Mermaidia: A Limited Edition Anthology

by Pauline Creeden

  The pod shook from the turbulence and soon heated to a barely tolerable level, even with its protective shielding. The sides of the pod were burning me, so I pulled in tighter, changing the pod’s direction again. I saw my adjustments on the screen, and then the intended landing area blinked out of existence.

  Bastards!

  I had no idea whether they’d fired on me, but I tensed as my pod landed. The rough landing threw me backwards painfully. Thankfully there wasn’t far I could go. I pulled the door lever the moment I was sure I was no longer moving. The two sides of the pod separated and water rushed in. I managed two breaths before the pod filled with water. There was no belt to hold me in place, so I swam out through the opening of the pod and up towards the surface.

  I was shocked to realise that my pod’s landing had been on water. It would’ve been so much worse on land, and I wasn’t sure I’d have survived it. I swam for a good twenty seconds before surfacing, and as beautiful as the view was beneath the water, it wasn’t at the forefront of my mind. Surviving was.

  I’d been led to be believe this planet was rough, rugged and dangerous. Maybe it was, but I was met with a view of the most perfect blue sky and a smattering of clouds. There were no longer views like this on the central planets. They were almost entirely consumed by cities, with space given to well-tended gardens here and there. No, this was something else—pristine nature. I didn’t quite know what to make of it, but Jade would’ve loved it.

  A seemingly-endless ocean stretched out to my left, but to my right was a distant shore with vivid green trees. It wasn’t far, so I swam toward it. A seldom used skill from my youth. I wasn’t an especially strong swimmer, but I wouldn’t have managed without it.

  Beneath the water were plants and coral in different colours—green, orange and yellow, while small alien fish darted through the water. They seemed to ignore me, and I did the same thing, looking above the water as I swam. It rippled around me, the perfectly clear water reflecting the sky. It was like heaven, but I knew there would be no leaving the planet.

  My landing pod was heavy and it was unlikely I could salvage it; the electronics would also probably be fried from the water. It likely wouldn’t have done any good anyway; they were built to descend into a planet’s atmosphere and their journey ended there. If this was to be my prison, it seemed better than any I’d envisaged. My fears had created a lot of worse possibilities.

  I let the salty water wash over me. I needed to find a fresh water source once I reached land. As the moments passed and I swam closer, I noticed shapes in the distance beyond the treeline. They were so large it was a wonder I didn’t see them first. More geometric than mountains or hills, they towered up into the sky, large black pillars of stone.

  I felt something brush against my leg, and I noticed it was a plant. They were a dark green and so long and soft, they moved with the ebb and flow of the water. I moved through them as quickly and carefully as I could, and then I felt something brush against my arm.

  It felt different to the plant. Maybe it was a fish?

  The plants grew more sparse, and the shore wasn’t far away now. I could see the beach in more detail and blue vines hung from the distant trees. They were unlike anything I’d seen before. I took another breath, and then I felt a sharp sting as something slashed me across the leg. It felt like someone had taken a knife to me, and when I grabbed my leg, there was a hole right through my prison slacks and I was bleeding. I looked around but there was no sign of the source, so I swam for land as fast as I could. My blood might attract predators, and I didn’t want them cutting my exile short.

  Something else darted by, a dark flash through the water as something slashed the sleeve of my shirt open. More blood spilled, and I refused the temptation to grasp my wound because it would slow me down. I swam as I’d never swum before: fast and as though my life depended on it, because it probably did.

  Another cut caught me across the side of the neck, and that made me realise it had probably gone for my jugular. I saw another flash, and knew it was a fish of some kind. It wasn’t one of the small ones I’d seen earlier—it was large, with a yellow stripe at the bottom. I was close to the island now, no more than thirty metres.

