in hand because he does not wish to keep a chain on me, although he bound my hands earlier. He asks me instead to be his life-bonded, and has given me time to decide. So I will never kill this man, who treats my honour as equal worth to his life. My blade and skill are at his service and by law and by custom none may interfere between us. He was my prisoner, but that has changed.¡±


    Japathe spoke ¡°I have questioned this land-man, who wishes to swim among us beside my grand-daughter. He is a true servant of Yah, the creator and judge, and has the gift of Eved, and is no threat to us. But by his gift, he warns us of war among the land-men. It may be that the time of the prophecy is coming near. Let the name of Yah be praised among us once more, for he is Judge and is good and his love endures forever.¡±


    ¡°Alleluia.¡± Jacob and Sathzakara murmured in agreement.


    ¡°So the decision of this council is ignored?¡± asked one of the elders.


    ¡°The decision of this council was made without enough information.¡± Karella said. ¡°My daughter went to him today, intending to carry it out, but Jacob trapped her and bound her hands, so she could not. As he explained to her why he would never treat her as a slave and vowed that she would be free from guilt if she needed to harm him to prevent him from beating her, and spoke other words about his gift to her, she realised that the God he serves could be no other than Yah, and although Jacob rarely uses that name he agrees that it is so. So now we come to the council and ask that the decision be unmade.¡±


    ¡°Sathzakara, come!¡± the council leader ordered, holding out her hand. Sathzakara took her hand, while pointedly not releasing Jacob''s. ¡°How did one such as this man trap you and bind your hands? Whose plan was it that saved him from your spear?¡±


    ¡°It was his plan, or his God''s. I said I did not want to kill him, and prayed that his God would find a way that I would not need to. He asked if I would trust his God, and I found that I wanted to, and I prayed for forgiveness. I still thought I must kill him, but I asked first to be baptised, as is normal for a new believer in Yah. He had asked earlier for one of my hairs. I''d given it to him, thinking it was part of the ritual, but he used it to bind my hands, and he pointed out that it was only as strong as my choice. Since breaking it meant that I would have to kill my friend, I chose not to, and I listened to his promises of care and his rejection of taking me by force, and realised that he did not want me as companion, but as life-bonded-one.¡±


    ¡°And when did you understand that he was a follower of Yah, and that he had the gift of Eved?¡±


    ¡°Before then, while I still expected to kill him, but was enjoying what I thought was one last conversation with him. He finally told me why he came.¡±


    ¡°And why was that?¡±


    [Jacob, may I tell?] she asked, silently.


    ¡°Of course you may tell.¡± Jacob said.


    ¡°He waited outside the cave because he knew I was there. His God had told him that he should go to a people who knew Him not and tell them of the great salvation that He had wrought. His God told him that he should use the gift he had to find the maid he would be life-bonded with, for it was her people. I asked him who that maid was, challenging him to say her full name. And he told me mine. He named me, and said this was why he did not fear my spear, for if his God had told him he was to be life-bonded with me, how could I kill him? He also told me that he knew I was mer before he left his homeland, and though he has been in contact with others who have his gift, he has always protected the secret.¡±


    ¡°If he has the gift of Eved, he can tell us where your brother Lakara is.¡±


    ¡°He is missing?¡± Sathzakara asked, concerned.


    ¡°Where is he?¡±


    Jacob looked for Lakara, Sathzakara''s younger brother, and found him. ¡°I can see where he is, but I will give the image to Sathzakara, for I do not know your names for places.¡± He sent the image to her.


    ¡°He is in the cave of Agool.¡± [It is a good hiding place. Is he OK?]


    [I''ll check.] Jacob checked Lakara''s skin: terror, trapped. He checked the skin of the cave: there were three men there, with European names, not mer. He checked their thoughts. They were bored, and playing dice.


    ¡°He is terrified and feeling trapped. There are three land-men in the same cave, who are bored and playing games.¡± Jacob reported, then asked ¡°Does Lakara hear thoughts?¡± not all did.


    ¡°Yes.¡± Lamura, his father said.


    ¡°I could talk to him. What should I ask, what should I say?¡±


    ¡°Ask him if he is hurt, or has been seen.¡± the chief elder said.


    ¡°Tell him first how he hears your thoughts, Jacob. Tell him you are a servant of Yah, and have the gift of Eved. It will reassure him he is not mad. And tell him I pray for him.¡± Sathzakara said.


    ¡°And tell him the elders and his parents know his plight.¡± Her mother added.


    ¡°I will,¡± Jacob said.


    [{comfort} Do not be surprised, Lakara, brother of my friend Sathzakara, that you hear my thought. I am Jacob, you have met me, but you perhaps do not know that you know of my God: you call him Yah.]


    [My sister was to kill you. Are you a ghost?] the young man, ten years younger than Sathzakara, asked.


    [No, I am not a ghost. Sathzakara tells me you know also of the gift by which I found her as the gift of Eved. She is praying for you. She now follows Yah, as does your grandmother. I gave Sathzakara an excuse not to kill me, which she seems to like. I am here, before your elders, with your sister and parents here also, and they know what I have told them, of the three land-men, and your fear. Have they seen you?]


    [No, I do not think so, unless they seek to lure me out.]


    [Their thoughts are of boredom and of their game, not of hunting.] Jacob said. [You are not injured?]


    [No. I was watching their army march down the valley from the cave when two of these ones came up. One stayed, the younger went back down and returned with the third. They look like they will spend the night here, perhaps even longer. The rest of the army marched away.]


    [You think it looks like they will use the cave as a lookout?]


    [Yes, just as I did.]


    [But they have not explored it?]


    [Not much. If they do, they will find me. I am not well hidden here, but I dare not move.]


    [Was there anything else that they did?]


    [It is strange. When the two came, they carried a drum of thin rope or string. When the one went down, he carried it away again. Do they try to make a speaking-through-string device, like you showed us? It will not work, the string is much too loose.]


    [Ah. I understand. I will tell this to your elders.]


    [What was the excuse you gave her?] Lakara asked.


    [She was a little dizzy after I baptised her. I was holding her hands together anyway for that, and I bound them with one of her hairs. She was very surprised, but did not break the hair. Then as we talked she understood I do not want her as just slave or companion, but as my life-bonded-one.]


    [She said she would never willingly submit to slavery, even for a day.]


    [I would never enslave anyone, even for an hour, so we are well matched. She still carries her knife, I have no weapon.]


    [Then you enslave yourself to my sister?]


    [No. I ask that she think of uniting with me. It is a big decision and must be her choice.]


    [You wait for her to choose you?]


    [Of course.]


    [What if she says no?]


    [Five years ago, God said she will say yes eventually. I trust Him who knows the future. I have waited five years to ask her; I can wait a little longer. But now I must talk to your elders.]


    [I think she will choose you, you are both equally crazy.]


    Jacob laughed ¡°Lakara thinks you will choose me, Sathzakara, for we are equally crazy.¡±


    Sathzakara smiled at the joke, but said nothing.


    ¡°My grandson always was a good judge of character.¡± Japathe said with her own smile. ¡°What of the men?¡±


    Jacob relayed what he''d learned from Lakara. Then he explained about the telegraph wire. ¡°They are using the cave as a lookout. With the wire, they can send news of whatever they see, very quickly. They could signal that there are strangely dressed people coming, that they are under attack, or that they have found a strange man with webbed toes.¡±


    ¡°You say it is not enough to make sure they do not leave?¡± Sathzakara said.


    ¡°It is not enough.¡±


    ¡°Are they your tribe?¡±


    ¡°No. I do not know if they are allies or enemies of my tribe, but it would not help, even if they were of my tribe, from my own village. If they have orders to shoot people who approach, then the best I could hope for is a warning that I should turn around.¡±


    ¡°So if Sathzakara were a warrior from your people, you would be dead?¡± one of the elders asked pointedly.


    ¡°It is possible. But if Sathzakara were a warrior from my people, she would be a he. Our women are not warriors.¡±


    ¡°A silly conceit.¡± Sathzakara said.


    ¡°Not so silly.¡± Karella disagreed. ¡°It keeps the men from showing off all the time. But what of my son?¡±


    ¡°If there will be an attack on the men, the wire must be cut first, and cutting it may be dangerous, like the eel that makes fish die so it can eat them. I do not know what tools you have, but it would be better if it seems natural, like a tree falling and breaking the wire, or a rock-fall. Perhaps there will be no need to attack them with my help.¡±


    ¡°You would help us against your people?¡±


    ¡°Their names are not the names of people from my tribe. They are people who would kill my friends and those I care for because of where they live or who God has made them.¡±


    ¡°So you feel no ties to these land-men?¡±


    ¡°I would prefer that they not be killed, because killing needlessly is not good in the sight of my God, but I feel less ties to these men than any of the mer. If they are there to watch the valley and warn of approaching soldiers, I am sure they have orders of what to do if the wire is broken, I expect it will be that one man tries to mend the wire, while the other two guard him against an ambush.¡±


    ¡°You could break this wire?¡±


    ¡°Not from here.¡±


    The elders held hands, to discuss this. Eventually, the leader stood. ¡°Sathzakara, you seem as unwilling to let go of this man as you were to kill him. We do not wish to kill any servant of Yah, but both of your loyalties are questioned. Go with your land-man, if he can secure the return of your brother and any other that go with you, we will trust him further. If not, it would be better neither of you return. But first, you will vow to protect the secret, even in death.¡±

 The other big secret 1: Must He Die? / Ch. 2:Telegraph

    <h2>The other big secret 1: Must He Die? / Ch. 2:Telegraph</h2>


    </a>Saturday, September the 19th, 1914, early morning.


    ¡°These clothes are so... I don''t even know what to call them. Why do you make me wear them.¡±


    They were speaking English. Jacob had marvelled how quickly Sathzakara had picked up the language from him over the years. Now it might save their lives.


    ¡°I''m glad your scavengers had found these in the wreck. You are a very beautiful woman, Sathzakara, but it is not normal for land-men to see every contour of the women they walk amongst. It took me some time to get used to it.¡±


    ¡°Stop exaggerating, Jacob.¡± she liked that word. ¡°You sound like my normal clothes hide nothing.¡±


    ¡°By the standards of landsmen, they don''t. I do not want to expose you like that, especially to soldiers, who have a bad reputation.¡±


    ¡°I don''t know if I can fight in these.¡±


    ¡°You''re not here to fight, remember?¡± Jacob pointed out, reasonably.


    ¡°Ha! You just wanted to dress me up in this useless, frilly thing.¡±


    ¡°It is a disguise. If people see us now, as long as I speak, which is what they will expect, they might accept we are travellers visiting this beautiful island, and only question us. If you wore your normal clothes...¡±


    ¡°I would be put in a tank, I know.¡±


    ¡°If you survive being raped.¡± he said grimly.


    ¡°I do not know that word.¡±


    ¡°Chained, disarmed, dishonoured, left for dead or passed on to another.¡±


    ¡°Aiii.¡± her hand reached for her dagger, which of course she did not wear openly. ¡°Such are you landsmen?¡±


    ¡°Not me, not most men. But when bad men have weapons, and the women are not normally warriors...¡±


    ¡°Your culture treats your women badly, land-man.¡±


    ¡°I cannot disagree. But nor is yours so good, mer-maid who expected to be chained and treated as a slave, and cast away when the man tired of her.¡±


    ¡°But yours is a Christian culture!¡±


    ¡°Not very. We do not worship idols as openly as your people, and it would be far worse if not for Christian teaching, I am sure, but I do not call my culture Christian, though many do.¡±


    They walked on in silence a little longer, mourning the failings of their people. Until eventually she asked ¡°You are sure there are no people near?¡±


    ¡°Yes. Why?¡±


    ¡°I would like to sit beside you for a while, and have your arms around me. I am scared. I am scared for my brother, I am scared I cannot fight in these clothes, I am scared of the evil that men may do to me if I cannot fight. I am scared that we are so far from water and escape. I am scared that the elders threaten exile or death.¡±


    ¡°We can sit a while.¡± he took a deep breath. ¡°But there is something else I must tell you about my culture.¡±


    ¡°I can guess. If your women are not warriors, then a man and a woman who travel alone will not be just friends.¡±


    ¡°You are right. Brother and sister, perhaps. A married couple, normally. An engaged couple? It would cause gossip, and scandal walking where there is no-one else.¡±


    ¡°No one will believe us if we pretend to be brother and sister.¡±


    ¡°No.¡±


    ¡°So, shall we pretend to be engaged or married?¡± she asked, looking into his face.


    ¡°What do you think is best?¡±


    She smiled at him and said ¡°I want your arm around me, now as we sit, and even as we walk.¡±


    ¡°What does walking with my arm around you mean in your culture, Sathzakara?¡±


    ¡°It means you are giving me comfort.¡±


    ¡°Oh, is that all?¡± he said, and put his arm around her. She nestled into his embrace and rested her head on his shoulder, though careful still to avoid skin contact.


    ¡°I accept the life-bond, Jacob. I decided it last night, but there was no time to tell you.¡±


    ¡°You''ve made me a very happy man. What are your culture''s rules on kissing? In mine it is acceptable for an engaged couple.¡±


    She answered with her hand behind his head and her lips on his.


    After a while she unhid her thoughts [I have misled you, Jacob. Embracing like this also means that we share a bed and I do not mind. I want us to be married. My fear pushes me further: I do not want the first man to touch me be any other than you. I was stupid not to tell you before we left, then we could have taken vows in public and be life-bonded.]


    [{shock} So quickly?]


    [That is not quick. It has been twenty-four hours since you bound my wrists. I would not still be a virgin if you followed that through.]


    [It was the wrong thing to do.]


    [It was all either of us knew of my culture. How long is it among you between the agreement and the vows? A week?]


    [That would be a very fast wedding, dishonourable. An engagement of a year is not uncommon, but often it is longer.]


    [Do not tease.]


    [I am serious. It gives time for thought, for second thoughts, for planning the wedding and for making the wedding dress ¡ª which makes what you wear now look plain and utilitarian, for sending out the invitations and so on.]


    [I will not wait a year, Jacob. We have no need of second thoughts, God has said we will be one, I refuse to wear anything other than my proper clothes, and we can invite whoever we meet. So I will force you to take your vows at knife-point if you try to make me wait longer than a week.]


    He laughed. ¡°What about arranging the party?¡±


    ¡°No problem at all. My mother is cooking food today, for a party to celebrate my brother''s release. I''m sure he won''t mind sharing. If we fail, then there will still be a need for food, but we will not be welcome. You are sure the plan will work?¡±


    ¡°I do not know exactly where the wire goes, but I have seen where the soldiers watch the valley. They cannot see this approach.¡±


    ¡°Maybe because there is a precipice.¡± she suggested.


    ¡°Is there? I didn''t see one.¡±


    ¡°I hope not. There are some steep places.¡±


    ¡°Let''s go and find out. But first, among my people, it is normal for a married woman to wear a ring.¡±


    ¡°I wondered why you wanted me to try on those rings.¡±


    ¡°If someone stops us, they will look for it, and decide if you are an honourable woman or not. I would much prefer them to think you honorable.¡±


    ¡°Then I will wear it.¡±


    <hr>


    [Jacob?] It was Mabel''s call. She sounded worried.


    [Hello, Mabel! Is there a problem?] Jacob deliberately included Sathzakara in his reply.


    [I''m a naughty woman, I''ve been checking where you are.] she said, entirely without remorse.


    [Oh yes?] he said carefully.


    [You''re in a war zone.]


    [I rather thought I might be.]


    [How wide have you looked? There is a major army converging on your little paradise, and you look like you''re heading for the exact centre of their route. And please can you tell me who Sathzakara is, how you are out of your safe little cave, and what you''re doing holding her that closely?]


    [Did you let her hear that question?]


    [I didn''t know she could. Sorry for excluding you, Sathzakara. I asked what Jacob''s doing out of his cave, and why you''re heading into a battle.]


    [She also asked what we''re doing cuddling in the middle of a war-zone.] Jacob added [Let me make the introductions: Mabel is a distant cousin of mine, and I gave her and her husband my house. Sathzakara is a warrior who has just agreed to be my wife, and has threatened to carve out my tripes if I insist on the engagement being more than a week long. Since the normal practice amongst them is that the man somehow disarms his intended concubine and drags her to his bed in chains, long engagements aren''t exactly the norm. I''ve been rather revolutionary in actually asking.]


    [That''s terrible!] Mabel thought.


    [So is walking around with no weapons, living in fear that the next man you meet might not be able to control himself.] Sathzakara replied. [How can you live like that? And these frilly clothes you wear! How am I expected to fight in them? Let alone swim?]


    [Mabel, Sathzakara''s brother''s got himself stuck in a cave some soldiers seem to be using as a lookout post. I thought that it might be safer if we look like a couple out for a cross-country walk, than if Sathzakara was in her full war-kit.]


    [Stupid idea. I can''t get my sword or knife out easily, and he made me leave both my spear and my bow behind.] Sathzakara complained.


    [We''re hoping that if we cut their telegraph wire then they''ll come out of the cave to fix the wire. That way he can escape without anyone being any the wiser, and no blood spilled.]


    [What if they don''t all leave the cave?] Mabel asked.


    [Then we''re in trouble, and Sathzakara probably gets to use her blowpipe.]


    [At least he let me keep that.] she chipped in.


    [Which at least looks enough like a home-made flute to pass a glance or two.]


    [Couldn''t he just pretend to have been asleep in the cave and run off?]


    [Not really.] Jacob said. [He''s in camouflage, for one reason. They''ll assume he was spying on them, which is entirely correct, just not for the reason they''ll assume.]


    [I''m really intrigued how and why neither of the armies nor peasants know your people are there, Sathzakara ¡ª I admit I checked.]


    [We much prefer it that way.] Sathzakara said. [We''re an ancient people, Mabel. Our isolation from the rest of humanity has been nearly total. We did not talk much to you since Homer. Jacob should consider himself a very blessed man, that he still breathes after seeking me out. Sometimes our people have walked among you for a time. One of us learned Hebrew from Jonah, another Latin from a wounded soldier, another Spanish from a pirate. Now that we see the world changing so much, from Jacob we learn English.]


    [Your books go back so long?] Mabel asked.


    [We do not often use books, they take so long to write and rot too easily. We tell stories voice to ear and mind to mind ¡ª most of us have what Jacob calls the power.]


    [And if you want living proof that people can memorise and pass on stories for generations, I think I''m holding her hand.]


    [And one of you knew Jonah?]


    [We know the tale of Jonah, how he met his fish, and what he did after he left Nineveh, we know of Balaam son of Beor with his donkey, and of Jason and his Argonauts and of Noah and of Gilgamesh''s unpronouncable friend who survived the flood, of Adam and Eve and the serpent crusher. We know the names of many gods, but though we did not forget Yah, none of us have worshipped him since his people were killed when my Grandmother was young. Now Jacob has told us of him anew, and that the promised serpent crusher has truly come: some denied this back then, my grandmother says.]


    [Jacob, you knew this when you left home?]


    [Not really. Mabel, I knew something else. But I must ask you again, do not use your gift on Sathzakara''s people. It is not yet God''s timing.]


    [May we talk again, Sathzakara?] Mabel asked.


    [Talking is acceptable, as long as you vow not to tell. I might even have some questions for you, without Jacob listening. But we are approaching our small encounter with this invasion force.]


    [You are really a warrior? You have killed?]


    [On land or at sea, I have killed dangerous animals with no legs, four legs, eight legs, ten legs and yes, two legs. Mostly, I leave the birds alone, they''re not very dangerous, but men are the most dangerous creature on the planet. I do not fight for pride or rank or position or power, I fight to protect, to defend or to educate. If I fight to educate, then I leave the other alive. Jacob was difficult. He was unarmed, and no threat excepting what he had seen. It is good I did not know of his gift.]


    [You would have killed him?]


    [We have a secret that must remain undisclosed. Our God obviously judges you trustworthy, or I would not talk to you at all. It is dangerous enough to you that I do.]


    [I will tell no one about you. But Jacob, you still have not written. Your lawyer asks me every few months if we have heard from you. I say I''m sure you are alive but can offer no proof. You have two more years before they presume your death.]


    [There was no way I could. I expect there will be no way that I can. Make good use of the legacy, Mabel. Don''t feel at all obliged to fight the process. You two will receive half the estate, the other half will be in a trust until any heirs of mine wish to claim it. Now, God be with you, Mabel, we must concentrate.]


    [God be with you.]


    ¡°What is this talk of your death?¡± Sathzakara asked.


    ¡°It is a legal thing. I am presumed alive at the moment, so money I did not spend sits idle. In two years'' time Mabel and her husband can use that money for good things, like helping their children stay warm or to go to a school where they will learn all they can.¡±


    ¡°That is better, yes. But what is this of heirs?¡±


    ¡°If one of our sons or daughters, or grandsons or granddaughters, or indeed you, need to walk among my people, then money would be very useful. Half of the money I have said should be kept for them to use.¡±


    ¡°It will be kept for ever?¡± she asked.


    ¡°It will become harder to claim the later it is left, but in theory, yes, forever.¡±


    ¡°Perhaps it will be useful one day.¡±


    ¡°It may be. That is why I did it.¡±


    ¡°But you do not expect to return.¡±


    ¡°Your people are my people, the secret must be preserved.¡± Jacob replied.


    ¡°Speaking of which, what do you see?¡±


    Jacob looked for soldiers in the area. He saw the three in the cave there and the three near the point there, who probably wished they had been assigned the cave. Neither group could see into the part of the valley where they were. He sent Sathzakara the image.


    ¡°That''s what you see from your gift?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°Such detail!¡±


    ¡°God knows all things.¡±


    ¡°We can descend here, can we not?¡±


    ¡°Yes. And there is the wire, see? On the tree near that overhang?¡± It was glinting in the September sun, well off the valley floor. It wasn''t really very far, a few hundred metres, perhaps, but it would take quite a lot of climbing down to get there, then there was the scramble up the rocks on the other side.


    ¡°Yes. I hope you do not want to bring down that rock.¡±


    ¡°The tree would probably be easier. Its falling would surely break the wire.¡±


    ¡°How will you make the tree fall? Surely not by cutting it.¡±


    ¡°No, I hope not. But I must see it close to.¡±


    ¡°When the soldiers find the wire is broken, they will come, yes?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°The valley is straight here. If we return this way, the soldiers could run to where they can see us in ten minutes. I do not doubt that I could outrun them, but you have been in a cave for years. Even now I see the strain on your face, though you have tried to stay fit.¡±


    ¡°My beloved, you are entirely correct.¡± He shrugged his shoulders ¡°When we are closer, I will know how likely they are to know there is a problem immediately.¡±


    Sathzakara felt a thrill as he spoke of his feelings for her, but tried to concentrate on the matter in hand. ¡°Those tools in your bag? They are useful?¡±


    ¡°Yes. They are a god-send. How did you get them?¡±


    ¡°Lots of things fall into the sea.¡±


    ¡°I did not think you collected them all, before they got very wet.¡±


    She pulled a face. ¡°You are right. The previous owner of these had an accident. He was working close to the water, on a ledge beside his boat, with his feet in the water. It was a hot day, perhaps to stay cool, I don''t know. His tools were loose on the plank, but he was tied on, maybe to save him from falling in. He was intent on his work and did not see the shark my sisters an I were chasing away until it was too close to him. He screamed but could not free himself, and his thrashing attracted the shark. We were too far to save him, but saw it happen.¡±


    ¡°I hope we can save your brother. If we are to be stopped by soldiers, we must not have the tools, you know. They must not even see us get rid of them.¡±


    ¡°I know. But how will the tools tell you?¡±


    ¡°There are different ways that they can send messages. Perhaps it is a single wire telegraph system without voltage, perhaps it is a two-wire telegraph system with or without voltage, perhaps it is a telephone. If there is voltage, then we must assume they will know immediately. This device will tell me that. If they will not know immediately then we can make it look natural, move away as quickly as we can, and hopefully no one will ever look for us.¡±


    ¡°And if they will know immediately?¡±


    ¡°We then will have a problem, perhaps with a different solution.¡±


    ¡°And what is voltage, how do we recognise it? And how do we kill it or cut it off?¡±


    He stifled his urge to laugh, knowing it would hurt her. ¡°We do talk about killing and cutting off voltages, but metaphorically, but not literally. Voltage is what makes the signal go down the wire, and like the power, you cannot see it, only touch it. Voltage is what makes your hair stand on end when you brush it on a very dry day, and it is what the eel makes, and you know that touching the eel is not a good thing.¡± He saw her shudder. Voltage many times greater than the eel can make is what makes lightning. But those are great voltages. A big voltage can throw people across a room or kill, a medium voltage feels like a small bite if we touch it, a small voltage inside us is what makes our muscles move.¡±


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    ¡°So the eel makes a big voltage to make our muscles move. And our hearts are muscles, so it can kill.¡±


    ¡°Yes, exactly!¡± He was amazed. He knew he shouldn''t be, they were not simple barbarians, after all, but she grasped modern scientific ideas so quickly, sometimes.


    ¡°We call it spark.¡± she said.


    ¡°You know it?¡±


    ¡°We gather or make metals, we have plenty of sea water. You do not put different metals together or spark from copper will eat the iron, and spark from gold will eat the copper. You must take care with it. Children use it to annoy each other, of course.¡±


    ¡°Of course.¡± he agreed, still getting his head around the idea that the mer might take something for granted that had only been known among land-men for a little more than a century.


    ¡°So the wire may have spark in it. From a pile of metals?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡± he said, weakly.


    ¡°Interesting. And you land-men use it to talk to each other. That makes sense. And your device there measures spark?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡± he said, wondering if all his scientific knowledge was going to be this obvious to her. ¡°You''ve surprised me again, beloved.¡±


    ¡°Until this is over, can you stop calling me that?¡± she asked, as a shiver ran down her back.


    ¡°Can I ask why? Is it inappropriate?¡±


    ¡°It does strange things to my emotions and I think we need to stay focussed.¡±


    ¡°Oh, OK.¡±


    ¡°What surprised you?¡±


    ¡°Your knowledge of electricity. It is fairly new for us.¡±


    ¡°We know of it, but I think your people use it, don''t you?¡±


    ¡°That is true,¡± he said, starting to feel his ethnic pride reasserting itself.


    What she said next quickly burst his bubble. ¡°We just don''t bother any more, most of us. It makes people lazy. There is nothing new under the sun, after all, is there? But if the prophesy is for now we''ll need to start using it again, I expect.¡±


    ¡°I''m getting more and more confused, Sathzakara, your people have stopped using electricity?¡±


    ¡°Don''t worry, Jacob, we''ll need you. I''ll explain it all later. Let''s concentrate on freeing my brother.¡±


    <hr>


    It was a single strand of copper wire ¡ª a telegraph. He hadn''t really expected anything else. But what sort?


    ¡°Is there spark?¡± Sathzakara asked.


    ¡°A little, or maybe a lot but the earth here is too dry.¡± Jacob said, looking mournfully at the sandy soil. He was tired.


    ¡°So we need to check again, over there, near the stream?¡±


    ¡°I suppose so.¡± he said, reluctant to retrace their steps.


    ¡°Or you could stay here and think of solutions, I could check. I just do what you did?¡± he nodded, wearily.


    ¡°One end in the soil, the other touching the wire, but don''t touch it yourself.¡± He explained it, adding more details and showing her how to hold the probe.


    ¡°And you need to check that they''re still a long way away.¡± she reminded him. The last thing they needed was to be surprised by a patrol.


    ¡°You are correct as usual.¡± he agreed, and checked. ¡°They''re all still in position, and the approaching armies are still a long way away.¡±


    She looked at him in horror ¡°You didn''t say there were approaching armies.¡±


    ¡°Sorry, that''s why Mabel was worried enough to call. By my guess, they''ll camp before entering this valley, but of course they might send scouts.¡±


    ¡°And Lakara is still OK?¡±


    ¡°Yes, though stiff, he says.¡±


    ¡°He''ll have lots of time to solve that problem as he runs away.¡±


    ¡°I hope I can.¡±


    ¡°When we''ve returned home and said our vows at the home-coming party, I''ll give your poor tired leg-muscles a massage.¡± She offered, with such a smouldering look that that almost brought him to his knees.


    ¡°I thought we were supposed to be staying focussed on this?¡±


    ¡°We are. You work out how to rescue my brother, Jacob, then I can start thinking of rewarding you.¡± With that she flitted down the rocks as though she was a squirrel, carrying the galvanometer. Jacob watched her go. He knew what he saw in her, but he was amazed that she seemed to have fallen in love with him. He pulled his thoughts back to the thought in hand. Jacob studied the tree. It was leaning significantly, but there seemed to be far more soil here than he''d hoped for. He couldn''t see any signs of roots on the surface, even, so he guessed he had no hope of toppling the tree like he''d hoped. He gave it a heavy push, but it didn''t even budge. He looked at the branch the wire was hooked on, thinking that might suffice. It wasn''t especially healthy, but it looked big enough to hold his weight easily. He pulled on it, and judged that it would take two or three people to break it. The tree wasn''t going to be any good without an axe, so he might just as well cut the wire.


    He looked up. The overhanging rock did have a fissure line, but surely


    it wasn''t that unbalanced or it would have fallen years ago. He doubted the tools he had would make it shift, and even if they could make it fall, they needed to be on the other side of the valley to get away, and freshly tumbled rock wasn''t exactly a good running surface. Jacob looked up and down the valley. Neither the tree nor the rocks were a good idea. He''d been so focussed on getting to the tree he hadn''t thought of looking for other opportunities for engineering a seemingly natural break in the wire. He followed the route the wire layers must have followed, from high point to high point, seeking to avoid the tread of boots or horse''s hooves along the road at the valley floor. But there was one spot, a little past Sathzakara where it ran over some rocks, that might prove possible. The wire was swinging back and forth on one side of the rocks, in the breeze, seemingly independent from the other side. That might mean it was trapped. It wouldn''t be entirely natural looking, but maybe he could make it look like the rock had cut it. He went to meet his intended wife.


    ¡°I don''t understand it.¡± she told him when he got there ¡°The needle is high, low, high, low. You said it ought to be steady!¡±


    ¡°I did. They must be sending a message. Let me see.¡±


    He could see the galvanometer just as the message came to an end. He checked the soldiers'' thoughts. It had been a routine check. Nothing to do but watch for an hour, so there was time for a few games of cards.


    ¡°I checked their thoughts.¡± He reported. ¡°It was just a routine checking in. They don''t expect to do anything for an hour.¡± He checked the galvanometer again. The voltage was at zero. ¡°So we''ve got that long to break it and escape?¡± she said, practically.


    ¡°Yes, there''s no voltage now, so unless the other end think of something else to send, that''s when they''ll discover our handiwork.¡±


    ¡°So, we can just cut it and run?¡±


    ¡°I was thinking about the way it''s going between those rocks.¡±


    ¡°Jacob, with an hour we can be going down the other edge of this plateau, out of sight. With only half an hour...¡±


    ¡°I know, we''ll be in sight if they look in the right direction. But if we make it obvious, then we''ll have them all over our trail, and they might find Lakara when they''re looking for us. Can we at least look at the rocks?¡±


    ¡°Of course. Then, once you realise it''ll take too long, we can do it my way.¡± She declared, with a smile.


    <hr>


    [Lakara, it is done. Their signalling wire is broken, and they will discover this in about three quarters of an hour, we are going to the South, over the plateau. Sathzakara says to meet us where you killed the boar this spring, unless you have a better idea.]


    [That is a good place, yes. You pulled down a tree?]


    [No. The soldiers had almost done our work for us. The wire was rubbing on a very sharp rock, and had gone part way through anyway. We helped make it thinner and then all we needed to do was pretend to be a heavy bird and pull down on one side. At least two will leave you soon, I hope.]


    [Good. If one stays, then I must try to knock him out before he sees me or I must kill him, I think.]


    [No, no, we will be near the cave, I think. If one or two leave, we will come to your aid.]


    [Either you are not where I thought you were, or South is not where you think it is.]


    [Roughly South. Maybe south-west. We will seek to be off the plateau, but close to you. The soldiers will take perhaps half an hour to find the break, we hope to be quarter of an hour from you. Does that make sense?]


    [Three against one is better than one against one. Thank you.]


    [I am not such a good fighter that I would help much, but I can be a decoy, and I understand your sister is an expert with the blowpipe.]


    [Yes, Sath is very good.]


    [I will call you every few minutes, be patient.]


    Jacob was breathing heavily by the time they reached the plateau, but that didn''t stop him asking his beloved something, just made him choose how.


    [Sathzakara, I have two more questions for you.]


    [Ask away, curious one.] she replied.


    [Firstly, when I call you Sathzakara and others, like your brother, call you Sath, is that putting a distance between us, or am I showing you honour and love that I do not reduce your syllables?]


    [When you say it as though it is the most precious thing in the world to you, and you almost seem to wish it would not end, then you show me honour and love, but I am used to the short form from my friends, and yes, when you say it normally, maybe it does put distance between us. But you are not comfortable with the short form, are you?]


    [I was your prisoner, you told me Sathzakara, and I did not want to use a name I had not been told to use. Also, among us I think your name would be shortened to Sathie, or something like that.]


    [You shorten a name and then make it longer?]


    [Yes, well, I guess the -y is sort of a feminine or a diminutive, but not always. Catherine might be Cath or Kate, Cathy or Katie, my name is Jacob, some people shorten it to Jake or sometimes Jack, a young child might be Jakie. Victoria was the name of our queen, but I know young women who are called after her but named Vicky by their friends. But Vick is normal for Victor, a man''s name. It is complicated, and I don''t really know what the rules are.]


    [But what would you feel more comfortable calling me?]


    [I can change to Sath if you wish me to. But I think, when we are married, I can most imagine myself breathing ''Oh my Sathie, I love you so much.'' into your ear or your mind.{love}]


    Shivers went up and down her spine again [{love} I think I might like that. But maybe not in public, or now. It engages too much of my mind, and we must stay alert. Is your other question equally dangerous?]


    [Why did you come out of the cave? You could have killed me or waited for me to go away, couldn''t you?]


    [I heard you decide something about me. I didn''t understand it, but it was obvious you''d seen me. You didn''t look hostile or dangerous, sitting there with your Bible.]


    [But I was too far away to hear, surely?]


    [Not that far, Jacob. I wasn''t far into the cave, there was probably only fifteen or twenty steps between us.]


    [We land-people who can hear thoughts can only hear thoughts three or four steps away.]


    [No wonder you can''t hear thoughts underwater, then. Our range is short there, yours must be minuscule.]


    [I do wonder how thought-hearing works.]


    [Thought like a true engineer!]


    [Thank you. Does that mean you''d never wonder?]


    [Not quite, but I can''t imagine ever knowing, so it''s in the category of... I don''t know, why the sky is blue, it''s one of the gods'' mysteries.]


    [If I said that someone from my people has worked that out, and I could try to explain it to you, would that diminish the gods?]


    [You can tell me why the sky is blue?]


    [Yes, it might take a long time though.]


    [I think we''re planning to spend the rest of our lives together, will that do?]


    [{anticipation}Yes, I think so. But I''d better check where the soldiers are.]


    [Yes, you should.]


    First, Jacob checked with Lakara, who reported from his shadow at the back of the cave that the soldiers sounded like they were playing cards. Then Jacob checked for soldiers in the area. There didn''t seem to be anything out of the ordinary. Finally he checked for people knowing or suspecting the wire was broken. Just the three of them. All seemed to be going to plan.


    <hr>


    As they started the descent from the plateau, Jacob checked again, but this time, there was concern in a few places up and down the valley. Jacob realised that it must be that the wire didn''t just serve the one lookout post. The lookouts had been placed about every four miles, and the soldiers beyond the break had already been unable to report in, and they suspected the wire. In the temporary headquarters, ten miles past the end of the valley, there were also a growing number of red dots.


    Jacob checked the telegraph operator in the cave. He was playing cards, but had determined to send out a call on the wire. He''d connected the headphones before this round of the game, since it was almost time for their call. Now, admittedly he hadn''t been listening to them properly, but normally he''d hear the clicks of HQ''s powerful signal, even when he didn''t have them on. This time he hadn''t heard much at all. He''d just win this game first...


    ¡°I should have thought of it, Sath, the wire is used by all the lookout posts along the valley. A growing number of people know there is a problem, just no one in Lakara''s cave yet. But the man who uses the equipment is wondering if there''s something wrong, but not enough to interrupt the game he thinks he''s winning.¡±


    ¡°So they might approach from the other end and fix it before this dedicated man does his job?¡±


    ¡°It''s possible, if the card player can''t stop playing. But he ought to obey his orders and check soon.¡±


    ¡°I hope he does.¡±


    ¡°I''ve got a better idea, let''s pray he does.¡±


    <hr>


    The soldier lost the game, and therefore the lighter which his sweetheart had given him. That was going to be hard to explain. Putting his headphones on, he heard the clicks of the message, CQ SS 4 5 6 CQ SS 4 5 6 CQD DE SS7 8 9 WR BRKN CQD WR BRKN ¡ª Calling stations 4 5 & 6, Emergency from stations 7,8 and 9, wire broken. No wonder he hadn''t heard HQ, if there was a break. He was station six at the moment. He quickly replied: CQ S7 DE S6. NEG HQ. NEG SS 4 5 ¡ª Calling station seven from station six. Nothing heard from headquarters nothing from stations four or five. There then came the torrent of abbreviated abuse that he''d earned for not putting his headphones on. He swore at himself a little too. If he''d listend to his hunch he''d still have his lighter. Also, there were some fellow soldiers who''d probably fail to see the funny side of his failing to reply on time, and had to take a long walk because of him. ¡°Get off your tail bones, boys, there''s a broken wire to HQ. You know the drill.¡±


    Technically one of them outranked him, but he had age and experience in the army, which counted a lot, too. They knew the drill, indeed. A lookout post with no communication to HQ was no use. It might be sabotage, it might be just chance. First a survey for enemy action, then a quick jog along the wire, looking for problems. But a lookout without anyone looking was no use either. Two of them were telegraph operators, but one had the rank of ''senior''.


    The ''senior operator'' was much younger than his ''junior'', but the more expert problem solver, and he knew his way around high voltages. The ''junior operator'', who''d just been swearing, had spotted a cushy job, learned Morse code to get him this easy job, and wasn''t about to admit to being able to spot when what should be a continuous length of wire had suddenly turned into two. That way he could stay up here in the nice safe cave, away from bullets and ambushes, and even avoid the blisters. Oh it was such a hard life, sometimes, unless you knew the system. ¡°I''ll keep on calling station five, of course. You''ll be taking the spare station, sir?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡± the young man replied, embarrassed at his seniority, and not looking forward to carrying the heavy, sensitive equipment. ¡°I''ll let you know when we''ve found the break.¡± The drill was that, as quickly as they could, they''d follow the wire and every few hundred yards stop to check for his signal on the wire.


    <hr>


    [Lakara, the old one is going to stay. He''ll be sending a signal, so they can check to see where the break is.]


    [So I must wait more?]


    [I think so. They might turn back if he stops sending.]


    [Or if he sends that he''s seen you coming.]


    [True, I''ll talk to your sister.]


    ¡°Sath, Lakara points out that the soldier might transmit that he sees us.¡±


    ¡°So, do we wait until they get to the break?¡±


    ¡°Maybe. It will give us the longest time to escape, but we cannot approach the cave without being seen.¡±


    ¡°So we let him see us.¡±


    ¡°And then he sends that there are people here, and then we knock him out and the whole army comes to look for us.¡±


    ¡°Unless their enemy does it.¡±


    ¡°Pardon?¡±


    ¡°If they believe it is an enemy operation, then they will not look for us. So, we split up, and cut the wire, out of his sight, both sides. We don''t bother making it look natural. He loses contact with everyone, and looks out of the cave. Maybe we let him catch glimpses of us, so he tries to shoot at us. Lakara can move quietly while he does this and kill him. If the soldier didn''t shoot, Lakara shoots a few times with his gun. We all disappear.¡±


    ¡°Do we have to kill him?¡±


    ¡°It is best.¡± she said, practically, ¡°There is a high chance that he sees you or me. Neither of us look like enemy soldiers.¡±


    ¡°What if Lakara tries to knock him out, when he first investigates the wires?¡±


    ¡°You don''t like killing.¡±


    ¡°No. This man is not my enemy. He is a lazy, selfish, stupid man who gambles with gifts from his beloved. He is not a good soldier, but still, he is a human, made in the image of God. I do not want him damned because it is safer for me. We will go with your plan, but I will be the one who is a target for him.¡±


    Sathzakara looked at Jacob for what seemed like minutes, then nodded. ¡°If you get wounded, I will be very very cross with you, Jacob.¡± Then she looked down at the stream, pulled a face at its colour, and said, ¡°But I think I have a better idea, if we can cut the wire. Do you think he''d shoot a pretty mermaid who just happened to leap out of the water onto a rock outside his cave and comb her hair? It''s an old trick, but it might work. The stream''s big enough for me to swim down, I think. Then Lakara can bash him on the head.¡±


    ¡°What of the secret?¡±


    ¡°A lone soldier, known to be lazy, fails in his duty and makes up some story about seeing a mermaid get out of a muddy stream? I don''t think he''s what you''d call a credible witness.¡±


    ¡°Why would he fail in his duty?¡±


    ¡°It''s going to be your job to make it look like he fell over and broke things, or something like that. I don''t suppose there''s any alcohol up there? You''ll have about three minutes.¡±


    ¡°Soldiers almost always have some with them, don''t they? So we somehow make it look like he got drunk, broke his set, and made up stories about a mermaid and someone knocking him out?¡±


    ¡°What do you think?¡±


    ¡°It''s crazy, but I suppose it might work.¡±


    ¡°Much better than getting you shot.¡±


    ¡°As long as you don''t get shot.¡±


    ¡°Or get seen making my get-away. Do you think he might shoot?¡±


    ¡°I''ll certainly keep watch on his thoughts.¡±


    ¡°We''ll be cutting it very fine, you know. And we will need to cut those wires, so that''ll leave someone a mystery to solve.¡±


    ¡°Especially if we don''t find any drink.¡±


    <hr>


    It almost went entirely to plan, and he didn''t shoot Sathzakara. She''d left her ''Western'' clothes where they separated, and they''d cut the wires just after the two from the cave had found the break. Sathzakara slipped into the stream, and then with a flip of her ''tail'' she surged out of the water onto a rock she''d selected earlier, comb in hand. As expected, he half jumped out of his skin when he saw her. The problem came with what he did next. He backed into the cave in absolute terror, thinking he''d seen some kind of demoness come for his soul. He tripped over the wireless apparatus himself, smashing it and knocked himself out. Lakara didn''t even need to touch him. After a hasty conference they decided they should just depart quickly, but Lakara did splash some of the man''s brandy flask onto his clothes and left it in his hand.


    ¡°I think I''m insulted.¡± Sathzakara said, as at Jacob''s insistence, she pulled her disguise back on.


    ¡°Why? He saw your perfect beauty and not believing any human could be so perfect he decided you must be a supernatural creature.¡± Jacob said.


    ¡°Ha. You''re just saying that because you''re biassed.¡±


    ¡°I''m just glad he knocked himself out.¡± Lakara said. ¡°I almost couldn''t move after crouching there so long.¡±


    ¡°Where are the soldiers?¡±


    ¡°Coming.¡± Jacob said. ¡°Coming quite quickly.¡±


    ¡°If we''d known he''d react like that...¡± Lakara said.


    ¡°We couldn''t really take the risk.¡± Jacob said. ¡°He might have signalled something. We''ve got about ten minutes before the soldiers get there. If he wakes up then he''s going to say ''look, that''s where she sat.'' and have a wet rock to point at.¡±


    ¡°And then they might look along the river and see my footprints, I know.¡±


    Sathzakara said. ¡°Jacob, if they follow, then I''m not going to try to spare them.¡±


    ¡°I know.¡±


    <hr>


    ¡°The water-spirit sat there, see, where the rock''s wet!¡±


    ¡°You decided to ease the boredom and drown your sorrows with a little drink did you?¡±


    ¡°No! I never did. She was there! She flipped her tail and sat there, looking right into my eyes. She''d come for my soul, I tell you!¡±


    ¡°And this was after you''d tripped over the coil and smashed it, I suppose. It''s a good job we''ve got the spare set.¡±


    ¡°She cut the wire by her magic.¡± the junior operator said.


    ¡°Look, I sent upstream and down that we''ve found the break, transmission silence please.¡±


    ¡°But all I got was that you''d found the break, and then an incomplete word. Then upstream was sent a repeat request and that got cut off. And I looked out of the entrance, expecting to see a squad of enemy commandos or something, and there was this weird wave coming down the stream, and there she was, on that stone there, naked from the waist up and fish from the waist down, dangling her tail in water, and combing her hair. I tripped over in shock.¡±


    ¡°Man, you tell the craziest tales when you''re drunk, and you totally left the booze out of your story, didn''t you?¡± the soldier who''d arrested him said. ¡°Save it for the court-marshal. What self-respecting mermaid would swim in that muddy stream?¡±


    ¡°I''m not drunk!¡±


    ¡°Sure smells like it.¡±


    ¡°The line''s totally dead.¡± the senior operator said.


    ¡°The demoness cut the line, so she could claim my soul.¡±


    He ignored that, "Someone did. Sergeant, take the prisoner upstream and look for breaks. I''m sure he can clean some wires and knot them together. I''ll go downstream and tell HQ. We must fix that wire. I don''t know what our drunk sailor here really saw, but while that first one might have been chance, this must have been enemy action. Keep your eyes peeled, there must be a couple of saboteurs around. Maybe planning to hide troop movements.¡±


    <hr>


    The head of the council of elders spoke. ¡°Sathzakara Karella Lamura, by deliberately revealing yourself to this lone man you have used a desperate measure, but we appreciate your motives. You left no proof of our existence and your brother gave ample reason to throw doubt on the man''s words. The man could have been killed but no doubt the search for who did it would have been greater. We judge you acted with sufficient caution, and we will not punish you for this.


    ¡°Jacob, you have used your knowledge and your abilities to rescue one of the people and preserve the secret. You have honoured the name of your God. You have vowed to Sathzakara that her people will be your people, and that you will stay with us, come what may. With respect, we ask that you repeat that vow before us. You are a stranger and do not know us fully. Sathzakara has shown her willingness to be your educator in this, and to share her life and knowledge with you. We acknowledge this, and accept her choice. But first, we would hear from your own lips who you are, of your people and relatives, of your medicine, your technologies, your religion and your gift. Tell us who you are, Jacob of whom we know only a single name.¡±


    ¡°I know his other names.¡± Sathzakara said, ¡°for he showed me his Bible and they are written there. He spoke openly of it to me, and I told him that it is rare among us to share full names, and he should be more discrete. He is Jacob Isambard Turnbull. Jacob he is named after the servant of Yah we know as Yakuv. Isambard he is named after an engineer of his people, a man who was a genius but whose projects did not always succeed. Turnbull is the name of his family. According to their custom it is passed from father to sons and daughters, and man to his life-bonded. The name a woman has from her father she gives up when she unites with her life-bonded. I also name him Far-seer and Home-giver. I name him Far-seer, because he saw where I was from his homeland, and told no one that the woman he would be life-bonded with was a mer. I name him Home-giver because the house he had from his parents, the thing most valuable in his culture, he gave a friend. Jacob, do you accept these names?¡±


    ¡°I accept these names.¡± he said, formally. [Do I need to name you in return?] he asked her quickly.


    [It''s customary, but you don''t have to.] she thought with a smile.


    ¡°I am not familiar with your customs, but among my people sometimes it is right to respond to a gift with a gift. So hoping not to offend, I offer to Sathzakara the name Giving-warrior, because as a true warrior, she gives without thought of the cost to herself. She gave to me the gift of trust, although at first she did not know me, and more recently she gave the gift of life, though it meant disobeying this council. To the soldier today, though I do not doubt he will be mocked and tried and maybe even executed, she gave a most precious thing: the chance to know death was coming and to turn from his sins. Sathzakara, do you accept this name?¡±


    ¡°I do.¡±


    ¡°I notice that you wear a ring, in the custom of land-women.¡± one of the elders asked. ¡°Might I know its significance?¡±


    ¡°Jacob asked me to wear it, in case we could not avoid meeting land-men today, as a symbol that we are life-bonded. It is not true yet, but we have agreed it will be. He explained that it would not be normal for an honourable man and woman to walk together so far from others if not life-bonded. I do not object to wearing a symbol such as that. I could have taken it off on our return, but...¡± she pulled Jacob''s arm around her. ¡°I plan on making what it symbolises true very soon, plus, it is not easy to remove. Jacob, is there symbolism to a life-bond ring?¡±


    ¡°It is an old custom, from about two thousand years ago, I think, but it might be later or earlier. It is gold ¡ª the metal that does not spoil or rust, and so should our love be. It is unadorned, it does not need anything extra, for our love for one another is sufficient, and does not depend on wealth or health. It is a whole, and constant, without end, for so should our love be for one another.¡±


    ¡°So it in no way symbolises chains, or possession?¡± the elder asked.


    ¡°No! Not in my mind.¡± Jacob replied, then added ¡°It is not really in the culture of my people for a man to wear such a ring, but it is known in other people. It would not offend me at all if you asked me to wear one to match yours, Sathzakara, it would be appropriate, even, since it is neither of our customs.¡±


    ¡°I would indeed like such a visible link.¡± she agreed. ¡°We shall look at the scavengers'' collection.¡±


    ¡°You are certain you will make these vows to each other?¡± Karella asked from beside her daughter.


    ¡°Yes.¡± Jacob and Sathzakara answered, together. ¡°But there is the celebration to arrange.¡± Sathzakara added, winsomely.


    ¡°Not to mention the swimming off for together.¡± Karella said, looking questioningly at the chief elder, who nodded slightly.


    ¡°Jacob Isambard Far-seer Home-giver Turnbull, you think you know what the secret is: that our tribe exists. You are not wrong, but you are not right either. There are many tribes of mer. We are not merely a few thousand, but more than a hundred thousand, perhaps a million. This is also part of the secret, but not all. We trade with the others, and we share information with them, and what the scavengers find is useful for trade. Karella spoke of your swimming away together as part of the ritual of life-bonding. We can understand that, but you cannot swim as we do, not yet. The secret is what makes us mer. Our children are probably better at swimming than you are, but not by much. You are old, mature, so for you the path you must take to swim with your chosen will be more difficult than our children, but it is our will that you visit the place of the secret, and consume what you are given there. Then our people will be your people, and truly you will be mer. Sathzakara knows the way, and it is our will that she prepare you for it.¡±


    ¡°Honourable leader, immediately?¡± Sathzakara asked, and Jacob thought he heard fear in her voice.


    ¡°No! Certainly not. Train him, Sathzakara. Teach him everything, and when you feel he is ready, and you are ready, take him there and provide for him what he needs. It will be harder for him than for us, remember. It will not be over in just a few hours. He will need your presence and your care.¡±


    ¡°Yes, leader.¡± Sathzakara answered.


    ¡°I have three questions for you, Sathzakara. Firstly, do you want this?¡±


    ¡°I want the result, leader. I do not look forward to the journey there.¡±


    ¡°In that you are most wise. The second question: do you believe Jacob will want this, eventually?¡±


    ¡°He has spoken of becoming one with our people. He did not know it was possible, and I did not hope that it would be granted at all, let alone so quickly.¡±


    ¡°Then take your life-bond vows, young ones, we do not mind if you swim or walk away, or even ride in a boat as you seek a place of privacy. Do so in the knowledge that what separates you will not always do so.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, honourable leader.¡± Sathzakara said, then asked: ¡°There was a third question?¡±


    ¡°Yes, are we invited to this party you spoke of? It''s a long long time since there was a live-bonding among us. And, at this end of our lives, we see the wisdom of it that we did not see when we were young and impatient.¡±

 The other big secret 1: Must He Die? / Ch. 3: Nightfall

    <h2>The other big secret 1: Must He Die? / Ch. 3:Nightfall</h2>


    </a>Saturday, September the 19th, 1914. Sunset


    It had been Jacob''s first party amongst the Sathzakara''s people. He hadn''t known what to expect, but he hadn''t expected what it turned out to be.


    There was music, and dancing. He''d sort of expected those things. But the music was all vocal. Sathzakara had sung an account of their trip across the plateau, of cutting the wire that carried ''talking spark''. She didn''t mention Mabel, for which Jacob was grateful, or even of how the soldier had been incapacitated. What she spoke of was Jacob''s use of his gift to see where the soldiers were and how they''d chosen the path they took, interspersed with a chorus about how silly she''d felt in the clothes which had people singing along by half way through the second repetition.


    He realised after a while that it wasn''t just an interesting way of telling the tale, but that it was also educational. Everyone who heard it would know about telegraphs, wedding rings, dress-codes among land-men, and last but not least, that the world was at war. He also realised that he''d not heard Sathzakara sing before, and was very pleasantly surprised by the quality of her voice. Perhaps he was biased, but he felt she was the best singer of the evening. He freely acknowledged bias regarding her unsurpassed beauty, but felt that was only to be expected. After taking their vows, and receiving congratulations from everyone, he asked her ¡°Are you happy?¡±


    ¡°Yes, Jacob, very. I had not looked forward to being dragged anywhere in chains and being treated like a slave, even by one who felt affection for me. I had not looked forward to having to decide if I would try to kill a man for treating me like that, or stay with him just because he''d kidnapped me. I am very grateful you have reminded our people of this other way, and am amazed it ever died out.¡±


    ¡°Perhaps when it did people waited for a long time, as among my old people, and the young men grew impatient. And it is a harder decision, to take vows for life than after all, than to decide to take a companion until you bore of her. But I don''t understand something. No, I don''t understand many things.¡±


    She smiled. ¡°Yes?¡±


    ¡°I don''t understand what you said earlier about you knowing things and not using them, I don''t understand what you said about not using books much. I thought you didn''t at all. I don''t understand what the elders were saying about you training me to become one of you, either. Surely it can''t be learned?¡±


    ¡°In part it is learning, preparing, but there is also something you must drink, a potion. It changes your muscles and your blood: they become darker. It is not pleasant for us, for you it will be probably be very painful. I don''t know how long it will take for you. Perhaps there are records, I don''t know. You never asked me what I was doing in that cave, and if you had I''d have refused to tell you. Now I can tell you: I was collecting an ingredient for the potion. As for the rest: we learned a lot of science from the Greeks, Jacob, and we were never taken over by the brutal Romans, or raided by barbarian hoards. I know you are proud of your steam engines, but the Greeks had them too, or at least the knowledge to make them. Some of our people continue to explore, but for most of us it is not relevant. The ocean is a hostile place and we are too busy staying alive to be civilised. But our great library was never destroyed, and we never had a dark age. So, we have books for things that most people don''t need to know. They are not on paper, because it rots too easily, but on sheets that do not rot. And when our scavengers find a new device we pass it on to to be studied. Thus we keep track of the land-men. Now you have started to use spark, I expect the land-men will know most things our experts know, soon enough, which will make for some difficult decisions. Perhaps we will have to withdraw further, and there will be even less sightings of mermaids and mermen to liven up the fishermen''s evenings.¡±


    ¡°Not to mention photography, and moving pictures.¡±


    ¡°Yes. We will probably withdraw eventually.¡±


    ¡°You don''t think you will come out of hiding?¡±


    ¡°I don''t think so. Perhaps a son or grandson of ours will travel in the world of land-men. It will probably not be too difficult still, but in every generation it becomes harder, and your diseases become stronger. Maybe when the land-men have conquered them, and when they no longer take slaves, or cut people up for being different, only then will we come openly from the sea.¡±


    ¡°I imagine it will cause quite a stir when that happens.¡±


    ¡°Indeed.¡± Sathzakara agreed, ¡°But that''s going to be a long time coming. More immediately, there''s the little issue of us swimming or walking away somewhere.¡±


    ¡°Which is going to be rather difficult with soldiers all over the place, isn''t it?¡±


    ¡°Slightly. Will you let me show you something that''ll make that easier?¡±


    ¡°Of course. What is it?¡±


    ¡°You''ll see. It''s rather old, but still strong.¡±


    <hr>


    Jacob looked at the thing, bobbing in the water of the cave. It looked rather like a Grecian amphora lying on one side, except it seemed to be made of gold, and the proportions were wrong. And of course the size. It was about twenty yards long, and eight yards wide.


    Then he realised that there was a pair of propellers at the tip. Where the neck would have been, there was a rounded end, with what seemed to be a series of pock marks, which he realised could be port-holes. There was what looked unmistakably like an airlock on top.


    ¡°A submarine! It''s not actually made of gold is it?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Not really. There''s a gold skin though. The Spaniards did seem to like overloading their treasure ships. Very handy metal, gold, when you''re underwater.¡±


    ¡°It is some sort of submarine, isn''t it?¡±


    ¡°Yes. Not very comfortable, not very new, but the elders say we can borrow it to start our little trip.¡±


    ¡°This.... When I first met you, my Sathie, I thought you had no technology much beyond fire. How does it move? Handles? Some kind of compressed gas?¡±


    She smiled, ¡°We''re a constant source of surprises aren''t we?¡±


    ¡°You are.¡±


    ¡°You''ll have to ask the experts. It might even work by spark for all I know. All I know is that the scavengers use it to bring back stuff they can''t carry. It can go for about a day there and a day back, much further and you end up pushing or trying to persuade a whale to help you get home. That''s no fun, I assure you.¡±


    ¡°Persuade a whale?¡±


    ¡°You land-men use horses, and dogs to pull things, don''t you?¡±


    ¡°Yes, but...¡±


    ¡°Whales are much stronger and smarter. We are not impressed with you land-men for killing so many of them, by the way.¡±


    ¡°Urm, I don''t know what to say. I guess it never occurred to us that someone else found them useful.¡± He thought a bit, about how the buffalo trade had been carried out. ¡°And I expect that a lot of people wouldn''t actually care, unless you proved you could beat us in a war or ten. Land-men are like that, I''m afraid, our governments are too concerned with national pride and getting an advantage over the other nations. We learned too much from the Romans, I guess.¡±


    ¡°If we were to choose to fight you, you''ve got numbers on your side. If we choose not to fight you, you''d see it as weakness. Hence we avoid you.¡±


    He looked at the control surfaces, the periscope, and what might be a snorkel.. ¡°And you have a submarine, which looks very functional. How old is it?¡±


    ¡°A few hundred years old.¡±


    His draw dropped. ¡°You''ve had submarines hundreds of years?¡±


    ¡°Oh, longer than that.¡± she said dismissively.


    ¡°We''ve not had them very long at all, not useful ones. Well, I guess we''ve got ones that are more useful than this if it can only go for a couple of days. Ours have internal combustion engines now, so they can go thousands of miles.¡±


    ¡°Internal combustion engines? Are those the smelly noisy things which leave smoke behind them?¡± Sathzakara asked.


    ¡°They are noisy, yes, and they make smoke.¡±


    ¡°This is a quiet boat, and we like quiet. There are some which go further, of course, but this one does all we need. At least, I hope it does. Shall we go in?¡±


    This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    ¡°Where''s the crew?¡±


    ¡°The what?¡±


    ¡°Who''s going to drive it?¡±


    ¡°We are. Come on, it''s not hard.¡±


    ¡°Where are we going to go to?¡±


    ¡°I wondered about that. Is there anyone on the island where we first met? That would be nicely circular, don''t you think?¡±


    ¡°I''ll check.¡± He did, and found one, investigating further he found it was a young man, watching sheep while thinking lustful thoughts about not being alone here.


    ¡°There''s a shepherd there, watching sheep.¡±


    ¡°Oh, that one. He''s not likely to visit the beach.¡±


    ¡°How do you know?¡±


    ¡°Sheep don''t eat sand.¡± she pointed out reasonably.


    ¡°No.¡±


    ¡°And he''s learned that coming too near the beach is bad for his sheep, too.¡±


    ¡°Bad for his sheep?¡±


    ¡°They seem to have a habit of vanishing.¡±


    ¡°You steal them?¡±


    ¡°Not exactly, no. Do you call it stealing when your people catch a shoal of fish in the deep ocean?¡±


    ¡°But... fish are just fish, aren''t they?¡±


    ¡°Some of them are, others aren''t. And sheep are just sheep: tasty and nutritious land animals. We are teaching the man a proper respect of our beach. We don''t go onto the other side of the island, but if he comes into our territory then he pays with a sheep.¡±


    ¡°But he doesn''t know you''re here.¡±


    ¡°His forefathers will have told him. It''s been our policy a long long time.¡±


    ¡°I still don''t really understand why anyone would keep sheep out there on an island.¡±


    ¡°It keeps them safe ¡ª as long as they stay on that side, and it''s good grazing land, too, I guess. Did anyone try to tell you not to go onto the beach, by the way?¡±


    ¡°Oh yes, they said that it was a bad place, and there were dangerous creatures that lived there. I asked what sort and one of the fishermen said sharks and another said no it was wolves. I asked if anyone had ever seen them, and the third said he didn''t know what lived there, but whatever it was I probably wouldn''t come back. But since they''d have to look for me, could they have more money please? I gave them what they wanted, said I was expecting to meet some people, and didn''t need looking for. I also told them it sounded like a lot of superstition and I was an educated man, and wasn''t afraid.¡±


    ¡°And you weren''t.¡±


    ¡°No.¡± And feeling not at all afraid, he ventured to kiss her.


    <hr>


    Inside the submarine wasn''t as splendid as the golden exterior might have suggested. It was functional, spartan, even. Mostly it was cargo space, with nets and baskets to hold scavenged treasures. There were plain wooden seats, polished with use, in front of a series of levers and four gauges. He guessed that one would be depth, others, perhaps, might be air supply, speed, direction? He couldn''t really guess. The port-holes weren''t very large, but it was clear that they provided quite a good view around the sub, including behind and below, he saw.


    He''d half expected to see pumps and gears and rocker-valves, but there wasn''t any of that. He realised how Sathzakara hadn''t been able to tell what powered it. He couldn''t, either ¡ª there was just no way to tell, without looking behind panels that Sathzakara told him he shouldn''t touch.


    ¡°When we get back, I''ll introduce you to the people who feed and water this little baby, Jacob. In the mean time, don''t poke into its secrets. You might not understand what it is and break something.¡±


    ¡°But just looking....¡± he pleaded.


    ¡°Could actually kill us both, if you accidentally open something with the sea on the other side, couldn''t it?¡±


    ¡°Yes, beloved.¡± he sighed in resignation. ¡°How can I help?¡±


    ¡°Crouch down just there, and look out of those three windows,¡± she pointed ¡°and tell me if there''s anything or anyone in the way.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Maam.¡±


    She had been right, the submarine was very quiet. It slipped below the water with hardly a sound except some hisses as she adjusted some controls. He was entirely convinced that the submarine wasn''t powered by any technology he recognised. No hiss of steam, no explosions, not even the whine of a turbine. He couldn''t even hear the hum of a motor or grinding of gears that he''d expect with an electric drive, yet somehow they were moving.


    Low speed compressed air? It was possible, he supposed. And yet they were already moving quite fast.


    ¡°Is this how you brought me? I know you gave me some kind of sleeping draft, but I felt like you''d tied me to some kind of barrel.¡±


    ¡°Good guess. I did.¡±


    ¡°And you always carry a sleeping draft with you?¡±


    ¡°No. I mean, it''s a standard stuff from our medical kits, but I don''t remember why I had a medical kit with me. Can we say it was God?¡±


    ¡°Of course.¡±


    ¡°No, stop grinning up at me, and look where we''re going!¡± she chided ¡°I don''t want to end up in someone''s fishing net, and you''ve got the best view.¡±


    A minute or so later he said ¡°What''s that? Anchor cable? And another one?¡±


    Sathzakara stopped the propellers, and looked from porthole to porthole tracing the cable up.


    ¡°It''s not a boat.¡± she declared, there''s a funny looking sea-urchin on the end of each cable. They''re new.¡±


    ¡°A mine?¡± he guessed.


    ¡°A what?¡±


    ¡°Anti-ship explosive. Probably set off by something touching one of the spikes.¡±


    ¡°Why might they put them here?¡±


    ¡°They don''t want enemy ships coming here. I guess they don''t want any ships coming here. Do lots of ships come along this channel?¡±


    ¡°No. It doesn''t go anywhere except our village.¡±


    ¡°But the cliffs above your village do have good views, don''t they? I can imagine someone deciding it would make a good military outpost. Maybe even a gun emplacement.¡±


    ¡°So why the mines?¡±


    ¡°To stop people attacking the planned outpost?¡±


    ¡°I don''t like the thought of this.¡± Sathzakara said, then asked ¡°Can you find out if it''s true?¡±


    Jacob thought for a while ¡°Maybe. I''ll look for people who think your village is in a strategically important place.¡±


    ¡°Who aren''t mer.¡±


    There were hundreds, thousands even. Both armies that were lining up to fight thought it. [{image}See, dearest one?]


    [{fear} It is bad enough that armies fight on our hunting grounds, and now they put explosives in the water to kill ships and any mer near-by, and they seek to claim our cliffs too? We must return, and quickly!]


    [Would it not be faster if I spoke to the elders?]


    [Please Jacob, do.]


    [So much for our honeymoon...] he thought regretfully.


    [We will have to sleep sometime, my life-bonded.]


    [Yes. I just pray it will be private.]


    [It had better be.] she agreed.


    Jacob called the elders [Respected elders of my adopted people. Sathzakara and I have found metal things like enormous sea-urchins floating but with anchors, at the entrance to the channel from the village. They are explosive devices, intended to kill ships who seek to get into the channel. If they touch one they will explode and will also kill any life in the water caught nearby. The reason for this can only be that the channel is so important to them that they want no one in it, even their own ships. I have looked, the soldiers who will do battle tomorrow hope to win the cliff above the village. Surely they will have seen the caves in it an will seek to use them to place big guns in, to kill ships in the main channel. Should we return?]


    [Light is failing.] declared the chief elder [Not even your life-bonded could navigate you back in the dark, spend the night where you can and return in the morning, it is enough. We will not be needing the little boat tonight.]


    After Jacob had passed that on to Sathzakara, he asked ¡°Beloved, what do we do, then? Can we stop near here, or shall we go on to the island?¡±


    ¡°We go on. The beach isn''t far and it''s a safe place to spend the night, this is not.¡± She started the propellers, slowly edging towards a gap in the mines'' anchor lines, and staying as close to the bottom as she could.


    ¡°I had planned to cook for you on this trip, but...¡±


    ¡°But there will not be time.¡± she said firmly. ¡°And cooking is something we can do in public. The elder was right, it''s getting dark quickly, keep your eyes to the outside please. Are there any more hazards?¡±


    ¡°What looks like a sunken ship coming up, slightly to the left.¡±


    ¡°Good, we''re close then.¡±


    <hr>


    Sathzakara gently guided the submarine into a little alcove in the beach, and said, ¡°Time to take a little swim, my love. I need to tie our boat down. We''re about a hundred yards from the beach. Do you want to go ahead and start looking for some dry wood, or wait for me here?¡±


    ¡°I''d like to swim with you, my beloved. I know it''s not as efficient, but...¡±


    ¡°But this evening isn''t about efficiency is it?¡± she smiled back at him.


    ¡°No.¡±


    ¡°But speaking of efficiency, you''d be able to swim a lot better, and would dry quicker, if you adopted our dress.¡±


    With the screams of his up-bringing against going native echoing in his mind, reluctantly, he agreed, ¡°I suppose you''re right. But I don''t think I''ll be able to swim without kicking my legs, not without a lot of practice. I''m not sure now is the time, really.¡±


    ¡°I''ll teach you, my live-bonded, but you''re right. A hundred metres of deep water isn''t the best place to practice. You do know it''s not real fish-skin, don''t you?¡± she asked, with a little smile.


    ¡°It''s not?¡±


    ¡°No. It''s a sort of rubber, the scales are just traditional, well, they are supposed to help too, but mostly it''s tradition. We haven''t used real fish skin for a very long time. And you, my life-bonded, have the right to put your hands on me to feel it''s not real slimy smelly fish skin.¡± She reached towards him with both hands and firmly put his hands on her hips. She was right, it didn''t feel like fish skin. He tried to work out what he felt about standing so close to her, touching her like this. She was his wife, they''d be closer than this later on, he was sure. But... it still felt like he was trespassing; even though he knew he wasn''t. They belonged to each other now, so he pushed his reticence aside and held her. As he breathed the wonderful perfume of her hair, he thought [I love you, my Sathie.]


    [That''s good, Jacob. I love you too.]


    <hr>


    The village needed to move, that was the decision of the elders. If there would be soldiers exploring the caves, which were used as living quarters, then either the caves would need to totally emptied or there would need to be rock-falls to hide their presence. All trace of the mer-people must be gone. It was a terrible thought, but everyone knew it must happen: there was no real alternative if they wanted to remain undiscovered.


    The only real questions were how, when and where to. When... the best time, they decided, would be during the coming battle. Hopefully everyone would be concentrating on that, and not see unusual activity at the water''s edge. Where to... there was only one place of refuge large enough, unless they wanted to move just down the coast. Some people spoke in favour of that, but really, everyone knew it wasn''t going to happen. The thousand mer refugees would need to pick up all they had and travel to the place few had seen: they called it Atlantis, after the ancient myth. The mer-university, centre of learning and manufacture, which also became a refuge in times of trouble. It was where the brightest and the least adapted to the semi-barbarian village life went. Some of those who left returned to village life as people set apart ¡ª technicians or ¡°experts ¡°. But going to Atlantis meant change. Atlantis wasn''t a friendly place for refugees, but it was the place for discussion and planning of what to do next. There would be no comfortable coves or peasant pastures to walk in, for Atlantis was never near a coastline. As long as they stayed, they''d be assigned roles as food gatherers, factory workers, or guards, and their lives would be mostly lived in the alien domes of the submersible, mobile city. It had the space, but most people preferred to live away from that strange place. This time, though it might be different. This time, it might be that the mer would change oceans as they had once before. Perhaps this time it was time to move even further away.

 The Other Big Secret 2: Rabbit Stew / Ch. 1: Rose

    The Other Big Secret Volume 2: Rabbit Stew


    <h2>The Other Big Secret 2: Rabbit Stew / Ch. 1:Rose</h2>


    </a>London, Tuesday, October 21st 1975


    Rose, not really of a fixed abode, saw the strange man going into the lawyers. That was novel, even for him, normally he just phoned them. For some reason she really wanted to find out what happened next.


    <hr>


    The man knocked at the door of the lawyers'' office, he was probably in his thirties, well-built, calm, but he had a watchful air about him. The secretary let him in. He recognised her voice from the phone. It was just after twelve o''clock, he noticed.


    ¡°Good afternoon. I''m James Turnbull, I rang earlier, can you confirm that I really have the pleasure of having finally tracked down the practice described in the old letter?¡±


    ¡°Yes, Mr Turnbull, assuming the details you gave me are correct, we''re the continuation of that practice.¡± The secretary replied. ¡°I can show you the old deeds of partnership if you wish.¡±


    ¡°Wonderful! It''s taken me quite a lot of tracking down to find you. Seven different places of business, not to mention partners coming and going!¡±


    ¡°Could I ask why you needed to find us?¡±


    ¡°Oh, sorry. My grandfather left instructions that on his death a trust be established for his heirs, I''ve come to let you update the family tree.¡±


    ¡°Urm, I don''t quite understand, surely the register of Births, Deaths and Marriages...¡±


    He shook his head, ¡°My grandfather left here as a missionary in 1905 and lived out his life in an isolated tribe. I have the records of births deaths and marriages such as they are, here, with me. My father was killed in a shark attack before he could come and say ''Hello, Dad did have kids, by the way.'' So I thought I really ought to come and do my family duty, just in case some shark got me too.¡±


    ¡°I told the senior partner you''d asked for an appointment. You''ll need to speak to him.¡± she said, a little flustered at the thought of man-eating sharks, and ushered him through to the plush office.


    ¡°Mr Fotheril, this is Mr Turnbull. He says the partnership holds his inheritance in trust.¡±


    ¡°Now that''s a significant name. I trust you can prove identity?¡±


    ¡°Jacob Turnbull was my grandfather. He left this letter of instructions, which you should have a copy of, and he also left me his grandfather''s signet ring.¡±


    ¡°You have the ring here?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡± James said.


    ¡°You must understand, I can''t just hand over five million pounds without some checking, might I see the ring?¡±


    ¡°Of course. But I''m not actually here to claim the inheritance, so much as update your records.¡±


    ¡°Update our records?¡±


    ¡°Yes, I''ve got Grandfather''s family Bible here, we felt that it might be appropriate for the births, deaths and marriages to be recorded with the trust document.¡±


    ¡°So your grandfather found his remote tribe, did he? It''s sort of a legend in the practice.¡±


    ¡°Yes. He was held prisoner for the first five years, but claimed he didn''t mind one bit, because they treated him well and it gave him plenty of peace and quiet to learn the language well enough to translate the Bible.¡±


    ¡°After that he stayed?¡±


    ¡°Of course. He was fascinated with the tribe''s myths and legends, which go back to Odysseus and beyond. Some say we''re a Greek people who fled the Romans, others say... well, other things. Who can tell?¡± He shrugged, ¡°But anyway, he stayed, and after a long and exhausting search I''ve finally caught up with you.¡±


    ¡°Urm, yes. The practice does have rather a complex history.¡±


    ¡°So, regarding the trust.¡±


    ¡°You''d like to to continue? I must say that while it''s valid, the whole ''a descendent of mine who carries this signet ring'' thing is positively archaic, and not exactly fool-proof, you know.¡±


    ¡°Well, I suppose you could tell me the options.¡±


    The lawyer went to the safe and leafed through some of the papers in it.


    ¡°First, I ask that you make an impression of the ring, so I can compare with the copy I have here.¡±


    That procedure didn''t take nearly as long as James had expected.


    ¡°Yes, yes, that seems to match. Now, if you can give me the password?¡±


    ¡°Password?¡± James asked, confused.


    ¡°Yes. One of my predecessors finally received a letter, about five years after your grandfather had been declared legally dead I might add, bearing the mark of the ring, adding a codicil that required the ring-bearer to also name Mr Turnbull''s wife.¡±


    ¡°Oh. Urm, Yes, I can do that. Which bit of her name?¡±


    ¡°Pardon?¡±


    ¡°Names are complex things. Are you asking for my Grandmother''s first name, her maiden name, her common name, the name he gave her on their wedding day, or her full name which is a mixture of genealogy and history, and would take up quite a lot of paper.¡±


    ¡°I''m looking for three words. I''d guess it''s her maiden name.¡±


    ¡°The common form of her maiden name is Sathzakara Karella Lamura.¡± seeing how the lawyer''s face reacted, James went on, ¡°But the normal form of her name around the time that letter was sent would have been Sathzakara Far-seer Evangelia Turnbull.¡±


    ¡°Ah, that''s the name, but without the Turnbull. So among her people names change?¡±


    ¡°They get added to, other bits pass into disuse. Karella and Lamura were her parents, so once she''s known by some other deed, then you don''t need to say their names any more.¡±


    ¡°Oh, I see. I think. Yes, I can update our records, that''s no problem.¡± He looked at the entries in the Bible. ¡°I''m guessing the tribe lives somewhere near the sea.¡±


    ¡°Yes. A little bit of farming and a lot of fishing. Most of the danger''s at sea, as you can see.¡± There were four deaths by shark, two by storm, one by rock-slide, one by jellyfish, and two that really stuck out.


    ¡°I see a lot of shark attacks, how do you die by submarine?¡±


    ¡°He was fishing, it got caught in his net and dragged him under.¡±


    ¡°And his wife died from radiation?¡±


    ¡°That''s our best guess, yes. My parents were looking after her daughter anyway ¡ª she was a bit strange after her husband''s death, and she went sailing around parts of the pacific. She didn''t keep very good notes, but it looks like she might have visited Bikini Atol or some other test site. She was starting to get sick by the time she came home.¡±


    ¡°She went sailing single-handed around the Pacific Ocean?¡±


    ¡°Well, wandering from island to island, anyway. I told you, she went odd.¡±


    ¡°I must say, I''m amazed! How did she survive?¡±


    ¡°Fishing, mostly, like at home. Maybe a bit of trade.¡±


    ¡°Can I ask, where is your home?¡±


    ¡°Oh, I''m sure you can ask, but I''m afraid I''ve taken a vow not to say.¡±


    <hr>


    ¡°So, that''s it, then?¡± the dark-eyed beauty who''d said she was currently using the name Rose asked from the doorway where she''d been lurking. James wasn''t surprised to see her: she seemed to have appointed herself to watch his every move, ever since he''d arrived in London, several weeks before. He guessed she was in her early twenties, but wasn''t sure.


    ¡°I''ve done what I came to do.¡± James answered. He''d met her when he''d been at a pawn-brokers, exchanging some gold jewelery for some money. Jewelery was pretty easy to find in his experience, if you could see well underwater and didn''t mind getting wet. Paper money, however, was a lot less waterproof.


    She''d oohed and ahhed over it and persuaded the pawn-broker to offer James a sum that was much closer to their real value. He wasn''t quite sure what had motivated her to, but he was grateful, and had bought her a meal when she hinted to him that it''d be appreciated. She was pleasant company, too, he had to admit, though she''d said almost as little about her past has he had.


    ¡°Seems like a lot of searching just to find some stuffy old lawyer and talk to him for an afternoon. I never thought you had that much money on you, it should have cost you a fortune.¡±


    ¡°Well, he was a pleasant enough bloke. As for money, he paid me.¡±


    ¡°Oh! Well let''s go talk to him some more then! I could do with some extra cash.¡±


    ¡°I expect it doesn''t work like that, sorry.¡±


    ¡°So, you''re going to get those pretties back?¡± she asked.


    ¡°I suppose I could, but I don''t really need them, and you haggled so well it''s hardly worth paying the mark-up.¡±


    ¡°Oh, come on!¡± she protested ¡°If you don''t pay the mark-up, I don''t get my tip!¡±


    ¡°Oh so that''s how it works is it? He lets you persuade him to part with more cash and then he gets a bigger mark-up?¡±


    ¡°O'' course!¡± she said with an open smile.


    ¡°Maybe I ought to buy at least some of them back then, it''d be a poor recompense for all your good advice if I didn''t.¡±


    ¡°You really are a puzzle, you know?¡±


    ¡°Who, me?¡±


    ¡°Yes. I can''t place your accent, and I''m good with those. You don''t seem to know squat about living on the street, but you''ve been sleeping rough on Wimbledon Common and so on as though there''s nothing unusual about that at all. You seek out a church, but don''t know any hymns from the last century. But you do know the old ones and sing those like you know who you''re singing to. And you sure know how to avoid people, it''s uncanny. I guess you don''t mind me around because you keep making it easy for me to find you. ''m I right?¡±


    She was right. He''d decided early on it would be rude to vanish as soon as she''d found him again, and she was right about living on the streets. It was a comfort to him to know she''d been around, in case he got in trouble. He nodded and she carried on:


    ¡°Most men living rough don''t bother to shave. Or wash.¡± she wrinkled her nose. ¡°You do both, so you''re unusual. You almost dress like a business-man, but business-men don''t sleep rough. I''ve seen you laying snares for rabbits with more success than my Grandad ever did, an'' ''e was one of the best. And then to crown it all you walk out of a lawyer''s office with more money than you go in with, and I''m telling you that ain''t the way of the world as I know it.¡±


    ¡°Ah, well. I''ll be a good tale to tell your children then.¡±


    ¡°Is that a proposal? If so, yes.¡±


    ¡°It wasn''t.¡± he said, surprised.


    ¡°Yes, anyway; I like you. Oh!¡± she blushed, ¡°You''re not married or something are you?¡±


    ¡°Not married, not something, either.¡±


    ¡°Then why not?¡±


    ¡°We don''t actually know each other very well, you realise, Rose?¡±


    ¡°That can change. What do you say?¡±


    ¡°I say you''re a beautiful woman and good company, but you don''t know what you''re asking for.¡±


    ¡°You''re a long way not local, I reckon; that''s good. I''m asking for out of here.¡±


    ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°Firstly, I''m too old not to be married. Second, it''s not exactly easy, living clean around here. You manage it, I see that, I''ve managed it so far, but I''ve come real close to the edge, you know? ''Specially in winter-time. And I''ve got people that''d really like to see me fall apart.¡±


    ¡°So, you''d trust yourself to a stranger?¡±


    ¡°You''re a good man. I''ve seen that. You even pray before you eat your rabbit. Not many would do that.¡±


    ¡°Why not? And if you were close enough to see that, why didn''t you invite yourself to the meal?¡±


    ¡°There''s a name for a woman who invites herself to a man''s campsite for the night. My name''s bad enough anyway without lowering myself to that.¡±


    ¡°But you stayed close?¡± He''s known someone was, and had guessed it was her.


    ¡°I reckoned that if I screamed you''d come and help, so I was safer near than far.¡±


    ¡°I probably would have.¡± he agreed. ¡°I don''t even know if you''re a Christian. Are you?¡± She''d followed him to church, but he wasn''t sure if that was from faith or curiosity.


    ¡°Jesus died for me. The righteous for the unrighteous. Yeah. God''s good, unlike lots of people. So, you''re Christian, I''m Christian, you need a woman, I need a man. What do you say?¡±


    ¡°Why do you say I need a woman?¡±


    ¡°I''ve watched your eyes. And you don''t have a gun in your pocket, I''m pretty sure.¡±


    ¡°I''ve got a pocket knife.¡± he said, and heard her decide he''d totally missed the reference. He agreed, and smiled ¡°So, what did you mean, about the gun?¡±


    ¡°Old line from a film. ''Have you got a gun in your pocket or are you pleased to see me?'' You''ve never watched it?¡±


    ¡°I''ve seen... urm... I think it''s two films in my life.¡±


    ¡°Wow! Where have you been living, man?¡±


    ¡°A long way from here. Where camping out is normal, but not often as miserably wet as it is here, and lunch means catching rabbits if you don''t like fish. Can you swim?¡±


    ¡°I didn''t drown when I jumped in the Thames. Yeah, I can swim.¡±


    James pulled a face. ¡°I''m not sure I''d want to swim in that.¡±


    ¡°Me neither. It was that or worse.¡±


    He made a decision, but it wasn''t in a language she recognised. ¡°Come on, Rose.¡±


    ¡°Does that mean yes?¡± she asked in surprise. It had been a really long shot.


    ¡°It means we''re going to get those pretties you mentioned. Then I''m going to buy you a meal again.¡±


    ¡°And then?¡± she asked eagerly, hardly daring to hope, but doing so anyway.


    ¡°Then, you''re going to tell me more about yourself. And maybe I''ll return the favour. But I''m thinking that it''s not getting any warmer at night, and now I don''t need to save every penny for lawyer hunting, I might ask you to help me find a cheap place for us to stay for a week or so, where we can do a lot of talking. Separate rooms, of course. Where do you stay when it''s cold?¡±


    ¡°Here and there. Sometimes even at my mum''s.¡± Rose answered.


    ¡°Is that such a bad place to be?¡±


    ¡°Not really. Just too much verbal. Too much ''When are you going to get married and settle down, girl?'' ''Why are you living rough when you''ve got a room here?'' ''Why do you keep disappearing for weeks on end?'' ''Do you realise what you''re doing to your reputation?'' and so on.¡±


    ¡°She''s got a point.¡±


    ¡°She''s got lots of points, like a cactus. That''s why I stay away. There''s only so many times you can say ''I don''t know'' before it gets irritating. Plus Dad trying to drink himself to death isn''t good for my head. I just don''t fit at home.¡±


    If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.


    ¡°Has your mum got a spare room?¡±


    ¡°You are not serious!¡± Rose protested.


    ¡°I see a phone-box. Actually, I smelt it first, but I''m used to that. Is she on the phone?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡± Rose admitted.


    ¡°Who do I ask for?¡±


    ¡°Mrs Abbot. She does take lodgers sometimes. Please don''t do this!¡±


    ¡°Rose, if I do take you with me when I go, then you''ll vanish. There''s not exactly many phones where I live. There''s no point making them think you''re lying half-dead in a ditch somewhere, is there?¡±


    ¡°No.¡±


    ¡°So, I stay with your mum, you too, we talk. I let you read what I showed the lawyer. You decide maybe you don''t want that life, and find someone more civilised to spend your life with.¡±


    As they waited for the phone box to be free, she asked. ¡°What did you show him?¡±


    ¡°Family Bible: births marriages and deaths. Lots of deaths.¡± Rose heard him decide to press on, and try to scare her off. ¡°On my dad''s side, I had two uncles and an aunt. My dad, my uncles, my uncle''s wives, and my aunt''s husband are all dead. I had six cousins, one died aged ten, his dad died trying to save him in a storm, his brother died age fifteen, failing to protect his mother from a shark. The other cousins married, one lost her first husband, another lost his wife. What I''m saying is: you think life here is dangerous, it is. But it''s not exactly safe where I come from; not many live long enough to get old. Your survival skills that count here probably don''t mean much there, either.¡±


    The litany of death scared her, he could see. ¡°So your parent''s generation are all dead?¡±


    ¡°All but mother, and an aunt on my Dad''s side. There are more survivors on Mum''s side of the family.¡±


    ¡°Dear Lord! And you''re serious about going back though?¡±


    ¡°Yes. My family probably need me.¡±


    ¡°You don''t feel like moving them somewhere safer?¡±


    He laughed, but it had a bitter edge to it. ¡°That is somewhere safer. You''ve got a lot of immunity my family don''t. I''ve been careful and also pretty lucky not to catch anything fatal. I assure you we''d rather die from being careless near a shark than watch the family die from one of the things you immunise your children against, or the childhood illnesses that we''ve never been exposed to. A hundred and fifty years or so ago, a half a generation died of a plague. From what my grandfather could work out, it was what you''d call a nasty cold.¡±


    ¡°But....¡±


    ¡°It''s not fatal here, because everyone gets them, so everyone''s fairly immune.¡±


    ¡°So, you''re taking a risk? Just being here?¡±


    ¡°Yes, taking risks is part of what''s called being alive, isn''t it?¡±


    ¡°I hope it''s worth it.¡± Rose said, looking at him curiously. She really wanted to know what he''d been talking to that lawyer about.


    He shrugged ¡°It''ll probably only matter in another fifty years or so. So, now you know a little bit more about me, do you want to have a re-think?¡±


    She shook her head.


    ¡°You''re a bit daft, you know?¡± he challenged.


    ¡°Oh I know that. But maybe we''re suited to each other.¡±


    ¡°What''s your mum''s number?¡±


    ¡°I''ll dial it. You''re not going to make me talk to her are you?¡±


    ¡°Should I?¡± he teased. ¡°I''ve heard she might have a room to rent, that''s all. What should I offer?¡±


    ¡°Ask to see it first. Say you can''t know what it''s worth until you''ve seen it.¡± she said, turning the familiar number on the dial.


    The mechanism clicked the final digits and he heard the tone of it ringing at the other end.


    A woman''s voice confirmed the number, and he heard the coin drop.


    ¡°Hello? Mrs Abbot? I''ve heard that you might have a room for rent.¡±


    ¡°You''ve got a funny accent.¡± she said, suspicious and racist. ¡°You''re not black are you?¡±


    ¡°No, Mrs Abbot. I''m told I''ve got a bit of Greek in my ancestry, so maybe I''m a bit darker skinned than the average Englishman.¡±


    ¡°Oh, Greek''s all right. It''ll be twenty pounds a week. In advance.¡± Rose shook her head, no way it was worth that much.


    ¡°Could I come and have a look? I''m not going to agree a price until I''ve seen the room, Mrs Abbot.¡±


    ¡°All right, where are you? You''ll want directions.¡±


    ¡°It''s OK, Mrs Abbot, I''m sure the person who gave me your number can tell me. I''m guessing I''ll be round in about an hour, is that convenient?¡±


    ¡°Oh, yes, yes, all right.¡±


    ¡°See you then, then. Goodbye.¡±


    He put the phone down, just as it started to beep to warn him to put more money in.


    ¡°You should have let her give you directions.¡± Rose said.


    ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°Now she''ll be in a panic about who''s been giving out her number.¡±


    ¡°Well, she would anyway, wouldn''t she? And this way it won''t be a total shock that there''s someone with me. Just the who. Or do you often persuade men to lodge with her?¡±


    ¡°What? Never! And it was your idea, remember?¡±


    ¡°Thinking along those lines, how many men have you proposed to? Just for interest''s sake.¡±


    ¡°None.¡± he gazed at her until she felt uncomfortable ¡°Well, OK, just you. Mum is going to hit the roof.¡±


    ¡°Is that another film quote?¡±


    ¡°No. Just an expression. Expect screams and shouting.¡±


    ¡°Especially when you tell her you want me to carry you off to far flung lands.¡±


    ¡°Urm, yeah.¡± she said, not looking forward to that conversation one bit.


    ¡°Out of interest... no, too soon to ask.¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°Oh well. Consider me an ignorant savage...¡±


    ¡°Ignorant well-dressed savage.¡±


    ¡°I''m just guessing, but I think getting married is a bit more complicated here than it is at home.¡±


    ¡°How complicated is it there?¡±


    ¡°Call friends and relatives for a party and when people say why, you say, we''ve decided, we''re getting married this evening.¡±


    She looked at him in shock. ¡°You''re ''aving me on.¡±


    ¡°Some might say tomorrow evening.¡±


    ¡°You''re serious?¡±


    ¡°Oh dear. I''m guessing a lot more complicated.¡±


    ¡°Church wedding here, you need at least a month''s notice, I think. People are normally engaged for a year or so.¡±


    ¡°Engaged meaning... something like betrothed?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°That''s tricky.¡±


    ¡°When do you need to go back?¡±


    ¡°I don''t want to wait until next year. The later I leave, the worse the weather.¡±


    ¡°How will you travel? Not plane, I''m guessing.¡±


    ¡°No.... a fairly small boat.¡±


    ¡°I don''t think I get seasick.¡± Rose offered.


    ¡°The way we''ll be going it shouldn''t be too rough, most of the time. But there''s only one cabin.¡±


    ¡°For you and the crew?¡±


    ¡°No crew. Just us, assuming...¡±


    ¡°Oh.¡±


    ¡°And... Rose, it''s borrowed, not mine, so don''t go telling you parents I''ve got a private boat.¡±


    ¡°And I''m guessing it''s not a luxury yacht.¡±


    ¡°Luxury? No. Old, and battered, yes. But... really, it''d be better if you don''t mention it. It''d be awkward if your Mum decided she wanted to wave us goodbye.¡±


    ¡°How awkward?¡±


    He shook his head. ¡°You''ll see if you''re coming with me.¡±


    ¡°But not if I don''t.¡±


    ¡°Exactly.¡± James agreed. ¡°So, your parents are alive, any brothers or sisters?¡±


    ¡°Yes. I''m the youngest. Mum had three of each. You''ve met one brother, he''s got some pretties of yours.¡±


    ¡°Oh. This''ll be interesting then.¡±


    ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°''Patience is a virtue'', as my grandfather used to say.¡±


    ¡°He''s dead too?¡±


    ¡°Yes. He actually died of old age, a few years ago. Grandma''s still going strong, too. Isn''t six kids rather a lot for here?¡±


    ¡°It''s... cultural.¡± she looked embarrassed.


    ¡°I''m not complaining.¡±


    ¡°I guess you don''t realise, do you? You just think I''m English?¡±


    ¡°Aren''t you?¡±


    ¡°Yes, sort of. I''ve probably got some Greek blood in me too, if you go back far enough. How far back is yours?¡±


    ¡°A few thousand years.¡±


    She started laughing. It was a rich, sincere laugh, and it carried on as though it was the funniest thing she''d ever heard. ¡°Oh, that''s precious! But don''t tell Mum, she''ll think you were taking the mickey out of her.¡±


    ¡°We wouldn''t want that, would we?¡± James asked.


    ¡°Depends how loud you want the screams.¡±


    ¡°You have a nice laugh. You should use it more often.¡±


    ¡°I don''t get the chance very often. I think it''s just so typical of Mum. She hates it when people pick on us, but she''ll pick on Black people any time she can.¡±


    They continued chatting, and James felt more and more certain that he could get used to Rose being around. He was careful to think those thoughts in his mother''s tongue, rather than his father''s. He wasn''t sure yet if Rose could hear thoughts, but he thought she could. He''d test it soon enough.


    <hr>


    ¡°Hello, Rose tells me she wants her tip.¡± James said, handing over the receipt. The man shot Rose a sharp glance. Why had she told a customer that?


    ¡°Where ''ave you been, Rose?¡± he asked. ¡°You''ve been gone for more than a week.¡±


    ¡°''anging round, here and there, Rick.¡± she shrugged. ¡°Seeing life in different bits of the city. I ran into your customer here and reminded him he ought to settle up if he wanted his pretties back.¡±


    ¡°There you go, sir, all safe and sound.¡± Rick said. ¡°That''ll be a hundred and ten pounds, as agreed.¡±


    James got out his wallet. He''d put some of the money in there, most of the money he''d put elsewhere on his person and in his briefcase.


    ¡°So, you make ten on the deal, and it would have been five originally, I seem to remember. How big a tip does Rose get for her part?¡± he asked curiously, ¡°Other than the meal she cadged off me, after last time, of course?¡±


    ¡°She did that, did she?¡± he asked, disapprovingly. ¡°What''d your mum say ''bout eating with strange men, Rosie?¡±


    ¡°Nothing, ''cause you''re not going to tell her, are you?¡±


    ¡°Probably not. Here''s your tip, Rosie: ''Don''t ever tell customers how you operate.''¡±


    As Rose drew her breath to retort, James picked up the necklace. It had a fine gold chain, and held an emerald which was so big that everyone thought it must be glass. At first sight, it looked like the cheapest piece of the whole collection: the gold in it didn''t weigh much, and of course glass was cheap. James knew better, that it had been part of some treasure trove lost at sea centuries before, but that didn''t matter, it needed to be worn and he wanted to give Rose something. As to the value, he''d found something of equal value every few months when he''d been scavenging. So far he''d only met one Rose. ¡°Here, Rose. A little something for your trouble, if Rick can''t tip his own sister properly.¡± he offered it to her.


    ¡°Hey! That''s worth at least a fiver! Her tip ought to have been fifty pee!¡± Rick protested.


    ¡°Well, maybe Rose will let you value it properly some time, Rick. it''s hers now.¡±


    ¡°James!¡± Rose protested, without accepting it. ¡°You can''t do this!¡±


    ¡°Why not? It needs a neck to go round, and I don''t think mine would do. Come on, turn round, let me put it on you.¡±


    Unwillingly, but getting no help from her brother behind the counter, Rose let James put the necklace round her neck. It was the first time they''d touched. [I picked it up cheap, but the stone''s not glass, Rose.] he thought to her.


    [{shock}You hear me?] She asked, she''d gone from just speechless to white, he noticed.


    [Of course. Don''t pass out.] he broke the contact.


    Rick''s brain was the first to recover, and his big-brotherly thought processes were getting suspicious. ¡°Just how well do you two know each other?¡±


    ¡°Not well enough.¡± James said.


    ¡°So, one meal together? Or more than one?¡± He looked at his sister, who was still staring at James in shock.


    ¡°One meal, so far.¡± James said, ¡°But I''m about to try and rent a room from your mother, so hopefully we''ll have more time to talk.¡±


    ¡°James isn''t staying long.¡± Rose said. ¡°But I think I want to go with him. He''s a better trapper than Grandad. I was curious, so I''ve been watchin'' ''im.¡±


    ¡°You''ve been watching him. That''s where you''ve been?¡±


    ¡°Yeah. I didn''t have much else to do. Not all the time. A girl''s got to eat.¡±


    ¡°Oh yes, and how did you do that?¡±


    She shrugged. ¡°Bit of fake palm reading. It''s easy money.¡±


    ¡°I don''t know how you manage to do that.¡± Rick said.


    ¡°It''s easy! I just go up to a group of people and say ''Want me to pretend to read your palm? I''m a genuine gypsy fake palm-reader, I won''t tell you your future, but you can pretend it is if you like, just a couple of bob.'' It gets a few laughs and then they try to guess how I''m so accurate. Once one punter''s agreed, half the others have a go too. A quid or two for ten minute''s work.¡±


    ¡°That''s my amazing sister, all right.¡± Rick said, appreciatively, ¡°You really think you can keep up with her?¡± he asked James.


    ¡°I think ''e can, Rick. I''m not sure I can keep up with ''im, though. He let me catch up with him, at least twice a day.¡±


    James shrugged. ¡°It seemed important to her, so it didn''t seem polite to just leave her with no trail.¡±


    ¡°And you can catch rabbits.¡± Rick said. ¡°Anything else to keep the wolf at bay?¡±


    ¡°Hunting, fishing, done it all my life. I know what you can eat and what you can''t. I can put the meat on the table, and if there''s no table I''ve made a few before now, and could again.¡± he sighed, seeing that survival skills weren''t what Rick had meant, and added ¡°And I can also spot the difference between an emerald and a bit of glass a lot faster than the average man, which is how I got hold of the small fortune I''ve just put round Rose''s neck.¡±


    ¡°It''s glass.¡± Rick said, confidently.


    ¡°Got a loupe?¡± Rose asked, looking at the stone.


    As Rose examined it, James said ¡°Minor cracks, none reaching the top, some reaching the bottom, none penetrating more than about a tenth of the way in. To be precise, about where I got it, a friend had found it, and was letting his five year old daughter play dressing up with it. He very happily swapped it for a necklace for his wife with a little diamond in it.¡±


    ¡°I think he''s right, Rick.¡± Rose agreed.


    ¡°Where did your friend get it?¡± Rick asked, having his turn.


    ¡°He told his daughter it was in this pirate''s treasure chest he found once. But maybe he picked it up at a market or something.¡± James said, providing an alternative story that was a little more believable than the truth.


    Rick laughed as did Rose, but then she looked at him a little curiously, and decided that later on she''d ask him where it had really been, James guessed she didn''t think his people went to that many markets.


    ¡°Do you have any idea what this is worth?¡± Rick eventually asked.


    ¡°The last time it was valued, it was worth one necklace with a gold chain and a diamond about the size of an ant on it.¡± James answered truthfully.


    ¡°Rose? Want my house? I''ll swap you for it.¡±


    ¡°Forget it, Rick.¡± she replied. ¡°I''ve decided it''s just glass.¡±


    ¡°Mum and Dad''s house too?¡± Rick offered.


    ¡°Can''t. Much though I''d love to hear Mum screaming at you for a change, James needs somewhere to stay, and it wouldn''t be right for him to stay in the same house as me without Mum around, would it?¡±


    ¡°Why wouldn''t Mum be around?¡±


    ¡°Can you imagine me letting her scream at me if I owned the house?¡± Rose asked. ¡°Just don''t you dare tell her or Dad it''s not glass, OK?¡±


    ¡°Course not.¡± Rick agreed, then turned to James. ¡°You know, I''d have tried to sell that necklace for about ten quid, if you hadn''t reclaimed it.¡±


    ¡°So, that''s it''s value. Thank you, now Rose can say if anyone asks.¡± James said, with a smile.


    ¡°You really are a weird one, aren''t you? I think you two''ll get on fine. Excuse me while I go and cry into my account books.¡±


    As they were leaving, Rose said over her shoulder, ¡°I promise I''ll leave it to your daughter, Rick, if you ever have one.¡±


    ¡°Thanks Rose. I''ll let you tell her that when she''s born. Any idea who the mother will be?¡±


    ¡°What about Jane?¡± she asked, turning back.


    ¡°History.¡±


    ¡°Didn''t you once get on well with Samantha?¡±


    ¡°Once. Then I got to know her better.¡±


    ¡°Oh. Barbara?¡± Rose suggested.


    ¡°Engaged.¡±


    ¡°Really?¡±


    ¡°Just announced on Sunday, to the church organist guy.¡±


    ¡°Really? To greasy Nick? Yuck.¡± Rose said, pulling a face.


    ¡°Urm... Short-sighted Silvia?¡± she asked, running out of options.


    ¡°Amazingly enough, going out with someone.¡±


    ¡°Wow.¡±


    ¡°His glasses are even thicker than hers.¡±


    ¡°You''re going to have to look further afield then.¡±


    ¡°I know.¡± Rick agreed.


    ¡°But if I meet any likely candidates I''ll send them along, OK?¡±


    ¡°The others have said the same thing. Just what I need. My little sisters as matchmakers.¡±


    ¡°Hey, it''s one of us or Mum. Who''d you rather trust?¡±


    ¡°Unfair choice!¡± he claimed.


    <hr>


    Rose knocked on the door, and was somewhat amazed that she managed to speak first ¡°Hi Mum, this is James, your new lodger. Assuming you don''t try to rip him off.¡±


    ¡°Hello, Mrs Abbot.¡± James said.


    ¡°I''ve been sick with worry about you, girl, where''ve you been?¡±


    ¡°Here and there, mostly following this strange man in his intrepid hunt for a particular lawyer. It was an education in persistence. I don''t think he''s spent more than ten quid in the last two weeks, and most of that was on phone-calls.¡±


    ¡°What did he eat, then?¡±


    ¡°Rabbit, fresh fruit, mushrooms. It depended what I could catch or find.¡± James said, taking his lead from Rose.


    ¡°Fancy yourself as a bit of a trapper then, do you?¡± Mrs Abbot asked.


    ¡°He''s better than grandad.¡±


    ¡°Maybe I''ve had more practice.¡± James added, with a shrug.


    Mrs Abbot laughed raucously. ¡°My Dad caught a rabbit every weekend for his entire life.¡±


    James shrugged again. ¡°I used to catch about ten a week, back home. Rabbits are more reliable than bigger game, but I got a few deer a year too. I had to be more careful, didn''t want to deplete the population too much. Fish are easier, of course, but fish every day gets boring really fast, in my experience.¡±


    Rose looked at him in surprise ¡°That sounds like a lot of people you were feeding.¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡± he agreed, not wanting to go too far into the specifics.


    ¡°What are they eating now? No, don''t tell me. Fish?¡±


    ¡°Got it in one. But I wasn''t the only one who could set a trap so a rabbit wouldn''t spot it.¡±


    ¡°Where''d you get that necklace, Rose?¡± her mother asked.


    ¡°Rick wouldn''t give me a tip, so James gave it to me.¡±


    ¡°I thought it went with her eyes.¡± James said. ¡°And I''m not going to wear it.¡±


    ¡°So you''ve been ''watching'' him for a fortnight, have you girl. And what else has been going on?¡±


    ¡°You want an entire history?¡± Rose asked, resignedly. ¡°I was at Rick''s, in walked James Turnbull, here, looking almost business-man, speaking a bit odd, and put down a nice pile of pretties. I did my bit of talking up the offer, innocent James thought I was doing him a favour, and bought me a meal in thanks. Then he set off hunting down a lawyer. I saw him by chance that evening, heading to Wandsworth Common. I was curious, I followed, and saw him pick up a stone and brain a rabbit at fifty paces.¡±


    ¡°Thirty. And it was mostly luck.¡±


    ¡°Still impressive. I watched him pick up his meal, and saunter into the woods, where I lost him for a bit, but smelled the rabbit cooking in the end. I was a bit confused about where exactly I was, so I found a nice big tree in screaming distance, just in case, and spent the night there. Next day, I read some palms, got a meal and found him again. It wasn''t hard, really, since I knew what he was doing: three phone-calls per box, then move to another box, so he didn''t attract much attention, then move districts when he''d called all the possible numbers in that phone-book. I knew what he was looking for and I can read a phone-book just as well as he can. The second night he went to ''Dig your shallow graves here'' Forest, and I stayed a bit closer to him that night, I can tell you. I saw him pray before eating his roast rabbit, and decided he couldn''t be too bad, so on day three I warned him that hadn''t a very good place to camp out, and he thanked me, asked for advice, and took it. And so on. He went to tourist information to find out about churches on Saturday and went to a good one on Sunday. He finally found his lawyer today, spent all afternoon there and says he came out with more money that he went in with. I believe him because he bought his pretties back from Rick, and gave me the necklace. Oh, before we went to Rick''s place, I asked him what he thought about marrying me and he says we need to talk about it. Hush mum, or I won''t finish. Now, he doesn''t need to save every penny he''s got, he said he''d like me to be sleeping under a roof and somehow I let slip that you''re still alive and he suggested asking if you had a room he could rent. So, it''s all his idea that we''re here, it''s all his idea that I tell you I''m planning on going with him, so you don''t worry. But if you start screaming at me then I''m not staying. And since he wants to talk to me, I expect he''ll follow. He''s going home in less than six weeks, and I want to go with him. I know from what I''ve seen that he''s not going to let me starve. I know he can live rough and take care of himself and others too. I''m sure he''d have shared his rabbit with me, or caught another one, but I didn''t ask, I kept my distance, and watched him, trying to figure him out. I failed, he''s off scale unusual, even more than me. I probably should have spoken to him more sooner, but I didn''t, I just kept watching. I know he''s generous, and he''s a Christian, and his home is a long long way away. I think he''s rich in all the right ways, and if he''s rich in any other ways he doesn''t seem to care about it, which suits me just fine.¡±


    ¡°So, you''re just going to run off with him, are you?¡±


    ¡°I''d want us married first. By your rites if we can, but if Rose agrees it can be by my tribe''s. That''d mean we''d take a vow in front of witnesses, to be man and wife until death, come what may. No paperwork involved.¡±


    ¡°I''ve heard that before.¡± Mrs Abbot said ¡°What about divorce?¡±


    ¡°A vow can''t be broken.¡± James said.


    ¡°What if someone does break it?¡± Mrs Abbot persisted.


    ¡°There are plenty of sharks around home for accidents, stupidity and divine retribution. And the women of my tribe are good with knives and spears if the sharks are a bit too slow. We don''t break vows, not if we want to live. It''s not murder to kill an oath-breaker, it''s justice.¡±


    Rose looked at him in awe. ¡°See, Mum? He''s entirely off your scale of weird. A whole society where someone makes a vow and they keep it. A whole society where they''d rather stick a knife in Dad than let him get near another bottle after all the times he''s said he''d never touch another drop. I like the thought. If I could just surgically remove his addiction, life would be much more pleasant around here.¡±


    ¡°And what about your oath?¡± her mum asked.


    ¡°I''m not doing harm.¡± Rose replied, embarrassed and frustrated.


    ¡°You''re not curing the sick, or passing your knowledge on to others, neither.¡±


    ¡°They don''t want me, mum. I tried, I looked for work, remember? Qualified, but unwanted, that''s me. I weird everyone out, and they get scared, think I''m going to turn into a mad axe murderer, or something.¡±


    James looked at Rose curiously, and then said ¡°I told you I didn''t know you very well.¡±


    ¡°I''ll tell you all about it later.¡± she offered, and changed the subject. ¡°So, Mum, are you going to let James stay? The rent ought to be eight quid a week.¡±


    ¡°Eight? You won''t find hardly anywhere round here for that! The last lodger was paying twenty!¡±


    ¡°Then moved out when he found out you were overcharging.¡±


    ¡°All right then, fifteen.¡±


    ¡°Eight-fifty, and don''t forget you get the pleasure of knowing where I am for once.¡±


    ¡°Stop, Rose.¡± James shook his head, ¡°Mrs Abbot, I''ll pay you eight pounds per room per week. Two rooms, one for me, one for Rose, and you''ll refrain from any verbal abuse or aggravating of your daughter. If that''s not acceptable, we''ll look elsewhere. I''ve no need to stay in London any more, so I''m sure we don''t need to pay more. We just need somewhere to talk.¡±


    ¡°And I just offered you fifteen, with her staying for free, so I can''t refuse, can I? Very clever of you I''m sure. All right eight quid per room. But you''re going to be cluttering up the house all day long are you? I ought to charge you more for that.¡±


    ¡°Mum, which would you rather? Neither of us are scared of a bit of wind or rain. We can stay out dawn ''till dusk if you like. In fact, with you and Dad smoking like chimneys, it''d be healthier if we did. I''ll show James his room, shall I?¡±


    ¡°Do what you like. I''ve got soup on the stove. I suppose I can stretch it to four.¡±


    ¡°Don''t bother. James has promised me a meal out.¡±


    ¡°Celebrating our new status.¡± James said.


