Skin Deep

Gather round. Let me tell you a story. No, come a bit closer...that's right.

My name? Well, for now you may call me Marco.

Ahh...no. No, I think you could say it was more of a nickname. It doesn't matter anyway.

Right. Are you all sitting comfortably?

Well, I'm sorry the rock is wet; it's been underwater for a few hours, you know! You'll have to make the best of it; in a few more hours you won't even notice it.

That's very kind of you, but the water feels so good against this old man's bones that I think I'll stay in it, thank you. And besides, this way I can be on an eye level with you.

Now. If there are no more interruptions, I may begin.

This is a story from long, long ago, when the merfolk freely roamed the oceans. Nobody knows exactly where they came from; some say they were always there, others that they were magical creatures. I've even heard one person claim they were genetic experiments sent through time from the future, although I don't believe that one.

Well, no, you're right, I suppose I don't really believe the other explanations either. For all the stories, the truth of the matter as I believe it is simply this; when life first crawled out of the oceans, some stayed behind. Those on land evolved into humans, those in the sea into merfolk. One thing the stories are right about is that merfolk are wondrous fair.

No, The Little Mermaid doesn't come close. Merfolk do not turn into foam when they die.

Yes, I know. Disney has a lot to answer for. Go track down Hans Christian Andersen's original at some point. Now, if we're done with the editorials...!

Where was I? Oh yes.

This is a story from long, long ago, when the merfolk freely roamed the oceans. At that time, they were divided into clans, scattered throughout the very bottom of the sea.

Yes, they could see very well. Merfolk underwater do not perceive the world as you or I do; they see in what scientists call ultraviolet. Their bodies, and the bodies of the other inhabitants of the sea bed, show up a blinding white in the ultraviolet spectrum.

This particular clan was called Orthalom, which means stars in the mermish tongue, and it was called so because the prince of the clan, Sihos, had reportedly swum up to the surface and beheld the night sky.

No, most merfolk never see it, just like most people never see the bottom of the ocean. It's a fascinating, exotic world, and one most are content to dream about instead of actually visiting.

What? King? No, no merfolk ever had a king. Prince or Princess-for females hold equal stature with males-is the title of the clan ruler.

Now, Prince Sihos had many children, for merfolk do not give birth to live young like people. Instead, they lay between two to ten eggs, which hatch after a week and a day. The young look very much like people, although they have webbed feet which merge into a tail when they reach adolescence.

Well, it has to be that way. A merman's gills are in his tail and the same is true for a mermaid. When the young are born, they have no gills, and so must be able to walk about on land.

No, you wouldn't have seen them. There are several underwater caves that they live in, eating and playing until their gills are developed. Even then, they keep their lungs, for they must see to the slaves.

Yes, slaves, and I'm coming to that if you'll let me get on.

Prince Sihos had many children, but by far the fairest was Jihana, the eldest daughter. Her beauty was legendary, as was her skill in combat. Merfolk are a warrior race, fond of battling with each other if no suitable adversary can be found.

Now, Jihana was betrothed to the merman Tulkor, a match that had been made before either was born in an attempt to unite their separate clans. However, it was a match that was to the liking of neither, for Jihana found Tulkor coarse and ungrateful, and he found her to be less refined than most maidens.

That night - yes, the merfolk have day and night, just not like humans - Jihana stole away from the first feast and sought solitude among the animals.

Yes, first feast. When merfolk wed, they hold three feasts. The first gives the others time to arrive from distant waters, the second is when they actually exchange vows, when everyone has arrived, and the third is to round off the ceremony nicely, and to make sure the laws of hospitality are correctly observed. Among merfolk, it is the height of bad mannners to send a guest away with an empty stomach.

Never mind what they eat; nobody's yet figured that out. Who knows what food may be found at the bottom of the oceans?

As Jihana settled in the pools, misery at the life which surely lay before her overwhelmed her, and she began to weep. She didn't know how long she lay there, but presently a voice from above said, "My mistress, why do you weep?"

Jihana lifted her head to stare at the one addressing her. He was no more than a slave, but she couldn't help feeling that his eyes were kind, and so she confided in him the whole sorry tale.

"I can fix that, if my mistress pleases," the slave said calmly.

Now, normally no self-respecting noble will address a slave, but Jihana was too desperate to observe proper protocol, and so she said, "How?"

"If my mistress will be good enough to obtain a jar of fat, I will tell her what is needed."

Jihana wasn't sure if trusting the slave was the right thing to do, but she knew she had no choice and so she went and retrieved a small jar of whale fat from her father's stores. Now, merfolk do not kill other intelligent denizens of the oceans except in self-defence, but once a creature such as a whale has died of injury or old age, then there is no sin in using its bodily resources to aid your own survival.

The slave took the jar of fat from Jihana and looked over the contents, and nodded.

"If my mistress will cover her left arm with it, she will soon find her worries disappear."