  Two more caught me across the ankles and another across my back. There was more than one fish. Could they be working together or had I swum into a school of them? My wounds stung as I forced my way through the water, flailing as I felt something wrap around my legs. Something had me. A creature of some kind? No, more of the weeds, but I stopped and the fish were slashing me. My shoulder. My back. My throat, oh my God!

  I wasn’t going to make it. How could I not make it? The beach was right ahead of me. Panic took hold, but I felt myself fading. Could there be venom? My mind was slipping away and I was losing all grasp of myself. I was going to die there and I couldn’t let that happen, but I didn’t know how to stop it. I kept fighting and swimming, pawing uselessly at the water as I felt myself go under.

  And then there was darkness.

  I woke up with a shudder, the sand cold and rough under my back. I glanced around, fear a sour taste in the back of my throat. I was on the island near the treeline, the pain all over my body making it clear I was alive. My mind was foggy, and it took me a minute to question how it was even possible that I’d survived. Perhaps a wave had washed me up on the shore, but I remembered nothing after going under.

  After rolling onto my side, I laid there in the sand for at least a few minutes as I caught my breath. I ran a hand over my sleeve, sliced in several places as though someone had taken a sword to it and me. My trouser legs were the same, the many cuts shallower and coated with oil and fine sand.

  I looked up and down the beach, confirming I was alone. I’d been told I would be the only human on this world in this time, but my survival gave me reason to wonder. I sat up, wincing because it hurt. A shiver ran up my spine and it wasn’t from the cold water. I’d avoided death, but I didn’t know how I’d done it. Maybe I should’ve just counted my lucky stars.

  I rested for as long as I could justify, and glanced out over the waves as I enjoyed the view on this strange, alien world. It seemed my imagination, but I thought I saw shapes moving among the waves. Maybe it was the plants, or the fish that had attacked me. I was ready to turn back toward the trees when I noticed a pair of eyes gazing at me.

  A woman watched from just above the water line, her sleek blue hair drifting in the water around her. One moment she was there and the next she was gone; so quickly I could’ve put it down to my imagination or a hallucination from my injuries. I was sure in that moment that I wasn’t alone.

  Whoever she was, she didn’t seem to fear the deadly fish. Maybe they feared her, which made me wonder if I should too. I wanted to follow her, but there was no way I was going back into the water at that time. The turquoise waves hid many secrets and she was one of them, because I didn’t see anything more of her.

  Once I’d climbed painfully to my feet, I started up the beach toward the trees. They were a vivid unnatural green, draped with blue vines. I had no idea what I could safely eat or drink on the island, but I hadn’t eaten in days and I was literally starving. I acted with as much care as I could, but food, water and shelter were my immediate priorities.

  It occurred to me that I couldn’t be more than twenty miles away from the pod’s original landing site. That meant resources might be readily available in the area if they hadn’t intended me to die. They really seemed to be doing their utmost to damn me in every way possible and curiously enough, it wasn’t working. Maybe the Fates had better plans for me yet or maybe I was just too stubborn to die.

  As I approached the trees, I realised that the source of the blue colour on the vines was a multitude of tiny flowers. Their subtle perfume drew me, but I felt something wasn’t right. They looked like the perfect lure. Maybe the vines wrapped around unwary prey that ventured too close? I picked up a small rock and tossed it toward one of the trees a good distance aw
ay. Nothing happened as it bounced harmlessly to the ground.

  Maybe it wasn’t dangerous, but I remained cautious. It was one thing that probably wouldn’t try to kill me later.

  The structures I noticed from the water seemed to be jagged black towers or monoliths of stone, and not buildings of any kind. They were far enough away that I couldn’t see them in a lot of detail, but they weren’t skyscrapers. They looked more like crystal stalagmites that grew well above the canopy of the tallest trees.

  I decided I’d have to investigate them later, but they weren’t the priority. I kept the ocean to my back as I wandered further through the alien forest. The last thing I wanted was to get lost. The terrain was soft and sandy for the most part, with gently-sloping hills and small rocks scattered across the landscape.