    ¡°Oh yes? You''re saying you''re engaged?¡±


    ¡°No.¡± Rose said, somewhat sadly James thought. ¡°But we are talking.¡±

 The Other Big Secret 2: Rabbit Stew / Ch. 2: Medic

    <h2>The Other Big Secret 2: Rabbit Stew / Ch. 2:Medic</h2>


    </a>London, Tuesday evening, October 21st 1975


    Roseline Abbot MD had decided to put on the dress she''d worn for her graduation, when she''d thought she had a future, when she''d thought her medical career was just starting. It was one of the advantages to being at home: she could change clothes to fit the occasion, for the first time in over a year she felt she had a future again. Her skirt was definitely in need of a wash. How James managed to keep his suit clean while laying traps was a yet another mystery about the man.


    When she''d applied for her first junior doctor''s job, she''d been a bit surprised to be turned down. After the twentieth refusal, she''d all but given up. It seemed that no one wanted to give a position to a woman medic who''d got good grades but had deliberately lived rough for a considerable portion of her time as a medical student. They thought it smacked of mental instability, or at least a lack of commitment to her studies. She kept applying but met with the same response. She''d tried to explain her motives in covering letters, but that hadn''t helped. There were plenty of newly qualified people, and not enough places. She''d applied to mission agencies, thinking that with her medical degree her and experience on the street she''d would be an ideal candidate. They''d all told her she needed to do her two years as a junior doctor. She didn''t have any friends in the right places, her ethnicity counted against her, as did her gender. Everyone decided she was too weird. She was stuck in a hole she hadn''t realised she was digging, life at home had became even more unbearable, and so she''d just lived on her wits, without plans or future.


    James was a sympathetic listener, and she found herself in quiet tears as she got to the end of the account.


    He reached for her hand. [No wonder you want to leave.]


    [I''ve no future here. You know what the worst thing is? The medical school let me see the reference they gave me. It spoke about me having ''an unconventional lifestyle which had lead to many discussions with my tutor.'' It looked fine to me, but according to someone at Church it''s the sort of thing they write for people who were habitual gamblers, immoral girls, or people who never turned up for appointments. That line probably ruined my future, and I could have asked for it to be re-written if I''d been less ignorant.]


    [And they knew what they were doing to you?]


    [They must have.]


    [That''s sad. Thinking of your future... what do you imagine you''d do in an out of the way tribe where most people don''t speak English, and thanks to Grandpa and Grandma''s witness, almost everyone is a Christian?]


    [And nothing I''d recognise as modern medical facilities, or medicines, either, I guess.] she thought back.


    [Good guess.]


    [What do you do for healthcare?]


    [Plenty of fresh air and exercise?] he suggested [Sorry, that was mostly a joke. But you''d probably think we''re an abnormally healthy bunch. We have some surgeons, and there are some people around who know what herbs and stuff to use for different ailments. Some you might even recognise as ancient and effective. I don''t know.]


    [But no vaccination programme.]


    [No. Just something like three thousand years of almost a hundred percent effective quarantine, according to Grandpa.]


    [Three thousand years?]


    [You''ve heard of Jason and the Argonauts? We all learn that story, just a little different to the version you''ve heard. But I''m getting too close to things I mustn''t tell you. It''s awkward.]


    [You don''t really think there''s a place for me there either, do you?]


    [I didn''t say that.]


    [But you implied it. No place for a partly qualified medic among the already evangelised barbarian hunter-gatherers.]


    [Grandpa called us a barbarian civilisation, and then corrected himself, saying technically you Saxons, Celts, and the other ones I can''t remember were the barbarians, we just stopped speaking Greek as a second language and relapsed a bit in places.]


    [Don''t you need a city to be civilised, technically speaking?]


    [Yes.]


    [So you''re technically not barbarians, but technically not civilised either?]


    [Let''s just say we''re more complicated than I''ll be able to let on until we''re on the boat. If you want to fish, we can accommodate that easily. If you want to hunt, that''s fine too. If you want to educate, or heal, that''s fine, but it might be trickier. If you want to revise Grandpa''s Bible translation, you''d really better get Grandma to agree first.]


    [I don''t think I''m qualified for that.]


    [No disrespect, but me neither. For a start, you don''t speak our language.]


    [Your Grandpa was British, yes?]


    [Yes.]


    [How did he end up joining your tribe?]


    [God told him to go. More details on the boat.]


    [But he trained as a Bible Translator?]


    [No! Grandpa was an engineer. It showed, he was always tinkering with this or that.]


    [Oh. Life in your village... I''m guessing no piped water.]


    [Not as such.]


    [Meaning?]


    [If you''re thinking turn on the tap... well Grandpa explained all that, when I was little and it seemed really complicated when you could just step outside and wash in the sea, then stand under the right waterfall to get the salt off you.] then he added [The left one was for the girls.]


    [You''re joking, aren''t you?]


    [What about?]


    [The right and left waterfalls?]


    [Only partially. There are different waterfalls, they are for different people: children, and then two for singles.]


    [Singles as in individuals, or did you leave out married people?]


    [Yes to both. They can make their own plans further from the village if they like.]


    [Let''s not go there.]


    [Oh? You don''t think it might be pleasant some time?]


    [{embarrasment} I meant let''s not talk about it.]


    [Sorry, I did guess that. I just like plays on words.]


    [Hmm. I noticed. I also notice, we''ve been walking holding hands a long time. Sorry.] She broke the contact.


    ¡°I did, too. Problem?¡±


    ¡°Depends on whose eyes we look with.¡±


    ¡°Meaning?¡±


    ¡°Meaning... To most people here, it''d mean we''re falling in love. To my people... more than that.¡±


    ¡°Oops. Sorry.¡±


    ¡°I have a question. If it were possible for you to follow your original plans, what would you choose?¡±


    ¡°But it''s not.¡±


    ¡°Just suppose it was. What if I went back to talk to the lawyer, and it turned out that he knew the right people or the right laws, and he spoke in the right ways and your you did get a place as a junior doctor.¡±


    ¡°Don''t do that.¡± she said, shuddering.


    ¡°Why not?¡± James asked.


    ¡°I don''t want to face that choice.¡±


    ¡°Too late. It''s going to nag at you now. But not asking would have meant it nagged at me, and it might have nagged at you too, if you''d thought about it.


    So, let''s say the lawyer made it happen. You have a choice of your life-long dream of being a doctor, or of coming with me to a strange place where they speak a strange language, and people die of shark too often.¡±


    ¡°Are you trying to scare me away? I thought you liked me,¡±


    A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.


    ¡°If being with me means that you''re miserable for the rest of your life, what''s the most loving thing I can do?¡±


    ¡°Not let me fall in love with you. Bit too late, I think. But if you do manage to get me a place and I do get qualified, but in the end I hate it, because I''m forced to be in a smelly hospital rather than swimming in a warm ocean...¡±


    ¡°Not that warm. Warmer than around here, I agree, but don''t set your hopes to high.¡±


    ¡°So, no coconut trees, and golden beaches?¡±


    ¡°Stones, mostly, and sharp rocks. The sort of place they don''t show in holiday brochures. Think rugged unwelcoming coast, selected to keep others away.¡±


    ¡°So, where are the rabbits?¡±


    ¡°The best place is about three or four hours'' walk. First you go past the waterfalls, then up the path beside them, through the rocky bits, and up the ravine following the river, unless it''s been raining because it''s too unsafe then. At the top of the ravine there''s a patch of grassland which is perfect for rabbiting, but not very big, so you leave those rabbits alone most of the year and go another hour or two further in, to a much bigger patch of grassy woodland. There are plenty of rabbits there.¡±


    ¡°Six hours'' walk each way just for one rabbit?¡±


    ¡°Why do you think I caught ten or so per trip?¡±


    ¡°And you camp out there?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°It''s starting to fit together more. Thank-you. How long is the boatride?¡±


    ¡°Not just a couple of days.¡±


    ¡°And you just tie it up beside your rocky beach?¡±


    ¡°No. It goes somewhere special; so its out of sight and so on.¡±


    ¡°You really don''t want to be found.¡± Rose realised. ¡°It''s not just that you haven''t been found, but you''re actively hiding.¡±


    ¡°True.¡± he agreed.


    ¡°And I only find out more on the boat?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°How did your grandfather ever get to meet your grandmother?¡±


    ¡°God told him where he should go, down to the exact beach. Locals avoided it, warned him there were demons there. He said he was God''s servant and wasn''t afraid of demons. The demon in question, my grandmother, was hid in a cave, and he set up camp to wait for her to come out. I''m not entirely sure why, but she decided to keep him prisoner rather than just kill him.¡±


    ¡°If you left, and then I found your village, on my own, what would happen to me?¡±


    ¡°Depends if the person who met you had listened to my story about the lovely woman I''d left behind and recognised you from my description. There''s a chance you''d live.¡±


    ¡°And if I said your name?¡±


    ¡°You''d do better with my grandmother''s. Everyone knows hers.¡±


    ¡°Will you tell it to me?¡±


    ¡°Not her full name, no. Sathzakara Karella Lamura Far-Seer Evangelia ought to be enough. Of course, you can''t say Far-Seer in English and be understood, so you ought to leave that out.¡±


    ¡°How do you say it?¡±


    He told her.


    ¡°O.K. So, I''ll skip it.¡±


    ¡°What''s your full name?¡±


    ¡°I''ll tell you on our wedding day, assuming we have one. James Lidia Enoch is what you might call the traditional form of my name. Lidia being my mother, Enoch my father. You''d add the Turnbull on in English, of course. Then you add some extra bits as you get older, other bits fall out of use, but I won''t bore you with those. Your full name is a mixture of your life history and what people call you.¡±


    ¡°Oh. I guess your full name doesn''t go on your birth certificate.¡±


    ¡°What''s one of those? You need to prove you were born?¡±


    ¡°I guess it''s a certificate that your birth has been registered.¡±


    ¡°Oh, as in ''Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages?''¡±


    ¡°Exactly.¡±


    ¡°Nope, don''t have one of those, just the family Bible.¡±


    ¡°James, I think we''ll need your birth certificate to get married. No, maybe your passport would do.¡±


    ¡°What''s one of those?¡±


    ¡°It''s a little book that proves who you are when you arrive... but I expect you just tied up your boat and didn''t get stopped, didn''t you?¡± she whispered.


    ¡°Is that a problem?¡± he whispered back.


    ¡°Yes and no.¡±


    ¡°Meaning?¡±


    ¡°I expect it''s illegal to enter the country without one, and without reporting to the customs office, and so on.¡± She shrugged ¡°But I expect you count as British, since your Grandfather was, so you''re allowed to be here. Proving it to anyone is going to be very hard though. Of course you being here without being registered as born anywhere means either you''re lying or your parents broke the law by not registering you or you entered the country illegally. You don''t need any proof of who you are on you, so you ought to be OK. Just... don''t get yourself arrested, whatever you do. Just do your fade into the woods thing.¡±


    ¡°Now?¡±


    ¡°No! I mean if there''s any trouble.¡±


    ¡°Rose, you''re making me a little scared.¡±


    ¡°You''ve been here two weeks already.¡±


    ¡°Two months. Just two weeks in London. That lawyers'' practice moved around all over the place.¡±


    ¡°How did you live? Oh silly me. You hocked pretties?¡±


    ¡°If that means take them to a pawn-brokers, yes.¡±


    ¡°Why not try to sell them?¡±


    ¡°Grandfather''s advice. No questions asked when you pawn something. So as far as I was concerned, you did help me. I really wasn''t expecting to get them back.¡±


    ¡°But you knew...¡± her hand touched the necklace.


    ¡°I strongly expected that if I told anyone it was real, there''d be questions about where it came from.¡±


    ¡°Where did it come from?¡±


    ¡°I told your brother the truth.¡± he said.


    ¡°Which version?¡±


    ¡°You get three yes-no questions to help you work it out. Nothing like ''was it the first one.'' that''d make me tell you the answer.¡± he said,


    ¡°Do you really have markets?¡±


    ¡°Not very often.¡±


    ¡°Do they sell that sort of thing?¡±


    ¡°Could you rephrase the question? Who''s the they?¡±


    ¡°Would you expect that sort of thing to be on sale?¡±


    ¡°Urm... If I answer that one you''re probably going to get misled.¡±


    ¡°OK.... Would you expect anyone from your village to buy or sell something like that at one of your markets?¡±


    ¡°Sell.¡± he said, firmly.


    ¡°Hey, I thought it was supposed to be yes or no questions!¡±


    ¡°Well if you don''t want any help, how does ''yes'' sound?¡±


    ¡°Entirely confusing. Your village would be selling? Who''d buy?¡±


    ¡°Added to the list for the boat, sorry.¡±


    ¡°So... you''d expect to sell it. To someone unknown. Your people do wear jewelery, at least your friend''s wife does. And you bought it with you as trade-goods too.¡±


    ¡°Yes. It was the best piece in my collection, but not as important as finding that lawyer.¡±


    ¡°You knew the lawyer would give you money?¡± He nodded.


    ¡°So... some trust or something your Grandfather set up?¡± she guessed.


    ¡°Yes. The lawyer didn''t even know Grandfather survived more than a decade, otherwise. And we weren''t sure he''d even got that letter. Grandad thought one of us should to come and make sure they knew he''d had descendants who might need it one day. I understand it''s not much use at the moment, but it was for the education of his kids, grand-kids and so on, so they could go to university if they wanted to.¡±


    ¡°University''s free now.¡±


    ¡°Yes. The lawyer told me. He wasn''t sure how long it''d stay that way, though. A another generation? Who can tell?¡±


    ¡°But he could give you some money?¡±


    ¡°Yes. He called it travel expenses.¡±


    ¡°Thank you for the necklace.¡±


    ¡°It looks good on you. You''ve still got one question left.¡±


    She took a gulp. ¡°Have you found any pirate''s treasure?¡±


    ¡°It''s hard to tell. One wooden strong-box isn''t that different to another.¡±


    ¡°You''re a tribe of hunter-gatherers who sometimes stumble across boxes of buried treasure?¡±


    He laughed. ¡°Guess where you hear the full and complete answer to that one.¡±


    Rose groaned, ¡°Or do they get washed up on your rocks?¡±


    ¡°Sorry, Rose. If I answered that question fully.... it''d be too close.¡±


    ¡°You''re pearl-divers, that''s why the sharks?¡±


    ¡°Please, can you leave it?¡±


    ¡°It really makes you uncomfortable, doesn''t it?¡±


    ¡°Extremely. I guess ought to tell you... even going together ... Grandma got away with it, but I guess I might be banished, outcast.¡±


    ¡°If you''re banished, what about me?¡±


    ¡°After Grandpa had been a prisoner for five years, the elders told Grandma to execute her prisoner. They felt he was dead weight, and that there was a risk he''d escape. They got married instead.¡±


    ¡°And that made everything all right?¡±


    ¡°That and the fact that Grandma finally realised that when Grandpa was saying alleluia, that meant ''Praise Yah'', who was a god our people had heard of, and whom they really really respected in a ''we don''t dare touch his people'' sort of way.¡±


    ¡°So it should be all right? If I''m a Christian and your wife?¡±


    ¡°I hope so. It''ll give us something to pray about on our way.¡±


    ¡°You said your grandfather was your grandma''s prisoner?¡±


    ¡°Yes. She was the best warrior of her generation.¡±


    ¡°You go to war?¡±


    ¡°Used to. Mostly among ourselves.¡±


    ¡°And you let the women fight?¡±


    ¡°The women learn to fight to protect the children. From sharks, for instance, and where the village used to be there were wolves too.¡±


    ¡°You moved your village?¡±


    ¡°Yes. Someone started world war one, and living on a battle-field didn''t seem a good idea.¡±


    She looked at him curiously. ¡°You moved out of the way of world war one?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°That doesn''t sound like you went half a mile down the coast.¡±


    ¡°No. Exact origins and distance moved....¡±


    ¡°To be discussed on the boat, I know.¡±


    ¡°I''ve got a question for you. You spoke about being a junior doctor as part of your training, but you also talked about it being work. What do you actually do or learn?¡±


    ¡°It''s all about putting the theory into practice. Turning facts and figures into well people, that sort of thing.¡±


    ¡°So it''s the first time you meet patients?¡±


    ¡°No. But it''s the first time I''d be making the real decisions. Some supervision, people I can ask for help from if I''m not sure.¡±


    ¡°In other words... confidence building in a mostly safe environment?¡±


    ¡°I guess so. Why?¡±


    ¡°I''m playing with the idea of putting some of your sort of medical supplies in the boat. I''m getting the idea that you plus medical supplies is a very good combination.¡±


    ¡°I thought there wasn''t much space in the boat.¡±


    ¡°One cabin.¡± he agreed. ¡°But it''s got cargo space.¡±


    ¡°It''ll stay dry?¡±


    ¡°It should.¡±


    ¡°James Turnbull, you''re offering me a chance to be a doctor, aren''t you?¡±


    ¡°No promises. We might be exiled, like I said.¡±


    ¡°I''ll have to take some historic texts too. Work out what there''s some hope of making, what can stand instead... A list of really long lasting medicines.¡±


    ¡°Flotsam and jetsam... I wonder.¡± James murmured.


    ¡°Pardon?¡±


    ¡°I wonder if medicines ever get washed up.¡±


    ¡°Still within date and undamaged?¡± She asked ¡°I doubt it.¡±


    ¡°Not knowing what things are is a problem, you see. Every kid is told, keep away from small bottles and vials and the like, they might be poison. Hmm. You''ll need to keep small bottles, vials and the like out of sight, unless you want terrified patients.¡±


    ¡°What about syringes? You know, things to give injections?¡±


    ¡°No problem.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean, no problem?¡±


    ¡°Surgeons use them. Suck away the yuck, take away the pain. No problem.¡±


    ¡°Are we talking little plastic things, about this big?¡± she indicated.


    ¡°Brass things, about this big.¡± he indicated in return. ¡°Get it almost glowing in order to kill germs.¡±


    Rose was surprised, but it seemed reasonable, and she was fairly convinced that ''almost glowing'' was seriously bad news for anything biological.


    ¡°Where did you get them?¡±


    ¡°Not sure, sorry.¡±


    ¡°And if you hazarded a guess?¡±


    ¡°If it looks like part of a steam engine, I always guess Grandpa.¡±


    ¡°How do you know what... no, you''re not saying your grandfather made a steam engine, are you?¡±


    ¡°According to him, ''every engineer needs an engine to fiddle with''. I expect he might have been teasing.¡±


    ¡°Where did he get the parts?¡±


    ¡°Not sure. If I had to guess...¡± he smiled at her lopsidedly, ¡°..sorry.¡±


    ¡°I''m really looking forward to that boat. He didn''t make that did he?¡±


    ¡°No.¡±


    ¡°I was just having visions of us chugging away on some ancient steam boat like the African Queen.¡±


    ¡°Who''s the African Queen?¡±


    ¡°The boat in another film you probably haven''t watched.¡±


    ¡°Oh.¡±


    Noticing where they were, Rose asked ¡°James, do you have a specific restaurant in mind?¡±


    ¡°No, I thought you were leading.¡±


    ¡°I thought you were.¡±


    ¡°Oh. Do you know where we are?¡±


    ¡°Yes. That''s the church I go to normally.¡±


    ¡°I didn''t think it looked like a restaurant.¡± he joked.


    ¡°You asked me earlier if I''d like to get a job as a junior doctor.¡±


    ¡°I did.¡±


    ¡°It sounds to me like even without any medical supplies, I could help your surgeons, and still do a useful job. And if I had the right supplies I could think of that time as being a junior doctor. Do you agree?¡±


    ¡°Almost certainly, assuming, etc. etc.¡±


    ¡°Then if you''ll take me, I''m going along with you. And let''s go and see a man I know. I want to know what''s actually necessary for a wedding.¡±

 The Other Big Secret 2: Rabbit Stew / Ch. 3: Surprise meeting

    <h2>The Other Big Secret 2: Rabbit Stew / Ch. 3:Surprise meeting</h2>


    </a>London, 11a.m, Wednesday morning, Oct 22nd, 1975


    ¡°Excuse me?¡± the elderly lady who''d been feeding the birds asked, as James and Rose were walking through the park. There was no one else around.


    They stopped, not knowing what she wanted.


    She peered at James and said ¡°Yes, yes, you''ve got his face, James bn Lidia ha Enoch bn Sathzakara ha my old friend Jacob.¡±


    ¡°Urm.¡± James managed from his shock.


    ¡°Oh, don''t mind me. I just got nosey. I do that sometimes. I''m Mabel.¡±


    ¡°Grandpa''s cousin.¡± James finally put two and two together.


    ¡°It''s more distant that that. But yes.¡±


    ¡°This is Rose, but I guess you knew that.¡±


    ¡°Of course. I was chatting to your grandma yesterday. She asked me to say hello, and I thought I''d do it in person. Have you found that lawyer?¡±


    ¡°Finally, yes. After two months of following one lead after another.¡±


    ¡°Sorry I didn''t know you were coming. But then if I had known, I''m guessing you''d have never met this pretty young thing, would you?¡±


    ¡°No. She''s been watching me for the past two weeks, we started talking yesterday.¡±


    ¡°And engaged already! Well that''s a bit faster than your grandfather. He was a patient man! Five years, he waited to pop the question. But I guess you''re still not going as fast as what Sathzakara was expecting before he proposed.¡±


    James blushed. ¡°We''re not engaged yet, Mabel.¡± James protested ¡°We''re still talking things through.¡±


    ¡°Got any doubts about him?¡± Mabel asked Rose.


    ¡°No. Lots of questions, but no doubts.¡±


    ¡°Questions? That''s no surprise! What about you, James?¡±


    ¡°No, not really. Except it''s too fast, and Rose should have doubts, shouldn''t she? She''s stepping into the absolute unknown. Plus of course I don''t know what''ll happen when we step off the boat.¡±


    ¡°Well which question do you want me to look into first? Quick call to your Gran or a little bit of dissecting your beloved''s thoughts on the matter?¡±


    ¡°I don''t know about dissecting my thoughts, but I''m really really confused.¡± Rose said.


    ¡°That''s normal, have a seat dear, while I work out how to tell you.¡±


    As they sat, Rose thought to James [Who is this?]


    [Someone God trusts to know things. Lots of things.]


    [A good enough description for the moment, I suppose.] Mabel thought to them. [Rose, did James tell you what the three things were that saved his Grandfather''s life?]


    [He said it was because they got engaged, and because he was a servant of the Lord.]


    [That''s two, yes. The third is he had the same thing from God I have: too much knowledge to be healthy. If I want to know what someone''s thinking, then I just need to stop and refocus a bit, and then I do. If I want to know where someone is, same thing. It''s not omniscience. I can''t learn where James'' boat is unless he thinks of it. Thank you James! But I can find people, by name or by category, which is really handy if someone''s lost. I don''t know what they look like, just where they are. The weirdest use of that I ever heard of was Jacob, James''s grandpa; he felt led to look for his future wife and go translate the Bible for her people. That''s far too like seeing the future for most of us to feel comfortable with. But, Jacob felt God was telling him to. So he looked, and there Sathzakara was, doing things that made Jacob almost as paranoid as James is. He certainly tried to ban me from being curious, which is a bit like asking a cat in charge of a creamery not to have a taste ever. I''m pretty sure James is keeping lots secret from you or I''d hear them from your mind. And that''s probably why he''s hiding his thoughts from us right now. Of course it won''t work against the gift I''ve got, but oh well.]


    ¡°James, I know you need to be careful, but Rose is trustworthy. There''s another thing I came here to do.¡± she turned to Rose ¡°I can tell you more details later on, Rose; that''s the other thing I can do, talk to anyone who can hear thoughts, wherever they are. But, I feel God wants you to say if you''re going to be able to trust Him to lead you step by step on a road you can''t really see, and I expect part of it is not getting too curious, especially about James'' big secret. Let him tell you in his own time, girl.¡±


    ¡°I''m God''s servant, He''s in charge.¡± Rose said simply, then added ¡°And yeah, I''ll try to not pester the answers out of James.¡±


    ¡°Good girl. Too much curiosity will kill you, so be careful. James, lad, I want your vow. Will you look after God''s servant here, no matter what comes? Will you trust her insights, even when your logic and upbringing screams that you should doubt her?¡±


    James looked at Mabel, ¡°That doesn''t sound like a marriage vow.¡±


    ¡°It''s not. It''s a preparing for the future vow.¡±


    He looked at his feet, ¡°That''s a pretty difficult vow, all the same, Mabel. How can I look after her all the time unless we never get separated?¡±


    ¡°Men! I didn''t say all the time, lad! Will you at least vow to trust her insights like I said earlier?¡±


    ¡°Yes. I vow before God that I''ll trust your insights, Rose.¡±


    ¡°Well done. You''re planning to protect her anyway, aren''t you, James? If she gets banished to somewhere, you''d choose to go with her? You''d get in the way of a shark for her?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°Good. Rose, meet your self-appointed body-guard. Be nice to him, and do let him take reasonable steps to protect you. And use your gift wisely and sparingly.¡± Mabel got up from the bench and started to leave.


    ¡°What gift? You mean medicine?¡± Rose asked, very confused.


    ¡°No, the one you''ve just promised to trust God about, dear. I''d love to stay and chat but I need to catch my train.¡± [I never was very good at explaining how to do things, but I''ll try. Sathzakara!] Rose had the sense that Mabel was reaching out to James'' grandmother. [Hey, woman, wake up!]


    [Hello Mabel, is there a good reason you''re waking me up?]


    [Of course there is. Rose, say hello to your future grandmother-in-law, and listen to her reply, only skin-deep at this distance, of course.]


    [Urm, Hello.] Rose thought, somehow calling in the same way.


    [Have you known James for long?] Sathzakara asked.


    [Not really. I''ve been following him for two weeks, trying to work out why he was even stranger than I am. Most people here don''t catch their own rabbits, they buy meat from shops. But then most women don''t camp out in woods watching people, either. I spoke to him yesterday when he left the lawyer''s, and he said he was leaving. I asked him to take me with him. There''s no future for me here. We''ve been talking most of the time since then.]


    [And she''s just practicing using the gift for the first time, Sath. It seemed appropriate that she talk to you first.] Mabel added.


    [And you just told them they were going to get married, did you?] Sathzakara asked Mabel.


    [Oh, they''d worked that out by themselves, though they claim they''re not officially engaged yet. I''m fully expecting that to happen in the next ten minutes or so, after I leave them.]


    [I see. Well, actually, I don''t much these days, but never mind.]


    [Cataracts?] Rose asked.


    [Yes. Not much anyone can do about that, is there?] Sathzakara replied.


    [It''s not something I''ve done, but it''s not too complicated with the right equipment. I hope we can bring everything I''ll need.]


    [{surprise, confusion}] Rose heard.


    [I spent five years training to be a doctor, Mrs Turnbull. I''ve spent the last year and a half finding out that that I''m never going to get a job as a doctor, because I prefer sleeping in woods, fields or even cardboard boxes, to a house where my parents are screaming at each other and me, I''m too strange, apparently, sleeping under the stars.]


    [The stars are good companions, as long as you''re warm.] Sathzakara said, then asked [How much do you know?]


    [James has told me some things, but he''s holding a lot back. He''s told me your husband made a steam engine, but not where he got the pieces. He told me about sharks, but not about why people don''t just stay out of the water. He''s told me his friend didn''t realise the necklace he gave me had a real emerald in it, but claimed it came from a pirate''s treasure chest, and that you''d sell such things at market, but I''ve no idea how his friend would stumble over a pirate''s chest, or who''d be buying. He''s promised to tell me a lot when we''re on the mysterious boat.]


    [He is being careful. The boat itself will probably tell you a lot. Your world has changed a lot since my husband left it, I expect.]


    [Urm, yes. Cars, trains, planes, jets, rockets, nuclear energy, electronics, radio, television, medicine, too. Oh wow! Even antibiotics....]


    [A lot of those are just sounds to me, sorry.]


    [I''m sorry... I didn''t mean....]


    [No, that''s the point, Rose.] Sathzakara said [It would help our people if you could bring knowledge as well as medicines, Rose. Tell James that, please. Now, I think I''d like to sleep.]


    [You''re in a different time-zone.] Rose realised.


    [If that''s what you call it.]


    [It''s almost noon here.]


    [Well it''s not here, I assure you.] Sathzakara replied.


    [James said you''d moved your village.]


    [We did. I''m sure I''d be awake if we were still anywhere near the Mediterranean. Good night, Rose. I''m sure we''ll talk some other time.]


    [Good night, Mrs Turnbull.]


    ¡°How on Earth?¡± Rose demanded of James. And noticed that Mabel had gone.


    ¡°How on Earth what?¡± James asked, confused. ¡°What did Mabel say?¡±


    ¡°Not Mabel, your grandmother. Oh, before I forget, she says we should bring knowledge as well as medicines, that it would help your people. About how the world has changed. I was thinking, it''s changed a lot, in the last sixty or seventy years. You didn''t tell me she had cataracts. How much cargo can your boat carry?¡±


    ¡°You''re serious about coming?¡±


    ¡°Of course. I told you that last night.¡±


    ¡°I wasn''t sure if you''d developed any doubts.¡±


    ¡°None at all.¡±


    ¡°And grandma didn''t say there''d be trouble?¡±


    ¡°No. I forgot to ask, actually. Mabel woke your grandmother up.¡±


    ¡°Urm, you know old people sleep a lot...¡±


    ¡°She admitted she was in a different time zone.¡±


    ¡°Oh.¡±


    ¡°She also said, or at least strongly implied, that her village used to be near the Mediterranean.¡±


    ¡°Oh. That was your outburst?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°So, grandma''s dropping hints that make my life more difficult?¡±


    ¡°Seems like it.¡± Rose agreed.


    ¡°And you could pluck the answers from my mind?¡±


    She decided to try reaching out to him like Mabel had shown her. [I don''t know how. I know how to do this, which might be handy.]


    [I expect so.] James agreed. [What did Mabel mean about curiosity killing you?]


    [I don''t know. I guess it means I don''t experiment. And I also agreed not to pester the answers out of you.]


    [Thank you.]


    [But I''d have thought that secretly moving a village across multiple time-zones, during a war for goodness'' sake, would be rather a tough job.]


    [The Far-Seer bit of Gran''s name ¡ª that was because of her part in it. Grandpa helped, of course, but she actually planned the route, as well as making sure all the supplies were prepared, and so on.]


    [So it was foresight as well as looking a long way?]


    [Yes. Not to mention predicting the troop movements of several different armies.]


    [Wow. So... dropping this question to get back to my original question you didn''t answer properly yet...]


    James looked guilty, and asked her ¡°Will you marry me?¡±


    It caught Rose by surprise. ¡°Of course! With all my heart, James.¡±


    ¡°I need to get you a ring, don''t I? Preferably with a diamond, Grandfather said?¡±


    ¡°Nothing in your collection of pretties?¡±


    ¡°There might have been one in the lot I left in Oxford. I can''t remember. (The lawyer''s firm was there for a while.) Much easier to buy one, I expect.¡±


    ¡°Save your money, getting all the medical stuff might cost a lot. I don''t need an engagement ring. I do want a wedding ring though.¡±


    This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.


    ¡°Of course.¡±


    ¡°Maybe I should sell this necklace.¡± Rose mused.


    ¡°Why?¡± James was surprised.


    ¡°If I''m going to operate on your grandmother''s cataracts ¡ª and I presume she''s not the only one with them ¡ª then I need some fairly specialised stuff. Plus the rest of what I want to take with me. Its probably going to cost a lot. Hundreds of pounds, certainly. Maybe even thousands of pounds.¡±


    She groaned ¡°And so much of it depends on electricity, too. We''ll need a generator, as well, I guess.¡±


    ¡°Alternating or direct current?¡± James asked her.


    Rose was shocked momentarily, then shook her head. ¡°I keep forgetting your grandfather was an engineer. Two hundred and forty volts, alternating current, fifty Hertz.¡±


    ¡°Next question. What''s a volt?¡±


    ¡°A car battery is twelve volts, a torch battery is one and a half, normally, but there are some which are four and a half. A transistor radio battery is nine.¡±


    ¡°Urm... and if you get enough volts you get a spark through the air? Like lightning?¡±


    ¡°Yes. But that''s thousands, or millions.¡±


    ¡°OK. And the other one?¡±


    ¡°Hertz? How many times it goes up and down in a minute. No, that can''t be right, the lights would be going on and off all the time. It must be per second.¡±


    James thought about it for a moment. ¡°How big is the generator you''d need?¡±


    ¡°I don''t know.¡± She waved with her hands. ¡°Maybe this big?¡±


    ¡°Hmm.¡±


    ¡°What does ''Hmm.'' mean?¡±


    ¡°It probably means that we''re going to need to ask an expert.¡±


    ¡°Is that hard?¡±


    ¡°You''ll need to ask someone, I guess Gran. Or my mother, but Gran''s got more authority.¡±


    ¡°And somehow describe what a volt is, and so on?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°Or we get a generator?¡±


    ¡°Yes. And take that much less cargo. The boat''s cabin is about half the size size of my bedroom, and not as tall. There''s some cargo space, but it''s not even half the size of the cabin. Probably more like twice the size of the bed in my room.¡±


    ¡°Oh. So taking the generator would be a big chunk of the cargo, and it might turn out to be needless?¡±


    ¡°Yes. Or we might find out that we can''t do it, and anything that needs electricity is useless.¡±


    ¡°Is direct current easier?¡±


    ¡°I don''t know, actually. Grandpa had some bottles with bits of metal in, that he said made direct current. I was thinking maybe we could use enough of those.¡±


    ¡°Oh. Perhaps we need that generator.¡± The thought of attaching medical equipment to a home-made battery pack made her cringe. Not least from cleanliness issues. She''d need an extension cable too, she realised. An operating theatre was no place for a smelly, noisy generator. Another thought occurred to her. ¡°How do we get all this into your boat?¡±


    ¡°Not the way I was originally thinking I''d get to it: swim. But for the moment, Rose, don''t try to sell your necklace. We don''t know how much things will cost, I might have enough.¡±


    ¡°Your wallet wasn''t that full, James.¡±


    ¡°I didn''t put most of it in my wallet, Rose.¡±


    ¡°I hope you didn''t leave any of it at home.¡±


    ¡°You really don''t trust your parents, do you?¡±


    ¡°I know them. Mum''s been accused of stealing from a lodger before. He had no proof though, but I''m pretty sure that''s how she got a new dress.¡±


    ¡°I did leave some there. Plus the jewelery, of course.¡±


    ¡°The jewelery ought to be safe. It''s recognisable.¡±


    ¡°So''s the money; sequential numbers, same value.¡±


    ¡°Just how much are we talking about?¡±


    ¡°I thought it was far too much. I told the lawyer it was too much, but he said that he''d just made a record in his books that I''d been looking for him for two months and had come half way around the world, so he had to put in a reasonable figure, or it''d be suspicious.¡±


    ¡°So, two months at what, ten pounds a week?¡±


    ¡°I was travelling. He said he ought to put in hotel rates.¡±


    ¡°Sixty days at what, five pounds a night?¡±


    ¡°Ten.¡±


    ¡°Six hundred pounds! Wow, I''m engaged to a wealthy man! I hope there''s some money left for our descendants.¡±


    ¡°Don''t forget the plane ticket. This is silly, why don''t I just tell you?¡±


    ¡°Inherent suspicion of dangerous natives?¡± Rose suggested, with a smile.


    ¡°Something like that. He said he didn''t think he could get away with putting less than fifteen hundred into the books.¡±


    She looked at him in amazement. ¡°And you left that much money with my Mum and Dad?¡±


    ¡°Not all of it.¡±


    ¡°Let''s go home.¡±


    ¡°If you like.¡±


    ¡°I''m going to feel terrible if any of it''s missing. I don''t know how you can be so calm about it.¡±


    ¡°I guess... I''ve been thinking of it as just surplus trade-goods. Something you need to look after but don''t really need for anything. Sorry. I need to start thinking of it as for you to help people, don''t I?¡±


    ¡°Is that what my necklace was?¡±


    ¡°Not really, no. That was something precious to me.¡±


    ¡°But you gave it to me.¡±


    ¡°Of course.¡±


    ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°You''d offered yourself to me, as a totally unexpected gift. I wanted to give you an unexpected gift. Not as valuable, of course, but the best I felt I could do.¡±


    ¡°You''re complicated.¡±


    ¡°Isn''t everyone?¡± He sighed ¡°I need to trust you. So you know, Rose: the trust fund has about five million in it.¡±


    ¡°Five... Wow.¡±


    ¡°The lawyer showed me the books, how his predecessors had invested it, and so on. Personally, when he gave me the travel money, I think he was a more than a little embarrassed that he''d just shown me that his management fees on the trust were a hundred pounds per month. Mostly, I suspect he''d been putting it in long-term investments which didn''t need much attention.¡±


    ¡°So your grandfather''s trust is giving him a nice little income, and he wanted to keep you friendly?¡±


    ¡°Quite possible, yes. There''s another fact I need to trust you with, I think. I''m too sparing with the truth.¡±


    ¡°Well, apparently you''ve got a big secret to keep. What is it?¡±


    ¡°The trust was set up for education. But that''s only what the lawyer called a moral obligation.¡±


    ¡°In other words, if you decide to, you could get more out?¡±


    He nodded.


    ¡°Thank you, James.¡±


    ¡°What for?¡±


    ¡°Trust. You really shouldn''t trust me that much.¡±


    ¡°Why not?¡±


    ¡°I could be an experienced con-artist, after your money.¡±


    ¡°You''re not. Not with that gift God just gave you. He doesn''t make mistakes like that.¡±


    <hr>


    </a>Rose''s home.


    ¡°Just in case, James...¡± Rose started.


    ¡°Yes?¡±


    ¡°If Mum hears me going up the stairs, she might run. It''s not hard at all to get out of your room, onto the roof of the back porch, and then down. Mum''s quite flexible still. Could you wait in the alley here, just in case?¡±


    ¡°I was wondering why we came this way. Of course.¡±


    Rose let herself into the house, and shut the door as quietly as she could. Normally her pattern was to sneak out, but it wasn''t so different.


    She could see the kitchen from where she was, it was empty. As usual, her father was snoring in his wheelchair in the front room. Rose climbed the stairs, stepping over the steps that creaked. James'' door was open, and his briefcase was too, Rose saw past her mother''s form, and reached out to James.


    [James, Mum''s looking in your briefcase.]


    [Good job I moved the money then. The pretties are there, and a few other things that might interest her.]


    [What?]


    [Papers from the lawyer, for instance.]


    [She doesn''t read well.]


    [There''s also a signet ring.{image} That''s rather important.]


    [How important?]


    [About five million pounds.]


    [I''m going to challenge her.]


    [Remember, she''s your mother.]


    ¡°Interesting reading, Mum?¡± Rose asked.


    She jumped, and the briefcase fell onto the floor. ¡°Rose! You scared me half to death.¡±


    ¡°You don''t think that the fact you''re searching through James'' bag might have something to do with that?¡±


    ¡°He''s got money in trust, Rose! He''s filthy rich!¡±


    ¡°So, put back the pretties, and we''ll forget this happened.¡±


    ¡°He left it open.¡±


    ¡°No, he didn''t. It was closed when we left. I saw him lock it, actually, I never knew you were that much of a tea-leaf, Mum.¡±


    ¡°I was just dusting it, Rose.¡± she said, her hand going to the pocket in her pinafore. Rose assumed it was unconsciously.


    ¡°Mum, it''s not yours.¡±


    ¡°He''s just some foreigner, Rose. I''m your mum, you wouldn''t rat on your own mum, surely?¡±


    ¡°I might. We''re engaged, Mum. He asked me half an hour ago. What you''ve taken is stealing from me.¡±


    ¡°I ain''t taken nothing!¡±


    ¡°Yes. That''s what I suspect.¡± Rose scanned the jewelery on the floor. ¡°One necklace, I see, one gold bangle, missing, three broaches, I see two of them. One signet ring, nope, I don''t see that either. I''m sure James will be here soon. Don''t make this worse, Mum. Please!¡±


    ¡°You''re a hard girl, treating your mother like this. You''re going off, gallivanting round the world with a rich man and I''m going to starve here...¡±


    ¡°Can it, Mum! We''re not gallivanting around the world, we''re going back to his isolated village where I''m going to be the first doctor they''ve ever met; healing the sick like you''ve screamed at me to be doing often enough. Half of his cousins are dead already! He''s not rich, that trust is for getting his granddad''s descents an education, and that gold you''ve stolen is so I can get medicines and stuff. You''re going to deny his nieces and nephews that that so you can have a pretty dress? You''re going to deny my kids that? /Give it back/.¡±


    ¡°Oh all right! Ungrateful chit of a girl.¡± No gold appeared.


    Rose tried another track. ¡°Mum, you hate it when the gajos label us thieves. Why do you give them more ammunition?¡±


    ¡°I''m just trying to...¡±


    ¡°You''re just trying to pretend you''re entitled to it. You''re not!¡±


    ¡°I gave you birth! I fed you! Eighteen, twenty years, I scrimped and saved to feed you, girl! Don''t say I''m not entitled to nothing from you, you can''t just walk away, leaving me nothing!¡±


    James entered the room. ¡°Good afternoon, Mrs Abbot. I see you violate my guest-rights. That is a very serious thing.¡±


    ¡°You what?¡± Mrs Abbot exclaimed. He''d climbed the stairs even more quietly than Rose.


    ¡°I am a guest in your home, am I not, albeit one who pays for the privilege? You should care for my possessions as your own. That doesn''t mean hiding them about your person.¡± He picked up the briefcase, checked the hidden compartment where the signet ring was kept, it was still there, and carefully picked up the gold jewelery. Then to Rose''s surprise he laid it on the bed, as if it were on display. ¡°You''ve made your choice then?¡± he asked Rose''s mother.


    ¡°Pardon?¡±


    ¡°You''ve made yourself free with my possessions, rummaged through documents that have nothing to do with you, but I see you''ve chosen some of my trade-goods. If I understood you correctly as I was coming in, you are saying that it is your right to expect a bride-price from me in exchange for your daughter. It is not my custom, I apologise if it is yours, but Rose did not tell me so perhaps you have not raised her as well as you should, which of course reduces her bride-price, doesn''t it? What else have you failed to teach her, I wonder? So I ask, before we leave, and I assure you we are leaving, have you made your choice? I must say I think you''ve chosen quite inferior pieces.¡±


    ¡°What are you going on about?¡±


    ¡°You said you were entitled to something, Mum. Compensation, for cooking all the food and so on that my part of the family allowance bought, you know? He''s asking if you want to reconsider what you''ve chosen.¡±


    James indicated one of the necklaces ¡°This one, for instance, is almost certainly worth far more than its scrap value, made, as you can see from a Spanish doubloon.¡±


    ¡°How do I know it''s not a fake?¡± she asked, looking at it closely.


    ¡°How do I know your daughter''s not fake?¡± he shot back, as though insulted. ¡°I''ve got eyes. Surely you know a genuine doubloon when you see one! If nothing else, feel the weight. You own son loaned me money against it''s scrap value. I''m sure he can tell what''s gold and what''s painted lead, or he''d be out of business. And just look at the workmanship on it! Don''t insult your daughter by thinking I''d offer something that''s fake for her hand!¡± Rose was amazed at what was happening, and was torn in so many different directions. He''d turned the question of theft into another one entirely, and was obviously was in command of the situation, but she was more than a little disgusted that her mother seemed to be going along with it.


    She spoke in a firm but harsh whisper ¡°Mother, if you dare try to sell me like some piece of meat then I''m warning you, so help me, I''ll tell Dad and our Rick too! Your name won''t even be worth mud. You ought to be giving me a dowry and well you know it. Who do you think we are? One of them that call themselves gypsies but don''t keep the traditions right? Gran''ll be turning in her grave! Don''t offer anything James, you don''t know it, but you insult my whole family.¡±


    He apologised and quickly packed the jewelery away. Rose turned back to look at her mother with a scowl on her face, but saw she was already handing back what she''d stolen. James'' ploy and Rose''s threat had shamed her far more than accusations of being a thief. She could live with that sort of accusation, but if she accepted a bride-price for her daughter she''d become an outcast.


    Mrs Abbot tried to recover the situation, ¡°It was just a little misunderstanding, that''s all, Rose...¡±


    ¡°Yes, Mum. You thought you could get away with it. I''m going to invite Rick and the others to my wedding. You can turn up if you like, I can''t stop you. But after this, you won''t hear where it is or when from me.¡±


    ¡°Now, Mrs Abbot, I think you''d better leave us to pack, don''t you think?¡±


    James added.


    <hr>


    ¡°Where to now?¡± Rose asked James, as they left the house. This time, Rose had her suitcase with her.


    ¡°I was going to ask you for suggestions.¡±


    ¡°Can we try Rick''s? I don''t want to abandon my family entirely.¡±


    ¡°He''s got the space? Of course, if you don''t think your necklace will prove too much temptation for him.¡±


    ¡°He''s honest, James. I really don''t know how my parents did it, but they raised six committed Christians.¡±


    ¡°Maybe God''s grace?¡±


    ¡°Probably. Dad didn''t used to be so bad, but after he lost his legs...¡±


    ¡°How did that happen? I meant to ask.¡±


    ¡°Accident at work. To start with he''d just have a little drink to help him sleep. Now...¡±


    ¡°It must be painful, I''m sorry.¡±


    ¡°Very.¡±


    <hr>


    ¡°''Ello, trouble.¡± Rick greeted them as they entered his shop. ¡°Now what''s up?¡±


    ¡°Short story, best not told.¡± Rose replied.


    ¡°We have two requests.¡± James said.


    ¡°Do we?¡± Rose asked, surprised ¡°I thought it was just one.¡±


    ¡°First things first.¡± James said. ¡°Rick, Rose said she''s not fussed about an engagement ring, but I''d like her to have one, anyway. And I''ll be needing to give her a wedding ring soon too. Do you have anything?¡±


    ¡°He went and popped the question already did he?¡± Rick asked.


    ¡°He did, and it took me all of two seconds to think of a reply, too. Guess what the other request is.¡± she indicated her suitcase.


    ¡°That mean what I think it does?¡±


    ¡°Mum did worse than scream, Rick. I''ve moved out, permanently. I caught her red-handed, poking through James'' suitcase, which he''d locked. There''s worse too.¡±


    ¡°Worse?¡± he asked, surprised.


    ¡°I won''t tell.¡± she declared, ¡°While you''re thinking of rings, can you think about the idea of finding your sister and her intended somewhere to stay?¡±


    ¡°How long?¡±


    ¡°Last night we found out that we could marry ten days after giving notice. So our wedding ought to be in under a fortnight. How long it''ll take to arrange all the things I''d like to take on the boat with us, I don''t know, but I really hope we can do it in the same time.¡±


    ¡°Boat?¡±


    ¡°Well, we did think of flying, but neither of us have the feathers.¡± James replied.


    ¡°Or we could swim I suppose.¡± Rose said.


    ¡°Not with your medical equipment, you couldn''t.¡± James pointed out. ¡°And swimming all day and all night without a rest might sound like a stroll in the park, but it really gets boring after the first couple of days.¡±


    Rick laughed. ¡°I like your sense of humour, James. Let me show you some rings and then we can talk about prices.¡±


    ¡°I hope you''re going to give your favourite unmarried sister a special discount.¡± Rose said.


    ¡°With that monstrosity round your pretty neck?¡± he asked.


    James knew what he''d offer. ¡°What about we discuss the value of a genuine Spanish Doubloon, made into a necklace sometime between 1650 when the coin was struck and whenever the ship it was on was sunk by cannon fire?¡±


    ¡°How do you know it was sunk by cannon fire?¡±


    ¡°Well, that''s a guess, really, but the chest I found it in had a cannon ball embedded in the side, so I''m pretty convinced.¡±


    ¡°You found it?¡±


    ¡°I did.¡±


    ¡°Where?¡±


    ¡°Roughly in the vicinity of the island they call Hispaniola.¡±


    ¡°You some kind of frog-man, then, like that Jaques Cousteau?¡±


    Rose felt James tense up beside her, and decide he needed to ask her what Rick had meant by a ''frog-man''. She said ¡°James doesn''t have a telly, Rick, and he''s only seen a couple of films in his whole life. Jaques Cousteau is one of those people who strap air tanks to their backs, flippers on their feet and...¡±


    ¡°Go exploring old wrecks, and the like, yes.¡± James said, recovering quickly. ¡°I was visiting some relatives in the area and they invited me along. I got lucky and found that chest before anyone else did. I guess the cannonball took it off the side of the ship, it was just lying there half buried in the sand, quite a long way from the wreck, covered in barnacles.¡±


    [You didn''t tell me any of this! That''s why the sharks?]


    [I didn''t know you had that technology already, sorry.]


    [Already?] Rose asked, in surprise.


    [We''ll talk later, Rose, OK?]


    ¡°So, Rick, do you think you''d like to swap that interesting conversation piece there for diamond ring for my fianc¨¦e and a wedding ring to match?¡±


    ¡°Along with accommodation for us, out of the rain somewhere, storage space for the medical stuff I hope I can get hold of, and last but not least, a lend of your van to get it to wherever James has hidden his boat.¡±


    ¡°All that, just for this necklace?¡± Rick asked, his eyes fixed on the doubloon.


    ¡°Yeah. Good deal, eh?¡± Rose said.


    ¡°Excellent deal. But you''re buying the petrol for the van, and if you smash it, then you''re buying me a replacement one. Hold on, a mo! You don''t even have a driving license, do you, Rose?¡±


    ¡°Nope. I was hoping the van came with a driver.¡± she smiled sweetly at her brother.


    ¡°Just ''ow far are we talking?¡± Rick asked.


    ¡°No idea. Some isolated, out of the way spot, I presume.¡± Rose said. ¡°James is only letting me into his secrets bit by bit.¡±


    Another thought occurred to her. [You''re going to tell me it''s a submarine aren''t you? It''s the only way we could travel that far and it not be very rough.]


    [Yes, it''s a submarine.]


    [Wow. What happened, your grandpa salvaged one and fixed it?]


    [Later, please, Rose?]


    ¡°Got a map?¡± James asked. ¡°I know where it is, but I really didn''t feel like strolling up to someone and saying ''Hi, I''ve just hidden my boat where I dearly hope no one will ever think to look for it, and crept ashore. Could you tell me what the nearest town is called?''¡±


    ¡°No. Sorry, no map.¡± Rick replied.


    ¡°Oh, here!¡± Rose held out her hand to James. ¡°Think a map to me.¡±


    [OK, it''s about here. {image}]


    [How on earth did you get it that far inland?]


    [There''s a nice network of rivers up there, not many people, either.]


    ¡°I have no idea how, Rick, but he claims he''s hidden it somewhere north of Cambridge.¡±


    ¡°There were loads of really tall reeds, it didn''t look like anyone harvested them. I think we''ll have to borrow a rowing boat to get stuff from somewhere you can stop the van though.¡± James added.


    ¡°Norfolk Broads, eh? I guess I can manage that far. I was worried you were going to say turn left at Loch Ness. What sort of boat is it?¡±


    ¡°Just one of my tribe''s old deep-sea fishing boats, but it''d be an odd design for round here. If someone starts asking questions about where it came from, then ... well, when my grandmother was young the answer was usually a knife between the ribs. I guess I''ll want to think with you, Rose, about better options.¡±


    ¡°Maybe you should say it''s part of a university science project?¡± Rose suggested.


    ¡°Maybe.¡± James agreed. He''d thought of that.


    ¡°Rose,¡± Rick asked, ¡°What you just did, holding his hand.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Rick?¡±


    ¡°I thought that was a game you played when you were little, but it''s real, isn''t it?¡±


    ¡°Yes, Rick.¡±


    ¡°Does Mum know it''s real?¡±


    ¡°I''ve never asked her. I''m not going ask her now.¡±


    ¡°You''re really not going to tell me what happened?¡±


    ¡°No. You don''t want to know.¡±


    ¡°She hit you?¡±


    ¡°Drop it, Rick. She''s our mum, you still speak to her. I can''t stop her from coming to my wedding but I''m not inviting her.¡±


    ¡°That bad, eh? What about Dad?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, he can come. He was comatose every time I went past, he doesn''t even know I know someone called James. Look, about mum, just so you don''t misunderstand.¡±


    ¡°Yeah?¡±


    ¡°She almost did something, OK? She didn''t do it, or like I told her I''d ''ave woken up Dad over it, and you''d have heard it too. But she didn''t.¡±


    ¡°She was going to call the cops on James or something?¡±


    Rose considered. It wasn''t the truth, but it was almost as bad a thing in their culture. ¡°No more from me, Rick.¡±


    ¡°You''d better look at these rings then, see what size fits, and we''ll take it from there. And don''t go expecting more than a carat, no matter how good the workmanship on the necklace. I don''t keep anything bigger in the shop.¡±


    <hr>

 The Other Big Secret 2: Rabbit Stew / Ch. 4: Shopping

    <h2>The Other Big Secret 2: Rabbit Stew / Ch. 4:Shopping</h2>


    </a>London, 10a.m, Wednesday morning, Oct 29th, 1975


    Rose signed the papers on the delivery man''s clipboard. ¡°Thanks.¡±


    ¡°Odd place for the delivery, if you don''t mind me saying so. I thought I was at the wrong address for a while there,¡± he said.


    ¡°I''m just borrowing a corner of my brother''s warehouse for a while. Once I''ve got everything then I''m off to the mission hospital.¡±


    ¡°We could have arranged the international shipping too, doctor. Special discount for missionaries.¡±


    ¡°I know, but it hardly seemed worth it, just for this little lot. OK it won''t fit in my suitcase, but it''s far easier to just take it with me.¡±


    ¡°I was just saying, Miss, sorry, doctor. Just saying. Maybe next time, eh?¡±


    ¡°I''ve got your office''s number now, yes. Thank you so much.¡±


    ¡°Well, have a good trip, and God bless.¡± The man left.


    James looked at the boxes. ¡°Is that the last lot?¡±


    ¡°Yes, Praise God. Except for your grandmother''s request. Knowledge of what''s changed.¡±


    ¡°Almost everything.¡±


    ¡°That''s what I thought. My first idea was an encyclopedia, but I don''t know. A lot of what''s in the one in the library is history or biography,¡±


    ¡°Interesting, but space is running out. And it would be good to take some food too.¡±


    ¡°And water, surely?¡±


    He shook his head. ¡°Some, just in case. But we won''t be that far from fresh water.¡±


    ¡°Won''t we just have to stop more often if we don''t take enough?¡±


    ¡°If everything''s working well, the equipment on the boat should give us enough. What we''ll take is just in case something breaks.¡±


    ¡°Does that happen often?¡±


    ¡°No. But there''s always a first time.¡±


    ¡°When I was imagining your people to be only a couple of steps past the iron age I was way wrong, wasn''t I?¡±


    ¡°Grandpa was a bit disappointed, but excited too.¡±


    ¡°So... your boat is a submarine, so I presume it has some kind of engine. It makes fresh water... by reverse osmosis?¡±


    ¡°What''s that?¡±


    ¡°Osmosis is when water molecules go through a membrane because there''s salt on the other side. Reverse osmosis is when you clean water by pushing it through.¡±


    ¡°Is that a bit like with kidneys?¡± he asked ¡°Yes. There''s a kidney mechanism in the boat.¡±


    ¡°I''m impressed.¡±


    ¡°Lots of history. No big wars, no invaders destroying our civilisation, only some plagues. The Greeks had steam power, remember. You''re going a lot faster than we have, but we did have quite a head start.¡±


    ¡°Have we caught up?¡±


    He looked at her for a while, ¡°Not in everything. You''re beating us in some areas: medicine for instance; mass production; and we didn''t try going to space.¡±


    ¡°Too much like showing off?¡±


    He laughed. ¡°Oh, we show off among ourselves. But launching a rocket is much too attention-grabbing. The last time we tried grabbing the headlines was a long time ago.¡±


    ¡°Can you tell me?¡±


    ¡°I''d rather not.¡±


    ¡°There''s even more to tell?¡±


    ¡°Hearing thoughts is rare here, isn''t it?¡±


    ¡°Incredibly. And it''d probably get me cut up and experimented on and so on. Hey. You have it, your mum too, your grandmother...¡±


    ¡°Just over half of us have it.¡±


    ¡°Wow!¡±


    ¡°We don''t want to be cut up either.¡±


    ¡°That''s the secret? Ancient thought-hearing civilisation we''re not aware of?¡±


    ¡°You''re getting close, but you''re not there yet. Shall we go look at book-shops, see if we can find anything?¡±


    ¡°I''ve been meaning to ask you, how come you''re not totally lost, how come your vocabulary''s so good?¡±


    ¡°Oh, that. Well, we might hide from you, but we try to keep a watch on what''s happening too. There are less surprises that way. We''ve got some radios, we sometimes find books and magazines too. My sister Martha''s our librarian and book-restorer. She''ll love anything we can bring for her to read. Especially if we can get it to her without the pages stuck together.¡±


    ¡°Did you say she was married?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°What''s he do?¡±


    ¡°Keeps their kids out of the library, keeps various things going.¡±


    ¡°Such as?¡±


    The nuclear reactor, he thought. Glad she hadn''t heard that, he asked ¡°Can it wait until we''re on the boat?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Of course. James, you told Rick it was an old, deep-sea fishing boat.¡±


    ¡°I did.¡±


    ¡°It strikes me that he probably thought you just meant it was an old boat that could go a long way from the coast, but you might have said in perfect honesty, meaning it can go deep.¡±


    ¡°Who me? Play with words?¡±


    ¡°Yes, you! So, having caught you out on that, how deep and how old?¡±


    ¡°Deep... deep enough. I can''t remember exactly. Old... I suspect it''s the one grandma and grandpa took on their aborted honeymoon.¡±


    ¡°Aborted? How?¡±


    ¡°They discovered someone had put mines on the stretch of water that led to the village. Someone had decided to use our caves as a gun-emplacement, and didn''t want anyone mounting an attack from the sea. So much for their week to themselves.¡±


    ¡°Oh. Won''t your boat need us to put some fuel in it?¡±


    ¡°It should be O.K.¡±


    ¡°It must have big fuel tanks!¡±


    ¡°Hmm,¡± he said, non-committally.


    She looked at him suspiciously. ¡°James, you''re not going to tell me you''ve got a nuclear powered submarine are you?¡±


    ¡°Rose, you should know I wouldn''t tell you something like that.¡±


    ¡°Not until we''re on the boat, anyway,¡± she said.


    ¡°My thought exactly.¡± he agreed.


    ¡°Let''s hope no one finds it then.¡±


    ¡°As a native of this strange country, what would happen if someone did find themselves a totally weird looking submarine in middle of a reed-bed?¡±


    ¡°Call the police, maybe? And then they''d maybe call the army, who''d maybe say, no it''s in water, call the navy, who''d try to get in, while the army looked around for the Russian spy. Of course if it looked totally alien, they might decide it was an unidentified flying object which looked like a submarine, and call in the air-force.¡±


    ¡°And then what?¡±


    ¡°Well, assuming they can find their way inside... will they?¡±


    ¡°No comment.¡±


    ¡°If they can find their way inside they''ll probably go through the whole where is the owner from: Russia, Mars or Alpha-Centuri, and work out how it goes. If they can''t get in, then if they think it''s Russian then they''ll be very cross and try to get in with explosives, if it''s from Mars or Alpha-Centuri then they might think hmm, let''s study it first.¡±


    ¡°You don''t think they''ll be content with just looking through the windows, then?¡±


    ¡°Maybe. What''d they see?¡±


    ¡°Not much. The odd cargo net, a human-sized chair. Simple controls.¡±


    ¡°What, no knobs, dials, switches?¡±


    ¡°Not many.¡±


    ¡°Photographs of mum?¡±


    He laughed. ¡°No. Maybe some kid''s drawings from my nephew. Oh, they might see a map of Britain, and a war-time map of tides and things.¡±


    ¡°Those might reassure them that you''re Homo-Sapiens-Sapiens.¡±


    He draw a sharp breath, then shrugged. ¡°I''ll leave that sort of detailed analysis to you.¡±


    ¡°You think you''re a different sub-species?¡± she was sceptical.


    ¡°I don''t know the definition. How different do you need to be to be a subspecies?¡±


    ¡°Very. More than height, head-shape, and so on.¡±


    ¡°Nice to know. Maybe we won''t be cut up then. Grandpa thought it was possible.¡±


    ¡°Why? I mean, I know that the people were even more into racist science then than they are now, but...¡±


    ¡°What''s racist science?¡±


    ¡°It starts by dividing up humans into lots of different races and then decides that the white ones are more intelligent, trustworthy and so on than the others, and that makes it OK to try to exterminate the others to improve the gene-pool. Hence some of the worst things that happened in the second world war.¡±


    ¡°Oh. No, it''s not really that.¡±


    ¡°You''re saying there are more differences between us?¡±


    ¡°Rose, you''re the doctor. I''m sure you''ve studied lots about the differences between men and women.¡± he teased.


    ¡°Oh, you! Answer the question!¡±


    ¡°I haven''t got a complete list. I don''t think your hearing goes as high as mine, for instance. Some more obvious differences are from diet, I know. Grandpa didn''t know that when he first made his guess, though.¡±


    ¡°More obvious differences?¡±


    ¡°How long can you hold your breath?¡±


    ¡°Urm, maybe a minute, two at most.¡±


    ¡°You''re welcome to do some tests on me sometime, but I can go for something like ten minutes, not a problem. Fifteen if I needed to, but I''d be gasping.¡±


    ¡°I''ve heard... free-divers, voluntarily overriding their gasp-reflex, being totally still, yeah, I''ve heard of that.¡±


    ¡°But not when they''re swimming, I presume.¡±


    ¡°What? No.¡±


    ¡°So, part of it is diet ¡ª there''s a mixture of herbs we make a drink out of that helps with what you called the gasp-reflex, I think. Tastes foul the first few times. But there''s more. Our muscles are darker than yours.¡± He laughed. ¡°Gran told me that she confidently told grandpa that drinking the herb mixture would make his blood and muscles darker. It didn''t happen, but he said after he''d stopped trying to be sick, he was able to hold his breath longer, up to about eight minutes, I think he said, if he wasn''t moving.¡±


    ¡°Wow!¡±


    ¡°It''s risky of course, you get closer to running out of oxygen. For you, especially. I don''t know what the dark blood and muscles does. Stores more in the first place, maybe, or uses it more efficiently? I don''t know. Oops. I really wasn''t going to tell you about this until the boat.¡±


    ¡°You''re saying you''re biologically adapted for diving, aren''t you?¡±


    ¡°Who, me? Can we please leave this subject until later?¡± Rose had a flash of thought which made a lot of sense about things he''d said earlier, not to mention what Mabel had said.


    ¡°Just one more question, please?¡±


    ¡°If you insist, if this is not wheedling, and if it''s asked quietly.¡±


    [Was your grandfather upset or relieved when he saw his future wife had legs, not a fish-tail?]


    James started laughing, and found he couldn''t stop for almost half a minute. ¡°Oh, Rose!¡± he said between giggles. ¡°You don''t know half of it. Come on, lets go shopping.¡±


    [What? What? What''s so funny?] she demanded.


    [She has both, of course. The fish-tail''s her skirt. Protective, insulating, helps you swim fast, stops you getting scratched by coral. I think you''ll look gorgeous in fish-scale.]


    [If it''s so wonderful, do you wear it too?]


    [Men''s is greenish, not silver, and the design is different.]


    [I can''t wait to see this.]


    <hr>


    </a>Central London, London''s Biggest Bookshop, Oct 29th, 1975.


    ¡°You know what I hate about this place?¡± Rose muttered, looking at the irregular mountains of books that reduced the corridors to barely wide enough to pass. ¡°I am ninety nine percent sure that the book we''re looking for is here. I just can''t find it.¡±


    ¡°My sister would weep.¡± James agreed.


    Eventually, Rose found an assistant, who seemed to be actively trying to avoid any customers.


    ¡°Excuse me, I don''t suppose you have any idea where I''d find a book about advances in technology in the twentieth century? Or failing that something about cutting edge technology in as many subject areas as you can think of?¡±


    ¡°Err, this the history section,¡± the man said in a strong accent.


    ¡°Yes. Is that why I see here a book on cooking omelettes?¡±


    ¡°Yes, exactly.¡±


    ¡°Technology? Modern Science? Weapon systems?¡± Rose asked, thinking that perhaps he just didn''t understand the word.


    ¡°Ah! Science, yes. This way!¡±


    He excitedly led her past the science shelves (where Rose noticed in passing a book on advanced beekeeping next to one on Zen Budhism) to the childrens'' department.


    ¡°Here, lady. Science!¡± he pointed. Next to ¡°Noddy goes fishing ¡°, she saw a book ''Materials Science for engineers.'' It looked about twenty years old.


    ¡°Thank-you,¡± she said, resignedly, and picked it off the shelf, much to the annoyance of a spider.


    ¡°Any good?¡± James asked.


    ¡°Hmm. Not as bad as I thought, published a few years ago. What do you think?¡±


    ¡°I have no idea what half of these words mean.¡± he replied.


    ¡°Oh well.¡±


    ¡°Hey, what''s this?¡± he said, picking out a flimsy magazine with a picture of an mushroom cloud on the cover. ¡°''How it works'' That sounds like a good book."


    ¡°Oh, I''ve seen those. They sell a new bit of it every week. That one was out sometime last year, maybe the year before.¡±


    James flicked through it. ¡°Yes. this would be perfect.¡± He found a diagram of an aircraft engine. ¡°Oh, grandpa would have loved to see this! Do you think we could buy the complete set? It''s ideal.¡±


    ¡°I really don''t know. Urm... it might be. They certainly sell back issues.¡±


    ¡°Great! Just in case, can we get this one?¡±


    Aware that his enthusiasm was attracting glances, she touched his hand. [People are noticing you. You really think this is what you need?] she asked.


    [Yes. Firstly, it''s got pictures, so even people who can''t read it can get the idea of what you''re up to. Secondly its simple language. It''s got the principles, and everything. I think it''ll really fill in some gaps.] Flipping through the history of the aeroplane that it illustrated, he added [This is scary, Rose. Just so you know.]


    The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.


    [Why?]


    [We plod at things, you''re sprinting. When grandpa came, planes looked like this now... does this thing fly?] he asked pointing at the picture of Concorde.]


    [Yes. I''ve seen it on television. I think they''re saying it''ll be going from London to New York in two or three hours, and Australia in five, I think it was.]


    [And you put cameras under planes, to see what''s there.]


    [And on satellites soon, to look at the weather.]


    [Soon, you''ll have photographs of everywhere on the planet, won''t you?]


    [Probably.]


    [We''ll need to talk to people. Would you be terribly sad if we don''t take up live as caveman-hunter and cave-woman-doctor when we''re back?]


    [There''s an alternative?]


    [Oh yes. Quite a few, actually. Rose?]


    [Yes?]


    [You live in a city, but like the open air.]


    [Very true.]


    [Why don''t you live in the countryside?]


    [I don''t know. I guess I like to see people, see things happening. Watch strange men...]


    [I hope you''ve got over that one.]


    [Absolutely.]


    [Then let''s go and see how difficult it is to get a complete set of these.]


    ¡°Oh look, there''s another one!¡± Rose said. Seeing it between ''Mable Mouse learns to fly'' and ''The complete works of Shakespeare.''


    ¡°And one more!¡±


    By the time they''d reached the exit, they''d gathered, and paid for, ten editions of the magazine. None had been in the science section.


    James was delighted to find another two in the news-agent they passed on the way back to Rick''s warehouse.


    <hr>


    Rose had briefed James about some things he might want to say to the receptionist at the publishers. This was a time when his accent would be helpful, maybe. She hoped.


    ¡°Hello, I''m calling about your excellent ''How it works'' periodical.¡± James said.


    ¡°Yes, sir?¡±


    ¡°I''m visiting England and I''ve just found some copies on sale. It''s just what I''d like to give to a school back home, and the school is very remote, travel is so very difficult. We don''t get post much more than once every couple of months. I''m going back in a less than a week. Would I be able to come and pick up a complete set of back-issues?¡±


    ¡°The back orders are available by the postal service, sir.¡±


    ¡°Yes, but as I say, I''m leaving in under a week. What I''d really like is a complete set, well, two really. I see you have binders also? I don''t suppose that''s possible is it? There''s so much knowledge of how the world has changed, and the technical detail is wonderful. It''s wonderful! I''d hate to have to just  buy a copy of Britannica, it''s so much less suited to their educational needs. Please,  tell me it would be possible? I''d rather buy proof-copies from you, if that''s what it''ll take, than leave without.¡±


    ¡°I''ll have to talk to the manager, sir.¡±


    ¡°Of course. Could I call you back? I''m using a pay phone, the hotel''s phone isn''t working for some reason.¡±


    ¡°Very well, sir.¡±


    He rang off.


    ¡°Hopeful?¡± Rose asked.


    ¡°I think so.¡±


    ¡°I think I know why the hotel''s phone isn''t working.¡± Rose commented.


    ¡°Me too. But I wasn''t going to say the hotel''s phone isn''t working because it doesn''t exist any more than the hotel, was I?¡±


    ¡°I like our ''hotel''. Good company, clean, comfortable, urm... sofa.¡±


    ¡°Or hall carpet as the case may be.¡± James added. ¡°Yes. I''m entirely happy, except for one thing.¡±


    ¡°What''s that?¡±


    ¡°Waiting until Saturday.¡±


    ¡°You don''t mind me not wearing a wedding dress?¡±


    ¡°It''s your culture, not mine.¡±


    <hr>


    </a>London, Wed. evening, Oct 29th


    After Rose had cooked, and they''d all eaten, what Rick claimed was his favourite meal: egg, beans and spam, it was time for Rose ''to think for a bit'', as she described it to Rick. He was somewhat used to his little sister being weird, so he was fine with that idea. Prompted by his experience with James, he was double checking all his stock for jewelery which was more (or less) than it seemed. Mostly it was very ordinary, so Rick was only going to make a thirty or forty percent profit on what he''d lent the non-returning customers. He''d roped James in as an extra pair of eyes.


    [Mabel is now convenient as lesson time?]


    [Hello, Rose. Of course! About the only thing I know about and you don''t is finding people by category.]


    [Yes, you''ve mentioned that.]


    [Now, first you think of what sort of person you''re looking for, and then you focus on the skin of the town or the country, or wherever it is you think they might be.]


    [So, I could look for say, muggers in London?]


    [I guess so, but what good would that do? You''d probably get hundreds, and I don''t recommend you go rounding them up personally.]


    [Good point, so I won''t look at that category.]


    [Is there any sort of person you are on the look out for, say, an organist for your wedding?]


    [No, we''ve got one of those, we''ve got everything we want for the trip. I can''t think of any category of people I want to meet. Oh, wait! My big brother really needs a good woman in his life.]


    [{laughter} And that''s your job, is it?]


    [I did volunteer to keep my eyes peeled. He''s thirty-three and still hasn''t found one. We have an uncle who became a grandfather when he was thirty.]


    [That''s a bit early.]


    [I know. Big scandal, of course. I''ve no idea what they were thinking letting their son do the same. They registered the grandchild as my aunt and uncle''s kid, to save the kid that shame.]


    [Hmm, the less said about that the better, too. So, you want to find him a good wife, do you? You''re not worried about trying to look into the future?] Mabel had had that discussion with her already. [I didn''t say that, well, yes ideally she''d turn into his wife, but I was more thinking... if I look for who he ought to be romancing now, then that doesn''t mean he''s going to marry her, does it? The last girl was a disaster, from what I understood, I think he''s thinking that he''s doomed to be a bachelor all his life. And he''s a good man, with a steady income. I think he''d be a great dad.]


    [Then by all means, go for it. You''ll see one or more dots, and then you if you choose one, you focus in closer, to see where they are in more detail. It''s a bit like looking for people, but backwards. And then you can focus on the skin of the room to get a name. If you go beneath skin deep on the room, you''ll get a full name, which you might need, of course.] Mabel told her.


    [O.K. Here goes.]


    Rose thought of an appropriate girlfriend for Rick, one who most needed his qualities and who he''d be able to seriously consider as a wife, and focussed on the ''skin'' of London. She got nothing. Assuming she was doing it right, then no wonder Rick hadn''t found anyone! Had she been too idealistic? She looked at the skin of Britain, and saw a dot. Up near Loch Ness, if her geography was any good, which it usually wasn''t.


    That was going to take some explaining. She focussed in, and found the girl, or woman was sitting in the middle of, what, a field? Yes, sheltering under some heather. Rose wasn''t sure how she knew it was heather, but she was certain. She checked her name, and sat back in surprise.


    [James, do you know a Karella Eudora Matthew Turnbull?]


    [A cousin. Dad''s biggest brother''s youngest daughter. Why?]


    [She''s in Scotland.]


    [Why?]


    [I have no idea.]


    [Is she OK?]


    [I''ll check, hang on.]


    Rose checked Karella''s skin. She was cold, and regretful. Rose checked deeper, Karella regretted coming, regretted following James, as if she''d ever find him, regretted running away; sharks weren''t so bad as tourists, and most of all she regretted ever leaving her boat in the loch. She didn''t think anyone had seen her boat, and somehow she''d slipped out just to get the feel of sleeping on land for once. But now the place seemed to be crawling with people looking into the water. Was this some strange custom, or had the boat been sighted after all?]


    [Mabel, it looks like the girl it would be good for my brother to go out with is James'' cousin, currently thinking she''s been a silly girl somewhere up near what might be Loch Ness, but I''m no good at geography.]


    [Oh, really? There was a Nessie sighting the other day, not in loch Ness itself, but Loch Linnhe, which almost connects. Someone claimed they saw a big bulbous thing going up and down through the water.]


    [That sounds awfully plausible. I''ll talk to James and see what we can do.]


    [I don''t suppose you know if she hears thoughts do you?]


    [Wait a mo. I''ll ask.]


    [James, can Karella hear thoughts?]


    [Urm... Can''t remember, sorry.]


    [Someone glimpsed her boat and thought it might be the Loch Ness monster. She''s really regretting deciding to follow you here.]


    [Oh, great. She thought she''d come and have an adventure too?]


    [To quote one of her thoughts ''I shouldn''t have run away, sharks aren''t as bad as tourists''.]


    [Oh wow. I''d guess she''s really depressed then. She lost her mother and big brother to sharks when she was eight.]


    [So, shall I try and call her, or might a call from her favourite cousin''s fianc¨¦e be the last thing she needs?]


    [I''m her favourite cousin?]


    [She did follow you.]


    [Maybe she thought me coming was a way out of the sea. But there are plenty of others... Please try and call her, Rose.]


    [Mabel could, if you like.]


    [No. You do it please.]


    [What''d be her formal name? Karella bnt Eudora hi Matthew?]


    [Yes. But do you really want to be that formal?]


    [What does it signify?]


    [From a woman of her own age, it''s sort of fighting talk.]


    [Oh! I don''t want to fight her.]


    [I was wondering if you were getting jealous, thinking of my pretty cousin come to find me....]


    [Don''t be silly. Or is it not silly?]


    [Very silly. She is quite pretty, but I''m not interested.]


    [OK. Does she speak English?]


    [Yes.]


    [Great. Maybe she can get here for the wedding.]


    [I wonder what she''s wearing...]


    [Your best guess?]


    [If she''s wearing her scales, she''s stupider than I thought. If she''s wearing the swimming costume I know she found at sea once, that''s not much better is it?]


    [If I can talk to her, then I''ll ask.] Rose reached out to Karella and called


    [Karella, do you hear me?]


    [Who''s there?] Rose sensed her looking round.


    [I''m Rose, I''m in London.]


    [Oh. You''ve got the same gift as Grandpa had?]


    [So I''m told. I''ve only had it a week. Urm, two questions, no three, make it four actually.]


    [Yes?]


    [I sense you''re cold. Are you going to survive the night?]


    [Yes, I''m not that cold.]


    [Good. Next question, I''m marrying your cousin James on Saturday, do you want to come, since you''re sort of near?]


    [{shock} You''re marrying him?]


    [Yes, and then I''m leaving with him, and with lots of books and medicines and such like.]


    [You want to leave England to be shark bait?]


    [No, I want to leave England to be a doctor. I can''t be one here, it seems.]


    [Oh. It seems odd; all my life I''ve dreamed of living here. It''s so beautiful!]


    [Don''t tell anyone you''re in England where you are now unless you want to pick a fight, you''ll upset them a lot. That far north is Scotland.]


    [Sorry, urm, yes, I knew that.]


    [England''s got nice bits too. London here isn''t so pretty, but there''s lots of people, seriously plenty of people. And only the two-legged sorts of sharks.]


    [Those get everywhere. Sorry, you asked about your wedding. Yes, I''d be really happy to come. What were your other questions?]


    [Well, next question, James really hopes you''re not wearing your scales or your swimsuit, what are you wearing.]


    [You''re going to laugh at me.]


    [Go on.]


    [I brought a dress grandma wore once. It''s all lace and silk and I thought it was so beautiful, and I thought how lovely it would be to wear it all the time. I see it''s not exactly normal now, is it?]


    [You''re wearing a hundred year old dress?]


    [I guess so. No, not a hundred years old. Nineteen-ten, I guess.]


    [With a corset?]


    [No. Should I have one?]


    [Only if you don''t want to breathe.]


    [I''m glad I got that right. No one up here seems to be wearing anything like it. I should have thought that fashions would change.]


    [Well, welcome to the nineteen seventies. The fashion now is pretty much wear whatever you want, whatever''s you. So, if you might get some funny looks, but I''ve seen people wearing stranger clothes. Is it he fabric plain, or flower pattern or what?]


    [Plain, yellow, with lots of frills.]


    [If anyone asks, tell them it''s patterned after one of Laura Ashley''s designs, but you preferred that fabric. Laura Ashley''s famous for old-style dresses, but she uses print fabric. Does that make sense?]


    [Urm yes. OK. So it''s not so out of place?]


    [No. You''re allowed to feel pretty.]


    [I did when I put it on. I''m not sure I do now. I''m damp and cold and not a little muddy.]


    [Well, I think we can solve that one too, so don''t worry.]


    [Really? I''m stupid, aren''t I? I shouldn''t have come.]


    [Well, maybe not. But I expect God can turn it to good. What were your plans?]


    [I don''t know. I was going to talk to James, and ask him how I could stay.]


    [You''re serious?]


    [I hate the sea.]


    [Oh. Urm. Now is probably not the time or place.]


    [What?]


    [No, I''ll try to forget I thought it.]


    [What?]


    [One way to stay. My mother''s a terrible schemer, not honest, not reasonable, not Christian, a terrible nag, and a thief if she can get away with it, so don''t trust her an inch. She''s also done something, well, tried to, which would get her thrown out of our culture. It involved me and I''m not talking to her. But if you''re moneyless, jobless and desperate enough, maybe you could use my room. I can leave some money with my big brother to pay for your rent while you try to find a job. He''s a good guy. Just in case you''re thinking of finding a husband, that''s normally a lot slower here than at home. Think, oh, a year or so from deciding you''re interested in each other. Announcing a wedding in less than four months is a bit...scandalous. Well, it rather implies you''ve not been waiting for the wedding, and you want the baby to be born to married parents.]


    [But you''re marrying James on Saturday? You can''t have met him that long ago!]


    [Yes. It''s a bit shocking to everyone, it''d probably be bad for my reputation if I was staying, except of course that I haven''t known him for ages, if that makes sense. But anyway, he''s leaving soon and going with him unwed would be far worse, wouldn''t it?]


    [Certainly.]


    [And anyway, I''m weird, so no-one expects me to stick to rules.]


    [Why do you say you''re weird?]


    [I''d enjoy sleeping under a great mound of heather.]


    [It''s prickly, but it keeps the wind off. It''s raining, though.]


    [I don''t mind rain, either.]


    [OK. I admit it, you''re probably right when you say you''re weird.]


    [Glad you agree. Urm... James said that the women of his people were warriors.]


    [Very often. I''m not.]


    [That''s good.]


    [It is?]


    [You can get arrested if you wander around with an offensive weapon.]


    [Really?]


    [Even a bread knife if you''re carrying it to defend yourself.]


    [Why would I carry a bread knife when I''ve got a proper dagger?] Karella was confused.


    [OK. Let me back up a bit... are you carrying any weapons?]


    [Just a dagger and a blow-pipe.]


    [A blow-pipe?]


    [Yes. For hunting.]


    [Urm. Are we talking poisoned darts or something?]


    [Just a muscle-relaxant.]


    [OK, Karella, people in Britain don''t carry weapons. Not law-abiding people, anyway. Certain people and certain times might, say if they''re going to hunt grouse, they''d carry a shot-gun, but they''d have a licence for it, they wouldn''t carry it loaded, and they''d probably have it in a locked case if they were walking down the road. If someone sees you wandering around with a dagger and a blow-pipe, assuming they recognise it, then they''re going to call the police and you''re going to find yourself hunted down by police, probably with dogs.]


    [{fear} And then what? Killed?]


    [No, not unless that''s the only way they can stop you killing someone. We don''t even execute murderers any more. But you''d be arrested, put in prison, and there''d be a lot of questions. The sort you don''t want to answer, like where you come from, how did you get here, and so on. Oh, and if you give your name to anyone, they''re going to be very confused if you include your dad''s name. Stick to your first name and your surname.]


    [Surname?]


    [Turnbull]


    [Oh. OK. So, I need to hide my dagger?]


    [Certainly. Preferably in the ground.]


    [I don''t want to lose it.]


    [Then at least wear it somewhere no one''s going to notice it. Preferably wrapped up so even if they do find it, you can say that you weren''t carrying it to attack anyone with, but just because you''re attached to it and that was the only way to not leave it behind.]


    [That matters?]


    [At school we were told that if you''re carrying a pot of pepper to defend yourself if attacked, then that makes it an offensive weapon.]


    [Oh. OK, I can do that, I think. I''ve got some fabric. What about the blow-pipe? I''ve learned to play some simple tunes on it.]


    [Really? I guess if you can say it''s a folk instrument, then you''re OK. I don''t know what you want to do with the darts though, they''d be a bit incriminating, I think. But while you work on those things, I''ll just talk to someone else, OK?]


    [Thank you, Rose.]


    Rose called to update Mabel.


    [Sorry that took so long, Mabel.]


    [That''s fine. So, I presume she can hear you?]


    [Yes. She wants to stay, apparently that''s one mermaid who hates the sea.]


    [Oh! James told you?]


    [He let something slip and I worked it out.]


    [He wasn''t upset?]


    [No. He found it funny actually, when I asked if his grandfather was pleased his grandmother didn''t have a tail.]


    [Oh, well done. So, you''re planning to tell your brother to rescue the mermaid in distress?]


    [I wasn''t planning to be that obvious about it. I told her I could leave some money with him to pay mum rent for her.]


    [Is your mum a good landlady?]


    [No. But I''ve warned Karella about that. Would you be able to visit Scotland, Mabel? Otherwise it''ll mean wiring her the money somehow, educating her enough to catch the right train... I can just see so many things going wrong.]


    [I thought you''d never ask! And don''t go worrying about money, either, Jacob left us plenty.]


    [That was a long time ago.]


    [I still owe it to the family. Even if I wasn''t very comfortably off, which I am, thank-you, I''d do the same.]


    [Thank you, Mabel. Maybe I should find somewhere else for her to stay, though, or it might push Karella into putting her dagger into use.]


    [Not another warrior maid?]


    [Not by the sounds of it. But she does have a dagger and blow-pipe.]


    [That''ll prove interesting to the guard.]


    [Apparently she can play music on the blow-pipe, and she''s planning to hide the dagger, all wrapped up. I guess strapped to her leg or something. I suggested she bury it but she didn''t want to. It should hould be all right. Oh, she''s wearing a nineteen-ten frilly thing.]


    [And cursing it every minute, like her grandma, because she can''t get at her weapons?]


    [Not at all. I guess she''s more the romantic type. She thought it''d be lovely to wear.]


    [At least she didn''t arrive a decade or two ago, then.]


    <hr>


    ¡°All fixed?¡± James asked, when Rose went to find the men.


    ¡°Pretty much. Mabel''s going to meet her, and bring her to the wedding.¡±


    ¡°What''s this?¡± Rick asked.


    ¡°James'' cousin decided she wanted to sample the wonders of British cooking too. No, that''s not true. She decided she could run away from home, meet James, and find out how she could stay here. For some reason she''s up near Loch Linnhe.¡±


    ¡°Probably my fault. She asked where I''d come aground, and I told her I thinking of there. I never thought she''d follow me.¡±


    ¡°Hold on a mo. How do you know any of this?¡±


    ¡°It''s not just holding hands, Rick. God''s made it so I can have silent conversations with anyone who can hear thoughts now. Fortunately Karella can.¡±


    ¡°So she called for help?¡±


    ¡°No, Rick. I was practicing looking for people by category and I saw her.¡±


    ¡°Oh. You just happened to look for James''s relatives and there was one?¡±


    ¡°Actually, no, Rick. Hold on, I forgot to tell her something.¡± [Karella?]


    [Hi, Rose.]


    [Do you know or know of a distant relative of yours called Mabel?]


    [Grandfather''s cousin?]


    [Exactly. She was training me in using this thing when I found you. She''s going to come and find you.]


    [Oh! That''s wonderful.]


    [The other thing I''ve just decided that I ought to tell you. I wasn''t looking for James'' relatives. I was looking for people, girls, I ought to introduce to my brother. He''s just about given up looking here, and I wanted to help him out a bit.]


    [You mean...]


    [I mean I was hoping to do some matchmaking, yes. I wasn''t looking for his future wife, just women who he should be talking to. Maybe God just used my search to find you in your trouble, and that''s all there is to it, but... maybe you would be a good fit together.


    That''s what I didn''t want to tell you, but staying with my parents like I was thinking of, it just won''t work, you''d be so tempted to get your dagger out. Plus he''s asking how I found you.


    I''ll ask around at Church for a better place for you to stay.]


    [Thank you, Rose.]


    [Do you mind if I tell him roughly what I just told you?]


    [What, that you were trying to matchmake? Not at all. I was planning to ask James if he knew any nice Christian men he could introduce me to. I have no idea, really, what it''s like to live here as a single woman trader, but I''m guessing it''s better to not be single, vulnerable and helpless.]


    [You''re a trader?]


    [Yes. I buy stuff, sell stuff, end up with more than I started with.]


    [I thought you were pretty young.]


    [Twenty five. I''ve been trading since I was eighteen. How old''s your brother?]


    [Thirty-three.]


    [What''s he do?]


    [Did your grandfather talk about pawnbrokers? He''s one of those.]


    [Lend someone some money, take something in exchange, give it back if they pay up later or sell it if they don''t?]


    [Exactly. And adjust the amount of interest depending on how much you trust them, what you think they can afford, and so on.]


    [Sounds fun. Of course I don''t know what things are worth here.]


    [I''ll let you discuss that with him.]


    [I''m looking forward to meeting him.]


    [I''ll tell him I''ve been matchmaking then.]


    [Thanks!]


    Rose laughed, and Rick looked confused.


    ¡°What''s so funny.¡±


    ¡°I started off apologising to her, and her response was roughly speaking ''Ooh goody, I can''t wait!''¡±


    ¡°Apologising for what?¡±


    ¡°Keeping a promise to you.¡±


    ¡°Why do you need to appologise... no.... you were looking for a wife for me?¡±


    ¡°Nothing that predestination ¡ª like. A woman who you''d consider and who most needed someone like you. So... Maybe all she needs from you is a bit of rescue and the odd contact in the business world, or something. Or... maybe. She''s looking forward to meeting you.¡±


    ¡°Should I be worried?¡±


    ¡°No idea. Somewhere between when I first spoke to her and the end of our conversation my estimation of her changed considerably.¡±


    ¡°James, you know her better, I presume.¡± Rick asked.


    ¡°Not very well. And only in the context of family, that''s different.¡±


    ¡°Oh come on, tell me something about this girl you''ve set me up with, Rose!¡±


    ¡°She''s twenty-five. She decided to wear a frilly dress from 1910 or so because she thought it was beautiful, and was a bit disappointed that fashions have changed. I reassured her that she could wear what she wanted to.¡±


    ¡°I hope you added ''within reason'',¡± James said.


    ¡°Why?¡± Rose asked.


    ¡°Because she''s Karella,¡± he said with a smile.


    ¡°What does that mean?¡± Rick asked.


    ¡°Karella sometimes gets enthusiastic about things without thinking them through fully. I''m guessing that''s part of how she ended up in Scotland. Not all of it, but part. I would expect another part is that she''s seen too much death at home.¡±


    ¡°What happened?¡±


    ¡°Wait a moment, I''ll bring the family Bible, I promised to show Rose it a long time ago.¡±


    ¡°The family Bible?¡± Rick asked Rose, as James left.


    ¡°Record of Births, deaths and marriages.¡±


    ¡°Oh.¡±


    <hr>


    ¡°So Karella was brought up by her Mum alone, who then died in the same year as her big brother?¡± Rick asked.


    ¡°Big brother, aged fifteen, went to try to protect his Mother from the shark she was defending him from. Its possible that he caused both deaths by doing that, distracting her at a critical moment. It''s been known to happen, in this case, no one knows. Do not say it in Karella''s hearing. Her father died when he went to find his first son, who''d stayed out too long when a storm was coming. They found each other, but got smashed against the rocks.¡±


    ¡°Ouch.¡± Rick responded. ¡°And Benjamin''s wife got stung by a jellyfish?¡±


    ¡°It was an unusual reaction. Normally that type are just like a bee sting. But...¡±


    ¡°Allergic reaction?¡± Rose guessed.


    ¡°I guess so,¡± James said, then continued, ¡°after her mother''s death, my grandparents took her in. She took up life as a trader, travelling from village to village, buying this, selling that. Grandpa died three years ago, peacefully in his sleep, when she was actually at home. She said something about making sure she died like that.¡±


    ¡°Maybe I should burst her bubble,¡± Rose said. ¡°Peacefully at home isn''t nearly as common as we''d like to hope. The problem with living until you''re old is there''s more chance of cancer and things like that.¡±


    ¡°What''s this about Penelope dying from radiation?¡±


    ¡°She didn''t really accept my uncle''s death, and thought he''d gone to an island and she just needed to find out which one. We''re pretty sure she visited a nuclear test site. Grandpa said her symptoms matched radiation poisoning. I guess he asked around, like Rose can.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, Rick...¡± Rose said ¡°If things don''t work out between you and Karella, try to make sure you part on good terms, O.K? She''s going to be the only way I can keep in touch with you all.¡±

 The Other Big Secret 2: Rabbit Stew / Ch. 5:Wedding day

    <h2>The Other Big Secret 2: Rabbit Stew / Ch. 5:Wedding day</h2>


    </a>London, 9am Saturday morning, 1st Nov.


    Rose, James, and Rick all went to meet the night train, with differerent reasons and concerns. Rose hoped her brother wouldn''t put his if foot in it too badly, James was hoping that Mabel had managed to restrain Karella''s dress sense, and Rick was a bundle of nerves.


    Karella herself was also a bit nervous. She''d been looking out of the train window and seen just how big this city was. Mile after mile of houses and houses, and then blocks, reaching up like ugly grey cubist coral, which Mabel told her were more houses, but without gardens, or any private outside space at all. At the edges it had looked neat and tidy, now, as she got further in there was more and more ... grime, she decided the word was. It looked dirty. It wasn''t that it needed a wash: it had obviously just rained, but it needed a good scrub. But no one was doing that. They just carried on with their lives, as though it didn''t matter. Maybe it didn''t to them. They stopped; everyone stayed seated and Karella wondered if this was normal.


    ¡°The signal''s against us.¡± Mabel said ¡°There must be another train. It''s fairly normal.¡±


    ¡°It doesn''t look very clean.¡±


    ¡°Ha! You should have seen it when every house was burning coal, along with the steam engines, of course. Fifteen, twenty years ago there were days you wouldn''t be able to see your feet from all the smog.¡±


    ¡°What''s smog?¡±


    ¡°Fog mixed with smoke. It''s not a healthy thing to breathe, believe me.¡±


    ¡°I do. What happened?¡±


    ¡°They banned coal. Smokeless fuel only, which meant coal which has had the tar taken out of it.¡±


    ¡°But you have nuclear power!¡±


    ¡°Not enough of it. And electricity is expensive. It''s much cheaper to heat a home with coal or there''s gas these days. I think a lot of the electricity comes from coal, by the way.¡±


    ¡°More fossil fuel.¡±


    ¡°Yes. And too many people.¡±


    ¡°I see what Rose meant.¡±


    The train was moving again. The infrastructure alone... it was amazing. She tried to calculate what the value of the iron or steel she was seeing would be at home, but it was beyond measure. The rails, the bridges, everything seemed to be made of iron or brick. Often iron and brick. No wonder her grandfather had spoken about how pleasant it was to live closer to nature. There didn''t seem to be much of it left in this city. She''d had enough of being close enough to nature, it would kill you, but she hoped there was at least some around. She shuddered, knowing she wouldn''t be able to live in grime like this.


    ¡°Bad?¡±


    ¡°It''s dirtier than a teenager''s bedroom.¡±


    ¡°This is probably the worst view of London you''ll get.¡±


    ¡°I''m glad. If it was all like that, then...¡±


    ¡°Then what?¡±


    ¡°I almost said I''d prefer home. But I guess I''d actually ask if you had any contacts who don''t live in this city.¡±


    ¡°That''s clearer thinking, certainly. Most people wouldn''t live here if it was this bad.¡±


    ¡°How does it get so bad?¡±


    ¡°Who''d clean it? I know you saw the toilet on this train. You came back white.¡±


    ¡°It''s disgusting!¡±


    ¡°No one is allowed to walk on the tracks. The speed of the train spreads it sufficiently for biology to take place fairly quickly. And there''s a sign saying don''t flush when stopped, for obvious reasons. But for equally good reasons, who''d clean up a railway track that was still in use?¡±


    ¡°Not me.¡±


    ¡°Exactly. And most people forget about it, pretend it''s not here. I expect with a bit of practice you''ll be able to too. Humans are practical like that.¡±


    ¡°Maybe.¡±


    The train creaked and groaned, as it went over some points. ¡°How old is this... system?¡±


    ¡°Oh, I''m sure your grandfather would recognise it. Maybe some has been replaced, but I''d doubt all of it.¡±


    ¡°So this was all done within a few decades of his industrial revolution?¡±


    ¡°Well, probably more like a hundred years, and you must remember, at the time Britain was the centre of an empire. Half the world was involved some way in building this. Through taxes or cheaper labour freeing workers to work in the industries here, if nothing else.¡±


    ¡°I''m sure they''re very pleased about their contribution to this grime.¡±


    ¡°Not very, most of them.¡± Mabel agreed. ¡°Almost here.¡±


    ¡°I can see a lot of things better, having been on this journey with you. Thankyou.¡±


    ¡°What sort of things?¡±


    ¡°Like, how can there be enough people who need to use a pawnbroker for Rose''s brother to live from it. Why Rose wasn''t proud of her home city. That sort of thing. What grandpa meant when he said I''d be totally out of my depth here.¡±


    ¡°You use that expression?¡±


    ¡°It was one of grandpa''s. I can see the sense in it. I could drown in this city. Metaphorically, I mean. Go down, down, down until I was crushed out of existence.¡±


    ¡°People do.¡± Mable agreed. ¡°What''s the biggest crowd you''ve been in?¡±


    ¡°Maybe.. five hundred.¡± Karella replied.


    ¡°OK. There might be that many on just this train. And there might be other trains. They''ll all know where they''re going. Think of a strong riptide. If we get separated, then don''t panic, just go somewhere there''s not such a crush of people. Preferably without going through any doors. I''m saying that because you shouldn''t go through some of them, and you might not know which ones. I can find you no problem, but I can''t sprint like I used to, you know. Actually, I''ll probably just sit down somewhere and set Rose on you. She''s waiting.¡±


    <hr>


    Rose saw them first, and waved. [Welcome to Euston Street Station. Try to avoid breathing. Fresher air is this way.]


    Karella appreciated the jovial tone of the greeting. So, that was the woman who''d decided to abandon this place and set out into the unknown with James. If she hadn''t lost so many loved ones, she might have decided that Rose was going in the right direction. Rose was a bit worried about something, Karella could see from her face. Maybe it was her. Beside Rose, she saw James, in the suit she''d had made for him. He looked like himself, even with the alien attire, and she guessed that the man beside Rose was her brother. She always judged people by their faces. His looked... reliable, Karella decided. That was a good sign.


    James spoke. ¡°Hi, cousin. I''m sure you''re just dying to know what grandmother thinks, but first let me introduce Roseline Abbot, Medical Doctor, soon to be Roseline Turnbull, and Rick Abbot, who''s generously been letting Rose and me sleep on the sofa and floor of his house respectively, after we decided we didn''t want to stay with Rose''s mum any more. Thank you so much for bringing her, Mabel. Shall we go outside?¡±


    ¡°Yes. I can''t hear myself think in here.¡± Mabel declared.


    Rose and James flanked Mabel, leaving Karella and Rick to walk behind. Karella wasn''t sure if that was accident or design.


    ¡°Hello.¡± she said, ¡°I don''t know what they''ve told you about me, but it''s probably all well-meaning lies.¡±


    He smiled nervously, ¡°I''m sure you can correct them now you''re here in person. Urm, James did show me the family Bible. I''m really sorry for your loss.¡±


    Her planned banter vanished, and she was at a loss for words for the next few steps. She heard his thoughts that he''d ruined everything, and shook her head to them. ¡°Thank you.¡± she said. ¡°It''s good to know you know.¡± She realised it was true. By that one act, James had made sure that she would never need to say what had happened, and by getting it over with, she got the feeling that Rick was saying if she wanted to talk, he would be there for her. Or at least, he''d know what she was talking about. Ultimately, she realised, his offer of sympathy had given her freedom.


    ¡°Rose, this girl needs to see some clean and green.¡± Mabel announced, ¡°Otherwise she might faint on you.¡±


    ¡°Regent''s park? It''s not too far.¡± Rick suggested, before Rose could reply.


    Rose had been going to suggest they catch a bus to Wimbledon Common, but Rick was right, they could show her wilder bits of the city later. Regent''s park ought to be clean, at least.


    <hr>


    After staring out over the water to the manicured lawns of the park, Karella found a number of questions bubbling to her mind. She asked Rick the one which was probably most important. ¡°How did you become a Christian?¡±


    He laughed. ¡°I was just building up the courage to ask you that. Mum and Dad worked out that if us elder kids went out to Sunday School and took the little ''uns, then the house was quiet, and they could have an extra two hours of sleep. So, rain or shine, off to Sunday School we went. We were probably a complete pain to the teachers the first year or so, but they put up with us, and we enjoyed the singing and so on. We liked going, our parents liked that we went for purely selfish reasons, and we listened, too. All six of us turned to Christ. Two of my sisters are helping teach Sunday school now, Rose went off to learn to be a doctor, then found out that she couldn''t get a job, which hurt her a lot. But she always said it wasn''t God''s fault that people were afraid. I guess she''s afraid of being cut up to find out how she can hear thoughts. Don''t tell people you can.¡±


    ¡°You can''t?¡± Karella asked. She''d guessed, but she knew some people pretended they couldn''t.


    ¡°No one can. Well known ''fact''. Except for you and Rose and James. The only people who can in stories are aliens, maybe mermaids, I can''t remember, and witches, who don''t exist either, we hope.¡±


    ¡°You hope mermaids don''t exist?¡± she asked, with a little smile on her lips.


    ¡°Well, I was mostly thinking of witches. But, yeah, mermaids... everyone agrees they''re pretty, and sing really nicely, but ... some of the stories about them don''t sound so very nice, luring sailors to their doom or causing storms. But on the other hand, I suppose if the only land-people you ever met were pirates, slave-traders and drunken sailors, maybe you''d think drowning a few would make the world a better place.¡±


    She didn''t reply for a while and he was about to ask her about her faith when she said ¡°I was wondering if a tidal wave would make this city a better place, looking at the griminess of everything I saw from the train. But it looks like you do know what cleanliness is. At least in some places.¡±


    ¡°You''re in favour of clean, then?¡±


    ¡°Yes. Isn''t everyone?¡±


    ¡°Not so you''d notice. Well, I guess it depends where. I don''t know anyone who''d eat from a plate they knew was dirty, some people would be horrified if they had a dirty kitchen but would put up with some dirt in the rest of the house, lots have spotless houses and dirty yards or gardens. Some people think their gardens should be as... sterile as this, I guess, where not even an earthworm dare step out of line. To me, this much grass needs some kids playing on it.¡±


    ¡°They''re not at their lessons?¡±


    ¡°Oh probably. But I see signs saying keep off the grass, and I think they''re there all year.¡±


    ¡°Oh. I thought they were just for the autumn.¡±


    ¡°Maybe they are. I don''t know.¡±


    There was a pause, and Rick finally got to ask ¡°How did you become a Christian?¡±


    ¡°I lived with my grandma. She ended up being such an evangelist that they gave her the name Evangelia. Quite a change in her, really.¡±


    ¡°What was she before?¡±


    ¡°Oh, all sorts of things: first a warrior, then a general, then an evangelist, a politician. Now she''s... I''m not quite sure what you''d call her. She gives good advice and people leap to obey. I do wonder what she says to me coming here.¡±


    ¡°I take it you didn''t tell anyone?¡±


    ¡°No. I just loaded up with trade-goods and food like normal, and came this way. I''d expected to find James'' boat on the way, or near where I left mine. I was going to wait for him and quiz him.¡±


    ¡°I am very confused about something.¡± Rick said.


    ¡°Yes?¡±


    ¡°You''ve got ocean going boats, it seems, but James said you lived in an isolated village, and never met outsiders.¡±


    ¡°Both are true. We normally try to avoid your boats. Call it racial xenonoia if you like.¡±


    ¡°Xenonoia?¡±


    ¡°Grandpa invented the word. A terror of outsiders which goes beyond xenophobia into paranoia.¡±


    ¡°So... you coming here... that sounds like a pretty drastic step.¡±


    ¡°Oh, it was. I hope you don''t mind. I''m going to keep a lot of secrets from you. From everyone.¡±


    A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.


    ¡°But Rose knows?¡±


    ¡°Oh I expect so. Probably not all, James probably left a lot to tell her on the journey, if he has any sense. But hiding secrets from Rose is a bit like hiding in the sand from a hammerhead.¡±


    ¡°Urm, pardon?¡±


    ¡°Oh. I guess you wouldn''t have that expression. Urm...¡±


    ¡°It means a waste of time?¡±


    ¡°Totally pointless exercise.¡±


    ¡°Eating soup with a fork?¡±


    ¡°You''d use that expression for hiding something?¡±


    ¡°Probably not. Hiding an elephant under a handkerchief?¡±


    ¡°Better.¡± she agreed.


    ¡°You mentioned trade goods?¡±


    She shrugged, ¡°Nothing very special, I expect.¡±


    ¡°You see that necklace Rose has on?¡±


    ¡°Yes. James said he was keeping it for someone special.¡±


    ¡°Well, I guess he was right. He gave it to Rose in my shop, after he''d bought it back.¡±


    ¡°So?¡±


    ¡°I thought it was extravagant then, I mean, I didn''t know what was going on between them, but I thought, that much gold? That''s worth a lot.¡±


    ¡°What about the emerald?¡±


    ¡°I thought it was glass. James is good about being low key, not attracting attention. But you see, I had it in my shop. Hold on, I''ll go back a bit. Three weeks ago, James came into my shop. Opened his briefcase, took out some ordinary looking jewelery and I offered him about half what I thought it''d be worth melted down. He pulled a face, like he really didn''t want to do something, and added that necklace. I honestly thought, here''s a guy who''s not sure he''s going to see those things again. But they looked good workmanship, so I let Rose haggle me up almost to the scrap value. She''d do that: I gave her a tip based on the extra profit it gave me, and the customer thought they were getting a good deal. James was so happy he apparently bought her a meal. Then last week, he comes back and buys it all back, claiming it was just so she could get her tip. I told her not to give away trade secrets.¡±


    ¡°That''s a good tip.¡± Karella agreed.


    ¡°Yeah. She was expecting the money sort. And he said something like ''we can''t have her not getting anything for all her hard work'' and gave the necklace to her. Apparently he''d decided to do that all along, but I didn''t know that, and nor did she. So, I thought, he''s just given her a necklace that''s worth about a week''s wages.¡±


    ¡°A week?¡± Karella sounded surprised.


    ¡°Yeah. Silly wasn''t I? Then Rose tells me that she''s asked him to take her away, and somewhere in me doing my big brotherly bit about can you really look after her, he said something about spotting the difference between emerald and glass.¡±


    ¡°You really thought it was glass?¡±


    ¡°Yes. You didn''t?¡±


    ¡°Never.¡±


    ¡°Maybe I should offer you a job then.¡±


    ¡°We''ll have to discuss wages, won''t we? But finish your story first.¡±


    ¡°Anyway, James had acted like the necklace had sentimental value. He gave it to Rose like he wanted her to have something even if they split up, which was mighty nice of him. Especially since that necklace sold in the right place, with all the right paperwork certifying it was genuine would probably buy my house, my shop, and half the houses in the street. And I thought it was maybe worth a week''s wages.¡± he shook his head in wonder. ¡°What I''m saying is sometimes we hold things and look at them, but don''t see them for what they are, don''t value them properly. Rose values that necklace because James gave it to her, so I don''t think she''d sell it for anything. At one point, James almost parted with it for barely half a week''s wages because he thought he''d need the money and he rightly thought I''d ask questions he wasn''t willing to answer if he told me it was real.¡±


    ¡°I think I get your point. My trade goods might be worth more than I think?¡±


    ¡°But they might also cost you giving answers, if you sold them to someone who didn''t already trust you, know you, and so on.¡±


    ¡°So, this is a bid to make yourself my exclusive agent?¡± she asked.


    He laughed. ¡°No, well, not really. It''s much more a bid to become a good friend, and maybe more, so I can give you what they''re really worth, when you''re ready.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Rick. I think I like you.¡±


    ¡°Well I know I like looking at you, but that''s different, isn''t it?¡±


    ¡°I understand it helps though. You''re not so bad looking yourself.¡±


    ¡°Thank you. But I think we''re smart enough not to make promises based on looks and my little sister''s matchmaking, aren''t we?¡±


    ¡°I hope so. Personality, integrity, faith, they''re fairly objective. But understanding, trust; those are rather important too.¡± Karella agreed.


    ¡°So, we need to spend time together, don''t we?¡±


    ¡°I think so, yes.¡± she agreed.


    ¡°How much do you know about our culture? In terms of getting to know each other?¡±


    ¡°Has much changed since my grandpa was here?¡±


    ¡°Probably lots.¡±


    ¡°Not much then, except what Rose told me. Roughly six months'' engagement minimum, after you''re all decided? Except I gather that morals are slipping.¡±


    ¡°Possibly. Or maybe people are more open about their bad morals.¡±


    ¡°Openness wasn''t a problem in my grandmother''s day.¡±


    ¡°Oh? I haven''t heard about that.¡±


    ¡°I''ll tell you one day.¡± she promised.


