THE OTHER BIG SECRET 3: SAFELY OUT AT SEA / CH. 7: REPORTING IN
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.
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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.”
If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.
“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.”
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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!”
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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.”
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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 — the crocodiles and sharks — 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.
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“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.”
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“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.”
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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.”