  There were wild grasses and some trees with firmer branches that appeared less alien and felt safer to be around. I picked up a large fallen branch and snapped off the twigs. It wasn’t much, but it would serve as a walking staff and a weapon if I needed one. I had no idea what was out there yet; I just knew what I needed to find.

  I stumbled across the ruins of an old shack, though not much of it remained. There were still timber supports, which had slumped toward the ground with age. Woven panels had almost entirely rotted away. They weren’t useful for shelter, but I could tell the builder had used some of the wider grasses that grew in abundance on the island.

  The shack had probably belonged to another prisoner. They might even have been from the Demeter, if they’d been sent back further in time than me. Rummaging around in the ruins of the shack, I found an old clay pot and an oddly-shaped bottle with a spongey cork in the top. The bottle was incredibly light and it took me a moment to realise it was made from a seashell. The outside was flaking with age, but it seemed sturdy enough to hold water.

  It was a lucky find, because it meant if I could find a source of plain water, I could carry some with me. I knew that if I built a shack, I’d keep it near a water source, provided it was safe to do so. Animals were normally attracted to water too, but I wasn’t sure what lived on the planet. After searching through the ruins of the shack, I decided it was time to leave. The day wasn’t getting any younger and I was growing thirstier all the time.

  It was an afterthought, but there was some difference in the vegetation that grew around the shack compared to the nearby woods. It made me wonder if the original owner might’ve grown plants nearby that were safe to eat. It was risky trying them, but I needed food. Fishing was always an option, but I also knew the fish in these parts had a bite of their own.

  There were bunches of plants with red leaves growing near the shack’s rotted panels, so I tore a leaf off one. It reminded me of something I’d heard once before—that red things were often dangerous. Spiders sprang to mind, and some plants, but there were others that were safe like beetroot and red onions. I swallowed it down anyway and it didn’t taste that bad. It was like lettuce, only drier.

  I didn’t feel ill after eating it, so I grabbed a few more handfuls and set out back into the woods. The day was growing warmer or maybe it was just me from all the walking, and I realised I had no idea what to expect of the planet. The days could be longer than I was used to or the temperature could drop at night. I had no idea about storms in the region, but for the moment the weather was clear.

  The cuts on my body still stung, especially as I worked up a sweat and my clothes rubbed against them, but I kept on going. I wanted to get as much done as I could, while I still had enough strength.

  The minutes turned into hours, and I eventually found a narrow stream several handspans across that flowed down toward the sea. The water didn’t taste of salt, and I resisted the urge to gulp it down in case it was harmful in some way. I tried a little at first, then allowed some time to pass before drinking more. It was cool and refreshing, and I felt so much better for it. I took the opportunity to clean my wounds and splash cold water on my face. I had the bottle from the shack, so I washed it out and filled it, stoppering it with the cork. I assumed the previous owner was no longer around, but I was open to the possibility that they were.

  An hour or so later, I searched for a safe place to sleep as the sky was darkening. I was exhausted from my walking, and still recovering from my injuries. As tempted as I was to return to the beach, it felt too far away.

  I found a place between two large rocks that provided cover; there was likely wildlife I hadn’t encountered yet.

  I pulled off my shirt and slept on it and the grass; it wasn’t the most comfortable but it would do until I found something better.

  When I woke, I was met with another sunrise. I didn’t think I’d slept that long, but when I searched the sky I found a second sun.

  My wounds were no longer stinging as they had been before. It could’ve been the substance I’d found on my wounds or washing them with water might have helped; it was hard to say for sure. I took a swig from the water bottle and in my hunger, ate more of the red leaves. They hadn’t killed me yet, or even sickened me, so I assumed for the time being that they were safe. It would’ve taken more than I had to make a significant dint in my hunger, but for the moment it was enough to keep me going.