    ¡°So, one option is you get a job and we spend quite a lot of evenings doing things together. Another option is I give you a job and then maybe you have more evenings free to get to know this strange city.¡±


    ¡°You''re not offering your services as a guide?¡±


    ¡°Happily. The issue with the second one is if I offer you a job, and it turns out you''re no good, that could spoil a wonderful relationship, couldn''t it?¡±


    ¡°Only if I don''t agree.¡±


    ¡°Can you guarantee that?¡±


    ¡°No, but... I do value honesty. About people, anyway.¡±


    ¡°Not about what you''re buying and selling?¡±


    ¡°Well... that''s an interesting question isn''t it? How much honesty, how much not mentioning things?¡±


    ¡°That''s why I like pawn-brokering. There''s more honesty about it than market-stall work.¡±


    ¡°You''ve done that too?¡±


    ¡°Yes. Are you an embellisher, a skipper, a traveller, or a bit of all three?¡±


    ¡°I don''t really know the terms. Would I sell glass as emerald? Never.¡±


    ¡°Would you sell silver-plate as silver?¡±


    ¡°What''s silver-plate?¡±


    ¡°Base metal, thin layer of silver.¡±


    ¡°Oh, we call that something else. No.¡±


    ¡°Would you knowingly sell a musical instrument that wouldn''t keep it''s pitch, because it was made of the wrong materials?¡±


    ¡°I wouldn''t buy from that maker again.¡±


    ¡°But if they had a hundred of them for sale, and they told you?¡±


    ¡°What sort of instrument maker would make that many bad ones? Oh! Mass production? We''re not used to that.¡±


    ¡°Oh. Urm... hold on.¡± He fished in his pocket and gave her an old pocket watch. ¡°I''m selling, you''re buying.¡±


    ¡°I''ve no idea what it''s worth.¡±


    ¡°I''ll sell it to you for five pounds.¡±


    ¡°Oh really?¡± she asked, peering at it. ¡°Not exactly in perfect condition, is it?¡±


    ¡°Well no.¡±


    ¡°Scratches on the glass.¡±


    ¡°True. But it keeps time.¡±


    She looked around, and compared the time on the watch to that on a clocktower. ¡°Not very well, according to that clock. I''ll give you one pound for it because I like you.¡±


    ¡°It was my grandfather''s.¡± he said.


    ¡°Sorry, that just means you want to keep it, not that I want to buy it.¡±


    ¡°It can be adjusted, look!¡±


    ¡°You know that but haven''t done it? Don''t you take care of it at all? And look at that grime in it, you don''t do you! What a way to treat your grandfather''s watch!¡±


    ¡°Oh all right. One pound, fifty pee.¡±


    ¡°How many pee in a pound? What happened to shillings?¡±


    ¡°We''ve gone decimal. One hundred new pence, also called pee, in a pound.¡±


    ¡°Well, that''s easier. OK. I offered you a pound before I saw what a mess you''ve made of it! I''ll offer you eighty pee.¡±


    ¡°What! You can''t go down!¡±


    ¡°I just did. What have you done to the hinge? It looks like you''ve used it to open something. Seventy pee.¡±


    ¡°I''ll offer you it for a pound, or I''m leaving.¡±


    ¡°Seventy five pee, or I''ll let you.¡±


    Rick laughed. ¡°OK, you can haggle, I''ll give you that. Now, can you sell?¡±


    ¡°Can you breathe?¡± she challenged back. ¡°One pocket watch, deplorable state, but I have it on very good authority that it belonged to your grandfather. Is that his name on the inscription?¡±


    ¡°It is.¡± he groaned.


    ¡°Now, the previous owner, the complete slob, couldn''t be bothered to clean it or make it run true, but see here? It says ''seven jewels'', that''s good, normally I''ve only seen five before now, so I think given the family connection and the basic quality, that if this watch was clean and set up properly, it''d be worth ten pounds to a family-loving man like you, but since it''s in such a poor state, why don''t we just settle on three? Just look at the workmanship on it! This was almost certainly hand made by a craftsman, you realise, not mass-produced rubbish like they make these days. And look at the date: it''s been working since 1905. You show me a watch on the market today that''ll run for seventy years at that price and workmanship!¡±


    ¡°You''re saying it''ll last another seventy years?¡± he challenged.


    ¡°I can''t make promises, but this is clearly a very good watch. I mean, look at the abuse it''s taken but it''s still going strong. A lesser watch would have given up years, no, decades ago.¡±


    ¡°Three''s too much.¡±


    ¡°All right, since I came all this way down from Scotland to meet you, I''ll sell it to you for two pounds fifty.¡±


    ¡°You''re not going to budge, are you?¡± he said, looking at her speculatively.


    ¡°Not very far.¡± she agreed with a smile, looking at the mechanism of the watch.


    ¡°How much will you go to?¡±


    ¡°Two pounds twenty five pee.¡± she said absently. ¡°Last offer. I happen to know your grandfather has other descendants who might not be so money grabbing as you.¡±


    ¡°You''re pretty good. Can I have my watch back?¡±


    ¡°When you''ve settled up.¡±


    ¡°Pardon?¡±


    ¡°You sold it to me. You bought it back. I presume you''re buying it back. I can try to sell it to Rose if you like prefer. One pound and fifty pence, please.¡±


    ¡°But it was just a test!¡±


    ¡°So? Don''t the best tests have something at stake?¡±


    ¡°It was pretend.¡±


    ¡°Really? That''s the first time I''ve heard that word. You mean it wasn''t for real? I thought it was for real. Hey, Mr Duck, did you hear him say it was pretending?¡±


    ¡°I''m going to make you work for this.¡± he said, handing her the money.


    ¡°I thought I already had.¡± she said, with a dazzling smile. ¡°So, this is what your money looks like, looking at the green-printed paper and the multi-sided coin. Thank you. I''ll treasure it until I need to spend it.¡±


    ¡°You''re outrageous.¡±


    ¡°Thank you.¡±


    Rose wandered over.


    ¡°Having fun?¡± she asked.


    ¡°She''s just swindled me out of one pound fifty.¡± Rick said, smiling broadly.


    ¡°He sold me your grandfather''s watch and then bought it back. It''s not my problem if he can''t haggle very well.¡±


    ¡°You sold her Grandad''s watch? Why?¡±


    ¡°I wanted to find out what sort of trader she was, I found out, but it was meant to be all pretend. I failed to specify that, unfortunately for my wallet.¡±


    ¡°And what sort of trader is she?¡±


    ¡°Winsome, perceptive, slippery as an eel, honest, whole-hearted, and beautiful. I think I''m falling in love.¡±


    ¡°Just for that, I''ll clean that watch up for you.¡± Karella said. ¡°Rose, if Rick decides to hire me as an assistant after this, what''s the going rate?¡±


    ¡°You''d probably need to think of spending eight to fifteen pounds a week on a room. Since you''re a skilled worker and this is London where live is more expensive compared to the rest of the country...¡±


    ¡°''Ere, old on a moment, Rose! I''m not made of money!¡±


    Rose ignored her brother ¡°And the national average salary has just passed two thousand a year for a forty hour week, then he''s possibly undervaluing you if he gives you a pound an hour. But of course you can negotiate that down to something he claims he can afford. Someone just leaving school would get more like fifty pence an hour. Does that help?¡±


    ¡°It does, thank you Rose. Is that watch really only worth an hour and a half''s labour?¡±


    ¡°Of course not!¡±


    ¡°It''s a shame you didn''t name the true value then.¡±


    ¡°Not from my point of view, luv.¡±


    Karella looked sharply at him. He''d said he was falling in love with her, but she''d thought it was just banter... was he really being so quick?


    Rose spotted her reaction, touched her thoughts to confirm and said ¡°He didn''t mean what that might have sounded like, Karella. I''m afraid it didn''t mean much more than punctuation.¡±


    ¡°Don''t be afraid, Rose. It''s important information, that he says things he doesn''t mean. Now, Rick, as you''ve just proclaimed that you''re falling in love with me, what does that turn into in terms of money?¡±


    ¡°So, Karella, if I pay you at a rate based on a future relationship, does that mean you accept a pay cut if it doesn''t work out?¡±


    ¡°Ah, now, that''s an interesting ploy.¡±


    ¡°It also means, of course, that you''d be tempted to string me along, getting my hopes up even when all possibility of us being together had long since left your mind. Which doesn''t sound like you, really.¡±


    ¡°Alternatively, I might be tempted to accept a lower rate of pay so you can pay me longer and I can spend more time in your scintillating company.¡±


    Karella said, ¡°In which case breaking up would give me a nice financial bonus to make up for the heart-break.¡±


    Rick winced and asked ¡°Why don''t we keep romance out of the pay negotiations?¡±


    ¡°Very good idea. But I''m sure you''ll agree that my bargaining skills are far above average...¡±


    ¡°Have you heard the word ''apprenticeship?'' That''s when you find a rich relative to pay me something, so I''ll take you on and teach you the trade, and then you work for free for a few years in exchange for food, lodging, and education.¡±


    Rose laughed and left them to it.


    <hr>


    </a>11am, Regent''s Park


    ¡°Are they still at it?¡± Mabel asked.


    ¡°I think they''ve moved on to other things.¡± Rose replied, seeing them holding hands looking at the ducks.


    ¡°Seems a pretty successful match so far.¡± James said, ¡°Maybe we ought to warn the vicar.¡±


    ¡°Speaking of which, Rose.¡± Mabel said, ¡°Shouldn''t you be thinking of getting ready?¡±


    ¡°I''m not planning on spending lots of money on renting some wedding dress when I won''t even be around by the time any photos would be developed.¡± Rose replied.


    ¡°I know, dear. But I did notice when we met that you look about the same size I used to be, so I took the liberty to send my dress on ahead yesterday. It should be at the luggage office if you want to borrow it.¡±


    ¡°You sent ...? Mabel, you''re a wonderful person!¡±


    ¡°Is that a yes? You''d like to borrow it?¡±


    ¡°Absolutely!¡±


    <hr>


    </a>2pm, Regent''s Park


    ¡°Now that is a really pretty dress.¡± Karella observed.


    ¡°You know how I told you that you could wear whatever you liked?¡±


    ¡°Yes?¡± Karella asked eagerly.


    ¡°Not one of these, sorry. Everyone would think you were going to your wedding. This is one of those once-in-a-lifetime things. Most people hire them.¡±


    ¡°Spoil-sport. What a silly custom.¡±


    ¡°It''d get dirty anyway, and that''d be a real shame.¡±


    ¡°True. And I don''t imagine it''s very practical, either.¡±


    ¡°No.¡±


    ¡°What did my grandmother say? You still haven''t told me.¡±


    ¡°You really want to know?¡±


    ¡°Of course.¡±


    ¡°She said. ''Keep the secret, live a long life, but feel free to visit home with your husband if you want to, as long as he has vowed to keep the secret.''¡±


    ¡°Rose, it''s not right to tease me like that.¡±


    ¡°I''m not teasing.¡±


    ¡°But...¡±


    ¡°But you can pass as a land-maid. You have the right to use your grandfather''s inheritance too. In fact, it''d be quite useful to keep an eye on where that lawyer''s planning to move offices to next.¡±


    ¡°Pardon?¡±


    ¡°You know James had such a hard time finding the lawyer?¡±


    ¡°Yes. Mabel told me on the way down.¡±


    ¡°I had a nasty suspicious thought last night and used my gift, looking for lawyers planning to make it hard for their clients to find them. Guess who showed up as a little red spot.¡±


    ¡°Oh. That''s nasty!¡±


    ¡°Not illegal though. Here.¡± she passed an envelope to Karella. ¡°This is the main reason I asked you to come. James agrees it makes far more sense for you to have the signet ring. There''s a letter in it from him to the lawyer. What I''d suggest you do is go and say hello to the lawyer, before he moves, let him know you''re in the area, and give him an address he can contact you at. Let me know if he moves secretly, I''ll tell you where his office is, and you can remind him that it''s polite to tell your clients when you''re moving offices. It would probably be fairly tricky to move the trust, but I''m sure its possible.¡±


    ¡°Is that something Rick could help with?¡±


    ¡°Probably not. But Mabel might know someone able to.¡±


    ¡°Thank you.¡±


    ¡°Hey, it''s for our kids'' education. Or yours, if you decide you need it.¡±


    ¡°I probably don''t... my trade goods might have different values here.¡±


    [Want to think a rough inventory to me?]


    [Yes please. I''ve got two pounds of pure iron... I get the feeling that''s worth about nothing here, but it''s sure not back home.]


    [Correct.]


    [I''ve also maybe a bucket of silver jewelery, about one and a half buckets of assorted gold jewelery.]


    [How big''s a bucket?]


    [Urm... sort of bucket sized. Maybe two spread hands wide diameter, three spread hands deep. I certainly couldn''t lift one.]


    [You are joking, aren''t you?]


    [Gold''s pretty, and it''s a useful coating because it doesn''t rust, but it''s not that valuable really.]


    [Urm... it is up here. I expect there are other metals that are more valuable, but they''re ultra rare, like platinum.]


    [I don''t have any of that.]


    [Fine. Gold is something like seventy pounds to the troy ounce. Rick can tell you.]


    [Troy as Helen?]


    [I seriously doubt it. It''s a bit heavier than a normal ounce.]


    [But, you usually can pick up some at almost any ship-wreck, and if you don''t mind the cold there''s rivers that just dump the stuff all over the place!]


    [Wow, do we have different values on things! Face it girl, you''re technically stinking rich. Whether you can use your wealth without getting arrested for robbery is a tricky issue.]


    [Ah, right. Do I mention the other trade goods?]


    [Go on, shock me. Two buckets of perls?]


    [Why? There''s no trade in those.]


    [Don''t worry.]


    [I''ve got some diamonds, they''re in demand sometimes.]


    [And extremely valuable.]


    [Really?]


    [Yes. Other gems?]


    [Yes, a few buckets. I''ve also got some bottled fruit for the luxury market, but I''m guessing thats not so much a luxury on land, is it?]


    [No, sorry.]


    [Oh well.]


    [So.. to you iron is worth more than gold?]


    [Much.]


    [Bother. If I''d known I''d have asked Rick to nip down the scrap yard and put a few tons into his van.]


    [Don''t joke, it''s not funny.]


    [OK, you''re right he couldn''t put a few tonnes in, it wouldn''t fit. But value? A handful of gold would buy you more iron than you can lift. You need to re-evaluate. Gold is valuable because its rare, and hard to get out of the ground. Iron ore gets turned into iron at a rate of hundreds, probably millions actually, of tons a day. I guess I need to reevaluate too.]


    [You drop lots of iron on us, but it rusts so quickly. We don''t process it because a ship is kind of hard to move, removing the oxide makes a lot of smoke, and can''t be done secretly except on a very small scale. Any kid can pick up gold, except of course for the natural hazards. And as for perls, why bother? I grew out of playing with those years ago.]


    [Oysters are pretty rare on land.]


    [Oh. So... when we find a perl necklace, and think child''s plaything...]


    [Think rich woman''s status symbol. Well, it used to be.]


    [Tell me about plastic.]


    [Cheap, mass-produced, throw-away items.]


    [Right. Thought so. Not an expensive offering to a sea god or goddess, then, like some people have been heard to suggest.]


    [Ah, no. We''re just slobs who don''t tidy up after ourselves, sorry.]


    [Yes. I''d noticed that already. Shouldn''t you be leaving?]


    [Yes. It''s been nice chatting, Karella. Let''s do it again.]


    [Fine by me!]

 The Other Big Secret 2: Rabbit Stew / Ch. 6: Diving School

    <h2>The Other Big Secret 2: Rabbit Stew / Ch. 6:Diving School</h2>


    </a>2nd November 1975.


    It had taken them longer than Rose expected to get to Norfolk. And it was pitch black out in the fens. Rose had had the idea that spending some of James'' remaining money on a fairly large inflatable dinghy would help them avoid attracting attention by hiring a rowing boat in the middle of the night. But even with the car vacuum cleaner to help, it had taken another half an hour to get it ready for the first load, by the time they put the first box on board, it was almost midnight.


    There wasn''t even a moon to help them see. But, somehow, James seemed to find the way, almost directly to the relevant patch of reeds.


    Rose didn''t see the sub at all, to start with. There was just a gap in the reeds.


    ¡°Has someone stolen your sub?¡±


    ¡°Of course not. But I didn''t want it being seen from a passing plane, did I?¡±


    ¡°So where is it?¡±


    ¡°Buried in the mud.¡±


    ¡°You are joking, aren''t you?¡±


    ¡°No. Hold onto the oars, can you?¡±


    In the light of the little torch, she saw him taking off his shirt, then his trousers too. ¡°James, it''s November, did you notice?¡±


    ¡°I told you I didn''t want to wait until winter.¡±


    ¡°Just don''t get hypothermia. What are you going to do?¡±


    ¡°Swim to the bottom, grope around until I find the button that tells it to surface, and press it.¡±


    ¡°Whatever happened to remote control?¡±


    ¡°Only on more recent ones. I bet Karella''s practically comes when she calls.¡±


    ¡°Oh.¡±


    ¡°This one has a button.¡± He slipped over the edge of the dinghy and vanished into the dark water. Rose waited. Intellectually, she was aware of the mammalian diving reflex, she was aware that James had said he could hold his breath for far longer than she could without ill effect. But still, she held her breath thinking that he ought to the surface for a breath of air soon after she took her first gasp. Or her second. After five gasps, she was wondering if he''d got caught underwater and she was about to be a widow, or if he''d swum away to surface elsewhere as part of an elaborate practical joke. She checked her watch. It didn''t help much, because she hadn''t looked at it when he jumped in. Two more minutes ticked by and she was beginning to seriously worry. Then she realised that she could use her gift to see where he was. He was there just above a bulbous shape. He was obviously fine, much to her relief, still prodding around. Suddenly there was a massive stirring of the water as bubbles surfaced around her, and she realised that her boat had drifted until it was directly above the submarine.


    She pulled on the oars and moved to the edge of the reeds.


    James pulled himself on board and she wrapped him in the towel he''d brought. He felt icy to her kiss. ¡°James, if you''ve frozen yourself on our wedding night


    I''m going to be very miffed.¡±


    ¡°I''m sure you can work out a way for us to warm me up, doctor.¡±


    ¡°That sub had better have heating.¡±


    ¡°It does. Don''t worry.¡±


    ¡°It''s yellow.¡± Rose realised, looking at the wall of metal in front of her.


    ¡°Shiny, too.¡± he said, and she realised he was teasing.


    ¡°You''re not going to tell me its made of gold, are you? That''d be crazy.¡±


    ¡°Not solid gold, no. Actually it''s an alloy. But the outer skin is mostly


    gold. For corrosion resistance.¡±


    ¡°I see. And how do we get in, now that it''s floating so high?¡±


    ¡°I go up on top, open it up and adjust the buoyancy a little.¡±


    ¡°You''re not going to get into the water again, I hope.¡±


    ¡°Not unless I slip.¡±


    ¡°So do you want to climb all over that cold gold with hardly anything on?¡±


    ¡°Of course not. I''d much rather climb all over you.¡±


    ¡°I hope there''s washing facilities on board. You smell of river mud.¡±


    ¡°Hot and cold running water.¡± he said. Rose wasn''t sure if he were joking or not.


    ¡°So, I need to let you go?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°Bother. Come back to me soon.¡±


    ¡°It''ll only take a minute.¡±


    ¡°It didn''t last time.¡±


    ¡°Last time I was looking at the back of the sub for a button which is near the front.¡±


    ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°I got turned round.¡±


    ¡°Go on, I want to get into that nice warm sub.¡±


    ¡°I didn''t say it''s warm yet.¡±


    ¡°Oh joy. My first night of married life in a golden icebox.¡±


    ¡°Sorry.¡±


    ¡°Don''t be. You''re going to help keep me warm, I hope, once I''ve warmed you up.¡±


    He kissed her and headed up a ladder. More bubbles stirred up the water, and soon it looked actually possible to load the submarine from the boat.


    <hr>


    ¡°Next trip should be a lot shorter, Rick.¡± Rose reassured her brother.


    ¡°Oh yes? What were you doing, then?¡±


    ¡°James was swimming around the wrong end of the boat, for something like eight minutes, looking for the button to let us in, then he gave me a quick guided tour while he turned on the heating.¡±


    ¡°Oh. All right. I don''t hear an engine.¡±


    ¡°No.¡± James said. ¡°You won''t.¡±


    ¡°Oh, like that is it? Electric power?¡±


    ¡°Yes. It''ll run for something like eight hours on battery before I need to turn the generator on.¡±


    ¡°Heaters are going to kill your battery, surely?¡± Rick said.


    ¡°Don''t worry. We need warmth more than range at the moment.¡±


    They repeated the loading and unloading cycle, until the fifth load emptied the van.


    ¡°Rick, it looks like we''ll be going now.¡± Rose said.


    ¡°Yeah. Urm, keep in touch.¡±


    ¡°I will, via Karella if nothing else.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Rose. She''s a special woman.¡±


    ¡°Glad you think so, it''ll make life a lot less complicated.¡±


    ¡°So, what''s so special about his boat?¡±


    ¡°James says it''s an older model than Karella''s, but yeah, you can tell it''s not made round here.¡±


    ¡°You''ve got something like four hours of night left before it starts to get light, then. You''d better go. Take care of my sister, Mr Turnbull.¡±


    ¡°I fully intend to, Mr Abbot. And take care of my cousin; she likes you.¡±


    ¡°I like her a lot too.¡±


    ¡°Rick, just so you know...¡± James said.


    ¡°Yes?¡±


    ¡°A lot of the confidence she projects is a sort of mask. Don''t make the mistake of falling in love with the mask, OK?¡±


    ¡°You''re saying go slowly.¡±


    ¡°I''m saying... confident Karella might not be real Karella. If she lets you see her cry, then you''re meeting the real woman.¡±


    ¡°OK. I''ll try to keep that in mind. That mask is pretty dazzling, you know?¡±


    ¡°I know. I''m not saying it''s not her at all, I''m just saying that if that''s all you ever see, then she''s still hiding.¡±


    <hr>


    They rode on the surface for the first part of the journey. Rose was up top, holding the deflating dinghy steady on the back of the sub, while James carefully steered them along the river. The submarine just had the one hatch in the top of the curved exterior, it didn''t have a flat deck or anywhere that Rose could safely stand except the ladder of the airlock. Standing on a ladder, holding on to a big cumbersome inflatable that wanted to fall into the water wasn''t ever going to feature on Rose''s list of favourite activities for three o''clock in the morning. But they''d stirred up a lot of mud when they floated the submarine. James explained that, tempting though it might have been to sink back down to the bottom and stay until the next night, it would have been a big risk. Rose had replied that she hadn''t even thought of it as an option. Finally, enough of the air had gone out of the dinghy that Rose could pull out the decking boards from the bottom, stack them in the airlock, and start to fold it up. She did all of this one-handedly. She didn''t want to risk falling off the ladder. Eventually, she pulled the wet heavy plastic into the hatch.


    ¡°James, I''m in, finally. Do you want to go underwater?¡±


    ¡°It''d be a bit slower. Any sign of light or lights?¡±


    ¡°There might be a town coming up, I''m not sure about the distance. It might not even be on the river.¡±


    ¡°Sorry, Rose. Can I ask you to go back up to check? This sub wasn''t exactly designed for river-work.¡±


    ¡°Of course. Who needs sleep?¡±


    ¡°We both do. Can you tell me when you can see any sign of humans?¡±


    ¡°Sure, but what if we turn the corner and find someone looking out of their house-boat window?¡±


    ¡°Urm. You wave, and if they ask you say something about a university project?¡±


    ¡°I guess so. OK. How long did it take you to come up here?¡±


    ¡°About four hours. I thought it''d be faster going back.¡±


    ¡°I must be tired.¡± Rose announced.


    ¡°Something to do with the time.¡± he agreed, yawning.


    ¡°No. I mean I''m not thinking straight. Why don''t I look for people who are awake?¡±


    ¡°I don''t know, why don''t you?¡±


    ¡°I''ve just answered that, remember.¡± she said and kissed him.


    <hr>


    About half an hour later, Rose checked for people, and kissed him again.


    [I think you''re finally warming up properly, James, now I''m not letting all the heat out.] Rose thought to him. [How much longer will it take us? I''ve just checked again, there''s some people on our route who are going to be awake in an hour.]


    [We need to go faster, then, I think.]


    [Can we?]


    [Oh yes. Faster is no problem. It''s just we''ll be making more wake, disturbing the birds, breaking up the river banks, that sort of thing. You''ve probably got laws about it. But there''s a big lake up ahead. We can cross that quite quickly, then it''s only half an hour or so. What I should have done though is check the tide. There''s a narrow passage from that lake, through the middle of a town, out to sea. We need high tide or we''ll be visible.]


    [Ah...]


    [We''ll have to check how high the water is. Otherwise we''re spending the day in the lake.]


    [Is that a problem?]


    [It''s deep enough. Hopefully no one is going to be looking. Or coming the other way as we leave through the channel. That would be rather sad.]


    [As in, collision?]


    [We might have to turn round.]


    [Would you spot them?]


    [Of course, I''ll have the sonar going. Those clicks ¡ª can''t you hear them?]


    [No.]


    [Ah. I guess it''s too high for you.]


    [You''re not saying you''re navigating by hearing the echo are you? Like dolphins?]


    [Of course.] he was surprised. [Can''t you do it at all?]


    [No.]


    [I guess it''s not a land-man skill.] James thought.


    [Not one I''m aware of.]


    [Still sure we''re not different sub-species? And did you notice my toes?]


    [What about your toes? Do they need kissing too? {Surprise} They''re webbed.]


    [Yes. Hey, that tickles.]


    [Webbed feet, ultrasonic hearing, lots of iron in your muscles. All useful if you''re underwater.]


    [Very.]


    [Also good self control.]


    [Hey!]


    [Just to say I love you. But you still smell of river mud.]


    [You probably do too, given how close you''ve been standing to me. So, can we put some clothes on?]


    [If you really want to.]


    [I really want to get us out of this river system safely, Rose. I love you a lot, but us getting spotted might mean disaster for my whole people.]


    [{sorrow} I''m sorry, James, I was being selfish, wasn''t I?]


    [Not selfish, just... not thinking of everything. Can you check who''ll see us if we cross this lake like a speedboat?]


    She did [Nobody. We really can?]


    [See that panel on the left?]


    ¡°This one?¡±


    ¡°Yes. Press it at the top, please, it will flap open.¡±


    ¡°Oooh. Looks like writing. On a TV screen.¡±


    ¡°It is, sort of. Same sort of principle, anyway.¡±


    ¡°Electrons hitting a phosphor?¡±


    ¡°Not quite. But I expect you''ll have a factory churning out thousands of these a day, one of these decades, whereas ours takes a team of well trained technicians about a month.¡±


    ¡°I see the issue. So, what do I do with the writing I can''t read?¡±


    ¡°See the red circle?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°Pretend it''s a coin. Put a finger on it and drag it all the way to the right hand side of the screen.¡±


    ¡°Oh! It moves!¡±


    ¡°It does. Your grandfather apparently said he though a big switch with lots of sparks was more appropriate, when he first saw it.¡±


    ¡°What have I just done?¡±


    ¡°We''re not running on batteries any more.¡±


    ¡°So... I''ve just removed some control rods from a reactor?¡±


    ¡°What, you think we use that horrible messy fission? We stopped using that


    around the battle of Hastings.¡±


    ¡°I meant to ask. What''s moving us through the water? I didn''t see any propeller.¡±


    ¡°The water''s moving us through the water.¡±


    ¡°Pardon?¡±


    ¡°There''s a very strong magnet on either side of us. Put some current through the water, and the water gets a force on it, and so tries to move. We let it. Everything else is just vanes and things to send the water where we want it to go. That will be straight backwards. And it''s about to be a big current through the water. Which is noisy, disgustingly inefficient, but fast.¡±


    ¡°I''ll sit down.¡±


    ¡°Excellent idea.¡±


    James turned on the ship''s radar. He''d no desire to swamp any other boats on the lake, and sonar wasn''t going to let him navigate fast enough. He eased the power control forward. It had been a very deliberate design decision to make it forward to go faster. It meant if you did it too fast then as you fell back you turned it off. If anyone had seen them, they''d have seen a golden whale rocketing through the water, kicking up a ''rooster tail'' of spray that would have made any power boating enthusiast cry with envy. Crossing the lake normally took about forty to fifty minutes. They did it in a not very comfortable four.


    ¡°James?¡± Rose asked as they settled down to more normal speeds.


    ¡°Yes, beloved?¡±


    ¡°What would happen if we went at that speed through the channel?¡±


    ¡°Urm... I''m not sure. Anyone nearby would get very wet. The channel walls might collapse from the wake. We might crash too, that channel is a bit winding. Oh, and there are low bridges. If we were fully underwater at that speed, we''d almost certainly damage the channel. Or dredge it, I suppose.¡±


    ¡°OK. Let''s not then.¡±


    ¡°Unless we''re about to be boarded. An outsider trying to board one of our vessels gets counted as an act of war, and a direct threat to the survival of my people. In that case, I have two options. Get us away or blow up the submarine.¡±


    ¡°Oh. And blowing up the submarine means using the fusion generator?¡±


    ¡°Yes. It wouldn''t be the size of one of your atom bombs, don''t worry about wiping out the whole town.¡±


    ¡°Just us?¡±


    ¡°Fairly likely. Sorry, Rose. I''ll try reason, but I can''t let this technology fall into land-folk''s hands. The good news is that it looks like being close enough to high tide for us to be leaving.¡±


    ¡°And then we go into one of the world''s busiest shipping lanes.¡±


    ¡°Where we go off the normal track a bit, sink gently to the bottom, and get some rest. Can you put that slider to the middle of the screen, please?¡±


    ¡°OK. What does that do?¡±


    ¡°Recharges the batteries. Far right means ignore the batteries for the moment.¡±


    ¡°Could we have done that sprint on the batteries?¡±


    ¡°Probably, for a bit. But it''s not good for them.¡±


    ¡°I just can''t think why. Wow that was fun, James, But why have that capability at all?¡±


    ¡°Rescuing people, emergencies, plus because they could, I expect. I told you we show off.¡± James pointed out.


    ¡°OK. Now, something tells me this wonderful little boat wasn''t put together in the village you''ve described to me.¡±


    ¡°No. It was put together in our city.¡±


    ¡°And Karella''s trading trips go from village to village collecting what they produce or pick up and selling it to folks in the city?¡±


    ¡°And then taking what she''s bought in the city and selling on the return journey, yes.¡±


    ¡°And now you''re going to tell me your city''s called something other than Atlantis, aren''t you? Please. Any time mer-people in fiction have a city it''s always called Atlantis. Please tell me you called it something else.¡±


    ¡°Sorry. I can''t do that. But that''s just because of Plato. His story came first, and someone decided that our capital just had to be called after it.¡±


    ¡°Oh. So everyone''s copying the same basic idea?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°When was it founded?¡±


    ¡°Oh, Just after Plato wrote the Republic. But it''s been rebuilt a few times since.¡±


    ¡°Now, what else did I want to know?¡± Rose asked.


    ¡°Lots and lots. All those things that I said I''d tell you here.¡± James replied.


    ¡°No, it was something specific, and more important.¡±


    ¡°You''re the one with a mind-reading gift.¡±


    Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.


    ¡°I''m not sure I can use it on myself. Oh! I remember.¡± Rose said, and actually blushed.


    ¡°Yes?¡±


    ¡°Are you thinking of us consummating our marriage before or after we get some sleep? Because I was thinking if you were going to be busy piloting, and don''t need me to keep watch, I could just sort of curl up here and have a nap.¡± she yawned, and curled in a ball where she''d been sitting. ¡°Very easily, in fact.¡±


    ¡°Have a nap, my beloved wife. I''ve got a bit more piloting to do before we can hide and sleep. But there is a bed, you don''t need to curl up at my feet.¡±


    [Then why don''t you be a lovely husband and carry me there, when it''s a convenient time?] she thought to him as she kissed his webbed feet.


    <hr>


    </a>1st December 1975, Atlantis.


    ¡°We greet you, Sathzakara Farseer Evangelia. It has been a long time.¡± Helen, the chair of the welcoming committee, said.


    Sathzakara smiled in agreement. ¡°It has, Helen. Mostly because I prefer sunlight.¡±


    ¡°You know why we''re based here.¡± another committee member said.


    ¡°Of course I do. I just prefer to swim in sunlight, like quite a lot of people I know.¡± she looked around her capital city, its glass tunnels and crystal spires. Jacob had been utterly shattered when he realised what level of technology her people had. It had been so far beyond his learning, when he''d expected to educate them not the other way round. But she''d persuaded him that he needn''t feel useless. He had other skills, other important knowledge. He still played with his steam engines and crystal radio sets to entertain the children and help them understand where this had all started. But as she''d pointed out, even at a snail''s pace, three thousand years of uninterrupted progress ought to get you somewhere. ¡°We''re a strange people, aren''t we?¡± she observed. ¡°Half of us living like savages in the sunlight, the others living in fairy castles under the oceans. I wonder how long we''ll stay undiscovered.¡±


    ¡°You did us a great favour, Sathzakara, in marrying your husband, bringing us his language, and knowledge of how quickly the land-men are catching up with us.¡± Helen said.


    ¡°They''ve overtaken us in many areas.¡± Sathzakara pointed out. Talking to Rose had convinced her of that.


    ¡°Yes, mass-production, mining, things like that where discovery is not a problem. We know.¡± Helen replied.


    ¡°They''re also exploring in space, now. We heard that on the radio.¡± Sathzakara pointed out, ¡°And soon will have a passenger plane that can cross half the world in a few hours, another thing we''ve never done. More importantly than all this, I believe, is that they''re conquering diseases. Their population is expanding so quickly that even some of them are getting worried.¡±


    ¡°It has often expanded in the past. Then a new plague comes and knocks them back.¡± a young archivist replied.


    ¡°Plagues tend to be from bacteria. They mass produce antibiotics now. New ones are still being discovered. The only plague that will knock them back is going to be a virus. And even then, I do not doubt their survival. Another worrying thing is that there''s also a new sport among them.¡±


    ¡°A new sport? How is that worrying?¡±


    ¡°They call it ''scuba-diving''. The whole nation should be warned. They have discovered the beauty of coral, the technology of compressed air, the demand-feed regulator. It is a fun experience for them, to swim for an hour under the sea. More and more will be doing it, I''m sure, as their television programmes show the sights that fifty years ago only we had seen. Also, they have remote control and they have submarines. How long before they put the two together, if they haven''t already? They are saying, ''We''ve exploring the solar system, we''ve got all this planet to explore too.''¡±


    ¡°Once again, you bring us extra knowledge, Sathzakara. How this time?¡±


    ¡°Once again, but not myself. James, my grandson, I sent to the world of land-men. He has returned with an encyclopedia of technology. We knew they


    have harnessed the power of breaking atoms for war. The quiet submarines we have learned to avoid in the last decades harness it for power, as we guessed, and the largest of them carry fusion warheads. They hope that they will have controlled fusion power in two decades. Perhaps it will take them longer ¡ª they are ever optimistic. But how long did it take us to go from steam engine to nuclear energy? They''ve done it in barely a century!¡±


    ¡°We are James'' debt.¡± Helen replied ¡°He did not accompany you?¡±


    ¡°My grandson is still enjoying a period of quarantine, just in case.¡±


    ¡°We thank him for his patience. You said ''enjoying'' in irony, I presume.¡±


    ¡°Not entirely. He also brings another treasure; she is called Rose, and has the same gift from God that my husband did. A medical doctor, though not fully trained. They married before leaving her homeland.¡±


    ¡°May God grant that the inherited immunity their offspring will carry will help our race survive.¡±


    ¡°I''m sure it will. But you will be aware that we have not been careful guardians of the genes my children and grand-children carry. Too many have been shark-food.¡±


    ¡°It is the way, Sathzakara. We cannot force them to remain in safety.¡±


    ¡°No, but we could encourage them more, couldn''t we? Our children are dutiful, they think they see a need for food, so they hunt and fish. They forget the tales, that we hunt and fish to enjoy life, not to live.¡±


    ¡°You would overturn our culture again?¡± protested a man even older than Helen. Sathzakara couldn''t remember his name. She was getting old herself.


    ¡°The land-men will. The question is whether we adapt first, or only in response to discovery. But I mentioned our losses for another reason.¡±


    Helen smiled at her old friend ¡°You always do things for multiple reasons, Sath.¡±


    ¡°You should no longer expect to feel the regular bite of trading with my granddaughter, Karella Eudora Matthew Iron-trader Gold-taker.¡±


    Concerned sounds came from a number of throats. She waved them down. ¡°Karella still lives. But, for now, she walks among the land-men. May her inherited immunity be sufficient to keep it that way.¡±


    ¡°Her purpose?¡±


    ¡°To avoid sharks, to live. Also, she has a hope, encouraged by Rose.¡±


    ¡°Yes?¡±


    ¡°First, I must force more new knowledge upon you, sorry. According to the laws and customs of land-men, all people are part of a country, are its citizens. We knew this from my husband, but not even I was really aware of its significance, not really. Rose has explained it to me. If you have no country, you cannot easily move among them. If you do have a country, you may travel in your own country, but maybe you can only stay in another for a few weeks, unless you seek permission. And to get this permission, you must first obtain one of the documents called a passport we have often found on the drowned. The complicated pictures and words that they sometimes hold is called a ''visa'', which is this permission to stay. The passport, you see is not just for going through a port. Nor is it just a letter of introduction. It is a document that records that you can be where you are without arrest. At the moment, Karella does not have this document, of course. But she hopes to obtain one, and Rose thinks it should be possible. It should be possible for all my grandchildren to obtain one, because of my husband''s citizenship, and once they have a passport, they can obtain passports for their wives and register the births of their children and get passports for them in turn. But my great grand-children will not be able to claim citizenship on their own, their laws have that strange limit. Karella hopes to arrange this passport for her cousins. She will probably have to talk convincingly, but we know she''s good at that.¡±


    ¡°You are saying that some of us should try to pass as landmen?¡±


    ¡°Yes. I say that soon we will need to learn from them, perhaps already we should. I say that we should use their medicine, and vaccinate our children against the diseases they can already catch from the dirty land-men practices. I say that we should take every opportunity to make sure we that we will survive the day when they record us on camera and spread word of us round the world. Already, they can communicate faster, more effortlessly than we can. That cannot be a good thing. I do not believe our technology will keep us unknown to them for another five hundred years, unless we put far more effort into it. Perhaps we should be sending our brightest and best to their universities, as my husband envisaged we might want to, before realising they would learn little. Now, I don''t know. But, just as we''ve changed so much in the last sixty years, it makes sense to think that we''ll need to change more, as the landmen claim every inch of land and more and more of the sea.¡±


    Sathzakara could see the acceptance of change on their faces and moved on to her final point.


    ¡°And to that end, Rose has a suggestion. When we have people who can walk among them, buy and sell among them, we could swap some of our gold, which the land-men value as much as we value iron, for land. We could buy the coast-land we live on, so that the experience of our people on the Costa Brava is not repeated all over the world.¡±


    ¡°They value gold like iron?¡±


    ¡°Yes. And Karella tells us they value the finest pearls and diamonds even more than gold.¡±


    ¡°How then do they value iron?¡±


    ¡°They turn it into boats and don''t bother collecting them when they sink. Does that not tell you something?¡±


    ¡°That they can''t?¡± Helen asked.


    ¡°It used to be that way. Now, it''s more than that they can''t be bothered.¡±


    Sathzakara corrected. ¡°They even deliberately sink some of their old ships. It isn''t worth trying to reclaim the iron in them.¡±


    ¡°But....¡±


    ¡°Mass production. Rose tells me that a new iron is worth at least ten thousand times less than gold to them, and old iron is less than a tenth of that.¡±


    ¡°So... when your Karella next comes back...¡± Helen started.


    ¡°Iron becomes far less valuable, if she trades in it.¡± finished one of the other members of the council. ¡°And more so when Sathzakara''s grandchildren go and get themselves documented. But iron will always be useful.¡±


    ¡°Yes. In fact, even the warning that iron will devalue, will make it more available, as people start to sell rather than hoard.¡± Helen pointed out.


    ¡°In which case, maybe gold will become as scarce as it is for the landmen.¡±


    ¡°For the moment... can we ask your Karella to keep her landman iron on dry land?¡±


    ¡°Of course.¡± Sathzakara agreed. ¡°What concessions she''ll ask for are another matter, of course.¡±


    <hr>


    A new song


    /Landmen have a saying,


    they live it loud and clear.


    Maybe now time has come, for us to stop and hear.


    -you can''t stand in the way of progress./


    Three thousand years of hiding, lurking in the waves


    living in Atlantis or dwelling in the caves.


    Remember fishing''s just for pleasure, hunting is a game.


    Progress is a coming, things cannot stay the same.


    Landmen have a saying....


    We don''t want to be shark food


    We don''t want to be caught


    We don''t want to be squeezed out


    May we listen when we''re taught.


    Landmen have a saying....


    Landmen are encroaching,


    Coastline''s getting small


    The alternative to hiding is learning to stand tall.


    Landmen have a saying....


    Better get your papers,


    play the landmen game.


    Always keep the secret,


    things won''t be the same.


    <hr>


    </a>January 1976, New Zealand.


    ¡°So, let me get to the crunch question, Doctor.¡± the man at the office asked.


    ¡°Why do you want to buy that deserted stretch of wild coast-land, which won''t support more than one cow and a whole heap of rabbits these days?¡±


    ¡°Well, firstly.¡± Rose answered, ¡°Because it is a deserted stretch of wild coast-land which won''t support lots of cows. That has two great advantages for me, the coast is a diver''s paradise, the fishing looks good and the way it won''t support cows means the price is right. Plus, we don''t mind the occasional bunny stew, it''s got water, some woodland for fuel, and yet it''s not too far from civilisation.¡±


    ¡°Are you planning on living off the land, or looking to develop?¡±


    ¡°Living, certainly, developing, not much. Not much at all. The lodge gives us enough accommodation at the top of the cliffs, but we might want to add a room or two for friends and family if that''s OK. Based on what I know of the currents I really think it''d be a great place for a diving school, but not right away, and even then we won''t develop much. We like it the way it is. Right now, I''m just looking to put some steps down to the cove.¡±


    ¡°Cutting into the cliff, or bolted on steel?¡± he asked.


    ¡°I would love to learn about the different options and relevant planning laws.¡±


    ¡°You''re in the right place then, Doc. By the way, is that title of yours medical, or something else?¡±


    ¡°Medical. But... I got provisionally registered with the G.M.C, then couldn''t get a house officer position. Not really sure why, except maybe because I liked camping out, rather than living with a drunken father and a screaming mother. It seemed perfectly reasonable to me, and I agreed when the university called it an unusual lifestyle. Unfortunately, it seems that when anyone reads that on an job application back in Britain it gets interpreted as me being a drug-taking hippie liable to help themselves to the pharmacy or something.¡±


    He looked at her entirely non-hippie appearance, and decided that British hospitals must have far too many doctors. Which was fine with him.


    ¡°Right. So... you''re sort of four-fifths-qualified?¡±


    ¡°Good description.¡± she agreed. ¡°And now I''m married, here and have no idea what the rules are.¡±


    ¡°Well, Doctor, I can say that one rule is that we help each other round here, and we always need medical people we can call on in an emergency.¡±


    ¡°I''ll be very glad to be of service.¡±


    ¡°It''ll be great to have you as a neighbour then. What do you think of Rugby?¡±


    ¡°I saw the ground on my way in. I''m not volunteering to play, but when''s the next match?¡± she asked.


    He grinned, scrawled something on paperwork in front of him, and said ¡°Take this down the hall, second door on the right.¡±


    She did as instructed and was rather surprised, not very long after, to leave the office with title to the abandoned cattle station, permission to cut steps, expert advice on how to do it, information on obtaining permission to start a business, and a lot of hints about where to get the tools she needed.


    She was really surprised to see that they''d written the tile deed in both hers and James'' name, and hadn''t asked for more than her marriage certificate as documentation. It seemed they were genuinely happy to have the farm lived in, and the rabbit population depleted. She hadn''t told them that James'' family had been living at the foot of the cliffs and helping to do that for a generation already.


    <hr>


    </a>8pm, Tuesday, Sept 13th, 1977. Near Loch Linnhe


    ¡°Karella, love.¡± Rick asked yet again. ¡°Why is it that you''ve insisted on organising the honeymoon? Isn''t that supposed to be my job? And why did we need to check out of the hotel today? I thought we where having two weeks up here.


    Please don''t say trust me or anything like that. We really need to be checking in to somewhere, don''t we? And while I''m asking unanswerable questions from my beloved wife, why are we sitting on an isolated pier, with our suitcases? Not to mention why didn''t we drive up, like I suggested.¡±


    ¡°Did you notice, it''s a New Moon tonight?¡± Karella asked, totally ignoring the questions.


    ¡°Yes, I did. The stars are very pretty. Like you. What are we waiting for?¡±


    ¡°Rose to tell me the coast is clear. There''s someone coming, apparently.¡±


    ¡°Hold on... Isn''t this near where Rose found you?¡±


    ¡°It is indeed. I came ashore on this very jetty. My first step on British soil.¡±


    ¡°No, no, no... Karella are you planning what I think you''re planning?¡±


    ¡°What might that be?¡± she asked, embracing him.


    ¡°Are you planning to show me your mysteriously vanishing boat?¡±


    ¡°I am.¡±


    ¡°And you plan that we sleep aboard it tonight?¡±


    ¡°Indeed.¡±


    ¡°Did I tell you I get sea-sick?¡±


    ¡°Not on my boat, you don''t. I hope. You know, Rick, one thing I really like about you is that you''re really good at not being curious. But we''re married now, in case you hadn''t noticed. You''ve seen my toes, too.¡±


    ¡°Very nice ones they are too. Very kissable. And I''ve seen you swim three lengths underwater. And you didn''t have a verruca, did you? You were hiding your toes.¡±


    ¡°Correct.¡±


    ¡°So, you''re part mermaid, or something?¡±


    ¡°Mer-woman now. Biologically adapted to life on the edge of water. It''s not like I''ve got gills, but I swim well, I can hold my breath about ten times longer than you can at the moment, and then I have my give-away toes which add not much at all to my swimming ability.¡±


    ¡°You said at the moment?¡±


    ¡°There''s this really disgusting gloop I could give you which would make you able to hold your breath until you pass out. It makes swimming underwater much more fun, but there is that little risk of doing it too long. It makes most people throw up for an hour or two the first time they drink it, but not always.¡±


    ¡°Sounds pleasant.¡±


    ¡°It''s not. But the breath-holding thing is handy.¡±


    ¡°Any more surprises?¡±


    ¡°Ever wanted to visit New Zealand?¡±


    ¡°What?¡± It wasn''t what he''d expected at all.


    ¡°You know, some people might think, Hmm, I''ve got relatives in New Zealand, I''ve got a wife with a top secret submarine, she''s got relatives there too, why don''t pay them a visit.¡±


    ¡°It takes weeks, months to get there by boat.¡±


    ¡°That depends on the boat, Rick.¡±


    ¡°Karella, don''t tease.¡±


    ¡°Eleven thousand and something nautical miles, if we went through the Panama canal, but you have to go really slowly through there, so it''s not worth it. Twelve thousand two hundred via cape horn, without any serious speed limits. If we went at, say a hundred knots, then that''d be a hundred and twenty two hours, or five days and a bit. How about we try and do it in four days?¡±


    ¡°Are you being at all serious? Nothing goes that fast, well, maybe a torpedo, I guess.¡±


    ¡°What do you think, Rick?¡±


    ¡°I think you''re beautiful.¡±


    ¡°Stop evading the question.¡±


    ¡°What, do I think that you''re being serious? I presume you have some serious point behind it. But I''ve no idea what it is. I''d love to go and pay Rose and your family a visit, but it''s too far.¡±


    ¡°Tell you what, Rick, if you''re right and we don''t manage to get there by time for Church on Sunday, you can tell me you told me so. Otherwise you get to tell me I''ve got the loveliest little boat in the whole wide ocean.¡±


    ¡°Karella, just tell me something, OK?¡±


    ¡°Yes?¡±


    ¡°If you''ve got that sort of technology, why are you hanging around with a dumbo like me?¡±


    ¡°Because technology doesn''t love me, Rick. Technology just gets me to where I can sell things. But there''s plenty of those in London.... Though I do think I''d love to do a little bit of trade between your people and mine. That''s one of the reasons I bought all those books.¡±


    ¡°I wondered. I didn''t see you reading any of them.¡±


    ¡°Well, I used to read when I got really bored. Oh, look, I''ve got myself a husband to keep me company. Sorry, books.¡±


    ¡°You''re a fascinating person, Karella.¡±


    ¡°Oh! Rose says we can go. Wait a moment.¡± She pulled a little stick from around her neck, fiddled with it a bit, and dangled it into the water.


    ¡°What''s that?¡±


    ¡°It was originally intended as a thing to get the attention of whales. It doesn''t work very well, they just sort of shrug and think ''What''s that? Oh, it''s those silly merfolk again, let''s get on with important things.'' If you can imagine a whale shrugging. I''m not sure I can, having said it. Anyway, it makes a noise that a whale can hear and ignore, but I''ll be very cross if my boat ignores it. Not to mention wet.¡±


    ¡°Wet?¡±


    ¡°I''ll have to swim down into the middle of the loch and get it.¡±


    ¡°That''s a long way down, isn''t it?¡±


    ¡°Yes. And not very warm either.¡±


    ¡°How long will it take to get here?¡±


    ¡°Not long. See those ripples coming towards us?¡±


    ¡°Nice necklace you''ve got there. Karella, why didn''t you tell me?¡±


    ¡°Scared, I guess.¡±


    ¡°I could have brought some stuff for Rose.¡±


    ¡°What like?¡±


    ¡°I don''t know. Maybe some stock from the shop, but I expect that''s coals to Newcastle, isn''t it? Chocolate or something. Oh ¡ª your last minute shopping trip?¡±


    ¡°That''s it. One bar of her favourite chocolate. I wonder if she''s introduced the devil food to the rest of the family. Bother.¡±


    ¡°You were of thinking of international chocolate smuggling to the list of your professions?¡±


    ¡°Why not? I''m already smuggling you and a whole lot of gold. Plus a lump of high purity iron which I expect isn''t going to be worth much by the time I sell it.¡±


    ¡°Iron?¡±


    ¡°Imagine the crisis your country would have been in a few 1decades ago if someone discovered that next door they had this great big mountain of gold. That''s what our people are just coming to terms with. When I bought my lump of iron it was worth about a quarter of my boat. I thought, I know, rather than carting this gold around, why don''t I put it in a good valuable metal like iron. That''s safe. Arrgh.¡±


    ¡°So what are you going to do?¡±


    ¡°Try to sell it on the way. Right now, I''d like to sell it for pretty much anything near parity with gold.¡±


    ¡°Parity with gold?¡±


    ¡°Rust-free iron under the sea? It used to be much more valuable than gold.¡±


    ¡°It''s a good job business is doing OK, then, isn''t it?¡±


    ¡°Rick, I love you, and it''s not for your money, OK? Come aboard and you''ll see what I mean.¡±


    Rick ran his hands over the hull. ¡°I don''t need to. Nice boat! You''re really going to upset me if you tell me this is just a special brass.¡±


    ¡°The gold is only as thick as your front door key, and it''s an alloy, too. There''s something cheaper under that.¡±


    ¡°I still think it''s a lovely boat.¡± he said as he hauled himself up the ladder.


    ¡°Wait until you see her go. Don''t worry, once we''re in open sea I''ll turn on the autopilot, and then I''ll show you how I dress at home.¡±


    ¡°Wow.¡±


    ¡°Just a little place I like to think of my home from home.¡± she said. It wasn''t a spartan working boat, like the one James had travelled in. The foot of the ladder had wooden racks and shelves which could have been anywhere, except that they held enough gold and gems to make a pirate think of retiring. Rick thought a bit and decided he''d been wrong. A whole boat-load of pirates. Past the racks, however, was the front of the boat and Karella''s home from home, and it was actually that which had caused him to say wow.


    ¡°I''ll let you get us underway and underwater before I ask you for a guided tour.¡±


    ¡°You did close the hatch?¡±


    ¡°Urm, no. How do I?¡±


    ¡°You... no I''ll do it.¡± She dragged her finger towards the middle of what looked like a T.V screen, and headed back to the hatch. The lighting seemed to brighten.


    ¡°I don''t hear anything, but your lights look like you''ve just turned the engine on.¡±


    ¡°Perceptive man. See that big wall at the back, there?¡± She waved with her foot.


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°That''s where what''s roughly a battery is. Behind that is the thing that does what''s needed to charge the battery. Behind that is the thing that compresses air if we''re on the surface or takes it from the sea if we''re under water too long. Behind that is where the electricity comes from.¡±


    ¡°If this was a science fiction film.¡± Rick told her, ¡°You''d now tell me that you''re using some incredibly rare element in a nuclear reactor which lets your submarine work for a hundred years without refueling, or that there''s this forcefield keeping the antimatter under control.¡±


    ¡°Naah. Just boring old nuclear fusion, like in the sun.¡± she said, giving him a kiss.


    ¡°No one''s got that working yet.¡± Rick pointed out.


    ¡°We have, about a thousand years ago.¡± Karella said.


    ¡°You know, I''d really love to learn your history.¡±


    ¡°I might be easiest for you to learn our language. At least for me. It''ll be far easier for me to sing you the histories than translate them and make them come out right.¡±


    ¡°Well, how about a compromise. I promise to try and learn for an hour, and you give me a summary of your history for an hour.¡±


    ¡°You''re serious? You''d learn our language?¡±


    ¡°Why not?¡±


    ¡°It had never occurred to me that you would, sorry.¡±


    ¡°Never throw away an advantage, as my Grandad used to say. Imagine being able to discuss a deal without being understood by anyone in London.¡±


    ¡°Are you just making up excuses, or are you serious?¡±


    ¡°Hmm, Exotic merchant I''ve just married, who turns out to be richer than the Medicis, wants me to say whether I''m trying to make up excuses that give me a reason to make her happy, or if I genuinely think that making slightly better deals in our little pawn shop is going to make much difference to our living standard. Hmm, maybe I''m not as obvious as I thought.¡±


    ¡°Mr Rick Abbot, I love you.¡±


    ¡°Mrs Karella lots more names Abbot, I love you too. I think that''s why we''re man and wife, isn''t it?¡±


    ¡°You don''t mind that your wife doesn''t need your financial support?¡±


    ¡°Except that you might get arrested if you tried to sell any significant part of this, you mean?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°No, I don''t mind that at all. I think what it really means is that I''m a total novice in this environment and you''re still learning in mine. Somehow I think I''m going to be learning yours a lot longer than you are learning mine. But we do need each other. Which is good.¡±


    ¡°I absolutely need you, Rick. Here as well as there. Oh, who are the Medicis I get the feeling I''ve heard of them somewhere.¡±


    ¡°Rich family in urm.. Venice, maybe? Somewhere in Italy. Bankers, I think.¡±


    ¡°Oh! Yes. OK.¡±


    ¡°You''ve heard of them, then?¡±


    ¡°Yes. Italian wool trade. Quite lucrative.¡± she shook her head ¡°That silly man!¡±


    ¡°Who?¡±


    ¡°One of my ancestors. Want to hear the story?¡±


    ¡°If you can drive this thing and still talk?¡±


    ¡°I''ve been doing that haven''t I?¡± Karella pointed out.


    ¡°I didn''t notice we''d started moving, actually.¡± Rick confessed.


    ¡°We''re not, really. We''re just pottering along hardly causing a ripple. I''ll speed us up later on. And get the gas compressor going when we''re out at sea. You''ll hear that.¡±


    ¡°I thought you said we could get air from the water?¡±


    ¡°Not for the trick I''m about to play. We''ll blow a jet of air out of the front of the submarine, so the nose is going through nice compressible bubbles, not incompressible water. We collect quite a lot of the air back again, so we''ll only need to refill our air-tank every so often.¡±


    ¡°Sounds high tech and extremely complicated.¡±


    ¡°Yes. James'' boat''s too old to do it, they can only go at about seventy knots on his, and it''s terribly inefficient. But by the time this one was made, we''d seen what you were capable of. These days, they don''t make any boats which can''t out-race one of your submarines by a considerable margin. So, top speed is something around a hundred and fifty knots, underwater. I won''t push my baby that hard though. If we wanted to be really uncomfortable, we could be a surface boat and go faster than that.¡±


    <hr>


    </a>Thursday, Sept 15th, 1977. Village meeting.


    ¡°Karella and Rick are going to be here next week. Do we go for it?¡± James asked.


    ¡°Are you sure this is a good idea?¡± Abigail, one of James'' cousins asked her husband. It was the third time she''d asked.


    ¡°I think it''ll work.¡± Barnabas, her second husband replied. ¡°And it''s that or we move. You''ve seen how many scuba-divers are poking their noses around, more every year.¡±


    ¡°Grandmother?¡± Abigail asked.


    ¡°I like Rose''s idea, and it''ll work elsewhere, too. It gives us cover, for the past too. Rose has already heard rumours of sightings. If we go ahead then we can say, oh, yes, we''ve been playing with the idea. We can also say, if someone gets close enough to see a face, that yes, they''re auditioning, or practicing or something like that. We might want to hire some land-boys and girls to be occasional ''wild mermaids'' on an occasional basis.¡±


    ¡°Oh! I like that idea.¡± Abigail agreed. ¡°We''d need to train them how to swim, of course.¡±


    ¡°We''ll need to train everyone we employ how to swim.¡± Rose said, ¡°And that gives a role for quite a few family members. Who then become familiar faces in town, and so no one is surprised if they see you.¡±


    ¡°You say family members. Is that deliberate?¡± one of the villagers who wasn''t in the family asked.


    ¡°Yes.¡± Rose replied. ¡°I''m immune to a whole lot of things that you''re not. Partly that''s because I''ve met viruses and bacteria, sometimes by immunisations, sometimes from getting sick and recovering. But partly it''s because we land-folk have been breeding immunities into ourselves. By mostly cutting ties three thousand years ago, the mer have avoided diseases, but also lost that genetic advantage. Sathzakara''s children should have that a bit better than most, thanks to Jacob''s genes.¡±


    ¡°So, for most of us, it''s life as usual?¡±


    ¡°Except that even with more land-men around, you don''t need to be nearly so worried about being seen.¡± James pointed out.


    There was some excited discussion about the implications of that.


    ¡°So, do we tell the town we''re starting a diving centre?¡± James asked after the discussion died down.


    The agreement was unanimous.


    <hr>


    </a>Monday Sept 19th, 1977


    ¡°You''re winding me up.¡± the man who would give them the approval exclaimed.


    ¡°Nope. Serious business proposition. We''ve got the right coastline, a very distinctive tourist-attracting feature, and a long-term investor, also known as my big brother, who''s just got here. My husband''s got his dive-instructor qualifications, I''m all registered as a massively over-qualified nurse in case of accidents, and we''ve tested out the fish tails. With one on I can outswim my husband in normal diving flippers. Which we think is a real bonus in terms of tourist safety.¡±


    ¡°You''ve been testing them out?¡±


    ¡°Oh, not just me. My husband has some family members who''ve been playing mer-folk in isolated places for ages, fiddling with the design.¡±


    ¡°You''ve been planning this a long time?¡±


    ¡°It was one of the reasons I chose the location. We''d chatted about setting up something like this. But we think we''ve got all the details straight now.¡±


    ¡°So, let me get this straight. You''re going to have the tourists in normal scuba gear, but the staff will be in scuba gear plus artificial fish-tails?¡±


    ¡°Yes. Hollywood''s had people swimming that way for ages, but apparently the actors end up like beached whales if they''re on dry land. The side of the tail is held together with magnets in our design, so walking is no problem, you just kick free. But put your legs together, add a bit of forward motion and it self-seals. You have no idea how many prototypes we tried, but we''ve got it.¡±


    ¡°So, you''ve got a unique selling point at the moment, but what happens when someone copies you?¡±


    ¡°We''ve got the trade-mark paperwork ready, just as soon as you approve us, and we''re keeping the manufacturing in the family. There''s more to it than just magnets, I assure you.¡±


    ¡°You''ve been busy.¡±


    ¡°We''ve got quite a lot riding on it. We want it to work.¡±


    ¡°Next question on my list. What does it do for or to the rest of the community?¡±


    ¡°Ah, now, that''s something we hope that we''ve thought of too. We''re not planning on offering accommodation, or meals beyond maybe arranging for a bread delivery. You''ll see that we''re asking for permission for a camping area, but again, no shop. We''re not at all opposed to the idea of someone saying they''ll run deliveries, in fact we''ll encourage it as soon as we''ve got some custom for them. Basically, we''ve decided we''re going to concentrate on running the diving school side of things safely, not pandering to some tourists'' desire to have a wake-up call at the crack of dawn or to sit down to a three-course a-la-carte meal.¡±


    ¡°So, you''re thinking that you''ll be pulling people in, increasing trade in the town here.¡±


    ¡°Yes. We''ve also got the crazy idea on page four, which some of the youth might like.¡±


    ¡°This thing about an occasional acting job for fit people?¡±


    ¡°Yes. It''s all very well to call ourselves ''Merfolk cove'' and run diving courses in fancy dress, but every one can see the scuba tank. Where''s the fun in that? We had the idea that we could have some unfamiliar faces swim past without tanks on, just at the edges of the tourist''s sights. I''m sure you can imagine the sort of thing: Swim in, spot the tourist, act surprised, and vanish again. All part of the show for the tourists. We might even put up a map showing mer-folk sitings. But we don''t want it to be that every trip sees a mermaid, just, maybe one in five, or one in ten. We thought we could hold acting competitions to see who can be the most natural at it. More people in the water of course means more eyes open for trouble too.¡±


    ¡°And more people to get into trouble.¡±


    ¡°It''s the tourists who are most likely to be in that category.¡±


    ¡°Unless there are sharks around. They might think half-human, half-fish is a good combination.¡±


    ¡°Yes. We''re aware of them. Vigilance is part of our strategy. Plus we were thinking of netting.¡±


    ¡°That''s no guarantee.¡±


    ¡°No. Nothing is a guarantee. But a double net, suitably separated, with patrols whenever sharks are sighted in the area, and even when they''re not? I think that''s pretty good.¡±


    ¡°What are you thinking of doing to any shark that gets between your nets?¡±


    ¡°I don''t hold with needless killing.¡± Rose said.


    ¡°Ah huh.¡± she heard him as he decided she was obviously another vegetarian, who was going to suggest releasing a dangerous creature so it could have another go.


    ¡°So, I expect we''d probably eat it. Or maybe turn it into fashion accessories or something like that.¡±


    ¡°You''d eat it?¡±


    ¡°If it''s gone to the effort of crossing the first barrier, then its not just curious. Maybe it''s had a chunk out of someone already and wants another bite. I''d say: don''t take chances. If it stays outside, that''s fine, but if it crosses a barrier, I''d say that''s evidence of intent. If it''s that eager to come to tea, it can be supper. And I''m sure the bunnies would be happy.¡±


    ¡°The bunnies?¡± he asked, confused.


    ¡°Do you need to come out for a site inspection? My husband makes an excellent bunny stew.¡±


    ¡°No need for the site inspection, Doctor. All your paperwork''s in order, and you sound like you''ve got the right ideas. Best of luck!¡±

 The Other Big Secret 2: Rabbit Stew / Ch. 7: Changes

    <h2>The Other Big Secret 2: Rabbit Stew / Ch. 7:Changes</h2>


    </a>Tuesday Sept 20th, 1977


    The elderly Maori woman stopped Rose as she returned home.


    ¡°You are Rose?¡±


    ¡°Yes?¡±


    ¡°You are from England, they say.¡±


    ¡°They''re right.¡± Rose agreed.


    ¡°Word says you will invite tourists. Take them to the cove.¡±


    ¡°Wow! That was fast! Yes, we''re going to set up a diving school.¡±


    ¡°You must not. It is Tapu.¡± the woman warned.


    Rose realised she was being a bad host. ¡°Come, please. Be my guest as we talk.¡±


    ¡°What is there to talk about? It is simple. You must not do what you plan.¡±


    ¡°I am ignorant, will you teach me, elder, what I must not do and why? It was not just my decision.¡±


    ¡°Who''s word will you take, if not mine? You must not. It is simple!¡±


    ¡°Please, I don''t want to offend, but I don''t know what I must not do.¡±


    ¡°You must not invite strangers to the cove. You should not even go to the cove yourself. The cove is tapu.¡± Rose gently looked at the elderly woman''s thoughts, seeking to get a handle on the meaning of that word. She saw a lot of the woman''s frustration, and that she was both offended and concerned.


    ¡°Does tapu mean cursed?¡±


    ¡°For you yes.¡±


    ¡°And for you also?¡±


    ¡°Of course.¡±


    ¡°How did you learn this, has it always been so?¡±


    ¡°All my lifetime. Not in my father''s childhood. A white-man came, he asked, ''is this place sacred, is it special, is it tapu?'' We told him, the sea is not ours to claim, the caves are of the sea, but they are not tapu. And he said ''I am a Christian, a servant of the one true living God. The sea and caves of the cove will now be tapu. For you, for the white-man also. Those who will live there are also Christians, but do not disturb them or seek them out. They will not harm those who are respectful. You must not go to the cove.''¡±


    [Sathzakara, did your husband ever contact the local people, telling them not to enter the cove?] Rose asked.


    [Yes! One has come to pass on the warning?]


    [Elderly lady.]


    [Treat her with respect, offer her food and drink. I''ll come up. Ask her about the warrior, she''ll know.]


    ¡°I thank you for teaching me this, honoured one. I did not know. But I wonder, is there more to the account of the cove? Something about a warrior?¡±


    ¡°How did you know that, if you do not know the story?¡±


    ¡°I did not know, I do not know, unless you tell me. But I also am a servant of the one true God, and I try to listen with respect to my elders. Will you not accept food and drink?¡±


    ¡°You are a strange one. I will tell you the story, but then I''m leaving. Later a brave warrior thought he had enough mana, enough authority and power, to challenge those who live there. He was a strong swimmer and master of the canoe. We watched. As he paddled his canoe stopped. As he swam, his muscles turned to jelly. As he sank, his weapons were taken from him. When he awoke, he was naked, and ashamed. And on his skin had been written ''you must not.'' It is not wise to offend those who live there.¡±


    ¡°So, you will stay then, and accept food and drink? I think you do not wish to offend the one who comes to speak to you.¡±


    The visitor caught the implication with a gasp. ¡°Who comes?¡±


    ¡°I would not have started this plan without her approval....¡± Rose started. [Sathzakara.] Rose called, [I had to tell her someone was coming to talk to her, now she''s asking who it is.]


    [Tell her I wrote on that warrior''s chest, if you like.]


    [I''ll have to tell her how you told me, if I say that! Can I tell her you''re the widow of the white-man?]


    [Yes, that''s good, too.]


    [Thanks!]


    ¡°The white-man died a few years ago. The one who comes is his widow.¡±


    ¡°How do you know these things?¡±


    ¡°I think it is only normal that I would know my husband''s grandmother, don''t you?¡± Rose said. ¡°I am new here and do not know your customs, and I do not wish to give offence, but please, be welcome to whatever refreshment my home can provide.¡±


    ¡°I accept your welcome, strange woman.¡±


    <hr>


    ¡°Thank you for visiting, my neighbour.¡± Sathzakara said, once she''d caught her breath from the climb. ¡°I have seen you many times, but we have not spoken. The world is a changing place.¡±


    ¡°The ones who dwell in the cove welcome this... invasion? The tapu is removed?¡±


    ¡°Welcome is not an appropriate word. It is not yet the will of God that we walk openly among you, with all our secrets laid bare. The tapu of the caves remains. They are set apart for our people alone. We do not welcome fishing in the bay, that would insult our mana. We do not welcome warriors who wish to show their mana by insulting ours. My hand is not as steady as it was, nor my eyesight as clear, but I can still write on a man''s chest.¡±


    ¡°How? How was his boat stopped, how were his muscles made weak, his clothes and weapons stripped from him? What god''s magic was this?¡±


    ¡°Magic? Do not insult me, my neighbour. I serve the one true God, who does not permit magic. But he tried to break the tapu of the cove and caves, silly man. We judged him prideful and ignorant. He thought it was only from our mana. We wished him no harm, so we had to stop him from breaking the oath of his forebears. A canoe does not go when ten strong warriors are holding it firm. A man''s muscles go weak if he is hit by one of the darts from my blowpipe. It is easy to take the weapons from a man who cannot control his muscles. What was hardest was making sure he did not see and yet did not drown.¡±


    ¡°But we were watching from the hills! We saw no one!¡±


    ¡°You saw shapes under the water, but nothing broke the surface, except his weapons.¡± Sathzakara guessed.


    ¡°Yes!¡±


    ¡°And you watched, you could not reach the place to see the beach where we left the warrior before we went away.¡±


    ¡°No, we could not. We saw he was moving through the water that way, on his back, at great speed.¡±


    ¡°Yes. That is how we moved him. We swim very quickly. We took the foolish warrior, I wrote on his chest, and we left him there.¡± Sathzakara changed the topic. ¡°There are dive-schools all along the coast. It will not be long before divers who know nothing of the tapu visit our cove and attract punishment. Some have come already, even. It is better if we act now. So we lift the tapu for the sake of these tourists, who come and leave and do not stay. I tell you this today. The cove is no longer covered by the oath. If you and your people do not insult our privacy you may pass through it to other fishing grounds. We will let the tourists see pretence, so they do not know truth from fiction. I tell you this because you are my neighbour, and a leader of your people. But to tell it to one who has loose lips or to a white-man is tapu.


    ¡°Those who come by sea will meet signs saying that the cove is not for them, that only those with permission may enter. Those who have no permission... we will deal with. When the tourists come, they will be told of the tapu on the caves, and will be warned not to approach, they will be told that they should not insult the mana of those who live in the cove, but they have permission to learn to dive there. So, there will be truth spoken as though it is jest. The visitors will be told of those who swim in the cove, as though it is a game. We will make it a game. There will be people, perhaps your sons and daughters, grandsons and granddaughters, who pretend to be what they are not, so that we who are can be hidden. Your children and grandchildren do not even need to know this. But that game is dangerous. You know these waters, that we are not the only dangerous thing in the water. Too many of my own children have become a meal for a shark. If your children and grandchildren wish to play, we will try to keep them safe and pay them for their time, but they must be strong swimmers and good actors. It will not be a steady job, but perhaps it will help their families. We will also put netting up to try to keep the sharks out. But netting is not very reliable.¡±


    ¡°And if one of my children spoke the truth?¡±


    ¡°And violate the tapu? They are brave or foolish. God is not slow in punishing those who break an oath among us.¡±


    ¡°You would kill?¡±


    ¡°My hand is not as quick as it was. But you are a mother. Would you not kill a shark to protect one of your children, or your sister''s children? No matter how many legs it has? An oath-breaker is a shark with two legs, but not all sharks need to be killed. When necessary, I have killed many sharks with no legs, and some sharks with two. It is good that my generation is dying out.¡±


    ¡°Why do you say this?¡±


    ¡°Because we were taught that all land-men are two-legged sharks. Especially the ones who venture near to water.¡±


    ¡°But still you married your husband?¡±


    ¡°Yes. Many many people told me I should kill him, but I was young and head-strong, and he was my prisoner.¡± She smiled at the memory, ¡°Then briefly I became his, and he won my heart with his gentleness.¡±


    ¡°The world changes.¡±


    ¡°That is truth.¡±


    ¡°I have a question. Last week, one of my grandsons was fishing from his canoe, he saw a whale of gold.¡±


    ¡°It is lucky he did not try to catch it, then. Gold is not very good to eat.¡±


    ¡°This we told him. He hurried home, and left his catch and his spear. His parents ask me: should he be punished for telling such tales and losing his spear?¡±


    ¡°He normally tells tales like this?¡±


    ¡°No. Pita is a truthful lad.¡±


    ¡°Then surely he should not be punished for running in fear from danger. And he was in danger.¡± Sathzakara turned and called ¡°Rose!¡±


    ¡°Yes?¡± Rose answered from the kitchen.


    ¡°Can you tell Maria my neighbour here would like her grandson''s fishing spear?¡±


    ¡°Oh! I''ll call her.¡± Rose said. ¡°She''ll be happy.¡±


    ¡°Maria was not at all careful that day. We told her that she should work out how to return the spear to its owner within the month. As you''re here, and as a sign that the world changes, she will accompany you home, if that is permitted.¡±


    ¡°Yes. It is.¡± their visitor was surprised.


    ¡°Rose! Tell Maria to wear something suitable for taking a walk, please.¡±


    ¡°Of course.¡±


    ¡°And to take her scales in a bag. Give her some of those fliers you''ve got printed up. She obviously doesn''t mind being seen, so she can give a demonstration as she swims home.¡±


    Turning back to the visitor, Sathzakara said ¡°I ask you not to tell your grandson anything except that Maria is Rose''s relative.


    Also... she will not get close to anyone, or enter any lodging. Our immune systems are not used to the things you are.¡±


    <hr>


    Maria walked silently beside the old woman, with a large bag over her back, mortally embarrassed. What on earth was she going to say to the boy? She''d almost killed him, scared him rigid, and got him in trouble. OK, she''d got in trouble too, but he''d lost his spear and his fish. She could return the spear of course. The fish were long eaten, and they''d been good ones too. Maybe she should try to find some? Yes. That would be good, assuming she could get him to stay by the waterside. She had her collecting bag, anyway, so that was no trouble. Now, what would she say?


    By the time they reached the fishing village, Maria had worked out what she''d do. Great-grandma had told her to give a demonstration, hadn''t she? It''d be wonderful to have some fun in the water without needing to hide.


    ¡°His name is Pita?¡± she asked, hesitantly. A variant of Peter, she knew.


    ¡°Oh, you''ve got a tongue then? Yes. You want me to send for him?¡±


    ¡°Yes please. I would feel more comfortable near the water, if that''s OK?¡±


    ¡°I bet you would.¡± She commented then called to one of the men to bring Pita to the beach. ¡°You''re going to just hand him the spear then?¡±


    ¡°I''m going to try to apologise properly. He lost the fish too.¡±


    ¡°And you''re going to try to catch him some more?¡±


    ¡°That''s my plan.¡±


    ¡°You don''t have a spear.¡± the woman pointed out.


    ¡°No. So I''d better avoid sharks."


    Pita ran up, ¡°What is it Grandma?¡± He was about Maria''s age.


    ¡°You dropped this.¡± Maria said simply, handing him the spear. Then added ¡°Sorry. I''ll try to replace the fish, too. Can you look after my street-clothes while I do?¡±


    ¡°Your what?¡± he asked. Then his eyes almost bulged out of his head as she pulled out her scales, and got into them them on under her flowery skirt. The skirt and then her blouse and jumper went back into the bag, leaving her in swimming costume and scales. She handed him the flyers, picked up her fish bag and took a ran into the sea and dived when it got to her knees. It didn''t take too many strokes to sort out her scales. And then she swam first she went reasonably slowly, then once she was in deeper water she dived, got to her top speed and shot out of the water. She checked, and yes, she was still in sight of Pita on the shore. He''d got some more companions too, and she saw pieces of paper in their hands, as she plunged back into the water. Oh, this was fun. She went fishing, remembering to not hold her breath very long. That was a bit of a pain, surfacing so often, but she was supposed to be pretending to be a land-maid dressed up. She spotted some prey and with a flick of her tail, shot past it, grabbing it and bagging it before it realised its peril. She took another breath, and found another two fish. How many had he had? She couldn''t remember. So she grabbed a couple more on the way back. The ones he''d had had been bigger, she knew. She spotted one that was a better size, bigger than the one he''d had. Good. Then, playing happy dolphin again, she jumped and dived back to the shore. She was breathing heavily after that little display, but wow it had been good fun. She''d need to go home a lot more sedately, and let her body recover a little, just in case there were any sharks around.


    Pita looked at the antics of the strange girl who''d returned his spear. Advertising a new dive centre that was looking for mer-person actors, or fully qualified dive instructors. Her display had been stunning. Which, he guessed had been the whole point. About half the village was watching her when she got out of the water, dragging her fish-tail behind her. And carrying a bag of fish that would have taken him a couple of hours to catch. She''d done it in what, ten minutes? It was amazing.


    ¡°That was fun!¡± she said, standing at the edge of the water, obviously, but unsurprisingly, tired. She held up the bag. ¡°Where would you like your fish, Pita?¡±


    ¡°Err.¡± he said, not having expected to have that many to cope with. ¡°That was amazing!¡± he felt he had to say.


    ¡°Tiring, though.¡± she panted. She wasn''t used to all that splashing around.


    The old lady came up and offered Maria a bag for the fish. ¡°Impressive display!¡± she said ¡°Don''t see that every day. Pita''s girl-friend is over there, looking green, by the way.¡±


    ¡°In the green, you mean?¡±


    ¡°Yes, that too.¡±


    Maria took her bag from Pita''s unresisting hands and one of the few bits of paper he had left, and approached the girl. ¡°I''ve been practising secretly for years.¡± she told her, handing her the slip. ¡°But you''re welcome to come and try.¡±


    ¡°Why did you give Pita the fish?¡±


    ¡°Because the string he dropped when he dropped his spear were really tasty. I thought I couldn''t just eat them and not give some to replace them.¡±


    ¡°So was there a golden whale?¡±


    ¡°Well, a shiny yellow submarine, anyway. Probably looked a bit whale-like when it came up almost right under his canoe. I''m off. Maybe see you at the cove?¡±


    ¡°The cove?¡±


    ¡°You know, round the headland.¡± Maria said.


    ¡°You can''t go there! It''s tapu!¡±


    ¡°Not entirely; talk to Pita''s grandma. See you later, if you decide to come.¡±


    Maria said, slung her bag over her shoulder and stepped into the sea. She started out slowly, but couldn''t resist the temptation to do one more dolphin-style leap, just before turning the headland. Pita''s girlfriend didn''t see her surface again.


    <hr>


    Pita''s grandma, head-woman of the village, called a meeting that evening.


    ¡°I know you either saw the girl or heard about her by now.¡± It was a statement.


    ¡°You know the story of the white man who said ''Those who live in the cove are Christians, but do not disturb them or seek them out, the sea and the caves are tapu.'' The world has changed. The caves are still tapu. Do not look, do not go close, do not fish those waters or you challenge those who live in the cove. But the cove itself is no longer tapu.


    Fishermen, you may cross the cove, you no longer need to go out to sea in deep deep water to pass that way. This knowledge and permission I received today. Who can tell if the girl is one of those who lives there, or simply one who is welcome there. I know that the new English woman, Rose, and her husband are welcome, and that the girl is a relative of theirs. The rumours you have heard of tourists are true. When they come, if they behave, they will be tolerated.


    ¡°I also learned also of the disgrace of the warrior who challenged. He knows who he is. Brave warrior though he was, it is not for a man to challenge God. As we know, the tribe took an oath, and God does not hold the oath-breaker guiltless. Those who live in the cove did not wish the curse of God to fall upon the brave young foolish warrior. And so, ten strong warriors among them held his canoe, before he entered the cove. One shot him with a dart that paralyses, so his muscles became as jelly, and then they took him to the beach. I spoke with the woman who wrote upon his chest, and who shot him with the dart. We know now, how he suffered no worse ¡ª they did no allow him to break tapu. She told me these things. Who am I to doubt her? Those who live in the cove can breath air, can walk on two legs, are mighty warriors who have done us no harm. Now, one they welcome asks if there are sons or daughters of ours who would like to pretend they have a tail, like the girl today, to the delight of tourists. I do not know if they will learn to catch half a day''s fishing in five minutes. I do not know if they will learn to swim like dolphins. I do know that Rose and those who welcome her will not be happy if we talk much of how this girl came, walking with me from Rose''s house, of how she changed into her tail, just like any of us might change from one skirt to another. That much was for us alone to see. But perhaps it would not be bad, to talk of the mermaid who returned Pita''s spear after he''d dropped it into deep water, and who caught him some fish to replace the one she''d eaten, and who swam off towards this place they''re calling ''Merfolk cove.''¡±


    Half way through the evening, Pita''s girlfriend, said ¡°I would like to learn to swim like that. She told me she had been practising for years, but that I would be welcome to try to learn. The paper says it is an acting job, with only occasional hours. That does not sound like it will take much time from my studies.¡±


    ¡°What else did she talk of?¡± Pita asked.


    ¡°Of eating your catch, and of the shiny yellow submarine that almost capsized you.¡±


    ¡°A submarine? What did she say about it?¡± Pita asked.


    ¡°That it probably looked whale-like from an almost capsizing canoe.¡±


    ¡°What was a submarine doing on the fishing grounds?¡± someone asked.


    ¡°Being dangerous.¡± Pita''s grandmother replied. ¡°We can hope it doesn''t happen again. Those who live in the cove are obviously aware of the incident.¡±


    ¡°Was it theirs?¡± someone asked.


    ¡°I do not know.¡± Pita''s grandmother replied.


    <hr>


    </a>Tuesday Sept 20th 1977, Dining room, Merfolk bay


    ¡°It was wonderful!¡± Maria exclaimed.


    The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    ¡°You swam, you caught fish. What''s so special about that?¡± her little brother asked.


    ¡°She''s in love, maybe?¡± Abigail, Maria''s mother suggested.


    ¡°Only with being mer.¡± Maria replied. ¡°With being mer and for once not caring what landfolk might see. With swimming after fish at top speed, only worried about sharks and coral, not watchers. With leaping out of the water, like a dolphin.¡±


    ¡°Ah, to be young again.¡± Sathzakara said, remembering fondly.


    ¡°Mother? What do you mean?¡± Maria, young Maria''s grandmother asked.


    ¡°I mean that I did all those things when I was her age, dear. Didn''t you?¡±


    ¡°Not so I remember, no.¡±


    ¡°Not even at night?¡±


    ¡°No. Dad worried about us being out at night, remember?¡±


    ¡°Too many sharks.¡± Abigail said.


    ¡°I was too civilised.¡± Martha, said.


    ¡°OK. Next question.¡± Sathzakara asked, dreading the answer. ¡°Who hunts and fishes because it''s fun?¡±


    ¡°Hunting''s more fun than creeping up on fish.¡± James said.


    ¡°Maria, did you creep up on anything today?¡±


    ¡°No. I didn''t have time. I just swooped and grabbed. I was impressed, actually. I got one every time.¡±


    ¡°Of course you did.¡± Sathzakara replied. With a heavy heart she said, ¡°I''m sorry, children, grandchildren.¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Maria the elder asked.


    ¡°I left too much to your father. I was too busy being politician and evangelist and all those other roles. I didn''t realise.... Children, we are mer! We have the ocean at our disposal. Being mer isn''t about survival! It''s about enjoying our life. If you''re not enjoying the things you do, find something else you do enjoy!¡±


    ¡°I enjoy the library.¡± Martha said, ¡°But then I''m boring.¡±


    ¡°You are not boring, Martha. Just you like books. But I have a question. Have you read James'' collection?¡±


    ¡°Yes. Fascinating stuff.¡±


    ¡°Would you prefer life in Atlantis, seeing what we can do?¡±


    ¡°I like to walk in the sun, grandma.¡±


    ¡°How often do you see it?¡± Sathzakara challenged.


    ¡°Well...¡±


    ¡°What I tell you, children, is that we need to spread out more. Not in geography, but in our thinking. When we were all in the Mediterranean, we weren''t far geographically, and we visited each other. We saw places, we spread out our minds and sampled.... so many things. Yes, we were pagans, yes we were more savage than we are now, but we had fun! I wasn''t a warrior because someone said, we need an extra one, you''re good. I hope I never said that to anyone. We''re not here to do jobs, Jesus didn''t die to make us boring, he died so we might have life and life to the full. Don''t turn into landmen with rigid jobs!


    ¡°But mother, when you went fishing with us, we always went slowly.¡± Maria said. ¡°And at Atlantis everyone got given jobs,¡±


    ¡°Yes, but we went slowly because your father wasn''t ever a good swimmer, and he did like to come too. I didn''t expect you to be that slow without us. And at Atlantis they do give you jobs, if you''re a refugee, it''s part of the package. If you''re there as a scholar, that''s different, isn''t it Kostas?¡±


    Kostas, Martha''s nuclear engineer husband agreed. ¡°I''ve told Martha, but...¡±


    ¡°I didn''t listen.¡± Martha said.


    ¡°Right.¡± Sathzakara said. ¡°I''m probably a bit to old to go for a midnight swim, and maybe everyone who''s under thirteen will need to talk persuasively to their parents. But I say, the rest of you, Maria included, you''re not sixty yet so stop pulling faces, daughter, go out into that water! Swim! Play, make a splash. Tonight, for the first time in your lives, maybe, we''re not hiding.


    Collect me a fish, each of you. Rely on your senses and your instincts. Prove to me that I didn''t make a massive mistake marrying Jacob, that you can all be instinctive hunters at the top of the food chain, not timid shark-food.¡±


    ¡°Do we take spears?¡± Benjamin, Karella''s brother asked.


    ¡°Only if the fish you''re planning on bringing me is shark, Ben. Even then, I used to prefer to hunt shark with a knife, it doesn''t slow you down. Race in, slash it as you pass.¡±


    ¡°Grandma, is this a good idea?¡± Martha asked.


    ¡°Absolutely. I''ll look after Jacob and little Sathie, Martha. The twins, too Ben. Don''t take the little ones tonight. Martha, I know you like books, but I know you can swim quickly too. Do it, go as fast as you can, and then head up, out of the sea, not too steep. Try to enter fingertips first, not with a belly flop.¡±


    ¡°Come on, Maria.¡± Lidia, James'' mother demanded of her sister in law. ¡°It''s been ages since I''ve made a big splash. Lets go scare some sharks out of their skins. We''ll probably have some locals signing up for swimming lessons. It''d be good to make sure there''s no teeth around for them to swim into.¡±


    ¡°Are we spreading out?¡± James asked, ¡°or staying as a group?¡±


    ¡°Young fit and adventurous out the furthest.¡± demanded Maria, ¡°Old and crotchety closest to home.¡±


    ¡°Karella. You''ve not said anything.¡± Rose noticed.


    ¡°I''m a trader. That''s where I''m top of the food chain.¡±


    ¡°Agreed.¡± Sathzakara said, surprising everyone. ¡°I''m not going to bully Karella into the water on her last night with us, but I think you might want to at least try a bit of dolphining, dear. Karella knows all about the cut and thrust of conquest, I get the feeling the rest of you just plain don''t, which is a real shame. Rose, Rick, I don''t really recommend it for you either.¡±


    ¡°We don''t do sonar-hearing.¡± Rose said. ¡°So half moon or no half moon, I''m staying dry.¡±


    ¡°You can''t hear where fish are, at all auntie?¡± Little Sathie asked. She was five.


    ¡°No, Sathie.¡± Rose agreed.


    ¡°That''s sad.¡±


    <hr>


    </a>After dark, Tuesday Sept 20th 1977


    Pania, Pita''s girlfriend, looked down at the cove, from beside the boundary to Ruth and James'' land. It seemed strange, to deliberately look down there. All her life it had been tapu, infectiously holy according to the old ways. Still forbidden and dangerous according to the new. She felt like she was trespassing, but she''d wanted to come and look, before she accepted that invitation. Had that girl, who claimed to have practiced with her ''tail'' for years, been one of those who live in the cove? Pania had heard warnings about not angering them all her life, and had often thought it was superstition. They were talked about as though they were spirit forces from the old-days, though the white-man had said they were Christians, which didn''t make sense. Who were they? She wondered. What were they? She heard a splash. Was it the girl again? She looked and saw... ripples. A shark''s fin was cutting through the water, towards the ripples. Then, in the moonlight she saw the shark thrash, as if in pain, and then she saw a shape leap from the water, and what sounded like a victory whoop. It wasn''t a girl''s voice, it sounded more like her grandmother''s, but it was a very human sound, not a spirit''s. She saw the shark trying to swim away, and flinch again, then a terrible struggle and it lay in the water, obviously dead or dying. There were more splashes, humans with tails, spreading out from the cove, joined by dolphins, she saw.


    She heard footsteps from Rose''s side of the boundary, and turned, ready to sprint away in fear, afraid she''d trespassed, entered the tapu.


    ¡°They no longer hide.¡± the woman said. It wasn''t Rose, Pania didn''t recognise her, but her accent sounded English.


    ¡°I''ve never been here before.¡± Pania said, ¡°I didn''t want to intrude.¡±


    ¡°You''re not. Like I said, they no longer hide.¡± Karella laughed. ¡°We no longer hide. Not like before. Rose and I would like to talk to you, Pania.¡±


    ¡°How do you know my name?¡±


    ¡°Mine is Karella, now we''re even. You have lots of questions, some of them can even be answered. I will be leaving tomorrow, though. I vow before God that no harm will come to you, and you may return to your home whenever you like. Rose would have come, but she''s looking after the children while their parents play.¡±


    ¡°I saw the shark being killed.¡±


    ¡°Do your people eat shark?¡±


    ¡°Of course!¡±


    ¡°We do not need as much meat as there will be tonight, and it is not our way to waste food. When you return, please ask some people to be prepared. One maybe more, dead sharks will be brought around the headland for your village. A thank-you to your people.¡±


    ¡°For what?¡±


    ¡°Being good neighbours, almost sixty years of respect. For seeking to warn Rose, as soon as you heard of her plans. Our plans, actually, but you didn''t know. A few dead sharks are little thanks for all of that. I''m all in favour of sharks being dead; one killed my mother and brother.¡±


    ¡°My brother too.¡±


    ¡°So, would you like more answers?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡± Pania decided.


    <hr>


    Pania saw an elderly woman fondly watching some children play ¡ª being given rides by a younger man. They looked like normal children to her.


    ¡°Welcome, Pania.¡± Rose said, ¡°Say hello to Pania, children. The horse is my big brother, by the way.¡±


    ¡°Hello, Pania.¡± the children said, shyly.


    ¡°Hi, Pania. I''m Rick, you''ve met my wife, I see.¡± The man said.


    ¡°Have we met?¡± Pania asked Rose. ¡°I mean, I''ve seen you around, I''ve been told you were from England and called Rose. It''s a lovely name. I just wonder how you know mine.¡±


    ¡°I cheated.¡± Rose said. ¡°You''ve got lots of questions.¡±


    ¡°Yes. I have. I don''t know how you know that either.¡±


    ¡°You''ll find that Rose knows lots of things.¡± Rick said. ¡°She used to read palms in London, and told people exactly what they wanted her to say.¡±


    ¡°Get it right, Rick. I told people ''I''m a genuine gypsy fake palm-reader, I won''t tell you your future, but you can pretend it is if you like. Just give me some money and I''ll tell you all sorts of things you think you want.'' I think you know how I heard what they wanted me to say.¡±


    ¡°You heard them think it?¡± Pania was surprised again. How did Rose know that?


    ¡°I did. So, speak your questions, Pania.¡±


    ¡°These children live....¡± Pania started.


    ¡°We live in the cove.¡± Sathie said, adding ¡°I don''t like sharks. Mummy said she''d try and kill one and Daddy said he''d bring me its teeth for a necklace when he gets home.¡±


    ¡°Shh.., Sathie.¡± Rose said.


    ¡°But she wanted to know, I heard her decide that''s what she''d ask first.¡±


    Sathie was about four metres away. ¡°That''s a long way to hear.¡± Pania said, surprised.


    ¡°Just one of the differences between us.¡± the elderly woman said. ¡°Now children, no speaking unless I tell you to. Little Sathie, I want you to sing to us... the one about Jonah.¡±


    ¡°In English?¡±


    ¡°Of course not. The words don''t fit the tune.¡±


    ¡°Let''s go to the kitchen.¡± Rose said, and led the way.


    ¡°I''m confused.¡± Pania said when they got there.


    ¡°Pita''s grandmother warned Rose not to invite the tourists today.¡± Karella said. ¡°It was clear that she didn''t know much about us. In many ways, we were happy about that, but you were wondering if we were spirits... So we thought we''d let you know a little more than nothing.¡±


    ¡°Surely you''re not going to tell me you heard me thinking that so far away!¡± Pania exclaimed.


    ¡°I certainly didn''t.¡± Karella said, ¡°I was doing the washing up.¡±


    ¡°Let''s just say God let me know what sort of things were on your mind when I saw you up there.¡± Rose said. ¡°But feel free to ask anything you like. We might not answer, of course.¡±


    ¡°Urm. OK. You''re not spirits.¡±


    ¡°No. We''re flesh and blood. But, after a few more nights like tonight, perhaps the sharks will think we are worth avoiding.¡±


    Remembering the origin-stories connected to her own name, Pania said, ¡°And you touch and eat cooked food quite happily.¡±


    ¡°Very happily.¡± Karella said. ¡°We are not your people''s water-spirits, and before you ask, I only know the story of your name because Rose has it in a book.¡±


    ¡°And you are from the cove, and you married Rose''s brother?¡±


    ¡°Yes. Rose married my cousin first.¡±


    ¡°And you are Christians.¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡± Rose said. ¡°Not just in name, but in faith.¡±


    ¡°But you speak easily of tapu.¡±


    ¡°Me?¡± Rose was shocked. ¡°I''d never met the concept until today.¡±


    ¡°Oh. Then...your grandmother?¡± she looked at Karella.


    ¡°My grandmother has learned many things over the years, and has a good memory. My grandfather asked questions before they brought some of our people here. They learned, that is all. My people have not been Christians for long; a hundred years ago most were pagan, but they did not know the names of the gods of your people, only other false gods and evil spirits.¡±


    ¡°I saw dolphins, and wondered...¡±


    ¡°Oh, we have long been... allies ... with dolphins.¡± Karella said. ¡°We do not hunt them, nor they us. But sometimes they misunderstand our intentions, and that leads to disagreements. Mostly over who will eat the fish we have caught.¡±


    Pania was amused at the thought of disagreeing with a dolphin, ¡°Who wins such arguments?¡±


    ¡°The one with the longest spear or the biggest teeth.¡± Karella gave the traditional answer.


    ¡°Oh. You mean it depends?¡±


    ¡°Yes. They would not deliberately seek to kill us, we would not deliberately seek to kill them. But sometimes arguments get heated, and accidents happen.¡±


    ¡°Do you have more questions?¡± Rose asked.


    ¡°Yes. The girl today, she said we should come, and learn to swim with a tail?¡±


    ¡°We will start with seeing who can act, and who can keep secrets. You are one who can do the latter, I know.¡±


    ¡°How? How do you know these things?¡±


    ¡°Is it possible that the grandmother of Pita told us of Pita''s girlfriend?¡± Karella asked.


    ¡°She would not tell you such a thing.¡±


    ¡°No?¡±


    ¡°She does not approve of me.¡±


    ¡°You are sure? She pointed you out to the girl you met.¡± Rose said.


    ¡°Oh, she does not mind using me like that. But she does not like me, does not think I am the right one for her Pita.¡±


    ¡°Or she does not think Pita is the right one for you?¡± Rose asked, perceptively.


    ¡°I don''t understand.¡± Pania said.


    ¡°Let us talk then. There is not such an age gap between us. Will you tell me of Pita?¡±


    ¡°He''s nice. He does not boast or fight much, just gets on with fishing.¡±


    ¡°He is easily frightened?¡±


    ¡°Ah, maybe.¡±


    ¡°What does he plan for his life?¡±


    ¡°His life? To fish, I think.¡±


    ¡°Is he a Christian? Truly?¡±


    ¡°I''m pretty sure he is.¡± she replied, trying not to blush. She should know for sure.


    ¡°Are you easily frightened?¡± Karella asked.


    ¡°Not very.¡±


    ¡°Perhaps, even, one of the boldest girls of your village?¡± Karella asked, thinking that no others were there with her.


    ¡°Erm, I guess it''s possible.¡±


    ¡°What are your plans for your life?¡± Karella asked.


    ¡°I... I wish to keep on learning, to study.¡±


    ¡°What subject?¡±


    ¡°Medicine.¡±


    ¡°To be a full doctor, or a nurse?¡± Rose asked, taking over.


    ¡°A doctor. I know it is a lot of training. Five or six years.¡±


    ¡°Longer.¡± Rose said. ¡°Five or six years means only the end of university. You then study more. Study at a training hospital, treating patients, making decisions. For that you need to apply for hospital jobs. I made a big mistake as a student so I never succeeded in finding a job at a hospital.¡±


    ¡°A big mistake?¡±


    ¡°I like to sleep under the stars. The university thought that was too strange, so I did not get a good reference. So, I studied for six years, came out third in my year, and did not get any job. I am not fully trained, so what I''ve done isn''t nearly as useful as it could be. Perhaps she wishes you not to make a different mistake.¡±


    ¡°So if she thinks I''m too good for Pita, why did she tell that girl that Pita is my boyfriend?¡±


    ¡°Perhaps because friendship between you and Maria is something that she could do something about, even if you''re not listening to her about Pita?¡± Karella suggested.


    ¡°He''s just my boyfriend! It''s not like I''m planning to marry him!¡± Pania said. then she realised that maybe that was what Pita''s grandmother didn''t approve of. The others remained quiet, and, humbled, she admitted ¡°I guess... maybe Pita doesn''t know that.¡±


    ¡°It''s probably an important thing to tell him. Why are you going out with him? I was thinking that there aren''t many doctors married to fishermen.¡± Rose asked.


    ¡°I dislike him least of the boys in the village, I guess. I thought, if I go out with him then the others won''t bother me. It isn''t really working, either.¡±


    ¡°Poor lad.¡± Rose said simply.


    ¡°That''s what his grandma doesn''t like, isn''t it? That I''m sort of using him like that.¡±


    ¡°If I knew that someone I cared for was being used, I''d be upset. Wouldn''t you?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡± Pania agreed.


    ¡°Especially if the girl was a Christian.¡± Karella added.


    ¡°Do you want me to cry?¡± Pania asked, close to tears already.


    ¡°Only if it helps spur you to repentance.¡± Rose said, practically. ¡°While you pray about it, would you like to eat or drink something?¡±


    Pania shook her head. ¡°I need to go and talk to Pita. I''ll pray on my way.¡±


    ¡°Not to mention tell the fishermen to expect some sharks.¡± Karella said.


    ¡°What''s this?¡± Rose asked.


    ¡°We don''t need the meat. I thought we could deliver some toothy thank-yous to Pania''s village.¡±


    ¡°Or toothless ones, if Sathie''s going to get her necklace.¡± Pania pointed out.


    ¡°Pania, you''ve kept a secret that only hurt more the longer you kept it. Please... don''t tell everything we''ve told you, just the essence of it: that we are human, Christian. Come tomorrow, bring some others if you like. But not too early, I expect we''ll be up late.¡±


    <hr>


    Pania walked back the short way to her village. Pita saw her first, and ran over to her. ¡°Where''ve you been? The waters are in turmoil, even the sharks are fleeing.¡±


    ¡°Those who live in the cove are not hiding any more. One found me and told me. They hope to rid the area of sharks, I think. They will bring a dead one, perhaps more, to near the village.¡±


    ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°For us to eat, as a thank-you for the respect we''ve shown them. And.. I was rebuked for the lack of respect I''ve shown you, Pita.¡±


    ¡°You haven''t shown me any disrespect.¡±


    ¡°I have. I don''t think I''m going to end up marrying you Pita. I''m sorry, it was wrong of me to make you think otherwise.¡±


    ¡°You never lied to me. I noticed... you never mentioned it, you always changed the subject when I spoke of the future. I suspected. You don''t like me, do you.¡±


    ¡°I like you Pita. I maybe even love you, but like a brother. That''s all. We''ve grown up together, I didn''t want to hurt you, but I... was selfish, I guess.¡±


    ¡°Selfish?¡±


    ¡°I was all mixed up. I don''t like the other boys, I like you. I thought I needed to go out with someone. And when you got chatting to other girls, I was thinking, hey, he''s my boyfriend. I was selfish then, too. You see? I wanted you, but only to hide behind, to keep the others at a distance. That''s not nice of me. I''m supposed to put other''s first, do unto others. I''m sorry. I''m a useless sort of Christian, and a pointless sort of girlfriend.¡±


    ¡°I love you.¡± he said, tears running down his face.


    ¡°I know. I''m sorry, but It''s not going to work. I''m going to go to university, study medicine. Rose told me: it''s not going to be just five or six years before I could come back, more like ten or twelve. I expect you''ll be a father by then. You''ll make someone a good husband. Just not me.¡±


    Pita was quiet for a long time.


    ¡°I could wait.¡± he offered. But Pania knew how hard that would be for him.


    ¡°Don''t. Ten or twelve years, Pita. I might not even want to come back after that long away.¡±


    ¡°I''ve been using you too, a bit.¡± Pita admitted.


    ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°You stopped me getting teased.¡±


    ¡°Oh. Fair enough, I knew about that. I''ve got an idea.¡±


    ¡°Your ideas are always good.¡±


    ¡°Don''t say that.¡±


    ¡°I mean it.¡±


    ¡°That''s even worse. Anyway... I publicly admit I''ve been using you. Apologise to you and your grandmother and everyone else. Tell the truth about you, that you''re kind and considerate and a good fisherman, but I''m off to medical school if I can and don''t need a kind considerate husband who can put food on the table every day right now. Maybe someone who does will notice.¡±


    ¡°Don''t do it publicly, don''t shame yourself that much.¡±


    ¡°I don''t care about that. Your grandmother would say I shame myself by hiding the truth.¡±


    ¡°As someone who says she loves me like a brother...¡±


    ¡°Yes?¡±


    ¡°What do you think about Anna? I mean, you''ve scared her away a few times, so maybe ...¡± Pania was shocked that Pita was starting to think of other girls so quickly. But then... he was a fisherman. He''d struggle with one fish until it was clear he couldn''t land it, but didn''t stay around moping that it had escaped. She wasn''t sure she liked that analogy. But she thought about slow steady Anna; she and Anna weren''t good friends, mostly because of Pita. But, as Anna had obviously noticed, it might be a good match. There was one catch.


    ¡°Are you a Christian, Pita. I''ve never asked.¡±


    ¡°I try.¡±


    ¡°What does that mean?¡±


    ¡°I try to be a good person.¡±


    ¡°Right. That''s not what it takes to be a Christian, Pita. Don''t you know that?¡±


    ¡°Yes. Jesus loves me, died for me.¡±


    ¡°So, do you trust him to forgive you or not?¡±


    ¡°Of course.¡±


    ¡°Hmm. You can''t say you try to be a Christian and ''of course'' you trust Jesus, Pita. I think you do need to talk to Anna. But no romance until you know you''re a Christian. I''ll get her to talk to you about it.¡±


    ¡°Pania!¡±


    ¡°What? She''s much more patient at explaining things than I am. You know that.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, OK.¡±


    ¡°Anyway, I''ve got to talk to some fishermen. Some more fishermen, tell them a dead shark is on its way sometime soon.¡±


    <hr>


    The last of the five sharks was hauled ashore. Those who live in the cove had been busy. Pania saw one had no teeth, and smiled.


    Pita''s grandmother smiled at Pania as she stood. She approved of what Pania planned to do, and had called on her to speak.


    ¡°You might be wondering many things!¡± Pania declared. ¡°You might be wondering who told me that those who live in the cove would deliver dead sharks for us. You might be wondering where Pita has gone to, or why he seems sad. You might also be wondering why this shark has no teeth. The answer to the last is the easiest. A little girl who lives in the cove told me that her daddy was going to bring her enough shark teeth for a necklace. The answer to the middle is that one of those who live in the cove challenged me.


    I should not be the girlfriend of someone I don''t think I will ever marry. I like Pita, but only as a friend, and have broken off the relationship. I am not looking for a husband now, not even one as caring, reliable and able at fishing as Pita.¡± She''d already spoken to Anna, who''d practically leapt for joy at the news.


    ¡°The answer to the first puzzle, is that as I was marvelling at the hunt I saw from the cliff, one who lives in the cove invited me to Rose''s house to talk about different things. They deliver us this bounty of meat as a thank-you for the years we have shown them respect. They are not spirits, as I was tempted to believe. But they are terrors to sharks and others who cross them. Now, with the opening of the auditions tomorrow, they plan to hide no longer, not entirely. Maybe we will never see such a hunt as tonight again, but they ask for continued respect: that we speak openly of the new jobs, but only in hushed terms and among ourselves of the full reality. In return... I think that now they need not fully hide, the sharks will soon learn that coming close is not a healthy thing to do.¡±


    <hr>


    Advertisment


    For many centuries, merfolk have swum the seas far away from land-folk, only rarely being seen in lonely places. Do they use shells as money? Probably not, they''re too plentiful! Do they only live in villages and family clusters, or do they also live in grand palaces deep under the sea? We cannot tell you. Do they have a central government or is each village autonomous? We cannot tell you. What we can tell you is that the merfolk of Merfolk Cove have invited you into their beautiful world beneath the seas, as long as you make no attempt to disturb their homes or way of life. Come and see the beautiful corals and reef-fish, learn the basics of scuba diving with our fully qualified instructors who will accompany you as you swim. Intermediate and advanced divers are also welcome. Perhaps you yourself will catch a glimpse of a one of your elusive hosts, the wild merfolk who swim unaided where we mere land-creatures need tanks!


    Dive groups are limited by national safety guidelines, based on experience and number of available instructors. Pre-booking by telephone is available. Groups or individuals unable to wait for available staff should enquire beforehand if sufficient instructors are available.


    Limited camping facilities are available. There is no camp-shop or restaurant on site, bread deliveries by arrangement only. Litter must be removed on departure, biodegradable waste may be buried in the designated area. Dropping of litter or any waste into the stream or the sea is strictly prohibited and will give rise to a penalty charge and/or civil or legal action as appropriate.


    Notice:


    The cove is private property. Visitors and employees have no fishing rights in the cove, and nor will temporary fishing licenses be granted.


    No glassware, spears, nets, harpoons or knives are to be carried down to the cove by visitors. These may be left at reception and collected on departure.


    No stag-parties or other rowdy behaviour will be accepted.


    Back of flier: Concerning the mer-folk


    Mer-folk are shy and retiring among land-folk, but will defend their privacy and fishing grounds with force where they deem necessary. In pre-Christian times this force was normally lethal and without warning. They are members of a complex semi-barbaric civilisation where violent death (e.g. by shark or, historically, trial by combat) while mourned deeply is not unusual. A vigorous response is to be expected to any act of aggression. As with other varieties of homo sapiens, the merfolk are bipedal, omnivorous apex predators. The ''fish tails'' so common in artwork are items of clothing referred among the mer as their ''scales''. The mer have allowed our diving team a strictly controlled and limited supply of authentic ''scales'', and trained them in their use. This allows the diving team superior speed and maneuverability in the water relative to flippers, but extensive training is necessary. The production of ''scales'' is a closely guarded secret and they are not available to the general public at any price.


    The mer are a clean people to whom the casual deliberate dropping of litter is as unthinkable and as grossly offensive as you would find a guest casually defecating on your dining table. A wild mer observing littering or deliberate polluting of the sea, stream, campsite or beach will regard it as a gross insult to their hospitality, and we will not in any way be held responsible for the consequences of their righteous indignation. Sightings of merfolk are more common during the day, but there have been some late-night sightings recently, from observers on the cliffs above the cove. These late-night sightings have been accompanied by a significant reduction in the number of (live) shark sightings locally. We are informed: ¡°Being at the top of the food chain means sometimes you need to remind even sharks where it is safer not to swim, and who has the sharpest knives.¡±


    <hr>


    Notice at reception:


    Safety notice:


    While every care will be taken by our fully qualified staff to ensure your safety, all activities are carried out at your own risk. Seek medical advice where relevant.


    Accidents should be immediately reported to staff and/or reception.


    Diving while under the influence of alcohol can be fatal and is prohibited.


    Visitors are prohibited from straying outside the shark-nets or close to the caves in the cliffs by water or land.


    Any act of deliberately putting yourself at risk as above, or approaching a shark, wild mer-person or other source of danger will result in your being escorted off the property. Likewise, any act of endangering another person''s life, which will also be reported to the relevant authorities. Any fees for admission or teaching are not refundable in such instances.


    Noticeboard and flier at reception:


    Mer language and culture


    N.B. Much of what follows has is based on conversations with individual mer-folk, and may or may not be subject to exaggeration, simplification or pure imagination, however a serious attempt has been made to verify each of the following pieces of information.


    The native language of merfolk is unknown to land-folk linguistics, and only a few speak English or any Maori; a few others have some familiarity with 16th century Spanish and Latin and ancient Greek, though pronunciation is expected to have drifted.


    The oral history of the Mer is said to stretch back more than three thousand years and among themselves they tell rather different versions of ancient tales than we know. For example: of Jason and the Argonauts'' failed attempt to persuade any of their royal choir to abandon their rehearsal for the concert and leave with them; and of how the God Yah instructed them to persuade a big fish to swallow Jonah, and drive it before them to the shore so he could get to Ninevah. Unfortunately the tale does not indicate the species of fish, so that detail remains lost to history.


