Chapter 22. The mermaid of Zennor

Finn sat on the edge of the low black granite bluffs that

bordered Zennor beach and ate the sandwiches

Nain Joan had packed for him. He looked through his

sketch pad at the drawings he'd done. Tonight at home

he was going to tidy them up and add water colour to

the ones he was happiest with.

He was about to get up when something caught his eye

in the swell below. The winter storms had left long strands

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

of reddish brown kelp in the shallows near the shore.

At first Finn thought he was looking at a small bloom of

kelp, then he saw a rolling movement. He kept watching

and saw clothing appear, then a face - a girl's face.

She was deathly pale, but she was alive.

Without thinking, Finn kicked off his shoes and jumped in.

He lost sight of her when he landed in the water but the

girl surfaced near him gasping for air. Finn grabbed her

by the hair and it swirled around him as he held her

head above the water.

"I got you."

*

"I was so sure I would never see my family again.

The only thing I was thinking about when we reached the

beach was getting back to them. I'm so sorry I ran off

without thanking you."

Finn smiled. "You have nothing to be sorry for Vie."

''I didn't tell anyone in my family about what had happened,

and we left to go back to Perwillowen the next day."

"It's getting late," Finn said, "and I've got an early start

in the morning." They walked arm in arm across the lawn

towards the house.

"You don't have to go." Vie said." Stay here tonight."

Finn stopped before they went inside

''Will you do something for me Vie?"

''Anything Finn, just ask."

"Come to lunch tomorrow, I want you to meet my Nain Joan."

*