Mermaid Politics

***

The storm was disappearing over the horizon, so the stars were coming out for the first time in days. Finally, David could check their position and figure out just how far off course his ship was. He had the tools, a lantern, and several maps spread out carefully on the worktable when he heard a voice. After looking around the deck, where the crew was working on making repairs, but silently, he decided that it came from below.

“Hello? Is someone down there?” he called over the rail into the darkness.

“Yes. Can you come down and talk to me? Soon, please?”

Considering that they were somewhere in the middle of the ocean, David was cautious. “Is there a good reason you can't come up?” he asked.

“Yes there is.” Just that, no more clue. David figured it was probably one of the merfolk, which weren't automatically hostile. If they were you didn't usually get a chance to talk about it. Still, he did let the sailor at the wheel know to keep an eye out before he lowered himself down in the dinghy.

He quickly saw that he'd been correct. The mermaid lunged out of the water and hooked her arms around the sides of the dinghy as soon as it settled on the water. She had the usual long hair and lack of clothing, though above the surface like this her hair was flat and streamed seawater, and she just looked deathly pale in the moonlight. “Can I help you, Ma'am?” It helped to be polite with them.

“No, I can help you. Are you aware that you are sailing straight towards a sunken reef? Just curious.” She had a superior-looking smile that reminded him of one of his sisters.

“No, I did not know that. We got blown off course by that storm. I'm a bit off my main chart,” David replied

“I know.” She didn't sound smug, just matter-of-fact. “Anyway, heave south like RIGHT now and you'll miss it. Also, heading of 15 off south will run you back into the current to Floberg. I assume that's where you are going.”

“Yes, thank you.” David struggled with the instinct to bow. “No, thank you very much. Can I reward you somehow?”

The mermaid reached up to drag a wet lock of hair off her face. “Just don't wreck, silly. And I meant south now when I said it.”

David called up the heading change to the men on the deck, and heard the pounding of feet as they ran to obey his order. He pulled the rope which lifted the dinghy, just enough to hold it out of the water as the ship turned. The mermaid dropped off back into the waves.

“How far, Captain?” he heard the Master yell from above. David looked for the mermaid but didn’t see so much as a ripple. He considered. “Stay south as much as you can for an hour. Then take 15 degrees west of south until further notice.”

“Aye sir!” He could feel the lean of the ship away from him, and at one point the dingy bumped against the side. He picked idly at a barnacle while he waited for her to settle. When she did, he lowered the rowboat again.

“Ma'am? Still here?” He called out into the darkness. “I want to thank you again.”

“Yup, still here.” She popped back above the surface and brushed hair off of her chest without a hint of shyness. “Are you the captain here?”

“Pretty much. I own the boat, so I give the orders. I guess that makes me a Captain. I'm David. We're from Gillin.” David shrugged.

“Well la de da for you!” She laughed, and not meanly.

David smiled back. “So, am I allowed to ask why you saved us? I thought you were supposed to lure us onto the rocks, not the other way around.”

“Pfft. Stupid old stories. We don't do that anymore. Well, not much.” She looked annoyed. “I'm Lace, by the by. Since you told me your name.”