    Roles among the mer are normally split between genders, with the women being warriors and defenders of the children and the men being hunters. (This is reportedly due to the practical consideration that it is not necessary to bring home the corpse of a defeated enemy.) Typical hunting equipment are bow and arrow, throwing spear, blow-pipe and dagger. Warriors would normally have similar equipment, but tend to use their spears as a hand weapon. Both genders fish, using a variety of methods. These days, the blow-pipe darts reportedly carry a highly effective muscle relaxant, only rarely fatal to humans. In pre-Christian times a nerve toxin which induced paralysis and death was reportedly used.


    Certain mer have reportedly added some holes to their blowpipes, so that it may be used as a musical instrument. It is assumed they also carry darts.


    The mer view breaking of a vow or oath as sacrilegious and a self-signed death-warrant (frequently by shark attack). Marriage is thus for life, even though courtship may be brief.


    In pre-Christian days, concubinage was the accepted norm, but seeking a concubine was a risky undertaking, as a failed attempt to capture and disarm a warrior woman was normally fatal. A pursued mermaid could call on assistance from her friends and the use of lethal force to defend her honour was normal. Once captured, however, a mermaid could no longer receive assistance from any other, and had to rely upon her own resources. Interference between the two was strictly forbidden. After a certain amount of time the concubine had the option of making a vow to stay with the man voluntarily and to defend him from all aggression. This


    normalised the relationship and meant that chains were no longer necessary and that the man could sleep without fear of emasculation or death.


    From the above it can be understood that a man approaching a mermaid with any form of chain or rope is literally taking his life in his hands. Furthermore, as concubinage is no longer accepted among them, but is rightly seen as enslavement and rape, the pre-Christian restriction on interfering between a man and his ''slave'' does not apply.

 The Other Big Secret 2: Rabbit Stew / Ch. 8: Signals

    <h2>The Other Big Secret 2: Rabbit Stew / Ch. 8: Signals</h2>


    </a>Atlantic listening centre, Wednesday, Sept 21st 1977


    ¡°Sir, we''ve picked up that strange signal again. Massive cavitation.¡± the captain in charge of the centre stated.


    ¡°Going south again?¡± the admiral asked.


    ¡°No sir, north this time.¡±


    ¡°Can you get better fix on its path this time?¡±


    ¡°Yes sir. It''s moving quickly, but we''re on it, all right. It just overloaded our sensors south of Chile. I''d say it''s following roughly the same course it took last time, just in reverse.¡±


    ¡°Details?¡±


    ¡°Crazy numbers sir. They don''t make any sense.¡±


    ¡°Tell me.¡±


    ¡°Speed: a hundred and thirty knots, depth, about fifteen hundred metres, and yes sir, I mean metres, not feet. There''s nothing that goes at that speed including a torpedo, and we''re getting a noise signature that fits something way bigger than that. It''s got to be nuke-powered, if it''s not natural.¡±


    ¡°Scientists said it wasn''t natural based on the recordings we sent. What did the Ruskies say, last time?¡± the Admiral growled.


    ¡°Wanted to know what we were playing at.¡±


    ¡°You told them it wasn''t ours, I presume.¡±


    ¡°Yes sir.¡±


    ¡°Estimated power?¡±


    ¡°If it was the size of a 637-class, it''d need something like three hundred thousand shaft horse power. I''d guess it''s smaller. But you can''t make a


    637-class that''ll go that deep, or fit twenty five times the reactor power on


    the thing.¡±


    ¡°You can''t fit one reactor on anything much smaller, either.¡± pointed out the admiral.


    ¡°So, we''re back to the guess of an ensign, sir. Someone''s fed a whale a really hot pepper, it''s Martians, or it''s a natural event.¡±


    ¡°You say it''s following the same course backwards?¡±


    ¡°Yes sir, if it does, then it''ll go between the Azores and Africa, then up towards Britain.¡±


    ¡°Hmm, I wonder what our friends in the British Admiralty will think about strange detections heading into their home patch.¡±


    <hr>


    [Karella!] Rose called.


    [Hi, Rose, what''s up?]


    [I think you''re being too noisy. Out of curiosity I had a look at who''d noticed your path last time. Lots of navy people, scientists, all sorts.]


    [Uh oh.]


    [It gets worse, they''ve already noticed you. Most of them think you''re a natural pheonomena, but others are thinking you''re some new Russian weapon being tested.]


    [So, should we be a natural phenomena? Follow the mid-atlantic ridge?]


    [I guess so, if that''s a good place for earthquakes or something.]


    [Very.]


    [You can''t just go slowly?]


    [No problem, except that Rick''s got the shop to worry about.]


    [Maybe you''d better fly next time, or plan to shut for longer.]


    [Thanks for the warning. They''re not planning to drop a net on us or anything are they?]


    [I don''t think so. Well, not yet, anyway, but there is someone in the Royal Navy that''s aware you''re going that way.]


    [You, Rose, are the most useful sister-in-law I''ve ever had. Thank you.]


    [Just don''t go racing into a cliff or anything. I promised my Emerald necklace to your firstborn daughter, and I mean to keep that promise.]


    [Do you know something I don''t know?]


    [Of course I do, Karella, it''s part of my gift to know all sorts of things. But I don''t know you''re pregnant if that''s what your asking.]


    [What a shame.]


    [I don''t know you''re not, either, of course.]


    [Could you find out?]


    [No idea. Are you that impatient to spoil your honeymoon with morning sickness?]


    [No... but I''d really like my children to know my grandma.]


    [I can understand that. She''s a great woman.]


    <hr>


    </a>Merfolk cove, noon, Wednesday, Sept 21st 1977


    ¡°James, visitors coming.¡± Rose called.


    ¡°Your job, or mine?¡±


    ¡°Both. We''ve got about fifteen hopefuls coming.¡±


    ¡°Oooh. OK. I''ll get the props.¡±


    ¡°Props?¡±


    ¡°We don''t want to make it too hard for them to act. I''ve cut some sticks for them to hold as spears, and got some pots they can pretend to collect oysters in. I think we''ll arrange them in threes, two can act as divers, the other one can act as a merman.¡±


    ¡°Oh. OK. Have you any idea where to do this?¡±


    ¡°Yes. Outside, by the edge of the woods. That''s the closest we can get to a real situation.¡±


    ¡°OK. And you''re going to have them hold their breaths?¡± Rose asked.


    ¡°Absolutely. Can you bring some of that rope?¡±


    ¡°What for?¡±


    ¡°Measuring things. I want to see how far they can run while holding their breath.¡±


    <hr>


    ¡°Right. You''re new to this, we''re new to this, but I hope we all know roughly what we''re looking for.¡± Rose said. ¡°So who wants to tell me?¡±


    ¡°Strong swimmers, good divers.¡± said one.


    ¡°Who can act all surprised.¡± said another.


    ¡°Who don''t need a steady job.¡± Rose added. ¡°We''re talking about two or three sightings a week, which means maybe an hour''s work for a sighting.¡±


    ¡°When you say a ''sighting'', what do you mean?¡± Pania asked.


    ¡°Good question.¡± James replied, ¡°What we mean is that, all naturally, you come into view of the diver, get noticed, and swim away. If you don''t get noticed, then that''s either because you weren''t close enough, or they weren''t looking. You don''t come back and have another go, because someone might be watching you from the cliffs. Preferably your approach and departure are all under water. When we say it''s an hour''s work, that''s because you''ll need to coordinate, probably with Rose, about where the divers are, and where you''ll be swimming from and to. How you approach, how you retreat. We can''t have you being seen by a group as you get into or out of the water, either. So, it''s going to be quite difficult to arrange, and you''re going to need to be pretty good at holding your breath for the encounter.¡±


    ¡°We''ll also want you to act according to this little description, if you happen to see someone doing something they shouldn''t.¡± Rose said, handing out the flyers they''d had printed out.


    ¡°Mer-women are the warriors?¡± Pania asked, surprised.


    ¡°Keep reading and you''ll see why they put in a lot of practice.¡± James replied. ¡°You might find it shocking.¡±


    Pania looked around. ¡°Not everyone reads as well as I do.¡± she told Rose.


    ¡°No problem. Hey, heads up everyone! I know I''ve got a weird accent, do you want me to read it or should one of you?¡±


    ¡°You''ve got a lovely accent. But yeah, can Pania do it?¡± one of the girls asked.


    There was some whispering, then a boy asked ¡°In our language?¡±


    ¡°That is not a problem to me.¡± Rose said. ¡°''Cause it''s not in my language either.¡±


    ¡°But you''re English!¡± someone protested.


    ¡°Only by passport. I''m Gypsy.¡± Rose said. ¡°English people think we''re liars, cheats, drunks and thieves.¡±


    ¡°Hey, sister, join the club.¡± someone said from the back.


    ¡°Join it? I''ve been in it all my life.¡± Rose declared.


    <hr>


    Rose called five of the group out, after the first round of the auditions. Pania was among them.


    ¡°Sorry.¡± Rose said. ¡°You''re all OK at acting, but you''re not the best.¡±


    ¡°Oh.¡± Pania said, feeling crushed.


    ¡°I''m going to tell you what I''ll tell everyone. Today we''re giving you a score as to how good you are at acting, and how well you could run while holding your noses. We need the others to continue, so we can be fair and give the best actors among them the highest scores. Like I said, you''re all OK, and I''m sure you could get better with practice. Over the next few days, we''re going to test people for swimming skills, including their ability to swim a long way underwater. I''d like each of you to make an appointment to come. We''ll test you and you''ll get a score for that too. Next week, we''ll let you know when, we''re going to have the final round of auditions. We''ll be testing something else then, I''m not quite sure what, we''ve not quite decided. We''ll then combine the scores and see who comes out on top overall. Do you understand?¡±


    ¡°So, even if we''re rotten actors, we might still get the job?¡± Pania asked.


    ¡°None of you are rotten actors.¡± Rose said.


    <hr>


    </a>Atlantic listening centre, Thursday, morning Sept 22nd 1977


    ¡°It might be natural, sir. We''ve got better triangulation on it, it''s following the centre line of the mid-atlantic ridge.¡±


    ¡°Still at fifteen hundred metres?¡±


    ¡°Not all the time, no sir. Also, it seems to stop and start as well.¡±


    ¡°Not just evasive maneuvers?¡±


    ¡°Well, if we thought it was a real sub, then yes, sir, it might be. But we''re pretty sure it can''t be a real sub.


    <hr>


    </a>Atlantic listening centre, Thursday lunchtime, Sept 22nd 1977


    ¡°Sir, another update on the source.¡±


    ¡°Tell me.¡±


    ¡°Identical noise sources at other points on the ridge. Some are going north, some south. Unless someone''s got four of them, not just one prototype,


    the scientists are saying it must be natural.¡±


    ¡°I''ll let the British Admiralty know they can stand down.¡±


    <hr>


    </a>Half way up the mid-Atlantic ridge, dusk


    Karella surfaced her boat and opened the hatch. Another golden whale shape was bobbing in the water beside hers.


    ¡°Thank you, my friend, and thank the others. Rose has told me what you''ve done.¡±


    ¡°It is to our benefit too. Perhaps now they will ignore everyone as long as we follow the ridge. Also, you have tested out the system much more thoroughly than was ever done in Atlantis.¡±


    ¡°As long as they don''t decide to investigate the strange phenomena.¡±


    ¡°If they get too close, I expect their remote probe will have a little malfunction.¡±


    ¡°Probably.¡± Karella agreed, with a grin.


    ¡°Now, there remains the little issue of our time, and just how thankful you are.¡±


    ¡°You said it was to your benefit too.¡± Karella protested.


    ¡°Yes. So, if we''d done it at a mutually agreed time, that would be fine. But it


    wasn''t mutually agreed, was it? We''ve probably just saved you your boat and your skin, and you know, it wasn''t exactly convenient.¡± the other trader pointed out.


    Karella thought about it and asked ¡°What''s the price of iron doing these days?¡±


    ¡°Dropping. Not as much as we''re promised it will though. They really sell it so cheaply?¡±


    ¡°See this ring on my finger? The gold in that would buy you about this much iron.¡± She indicated with her hands. ¡°But I''m not starting a trade in bulk landman iron at the moment. It''d destroy our economy too much, make people poor overnight. I really don''t want that many enemies.¡±


    ¡°So, what have you got to offer us, if not iron?¡±


    ¡°Oh, I didn''t say I didn''t have any iron. I''ve just not got any landman iron. I do have a couple of Atlantis-certified iron spheres. Would that, split fairly between you all, be acceptable recompense for saving us?¡±


    His eyes lit up with greed. ¡°Two spheres?¡±


    ¡°Certified, stamped, oiled, wrapped.¡±


    ¡°On behalf of the others, I say that will do very nicely.¡±


    ¡°Wonderful! I''ll get them.¡±


    ¡°You''ve got them here?¡±


    ¡°Where would you put all your treasure if you hadn''t been planning to return?¡±


    ¡°You weren''t?¡±


    ¡°No. My sister in law can be persuasive, though, and I just keep seeing


    all these business opportunities.¡±


    ¡°Really?¡±


    ¡°Pearls, for instance.¡±


    ¡°We all played with them. What about them?¡±


    ¡°A spherical natural pearl is worth more than its weight in gold, and a ring like this is about all the gold that most land-folk will ever own. There''s an awful lot of them, and it seems like they''ve dropped most of their gold for us to pick up over the centuries.¡±


    Rick came up on deck to join in the discussion. After the introductions were made, and with Karella translating, he added ¡°You''ve seen pearl necklaces and things?¡±


    ¡°Yes. Children''s play things, surely. I gave one to my daughter.¡±


    ¡°Most likely worn by royalty, or at least only the ultra-rich. Well, people have worked out how to make oysters produce them now, so they''re not as


    rare, but a hundred years ago, say, then yeah. They probably belonged to a princess or at least a duchess.¡±


    ¡°So...¡± Karella said ¡°How do you feel about your daughter''s plaything now?¡±


    ¡°I might be asking for it back.¡±


    ¡°It can wait, don''t upset her needlessly. So, if you were going to offer me


    a pearl necklace, what would you want in return? And don''t say gold, that''s


    too rare on land.¡±


    ¡°How about nuts?¡± Rick suggested, ¡°If iron is so valuable here.¡±


    ¡°Nuts?¡± Karella was confused.


    ¡°You know, the things that go on bolts? Nice and shiny, made of steel, you could dip them in varnish lots of times so they don''t rust, and even put them on a necklace if you wanted to.¡±


    ¡°Now that''s an interesting trade,¡± and she translated.


    ¡°Rick suggested something made of iron. Not bulk iron, but formed, into a hexagon, with a hole through the middle. You must have seen rusty ones on their boats. We could dip them into a varnish so they retain their shine.¡±


    ¡°You''re offering me iron for pearls?¡± he couldn''t believe his luck.


    ¡°I know. I''ll make a killing, won''t I?¡± Karella admitted.


    ¡°I was thinking that I would.¡± he grinned.


    ¡°We need a rate of exchange. It can''t just be based on size, since some pearls are far more valuable than others.¡±


    ¡°I''m sure we can negotiate. These hexagons come in different sizes, don''t they?¡±


    ¡°Oh yes.¡± Karella agreed.


    ¡°So, shall we say that you''ll give me one of these hexagons the same size as the pearl if it''s ordinary, and then we''ll go from there?¡±


    ¡°You are going to make us both so rich! I''ll let you know when I''m next leaving port.¡±


    ¡°Rick, can you go get this man his iron spheres? He''s just saved our necks.¡±


    <hr>


    [Karella, you can''t, that''s shocking, it''s got to be exploitation!] Rose responded when she heard about the deal later that week.


    [It makes sense, Rose, really. We want to lower the value of iron amongst the mer, but not make it crash. If I started selling iron weights or something, then that''d happen, I''m sure. It''s simple: the Mer don''t value pearls, you don''t value iron. You also value gold more than we do, if you hadn''t noticed. We''re swapping something that can be put on a necklace but isn''t valued much with something that can be put on a necklace and isn''t valued much. I''m going to put some kind of stamp onto the things, and encase them in some sort or varnish or resin, and that''ll take some experimenting, it''s not like I''m just going to the corner shop and passing the things on for a thousand times their cost. The stamp will have some kind of year code, too, so that there''s maybe some retained value to old original ones, assuming they don''t just get smelted down, which I expect they will. Actually, we ought to coordinate our efforts on the date codes, keep life simpler for everyone.]


    [What?] Rose asked.


    [I''m not signing any exclusive deal with him, and I''m not saying no one else can do it either, but let''s work out some kind of coding system. You guys might as well be in on it as well.]


    [But it''s exploitative!]


    [What? Swapping children''s marbles for high quality steel? See what James thinks of the idea. We''re not going to decimate the oyster population, I assure you. We''re not like you in that way. Money doesn''t mean that much to us.]


    [I still think I''m going to tell our relatives to hang on to their pearls. Pearls are going to keep their value, nuts and washers, they''re going to be useless pretty soon.]


    [Have it your own way, they''re roughly worth diamonds at the moment.]


    [I won''t object to the idea of using nuts and washers to pay people for their time though, if they think it''s worth their while.]


    [Rose!] Karella was shocked at the thought.


    [What?]


    [You''re going to get them to buy pearls with the nuts and washers, aren''t you?]


    [Who? Me? No. I''m just going to tell people that in ten or twenty years nuts


    will be worth nothing, but pearls will probably still be valuable.]


    [Just talk to James, OK? Remember, my boat cost me the equivalent of eight polished cannon balls.]


    [Why so little?]


    [Scarcity. You''re not making them any more, notice.]


    [You mean your iron balls really were cannon balls?]


    [Yes. With a lot of polishing.]


    [You don''t have machines to help? Oh. No mass production?]


    [The closest thing to mass production is our boats. Even that''s a labour intensive job.]


    [Some time, I really need to understand your economy. I expected I''d be in it far more than I am now. I''m only living on the edges, aren''t I?]


    [Of course. But you''re in the right place.]


    <hr>


    </a>Police department, Tuesday Sept 27th


    ¡°Thank you for coming Mr Turnbull, Doctor Turnbull. I expect you know what this is about.¡± the police captain started the interview.


    ¡°Urm, not really.¡± Rose replied.


    ¡°Your fliers.¡±


    ¡°Yes?¡±


    ¡°According to a certain reading of this, you''ve got a whole village of barbaric


    illegal immigrants living at the bottom of your cliffs. Doctor.¡±


    ¡°Oh, that! Well, do you believe that mermen and mermaids exist, captain?¡±


    ¡°Of course not.¡±


    ¡°Then I don''t really understand the problem.¡± Rose said. ¡°I''m sorry officer, we wanted to make the whole experience for people more convincing. Did we go too far? We don''t want to waste anyone''s time, especially not police time.¡±


    James chipped in, ¡°Surely captain, a hundred mermen and merwomen living


    there, since 1917, having left the Mediterranean coast of Turkey in 1914,


    and stopped off for a year or two in the mer-capital of Atlantis? Wouldn''t someone have seen something? Isn''t it all a little far fetched?¡±


    ¡°I think we left out some of that in the final version, James. Remember, it didn''t fit.¡± Rose said.


    ¡°Oh, sorry.¡±


    ¡°I was told that the caves down there are tapu by the local headwoman.¡± Rose added, ¡°So, I''ve never gone poking my nose into them. We don''t want to offend anyone. We just sort of put the rest together, trying to make a convincing reason that fitted with our theme why visitors shouldn''t.¡±


    ¡°And if I sent a squad of men to investigate, what would they find?¡± the captain asked.


    ¡°Well, I''ve looked in a couple, before Rose was told that.¡± James said. ¡°Maybe they''d find an old deck chair or table? I guess someone camped there once. Or of course they might find a war-canoe full of our neighbours, angry at their cultural rights being trampled on. I really don''t know.¡±


    Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.


    Rose spoke up again, ¡°Officer, we''ve no desire at all to waste police time, or start any conflict.¡±


    ¡°So, it''s just all make-believe, then?¡±


    ¡°Mermaids with zip-up tails, captain?¡± Rose asked, with an arched eye-brow and a tone of incredulity. ¡°We''re holding a second round of auditions for people who want to be part-time actors this afternoon, if you''d like to interview some of them. We''re planning on ending up with a couple of the best ones


    dropping into the cove maybe every few days or so, to give some extra realism to the whole experience. I hope you''ll find they''re all here perfectly legally.¡±


    He sent them away, recording on his notes that there was nothing to investigate.


    About five years later, the captain, retired by then and sitting on his fishing boat, glimpsed a grey-haired merwoman chasing a shark away with a spear. Then he realised realised that Rose had never actually answered that question. He smiled to himself, thinking that they clearly weren''t doing any harm, and he''d retired now anyway. He''d look a total fool if he said he''d seen a merwoman. They didn''t exist.


    <hr>


    </a>2pm, Tuesday Sept 27th, Merfolk Cove.


    ¡°Hi.¡± Rose said to one of the boys, and beckoned him out of the lounge. ¡°We''ve noticed something, looking at your scores. Is there something about any of the tests that you should tell me?¡±


    ¡°Urm, no.¡± he lied.


    ¡°You did really well running while holding your breath, and not very well at all underwater.¡± Rose prompted.


    ¡°Oh.¡±


    ¡°Still not going to tell me anything?¡±


    ¡°You know.¡±


    ¡°It''s rather easy to cheat at holding your breath. You''ve just had the chance to tell me you did. Twice.¡±


    ¡°Urm, yeah.¡± he agreed.


    ¡°So. I''m afraid that gives you zero out of ten for the first run. And zero out of ten for honesty too. We need honest people. You might as well go home.¡±


    She called the next boy out of the lounge. ¡°This is a different sort of test.¡± she said. ¡°Hold out your hand please, palm up.¡±


    ¡°Why?¡± he asked, not responding.


    ¡°I''m going to look at it.¡±


    ¡°Are you?¡±


    ¡°You can leave if you don''t want me to.¡± Rose said. He offered his palm, and Rose continued, ¡°In England a lot of my people read palms, and tell people their future that way. What does that make you think?¡±


    ¡°That''s cool! How?¡± he said.


    ¡°Not cool at all. Fortune telling is a form of divination, which is a sin.¡±


    ¡°Oh.¡±


    ¡°So, you get three points for doing strange things when I tell you to, zero points for practical theology. One more score. How does that make you feel?¡±


    ¡°Depressed and angry. I didn''t know what I was being tested on.¡±


    ¡°Ten points for honesty.¡± Rose said, ¡°Wait over there, please.¡±


    It was Pania''s turn next. Rose called her into the room.


    ¡°This is a different sort of test.¡± she said. ¡°Hold out your hand please, palm up.¡±


    ¡°You''re surely not going to read my palm!¡± Pania said, complying, remembering what Rick had said.


    ¡°What would you say if I said yes.¡±


    ¡°You said you were a fake palm reader.¡±


    ¡°True. What do you think of palm reading to tell the future?¡±


    ¡°It can''t be real. God wouldn''t allow it.¡±


    ¡°Fairly good answer. You get ten points for doing odd things when I ask you to, and seven points for practical theology. God allows people to commit all sorts of sins. Remember that Paul cast out a Spirit of divination from a woman?¡±


    ¡°Oh! Yes.¡±


    ¡°Final test. Why do you want to be a doctor?¡±


    ¡°It''s really complex, I''m not sure I know.... Part because I think I can, I want to prove I can, I want to prove people are wrong about village Maoris, I want... I want to get out of the village, too.¡± the last bit she whispered, hardly daring to say it, and ashamed at herself.


    ¡°Ten out of ten for honesty, Pania. Well done. Wait over there for the final results please.¡±


    It didn''t take long to total up the scores when everything was done.


    James stood up to make the announcement.


    ¡°We''ve tested you on different things. As you know, the last three were doing strange things at Rose''s request, practical theology and honesty. Why did we test those? Because doing strange things is what you''re applying to do. Practical theology, because Rose and I are Christians, but not all of our customers will be, I''m sure. We want to know how alert you are to dangerous lies. Honesty... we really wanted to test you on how trustworthy you are, but that was too hard. We decided that honesty is closely related enough. So Rose asked you a personal question, and she''s very good at spotting lies.


    ¡°I didn''t lie!¡± one of the boys retorted.


    ¡°Come!¡± Rose demanded ¡°Come into the house, unless you want this in public.¡±


    He followed, reluctantly.


    ¡°You didn''t actually lie, but you were not honest in your answer, were you?¡±


    Rose said, ¡°You said you loved your girlfriend. But I know what you thought. You like her sister more, don''t you? You looked straight at her when I asked. I''ve got eyes, boy. I''ve seen you watching her last week. That''s why I asked.¡±


    ¡°I didn''t lie.¡±


    ¡°No you didn''t lie. But you were not completely honest. That is why you got three points. And your protests reduce it further. You want me to reward you for saying misleading half-truths? I will not. I wanted the brutal honest truth.¡±


    ¡°It''s not our way.¡± he said.


    ¡°I know. It''s not my people''s way either, often. I understand: say what will impress, say what they want to hear, avoid upsetting them, or failing that, make yourself big. But this was a score for being honest, not for following customs. Do you understand?¡±


    ¡°I understand.¡±


    ¡°Good.¡±


    ¡°How does that make you feel?¡±


    ¡°Like you despise me, my culture.¡±


    ¡°I don''t dispise you, so you''re wrong in what you feel, but you told me the truth as you see it. Much better. Now, who do you love most?¡±


    ¡°My girlfriend''s sister,¡± he replied, in resignation.


    ¡°Not yourself?¡± Rose prompted.


    He looked at her for a while, and then nodded.


    ¡°You have just scored eight out of ten for honesty.¡± Rose said. ¡°Unfortunately, with your scores in other areas, that''s still not enough. You would do well to listen more in church. God''s standards are higher than mine. Do not think you can hide the truth from Him.¡±


    <hr>


    Maria welcomed Pania and the other five (who to Pania''s surprise had included Pita) from the water as she reached the bottom of the steps.


    ¡°Come on in, the water''s all wet today!¡±


    ¡°Isn''t it always?¡±


    ¡°No. Sometimes it''s gritty with sand, or toothy with sharks or slimy with jellyfish. Slimy is worst, at least you can make sharks go away. Come on, you need to follow me.¡±


    ¡°Where to?¡±


    ¡°First, to the thing Rose calls the octopus. Don''t worry, it isn''t a real


    one. It''s got just got arms and places you can suck some air. Arms with suckers, it must be an octopus, eh?... You''re supposed to laugh.¡±


    ¡°Sorry. You call the octopus''s legs arms?¡± Pita asked, confused.


    ¡°Urm, yes. Sorry. English isn''t your first language, is it?¡± Maria asked.


    ¡°No.¡±


    ¡°Sorry. I will try not to make jokes.¡± Maria said. ¡°We will swim on the surface, and then dive. When we dive, we will find a place which gives air. It will be one place you can wait for the tourists. There will be other such places, but they''re not there at the moment. The tourists will be with a dive instructor and will have tanks, you will not. You must not dive deeply, it is dangerous for you.¡±


    ¡°But not for you?¡± Pania asked.


    ¡°Yes for me too. But more for you, because you do not know about decompression, you do not know how to stop your blood fizzing. You cannot hold your breath long enough to not die. That is the other thing these devices are for. If you have been stupid, you can come here, and take more air. If you wait here long enough, you will not die. If you go as deep as you can, holding your breath as long as you can, and then rush to the surface, you might. Rush to the place I will show you instead. And wait there. It is better to never rush up. Go up slowly if you have been deep, one foot per second. That is very important if you have been breathing from the pipe first. So, if you can hold your breath only one minute, and you have been swimming sixty feet down...¡±


    ¡°We come here?¡±


    ¡°You come... not here.¡± she swam quickly to above the octopus. ¡°But to below me, here. You also come here if you have been stupid and breathed out any of the air you need to keep in your lungs.¡±


    ¡°We should come now?¡± one of the girls asked.


    ¡°No,¡± Maria said, ¡°Not in your landfolk clothes. You do have swimming costumes underneath?¡±


    It was inevitable. ¡°I did not think we would start immediately,¡± one girl said, bright red.


    ¡°Me neither.¡± a boy echoed.


    ¡°That is actually good.¡± Maria said. ¡°It is better if I only teach a few at once anyway. I can teach four, but would another like to leave?¡±


    ¡°I''ll go.¡± Pita said. He''d decided that maybe swimming close to Pania wasn''t wise.


    ¡°OK. Come back sometime.¡± Maria said imprecisely.


    ¡°When?¡± Pita asked.


    ¡°Not when it''s getting dark but not too soon. Hmmm.¡± she checked the sun. ¡°Maybe half way to sunset from now? That''s fair I think.¡±


    ¡°You don''t have a watch?¡± Pania noticed.


    ¡°No. I suppose you will need a clock. Pita, can you tell Rose?¡±


    ¡°OK.¡±


    ¡°See you when the Sun''s there. Meet me here, OK?¡±


    ¡°OK.¡± Pita agreed.


    ¡°So, come to the octopus, each find a pipe, breathe out through your nose, in from the pipe. I will help you. Then return to the surface. Then we will return to the octopus, take another breath and follow me.¡±


    ¡°Follow you?¡± Pania asked, confused.


    ¡°You are here to do unusual things, are you not? Follow me. I''m not wearing my scales, and you are strong swimmers. It should not be hard for you to keep up. But don''t forget to take a deep breath at the octopus. And don''t breathe out.¡±


    Pania was one the last one into the water. Like she''d been shown at the last session, she took a stone to help her sink a little better. The water was not icy, but it was not warm either. As she swam to the right spot she wondered how Maria could stay in it so long without getting cold. She was just getting ready to dive when she saw the other two already surfacing from their introduction to the octopus. The stone helped her dive, and she realised she was going maybe two or three body lengths below the surface. But this wasn''t deep? Maria was still waiting for her below, and as Pania looked for a pipe, she realised she wasn''t breathing on one. The water was clear, but everything was blurry. She found the tube quite easily ¡ª they stood out well against the sea floor ¡ª and Maria showed her the regulator. Out through her nose, in through her mouth. She was surprised how easily the air came. She''d expected to have to suck hard.


    They swam to the surface together.


    ¡°Do you think you can do that on your own now?¡± Maria asked.


    Three people said yes. It wouldn''t be too hard, Pania thought, but it would have been easier with both hands free.


    ¡°Good.¡± Maria ducked under the water, and Pania realised that Maria was also holding a rock. Interesting.


    Once again, Maria didn''t use the octopus. She led them a little further along the cliff face into an underwater cave. Unusual things, indeed. Pania forced herself to follow. She was surprised to see the cave wasn''t as dark as it had seemed. There was plenty of space, it wasn''t claustrophobic, but it was against every rational thought in her mind. She wanted to breathe and she was entering a cave. It angled up, Pania was pleased to see. Maria stopped in the water, and waved at her to go straight up. She was in a cave. There was light, coming from... somewhere, Pania couldn''t see where. And she realised with growing panic that she''d entered a forbidden place. Three other heads appeared.


    ¡°Be welcome, young people. This cave is not sacred, tapu or anything else. It is just an empty cave.¡± It was James, Pania saw, standing on the waters edge. Not wearing scales, just his normal trousers. ¡°No one has ever lived here, no one ever will. No one has ever even slept her as far as I know. It is simply a good place to learn to swim, away from prying eyes. You can get here from beside the house, so, we could have led you here without you getting wet, but I asked Maria to bring you in the way you came.¡± James paused, with a growing look of puzzlement on his face. ¡°No one asks me why?¡±


    ¡°I think we''re all a bit scared to.¡± Pania said.


    ¡°Come on, out of the water. It''s not that warm, I''m sure. There are steps here.¡± As they complied, James continued. ¡°I asked Maria to bring you here so you knew the entrance was there. So that you knew that you could escape from danger, should any approach. So that, if a visitor gets too curious, too persistent, or you find a shark in the cove, you could flee here. If you scream here, someone will come, they will come prepared to defend against sharks, with no legs or with two. Maybe it''ll be Rose, maybe it''ll be someone else. So, please, don''t be tempted to cry out with delight here. It might be misinterpreted. Likewise, don''t provoke one another, tickle or anything else. You know what the leaflet said about those who live in the cove.¡± He let that sink in for a while, then continued. ¡°So, if you scream, you might call warriors, who might not recognise you, may not speak English, Maori, or any other language you know. What they know is a name. Sathzakara. This place is for you to know, not to discuss with others. If you must discuss it among yourselves, call it Sathzakara''s pool. I want you to remember that name. If someone challenges you, if you come and someone else is practicing swimming here, and you are challenged, speak that name. Just ''Sathzakara.'' You understand? It will be a password for you.¡±


    They all nodded.


    Maria spoke, ¡°James and the other diving instructors will be wearing scales, swimming tails like you probably saw me wearing, but... special, different. Bright colours. They will not look the same as what you will wear.¡±


    ¡°Why?¡± Matiu, the lone boy, asked.


    ¡°For the tourists. We don''t want the tourists thinking you''re staff. We want the tourists to think you''re merfolk.¡±


    ¡°Who''s Sathzakara?¡± Pania asked.


    ¡°It''s not very rare name, these days. You''ve met one of them, I understand. She''s currently finding out how hard it is to make holes in shark-teeth.¡±


    ¡°Oh! OK.¡± Pania said.


    ¡°Any other questions?¡±


    ¡°We''re going to try on these ''scales''?¡±


    ¡°Yes. Oh! I forgot to say. This afternoon, while you''re practicing, we''re going to put some lockers down here, and we''ll curtain off a changing area for you to use. Later on, we''ll move that stuff to another place, and you won''t be using this cave except as a refuge once we open for business. There''s rather too good a view of the water in front of the entrance from a certain spot at the top of the cliff.¡±


    ¡°Doesn''t that apply to the octopus too?¡± Areta, the other girl, asked.


    ¡°No. We could put that where we wanted to.¡±


    ¡°Couldn''t you just fence off the edge of the cliff?¡± Matiu asked.


    ¡°That''s a lot of fence, and you know what people are like, they''ll cross it anyway.¡± James said.


    ¡°I know what young children are like, too.¡± Matiu said, ¡°I think you ought to, at least near the house and the camping area, for safety. Maybe with some self-closing gates, so people don''t break down the fence.¡±


    ¡°I don''t suppose you know of a fencing contractor?¡± James asked.


    ¡°My uncle.¡± Matiu admitted. ¡°I''d be helping him if I wasn''t here.¡±


    ¡°Then, Matiu, I will expect you to bring your uncle tomorrow or the next day, to tell us what he''d suggest and how much it''d be, OK?¡±


    ¡°Yes, Mr Turnbull.¡± Matiu said with a smile.


    ¡°Are you expecting families?¡± Pania asked.


    ¡°Yes.¡± James answered, ¡°Eventually, anyway.¡±


    ¡°And the next question... When are you actually expecting to open?¡±


    ¡°The shark fence is in place, Rose had someone ask if we''d be open on Saturday. So I guess then. Happy practicing.¡±


    <hr>


    </a>11am, Thursday Sept 29th, Merfolk Cove.


    ¡°Hello, Merfolk Cove diving experience.¡± James said as he picked up the phone.


    ¡°I heard you wanted a diving instructor.¡± A woman''s voice.


    ¡°There are open positions, yes. We''ll need to see employment references, character references, and qualifications. Can you come for an interview?¡±


    ¡°Can you pick me up? I''m in town.¡±


    ¡°Sorry, neither my wife or I drive.¡±


    ¡°None of the other staff?¡±


    ¡°We''re just starting up. Everyone''s either busy or can''t drive, or both.¡±


    There was a long silence at the other end of the line, then finally, ¡°Can you at least arrange a ride for me somehow? I''m a bit short of cash right now, and my feet are killing me.¡±


    ¡°I guess I can do that, yes.¡±


    ¡°Thanks.¡±


    ¡°You''ve no objection to coming by canoe, have you?¡±


    ¡°No.¡±


    ¡°Great. Your canoe should be at the dock in about an hour, I guess. Who do they ask for?¡±


    ¡°Jane McGuire.¡± Jane said. ¡°Are you really expecting me to wear a tail if I get the job?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°But I could camp on your grounds?¡±


    ¡°Yes. And eat the rabbits if you like.¡±


    ¡°But not the fish? I can''t stand rabbit.¡±


    ¡°No fishing in the cove, no. There''s a fishing village just round the headland though. They won''t mind a customer, I''m sure.¡±


    ¡°And you''re on good terms?¡±


    ¡°So far. And we''re planning to keep it that way.¡±


    ¡°I like that. So what''s in those caves?¡±


    ¡°They''re off limits.¡± James said.


    ¡°What does that mean?¡±


    ¡°I mean that they''re tapu. Please don''t upset our neighbours.¡±


    ¡°I''m a Christian.¡±


    ¡°So are we, so are our neighbours. If you prefer another terminology, an oath has been sworn which no one''s got an opt-out clause from; no one goes in, no one goes to look. If you want to look, don''t bother coming. It''ll be in the terms of your contract. Approaching those caves and it''ll be considered as voluntary resignation, effective immediately.¡±


    ¡°Wow, you''re serious!¡±


    ¡°We''ve dressed it up a bit for the tourists, but we''re serious. The village headman and the whole village took an oath, around the end of the first world war. Look, for you know there could be Siberian tigers, flesh-eating spiders, unexploded gas shells, or merfolk warriors in them, OK? They''re off limits, and we''re not going to upset our neighbours.¡±


    ¡°What if some teenager gets curious?¡±


    ¡°What happens if someone you''re supervising does something stupid and dangerous, like trying to unscrew their air-cylinder? You stop them, or if you can''t you call for help.¡±


    ¡°And the flesh eating spiders are in my contract are they?¡±


    ¡°No, just that the foot of the cliffs and outside the shark-fence is a designated no-go area.¡±


    ¡°So if I go outside the shark fence, that counts as resignation too?¡±


    ¡°Or suicide. There''ve been quite a few fatal attacks in living memory.¡±


    ¡°So you''re sending a canoe for me?¡±


    ¡°Yes. I''m assuming you''re not planning to swim beside it.¡±


    ¡°Fine. Send a canoe.¡±


    <hr>


    </a>1.30pm, Thursday Sept 29th, Merfolk Cove.


    ¡°Thank you, Pita.¡± Rose said, as he brought the canoe in to the edge of the jetty at the foot of the cliffs. ¡°You did shut the gate, I hope.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Rose.¡±


    ¡°Well done.¡±


    ¡°Your canoeist here was a pretty quiet young man.¡± Jane said, as she got off, carrying carrying a heavy rucksack. Rose saw she was limping as she walked.


    ¡°What''ve you done to your feet?¡±


    ¡°Walked too much in the last week.¡±


    ¡°Blisters?¡±


    ¡°That was day one. They healed up. This is something different. Started yesterday.¡±


    ¡°And you kept walking?¡± Rose asked, concerned.


    ¡°Do you know how many dive schools there are on this coast, who don''t want me?¡±


    ¡°Why not?¡±


    ¡°Look at me.¡± Jane said. She was maybe thirty five, had dreadlocks, and skin that probably meant she''d been out in the sun a lot or had parents of mixed race. Probably both.


    ¡°They don''t like your dreadlocks?¡± Rose guessed.


    ¡°That neither. Mostly the colour of my skin.¡±


    ¡°Hey, we don''t do racism here. But... are you Rastafarian?¡± Rose was cautious.


    ¡°No, I just like the style. You don''t sound like you''re from round here.¡±


    ¡°London.¡±


    ¡°That''s no BBC English. I was going to guess Spanish. You look the spitting image of a flamenco dancer I once saw.¡±


    ¡°She probably would have been Gypsy too. Most flamenco dancers are. Like I said, we don''t do racism here.¡±


    ¡°I''d heard, it sounded hopeful.¡±


    ¡°So, do you want me to have a look at those feet, do you want to eat something, or get straight down to the boring interview stuff?¡±


    ¡°What''s on the menu?¡±


    ¡°Well, you told James you don''t like rabbit, so he''s probably doing grilled local catch of the day.¡±


    ¡°Your husband''s cooking?¡±


    ¡°Have you got a problem with that? I know I don''t.¡±


    ¡°Just...¡±


    ¡°His grandfather apparently used to say that there was no point putting meat on the table if didn''t know what to do with it and weren''t planning to eat it raw.¡±


    ¡°That''s an unusual attitude.¡±


    ¡°If you stay you''ll probably find we have a lot of those. So, hungry?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    Rose went to the intercom they''d had installed and pressed the call button. ¡°How long until lunch, James?¡±


    ¡°It''s pretty flexible.¡±


    ¡°Jane''s hungry.¡± Rose said.


    ¡°Five, ten minutes then?¡±


    ¡°Fine. Can it be down here?¡±


    ¡°No problem. Are the girls practicing?¡±


    ¡°Yes. Shall I give them a shout?¡±


    ¡°Please.¡±


    Rose turned back to Jane. ¡°Food in five or ten minutes, we''ll eat down here, but I''ve just got to round up some others, OK?¡±


    ¡°Fine. I''ll just rest my feet.¡±


    ¡°What is wrong with them? I don''t have fully equipped surgery, but...¡±


    ¡°You''re a nurse?¡±


    ¡°Part-way trained doctor. I was too weird to get a job. I did a course last year and I''m now the first registered nurse they''ve ever had with an M.D. They''ve given me all sorts of warnings about not overstepping my boundaries. Unless there''s a major emergency of course. Are your feet a major emergency, by any chance?¡±


    ¡°I wish.¡±


    ¡°Well, by all means take your boots off, you don''t need to go anywhere, lunch will come to you. But keep them out of the water if there''s any broken skin. Actually, it''s probably better to keep them out of the water full stop until I''ve worked out what''s up with them.¡±


    <hr>


    After lunch, Rose had a look at Jane''s feet. They were a mess of cracks, some starting to bleed, but she couldn''t see any signs of infection.


    ¡°You just  kept on walking, didn''t you?¡± Rose accused.


    ¡°Bad decision?¡±


    ¡°The good news is you don''t seem to have any infection, the bad news is you''ve got hard dry skin with loads of cracks in it, some bleeding, and every step you take tears the skin worse.¡±


    ¡°I wanted to toughen up my skin.¡±


    ¡°You''ve gone too far. Your skin doesn''t flex, so the cracks do. Almost doctor''s orders: if it hurts, don''t do it.¡±


    ¡°You mean don''t move another step?¡±


    ¡°Well, no more than you need to. And you need to get the skin around the cracks flexible as soon as possible. That means soaking in nice clean water and scrubbing off the dry skin. I could have a go with a scalpel, but a good scrub would be better.¡±


    ¡°What with?¡±


    ¡°Ideally pumice stone. Failing that, clean finger nails, back of a knife, sand paper, pretty much anything which isn''t going to cut or give you an infection. Soak, remove dead skin, rinse, soak, repeat. When you think you''re down to live skin, stop. Otherwise, keep the wounds clean, which include out of the sea, and you should be fine in a day or three. Got any spirits? In the alcohol sense, I mean.¡±


    ¡°Never touch it, doesn''t mix with diving.¡±


    ¡°I meant medical, surgical spirits, exterior use only. Or iodine solution?¡±


    ¡°Urm, yeah. A few drips in the bottom of the bottle. I''ve been putting it on at night.¡±


    ¡°Probably a good thing. I''ll get you some. Consider yourself our guest until you can walk. Irrespective of the job.¡±


    ¡°You know what, Rose? I think I like you. Very biblical, bread, fish, washing feet...¡±


    ¡°We try.¡±


    <hr>


    ¡°So, what do you think?¡± James asked after they''d interviewed her.


    ¡°I think she might fit in. The hairstyle might scare some of the tourists, but hopefully they won''t actually run off. Like she says, it stops it floating in her eyes. She can always tie it back.¡±


    ¡°I''m a bit concerned about her curiosity. But I guess we''ll have that with everyone.¡±


    ¡°Yes. Did you hear from Pita about what she''d been asking?¡±


    ¡°No.¡±


    ¡°About the caves, why no one went there.¡±


    ¡°What did he tell her?¡±


    ¡°Apparently he told her ''No one must go there.'' to every question.¡±


    ¡°Good for him.¡± Rose said. ¡°Will we train her in the pool? I don''t think it''d be a good idea.¡±


    ¡°I agree. That''s going to be for the secret mer-folk only. She''ll need to train with a tank on anyway. About our part-timers...¡±


    ¡°Yes?¡±


    ¡°They''re really struggling to approach convincingly, and then get out of sight again all under water.¡±


    ¡°Do they need to? Wouldn''t it be OK if they grabbed some air as they fled? I mean, that must happen in a real situation, surely?¡±


    ¡°We don''t normally go that close to our limits.¡±


    ¡°They could turn their gasp reflex by hyperventilating, but that''s too dangerous.¡±


    ¡°Much. They''d do far better to take the potion. At least that way they''d notice they''re in trouble.¡± Rose had been worried about taking the potion, so they''d done some tests ¡ª on land ¡ª with Rose as the guinea pig. Hyperventilating beforehand made it possible to hold her breath until she did start to black out, without any urge to breathe. Underwater, that would have been fatal. Whatever the potion did, it didn''t remove the urge to breathe, it delayed it and made it more controllable. James reported that he probably could have made himself black out, but it was very uncomfortable. Relieved, Rose took the potion and tested herself again. She agreed, it didn''t turn off the reflex, so it was far safer than hyperventilating.


    ¡°So... do we offer it?¡± Rose asked.


    ¡°That''s not our decision. We''ll consult the others.¡±


    ¡°So, back to he matter in hand... Jane has people willing to give her character references, no work references in diving, for obvious reason that she''s out-weirding folk, but at least she''s got some references. What do you think?¡±


    ¡°I''d say, assuming the references she''s got check out OK, we can cope with some weird, can''t we, beloved?¡±


    ¡°Absolutely.¡± Rose agreed, ¡°So, you''re taking the men, I''m taking the women?¡±


    ¡°Urm, OK.¡±


    ¡°Good, that leaves me with just one call to make!¡± Rose grinned at him.


    James groaned.


    Rose called the number Jane had given, for one Wendy Summers. ¡°Hello, I understand you know a Jane McGuire?¡±


    ¡°Oh dear, what''s she gone and done now?¡±


    ¡°Urm, got through a job interview?¡± Rose offered. ¡°Subject to references.¡±


    ¡°Oh! Urm can you please disregard what I just said.¡±


    ¡°Not really. Can I ask what capacity you know her as, Mrs Summers, she didn''t say.¡±


    ¡°I was her probation officer. Urm, now I''m a friend.¡±


    ¡°That''s... interesting. I suppose we didn''t actually ask about any convictions, so I can''t say she lied. She gave your name as a character reference, would you be able to provide one verbally, or would you prefer it to be on paper?¡±


    ¡°I''ve probably ruined everything, haven''t I?¡±


    ¡°I don''t know. Would you put her in a place of trust where several people''s life could depend on her?¡±


    ¡°Absolutely. Jane takes her responsibilities seriously, always has, even before she became a Christian.¡±


    ¡°Then, perhaps you''ve not ruined everything.¡±


    <hr>


    ¡°Jane!¡± Rose called Jane''s tent. ¡°Are you in?¡±


    ¡°Over here!¡± Jane waved. She was looking out over the cove.


    ¡°I''ve just been talking to Wendy Summers. You left out some stuff in the interview, didn''t you?¡±


    ¡°You didn''t ask.¡±


    ¡°You didn''t ask how many years I lived on the streets in London either.¡±


    ¡°You did?¡± Jane was shocked.


    ¡°I did. So... Consider yourself to have quite a sympathetic audience.¡±


    ¡°How long?¡±


    ¡°Five years, on and off. Home was bad, I couldn''t stand it long. Money was tight. I''d go home for a day or two, max. then make myself scarce.¡±


    ¡°But... you got an M.D? When you were on the streets?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, they let me finish. But I never got a job with it though. You know what that gets you? An M.D. without hospital experience?¡±


    ¡°No.¡±


    ¡°It gets you ''Of course you can''t practice as a doctor, but if we really really need you then we''ll call... Just don''t forget anything.''¡±


    Jane pulled a face in sympathy. ¡°You can''t do your hospital work here?¡±


    ¡°Not until I''ve lived here long enough, etc. etc. So, enough about me. Feel you can talk now?¡±


    ¡°I can talk.¡±


    As she did, Rose did some spot checks to see if she was hiding anything. She wasn''t. Jane had had a tougher life than Rose, and resorted to picking pockets to provide for her little brother''s needs. She''d been arrested and her brother taken into care, got out, rescued her brother from the children''s home, and gone back to her life of crime, been arrested again. And again, until she''d become a Christian. As part of her parole she''d taken the diving instructor course. She''d been looking for employment since.


    [James, have you got anywhere?]


    [Not much to report. Glowing report from her dive school, but I get the feeling there''s some sort of history we don''t know about yet.]


    [I''m just learning it from her. She had a tougher life than I did, met Jesus in prison. I say we give her her first job.]


    [OK. God''s brought her to us. Who are we to say no?]


    ¡°You take your responsibilities seriously.¡± Rose said. ¡°I like that in a person. You can see how much fun swimming with a tail is once your foot''s better, OK?¡±


    ¡°Don''t you need to discuss this with your husband?¡±


    ¡°I already have, well, not what you''ve just told me. But you''ve got good references, you''ve just told me what you, ah, forgot to mention in your interview. Two weeks probationary period.¡±


    ¡°I thought it ought to be a month.¡±


    ¡°You like uncertainty that much?¡±


    ¡°No.¡±


    ¡°Nor do I.¡±


    ¡°Speaking of uncertainty.¡±


    ¡°Yes?¡±


    ¡°I''ve just seen a shape going around under water near those caves in the cliffs that no one''s allowed near.¡±


    ¡°Did you?¡± Rose asked.


    ¡°Yes. Hard to say from up here, but I''d say I''m seventy five percent sure that the shape had arms and a fish-like tale.¡±


    ¡°Maybe it was just a trick of the water, but... did any part of the mystery creature break the surface?¡±


    ¡°No, except maybe a bit of the tail. And maybe an arm with a spear in it.¡±


    ¡°Well, you can put it on the map if you like.¡±


    ¡°The map?¡±


    ¡°Mer-folk sightings, in the reception.¡±


    ¡°They''re real, aren''t they? You''re pulling some kind of double-con.¡±


    ¡°The local chief of police asked us recently what a squad of his officers would see if they went into those caves. James said he''d been in one, before I was told that there place was tapu or off-limits, however you want to phrase it. He told the officer that they might find an old table, maybe a deckchair, or they might just find a war canoe full of angry neighbours. The policeman decided there wasn''t anything to investigate.¡±


    ¡°The policeman didn''t ask how the canoe would get there so quickly?¡±


    ¡°Oh, I''m sure he knows it can take a long time to get down a narrow staircase when people are barring your way, demanding to see the search warrant, shouting that you''re stomping on people''s cultural heritage, and that sort of thing.¡±


    ¡°Long enough to hide, you mean?¡± Jane asked.


    ¡°Who''d be hiding? Everyone knows that mer-people are just in stories, Jane. It''s all just a bit of fun for the tourists.¡±


    <hr>


    </a>3.30pm, Saturday Oct 1st, Merfolk Cove.


    ¡°I saw one, mummy! I did, I saw a mermaid! She had long fair hair and a green swimming costume and her tail was silver, not rainbow.¡± the girl was very excited as the first customers ¡ª a family of three ¡ª were coming out of the cove. ¡°Daddy saw her too, didn''t you, Daddy?¡±


    ¡°I saw something. It might have been a big fish. Did you like the coral too, dear?¡±


    ¡°Yes. That was pretty. It was so strange being under water and breathing!¡±


    ¡°That''s the whole point, dear.¡±


    ¡°Can we come back? Please!¡±


    Rose stepped up to them ¡°Sorry, I didn''t mean to evesdrop, Did I hear that you actually saw one of our hosts, the merfolk?¡±


    ¡°Yes!¡± the girl said excitedly.


    ¡°That''s quite rare, you know.¡± Rose said, ¡°So rare in fact that we''ve got a map to record when it happens. Would you like to put a pin on the map, with a date on it?¡±


    ¡°Yes please!¡±


    ¡°Do you know where he or she was?¡±


    ¡°She was here! Declared the girl, pointing near to where the octopus was. ¡°She put something on the ground, and I saw her, and she saw me, and she swam away really quickly. Daddy only saw her tail.¡±


    ¡°Very good!¡± Rose said ¡°Now, what colour pin should it be?¡±


    ¡°Green! Like her swimming costume.¡± the girl put the pin into the map, and Rose wrote a date on the wall beside it.


    ¡°I must say,¡± the mother said, ¡°I rather expected that a real mermaid would wear a bikini made of sea shells, rather than a swimming costume.¡±


    ¡°That doesn''t sound very comfortable to me.¡± Rose pointed out, pulling a face. ¡°I expect they decided that since there would be children coming it would be better to wear a swimming costume than their more traditional flesh-tone tops which might be... misinterpreted. Anyway, as our first customers, I''d like to thank you ever so much for coming, and do we hope you''ll be coming back. And.. just to encourage you to, we''d like to give you these, complements of the house.¡± she handed them three pieces of laminated card. Two adult discount memberships, and one child. The father scanned it, ¡°So this lets us have another visit for thirty percent off, in the next three months?¡±


    ¡°Any number of visits.¡± Rose said, with a smile.


    ¡°You''re going to go bankrupt.¡± the mother predicted.


    ¡°Oh, I don''t think so. The more you come, even with the discount, the happier the accountant gets.¡±


    ¡°But you''re already the cheapest dive centre around.¡±


    ¡°Yes, well, maybe they bought the site as a commercial venture, or something like that. This is my home.¡±


    ¡°But you''ve got staff to pay, start-up costs.....¡±


    ¡°That''s why we''d like you to come back, yes. And bring friends of course. I''m a firm believer that a happy customer is the best advertisement we can get. Oh! I almost forgot!¡± Rose picked up a sheet of coloured stickers. ¡°Would you like one of these stickers?¡± she offered the girl. ¡°You see, we''ve put different words on them.¡±


    ¡°Oh yes. Can I have this one!¡± she pointed to one which said ¡°I saw a mermaid at Merfolk Cove!¡±


    Looking at the different options the husband asked ¡°How would anyone spot the difference between a merwoman and mermaid?¡±


    ¡°Well, you might try to look for a wedding ring, or children in tow, I guess. But it''s up to customers. Personally, I expect if someone saw someone who looked about fifty, they wouldn''t be comfortable claiming she was a mermaid.¡±


    ¡°You''re hiring people of all ages, then?¡± the girls mother asked.


    ¡°Only my husband and I are working today as far as I know. We''ve hired another dive-instructor but she''s still got to learn how to swim with a tail.¡± Rose had a thought, and asked the girl. ¡°How old would you say the mermaid you saw was?¡±


    ¡°About my age.¡± she replied.


    ¡°I''m very sure she''s not on staff, then.¡± Rose said firmly, then squatted down to the girl''s level and added ¡°And I expect she''ll get in trouble with her mummy and daddy for getting seen, too, so maybe you shouldn''t tell very many people how old she was.¡±


    ¡°OK.¡± the girl said, nodding.


    The woman looked at her husband who was also looking concerned. Rose heard them deciding that maybe Rose was employing children, so over the girl''s head she mouthed to them ''a relative''. They looked relieved.


    ¡°As I said,¡± Rose told the girl ¡°you really can''t expect to see a mermaid every time you visit, but I do hope you''ll come again and try.¡±


    What Rose didn''t think to check, was either of the parent''s jobs. But the review they wrote for the local paper was very positive. Rose and James soon decided they needed to take on another dive instructor, and were very pleased to learn that one of the men from the next door village was qualified. He wasn''t the least bit tempted to explore the caves.


    Much to their surprise, the business not only broke even in the first year, but made them a substantial profit.

 The Other Big Secret 2: Rabbit Stew / Ch. 9: What I did on my holidays

    <h2>The Other Big Secret 2: Rabbit Stew / Ch. 9:What I did on my holidays</h2>


    </a>Sept 28th, 1990


    By Amanda Abbot, aged 9.


    This summer, we went to visit auntie Rose and uncle James. Auntie Rose is a doctor, and she let me see how all her stethoscopes and things work. She and auntie Pania help all the mer-people get better when they get sick and gives injections to stop them catching nasty diseases. I don''t like injections, but it must be better than getting dead. Mummy says auntie Pania isn''t really my auntie, but might be my second cousin once removed in-law, which is too complicated. Emma and Sathie are my cousins. They like being mermaids. Auntie Pania used to be one too, and then she became a doctor and married William who mummy says is my second cousin once removed. I asked mummy why she wasn''t a mermaid. She says says it''s too dangerous. But Mummy did let me take the mermaid medicine, and I wasn''t too sick. Emma said she didn''t get sick at all when she took it, but Sathie threw up for a whole day. It took me ages to learn to swim properly, and I''m not nearly as good as my cousins, but being a mermaid is great fun, and the water doesn''t feel cold if you keep moving. Uncle James told us all off when we went and waved at the tourists, but it was great fun. You should have seen their faces! They were grabbing each other and pointing at us as though they couldn''t believe their eyes! Great grandma was there too. She''s really old, and she told me lots of stories. She said I needed to remember them all and tell them to my children and their children, so that they''re not forgotten. I really hope we can go back next year. I think I want to be a mermaid when I grow up, but maybe I''ll buy and sell things like mummy.


    <hr>


    </a>3pm, Sept 30th, 1990


    ¡°Mrs Abbot, it''s Mrs Perry, I''m sorry to bother you, but could I have a word about your daughter?¡± the teacher sounded worried.


    ¡°Of course, what''s the matter?¡± Karella said into the phone.


    ¡°She seems to be having problems separating fantasy from reality. We''d expect it in younger children, of course, but by her age....¡±


    ¡°I''m sorry, could you be more explicit? I''m not aware of her having any problems in that area.¡±


    ¡°Of course. Urm, I''d like to show you some of her work. Could you come in to the school?¡±


    ¡°This afternoon?¡±


    ¡°Please.¡±


    <hr>


    ¡°Thank you for coming in. Here''s some of her artwork, we''re doing a series on family members at work. Her technique is excellent, but I think you''ll notice a certain theme running through them. The first one says Auntie Rose at work.¡±


    ¡°My husband''s sister, she''s a doctor, yes. Oh, didn''t she do well! It looks quite like her!¡±


    ¡°The patient appears to be a mermaid.¡±


    Karella laughed. ¡°I''m not surprised.¡±


    The teacher looked at her oddly. ¡°The next one, actually made her a little upset. I just asked them to draw one of their grandparents.¡±


    ¡°Her grandparents are all dead, Mrs Perry. My husband''s mother, two years ago, was the last.¡±


    ¡°Oh, I didn''t know.¡±


    ¡°Can I see the picture?¡±


    ¡°Oh, sorry, here it is.¡± The teacher had been looking at it.


    There was a picture of an ocean scene, a mermaid sat on the rock with a spear, keeping watch. There was a shark-fin in the distance and children at play on the beach. Karella caught her breath, realising it was where her mother had died.


    The teacher carried on, ¡°Technically its a masterful piece, but....¡±


    ¡°It must be how she imagined my mother, just before a shark killed her and my brother. It''s the recognisably the right spot. Amanda wanted to know where it had happened and we showed her this summer. I didn''t realise her visual memory was so good, this is really impressive.¡±


    ¡°You don''t notice anything odd?¡±


    ¡°Yes. The waves are coming from the wrong side, but I can''t expect her to know that.¡±


    ¡°And she''s drawn your mother as a mermaid.¡±


    ¡°Mer-woman, I would hope, Mrs Perry. She wouldn''t be a maiden after having had four children, now, would she? Of course, in reality my mother wouldn''t have been wearing that sort of skirt at all.¡± It was too colourful, for starters.


    ¡°Skirt?¡±


    ¡°My cousins run a skuba-dive tour company in New Zealand, Mrs Perry. A lot of the staff wear skirts like that one. They''re made out of wet-suit material, and I''m told that with practice they let them swim much faster than the more normal flippers, which is useful if one of the customers gets in trouble, and it makes it easy for tourists to spot who''s staff. It''s good for the trade, of course, too when people hear they get to go for a swim with mermen, and merwomen.¡±


    ¡°Not with mermaids, then?¡± offering an essay that Amanda had written.


    ¡°Oh I''m sure that some of the young men would like that.¡± Karella laughed, and accepted the essay.


    The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.


    ¡°Oh is that what she got told off for, she wouldn''t tell me. It''s not unusual, apparently. One or two of the girls will take a deep breath and swim past a group of tourists without any tank on, just at the limits of vision. I didn''t know Amanda took part.¡± she made a sigh and shook her head, ¡°Oh, it''s just a bit of silly fun I suppose, and it really gets people talking, which is probably good for the business. But my cousin''s right not to encourage that sort of distraction. The sea''s a dangerous place, after all.¡±


    ¡°So.. in that context, being a mermaid is actually a career choice? I thought she was living in a fantasy world!¡±


    ¡°Well, it''s a living I suppose, and Amanda''s certainly got all the right contacts.¡± Karella said ¡°But it''s not one I''d choose myself, and I''ll tell her not to talk about it to her friends. It''s certainly not the sort of career where there are even two or three openings a year.¡±


    ¡°She writes about some kind of mermaid medicine. What''s that?¡±


    Karella pulled a face. ¡°A vile mix of herbs and boiled squid tentacles someone came up with a long time ago.¡± Karella said, perfectly truthfully. ¡°Rose assures me the ingredients are harmless, despite the reaction. I guess it''s at least partially from the taste of it. It''s one of those things that everyone in the family tries, from one generation to the next, urged on by their older cousins. You know, ''Go on, go on, you''ve never tasted anything so vile, it''s amazing!!'' The odd thing is that after you''ve recovered from the first mouthful, it actually doesn''t taste so bad, or make you throw up.¡±


    ¡°Oh. So then older cousins make it and say ''See, I''ve just drunk some'', it''s fine?''¡±


    ¡°Exactly. Except one of the mothers makes it, to make sure they don''t put too much chilli sauce in it. Normally, after much pestering, you can imagine.¡±


    ¡°Boiled squid tentacles and chilli sauce?¡± the teacher repeated.


    ¡°Along with other things, yes.¡± Karella said ¡°Makes your mouth water just thinking about it, doesn''t it?¡±


    ¡°Not particularly. You''ve drunk it?¡±


    ¡°Of course! I even made some for Rick. He claimed it tasted like chilli con mouldy cabbage mixed with old shoe curry and anchovy flavoured boiled sweets. But I think he might of just reached the limits of his vocabulary. It''s almost certainly worse.¡±


    ¡°I hope you''re not going to let Amanda bring any in for her friends to try at school. We''d mostly likely get sued.¡±


    ¡°Oh, don''t worry. You can''t get the fresh squid tentacles round here.¡±


    ¡°Well, I must say, Mrs Abbot, you seem to come from quite an unusual family.¡±


    ¡°We like to think so.¡± Karella agreed. ¡°We''re fairly close knit. Oh, while I''m here, I''ve been meaning to ask, have there been any more conflicts involving Amanda after last year? She hasn''t told me of anything, but...¡±


    ¡°No. No, we''ve written to the parents of the child concerned, reminding them of school policy. He shouldn''t be making any more racial slurs.¡±


    ¡°I''m glad. She was very distressed when it first happened.¡±


    ¡°I can imagine.¡±


    ¡°I never did get from her quite how it started, could you tell me from your perspective?¡±


    ¡°Yes. I''m afraid I might have triggered it, actually. We were reading a book which had a character in it who used some Romani words. I asked the class if they knew what they meant, and Amanda answered, and told me I wasn''t quite pronouncing them right.¡±


    ¡°Oh. And then it all came out the play time after?¡±


    ¡°No. A few days later, actually. I guess he''d told his parents, and they''d told him what they think of your husband''s race, I guess. Your own family background is unusual too, am I right? Beyond the squid tentacles, I mean.¡±


    ¡°Oh, very. Like I said, we''re a close knit group, similar to the Amish in America, I guess. We''re almost all Christians now, by the way, but the old isolationism has stuck. And we''re more open to outsiders than we used to be. My grandfather married in, Rose married in, I married out.¡±


    ¡°Could you tell me a little more about it?¡±


    ¡°We''re a refugee people, I guess you could say. We got driven out of our homeland again during world-war one, but even before then there was a lot of fear of persecution. Still is, actually, I was asked to take a vow never to speak too much of our people to outsiders, actually.¡±


    ¡°Oh! I didn''t realise. But now your people live in New Zealand?¡±


    Karella laughed. ¡°Most of my immediate family is. But I''ve got cousins all over the world actually. Living quiet lives, getting on with what we do, which is mostly fishing. I took to commerce, buying and selling.¡± She noticed that Mrs Perry had pearl ear-rings and decided to turn the conversation to business. ¡°If you ever decide you wanted a matched string of natural pearls, for instance, I can easily find you that next vacation.¡±


    ¡°A string of natural pearls?¡±


    ¡°Yes. I know that there''s a lot of cultured ones on the market these days, but if you want natural ones, my relatives know where to collect them. Of course, it is rather hard to tell the difference, so it''d be more the thing to have the pleasure of knowing yourself.¡±


    ¡°I could never afford natural pearls!¡±


    ¡°Mrs Perry, it took me a long time to realise that the things I used to play with like marbles had any value... As I said we are an isolated people, getting on with our own things. I''ve put the word out that I have a market for matched sets of undamaged pearls. My relatives don''t believe how much I''m prepared to pay for them and think I''m being silly offering so much. I still make a very healthy profit, and you get a pleasant surprise, I hope. No commitment before you see them, of course.¡±


    ¡°You''re quite a convincing sales-person.¡±


    ¡°I know, sorry.¡±


    ¡°You''re sorry?¡±


    ¡°Well, I''m here for a conversation about my daughter, and I''m turning it into  a business discussion...¡±


    ¡°Pearls aren''t business, they''re pleasure.¡±


    ¡°Ah! So, would you specify what I should be looking for, or just look at what I have on offer and expose yourself to temptation?¡±


    ¡°You don''t have any samples now do you?¡±


    ¡°Mrs Perry, what do you think?¡± Karella asked, with a smile.


    ¡°I expect that you do. I expect that the sample you have is a perfectly spherical pearl of unusually high lustre, to tempt me to think that I could have a string of such things if only I mortgaged my house, sold my husband and gave you my eye teeth. Can I see it?¡±


    ¡°Not if you''re serious about any of those. Especially the teeth. Actually, I think it''s rather an ordinary one.¡± She reached into her hand-bag, pulled out the little box and handed it over.


    ¡°You think this is ordinary?¡± Mrs Perry asked in hushed tones.


    ¡°Sorry. Like I say, a South Sea pearl? I treated them as marbles, threw them at my brothers, that sort of thing. If you live in the wrong part of this marvelous world, then a pearl is just a complete pain when you accidentally drop one in the oyster stew.¡±


    ¡°That''s a lot of oyster stew if you can play marbles with them.¡±


    ¡°Well, OK, they do get passed from one kid to the next. But I know I had the job of fishing one out of the stew fairly regularly. Most weren''t this big, of course.¡±


    ¡°I thought not.¡±


    ¡°So, a tentative order?¡±


    ¡°You said I''d be pleasantly surprised...¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°I''d be very pleasantly surprised if you could find some that are a colour-matching my ear-rings. I''m more concerned about that than anything else, actually.¡±


    ¡°They''re an unusual colour.¡±


    ¡°Yes. And a gift from my mother.¡±


    ¡°I''ll see what I can do.¡±

 The Other Big Secret 3: Safely out at sea / Ch. 1: Contact

    The Other Big Secret 3: Safely out at sea


    <h2>The Other Big Secret 3: Safely out to sea / Ch. 1: Contact</h2>


    </a>Wed, June 20th, 2277,


    [Sarah? I''m Karella. You''ve probably not even heard of me.] Sarah heard as she was almost falling asleep one night.


    [Urm, that''s right, I haven''t.]


    [I''m Rose''s cousin, so I''ve been hearing quite a lot about the things you''ve been up to in the world.]


    [Have you just received the gift?]


    [No, I''ve had it oh, about ten years longer than you .... But Rose hasn''t even told Enoch I had it, as far as I know.]


    [That seems... unusual.]


    [I know, but then, we are, Rose and I.]


    [This sounds mysterious.]


    [What do you feel about learning the another big secret that''s been kept for thousands of years?]


    [I have a choice?]


    [Of course! Just if you do want to have a look at where I''m calling you from, then I''ll ask you to take a vow only to talk to Rose and John about it, and to John only after he''s made a similar vow. At least for the moment.]


    [Can I talk to him about this? I don''t want to keep secrets from him.]


    [That''s fine. I understand you''re expecting? How are you sleeping?]


    [Not too bad. I can''t wait for the end of this phase.]


    [And you''re having checkups every month or so at this stage?]


    [Every three weeks. Why?]


    [I''m just trying to work out timings. When was your last one?]


    [A couple of weeks ago. My next one''s on Monday.]


    [Oh, wonderful! Praise God. And May''s quite capable of handling things if you were called away for a couple of weeks?]


    [You do know all about me, don''t you!] Sarah replied [Yes, she is. Am I likely to be called away for a few weeks?]


    [Urm, yes. I believe it will be a rather a unique occurrence in history.]


    [Oh, not another one.]


    [Sorry. You seem to be a magnet for them, don''t you? Discuss it with John, and call me with the answer, OK?]


    [Any time-line for this?]


    [Preferably... within the next half an hour? I''m just going to a boring meeting, but I''ll be asked to speak then.]


    [About my decision?]


    [Well, I can say I''ve contacted you now, at least.]


    [Any particular reason you contacted me?]


    [Yes. But you probably don''t know the history. Well, maybe you do. Ask me if answer''s yes. If the answer''s no, then it''s better I don''t bring it up. Talk to your husband, Sarah.]


    <hr>


    [Karella, John is with me. We''re neither of us good at suppressing our curiosity. We vow not to discuss this with anyone but you and Rose.]


    [I''m glad, Sarah. Do you know the story of the Emerald?]


    Sarah was taken aback. [It was an heirloom. Passed on strangely. Centuries ago, an aunt passed it to her niece, who passed it to her third child, and so on. It was so big, people always took it for glass, and only the holder knew. Eventually it was valued and sold, and it rescued the family from poverty. Invested well, it formed the beginnings of the family company.]


    [The aunt was called Rose, her sister-in-law was called Karella. Karella''s daughter was called Amanda. Amanda''s third child, Japathe, had a hard life, and chose to forget her ancestry. Not to tell anyone about her aunts, uncles, cousins, who lived strangely, a long way away.


    She had quite a lot of jewelery with her, and eventually she married a young successful jeweler called Smith. We haven''t traced his family tree back far enough, but Karella''s grandfather gave half his estate to his cousin who was called Smith. We don''t know if there''s a relationship, but it''d be a nice circle if it was. So... you and I are very distant cousins, and I''m sorry to say that''s probably why you have what you call the Pain. You have a range like we do, from your father''s side and filters like your mother. It''s not a good mix. Amanda''s third child wasn''t unique, by the way, in running away like that. So, not everyone with the pain is a cousin of yours, unless you go back much further than that. It was a difficult time for us, when we retreated from the sun. Use the gift now, Sarah. Learn about where some of your genetics come from. It will be more convincing if you see for yourself.]


    Linked together with John, Sarah looked for where Karella was. She was there in the meeting room with people, some of whom had strange names, which was there in ... in the fairy-tail tower? Sarah was astounded. [We were told to be surprised, love.] John reminded her. [Press on.]


    The fairy-tale tower was in the fairy-tale city, under the dome, under the Atlantic.


    Sarah held John tight. [Calm, Sarah. Don''t scare Baby.] John reminded her.


    [{forced mirth} Karella said it would be unique event. We can''t say we weren''t warned.]


    [Shall we seek peace?] John asked.


    [No. I want to talk to Rose.]


    [Why?]


    [Because... she has been keeping this secret all her life. I want to know how!] Sarah thought, then called, with utmost care, [Rose? I need to talk.]


    [What is it, Sarah?]


    [I hear you''ve been talking to a cousin of yours about me. She''s just told me to look where she is.]


    [Oh! It''s begun then.]


    [What''s begun?]


    [What you started five years ago. The ending of secrets.]


    [How... How do you keep this a secret? Even from Enoch?]


    [I asked him to never look.] Rose said simply. [Does John know?]


    [Yes. Karella said we could look together.]


    [Then maybe, one day, I''ll be able to share it with Enoch too. That''d be nice.]


    [Karella said that my ancestry, on my father''s side, is where the pain comes from.]


    [Yes. Your muscles are part of the receivers, Sarah, you know that. Your muscles are a bit different to John''s. You ought to be able to hold your breath longer underwater. Not as long as me, of course, you''ve too much land-folk in your ancestry. But longer than most.]


    [How long can you hold your breath?]


    [Last time I tried... about ten or fifteen minutes. Oh, if anyone offers you something called ''the potion'', then remind them you''re expecting. Probably not a nice thing to do to Baby.]


    [What''s ''the potion''?]


    [Ancient herbal medicine which adjusts your gasp-response. I''m not aware of anyone taking it when pregnant; don''t be the first. It''ll probably make you sick for up to a day, which won''t be a healthy thing, I''m sure. You need to talk to Karella more, though.]


    [You come from a fantastic city, Rose.]


    [Thank-you. I do like walking in the sun though.]


    <hr>


    [Hello Karella.] Sarah said [Pretty city you''ve got there, I see.]


    [Thank you.]


    [What do you call it?]


    [Home, of course! But when it needed a name, it was named after a fictional city which sunk ¡ª Atlantis. It''s actually a submarine, you realise.]


    [What?]


    [We can move it around, just in case you land-men get too close.]


    [So you could just... park it outside the U.N. headquarters and say ''Hi, can we join?'']


    [We could. It''d be a bit of a problem for other shipping, though, and we don''t want to be shot at, either. That''d get really messy.]


    [So, you''ve got good records, you''ve been keeping track of what we call world events..., Anything else I should know?]


    [Yes. You and John are almost certainly going to be invited for a visit, to discuss exactly that sort of thing. Do we just float to the surface and give everyone a heart attack? Do some of us come in a submarine in traditional fish-tales, and say ''take us to your leader'', or should we do something a little more subtle, like ask your cousin Eliza''s father in law to get us an invitation to the UN? Or anything else you can think of.]


    [Why now?]


    [It''s hard to hide. We had technological superiority over you for a very long time. You mostly caught us up in the twentieth century, and we made some progress towards living more openly among you. Amanda herself went to a school and University in London, and other people in other places too. At that time, they could be themselves ¡ª swim beside dolphins part of the year, pretend to just be actors at holiday resorts, and so on. They could visit one-another by high speed submarines, and still get ignored by your detectors. But as time went on, the fear of discovery became too present. You had DNA scanners popping up everywhere, everyone started holding a camera that would let someone take an identifiable photo of a mermaid swimming a mile away. You had no privacy rules, programmers didn''t think of what they ought to do, they just did it. So your computers would immediately say ''Oooh, that looks like this person.'' So then Amanda''s kids'' friends would be asked ''Hey, see this mermaid, it really looks like so and so! Is it?'' They could laugh it off once or twice, but if every time you go on holiday to be with your relatives some tourist who takes a picture of you wearing a tail and posts it online, your friends get really suspicious. Especially if you''ve still got the same hairstyle. It just wasn''t possible to stay in contact with who we were and walk among you any more. It became either-or, not both. Some of us, like Rose, still make choice to leave home. Which is hard on them, but good in the long run. As long as there''s one of us with the gift, and there usually is, praise God. Their being out there let us keep up with what''s going on up in your world.]


    [And you''ve decided that since no one''s been cut up or burnt alive for hearing thoughts, you probably won''t not get cut up for wearing a tail? I presume it''s detachable or something?] Sarah said.


    [Yes, just a special skirt. The not cutting up bit is part of it, yes. The other part of it is that you''re starting to get really close to our construction methods. When you do, we''ll have nothing to offer. Right now, we''re about on a par technology-wise. And that''s hard too, on a small community like ours. Keeping up with the arms race is wearing us out. We''ve hardly had any time to play for two generations. When Amanda''s great-grandmother was a young woman, almost her whole life was about enjoying being alive and not getting herself caught by some unsuitable man. That was her life. Knowing that sort of thing, knowing that if only we didn''t need to keep up research and development then we could be have a wonderful time playing like dolphins and chasing down fish like the top-predators we are... that hurts us. Really, we''d much rather be savages than scientists, you see.]


    [Wouldn''t we all?]


    [I don''t know. Would you, given the choice, swap your life of comfort for a hunter-gatherer lifestyle where you''d rely on your wits and quite possibly die rather painfully from not being careful enough?]


    [Maybe not.]


    [But most of us would. But not so much that we''d abandon our families and our kids to a future of slavery in a freak show. Ever since your Institute published about the power, we were expecting the backlash, that people would be locked up, and yes, cut up. But it looks like homo sapiens teris has finally grown out of that sort of thing and homo sapiens aquaris can stop hiding.]


    [You think you''re a different subspecies?]


    [There are enough differences, yes. Most of us hear thoughts, we have webbed feet, we have aquatic mammal muscle, not land-mamal muscle, our hearing ranges are different, we hear thoughts underwater, we use sonar, our brains are wired for it, that is. Put them all together, and we''re pretty sure that we''re a subspecies. We''re not a separate species, of course. Your ancestry is proof of that. But I really ought to be paying attention here, sorry, he''s just finished telling everyone, including the news cameras, what we decided last time and why. Hopefully there won''t be riots in the streets.]


    [I hope you''re joking.]


    [I''ll let you know.]


    <hr>


    Karella addressed the assembly and the cameras, painfully aware that almost all her people were watching.


    ¡°As you know, I am on this council because I have the gift of the land-man Jacob who married Sathzakara and brought warnings, change, and the Gospel; gift of the land-woman Rose who came among us and brought medicines, vaccinations and more immunity. Like them, and many since, I have kept my existance secret from others with the same gift and did not converse with any outsiders, only those who have, with tears, left us to walk as land-men and land-women. Until today. At our last meeting I was asked by the council to identify a thought-hearer among the land-men who would help us reach our decision. Someone with the right position, character, contacts, and resources to make it possible for them to come and not betray us if we decide, against all probability that we should hide another generation. I''m afraid I wasn''t paying full attention to our honourable speaker''s speech, as in the middle of it, Sarah, the woman I spoke to, took a vow of secrecy and spoke to me.


    ¡°She is rich among landfolk, and her fortune ultimately stems from the emerald that her forefather James gave Rose, if you know that song, which Rose gave to Karella''s firstborn, Amanda, and Amanda gave to Japathe, who did not come to Atlantis, but stayed among the land-men, and kept the secret. Sarah knew nothing of her ancestry, but she was the first at the Institute of Human Mind to hear thoughts. So, I believe she is quite able to survive storms of publicity. You will not have heard her name in that context, because land-men have also learned the value of privacy since we fled. They are quite good at not using the technology they have, in most of their countries. I chose Sarah. In choosing Sarah, I also chose her husband, John, as they have no secrets from one another. Sarah and John are able to visit us, and willing to visit us, if we invite them.¡±


    Karella took a breath and thought [Rose! Listen in.]


    ¡°So the question I ask is if we do invite them, or if we''ve thought better of it. Also, on behalf of my cousin Rose who walks among the landmen, and others like her, I ask one more thing. Before we ask such landmen among us and reveal ourselves to the world, might we not release them from their vows which prevent them even telling their husbands, wives and children who they are? Might we not also draw on their wisdom and experience? In fact, should we not? Should we not call in all who know the truth and their trusted loved ones, for this great decision our people face? We have the resources to make this possible. We''ve been labouring for generations to keep it possible to slip our submarines past their detectors. Why don''t we? Let''s use our superior technology for once, and bring our own people home before we reveal our home to the world! Otherwise, what''s the point in all those laborious hours in study, when we could have been playing dolphin?¡±


    [Wow! Karella... thanks. That''d be so lovely, I do miss home, and not being able to tell Enoch about it is so hard sometimes.] Rose thought. Not just to Karella, but to the whole council. Karella added [In case you''re wondering, that was Rose.]


    The eldest of the council struggled to his feet. ¡°My grandfather told me of a time when Sathzakara Evangelia reminded her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren to stop surviving and remember who they are. That began time of not hiding. The age when we stopped using one of the most abundant elements on the planet as currency, when we stopped being scared of infection. I know why we''ve been hiding under the sea this last two centuries. The years of chaos would have killed us, I expect. But... as I get old, I really want to copy Sathzakara and tell my children to go and make big splashes, bring me back a fish caught without fear but with speed, and maybe kill some sharks. So I agree with Karella. Let''s bring our children home, and see what they think of making this city float above the waves for once. I''d like to see my great grandchildren before I die. The poor things don''t even know how to swim with a tail. How can they ever play dolphin if they can''t even do that? How dare we keep their heritage from them if we''re contemplating inviting this land-woman and her husband?¡±


    The meeting of the ruling council went on for some hours. Nobody minded at all.


    Opinions were sought from others who had left the mer-folk. What did they think? Would they welcome the end of isolation? How risky was it?


    It was not very often that the council voted. It was unanimous: Sarah would be invited, but only after the invitation of all the lost ones, whatever their age.


    <hr>


    </a>Enoch and Rose''s home, Sat. evening, June 23rd, 2277.


    ¡°Enoch. I want to ask you something.¡± Rose said.


    ¡°Oh yes?¡±


    ¡°How do you feel about scrapping our holiday plans?¡±


    ¡°But.... why?¡±


    ¡°Going somewhere else instead.¡±


    ¡°You''ve been bubbling with something for half a week, what''s this about?¡±


    ¡°We have an invitation I never thought we''d get. Before I say ''of course'', I''d like you to have a chance to say, no, Rose, I''m perfectly happy going to place we''ve always gone on holiday, I don''t want to visit your family home and meet your relatives.¡±


    ¡°Urm. I don''t think I''d say that sort of thing.¡± he said, moving over to hug her.


    ¡°Good. I''ve just been told that it''d be really good to get home soon. You could call it a family crisis, if you like. It''s a bit more than that, but... Oh well. Do you think we can arrange it with work? We can go any time we like, but preferably before the world turns upside down in about a month''s time, if all goes to schedule. I''ve also got to try and teach you an old language, you poor thing, and introduce you to my cousin Karella. She''s got gift, by the way, so at least that won''t take long. Go, Karella!¡±


    [Hello, Enoch! I love the idea of not being a total secret.] Enoch heard.


    [You''ve urm, had the gift a fairly long time, then?] Enoch guessed.


    [Only about fifteen years.]


    [How come I''ve never spotted you?] after the experience of Kate, Sarah and John, Enoch had taken the decision to scan the world for people with the gift.


    [Because, if you remember, your wonderful sneaky wife suggested you do it continent by continent. You did have us worried for a while when you first thought of it, though.]


    [You''re not on a continent? Oh! Of course not, you''re on the island Rose came from, aren''t you?]


    ¡°Enoch, dear,¡± Rose said ¡°You know I made the you promise to never look where I was talking to you from? Have a seat, then look where Karella is. That is where I came from. Then we''ll talk, OK?¡±


    <hr>


    </a>John and Sarah''s home, Early Sun. afternoon, June 24th, 2277.


    [Sarah, have you talked to Rose recently?] Karella asked.


    [No. Should I have?]


    [No, it''s OK. The world''s changing, just so you know, Enoch knows now. There are others too, who are finding out what their husbands or wives, mothers and fathers, have been rather cagey about until now. I got clear instructions to invite everyone like that home before I got to you. If it''s a disaster, then it''s all my fault: I pointed out to the rest of the council that while it''d be great to have one or two people to lend us their expertise, it made a lot of sense to have lots of people to really thrash out ideas. I don''t know how many people will be coming to our meeting, but there will be more than I said at first. I hope it''s not a problem for you, with the pain.]


    [As long as I''ve got John with me, it should be OK.]


    [I hoped so. Now... details, and a timeline for you. That interceptor that totally failed to meet the comet is due to hit Earth in just under six weeks. Roughly speaking, it''s landing right above my head, according to your scientists. I believe you call that ''safely out at sea and away from populated areas''. So, since it takes a little bit of energy to get a city moving, we''re giving ourselves two weeks to move to a safe distance. Our fusion reactors are being got ready to start up now. It''ll take a while, since they were in pieces for their fifty-year maintenance work before you announced that you were dropping a damaged, possibly perforated, nuclear weapon on our heads.]


    [You want to be safely out of the way. I understand that.]


    [Exactly. And those reactors are ancient. We''d hoped to have a year to check them over and put them back together, and the guys and gals were a month into it when they heard otherwise. We do have a plan B, which''ll make a big noisy mess. Also, that rather depends on the reactor just failing to start nicely, rather than turning into a fireball. So, just in case, when they get ready to hit the big scary button, the city will be empty, and if something goes wrong, we''ll be onto plan C, which means we''ve nowhere to hide any more.]


    [So, plan A means no one notices, plan B means you get noticed and plan C means you''re coming for tea?] Sarah checked.


    [Yes. Except that your ocean monitoring satellites are so sensitive these days you might notice the heat anyway. Last time we moved the city we rigged an Earth-tremor or three to make it seem like a sub-sea volcano, just in case.]


    [What''s plan B look like?]


    [All the little boats push and pull really hard. Imagine speed-boats trying to pull two dozen supertankers.]


    [Ah. And that''s in about a month?]


    [Yes. If you could be somewhere near an Atlantic coastline, in less than a week''s time, that''d be wonderful.]


    [For how long? A fortnight?]


    [Yes.]


    [And the reason you want me to come would be... what exactly?]


    [Our city is not very large, compared to some of yours. But right now holds almost all of us. We ask you to come, to speak to the council, and help us reach our decision. We have decided there will be a referendum, which we hardly ever have, part of the way through your time with us. We''ll be asking your advice about exactly the things we''ve spoken of already. Should we just surface? Should we send emissaries to United Nations? To individual nations? To lots of nations? How might the general public react, those things. Also, most of us have never seen a landman. Help us understand you. There are many differences between us. For this reason we''ve also called back Rose and those like her, with their loved-ones. We call back our children and grandchildren so they can see the city before it might be evacuated, or even destroyed, which would be bad, to learn a little of who we are. If we vote to stay hidden, even if the city is lost, then you are welcome to stay, and enjoy our home for a while. If we vote to reveal ourselves... your related experience would be very helpful. Also you have contacts, you have resources. You are a woman known to the media, able to talk to reporters, and get them to listen. Those qualities are why I chose you. Also... we are an independent nation, I didn''t think it would be good to ask your cousin to be involved, at least not right at the beginning.]


    [I''m also an expectant mother... trying to slow down.]


    [We''re not expecting you to do much of the talking to journalists, really. Just making some initial contacts. You will do it, won''t you?]


    [I will.] Sarah thought to Karella. [May knows we''re planning something. And she knows she can ask others to contact me in an emergency. And let''s face it, my lawyers ran the company for a decade without me doing anything.]


    [I expect you''re not idle most of the time though.]


    [No. Maybe this will help, actually. Convince them they can carry on without me.]


    [I''m glad you can look at it that way. A question for you to ponder... If we do evacuate. Where would you send half a million people who want to do nothing much except swim, catch their own fish and have somewhere to stay warm in the winter time?]


    Sarah thought for a bit and eventually said [Let''s hope you don''t need to evacuate.]


    [I thought you might say that. Maybe we''ll need to make ourselves some pacific atolls or something. That might suit us just fine. I was just wondering if there was a country you knew of that was short on people, but with lots of coastline.]


    [I think U.N. might frown on a war of conquest.]


    [So do I. I was more wondering about some power vacuum where the addition of half a million quite effective warriors might tip the balance, even if all they''re really interested in is going swimming.]


    [And not the local women?]


    [Most of the warriors would be women. Among us, traditionally the women fight, men hunt. And we''re a more Christian nation than most apparently. Three thousand years of pagan history behind us makes us rather thankful to God that he sent us a missionary.]


    [Just one?]


    [Yes. Then he married Amanda''s great grandma and she reportedly would threaten to carve out the tripes of anyone who didn''t let her finish when she gave a gospel presentation. It might be exaggeration, but we were rather a direct people back then, so it was probably entirely culturally appropriate. Not to mention that we knew all about how silly it was to cross the God Yah.]


    [It sounds like I''ve got a lot to learn about your people.]


    If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    [Yes. Sorry. When you''re here I can give you a memory ball if you like.]


    [That sounds useful, yes please. We''ve got one we can pass on to you, if you want. I don''t know if Rose has mentioned it. From Mama Ng.]


    [Oh, that one. Yes, please. It''s big, isn''t it?]


    [Don''t accept it on a hot brain, don''t touch it until you''ve cooled down entirely.]


    [Too big, then. Why not split it?]


    [We don''t know how.]


    [Oooh, you''ve got even more to learn then! What fun! What interesting things can you do with this gift, I wonder? But more urgently, when can you come?]


    [Well, pretty much after my checkup, assuming everything is fine. Am I right in thinking it would be really useful if John and I were on to some isolated spot on the beach, say here{image}, at three A.M. Tuesday morning?]


    [That''d be wonderful, yes! I''m sure we can make sure we''ve got some sort of inflatable to get to the beach and back.]


    [You''d come yourself?]


    [Of course! You don''t invite someone to come and not meet them in person!]


    [Well, I was thinking you might be busy.]


    [I''ve been busy. I fully intend to do some three A.M. swimming.]


    [That reminds me. Rose said something about how long I could hold my breath.]


    [Oh! Did you test it? Properly, I mean, underwater?]


    [Yes. A not very impressive three minutes.]


    [While swimming?]


    [Yes.]


    [Actually, I''m quite impressed. But don''t try again with your baby on board.]


    [No. Baby wasn''t impressed actually. I got some definite thoughts of disgruntlement.]


    [You''re hearing your child already?]


    [Shouldn''t I be?]


    [I really don''t know. I didn''t when I was pregnant.]


    [Hear that, Baby? You''re a genius! Sorry Karella, I didn''t ask if you were married or anything.]


    [That''s OK, you were too busy getting your world turned upside down. I''m forty, married for half of that. My son, Jake, who''s eighteen, will be doing a lot of the driving because he needs the practice, my husband would love to come for a swim but then we''d be bringing our two daughters, who are sixteen and fourteen, who of course would love a chance for a swim without several miles of water underneath them, too.


    But seven on our boat, with five of us dripping wet at the start, is going to be a bit crowded.]


    [How long is the trip going to be?]


    [From where you said, about eight or nine hours each way.]


    [That''s fast! When you say a bit crowded. Are we talking standing room only?]


    [Oh, it''s not that small. Just... well you and John would end up needing to share a rather narrow bed.]


    [How narrow? We''ve survived the rebuilding in one that was barely a metre wide.]


    [It''s more like eighty centimetres. And were you sharing it with you pregnant?]


    [No. But I''m sure we''ll survive. If it''s worth it for your daughters to have a sixteen hour boat-ride just for a quick swim, then far be it from me to say they can''t come.]


    [I think I''ll know exactly what they''ll say, but do you want to ask them yourself? They''re called Mabel and Sathie. Not to be confused with all the other Mabels and Sathies in the family. I''m afraid we take ''keeping important names alive'' a little to extremes in our family. The family tree for the last few generations has only had about ten different names in it.]


    [Doesn''t that get confusing?]


    [Of course! It doesn''t stop us doing it though.]


    [Do you want to warn Mabel and Sathie that I''m about to talk to them?]


    [Where''s the fun in that? I''ll just go and watch them jump out of their skin. Wait a moment.]


    Karella went to the living room door. [OK, they''ve noticed me watching.]


    ¡°Mum''s planning something.¡± Sathie announced.


    ¡°How do you know?¡± Karella asked.


    ¡°You''ve got the that look on your face.¡±


    [Hello Mabel and Sathie.] Sarah called. [I''m Sarah. Your mother wants to see you jump out of your skin.]


    [Oh. Mum''s in for a disappointment.] Mabel said.


    [I hear she''s coming to meet me.] Sarah said.


    [And go swimming.] Sathie moaned.


    [Jake goes, why can''t we?] Mable agreed.


    [Couldn''t you stow away?] Sarah asked.


    [We tried that once.] Mabel admitted. [We got grounded.]


    [Oh. Good job your mum says that you can come too, then.]


    ¡°Mum, you''re fantastic!¡± Karella almost got knocked off her feet by their enthusiastic embrace.


    [Thank you Sarah.]


    [Not a problem. Is there anything special I should be bringing as a gift? Or is that just a land custom?]


    [I guess it is. What sort of thing would you bring, why?]


    [Just as an acknowledgment of friendship, I guess, when someone visits, it''s fairly normal to bring a small gift to their host, or the person that meets them. Maybe a bottle of wine, or a box of chocolate?]


    [If I reciprocated with just a diamond or a bar of gold, how would that be?]


    [Entirely uncalled for. Wine and chocolate are rare?]


    [We can make something Rose said is almost wine-like, but grapes don''t like it here. As for chocolate... Rose once arranged to drop some bars off a pier I was hiding under. I sold some pieces for their weight in gemstones. Which aren''t as rare down here as they are up there, by the way.]


    [OK. I''ll skip the wine then, and use the space for the brown gem.]


    [You''re really going to bring chocolate?]


    [No promises. There might have been a global shortage and every shop in town run out.]


    [Does that happen often?]


    [It never has so far. Warn your daughters it might give them spots if they eat too much.


    [You think I''m going to let them near it?]


    [I''ll get them a bar each. They can decide whether to eat it or sell. Should I get them milk-chocolate or plain?]


    [Milk-chocolate as in cows? We might not be able to digest it.]


    [I should have thought of that. OK, I''ll go shopping for lactose-free chocolate. Anything else that''s easy to get here and unobtainable there?]


    [Pretty much every food except what comes out of the sea.]


    [Right. We''ll bring a lactose-free picnic hamper for seven then.]


    [You don''t need to, Sarah!]


    [No, but I want to.]


    <hr>


    [Hi, May! As warned, John and I are going to vanish for a couple of weeks'' rest and relaxation, if only, starting Monday afternoon sometime. I''m guessing we''ll be out of wrist-unit contact after Monday evening.]


    [So, this isn''t a holiday then?]


    [Think of it as ... a top secret government advisory panel.]


    [So, in case of emergency, I contact the palace?]


    [No. Wrong government. You''ll have to contact me through Kate, or someone else with the gift, anyway.]


    [What on Earth are you up to now?]


    [Like I said, May, top secret. All I can tell you is I know where we''re going and I''ve been talking to the family that are taking us there. They''re really distant relatives, it turns out. She''s in their government and they wanted some confidential outside advice. It might turn into three days of advice followed by holiday, but I really don''t know.]


    [All right, so, if anyone says they need to contact you then I can get you a message via Kate and you''ll contact them?]


    [Urm, probably not. You get me a message via Kate and I''ll contact you.]


    [Uh huh.] May sounded unconvinced. [And if they demand to speak to you in person?]


    [You''re my personal assistant, I''m unavailable, out of the country. You can take all messages in all areas including medical. Alternatively, they can talk to my lawyers if they prefer. You can get a message to me in an emergency, but from what you understand, it''ll be time-consuming to get somewhere where my wrist unit will work, and you''ve been given instructions to deal with all calls.]


    [Wow. You''re really dropping off the face of the planet, aren''t you?]


    [You never know, I might be able to tell you all about it when I''m back, May.]


    [I hope so.]


    [Now on to other matters... just for the sake of your matriarch''s curiosity... Just where do things stand between you and Q.Q. these days? It''s months since you mentioned him.]


    [We are, officially, friends.]


    [And unofficially?]


    [Friends, going in different directions, glad we never actually got engaged.]


    [So, where does that leave you?]


    [Young, free, single, relieved actually.]


    [And him?]


    [You haven''t talked to Kara lately, then?]


    [No. Should I?]


    [I''m not giving away any secrets.]


    [What secrets?]


    [Talk to Q.Q. or Kara, Sarah.]


    [You''re not saying Q.Q. fell for Kara''s eyelashes are you?]


    [It''s years since she stopped doing that to him, Sarah.]


    [So?]


    [I thought gossiping was a sin?] May pointed out primly.


    [Oh all right, I''ll talk to Kara, and then to Q.Q.]


    [Can you tell them that you''re going incommunicado? It''ll save me ringing them.]


    [What are you saying?]


    [I''m asking you to tell them you''re going incommunicado for a fortnight. I''m refusing to gossip or speculate about anything I might have had some hints about.]


    [Fine! I''ll talk to Kara.]


    [Good.]


    <hr>


    [Hi, Kara, are you able to talk?]


    [{embarrassed} urm, Hi Sarah, yes, I can talk.]


    [What are you up to that you''re embarrassed?]


    [Urm. We''re just holding hands.]


    [You and who?]


    [Q.Q.]


    [What is going on here?] Sarah asked, widening her thought to include Q.Q. too. [I didn''t think I''d been that out of contact with everyone.]


    [Sorry, Sarah.] Q.Q. thought [Urm, well May and I decided it wasn''t going to work a couple of months ago, I guess you know that.]


    [She just told me, yes. Talk about keeping secrets!]


    [She told me a month ago. Formally declined her claim on Q.Q.] Kara said.


    [And we''ve been talking since.] Q.Q. said.


    [And holding hands, I hear.] Sarah pointed out, with a growing suspicion where this was leading.


    [It''s a good way to have a private chat.] Kara said. [Did you know I''ve got a job at the same school as Q.Q. from next term?] They''d both ended up as teachers.


    [No! Congratulations. I suppose that might explain hand holding, but the kids will sure talk, if any see you! May asked me to tell you I was going to be incommunicado for a fortnight, maybe longer, by the way.]


    [Oh!] Q.Q. thought. [Urm. We weren''t just talking about school, Sarah.]


    [What Q.Q. means, Sarah, is we were just deciding that it was time for us to talk to you about our plans.]


    [Are you free this evening?] Q.Q. asked.


    [Or even before church?] Kara asked.


    [Come on over.] Sarah said. [You know my door''s always open to talk about clan affairs, if I''m home.]


    [Thanks Sarah, we''ll just catch a transport, then.] Kara said, decisively.


    [I''d better put the kettle on. Not to mention warn John he''s laying the table for four.]


    <hr>


    </a>John and Sarah''s home, Sun. afternoon, June 24th, 2277.


    Kara entered the house on Q.Q.''s arm, looking very much like the cat who''d got the cream. ¡°Hi, Sarah.¡±


    ¡°You''re looking pleased with yourself, Kara.¡± Sarah said.


    ¡°Mmm. I''m rather pleased with life in general, anyway.¡± Kara said. ¡°Q.Q. asked me a question on the way here.¡±


    ¡°Oh yes? I''m guessing it wasn''t ''What''s the time?''¡± Sarah said.


    ¡°No. It was more along the lines of would I like to change my surname.¡±


    ¡°And what did you say?¡± John asked.


    ¡°I said he ought to wait until Sarah had said it was OK to ask questions like that, and that I couldn''t possibly say yes until she''d agreed to it. After that I kissed him.¡± Kara said matter of factly.


    ¡°Do I dare ask what happened after that?¡± Sarah asked.


    ¡°We got out of the transport.¡± Quentin said, rather embarrassed about how long that kiss had ended up being.


    ¡°Well, it rather sounds like all the most important decisions have been made.¡± Sarah said.


    ¡°Not really.¡± Kara said. ¡°But firstly, Sarah, as I''m sure you know I''ve been after him for years. I''m delighted that May''s finally realised she''s not right NgBilla for him. So, can I have him now?¡±


    ¡°Q.Q. I''d like to hear your side of this.¡± Sarah said. ¡°First, tell me about you and May. Like I said earlier, I only heard you weren''t together today, so this is all a bit of a surprise to me.¡±


    ¡°Me and May... We started off too quickly, I guess. By the end of the first month I think everyone was assuming we''d marry, us included. But it was too fast, we were too young, and we ended up constantly trying to avoid romantic thoughts about each other, so she could concentrate on teaching me about clan. She did that really well. When I came back from university, we''d go out, chat and stuff, but we carried on squashing any feelings, because it was too soon, we were both a bit scared of how quickly we''d started. By the time we''d finished university I think we were realising that maybe we''d killed romance a bit too successfully. It was like we''d put each other in brother/sister category. We decided we''d give ourselves another six months, and see if we could alter our thinking, but.. every time we kissed it just seemed wrong. To both of us. You know about when we stopped seeing each other, and when we tried to get back together a couple of months ago, it was pretty clear we still liked each other, still got on well together, but that was as far as it went. We were certain then it really wasn''t going anywhere. And, well, May knew Kara still had feelings for me.¡±


    ¡°And you realised you reciprocated?¡±


    ¡°Yes. I guess I''ve always thought if things don''t work out with May then Kara''s a lovely woman too. Urm, my thoughts were really going along those lines when May and I had our time apart.¡±


    ¡°And we had a few what-if conversations.¡± Kara said. ¡°Those really helped me decide I wasn''t interested in dating anyone until Q.Q. and May had made up their minds.¡±


    ¡°So, really, you''re saying that you''ve had feelings for each other a long time.¡± John said, ¡°but out of respect for May, clan rules, and everyone''s expectations, you''ve not acted on them.¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡± Q.Q. agreed.


    ¡°Fine. You have my approval.¡± Sarah said. ¡°Have your parents given any hints, or are you on your way there next, Kara?¡±


    Kara laughed ¡°Yes. I told Mum we were going out and she said ''Well, I''m glad Q.Q. and May have finally come to their senses, let me know when the wedding is in time for me to get my hair done.'' and Dad said ''Don''t go keeping the man waiting for an answer for our sakes!'' Which I think counts as prior approval, too.¡±


    ¡°So, when is the wedding?¡± Sarah asked.


    ¡°That''s a big question, yes.¡± Kara said, ¡°Do we follow what seems to be a truthsayer tradition of marrying within a couple of months of the engagement, which means err, six or seven weeks if we''re going to be within the school holidays. Or are we sensible and wait until, say, Christmas, Easter, or even next summer.¡±


    ¡°Six weeks sounds too quick to me.¡± Q.Q. said. ¡°But, like Kara''s said, she''s been waiting a long time and she''s not normally patient.¡±


    ¡°Also, Mum''s got her wedding dress.¡± Kara said. ¡°It''s not as fancy as yours, was, Sarah, I''ll freeze if we wait until the winter.¡±


    ¡°Does it fit you? Otherwise you''re going to need it adjusted.¡± Sarah asked.


    ¡°I don''t know.¡± Kara replied.


    ¡°I think you ought to talk to your parents, Kara.¡± John said, ¡°But I tend to agree with Q.Q.: six weeks'' engagement is too short, you won''t have time for organising the wedding or for seriously considering all the things that change with it. If your dress won''t let you have a Christmas wedding, wear something under it or over it or pick a later date.¡±


    ¡°John, how long were we engaged for?¡±


    ¡°That''s beside the point. We weren''t exactly ready, were we? And we didn''t have any family members to invite, either.¡±


    Q.Q. looked curiously at John. ¡°How long were you engaged for?¡±


    ¡°Six weeks. June 17th to July 29th.¡±


    ¡°Whereas if we only had a week''s honeymoon...¡±


    ¡°Too short.¡± John and Sarah responded in unison.


    ¡°... we could get married on 26th of August and that''s eight weeks'' engagement.¡± Q.Q pressed on. ¡°Is that better?¡±


    ¡°Not if it means only a week''s honeymoon and plunging straight into a new school for Kara.¡± Sarah said.


    ¡°Unless you''re getting feedback already.¡± John added.


    ¡°What do you mean, already?¡± Kara asked. ¡°We''ve been getting that since our first date, a month ago.¡±


    ¡°So, how did you manage the kiss on the way here?¡± Sarah asked.


    ¡°Self control.¡± Q.Q. said. ¡°Thinking to each other ''yes, that''s right, we love one another, and a kiss expresses that. But our God is holy, so that''s as far as it goes.''¡±


    John and Sarah looked at one another in surprise. Sarah shrugged and said ¡°Your self-control is better than we ever managed. We couldn''t even touch without hiding by the end. We had a quick wedding because we couldn''t beat feedback, and decided that a quick wedding was better than falling into feedback-induced temptation. If you can beat it, then I''d let other considerations take their part in the decision. But only a week''s honeymoon? Not recommended. You''re going to be exhausted for the first two or three, days, just from the stress and everything of the wedding, take off travel days and if you go for only a week then you''ve only got a few days to settle down and start enjoying each other before you need to go back to stress-filled normal life. Go for ten days at least. My standard offer to members of the clan and friends apply, by the way, Q.Q.¡±


    ¡°Urm, could you tell me what those are?¡±


    ¡°If you want to stay at Blackwood Cabins, you can for no charge. To you, anyway. If you want help getting a ring with a decent stone at trade prices, let me know. Ditto for one of my I.D. diamonds, but they cost more, surprise surprise. Don''t ask me for help getting a poor stone though, that''d be against my prejudices.¡±


    ¡°And what ever you do, do not even think the Z word.¡± Kara added.


    ¡°Exactly.¡± Sarah agreed with a smile. ¡°Some people round here seem to know me. But seriously, Q.Q., assuming you haven''t gone and bought one already, do talk to each other about what you want to do about rings. Not everyone agrees about what makes a good ring.¡±


    ¡°For example.¡± John said, ¡°There are some people who think big and shiny is more important than quality of the stone, some might who prefer something other than diamond, and some people who think ''I couldn''t wear a ring with a stone to school, anyway.''¡±


    Q.Q. was starting to look a bit frazzled. ¡°I didn''t know it was all so complicated.¡±


    ¡°The whole wedding thing is really complicated. You should know that, its one of those key anthropology things, isn''t it?¡± Kara asked.


    ¡°Urm, yes. I just presumed I already knew it all for our culture.¡± Q.Q. said.


    ¡°You have no idea how much you''ve got to learn before you big day.¡± Sarah said. ¡°Alternatively you could spend big big money on hiring a wedding expert to organise your wedding for you. But you might not like the result or the bill you get at the end of it.¡±


    ¡°Urm. Probably not on my salary.¡±


    The reminder that Q.Q. had got a top grade in his anthropology degree started to form an idea in Sarah''s mind. ¡°Q.Q. No promises, but there''s just a chance I might need some input from a trusted anthropologist in the next month. Would you be available if I do?¡±


    ¡°Urm, sure.¡±


    ¡°Great. Any idea what I ought to pay an anthropology consultant?¡±


    ¡°Sarah!¡± Q.Q. replied ¡°I''m not an anthropology consultant!¡±


    ¡°If you do work for me where I''m making use of your anthropology knowledge, and I''m consulting you for advice, you''re a consultant. And I''ll make sure you''re properly recompensed for the time I''m stealing from you. But I''ve no idea if I''ll need that sort of help or not.¡±


    ¡°Where are you going?¡±


    ¡°I can''t tell you, sorry. Not even May knows. We''re not going to be contactable except via someone with the gift, except that I''ll try and contact May every so often.¡±


    ¡°OK, so if it''s really urgent we contact the Institute, if it''s not very urgent, May might be able to ask.¡± Kara summarised.


    ¡°Yes. And if it can wait a fortnight, then we ought to be back then.¡±


    <hr>


    </a>Atlantic coastline, 2.30A.M, Tuesday 26th June


    [Hi, Karella, we''ve got here early.]


    [How did you know about such an isolated beach?]


    [Oh, that''s easy. I''ve got this land management company, which runs a beautiful patch of landscape a fairly long way inland from here and has been able to turn it into a nice lucrative tourist location. That left them with rather too much money. This spot came on the market and we thought, well, not everyone likes to stay in isolated mountain cabins, why not branch out into isolated beach and cliff-top cabins too?]


    [So it''s your beach?]


    [Well, I own the company that owns the company that owns it, yes.]


    [And the surrounding land?]


    [Up and down the coast, about two kilometres each way, I think.]


    [And no tourists yet?]