Jihana wasn't entirely convinced, but she did as the slave suggested. Then, for fear of being missed, she swam quickly back to the ceremony.

I have forgotten to mention something; namely that there is a single custom at each of the three marriage feasts which must be observed. At the first feast, the groom wraps a gold chain about his right wrist and then hangs it loosely over the bride's left, to symbolise their being joined as the links in a chain. If all the customs do not go as planned, the merfolk believe that the gods are not smiling on the marriage, and any betrothal or engagement is annulled, and both parties are free to choose again. Two of the customs are permitted to fail, but three must not at any price. Even though the vows are taken following the second ritual, these vows can be and always are annulled if all three rituals are unsuccessful in some way.

Now that that is cleared up, I will continue.

As soon as Tulkor attempted to loop the chain over Jihana's left wrist, the mermaid understood the slave's cleverness, for the fat made it impossible for the chain to stay on. No matter how many times Tulkor attempted to replace it, it would slither off like an eel. Finally Prince Sihos declared a halt to the ceremony.

"It is clear the gods are not as favourable as they may be," he said. "No matter. We will proceed with the second rite tomorrow."

Jihana went to her sleep very troubled that night. The slave had managed to prevent the first ritual from going through, but how could he prevent the next?

Now, the second ritual consists of the bride and groom holding both their intended's hands in their own, singing what merfolk call the Marriage Duet to symbolise spiritual and cultural harmony.

No, I've no idea how it goes. Besides, even if I did, I wouldn't sing it; merfolk are reputed to be extremely cagey about the intricacies of their society.

Jihana couldn't for the life of her think how she could escape this one. Any overt movement on her part would immediately be noted, and a deliberate attempt on the part of either the bride or the groom to sabotage the wedding is one of the most heinous crimes among merfolk.

Because they prize honesty in their personal lives above all, that's why. Any merman or mermaid who couldn't be honest in a choice affecting the rest of their life is unlikely to be honest in the smaller, day-to-day issues.

Early the next morning, Jihana stole back to the same pool she had visited the night before. The slave was there, for slaves only sleep when they are too exhausted to continue, and even then an overseer usually whips them out of it if they catch them.

As soon as he saw her, the slave bowed deeply.

"My mistress. May I ask if last night was successful?"

"It was," Jihana replied distractedly, "but I am concerned about this evening."

"If my mistress would share her troubles, perhaps I may be able to serve her again," the slave said.

So Jihana told the slave all about the second ritual, how she was frightened of its success, for you remember that even if just one succeeds, the wedding will be performed regardless of how the couple fared in the other two.

To Jihana's surprise, the slave smiled.

"If my mistress pleases, there is a simple solution to this. I will need certain items-"

"Name them!" Jihana bade him. "Name them and they shall be yours!"

"As my mistress pleases. I will need a yard of clearskin, a sharp knife, some slime from a sea snail's nest and the young of the snail itself."

Now, there are some sea snails which you probably know about, ones which have a lethal venom to people. But the ones living at the bottom of the ocean are far, far deadlier...although to the merfolk, who have long since built up a resistance to the venom, they merely irritate in much the same way a bee sting does. Nevertheless, the deep sea snails are vicious and will defend their young with their lives.

What?

Didn't I? Very well then, I will explain. There is a species of fish called simply 'clearfish', since they are transparent enough to see their organs.

Yes, you probably would have seen them in a tropical fish store, or at least, their cousins. The clearfish in the merlands are goldfish-sized, and swim in shoals of thousands. Their skin is a potent aphrodisiac to merfolk, and is easily purchased.

So Jihana went off and procured these items, buying the clearskin from a herbalist. Since she was due for her wedding night (which only takes place after the third ritual), there was nothing amiss in her purchasing it.

She also had good cause to bless her skill at weaponry, for the battle against the deep sea snail was hard won indeed. Yet win she did, and returned with the load and her own knife to give to the slave, who still waited.

"I thank you, my mistress," he said, again bowing low. Slaves are required to show great respect to merfolk, particularly nobles. "If my mistress will permit me, I will get to work immediately."

As Jihana left, the slave was as good as his word. First he cut four large hand shapes from the clearskin, and sealed them with snail slime, for the stuff is stickier than glue, and entirely waterproof. Deep sea snails often use it to secure their next meal, as they eat fish as well as plants.

Next the slave coated both sides of the clearskin gloves in slime and, banging the knife on the shells of the young snails, enraged them into shooting their venomous barbs into the slime, where they stuck fast.

What's that?

No, nobody would have noticed. You see, the barbs which deep sea snails fire (in much the same manner as porcupines) are hair-fine, and clear as glass. So you see, you wouldn't be able to find it and draw it out very easily, and it would continue pumping venom into your body.

When Jihana returned that evening, the slave bowed to her and said, "My mistress, please give me your hand."