  My thoughts returned to the sea. Not only the useless life pod, which lay somewhere beneath the waves, but to the fish that had attacked me and the mysterious, feminine eyes I’d seen watching me. I was sure it wasn’t my imagination, though I hadn’t been in the best shape at the time. I accepted that I might be the only human being alive on Dorphus Five, but I wondered who or what else might be there. I already sensed this was a world full of secrets or at least mysteries.

  I walked for what felt like hours, but it couldn’t have been more than an hour or two. The sight of the waves was calming, despite the dangers that lurked beneath them. I’d already decided that I would try fishing, though I didn’t know which ones were safe. A fishing line was out of the question for the moment. A spear was an option, but I was reluctant to wander out there too far. I spied some rocks in the distance, and I found a sharp stick I could use as I made my way toward it. I set down my staff for the time being.

  There were weathered boulders scattered along the shore. Some were larger and further out in the water than others, but I could climb on one and fish from there, so the large attack-fish wouldn’t have much opportunity to savage my legs.

  I carefully waded through the water; it lapped at my ankles at first, deepening by the time I reached the boulder I’d decided on. It was covered with pale blue lichen that seemed strange, but not out of place. I climbed up easily, and as I looked out over the water, I saw some small fish darting about.

  I didn’t think they were the kind that had attacked me before, but it would’ve taken a lot of them to equal a meal. The first time I spotted a large fish nearby, I stabbed the spear into the water. It was far too quick and the spear lacked power; the fish darted away before I could try again. I made several more frustrating attempts at fishing, before I noticed soft laughter nearby.

  Either I was losing my mind, which was entirely possible, or I wasn’t alone. I turned to see a woman in the water; I could only make out her head and shoulders, and she was smiling. It wasn’t a sight I would soon forget. Her hair was a soft iridescent blue, and it covered her shoulders, sticking to them amidst the gentle waves. I was sure it was the woman I’d seen before.

  “You want to be careful,” I told her. “The fish here can attack.”

  I didn’t want to see her harmed. Still, it felt like an odd thing to say, because she seemed so at ease in the ocean and she likely knew the planet far better than I did. I didn’t know how she was there, or why her hair was blue. She was obviously a strong swimmer, but something was different about her beyond the obvious. I hadn’t yet put the pieces together.

  “You speak,” she said, studying me with her pale green eyes.

  I felt like they could see right through me and into my soul. Then again, it might have been that I found
her attractive.

  “I didn’t think you would,” she explained in a strange, lilting tone. “The fish are ours. They protect us from dangers.”

  It occurred to me then that I must’ve still had my translation implant and it was working. I thought it had been removed along with my other enhancements, but if it helped me and this lovely lady understand one another it was a good thing.

  “Why don’t you come closer?” she suggested, beckoning to me.

  She swirled the water with her hand and my gaze was drawn to her gesture.

  “If it’s all the same, I think I’d like to stay closer to the shore for now.”

  It clearly wasn’t the answer she wanted, but I didn’t want to offend my newfound friend. She didn’t make any move to swim closer, so I took a chance and climbed down over the side of the boulder.

  “Would you be more comfortable on land?” I asked, as I glanced at her meaningfully.

  “I cannot go up there,” she said matter-of-factly. “No feet.”

  “What?” I asked, confused. I wasn’t ready to accept this lovely young lady was a double-amputee. As if to provide clarification, she dived under the water and I saw a momentary flash of a dark green tail.

  It was not what I was expecting.

  “Well that’s different,” I exclaimed as I scratched my head, wondering how such a thing was possible. I’d heard old legends of sea-folk, but most people didn’t believe in them. Of course, the Empire had established a new frontier of alien worlds. So many things were possible there that hadn’t been back home. Home; it wasn’t even that anymore.

  She didn’t surface again, and I searched the ocean for further signs of her presence. I couldn’t find her, but I heard a voice that was much younger. The first mermaid was in her late twenties perhaps, or would have been if she was human. This one was no older than nine or ten and she wore a top of green scales.