    [None. Well, none officially, anyway. The previous owners kept delaying the sale and we''ve only just bought it, a month ago. There''s a campsite just inland, but I took one look and agreed with the surveyor that it needed a complete refit of the washing facilities and... Well, pretty much everything. It was probably actually dangerous to stay there, not that many people did. So, building work is in progress, but I''m not at all sure they''ll be able to open before the last week of August. That late in the season... it may not even be worth opening, I don''t know.]


    [You know, I wouldn''t be at all surprised if two hundred years or so ago it was owned by one of us.]


    [Really?]


    [I''m pretty sure there are some livable caves at the foot of your cliffs. I know that in the fifty years before that our people were buying up the coast-land they lived on, if they could. Then... then we decided it was too risky, and most people sold up.]


    [I trust you''re enjoying your swim?]


    [Oh yes!]


    [Don''t let me distract you, we can wait.]


    [You don''t mind us investigating those caves do you?]


    [Not at all. Just stay safe.]


    [Oh, I intend us to.]


    ¡°Did you catch that, John?¡±


    ¡°I did. We can huddle together for warmth and watch the stars go by.¡±


    ¡°It''s not that cold.¡±


    ¡°OK, let''s just huddle together for company, then.¡±


    ¡°Absolutely. Let''s watch the merfolk play too.¡± Sarah said, seeing a splash out in the bay.


    <hr>


    </a>Atlantic coastline, 3.10A.M, Tuesday 26th June


    ¡°Hi!¡± Karella said, walking out of the water after a last splash in the sea. ¡°Well, I can tell you these caves were definitely used by some of us sometime in the past.


    ¡°Really, how? Artifacts?¡± John asked.


    ¡°Not as such, but there''s a beautiful hidden dock for a couple of our submarines, just along this way. We don''t need to mess about with inflatable anything, I''m happy to say.¡±


    ¡°Oh! That''s convenient.¡± Sarah said.


    ¡°Very.¡±


    ¡°How do you know it''s not natural?¡± John asked.


    ¡°Well, the little tuned echo-reflectors dug into the rock to help you follow right path are a bit of a give away.¡±


    ¡°I don''t know if we know what an echo reflector is, let alone a tuned one.¡± John said.


    ¡°Imagine a carefully shaped hole in the rock that echos a certain note.¡±


    ¡°Oh! A resonating cavity?¡± Sarah asked.


    ¡°Yes.¡± Karella replied ¡°I wasn''t expecting it and found myself thinking, ''I''m swimming in the wrong place I should be over there.'' and the got really co%nfused about why I might think that. Then I realised I was hearing the reflectors meant for a sub. I''ve set my kids swimming back and forwards along the tunnel to get the feel of them. We''ve got them at home of course, but you don''t exactly tell your kids to play in busy traffic.¡±


    ¡°Ah, no. So you think we can get into this dock without getting wet?¡± Sarah asked, trying to look along the path they were taking ith the torch she''d brought along. It seemed like it was going to disappear into nothing.


    ¡°You could at the other end, so I think so. I hope it''s not one of those ''only at low tide'' paths.¡±


    ¡°Or ''only without suitcase and picnic hamper''.¡± John added, putting the said items down. The discussion of who''d carry them had been resolved on the way to the beach.


    ¡°I''ll scout ahead. No, better idea.¡± [Mabel, can you try and meet us by dry land?]


    [Sure, mum. And then can go and I dolphin a bit more?]


    [You''re going to get so exhausted! Of course you can.]


    [Thanks, Mum, you''re fantastic!]


    It didn''t take very long before Mabel emerged from a crack above them, and called down. ¡°You''re going the wrong way, Mum.¡±


    ¡°Oh, of course, we should have gone up.¡± Karella said. ¡°I''m sorry.¡±


    <hr>


    ¡°Let me do the introductions, along with some cultural education.¡± Karella said, once they were on the submarine. ¡°I''m Karella, as you know. Our names don''t follow your patterns, so my name at birth was Karella Helen Jacob, which means my mother was Helen and father was Jacob. Jacob was a member of land-folk Abbot clan, so you could put that on the end if you like. You could also put in my grandparents too if you want to be really formal. I''ve also got called a few other things, some of which were only appropriate when I was young, so have fallen into disuse, others are still used, so you''ll probably hear me called Karella Farspeaker, because I''ve got the gift, and recently some people have started calling me Home-Bringer, for my role in persuading the council to tell people they can come home. Personally, I doubt it''ll stick, but you never know.¡±


    ¡°So you sort of accept nicknames and they become part of your names?¡± Sarah asked.


    ¡°Yes, sort of. But it means if you look really deeply at the skin of this room, you''ll find my full name which runs to about ten names long. You''d also find Christoph''s name,¡± Karella said, indicating her husband, who waved. ¡°Christoph doesn''t speak much English, so you''ll need to use your gift to speak to him. This is Sathie, who''s fourteen, and as a test to see if you''ve been paying attention, you can tell me what her name started off as.¡±


    John guessed ¡°Sathie Karella Christoph?¡±


    ¡°Yes, except it''s really ''Sathzakara'' not Sathie.¡±


    ¡°But Sathzakara''s too famous, so I''m just Sathie until I do something really spectacular.¡± Sathie said.


    ¡°Nonsense, you can be Sathzakara any time you want.¡± Karella replied. ¡°But she does have a point, I suppose: Sathzakara Karella Lamura Far-seer Evangelia is one of our most significant historical figures. She''s the one who''s really credited with convincing our people to follow Christ. She didn''t do it single-handedly, of course, but she was really effective.¡±


    Sathie spoke to her father, who nodded. She fled up the stairs with a grin, and he followed.


    ¡°When was that?¡±


    ¡°During what you call the ''first world war'', and we call the ''third escape''.¡±


    ¡°That''s... fairly recent.¡±


    ¡°Between the second escape and third escape, we were very isolated. For a while, between third and fourth escapes, we owned land according to land-folk customs, and some of us walked among you. Some of us even pretended to be land-folk playing at being mer-folk. Then, with much heartache and sorrow, we fled before your unbridled technology, to live almost exclusively under the waves. As you can see, by the enthusiasm of my husband and children to not be onboard any longer than necessary, we don''t like that life. You''re going to help us decide if we can stop fleeing and come out of hiding.¡±


    ¡°So the third and forth escapes were what, a hundred years apart?¡± John asked, trying to put numbers together.


    ¡°A little more like a hundred and fifty.¡± Karella corrected.


    ¡°When were the first and second?¡±


    ¡°Oh, a long time ago. The first was when we had what you might call the public-relations disaster of Jason and the Argonauts, the second was when the Romans started taking over everything. We got on OK with the Greeks, mostly, we were pretty interested in their technology. A few of us learned Latin, The Romans, though? They were just war, war, war, law, law, law, bore, bore, bore. Sorry, we just found some caves, kept to ourselves, except to chat with any Greek engineers we could steal ideas from.


    We''d founded Atlantis by then. It started out as a raft that could be lowered into the sea, using pulleys and things, when ships came along we didn''t want to say hello to, then we added steam engines, air pumps and compressed air, from the Greeks. We really saw the potential applications of those. We kept on plodding along, technology-wise. We''d worked out electric generators by urm, I think it was just before or after the fall of Rome, and by A.D one thousand we had fusion power, with forcefields not long after. Soon after that we rebuilt Atlantis again and we were almost totally isolated.¡±


    ¡°Wow.¡± Sarah said. ¡°So, the fusion reactors your people are rebuilding are that old?¡±


    ¡°Yes. They use magnetic confinement, since they''re pre-forcefield, so they''re big. But they''re reliable.¡±


    ¡°I didn''t see a propeller in your submarine.¡± Sarah said. ¡°It works by magnetohydrodymamics?¡±


    ¡°Yes. Atlantis uses something more mechanical. I''m sure you know about it, but I can''t remember the land-folk name. Heat goes into a gas which expands, moves the piston. Then it''s shoved past the water that''s being pumped out, gets cooled down, contracts, and moves the piston the other way, and so on.¡±


    ¡°Sounds like what we''d call a Stirling engine.¡± Sarah replied.


    ¡°Yes, that sounds possible.¡±


    ¡°And that generates electricity?¡± Sarah asked.


    ¡°No, the drive engines just drive. No electricty involved, just pistons.¡±


    ¡°Oh! Right. So you''ve got gas moving pistons that move water?¡±


    ¡°Yes. It''s an impressive machine. Well, set of machines. They try to start them up so there''s a constant jet of water, so there''s less noise from that.¡±


    ¡°So, to sum it up, you''ve got high pressure water being moved by higher pressure gas, all being heated up by a magnetically confined plasma which is hotter than the centre of the sun, in a fairly good vacuum.¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°I can see why you do regular maintenance.¡± Sarah said with appreciation.


    ¡°I presume we''re just waiting for your family to finish their swim?¡± John asked.


    ¡°Yes. Except... would it be OK if I went and joined them? Getting to somewhere we can really swim is something that only happens once every couple of years. I mean, we do somtimes swim underwater near Altantis, and there are exercise pools there too, of course, but...¡±


    ¡°It''s nothing like the real thing?¡± Sarah asked.


    ¡°Exactly. Real waves, propper currents,...¡±


    ¡°Go ahead. You know how long it takes us to get where we''re going.¡±


    ¡°We allocated half an hour each side to mess about with inflatable boats...¡±


    ¡°Which we replaced with a few minutes of walking?¡± Sarah grinned, ¡°Feel free to play, cousin.¡±


    Karella took her at her word, and after pointing out the sleeping arrangements and other important facilities on the sub, she went off to find her family. Sarah looked at the bed. At this time of night - morning ¡ª it looked incredibly tempting. ¡°Our hosts are away, I think we might as well try to get some sleep, don''t you?¡±


    ¡°Sounds eminently sensible. I''m sure the picnic can wait until breakfast time if we don''t wake up when they get back.¡±


    ¡°Or even if we do. Are you hungry?¡±


    ¡°Not really.¡±


    <hr>


    </a>7:30am, Under the Atlantic


    John woke up, bleary eyed, as Sarah crawled back over him from her short trip. ¡°Sorry, love.¡± she mumbled, and settled back to sleep. Three breaths later she seemed to have succeeded. John wasn''t so fortunate. He adjusted his position a little and Sarah shifted slightly, taking up more space. Karella had been right, there wasn''t really space for two on the bed, especially when one of them was five months pregnant. John listened to Sarah''s sleepy thoughts ¡ª mostly about what to call Baby ¡ª and eventually managed to doze uncomfortably himself.


    <hr>


    </a>9am, Under the Atlantic


    A thundering metallic sound echoed through the submarine, and penetrated John''s sleeping thoughts. ¡°What''s that?¡± he whispered, half to himself.


    ¡°Noise pollution.¡± Jake replied quietly from his bunk. ¡°We''re staying fairly near to the surface to confuse your microphones, and make them think we''re just an airliner going over, but it means we get your freighters.¡±


    ¡°Oh.¡± John said, and then realised that Sarah wasn''t beside him. ¡°Is everyone else up?¡± he asked, equally quietly.


    ¡°Not Mabel. Welcome to somewhere mid-Atlantic, also known as the boring bit of the journey.¡±


    ¡°Does it count as breakfast time, or are we waiting for Mabel.¡±


    ¡°No, we''re waiting for you actually. Hungry?¡± Jake sounded optimistic.


    John''s stomach rumbled noisily. ¡°I guess so.¡± he replied, still in a half-whisper.


    ¡°Oh good. This bit of the journey''s just got more interesting.¡±


    John sat up and almost put his foot on the sleeping girl.


    ¡°Oops.¡± Jake said. ¡°I was supposed to warn you.¡±


    ¡°I thought she had a bed?¡±


    ¡°She was awake earlier. Mum moved her so Sarah could have more space, but Sarah couldn''t sleep, and it looks like Mabel could.¡±


    ¡°And you''ve been driving or piloting or whatever the word is?¡± John asked.


    ¡°No, we can leave that to the computer unless anything exciting happens.¡±


    ¡°What counts as exciting on this leg of the journey?¡±


    ¡°Contact with a landfolk warship, for example. Some of your ships can almost go as fast as we can. And your torpedoes can certainly go faster than us.¡±


    ¡°Is it likely they''d shoot?¡±


    ¡°You tell me.¡±


    ¡°I hope not. Not without trying to contact us first, anyway.¡±


    ¡°Well, they can try. They''re not going to succeed in making us stop though. Too many questions we''d rather die than answer. That might change while you''re in the city of course, but right now, standard rules of engagement apply.¡±


    ¡°What are those?¡±


    ¡°Don''t get stopped. If you do get stopped, don''t let them board. If you do get boarded, that''s an act of war and your vessel and genome are a top military secret. Assess their forces and act accordingly.¡±


    ¡°Meaning what exactly?¡±


    ¡°Out here? Just sink the sub, probably. Somewhere shallower? Self destruct.¡±


    ¡°Isn''t that rather extreme?¡±


    ¡°When the survival of our whole sub-species is at stake? I don''t think so. We don''t want to be hunted down, experimented on, nuked, and so on. We know that''s would have happened in the past, and we''re still acting on that presumption.¡±


    ¡°Oh.¡± John hadn''t quite thought of it like that. But it made sense. ¡°I hope we don''t ever end up with a war between subspecies.¡±


    ¡°So do I. You''d lose a lot of ships, possibly even coastal towns while it was going on. But we''d be annihilated. We have sea-power, but no air-power.¡±


    ¡°What a depressing topic of conversation.¡± Mabel said.


    ¡°Hi Mabe.¡± Jake said. ¡°Did you sneak a look in the funny basket?¡±


    ¡°No. That''d be rude.¡±


    ¡°Sarah said I could have a peak. She and John brought all sorts of strange packets with them. I think they''re for eating.¡±


    ¡°Most of them are.¡± John said. ¡°But we also brought a few litres of fruit juice too.¡±


    ¡°Oh wow. Hear that, Mabe? I think we''re about to eat and drink a king''s ransom.¡±


    ¡°Oh goody, I''m hungry.¡± Mable said.


    <hr>


    Halfway through the meal Karella said, ¡°You know, we''re being incredibly selfish, eating all this ourselves.¡±


    ¡°I suppose we don''t need to open the second packet of ham.¡± Sarah suggested. ¡°But honestly, lots of this food should have stayed in a refrigerator, and we just fell asleep with it in a warm room without asking if you even had one on board. It''d be dangerous to leave it uneaten.¡±


    ¡°Oh, well, if it''s going to go off anyway, I''d love some more of the dead pig.¡± Sathie said.


    ¡°Ham.¡± Karella corrected. ¡°Or pork, depending.¡±


    ¡°On what?¡± Sathie asked.


    ¡°How it''s been processed, and where it comes from?¡± Karella said, looking to Sarah for help.


    ¡°John? Any idea? About all I know is that pork cooks to white, but ham and gammon stay pinkish.¡±


    ¡°Oh, I used to know this.¡± John said ¡°I know that ham is pork that''s been cured, and that curing means they put something on it that''s not just salt. I''m afraid I can''t remember what else it is. But that''s why it stays pink: because of the curing.¡±


    ¡°OK. So ham is pink pork.¡± Sathie summarised.


    ¡°Not quite dear.¡± Karella said.


    ¡°Fine! Ham is delicious, and stays pink when you cook it.¡±


    ¡°I''ll agree with that.¡± Jake declared ¡°Now, what was this one again?¡± he asked, taking a bite.


    ¡°That''s a croissant.¡± Sarah said. ¡°Invented by the French. Best served warm with butter and jam. Except that you probably ought to avoid the butter, since that''s from cows. Oh no! The croissant probably has butter in it too, I''ve just remembered.¡±


    ¡°I accept the possibility of stomach pain. This is good!¡±


    ¡°I''ll remind you you said that.¡± Karella said. ¡°And don''t speak with your mouth full.¡±


    ¡°What is the chance of us not being able to digest it, Mum?¡± Mabel asked.


    ¡°Lots of landfolk can digest it, I''ve never heard of a study on how many merfolk couldn''t. You three have got land-folk genetics from your English land-folk ancestors from my side and your Dutch land-folk ancestors from your Dad''s side, but I don''t know, really.¡±


    ¡°Not to mention our Maori ancestors.¡± Mabel added.


    ¡°That''s true, but I''m not sure if the Maori influence would help.¡± Karella replied.


    Sarah pulled a face ¡°From what I remember, I''d expect any ancient Greek or Phoenician ancestry would be more useful than Maori.¡±


    ¡°Oh! Well, give me a croissant, then.¡± Karella said. ¡°We''ve got plenty of Greeks and Phoenicians in our ancestry.¡±


    ¡°But we''ve also got webbed feet.¡± Sathie said.


    ¡°Yes, Sathie. There''s no doubt that you''re mer. Certainly not after the way you were catching fish last night.¡±


    ¡°That was fun!¡± Sathie declared.


    ¡°Oh, I didn''t say.¡± Karella offered, ¡°If anyone wants some fish, we''ve got a full hold. I can easily grill some.¡±


    ¡°Fresh-caught fish?¡± Sarah said ¡°I''d have certainly taken you up on that, but I''m full now.¡±


    ¡°Same here.¡± John added.


    Mabel looked at them strangely, trying to work out if they were joking. ¡°I suppose if you don''t eat fish every day...¡± she shook her head after trying to process that strange concept for a while, and asked ¡°Can I have some more ham, please? We don''t want it to go off, do we?¡±


    ¡°Here you are.¡± John said. ¡°And after you''ve finished that, it might be safe to get out the chocolate.¡±


    ¡°It''s terrible, terrible stuff, children.¡± Karella said, trying not to smile. ¡°Don''t risk trying it.¡±


    ¡°I''ve heard about you selling some, once, Mum.¡± Jake said ¡°Wasn''t the going rate it''s weight in diamonds.¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡± Karella agreed. ¡°Such terrible, profligate wastefulness.¡±


    ¡°Diamonds in exchange for chocolate? I should think so.¡± Sarah agreed.


    ¡°I really should have kept the chocolate.¡± Karella said.

 The Other Big Secret 3: Safely out at sea / Ch. 2: How and where

    <h2>The Other Big Secret 3: Safely out to sea / Ch. 2:How and where</h2>


    </a>Monday 2nd July, 2277


    Sarah and John welcomed Rose and Enoch as they stepped off the submarine that had brought them.


    ¡°Sorry we couldn''t get here before the decision.¡± Rose said, ¡°But really, I don''t think anything we said would have affected the vote.¡±


    ¡°You wouldn''t tell me.¡± Sarah said. ¡°What would you have said?¡±


    ¡°I would have said that if they can cope with the idea that there have been thought hearers hiding among them for these past few thousand years, I really don''t see the problem with them being told, ''By the way, those sailors who said they saw mermaids were not looking at dugongs.'' Personally I''ve always found that really offensive.¡±


    ¡°No similarity at all.¡± Enoch agreed.


    ¡°I think the fact that your people can satisfy the medical world''s curiosity also helps.¡± Sarah agreed, ¡°But Rose, weren''t you ever worried about what someone would say about your blood cell counts and things like that?¡±


    ¡°Not really.¡± Rose said. ¡°I''d have told them, ''Oh, that''s no surprise, my Mum had the same, and she lived until a hundred and twenty''.¡±


    ¡°And your toes?¡± John asked.


    ¡°Were surgically altered, before I left, yes. It does make a difference when swimming, but it''s only a couple of percent. Not nearly significant enough to miss.¡±


    ¡°And you had no idea, Enoch?¡± Sarah asked.


    ¡°Well, I knew she didn''t want me to meet her parents, or look at where she lived. I just assumed it was because she was from a particularly bad neighbourhood, or something.¡±


    ¡°What does your little passenger think of high-speed submarine travel and all the lovely meetings you''ve been enjoying?¡± Rose asked.


    ¡°I think Baby is totally ambivalent about such matters, but thinks that when I''m moving it''s obviously time to sleep, and when I''m trying to sleep it''s party time.¡±


    ¡°A common problem, I understand.¡± Rose sympathised.


    ¡°So, you''ve missed the vote, but I really hope you''re going to be involved in the bigger question.¡±


    ¡°Ohhhw.¡± Rose replied, in a moody teenager voice, ¡°I thought we were here to play tourist, meet my family, and have a holiday.¡±


    ¡°That''s the evenings, cousin.¡± Karella said, coming forwards to embrace her. ¡°It''s good to see you, at long last.¡±


    ¡°Karella Farspeaker, I present you with a gift.¡± Enoch said formally, handing her a heavy duffel-bag. ¡°The first thing you can do is find the people you conned out of diamonds and give them at least a whole bar, and the second thing you can do is share what''s left with your friends and family.¡±


    ¡°But you can''t eat diamonds!¡± Karella objected ¡°They don''t melt in your mouth and send shivers up your spine or...¡±


    ¡°I know.¡± Rose cut her off ¡°But since where this bag came from, a diamond''s worth of chocolate would probably sink your submarine, don''t you think it''s good policy to try to share some of your newfound riches?¡±


    ¡°Of course it is.¡± Karella agreed.


    ¡°What you really ought to do.¡± Sarah suggested, ¡°Once you''ve given them a bar, of course, is invite them to a chocolate fondue party.¡±


    Rose looked at Sarah in mock-shock, ¡°What are you trying to do to my culture, Sarah? Turn us all into total hedonists?¡±


    ¡°Hey, you''re the one that brought the twenty kilos of chocolate. I just gave two bars each to Karella''s children.¡±


    ¡°And none to Karella and Christoph?¡± Enoch was surprised.


    ¡°Four each to the parents.¡± John supplied.


    ¡°So, what''s the going rate for trade in surplus chocolate?¡± Rose asked her cousin.


    ¡°Do you realise? Almost everyone who has come back has brought about as much chocolate as you did? The price has dropped through the floor.¡±


    ¡°Good. Chocolate is for eating, not getting rich with.¡±


    ¡°Were you joking about the diamonds? They''re that valuable?¡± Karella asked.


    ¡°It depends on the cut, the clarity and the colour, and the weight of course.¡± Sarah replied.


    John pointed both index fingers at her and said ¡°My beloved expert.¡±


    ¡°They''re not cut.¡± Karella said.


    ¡°Oooh. That makes better sense. Then it depends on how many flaws they''ve got in them, where, and things like that. I''m not an expert, but my Daddy did try to teach me some of what he knew.¡±


    ¡°So... just supposing.¡± Karella said ¡°I had an uncut diamond about as big as my thumb, would that be valuable?¡±


    ¡°Brown, Yellow, or colourless, where are the flaws in it, how many? And so on. I''d need to have a look. But unless it''s really badly flawed it ought to be worth a lot, yes.¡±


    ¡°A ship full of chocolate?¡±


    ¡°I''d guess, and it''s a total guess, that it''d be worth somewhere between a month of Rose''s salary and ten years. But I might be very wrong. If it''s so badly flawed that it''s only good for industrial purposes, then it''s not worth much at all, I''m afraid.¡±


    ¡°I grew up knowing about that use of diamond.¡± Rose said, ¡°I think Karella''s not talking about that sort of thing. But I ought to warn you, one of Karella''s ancestresses of the same name got herself a reputation of being able to sell a crocodile his own teeth.¡±


    ¡°I''m not as good as her, but I think it''ll make quite a pretty necklace if it gets cut and polished.¡± Karella agreed.


    ¡°Well, in that case, guard it well.¡± Sarah said. ¡°Because if it''s going to make a single gem then I might have underestimated the value. You didn''t get it in exchange for just some chocolate did you?¡±


    ¡°No. They insisted I trade a few other gems for it as well.¡±


    Sarah shook her head in dismay. ¡°Are diamonds so common, then?¡±


    ¡°What do you think, Sarah?¡± Rose said ¡°When almost everyone has a personal submarine and one holiday option is to go picking up shiny things off the coast of South Africa during the day and have fun swimming at night?¡±


    ¡°Oh. Let the sea and rivers do your mining for you?¡±


    ¡°Exactly.¡± Karella agreed ¡°Or if you go to another river you find all these bits of yellow metal instead.¡±


    ¡°So, as a people, you''ve got gold, you''ve got diamonds, and presumably other gemstones, too?¡±


    ¡°Yes. But not much chocolate.¡± Karella grinned.


    ¡°I''m just wondering what you''re going to do to the world prices of gold, diamonds and so on.¡±


    ¡°Well, you know our sub was sort of dark greyish?¡± Karella asked.


    ¡°Yes?¡±


    ¡°Under the anti-reflective coatings and the paint and so on, it''s a made of one of our more traditional alloys. A pretty yellow one.¡±


    Rose added ¡°I just couldn''t believe how valuable gold is on land. But don''t worry, Sarah, you won''t find us offering to melt down our subs, any more than you''d volunteer to wreck you house.¡±


    ¡°But getting back to the important issues,¡± Karella asked, ¡°Rose, Enoch, you will help with the discussion of how we reveal ourselves, won''t you?¡±


    ¡°Of course, milady High councillor.¡± Rose said, with a formal curtsy.


    <hr>


    </a>Tuesday 3rd July


    Karella summarised the previous day''s discussion, and then put the important question. ¡°Now, we''ve agreed that on the political front, we should contact the United Nations, and get ourselves recognised as a state. That we''ll need to establish embassies, accept ambassadors, and so on, and then we can actually become a member state of the U.N. Has anyone actually managed to think of any contacts they might have in the United Nations who might be helpful in this process?¡±


    ¡°I think I do.¡± Sarah replied. ¡°Or failing that I know I someone who knows people.¡±


    [Do you mean your cousin?] Karella asked.


    [No. Vivian would be the standby option. The first option would be a woman she knows called Lilly, who used to work in the information department. I don''t know if she still does.]


    [Vivian as in Vivian with the gift?]


    [Yes. Lilly is probably better than either of us at keeping secrets, by the way, and she''s a thought-hearer and registered truthsayer.]


    ¡°Thank-you Sarah.¡± Karella said, ¡°Does anyone else think they''ve got a possible contact person?¡±


    No one did.


    ¡°Next question: public relations. Sarah''s already told the council about her contacts in that area, and I must say they''re quite good, but does anyone else know any public relations people or nationally or internationally recognised journalists?¡±


    There were a few more of them. ¡°I don''t suppose any of them are thought hearers are they?¡±


    None were known to be.


    ¡°I suggest that we make contact via the Institute for the Human mind or via the association of truthsayers.¡± Rose suggested ¡°Either of them are non-political, independent from government control, and with a good reputation. I guess the institute''s got the better reputation, but the truthsayer association has branches in more countries.¡± Sarah had been very pleasantly surprised about that development. In the last year they''d been able to officially launch branches in ten countries, with entirely compatible legal standing. It was encouraging to see.


    Sarah had a couple of thoughts. ¡°A couple of related questions, probably best addressed later, is what you plan to call your nation, and whether there is any benefit to having an association of truthsayers branch here.¡±


    ¡°I can see the relevance of the first question, but why the second, Sarah?¡± Karella asked.


    ¡°I was just thinking that if there were a branch here, then it would go a long way to explain why the other branches are being a points of contact. You know: ''We''ve had a request from our sister branch that we contact you ....'' But it''s not necessary, at all.¡±


    A man, who like Enoch, had married a mermaid all unknowing, said ¡°If there was a branch of truthsayers here, then it''d be helpful from a business point of view. Especially if they were able to act as interpreters too.¡±


    ¡°And really... don''t you think you ought to issue currency?¡± someone else asked. ¡°It''s all very well being on the gold standard internally, but since you value gold so much less than land-folk it''s going to be very difficult to work for international trade.¡±


    ¡°Perhaps we could try to find some standard everyone agrees on.¡± Karella said. ¡°But that''s a whole new debate, isn''t it?¡±


    ¡°International friendship often starts with trade.¡± the first husband pointed out.


    A woman, Sarah presumed the man''s wife, stood and said ¡°Most of the land-folk will not be happy with barter, nor will they be happy if they discover that we don''t have a police-force, or an army for that matter.


    They''re going to call us a barbarian city-state, or an anarchy, or something like that.


    They will be surprised that we guard our traditions make our laws and settle our disputes by a council.


    And some of them might go beyond surprise, and decide that because we have no army they can take us over, or that because we have no police, we have no laws. To survive, I believe we must adapt, we must change. I voted in favour of us joining the world, but it will not be enough to tell the world we are here and then carry on as before. So, I humbly suggest to our honoured council that we reinstate these things we had once and have discarded, a monarch, an army, a city guard. We do not need them for ourselves, but we need them for dealing with outsiders.¡±


    ¡°And who would be in this army?¡± one of the council asked.


    ¡°For the defence of our people, our sovereignty, and our children? All of us able to fight! But now, as in times past, there are those better able to plan, better at strategic thinking, better at leading. Let us identify those people and give them military titles.¡±


    ¡°Ah.¡± the council member said, light dawning, ¡°You mean that we agree on a title for those we would look to normally?¡±


    ¡°Exactly, councilor.¡±


    ¡°And the city guard, the police? What of them?¡±


    ¡°I suggest that each district of the city pick someone best able to meet this role, of dealing with lost children and visitors, complaints, and yes, able to investigate too.¡±


    ¡°I see.¡± the council member sat, now understanding, he felt, what she was getting at.


    Another stood, asking ¡°You have raised the suggestion of monarchy. Do we presume correctly that you have someone in particular in mind?¡±


    ¡°I have, councilor. I will find it interesting to see if the council reaches the same thought that I had last night.¡±


    ¡°You do not choose to enlighten us, then?¡±


    ¡°I was thinking that it should be one who would feel inadequate for the responsibility, and so rely heavily upon the council, but yet be able to make tough decisions and carry them through. One who had already proven themselves able to lead without it going to their heads, linked to us by blood and family ties, but very familiar with the ways of the land-folk, because they''d be dealing with them on our behalf. One who would see their role as a duty they would carry out to the best of their ability, not as an opportunity to get rich. That is the sort of person I would suggest the council look for.¡±


    ¡°And do you actually know of such a paragon of virtue?¡± Karella asked.


    ¡°If it is the will of the council, I will will not remain silent. But I would prefer to do so.¡± she replied.


    The council members discussed it, and affirmed that they did want to know.


    ¡°Might we also know why you wish to remain silent?¡± Karella asked.


    ¡°Because the person I nominate may not thank me, and I''ve got plenty of reasons to thank her. Well, I''d better start off by saying that I work at a little shop, selling jewelery to people who want something unusual. I have done so for about five years now. That shop one out of a chain and that chain is part of a bigger company, which is in turn part of a big company. About five years ago I was considering leaving, because of something that I''d expected to be a pleasant surprise was no where near as pleasant as I thought it would be. Then, from nowhere, I got a personal message from the ultimate owner of the company, saying she expected that I''d been very disappointed, and that there had been a mistake in the way that a computer had been programmed, and it was a direct violation of lots and lots of company policy. She also explained who''s job it had been to make sure that sort of thing didn''t happen and that she''d be expecting them to correct the issue personally, or they''d be looking for new jobs. For disappointing me, and other people who''d only worked there a few months. Not for breaking our contracts, or anything like that, but just because the bonus I got was rather small.


    She didn''t need to do that. I was a very small person in an enormous corporation, but she took a personal interest in how I''d been treated, and went to personal trouble for me. Later on, I saw her giving an interview on the news about the situation. She doesn''t like giving interviews, but she gave one anyway, and it was clear that she felt like her honour had been insulted by they way I and others like me had been treated by a computer. Yes, that''d happened because people hadn''t done their jobs properly, but the thing that got to her, I think, was that it was in her company, because she wanted to be better than that. That shows me just what a good boss she is. She''s rich enough that she doesn''t need to lift a finger, but I''ve heard that she works for her living and then gives away all or at least almost all the money from her inheritance. That''s so special! She''s now sitting over there, all embarrassed by the praise I''m giving her, but she''s a good person. I guess that''s why she''s here, too. I want to say thank you, Mrs Williams. I''ve had other job offers, but there''s no way I''m leaving GemSmith for another job while you''re in charge.¡± She faced the council once more and continued, ¡°As we heard earlier, Mrs Williams''s got enough mer blood in her to suffer the pain. My great-grandmother had enough land-folk blood in her that she did too, so I''ve heard of it and sympathise. Mrs Williams is related to royalty already, and I''d say she''s easily got the right attitude. So, I think she''ll do the job well. Sorry to do this to you, Maam, I just can''t think of anyone else more suited to be monarch.¡±


    All eyes focussed on Sarah, who felt she needed to stand to give her reply. ¡°Urm. Thank you for that endorsement, but really, I don''t know your people, I don''t know your laws, I don''t know your language, history or customs. How could I ever be your monarch? I''m also about to become a mother, and I want to cut down on my work-load, not add to it. You''re right that I take my responsibilities seriously. I already have too many, more even than have already been mentioned. Please don''t give me any more.¡±


    There were murmurs of thanks and appreciation for Sarah''s reply. She was right: she didn''t know enough to rule them.


    ¡°The council will discuss this suggestion that we call on someone to be monarch.¡± Karella declared. ¡°I feel it has merit, and if we follow this path, it will obviously affect how we implement some of the things we decide, but it is still the role of the council to decide these matters before us. Much though we might like, we cannot leave them to chance, or thrust such onerous responsibility on any individual.¡±


    The discussion moved on to questions of whether her other suggestions, that formal military and police structures be adopted. Eventually both ideas were accepted.


    [Who was the woman who thought I''d make a good queen?] Sarah asked Karella, during a break.


    [Remember Rose, who once had the emerald? She was a doctor and later on worked closely with another land-folk doctor, called Pania, who married a cousin of Rose''s husband. About eight generations later you get to that Rose, who''s a second cousin to Enoch''s Rose.]


    [You really know your genealogies, don''t you?]


    [You don''t?]


    [Not really. I got totally shocked to discover I had any second cousins just before I got married.]


    [Part of it is that we''re a small community. We want to try to avoid intermarriage within the family lines, if we can. So when you meet someone you name a few famous ancestors really early on, to make sure they''re not distant cousins.]


    [It''s not advised, but we can still marry second cousins.]


    [We''d certainly see that as incest. We''d try to avoid marrying fourth cousins. It was a fourth cousin marriage that gave her great-grandmother the pain, but like she said, almost half of that grandmother''s forebears were land-folk.]


    [Whereas I end up with the pain with a single merfolk forebear?]


    [It''s not fair is it?]


    [It doesn''t seem reasonable either. Hold on, though, you said Pania?]


    [Yes. Why?]


    [I''m sort of named after a woman who got called ''Princess Sarah'': even though she wasn''t a princess, her mother claimed she was. Her mother was almost certainly a thought-hearer, a con-artist, and exotic dancer, who went by the name of Pania.]


    [No idea. Rose might though.]


    [Which one?]


    [I''d start with Rose the royalist, if I were you.]


    Sarah took that good advice. ¡°Hi! I hope you don''t mind me turning down the crown.¡±


    ¡°Did you? I thought you said ''Please, don''t do this to me!'' which isn''t quite the same thing.¡±


    ¡°I should have been more forceful, you mean?¡±


    ¡°Not from my point of view! I''m Rose, by the way.¡±


    ¡°I know, Karella told me. She also told me we''re really distant cousins.¡±


    ¡°True. But you could say that about everyone in this room, I expect, if you go back far enough.¡±


    ¡°What I''m wondering is if we''re more related than Karella thought.¡±


    ¡°Oooh, I love comparing family trees.¡±


    ¡°Well, I don''t have much to go on really, except knowing that I''m descended from so-called ''Princess'' Sarah, hence I got to wear a pretty dress on my wedding day, and her mother was called Pania.¡±


    ¡°I''ve heard of ''Princess'' Sarah, but not much. What do you know about her mother?¡±


    ¡°Born something like 2035, exotic dancer, emigrated from I''m not sure where, con-artist, almost certainly a thought-hearer. I''ve seen an old picture of some of her costumes: one looked like a fish-tail.¡±


    Rose nodded. ¡°Pania my ancestress had a daughter called Sarah, who had a daughter called Maria, who called her firstborn Pania, after her grandmother, in about 2035. It almost has to be her, doesn''t it? She was a real disappointment to people who knew her great grandmother. A right rebel, she was, according to the family history. I''m descended from Maria''s second daughter, who she called Rose, in honour of her grandmother''s benefactress. Well, well, well! Now we know what happened to her!¡±


    ¡°So, I''ve got some mer blood on both sides. And you can add a whole branch to your family tree from the public records when you get home. But, can I ask? Why did you leave here?¡±


    Rose looked around and sighed. ¡°Policy. To live here, you''re either an academic or a teacher or doing something else good for the survival of the nation, or you get asked to be a farmer or otherwise be in food production. I love history, but was never so great a teacher that that appealed. There weren''t any openings for yet another archivist, and the whole farming thing didn''t really suit me either. I didn''t really fit, and every few years, an English-speaking or Spanish-speaking twenty something year old who doesn''t really fit gets asked to go and travel the world, find out what''s new since we last heard, and depending on how they''re feeling about coming back, see if they want to settle away, too.¡±


    ¡°You were asked to emigrate?¡±


    ¡°No. But I was given the opportunity to, and I jumped at it. We knew we''d have to mislead the immigration authorities, of course, and tell them we had no paperwork, had run away from home or were stateless or amnesiac or whatever. I wasn''t comfortable with doing that, but I couldn''t tell them the truth, could I?¡±


    ¡°I guess not. What did you tell them?¡±


    ¡°I had no paperwork, my parents who didn''t live here hadn''t registered my birth, I didn''t want to get them in any more trouble than they were in already, but I''d run away from home. No state would recognise me, but I had some distant relatives here, well there.¡±


    ¡°And they accepted that?¡±


    ¡°After a lie detector test and verifying that my DNA wasn''t registered anywhere, eventually, yes. But I got the feeling that they were building up a database of people with stories like mine. I heard them thinking something like me being another matching case. I let Karella know. I must say, when the truthsayers were formed, I was wondering if I''d be called in for another interview.¡±


    ¡°Well, you could always join up as a truthsayer yourself.¡±


    ¡°Oh yes?¡± Rose laughed ¡°And so deliberately get in a position where I have to tell someone the big secret I''m trying to protect?¡±


    ¡°Well, John already knows it, so I don''t see there''s much risk there.¡±


    ¡°Hold on... you''re saying that John interviews applicants?¡±


    ¡°Sorry, I thought Karella had so thoroughly breached the U.N. resolution about naming who works at the institute that everyone knew. John''s a psych-counsellor, we both work at the institute. I also happen to still be in control the I.D. crystal machine, despite my best efforts to get someone else to take it over.¡±


    ¡°So... you''ve actually met everyone on the register?¡±


    ¡°Not everyone. But a face-to-face meeting is by far the easiest way.¡±


    ¡°Wow. You''ve got almost as many secrets in your brain as Karella.¡±


    Sarah looked at Rose curiously. ¡°I guess you really missed the introductions, didn''t you? Oh, I''m sorry. You weren''t here, were you?¡±


    ¡°I don''t understand.¡± Rose said, confused.


    ¡°When Karella announced that she''d picked me as advisor, one of the things she said was I''d interrupted her listening to the previous speaker. Bit of a give-away, that, given how many kilometres apart we were and how limited the wrist unit service is here. I really must tell her off for that, sometime she''s not so busy. There''s some things you just don''t publicise to other people.¡±


    ¡°You''ve got the gift.¡± Rose whispered.


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°I proposed that someone with the gift be our monarch?¡± Rose shook her head. ¡°What a laugh.¡±


    ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°I nominated you because I was thinking that Karella might get nominated otherwise. No disrespect to her, but I was thinking there''s no way we should be giving even more political power to someone with that much spiritual power.¡±


    ¡°Oh, you''re into the separation of powers, are you?¡± Sarah asked.


    ¡°We are technically a republic, at least this week.¡±


    ¡°Karella just labeled you a royalist, did you know?¡±


    ¡°Me?¡± Rose laughed. ¡°Not really. Just a pragmatist. The world at the moment seems to be in favour of kings, so be it. We''ve always had the council, sometimes we have a king too.¡±


    ¡°And the council rules by unanimity?¡±


    ¡°Whatever gave you that idea? Well, maybe they do, but really, the council rules by convincing people what the really silly ideas are and why, and allowing some of the good ones to be tried. That''s actually one reason I proposed reinstating a monarch. The council''s good at talking until they come up with a decision everyone can live with, but not so good at acting. Maybe I''m overstating things, but I expect that if the interceptor wasn''t going to hit us then they''d still be talking about things in a decade.¡±


    ¡°So someone makes a suggestion, and the council will kick it around for a while and see what''s left after the rough corners have been knocked off?¡±


    John asked, coming up with some drinks. ¡°Hi, I''m John.¡±


    ¡°Hello, I''m Rose.¡±


    ¡°I hope you''re not trying to convince Sarah that she ought to rule your people as well.¡±


    ¡°As well?¡± Rose asked.


    ¡°I got nominated as matriarch for a clan of about fifty people a while back. Well, John did too, but they''re traditionally matriarchal, so he takes a back-seat most of the time. Since it was practically her dying breath, we didn''t get much chance to protest.¡±


    ¡°Oh, so that''s the secret is it, not give you a chance to react?¡±


    ¡°Too late now.¡± Sarah said sweetly. ¡°I''m forewarned. But what about your future? Thinking of applying to join? John, Rose might be considering joining the truthsayers.¡±


    ¡°Just how complicated is it?¡±


    ¡°What, joining?¡± Sarah asked.


    ¡°I mean, I''m sure I wouldn''t object to an I.D. that says I''m trustworthy, and I''m sure you could fix it that I can get time off work for training, but...¡±


    ¡°But?¡±


    ¡°I can''t think of any time that I''d use it.¡±


    ¡°Oh, that''s fine.¡± Sarah said. ¡°We don''t mind having people like that. About half our members are inactive. It''s more a case of would you be prepared to act as an expert witness if there was a need, while upholding the good name of the organisation, not parading anyone''s secrets in public, while not letting them pass a lie for truth. That sort of thing.¡±


    ¡°Not making known secrets?¡± Rose was confused.


    ¡°Exactly.¡±


    ¡°I don''t get it.¡±


    ¡°The truthsayer is more than a dumb computer repeating thoughts. The truthsayer listens to what the person thinks and states what is truth, what is not, what''s partially true, and if it happens, what they''re not sure of. They don''t publicise what they hear.¡±


    ¡°I didn''t have anything to fear then?¡±


    ¡°Well, you might have leaked the secret to the truthsayer, but they''re sworn to protect the mental privacy of the people they''re examining. The interview is mostly our attempt to make sure that no-one swears falsely.¡±


    ¡°A vow must be kept.¡± Rose said. ¡°That''s one of the first thing we learn, and vow-breaking is one of the few things we have a death penalty for. You could say it''s the foundation of our society.¡±


    ¡°I''d heard.¡±


    ¡°Karella again?¡±


    ¡°Rose, actually. Urm, Rose as in Enoch''s wife.¡±


    ¡°Oh. I don''t think I know her.¡±


    ¡°Well, can I make the introductions? You must be relatives to some degree.¡±


    Rose laughed. ¡°I expect so.¡±


    [Rose, are you free? I''d like to introduce you to Rose.] Sarah called.


    [Coming. Oh, the one who thought you ought to be queen?]


    [Yes.]


    [I''m always happy to meet another relative!]


    ¡°She''s coming.¡± Sarah reported.


    <hr>


    </a>Tuesday Evening, 3rd July, Atlantis.


    [So, John, what do you think?] Sarah asked.


    [I tend to agree with what you told the council. A monarch whose role is simply an intermediary is not much of a monarch. That''s an ambassador. They could give an ambassador lots of leeway in negotiations, but it still doesn''t make them a monarch.]


    If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    [Rose the monarchist was talking about there needing to be someone with decision making power. I can sympathise. It seemed that they''ve been kicking around some of these ideas a long time.]


    [It''s interesting how some of the ideas have become accepted almost immediately, others not.]


    [I guess everyone saw the need for them.]


    [So, we''re going to have a branch of the truthsayers here. That''s going to be a challenge with half the population being thought-hearers. You know who''s going to need to be training them, don''t you?]


    [I hope you''re not thinking of yourself.] John said.


    [Me? No. I''m not that good, I can cheat too easily. It''s going to either be May or Rhianna Quy. Rhi''s almost as good as May at giving people the silent treatment.]


    [She''s available?]


    [Good question. I don''t want to do without May, that''s certain.]


    [So, you''re going to ask her?] John asked, [Or are you going to lie awake worrying for hours?]


    [I''ll ask her, assuming she''s not asleep by now.]


    <hr>


    </a>Tuesday Evening, 3rd July, Quy household


    [Rhi, itsy-bitsy little question for you.] Sarah called to Rhianna.


    [Hi Sarah. I hear you''re incommunicado.]


    [Absolutely.]


    [I''ve never been to Communicado, what''s it like there?]


    [Old joke, Rhi. But apt, actually.]


    [Really?]


    [I''ve not asked anyone, but in this nameless place that I am at the moment, there might be a training need. Would you be free to come if I wangled you an invitation?]


    [What, turn down the opportunity to mope around home bemoaning the lack of summer jobs that don''t involve heavy lifting? Are we talking a paying job, or just lots of kudos at the association?]


    [I expect that the people you''re training will be able to make it worth your time. Plus kudos, plus bragging rights when you get back to university, but at the moment, total secrecy and no promises.]


    [If it includes food and board, I''m in.]


    [Do you like fish?]


    [Yes. What sort of a question is that?]


    [Relevant.]


    [Where on Earth are you, Sarah?]


    [Sorry, I took a vow not to tell.]


    [Oh. OK.]


    [Your passport is valid, I presume?]


    [Yes.]


    [Good. I''ll let you know when I know more.]


    [So... how much notice am I likely to get for this international trip?]


    [Not exactly sure. How much do you need?]


    [Well, there''s this boy, nothing serious, we''re just friends...]


    [Oh yes? Do feel free to continue!]


    [Not much to say. I met him at University, in the Christian Union. I think he''s going to ask me out one of these days.]


    [And if he happens to send you a message when you''re gone, you don''t want him to feel all ignored?]


    [Exactly.] Rhi replied.


    [Tricky. I''ve no idea, really. So far I''ve seen a number of decisions being made. Ones I''d have expected to take a long time seem to have just been rushed through, others I thought were pretty obvious have been postponed to give people more time to think. So, really I''ve no idea. But I''d assume that if you come here, you''re going to be staying at least until the end of the month, maybe even the end of the summer.]


    [Oh, wow. Maybe I ought to tell Kenny then.]


    [He''s got the power?]


    [Yes. It''s possible he''s just interested in the CAT. I really don''t know. You said training. What sort of thing are we talking about? Basic stuff?]


    [Basic intro to ethos, ethics and so on, then advanced stuff. In particular, quiet listening; there are more thought hearers here than you get in the general population.]


    [And several people?]


    [The government here read the charter, and said ''that looks very reasonable'' and passed a compatible version into law about five minutes later. So, we''ve got a charter. We''ve got one probable member with ties here, but also back home too ¡ª she works at one of my companies, would you believe it? ¡ª so, I''m not certain how long she''ll be staying. There are a number of others, though, who might be signing up. If they do I''ll tell them you''re available to train them, OK?]


    [Yes, so it''s early days yet, before I''ll be jumping on a plane.]


    [I''m sure you have twenty four hours. But, like I said, sometimes things move really quickly here. Speaking of moving quickly, how are Q.Q and Kara?]


    [They''re weird. They''ve decided on naming two dates, and are running an opinion poll on which one they should pick.]


    [That''s unusual.]


    [Yes. Date one is ten days before the end of the summer break. Date two is a couple of weeks into next summer break. Apparently they didn''t want to start their married life together right after a term, in case one of them caught something from the kids at the end of term, so they thought Christmas and Easter breaks were too short.]


    [Do you know how the voting is going?]


    [They''re not saying, but they are in a flurry of wedding fever, so it looks like the early date is a distinct possibility.]


    [Which one did you vote for?]


    [I think they know each other well enough to go for fast and crazy. What do you think?]


    [John and I suggested Christmas or Easter break. But end-of-termitis wasn''t something we''d thought of, and it''s a good point.]


    [So you''re in favour of fast and crazy too?]


    [I know we''d have gone crazy waiting a year, and that we also had lots of doubts about whether we were rushing things. Really, it''s up to them to decide. I do wonder what the school will think, though.]


    [Well, Kara did apparently tell them at interview that she was hoping to marry Q.Q. at some point, but that she had no plans to start a family until she had done at least three or four years of teaching.]


    <hr>


    </a>Wednesday Afternoon, 4th July, Quy household


    [Hi Rhi, are you busy?] Sarah asked.


    [Urm, just slowly deciding what to wear for a date.]


    [Kenny is interested then?]


    [Seems so, yes.]


    [Well, at least you''ve got time for one date. Have you told your parents about this potential summer job?]


    [Yes. Is it happening?]


    [Yes. Someone''s on the way to meet you already, actually. Would it be incredibly awful to ask you to meet her at about midnight tonight? Meeting point is just over an hour from your home, I hope. She speaks English.]


    [You''re serious?]


    [Yes. Travel time is about eight hours from where you''ll meet, and they''d like you to start training people tomorrow.]


    [If I''m travelling all night, I''m going to be in a rotten state tomorrow.]


    [I know, sorry.]


    [OK, I''ll go tell my parents I''m meeting a mysterious woman at midnight. And then I''d better pack. What sort of weather should I expect? Oh, and is there anything I should avoid wearing?]


    [Don''t wear high heels. Knowing what I know now, I''d have packed skirts, t-shirts, and maybe a light jumper or two, and sensible shoes. Pack in a ruck-sack if you''ve got one, you''ll need to do some hiking. Oh, and bring a torch ]


    [And no wrist unit?]


    [Oh, you can bring it. Just don''t expect to be able to get on-line.]


    [OK. I''m going to some warm mountainous place then?]


    [Mabel will explain all. Oh, if you did have time to bring a kilogram of sliced ham, then Mabel and her family would be very happy. Actually, no, don''t bother, I''ll have May bring you some, along with the other package she''ll be bringing you ¡ª tickets and things.]


    [No ham where I''m going? Oh, and you asked me about fish, didn''t you? Not a mountain then? Some isolated island?]


    [Mabel will explain. Or maybe her mum. I don''t know which.]


    [Mabel''s mum will be coming too?]


    [No. Karella''s got the gift.]


    [Unusual name.]


    [Don''t worry about it, Rhianna. Just be prepared to catch a train at about eleven P.M.]


    [They don''t run very often at that time of night from here.]


    [Oh, bother, I thought it was every quarter of an hour or so.]


    [Oh, they pass but they don''t stop. Where do I need to go?]


    [Hmm. Your hypersonic leaves the capital at eleven forty-five, I was thinking you''d get the hypersonic from Restoration.]


    [I can do that, I''ll be there for the date anyway. I''ll just have to say bye to my parents first. And if I''m doing that, how about I meet up with May there, and dump my bag at her place?]


    [That sounds like like a pretty good plan. I''ll check it''s OK with her.]


    [And I''ll go drop the little surprise on my parents.]


    <hr>


    </a>Wednesday, 4th July, 11.30pm


    [Hi, Rhi, I see you''re on time.] Sarah said.


    [I''m really confused about this ticket May handed me, Sarah. There''s no airports in that direction.]


    [I know that, Rhi.]


    [There''s no port either. May''s pretty confused she knew of in that direction was a campsite you''d bought recently.]


    [Good guess. I hope you''re wearing your sensible shoes and have that torch. How was the date, by the way?]


    [Disaster. He thought me calling him to get a move on if he was going to ask me out was an elaborate fib, and I''d been hiding my love for him for ages, and wow was he sure that he was a doing me a favour. Not the best way to start to a relationship.]


    [Oh.]


    [So, I''ve told my parents that if he does ring to tell him I''m not there and he shouldn''t bother ringing again. So, I''m meeting this Mabel in your campsite? Is there some kind of private airstrip nearby?]


    [More details when you''re getting off the hypersonic.]


    [This is really cloak and dagger, isn''t it? Where am I going, some top secret military base?]


    [Sorry, Rhi. When you find out you might say something out loud. But yes, for the moment it''s really secret.]


    [I''m not going into orbit, am I?]


    [No.]


    <hr>


    </a>Wednesday, 4th July, 11.55pm


    [Hi Rhi. Pleasant trip so far?]


    [Apart from being eaten up inside by curiosity. Kenny just rang, by the way, all apologetic, and asking if I''d consider going on another date.]


    [And?]


    [I told him that I was about to leave the country, and I''d see him at uni. I am leaving the country, right?]


    [Geographically, yes.]


    [What does that mean?]


    [I''ll explain later. Right now you leave the station and head left, then take the coastal path in about a hundred metres. There''s no one with bad intentions around, so don''t worry about bumping into anyone.]


    [Sarah, you''ve spoken of a government. If I leave one country and enter the jurisdiction of another government, surely I''m leaving the country?]


    [The thing is, our government doesn''t know where I am has a government, so for all I know they''ll treat it like you''re entering international waters. In that case, as long as you don''t go into the territory of another country, you''re not considered to have left home, see?]


    [Oh, wow.]


    [So, so far we haven''t asked, but we''re fairly sure you''re not breaking any laws.]


    [Why haven''t you asked? Oh because it''s a secret. But....]


    [Within a few weeks the secret will be all over the headlines. Once you''ve got enough truthsayers signed up, then the branch here is going to ask the other branches to play messenger.]


    [And we''re not talking about little green men, are we?]


    [No. Oh, does your wrist unit have your family tree stored on it?]


    [No. Why?]


    [Get a copy quick, if you can.]


    [Urm, OK. It''s relevant?]


    [They''re almost certainly relatives of yours, and they''re into genealogies.]


    [OK, urm it''s loading. Sarah....]


    [Yes, Rhi?]


    [Unknown, secret people living in an unknown secret location, but related to me?]


    [Yes? Confused yet?]


    [Thinking of stupid family legends. You''re going to laugh.]


    [Wait until you meet Mabel then. She arrived early, by the way, and her mum tells me there''s no one else around.]


    [Oh, should I hurry?]


    [She probably won''t thank you if you do.]


    [Why, is she resting?]


    [No.]


    [Sarah, you''re being very vague.]


    [That''s good.] Sarah checked where Rhianna was. [In about a hundred metres, turn left. There''s steps down to a beach.]


    [What was that?]


    [What?]


    [Big splash out at sea.]


    [Oh, yes, there were a few of those when we were there. Don''t worry, nothing at all scary unless you''re a fish or a shark.]


    [I''m not aware of being either.]


    [Good.]


    [But I''m definitely seeing things, maybe I''m suffering from exhaustion or waking dreams or something.]


    [You don''t sound like your delusional, Rhi.]


    [Well the only alternative is that the mermaid I''ve just seen wave at me while leaping out of the water like some dolphin is real, so I''ll stick with an overactive imagination. I''m hearing splashes and I''ve just been thinking about family legends about one of my great-great-grandfathers having a tail and rescuing his future wife from drowning at sea, so it fits.]


    [Tell you what, get down to the beach. Mabel will meet you there.] Sarah said.


    [{extreme concern}Sarah?] Rhianna thought [Am I going mad?]


    [{Calm, reassurance} Has Mabel finished with her swim?]


    [Mabel''s a mermaid? An honest to God mermaid?]


    [Well, the tail is just clothing. She''s sixteen, by the way.]


    ¡°Hello, Rhianna.¡± Mabel said, hooking her tail on one side and wringing out her hair. ¡°I hope you don''t mind me having a swim. We don''t get to do much proper swimming in Atlantis. The submarine is this way.¡±


    Rhianna followed in a daze.


    <hr>


    </a>Thursday, 5th July, 9am


    ¡°Did you sleep well?¡± Mabel asked, as Rhianna emerged from her cabin.


    ¡°Yes, thanks. You weren''t up all night, were you?¡±


    ¡°No! I got about seven hour''s sleep before the autopilot wanted advice about a land-folk warship on our path. We''re taking a nice slow detour. How does breakfast sound?¡±


    ¡°Good. Sarah arranged for some packages to be delivered to me. This one''s labeled ''for breakfast or there may be fish''.¡±


    ¡°Oooh, more Sarah picnic food! Yum! There is fish if you''d like.¡±


    ¡°Which sort?¡±


    ¡°Oh, well, urm, what do you call that lumpy one which goes on the bottom with all the bones in it? Mum sent some of that, and there''s some of the big one without many bones, too. Cod, that''s the name of that one. And I picked up a whole load of juicy-looking sardines while I was swimming, but they''d need cleaning.¡±


    ¡°I''ve never cleaned a fish before.¡±


    ¡°Want to learn?¡±


    ¡°Urm, maybe after some breakfast? Could I have some of the cod? I''ve heard it''s good, but never actually tasted it.¡±


    ¡°Of course! Never tasted cod! Wow.¡±


    ¡°Can I do anything to help?¡±


    ¡°No, I just need to heat it. You don''t mind me eating what Sarah sent, do you?¡±


    ¡°Not at all. Enjoy!¡±


    <hr>


    </a>Thursday, 5th July, 11am


    ¡°Mummy, allow me to present Rhianna Quy, truthsayer trainer and descendent, according to her family tree, of a certain Timothy R. James Turnbull, born nineteen ninety.¡±


    ¡°Oh really? I think I know what the R stands for.¡±


    ¡°I told her. And filled in some other initials for her too.¡±


    ¡°I don''t mean to be rude, but why do you name people that way?¡±


    ¡°It''s not rude.¡± Karella said, ¡°It''s to do with who you are. There''s really no doubt at all who someone''s mother, so that comes first. Their mother names the father, and so that comes second, plus it wasn''t always so sure in the past. Then there''s always room for other names to come and go after that. Like people have been calling me Farspeaker for a long time, so I''m probably stuck with it, but we don''t call Mabel Toe-eater any more, but we did for a few years, so it''s officially part of her full name, but it''s fallen out of use. Then to satisfy you land-folk we can add the surname name on the end, which doesn''t really fit, but oh well.¡±


    ¡°And how come you all speak English?¡±


    ¡°We don''t. But a lot of us do, because it''s good to have two languages from birth, and from the twentieth century on English has seemed like a good one to talk to outsiders with.¡±


    <hr>


    </a>Friday, 6th July, 10am


    ¡°This assembly has made many decisions.¡± the eldest of the council declared ¡°In fact I believe that our entire plan of action has been gone over sufficiently that we can call it decided. We will approach the press, governments and United Nations, through the individuals that we''ve selected, and the newly formed association of truthsayers will assist us in this. We have nominated ambassadors to the countries where we are most present. We will, as previously advised, empty the city, in case there is a problem with the city''s engines, and move the city out of the impact area. We will set up police and we have decided on the structure of our army. All details except one have been considered. Rose, I ask you step forward, and restate your suggestion. Only without nominating anyone, this time.¡±


    ¡°I suggest, with due respect to the council, that in dealing with the land-folk, a single ruler is going to be more understandable to them. Honestly, I''m not sure I understand how the council reaches decisions, and I grew up here. That is my suggestion, that we reinstate a monarchy.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Rose.¡± the eldest replied ¡°Sarah, you asked to speak on this issue also.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Eldest. I will start by saying that I have lived all my life in a monarchy, although it is not a monarchy as the word is often used. It is a country governed by law. The law is supreme, and the law is harsher on the monarch and his family than on civil servants, and harsher on civil servants than on the public. Thus, we have stability. We have chosen this way because too often those in power have abused their position, we hope we have a better system now. We hope we have a better system than one where laws are made to keep the law-maker popular. Thus we have leadership where difficult decisions are taken, even if they are unpopular, as the monarch seeks to look for the long term good of his country. I believe I have seen that same attitude in the council. I have heard the accusation made that the council is slow to make decisions. But I have seen decisions made here that astounded me with their speed. You totally reorganised your military in ten minutes. You also seem to have had stability of rule for centuries. As long as an ambassador knows who speaks with authority, I do not see a need for you to change in this manner.¡±


    ¡°And there you have the crux of the matter.¡± the Eldest said. ¡°For there /is none/ in this council that speaks with such authority, except when they speak the will of the council. I speak now the will of the council. We acknowledge the wisdom of Rose''s comments


    We also thank Sarah who has provided for us the model of her people''s constitution. It will provide us a good model for our monarchy, for it is the will of the council that we shall indeed have one. We will make some amendments of course. One is that the council will remain as adjudicator of the law and thus supreme. Another is that the monarch will be subject to the law and customs of our people and will be willing to be bound by them, one ancient such custom is that neither the monarch nor their spouse nor children shall accrue much wealth, neither in our land or any other form. I state this for those present who do not know our ways. Let none think that becoming monarch of our people is an easy way to riches. Sarah will be no doubt pleased to know that her present wealth excludes her from this role unless she is willing to give it away.¡±


    He looked at her in enquiry.


    ¡°I have long considered my inheritance a burden I must carry, eldest.¡± Sarah replied ¡°Too many people depend on me.¡±


    ¡°So, one person has refused our heavy crown. Rose, I''m sure that the observer will notice that all of the suggestions you have made, though modified a little, have been passed into law. It is the will of the council that I draw attention to this, and in recognition of your insightful suggestions that have guided us so well, you consider carrying the crown.¡±


    ¡°Me?¡± Rose was shocked. She drew he breath and held her husband''s hand. ¡°Eldest, my husband is not a poor man. Not as rich as Sarah, but he owns a business, and has some hundred employees. For this reason and also for another I must decline.¡± there was a note of sadness in her voice.


    ¡°Will you speak your other reason?¡± The Eldest prompted.


    ¡°I would rather not shout it for all to hear, Eldest. If it must be known to the council I know that councilor Karella is able to pluck it from my mind.¡±


    ¡°I fear that it must be known to one council member at least.¡± Karella said, and looked at Rose''s thoughts. Rose was distressed, and saddened, but she knew the laws of her people. No monarch who knew they were unable to produce an heir could assume the throne, further an adult monarch had to produce an heir within five years. Rose and her husband had been trying for a child for several years without success.


    [I sorrow with you in the pain this must cause you, Rose.] Karella thought, and then did something anyone with the gift rarely did, and sought to know the future: she looked at the skin of the room where Rose and her husband were standing, thinking of couples who would have a child in the next five years. None. Karella looked again, couples who could produce a child together. She saw a dot. There was some hope then. [Rose, by my gift, I have searched to know the future, and sadly I must tell you I see no child for you in the next five years. But there is hope for your pain. By my gift, I also looked for couples who could produce a child together. You two glow. I do not know why the Lord has prevented you from conceiving thus far. I do not know if the Lord merely denied me sight of a child for you in the next five years, but I saw none. But I see that a child is possible. May the Lord grant that what is possible should be.]


    [I''m not barren?]


    [I cannot say that you will ever conceive, but you are able. Do not give up hope, put your trust in the Lord and together seek this blessing on your marriage.]


    [Thank you, Karella.] Rose thought.


    Karella stood ¡°Having examined Rose''s unstated reasons, I must agree with her, that according to our laws and customs she is not an eligible candidate for the crown.¡±


    The eldest spoke once more. ¡°Then, Karella Farspeaker, the will of the council is clear.¡±


    ¡°The council was not united on this matter, eldest.¡± Karella pointed out.


    ¡°Karella, everyone on the council except you agreed to this. I''m sorry, you are expelled from the council.¡±


    Expressions of shock rippled round the room.


    ¡°I bow to the decision, and as is my right I nominate Rose in my place. Her knowledge of our laws and customs as well as her knowledge of the land-folk will serve our people well. Rose, you have no grounds for refusing, there is much history of the council members not living in one place. Do any on the council object to my nomination?¡± Karella stepped away from her place and went to stand with her husband and children, who were just as shocked as anyone.


    There was a quick discussion in the council, and then the eldest spoke.


    ¡°Karella has chosen her successor, the council has no objection. Come Rose, take your place among us!¡± The council members, with a confused Rose training after them, withdrew.


    <hr>


    ¡°Mum, what''s going on?¡± Mabel demanded to know.


    ¡°It''s easy, child. I am no longer on the council.¡± Karella said.


    ¡°Why not?¡± Sathie asked, close to tears.


    ¡°It''s all right dear. Basically, because they didn''t listen to me, and ganged up against me.¡±


    ¡°So, what''s going to happen next?¡± Mabel asked.


    ¡°The new council will consider and debate and decide who ought to be monarch, without me there to block their silly idea.¡±


    ¡°They kicked you out because you didn''t agree with them about who they wanted to nominate?¡±


    ¡°Exactly. We''d agreed that the council had to decide quickly, we''d agreed that the council had to be unanimous. I raised lots of objections against the person they wanted to nominate but none of them were enshrined in law or custom so they were free not to listen.¡±


    ¡°Who did they want to nominate?¡± Mabel asked.


    ¡°You don''t want me to break my vow of secrecy do you?¡±


    ¡°No.¡±


    ¡°Good.¡±


    <hr>


    Rose looked round at the other council members, who seemed to be expecting her to speak. ¡°Members of the council, I am utterly confused what I''m doing here.¡±


    ¡°Unanimity had been decided on, but then Karella refused to agree.¡± the eldest said.


    ¡°So, now you elect me to agree?¡± Rose asked, convinced that was the worst reason she could think of to become a council member. ¡°I''ll warn you I''m not going to agree just to keep anyone happy.¡±


    ¡°Good. The council''s strength is that we don''t easily agree. But now we try to convince you of our suggestion, and if you''re not convinced, you come up with better arguments than Karella could come up with, or suggest someone else instead.¡±


    ¡°Instead of who?¡± Rose asked.


    ¡°Karella.¡±


    ¡°Pardon?¡± Rose''s brain felt like it was stuck in slow.


    ¡°The council, except Karella, agreed that she was best candidate.¡±


    ¡°And she refused?¡± Rose understood, ¡°She couldn''t convince you, but she still point-blank refused?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°Good for her.¡±


    ¡°But was it good for our people? That is the question.¡±


    ¡°Karella is a good woman.¡± Rose said ¡°She is compassionate, truthful, trustworthy. I am not convinced that wearing her out with administrative duties is the best use of her energy.¡±


    ¡°We have just removed administrative duties from her.¡± one of the other council members pointed out. ¡°We believe, we hope, that her duties as monarch need not include administrative work, that she can delegate such things to the council. This we have told her.¡±


    ¡°And you believe the other rulers will accept a ruler who has the ability to hear thoughts?¡± Rose asked.


    ¡°Sarah has informed us that there have been thought-hearers ruling countries before, and there will inevitably be again. No one has objected so far.¡±


    ¡°Even one with the gift?¡± Rose pressed.


    ¡°We raised this with Sarah also. She pointed out that under the laws of her land, and of other countries, it is illegal to require someone to reveal they even hear thoughts, or to tell what they know to others. If people do not need to acknowledge that, what of the gift? When we asked her if there were any with the gift already ruling or in line to a throne, she pointed out that we were asking her to betray a trust, so we stopped questioning her.¡±


    ¡°It''s true, what Sarah says. We''ll have to pass similar laws, tell our people they must not reveal what they know.¡± Rose said.


    ¡°This is true. Such a law is in draft form already.¡± the Eldest replied. ¡°But have you objections to Karella being made monarch? Have you a better candidate in mind? Her final argument was ''I don''t want to.'' so she no longer has voice here.¡±


    ¡°I have no other candidate in mind. I suggested Sarah, not knowing she had the gift. I did so because I saw the way that Karella''s suggestions were being accepted, and I felt that giving political power to one with the gift as well was too much temptation. But I had forgotten some of our laws of kingship and rule. With our traditional laws enshrined in a written constitution, with the council advising, legislating and holding accountable.... I pity Karella, but I cannot think of a better ruler for us.¡±


    ¡°Then let us, from pity and love and thanks for her selfless suggestion that we remove her from council if we could not find another candidate, draft a constitution which will not make her life too intolerable.¡± the eldest suggested.


    <hr>


    ¡°Well, it looks like my student has been called to other duties. But is it bad news that the council is still in session?¡± Rhianna asked Mabel.


    ¡°No idea. Mum?¡±


    ¡°I wouldn''t want to guess. Oh, don''t look at me like that, girls. I can think of two reasons: one, they''re still going in circles about who they''re going to make king or queen; two, they''ve decided who and are drafting other laws to define how the person they choose will rule. Quite frankly, I never liked drafting laws, and I think Rose is going to be much better than I am. She could have been an excellent archivist, if she''d stayed, you know? But there wasn''t an opening and she really hated farming.¡±


    ¡°What''s there to hate about farming?¡± Mabel asked.


    ¡°Well, there''s the sharks, for instance.¡± Sathie pointed out.


    ¡°Not good, I agree.¡±


    ¡°And the air tanks tasting of rubber, and the hard work and the weight belt, and the risk of decompression sickness.¡± Sathie added.


    ¡°Fine. I give in.¡± Mabel conceded, ¡°There are things to hate about farming.¡±


    Rhianna looked at them ¡°You have a really different concept of farming to me.¡±


    <hr>


    ¡°The high council of mer have reached unanimity¡± the eldest declared to the hushed crowd. As before, speaking English as another council member translated into Mer. ¡°But in the interest of helping you listen, we''ll first talk of new laws. Laws that will, we hope, protect our ways, our people and our identity. First and foremost: it shall no longer be a secret of the deep that we are. No longer will a vow be required. Soon, but not yet, please, we can tell our grandchildren to scare any foolish sharks and bring back us back a fish.¡± he waited for the applause to die down.


    In the corner, away from most of the crowd, Rhianna touched Mabel''s hand, [I don''t get it.]


    [Old story. About last time some of us decided they could stop hiding for a bit.]


    [Oh, thanks.]


    ¡°Secondly: there will still be secrets of the deep. We must consider it a secret of the deep that certain people here have the gift of Eved, of Jacob, and of Rose. Let their names be known only to those of the deep.¡±


    [What does he mean ''secret of the deep?''] Rhi asked.


    [Only mer go freely into deep water. You lose things in the deep, we find them. The deep holds few secrets from us, but you''d have to risk your lives to find them out.] Mabel replied.


    [Oh.]


    ¡°Thirdly: we shall have a currency. In honour of those who have gone before, to help our children learn, it will have six sides and a hole, and we shall name our currency the Pearl.¡±


    There was a round of laughter at that.


    [Can you explain?] Sarah asked Karella.


    [Rust-free iron used to be really really really scarce and valuable. Your lots-of-greats-grandma Karella started swapping pearls for resin-coated nuts. Everyone involved got rich, and we came off the iron standard in a nice graceful manner.]


    ¡°The Pearl will eventually, I expect, be what the land-folk call a free-floating currency. It will not be linked in value to a weight of gold or anything else, except in some respects to gold. You know, by now, that gold and gems are rare among the land-folk. You know, I am sure, that there are billions of land-folk and barely half a million of us. So they could take all our gold and gems and not notice, like they took the pearls our children used to play with. But we would notice. If our gold vanishes, we will no longer be able to make the boats we rely on, and the other things we make from the alloys. So the council has decided: mer gold must remain mer gold. It must not be traded. Trade gems if you wish, but trade no gold with land-folk. The one who trades gold with land-folk will be considered a two-legged shark, and outcast.


    To make this easier, safer, You may not trade gold even with one another. Gold may be kept as jewelery, but no longer as trade goods, and eventually gold will be as scarce among us as it is among the land-folk. We will remove gold from circulation, and instead one Pearl will be worth a gram of gold. It is hard to divide a real pearl, but if we need to, we will say that there are a hundred Washers to a Pearl. You might think that a gram of gold is not valuable. Among the land-folk a gram of gold would buy food to feed a family for almost a month or more. We must learn to value our gold more than we do, and so we must stop bartering in it.


    ¡°And how will we make these Pearls, and Washers? That, I am glad to say is not too hard, but not easy, either. The fabricators will make them. We will not just have individual Pearls and individual Washers, but different values of them. The designs will be sent to the fabricators soon. But mostly, we will have what the land-folk call ''a bank''. The bank will accept your gold, which you may no longer trade, and in exchange the bank will record that you are owed so many Pearls. As we make the Pearl coins, you will be able to trade them.


    ¡°You know that a small boat costing five hundred kilos of gold might be made with three hundred kilos of gold. The rest is traded for the time of the builders and the other materials involved. Well, now it will cost five hundred thousand Pearls, Some of the Pearls will go to the bank and be destroyed as the gold it takes to make the boat is removed from the bank. The rest will go to the builders, for their time and effort, and remain in circulation.


    ¡°Found gold will be traded to the bank, and the bank will accept it thankfully and pay you for it in Pearls. It is my expectation that the value of the Pearl will not stay the same, just as iron became cheap, and oyster pearls became rare. Perhaps one day we will even find a better alloy material than gold. Until then, the value of the Pearl will be linked to the value of a traditional boat.


    ¡°We are, it must be said, experts at building boats. That is a skill the land-folk lack. If there is any land-man or land-woman able to supply enough gold to make a boat, we will accept their gold. If not, we must make it from lesser materials, such as iron, which the land-folk are so profligate with. Or perhaps titanium. In this way, we can trade. Do not underestimate the value the land-folk place on diamonds and other gems. We still have plenty to trade with them.


    ¡°The question remains, since trade must be two way, what the land-folk have to offer us. Beyond chocolate, of course.¡± There was good natured laughter at this. ¡°One thing they have is mass produced technology. Some of it is even water-proof. I''m sure that if we offer them diamonds, they will be happy to make us lots more that is waterproof. But let us never think we can produce technology cheaper than them. We never will. Perhaps we can produce it better, but not cheaper. Perhaps we can even sell them our better designs, and we will need honest agents to make sure we are not cheated. Our truthsayers will help us there. But our society will be changing. We will have more opportunities to swim, less need to make our own technology, more opportunity to experiment. There are some areas of technology the land-folk are still behind us in. We must beware, therefore, of showing all we can do, until we know what they can do, and we will have to limit who can come and look.


    ¡°We do not have space to invite all who will desire it into our city, those with rooms they wish to make available will be able to charge for this. Do not set your price in Pearls, as it will be hard for the land-folk to obtain them, I expect. Sarah suggests that we set such charges in land-folk money, compared to how much they would earn for a week''s work. Among them it would not be unusual to pay the money they get for a week''s work for a week in a beautiful room in an exotic place. Our city is certainly one of those. Our relatives who have lived among the landfolk can help us here, I''m sure.


    ¡°Many things like permissions to visit, will need to be negotiated with other governments, other heads of state. That is a role for our monarch. The council has decided. The negotiation will be the role of the monarch, as I say, but not alone: of course assistance from others can be requested, commanded, even. Implementation will be the role of the council, we have no desire to impose the burden of much administration on you, Karella Helen Jacob Farspeaker Homebringer, Queen of merfolk. The council will continue to ensure that the law and custom is obeyed, to advise, to draft laws. We look to you to tell us what laws we should draft, your majesty, and guide us in their intent.¡±


    ¡°I must bow to the will of the council.¡± Karella said, with resignation. ¡°I question the council how long my husband and I may call our possessions our own, our boat our own, our jewelery and gemstones our own, our home our own?¡±


    ¡°It is a long time since we have had a royal palace, it would be foolish, I believe to start to construct one while the future of the city is not certain. It is also a very long time since the limit on the wealth of the monarch was set at twenty kilogrammes of iron. We will have to ask the archivists how much that was worth at the time in terms of gold, diamonds, or other things we have always valued. I trust our queen will not object if we consider these questions at length and at a suitable time, and for the moment accept the status quo?¡±


    ¡°I will not object to the status quo.¡± Karella replied, clearly relieved.


    ¡°Then before we declare the work of this grand assembly over, let us all pray for our new monarch and her heirs. May they reign wisely and lead us carefully over the coming centuries.¡±


    <hr>


    ¡°Was that as total a surprise to you as it was to us, Daddy?¡± Mabel asked.


    ¡°Not entirely, princess.¡± Christoph replied.


    ¡°What was that Mummy asked? Why shouldn''t we keep our boat and our home?¡±


    ¡°It is one of the laws of having a king or queen that they cannot become rich. Remember? The old definition of being rich was twenty kilogrammes of iron.¡±


    ¡°But that''s hardly worth anything!¡± Mabel protested.


    ¡°Exactly. So, mummy asked about it. When it was set at that much, ten kilogrammes of iron would buy quite a big boat, I think. The council have decided to keep that intent, not the letter of the law, so they aren''t worried about us being too rich.¡±


    ¡°Oh. That''s nice. Mummy didn''t seem too happy about becoming queen.¡±


    ¡°No. What does it feel like to be suddenly a princess, knowing your life is never going to be the same again?¡± her father asked.


    ¡°Urm. How never the same again?¡± Her father told Mabel to explain to Rhianna and get her opinion.


    ¡°You''re in line to the throne, princess. Your people are going to expect to see you, doing princess things.¡± Rhianna said, ¡°Any time a boy is going to be interested in dating you, you''re not going to know if they''re interested in you, the title, or nothing beyond the bragging rights that he once went on a date with a princess. That''s assuming they get past the security cordon that''s going to surround you.¡±


    ¡°Rhianna, you''re just making that up! We don''t set that much store in royalty!¡±


    ¡°Ask your dad.¡± Rhianna said, and watched with a mixture of satisfaction that she''d been right and sorrow for her friend, as reality dawned on her.


    <hr>


    </a>Friday, 6th July, 3pm


    [Sarah, we have less than two weeks before we try to move the city. I ask that you contact your friend at the U.N.]


    [Oh! I thought you were going to wait?]


    [You said your friend could keep secrets.]


    [She can, oh, I get it, you want to pick her brains?]


    [Yes. I would like to know exactly how to avoid us getting bombed, depth-charged or otherwise attacked. We love peace, but we are quite efficient at killing sharks. It would be sad if we had to defend ourselves. I''m sorry I''ve not spoken to you about our defences.]


    [Any state has a responsibility to defend its citizens. I understand, Karella, you need not apologise. I will call Lilly.] Sarah replied.


    [Lilly, it is Sarah. May I interrupt?]


    [Hello, Sarah. Truthsayer business?]


    [Not really. Are you still working in the information section?]


    [{curiosity}Yes.]


    [And you''re alone and anyway not given to outburts when you''re surprised.]


    [I''m alone, and growing more curious.] Lilly replied.


    [I warn you, you''re going to be disbelieving soon. And the person I''m about to introduce you to would probably like your vow of secrecy.] Sarah said.


    [I do not require a vow, Lilly.] Karella thought [But a promise of not telling any that do not need to know would be nice.]


    [Hey! Karella, I haven''t introduced you yet. Lilly, that was Karella.] Sarah protested.


    [Hello, Karella.] Lilly said. [What can I do for you?]


    [As newly elected monarch of my people, I need information on how we can join the nations of the world as an independent peace-loving state. I need information on how to reveal our presence to the world when all you know about us are myths. I need information on how to go about setting up diplomatic contact with countries without it turning into a complete farce. I need information about how on Earth we avoid getting bombed, missiled or otherwise harassed militarily by some trigger-happy admiral, when our city-state rises to the surface of the Atlantic and suddenly shows up on people''s sonar, radar screens and satellites. If that sort of unfortunate event were to happen, it would get very unpleasant very quickly, not least because during your cold war our rulers decided that mutually assured destruction had its positive points. That''ll do to start with. I''m sure I''ll have more questions later.]


    [...errr....] thought Lilly.


    [Warned you.] Sarah thought. [I must admit I didn''t know about the defensive measures, but I knew it couldn''t be a good idea to launch an attack on mer-folk from the sea. It''s a beautiful city, by the way, I half-wonder if the cartoon-makers knew more than they were letting on. Oh, and the fish-tails of legend are real, but clothing.]


    [If this is an elaborate Joke, Sarah, I''m going to be very upset.]


    [{image} This is what our city looks like, Lilly.] Karella thought. [As to where it is, it''s roughly where your scientists are predicting SpaceGuard''s interceptor will spread its radioactive waste in a month''s time. The irony of SpaceGuard posing us a danger from space does not escape us at all. Our drive reactor was off-line for maintenance when we heard, so the technicians are scrambling to put it back together on time. We''re pretty sure you''ll see the heat signature, so we decided that we''d make contact first. If we can''t leave or if something goes wrong after the rushed start-up, then you can expect half a million rather grumpy refugees, with long memories and three thousand years of bad feelings against your subspecies of homo sapiens. I''d much rather avoid that.]


    [You''re a different sub-species?] Lilly asked, thinking of the potential implications of that.


    [I believe it.] Sarah thought. [But on the other hand, they''ve been intermarrying with us for generations, on and off. For instance on both my mothers and father''s side of the family, eight or ten generations ago. There''s no need for conflict, as long as everything happens in a civilised manner.]


    [Lilly, I''ll also add that about ninety percent of our population are committed Christians] Karella thought, [sixty or seventy percent are thought hearers.]


    [And that''s why you picked on me, because I''m both?] Lilly asked.


    [That, and the fact that Sarah knows you and said you can keep secrets.]


    [Half a million committed Christians who are a formidable sea power. I presume you''ve got submarines we can''t detect?] Lilly asked.


    [Oh yes.] Karella agreed.


    [And you wouldn''t be opposed to smuggling Bibles and other Christian materials?] Lilly pressed.


    [What are you thinking, Lilly?] Sarah asked.


    [No objection at all. Or even preachers either, in or out, though of course arranging the exit is harder.] Karella replied to Lilly''s question, then added [I''m assuming that Lilly''s thinking of her homeland, Sarah.]


    [How did you work that out?] Sarah asked.


    [I cheated of course. I looked to see where Lilly was from, and I''m not totally ignorant about land-folk affairs.]


    [You''re right.] Lilly acknowledged. [You have the gift, Karella? I thought Sarah was just relaying your thoughts.]


    [I have the gift.] Karella confirmed. [Do you think you could help us?]


    [It will be a pleasure, your majesty.]


    [If you would like to ready some consignments of Bibles and so on, wrapped in something appropriately waterproof, I''m sure there are some Christian fishermen who wouldn''t mind getting an unexpected catch. It would be my pleasure to ensure they are delivered.]


    [You''re serious?]


    [My people love the opportunity to swim, Lilly. We have been mostly shut away under the ocean for two centuries, and it is bad for us. If I ask for fifty volunteers to risk upsetting a despotic ruler by delivering Bibles to fishermen at sea, then someone will ask how many volunteers I want to deliver to the fishermen who fish in rivers.]


    [It will be dangerous.] Lilly warned.


    [So are sharks, but when we swim freely, sharks learn fear. There will be volunteers.]


    [I thank you, and I thank those brave people who will try this.] Lilly thought.


    [When can you have the packages ready?] Karella asked.


    [I''ll talk to my church. Perhaps as soon as next week?]


    [You call that soon? I was wondering about midnight tonight.]


    [I will ask some friends. We will do what we can, but it will not be many.]


    [Wonderful! A trial run. There will be a submarine coming in your direction anyway tonight, just as Sarah will be returning to her home in the next few days. I will call you later and we can discuss where you should leave the package.]


    [With pleasure. But regarding your request about avoiding conflict. Probably the best approach is through opening diplomatic dialogue with one or more members of the security council. The Security council can interdict military activity in your area. There might be protests, and persuading them to enforce it might take some effort.]


    [If the council will interdict, we are capable of enforcing.] Karella said.


    [If you had an ambassador...]


    [Consider one to be on her way.]


    [I could introduce her to our ambassador here. His wife is one person I was thinking of asking about the Bibles. Of course, some sort of evidence, or instruction from home to take it seriously would really help...]


    [What might count as evidence?]


    [Urm.... some kind of formal letter of introduction might help, but I''m really not sure at all.]


    [Oh, we can do impressive documents. I''ll get one of our scholars to work on something, and send it to catch her up. How many languages would you like it in? We can do Hieroglyphics, Greek, Latin, Spanish and English fairly easily. Oh, and Hebrew. Will that do, or would you like Cuneiform too?]


    [You''re serious?]


    [I told you they have long memories, Lilly.] Sarah said.


    [They''ll either think it''s a prank by a bunch of students, or be quietly shocked.]


    [OK. One fully-fledged letter of introduction on it''s way. Good idea. I hadn''t thought of that. The ambassador should of course also have her seal of office, I''d forgotten about that too. How big an honour guard would be appropriate?]


    [Erm. I don''t know. I don''t know if we have honour guards these days.]


    [I''ll just send a couple then.]


    [Karella, I''m not sure if traditional dress would be appropriate.] Sarah said.


    [Probably not. We want to be taken seriously, after all. Now let me go send some scholars of ancient languages into paroxysms of joy.]

 The Other Big Secret 3: Safely out at sea / Ch. 3: Introductions

    <h2>The Other Big Secret 3: Safely out at sea / Ch. 3:Introductions</h2>


    </a>Friday, 6th July


    Letter of introduction


    From Karella Helen Jacob Farspeaker Homebringer, Queen of all Mer-folk by will of the high council of Atlantis, ruler over the navies of the Mer people, undisputed sovereign of the deeps and shallows, and custodian of letters acknowledging the following and other, lesser, historic titles by right of descent from her predecessors:


    Rightful ruler of all the coasts and seas, preserver of knowledge, custodian of tradition, defender of justice, (granted by the Archons of Athens);


    Empress of the seas, and the outer reaches of the Nile delta (acknowledged by Pharaoh Rameses, presumed the first);


    Honoured partner in trade, protector of the lost mariner, undisputed empress of the seas and sea-caves, ruler of Ophir and the distant isles (Hiram king of Tyre and Solomon king of Israel);


    Defender of sailors, ruler of the deeps, bane of sharks (willingly bestowed by Priam of Troy, Agamemnon of Mycenae, and various others);


    Ruler of the deep (grudgingly acknowledged by the Senate of the Republic of Rome, during the Latin war);


    To all people, whether they be freemen, nobles, priests, warriors, scholars, princes or kings,


    Let it be known that Penelope Yasmin Lesley Stephens, whose face is shown below, is hereby accredited our ambassador and represents our sovereign nation and my royal person. Let all people grant to our ambassador all honour, courtesy and protection due to her rank, or face the consequences.


    <hr>


    </a>Friday, 6th July, 11.pm, Beside the sea.


    ¡°That ending is a trifle blunt, isn''t it?¡± Lilly asked Penelope, as they walked along the quay-front.


    Penelope shrugged ¡°It is traditional, and we are a people with more than three millennia of tradition.¡±


    ¡°What''s this written on? Its not any material I know.¡±


    ¡°They used what we do formal certificates in, with a few modifications for fun. It was written on the preserved skin of a giant squid, and then embellished with gold and diamonds and encased in a synthetic rubber matrix. My picture is Titanium in synthetic diamond.¡±


    ¡°Wow.¡±


    ¡°Karella tells me you wanted impressive.¡±


    ¡°I''m impressed. It says she''s custodian of those letters...¡±


    ¡°We''ve got the original documents, yes. They''re not in very good condition, but they''re in the archives.¡±


    ¡°Wow. What might the consequences be?¡±


    ¡°Urm, depending how much Karella gets upset... pretty bad.¡±


    ¡°How bad?¡±


    ¡°You land-folk still have fusion and fission weapons. Would you use them? We hope not, but you have done relatively recently from our point of view. We would be able to retaliate.¡±


    ¡°You''ve got your own nuclear weapons, you mean? Her Majesty hinted at that.¡±


    ¡°We looked at the technology, oh, back around the battle of Hastings, but they''re too messy, too complicated. If you want to convert mass to energy there''s much simpler ways of doing that. But we don''t really want to do that, do we?¡±


    ¡°Urm, if you''re hinting at what I think you''re hinting at, then no.¡±


    ¡°So, let''s try and keep everything peaceful, shall we?¡± Penelope suggested.


    ¡°Absolutely. Oh, I see the ambassador coming.¡±


    <hr>


    ¡°Hello, Lilly. What''s this all about?¡± the ambassador asked.


    ¡°Hi Jim! Sorry, let me start again. Mr Ambassador, the association of truthsayers has been asked to introduce certain people to certain other people, and vouch that this is not a wind-up, prank or other attempt at humour. This is Penelope, and this is not a joke.¡±


    ¡°Mr Ambassador.¡± Penelope nodded her head respectfully, and passed her letter of introduction over. ¡°May I present my credentials? I have other copies, so you may have it analysed if you wish, though I''d like it back eventually.¡±


    The ambassador had seen many strange things in his life, and Prince Albert had called him earlier in the evening to say that he''d heard from a reliable source that he was about to make history, and please would he not to embarrass his father by displaying too much disbelief. So, he chose his words with care.


    ¡°Madam Ambassador, do I take it that the other languages say the same as I read in English and guess from the Latin?¡±


    ¡°Yes, Mr Ambassador. I apologise if the final line is rather blunt, but it is the traditional form and we have been out of formal contact with land-folk for some millennia.¡±


    ¡°You have a purpose in making yourself known to me, I presume.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Mr Ambassador. We understand that the Security Council has the authority to exclude military traffic from a certain region of the ocean. We would very much appreciate it if this were to occur. It would be extremely unfortunate if an ignorant or excited mariner panicked and fired upon our capital as we move it in haste from the area of sea where the damaged interceptor probe is due to crash. The dome that protects our city from the crushing pressures of the deep was never intended to withstand attack from a torpedo or missile. Since we withdrew from the coastal areas some two centuries ago, almost all our people live in Atlantis, a population of some half a million. It is to avoid such a genocidal attack, and to establish normal relations with the rest of the world, now that you have once again reached almost parity with us technologically that I, and others like me, have been given the status of Ambassador for our nation. We trust your discretion regarding who you need to tell about us.¡±


    ¡°The final clause speaks of consequences.¡± he pointed out.


    ¡°Yes, Mr Ambassador. Lilly and I were just discussing the complexity and long term unreliability of fission and fusion in the conversion of mass to energy. Our scientists considered these approaches as weapons around the time of the Norman Conquest of Britain, but have preferred a far simpler solution for the last five or six centuries. Given the area of your landmasses, we are unable to assure complete mutual destruction, but be assured that since the time you know of as the cold war, we have had systems in place to deter any attack on our capital. We are a peace-loving people, but we are well aware of the need to be prepared in case a shark should not understand the value to us of the lives of our children.¡±


    ¡°I am not a scientist, Madam Ambassador. Could you spell out to me the simpler solution you hint at?¡±


    ¡°Antimatter, Mr Ambassador. It is a simple thing to contain some antimatter in a forcefield, and that makes an excellent nightmare weapon. But those disgusting weapons will only ever be used if our people will be otherwise extinguished, perhaps not even then. We are an ancient civilisation, we have seen empire after empire rise and fall, we have preserved records and knowledge and have never been given to needless destruction, even when we have fled four times before you land-folk. We would probably flee again before this new threat, but you are catching up with our technology, and each generation, hiding from you becomes harder. We would rather approach you as near-equals than barbarians. What we''d really like to do is swim freely near your coast-land and trade freely at your markets.¡±


    ¡°You speak our language well, Madam Ambassador.¡±


    ¡°Our hiding from you has not been perfect, over the centuries there have been some intermarriages. I myself learned English from my father, who learned it from his mother and so on. Plus, of course, I chose to walk among you land-folk two decades ago, and now live with my husband about half an hour''s drive away.¡±


    ¡°Oh, yes, that might explain it. How long has your husband known your background?¡±


    ¡°Oh, almost a week now. He''s slowly getting over the surprise. We go scuba diving sometimes, and he''s been known to call me his mermaid. I kept telling him to call me a merwoman instead. He was really surprised when I got my tail out of storage and proved it to him by swimming round him for ten minutes without a tank.¡±


    ¡°Your tail?¡±


    ¡°Your traditional image of merfolk having fish-tails is not wrong, Mr Ambassador, but they''ve never been part of us.¡± she changed the topic, ¡°Mr Ambassador, do you believe it would be possible for you to enable me to address the Security Council? Our city will start to move in two weeks, if all goes to plan, we would appreciate it if there could be a military exclusion zone by that time.¡±


    ¡°Enforcing such a zone is costly, Madam Ambassador.¡±


    ¡°I believe that the undisputed sovereign of the deeps and shallows will not have difficulty enforcing such an order, Mr Ambassador. But we would rather not be accused of piracy or unprovoked attack on shipping should some foolish government, admiral or submarine commander not listen.¡±


    ¡°You are confident of your naval power, then?¡±


    ¡°Mr Ambassador, you are land-folk, we are mer-folk. The ships and submarines you have are slow, noisy and primitive, your sonar is ineffective. I admit some of your torpedos are marvelous, but if you try to torpedo one of our submarines you will find our submarines are far more agile than you would expect, and your marvelous torpedo might end up heading towards one of your own ships.¡±


    ¡°And if depth-charges are used?¡± the Ambassador asked.


    ¡°Shame sir! Would you hunt a sniper by blindly throwing sticks of dynamite into a village? Do you condone also the use of napalm bombs? If one of your captains dares to attempt to use the unaimed indiscriminate weapons you call depth charges, which destroy habitat, kill fish, dolphin and mer, adult and child alike, and wound whales tens of kilometres away, then you will find how easily our rock-cutters can cut metals under water or in the sky. They were never meant for war, but the lasers that we have used for a century to sculpt rock will have no problem removing a plane''s wing or a ship''s keel. You have acted in willful ignorance until now, but their continued use is another item we will certainly be raising with the security council.¡±


    ¡°I hear you, Madam ambassador, and I appreciate your patience with us until now. I will communicate with my government, and seek to win you audience at the council.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Mr ambassador. You are the first ambassador I have spoken to, but I assure you that you will not be the last. Oh, a little on the history of our people.¡± she gave him a perfectly normal data-crystal.


    ¡°We are due to meet the Greek ambassador next, aren''t we, Lilly?¡±


    ¡°Yes, Madam ambassador.¡±


    <hr>


    The ambassador wasted no time getting home. He handed the letter to his wife for examination, and summarised the conversation to Prince Albert. It was going to be a long night.


    ¡°Yes sir, Atlantis. According to a short history text I was given, it was a deliberate choice of name, after Plato''s work.¡±


    ¡°Well, I know I asked you to not be too unbelieving, but I didn''t quite expect that.¡±


    ¡°Might I ask what you did expect, sir?¡±


    ¡°I got told exactly what I told you. No further details. I know the person to be a trustworthy person, and they assured me that it wasn''t a joke.¡±


    ¡°I was introduced to this merwoman ambassador by a member of the Chartered Association of Truthsayers I''ve known for a few years. Also a reliable person. She assured me the woman was genuine. The letter of introduction she gave me is certainly impressive. Not exactly diplomatic, but impressive.¡±


    ¡°How not diplomatic?¡±


    ¡°After a lot of introductory stuff which is going to have the historians picking their jaws off the ground, and end up with a re-writing of the law of the sea, if we acknowledge it, it says accord this person diplomatic rights or face the consequences. She was rather apologetic about it, claimed it was the traditional wording.¡±


    ¡°I''m not aware of there being any traditional diplomatic links with Atlantis or mer-people.¡±


    ¡°If it''s not an elaborate prank, they used to have diplomatic relationships with Ancient Egypt, Athens, Troy and Mycenae, but things went down hill with the Romans. They also claim to be able to move their underwater city at speeds of up to ten knots, which is no mean feat of engineering, given that it''s apparently inside a crystal and rock dome about three hundred metres high and two kilometres diameter.¡±


    ¡°That''s an impressive engineering feat alone, making that dome. They don''t say what it''s made of?¡±


    ¡°No, just crystal and rock.¡±


    ¡°That''s vague. But anyway, they''re good at large scale engineering.¡±


    ¡°Yes, sir. They claim to be a peace-loving people totally opposed to the use of depth-charges, but just in case anyone thinks of genocide by breaking their dome with high explosives, I got warned that they''ve had antimatter weapons for the last few centuries.¡±


    ¡°Anti-matter weapons? That''s crazy!¡±


    ¡°I agree, sir. She claimed that their scientists had decided fission and fusion were much too unreliable and complicated, back around the time of the Norman Conquest, whereas just holding some antimatter in a forcefield was easy and reliable, though a disgusting idea. She says they actually put them into place as a deterrent during the time of the cold war.¡±


    ¡°Over two centuries ago.¡±


    ¡°Exactly, sir. As far as I understand it, we can''t hold antimatter in a forcefield yet. My thought is, unless this is an elaborate hoax which has fooled everyone, they are quite scared of how vulnerable they are, but otherwise they are a small but disproportionately powerful nation. Given how much we rely on shipping they would be bad enemies to have.¡±


    ¡°I don''t think we want to start a war, ambassador. It doesn''t sound like they do either.¡±


    ¡°I''m glad you agree, sir. Also, having studied history at university, I''ll tell you in all honesty, sir, that the nation''s historians will be ready to kill if we don''t do everything we can let them see their museum or archive or whatever.¡±


    Prince Albert laughed, ¡°Very well, Ambassador, I''m sure you''ll be hearing from my father in due course.¡±


    <hr>


    </a>Friday, 6th July, 11.50pm


    The Greek ambassador looked once more at the document the strange woman had left him. Yes, very much the traditional wording, and as a classicist he needed no help in understanding that three of the texts contained the same message. He called Athens and said ¡°An ancient enemy of Rome and ally of our noble city has risen from the waves and calls upon us to remember our history.¡±


    ¡°Are you drunk?¡± his friend asked.


    ¡°Not yet. First I must tell you that, as we have heard before, Jason was not as much of a hero as his fans said, Plato made up the story of Atlantis, and if only the Romans hadn''t beaten us, we might have had fusion power to help us beat off the Turks.¡±


    ¡°You have been drinking, haven''t you?¡±


    ¡°I hold in my hand a document, a letter of introduction in ancient form. It is written on the skin of a giant squid, decorated with diamonds and gold, and encased in some sort of transparent waterproofing. It bears the image of the woman I met, in what I am told is titanium encased in artificial diamond, and also an impression of the grand seal of Atlantis which from my memory looks exactly like the one your museum has but has never dared to show the public. I will read to you the words it bears in our ancient tongue.¡± With that, he read the flawless ancient Greek.


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    While his friend and fellow scholar was spluttering at the other end of the phone line, he continued ¡°This message they repeat in Egyptian hieroglyphs, Latin, old Hebrew, Cuneiform, and for the untutored among us, Spanish and English. The woman also tells me: ''Our library was never burned.'' They do not ask much, just a military exclusion area, friendly relations and trade. Those idiots at SpaceGuard are dropping their interceptor onto Atlantis; the city must move, and they fear that some under-educated vandal in a submarine will destroy the dome that protects their city and priceless treasures. May I give them our wholehearted support against the destroyers of artifacts?¡±


    ¡°You are sure it is not a trick?¡±


    ¡°Who would know enough write these things? Who would use precisely those terms?¡±


    ¡°Many, unfortunately. A group of students?¡±


    ¡°A group of students who can embed Titanium in an artificial diamond? She was introduced to me by one of those truthsayer people.¡±


    ¡°You are sure it''s not just plastic?¡±


    ¡°It is metal-cold to the touch, and nothing scratches it. I tried. The woman tells me that a fellow ambassador will be approaching the archaeological museum in Athens tomorrow, bearing several documents. One is a copy of the document from the Archons of Athens, the others are copies of the works of Anticlides.¡±


    ¡°The works of Anticlides of Athens are lost.¡±


    ¡°Only on land, my friend. Only on land. He will also have his credentials with him, of course, so you can judge for yourself.¡±


    ¡°Did she say what time?¡±


    ¡°High tide. May I now get drunk? I wish to cry over the lost glory of our people.¡±


    ¡°Perhaps it returns.¡±


    ¡°The world has moved on. But, she said that perhaps these Mer people will want to swap some diamonds for coastline.¡±


    ¡°Diamonds?¡±


    ¡°Not exclusively. Apparently, when you have a two hundred year old private submarine which makes the most modern and agile in our rich friends'' navies look like a slow and dangerous toy, it is not so hard to pick up diamonds off the bottom of the deep on the coast of South Africa, or rubies somewhere else. She also spoke of tools that could be used to cut rock to pieces, or perhaps enemy shipping. I think it would be very good to make friends with the undisputed sovereign of the deeps and shallows, and rightful ruler of all the coasts and seas, do you not?¡±


    ¡°We have a lot of coast, she cannot claim it all!¡±


    ¡°Ah, my friend, to them the coast stops at the land. They only claim the water, and they grant free passage.¡±


    ¡°And what of our shipping and fishing interests?¡±


    ¡°They are a people of long memory, to whom oaths are sacred. Our ships have not been in danger from them since we agreed to those titles almost three millennia ago, and nor will they be, so long as we uphold our part of the oath.¡±


    ¡°Ah! Such a trustworthy ally is worth a lot!¡±


    ¡°Exactly.¡±


    <hr>


    </a>Saturday, 7th July, 8pm, Embassy of Israel, near the U.N


    ¡°Mr Ambassador, I thank you for seeing us, so soon after Sabbath.¡± Lilly said.


    ¡°You stated it was somewhat urgent, truthsayer. I do not recognise your friend.¡±


    ¡°Mr Ambassador, I present Penelope Stephens, ambassador from somewhere I expect you never believed existed. I have it on good authority that it is a real place and a real kingdom, however. She asks that you communicate her message on a need-to-know basis.¡±


    ¡°My credentials.¡± Penelope said.


    ¡°In pre-Babylonian-Hebrew?¡±


    ¡°Among other languages, yes, sir.¡±


    ¡°You have an interesting way of trying to get my attention. I see, your queen has some interesting claims.¡±


    ¡°I have seen the original letters, Mr Ambassador, but I don''t claim to read all the languages on this letter.¡±


    ¡°You do know that Rameses the second was the greater Pharaoh?¡± The ambassador asked, conversationally, as he continued reading.


    ¡°I''m told that the indications in the letter the suggest it was his grandfather, the founder of the dynasty.¡± Penelope replied.


    ¡°Fascinating. Someone''s had fun doing their research.¡± he turned to Lilly, ¡°She had you fooled, did she?¡±


    ¡°Mr Ambassador, last night I helped the lady Ambassador get off a submarine which is of no design I''ve ever seen before. I believe you''re aware of my history and so will know that I''ve studied such things. The lady wife of my country''s ambassador confirms that the transparent disk you see before you is indeed diamond, and the parchment is from the giant squid.¡±


    ¡°We did not wish to interrupt your Sabbath, sir, or I would have visited you earlier.¡±


    ¡°You will no more convince me that Atlantis is a real place than you will that you sprout a tail in water.¡± he said.


    ¡°By preference, I put on a tail in water, or rather, before getting into it, sir. But if you have a swimming pool and quarter of an hour to spare I think I can prove I''m no land-woman.¡±


    ¡°How?¡±


    ¡°Would my swimming around it underwater for that long convince you, sir?¡±


    ¡°Quarter of an hour under water? Impossible!¡± he was trying not to laugh.


    ¡°To you, yes sir.¡± Penelope sighed ¡°To me it would merely be uncomfortable. Alternatively I suppose I could take you to see Atlantis yourself, but that''ll take a lot longer, and I don''t really have the time. I suppose a third way is that a member of my honour guard could get out his rock-cutter out and cut you a new doorway for your embassy. I don''t believe you have caught up with us on that technology either.¡±


    ¡°Oh yes? What other technologies would you claim?¡± the Ambassador was still not convinced at all.


    ¡°First let me state the reason for my coming; it is as follows, Mr Ambassador. We are a small state surrounded on all sides by those from whom we have fled and hidden from for millennia. I hope you can sympathise with what that feels like, just a little. Furthermore, our city and our entire population is slap-bang in the impact zone of SpaceGuard''s damaged interceptor. Therefore, we plan to move it, as we have no desire to be underneath a red hot mess of plutonium when it hits the ocean. If it somehow went critical then our city might not survive, and even if it didn''t we''ve no desire to be expose our children to the radiation. Moving our city in a hurry will be detectable. Some admiral might decide that he wants to send a submarine or a cruiser to find out what''s happening. We do not want any stupid sailor to decide to shoot a torpedo when he sees a two-kilometre wide submarine coming towards him. If he did that would almost certainly be the most effective act of genocide in history, as the dome of our city was designed to be proof against the steady pressure of the ocean, not shaped charges. Therefore, we will be asking the United Nations Security Council to exclude all military from our vicinity, starting in eleven days time at the latest. If the Security Council can declare such an exclusion area, we are more than capable of enforcing it. If the United Nations refuses to enact it, then we must either warn off shipping ourselves, which of course might start the war we''re trying to avoid, or risk that some idiot might want to start Armageddon. Should a genocidal attack occur then do be assured that global destruction will follow. We do not have missiles, we do have a network of antimatter bombs, each containing approximately fifty grams of antimatter, beside almost all the world''s significant waterside cities. I do not approve of such disgusting weapons, but they are a relic from the time of the cold-war when mutually assured destruction seemed to be popular everywhere. It is an automatic system and it would take years to dismantle. With that in mind, with such stakes, will you please allow me to convince you that I''m a genuinely a woman of the mer-folk, and not some con-artist wanting you to make a fool of yourself?¡±


    ¡°Now I am far more convinced.¡± he replied. ¡°Come in, sit, tell me of the history of your people.¡± Lilly left them to it, and went to chat to the honour guard.


    ¡°How far back?¡± Penelope asked.


    ¡°How far back do your people remember?¡±


    ¡°I will tell you of the old days then, which mother and father have told son and daughter from before there was writing. Before this time there are tales, which might be true or might not be. Like the tale of Noah and how his boat came to rest on the mountain, or the tale of who some of his grandsons married. Or the tale of foolish Gilgamesh the warrior with a bad memory, who met him long after, and never could remember his name and made up other bits to cover his bad memory. We lived along the coast of Canaan, and we ignorantly worshipped the Baals of the Cananites, though their other behaviour was repulsive to us. Then one came, wandering from the city of Ur, and told us of his God, He who is. Some of us believed, most did not. We worshiped also the sea goddess, and we frolicked with the whales and dolphins and avoided the crocodile and shark, and we laughed at those who cowered on the land. We were a warrior people, proud of our swimming and our speed with the knife and spear. Centuries came and centuries went, We learned to make tails for ourselves from the skins of sharks and then none could match us in the water, neither man nor beast. We claimed the land of the Nile delta for our fishing grounds and we claimed the caves of Ophir for our homes, and learned to pick up the gold that washed down the rivers.


    Then Moses came from Egypt with the children of Israel and plenty of others. Those who worshiped the God who is judge of all, and who is, told us that the sin of the land-folk of Canaan had reached its fullness, and we should leave. Even those who did not worship that god saw it was not safe to walk in Canaan, and we left. We moved to the islands and the caves. We met other people, and some of them decided our king, who they called Dagon, the fish, was a god, because of how quickly he could swim. And we laughed at them too. From the people of Tyre we learned writing, which we judged useful. And that is the end of the first tale of our people, and of our first flight from our homes.¡±


    ¡°Then, you are a Canaanite people?¡±


    ¡°We are not of the sons of Het, nor of the Perizzites, Jebuzite, Amorites, Canaanite or Hivites. Nor are we of Tyre, Sidon, or Philistia. These peoples we knew and were not us. There has been some interbreeding, but we have been a separate people a long time, our genetics tells us that. We are not like you. Some of the ancient tales say that God separated us from Adam''s line before the flood, and gave us the task of ruling over the fish. I do not know.¡±


    ¡°You are truly different then? Not just culturally?¡±


    ¡°We have the muscles of diving mammals. We see clearly underwater, not fuzzily like you, we can use sonar like dolphins, and can hear the whale''s songs. Most of us do not have your clarity of thought or ability to concentrate, except for things like hunting or chasing down prey. We are impulsive, not really planners, most of us lack your curiosity and drive to control. We learn patterns and languages quickly, but concepts slowly. Our science and our engineering have been a long slog, and you have caught up two thousand five hundred years of our progress in barely three hundred. We knew of the promised serpent-crusher from the days of Noah. We have known of the power of the God who judges for over three thousand years, but only a few worshipped him. Now, we are a Christian people, but it took us nineteen hundred years to realise that the Christians we''d heard of a few times worshipped the one true God of Abraham, and that was only after God had reminded us that he is Judge, and does not tolerate those seek to wipe out his name. That saved the missionary''s life. Partly that ignorance was isolation, but partly we just weren''t interested enough to find out; playing in the water was much more fun. Plus, of course, avoiding getting caught as a concubine (or killed in the attempt to catch one) was an almost universal pass-time in the under thirties. Our sinfulness had reached its full limit, but God was kind and did not destroy us, but called us to himself instead. We no longer worship the Baals or any other false gods.¡±


    ¡°I of course do not accept all of your testimony.¡± the ambassador said, growing uncomfortable at all this theology.


