THE OTHER BIG SECRET 2: RABBIT STEW / CH. 7:CHANGES
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.”
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“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.”
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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.
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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 — 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.
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TUESDAY SEPT 20TH 1977, DINING ROOM, MERFOLK BAY
“It was wonderful!” Maria exclaimed.
Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.
“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.”
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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.
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Pania saw an elderly woman fondly watching some children play — 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.”
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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.”
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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.”
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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.”
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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.