The building was right in front of them, but a question popped up — how would they enter?

The sides of the building were like a castle. Smooth stone, nothing to grab and hold onto as one made a hypothetical climb. And with the walls far too tall to climb over, using a ladder — not that they had one on hand, anyway — options were limited.

Emma was at a loss. What would she do? Short of finding a grapple and hook, they were screwed.

“Any ideas?” she asked William.

William shrugged. “Walk along the outside and see if there is an entrance?”

The idea wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t logical for their situation.

Emma said, “We don’t have the time. We spent most of the day — or night, I dunno anymore. I’ve lost all track of time — just getting here. I am hungry. And in case you didn’t notice, there is nothing on this forsaken place to eat. We need to take the most direct route.”

“You’re so impatient, woman. Come on, now. It might take a bit, but do we have any other choice? Come, be a good girl and follow me and—” but Emma had already taken off without William. Her destination? That hole she had found with the mermaid skeleton.

Lowering herself into the hole, Emma retained a firm grasp on the solid water. Submerging herself until her entire lower body was immersed, Emma then thrashed about with her legs. Her goal here was to try and feel out the condition of the water underneath the solid water. How deep was the water solid?

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“William, help me up, would you? Please?” Emma asked.

William took his time in getting to her but did as asked and heaved her onto dry land. For an older man, William appeared to be in good shape.

“And what was it you were doing?” William asked, his tone one of annoyance.

“I was seeing if we were on an ice-berg, so to speak, or if we were on some thin ice, you know.”

“You were attempting to see the thickness of this ‘solid water,’ as you call it? To what end?”

“We can swim under the ice and into the building,” Emma said, grinning like a child who had just solved a puzzle.

William’s face went white. “You can’t be serious,” he said.

“Why not?” Emma replied. “I think I have figured it out. You know why for a while back there; it seemed like that building wasn’t getting any closer? And why the sea behind still seemed so close? It’s because of the land — it is constantly shifting!”

“Shifting how? I don’t have any idea what you mean,” William said, huffing now, becoming angry.

“Listen. I don’t know how you came here, but I awoke in the midst of drowning. When I was looking for land, there were these mini-islands that formed and fell apart. I think that process of formation and disintegration is a feature, here. I think that was what was happening to us as we were traveling here. I think we should get ahead of it and just swim under the land.”

“It is a mad idea. We will die trying!” William shouted. “I will not drown!”

“Fine! Do as you please, and I will do as I wish.”

Emma glanced at the last minute that William was about to say something, but she did not care. She had already dived into the hole after taking a deep breath. She had, had it with this man.