    ¡°No. You do not accept that Jeshua ben Miriam and no man was the serpent crusher, the messiah, seed of Abraham, and son of David, foretold from before even Eve''s eldest was born, do you?¡±


    ¡°No. I don''t.¡±


    ¡°Well, God is good, and he is patient and abounding in love, even to a people as stubborn and rebellious as ours. I will not press you to listen to much more. Tyre is no more, but the people of Solomon still live. The letter referred to recognises our claim to the seas and sea-caves, and agrees to friendly relations between our peoples, to trade when we meet and absence of war. An oath was sworn, a perpetual covenant. We remember this, but your people have not had the freedom from invasion that we have had. If your government chooses to renounce this covenant, we will be understanding and will not call upon the judge of all the Earth to judge between us and punish the oath-breaker. It was not imagined when it was vowed that we would not talk or meet for more than two millennia. But we now remind you of it. Let your scholars verify it, let your lawyers study it. If you accept it, it will be considered to have never lapsed, and will bind both our nations; if you decline it, neither of us will be bound, and perhaps another treaty can be written. The terms of such a new treaty will of course be different, and all things that we agree to now will be subject to our laws and customs as they are now and as they will be in the future. But let the decision come quickly. An ambassador from us will take a copy to your capital in the next few days, I do not know exactly when.¡±


    ¡°When you speak of your laws and customs, do I take it that the covenant includes terms that would not be permitted in a new agreement?¡±


    ¡°It does, but I do not know the details, and may not highlight them for you. Only to tell you must consider carefully what you choose to accept or reject.¡±


    ¡°You do not want us to accept this covenant do you? Why do you bring it up?¡±


    ¡°An oath made must be kept. Do you expect us to make ourselves and our children oath-breakers and shark-food?¡±


    ¡°No, ambassador. But such an attitude... I find surprising.¡±


    ¡°You land-people should fear the sea then, ambassador, and the high mountain, the fast car, and even the adventure of life itself, if you take oaths so lightly. I will leave you to communicate with your government, you might want to read this short history of our people. May the shalom of the Name be with you and your family, and the fear of He who is guide your thoughts and deeds.¡±


    She bowed and left the ambassador to his thoughts.


    <hr>


    ¡°I don''t really care about her document. Oh, it''s impressive, but I''m sure that with enough time someone could work out how to replicate it. Though I must admit that the picture of her looked like it was only taken in the last couple of days. No, I listened to her attitude, and I''m telling you either she''s the best actress I''ve ever seen or she''s a hundred percent genuine. There''s a copy of a treaty on its way to you, reportedly confirming an oath between them and king Solomon. Yes, that one. They''re giving us an opt-out, which is mighty nice of them, since by the sounds of it it includes us upholding their territorial claims to I''m not quite sure where. But it was also pretty clear from her attitude that they''d rather forget the whole thing. I naturally asked her why they were bringing up a old document no one knew about, and you should have seen her reaction! Oh man! You''d think I''d just asked her to boil her babies! It was like, how could you possibly not honour an oath? It''s been made, it has to be kept! It was like I''d walked straight into Jephthah on his way to sacrifice his daughter. You''ve said it, you''ve got to do it, even if you''re going to hate yourself for the rest of your life. I''m utterly convinced that she''s not from anywhere I know of.¡±


    ¡°So, you think she''s genuine? What do they want?¡± his boss asked.


    ¡°They''re in a bind, they''ve been in hiding since the fall of the Greek empire, and they can''t hide any more. They''re convinced they''re a different subspecies, and since everyone is in their city it only takes one trigger happy commander to commit genocide. Oh, she also says that if someone did do that, it''d make a really big mess, because during the cold war a previous ruler left fifty grams of antimatter next to any coastal city they thought big enough to act as a deterrent. She wasn''t impressed by that at all, but said it''ll take years to clear up and they''ve only got days before they need to move. No, I don''t know if it includes us, but from what she said about the ancient treaty of friendship, they''re going to be really embarrassed if it did.¡±


    ¡°Fifty grams of antimatter?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, I had a go at working it out. I might be wrong but I got a bit under two megatons.¡±


    ¡°That''s big enough to really ruin your day. Jerusalem was hit by a half-megaton bomb, wasn''t it?¡±


    ¡°Yes. You realise the ''nice'' thing about antimatter bombs, don''t you?¡±


    ¡°You can''t defuse them?¡±


    ¡°Well, I guess you can if you know what you''re doing. But they''re certainly not going to fail to go bang if something breaks inside.¡±


    ¡°No. Quite the opposite. So... You''re going to raise this little matter of concern at the security council, I hope?¡±


    ¡°Absolutely. And I think we''re going to ask them very politely how and when they''re planning to get rid of them, where they''re planning to play with their little toys and how far away we can get.¡±


    ¡°And I really hope they''re not planning to let SpaceGuard launch them at a comet or anything like that.¡±


    ¡°I doubt it.¡±


    <hr>


    [Penelope, how are things going?] Karella asked.


    [They do not like our doomsday weapons.] Penelope replied


    [Nor do we.]


    [I told you they were an abomination. But they are a useful abomination. I didn''t realise ¡ª they do not have this technology at all.]


    [Not at all? But they have forcefields all over the place!] Karella said.


    [Their forcefields only work on matter, not antimatter. Or at least, so they believe.] Penelope answered.


    [A different version of the technology?]


    [Maybe. Or a different force?]


    [It will be an interesting discussion for the scientists, I''m sure.]


    [Yes. In general the attitude is shock, surprise, let''s be friends. Belief in our existence is not easy. I think the thought of the destruction an accident would result in is persuading Israel to take our request very seriously. But the ambassador realised we do not want the covenant, so he will be reading the text very carefully.]


    [I will remind our ambassadors they should be careful not to mention the blockade in the trade in gold.] Karella promised.


    [Greece is more concerned about our antiquities, as you expected, but the ambassador thought that diamonds for ''useless'' coastline might be looked on very favourably.]


    [Good. Sarah is not opposed to the idea of part of her land becoming our embassy there, and will ask her king.]


    [I must ask, majesty. Our covenants with Athens and Israel, did they prevent the planting of bombs near them?]


    [Of course. An oath must be kept! But we had no covenant with Knossos.]


    [Ah. The one was with the city, the other with the whole nation?]


    [Sort of, the one with Athens stated all the territory we now hold.]


    [What of Mycenae and Troy?]


    [That one covered all their ships, but only until the end of their dynasties'' rule.]


    [Ah, that is more pleasant. And Egypt?]


    [Silly Rameses, the text simply reads that he had heard our claim for all time, to that stinking marshland and the sea beyond, and as long as we claimed no dry land of his he had no dispute with us.]


    [Nothing of protecting his shipping or perpetual peace, then?]


    [None. A very self-confident man, that.]


    [So the big one is trading with the Israelites on equal footing as our own people?]


    [Yes.]


    [But our own people can''t trade gold either]


    [No. But they can buy Perls and enough Perls turns into boats.]


    [And rock-cutters.] Penelope realised. [I have spoken of them.]


    [A rock-cutter is just a tool.]


    [Your majesty, will a rock-cutter on full range not cut a plane out of the air, or the keel off a boat?]


    [I suppose so. You said this?]


    [I became angry, my queen. Lilly''s ambassador asked who would enforce the exclusion zone. I stated that as undisputed sovereign of the deep that would be no problem, then he mentioned depth charges, and I said woe to any captain using such a weapon.]


    [Yes. If they drop depth charges on Atlantis from a plane, or indeed on a family then we would act, to save lives, now it is no secret that we exist.]


    [Yes. This thing we take for granted could make a terrible weapon. We have some fitted already to exploration boats and the construction boats, but in conflict, it could equally destroy torpedoes, remove propellers, or sink ships. We do not need to send brave mer to risk being chopped by a propeller; they can cut the propeller shaft. But rock-cutters in the hands of a land-man could do terrible damage.]


    [We must restrict the trade in them also.]


    [Yes. And we must train our people in their use as a weapon.]


    [Ah! My ambassador, you are a genius!]


    [I am?]


    [We train people in their use, do we not? Before they can buy them?]


    [Yes, majesty.]


    [What if we say only those trained may own one? And the same with boats of gold. Only those who can pass the test can purchase one, after all they are both dangerous. And the training is not in any landfolk-tongue.]


    [And so we do not restrict the untrained landman any more than the untrained mer! But we do not offer training to landmen, and the treaty only mentions trade Your majesty, it is you who are the genius!]


    [I must speak to the council. They have laws to enact. Training in these dangerous tools will only be offered to mer, and their spouses who take a vow to uphold our laws.]


    [Your majesty, that is good. But I have sad news. Not even the Israeli ambassador takes vows seriously.]


    [It has always been our law that an oath-breaker is shark or shark-food.]


    [This is true, majesty.]


    [It will be your duty as ambassador to make this clear.]


    [Does this apply to tourists and traders also? Is not an adulterer an oath-breaker?]


    [Not all sharks need killing.] Karella said [But we will have to warn tourists and traders, yes.]

 The Other Big Secret 3: Safely out at sea / Ch. 4: Security Council

    <h2>The Other Big Secret 3: Safely out at sea / Ch. 4:Security Council</h2>


    </a>Tuesday, 10th July, 2277, U.N. building


    ¡°My queen and my people thank the Security Council that you give me this invitation to speak.¡± Penelope said, ¡°I particularly thank those countries who have already started the complex process of opening diplomatic channels with a nation that has not appeared on any map in recent centuries. That takes a significant level of courage, and we fully intend to honour those who are thus brave in practical ways, probably relating to trade or cultural interchange. I know that Greece has expressed an interest in the loan of certain artefacts and access to others, for instance. I am sure that such negotiations will eventually reach a fruitful conclusion.¡± the Greek ambassador smiled widely. Penelope continued ¡°As I believe that all here know, the SpaceGuard interceptor is due to impact Atlantic ocean on the first of August. There are significant error bars, but our underwater city is certainly at risk. Therefore, for the first time in over a century, we will be seeking to move it a considerable distance. We hope and pray that the hastily curtailed maintenance on our ancient fusion reactor has not missed any problem, but as a safety measure, all our population except the reactor technicians will move into small craft for the reactor''s ignition phase. That precautionary evacuation will occur on the eighteenth of this month, and assuming all starts perfectly our population will then return to their homes.


    I have four main issues I wish to raise, all relate to avoiding of calamity.


    The first, as I have asked of all ambassadors I have talked to, is the introduction of a military exclusion zone around our city, in order to prevent accidents. To be more precise, we would like to see a total ban on all machines of war above, on or below the surface that would be normally or abnormally equipped to launch a bomb, missile, or torpedo with a warhead capable of delivering more that then five kilograms of TNT to an underwater target. We thus do not seek to ban reconnaissance vehicles, training expeditions, transport or escort flights, nor do we see any motivation to ban any civilian vessels that have not been pressed into military service. To the nations operating stealth submarine patrols, I must tell you that our vessels have been tracking you for generations, mostly to avoid accidental discovery, of course. The ban we ask for should be considered to include all of your so-called stealth submarines, do not think you can hide from us. The question of enforcement has been raised. We are a peace-loving people, but we are easily able to enforce this ban, the title of our queen as undisputed sovereign of the deeps and shallows should not be taken as hyperbole.


    ¡°The reason for this ban is simple. A single warhead more powerful than the limit I have mentioned, whether released in panic or with ill intent, could possibly result in the destruction of the dome of crystal and rock that protects our city from the crushing pressure of the deep ocean, and so the genocide of our people. We have far more submarines than you, it us true, but not sufficient to keep our population of half a million in safety for the two weeks needed to move the city to safety. We imagine that to unexpectedly find yourself in the path of a two kilometre diameter submarine would be a terrifying experience, particularly if your submarine strayed into the area of the intakes for our propulsion system, where the currents can be intense. We wholeheartedly wish to avoid a panicked captain opening fire and thus committing genocide. We also wish to avoid any other unpleasant misunderstandings.


    ¡°Secondly, though you may only see the relevance later, my queen felt it imperative that your governments understand our oldest and most fundamental law: an oath-breaker is either shark or shark-food. That is to say that a person breaking an oath, any oath, should expect divine retribution ¡ª in the form of a shark, or other fatal accident. We do not claim it is necessary to execute every oath-breaker, but leave that to God in his sovereignty, grace and justice. Although we value life highly, we would probably not try to intervene to prevent such justice to a known oath-breaker, such a person has made themselves shark-food. An oath-breaker who has not yet been judged, we may consider a shark: untrustworthy and potentially dangerous. Not all sharks need to be killed; many types of sharks are unable to harm us or our children, others are capable, but are careful to avoid threatening behaviour. But it is our duty to our children to warn off or ruthlessly destroy any dangerous shark. We will never break a treaty sealed on oath with a formal vow. We have long memories, and we remember what we have vowed, as we value our children and know that shark-bites are sharp and terrible and come without warning. But let your governments be aware of our law, because no nation that has sworn falsely to us still ventures on the seas. It would be better to have no treaty with us than to break one. If you swear eternal friendship, we will expect that to last eternally, and a deliberately unfriendly act would make your military dangerous sharks in our eyes, and that would bring the calamity known as war.


    ¡°Thirdly, I wish to address the issue of disarmament. With the risk of deliberate or accidental genocidal attack particularly present during the cold-war era, our government at that time felt it was necessary to implement a system of automatic deterrent devices, to be revealed should some nation decide that, for instance, our city made a good target for an underwater nuclear test. These devices consist of a mass of antimatter held in a forcefield, the power for the forcefield being generated by the very gradual release of the antimatter. They were planted underground in the vicinity of all major coastal cities where a pre-existing treaty did not preclude such an unfriendly act. Thus for instance, our treaty with the Archons of Athens protected the territory of the city-state in that day. I am sorry to inform the ambassador for Greece, however, that Knossos was always too proud of its own claim of maritime supremacy to ratify a treaty with us.


    ¡°My queen shares my complete and utter disgust at these terrible weapons, and the indiscriminate nature of the destruction they would cause. She has no desire that they ever be used. It is our strong desire therefore that as normal diplomatic relationships are established we will disarm these devices. Nevertheless, these revolting devices have their purpose: to prevent genocide. In good conscience, while the threat of genocide remains, it would be fool-hardy to remove them, and in any case, disarming them will take a considerable period of time.¡±


    ¡°How long?¡± asked the Israeli Ambassador.


    ¡°The bombs are a minor modification to a power storage device we once considered using for our submarines. As such, they are able to generate power. If the governments concerned wish, the ''defusing'' of the device might simply be a case of removing the modification, and connecting cables to the appropriate connectors, at which point, the city previously under threat could then use the electricity generated for the next fifty to a hundred years. I am not a specialist in this area and we only have a few, but I understand that the work would take approximately a week per device. Alternatively, there might be other uses elsewhere for the devices, in which case, making them safe for transport would take slightly longer. If there is no desire for them anywhere.... we made them, we would store them, use the power for our city, and accept the minuscule risk of a malfunction.¡±


    ¡°How much power are you talking of?¡±


    Penelope consulted her notes. ¡°I am told I was wrong in what I told some of you..


    Each device contains approximately half a kilogram of antimatter, I understand that is the equivalent of roughly three hundred megawatt-years of electricity, but there are some inefficiencies, of course. I believe that the peaceful use of these devices is by far the best and having come to understand the terrible use to which they can be so easily turned, my Queen and I do not believe my people should ever make these storage devices again, for any purpose. I therefore ask that the Security Council seriously consider outlawing the storage of such an amount of antimatter. Let us disarm before any arms-race develops, and so prevent the calamity that would arise should such a device fail. If the Security Council takes such a step, we shall vow to never make these dangerous things or disseminate the technology to do so.


    ¡°I have spoken of three calamities, and now I wish to speak of a fourth. Perhaps it is not as significant on a world scale, but personally it is close to my heart. Depth-charges: you have long known the damage they do to fish, to reefs, to whales. You still use them, may God forgive your careless attitude to his creation. I used to have a sister. My sister had a husband and a daughter. As sometimes our folk do for relaxation or a holiday, they went for a swim near a deserted patch of coastline. They noticed some of your warships nearby, but they were not in a submarine, they were just diving, exploring, looking at the reef-life, playing tag with dolphins. Indeed they knew there were no submarines anywhere to be found nearby. They did not know your warships were pretending to hunt a submarine. The ''naval exercise'' killed my niece and brother in law with the first depth charge, my sister was wounded but sent a distress call, and you killed her with the third. I was nearby and eventually recovered their remains. We can and do hold you guilty for the devastating effect on habitat, but we do not hold you guilty for that innocent blood, you never knew we were there. Now you do! Would you pretend to hunt a sniper by throwing grenades blindly into a school? Surely, never. Would you use that method if there was actually a sniper? I certainly hope not. Would you ever again use napalm on a village? Would you sow land-mines on a playing field? I believe you now consider these actions crimes against humanity. Good! You have matured, I assure you that the Romans did such things and worse. Let the indiscriminate destroyer known as depth charges be added to the list of banned weapons. Until you do, I inform this council of a decision made by the undisputed sovereign of the deeps and the shallows. Any ship or aircraft dropping depth charges near merfolk, knowingly or unknowingly, of whatever country, shall be considered a dangerous shark, or if you prefer, a rabid dog. For the sake of the sailors or airmen on board, some attempt at warning must be given. But for the sake of our children, and our brothers or sisters, continued use of depth charges will not be accepted, and the dangerous shark will feel our long sharp knives slicing its belly, its keel, or its wings. It will be allowed to limp home if it is able, so long as it drops no more charges. But if it dares to bare its teeth once more, its captain or pilot should expect to fall from the sky and sink to the deep. This is not a military decision, this will not be an act of war, it will be an act of self-defence, by a father or mother against those seeking to destroy their family. Let the destroyers of reefs, fish and mer beware, and let such catastrophe be avoided.¡±


    ¡°You claim that an ordinary parent would routinely carry such a weapon?¡± the ambassador for Israel asked.


    ¡°We have tools we use for making our homes in cliffs, cutting rock to make tables, carving granite and obsidian. They are dangerous, but very useful. They cut rock, but they will also cut other things, at a long distance through air or water. In the past, when you threatened to kill us by these deadly toys, our law said we could flee or cower, but do no more, because our existence was secret. I tell you that now our existence is not such a great secret. If a ship or plane drops these un-aimed killers near any mer, our queen has authorised the use of appropriate and reasonable force to save mer lives. Cutting holes in a ship or plane seems a reasonable and appropriate response to devices dropped haphazardly that rip limb from limb. Likewise, if any land-man decides that trying to shoot mer-folk is a good sport, as has happened in the past, the mer-folk do not need to stay their hand. For three thousand years we have fought sharks with two legs and with none. We are a peace-loving people, we have no intention to start any war, but we will defend our loved-ones.¡±


    ¡°Do you not realise that cutting bits off a ship is an excellent way of starting a war?¡± Jim Right, Lilly''s friend asked.


    ¡°What would you call it, if we fired high explosives randomly onto land? Would you not call it an opening of hostilities? This you have been doing for generations. Now we say, let it stop. We do not demand you pay for crossing our territory, but we will now demand respect.¡±


    ¡°The laws of the sea cannot be done away with so quickly, maam!¡±


    Penelope had been prepared for this one. ¡°The law of the high seas has always presupposed there was no territorial claim. Territorial waters have always allowed innocent passage. What we tell you is that all the world''s oceans are our territorial waters, and have been since before most of the countries represented here came to be. We will continue to allow innocent passage, even of those who refuse to recognise our claims, but we will not allow the indiscriminate destruction of innocent life by depth-charges, other explosive means, or poisons. We ask that you cease to regard the ocean as your rubbish tip, and clean up after yourselves like adults. We desire trade, the protection of innocent life ¡ª on both sides ¡ª and peace. It has been millennia since we interdicted sea travel by any nation, I trust we will not have to do so again.¡±


    ¡°You did, then, in the past?¡± Jim asked.


    ¡°Have you never been surprised that the Romans so feared the sea? It did not take so very long before the senate of Rome accepted our sovereignty, but long they remembered they were outnumbered and out of their element. It was only when we''d withdrawn to the Greek coastline that they even started thinking of expanding across the water.¡±


    ¡°Do you know why you withdrew?¡± Jim pressed.


    ¡°Because the Romans expressed their fear and hatred of us by using us as target practice for their scorpions. That''s when we really started working on our city.¡±


    ¡°So you had no treaty with Rome?¡± the ambassador for Greece asked.


    ¡°No. The letter we have from the Roman Senate roughly says, ''Yes, you''re ruler of the deep, but we rule the coasts as far as our arrows fly.'' I believe the origin for your so-called territorial claim over the sea is an extension of that idea. I hesitate to point out to this august body, but by that logic, we ought to be able to likewise claim twelve kilometres of land from any point on the sea. We do not do so, we have no need of so much land.¡±


    ¡°Might we inquire as to why you need so much sea?¡± another asked.


    ¡°We do not. But apart from a few historic anomalies, very few countries have ever tried to claim any portion of it. And we have both points in our favour which have long been decisive in matters of international law: not only were we living there first, but we still are. Our submarines criss-cross the globe freely, and you have had no idea they are even there. But no, we do not need all the sea, so one item for detailed discussion at another time is whether any nation would be interested in learning our techniques for underwater building, or hiring our experts to build for them. The trade negotiations would, I think, be quite interesting. But for now, the question I put before this council is will the calamities I have outlined be avoided?¡± Penelope sat down.


    More questions were asked, clarifications requested, arguments raised, and eventually a woman ambassador, Helga, asked ¡°Exactly where is your city?¡±


    ¡°Madam Ambassador, it is under the ocean. I do not believe your nation has a military submarine capable of finding us, but... we have been hiding from you a long time. Please allow us a little patience before you ask us to point to a spot on the map and say ''If you want to drop a missile on us, we''re here.''¡±


    ¡°You trust us so little?¡± she replied.


    ¡°It was only five years ago that your fellow land-folk who hear thoughts revealed themselves with fear and trepidation to the world. A little over half of us have that ability. We can also hold our breath for about quarter of an hour under water, have natural sonar like dolphins, and I was born with webbed feet, though the webs were removed after I chose to walk among you twenty years ago, so I wouldn''t be quite so obvious. We can interbreed, and I have two lovely daughters as proof, but we are not the same sub-species of homo-sapiens as as you. On average, you are better at many things than we are, but based on the evidence, we are far better at keeping our vows and playing in the water than you.¡±


    ¡°So you have fear of racism, or rather speciesism along with the fear of someone burning you at the stake for witchcraft.¡± Helga concluded.


    ¡°Not to mention the entirety of our people in one vulnerable place. Strategically that''s a disaster, we know. But... we could never really summon up the paranoia to think that Atlantis might really be destroyed.¡± Penelope laughed, ¡°Ironic, really, given the name we gave it.¡±


    ¡°Tell us, then, of your proposed exclusion zone.¡±


    ¡°Assuming we will move South, we would like this zone.¡± She handed out papers with the exclusion zone marked. ¡°You see that the zone is a hundred nautical miles wide, and it is deliberately not centred on our location. The east-west lines indicate north-most and south-most ranges from day to day. We are aiming to reach our top speed of ten knots after three days, but felt we needed to include some allowance for contingency purposes. Of course, if the Security Council preferred, the entire area could be made an exclusion zone, which would be simpler, but we did not wish to cause such a large disruption to normal traffic.¡±


    ¡°In your introduction you stated that you had no objection to civilian traffic, or reconnaissance.¡±


    ¡°That is true.¡±


    ¡°Surely, if you allow reconnaissance traffic, you acknowledge that we might see you anyway¡±


    ¡°Yes, that is true. We are actually thinking of inviting the media, once the reactor is known to be functioning correctly and the danger is over. You cannot see much of the drive pumps, you must realise, because of the pressure differences involved, but what you can see is quite impressive. Without a doubt, it is the world''s largest Stirling-cycle machine, and is a thousand years old. Even if we do not invite the press, our heat signature will be obvious. So, in any case, our expectation is that our location will no longer be a secret by the end of our journey.¡±


    ¡°How did you move previously, then?¡±


    ¡°You will have seen we''re close to the mid-Atlantic ridge. Volcanism and tectonic activity are quite common in the area. We had a years notice that time, so there was time to stage some rumbles, and we moved considerably more slowly.¡±


    ¡°It is one purpose of this council to consider disasters. Could you explain what you fear might go wrong with your reactor?¡±


    ¡°Ah, I am not prepared for that question, but I will try, urm, there''s a song I learned as a child.¡± She closed her eyes to remember the song, ¡°The water is moved by the so-called small pistons, the song says ''each one about the size of this room'' but I can''t remember which room that is. So, urm, sorry, I think I''ll need to just translate the whole song.


    ¡°The water is moved by the little pistons, each one just as big as this room, the little pistons get pushed by big ones, great fat big ones as big as big as big. They''re moved by the gases, helium, squeelium, hydrogen, bang. It gets hot by the reactor, or cold by the water that is coming in. In to take the space as the gas gets smaller, cooling the gas, more as it comes. The gas gets moved from hot end to cold end by the heat-exchanger, hot gas, cold gas, push, shrink, move!


    ¡°But when we''re turning on, the poor heat exchanger, it''s shivering cold just like the sea. Turn on the reactor, magnets working, fire burns hotly, hotly hotly, burn the hydrogen, like the sun. Slowly the gas gets heated, warms up, slowly it gets bigger, slowly growing, into the heat exchanger, slightly, slowly it pushes the water out.


    ¡°But everything is so cold, too cold, and the heat exchanger must get half-hot. Or the gas will be shrinking far too quickly and the water will rush and the pump might burst!


    So, we heat the gas up, hotter hotter, and we heat the exchanger, hotter, hotter. But not too quickly, not too hot, or the metals might melt and Atlantis burns.¡± Penelope was a little embarrassed by her translation by the end ¡°Urm, sorry that ended up was so literal. Everyone knows the song, like, you know, a more educational version of London''s burning. I understand that at least one of the problems happened when they first tried it.¡±


    ¡°So the danger''s not actually the reactor, but the pressures in the pump?¡±


    ¡°I guess so, unless the metal that might melt is the reactor wall itself. There were some modifications a few hundred years ago, which are supposed to have helped, but mostly it''s cutting edge technology from, roughly speaking, when the Normans were busy conquering Britain. We know about that event because one of our people was in the area and went to see what all the shouting was about. He wrote a song about trying not to snigger as they were telling him how proud they were of their wonderful boats, and imagining what they''d say if they saw Atlantis overtaking them with its new fusion reactor. Of course, it''s even bigger now, we had to extend a lot, two centuries ago.¡±


    ¡°And your submarines work on the same principles?¡± the Greek ambassador asked.


    Penelope looked at him curiously ¡°Mr Ambassador, do you really think we could go at a continuous hundred and eighty knots underwater using that technology?¡±


    ¡°I withdraw my question.¡± he said, embarrassed.


    ¡°At that speed, what do you do about cavitation?¡± another ambassador asked, obviously aware of some of the problems of moving fast in water.


    ¡°I''m sorry, I don''t know any more than the answer I got when I asked that as a teenager: ''We understand what''s going on and then cheat''¡±


    ¡°You spoke of trade.¡± The Israeli ambassador said. ¡°Does that include in your submarines?¡±


    ¡°Mr Ambassador, I would not like to comment on any specific trade deal, but the materials our submarines are made from are by no means commonplace, or every family would have one. Some families I know are still saving for one after three generations. You should not think of them as disposable items like seem to consider your cars and even ships. Perhaps our standard materials could be replaced with mere titanium, for example, I don''t know how that would impact the performance though. I do not know.¡± she shrugged, and had another thought. ¡°Plus of course there is the problem you would have navigating them.¡±


    ¡°Navigating?¡±


    ¡°You cannot catch a fish in your hand with your eyes shut. I have done it many times.¡±


    ¡°You are speaking of your natural sonar?¡±


    ¡°Yes. To adapt to piloting a submarine takes some practice, especially a submarine at speed. In reality, sir, you do not want one of our submarines, you want our drive technology in one of yours, or more probably, a whole new hybrid design. That.... that is something we mer would never ask for, I am sure.¡± she looked sharply at him, did he get the message? Maybe. ¡°So it would take some negotiating with her majesty, I believe. It might be possible, depending on one''s starting point, and what is offered in exchange. I do wonder what we would get in return that is so valuable.¡±


    ¡°What do you value most?¡±


    ¡°Free time, to swim.¡± she answered immediately.


    ¡°Freedom to come and go on our coastlands, then?¡± he offered.


    ¡°Your government has decided not to accept Solomon''s treaty, then?¡±


    ¡°Ah! Sorry, I was merely speculating.¡±


    ¡°But this is not the time or place for such discussions, ambassador.¡±


    ¡°I think most of us here are confused, ambassadors.¡± Jim said, to a murmur of agreement.


    Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.


    ¡°A vow was taken between our ruler and Solomon, our people and the people of Israel and Judah. A lasting covenant, that the people of Israel and Judah have forgotten. We have reminded them of it and ask if they accept it as still binding. We understand that there have been many changes in the fortunes of Solomon''s people, and it may be that their government does not consider the covenant still applying to them. We have asked them if they wish to accept it or not. Of course there will probably be terms in it they would not like to see, as there are on our side. But we are the same people, and if the ambassador''s government decide they are of the same line and descent then the covenant made by oath will have stood for three millennia, and cannot be broken. Of course, if they decide not to accept the covenant as binding, it might be more convenient, but it might also cause some dissatisfaction, internally.¡±


    The ambassador for Israel''s face turned pale. ¡°You asked if we would accept or renounce it, madam ambassador, not if we considered ourselves the descendants of Solomon''s people.¡±


    ¡°Are they not one and the same thing, Mr Ambassador? No, I can see from your expression they are not. We will not say you deny your link to the great kings of your past if you renounce the covenant.¡±


    ¡°But some might.¡±


    ¡°I do not know, Mr Ambassador. Ask your scholars and lawyers, not to mention your politicians.¡±


    [What have you said to the Israeli Ambassador, you naughty woman? His mind''s alternatively cursing you to hell and heaping blessings on you.] Karella asked.


    [He wants a boat, surprise surprise. I pointed out that he didn''t because he can''t do sonar, and he wanted a mixture of technologies which isn''t what one of our people would ever ask for. I asked what he might offer that''d make you accept that deal. He offered freedom of their nice beaches. I asked did that mean he was declining the covenant, he said ooops, no, sorry. Lilly''s ambassador asked what on Earth we were talking about, and I explained it in terms of them deciding if modern Israel traces its lineage back to Ancient. He''d obviously not thought of it that way, I apologised and said of course we wouldn''t say that they were denying the link.]


    [Whose side are you on?]


    [Ours. We''ve got friendly relations, that doesn''t mean prime beach property, so my saying he''d be denying the covenant was just banter.


    He''s not realised yet that if they offer us enough gold then he can buy the boat and learn to drive it with some kind of electronic sonar thing. Even if they just look at one in detail they can probably understand out how they work. But we can''t deny them a boat, Karella. Not according to the treaty, it wouldn''t be friendly, or treating them as equals. And nor can I let him walk into a political minefield. I need to be a friend to this man, by our oath.]


    [Ah, Penelope. I learn much from you. Thank-you. We must remember our oaths.]


    [Yes.]


    ¡°Madam ambassador?¡± Jim asked.


    ¡°I''m sorry, I was ah, mulling something over.¡±


    [Penelope, my name is not a secret. Let the gift that gave it to me not be a secret either. I have decided.]


    [You''re sure?]


    [All our people know. Let these others, too. Apologise for my interruption.]


    ¡°To be more precise, members of this council, I was discussing something mind to mind with my queen. She has just instructed me to tell you she has the mind-reading gift. That is why we call her Farspeaker, that is how the Association of Truthsayers got involved. She apologises for interrupting, and I apologise for not hearing the question.¡±


    ¡°I think it has just been answered.¡± Jim said. ¡°I asked how you hoped to be able to enforce a four hundred nautical mile perimeter, let alone if it was extended to the full size, which would be what, two thousand nautical miles?¡±


    ¡°Our boats have sensitive detectors, we are able to detect most of your warships several tens of kilometres away. And we have a lot of submarines, and as I just pointed out to the ambassador to Israel, they travel quickly.¡±


    ¡°How large is your navy, or is that a military secret?¡±


    ¡°Not very secret. I''m afraid I only give you rough numbers, can someone help me with the maths? We have a population of half a million. Approximately seventy-five percent of those aged between twenty and fifty would consider themselves as reservists in our navy. Assume each boat, sorry, each submarine, would probably carry a pilot and three frogmen. Lots of unknowns there, but it gices you a number. Oh, I''ve just thought: I''ve heard there''s going to be ten or eleven in a boat on average for the evacuation? Does that match?¡±


    ¡°Urm. Not exactly.¡± Jim said. ¡°Method one gives me a hundred and sixty thousand reservists and forty thousand submarines, method two says forty-five thousand submarines.¡±


    ¡°Yes, somewhere in that range. I assure you that parking for those boats is a complete nightmare.¡±


    ¡°We are asking about military submarines, Maam.¡±


    ¡°I''m sorry, were you expecting our navy to have torpedoes and the like? We are a peace-loving people. Our defence for millennia has been secrecy or one-on-one combat. It was only when talking to you, Mr Ambassador,¡± she nodded to Jim Right, ¡°That I realised our rock-cutting lasers would work as anti-ship weapons. Otherwise, we were planning such things as entangling propellers, or making interesting uses of forcefields.¡±


    ¡°So... really, you''ve got no military, no defensive missiles and you''re totally vulnerable to attack.¡± Helga said, ¡°you''ll get slaughtered!¡±


    ¡°No, Madam. We have forty something thousand attack boats and a hundred and sixty thousand warriors, all of them are armed with razor sharp knives, and able to swim faster than a shark. That is our traditional enemy, but we can learn to fight others, I am sure.¡±


    Penelope drew a breath and added ¡°I expect maybe a quarter of our people would go into a battle armed with a tool which was never designed to cut anything but a metre of rock with each cut. We fully expect they will cut metal out of the sky or out of a ship''s hull. We have not tried, because we have no enemies yet. Some of our boats have more powerful versions, linked to their generators, which we used to cut the base rock for expanding Atlantis and have used since to reclaim metal from the ships you keep on sinking. Would you pit one of your lumbering warships against one of these? I wonder how long it would still have a rudder, or blades on its propellers. And if it used a depth charge, then it would soon have other problems. So no, we do not believe we are totally vulnerable, but we have no intention of starting a war, and every intention of taking oaths of non-aggression with every peace-loving nation in the United Nations.¡±


    [Penelope, swear in my name, and in the name of our people, that we will defend ourselves and our children against dangerous sharks and likewise our sworn allies as much as we are able, but will not start any war, nor will we shield any ally who thinks our treaty with them allows them to act as dangerous shark to others, nor act as arms supplier in a proxy war.]


    [You are sure of the wording?]


    [Ask our friends in the Security Council.]


    ¡°My friends in this Security Council, in order to build trust, my queen asks me to swear a binding oath in her name and the name of our people. Would the following oath be acceptable?¡± She repeated the words Karella had dictated.


    ¡°What is the time limit on such an oath?¡±


    ¡°If it had been in her name alone, then her lifespan. Sworn in the name of our people, then as long as we survive.¡±


    ¡°If I understand what you have said, such an oath once sworn is unalterable, is it not?¡± Jim asked.


    ¡°It is, unless it contains some mechanism for alteration.¡±


    ¡°What would you do if a war broke out between your allies?¡± Helga asked.


    ¡°If there was no clear aggressor, I expect that we would try to shelter the innocents on both sides, and if we were able, blockade arms supplies to both sides so that they eventually think to stop shooting and start talking, or failing that, have to resort to fighting hand to hand. Actually, we might suggest both sides'' political classes resolve it by trial by personal combat. That''s often been a good way to resolve such issues in the past with minimum bloodshed. And of course it''s very popular with the rank and file soldiers and their families, who''d have to do the bleeding otherwise.¡±


    ¡°That''s barbaric!¡± exclaimed a significantly overweight man who Penelope decided obviously had no place on any battlefield.


    ¡°If being civilised means sending millions to die wallowing in blood and entrails, while the politicians who call the shots stay safe in their plush air conditioned offices, then I''m all for a little barbarism.¡± Penelope replied. ¡°A land-man who came to walk among us once called our people ''an ancient and extremely complex semi-barbaric civilisation.'' Now, I would say we are not as complex, nor as barbaric. But we appreciate the description.¡±


    ¡°So, you would expect your queen to enter the battlefield?¡± Helga asked, as though it was something amusing.


    ¡°Our queen has swum in personal combat against sharks, defending her children, madam ambassador, do not malign her personal bravery. But she has the gift. I expect we would ask her not to fight, but instead to tell us of the positions and intentions of those who attack us. But I assure you that the women of the high council who were not elderly or carrying or nursing a babe would be among our warriors, and probably some of the men, too, though our men are more hunters than warriors.¡±


    [She''s shocked its the women.] Karella sent.


    Penelope smiled, ¡°Among us, madam ambassador, it has long been the role of the women to protect the children and the men to use their big strong muscles to bring home the hunt. We''re not cannibals, we don''t need to carry home dead enemies.¡±


    ¡°And what of your dead comrades?¡±


    ¡°It is more than two millennia since we went properly to war, madam ambassador. Allow us to forget some things, please. I am probably wrong, actually: I expect the men and the women would be fighting side by side. Who would be hunting when the nation is under attack?¡±


    ¡°But you have no modern weapons?¡± Helga pressed.


    ¡°You are right to say we do not make weapons, except our knives, spears, hunting bows and blowpipes. But we have tools, as I have said. We have the nightmare weapons, of course, and if, after we disarm those, we find you are an entire race of dangerous sharks as our forefathers believed, and that treaties are not enough to defend us, then perhaps we will have to hide or die once again.


    We hope, by making our vow to this Security Council that you will not allow such a situation to develop. I ask again, are the words of my Queen acceptable?¡±


    Jim Right said ¡°My only question is whether the vow would allow you to participate in military or policing operations sanctioned by this council.¡±


    Penelope chose her words carefully, ¡°On the assumption that such operations would not be motivated by political or trade issues, and only be against those whose attitude to international law is clearly posing a danger to the well-being of other nations, then I think we would not find it difficult to classify them as dangerous sharks, at which point we would be willing to help defend against them. If we felt that politics or trade was a significant motivation, then we might take another opinion.¡±


    ¡°I understand, you are saying that you would judge each on a case by case basis, that is perfectly in line with our practice and charter. But the restriction on starting a war made me wonder.¡±


    [Karella, do I tell them how one defends against a dangerous shark?] Penelope thought and said ¡°Ah, I see.¡± to give Karella a little time to respond.


    [Let them rather understand the phrase ''starting a war'' does not apply.]


    ¡°Would you consider such an operation to be the starting of a war? To us, starting a war would mean the first act of aggression of a planned series, taken to change a country''s policy in trade or to conquer their territory. If one day one of your sailors seeks to board one of our submarines, it would most certainly be a war-like act, and should expect a war-like response, but an isolated incident, quickly resolved either locally or politically, need not start a war. To make an army withdraw to the boarders of its own country is not starting a war, the war has already been started, and we would be defending our allies.¡±


    ¡°But... what if you are not allied to either country involved?¡± Helga asked.


    ¡°We fully intend to be allied to this council, Madam Ambassador. It is perhaps a little early to speak of terms for such an alliance, but I think we have been presupposing such an alliance.¡±


    ¡°I think I don''t understand how such an operation defends this council.¡± Jim said.


    ¡°Then why do you plan them and authorise them?¡± Penelope asked ¡°Is not their purpose to defend the Security Council''s honour and place in the order of the world, to ensure that the treaties and laws of the world represented by the United Nations in general and this council in specific are respected? Such a noble institution certainly needs defending when it is treated with disrespect.¡±


    ¡°Ah. You speak of the defence of the law!¡±


    ¡°It is hard to negotiate a treaty with a set of books. They have no faces, no hearts and lawyers twist what they mean one way or another so easily. Are there any who say that the words of the oath would be a problem?¡±


    ¡°I think the fact that your queen is willing to bind herself and all future generations in this way is admirable and speaks very well of her.¡± Jim said. ¡°I believe that my colleagues on this council will confirm that such a binding and eternal oath is, quite simply unprecedented in the history of this organisation. I am personally uncomfortable with the idea of a nation as new to our awareness, long in history and intensely vulnerable making such a commitment, and would prefer you not to give it.¡±


    ¡°You feel we would not be able to keep it?¡± Penelope asked, trying not to feel sharply insulted.


    ¡°No. I feel that it is probable though, that we would not be able to understand what you understand by it, and that, through our misunderstanding its terms, serious insult might be given.¡±


    There were murmors of agreement around the room.


    [He''s almost certainly correct about them misunderstanding it.] Karella agreed, [Especially since they''ve never seen us defending ourselves proactively against sharks we deem dangerous. If they''re willing to trust us without it, then fine.]


    ¡°We do not insist on limiting ourselves and our children in this way.¡± Penelope said.


    ¡°It is clear that you are a truly peace loving nation.¡± Helga said, ¡°I recommend we accept the first request of our guest immediately, for this is within this council''s power. And I will certainly press my government to take our guest''s other requests most seriously.¡±


    ¡°I second the recommendation, we want no part in genocide.¡± declared the Israeli ambassador. ¡°Also I will personally squeeze my government until it hurts to get these other measures passed into law and I call on all nations to support them. We don''t want any more innocent blood on our hands.¡±


    <hr>


    [Lilly.] Karella thought to her [Thank you. We have the exclusion zone, and our people owe you a debt.]


    [It still may not work.]


    [We can now tell people they are breaching the exclusion zone, and that they must stop. They will understand, they will know they are trespassing. And if they continue, they will be stopped, and they will not be quite so surprised.]


    [I''m glad.]


    [The matter of our debt to you, I am not sure how to repay it.]


    [Surely, your transporting the Bibles...]


    [Is a joy for us, to serve God''s people so. You owe us no debt for that. But you took our ambassador to the right people, and further, you prepared her well, telling her of their character, their people, what they held valuable. That is far more than we expected, and we are sure it helped make the negotiations successful.]


    [I seek no reward, your majesty. It cost me nothing.]


    [Exactly. Such an attitude makes it even more imperative that you be rewarded appropriately. Do you like to swim?]


    [Yes, why?]


    [Then, I think I know what to offer you. Lilly, which also costs us very little. I name you a friend of our people. You may come and go in our city, and all places that mer may walk or swim. As a friend of the Mer, you may request scales ¡ª a fish-tail such as we wear to swim, and with practice you will be able to leap from the water as a dolphin.]


    [I... I don''t know what to say! Thank you, your majesty! Thank you!]


    [Also, as a friend of the Mer, you may also request some of the potion. It is almost certainly the foulest substance you have ever tasted, and it might make you sick for a day, but is is one half of what makes us who we are. We cannot offer you the other half: that is genetic.


    The potion is an ancient medicine of our people, some stories tell that it was given by God. If you drink it, it will change you. Not very much, not visibly, but it will change how your body reacts to holding your breath. Normally your body fights for air when you have too much carbon dioxide in your blood, and is nothing to do with the oxygen you need to stay alert. If your body fought for air based on oxygen levels, then you could almost certainly hold your breath at least twice as long as you can now. After someone has drunk the potion, their lungs will still hurt from the carbon dioxide but the overwhelming urge to breath which blots out thought is less, and it becomes linked to the oxygen in their blood, not just the carbon dioxide. So, if you drink of the potion, once you''ve stopped throwing up, you will be able to swim underwater twice as long, perhaps longer.


    It brings its dangers: if you push yourself you will be able to hold your breath until you black out, which is death under water. But if you enjoy swimming, and if you want to play in the water like a dolphin, then being able to hold your breath longer is helpful. I offer you this knowledge, friend of my people. Guard it well, please, whatever you choose. Penelope will be in touch, to take your measurements for the scales. I assume you''d like them?]


    [Very much so!]


    [Swim well, young one. Swim far, swim fast, and may your dagger be quick to your hand for any sharks. However many legs they have.]


    <hr>


    Penelope saw the Israeli ambassador leaving the U.N. building, and approached him. ¡°Sir, I thank you for the friendship you have shown us. In return I am duty bound to tell you part of what you do not know, and want to.¡±


    ¡°I''m not sure I understand.¡±


    ¡°Our submarines, as we make them now, we expect, will never be sold to land-men. One reason we would desire to forbid their sale, is they are the basis of our power at sea. The other is cost. I suppose the very rich could afford a small one. I don''t know how well it would sit with their people though. They are made from a complex structure with different alloys. The outer three millimetres is the toughest and most corrosion resistant alloy we know of, which is what enables them to reach the depths they can and last as long as they do. A significant proportion of that alloy is gold. It''s a long way from pure gold, heaven forbid, but even a one person submarine needs about three hundred kilograms of pure gold. The work and other materials we currently value as another two hundred kilograms.¡±


    He let out a low whistle. ¡°No wonder it takes a long time to save up for one. But I don''t understand why you''re telling me this.¡±


    ¡°Because though your government has not yet decided on whether you uphold the covenant, we must consider it valid until you decline it or show signs that you are not doing so. You have acted in friendship, therefore I must treat you as a friend, with trading rights as one of us, and let you know this part of what you accept or decline. Another part is that based on the treaty, you only have trading rights as one of us. No mer would sell on his submarine to a non-mer, it would be an act of treason. No mer will allow an enemy to take his submarine, that would be failing to protect a military secret. The self-destruct built into the submarine would be used if there is no alternative. No mer would try to take his submarine apart, that would be violating his oath to the builders and putting himself and his passengers at risk, not least through the anti-tamper devices that would trigger the self-destruct, which are in place to protect the submarine in case an enemy should find one parked somewhere. If your government decides to uphold the covenant and one of your people, or your government wishes to purchase one of our submarines on that basis: buying under exactly the same conditions as one of us, then the covenant will permit such a trade, and we cannot forbid it.¡±


    ¡°But you would be able to forbid one of lesser materials and with more instrumentation? A hybrid design?¡±


    ¡°I am not sure. I expect, only expect, that such a trade might be possible, assuming your government upholds the covenant and the historic friendship between our ancient peoples, keeps our secrets secret, and so on. It would be a long and complex negotiation, not just involving politicians but potentially grumpy engineers also, who resent being asked to use materials they view as substandard. It might also be that when allowances are made for the materials you would have us use that there is little advantage to you. After all, I''m told you already know the principles upon which they work. I tell you all this in a spirit of friendship and openness. Enjoy your discussions with your lawyers and politicians.¡±


    ¡°May I ask... how complex is driving one of your submarines?¡±


    ¡°Our children start practicing with the basic controls when they are about eight. On battery power, those controls are sufficient for medium length journeys, up to about a day, if you go slowly. The advanced controls are to do with the fusion generator, how to go through water too quickly, the limited autopilot, and so on, so using them needs more awareness of scientific principles.¡±


    ¡°You let an eight-year old control a vehicle that cost half a tonne of gold?¡±


    ¡°Not alone, no.¡±


    ¡°I''m relieved.¡±


    ¡°But most parents will let their children pilot alone for short battery-powered journeys by the time they''re twelve.¡±


    <hr>


    </a>Israeli Embassy


    ¡°Have the lawyers looked at that covenant yet?¡±


    ¡°Yes, they''re not really very impressed.¡±


    ¡°Please add into the mix some politicians from all parties, including the nutters, and ask the following hot potato: does renouncing it also renounce our ties to the people Solomon ruled, and all associated questions? Their ambassador seemed to think it was implicit, then said ''Oh of course we won''t claim that'' But someone might want to, so you''d better get a consensus view on that.¡±


    ¡°May the One have mercy on your twisted soul! How can we get consensus on that?¡±


    ¡°Pass. But, I also now know why they don''t want us to ratify.¡±


    ¡°Oooh. Now that''s interesting. Spill!¡±


    ¡°Their subs. That covenant gives us the right to buy some. It also attaches a whole heap of strings, like we wouldn''t sell them or take them apart, let them fall into enemy hands, and so on.¡±


    ¡°We''ve got subs.¡±


    ¡°Not like these. Their subs are small, average size fits eleven uncomfortably, four normally. She spoke of a typical military compliment being one pilot and four frogmen, but that''s probably just because they''ve got forty or fifty thousand of the things. So... tell me of a use for an undetectable midget sub, capable of going at a sustained speed of a hundred and eighty knots, with one pilot and let''s say eight sweaty frogmen. When other than our new-found allies, we''re the only state with one.¡±


    ¡°You''re talking worldwide commando insertion, aren''t you?¡±


    ¡°Exactly. Are we interested? If so, the drawback is they''re made up of all sorts of super-duper alloys one of which uses a significant amount of gold, apparently. A two man version would set us back half a ton of gold, three hundred of which goes straight into the furnace, the rest pays for labour and other materials. I''ve no idea what their supply of other materials is like, so we might be able to cut a deal there. I''ve no idea how much the four-to-eleven one costs, but from the sound of it, it was a case of ''that''s what the pressure hull is made of'', so get someone to scale accordingly. If we renounce the covenant, then there''s no way they''ll part with even one, that''s their tactical advantage and everything.¡±


    ¡°Armaments?¡±


    ¡°They''ve got a few specially modified ones which have a fusion-driven laser on board, which sounds like a nice toy, but basically no armament except pure agility. On the subject of their lasers, they''ve also got a hand-held version apparently. Every other dad has one for doing the odd bit of rock carving to expand the family home. Hence she was thinking that an irate dad would be carving up any ship or plane that dared to drop depth charges on his kiddies, so told us to keep our depth-charges away from the water. Speaking of which, they want those things on the same list as chemicals and land mines, which isn''t surprising since apparently someone''s been killing her relatives and I guess others too with them.¡±


    ¡°So how do we defend against their subs?¡±


    ¡°We don''t need to. Attacking us wouldn''t be friendly and we''d be sworn friends. It''s all in my report, but basically they''d rather sacrifice their queen to Moloch than break a treaty, even one they don''t like.¡±


    ¡°Is that likely?¡±


    ¡°What, didn''t you read my last report even?¡±


    ¡°I''m a busy man, and we''ve had that covenant to deal with!¡±


    ¡°Yeah, I''m sure. Almost the whole bunch of them are Christians, and the ambassador claims their queen has the Spirit of the Almighty upon her and can know what you''re thinking, where you''re hiding, et cetera.¡±


    ¡°Nice claim.¡±


    ¡°Sounded pretty genuine to me, she missed some questions because queenie was dropping in for a chat. That ''Farspeaker'' bit we were confused about is reference to it, apparently.¡±


    ¡°Oh great. So help me to get this right, option one is we accept the treaty which gives away our territorial water, lays claim to various bits of our neighbour''s coast-lines on these mer-people''s behalf, possibly sparking another war, and in return maybe get access to a couple of subs that the commandos would give their eye-teeth for, but cost maybe as much as a destroyer. Our geo-political position gets a major boost in terms of what looks like an incredibly reliable ally, and it''s entirely possible they''ll defend our coastline for us against aggressors, depending how they understand various words we''re guessing at. Option two is we say history is nothing to do with us, decline the treaty and lose the option of ever buying one of those subs. The sea people aren''t grumpy with us, because they keep their secret tech, our neighbours aren''t up in arms because we''re not giving away their territory, but the internal recriminations probably bring down the government. What did I miss?¡±


    ¡°The possibility of negotiating for cheaper, lesser subs using more readily available materials, or their drives in our subs, or something, but no promises about what they''ll want in return or that the engineers won''t go off in a huff that we''re not using the proper stuff, or it''ll work anywhere near as well as the proper stuff does. Scrap the covenant and you probably scrap that too, unless the design team manages to come up with a version of their tech which doesn''t use anything too top-secret.¡±


    ¡°In which case anyone might be able to buy one.¡±


    ¡°Unless we manage to write an exclusive partnership deal into the agreement, making us their sole agent.¡±


    ¡°They''d go for that?¡±


    ¡°If we''ve got the covenant then in their eyes we''re friends with three millennia of history as a trading partner.¡±


    ¡°OK. But everyone''s going to be after their sub technology, aren''t they?¡±


    ¡°But it won''t be on offer. She made some hints during the session about how useless they''d be to us that made it sound like not even we''d get one.¡±


    ¡°So how did you get all the stuff you''ve just been telling me?¡±


    ¡°She told me, one on one, saying I''d acted friendly in supporting her in the council, and she had to presume the covenant of friendship was still in force. Since I''d shown an interest in their submarines she said she was bound out of friendship to tell me this part of what we''d be giving up if we abandon the covenant. So she told me and then left.¡±


    ¡°But... there''s more?¡±


    ¡°I''m sure there is. It says we get to trade with them on an equal footing. An exactly equal footing, with all restrictions, etc. applying to any secrets, of course. But, there must be other goodies they have. Their ship-slicing hand tool, for instance. Plus I didn''t ask her where Ophir was, or if there was any gold there still, but they must have some supply of gold for those subs to be as common as they are. By the way, about that there friendly act that won me all this information: I stated in the council that I''d be squeezing you ''till it hurt to implement everything she asked for. Since you don''t have time to read reports, here''s the four point summary: Number one, the exclusion area, which the council''s agreed to; number two, don''t be so stupid as to think you can tear up a treaty with them, unless you want to be cut up like they''d cut up a shark that was after one of their kids; number three, let''s all agree to ban the mass storage of antimatter, like they used in the bombs they''ve planted everywhere except near their historical friends, Athens and us; number four, no more depth charges.¡±


    ¡°No bombs near us?¡±


    ¡°We''re their friends under a covenant which lasts until one of our peoples is no more. Unless we decline it of course. Would you count planting five hundred grammes of antimatter outside someone''s capital a friendly act?¡±


    ¡°No. Did she give any details on what those things are, by the way?¡±


    ¡°Yes. It started off as some kind of antimatter battery, each one storing about three hundred megawatt years, which they rigged to explode during the cold war. They''re suggesting one option is they remove the booby-trap device and leave the battery to give fifty to a hundred years of free energy to the insulted city. Otherwise they could move them somewhere else that wants the power, or take them home.¡±


    ¡°Take them home?¡±


    ¡°Yes. Meaning that anyone attacking Atlantis had better realise they''re going to release, I don''t know, she didn''t say how many of the things they''d made but let''s guess fifty to a hundred kilograms of antimatter.¡±


    ¡°And that''d be the end of the world as we know it?¡±


    ¡°I''m sure it''d make a mess, but I think the dinosaur killer was a bigger bang.¡±


    ¡°That''s quite some confidence in your engineering, to stick that under your kid''s bed, isn''t it?¡±


    ¡°I hadn''t thought of that, but yes, it is rather. She did say they''ve had a thousand years of experience with fusion.¡±

 The Other Big Secret 3: Safely out at sea / Ch. 5: Press release

    <h2>The Other Big Secret 3: Safely out at sea / Ch. 5: Press release.</h2>


    </a>Tuesday, 17th July, 2277


    ¡°Hi, Tony. Thanks for dropping by. This one''s not an exclusive.¡± Pete said, handing him the press release crystal, ¡°But, on the other hand, you actually got here only five minutes after the courier left, and you''re one of the few people with much chance of getting an interview out of Sarah, she and John took most of the pictures themselves, so maybe there''s some advantage.¡±


    ¡°Hey, April fools day was months ago, Pete.¡± Tony said, looking at the first line of text, before scanning down to see the pictures.


    ¡°For further corroboration, see also military exclusion zone just introduced by the U.N. Security Council, and speak to the national government of your choice.¡± Pete said.


    ¡°This is utterly crazy, Pete.¡±


    ¡°Fun, isn''t it! I really need to thank Sarah for getting me involved in this. Two major world-changing news stories in one lifetime! There ought to be something on the government news site about ten seconds after the first person calls for confirmation. It won''t have any actual content, just report that following recent events, and in confirmation of information given to the press, a new embassy will be established on the coastline in the next few days.¡±


    ¡°Why are you distributing this on a crystal?¡±


    ¡°Three reasons: Number one, it keeps people like you employed, number two the network operators declined the idea of hosting a single site that the whole world would probably visit. Number three: there''s a world-wide coordinated release time that if you use or plan to use any of the material you''re contractually committed to. That''s in the first paragraph that you probably didn''t read yet. Oh, number four: it not being on some site actually makes it less likely that there''s a substantial leak. Enjoy working with that data, there''s probably enough for about three hours of programming there before you add in the commentators. And you''ve got water-sports angles, technology, historical, social, medical, industrial, cultural, the lot.¡±


    ¡°Sarah can verify this stuff?¡±


    ¡°She''s been there. John too. This is a whole civilisation that last spoke to the rest of us around the time of the rise of the Romans. They kept their records safe, and have decided we''re maybe civilised enough to talk to now.¡±


    ¡°When''s the release date?¡±


    ¡°You''ve got until Friday to work it all out. To add to the excitement, if all goes well tomorrow, and the thousand year old fusion reactor (with some adjustments suggested by a late-Victorian, early-Edwardian steam engineer-cum-missionary) all works properly, then the city of Atlantis will start moving, and on Monday, there will be a limited number of tickets available for the press and maybe heads of state and the like to take a trip to see round the city for themselves.¡±


    ¡°At exorbitant fee, I presume?¡±


    ¡°Actually, no.¡±


    ¡°Then?¡±


    ¡°The transport fee has been set at ten kilos of high quality chocolate. Tickets are available to I quote ''Reporters of high moral integrity both in their professional and private lives. The oldest law of our people is that an oath-breaker is shark or shark-food, such people need not apply. Oaths must be kept.''¡±


    ¡°Shark or shark-food?¡± Tony asked.


    ¡°Happy reading. There''s a whole section on it in the culture section.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Pete. I presume there''s some sort of covering letter for this little bomb-shell?¡±


    ¡°Oh, yes. Here it is. It just highlights the release limit and what to expect to see on the Palace network site as confirmation.¡±


    ¡°I wonder what Albert''s going to say.¡±


    ¡°What I''m really hoping is you''re going to offer me the chance to film him finding out.¡±


    Tony laughed, ¡°Come on, let''s go and see what he thinks to the idea.¡±


    <hr>


    </a>N.W.N. office.


    ¡°Albert, Pete here wants to be spy on the wall while I deliver a little package he''s been working on for the last few days.¡±


    ¡°Not on my own.¡± Pete said.


    ¡°By the way.¡± Tony added ¡°On the way here I checked with the palace press office. So either their majesties'' press office are in on the joke or it''s real. I''ve also managed to arrange an interview with a certain publicity-shy millionairess to ask how she got the invitation to take most of the pictures. But apparently that''s not going to be an exclusive either, sorry.¡±


    ¡°Release limited until 14:00 Universal Coordinated Time on Friday, I see.¡±


    Albert said ¡°Why then?¡±


    ¡°Almost all of the world is awake.¡± Pete said. ¡°Note the small print that says organisations in countries where that''s not the case may either delay, or pre-announce that a significant announcement in world history is going to be made at that time.¡±


    ¡°So, global coverage?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°What''s in it for us?¡± Albert asked.


    ¡°Depends if we''re a serious news channel or not, Albert.¡± Tony said.


    ¡°Oh go on, tell me.¡±


    ¡°No, I want you see your reaction to reading it, just like every other editor who''s getting it by courier about now.¡±


    ¡°And would it be OK if I get it on video?¡± Pete asked. ¡°Just to preserve the event. You don''t need to agree to me publishing it or anything.¡±


    ¡°As long as I can claim total and absolute privacy later.¡± Albert said, dropping the crystal into his reader. A minute later, during which his mouth twitched once or twice, he said ¡°Someone''s put a lot of work into this. Tony, were you serious about the palace site, or is this just a local wind up.¡±


    ¡°I''m serious about the palace site.¡±


    ¡°Mrs Williams is a relative of Eliza, isn''t she? I wonder how they persuaded his Majesty to agree to it.¡±


    ¡°I invite you to contact a number of the other governments of your choice, Mr Campbell.¡± Pete said.


    ¡°Eeeny meeny... Israel.¡±


    Tony found the Israel press office network site. ¡°Five minutes ago, Albert.¡± he showed him the official press release:


    ''Significant archaeological find: treaty and trade agreement signed between King Solomon ben David, king of Israel, Hiram king of Tyre and the ruler of Ophir puts end to debate about historicity of King David. Carbon dating confirms date.''


    ¡°That''s not the sort of thing they''d say as a joke, Albert.¡± Tony pointed out.


    ¡°No.¡±


    ¡°A copy of the treaty is included under the history section.¡±


    ¡°Get Jack in here.¡± Albert demanded. Tony smiled as he was on his way to do that. Jack was the Middle East reporter, who''d just returned from Israel.


    <hr>


    ¡°Jack, tell me more about what you heard.¡±


    ¡°Didn''t make much sense to me. Enormous hulabaloo in the Knesset, all reporters banned. All I got was something about an old treaty or covenant, and what they ought to do about it. Trade and industry were involved, so was military, to guess by who was absolutely refusing to talk to anyone about anything.¡±


    ¡°Thanks, Jack. Now, exhibit one, press release from their government, about ten minutes ago.¡±


    ¡°Urm, OK. That''s interesting.¡±


    ¡°Exhibit two, press release from our government.¡±


    ¡°I don''t see the link.¡± Jack said.


    ¡°Exhibit three. Press release from grinning man with camera and unnamed others, delivered to Tony half an hour ago. Please tell me that in your best judgement this is purely coincidence, and it''s all a big crazy joke.¡±


    ¡°You''ve got a copy of the treaty? How did that happen?¡±


    ¡°Part of the package, click back, scroll around.¡±


    ¡°I see other treaties, oooh, that''s not very diplomatic from Rome. I notice a trend though. They''ve found an archive of some ancient, unheard of sea power? Egypt, Greece, Rome, that''s pretty impressive.¡±


    ¡°You''ve heard of them, all right.¡± Albert growled. ¡°That''s what makes it so crazy. Click out to the top level.¡±


    ¡°Wasn''t I there? Oh!¡± he swore ¡°This has to be a wind up!¡±


    ¡°So, what are Israel doing, what''s our government doing?¡±


    ¡°What does Athens say?¡± Jack asked.


    ¡°I''ve no idea.¡± Tony replied, looking up the Greek government''s press releases. ¡°Urm.. Albert? What do you think?¡±


    Albert read aloud ¡°Dozens of priceless works revealed, international treaty signed to enable rolling loan to Athens museum. A new renaissance in classical study expected to begin. Archaeologists, classicists and historians, and holiday makers are expected to be flooding to Athens over the coming years as a rolling loan scheme begins, in August, starting with the historical works of Andiclides of Athens, previously believed lost to the world. More details of the discovery will be released on Friday.¡±


    ¡°Well, they moved quickly,¡± Pete commented, ¡°the last I heard that was just an idea.¡±


    ¡°''Holiday makers flooding to see the books'' might be overstating it, I expect.¡±


    ¡°Depends how they handled other aspects, I expect, and what they managed to squeeze into the treaty.¡±


    ¡°It''s looking real to me, Albert.¡± Jack said.


    ¡°You know, this might change the world more than the last one, Pete?¡± Albert said.


    ¡°I know. Fun time to be in the news business, eh?¡±


    ¡°Right!¡± Albert yelled to his secretary, ¡°Cancel all programming for after two o''clock universal time on Friday, whenever that is. Call all top analysts and programme makers in here. History''s about to be made and we''re going to report it properly.


    Tony, when''s your interview?¡±


    ¡°One o''clock.¡±


    ¡°Great. Stay as long as you can. Pete, sorry I think we''re going to need you gone.¡±


    ¡°That''s fine, Albert. Thanks for the video.¡±


    ¡°Send me a copy, will you? We might want to do a ''behind the scenes'' on this one day.¡±


    ¡°My pleasure.¡±


    <hr>


    </a>1pm, Conference room, GemSmith H.Q.


    ¡°Hello, Myra. I didn''t expect to see you here.¡± Tony said.


    ¡°That''s a coincidence, I didn''t expect to be here either. I was going to be doing a minor follow-on piece on a GemSmith subsidiary''s purchase of a derelict campsite. Last week I arranged to meet the project manager on site, I couldn''t contact him this morning to confirm, but went anyway and got redirected here by someone from Internal Security. Do you have any idea what''s going on?¡±


    ¡°Urm, yes. World history is about to get a few more chapters, maps are about to go out of date, and all books on mythical creatures are now almost certainly incorrect. Oh, and anyone linking mermaids to dugongs is probably going to get sued for defamation, racism, or something.¡±


    ¡°You''re not making a lot of sense, Tony.¡±


    ¡°Would you prefer me to say mer-men, mer-women and mermaids only wear tails to swim with? Or that Atlantis is due to start moving tomorrow, and there might be a chance to visit, starting on Monday. Sarah got back last week, apparently.¡±


    ¡°Tony, that''s not funny.¡±


    ¡°No. But it''s apparently true.¡± Tony informed a confused Myra.


    Sarah entered, ¡°Welcome, Myra, Tony. Sorry for the joint interview, but I thought there''s bound to be some overlap. Myra, your channel''s had a press release this morning, assuming the courier''s not got lost. Your piece was going to go out on Friday, wasn''t it?¡±


    ¡°Yes, why?¡± Myra asked.


    ¡°It''s almost certainly not going to get run, sorry. Pushed off whatever slot it had by the press release, assuming your editor doesn''t assume it''s a total joke. Please consider this interview as a replacement.¡±


    ¡°Sarah, what''s going on? Tony was saying some rubbish about mermaids and Atlantis....¡±


    ¡°OK, Myra, Tony, let me fill you both in on ancient family history. You might have noticed that ''Emerald'' crops up a lot in the GemSmith business, especially in the older parts. Some of the recent divisions have added other gems, but there''s Emerald accounts services, Emerald consulting, and Emerald health insurance, and so on. That''s because it was an emerald that saved my lots-of-great-grandfather''s business. It was a family heirloom, a necklace with an emerald so big everyone assumed it had to be glass, or it''d be in a museum. Initially it was found, allegedly, in a chest of pirate treasure. The finder gave it do his daughter to play with, thinking, oh, some child''s glass pretty thing. The man who was to become the brother in law of a further back grandfather of mine saw it, and offered his friend another necklace that had a one or two carat diamond in it, and then gave it to his future wife, a woman called Rose. She then passed it to her niece, Amanda, who passed it to her youngest daughter, who married, and then for a while it was passed from mother to daughter in law, with a rumour that it was real. Eventually, when the owner''s husband was in financial trouble after his partner ran off with half the stock, they had it properly valued and sold it. Debts were wiped out, the rest got invested in what turned into became GemSmith.


    ¡°About three weeks ago I was contacted by a descendent of Amanda''s second daughter, who filled me in with the pre-Rose side of the story. Her side of the family had been keeping very good records, all the way back to an English missionary''s family Bible from the beginning of the nineteen hundreds. He''d felt called to leave home to find a specific isolated tribe and translate the Bible for them. Before feeling the call to mission, he''d been an engineer.


    After he''d learned their language after five years a prisoner, he married the barbarian warrior woman who''d caught him in the first place, and had taught him their language. Are you with me so far?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡± Myra agreed. ¡°How did she know you were you?¡±


    ¡°Oh, they''d kept in touch with Amanda''s side of the family, apparently, and suggested the emerald be sold... It wasn''t very hard for them to work out who was the GemSmith heir.


    ¡°So, this missionary-engineer knew knew there were some odd things about his wife, that she could hold her breath a surprisingly long time, and she and her people often wore fish-tail-like skirts to help them swim. He also knew that her tribe claimed to have been isolated a long long time, although at the time they were on the edge of the Aegean sea. They called themselves mer. So, OK, he was marrying a warrior maid of the mer, who wore a fish-tail sometimes, and maybe he wasn''t really sure if he was marrying an amazon or a mermaid or just a beautiful woman who''d shown him a lot of kindness over the years and had become a Christian. He had grand plans and hoped that more would respond to the gospel and that one day, he might be able to teach them some modern technology beyond their simple bronze-looking knives and spears, like the wonders of practical steam engines. Then, world war one rolled onto their beautiful island, and the village elders said something to the effect of ''Oh bother, we''ll have to go to Atlantis, that''s no fun''. And this poor man discovered that not only had he only seen the barbarian side of his wife''s family and life, but they had fusion power when the closest he had to any relevant knowledge was an article or two he''d read about strange things called cathode rays and X-rays. He did see one thing in Atlantis that he understood. The city-submarine was moved by a set of the most humongous Sterling engine pumps you can imagine, which had real problems with starting properly when their regenerator was cold. Also, he discovered that although they had slide valves operated by the timing wheels they only pumped in one direction, which made stopping tricky. Pistons, levers, valves, high pressure gasses, now that was something he was really familiar with, whereas at the time the plasma and forcefield physicists'' attitude was ''Hey, this is all ancient mechanics. The instruction manual says heat up the reactor to five percent power, count to five hundred and then kick there, and it mostly works after the twentieth try, so that''s what we do.'' He shook his head in disgust and went and talked with metal workers and engineers instead. He retrofitted the valves with something rather like a Stephenson link reversing mechanism to control the inlet and outlet valves, so they could apply reverse thrust, and added a massive cogwheel connecting the multiple pumps so that they had to stay in step with each other, which otherwise had been a bit hit or miss.


    ¡°He also did that rather cleverly, so that while the power cylinders were linked to the valves, the regenerators could be driven separately while they were heating, which largely got rid of a lot of problems with starting it all. The wheel''s a lightweight alloy and runs on frictionless magnetic bearings, so that even if there''s some problem with multiple ways of starting it from electric motors to compressed air, actually a few dozen strong men could start it. Here''s a picture of his wheel, from a long way away. The reactor and pump chambers are deep in the rock, as you might have guessed, this is just the timing gear. Those little dots are people.¡±


    ¡°That''s impressive engineering.¡± Tony agreed.


    ¡°His wife, meanwhile, had become a major leader of her people and a great evangelist. Quite an interesting style. She basically told the people, ''Remember our old neighbours, the Perizzites, Jebuzite, Amorites, Canaanites and Hivites who God destroyed before Moses? Have you noticed that our live-style has almost descended to their level? Have you noticed that we''re so busy killing each other over honour or insult that we don''t pay attention to most of our lessons? Shouldn''t you at the back have been listening to me, without me having to use a blow-dart you?''¡±


    ¡°She''d actually blow-dart people who weren''t paying attention?¡± Tony asked.


    ¡°Apparently so. A fast-acting muscle relaxant, harmless, but embarrassing, apparently. I bet some teachers would love to be able to do it to the kids who can''t stop talking. One dart and then they can''t do much more than flop on the ground and breathe for ten minutes or so. Anyway, once they''d made sure the talker at the back wasn''t going to drown in his own vomit or anything like that she''d continue ''Shouldn''t we pay some attention to God when he lets a war roll on top of us? Shouldn''t we remember that we''re supposed to be waiting for a serpent crusher, who''d bring God''s belessing to all nations? Shouldn''t we have noticed that he came almost two thousand years ago and we were so busy running away from land-men and each other that we never even paid attention?''


    ¡°Since they did remember what the Perizzites and co were like, that rather hit home, because they''d really looked down on them at the time. And so when she went on to tell them about Jesus, they turned to him. The entire population, eventually. There are some nominal Christians among them, but her husband had done a pretty decent job of the Bible translation by the second revision, and they took an oath never to return to idolatry. And oaths have to be kept, that''s their most basic law.¡±


    This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.


    ¡°So, anyway, my distant relative contacted me and said, ''Hi, cousin, we remember Rose''s emerald, do you? And you know that interceptor? It''s going to land on our city, maybe going bang, and our reactor and sterling engine is in bits for its twice-a-lifetime maintenance cycle, and when we put it back together we''re going to have to move quickly. We''ve been hiding from you land-men an awfully long time, but we can''t do that any more. Please come and help us work out how to not get blown up by some scared submariner sent to investigate strange heat signals, who we ought to talk to about not getting nuked, and anything else you can think of about emerging into the modern world without destroying each others cultures or economies. Speaking of which, are diamonds rare among you? What about gold? And is it true that chocolate isn''t really worth its weight in gold up there?¡±


    ¡°You''re exaggerating.¡± Tony said.


    Sarah looked at Myra who guessed ¡°Supply and demand?¡±


    ¡°Exactly. One or two chocolate bars, carefully dropped by people who''d left Atlantis to their relatives who were lurking under piers and such, compared to going to the estuary of some river which runs through gold country and moving some rocks.¡±


    ¡°So chocolate is really really valuable there?¡±


    ¡°Not any more. You know those people who''d left? They got called home too, each one thought they''d make their relatives rich with a suitcase full of chocolate. Lots of happy teenagers breaking out in spots, but no one got rich. It did prove one thing though. Trading controls are absolutely necessary. The economies are too divergent.¡±


    ¡°Really necessary, or just desirable?¡± Myra asked.


    ¡°You tell me. They''ve got three thousand years of practice using different alloys, and they''ve got some really really good ones. Their strongest and most corrosion proof one, they use as the outer most layer of the pressure hull on their submarines. In terms of properties, it makes steel look a bit like well, rusty useless stuff. It''s got quite a lot of gold in it. So a tiny little one or two person sub takes three hundred kilos of the stuff, and say your average family run-about submarine, sleeps six people in reasonable comfort, more if you sleep on the floor, takes more like two tonnes. Everyone wants a submarine, of course, since there''s no public transport infrastructure under the sea, and families want to get away on holiday to do some serious swimming in the sun. Plus, of course, with everyone a reservist, submarines are a vital part of their defense strategy. So, they use massive quantities of gold per capita. Their government encourages gold prospecting, since it effectively builds the military for no government expenditure. In a total free market, you''d end up with people swapping their submarine for a beach-front property. But that submarine is a defence secret, so they won''t do that, but maybe they''d take the gold they''ve collected over the decades, and rather than buy a submarine, they''d find a nice home on the beach. They pay with their ton of gold. Everyone is happy. Except that they''re not used to paying property taxes, they''re used to paying for government services by public service, usually in the form of food collection or the odd bit of other manual labour. The land-government aren''t going to like their tax paid in fish, or raw farm produce, and the average family man won''t ever be able to find a job where he can afford the taxes on a house he bought with a ton of gold. Especially not without the submarine that they might have bought with the gold they don''t have any more. And they can''t borrow their neighbour''s sub, like they do at the moment, because their neighbour is in exactly the same situation.


    Take it to the extreme, and what do you get? An entire beach-front of mansions lived in with people who can quite happily support themselves by fishing, but can''t pay their tax bills: a total culture clash. Accusations on both sides. You also get a defense crisis for the mer people because the gold they''ve been collecting is now flowing out of their economy. On our side of things, you get massive inflation in the beach-front property market, combined with a temporary collapse in the price of gold as people think this new influx of gold is going to last. Of course it doesn''t. And although their per-capita consumption of gold is high, it is nothing to our total consumption of it. So they get an economic and defence crisis, and we new category of people living in beach-front paradise, indebted to a government where they''re not citizens, who are never going to see all the gold they purchased their homes for because our appetite for gold has pushed the price up again, and the property prices have gone way down as the market realises that they''re going to be selling soon.¡±


    ¡°So, you''d see trade restrictions as desirable for us, necessary for them?¡±


    ¡°I think it''s necessary for both sides, to keep the peace. Since gold is a strategic defense resource for them, they''ve taken a simple step: trade in physical gold is now outlawed for them. Gold used to be one more barter item, now, the government has started a national bank that will accept gold and issue money, which they''ve named the Pearl. The Pearl is intended to eventually be internationally traded, but the amount in circulation will be linked to the physical amount of gold in the reserves, and the price of the submarine will be linked to the amount of the gold in it. So, in some ways it will be linked to the gold standard, but it will be the mer gold standard, not ours, with them envisaging a permanent barrier between the two. For the moment, the Mer government is suggesting that in the interests of not confusing everyone, the Merfolk use whatever they like amongst themselves, and land-currencies when dealing with land-folk.¡±


    ¡°Does that mean that they may not buy and sell jewelery?¡±


    ¡°No. But the value of jewelery has normally been higher than the value of raw gold. But even then, use of jewelery as just trade-goods has been banned.¡±


    ¡°Normally?¡±


    ¡°There have been times among them when raw gold was more highly valued, as it was normally pretty pure and jewelery might not be. It depends on supply and demand, as you can imagine.¡±


    ¡°You spoke of barter, and this currency as an unusual thing. Do I understand that they are unused to a currency-based economy?¡±


    ¡°Yes. They are used to bartering gold for chocolate, diamonds for favours, fish for music lessons, and so on. In the past they have had currencies, but they prefer the simplicity of barter.¡±


    ¡°So... how do they save up a ton of gold? Surely not under their beds!¡±


    ¡°No. Well, not everyone. They are well aware of the concept of promissory notes.¡±


    ¡°But a family would not perhaps take out a loan for a boat?¡±


    ¡°From where would they borrow the gold? From another family who are also trying to collect enough to build a boat next year, or this year if they find a good pocket?¡±


    ¡°But you must be aware of economic value of credit.¡±


    ¡°Yes, of course. But until now there has been no central bank. There has been no need for a police force, standing army, or most other expensive aspects of government. The needs of researchers, teachers, doctors and archivists are met by the community service of those who are not in this category. The needs of engineers, metal-workers, and so on are met by their fees for what they produce. They in turn may pay others to do their community service.¡±


    ¡°So there is effectively a tax of work?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°So what of the poor?¡±


    ¡°What poor?¡±


    ¡°I''m sorry... are you suggesting there no poverty among them?¡±


    ¡°Not as such. Everyone healthy is able to catch fish, very effectively, or go gold prospecting assuming they can hitch a ride with someone. The sick or elderly are looked after by their families, or if they are without a family a friend or neighbour will step in.¡±


    ¡°But what of wealth creation, small businesses, and so on?¡± Myra asked.


    ¡°Myra, to put it their words, they are a high technology hunter-farmer-gatherer society, where they only introduced mass production two hundred years ago and they''re not sure they''re going to keep it. I asked a lot of them what their ideal life looked like, and universally their initial response was ''catch some fish, swim without being afraid of being seen, scare away the sharks.'' after that it was a little more varied: ''teach the children, pick up some gold or gems, make pretty stuff, find stuff out, get this to work better, work out how to manipulate that atomic force.¡±


    ¡°But...¡± Myra objected.


    ¡°They are a small nation, the sea is large, and they are farmers and apex predators in a way that we''ve never been. They have been horrified at our wastefulness, our wanton environmental destruction, and our pollution of the land and sea. Now, one of the things they''re hoping to do is persuade us to stop polluting the sea.¡±


    ¡°They don''t fear that there''ll be massive immigration, if life is so good under the waves?¡± Tony asked.


    ¡°How long can you swim for underwater, Tony?¡±


    ¡°Urm, maybe a length of a pool.¡±


    ¡°In terms of time?¡±


    ¡°Oh, a minute or two, maybe.¡±


    ¡°They have biological adaptations that make them certain they''re a separate sub-species. They can swim up to fifteen minutes under water, and navigate by echo-location. One of us land-people might be able to learn to swim with one of their tails, but in this... what I guess we might as well call defining mark of their culture of being able to go out there and grab enough fish for the day in half an hour, we''d never be better than badly handicapped. They''re aware of that, and unfortunately for any young men and women wanting to marry their way into the Mer culture, they''re also aware of the risk of excessive intermarriage on the grandchildren.¡±


    ¡°You said you yourself had some family link to the Mer. Could you expand on that intermarriage aspect? How did that happen if they''ve been so isolated from us, hiding away in Atlantis?¡± Tony asked.


    ¡°The whole people living there only happened about two centuries ago. Before that, they''d always been living in isolated spots around the world''s coastlines. Before the massive population boom of the twentieth century, that was fine, but then with more and more tourism, it was becoming difficult to hide. In quite a few places around the world, they set up dive centres, often with a Mer theme, and employed local actors to dress up as Mer. That was really quite clever: it meant that if one of their friends or relatives was seen, they''d just be dismissed in people''s minds as one of the actors or actresses. But the time of no privacy hit them hard. People had early wrist units, or other communication devices which could take pictures good enough to identify people, and the computers were recognising people who weren''t staff. Hiding in plain sight like that wasn''t working, and they withdrew to Atlantis. But during that time, there''d been numerous occasions when trusted staff members had met some of the real merfolk, and quite a few marriages resulted. That helped with people getting I.D. papers and such like, but part of the reason that my lots-of-greats grandmother stayed on land when her family went to hide in Atlantis was that she couldn''t hear where fish were, or drive one of their submarines safely.¡±


    ¡°Because of intermarriage?¡± Myra asked.


    ¡°Yes. She had a land-folk father, and a mother who was herself more than half land-folk. That was too much, in her case. I don''t think you''d be able to call it racism, but... they''d routinely check for common descent to avoid inbreeding ¡ª they''d consider marrying a third cousin incestuous ¡ª and most Mer won''t want to risk their kids being what we''d call normal, unable to hear where fish are, not being able to hear thoughts properly or not being able to hold their breath long enough.¡±


    ¡°But you don''t think it''s a racism or racial purity issue?¡± Tony asked.


    ¡°No. For the simple reason that they''d have no problem with someone who was of pure merfolk blood marrying someone of pure landfolk heritage. It seems that all the mer-genes are dominant, so that doesn''t cause a problem. It''s in the later generations that problems are more likely.¡±


    ¡°You said ''not hear thoughts properly''?¡± Myra said, ¡°Could you expand on that?¡±


    ¡°Yes. About sixty percent of Mer are thought-hearers. There''s a rare condition among thought-hearers, which seems to be sex-linked, no one knows why, which gets called ''the pain''. With ''the pain'', the woman''s thought-sensing ability is too sensitive; she hears too many decisions being made, and the part of the decoder or filter that the brain uses to ignore most things it hears are overwhelmed, resulting in feeling a debilitating pain in crowds. The merfolk are more sensitive thought-hearers than we are, but don''t suffer the same problem. It seems that in the mer, their ''filter'' is better than ours. The pain was unknown among the mer until what you might call the cross-breeding experiment of three hundred years ago, which is roughly when it was first experienced in land-folk too: it''s another result of intermarriage.¡±


    ¡°Thank you. So, returning to a business point of view, would you expect them to be a ready market to any particular type of products?¡±


    ¡°Other than coastal property, you mean? Actually on that point, I expect that what will happen is that the Mer government will be negotiating deals that include some sort of residency rights, along the lines of trade enclaves. That seems the more likely option than a free-market approach to land purchase, at least initially. In the medium term, I expect governments will be very careful to explain to the merfolk what the annual costs are likely to be for entering the housing market.


    Otherwise, I''m not at all sure. From what I''ve witnessed, food and drinks that you don''t get from the sea would certainly be a novelty. Oh, now they''re not hiding I expect there''d be an interest in wrist units, assuming they''re waterproof, by which I mean if they''re good for water-skiing and scuba diving.¡±


    ¡°That''s quite a high level of water protection.¡± Myra said.


    ¡°Yes, but we''re talking about people who can swim under water fast enough to leap out of the sea like dolphins. I don''t think anything without a guarantee that it will stand up to that sort of water pressure is going to sell to them at all. And they''ll view any attempt to not honour the guarantee as fraud.¡±


    ¡°Thank you. Oh, the reason I''m here... what is going on at the campsite?¡±


    ¡°Oh, well, you know I said that the Mer used to live secretly along isolated stretches of coastline? It turns out that at some time the coastline of Carbon-carbon''s recently purchased isolated campsite was one such place. The two governments and I have reached an agreement that the campsite will open next year, with some modifications, but part of it will become an embassy, and potentially a trade enclave for the Mer.¡±


    ¡°What sort of things do you expect the Mer to be trading?¡±


    ¡°Well, eventually there are any number of ultra high technology, low volume products that might reach our markets. Their fusion generators are considerably more advanced than ours, as are their advanced alloys, for example. But, initially, I would expect them to be in the tourist industry, for example tourist trips to Atlantis seem a distinct possibility. There will also be some activity in the gem and jewelery industries.¡±


    ¡°You sound more certain of that.¡±


    ¡°Yes. I met a number of people there who are quite adept at gem cutting and polishing, they seemed interested in learning their hobby could be quite so profitable.¡±


    ¡°Their hobby? Gem-cutting?¡±


    ¡°The mer are an extremely complex and ancient culture, Myra. One thing that I discovered is that they categorise things differently than we do. Gem cutting is a hobby, as are trading and gem-collecting. People do them in their spare time. Advanced physics, engineering, archiving and so on are a hobbies the state thinks of as useful. Submarine building is a job to some and a hobby to others, as is farming. Fish collecting is just part of life and keeps you fit. The difference between a job and a hobby is that if something''s a job, you may not want to get up and do it in the morning, whereas if it''s a hobby you might do it even if the doctor told you to rest. I think that if you were a Mer, you''d probably consider being a reporter as your hobby, and you''d be sad if no one let you earn your living doing it.¡±


    ¡°Aren''t you just redefining a profession as a hobby?¡± Myra asked.


    ¡°No. They''d still consider medicine, law and teaching as professions. Things where people depend on you to know your stuff, and to be there. I''m not saying that engineers don''t know their stuff, but as long as the workshop''s not left empty, then one of them taking the morning off to do some fishing doesn''t normally cause a major problem.¡±


    ¡°Urm, OK. But I''m fairly sure I don''t understand all the implications.¡± Myra admitted.


    ¡°That''s OK. Nor do I. But just think... once the trade enclave opens its doors, there will be merfolk coming who don''t need to trade in order to eat, eating is easy, if you''re a mer. No, they''ll be coming to trade because they can''t think of anything they''d rather do than make new friends, persuade them how wonderful what they''re selling is and how much better or cheaper it is than you''d get elsewhere, and convince them to give them something of equivalent value. They''re bringing the wonderful things that others are making or finding, and of course they''re passing on a fair price at the other end, otherwise they won''t have the opportunity to sell more. And just for you, they''ll make a special trip to commission the piece if what they''ve got doesn''t suit you, assuming the price makes it worth their while of course. But they do want to make you a happy customer, because the happy customer comes back.¡±


    ¡°I take it, then, we''re not talking of bulk trades.¡±


    ¡°Well, it depends what you want, the Mer aren''t a people who like mass production. Custom-made craft-work is a much higher value for them. I found it interesting talking to the gem-cutters. They take quite a different attitude to ours. They''d see cutting a gem as bringing out the natural features in the stone in all their glory. And they do. It''s a very different approach to what you''d get from one of our cutters, who tend to cut away flaws. To mer-folk eyes, the ideal diamond has one or two of almost invisible flaws in it, and the cut should encourage you to hold it at just the right angle to make them suddenly shine. To them, that proves it''s a natural stone, not an artificial one. It will be interesting to see how the market responds to the different approach.¡±


    ¡°So, they know artificial diamonds?¡±


    ¡°Yes, they''ve had it for ages, but for many applications they''ve found something even better. Artificial materials is one of the areas they''re getting a surprise about how far ahead of us they still are. They thought that we''d almost reached parity.¡±


    ¡°Better than diamond, how, exactly?¡±


    ¡°Just as transparent, more shock resistant, and stronger. The only thing it doesn''t do is transport heat better, actually it''s quite an insulator, but for a construction material that''s an advantage.¡±


    ¡°A construction material?¡± Myra asked.


    ¡°Yes. See the pretty towers? The colours are a partly a coating they put on the inside, for privacy.¡±


    ¡°Towers made out of something harder than diamond? How do you hang up pictures?¡±


    ¡°They tend not to, actually. But they can cut it. That''s another area they''re good at, cutting tools. Which reminds me, they''re pressing for a world-wide ban on dropping explosives into the ocean in general, and an absolute ban on depth-charges in the specific. That''s something certain industries should be well aware of.¡±


    ¡°I''m confused about the link.¡±


    ¡°They like natural, they like long-lasting, they haven''t had any wood for the last few hundred years. Therefore they''ve taken to using stone, and the average do-it-yourself enthusiast, which apparently means roughly half the men as well as a fair portion of the women, has a hand-held device which will enable him to cut rock considerably faster than an electric saw will shape wood. It''s amazing, really. It''s got some kind of cut-depth setting, so you can use it to cut only part way into the rock. I never found out how that works, sorry. Also, it can extend a forcefield into the hole you''ve just made that''ll keep the cut perfectly straight, so it''s drill, saw, and plane all in one go.


    ¡°The link to the depth-charges was that someone who''d lost family to some realised that since they weren''t hiding any more they didn''t need to need to just sit there while their kids were maybe about to get killed, and that if someone had his swiss-army-knife rock-cutter with him then he might well feel justified in using it on a boat or plane that was indiscriminately dropping bombs on the school or family outing. Their queen agreed that was quite an appropriate form of self defence, so long as the response wasn''t intended to kill, but to warn and protect, so maybe cutting bits of superstructure off, that sort of thing. Of course if the warning was ignored, and the only way to defend your family was to put big hole in the ship, or cut a wing off the plane, then fine, because randomly dropping bombs on civilians has been banned for a long time.¡±


    ¡°You''re saying that half the population walks around with some great-big laser sword?¡±


    ¡°Who said anything about it being big?¡± Sarah asked, with a wry smile. ¡°It''s about the size of a flashlight, and doubles as one, too.¡±


    ¡°And it can cut steel?¡±


    ¡°I certainly saw someone slicing a lump of granite to make a table top with one. One cut was about a metre deep. He then switched modes and did some beautiful fiddly engraving with it. I suppose that''s another thing they might want to trade, actually, their rock-work. I''m told that you can also set the rock-cutter to long range, in case you need to cut down some dangerous overhanging rock, or cut some hand-holds into a cliff. In that mode and in water there''s automatically a forcefield tube for the laser to go down, which extends as the laser makes itself a vacuum, so the beam energy isn''t lost.


    Don''t ask how they do that with forcefields, like I said, they''re way ahead of us in some ways.¡±


    ¡°Did they tell you how it was powered? It seems impossible to put that much energy into anything.¡± Myra asked.


    ¡°They said ''mostly it''s fusion''.¡±


    ¡°Hand-held, fusion-powered lasers.¡± Tony said, his mind boggling.


    ¡°Yes. I asked about whether they expected them to be a trade item. The response was interesting.¡±


    ¡°Yes?¡±


    ¡°Karella, their queen said ''It is a tool and not a weapon, but any cutting tool can become a weapon in the hands of a criminal, a desperate person or a soldier. We have no interest in supplying you land-folk with more weapons; you have too many already, purpose made. But to those few we can trust to only ever use them as tools, and keep their vows, we might eventually supply a variant that is less of a weapon.''¡±


    ¡°They don''t trust us. But then again, I wouldn''t trust us, either.¡± Tony summarised.


    Myra opened another tack, ¡°You mentioned tourism, I''m presuming you can''t book a romantic weekend away at an Atlantis hotel yet.¡±


    ¡°No. We''re probably talking about individual home owners letting out a room. And the romantic option is only ever going to be husband and wife couples. They take oaths seriously.¡±


    ¡°Otherwise, you''re ''shark or shark-food''?¡± Tony asked.


    ¡°Exactly.¡± Sarah agreed.


    ¡°Pardon?¡± Myra asked.


    ¡°It''s the foundation of their law and culture: ''an oath must be kept, for an oath-breaker is shark or shark-food.'' They follow it up with ''Not all sharks need to be killed, just the dangerous ones.''¡±


    ¡°That''s comforting. ¡°, Myra said. ¡°Could you expand on what they mean by shark-food? And on shark for that matter.¡±


    ¡°Urm, shark-food means that there''s a shark happily munching on them, or some other fatal accident has happened to them. They''ve brought divine judgement on themselves by breaking an oath, and should have expected what comes next. They don''t ascribe all shark attacks to divine retribution, and they normally look out for one another, but no one would put themselves in harm''s way to protect a known oath-breaker. What would be the point? If it''s not this shark it''ll be the next, they''re doomed anyway. A dangerous shark of the two legged variety, is someone who, ignoring laws, customs, and divine retribution, is going to get other people hurt and maybe it''s safer for everyone if they get executed. ''Not all sharks need to be killed'' means that there''s plenty of space in the middle between oath-breakers who are dead and can''t hurt anyone, and oath-breakers who need to be executed. Someone might easily be known to be an oath-breaker, but not actually doing anyone serious harm. So, just like you don''t need to go exterminating every shark in the sea, depending on what sort of shark they are, you might be able to ignore them, or you might need to watch any that come close, or you might not know what sort of shark they are and so watch them very closely with your knives ready. An oath-breaker might be executed, exiled, or shunned. Or they might continue to live among the Mer. But they have no right to expect protection, and no right to have any oaths they make taken seriously for quite a long time.¡±


    ¡°So there is some hope of redemption?¡± Tony asked.


    ¡°Sort of, yes. I asked, in terms of tourists, what their attitude was to various different sorts of people visiting Atlantis, say, someone who''d perjured themselves in court, or had been unfaithful to their spouse, or a not-yet married couple, a reformed thief, a reformed murderer, or a confidence trickster who hadn''t been caught yet.¡±


    ¡°And?¡±


    ¡°They said that a confidence trickster, or would-be thief were dangerous sharks and should expect to be treated accordingly, whether they''d broken an oath or not. A couple who couldn''t wait for their marriage dishonoured each other and might find themselves given the choice of having an Atlantis wedding followed by a honeymoon, or going home on separate boats. The perjurer and previously unfaithful spouses would be permitted to visit so long as they accepted an oath-breaker''s mark and in case of accident they expected to be left for the sharks to eat or to bleed to death, and any assistance they did receive was purely up to someone else''s generosity.¡±


    ¡°Do I dare ask about someone who was looking for a holiday romance?¡± Myra asked.


    ¡°A holiday romance as in meeting someone special you might want to spend the rest of your life with? Or a little immorality away from home? The first option they wouldn''t find that odd. The second? Don''t go to Atlantis looking for sin.¡±


    ¡°You mentioned an ''Atlantis wedding.'' Could you expand on that?¡± Tony asked.


    ¡°Yes. The normal practice is that couples spend a long time ''walking together'' as they say, working out if they''re really going to get on with each other the rest of their lives. Then, they decide, call some witnesses to their making vows to each other and off they go on honeymoon. Sometimes the engagement lasts up to a week or two, if they want some particular relatives around for the party, otherwise it can be a matter of hours.¡±


    ¡°No engagement rings, then, I guess?¡±


    ¡°No. They might arrange for wedding rings afterwards. But they''ve taken a life-long vow, and everyone around them agrees it mustn''t be broken.¡±


    ¡°What happens in the event of divorce then?¡± Myra asked.


    ¡°What divorce? That would be breaking an oath.¡±


    ¡°Urm... ok... what about cases of abuse, or violence?¡±


    ¡°The vows they take exclude that, and include a line that says ''If you need to wound me to stop me from abusing you, then let any curse of oath-breaking fall on me.''¡±


    ¡°Oh. And if a couple decide they just can''t stand each other?¡±


    ¡°They''d normally get help before it gets to that point, because an oath must not be broken. They recognise that there probably aren''t as many ways to die horribly on the land, but they are pretty amazed that we ever venture near the sea, actually.¡±


    ¡°So they don''t consider the whole idea of divine vengeance for broken oaths as superstition?¡± Myra asked.


    ¡°No. They''d see it as observable fact.¡±

 The Other Big Secret 3: Safely out at sea / Ch. 6: Moving day

    <h2>The Other Big Secret 3: Safely out at sea / Ch. 6:Moving day</h2>


    </a>Wednesday, 18th July, 2277, 7 A.M. local time.


    [Christoph? Just how dangerous is starting the reactor?] Karella asked, as she piloted their boat away.


    [Not very, beloved.] Christoph reassured Karella.


    [But the old songs...]


    [Are out of date. But there is some danger. Not really from the pump, your ancestor made that much safer, more from the reactor.]


    [What might go wrong with the reactor? And if you know these things, why don''t I from my time on the council?]


    [I''m not sure. Maybe because it''s easier to not come up with new songs. Land-folk still sing ''London''s burning'', after all. We do want everyone safe. Just the song is wrong.]


    [So, tell me about the reactor, and tell me why we haven''t replaced it.]


    [Replace it? How? Electric heating elements? That''d be hard, but I''d hate to think of how we''d spread the heat from a fusion-fed laser.]


    [The land-folks have forcefield contained reactors that produce heat. In fact that''s the main sort of reactor they have. I don''t know if they do any direct conversion.]


    [How archaic!] Christoph thought.


    [So... tell me what the problem is with the reactor, and why a few forcefields wouldn''t help.]


    [OK, love. The biggest problem with the reactor is that after a maintenance cycle there might be a leak in it, or someone dropped something and no one noticed. There might be a magnet that isn''t held down properly, or something like that, that would only show up when we start it. There might be some metal fatigue we didn''t spot. Some of these make for a radiation leak, others for the reactor to just not start, or not stay running. Equally there might be a problem with a gas leak from the pump. There is enough hydrogen in the pumps to flood Atlantis with gas and burn the city. But the chance of them all leaking is low, I admit. It''s the piston shafts warming up and that sort of thing that causes the biggest leak problems.]


    [So... what if you didn''t shut down the reactor, just left it working at minimum power?]


    [We''d keep pumping.]


    [Yes. And at one percent power?]


    [We''d keep pumping at one percent, I guess. And scrubbing the barnacles off wouldn''t be fun, if we couldn''t shut them out.]


    [But at full power that''s not a problem?]


    [The barnacles don''t get much chance to hang around, then.]


    [So, forcefield versus magnets?]


    [Forcefields do fail, beloved. Especially big ones. What we could do is replace the whole thing, take out the pumps, and drive the whole thing with magnetohydrodynamics. There isn''t much point doing any other change. And if we''re going to do that, we''ll need to be fairly close to the surface, for the diver''s safety. Karella, you do remember the main reason we need to have all the people gone and submarines out don''t you, my beloved wife?]


    [No. What''s that?]


    [So we can alter buoyancy. We need to pump a lot of the water out of the sub-park. Nasty currents if anyone''s swimming.]


    [I''d quite forgotten that!]


    [That''s why we have the order of evacuation that we do, so we can make sure the sections are clear, and then we can get the pumps going in the unoccupied sections as soon as possible.]


    [And that''s why you shut the shark-gates? To stop anyone swimming back for something?]


    [Exactly. But if anyone forgets to untie their boat like they were told to, then they might end up with it dangling on the rope, which would make a funny picture, but be rather annoying if we had to refill that section.]


    [Yes, it would. Hold on, I''ll just check for intruders.]


    [And I''ll check for people who haven''t untied their ropes.]


    <hr>


    Karella looked for non-mer military in the exclusion area. Two dots there and there. She investigated further. One was a soldier on a cruise ship.


    The second was a naval officer, under water, not very deep, a submarine.


    She contacted the pilot of the nearest submarine, which happened to be her youngest brother. [Amos, it''s me. Are you picking up the submarine, about five nautical miles north of you?]


    [I''ve heard something very small. Electric propellers. I guessed it was a drone.]


    [It is a submarine. There''s two people on board, one is a naval officer, the other person isn''t military. I''m guessing it''s some kind of research submarine. But, please check.]


    [Certainly, your majesty.]


    [If you ''your majesty'' me again then I''m going to make you drink a bath of potion.]


    Quarter of an hour later, she called again. He confirmed it was indeed an unarmed research vessel. She asked him to keep an eye on it.


    <hr>


    </a>Wednesday, 18th July, 2277, Mid-day.


    The static gas pressure in the Sterling engine counteracted the water pressure correctly; the magnetic field in the torus was stable, and first stage ignition had gone smoothly: there was sufficient fusion in the plasma for the reaction to continue. Tests were run, no anomalies were found. The command was given. ¡°Increase fuel flow to one percent.¡± The plasma held steady. Then the reactor power was increased to two, three, four percent. ¡°Hydraulic rams, go.¡± the rams started the Turnbull ring moving, then huge electric motors, which might have burnt out had the ring been static, took over. Huge quantities of gas were slowly moved, back and forward, through the heat exchangers. This movement did many things. It would eventually help the heat exchangers to reach operating temperatures, stop the walls of the hot-end of the engine from overheating, for the moment, though, it simply ensured that the lubrication on all the joints was spread correctly after their long rest. The pulse of heat from the warming reactor would take some more seconds to reach the inner wall of the Stirling engine. The only drawback with this step was the noise of the driving gears meshing for the first time, which rang through the city.


    On the small research submarine, the decision was made to head towards the strange noise that the hydrophones picked up.


    ¡°Motion in power piston three!¡± a voice rang out. ¡°Motion in power piston seven!¡± The gas was heating, expanding, moving water. Soon all the power pistons were be moving in response to the position of the heat-exchanger displacer, which moved the gas from hot to the cold. It was rather feeble, jerky motion to start with, but it soon became stronger, more certain as the few unwary barnacles which had decided that the piston housing made a nice home were pushed out of the way by the pressure of the gas. As the pistons moved, water and dislodged barnacles were ejected from the outlets. Fish found themselves moving sideways. Others found themselves pulled into deep tunnels. Almost all swam out the other end, confused, but otherwise unharmed. A few, however, had been cut in half by the valve mechanisms. The scavengers enjoyed cleaning those up. Some of the water was directed by massive valves below the city. Sediment rose, as the city, positively buoyant, broke free of the silt where it had lain for decades.


    Agile workers climbed up the ponderously moving rods from the power pistons, levers were moved and catches at the ends of the rods engaged in their places, linking the power pistons the to the phasing wheels. Current draw from the motors reduced to zero, as the power pistons took over and drove the displacers and the Turnbull ring. ¡°Disengage motors!¡± The pumps were running. ¡°Steady increase to ten percent power!¡±


    <hr>


    </a>Thursday, 19th July, 2277, 3pm


    ¡°Edwin, just remember, if this goes wrong, you are taking the fall, OK.¡±


    commander Sue Reynolds told her oceanography scientist brother. She''d told him that approximately every waking hour for the last two days. Especially since the decision to seek out the source of strange noise. Against her quite vocal objections, she''d been assigned to work with his research project. Why was it a good idea to put her with the one person in the world she could sustain an argument with for weeks?


    ¡°Of course. But what could go wrong? We aren''t carrying a warhead. I just want to see what''s going on down there. It is my project area, after all, and volcanic ridges should not go ''clang''. Look the terms of the embargo were very clear: nothing military that''s carrying a warhead.¡±


    ¡°Yes, very clear, and you''ve just misquoted. No military vessel that would normally or abnormally be equipped to launch a torpedo with a warhead of above five kilos of TNT. This sub can be equipped with an externally mounted torpedo. I don''t know how big a warhead it can take, but it can launch one.¡±


    ¡°But it obviously isn''t carrying a warhead.¡±


    ¡°On your head be it.¡±


    ¡°What''s that?¡± she asked, seeing a light flashing on one of his instruments.


    ¡°Echo clicks. Dolphins near by, or maybe Orca. Again. Or even still. I wonder if it''s still the same one that was hanging around yesterday.¡±


    ¡°So, what do you think would make the U.N. Security Council ban people from an area of the ocean where the rocks go clang?¡±


    ¡°We''re in the impact area. My guess is someone''s getting ready for the impact, putting some kind of detector buoys out.¡±


    ¡°So, why no military?¡± Sue asked.


    ¡°Don''t want their top secret detector buoy laying vessel detected.¡±


    ¡°You mean blown up.¡± Sue corrected, thinking on the ban on warheads.


    ¡°Urm. Yeah.¡±


    ¡°Or used as target practice. What was that?¡± she said, looking out of her side window. They were running close to the surface, so that they didn''t need any lights on.


    ¡°Dolphin?¡±


    ¡°I saw scales.¡±


    ¡°Fish then, jumping dolphin style. And dolphin-sized, according to the splash detector. Are you sure you didn''t just see bubbles?¡±


    ¡°I saw bubbles, I also saw a dolphin-shaped tail with scales.¡± she wasn''t going to admit what she''d thought she''d seen at the head end. ¡°What would you say to a little sonar burst?¡±


    ¡°Fine.¡± He flicked a switch on his panel to send out a quick burst. He muttered something, undid some catches, and slid the device out of it''s mounting cage. ¡°Who''s been playing games with my equipment, Sue?¡±


    ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°Someone''s just made it show a mermaid off the starboard bow.¡±


    ¡°Man.¡± Sue said, stopping the motors, and continuing to look out of her window. ¡°Mer-man, not a mermaid. You can tell by the muscular chest and the goatee beard.¡±


    ¡°Very funny.¡± Edwin muttered, not looking up from his investigations of his device. ¡°I can''t see any sign of tampering.¡±


    ¡°Edwin.¡± Sue said in a strange voice. ¡°I''m very calmly asking you to look out of my window and tell me what you see, and then according to naval law and custom I''m handing the com over to you.¡±


    ¡°Urm, I see a man with a goatee beard, a belt-knife, and a fish-tail, Sue, apparently writing on a note-pad.¡±


    ¡°Cameras?¡±


    ¡°Running.¡± he said, flipping the switch.


    Amos finished writing his note. He then swam towards the sub and held it to the window. It read ''The world is changing. Have a nice trip though our kingdom. Do no harm, and you may continue your trip. Don''t get too close to Atlantis ¡ª some very strong currents.''


    ¡°Atlantis?¡± Sue asked. He obviously saw her mouth move and understood, and wrote some more on his pad. ¡°Pop 0.5M. About 500m below you.¡± Then he swam away.


    ¡°Five hundred metres below? What does the downward looking sonar say, Edwin?¡±


    ¡°It says that we''re five hundred and thirty metres from the bottom.¡±


    ¡°The sea is a lot more than a thousand metres here.¡±


    ¡°Urm. Maybe my sonar''s seeing Atlantis then. Population half a million.¡±


    ¡°I''m going to surface and call in. We need to charge the air tanks anyway.¡±


    ¡°First they''re going to laugh, and then they''re going to lock us away for psychological evaluation.¡±


    ¡°Depends what I say, doesn''t it?¡±


    Sue typed ''Research vessel RV7404 to Azores base. Checking in. N30.4354 E34.5632. Anomalous sonar result shows sea floor depth 530 metres.''


    ''RV7404, why are you in middle of exclusion zone?'' came back the immediate reply.


    ''My civilian researcher heard something, DEMANDED we investigate. Query any recent seismic activity?''


    ¡°Seismic activity?¡± Edwin asked ¡°You''re suggesting it might be a volcano? We''d be boiling!¡±


    ¡°Well what other sensible, rational, explanation would you give? Atlantis is a myth! And as for mermen....¡±


    A little while later, after a call to headquarters had been made, came: ''Negative to natural causes. Proceed with extreme caution, avoid any hostile acts. Do we presume no contact yet from patrol sub or diver?''


    ¡°What do we say to that one?¡± Sue asked her brother, who was looking over her shoulder.


    ¡°Well, I suppose he was a diver.¡±


    She typed ''Unexpected diver made contact at 20m depth. Permission given to continue trip.''


    There was an even longer pause at the other end.


    After a while the response came: ''From Admiral Jackson, Naval press office: Diplomatic contact established. Press release expected 1400 UTC Friday. Any footage you can get will be appreciated. Please dive to obtain.''


    ¡°They know.¡± Sue said. ¡°They''re not saying but they know.¡±


    ¡°I noticed you carefully avoiding saying anything either.¡±


    Sue typed back ''Diver advised us to avoid strong currents at circa 500m depth.''


    The admiral was obviously still on the line: ''Adml Jackson: Take any advice or warning seriously. Be advised sonar anomaly may take 2km travel to resolve.''


    ¡°You''re joking. Two kilometres? He''s saying that place is two kilometres across?¡± Edwin exclaimed.


    ¡°I guess it''s crowded.¡± Sue said. ¡°I wonder how close too close is.¡±


    ¡°Why don''t you ask?¡± Edwin suggested. The submarine that had surfaced looked rather different to their research sub, but Edwin was interested to see that it had even more windows that theirs.


    Sue opened the hatch, and wriggled her head and arms out of it. The other submarine had a larger hatch, she saw enviously, as it was opened. The merman she''d seen earlier climbed up something as though he had legs, rather than a tail.


    ¡°Urm, hello!¡± she called, once she had her head out of her sub


    ¡°Hello.¡± Amos replied, ¡°I''m Amos.¡±


    ¡°I''m Sue. My brother''s called Edwin. We''ve just heard there''s going to be a press release tomorrow.¡±


    ¡°That''s right.¡± Amos agreed. ¡°Would you like to go down and see Atlantis? The water''s pretty clear down there. You won''t see it all of course.¡±


    ¡°We were just wondering how close too close was.¡±


    ¡°Oh, well, don''t get in front of it, or your sub might get sucked into the intake port.¡±


    ¡°That doesn''t sound healthy.¡± Sue replied.


    ¡°No, it wouldn''t be. Sharks and fish survive, normally, but I doubt a sub would. The reactor''s only at ten percent at the moment, they''ll be pushing it higher later on, though, I expect. What''s the power source for your sub?¡±


    ¡°Fuel cell.¡±


    ¡°And you''ve been going at top speed?¡±


    ¡°No.¡± she said cautiously. It had been close though.


    ¡°That''s good. If that was your top speed then you''d be in trouble if you got into a current. But if you''ve got reserves for a burst then you can probably get to within a hundred metres of it safely.¡±


    ¡°How much burst do I need? It was close to top speed, but we''ve just been asked to take some pictures, if that''s OK.¡±


    ¡°Taking pictures is OK. Being that underpowered, urm. I don''t know.¡±


    ¡°What''s your sub''s top speed?¡± she asked, partly from curiosity, partly insulted about being told that her versatile little long-range research sub was underpowered.


    ¡°Fifty knots unless I cheat, but then it''s got a fusion reactor.¡±


    ¡°Oh.¡± Compared to a fusion reactor, she guessed that her fuel cells would count as underpowered. She didn''t want to ask what he meant by cheat. And she wondered how his sub fitted the reactor, not to mention the turbine and everything else. It was considerably smaller than any nuclear submarine she knew of.


    ¡°I''ll escort you.¡± He decided. ¡°Just in case. Unless you''d like to hitch a lift?¡±


    ¡°And just leave my sub in the middle of the ocean?¡± But it was tempting. It sounded like a wonderful opportunity to look at an alien technology.


    ¡°Well, your brother could stay on it if you like. Or he could come and you stay.¡± he scanned the horizon. ¡°But I don''t see many would-be thieves around.¡±


    ¡°Very funny.¡±


    ¡°Your choice.¡±


    ¡°OK if I radio for orders?¡±


    ¡°Of course.¡± Amos replied.


    She wriggled back through her hatch.


    [So, how''s first contact going, Amos?] Karella asked him.


    [She''s called Sue, her brother''s Edwin.] He said needlessly.


    [I could have told you that. And?]


    [She''s pretty.]


    [Amos this isn''t about you finding yourself a girlfriend. Though, hold on a moment.] Karella checked for Christians in the sub. [But on the plus side they''re both Christians.]


    [Thank you, your Majesty.]


    [Enjoy your potion, brother. I warned you.]


    [Sorry, Ella.]


    [Much better.]


    [Anyway, they''d like to take some pictures of Atlantis, but the reason their little electric sub was plodding along at about ten knots is apparently that''s almost top speed. I offered them a trip on my sub.]


    [Very generous of you. So, how pretty is she?]


    [Much too pretty do let her get mashed by the pump.]


    [So, Sarah''s just been telling the world that we''re not going to interbreed, and you''re planning to make a liar out of her?]


    [Ella! This isn''t about me finding a wife, it''s about keeping people safe.]


    [Of course it is. So, they''re getting on board now?]


    [She''s calling in for orders. Apparently a bit worried about abandoning her boat in the middle of the ocean.]


    [Wouldn''t you be?]


    [Of course. But I''d be worried about them finding it. It''s not the same.]


    [No. Hers belongs to her employer, and I bet you forgot to tell her how many


    other subs there are near by, didn''t you?]


    [Urm, yes.]


    [So, she thinks that if she abandons her boat there''s a chance she''ll need to call out search and rescue to find it again.]


    [Oops.]


    [Put out a yell for someone else to do some subwatching, OK?]


    [Of course.]


    [And if they want to see inside then I''d be interested in talking to her. Actually, why don''t you just escort them in first? Then her sub''s safe, they get to use their built-in cameras and sensors and whatever, and then you can give them the outside tour, followed by the inside tour.]


    [Ella, you''re a wonderful monarch and an adorable big sister. I''ll go over and suggest it.]


    ¡°Knock knock!¡± Amos called from the water. He wasn''t sure if he ought to climb up.


    Edwin pushed himself out of the hatchway. ¡°Hello?¡±


    ¡°Hi. My sister, urm, our queen, has a suggestion: rather than leaving your submarine on the surface, why don''t you park it in Atlantis, that way it won''t drift away or anything embarrassing like that. Then, I can give you a safe tour of the outside of the city and then inside the city too, if you like.¡±


    ¡°That sounds very generous of her.¡±


    ¡°Oh, it probably comes down to public relations or something.¡± Amos said.


    ¡°Sue, did you hear what we''ve just been offered?¡± Edwin asked .


    ¡°No, someone''s plugging up the hole with his flab.¡±


    ¡°Can I climb up this ladder? I don''t want to capsize you or anything.¡± Amos asked.


    ¡°Sue, is Amos climbing the ladder OK?¡± Edwin relayed.


    ¡°Urm, yeah, sure.¡± Sue replied, wondering how you did that with a tail.


    ¡°Sue says fine. Urm, Wait a bit, I''ll get all the way out so I can act as a counterbalance.¡± Edwin said.


    As Edwin got out of the way, Sue clambered up. ¡°Hi again.¡± she said.


    Amos spoke formally. ¡°I''d like to extend to you a formal invitation on behalf of Karella Farspeaker Homebringer, queen of all merfolk and undisputed ruler of the deeps and shallows, that you follow my submarine on a safe approach to our city, park in one of our garages or marinas or whatever you want to call them, and then swap to my submarine for an external tour before it gets dark. And then you are invited for a walking tour of our beautiful city, with cameras. By which time it''ll probably be time to eat. Since Karella also wants to meet you herself, you''re almost certainly invited to dinner.¡±


    ¡°Oh wow! Offer accepted, as long as I can persuade my superiors. They''ve just said they don''t want to search for my sub if we can''t find it.¡±


    ¡°Given that we''ve got thousands of submarines, I don''t think losing yours for long would be very likely.¡±


    ¡°Thousands?¡±


    ¡°You land-folk used to own cars; we still own submarines.¡±


    ¡°Wow.¡± Sue said, her mind reeling at the concept ¡°Your English is very good.¡±


    ¡°Thanks. So''s yours.¡± Amos said with a smile ¡°I grew up speaking it. Not all of us speak it, but anyone who speaks it makes sure to pass it on to any kids they have, along with our own language, of course.¡±


    ¡°You know quite a lot about us.¡± Sue said.


    ¡°I know, puts me at a terribly unfair advantage, doesn''t it? I know all sorts of things about your people and history whereas you probably don''t even know I''ve got legs.¡±


    ¡°You have?¡± she asked, surprised and relieved. Maybe he wasn''t so alien.


    ¡°Very handy while climbing ladders. The tail is just swim-wear.¡±


    ¡°I''ll just go and check with head quarters.¡±


    ¡°No problem. I think I''ve just spotted dinner swimming past, so if you don''t mind, I''ll go catch it.¡±


    ¡°Dinner?¡± she asked.


    ¡°How does fresh-caught skipjack tuna steaks sound?¡±


    ¡°It sounds very good, but you don''t seem to have a net, or fishing line.¡±


    Sue pointed out.


    ¡°You haven''t seen merfolk hunt, milady, so I won''t take that as an insult.¡±


    Amos responded in his best approximation of an upper class accent, then added ¡°I must admit that it''s a while since I''ve tried catching tuna, but I always did like a challenge.¡±


    He lowered himself in to the water slowly, so that he didn''t rock the boat too much and swam off in search of the tuna he''d seen, while thinking to himself: ''You are being such a show-off, Amos, and the lady doesn''t even know it, not to mention the fact that you don''t even know she''s not married or dating someone.''


    <hr>


    [Well, Amos? Why are you radiating so much smugness?] Karella asked.


    [Wait ''till you see what''s for supper. I assume we''re eating together, yes?]


    [Yes. I was thinking that one of the girls could cook. But if it''s something special I guess I ought to do it myself. You realise I could just look, don''t you?]


    [Oh, don''t spoil my moment of glory, please!]


    [I hope you''ve not shown you barbarian prowess by hunting down a shark.]


    [Not a shark. But if you could bring some wheels down...]


    [OK, and I''ll bring the girls so you can have all the glory you want.]


    [Thank you, Ella. Urm... you don''t happen to know if Sue''s single do you?]


    [No. You''ll have to ask that on your own.]


    [I''m going to get tongue-tied again.]


    [So don''t push either of you. Just start with getting to know her.]


    <hr>


    ¡°Have I said wow yet?¡± Edwin asked.


    ¡°Yes, but you can say it again. This is amazing!¡± Sue replied.


    Amos had taken a path that started with them approaching the city from below, off the rear starboard flank of the city, and then up and over the dome. There had been some turbulence when they got too close, but it wasn''t strong. Right now, they were above one of the windows, able to see the city below. They saw the multicoloured glittering towers and balconies. It was awesome. Then they dropped back, almost to the rim, and into a pocket where there seemed to be a no current relative to the city at all. ¡°We''re in an eddy.¡± Sue realised, able to relax at last.


    ¡°He''s pointing.¡± Edwin said.


    ¡°Tunnel?¡±


    ¡°I think so.¡±


    ¡°This isn''t going to be fun.¡± Sue said.


    ¡°But it''s going to be awesome.¡±


    ¡°Maybe. Just make sure the cameras keep running.¡±


    ¡°How big is his sub compared to ours?¡± Edwin asked.


    ¡°I''m not sure. Why?¡±


    ¡°That tunnel''s bigger than I thought.¡±


    ¡°It''s enormous!¡± Sue agreed.


    They entered the tunnel. There was plenty of space. Suddenly the depth-gauge went crazy. ¡°What''s happening to the depth gauge?¡± Edwin asked.


    ¡°No idea. Strange pressure flux. What''s it saying? I need to concentrate on following Amos and missing the walls.¡±


    ¡°Urm, that we''re five metres below the surface.¡±


    ¡°Interesting.¡±


    ¡°Vital parts of our equipment go wrong and you say ''interesting''.¡±


    ¡°Did you see Amos swimming?¡±


    ¡°What''s that got do to with anything? Other than his muscles, of course.¡±


    ¡°If you''d been deep diving all your life, would you happily be in an out of the water like that? Or would you be very careful to adjust your pressure


    really slowly, so that nitrogen didn''t come out of your blood and tissues? Of course you would. Therefore Amos is not used to living at five hundred metres pressure. I guess they''ve got airlocks. I didn''t see any, so I''m guessing automatic forcefields. See that stripe in the wall?¡±


    ¡°I did wonder how they coped with the pressure. It''s easy, isn''t it? They don''t.¡± Edwin realised.


    ¡°What else does that tell us?¡±


    ¡°Urm. Pass.¡±


    ¡°Edwin, they''re surface dwellers. Living underwater, watching us, not being seen, or only occasionally? Doesn''t that strike you as odd?¡±


    ¡°They don''t like us, you mean? They''re some kind of high-tech pilgrim fathers?¡±


    ¡°Edwin, I know you took some marine biology, it says so on your degree certificate.¡±


    ¡°I don''t get where you''re going.¡±


    ¡°How long was he underwater the first time we saw him?¡±


    ¡°Oh. Longer than I''d be.¡±


    ¡°Yes, lots. Gimme a mechanism.¡±


    ¡°Implanted oxygen supply.¡±


    ¡°Assume it''s biological.¡±


    ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°Because I''m the captain of this ship, and you''ll walk the plank otherwise.¡±


    ¡°If I had to assume it was biological, then I''d say urm, oxygen storage in the muscles, like dolphins.¡±


    ¡°Me too. And?¡±


    ¡°And they''ve been hiding from us since the year dot.¡±


    ¡°Or at least, since the Romans or something. Think about it, mer-man, mermaids crop up in almost every ancient civilisation I can think of. Unknown in recent history except for ''lost sailor'' sort of encounters. We thought they were a myth, but they''ve been hiding from us, much like thought-hearers. We know what their city''s called, so there was some contact before Plato wrote about them.¡±


    ¡°Unless they named it after his one, and they speak English, though not an accent I recognise. There''s been contact. He as much admitted that. So I vote for a high-tech doomsday cult or something like that, deciding to hide away during the twentieth century, say. After the invention of the aqualung, anyway.¡±


    ¡°And they''ve grown to half a million?¡±


    ¡°Yes. Three hundred years, start off with a hundred people, every generation of twenty years you have ten kids....¡±


    ¡°Not according to my understanding of procreation you don''t.¡±


    ¡°Ooops. Every forty years.¡±


    ¡°I still say ouch. You''re going to have a lot of deaths by childbirth, at that rate.¡±


    ¡°Fine!¡± he gave in ¡°Every forty years, five children on average. So you''ve got urm, three hundred divided by forty.¡±


    ¡°Seven and a half of course. Three over four? This is a really long tunnel.¡±


    ¡°There have been some turnings.¡±


    ¡°Oh. I''m just going after Amos.¡±


    ¡°I''d noticed.¡± he said with a smile. Solving his sister''s singleness had been an aim in his life ever since he''d got married. The other one was spending far more time with his wife. This trip wasn''t exactly helping that. ¡°So, anyway, seven generations, five fives are twenty five, one twenty five is generation three, six twenty five is four, three thousand and something is five, fifteen thousand is six, forty five thousand is seven. It works! Ten people to half a million in seven generations!¡± He was actually a little shocked.


    ¡°Banana brain.¡± she declared. ¡°First off, five fifteens is not forty five, it''s seventy five. But the more serious problem is that if you start with two parents and end with five children, that does not give you a factor of five. It gives you two and a half.¡±


    ¡°Oh. Oh yeah.¡±


    ¡°So I''ll give you seven generations and according to my calculator you get six hundred and ten times the initial population. Assuming no deaths. I somehow expect that if a thousand people had vanished, someone would have noticed.¡±


    ¡°Maybe not... during war-time.¡±


    ¡°So, your theory is that during wartime, an elite group of a thousand top scientist-engineers run away from their country of origin to make a little home for themselves. They take up a water-based lifestyle involving submarines and swimming for a long time underwater, chasing down some of the fastest fish in the sea, invent water-proof force-field generators, micro-fusion plants that can power submarines at at least fifty knots or more if they cheat, while also building for themselves a massive underwater submarine-city with diamond or something like it as a construction material. And, of course, remaining totally undetected by anyone ever since.¡± she summarised.


    This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    ¡°Urm, yes.¡±


    ¡°I bet you a week of washing up that I''m closer to the truth than you are.¡± Sue said.


    ¡°No bet.¡±


    ¡°Coward.¡±


    ¡°He''s stopped.¡±


    ¡°I know. Did you see how many propellers he''s got?¡± Sue asked.


    ¡°None I saw.¡±


    ¡°That''s because he doesn''t have any. I just saw straight through the ducts beside his submarine.¡±


    ¡°What does that mean?¡±


    ¡°Don''t put anything metal near there whatever you do. There must be crazy magnetic fields for that to work.¡±


    ¡°Oh, right.¡±


    ¡°So that''s another tech area for your theory to come up with, people have been trying to get that working for generations. And I wonder where they get their metal. There''s another issue for you to solve.¡±


    ¡°What''s wrong with them mining it?¡±


    ¡°Satellites would see the spoil, silly.¡±


    ¡°Oh. Yeah. Why don''t you have to solve any of these technology issues?¡±


    ¡°I''m giving them over two thousand years to address them. Most of which time they could have be above water, except when they were chasing down tuna.¡±


    ¡°You''re impressed aren''t you?¡±


    ¡°Maybe it''s normal for them.¡±


    <hr>


    After gallantly helping Sue off their submarine, and accidentally leaving Edwin to almost fall in the water, Amos apologised and bowed floridly to his sister. ¡°My beloved sister, may I present Edwin and Sue whose last name I forgot to ask, incredibly brave travelers of the deep. Edwin and Sue, may I present to you her majesty Queen Karella Farspeaker Homebringer, undisputed ruler of the deeps and shallows, servant of the Lord God almighty, Queen over all the mer-folk by will of the high council of Atlantis.¡±


    ¡°Your majesty.¡± Sue curtsied, and Edwin bowed.


    ¡°Oh stop that, Amos. You know I didn''t want this job. So, where''s your marvelous catch?¡±


    ¡°In the fridge, of course.¡± Amos looked around ¡°Urm, no trolly?¡±


    ¡°Christoph''s bringing it. The one with the winch.¡±


    ¡°Oh, great! I''ll wait until he gets here to get it out then.¡±


    ¡°That big?¡±


    ¡°Well, I did decide to lower the sub to get it on-board.¡±


    ¡°What is it, uncle Amos?¡± Sathie asked.


    ¡°A surprise.¡± Amos said. ¡°Oh, sorry, I''m remiss. I also have the pleasure of introducing their royal highnesses princess Sathzakara and princess Mabel.¡±


    Mabel stuck her tongue out at her uncle.


    ¡°Your highnesses.¡± Sue curtsied.


    ¡°Mabel, apologise to your uncle.¡± Karella said. ¡°The title''s yours, you''d better get used to it.¡±


    Sue decided she wouldn''t ask why it sounded like they were new to the titles.


    ¡°That''s very polite of you, but it''s not secret.¡± Karella replied, ¡°The answer to your question is that for about fifteen hundred years we''ve been ruled by the high council of Atlantis, but we ¡ª I used to be on it ¡ª decided that with us ending our long hide from land-folk it would be distinctly advantageous to have a monarch. Then they went and gave me the job, over my objections. And in case you''re wondering how I knew what you were thinking, like most merfolk, I''m a thought-hearer, and we''re more sensitive than land-folk thought-hearers, if you''re wondering about the range.¡±


    ¡°Most merfolk?¡± Sue said, surprised.


    ¡°About sixty or seventy percent, yes.¡±


    ¡°Wow. So... a whole society where it''s just.. normal?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°No need to hide it from anyone.¡± Sue continued.


    ¡°Exactly.¡± Karella said. [So does your brother know?]


    [No. How do you hear me?]


    Karella continued, ¡°I don''t even hide the fact that I have the mind-reading gift. That''s why they call me far-speaker. And the utter pains on the council decided that would be an immense bonus for a queen.¡±


    ¡°Isn''t it?¡± Sue asked.


    ¡°Oh, probably. But that made me the only candidate, which really wasn''t fair.¡±


    ¡°You don''t want the job.¡± Sue summarised.


    ¡°Would you? All that responsibility. Historians teaching the kids things like ''It was during Karella Farspeaker''s reign that mer culture was decimated by too much contact'' or ''many trading opportunites were lost because of over restrictive policies.'' or ''the great plague came because Karella overestimated how much our immune systems had improved over the previous two centuries.'' Sorry, I''m too proud to want to have any of those things said about me. I''d much rather be someone remembered as the woman who sold chocolate for its weight in gold.¡±


    ¡°You did?¡±


    ¡°Yes. Of course, the woman I''m named after sold pearls for their weight in iron, which sounds scandalous to you, but pearls used to be as common as marbles and iron scarce as platinum.¡±


    ¡°When was that?¡±


    ¡°Three hundred years ago.¡± Amos replied.


    ¡°Ha! I think I win, Edwin.¡±


    ¡°What''s this?¡± Amos asked.


    ¡°On the way here, urm, I hope I''m not trespassing any sacred law or something...¡±


    ¡°I doubt it.¡± Karella said, ¡°Don''t accuse anyone of breaking an oath, try to make someone do so, or misuse the name of the Lord, but otherwise you can pretty much say what you like. We''re something like ninety five percent Christian, by the way. Millennia of being pagans has left it''s scars we''d rather not reopen.¡±


    ¡°Urm. Wow. You almost certainly win, Sue. Exhibit my shame.¡± Edwin said, resignedly.


    ¡°With pleasure. Well, on the way here we were coming up with ideas to try and explain all the things we''d seen. We''d seen Amos swimming, far longer than we could, we heard what he said about his submarine having a fusion plant, which is quite amazing. And we''d seen him write that this amazing place is called Atlantis. Edwin guessed that you were descendants from some doomsday-cult of scientist-engineers who''d decided to abandon life on the surface during the cold war, and that Amos had a micro-miniature aqualung. I was guessing that you''re genetically different to us, maybe with oxygen-storing muscles. I also guessed that you''d started hiding from us in isolated spots sometime around the time of the Greeks or Romans, and that was how Plato knew what your city was called and how your technology is so different to ours. And that since there aren''t many isolated spots now you''ve moved underwater.¡±


    ¡°You worked all that out?¡± Amos asked ¡°I''m really impressed.¡± he said. He also decided that he probably could fall in love with pretty Sue. Sue hid her own thoughts on catching that snippet.


    ¡°The only thing you got wrong is that we copied the name and the idea of Atlantis from Plato.¡± Karella said.


    ¡°The idea?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡± Karella confirmed and then explained ¡°We got on well with the Greeks and unashamedly stole lots of their ideas, steam engines, levers, pulleys. We made ourselves a raft, and when we wanted to hide ¡ª mostly from the Romans, who thought we made good targets for their archers ¡ª we turned the big handle and sunk the raft, houses and all. Pretty quickly we came up with things like waxed sail-cloth to keep most of the water out of our homes, and then beaten metal was even better, of course. We did have a running war with the Romans, but we were losing, just like everyone else. There weren''t enough of us, and their crossbows were too powerful. The war did start with a bit too much pride, and we didn''t want to be destroyed so we decided to sink the city ourselves, and we started hiding.¡±


    ¡°And you''ve hidden ever since?¡± Sue asked.


    ¡°Not entirely.¡± Karella corrected ¡°We''ve been spotted by sailors and the like, and there have been some of us who walked among you for a while, bringing back news and new languages.¡±


    ¡°That''s how you learned English?¡± Edwin asked.


    Karella shook her head. ¡°No. That was a little different. First a missionary came, in the early nineteen hundreds. He eventually married one of our leaders, who mostly single-handedly converted the rest of us, then a few generations after that, late twentieth century, we tried hiding in sight, as it were. Running diving centres that employed actors as mer-folk. That worked for seventy or eighty years, then that stopped working.¡±


    ¡°Why?¡± Sue asked.


    ¡°Two reasons:¡± Karella answered, ¡°visiting relatives who showed up in your computers got spotted, and all their friends got asked ''Isn''t this mermaid there your friend?'' and the owners got accused of having workers not on listed in the official records.¡±


    ¡°Oh. Not good. That''d close a company down very quickly these days, and put the owners in jail.¡±


    ¡°It happened, yes. So, we started running from the Romans, who shot us, we hid in isolated beaches and you built hotels on them, we started businesses among you, and you put us in jail when you saw our relatives visiting. So we hid deep in the sea, but we can''t do that any more without you dropping unexploded bombs, or depth charges on us. We hope by now you''ve grown up enough to not shoot us, but can let us live peacefully. We''re a simple people, really. We just want some peace and quiet and the ability to fish in safety.¡±


    ¡°Speaking of which, here comes Dad.¡± Mabel said. ¡°So, what have you caught for us, uncle Amos?¡±


    ¡°It''s a secret until it''s landed.¡± he grinned.


    ¡°Why?¡± Sue asked.


    ¡°Because my little brother is not only a natural born show-off, but he''s also good at hunting fish. It''s a little bit of a family tradition.¡±


    ¡°I guess what surprised me...Ow!¡± Edwin started.


    ¡°Shh!¡± Sue said, who''d kicked his shin. ¡°Don''t break secrets, and you don''t know what''s a secret so shut up.¡±


    ¡°Wonderful relationship there.¡± Christoph asked in the Mer language as he arrived ¡°Siblings?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡± Karella confirmed. Switching to English she introduced everyone ¡°Sue, Edwin, my husband, Christoph, he''s just asked if you were siblings. He understands a lot of English, but prefers not to speak it.¡±


    ¡°I don''t speak good.¡± Christoph said.


    Amos grabbed the sling and disappeared into his submarine. Christoph winched the fish in.


    ¡°Good size.¡± Christoph told his wife.


    ¡°Fifty or sixty kilograms of whole fish coming up.¡± Karella said, glancing at the scales. ¡°I guess we''re having a party to celebrate.¡±


    ¡°Celebrate what?¡± Sue asked.


    ¡°Amos''s catch, if nothing else.¡± Karella said, ¡°but hopefully new friends too.¡±


    ¡°I wonder if there''s anyone planning on having a wedding tonight where they''ve not worked out the food yet.¡± Mabel suggested.


    ¡°Great suggestion.¡± Karella agreed.


    ¡°Is that likely?¡± Edwin asked.


    ¡°Fairly.¡± Mabel said ¡°You''ve made weddings incredibly complicated, we''ve simplified them.¡±


    ¡°We don''t leap into an engagement until we''re sure,¡± Karella said, ¡°Once the


    decision is made... well, it depends how many relatives they want to invite.


    The wedding might be the same evening. Often people will just bring whatever they were planning to eat that evening anyway.¡±


    ¡°Bet you wish you and Pam had done it that way, don''t you, Edwin?¡± Sue asked.


    Edwin shrugged. ¡°I don''t know, we made a lot of important decisions during our engagement. Plus there were the marriage preparation classes at church. It wasn''t all about the wedding day.¡±


    Karella checked where Pam was. Within quite easy range, and she knew there was a submarine nearby. ¡°Edwin, would you like us to invite your wife to dinner too? There''s plenty of food by the looks of it, and there''s time for her to get here from the Azores in one of our subs. You''re most welcome to spend the night, by the way. I don''t know if Amos has said.¡±


    ¡°And Sue, do you have anyone you''d like us to invite?¡± Amos asked. He''d emerged from the hatch just in time to spot the perfect opportunity to ask what was quite an important question in his mind.


    Sue was about to reply when Edwin said ¡°I''d be delighted! It wouldn''t been too much trouble?¡±


    ¡°If it were too much trouble, then I wouldn''t have asked. There''s a submarine not very far from her at all, just delivered our ambassador to the capital.¡±


    ¡°How did you know she was in the Azores?¡±


    ¡°I see nothing wrong with using the gift God gave me to see if I can extend hospitality to God''s people.¡± Karella said. ¡°I presume you have some way to contact her? If not we''ve been given a thing called a ''portable network to satellite connection'' that Amos could put on his sub. It''s supposed to ''just work'' according to a very distant relative of mine, but since hardly anyone here has a wrist unit it''s not so very useful to us yet.¡±


    ¡°I''d be honoured to try it. Otherwise we''d need to go via the military system, which might be a breach of protocol.¡±


    ¡°It would.¡± Sue confirmed, ¡°And it would almost certainly get me in all sorts of trouble.¡±


    ¡°We wouldn''t want that.¡± Amos said.


    Sathie was looking at the fish coming out of the submarine. ¡°Uncle Amos, is that fish what I think it is? No one can swim that fast!¡±


    ¡°I''ve been practicing.¡± he said modestly, ¡°It thought the two submarines were interesting, and it liked turning left. But yeah, I sprinted at it and it was too slow.¡±


    Mabel looked not at Amos but at Sue. ¡°Do you realise what my uncle did?¡±


    ¡°Brought home a really big, really fast fish?¡± Sue suggested, feeling she was missing something.


    ¡°He''s just gone down in history and got his name extended. Normally, the only way of catching one of these is to encircle it with about twenty people.¡±


    Karella said. ¡°Amos Tuna-speed you have truly excelled yourself. Now, go give your guests a tour. The girls and I have to spread your fame and cook your prey.¡±


    ¡°Can I ask what I got kicked for earlier?¡± Edwin asked. ¡°Apart from this particular fish being an impressive one, is it normal for one your people to be able to catch enough fish for a day in just a few minutes?¡±


    ¡°Not normal in deep water. But in our natural element, along the coasts, absolutely.¡± Karella said. ¡°We''re the undisputed apex predator at sea, and we do pretty well on land too.¡±


    ¡°The thing is, sharks think they are, too.¡± Amos added with a wry smile, ¡°Sharks might eat us close to the shore, when the water''s too shallow for us to swim in, or they might surprise us when we''re really distracted. But otherwise, if it the shark is stupid and presses us to one on one battle, the shark becomes the meal, not us. Which is a shame, most of us don''t like the taste.¡±


    Sue found herself liking this man.


    <hr>


    Once the satellite receiver had been provided, Amos took them aboard, and Sue was immediately shocked by the lack of controls. ¡°Where''s your sonar? Where''s your depth gauge? Where is... everything?¡±


    ¡°Reactor and cheat controls are safely behind a hidden panel. Sonar is safely between my ears, why would we need a depth gauge?¡±


    ¡°Urm, so you don''t go too deep?¡±


    ¡°That''s what the sea bed is for.¡± he said, dismissively, then apologised ¡°Oh, sorry, your submarines can''t cope with much depth, can they?¡±


    ¡°Yours can?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°You''re telling me this submarine can go to the bottom of the Atlantic, yes?¡±


    ¡°Anywhere, actually.¡±


    ¡°But presumably not the Mariana Trench.¡±


    ¡°That''s what you call that canyon south of Japan, yes?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°I went down there, urm... three years ago, I think it was. It was sort of interesting to see the odd creatures. The biggest problem was dodging all the science experiments.¡±


    ¡°In this submarine?¡±


    ¡°Well I certainly wasn''t swimming. Yes, in this submarine.¡±


    ¡°What''s it made of?¡±


    ¡°We call it submarine metal, for obvious reasons. Non-corroding alloy of this, that and the other, but a lot of gold.¡±


    ¡°Gold?¡±


    ¡°Yes. Mix it with the right other elements and you get a lovely hard alloy, much stronger than you''d expect. Some incredibly patient metallurgist a long time ago had quite a lot handy, and tried an exhaustive search, because gold on its own is really rather useless.¡±


    ¡°He had quite a lot of gold handy? How on Earth do you have quite a lot of gold handy?¡± Edwin asked.


    ¡°Have you read of Ophir in the Bible?¡± Amos asked.


    ¡°Place where Solomon got his gold from?¡± Sue asked.


    ¡°Yes. We used to live there. Solomon got his gold from us in exchange for nice tasty dates, according to an archive I once looked at. Not such a good rate as Karella got for her chocolate, but still.... One basket of dates for one lump of Ophir gold, I think it was. Anyway, the story says he tried all sorts of things and found a good mixture or two, and since then the recipe''s been improved, but it was already better than iron. We''ve got stronger stuff, too, of course, but it corrodes like anything, so we use a skin of submarine metal on anything that''ll get near the water.¡±


    ¡°So, I''m in a submarine made of gold?¡±


    ¡°Only about eight hundred kilograms. The rest is other stuff, mostly extracted from sea water. We don''t do mining.¡±


    ¡°But this submarine is yours?¡±


    ¡°It is now. My grandfather''s before me and his grandfather''s before him.¡±


    ¡°Wow, that''s old!¡±


    ¡°We build to last. It''s had some updates since it was first made, of course. Mainly the anti-sonar coating, and to the cheat mechanism.¡±


    ¡°The cheat mechanism is how you beat cavitation?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°Compressed air?¡± Sue guessed, knowing how some torpedos worked.


    ¡°Old technology. Late nineteen hundreds. Fast, but much too noisy. Your microphones detected us, and we had to pretend to be unknown geological processes: we could only use it up and down the mid-Atlantic ridge.¡±


    Edwin looked at him in surprise and then started to laugh, and laugh, and laugh.


    ¡°What so funny?¡±


    Once Edwin had managed to control himself he said ¡°Let me guess, you called a sudden stop to their use in about the twenty seventies?¡±


    ¡°About then, yes.¡±


    ¡°I knew it, oh that''s precious!¡± he started laughing again.


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°I shouldn''t laugh, really. It''s sad. My old PhD supervisor, the most persistent man I''ve ever met, has been trying to persuade funders for the past four decades that someone ought to send an exploration team to find out what''s so special about the rocks around the mid-Atlantic ridge, that they''d produce those strange long chains of gas releases. Even though they''ve not happened once for the last two hundred years.¡±


    ¡°Well, I know someone who''s got an unmodified sub. Assuming we don''t need to carry on being so quiet, I''m sure could be persuaded to start using it up and down the ridge a few times, then maybe write ''Yes, you heard us.''¡±


    ¡°I like your style. My superiors might not see the funny side though. I presume your modern method is top secret?¡± Sue guessed,


    ¡°Probably. Speaking of which, if you get any ideas about hijacking my submarine, I''d have to trigger the self-destruct.¡±


    ¡°Oh, bother.¡± Sue said, ¡°There goes my plan for world domination.¡±


    <hr>


    Even accounting for the company, the trip to the surface was, Sue noticed, considerably faster than her sub could have managed. ¡°You don''t exactly have much space up here for sun-bathing, do you? I hope this transmitter doesn''t slip off.¡± she commented, climbing out of the airlock. As the only one of them who''d met a satellite receiver, she had appointed herself the job of setting it up.


    ¡°Oops, Sorry, I should have thought of that.¡± Amos said and fiddled with something down below. Sue saw that suddenly the waves that had been coming up the rounded sides of the sub were stopping.


    ¡°What have you done to the sea?¡± She asked.


    ¡°Forcefield.¡±


    ¡°No, no, no, Amos.¡± she corrected. ¡°Everyone knows you get a forcefield in the middle of the emitters. You can''t make one on the outside It''s against the rules and therefore must be magic.¡±


    ¡°Oh. OK. It''s high technology magic.¡±


    ¡°Much better. What does that do for me?¡±


    ¡°You may now walk on water, or possibly more usefully, set up the tripod on water.¡±


    ¡°Won''t I just tip over the submarine if I do that?¡±


    ¡°Probably not, and not quickly either. We''ve got a forcefield, sorry, a magic keel too. It''s quite handy when you''re trying to get a big lump of rock home.¡±


    ¡°A big lump of rock?¡±


    ¡°Yes. We don''t have wood, there''s plenty of rock, so we use that instead.¡±


    ¡°So, You want me to tread on this.... magic luggage rack?¡±


    ¡°Yes. It''s safe.¡±


    ¡°Forcefields are incredibly slippery. You just want to watch me slip off and get wet, don''t you?¡±


    Amos climbed out and slipped down the side onto the invisible field of force. ¡°Some are. This one isn''t. It all comes down to the mix of forces.¡±


    ¡°The mix of forces... this is obviously another of those times when I''ll just decide to trust you.¡±


    ¡°I thought you had forcefields.¡±


    ¡°So did I. I think our forcefields are different to yours, though.¡±


    ¡°I guess so. So, who are you going to invite?¡± He asked, offering his hand to help her down.


    ¡°No one.¡± Sue replied, smiling slightly as she took his. [Do you hear thoughts? I do, but My brother doesn''t know.] She didn''t move from where she was sitting; Edwin was still below.


    [I do.] He replied.


    [{embarrassment} I heard some of yours earlier.]


    [Urm, {embarrassed} about you?]


    [Yes. I''m... flattered.] She edged down the slope of the sub, on hearing Edwin climbing [Let''s talk more sometime. OK?]


    [Very.]


    ¡°Your forcefields are definitely different to ours. This feels sort of spongy.¡±


    ¡°Yours are hard and slippery?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°Interesting.¡± he said.


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°We''ve had this sort a lot longer.¡±


    <hr>


    ¡°Hi Pam.¡± Edwin said into his wrist unit, once Sue had shown Amos how to set everything up, and then he''d repeated it.


    ¡°Edwin? Aren''t you in the middle of the Atlantic somewhere?¡±


    ¡°Yes. And I have a very strange invitation for you. Would you like to come to where I am for dinner, and to spend the night with some people I''ve met?¡±


    ¡°Where are you?¡±


    ¡°Roughly in the middle of the exclusion zone we were talking about.¡±


    ¡°And now you''ve got a dinner invitation?¡±


    ¡°Yes. The exclusion zone is to stop anyone panicking about a big sub which is moving around here. There''s apparently a world-wide press release tomorrow. I don''t suppose you''ve heard anything about it?¡± She had two part-time jobs. One was as the research centre''s secretary, the other was as a reporter.


    ¡°I got asked to check up on some bits of it. So yes, I would love to come, Edwin. Can I bring my camera?¡±


    ¡°I''ve got mine, so I expect so. You''ll be too late for the full outside tour we''re about to get, but.... wow, Pam!¡±


    ¡°Impressive?¡±


    ¡°Very. There ought to be a sub waiting for you where I normally get on Sue''s sub. You know where that is?¡±


    ¡°Of course. Urm... dress code?¡±


    ¡°Skirt, and blouse, guessing from the queen and her daughters.¡±


    ¡°You''ve met their queen?¡±


    ¡°Yes. Very gracious Christian lady.¡±


    ¡°Next question... should I bring a some sort of gift?¡±


    ¡°Hold on, I''ll ask. Amos? My wife is asking should she bring a gift?¡±


    Amos thought for a bit. ¡°Fresh fruit would be really welcome, I expect. We''re about chocolate''d out right now. By the way, Karella says there is a wedding. But that doesn''t mean she should wear anything fancy. Most people there will just be wearing their scales.¡±


    ¡°Did you hear that, Pam? Apparently we''re invited to a wedding by dint of


    Amos catching a fifty kilo tuna this afternoon.¡±


    ¡°Fresh fruit. Nothing fancy, but OK for a wedding. What does scales mean?¡±


    ¡°Scales are their urm...¡± Edwin didn''t want to be too explicit, and floundered.


    ¡°National costume.¡± Amos supplied. ¡°For which you should understand our preferred working clothes. Skirt with blouse or T-shirt is very acceptable.¡±


    Pam heard and said ¡°Oh! OK.¡±


    ¡°Pam? Could you bring something for me? Sue too, I expect. You know all about the laundry facilities on Sue''s sub.¡±


    ¡°Of course.¡±


    Sue grabbed Edwin''s wrist unit. ¡°Pam, if you can, get hold of Tina and ask her for my dress uniform. I think it''s appropriate. But don''t delay if you can''t. No, actually, I''ll try and get hold of her to meet you there. About twenty minutes?¡± Tina was Sue''s flat-mate.


    Pam considered all she needed to do. ¡°Yes, OK.¡±


    ¡°Great. If she''s not there, then don''t wait.¡±


    <hr>


    Amos gave them the complete tour of the outside. He took them past the inlet and outlet nozzles, deliberately entering the strong currents, even allowing the submarine to almost be sucked down the inlet pipe, so Sue could describe the dangers to others.


    ¡°I hope your drive is a hundred percent reliable.¡± Sue said to that stunt.


    ¡°It has been so far. No moving parts. Now, if you''d mark the position of this lever, say with a finger?¡±


    ¡°Like this?¡± Sue asked.


    ¡°Exactly.¡± Amos said. ¡°Now I''ll break us free and then let''s see how fast you''d need to go to escape that flow. With only about fifteen percent power.¡±


    ¡°You could really do with a speed indicator, you know?¡± Sue commented. Trying not to move as he accelerated away from Atlantis.


    ¡°Maybe. But will one of your speed indicators still work in a two hundred years time, without more maintenance than a scrubbing brush?¡± Amos asked.


    ¡°That''s all the maintenance you''d give this sub in two hundred years? That''s it?¡± Sue was impressed.


    ¡°Unless I bang into something really solid, yes.¡± Amos replied.


    ¡°I want one. Can I have one if I say please?¡± Sue asked, it was amazing how much better she could hear the sounds of the sea in this submarine.


    ¡°How good''s your internal sonar?¡± he said, listening. ¡°Ah! Dolphins are that way.¡±


    ¡°You can hear where they are?¡± Edwin asked. He thought he''d heard something.


    ¡°Yes. Our hearing isn''t quite dolphin-good, but I can certainly hear where they are.¡±


    ¡°And you''re going to chase dolphins as a speed measure?¡±


    ¡°No. I''m going to let them swim beside us if they want to and see how fast they''re swimming.¡±


    ¡°That should work, actually! If the dolphin''s cruising, of course.¡± Edwin said.


    ¡°I still think a dial is easier.¡± Sue said.


    ¡°Yes, but fundamentally less reliable.¡± Amos replied.


    The dolphins were happy to play, and after watching them a while Amos said ¡°About twenty five, twenty six knots. Now lets see if I''m right.¡±


    ¡°How?¡±


    ¡°Check what the reactor display is saying, of course.¡± he said with a cheeky grin to Sue''s protests. ¡°Sue, you have the helm. Please don''t crash into the boat which is over that way.¡±


    ¡°How do I steer?¡± She said, looking at the two levers she had. There was no wheel.


    ¡°Don''t move, and you''re OK.¡± He left her and tapped a code on the relevant panel. It slid open to reveal a data display. ¡°Ha! Spot on!¡±


    ¡°It looks... mostly greek to me.¡± Edwin said. ¡°Can I take a photograph?¡±


    ¡°Yes. Sue, Please pull both levers back towards you.¡±


    ¡°I thought I''d had my last driving lesson.¡± Sue said, but did it all the same.


    ¡°Bit more.¡± Edwin instructed.


    ¡°Yes sir.¡±


    ¡°Now we''re going about the same speed you''re used to in your sub. Now, lean your body left, keeping hold of the handles.¡±


    The boat started to turn left. ¡°It''s like a bicycle!¡± she realised.


    ¡°That''s how you steer. Now, take us back towards Atlantis.¡±


    ¡°I don''t have a compass, I don''t have anything!¡± she protested.


    ¡°So guess, rely on your instincts.¡±


    ¡°My instincts tell me to give the com back to you.¡±


    ¡°No, that''s just fear. Don''t worry, I know which way to go, so we won''t get lost.¡±


    Sue leaned and turned the sub in a complete circle. She made a total guess, and then decided she was wrong, it was more to the left. That felt better, though she didn''t know why. ¡°Why does it feel better to go this way?¡±


    ¡°Because it''s the right way. Your subconscious has been noticing details even if your conscious hasn''t. You don''t have instruments to confuse you, it''s quiet, which helps too. The hull isn''t magnetic, and the drive magnets don''t leak much, so there''s not much magnetic field in here, which some people think affects people. Personally I doubt it. I expect for you it''s visual signals: the light through the waves. Oops, boat coming. I''d better take over.¡±


    She gladly handed back the controls.


    ¡°That was weird. Amazing, but weird.¡± Sue said ¡°Thank you.¡±


    ¡°You thought travelling with mer-folk would be normal?¡±


    ¡°Ah, no.¡±


    ¡°That''s all right then. What would I do to go up?¡±


    ¡°You pull back to slow, push forward to go faster. Pull left to go left, pull right to go right. So I''m guessing, urm, pull up?¡±


    ¡°Correct. Do you know why? What would happen if we suddenly went into reverse?¡±


    ¡°We''d be thrown forwards. Oh! It''s a negative feedback thing? You overcome the force that the motion you want will exert on you, so that if you move too quickly it compensates!¡±


    ¡°Well done.¡± Amos said. ¡°You''re quick.¡±


    ¡°So, now you''ve taught my sister how to steal your submarine, what''s next on the agenda?¡± Edwin asked, in an amused voice.


    ¡°I thought maybe you''d like a try.¡±


    ¡°No thanks. I''ll sick to marine biology and geology.¡±


    ¡°Oh! That''s what you were doing?¡±


    ¡°Not really.¡± Sue replied. ¡°The microphones heard a big clang yesterday, and he decided he wanted to see what was going on.¡±


    ¡°Oh, I didn''t show you that window.¡± Amos exclaimed. ¡°How could I have forgotten that!¡±


    ¡°You know what it was?¡± Edwin asked.


    ¡°Almost certainly the Atlantis engine being started up.¡±


    ¡°How does it work?¡±


    ¡°Not incredibly efficiently. It turns fusion into heat and heat into motion. But on the other hand, it''s only been modified slightly in the last twelve hundred years. The clang was part of the modification, and it''s always worried us, but otherwise the modification is a very good thing. You can ask for details from Christoph.¡±


    ¡°Do I take it that your fusion drive doesn''t turn fusion into heat and heat into motion?¡± Edwin asked.


    ¡°No.¡±


    ¡°Oh. Yet another slap in the face for land-folk science and technology.¡± Sue said.


    ¡°Sorry. We did have a two thousand year head start on you though. You don''t need to feel too bad.¡±


    ¡°Oh, that''s OK. I''m just a taxi-driver for my brother at the moment. He''s the scientist.¡±


    <hr>


    Eventually the tour was over and Amos led them to Karella''s home.


    ¡°Welcome to the house of our queen, the undisputed sovereign of the deeps and shallows, ruler over the navies of the Mer people, and mother of three lovely children, who may not be quite so obedient at times.¡±


    Sathie stuck her tongue out at Amos.


    ¡°See what I mean?¡±


    ¡°They might build us a palace one day.¡± Mabel said. ¡°But I hope not.¡±


    ¡°Welcome, come and have a seat. I can offer you water or something you probably won''t like.¡± Karella said.


    ¡°What''s the ''probably won''t like'' option?¡± Edwin asked.


    ¡°It''s a hot drink we make from sea-cucumbers.¡±


    ¡°Water please!¡± Edwin decided quickly.


    ¡°Why didn''t you just tell them it tastes a bit like hot chocolate?¡± Sathie asked.


    ¡°And hide what it''s made of? Why would I do that?¡± Karella asked.


    ¡°So we can watch them turn green, when you tell them what it''s made of after their first mouthful, of course.¡±


    ¡°You... teenager!¡± Karella said.


    ¡°It really tastes of hot chocolate?¡± Sue asked.


    ¡°Slightly according to Sarah.¡±


    ¡°A distant relative.¡± Karella supplied.


    ¡°Then if I may, I''d like a tiny bit of the strange and interesting, and plenty of water on hand just in case.¡± Sue decided.


    ¡°This,¡± declared Sathie ¡°is a brave woman.¡±


    ¡°I should have asked if you drink it.¡±


    ¡°Of course. But I''m not sure I''d make it. That''s icky.¡±


    Sue not only managed her first swallow, she asked for more.


    <hr>


    ¡°I did invite you here for a reason, Sue. As a society, we face death far more often than you do. There are always more sharks, and we must sometimes kill them or be killed. But we have loved peace for thousands of years. One proof of that is that though we have had fusion for a thousand years and fission before that, we have never used them against you. It is our great fear, in this time when the world changes, that you will make us turn to war once more. So, this is one reason I wanted to talk to you, Sue. You''re in the military, and I presume trained to kill, yes?¡±


    ¡°If I have to, yes.¡±


    ¡°On someone''s orders?¡±


    ¡°If the someone is my superior, and the order is lawful, yes. With my speciality, and rank, I''d be more likely to be placing limpet mines on enemy ships, or telling people to fire torpedoes or shells, than actually shooting myself, but... yes. And yes, I''ve been trained to shoot also.¡±


    ¡°So... would you shoot men and women doing nothing more than defending their children, and their homes?¡±


    ¡°I hope I would never be ordered to. If they''re civilians, then they should be left in peace. If they''re foreign military, and we''re at war... I don''t know why they''re fighting. Maybe there are children in the home, maybe a cache of weapons. If I was a new recruit and I''d been ordered to search the home and I find someone inside pointing a gun at me... I''d probably shoot.¡±


    ¡°And if it was a knife?¡±


    ¡°I don''t know. If they were holding it like they were going to throw it at me, probably. If they were holding it like it had been on the table and they were terrified, probably not. It depends how frightened I was. But I don''t expect to ever be in that situation, or ordering people to be in that situation. We do not normally attack, but we do defend: our laws, our territory, our people, our ships.¡±


    ¡°So, as long as everyone agrees where the territory stops, there is no problem.¡± Amos said, ¡°One problem comes that a few hundred years ago you decided that what for thousands of years was our territory should be yours. We have hidden, you have forgotten, but we have not. Now you are reminded, how will you react?¡±


    ¡°Yes. That undisputed ruler bit in your title makes me nervous, your majesty.¡± Sue said. ¡°It sounds like fighting talk.¡±


    ¡°It is a title, agreed on by many ancient rulers. So far, no one has disputed it. Therefore, it''s true.¡± Amos said.


    ¡°Urm... who have you asked? Recently, I mean.¡± Sue asked.


    ¡°We''ve opened diplomatic relationships with the UN security council, and lots of individual countries.¡± Karella replied. ¡°Israel has affirmed the covenant and treaty we had with king Solomon. The country of Greece has affirmed the treaty we had with the city-state of Athens, and we are now in negotiations about how we apply it to the whole of Greece. So... one and a bit countries have agreed to our historic title, and we have agreed legal terms about who can do what where. It''s a beginning.¡±


    ¡°So, you have some allies already. Do you have a military force if needed?¡±


    Karella answered: ¡°In one sense, we have no standing army or navy, In another other sense, all our submarines are considered to be in our navy, and all our able-bodied men and women are reservists, though we wouldn''t ask nursing or pregnant women to fight. Very few of us are going to cower in fear if a shark or other enemy comes. Sharks are part of our life; we''re much more likely to attack when cornered, than to give in.¡±


    Sue digested that for a while. ¡°I''ve seen Amos''s knife, but... no other weapons. I''m sorry, I don''t want to pry, but.... you seem like very nice people and I''m just hoping you don''t get annihilated, I guess.¡±


    ¡°We hope the same thing, I assure you.¡± Karella agreed ¡°As for weapons, you''re right, our people don''t have purpose made weapons much more powerful than a bow or blow-darts. But... we do have tools which we could use to kill or destroy. We have had no source of wood for three centuries, but stone is available easily, Therefore, we use stone for many things that you''d use wood for. We have hand-held tools which can cut stone, and they''ve been improved over the years. We''ve used them to cut refuge caves, or to carve homes for ourselves in the rocks we''ve recently added to Atlantis. We use them at home to shape rock into chairs and tables. But, if we need to, we could misuse our tools, turn them to killing. It''s not our desire, but we have both the warrior outlook that says enemies need killing and the technical ability. Each one of these tools can cut a metre into rock, that metre can be at a distance, above or under water, and we''re sure it could cut metal if that was necessary. Some experiments have been done on an old shipwreck. Is the name ''Bismark'' familiar to you?¡±


    ¡°Bismark? Yes. a famous battleship from a long time ago. At the time it took a lot to sink it. I don''t know how hard it would be to get through its armour with our modern weapons. Not as long as it took then, of course.¡±


    ¡°It makes me sad to have to tell you this, but one mer-person with one of these tools could single handedly cripple a similar ship in under ten seconds. In five to ten minutes more they could a make gash all along the hull, through the thickest parts of the armour we could find. I''m not telling you this as a threat, this is not why we made these tools, but we have them. If the land-folk fought us, I don''t think a single one of your ships would survive. I don''t doubt our people would die also. Maybe not all. I don''t know.¡±


    ¡°I really hope that never happens.¡±


    ¡°Us too. Oh. you don''t know. We''ve spoken in the United Nations about terrible, disgusting weapons that we made in the past. We plan to disarm them, but they exist.¡±


    ¡°Nuclear weapons?¡±


    ¡°Worse. Antimatter. They were meant as an emergency response, if we were found, we could say: ''Don''t blow us up, or the antimatter device beside each of your coastal cities will explode.'' A disgusting abuse of another tool. We do love peace, truly. I say this knowing that land-folk often say you love peace just before you go to war. The truth is that some of your countries still love war, others... used to and are trying to love peace instead.¡±


    ¡°So back to your question, we have a military force, yes. We just don''t want to use it.¡± Amos concluded. ¡°We''d much rather stick to carving stone and catching fish. But if you claim that the coastal waters are all yours, and refuse peaceful relationships because of it... I don''t know what we''d do. Especially since you can''t uphold your claim, and we could.¡±


    ¡°We can''t?¡± Sue was surprised.


    ¡°Oh, I''m sure you could drop bombs and place mines along your coastlines, randomly killing children just playing in the waves. Or one torpedo would crack this dome and kill everyone. But actually win a war against us without resorting to such extermination tactics? Can a bear defeat a beehive without destroying it? I doubt it. If we abuse our beautiful stone-cutters and make them kill, then we will have a worse sting than bees. Very few of your boats are able to match the speed of ours, and you have so few. There are a lot of you on land, you outnumber more than ten-thousand to one, so I''m sure you could eventually beat us in the sea, if you set your minds to it, but not immediately. I don''t know what your society would do with no shipping at all. Would your society survive long enough to be able to beat us without it turning into a war of extermination?¡±


    ¡°Urm... probably not.¡± Sue said.


    Karella returned to her question ¡°So, the stone cutter tools we love for their ability to let us create and carve and make, could quickly decimate your navies, probably your airforces too. We could make you fear the sea for a generation, or more I expect. But we don''t want to. We''re happy to share, but the question is, are you? Or will you, like spoilt children, say ''If I can''t have it, no one will.'' That''s part of why our antimatter bombs are so disgusting to us, they are a reduce us to that level.¡±


    ¡°I am sure that there are countries that will dispute with you that title, who will challenge you.¡± Sue said. ¡°What would be your response to them, assuming it''s not a global attitude?¡±


    Karella shrugged ¡°Add a ''most'' in my title, I guess, just before ''deeps'' or ''shallows''.¡±


    Sue''s jaw dropped. ¡°With no reprisals at all?¡±


    ¡°Oh, we would not make a treaty with them, we would not agree to defuse the nightmare weapons if they do not guarantee us our right to exist. Nor would we trade with them. We would allow their merchants free passage across our waters. They might find their military vessels became adept at picking up lost fishing nets. You do drop so many! Officially, unless they declared war on us, that is probably all we would do. Unofficially, some people might, perhaps, herd fish away from the nets of their fishermen, that is a very easy thing to do. Perhaps someone would demonstrate how foolish they are to dispute our mastery of the seas by painting ''I could have sunk this boat'' on their warships. Teenagers are like that, sometimes. If they declared war on us, but did not yet shoot, I don''t know what I would do, but I know what has happened in the deep past: Pleas for peace, demonstrations of how silly that decision was, threats issued, rudders cut, ships made unseaworthy.¡±


    ¡°And if they really went to war?¡±


    ¡°If they did more than just declare war, then their ships would suffer worse. If they used their planes against us, our rock cutters could cut those too. In all-out war, God preserve us, our construction submarines, which have more powerful lasers, could cut apart their harbours, or even cut down any building on their coastline that we choose, and if we thought our very existence was under threat, may the Lord never allow it, I expect we''d use those revolting antimatter bombs. Just as a mother of my children I have killed sharks to protect them, so as ruler of my people, I would have to use the weapons I have to protect my people, and I would have failed in my duty if I allow them to be annihilated. I hope, I pray, that if that terrible day came, I would be able to give warning, so the innocent could flee. Is it not the same for all rulers? What same person would ever want a job such as this?¡±


    Sue saw the tears running down Karella''s face. ¡°I am sorry, your majesty, that I make you think of these terrible things.¡±


    Karella shook her head. ¡°You are right to ask, and I asked first. These possibilities must be thought of, planned for.¡±


    ¡°Then, if I might ask, your majesty, what if a nation who had a treaty with you, then tore up that treaty.¡±


    Sue was surprised at the force of reaction from all of them.


    The teenagers asked, in shocked unison, ¡°And make themselves shark-food?¡±


    Amos expanded ¡°The fundamental law of our culture and society: an oath must be kept, for an oathbreaker is shark or shark-meat. A country that tore up it treaty with us would be shark until its rulers were shark-meat and the treaty restored. Its trade ships would be warned to not enter the sea or deep waters, lest we be blamed for divine judgment. Its navy would be shark, until its rulers were shark-meat and the treaty restored. Not all sharks need to be killed. If its navy ran for port, they would not be dangerous sharks. If they left port, seeking us out, they would be dangerous sharks. If they did not run when challenged they would be dangerous sharks. It is the duty of all adults to protect the children from dangerous sharks. A dangerous shark might be warned to mend its ways, for example with a small gash to the belly or a fin. If it heeds the warning it is no longer dangerous, But if it presses its attack it needs to be killed. We do not like causing pain. We do not torture. The dangerous shark should be killed quickly.¡±


    Karella added, in a deadly calm voice, ¡°This is the law of the deep, it cannot be changed. We have warned the Security Council of this. Better no treaty than a broken oath. Better a treaty that must be renewed each year, than a broken oath. We cannot alter this law, for we ourselves are bound to it by oath. We will not make our children to be shark-meat, waiting for the teeth they know will come.¡±


    ¡°All oaths? All vows?¡± Sue asked.


    ¡°All. The oathbreaker is shark-food or shark. None will save an oath-breaker from the shark that has been sent by God to eat him. If the oath breaker still lives, he or she is shark. Not all sharks need to be killed, just the dangerous ones, those who seek to harm others.¡±


    ¡°You have capital punishment, then.¡± Edwin said.


    Karella answered, ¡°Our law allows us to strike to kill if it is in self defence, or the defence of our children, and our knives are sharp. It has been a long time, for most of us are Christians, but normally our response to a thief or swindler who is caught has been to demand reparations, and an oath of reform. Other crimes might result in exile. As for returning from exile, that depends on the motive. Normally it is not a good idea.¡±


    ¡°And for a murderer?¡± Sue asked.


    ¡°We have different categories of things you would probably lump together in that word. Was it murder for profit or murder for petty revenge? Was it a fight which wasn''t over honour? Was it a dispute that turned into a fight that turned into a death? Was the dead person a dangerous shark? Was the dead person not a dangerous shark but the person killing them believed they were? It has been a long time since any of these came to trial. For the worst of these, our law allows execution by what in our language we call stoning, but it is not the same as the Bible calls stoning. The criminal was pinned down under a net at low tide, the net is held down with stones. The whole village puts heavy stones on the net.¡±


    ¡°So no one person is responsible for the death?¡± Sue asked.


    ¡°Exactly.¡± Amos agreed.


    ¡°You mentioned petty revenge, and a fight which wasn''t over honour...¡± Sue asked.


    ¡°You''re wondering what about fights over honour, and revenge for something that isn''t petty?¡± Karella asked.


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°Where there is some doubt about whether the criminal should die, then they must take a long long swim, without any weapon, in an area where we know there are sharks. Even in our pre-Christian days, this we left in the hands of Yah, the judge of all the world. We were idol-worshipping pagan polytheists, but we knew who was in charge of life and death.¡±


    ¡°You said where there is some doubt? Is there ever no doubt?¡±


    ¡°Absolutely.¡± Karella said ¡°Again, I speak from our pre-Christian days. If a man tried to chain a woman, to take her as his unwilling concubine, she could call on help to defend her honour. Once he had chained her, then no one could interfere between them, but an unwilling concubine was always allowed to kill or castrate her master, as she chose. After a while she could take an oath that she''d stay with him and protect him from harm, which was almost the same as marriage. We changed these laws when we became Christians. She can now always call on help to defend her honour, and we accept no form of slavery. So, there is no doubt, no guilt that comes from self-defence, for defending another, or for executing or castrating the dangerous shark who treats a woman so.¡±


    ¡°Sometimes, among us... alcohol is involved, not force. If a woman woke and found she had been urm... dishonoured?.¡± Sue asked.


    ¡°The law says if she did not make a decision when sober, it was force.¡±


    Amos said ¡°But how she reacts is up to her. All options are up to her: she can kill, castrate, call for judges and find out if there were witnesses, or perhaps if she loves the man and the alcohol just caused them both to act without thought, she can can decide to call another sort of witness, and they can take marriage vows to each other.¡±


    ¡°You might think we are barbaric in this.¡± Karella said ¡°Sarah told us, when she visited, that you hide from death. That while you eat meat, you hide the killing, and let machines even do it for you. That you even are worse than Sathie, who likes to drink cucumber, but not the preparation of it. I say worse, because not even one as sensitive as she would shy from killing her own fish. We do not like death, but we do not fear to look at its face.¡±


    ¡°That is... a very different attitude, yes.¡± Sue agreed ¡°So you''re saying that if a woman had been dishonoured, while we might think ''I wish he was dead, that someone would kill him for me'', your people would not expect someone else to take his life. But... do you then train your daughters to fight?¡±


    ¡°What mother would not train her daughters to defend themselves, as she herself was trained by her mother?¡± Karella asked with a smile, ¡°We know, we''re different in this too. Our men we expect to hunt, our women we expect to protect themselves and their children from sharks, no matter how many legs they have.¡±


    ¡°You don''t think that this... expecting people to fight and kill one another is against the teaching of Jesus?¡± Edwin asked.


    ¡°I think you should ask your sister that.¡± Karella pointed out.


    ¡°I have. Numerous times,¡± he admitted.


    ¡°And?¡±


    ¡°She said that she doesn''t fight to establish her rights, but to defend others. But you speak of a woman executing her attacker, isn''t that taking vengeance out of God''s hands? Shouldn''t there be a trial and a judicial process?¡±


    ¡°Doesn''t that just prolong the anguish of the man''s victim, and dishonour her even more? She knows she has been raped. If she was not raped, and she attacks an innocent, that would be murder, and she would be punished for it. If she was raped, and she has the means of justice to hand and the strength of arm, why tie her hands? We do not kill easily, not now. It takes a lot to provoke us, because we see the image of God in each other. There have neither been rapes nor deaths since this law. Even before we became Christians, a man would tread carefully, judging how strongly the woman he was interested in would object to his advances. Deaths were few and far between.¡±


    ¡°You are sure you have had no rapes? It is rare, and very sad, but even in our churches, sometimes it has happened. And... failing to report it is not unknown.¡± Edwin asked.


    ¡°For fifteen years I was on the high council, which is the government and court of Atlantis. One of the things my fellows asked me to use my gift for was to check that the reason we knew of hardly any crimes amongst us was that they have not happened. I do not know if it is because we are all Christians and seek to encourage one another in our faith, or because we have had other things to worry about. Also, of course, we have plenty of opportunities for our men to display their skills.¡± Karella said that last with a smile at her brother. ¡°But it is time to go and meet your wife, Edwin.¡±


    <hr>


    Tina had managed to get Sue''s dress uniform to Pam, and after the walk around the city, Sue changed into it, did her hair and inspected herself in the mirror. Yes, it was going to make her stick out like a sore thumb, but... that was the whole point. To her mind it showed she was military but could still celebrate a wedding. Hopefully everyone else agreed.


    ¡°I thought this was more appropriate than my grubby T-shirt.¡± Sue greeted Karella, who''d changed into her scales, with a simple white blouse, but also had put her royal circlet on.


    ¡°Absolutely. I''m afraid I still don''t know your rank or surname, Sue.¡±


    ¡°Commander Suzanna Reynolds at your service, your majesty.¡± Sue said formally.


    ¡°Oh, well, if you''re at my service... could you tell me what the rank commander means, and help me carrying the fish?¡±


    ¡°Of course! Commander means, basically, that I can command a frigate or a destroyer class, or a medium sized attack submarine, but not anything bigger. In other words, be in command about two hundred crew. It also means that my skill set is totally wasted being taxi-driver for my brother. Unfortunately for me, when I was young and foolish I qualified in deep-water submarine navigation, which is a speciality most people don''t have.¡±


    ¡°Hence you''re in command of your research submarine?¡±


    ¡°Yes. Which I could have been doing ten years ago, yes. When they realised that it was my brother running the project they decided that I was the best person for the job, despite being significantly overqualified.¡± Sue said, quite aware it was something she needed to get over. ¡°Urm... I should probably admit that it can abnormally carry a limpet mine or a torpedo.¡±


    ¡°But it wasn''t, which is what that phrasing was really about. Whereas if you''d been in an attack submarine frigate or destroyer then you''d have been outside the exclusion area in case you put a hole in our city. Do you think you might have panicked if you''d been on patrol and seen it coming?¡±


    ¡°Without having any idea there was anything here? I think it would depend if I saw it from the front, the back or the top. Or only on sonar, of course. We don''t normally have windows in our submarines.¡±


    ¡°We''ve noticed. Why not?¡±


    ¡°Too brittle, the water''s too dark, and murky normally anyway, we don''t go near the bottom either, there''s too much chance that when someone drops a depth charge the glass doesn''t respond in the same way that the steel would, and use a periscope so we can stay underwater without being seen, and if you want to have a look around then a periscope is more efficient than a whole heap of windows.¡±


    ¡°Except of course it means you''ve no hope of seeing the mermaid who''s pulling faces at you behind where it''s looking.¡±


    ¡°... are you serious?¡± Sue asked.


    ¡°I must admit that I did it once for a dare, when I was young and foolish. Both I and the boy who dared me got in severe trouble.¡±


    ¡°I bet. Putting your people''s safety in danger for a dare? And now you know what a burden looking after them is. What happened to your partner in crime?¡±


    ¡°I married him.¡±


    ¡°Well, that solves that problem.¡± Sue said.


    ¡°Which problem was that?¡± Karella asked.


    ¡°Rumours about the queen''s errant youth.¡±


    ¡°Oh, it''s very well known. Christoph and I had to spend the next six months scrubbing the pipes, pistons and valves of the engine. We spent the first month arguing about whose fault it was, but by the end of it we''d decided we worked together well as a team. That six months gave him a really good appreciation for how the pump works, too, and now he''s one of the chief reactor engineers.¡±


    ¡°He learnt to appreciate the pump, what did you appreciate?¡±


    Karella blushed ¡°His muscles, his dedication to his job, his kindness... See? Why did they make me queen? I''m totally unsuited to the job.¡±


    ¡°I think you''re doing very well so far, your majesty.¡±


    <hr>

 The Other Big Secret 3: Safely out at sea / Ch. 7: Reporting in

    <h2>The Other Big Secret 3: Safely out at sea / Ch. 7: Reporting in</h2>


    </a>Report to Naval HQ on visit to Atlantis, Cmdr Sue Reynolds, 20th July 2277


    Analysis:


    The merfolk consider themselves a separate subspecies, who have a long history of hiding from us and not using their technology against us. My opinion is this has been due to their overriding desire to be left in peace.


    Other issues that would play a factor in avoiding conflict would include: avoiding the environmental damage that an interspecies war of annihilation would cause; their certainty that they would eventually lose against our superior numbers; and dislike of anything but one-on-one conflict.


    The mer are highly effective apex predators (watch out sharks) and have enshrined ''goofing off'' and water play as key elements of their culture.


    Militarily they are undoubtedly capable of enforcing their ruler''s claim to be sovereign over the deeps and shallows, at least until we catch up with their technology. In my opinion, they have the technology, equipment and manpower to destroy all military shipping, and sink all merchant ships on the oceans within a matter of weeks or months. I believe their present technology could also seriously damage at least low-medium level air transport.


    As a nation with a population that is 95% committed Christians, they would, however, find this extremely distasteful and they have for more than three thousand years held the view that the outcome of any inter-subspecies war is that we will eventually attempt genocide as the only way to retain access to the sea on our terms, rather than negotiate a peaceful settlement.


    Furthermore, an interspecies war would also seriously interfere with their ability to ''goof off''. As a people it is thus entirely appropriate to say that they are peace-loving, even though as individuals they tend towards direct action when they perceive a threat.


    Main points


    The merfolk have technology which in many areas is superior to ours. They know several types of force field, including some which extend in a linear fashion from a single emitter. One of these provides a non-slip surface, which can, without supplemental tiedowns, hold cargo on a submarine at ''moderate'' speed (<30kts). Their mastery of shaped forcefields will inevitably give them access to flight very quickly, should they ever think of leaving the oceans. Each of their submarines is fusion-powered, and capable of withstanding the pressures found at the base of the Marianas trench, and was indistinguishable from a whale to the systems on my research submarine, except optically. Each one has an airlock, and a top speed in excess of fifty knots.


    As reported to the United Nations Security Council they also possess the ability to generate and store considerable amounts of antimatter.


    The merfolk have no designed-as-such hand-held weapons beyond what they would use in hunting: knives, bows, spears and short blow-pipes, which they can use with extremely high accuracy at distances of 10-15 metres. However, many of them possess stone-cutting laser/forcefield tools that could easily be used for the disabling or sinking of naval craft.


    I consider that they are a best described as a peace-loving people living in an extremely hostile environment. They thus stand instantly ready to use their well-practiced fighting skills against any aggressive human or shark, but will not attack unless provoked.


    The title of their queen as ''undisputed sovereign of the deeps and shallows'' is in their mind both an ancient title that they resurrected along with the monarchy, and an accurate description of the status quo. Historically, only the Romans ever disputed any part of it. Should any individual nations choose to dispute it, they are not prepared to go to war over it, and would insert a ''most'' into it. Disputing the title would, however, be seen as unsustainable posturing and make further efforts towards peace difficult.


    The mer-folk value honour and truthfulness highly, and their law allows for the resolution of disputes by combat, though this has not occurred since the people became Christian, in the early 1900s. An unalterable law of their people is that an oath must be kept, and that unless such a mechanism is specified at the time, it is unalterable. This, and the existence of a trade treaty between them and king Solomon, has led to them granting exact-equivalent access to Israeli citizens to their submarine market as the merfolk themselves have, even though they consider their submarines to be a secret technology and the basis of their military power. ''An oath must be kept,'' so they have no alternative.


    This adherence to an ancient treaty, long forgotten by the outside world is clear evidence of the seriousness with which they take them and, I believe, their trustworthiness as allies.


    Supplimentary details to main points


    Hand-held weaponry


    The mer blow-pipe darts carry an almost-instant muscle-relaxing toxin, which acts on long muscles, and reportedly has no effect on the human heart or lungs and only rarely on sphincters. Effects wear off fully after approximately half an hour of embarrassment. The main risk is considered to be drowning, either in water or ones own vomit if loss of sphincter control occurs. Teenagers have been known to use it on each other for pranks. Other toxins were used in the past that bring rapid death, but these are not used at present. Given how much other knowledge the mer-folk retain, it would be foolish to consider the knowledge to make them lost.


    Submarines


    The submarines use a number of special alloys, and are expected to last three hundred years in regular use, with the only servicing being brushing off barnacles. Previous models used compressed air to reduce the effect of cavitation, with much of the air being recovered from the wake. The use of this technology was discontinued, as a quieter alternative became available.


    The exact nature of their second and third generation ''cheat devices'' have been withheld from me. Some submarines retain the first generation device, as submarines are in individual hands.


    Their submarines are not armed for war, though some ''construction submarines'' carry more powerful versions of the stone-cutters described below, as well as a method of welding stone underwater. I was unable to determine if these are functions of the same device.


    Rock cutters: laser and forcefield technology


    Approximately 40-50% of adults possess a hand-held ''rock cutter'', intended to cut and carve stone. I was given a demonstration of its use, and have been given a gift of a carved and engraved granite stool that I saw being made from start to finish.


    This versatile tool can be set to cut to a set depth from 0.5mm (for engraving) to up to a metre of granite or other rock. That distance is the cut depth, not the distance from the tool.


    I was given a demonstration of its long range use in cutting a section from an underwater cliff at a range of approximately five hundred metres. Feedback to the user is normally given by forcefield ''beams'', which allow the cutting of mirror finish flat surfaces while the tool remains hand held. I was also shown a 1m long section of steel belt armour reportedly recovered from the battleship Bismark. After rust removal, approximately 25cm of the metal remained. The stone-cutter was able to cut this, under water, at a speed of approximately 10 cm/second. A cut through the longest section of the armor proceeded at approximately 4 cm/second. The mer are proud of their handicrafts, and consider it an abuse of their tools to use them for military purposes, but this would not dissuade them from doing so if provoked. I was informed that this military use of them, which they find distasteful, was only identified in discussion with an ambassador to the United Nations.


    Provocation and oaths


    On the subject of provocation, I bring to the attention of my colleagues the following information:


    1) all mer-women are trained in knife-fighting and unarmed combat and would normally carry one or more surgically-sharp blades. The carrying of blow-pipes, spears, etc. is normal when away from Atlantis, in case of ''sharks''. (The word ''shark'', is frequently used metaphorically, implies any dangerous creature which might attack from ambush or otherwise prey on the unwary. ''Sharks'' may have zero, two, four or more legs). There is no law among the mer against mer-folk carrying weapons, concealed or otherwise.


    2) more than half of their people are thought-hearers, of unusual range. Fast reactions should be expected. In a fight, non-thought-hearers of any skill level should expect to lose.


    3) Breaking an oath is considered akin to suicide.


    4) Trying to cause someone to break an oath is a shocking crime.


    5) Their law expects assistance to be given to someone in danger, unless the person is an oath-breaker, where assistance is considered useless.


    6) Marriage is monogamous and for life among them. Marriage counselling is seen as a natural response to disharmony, as disharmony endangers the marriage vows.


    7) Prostitution does not exist among them.


    8) What some service personnel might consider the innocent seeking of a playmate could be construed as a sexual attack, or an inducement to break an oath. Based on my limited conversations with mer-folk, I would expect an immediate, though probably not deadly response. Faced with such a response, the serviceman or woman should immediately retreat and offer apology for any insult given. Forgiveness for an insult would come with effective medical aid, whereas escalation of the situation would result in the serviceman/woman being categorised as in the same category as a man-eating shark or rabid animal, with approximately the same rights.


    9) Casual dating (dating with no possibility of marriage) is not normal among them, but dating is seen as a prelude to engagement. The dating period is longer among them, however an engagement typically lasts 6-36 hours. An engagement as long as a week might be considered if a particularly close relative is not around.


    10) Their legal remedy for successful or attempted rape (dishonoring of a woman) is execution, although the victim has the option of commuting the sentence to castration if she prefers. Their law sees no need for a formal judicial process, unless the victim so desires. If she is proven to have ''executed'' an innocent man this would be counted as murder, and her execution would be expected to follow. Note that any impairment of decision-making by e.g. alcohol is considered force. A mer-woman might, therefore, wake up with a hangover thinking ''How could I have been so stupid?'', but their law at this point will support any decision and action she makes.


    <hr>


    </a>Friday, 20th July, 2277, 13.30pm Azores summer time U.T.C.


    Amos looked up from his handiwork. ¡°Not my best at all.¡±


    ¡°You were rushed.¡± Sue pointed out.


    ¡°By who? You were busily writing.¡±


    ¡°Yes, but you want to go topside and watch the news reports about your people, don''t you?¡± Sue asked.


    ¡°True. And then you need to head home.¡± he agreed.


    ¡°Yes. And see if I can get some science done for my brother. I really think that''s a cheek, just heading back with Pam and leaving me to do the boring stuff all alone.¡±


    ¡°Anyway, I can''t really do much better without redoing the whole surface, I''m afraid.¡±


    ¡°So, you''re finished?¡± Sue asked.


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°So am I. I''d appreciate any input.¡± She handed him the tablet she''d been writing on.


    ¡°You''ve written all this?¡±


    ¡°You made me a stool, I wrote a report. Quite why you made me a stool, I''m not sure.¡±


    ¡°Karella told me to make something, showing off the sort of thing we could do with a stone-cutter, remember?¡±


    ¡°Yes. I remember that. But why a stool?¡±


    ¡°Well, a table wouldn''t have fitted in your submarine.¡±


    ¡°A little plaque saying ''I''ve been to Atlantis'' would have done too.¡± she pointed out.


    ¡°Too easy.¡±


    ¡°Hmm. Like catching a tuna?¡± Sue suggested.


    ¡°Oh, that was showing off.¡±


    ¡°And this stool isn''t?¡± Sue asked.


    ¡°Not really, it''s definitely sub-standard. Sorry.¡±


    ¡°Why do I feel that you want to give me your best work?¡± she asked.


    He shrugged. ¡°Maybe because I like you and I do.¡±


    ¡°We hardly know each other.¡± she pointed out, quite sensibly.


    ¡°I know. I also know lots of reasons I should say ''It''s been nice meeting you, have a good life.''¡±


    ¡°Oh.¡± she tried to keep that neutral, but wasn''t sure she succeeded.


    ¡°But I don''t really want to.¡± He gulped ¡°What I''d really like to say is ''Can we meet up again sometime?''¡±


    ¡°Well, I''d certainly like to hear those reasons we shouldn''t meet up, so I hope you''ll tell me one day.¡±


    ¡°I could just tell you them now.¡±


    ¡°Then you won''t be able to tell me what''s wrong with my report.¡± She walked over to the work-area. ¡°This engraving is beautiful!¡±


    ¡°You''re kind.¡±


    ¡°So, you can catch tuna, you can make beautiful furniture, you''ve got a lovely submarine. Any hideous diseases I ought to know about?¡±


    ¡°No.¡±


    ¡°Nasty crimes in your past?¡±


    ¡°No.¡±


    ¡°Psychological scars from losing someone you married or almost married?¡±


    ¡°No. Do you want me to read this?¡±


    ¡°Yes, sorry. But maybe I also want you to tell me why we shouldn''t think of going out.¡±


    ¡°Just genetics.¡± he said.


    ¡°Oh.¡±


    ¡°Our distant relative, Sarah Williams, gave a couple of interviews.¡±


    ¡°Sarah Williams sounds like a land-folk name.¡±


    ¡°Yes. She''s got some mer-folk genes though. Apparently in her interview she pointed out that relationships between merfolk and landfolk aren''t the most wonderful idea in the world, and spelled out, in fact, why we shouldn''t be having this conversation. Why I shouldn''t have even tried for the tuna.¡±


    ¡°You... you went after the tuna and caught it for me?¡±


    ¡°Silly, aren''t I?¡±


    ¡°I thought it was just showing off in general. It was an impressive fish even before I knew how unique an event it was. Now you''re saying you were trying to impress me. Not in the big strong mer-man demonstrates how superior they are to silly land-folk sense, I mean?¡±


    ¡°No, just in the ''ooh, really pretty girl, can I impress her?'' sense.¡±


    ¡°You''d only just laid your eyes on me.¡±


    ¡°Not quite I''d been following your sub for a day, I swam in your blind spot for a while, checking you weren''t armed, I heard you expressing your concerns about breaking the exclusion area, then I swam past your sub when you stopped for the night, to check you weren''t in trouble. I''d seen your face was pretty through the port hole, when I wrote to you. And Karella had told me you were both Christians before she invited you to dinner.¡± His eyes fixed on something that surprised him in the report ¡°Flight! You think we can fly?¡±


    ¡°Why not? You''re not hiding now, and your sub already has wings.¡±


    ¡°We''re sea creatures.¡±


    This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source.


    ¡°No, you''re coastal creatures, currently living way outside your ideal survival zone. With flight, even if it''s only just above the water, you could cross the oceans far more easily.¡±


    ¡°Interesting idea. You don''t mind if I raise the idea with our engineers?¡±


    ¡°Just don''t mention me by name. If it gets known that I''ve suggested you claim mastery of the air as well as the sea I might get in trouble.¡±


    ¡°A hundred knots.¡± He corrected, reading a little further.


    ¡°Pardon?¡±


    ¡°Each of our submarines has a top speed in excess of a hundred knots.¡±


    ¡°Wow.¡±


    ¡°We wanted to be able to get away from you if we got spotted.¡±


    ¡°But now you''re making contact.¡±


    ¡°We thought it would be better this way than just showing up on one of your ocean monitoring satellites.¡±


    ¡°Yes. Atlantis at top speed isn''t exactly going to be undetectable, is it?¡±


    ¡°It''s done twelve hundred years, but your tech has been catching up with ours.¡±


    ¡°I find that twelve hundred years mind-boggling, myself. But shouldn''t we be moving?¡±


    ¡°Yes. I just like chatting to you.¡±


    ¡°Its mutual.¡±


    ¡°I thought maybe you were just being very polite.¡±


    ¡°No. So, Amos, will you lead me and my sub up to the surface again?¡±


    ¡°Of course.¡±


    ¡°And once we''re up on the surface, we can listen to the news and then you can finish telling me what''s wrong with my report.¡±


    ¡°That sounds good.¡±


    ¡°How devastating are we talking about with the genetics?¡±


    ¡°Before we talk about that... how far back do you know your grandparents and great-grandparents'' names?¡±


    ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°Not much point talking about genetics if we turn out to be third cousins, that''d make anything but friendship wrong not just... inadvisable.¡±


    ¡°Oh. third cousins?¡±


    ¡°Yes. Sarah said things weren''t that strict with you, but we''ve always been an isolated population.¡±


    ¡°My dad was adopted..... We''ve no records of who his natural parents were at all.¡±


    ¡°Oh. None at all?¡±


    ¡°No.¡±


    ¡°I guess we''d have to ask my big sister then. Somehow, I don''t think she''d mind.¡±


    ¡°We need to do a lot of talking before..... anything.¡±


    ¡°I know. But... don''t you think it''d be better to find out sooner rather than later just which direction those talks can take? I guess it''s maybe a culture thing. It gets drummed into us when we''re little: if you meet someone you like, make sure they''re not a cousin before you think about dates.¡±


    ¡°I guess it makes sense. It just seems... much to early to me.¡±


    ¡°So I can ask her? You don''t mind?¡±


    ¡°Do I say yes to the first bit or no to the second?¡± she laughed ¡°Ask her.¡±


    <hr>


    Six submarines floated on the surface of the water, with Sue''s bright orange one rocking off to one side, looking rather out of place. Forcefields linked the six, making a steady platform for the twenty people who''d decided to listen to the press reports. While Amos set up the satellite receiver, Karella approached Sue.


    ¡°Have you had a nice visit?¡±


    ¡°Very much so.¡±


    ¡°Amos told me you''ve been... talking.¡±


    ¡°Yes. We find a lot to talk about, it seems. I like him.¡±


    ¡°He likes you.¡±


    Sue decided that she''d take the plunge, since Amos was busy. ¡°Amos said that urm, before too much talking, you''d crosscheck ancestors. My dad was adopted, so I can''t.¡±


    ¡°No names for his side at all?¡±


    ¡°No. Amos was going to talk to you, but he''s busy. He said you could check... what we ought to be talking about.¡±


    ¡°Of course.¡± Karella smiled, and decided to check if Sue had any mer blood at all; she did. She then checked if Sue was a fourth cousin or closer; no. An eighth cousin or closer? No. Twelfth? Yes, but not eleventh. Curious, Karella also looked at how many generations ago Sue''s mer ancestor had married into the land-folk. Less than six? Yes. Less than three? Yes. Less that two? yes. Karella checked for people called Sue with a Mer father. There was one beside her. ¡°Sue, do your parents live in the Azores?¡±


    ¡°No, they''re back home. Why?¡±


    ¡°You''re going to need to sit down and talk with them soon. You''re my twelfth cousin, and I got a little curious about how much mer blood you have in you.


    How good''s your underwater swimming?¡±


    ¡°Considerably above average. I seem to be able to see better than most, too. So, how much mer-blood do I have?¡±


    ¡°You''re half merfolk. Unless our understanding of genetics is wrong, you should certainly be able to hear fish too.¡±


    ¡°Dad''s amnesia...¡±


    ¡°He turned up somewhere, unable to remember where he was from?¡±


    ¡°He didn''t like to talk about it, but that''s what mum said.¡±


    ¡°He obviously decided to leave us. Sometimes it''s for love, sometimes it''s because he didn''t feel he could fit in, or wanted to study something we felt better left alone, sometimes it''s just that the person really can''t stand fish. Does he hear thoughts?¡±


    ¡°No.¡±


    ¡°He''s going to have a surprise then, when the news comes on.¡±


    ¡°Can I call him?¡±


    ¡°Of course. Tell him on behalf of the high council, we''re sorry we couldn''t invite him home. Or I will, if you like.¡±


    ¡°I might pass it over to you. OK?¡±


    ¡°Fine.¡±


    Sue dialed the familiar number, her mother answered. ¡°Hi, Mum. Is Dad there?¡±


    ¡°Yes. Where are you calling from? I thought you were driving Edwin around.¡±


    ¡°I''m actually in the middle of the Atlantic, Mum. Is Dad OK?¡±


    ¡°Yes, any reason he shouldn''t be?¡±


    ¡°Just checking. Can I speak to him?¡±


    ¡°Of course, we were going to watch the news in five minutes, see what this big fuss is all about.¡±


    ¡°That''s a good idea, I''m planning to too, but I thought I''d speak to him first.¡±


    ¡°I''ll pass you over. It''s Sue, dear.¡±


    ¡°Hi Sue, what''s up?¡±


    ¡°Urm, Dad, your amnesia....¡±


    ¡°I don''t like talking about that, Sue.¡±


    ¡°Do you think I could still learn to hear fish, Dad?¡±


    There was silence at the other end of the line for a long time. ¡°You used to be able to, Sue. Don''t you remember?¡±


    ¡°I''d totally forgotten .... but that was just pretend, wasn''t it?¡±


    ¡°Probably not, love.¡±


    ¡°But... no webbed toes.¡±


    ¡°Mine neither. Who have you been talking to?¡±


    ¡°Urm, here, why don''t you talk to her?¡±


    Karella spoke, in the mer language.


    ¡°I am Karella Helen Jacob Farspeaker now called Homebringer, descendent of Karella iron-trader, ex of the high council, now made queen against my wishes. If I could have spoken to your mind, I would have invited you to come home, by invitation of the council. The time of secrecy is over, we can hide no longer: the interceptor was due to land above Atlantis, so now Atlantis moves at full power.¡±


    ¡°Full power! The heat...¡± he stuttered. The words came to him slowly.


    ¡°The time for hiding is over. Israel and Athens have renewed their treaties with us already, others negotiate. You need hide the truth no longer.¡±


    ¡°My amnesia is not entirely faked. I hit my head harder than I intended. I remembered that I must not speak of my past, but.... not everything, I do not remember my name, my parents. I remember watching the Turnbull ring, and singing of Karella Iron trader exchanging pearls for nuts.¡± He found the words of his native tongue coming back more easily as he finished.


    ¡°Then come and remember. How are you called now?¡±


    ¡°Henry Reynolds.¡±


    Karella looked at Henry''s feet, he was there, and she looked deeply at the skin of the room. Henry Reynolds/Lamura Susanna Edwin was there. She was fairly sure she knew his parents. She checked, yes, she did.


    ¡°Do you wish me to tell you the name you were born with?¡±


    ¡°Yes! Yes, please.¡±


    ¡°You were born Lamura Susanna Edwin, so I think your unconscious prompted you in naming your children. I know your parents, they still live and I am sure they would be delighted to see you.¡±


    ¡°I... I think I remember!¡±


    ¡°Perhaps you will remember more. Watch the news with your wife Henry-Lamura.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, your majesty.¡±


    ¡°Since your daughter and my little brother plan to do some walking together, I think it is much more appropriate if you call me Karella. That''s how I learned about you; Sue wished to know if they were somehow related.¡±


    ¡°And it is not the case?¡±


    ¡°There is no limit for twelfth cousins.¡±


    ¡°No. Thank you once again, Karella.¡±


    ¡°It is my joy. Come when you are able.¡±


    ¡°I will. What is your brother''s name?¡±


    ¡°He is Amos Helen Jacob, now called Tuna-speed, for he chased down a tuna, soon after meeting your daughter.¡±


    ¡°A tuna! To impress my Sue?¡±


    ¡°I believe so.¡±


    ¡°Well, well, well! And has he skills other than hunting?¡±


    ¡°He is a craftsman, and also a forcefield designer.¡±


    ¡°Ah! Those are useful skills!¡±


    ¡°I think so. May all your memories be fully restored, Henry-Lamura, and your hunt go well.¡±


    ¡°And may your knife ever be sharp, Karella.¡±


    Henry turned to his wife, with tears in his eyes and said ¡°My mother was called Susanna, and my father Edwin. Sue''s just been talking to someone who knows them.¡±


    ¡°What was that language you were using?¡±


    ¡°My mother tongue. I think it''s brought back more memories. And apparently this news report is going to be all about where I grew up. And according to his big sister, Sue''s possibly just found herself a boyfriend in the middle of the Atlantic.¡±


    ¡°A fisherman?¡±


    ¡°Forcefield designer, when he''s not playing in the water.¡±


    ¡°Hmm. I know an aircraft designer who likes playing in the water.¡±


    ¡°It''s almost certainly genetic.¡± he said, entirely honestly.


    ¡°Yeah, yeah, yeah. I''ve heard that one before. Oh, it''s starting!¡±


    <hr>


    </a>Friday, 20th July, 2277, 14.30pm Azores summer time


    ¡°Amos, has Karella told you what she told me?¡± Sue asked as the headlines repeated.


    ¡°No. Bother I forgot to ask her... you know.¡± he looked around for his sister.


    ¡°I asked. We are relatives...¡±


    ¡°We are? How close?¡±


    ¡°Twelfth cousins.¡±


    ¡°Wow, that''s a long way back. So, you''ve got some mer blood, or a common land-folk ancestor. Did she say?¡±


    ¡°My father''s background... before he got adopted, he had amnesia. Genuinely, apparently he wanted to fake a head accident and hit himself too hard. Karella tells me that before I go you''ve got to introduce me to Susanna and Edwin, who''s son Lamura went away when he was a teenager. They''re my grandparents.¡± she found tears running down her face ¡°My dad tells me I could hear fish when I was little; for the past, I don''t know, twenty years, I''ve dismissed it as a childhood fantasy.¡±


    ¡°You''re mer.¡± he said, his eyes filled with amazement.


    ¡°Half.¡±


    ¡°The half that counts. Dominant genes.¡±


    ¡°But I can''t hold my breath as long as you can.¡±


    ¡°Of course not.¡±


    ¡°Is that some kind of sex-linked attribute then?¡±


    ¡°No. There''s this special mixture that changes your gasp reflex to respond to blood oxygen, not just carbon-dioxide. Without that... you can''t really get much benefit from the oxygen in your muscles without hyperventilating to lower your blood carbon-dioxide.¡±


    ¡°Which everyone says is a good way to die.¡±


    ¡°Yes, it is for land-folk. And mer-folk too, who take it to extremes. Drinking the potion is much safer. The only problem is it''ll probably make you ill the first time you drink it, and it is the most foul drink you''ll ever tasted.¡±


    ¡°So, not ideal before a journey, then?¡±


    ¡°No. Not unless you can arrange some leave.¡±


    ¡°Hmm. I wonder if I could. Since my passenger''s gone and got himself another ride home, it might actually be possible.¡±


    ¡°So, what do you want to do first? Visit relatives, listen to news announcements, or try and arrange leave?¡±


    ¡°Relatives. Let''s leave the news.¡±


    ¡°My sub or yours?¡±


    ¡°I''d better take mine. And yours is part of this platform, isn''t it, so would you like to be passenger?¡±


    ¡°Oh yes. The platform''s working rather well isn''t it?¡±


    ¡°Yes. You sound like you weren''t sure it would do.¡±


    ¡°Well, there''s a first time for everything. But it''s turned out to be beautifully stable. That saves me a lot of embarrassment.¡±


    ¡°Hold on... you''re responsible for this?¡±


    ¡°Yes. Didn''t I tell you?¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°When I''m not ah... what was your phrase ''goofing off?'', I work on doing fun and interesting things with forcefields.¡±


    ¡°So you''re a... forcefield design engineer or something?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡± Amos agreed.


    ¡°I''m impressed again. You''ve got to stop doing this to me.¡± Sue said.


    ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°You''re going to make it really hard for me to say goodbye.¡±


    ¡°I do plan on visiting you.¡± He promised.


    ¡°You''d better. You''d also better get yourself a wrist unit so we can chat regularly when you''re not visiting.¡±


    ¡°My first visit to land, I promise.¡±


    ¡°Great. Has your government started issuing passports yet?¡±


    ¡°Not as far as I know.¡±


    ¡°Visiting land legally might be a bit tricky then.¡±


    ¡°True. I guess I''d better pester Karella then.¡±


    <hr>


    Sue was surprised to see someone she''d seen at the wedding open the door when Amos knocked.


    ¡°Hello, Amos, Oh, and our young military visitor too! Welcome. Did you forget something at the wedding?¡± Susanna said.


    ¡°Oh! No, no connection, sorry.¡± Sue said. ¡°But I''m not really sure how to say this...¡±


    ¡°Is Edwin in, too, Susanna?¡± Amos asked.


    ¡°I''m here, Edwin said, ¡°what''s this all about?¡±


    ¡°I think I''d like us all to sit down if that''s OK.¡± Amos asked ¡°Sue''s been talking to Karella.¡±


    ¡°Your name is Sue too? I didn''t hear that.¡± Susanna said, leading the way into the living room.


    When they were all seated, Sue said ¡°Actually, my name is Suzanna, and my brother''s called Edwin. My father had amnesia. Genuine amnesia, from when he tried to fake a head injury as a teenager. He didn''t remember his name, not consciously. Karella talked to him and found out his name for him. Lamura Susanna Edwin. She said it sounded like hearing his name and talking in Mer helped his memory.¡±


    ¡°So he forgot everything?¡±


    ¡°Not everything. He remembered he needed to keep the secret. When I was little, he told me that I mustn''t tell people about hearing where fish were.¡±


    ¡°But you can?¡±


    ¡°I... I don''t know.¡±


    ¡°And you''ve got my toes? Not webbed?¡± Edwin asked.


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°It would have been an advantage for you, I''m sure but he did get teased about it when he was little, like me. I''ve got Outer Mer blood, you see.¡±


    ¡°Oh! Of course.¡± Amos said. ¡°A proud heritage.¡±


    ¡°Yes. But try telling ignorant kids that, though.¡±


    Sue looked between them, in confusion. ¡°What does ''Outer Mer'' mean?¡±


    Edwin said ¡°Soon after the time of Noah, so the stories go, there were two tribes of Mer. Inner Mer, who lived around the coast of the Mediterranean, and Outer Mer, who lived outside, on the coasts of Africa and Europe. The Mediterranean has its storms, but they are nothing to fury of the Atlantic. The Outer Mer were stronger with toes that could better climb, to escape the storms, the Inner Mer were more numerous with toes that could better swim.


    There wasi, for a century or two, a series of battles between our people. In the end, the Outer Mer said ''One on one, we can beat you. Three of you against two of us, we can beat you. Two to one, you win. We''ve proven this many times. Why don''t we count heads, and see who wins and stop killing each other to prove that sharks eat us both? Let us swear an oath that there be no more war. The land-folk grow more numerous, let us be one people. And the Outer Mer swore their oath, that they would not harm the Inner Mer, and the king of the Inner Mer was deceitful and rather than swear, he and his soldiers attacked. And the Outer Mer tried to run, and tried to hide, to defend themselves, but they would not harm the Inner Mer, and many, many were killed, almost the whole people, before the army of the gods ¡ª the crocodiles and sharks ¡ª came and consumed the king and his soldiers, leaving the Outer Mer unharmed. Very few Outer Mer survived, but they kept their oath, because an oath must be kept. So in the final battle, the Outer Mer won, because they kept their oath, and the Inner Mer king and his soldiers were shark food and crocodile food. And the Outer Mer that survived said, we cannot survive as a separate people. Now all are Mer. And the Inner Mer swore an oath, that all are Mer, and all Mer will protect all Mer, unless there is insult or dishonour, or unless an oath has been broken, because an oath-breaker is shark or shark-food.¡±


    ¡°Truly a proud heritage.¡± Sue agreed.


    ¡°But what of Lamura''s dream?¡± his mother asked ¡°Did he make aeroplanes?¡±


    ¡°Make them? My father designs them. He is one of only a few chief design engineer at one of our biggest aeroplane companies. When I was little he told me, he woke up in hospital, and did not know his name, or his parent''s names, but he knew this thing: he was going to go to university to become the best aeroplane designer he could, and that''s what he did.¡±


    ¡°And you are in your navy?¡±


    ¡°Yes. And my brother is a marine biologist. I''m sorry that he left before I found any of this out.¡±


    ¡°I don''t think we''re planning on going near any sharks.¡± Edwin said, ¡°So if God wills, there''s plenty of time for all your family to visit.¡±


    ¡°All your family, grandfather.¡± Sue said. After which it got a bit emotional.


    <hr>


    ¡°Sue?¡± Amos said, ¡°What exactly are the measurements you need to take for Edwin?¡±


    ¡°A creature and landscape survey. Every fifty nautical miles, a series of photos from the top of the water to the sea floor, then a stretch of sea-floor from about two metres above the bottom, for a hundred metres, zooming in on anything interesting.¡±


    ¡°That sounds long and boring.¡±


    ¡°Especially the five hours travel in between, yes.¡±


    ¡°I have a silly idea. Your submarine is designed to sit on the deck of a ship, yes?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°I''m being very selfish, but how about we see if my forcefield cargo thing can carry your sub, then I have the pleasure of your company for the journey time, and I maybe even get the added pleasure of teaching you to swim in scales, assuming we can make up some time. And I get to see where you park your submarine, and perhaps you''d be able to find me a wrist unit so I can talk to you.¡±


    ¡°I don''t have scales.¡± she pointed out.


    ¡°That can be solved, there''s a scale-maker''s shop just round this corner. What do you think of my idea?¡±


    ¡°I like it, as long as you don''t break my submarine. It''s not really mine, you know.¡±


    ¡°I know.¡±


    <hr>


    ¡°Amos Tuna-speed! Your scales didn''t tear when you were catching the fish, did they?¡± the lady asked.


    ¡°I thank you for the scales that helped me catch the tuna, they were excellently made and suffered no damage that I have seen. This is Suzanna bnt Lamura Susanna Edwin who left Atlantis to design aircraft. Suzanna grew up among the land-folk and does not yet have scales.¡±


    ¡°Ah! I always like to meet a new customer!¡±


    ¡°Unfortunately, she must leave quickly, for she is already later leaving than she should be. She only learned that she was mer at lunchtime.¡±


    ¡°Amos, do you think I can make scale for someone in a few minutes?¡±


    ¡°No, I think you can take measurements for proper scale now, which I can deliver to her later. But I wonder if you might have training-scale for her size?¡±


    ¡°Training-scale for an adult? No. But I do have tourist-scale.¡±


    ¡°What''s that?¡± Amos asked.


    ¡°Something we used to make for tourists, back when we were on land, out of the fabric we use for the waist of maternity scale. I''ve been making some to the old pattern. It''s stretchy, fast to make and to be honest, inferior. It needs a draw-string at the waist to stop it slipping off rather than having a proper fit, so I expect it''ll get uncomfortable after a while. It won''t fit as well as proper scale, or let you swim as quickly, but if you''re just learning then you won''t have the technique to be able to swim quickly anyway. And if you want it now it''s all I can do.¡±


    ¡°I didn''t hear you say cheap.¡± Amos said.


    ¡°Of course not; maternity scale material is harder to make. The cost is going to be the same as proper scale, a hundred Pearls.¡±


    ¡°So... where might I find Sue some training scale?¡±


    ¡°Nowhere, she''s an adult, we only make training scale for up to teens. And that costs the same, anyway. The only advantage of training scale is it''s pre-made and the kids change shape so quickly there''s no point doing made-to-measure.¡±


    ¡°Oh. So... how much discount will you give for the tourist scale and the proper scale and an endorsement of your scale from famous me?¡±


    ¡°And the proper scale can take a week?¡±


    ¡°I''ve got leave coming up in three weeks.¡± Sue said.


    ¡°Oh all right, you''ve just got yourself a twenty-five Pearl discount.¡±


    ¡°What is a Pearl in terms of something I recognise?¡± Sue asked.


    ¡°A gram of gold.¡± the shop keeper said.


    ¡°It''s not as rare among us as it is for you, plus we mustn''t trade in gold now, either.¡± Amos explained to Sue, as she almost bolted at the thought of what buying a hundred and seventy grammes of gold was going to do to her bank account. To the shop-keeper he said, ¡°Now... I''m accompanying Sue back to land, which given her sub is land-folk made is going to take until Monday. What would you say to me bringing back some land-folk produce? Fruit, maybe? Ham? A wrist unit? Bearing in mind that they don''t make them waterproof yet.¡±


    ¡°Oooh tempting... what would you say to a kilo of ham, five kilos of fresh fruit and a wrist unit?¡±


    Sue looked at her in compounded shock. How could that... grocery list be worth that much gold?


    [You''re going to need to buy them. Is it too much? I can give you some diamonds to compensate for what you''re going to need to buy if that''d help.]


    [Some diamonds?]


    [I''ve got a few cut ones, Sarah''s father was a jeweler and she said they might be worth quite a lot.]


    [I expect so... You''re seriously going to need to work out your exchange rates.]


    ¡°Is it too much? It was just an opening bid. Three kilos of fruit?¡± the shop-keeper suggested.


    ¡°Sorry, were just discussing the relative values of things.¡± Amos said.


    ¡°I urm, accept your opening bid.¡± Sue said.


    ¡°Do you know how many Pearls a kilo of ham is worth?¡± Amos asked.


    ¡°No, but that''s today, and you''re only delivering on Monday. Things might have changed.¡±


    <hr>


    </a>Tuesday, 25th July, 2277, Lunchtime.


    Sue walked into the Jeweler''s shop. She''d walked past it many times in the past, and winced at the prices in the window. ¡°Your sign says you buy jewelery, does that include top quality work?¡±


    ¡°Yes, miss, all sizes, all qualities. We''d pass lesser items on to wholesalers, of course.¡± the man behind the counter was nearing retirement and sounded a little bored, as though it was a normal question.


    ¡°You have heard of Atlantis, and the mer-people, and of their work?¡±


    He nodded, becoming alert.


    ¡°I am a Naval officer, and was by chance there on Friday. I helped set up a receiver so that her majesty Queen Karella could witness the manner in which the press released the news. There isn''t much to see, since that had to happen on the surface, but here is a photograph of that event, and my naval identity card. Here is another photograph, of myself in uniform and Queen Karella at a wedding I was invited to. I''m just showing you these so you know that I''m genuine. The man on the other side of me, the queen''s brother has some pieces he''d like to sell. I also have certificates of authenticity issued by their new embassy.¡±


    ¡°I am certainly interested in purchasing, or if there are too many items, for my finances, perhaps a sale on commission arrangement could be reached?¡±


    Sue smiled, ¡°Perhaps later on, he will have a passport and be able to deal with you directly. I''m afraid I''m on my lunch break at the moment, with only limited time.¡±


    ¡°I understand, Maam. Could I see the pieces?¡±


    ¡°Certainly.¡±

 The Other Big Secret 3: Safely out at sea / Ch. 8: Decisions

    <h2>The Other Big Secret 3: Safely out at sea / Ch. 8: Decisions</h2>


    </a>Tuesday, 25th July, 2277, 6pm.


    ¡°Hi, Sue.¡± Amos said. ¡°How did it go?¡±


    ¡°The jeweller apologised profusely, but said he couldn''t in all honesty accept any of the pieces.¡±


    ¡°Not good enough?¡± Amos was surprised.


    ¡°No. Too good. He didn''t think he''d be able to sell them at a fair price. He says he sells to the rich-tourist trade, mostly, and while they''re willing to splurge on something, the price tag he feels he ought to put on it was outside that range. That''s based on his earlier life as a diamond assessor, so I''m guessing that he''s right about that.¡±


    ¡°Oh.¡±


    ¡°He did allow me to persuade him to let him put the smallest one in his shop window, complete with its certificate of authenticity. If he sells it then he gets twenty five percent of the value. If it''s stolen his insurance pays. All legally stamped, verified, etc.¡±


    ¡°Urm... how much was he thinking they were worth?¡±


    ¡°Well, putting it in Atlantis terms, he guessed a kilo of gold.¡±


    ¡°You''re joking!¡±


    ¡°Putting it in my terms, two or three years of my income.¡±


    ¡°Wow.¡±


    ¡°At least. Each.¡±


    ¡°I won''t feel guilty about accepting that kilo of ham then.¡±


    ¡°Good. So, how is the market for ham?¡±


    ¡°Dropping, like you predicted. According to people that know, the scales-maker only made a two hundred percent profit compared to what she was originally asking. And that was just the ham, after she''d tasted some with her family.¡±


    ¡°So... there''s a growing trade in ham and the like?¡±


    ¡°Still no passports, but I need to spread the word about diamonds being worth far more than people think.¡±


    ¡°Yes. Otherwise, how is my favourite forcefield designer? You''ve been talking to dad, I hear. Mum''s just rung.¡±


    ¡°It''s all your fault.¡±


    ¡°You''re going to make a plane?¡±


    ¡°Not to start with. For some reason we don''t mind a kilometre of water above us, but the thought of lots of air underneath us makes most of us scared.¡±


    ¡°Then what?¡±


    ¡°Ever hear about ground effect vehicles?¡±


    ¡°Cunning. With propellers, I presume?¡±


    ¡°Probably. Though I''d like to bet we''ve got some other options in the archive. Your dad''ll be doing the hard work of designing the thing, I''ll just play around with some force fields to get them the right shape.¡±


    ¡°I think he looks on things the other way round, so you''re probably a good team.¡±


    ¡°I agree. And his company are happy for him to work on side projects as a consultant, so we just need to get me a passport and then I can sign lots of paperwork.¡±


    ¡°You''re going to pay him in diamonds, aren''t you?¡±


    ¡°How did you guess?¡±


    ¡°Because you''re not allowed to... oh... you could offer him enough Pearls to buy a sub, couldn''t you?¡±


    ¡°Not personally, no.¡±


    ¡°And this is a personal project?¡±


    ¡°So far.¡±


    ¡°But... dad knows how easily you can get diamonds.¡±


    ¡°I know. He knows I know, too. It''s not about the diamonds though, is it?¡±


    ¡°His dream?¡±


    ¡°You''ve heard about that too, then?¡±


    ¡°Oh yes. Last night, he had the idea of putting wings on a submarine, and flying to space.¡±


    ¡°It could work.¡±


    ¡°Oh yeah.¡±


    ¡°No, I mean it could, actually, genuinely work. It''s a variation on an old dream, actually. Escape from land-folk by going into space. The biggest problem has always been a self-sufficient food supply or resupply missions. The second is how to take an ocean.¡±


    ¡°And the third?¡±


    ¡°Why bother when there''s everything we need in the oceans, and how do you goof off in space?¡±


    ¡°You''d never store enough energy to launch a submarine!¡±


    ¡°Oh, that one we solved hundreds of years ago. The antimatter devices. They were this great idea for lift-off batteries for a space-sub. The plan was to ionize the air and accelerate it using the submarine''s drive. I''m not sure how feasible that actually was, but I guess if a jet engine can work then why not? But then the land-folk started their cold war and the council decided it wasn''t a good idea to start a nuclear war by a experimenting with a plasma jet powerful enough to lift a sub. But your dad''s idea of using shaped forcefield wings? That ought to make the whole thing far more feasible.¡±


    ¡°You are teasing me, aren''t you?¡± Sue asked.


    ¡°No. But I think we''ll stick with ground effect for now. Like I said, most Mer are scared of heights.¡±


    ¡°I''ll tell you something, Amos. You''re certainly not boring to be around!¡±


    ¡°Sorry.¡± Amos said, realising that maybe he''d scared her off with his crazy ideas.


    ¡°Not the right response.¡± Sue said, confused, wondering why he was apologising for being impressive.


    ¡°Pardon?¡±


    ¡°You saying sorry, it wasn''t the right response. Surely?¡±


    ¡°Oh. What should I say? I don''t want to scare you.¡±


    ¡°You''re not scaring me, Amos, you''re impressing me. I''m not afraid of heights. And I grew up with dad''s ideas, remember?¡±


    ¡°Yeah. That''s encouraging.¡±


    ¡°Encouraging?¡±


    ¡°That I''m not going to scare you away with wild ideas.¡±


    ¡°Boring or unreliable are far more likely to scare me away, Amos.¡±


    ¡°I''ll try and remember that.¡±


    ¡°Good. What might scare you away?¡±


    ¡°I don''t know. But there is something I want to ask.¡±


    ¡°Yes?¡±


    ¡°Your service oath. Is there a time limit on it?¡±


    ¡°Sort of.¡±


    ¡°Could you explain?¡±


    ¡°Part of it says ''As long as I serve...'', but there''s bits before it too, about protecting my country against aggression, and such like. Those don''t expire.¡±


    ¡°Oh. And the bit that does expire?¡±


    ¡°I''ve got another eighteen months. But.. I''ve also been asked to consider something, and if I accepted then it''d be at least another five years.¡±


    ¡°Gulp.¡±


    ¡°So, yeah. Difficult question. Your prayers very much appreciated.¡±


    ¡°Of course. But, Sue, that sounds like a long time to wait.¡± Amos said.


    ¡°To wait? What for?¡±


    ¡°I''m sorry, I''m jumping to lots of conclusions, forget I said it.¡±


    ¡°I''m going to jump to conclusions about what conclusions you were jumping to, if you don''t tell me.¡±


    ¡°Urm. What sort of conclusions?¡±


    ¡°I''m jumping to the conclusion that by talking about waiting, you are thinking about our relationship might have a future, but that you''d want me out of the navy, if we are ever to ever make any oaths of our own. I guess I can understand that because there''s a lot of commitment involved. I''m guessing that your bit about it being a long time means that if I sign on for another five years you''d think that I was saying I didn''t think we really had a future together and you''d be looking for another girlfriend and it''d be ''let''s just stay friends.''¡±


    ¡°Oh. I guess I''d better tell you what I was assuming... I am assuming that our relationship probably has a future, that it''s not just chance that let us meet, but God, and that wasn''t just to introduce you to your heritage, or to fulfil your dad''s dream. But... that''s a lot of guessing. I was assuming that we couldn''t take vows of our own while you were in the navy, but from what you''ve said it sounds like it''s not the case.¡±


    ¡°Good job we talked about it, then.¡± Sue said.


    ¡°Do you think we''ve got a future together?¡± Amos asked.


    ¡°I want us to, but I''m sure that decision''s at least a year away. What about you?¡±


    ¡°Ditto.¡±


    ¡°But... if I sign on for longer and we end up breaking up, that''s going to be difficult, I expect. And if I don''t sign up, and the reassignment I requested comes through, then that''s really going to split us up. Physically I mean, because I requested that I be assigned a warship ¡ª any warship ¡ª instead of a little submarine a midshipman could learn how to pilot.¡±


    Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.


    ¡°Oh. What''s the longer assignment? Or is it secret?¡±


    ¡°Sort of secret.¡±


    ¡°Oh. Sue... just so you know... urm...¡±


    ¡°Yes?¡±


    ¡°Since I was, urm, seventeen, girls, women have found out who my sister was, or heard me speak about my work, and run away. One even did so literally. You''re the first who hasn''t, the prettiest, and the cleverest.¡±


    ¡°And you''re not intimidated by my rank, or a total sleaze-ball.¡±


    ¡°What''s one of those?¡±


    ¡°Hmm... slimy kind of shark. Or maybe a jellyfish with entirely too much backbone.¡±


    ¡°Oh. Right.¡±


    ¡°And you keep on impressing me. And do you realise how unusual that is?¡±


    ¡°Given your dad''s accomplishments, I can make some guesses.¡±


    ¡°So, I want us to succeed, I want us to get past the ''wow she''s pretty and not intimidated''/''what a good swimmer he must be'' phase, and work out if we''ve actually got anything to base a lifetime''s relationship on, other than hormones and being each other''s ideal match.¡± Sue summarised, then added ¡°I didn''t say that last bit by the way, that was just your imagination.¡±


    ¡°I must have a good imagination.¡± Amos said ¡°But I do tend to agree.¡±


    ¡°Amos, why did girls run away when they learned who Karella was?¡±


    ¡°Oh, she has a bit of a reputation.¡±


    ¡°As what?¡±


    ¡°Sometimes she''s been known to say things like ''Ryllis, why are you still walking together with Zana? You both know it''s not going anywhere.'' or asking couples who are only a month or two into walking together ''What are you two waiting for? Temptation to get too strong?''¡±


    ¡°Oh. Unasked for relationship guidance?¡±


    ¡°I think it''s actually asked for, but she won''t say.¡±


    ¡°I guess I can see how that might be scary, though.¡±


    ¡°Are you scared, now you know?¡±


    ¡°No. Actually, I wonder if you could ask her to talk to me sometime.¡±


    ¡°Sue, we hardly know each other.¡±


    ¡°I know. But I''ve been told I''m going to train a midshipman ¡ª that''s a very junior officer ¡ª to drive my sub. So, it might be that I''ve got about three days to decide if we don''t see each other for a year and a half or can hardly avoid bumping into each other for the next five, no matter how well we''re getting on or not and irrespective of how your cooperation goes with Dad.¡±


    ¡°Oh.¡± Amos said ¡°Right now I''d prefer the second.¡±


    ¡°Me too.¡± Sue said. ¡°I''m just wondering what your sister would say.¡±


    <hr>


    </a>Tuesday, 25th July, 2277, 6.30pm.


    ¡°Karella, we need more export controls, or education or something. People are feeding their pearls to sharks.¡± Amos told his sister.


    ¡°This ham trade?¡±


    ¡°It''s related, yes. I asked Sue to sell some diamonds for me. Cut ones that Ryllis did when he was trying to train me, remember? I thought it''d pay her back for the wrist units. She told me they were worth more than that.¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°The jeweler guessed three years of Sue''s salary, each. And she''s got a good salary. Or alternatively a kilogram of land-folk gold. A wrist unit is roughly a day''s income.¡±


    ¡°And people are swapping them amongst themselves for bits of ham?¡±


    ¡°Yes, which is bad enough. But where is the ham coming from? There''s got to be someone smuggling them. Quite possibly for gems. It''s going to be pearls all over again, only worse, and faster.¡±


    ¡°I have a request from the DeBeers mining corporation, who Sarah tells me used to be the monopoly supplier of diamonds, that they be allowed to set up a trading post here. Sarah said that when they were the monopoly they were accused of various abusive deals, but now they''re `more honourable'' how''s that for faint praise. But I expect they''ll be better than smugglers. I also have a stack of similar requests from food sellers, asking the same thing.¡±


    ¡°How would they deliver the produce to Atlantis?¡±


    ¡°The sensible ones ask about that. Others are suggesting things like a floating ''out of town'' shopping area. Can you imagine the traffic nightmare if everyone was trying to leave the city to go shopping every day as well as collecting their own lunch? Double the traffic overnight?¡±


    ¡°What''s worse than a nightmare?¡± Amos asked ¡°Chaos?¡±


    ¡°Apocalypse?¡±


    ¡°Hopefully not that bad. So, we extend Atlantis, your majesty?¡±


    ¡°I think so. Quickly, brother mine. Very quickly. I think we''ll need another dome, like you suggested once.¡±


    ¡°Forcefields, or crystal?¡±


    ¡°First one then the other?¡± Karella asked. ¡°Put your guild onto it please.¡±


    ¡°Will do. As for transport, there''s the food-collector''s boat, but that''s busy most of the time. Oh, what about that ancient fifty-seat monster that never seems to be used? That could do some delivery runs, surely?¡± Amos suggested.


    ¡°Probably. But the owner''s been asking about how much to charge tourists.¡±


    ¡°OK. Urm, one of the lads had some ideas for a forcefield-operated lift, that might be good for deliveries. I''ll talk to them.¡±


    ¡°That sounds an excellent solution if it works! While you''re sitting down with the architects to design the dome, plan on putting some accommodation in for tourists too.¡±


    ¡°We''ll brainstorm first thing and have some sketches on your desk by lunchtime. So, the plan is that by the time we''ve built something, everyone gets an I.D chip, and we all swap a diamond or two for some land-folk money, then we can all get fat on ham and apples and the rest?¡±


    ¡°Yes. And you put your personal projects on hold and concentrate on this.¡±


    ¡°Speaking of personal projects. Sue wants to think to you. She''s got a big decision to make, fairly quickly.¡±


    ¡°That was fast work, Amos!¡± Karella teased.


    ¡°Karella! No, I haven''t asked her to marry me. But she''s got to decide if she takes some new assignment or not. By the sound of it, it would mean she comes here quite a lot for the next five years, and the alternative is she might be on a warship for eighteen months.¡±


    ¡°Why does she want to talk to me about it?¡±


    ¡°I explained why some girls I was interested in got scared away by my big sister''s reputation.¡±


    ¡°They were just after your muscles anyway, Amos. You were only seventeen and they weren''t good matches.¡±


    ¡°You did it deliberately, you mean? It wasn''t just your reputation?¡±


    ¡°Sorry Amos, I thought you knew. Tyra wasn''t a real Christian at the time, and Japathe is a fourth cousin.¡±


    ¡°She is? I didn''t know that.¡±


    ¡°I didn''t actually warn them off, but I did turn up, didn''t I?¡±


    ¡°I noticed that. All disapprovingly, too.¡±


    ¡°But I''ve got nothing against Sue, and I am fully planning on letting you and her work everything out yourselves.¡±


    ¡°She might not want to hear that.¡±


    ¡°I''ll talk to her. No promises that I''ll do more than talk.¡±


    ¡°That might be all she needs. I''ll go and knock on some doors.¡±


    <hr>


    </a>Tuesday, 25th July, 2277, 7pm.


    [Hi Sue! Convenient time?] Karella asked.


    [Yes. Thank you for calling. Did Amos tell you what''s come up?]


    [A bit, he said you''d like to chat. Mostly we were talking about how to make space for all the people who want to set up businesses on, near or above Atlantis. We really don''t want everyone using their submarines to visit some floating market place like some companies are suggesting.]


    [Oh. Do you have some way to contact Sarah Williams?] Sue asked.


    [Yes, why?]


    [She''s got companies that do commercial leasing type stuff. If you''re in contact, I''m sure you could pick her brains about what companies might expect to invest in the whole planning, and building phases, as well as taxes, land rental, water, heat, power.... Come to think of it... she might be happy to trade some of your diamonds as well.]


    [I did ask her to get some opinions on some. I''ll have to check if she''s managed it yet. But you think we should charge companies to come and offer our people work. That seems to be what they''re highlighting.]


    [Of course charge them! And to use your port facility and then there''s customs duty and tax on profits. I personally wouldn''t expect many of your people to work for any of those food-suppliers. The pay is not good.]


    [We really need a way of knowing how much your money is worth.]


    [Yes. I''ve been thinking about that. You shouldn''t use gold, you certainly shouldn''t use diamonds, ham, and probably not fish either but that''s better.]


    [Fish? You''d trade for fish?]


    [Of course. People have to go and get it, putting their lives at risk in exceedingly unpleasant weather.]


    [Sorry, it''s a strange concept.]


    [OK, let''s not use fish either then. Vegetables?]


    [Yes, we''d trade them. Farming is hard work.]


    [OK, Karella, if I went to buy food for myself, that''d cost me about forty per week. That''s meat, fruit, vegetables, buying what I feel like at the time, and most of the food for cooking from scratch. Students would get by on more like twenty, buying what the shop has cheap that week, and not getting any luxuries more than maybe a bar of chocolate.]


    [Prices change by that much?]


    [Not normally, but the shops do vary their prices. Mostly it''s the luxury items. Ham is not a luxury item, Salmon, however, would be.]


    [OK. So, food for a week living extravagantly, forty, frugally twenty.]


    [Not extravagantly. If I was living extravagantly I could go to a restaurant and eat little dainty dishes someone''s laboured over all day, for a hundred a meal.]


    [And you could afford that?]


    [Not very often. So that''s one way of comparing. I''m guessing your farming involves more hard work than ours. You probably need an economist.]


    [Ha! Sarah tried talking to one on my behalf, on Friday. The man got in a total strop and said that our economy was a total disaster, and if it wasn''t a complete work of fiction there was no way it would be stable more than three months.]


    [Did Sarah forget to tell him something?]


    [Yes, that we''ve not had a total collapse in our economy since we finished building Atlantis.]


    [{laugh}]


    [But anyway, none of this is much to do with your problem. Amos said something about you coming and going to and from Atlantis a lot for the next five years if you choose one option, and vanishing for eighteen months if not?]


    [Oh, that would be an even worse decision wouldn''t it? No. Urm don''t tell him this.]


    [No problem. Or is there one?]


    [Just... if I told him the whole truth, then I think I''d be hit with a lot of enthusiasm from him for the new role, but, I''m really not sure it''s me.]


    [So, what is it?]


    [Naval attach¨¦ to their majesty''s ambassador.]


    [You wouldn''t be coming and going?]


    [No, I''d be poking my nose in to all sorts of things, and saying have you thought of that? Can I take a picture of this? What does that button do? And so on, but in general, trying to help my navy understand mer concerns, and vice versa. While, of course, being a polite official spy. But fundamentally, I''d be based there.]


    [Yes. I must say when I heard about the spying bit of the job, I wasn''t too keen, but I understand that a certain amount of information passing between friendly but different countries is a good idea.]


    [Yes. Like I said, an attach¨¦ is a polite spy. If any attach¨¦ sticks their nose where they''re not invited, you can kick them out. You can probably execute them too, but that''s not considered a very nice thing to do.]


    [So, plus points?]


    [I''d be there. A permanent fixture in Atlantis. If all goes well between us then us marrying in a couple of years would not be a problem as our countries are going to be allies before then, we hope. No travel, no separation for eighteen months when the transfer I requested gets processed. Negative points, if it all ends badly then I''d be there, in a job I don''t think I''m suited for, thinking that if only I hadn''t run there after Amos then maybe I''d have had command of a warship like I''ve been dreaming of for all my adult life. That... that could be really painful. Even if Amos and I aren''t at the point of screaming at each other, then I can see that being a poisonous thought.]


    [How likely is the warship?] Karella asked.


    [I don''t know. I applied six months ago, re-applied three months ago. Yesterday I got told I needed to train someone to drive quote ''a submarine like the one you drive'' As far as I know, my submarine is unique, and there are several other people who qualified at the same time I did, and others who were being trained after me. So I started thinking, ''Oh wow, maybe I''m getting my chance at commanding a warship. What horrible timing.'' Today, I got presented with the question of reassignment as attach¨¦.]


    [And there''s no one you can ask?]


    [My commanding officer just said that he''d sent my report up the chain on Friday, and these orders came down yesterday and then the option today.]


    [So it could be that they decided you''d been doing attach¨¦ style work while you were here, were ideally suited for the job, and have given it to you.]


    [I.... I have?]


    [Haven''t you? You''ve been finding out things, formatting them in a way that makes them understandable. Amos told me about your report. Clearly argued why, on one hand why we''d be a terrible enemy to have, and equally why we weren''t a threat. I really love the way you''ve identified goofing off as a key part of our culture.]


    [Sorry, I didn''t want to insult you.]


    [You haven''t. You''re right too. That''s the worst thing about our hiding. We haven''t been able to goof off enough. We''re getting serious. And a serious mer is dangerous. Amos told me you''ve got outer mer blood. That is what can happen when mer get serious and don''t have vows to contain them.]


    [That was thousands and thousands of years ago.] Sue objected.


    [Yes. But I''m not convinced we''ve really changed that much. Not really. We''ve learned some new tricks, but we still keep our oaths, we still keep our knives sharp. By the way, did you tell your superior officer about Amos, and about being half-Mer?]


    [I did.]


    [When?]


    [As part of a cover note attached to the report.]


    [So, he might have forwarded that information up through channels too?]


    [Urm. I guess so. I hadn''t thought of that.]


    [Next question. Who would be involved in the decision to assign an attach¨¦ to a new-found ally with a different culture, hair-trigger reflexes and sharp knives?]


    [Urm, I hadn''t thought of that. If I had to guess, I''d say that it might even be the king.]


    [Two last questions: your oath. Is it to protect, or to fight? And how can you protect the highest number of your colleagues?]


    [Your majesty, thank you. You are a wise woman. I will keep my oath and seek to prevent trouble between our peoples.]


    [Your peoples, Sue. For you are of both of us. I can think of no one who will work harder to stop misunderstandings than one who loves both.]


    <hr>


    </a>Azores base, 8am, Wednesday, 26th July, 2277.


    Sue nodded to the secretary who guarded the door to the base commandant. He indicated a seat to wait and alerted the commandant to her presence.


    The commandant didn''t take long to respond. ¡°Yes, commander?¡±


    ¡°Sir, regarding the reassignment and extension of service I was offered yesterday.¡±


    ¡°You''re turning it down?¡±


    ¡°No, sir. You know that I''ve always hoped to have my own command, and I admit to having some misgivings about the implications of the assignment on my personal life, but my oath of service says nothing about fulfilling my dreams. I do not believe that my superiors would offer me this challenging post if they didn''t think I could fulfill it, and I certainly recognise the importance of preventing misunderstandings between our nation and that of the mer-folk. I am honoured to accept.¡±


    ¡°Well done, commander. Very well done indeed.¡±

 The Other Big Secret 3: Safely out at sea / Ch. 9: Learning new tricks

    <h2>The Other Big Secret 3: Safely out at sea / Ch. 9:Learning new tricks</h2>


    </a>Azores base, 9am, Thursday, 26th July, 2277.


    The base commandant addressed Sue, ¡°Commander Reynolds, this is midshipman Robert Wiseman. He has read your report concerning the Mer people and culture. He considers himself an expert in unarmed combat, and has admitted to me that he finds the line in your report regarding expecting to lose in a fight very hard to believe. Probably because he doesn''t remember ever being humiliated in the training arena.¡±


    Sue understood; the commandant was leaving her the option of taking this proud young officer down a peg or two.


    ¡°As you may be aware, RV7403, was lost at sea due to operator error, fortunately without loss of anything else beyond the idiot''s commission. It has been agreed that it will be recovered by our Mer almost-allies as a gesture of good will, and once it''s been repaired, it is highly likely that midshipman Wiseman is going to be given its helm. It is expected that he will be in regular contact with merfolk as he carries out his duties. You will be his trainer for the next month, both in operating the submarine and in any areas of mer culture you feel are necessary to avoid him starting a war. Your assessment as to whether he is likely to embarrass his Majesty''s navy in any way will of course be taken very seriously.¡±


    ¡°Very well, sir. Would you feel it would be conducive to his training if I were to humiliate him in the training arena, sir?¡±


    ¡°I am sure that it would wipe the silly grin off his face, commander.


    I just hope that you will succeed. He is still at his youthful invincible stage, and I heard you were unwell on your leave day yesterday.¡±


    ¡°I feel perfectly recovered, sir. It was almost certainly some unusual seafood I tried.¡± Amos had brought her some potion.


    ¡°Well anyway, perhaps you should make sure you''re up to it. Warm up with thirty or forty lengths of the pool?¡± the commandant asked. The midshipman blanched slightly at the idea of a sparing match after that much swimming.


    ¡°Demonstrating the effective use of the equipment I have available, sir?¡±


    ¡°Absolutely, commander. First, however, midshipman Wiseman might like to see how he does against you without any equipment, say, in a simple five length underwater race.¡±


    ¡°Sir, too much humiliation in one day can''t be good for him.¡± Sue protested with a vicious grin.


    ¡°Nonsense!¡± the commandant said ¡°Let him know you can beat him on land, in water and under the water, commander. Midshipman, the rules are simple: anytime you come up for a breath, you do so treading water. Commander, do you have any objection to the whole of this little contest being a demonstration for the rest of us?¡±


    ¡°No, sir. But I feel that perhaps some more company in the pool might be appropriate. Just so that we can see how the midshipman does compared to others on the base. I''m quite sure I''ll win, of course.¡±


    ¡°Permission to ask a question, sir?¡± Robert asked.


    ¡°Go ahead. You can even claim jetlag if you like.¡± the commandant replied.


    ¡°The equipment referred to, are we talking about some kind of scooter?¡±


    Robert asked.


    ¡°Not at all.¡± Sue replied, ¡°But while I was in Atlantis I acquired a set of what they call scales, the fish-like tail the mer use. They will be selling the type I got to tourists eventually, once they''ve worked out the currency conversion. I ended up bartering, which was rather an interesting experience. I''ve also got a proper, made-to-measure set on order, which is supposed to be significantly better once you''ve had some practice. Now, I''d like to point out that I''ve only been practicing in the scales for a few days, and someone from Atlantis was quite literally swimming circles round me yesterday. Feel free to wear flippers.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, maam.¡± Robert replied, feeling a little relieved. Forty lengths in flippers was a lot easier.


    ¡°Just remember the forty lengths aren''t a race. You won''t be able to keep up with me anyway.¡±


    <hr>


    ¡°How did you do that, Maam?¡± Robert asked, after the underwater race. By the end, he''d been stopping three times every two lengths. He''d realised that the commander had only stopped once every two lengths; Sue hadn''t wanted to show off, and she''d beaten him comfortably.


    ¡°I''ve always been good at underwater swimming. I discovered on Friday that my father is mer.¡± Sue said. ¡°I''m not the practiced apex predator that people raised mer are and I''m not accustomed to goofing off, but I am genetically mer.¡±


    ¡°Oh. I''ve just been challenged by a mer-woman to a swimming contest.¡± Robert said.


    ¡°No no no, this is just going to be the gentle warm up. You''ve been challenged by a mermaid to unarmed combat. Get your facts right.¡± Sue said, tying on her scales over her swimming costume and slipping into the water.


    ¡°Did I have the option of refusing?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Midshipman, you cast doubt on the veracity of the report of a superior officer.¡± the commandant said. ¡°At no point have you attempted to apologise.


    If there is justice in this world then you will be entirely trounced.¡±


    ¡°Maam, I meant no insult.¡± he said.


    ¡°But you still don''t believe what I wrote.¡± Sue said. A few strong beats of her tail later she was turning at the other end of the pool. ¡°Hurry up, midshipman. I''ve done one length already.¡± Idly she glided back to the other end of the pool where he was still putting on his flippers. The pool was too short, really, and too confining, but it was swimming. She''s always enjoyed a good swim, now she knew why. She ignored the midshipman who was thrashing along in his lane making a lot of noise, and started to concentrate on her swimming technique and her flip-turns. It was easier to do that all underwater, so she swam to and fro until she felt the need to breathe. Surfacing she realised she''d lost count of how many lengths she''d done. Her flatmate Tina had been in the lane beside her during the underwater race, and she on the edge of the water now. ¡°Tina ¡°, Sue called, breathing deeply, ¡°any idea how many lengths that was?¡±


    ¡°About thirty. And ten minutes.¡±


    ¡°That explains why I felt like coming up for air might be a good idea.¡± Sue said, taking another deep breath as she overtook the concentrating midshipman, and turned again.


    ¡°Commander, you''ve done thirty two lengths, midshipman Wiseman has done fifteen.¡± The commandant offered.


    ¡°Thank you, sir. I expect he''s pushing himself too hard.¡±


    ¡°Yours was an impressive display of speed, commander.¡± he added.


    ¡°Sir, I was concentrating on my technique and turns, not on speed.¡± She found she wasn''t out of breath at all.


    ¡°Then, by all means, give us a few fast lengths, if you don''t mind.¡±


    ¡°Not at all, sir.¡± Sue agreed. She finished the length she was doing on the surface, trying to make sure that she''d re-oxygenated her blood and muscles. Then, she flipped and swam fast. The pool was definitely too short, she decided, breaking the surface at the other end, to gasps of amazement. Taking a breath she swam to the other end as fast as she could, but made a messy turn and accidentally splashed the people crowding at the end of her lane, and went back and forward again. ¡°Sorry about that last turn this end.¡± she said to her splashed colleagues. Turning to the commander she said, ¡°The pool''s too short to for me to go any faster, sir.¡±


    ¡°Do you have any idea what the top speed of a mer is?¡± the commandant asked.


    ¡°Amos sprinted down a fifty kilo tuna, sir.¡± Sue said between breaths ¡°He says he surprised it, but it still earned him lots of bragging rights and the nick-name ''Tuna-speed'', so I''m assuming that even the mer found that impressive. I''m afraid I''ve no idea how fast a surprised tuna is. It was certainly very tasty.¡±


    ¡°Enjoy your swim, commander.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, sir.¡± Sue said, and did another twenty technique lengths before coming up for air beside the midshipman. ¡°I''ve done something like fifty-five lengths, midshipman, I''m happy to carry on, but feel free to declare the warm-up over.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, commander.¡± he replied obviously tired and breathing raggedly. ¡°I give up, you can clearly beat me in the water.¡±


    ¡°That was never in doubt, midshipman.¡± the commandant chipped in. ¡°Prepare to be beaten on land too. Do try not to incapacitate him too badly, Commander.¡±


    ¡°I''ll allow him to admit defeat anytime he likes, commandant.¡±


    As she walked to the sparring area, she heard Robert decide that she must be a thought-hearer. She was probably six metres away.


    ¡°That took you a long time to work out, midshipman.¡± she said, over her shoulder. ¡°If you''ve been paying attention, you will also note that I have a range that corresponds to my genetics. I also point out to you that what you now know is not public knowledge.¡± But she had told Edwin over the weekend, finally.


    ¡°Might I ask what ranking you hold in unarmed combat, maam?¡± he asked, almost catching up.


    ¡°Formally, I am black belt, fourth dan.¡±


    ¡°I am eighth, maam. Expect to be beaten.¡± he said entirely too smugly.


    She turned to face him. ¡°As all thought-hearers who compete, I only complete for belts with my thoughts hidden. Else there is no contest, no honour.


    "You did not listen when I told you twice of the time in the pool as a gentle warm up, and from your foolish pride you sought to race, when there was no race. You have tired yourself out needlessly, even knowing you would face one who all expect to trounce you. Now, you will fight without the control you might have had when fresh, your reactions will be slowed, your thoughts and decisions will betray your plans, and yet you still act with the arrogance of someone proud of his three dan stripes on his belt, towards an eighth dan master who wears a plain black belt.


    "You have come to be educated, there is no dishonour for me to educate the student who speaks proudly of things he does not understand.¡±


    Reprimanded, he remained silent.


    He was good, Sue noticed, even when tired. But since he was broadcasting his every intention and she didn''t have her receiver turned off, it was simplicity itself to respond to his every attack, quite boring in fact.


    Robert Wiseman, on the other hand, was running out of ideas. Not one of his attacks landed as he intended, none of his follow-ons or feints worked. What was worse, to his mind, was the bored attitude with which she faced him. She was right: he''d tired himself out with the swimming, and he felt his muscles reacting slowly to her attacks. He was not defending at his best, but that was only half the point. His teacher was ninth dan, and Robert was able to land some attacks on him, and make him work at defending himself. Now, facing this woman, he was at a loss. Nothing connected! He tried a desperate move. If he connected properly it might disorientate her, but it was risky.


    ¡°Idiot!¡± she snapped, as he launched himself at her. Her instant reaction had been to step move away, but she altered it, accepting the blow and rolled with it to lessen its impact, allowing him to technically score a hit, and then she pinned him to the floor with ease. ¡°If I''d responded to that properly I might have put you in hospital. You knew you were beaten, but continued. Why?¡±


    ¡°Urm. Didn''t want to admit defeat, I guess. I''m not used to losing.¡±


    ¡°Exactly. That attitude among the mer is going to get you dead. We''ll spar daily until you do get used to losing. To make it interesting, sometimes I''ll fight you with my thoughts hidden, sometimes I''ll start that way and then start listening, and sometimes I''ll just trounce you. You will learn to realise when you''re against a superior opponent, and if you try anything suicidal again, I''m going to declare you unfit for contact with merfolk. Understand, sailor?¡±


    ¡°Yes, maam.¡±


    ¡°Good. And then you''re going to practice the same approach on others too.¡±


    ¡°Maam?¡± he asked, confused.


    ¡°I am not going to personally fight every person on this base. I will convince the commandant; if you are eighth dan, you must teach. In your teaching you must not destroy the lesser student, you must educate.¡±


    Sue heard him think that his teacher had said he must learn to teach too.


    ¡°I do not have the temperament to teach, commander,¡± he said. He liked winning too much.


    ¡°Then in my book you are not truly eighth dan, you are just an arrogant first or second dan who knows some moves, and until you learn to at least pretend to have the right temperament then that is what you will stay. All dan are teaching ranks. So. On your feet.¡±


    ¡°You still pin me, maam.¡±


    ¡°Yes. Get up.¡±


    He struggled. ¡°I cannot.¡±


    ¡°Then learn your first lesson. Did your mother teach you nothing?¡±


    He finally got the point. ¡°Please will you release me, maam?¡±


    ¡°Certainly.¡± she did so. ¡°What did you learn today?¡±


    ¡°I cannot beat someone with combat skill who is a thought hearer.¡±


    ¡°And?¡±


    ¡°I need to apologise.¡±


    ¡°And?¡±


    ¡°I cannot swim as well as you, nor can I cannot dive as well as you.¡±


    ¡°And I cannot swim, dive or knife-fight as well as my tuna-killing friend. And he, while he is fast, is not the best knife fighter amongst the mer. As I said in my report, the mer-men concentrate on hunting, the women on fighting. It is not just play, or sport to them, it is survival. So, if you get into a conflict with a mer-man or mer-woman with the attitude you fought me today, then you will probably die. And if you were on my crew, then what I would put in my report would be ''he failed to obey safety-related orders and died as a consequence.'' And I would apologise to the person who put you down like a mad dog for any insult, pain or discomfort. And that way, there might not be as much embarrassment to our government.¡±


    ¡°But... the value of human life!¡±


    ¡°Is high, yes. Would you run with a knife in your hand towards his majesty?¡±


    ¡°Of course not.¡±


    ¡°Or towards another head of state?¡±


    ¡°No.¡±


    ¡°Why not?¡±


    ¡°I''d probably be shot.¡±


    ¡°Because you''d be seen as a threat, or because of who you''d be seen as a threat to?¡±


    ¡°Probably the latter.¡±


    ¡°OK. Imagine yourself on the edge of a war-zone. You''re in a bar, there''s a bunch of soldiers of another nation, who have just returned from a battle where they''d seen their friends or family members killed. Human nature being what it is, right now they seem to want to be having a good time. Would you do anything that might seem like a threatening move towards one of them?¡±


    ¡°They''d rip me to shreds.¡±


    ¡°Exactly. Consider the mer to be in that state of mind, and tread carefully. They have lived with that level of stress for three thousand years, or more. They have feared being seen by us, to the extent that parents did not try to prevent ships from dropping depth charges on their children, but tried to hide instead. If you go in to that situation thinking it''s your natural right to land a blow every fight you get into, then you''re fish-food. Like I wrote, if you get hit or sliced open in a fight, then you apologise, because you caused it and at the moment you''re still breathing.¡±


    ¡°I understand.¡±


    ¡°Do you?¡±


    ¡°Yes, maam.¡±


    ¡°Good. Then let''s start again.¡±


    <hr>


    </a>5.30pm, Azores base.Thursday, 26th July, 2277.


    ¡°Congratulations on educating our young martial arts expert, commander.¡± the commandant said,


    ¡°Did you receive the wildly exaggerated version of the rumor, the mildly exaggerated version, or were you somehow one of the few who got a true and faithful account?¡±


    ¡°I probably spread a mildly exaggerated version, since I watched. Very well handled, commander. Your war-zone analogy is almost certainly something that ought to be spread. We''re all aware of what combat stress does to people.¡±


    ¡°The thing is, sir, I think it is a metaphor. What it seems to me that they''ve done is enshrined those reactions in their culture. A fourteen year old girl who''s lived in Atlantis will probably not have seen those things, but she will be quick with her knife. The response to drunken seduction, for example, that''s not a reaction to an immediate threat, but a dishonoured woman has every right to carve off the wedding tackle of the guy she went to bed with the night before, walk away with his wallet or marry him. I must admit, it''s effective.¡±


    ¡°Effective?¡±


    ¡°Zero rapes since the law was passed. Of course, the adult population is ninety five percent committed Christian. But statistically speaking, there ought to be a few guys who can''t restrain themselves.¡±


    ¡°But the women are all armed and the law says carve him up if you feel like it?¡±


    ¡°Exactly.¡±


    ¡°So how long do they spend sharpening those knives of theirs?¡±


    ¡°They don''t need to. You could cut steel with them and they''d still be as sharp. They use the same stuff to cut diamonds.¡±


    ¡°I hope they''re not planning to sell them to tourists then.¡±


    ¡°I think they''ve got good attitude there, sir. For their own safety, tourists are not going to be permitted to carry or buy anything that might even look like a weapon.¡±


    ¡°And embassy staff?¡±


    ¡°Tricky problem there, sir. I raised the issue with their queen. They don''t really mind protection officers carrying stunners if they have to, except that they make as much noise in the ultrasonics as a cannon. I know, sir, I had the misfortune to fire one, and had ringing in my ears for weeks. But firearms? Cracks on the inside of their dome really scare them. We''re far more likely to get permission to use a short-range version of their light-sabres than to take guns inside.¡±


    ¡°Light-sabres?¡±


    ¡°What they call a stone cutter. I saw one in operation and I thought, oh look, he''s got a light-sabre. Only it''s more useful, you don''t need to throw it at something a long way away, you just twist the knob and select ''yes I really know what I''m doing and I''m not inside a building.'' There''s five separate safety interlocks to get it onto that setting, which doesn''t surprise me at all, considering what it would do to Atlantis or the neighbours.¡±


    ¡°And you can see a glow?¡±


    ¡°Only when it''s cutting, and that might be plasma from the annihilated stone. There''s a laser spot or cross-hair so you can see what you''re going to slice, then you press the button and it does.


    "I don''t know how they get the depth control, or what it''s using for power, but I wouldn''t be at all surprised if it was ripping atoms out of the material, not melting it. There was no slag, no molten rock, not even any smell, just fine some dust.¡±


    ¡°So you think it''s an X-ray laser or something like that?¡±


    ¡°If you told me it was making an artificial black hole along the cutting blade I might believe you, except they call it a laser cutting device.¡±


    ¡°I was meaning to ask you, you wrote that you''ve got a carved stool?¡±


    ¡°Yes, sir. Amos was rather concerned it would fit into the submarine, so it''s not a large stool. I think It''d be better to call it a coffee table, actually. Would you like to see it?¡±


    ¡°Certainly.¡±


    ¡°Being a lump of rock it''s not exactly light, but I can bring it tomorrow. Or actually, would you and your wife like to come to dinner tonight? Amos has his nice shiny passport and is planning to bring some fresh fish along.¡±


    ¡°We wouldn''t want to intrude...¡±


    ¡°Sir, we''re not going to be gazing into each others eyes. I believe it may be useful for Amos if you were both present, actually.¡±


    ¡°Useful?¡±


    ¡°Amos and the other members of his guild of forcefield geeks have been given the challenge of building a trade-park that will become part of Atlantis; a second dome. Eventually the forcefields will be supplemented by the same harder-than-diamond crystal walls that the current dome is built with. The architects are doing their part, and the naval architects are moaning about what it''ll do to the hydrodynamics and the propulsion systems, and so on. But they don''t seem to have anyone who knows about logistics, sir, other than ''Oh, we could put in a forcefield lift''.¡±


    ¡°Trade for an entire city of half a million?¡±


    ¡°Yes, sir. Half a million people, most of whom thought, until yesterday morning that trading a two carat uncut diamond for a kilo of ham sounded like a good deal. I guess they thought it was like caviar or something. I''m sure they''ll go back to eating fish sometime, but right now they think croissants, meat and strawberry jam are the most wonderful things they''ve ever tasted. Oh and potatoes. I suggested that maybe a three metre by three metre cargo lift might not quite fit the bill.¡±


    ¡°They can actually start forcefields under water? I thought they needed to stay bone dry until they were operational.¡±


    ¡°They can do all sorts of impossible things with forcefields, sir. Electrical power is not an issue, and they''ve already put their construction subs to work cutting up rock to be the floor and counter-weight of the trade park.¡±


    ¡°So they need a cargo port, complete with a cargo distribution centre, transport...¡±


    ¡°And they''ve had enquiries from various cruise ship operators if there would be any chance of them offering cruises to Atlantis. And hotel chains too. They''re basically thinking that trying to accommodate all that in current Atlantis is going to be an utter disaster, so they''d like a connected trade-and-tourist city.¡±


    This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.


    ¡°It has to be connected?¡±


    ¡°Traffic is already bad. They don''t want everyone using their private submarines to go from one to the other. They''re also thinking long term though, the and tourist trade city will eventually be entirely self-sufficient, just in case the dome starts to crack and they need to evacuate old Atlantis.¡±


    ¡°So this trade city will be as big as the current one?¡±


    ¡°I''m not sure. I don''t know if they know that yet. Lots of ideas, no firm solutions.¡±


    ¡°They need an urban planner as well, don''t they.¡±


    ¡°Yes, sir. Am I right in thinking your wife is one?¡±


    ¡°That''s what she trained as, yes.¡±


    ¡°As I said, sir, it would be quite helpful if you could come and talk to Amos.¡±


    ¡°And not detrimental to your romance?¡±


    ¡°It has occurred to us both, sir, that if we get this part of joining our two cultures together done right, we might learn quiet a lot about each other in the process and give ourselves more time for romantic walks later on.¡±


    ¡°Not romantic swims?¡±


    ¡°Sounds idyllic, but there''s lots of songs about the happy couple going for a romantic swim in what ends up as a shark. Historical songs that is, sir, relating real events. The ideal merfolk honeymoon apparently involves a swim together, with both being very self controlled and alert, followed by finding pretty deserted island where they can relax together. Unfortunately, these days, you need to pay and check into a hotel on most such locations, because we''ve caught on.¡±


    ¡°Next question... what is the chance of us getting an invitation to Atlantis?¡±


    ¡°Quite high, sir. Quite high indeed. Your wife would of course need to see the current city, talk to architects and so on if she was to be a real help, and of course with your naval logistics background it would be really useful for them to listen to you. But since it''s been going South at about ten knots, I''m afraid Atlantis isn''t just an hour or two away now. So you''d probably need to arrange for leave, rather than go for the night like my brother did.¡±


    <hr>


    </a>Atlantis, 9AM Friday, 26th July, 2277.


    ¡°Karella,¡± Amos said ¡°Please allow me to bother you with revised, revised, revised sketches, care of Sue''s commandant and his wife.¡±


    ¡°What''s this thing that looks like a harbour?¡±


    ¡°It''s a self-propelled harbour, made out of lots more rock, iceberg-style for stability in bad weather. That tower thing is a cargo crane, and that connects to what we''re still calling the cargo elevator, which we scale up so it can take a couple of their shipping containers each trip, otherwise we''ll never be able to keep the stores full. The other side of the harbour is for cruise ships.¡±


    ¡°What are we going to do with shipping containers worth of stuff?¡±


    ¡°We''re going to eat it, Karella. If we''re going to get rid of the ham trade, then we''re going to have containers of food coming in until people decide it''s cheaper to go and find their own fish. We''re going to need a way to get data to the surface, so their suggestion is that we have a lot of fibre-optic cable down a supplementary shaft beside the lift shaft.¡±


    ¡°And yours, I presume, involves someone looking up the designs for the predecessor to the stonecutter?¡±


    ¡°Exactly. Why dangle bits of string which will need to be rolled up really carefully if Atlantis moves, when you can have a laser link?¡±


    ¡°But you will be dangling ''bits of string'' for the lift, I presume.¡±


    ¡°For the passenger lift, yes. But for the cargo, I''m actually thinking, why bother going to all the trouble of emptying a massive volume of water out of the shaft so you then have enormous problems stopping the container from dropping like a stone? Let''s just make the forcefield lift box like we''re planning to anyway add a slab of rock and an up/down drive to it. It can still go up and down a forcefield channel, but let''s let buoyancy do its thing.¡±


    ¡°And the drive would pump water from the channel to above and below the container?¡± Karella asked.


    ¡°Exactly. Ancestor Jacob would be proud of us, let''s have these lifts working as a hydraulic piston.¡±


    ¡°I don''t think ancestor Jacob knew much about magneto-hydrodynamics, but it certainly sounds a good idea. But why not do the same for the passengers? Isn''t the whole system much simpler?¡±


    ¡°We''d need some air tanks in case of a problem.¡±


    ¡°So?¡±


    ¡°And that''d probably need a lift operator.¡±


    ¡°It''d probably make the tourists feel happier, anyway.¡±


    ¡°And it''d block the views.¡±


    ¡°Why not just put the drive pipe up the middle?¡±


    ¡°Because I''m not a genius like my beloved monarch.¡±


    ¡°Go on, get on with it! Oh, how''s the rock base coming along?¡±


    ¡°Just about ready for some air injection to help it float, so ahead of schedule, actually. But Ella, I know you said personal projects on hold....¡±


    ¡°Yes?¡±


    ¡°Last night''s discussion with her commandant was a massive help, his wife is an urban planner. I''d love to invite them for the weekend, it''d be really helpful for the whole design team, but Atlantis is almost at full speed, and according to Christoph we will be by the end of the weekend. That means every day we''ll be getting an hour''s journey time further from Sue''s base.


    Either I don''t see her again until until she comes here, or we move back north again, or everyone wastes days travelling.... or, with your permission, I spend half a day, and follow her dad''s instructions and make my sub into a flying fish. And before you ask, the external fans I''ll need were already in the fabricator''s queue when you said no time on personal projects.¡±


    ¡°And a whole two weeks is too much time to be apart?¡±


    ¡°Urm. I suppose when you put it like that...¡± he shrugged.


    ¡°How fast does he think you be able to go?¡±


    ¡°Probably about three times faster, so by next week that''ll be three and a half hours travel time instead of more than ten. How long are we planning to stay there?¡±


    ¡°Staying time is undecided. Largely depends on any radiation levels, I expect. That''s going to be a fairly hair-raising three hours, isn''t it?¡±


    ¡°I''ve got the radar, remember?¡±


    ¡°Oh! I''d forgotten your sub was that old.¡± old submarines had been equipped with radar for use above water. Amos''s sub was thus an ideal machine to convert, assuming that the forces didn''t destroy it. ¡°You''re certain that you''re not going to destroy your submarine? I''m fairly certain that Sue would be almost as upset with you about that as I would. Assuming you survive.¡±


    ¡°I''m reliably informed that it should be able to cope. It was designed for surface use, after all, so it''s got the aquaplaning hull and the bottom drive intakes. It''s already been strengthened for the cheat device and the cargo wings, and you know mine was set up to be an experimental platform, so I''ve got the extra control channels, so what I''ll be doing is reshaping the cargo wings. The fans will connect to the drive plates, and fold mostly out of the way for when the sub is being a sub. I''ll lose a bit of top speed, but I can test the wings just by turning them on when I''m being a surface speed boat.¡±


    ¡°You''ve got it all planned, you mean.¡± Karella said.


    ¡°Erm, yes. I just need to fit the fans and work out all the forcefield parameters.¡±


    ¡°And when did you have time to work out all of this?¡±


    ¡°Oh, most of it before I ever spoke to Sue''s dad.¡±


    ¡°I didn''t know you were that far ahead with it.¡±


    ¡°Well, he wasn''t that sure it''d work, but he''s fairly sure now.¡±


    ¡°Fairly sure? I don''t want you smeared all over the landscape, brother mine.¡±


    ¡°I''ll take slow careful steps.¡±


    ¡°And someone with a fast boat to pick you up if something goes wrong and you crack your hull, or your skull¡±


    ¡°You mean I can?¡±


    ¡°If you''re really that far advanced, and certain it''ll work, then it''d be silly not to wouldn''t it? You''ll save half of that time bringing Sue, her commandant and his wife for the weekend. Pass on these designs to your team, get them to work on them, and then concentrate on working out if Sue and co can get here by flying fish, or if I''m sending Mabel and Sathie to pick them up.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Karella.¡±


    ¡°Just make sure you talk through all the plans for the trade city. And try not to die while you''re testing it, OK?¡±


    ¡°I''ll try, sis. I''ll even wear a full harness and a crash-helmet.¡±


    ¡°Good.¡±


    <hr>


    </a>Atlantis, 1.30pm, Friday, 26th July, 2277.


    ¡°You know, our fabricators are some of the most wonderful people on the planet. You tell them, ''I''d like to turn my sub''s drive units into ducted fans with such and such thrust when I''m above the water and fold out of the way when I''m in water, and a few days later they say ''here you are sir.'' Sue is absolutely convinced she has no idea where do get such service on land.¡±


    ¡°So, how much did you pay for them?¡± his friend Theophilus asked.


    ¡°Never you mind. Your boat is fast enough as it is, and you don''t have the hull space for the wings anyway. Or the right hull shape.¡±


    Theophilus had what was generally agreed to be the fastest boat in Atlantis. It''s speed was undoubtedly due to the fact that it barely had space for two people, without much luggage, and rather than the normal arrangement of a drive tube either side, his had six overgrown drive tubes. He admitted it was silly and impractical, but he''d found a wonderfully rich pocket of gold once and had indulged himself. He liked speed.


    ¡°You mean, I''d need to get my boat melted down to look like yours if I wanted it to go as fast as yours might be able to do?¡±


    ¡°Even if mine works, Theo, it''s only ever going to go quickly about a metre above the waves. And as my dear sister has pointed out, I might crack my hull or my skull in this little test.¡±


    ¡°Hence you want a chase boat. Yeah. Have you tested those fans?¡±


    ¡°Yes. Only at low speed of course. It would''ve really embarrassing to break the rope and dent my boat on the rock.¡±


    ¡°And you''ve double checked the wings you get are the right shape?¡±


    ¡°It''s too crowded down here. I need to go up to the surface.¡±


    ¡°So why are we standing around here?¡±


    <hr>


    ¡°How does the shape look?¡±


    ¡°All measurements good, by looks of it.''


    ¡°Why are they that funny purple colour? Why can I see them at all, in fact?¡±


    ¡°I decided that people might get seriously scared if they saw a flying submarine without wings.¡±


    ¡°Are they actually glowing?¡±


    ¡°Yes. I couldn''t make them reflective, or anything normal like that, but I could make them glow.¡±


    ¡°Will I be totally unable to understand the answer if I ask you how?¡±


    ¡°Urm.... probably. Want to try?¡±


    ¡°No. I want to see your monstrosity fly.¡±


    ¡°First I''m going to try getting up onto the plane without the wings. I''ve never done that, you realise. Then I''ll slow down to more sensible speeds and see what happens as I speed up. If I can''t get back onto the plane then I''ll turn off the wings, get planing and see if I can get airborne.¡±


    ¡°Sounds like a plan. How fast will you be when you''re planing?¡±


    ¡°Not sure. I didn''t look it up. More than fifty knots, I think. That''s the whole point, it''s supposed to be cheat-mode fast, but it''s not exactly invisible or quiet.¡±


    ¡°OK. Well I''ll use cheat mode, of course, and as long as you don''t go over two hundred, then I''ll be able to keep up with you easily.¡±


    ¡°I thought your boat had a top speed of more than that.¡±


    ¡°It does, deep.¡±


    ¡°OK. I''m just trying for straight lines at the moment, so if you do need to go deeper to catch up then fine.¡±


    ¡°You think it might be faster than two hundred?¡±


    ¡°The land-folk have some surface boats that go at that sort of speed. They don''t use fusion power, but they do use propellers, and they don''t weigh as much as my sub. So... I''ve no idea. Maybe I should have read up on aquaplaning more. It''s certainly supposed to be unpleasant.¡±


    ¡°So why are you starting with planing?¡±


    ¡°Because that''s probably how I get airborne, and it''s certainly how I''ll land.¡±


    ¡°Ah. Got it. Ready?¡±


    ¡°Yep. I''ll just strap myself in.¡±


    ¡°That uncomfortable?¡±


    ¡°Yes. Or worse.¡±


    Once he''d strapped himself in, Enoch adjusted the various settings on his boat, selecting that he wanted power to the bottom drives only. He drained the ballast tanks, and eased forward on the power control. Thirty bone-jarring seconds later, he slowed to a stop, and spoke to Theo on the ultrasound device they used among themselves. ¡°You know I said it was supposed to be uncomfortable?¡±


    ¡°Yes?¡±


    ¡°It was really uncomfortable.¡±


    ¡°OK. You hit sixty-five knots.¡±


    ¡°That''s what my instruments said too. Not bad.¡±


    ¡°Not bad at all. Wings next?¡±


    ¡°I think I need to do some steering. It''ll be gentle, but I need to get the hang of this.¡±


    ¡°OK. You enjoy shaking your teeth loose. Don''t flip.¡±


    ¡°I''ll try not to.¡±


    Steering was surprisingly easy, but Amos was careful not to do anything too quickly. It felt dangerous. He told Theo that he''d be going in a straight line with the wings turned on next. There was an immediate difference, as he increased speed to get to the planing speed, he found that he wasn''t getting the same buffeting, but he was also getting warnings from the drive unit. It was getting air. He slowed down and reported to Theo.


    ¡°I''m getting lift, and less power.¡±


    ¡°How come?¡±


    ¡°Air doesn''t conduct as well as seawater.¡±


    ¡°Oh. Next step fans?¡±


    ¡°Yes. I''ll turn them on for five seconds at about a quarter power, and see what happens.¡±


    ¡°OK.¡±


    What happened was that he flew. He didn''t have anything like an airspeed indicator, but it seemed that he was going faster than he had when planing.


    He reduced power to the fans and settled back into the water.


    ¡°You went awfully quiet for five seconds there, Amos.¡± Theophilus said.


    ¡°I was airborne. Any idea how fast I was going?¡±


    ¡°Faster. Maybe a hundred? I was going sixty five. Stable?¡±


    ¡°Seems to be. That was quarter power.¡±


    ¡°Is your next step turning or more power?¡±


    ¡°I''ll do turning first, I think.¡±


    ¡°Have you got radar on that thing too?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°And it''s on?¡±


    ¡°Oh yes. It sounds funny, but it seems to work.¡±


    ¡°Can you judge distances with it?¡±


    ¡°Not yet. But it''s got a display too. I''d forgotten that.¡±


    ¡°Well you try going in circles or figures of eight then, and I''ll surface so I can see where you are, OK?¡±


    ¡°Absolutely.¡±


    Theophilus saw Amos starting a very gentle turn to start with, and then increasingly sharper ones, but even these did not seem to be very sharp, without the wing tip getting dangerously close to the water. It looked like Amos would not be doing any high speed manouvering in the air. Amos throttled back to speedboat mode. ¡°Theo?¡± he called.


    ¡°I''m hearing you.¡±


    ¡°I got told I wouldn''t be able to steer much; very true. I''m guessing I''ve got a turning circle of more than two kilometres, but what did you see?¡±


    ¡°Not much, but I''d guess at more like three of four.¡±


    ¡°Hmm. Flies like a bird, turns only slightly better than a laser. I''m going to head towards you and Atlantis from here, increasing speed as I go, OK?¡±


    ¡°Fine by me. You sure you want to go towards Atlantis? I thought your friend was the other way.¡±


    ¡°She is. But this is still testing. I can always turn round.¡±


    ¡°OK. I''ll head towards Atlantis too, and you see if you can overtake me. The big problem with chasing you is I can''t go fast on the surface.¡±


    ¡°I know. But at least you''ll know which way I''m going.¡±


    ¡°Yeah. OK. Go for it. No, hold on. This is silly. There are enough boats around, let''s get some volunteers to surface a nautical mile apart and see how fast you''re really going.¡±


    ¡°Theo, you''re a genius!¡± Amos exclaimed.


    <hr>


    </a>Atlantis, 2.15pm, Friday, 26th July, 2277.


    It only took ten minutes to organise a fifty nautical mile course. It seemed that everyone in the area was interested in seeing what was probably the world''s first flying submarine.


    Amos turned on the wings and put the speedboat drive on, easing in power to the fans too. He had plenty of acceleration from the boat drive, so he was airborne within only a few hundred metres. Slowly he increased the power, and saw the first submarine flash past on his left. He wasn''t flying over the observers, that would have been too risky. There didn''t seem to be any problem with stability, so as he passed each submarine he increased the power another five percent. For the first few, anyway. but... they certainly seemed to be passing quickly. He was sure that he didn''t want to get near the speed of sound, which he knew was about 660 knots. It would probably mess up all Henry-Lamura''s calculations. So... more than ten submarines a minute, or less than six seconds a submarine, was getting dangerous. He tried to estimate the time between them, and decided not to increase power beyond 80% - without looking at his wrist unit he thought he was doing about seven seconds between submarines. That seemed plenty fast enough. He passed the last submarine, and reduced power, slowly; he knew that the fans would offer drag, and he really didn''t want to have them blown out of the back of the ducts.


    The ride had been fairly smooth, not as smooth as underwater, of course, but perfectly acceptable. He wondered if he''d get a wrist unit signal... No. the submarine was too good a Faraday cage for that. Telling Sue would have to wait.


    <hr>


    </a>Atlantis, 2pm, Friday, 26th July, 2277.


    [Hi Sue.] Karella called [Amos said he had a good chat to your commandant and his wife last night.]


    [I thought it went well.] Sue said


    [He also said that he''d have liked to invite them here, but travel time was getting to be a problem.]


    [Urm, yes.]


    [Now, my family''s boat is bigger than Amos''s, and has three cabins and beds for six. If my daughters left soonish they could be with you by seven or eight, I''m sure. They could then set the autopilot to bring you here as an overnight trip, or alternatively go quickly and make it here by midnight. Do you think your commandant and wife would be interested?]


    [You''d send your daughters on such a long trip?]


    [Long? That''s not long, that''s only four hours, most of it on autopilot. Mabel''s piloted more than twice that far on her own before.]


    [Sorry... more presuppositions. I''ll ask, but I expect the answer is yes.]


    [Great. I''ll let them know. And Amos, too. He was planning to come and fetch you, but, really, I think I need him here, for the rest of today anyway. I''m assuming you''d come too?]


    [With my commandant''s permission, all things are possible!]


    [Great. I''d like you along, if nothing else so my girls have someone they know on board.... I know Amos let you drive his sub, but....]


    [My commandant shouldn''t even ask?]


    [Exactly. I don''t want my girls panicking and causing an incident.]


    [Of course not. Would you consider Amos letting me drive as urm... shall we say hormone influenced?]


    [It certainly wasn''t anything I put him up to. It was a big risk, actually in a number of ways. But I won''t go into that now.]


    [I''ll go pass on the invitation.]


    [Thank you]


    <hr>


    </a>Atlantis, 3.15pm, Friday, 26th July, 2277.


    [Karella, your Majesty, I am Eliza.]


    [Hello, your highness! Please don''t majesty me. We are sisters in the gift, after all. How can I help?]


    [I am sitting in a security briefing, concerning a series of photographs that have just been taken near Atlantis. An automatic system has just detected what it thought might be a water-based cruise missile launched from inside the exclusion area and heading in the direction of Atlantis.]


    [{fear}We''re still here at the moment.]


    [Yes. We''re glad about that. I''m afraid the system isn''t that rapid, unless we can program it with a specific location to warn about. With Atlantis moving... that''s tricky. So, anyway, this was about half an hour ago. The supposed missile didn''t fly right for a missile, and it flew over the top of Atlantis and then slowed down and stopped. So, we don''t think it is a missile, but the system just thought it was. That was due to a radar signal that almost but not quite matched a missile system that was current about a hundred and fifty years ago. The pictures don''t look like anyone''s testing a cruise missile, more like someone''s experimenting with something, but people are a tiny bit worried, you might say. The other thing that''s odd is that in some pictures it looks like a submarine, in other ones it''s got wings.]


    [Ooops. We need a way of letting everyone know of experimental testing, don''t we? My brother''s sub is about two hundred years old, and unlike most these days it can run on the surface. To help with navigation, it''s got radar. He is actually just testing a set of wings for his sub, from forcefields.]


    [A set of forcefield wings? On a submarine?]


    [Yes. Sounds silly doesn''t it? He had the bright idea of plugging some electrically driven fans into the drive system of his submarine and trying to turn it into a ground-effect vehicle with some forcefields.]


    [Ah. I''ll pass word around if that''s OK. Can we ask him not to use it for a while, say until the radar profile is altered, maybe? If he gets near land with that radar system on, especially if he''s hugging the water, which of course he will be, he''s very likely to trigger an automatic defense mechanism and be shot down.]


    [I''ll tell him.] Karella promised.


    [Thank you. As for letting each other know... That''s one purpose of the attach¨¦ system. It''s a shame this didn''t happen after our attach¨¦ was in place.]


    [That has quite a funny side, actually.]


    [It does?]


    [I''m pretty sure that if your attach¨¦ was in place he wouldn''t be thinking of sprouting wings to meet her.]


    [Oh! Same brother?]


    [Yes, I''ve only got the one.]


    [We must talk more.]


    [Of course! But for the moment, I''ll let you get back to your meeting.]


    <hr>


    [Amos, turn your radar off.] Karella called.


    [Urm, it''s off. Why?]


    [You''re triggering automatic systems. Your radar signal looks like a cruise missile, apparently. I was about to call you anyway. It''s all very well for you to risk your own neck in your flying fish, but I really don''t think we need to risk a diplomatic crisis over how a naval commandant got hurt in a barely tested flying submarine, do we? I''m sending the girls, they''ll want Sue along as a familiar face.]


    [Oh. Good point I guess.]


    [So, did it work? I''m guessing it did since their systems thought someone had fired a cruise missile at Atlantis.]


    [Eek.]


    [Exactly. You came back straight this way?]


    [Yes. Theo realised that he couldn''t do it all himself, so we called for volunteers. Timing wasn''t exact, but it looks like I got up to about four or five hundred knots.]


    [Impressive.]


    [Scary, actually, since that wasn''t full power. I hope I''d have run out of thrust before getting near the sound barrier, but I don''t want to find out. I didn''t try turning at that speed either. At slow speeds it turns only slightly better than a laser.]


    [So, more work needed?]


    [Yes. It''s going to a long time before I let any teenagers near one, anyway. But it''s a working prototype with some scary sides to it. And somehow I''m going to need an airspeed indicator, and some way of communicating. My wrist unit doesn''t work; I tried it as I was slowing down.]


    [Hmm. Yes. So, you''ll need to talk to lots of people about changing your radar system so you don''t get shot down, find out about what radio frequency the land-folk want you to talk to them on, and all sorts of things like that.]


    [Yes. But it works.]


    [It does. And it doesn''t interfere with your cheat device?]


    [Urm, it shouldn''t.]


    [Good. Come home, brother, there''s a trade city to build, and assuming her commandant decides he can take the weekend off, you can spend all weekend holding Sue''s hand. You don''t need to rush off to meet her at nearly the speed of sound quite yet.]


    [Ella! It wasn''t about...] his thought trailed off. [Oh. It was, wasn''t it? It was really all about seeing more of Sue.]


    [Of course it was. You, my brother, need to face the fact that you are in love. The beneficial side effect is that with your little invention about ten percent of our boats can potentially be converted into flying fish, once you solve the other technical issues. And that means very good things for diplomatic contact.]


    <hr>


    </a>Azores base, 2.15pm, Friday, 26th July, 2277.


    [Hello, Commander Reynolds.] Eliza thought


    [Oh! The mystery voice! Hello! How can I help?]


    [Do you know what a class epsilon state secret is?]


    [Urm... something so secret even the category doesn''t officially exist?]


    [Yep, the link between my name and how I''m thinking to you now. So, there''s a clue for you to puzzle over, if you like. But I think we''re going to be talking quite a bit, with your new role. So, would you like me to just come out an tell you?]


    [Gulp. Can I think about that for a while?]


    [Of course. Anyway, I''ve just been chatting with Karella about the little crisis your boyfriend has just caused.]


    [Amos? What''s he done?]


    [Turned on the radar on his sub, which apparently looks really like an out-of-tune Exocet-cruise 500b. Could you please educate him, or whoever is in charge of radar sets in Atlantis, about radar signatures, friend or foe systems and the like?]


    [Of course. They have radar?]


    [On old submarines like Amos''s which can turn into speed boats, apparently. Or in his case, even fly.]


    [He flew? I thought it was still all on the drawing board!]


    [You can imagine what the AIs think of something showing a radar signature like an Exocet-cruise flying straight towards Atlantis at 510knots.]


    [I''ll throttle him! He said he was weeks away from testing!]


    [Apparently love conquers all.]


    [Not rail-guns.]


    [Exactly. How''s your student getting on?]


    [Technically he''s doing OK. Attitudinally... let''s say he''s progressing.]


    [That''s good. Their majesties suggest that if you don''t mind and the Atlantis government agree, it might keep the world a little less stressed if you and your student were in the advance party.]


    [You want midshipman Wiseman to go to Atlantis?]


    [Problem?]


    [Actually, it might be just what he needs. But on the other hand if he''s not able to learn his lesson then he''s liable to get his stomach sliced open.]


    [Cultural insensitivity?]


    [Excessive drive to prove he can land one blow, even if it kills him. Problem is that it might. Maybe I should try to arrange for him to get his face pummeled by a fourteen year-old princess. With her mother''s permission, of course. It might solve his attitude once and for all.]


    [You think he might be less likely to go to extremes against a fourteen year old princess?]


    [It''s possible. I also think she''s as good at unarmed combat as I am, technically, anyway. I''ve got more strength, of course.]


    [But you''re not unwilling?] Eliza asked.


    [Not at all. If I''m in the advanced party I can try and make sure no one gets in to a nasty fight.]


    [Are the merfolk that aggressive, then? That''s not the impression I got.]


    [No, they''re not aggressive. But if the soldiers or sailors that visit try acting tough, and won''t back down when challenged, they might get themselves classed as dangerous sharks. If there''s no one around with a blow-pipe then that''ll get messy.]


    [So... no alcohol for military stationed there?]


    [Hmm... I hope not. The ones who are most likely to get in trouble are also the ones most likely to find themselves an illicit source. If it were up to me I think I''d just say if you''re a serviceman and you get yourselves declared a dangerous shark by the good people of Atlantis, then you pay your own hospital bills, or if it''s too late for that, your corpse can be fed to the sharks according to local custom.]


    [I''m pretty sure it will be.] Eliza said.


    [Pardon?]


    [I''m pretty sure that it''ll be up to you. All military staff assigned to Atlantis are going to be navy, or seconded to navy, for obvious reasons, and therefore under the command of the senior ranking naval officer. i.e. you. You did want a command, didn''t you?]


    [Naval attach¨¦ is a command position?]


    [Of course! You don''t think the ambassador''s going to want find him or herself in the line of command for a bunch of sweaty sailors do you?]


    [I... I guess I didn''t realise that.]


    [And since you''re going to be dealing with the local government then any special arrangements for our staff are going to be negotiated or not by you. If someone disobeys your orders to back down immediately in any case of conflict with the mer, then you can court-marshal them for disobeying orders and possibly even oath-breaking, can''t you? At which point, of course they pay their hospital bills. Though, perhaps, asking the family if they want to pay for the body to be shipped home might be more diplomatic then just feeding it to the sharks.]


    [... and I''d be able to count on support from my superiors in this stance?]


    [What, that we don''t want special laws for our people? I don''t think we normally do. Hold on, I''ll just ask Albert.] Eliza did that and said, [Albert agrees, and so does her majesty, and I agree with myself too, of course. Different sets of laws breeds resentment in the local community, and we don''t want that.]


    [Urm... was that another hint?]


    [I suppose it was. Shall I tell you?]


    [I don''t know if I have a need to know.]


    [Ease of conversation. You will be talking to Karella, it may be that sometime you need to ask her to talk to me. And descriptions don''t work.]


    [Pardon?]


    [I can read the mind of anyone I can name. If I see a stranger, I cannot read the mind of ''that man there in the hat''. I can find out his name, or I can make up a name for him, but I cannot read the mind of them unless I have a name in mind that links to them. It might work if you say you need her to talk to a woman called Mystery Voice, but... Eliza works better. Karella knows who I am, of course, but we haven''t talked much: she''s one of the busiest people I know. Anyway, you are trusted to know this, Sue; guard the knowledge well.]


    [In a country full of thought hearers, your highness?]


    [Well, try, anyway.]


    [I will. Perhaps it is better if I continue to think of you by your other name: Mystery Voice.]


    [Good idea.]


    [I have a question I''ve been pondering, if you don''t mind? It''s nothing personal.]


    [Go ahead.]


    [I don''t know if I''ll do anything with the answer... but I was wondering if the truthsayer vow is compatible with my oath of service, do you have an opinion?]


    [I know a number of people in Internal Security who are truthsayers. I know the oaths are not quite the same, but they''re not that different. Is there a particular issue?]


    [There''s a bit in it about not revealing stuff I overhear. If it''s relevant I have a duty to report it.]


    [Oh, that one. I wondered if it was the one to not deceive, that''s caused some problems for a friend.]


    [Really?]


    [She''s in Auditing, sometimes that work needs her to get people to believe she''s not who she is. Nothing in the oath is intended to make you into an accessory to a crime, Sue. So, if you think there''s a problem, add an exception, and we''ll call it the military version of the oath. Actually, I''ll raise the issue. If there is a problem, it might explain why we don''t have any military folk signed up as far as I know.]


    [You''re saying we, maam?]


    [I don''t expect I''ll ever wear my mask, and you''re not going to see me at a meeting, but I am a member. And before the association was founded, I did once serve in a similar capacity.]


    [You mean you were a truth-sayer before the association existed, even?]


    [Yes. But that''s hardly unusual. We just borrowed the term, after all.]


    [I only told my brother a week ago. That was pretty tough, so I don''t know if I''m going to sign up even if you do have another oath.]


    [Well, there''s an Atlantis branch, so I''m sure you can call on their services if you need to.]


    [Oh! I didn''t know that.]


    [There''s a trainer still there, as far as I know. Listening quietly is quite a tricky skill to learn.]


    [I''m sure.]


    [Anyway, take care. I don''t know when you''re going to find yourself relocated, but....]


    [I''m invited there for the weekend.]


    [Pack quickly, then. You might find yourself being ordered to stay.]


    [What about my student?]


    [No space for him to go with you?]


    [I don''t think so. Karella''s daughters are taking me as someone they know, and my commandant and his wife so that they can see the sites before the tourist invasion and give some expert advice ¡ª his wife''s got a doctorate in urban planning, and Karella has decided that Atlantis is crowded enough already and they should build a second dome to house trade and tourist interests.]


    [That sounds like a major undertaking.]


    [I think the world is going to be surprised. The merfolk can move very fast when they choose to, it seems.]


    [But most of the time they choose not to?]


    [Exactly. I remember seeing a film from centuries ago talking about how people of the future would have all this wonderful technology and it would give us more leisure time. The merfolk seem to actually manage that.]


    [Oh, bliss. But you''re mer yourself, genetically, aren''t you?]


    [Yes. But not culturally.]


    [I know which one''s easier to learn.]


    [Ah, but should I, as a loyal servant of the crown?]


    [In your role, it would be a distinct asset to be able to function in both cultures, and explain one to the other.]


    [And if I can''t explain why we do things?]


    [How about admitting we''ve got traditions too?]

 The Other Big Secret 3: Safely out at sea / Ch. 10: Impact

    <h2>The Other Big Secret 3: Safely out at sea / Ch. 10:Impact</h2>


    </a>Wednesday, 1st August, 2277


    Atlantis-2 and 2H, as the trade city and harbour were being called, were slowly taking shape. The ability to float the trade-city to the surface without being terrified of detection had made fitting the forcefields for the dome far easier, and it had been given a temporary power supply and its own propulsion system. Not a heat engine, but a magneto-hydrodynamic drive with no moving parts. The quantity of submarine metal needed for coating the drive units was quite significant ¡ª enough to build several large submarines. The council suggested offering the strange things called shares in it to people who where willing to invest in it, but then of course the engineers asked what about their contribution? Wasn''t their time, their dropping of personal projects worth anything? Two options were considered, everyone do what they can for love of their people, or everyone got rewarded somehow. The gold was the biggest issue. That was touching people''s life-savings towards a submarine. Never mind that people often traded their gold, even for things like chocolate. That was their choice. The council realised that the state needed wealth that it didn''t have, hadn''t needed since Atlantis was built. The amount of gold needed was compared to the total in the bank, and the number of people. And people laughed. And the situation defused. Finishing the inside of Atlantis-2 would take a few months of people''s time, but that was the whole point: they were allowed to get on with personal projects and study what they wanted because sometimes the state needed them, like now.


    As for the gold, it was decided that the government would borrow half a percent of the gold in the bank as a loan, and in the future take one percent of the gold that was collected in the future. That was understandable to all, and would affect everyone as equally as possible, since everyone went collecting gold, and it would hopefully ensure that the government had the gold necessary to carry out such projects. That had all been on Monday and Tuesday. The smelting plants had been programmed on Tuesday night. It wasn''t that hard to make the alloy. The team of engineers installed them the next morning. Atlantis-2 was water-tight, mobile, and empty. But there was still more work to do.


    <hr>


    The debris-peppered remains of the SpaceGuard interceptor tumbled through space. The irony of SpaceGuard predicting the impact had been lost on no one, least of all the scientists associated with it, but the orbital data was quite clear; it would impact somewhere in the middle of the initial North Atlantic exclusion zone, so it was good that Atlantis had moved.


    <hr>


    Today, the vast engines of Atlantis eased their pumping, and the city slowed to a halt. The question of how long they''d stay was on everyone''s mind: the citizens of Atlantis wanted to move North again soon, as the merfolk had no particular reason to want to be in the South Atlantic for winter. But there was some talk of moving South as the summer drew to a close.


    The interceptor touched the top of the atmosphere, and soon it was surrounded by a halo of ionised gas. It tumbled more and some loosely attached pieces broke off. The nuclear warhead remained where it was for now, just behind the nose cone of the interceptor. Ground-based and space-based detectors focussed on it and updated the predictions on its impact point every ten seconds.


    The outer skin of the craft pealed away, and the interceptor split in two, parts: the rocket motor and the heavy nose cone, intended to penetrate into rock if that was what the mission profile called for. The long, sharp-nosed cone with a warhead inside it was a well studied arrangement, it was exactly the same geometry as a warhead from a ballistic missile and it stabilised in exactly the same orientation. The low drag orientation produced a narrow shock-wave easing its passage through the atmosphere. This wasn''t going to be a slow descent like a crew module from an Apollo-era spacecraft. There was no ablative shield on the nose-cone, there was no wide shock-wave to separate the white-hot gas from the metal. Surface temperatures of the titanium quickly reached its vaporisation point, and it began to burn away.


    Spectral lines of Titanium became visible in the glowing trail.


    All was going exactly as the scientists had predicted. And seeing the readings they confidently slapped one another on the back and told the press the warhead was exactly on course for their predicted impact site.


    But they''d forgotten or ignored one factor: the nose cone was not solid. It had been designed to punch into rock and had been formed with an inner and outer cone, separated by a sealed-in pocket of air that would compress to reduce the forces on impact. The inner cone was considerably flatter than the outer. As the intense heat reached the air, it became highly pressurised. Eventually, the heat-softened outer shell gave way, and the pointed cone was blown off the warhead. The altered geometry made it unstable, and it turned. The full force of the shockwave hit the outer shell of the warhead, and the chemical explosive did exactly what a shock-detonated chemical explosive should be expected to do when hit by an intense shock-wave; it detonated.


    The uncontrolled fission reaction occurred a few microseconds seconds later, as the fissile material was compressed by the explosive shock wave, combined with the shock from the air pressure. That fission reaction in turn caused uncontrolled fusion which considerably increased the yield of the device.


    The air-burst occurred at an altitude of twenty kilometres. The workers on Atlantis-2, two hundred and fifty kilometres south, had temporarily stopped work to watch the trail of the interceptor as it plummeted to earth. None were stupid enough to stare into the fireball as the sky lit up, so there wasn''t any permanent damage to anyone''s eyes.


    ¡°Well that solves that question.¡± One said.


    ¡°Which one is that?¡± his colleague asked.


    ¡°Whether we''ll be asked to try to recover the bomb.¡±


    ¡°I''m guessing the answer is ''oops, you set it off''.¡±


    ¡°Speed of sound is about three hundred metres a second, yes?¡±


    ¡°I was always taught it''s three seconds for a kilometre, so I''m guessing three hundred and thirty or so.¡±


    ¡°So, that ought to have been two hundred kilometres away, so we''ve got ten minutes before the shock wave hits.¡±


    ¡°I''m just really glad we''re not under ground zero.¡±


    ¡°I''m really glad we moved Atlantis.¡±


    ¡°Should we submerge, boss?¡± the first speaker asked.


    ¡°Oooh. Sound speed in water''s faster isn''t it?¡± the foreman asked.


    ¡°Much. One and half kilometres a second.¡± an engineer replied.


    ¡°So... two minutes to get out of the water, from the flash?¡±


    ¡°Less, probably. The shock will have gone faster.¡±


    ¡°NUCLEAR SHOCKWAVE! Get out of the water! NOW! Everyone!¡± the foreman ordered the divers who''d been working on installing forcefields that would allow underwater servicing of the drives if that was ever needed, quickly obeyed.


    ¡°I don''t know how powerful it''ll be.¡± The engineer said.


    ¡°Nor do I. Better safe than sorry.¡±


    ¡°Good point.¡±


    ¡°And do we turn the dome on?¡±


    ¡°I think so. Like you say, better safe than sorry. We''ll get everyone out of the water first though. Just to make sure.¡±


    <hr>


    </a>Thursday, 2nd August, 2277, People''s State of the Beautiful Peninsula


    General Wenn, the man behind the loud hailer shouted at the ambassador''s craft. ¡°We do not accept any of your claims. We do not accept the propaganda that have been spoken of via the capitalist imperialists of the United Nations, or the theatrical props you call technology. We do not accept the existence of your so-called nation. And we certainly do not accept any claim over our territorial waters, our contiguous waters, nor our economic waters. We do not accept your presence here. Leave!¡±


    ¡°You claim to be a socialist state, do you not?¡± the ambassador asked, through his loud hailer.


    ¡°We are a socialist state, lead by our great leader who was acknowledged by our council, for the good of all the people.¡±


    ¡°Then, we are not so different. Our leader was also chosen by the high council of our people, despite her protests. Who would want such power? Do you hold all possessions lightly, willing to use them for the common good? Are there poor among you and needy? Does your leader live in the same kind of home as his people?¡±


    ¡°The needs of the poor are met by the generosity of the great leader.¡± the spokesman said from the patrol boat, a little confused by the switch to political science.


    ¡°Tomorrow, the needs of your poor will be met by the mer people, by gracious order of our great leader. It is easy to deny images, it is harder to deny the richest harvest of fish your people have ever seen. We will leave, as you have asked, but at dawn, drop fishing nets at the mouths all of your harbours, and you will find your harbour waters team with fish. This is our gift to your people, and evidence of our claims. But with our gift, I give three warnings: The first warning is this: if you drop nets, do not leave the fish to die. Serve your poor, or reject the gift and let them return from where they came, but do not destroy them without purpose. If you waste the lives of these fish in any harbour, then when fishing boats from those harbours set to sea they will find few fish. Do not bother moving boats from harbour to harbour. We will know. If a boat from a harbour that turns to a graveyard returns with ten small fish, there will be great rejoicing among the crew. This is the first warning, take heed of it.


    ¡°The second warning is this: as we have told the capitalists in the United Nations, as we have told the people of all the world: drop no depth-charges. A ship or land-emplacement which drops one depth charge will be wounded, a ship which drops two will be sunk, and a land-emplacement destroyed. A plane which drops depth charges will be cut from the sky. If your navy drops many depth charges, we will destroy them on sight. Do not threaten the lives of our children in this way, for we are well used to dealing with sharks.


    ¡°The third warning I also tell you: you have chosen to claim we are not real. That we accept. If you attack our city, we will know your words are false, we will know you seek not just to pretend we are not alive, but to kill us all. Then we will have no option: the antimatter devices planted under your coastal cities will be detonated. Your cities will be destroyed. If you accept our existence enough to make war on us, then be prepared for the consequences. Each of your cities has five hundred grammes of antimatter beside it, and has had for ten generations. We are a peace loving people, but if you try to destroy us, you will be destroyed. This has always been our way, and sharks have known this for thousands of years. These are our great leader''s warnings to your leader. Ignore them at your peril, we do not make claims we cannot keep, we do not lie.¡±


    The spokesperson for the People''s State called through the loud-hailer: ¡°You are not a peaceful people if you make such threats! I ordered you to leave, now pay the penalty for your insolence!¡± he gave a signal and the troops on his boat opened fire. The bullets harmlessly struck the forcefield that had been in place since before the ambassador started speaking, and ricocheted into the water. Karella had made sure that all was very prepared for this encounter.


    Once the firing stopped, the ambassador spoke ¡°I was warned you were a nation of many dangerous sharks; you have just proved that you are one. But in order that you may deliver the announcement of our gift to your people, and the three warnings to your leader, and so also you may know that we are a peace-loving people, with the technology to do all we have claimed, we will only wound your ship, although you tried to kill me. Call for a tow, for your propeller will soon be no more. If you do not deliver the message, your life is not worth preserving, so remain on land. We do not let dangerous sharks live long.¡± With that, he dropped into his small submarine, which vanished under the waves. General Wenn ordered his launch to return to the harbour and rocket-propelled depth-charges to be fired from the harbour walls at the last-known position of the ambassadorial submarine.


    The mer-woman on lookout beside the harbour wall, who''d half-expected such an attack after the first one, screamed a warning to her colleague who was cutting the propeller from the launch. Both engaged their personal forcefields as the first salvo hit the water. Theophilus, the ambassador, was safely out of range long before the depth charges exploded; he liked his fast little submarine a lot. The response of the Mer to the depth charges followed swiftly, once the first shock wave had passed, and before another salvo could be fired. The warrior beside the wall engaged her rock-cutter and methodically sliced off the quad barrels of the coastal defence rail-gun, which pointed out over the sea from above where she was stationed. She''d swum away before the shocked soldiers manning the wall or the men on the launch could react. Furious, at the destruction of the railgun, the general ordered further salvos.


    As they flew, the construction submarine which had been providing the forcefield swung its gigawatt laser into action. First, it cut the depth-charges from the air, and then cut down all of the depth-charge launchers. The operator was pleased to see that the computer had done its job well, and no people had been wounded. Then, once the mer-women had boarded, it systematically sliced the harbor wall into twenty sections as though it was a cake; a few metres of harbour wall was an easy task for a rock-cutter with the power to cut hundred-metre cubes out of bedrock. All the soldiers ran from the incandescent beam, despite the commands of the general, safe on his drifting boat. He did not order his own troops to fire. Then a second pass was made, and each section developed a message, carved ten centimetres deep: ''Use no more depth charges'', a different language on each piece. Then a final pass was made. The wall was cut below the waterline and a frictionless forcefield inserted behind the sloping cut. The sections of the wall slid and toppled over into the harbour, leaving the writing just above the water. No lives were lost, but the harbour was not going to be as useful against a storm has it had been previously.


    It had taken about thirty seconds. The observer submarines, undetected by the People''s State, stopped filming, and the reporters concluded their reports.


    Lilly, who''d been subtitling the English of the shouted discussion, spoke her own conclusion in her mother tongue ¡°As you see, the merfolk gave warning, and demonstrated their care for life as well as the truth of their words. Nobody''s son or daughter was hurt today, only the pride of a general who single-handedly bears the responsibility for this restrained demonstration of power. So let the fisher folk of our beautiful peninsula harvest the gift that will be delivered to their harbours tonight, and pass on this goodwill gift to feed the poor and hungry workers. It is surely not the will of the great leader that the arrogant generals with their bellies full of stolen grain prevent this, but if they do prevent the harvesting and distribution of the fish, allow the fish to swim away. For surely a people who can herd fish into a harbour can herd them from your nets.


    ¡°The mer came asking for a simple treaty of peace, and were shot at. The treaty the merfolk asked for is that their children might swim safely along our beautiful coastland, that perhaps some families who choose might make their homes at the foot of our inhospitable cliffs. We have plenty of those, do we not? And we would only know they were there if we saw them playing in the water. They asked that they might trade with us, exchanging fish for meat and oysters for bread, that they might bring us the treasure of the sea, and keep our children safe from sharks. For this they came; and General Wenn ordered their ambassador be shot.


    ¡°Their ambassador warned what would happen if depth charges were used, and so the general, like a stupid boy told not to poke the bee-hive, did what he had been warned against, and provoked the response you saw. I beg of our brave soldiers, of whatever rank: defend your people against the consequences of stupidity, do not obey orders to use depth charges, next time someone might get hurt. And whatever you do, do not allow any missile or torpedo to be fired towards Atlantis; keep our peninsula beautiful, and do not force the merfolk to wipe our cities from the maps.


    ¡°Two months ago, the leader of the Mer was a humble housewife. She still lives in a house just like any other person in Atlantis, but the council decided she should be queen. She begged and pleaded with them not to make her take this role, but they did not relent. She is not hungry for power like some generals. As many of our women, she has kept guard over her children as they play in the sea, lest sharks come, but she is one of the merfolk. Their response to sharks is not to run away from the water, but to draw their knives and ensure that the dangerous shark harms no one again. She has defended her children in this way, risking her life to defend her son and two daughters. Now she has a bigger family to protect: her people. What mother wants to see her children killed in war? But if war-hungry generals threaten, we can be sure her response will be effective, and quick.¡±


    She then uploaded the report to various sites she knew about. One account, which she''d been keeping for something really special, fed directly onto the national news channel. She''d actually done almost all of the hacking necessary as a student in spy school. The teachers had given her top marks, hastily corrected the bug she''d exploited and then deleted the account she''d made as a demonstration. They didn''t spot the other account she''d made at the same time. It''s privilege level had let her make other accounts, over the years, which let her submit things as a normal journalist, sometimes they even got through the censors. She''d been careful, of course, but surely it wasn''t too difficult for someone to realise what what was going on? This account, this master account, was a special one because this one had been created from the spy school with full rights. Being made there meant it was on the same network as the office of the ''great leader'', so it had override authority. With that, she could interrupt the current broadcast, and get her report to almost everyone, just like a journalist with the blessing of the ''great leader''. It would be a real shame to lose it. So, since she wasn''t sure which network the port authority connection she was accessing now was on, she made a new user and checked. Wonderful! This new account had no override authority, but she did have military priority ¡ª no censorship. Also, she could mark an article to be the first news item. Since the news was in five minutes, that was just as good. She quickly back-dated the account, and set the person authorising it to be General Wenn, just to cover her tracks a little better, and add a little more more confusion.


    She uploaded the story and sat back to watch the news broadcast with a grin on her face.


    ¡°Having fun?¡± her pilot asked.


    ¡°Oh yes. I''ve just uploaded the recording to the national news channel, posing as a military news broadcaster. It ought to appear on the news broadcast in a couple of minutes.¡±


    ¡°Oooh, that''s a nice twist.¡±


    ¡°You''d think that they''d be much more careful of their systems, wouldn''t you?¡± Lilly asked ¡°But for some reason the broadcast system isn''t given military-grade protection.¡±


    ¡°It might be soon.¡±


    ¡°I know. I worry about that every time I upload something. But this one is well worth the risk, I think.¡±


    <hr>


    </a>Friday, 3rd August, 2277


    [Your majesty, his majesty, my father in law has a question he''d like to ask.] Eliza thought to Karella.


    [Hello Eliza. Why do I get the feeling he''s not particularly amused?]


    [Well, we are mostly on speaking terms with the People''s State.]


    [We wanted to be too. We want to be too.]


    [Oh, so it wasn''t the well-planned military action it looked like?]


    [Plan A was that he decided to accept our Ambassador''s credentials. Plan B was that he didn''t, and our ambassador said his piece and left. Plan C was they react badly, which is why we had the force-field in place. We really didn''t expect they''d try and depth-charge our ambassador, which was plan D, but we were ready for it. And them failing to stop after we''d shown that we really did have rock-cutters, and they could do what we said, that pushed us into plan E. So, in terms of things that went well, at least they''ve not launched against us.]


    [And submitting Lilly''s report into their news-channels? That''s really upset them.]


    [Lilly''s own idea, not discussed with me at all.]


    [Oh.... OK, I guess I''ll tell her off later, then.]


    [I thought the broadcast was quite carefully respectful of their monarch.]


    [It was, actually. Everyone knows that General Wenn didn''t act alone, of course.]


    [We don''t. Not officially. So, our ambassador will try again, probably in a week''s time. The good news is they''ve accepted the fish. It would have been really annoying to have carried out that threat.]


    [I presume you considered that when you made the treat. Why did you?]


    [The reasons we said. We don''t want to make war on them, we want peace, and giving them the fish seemed like a good way of demonstrating that. They''ve accepted the gift, they''ve not left them to rot, like some might have.]


    [I wonder if it was the people or the military?]


    [It doesn''t matter. What it means is that somewhere in that country are people we can deal with.]


    Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    [You realise that almost the entire world has been totally failing to get through to them, don''t you?]


    [They know you and they don''t trust you.]


    [And you think slicing up their harbour will help them trust you?]


    [Yes. It''ll help them understand that we''re people who mean what we say, that we don''t issue idle threats or make promises we can''t keep. That''s pretty important. And of course, broadcasting footage what we can do with a construction sub if we have to, might help some other nations decide not to use terror weapons either.]


    [Speaking of which, we''re very glad that you moved Atlantis away from the impact site.]


    [Not as glad as we are. Were there any injuries at all? I checked for anyone on the water who''d been hurt or injured as soon as I heard.]


    [There were some people on an island who watched the fireball too long. I don''t know if the damage is permanent or not.]


    [Sad.]


    [Yes. It looks like whatever fall-out there is will be spread world-wide.]


    [Yes. Why wasn''t it diverted into the sun or something? That''s surely the right place for dangerous things in space.]


    [The scientists predicted what happened wouldn''t happen.]


    [Hmm. Ours gave that event a ten percent chance, blowing up when it hit the sea a five percent chance, and polluting the ocean with radioactive chemicals an eighty-four percent chance.]


    [And the last percentage point?]


    [That somehow it would land intact, not break up and we could dispose of it safely.]


    [Dispose of it safely?]


    [Yes. A real favourite would have been to split the plutonium into gold, but I''m not sure what else you''d get.]


    [You urm, routinely transmute elements?]


    [I wouldn''t say it was routine, but we''ve done it before, like when we stopped using a fission reactor to power Atlantis. What did you do with the radioactives from your unwanted reactors?]


    [We bury them, as far as I know, and let them decay.]


    [What sort of a solution is that?] Karella was aghast.


    [Best we''ve been able to come up with, other than bombard them with neutrons to split them into more radioactive things.]


    [I guess that''s something else we could offer then, isn''t it?]


    [Safe nuclear waste disposal? I''m sure. What would you like in return?]


    [Oooh... how about permanent settlement rights to some coastline, maybe with woodland beside it that people could hunt in? Shocking as it might seem, some of us have been known to prefer rabbit or deer to fish sometimes.]


    [I''ll have to talk to my father in law. How much land were you thinking of?]


    [I expect that depends on how much waste you''re going to need dealt with doesn''t it?]


    [{smile}Almost certainly.]


    <hr>


    </a>1st December 2277, 10A.M. Coastline of the Beautiful Peninsula


    To the accompaniment of the twenty merwomen flautists playing a soft tune no land-man recognised, the cameras watched as the two parties to the treaty read the agreed words. The foreign minister had had some input at the beginning of the negotiation, but he''d fallen out of favour recently when his son had been found guilty of unpatriotic behaviour ¡ª he''d dared to give some soldiers advice about how to avoid `volunteering'' for a second ten year term.


    In the end, the Great Leader himself had negotiated a great many of the terms himself. Of course, he also agreed to all terms.


    Having further demoted his former prime consort from justice minister to chief of anti-corruption investigations over the military, the Great leader had recently instigated a crack-down against competent lawyers for such ¡°crimes¡± as honestly representing clients, attempting to interpret the law in as it was written, or daring to suggest there might be other interpretations to his own.


    Possibly the distinct lack of competent lawyers outside prison or foolhardy enough to venture an opinion unasked for might have had something do do with the treaty being almost entirely his own work, from their side, anyway. It hadn''t occurred to him to ask for opinions, or that the ambassador he was negotiating with might have been a dedicated student of history, with a special interest in treaty law. Every word had seemed fully agreeable to both sides, including the oaths that would be taken.


    ¡°The people of the Beautiful Peninsula hereby recognise the claims of the merfolk to rule the deeps and shallows, and the merfolk recognise the claims of the People''s State to rule it''s internal waterways and the beaches on the peninsula exposed at low tide. The merfolk will permit sustainable fishing and the peaceful passage of its waters by all ships of the Beautiful Peninsula, and the people of the Beautiful Peninsula will permit peaceful passage of their waterways by the Mer. The people of the Beautiful Peninsula will not pollute the rivers, coasts or seas. The merfolk will safely dispose of the nuclear waste currently on the Beautiful Peninsula, provide free power to cities from the antimatter batteries, and further clean energy supplies when those run out for the duration of this treaty.


    Under this treaty, the merfolk shall also have right of peaceful trade with the people of the Beautiful Peninsula, the right to establish up to fifty trade outposts, each one extending up to five hundred metres along the coast and three hundred metres inland. The first one being at this historic site of the founding of this treaty.


    ¡°Between them, these outposts may include homes for at most one thousand merfolk. Within the trade outposts, the laws of the merfolk will be held to be supreme.


    ¡°In return, the merfolk will assist in defending the Innocent People of the Beautiful Peninsula, their coastline and economic area around, against all who encroach. The people of the Beautiful Peninsular will not attack the merfolk, nor use any depth-charges. We vow to a state of peace between our people, binding for fifty years.¡±


    Theophilus raised his hand and stated formally ¡°Subject to both of us vowing the agreed terms, on behalf of and in the name of queen Karella, ruler of all merfolk and undisputed sovereign of the shallows and the deeps, I accept this treaty, and vow that the mer people will not harm the innocent people of the Beautiful Peninsula, nor allow them to come to harm, if it is in our power to prevent it.¡±


    ¡°On behalf of the people and state of the Beautiful Peninsula, I swear we will uphold this treaty and that my people will not attack the merfolk.¡±


    ¡°It is done.¡± Theophilus stated, offering the great leader his hand.


    ¡°Yes. And a vow made must be kept.¡± the great leader agreed, shaking Theo''s hand for the cameras, while thinking with glee of how much nuclear waste these foolish merfolk had just agreed to deal with.


    ¡°It must, indeed. Swearing falsely or oath-breaking is a terrible thing, and surely will bring disaster on the oath-breaker.¡±


    ¡°You got by far the worst end of the deal.¡± the Great Leader said.


    Theophilus raised an eyebrow ¡°I''m glad we both think that, it makes it a good treaty.¡±


    ¡°You''ll be reprocessing that waste for a very long time.¡± the Great Leader added, convinced of his own cleverness.


    ¡°We''d much rather do that than live beside it. But anyway, my friend, about your political and religious prisoners.¡±


    ¡°What about them? None of your business.¡±


    ¡°Under the terms of the treaty I must request that you release them.¡±


    ¡°Don''t think to interfere in our internal affairs, friend, that''s not funny.¡±


    ¡°I fear they are innocent of any real crime and are coming to harm. A vow must be kept, and the words of my oath are clear, my friend.¡± Theophilus said, as though confused. ¡°We will not allow any of the innocent people of this Beautiful Peninsula to come to harm if it is within our power to prevent it.¡±


    ¡°It is not within your power.¡±


    ¡°Oh, I think you''ll find that it is.¡± Theophilus replied. ¡°Our treaty is quite clear. You recognise we control the water except the rivers, and we recognise that you control the rivers and beaches, and except for our trade outposts of course, there''s no discussion of land. And you won''t attack us. I don''t know why you didn''t claim the land of the peninsula, but that''s obviously not as important to you, just like it isn''t to us. Or maybe you shouldn''t have executed and imprisoned the lawyers who could think clearly, but anyway, we''ve now got a duty to defend the innocent people of this peninsula from all who wish to harm them. One who wishes to harm the innocent, of course must not be innocent themselves. We have made no vow to protect such a one.¡± He addressed the cameras and said ¡°Let this time of peace be celebrated by all.¡±


    ¡°This is an unacceptable interference!¡± The great leader shouted.


    ¡°I do not understand, my friend, you knew what we were agreeing to, surely?¡±


    Theophilus replied calmly. ¡°But in any case, an oath must be kept, for the oath-breaker is shark or shark-food. We have vowed to protect the innocent, and you have vowed that your people not will attack any of us. So it is surely within our power to carry out our obligations under the oath.¡±


    The Great Leader shouted ¡°Treachery!¡± and his soldiers immediately raised their guns to fire at the ambassador. They then collapsed to the floor as the blow-darts'' muscle relaxant took effect. The flautests then realigned, pointing their blowpipes towards the great leader himself. ¡°We really don''t want an international incident here, my friend.¡± Theophilus pointed out to the Great Leader. ¡°Your soldiers will recover in about half an hour, but it would be very disappointing if having sworn this peace treaty you made yourself an oath-breaker so quickly.¡±


    ¡°You call this peace! This is a declaration of war!¡± The leader growled.


    ¡°No, this is fulfilling the terms of our oath. You saw it beforehand, you agreed to the exact words. If you failed to understand the implications, that is hardly our problem.¡±


    ¡°We will make a new treaty!¡±


    ¡°Very well. But we will swear to no treaty that alters the terms of this one. An oath made must be kept. If you wish, we can discuss our interpretation of the terms of the treaty. Perhaps at the United Nations international court? In the unlikely case they agree with you then we''ll allow you to put your innocent prisoners back in jail.¡±


    ¡°I will destroy this treaty!¡± the Great Leader said.


    ¡°Your oath has been made. It binds us and binds you, your army, your population. Do not make yourself an oath-breaker. Under the terms of the treaty, and your oath, our laws apply here now.¡±


    ¡°You intended this all along!¡± the leader of the People''s state said.


    ¡°It seems that you deliberately misled us about how much nuclear waste we would be processing. Still, we will keep our side of the oath, and you will keep your oath, or you will be shark-food.¡±


    ¡°That sounds like a threat.¡±


    ¡°We already know you are a shark. This we told you at the beginning. But for the sake of your people, we have given you a chance to reform, and accepted your oath, emphasizing again and again that an oath cannot be unmade. Now there will be peace between our people, and your people, all your innocent people will benefit from our protection. I expect that they will enjoy peace. But be warned, if you break the oath, our knives will be sharp.¡±


    ¡°That''s what I love about you people.¡± the leader said with a smile, seeing something funny in the threat. ¡°You are so honest! I wonder what you would do if I simply ordered that the people you want me to free to be executed?¡±


    ¡°I think you might find that hard.¡± Lilly said, in her mother tongue as she entered the room; some of the cameras pointed at her.


    ¡°I recognise you,¡± the not-so great leader said, trying to place her face.


    ¡°We''ve met, the first time was about a decade ago when you congratulated me on graduating top of my class as a loyal spy. I have always been loyal to my country, and my people. But I have never been loyal to you. Now I work with the information department of the United Nations, and I bring a message, Mr Ambassador. On hearing that the self-proclaimed ''Great Leader'' of the People''s State was standing on ground where the laws of the merfolk held sway, the United Nations Court of Justice has published a warrant for his immediate arrest.¡±


    Genuine fear showed on his face ¡°You can''t arrest me at a treaty signing!¡±


    ¡°An oath has been sworn, that when a United Nations arrest warrant is issued, it shall be honoured. You must consider yourself a prisoner.¡± the ambassador said. Adding with some feeling, ¡°It is not polite of the United Nations court to do this, but we have no choice.¡± He turned to Lilly, ¡°I presume that you have a copy of the warrant?¡±


    ¡°Yes, your excellency.¡± Lilly confirmed, handing the crystal to him.


    ¡°I''m going to need to confirm the authenticity of this warrant.¡±


    ¡°Of course, your excellency.¡± Turning to the not so great leader, she added, conversationally, ¡°I must say, I''ve been waiting for this day a long long time. I''d really love to see you try to run, except I probably wouldn''t get the chance to do even one throw on you, and we don''t want to ruin this nice new carpet do we? I''ve seen what happens when someone is shot with too many blow-pipe darts; it''s not fatal but it is messy.¡±


    ¡°Taunting an arrested head of state is not polite, either, Maam.¡± Theophilus said, while checking the details on the warrant.


    ¡°But he was my head of state, your excellency, before I defected. I suffered and many friends died because of this untrustworthy shark.¡±


    ¡°No shark is trustworthy.¡±


    ¡°This one is particularly dangerous.¡± Lilly said ¡°He had his first wife executed.¡±


    ¡°She planned to overthrow me!¡± the prisoner said.


    ¡°She was pregnant. She was heard to tell her unborn son that she hoped when he was ruler he''d be a better ruler than his father.¡± Lilly said. ¡°The spy who heard this reported it, the mother was executed and so was the spy.¡±


    Lilly heard Theophilus decide he''d ask her how she knew that sometime. She decided in reply she''d tell him that the spy had been a fellow student at spy school when he did. That earned her a surprised glance; Theo had seen her around with the other journalists, but hadn''t ever talked to her.


    ¡°That''s not why it happened.¡± the prisoner retorted.


    ¡°But you admit executing your wife and unborn child.¡± Lilly pressed, knowing the horror of that crime in the eyes of the Mer.


    ¡°I thank you for bringing the document, messenger, but must ask you to leave.¡±


    ¡°Mer-friend, wait, please.¡± one of the merwomen asked, and spoke to Theo in the language of the Mer. ¡°This is Lilly, ambassador, named mer-friend for her role in preparing our ambassador at the United Nations.¡±


    ¡°She did not prepare me for this turn of events, nor tell me anything about this place.¡±


    ¡°No. Karella asked her to stay away so that you could negotiate with this one who is oath-breaker, baby-killer and dangerous shark.¡±


    Theo nodded; it would have been very hard to negotiate with a baby-killer. ¡°Do you deny this accusation against you?¡± he asked the prisoner.


    ¡°She planned to overthrow me. The evidence was entirely clear.¡±


    ¡°And the child?¡±


    ¡°What of it?¡± the prisoner asked callously, mostly just for effect. It was a habit of his.


    ¡°By your mouth and your attitude you stand self-condemned, oath-breaker and baby-killer.¡± Theo said ¡°Be glad the arrest warrant is valid. You will be sedated if you move while we address the issue of transporting you to your trial. I do not think any mer would accept the risk of transporting you.¡±


    ¡°Maybe he should swim there.¡± one of the mer-women suggested.


    ¡°We are bound by oath to do our best to get him there alive.¡± Theo pointed out, then added ¡°Otherwise it''d be an excellent suggestion.¡±


    ¡°Can I make a suggestion?¡± Lilly asked, ¡°There are the local fishermen, some have ocean-going boats. They could certainly remove him to the deep water, where perhaps another military vessel could take him. But they would fear reprisals.¡±


    ¡°We surely cannot ask another to take a risk we would not take ourselves.¡± one of the merwomen pointed out.


    ¡°Could he not be tied up in a small surface boat, and it be towed?¡± another asked.


    ¡°It has more merit, certainly.¡± Theo said, ¡°That way if judgement strikes it is only the surface boat that is destroyed. Mer-friend, will you assist in this? We cannot guarantee the surface boat will return, but we will pay if it does not.¡±


    ¡°I will, go, but... might I have company? I don''t swim very well in scales yet.¡±


    ¡°Of course.¡±


    <hr>


    Lilly swam around the point, with two mer-women alongside her, to the first of the fishing boats.


    ¡°Citizen of this Beautiful Peninsula, I have a question for you.¡±


    He didn''t quite jump out of his skin. ¡°You speak our language?¡±


    ¡°The tail is just clothing, I am from inland. Do you know where my friends might borrow a small boat?¡±


    ¡°How small?¡± he asked.


    ¡°One great prisoner, to be delivered to the United Nations. They do not want such scum on their own vessel.¡±


    ¡°One great prisoner?¡± he turned the possible meanings of that in his mind and said ¡°I do not know if I want to understand.¡±


    ¡°A peace treaty has been sworn to. The mer intend to protect all the innocent people of our Beautiful home from harm, and the people of the peninsula will not attack the Mer.¡±


    ¡°And... what of those who many might not count as innocent?¡±


    ¡°They will not attack, or will be treated as rabid dogs.¡± Lilly said. ¡°The mer feel that there are innocent people in prisons who need protecting from harm, so we live in interesting times. Do you have a small boat? The mer think the crimes of the prisoner are so great that God might decide to punish him before he gets to the court, but they will pay if it is destroyed.¡±


    ¡°I do not. But my brother does.¡±


    ¡°Could you ask if we can borrow it?¡±


    ¡°It would be nice to. But I have not seen him for some time.¡±


    ¡°Oh. Do you know where he is?¡±


    ¡°Not really. Perhaps he needs protecting. The prisoner is... a famous person?¡±


    ¡°Yes. The treaty made the treaty place, around the headland, to be a trade outpost, under the law of the Mer. The prisoner forgot the Mer already have a treaty with the United Nations. Maybe he would not have agreed to the treaty if he had better advice, but I think he never was one to value advice. While they were discussing those who need protecting, an arrest warrant arrived.¡±


    ¡°The treaty had been signed long?¡±


    ¡°Not very. The news coverage will be most interesting, I expect.¡±


    ¡°I will get my brother''s boat. Such a prisoner should be moved quickly, I believe.¡±


    ¡°Exactly my thoughts.¡± Lilly agreed, and explained to the merwomen what had been discussed.


    ¡°Is he putting himself in danger?¡±


    ¡°Possibly.¡± Lilly said.


    ¡°Invite him to the trade outpost. It will be easier to protect him there. And his family, of course.¡±


    <hr>


    </a>1st December 2277, 11 A.M. News report


    ¡°Today a historic treaty has been sworn with the mer people. In exchange for fifty years of peace and a small number of trade enclaves, the Mer have agreed to be our powerful ally, defending us in case the imperialistic capitalist states attack us, and also providing all the power our coastal cities need. Also, they will make safe the extensive nuclear waste from our civilian nuclear programme as well as the small quantities from our defensive systems. This historic treaty has been negotiated single-handedly by our Great Leader. The exact text of the treaty follows.¡±


    </a>1st December 2277, 11.30 A.M. News report


    ¡°Today a historic treaty has been sworn with the mer people. In exchange for fifty years of peace, a small number of trade enclaves, and no attacks from any of our people, the Mer have agreed to be our powerful ally, defending the innocent people of our Beautiful peninsula from harm, and also providing all the power our coastal cities need. Also, they will make safe the extensive nuclear waste from our civilian nuclear programme as well as the small quantities from our defensive systems. This historic treaty has been negotiated single-handedly by our Great Leader. The exact text of the treaty follows.¡±


    </a>1st December 2277, 1.00 P.M. News report


    ¡°Today a historic treaty has been sworn with the mer people. In exchange for fifty years of peace, a small number of trade enclaves, and no attacks from any of our people, the powerful mer have agreed protect the innocent people of our Beautiful peninsula from harm, and also provide all the power our coastal cities need. Also, they will make safe the extensive nuclear waste from our civilian nuclear programme as well as the small quantities from our defensive systems. This historic treaty has been negotiated single-handedly by our Great Leader, who has cancelled his normal lunchtime speech. The exact text of the treaty follows...¡±


    </a>1st December 2277, 2 P.M. News report


    ¡°Today a historic treaty has been sworn with the mer people. In exchange for them providing all the power our coastal cities need and making safe the extensive nuclear waste from our civilian and defensive nuclear programmes, the Great Leader has committed our army, navy and air-force to not attack the technologically powerful mer for any reason for the next fifty years of this peace treaty, nor to make any use of depth-charges. The treaty also provides for a small number of mer trade enclaves which will operate under mer law. The mer have also taken it upon themselves to protect the innocent people of our Beautiful peninsula from harm, as much as they are able.


    The exact text of the treaty follows...¡±


    ¡°In further news, the United Nations Security council has issued a warrant for the arrest of the Great Leader. The exact motive for such a blatant attack on our sovereignty is unknown.¡±


    </a>1st December 2277, 6 P.M. News analysis.


    ¡°Today a historic treaty has been sworn with the mer people. In exchange for them providing all the power our coastal cities need and making safe the extensive nuclear waste from our civilian and defensive nuclear programme, the Great Leader committed our army, navy, airforce, police or security services, and also any individual citizens to not attack the technologically powerful mer for any reason, nor may our armed forces make any use of depth-charges. This treaty is unalterable and will bind present and future governments for the next fifty years, or risk a terrible war of annihilation with the Mer. The treaty also provides for a small number of mer trade enclaves which will operate under mer law. The mer have also taken it upon themselves to protect the innocent people of our Beautiful peninsula from harm, as much as they are able.


    In further news, while the Great Leader was discussing implementation details of the treaty, on soil that the treaty had made mer territory, the United Nations Security council issued a warrant for the arrest of the Great Leader. The mer ambassador has forcefully objected to the timing of this event, but the mer security forces were bound by their prior treaty. Our Great Leader is reportedly now on his way to face these trumped up charges against him. We expect him to return home soon.


    The exact text of the treaty with the Mer follows...¡±


    </a>2nd December 2277, 8 A.M. News analysis.


    ¡°Yesterday''s historic treaty with the mer people has had a number of consequences that the Great Leader clearly did not foresee. One being his arrest and immediate extradition to the United Nations court.


    In exchange for the Mer providing all the power our coastal cities need and making safe the extensive nuclear waste from our civilian and defensive nuclear programme, the previous leader committed our army, navy, airforce, police or security services, and also any individual citizens to not attack the technologically powerful mer for any reason, and nor may our armed forces make any use of depth-charges. This treaty is unalterable and will bind present and future governments for the next fifty years, or risk a terrible war of annihilation with the Mer. The treaty also provides for a small number of mer trade enclaves which will operate under mer law, but provides no method for determining where they should be. The mer have sworn that they will protect the innocent people of our Beautiful peninsula from harm, as much as they are able, and to this end are insisting that political prisoners are released. The former foreign affairs minister has been nominated as our leader, and refuses the title great.


    </a>2nd December 2277, 6 P.M. News analysis.


    ¡°Yesterday''s historic treaty with the mer people has had a number of consequences that the previous leader of our Beautiful Peninsula clearly did not foresee. One being his arrest and immediate extradition to the United Nations court, where he faces numerous charges including misuse of power, misuse of public money, corruption, dictatorship, false imprisonment, torture, and extra-judicial execution. The council of the People''s state is currently discussing with the United Nations the extent to which support for the prosecution case is appropriate.


    The former foreign affairs minister has been nominated as our leader, and refuses the title great.


    Yesterday''s treaty specified that in exchange for the Mer providing all the power our coastal cities need and making safe the extensive nuclear waste from our civilian and defensive nuclear programmes, the previous leader committed our army, navy, airforce, police or security services, and also any individual citizens to not attack the technologically powerful mer for any reason, and nor may our armed forces make any use of depth-charges. This treaty is unalterable and will bind present and future governments for the next fifty years, or risk a terrible war with the peace-loving merfolk. A number of generals who felt the appropriate response to recent events was an attack on the Mer have been relieved of their position and are undergoing psychiatric evaluation.


    Among other shortcomings of the treaty that our previous leader swore to without consultation, is the fact that while it claims the tidal stretches of beaches and our internal waters as ours, it foolishly makes no claim for the dry land of our Beautiful Peninsula. It also grants the Mer the right to set up fifty trade enclaves which will operate under mer law, but provides no method for determining where they should be, presumably leaving that choice entirely in the hands of the merfolk, as no sovereignty over the land was mentioned. Discussions are underway regarding the best way to resolve these anomalies.


    The only enclave specified, and that not in precise terms, was established by the treaty as at the treaty location. This led to the immediate arrest of the dictator when the United Nations warrant was issued, a few minutes after the treaty was sworn.


    The most immediately beneficial part of the whole treaty for the individual citizen that the evil dictator failed to spot is that the merfolk swore that they will protect the innocent people of our Beautiful peninsula from harm, as much as they are able. To this end, they are insisting that political and religious prisoners be released, a policy that our new leader wholeheartedly endorses. Another benefit from the treaty is now we have a powerful and reliable ally and improved relationships with the United Nations, our new leader has pointed out that we do not need the vast military budget we have had for the last decades.


    Therefore, a new policy will come into effect in the next few days slashing the military budget and including provisions such that most armed forces personnel will be given the choice as to whether they wish to continue in their roles or return home.


    Although the Mer are interested in trade it would be almost entirely wrong to describe them as capitalists. Almost all large-scale projects among them are organised by their government, as are health-care and education, which are provided without charge. Food is shared amongst them on the basis of mutual care and social responsibility. Their attitude in this area appears to have more similarity with a pre-industrial kinship model than any political philosophy.


    Most economists who have looked at their economic model have agreed that the model is unsustainable and not based on any sensible theoretical underpinnings; the Mer shrug and reply ''It hasn''t changed much for the last two thousand years, but who knows what will happen now? We don''t mind too much, as long as the sick are healed, the hungry are fed and we get time to swim.''¡±


    The End of the Other Big Secret


    The next series: Visual Effects looks at what''s been happening on Mars