Now, Jihana was a little dubious about this - after all, slaves are viewed as literally untouchable - but then she thought of a married life with Tulkor and obeyed. The slave drew her forward and, with the greatest of care, placed the gloves on her hands and bade her depart before she was missed.

So surprised was Jihana at this unusual conduct on the part of a slave that she obeyed before thinking about it, taking her seat at the feast. Although the gloves were practically invisible, she felt her body quivering with nervousness, and she couldn't keep her tail still. What if someone saw? What if her father noticed?

Prince Sihos did notice something, in fact, and leaned in to whisper to her, "Have no fear, daughter; this ritual will go perfectly and you will soon be wed."

Jihana gave her father a small smile which wasn't entirely false. Now if someone saw her nervous, they would merely assume it was related to the wedding.

The time came, and Jihana and Tulkor joined hands. As they did so, Tulkor felt his hands seem to catch fire as the barbs in Jihana's gloves bit into his unprotected skin and he jerked away, crying out. The pain notwithstanding, he then seized Jihana's hands with such fervour that she cried out in pain. Tulkor managed to keep his hold for the first two verses of the duet, although the pain was increasing, for you see, the tighter he held his wife-to-be's hands, the further in the barbs went and the more venom they injected. As the third and final verse approached, the barbs finally took their toll-for even the merfolk will succumb if the amount of venom is great enough-and he slumped unconscious to the ground.

Jihana had escaped the second trial. Now only one more remained.

Wait, where are you going? Don't you want to know how the story ends?

Your parents will wait, I'm sure. They won't tell you off.

No? Well, please yourself. Anyone else want to leave?

Good. Now, as I was saying...

The next morning, Prince Sihos informed Jihana that she was going to be kept under constant guard. He did this not because he distrusted his child, but because there had been many suitors in line for her hand and he was starting to suspect sabotage.

However, Jihana still managed to evade her guards and made straight for the pool, although she didn't believe the slave could help her now.

The third trial is the most important, representing the physical union. The merman and mermaid cling to each other, pressing their bodies against their partner with all their strength for a full hour.

Yes, merfolk understand the concept of hours and minutes. Maybe not in the same way people do, but they understand them.

As Jihana poured out her third and greatest trouble, the clever slave smiled.

"My mistress, this is the simplest barrier of all to overcome," he said, "and one that may be overcome without my aid. My mistress must send out for a dish containing the tentacles of the zlang-zlang squid."

"What else must it have?" Jihana asked.

"Whatever my mistress pleases," came the reply, "but she must make sure it contains that one ingredient, else the entire plan will fail."

Jihana raised her jaw firmly at this point and said, "Slave, give me your name."

The slave smiled at her.

"I am known as Dirnec, if it please my mistress."

"Dirnec," Jihana repeated. "If this is successful, Dirnec, you shall have whatever reward you desire."

"My mistress is truly too kind," Dirnec murmured. "But she had better hurry; the squid is a long way from here and she must eat it before the day is half done."

Jihana swam off, back to her room, where she immediately sent out for the tentacles of the zlang-zlang squid. Her servants were a full three hours in retrieving it, and it was almost too late by the time it arrived, the tentacles mixed in with a batch of her normal food.

No, I can't say what merfolk eat. As I told you before, nobody except them really knows.

Jihana ate the food as quickly as she could. Although she didn't notice any difference straightaway, as the hours passed, she grew hotter and hotter until she was frightened she really would catch fire. For the first time she wondered if she had erred in trusting the slave.

That evening she settled into her accustomed place at the table, waiting and dreading what must come. Instead of the usual good humour prevalent on these occasions, there was an undercurrent of concern; after all, two of the three rituals had already failed.

As she and Tulkor swam up, Jihana felt the feeling of dread creep over her. The tentacles had done nothing except make her extremely uncomfortable, and on top of that she would have to marry Tulkor after all.

But as quickly as the merman took hold of her, he snatched his hands away with a howl of agony, holding them up and watching in disbelief as they reddened and blistered before his very eyes.

Now, the zlang-zlang squid is a curious beast, being one of the very few creatures to glow naturally in darkness. It acts as a warning to predators, for the zlang-zlang squid will react strongly with the acids in the stomach, causing the entire body to heat up gradually until it eventually combusts.

That is a very intelligent point, young one. No, this cannot happen to merfolk, since they live underwater. The sensation is extremely unpleasant, but not fatal, and the merperson cools down again after a day or so. The clever slave's plan had worked beautifully, since few merfolk understand the properties of the zlang-zlang squid; it makes its home so very far from any clan.

There was an outbreak of muttering, and cries of "Sabotage!" from some of the more excited merfolk, but even Prince Sihos could not fly in the face of tradition. He rapped on the table and the guests all fell silent.

"It is clear that the gods do not favour this alliance between my daughter and the son of the neighbouring clan," he said, every word seeming to weigh heavily in his heart. "The marriage is annulled and these two can never be joined in matrimony."

Then he turned and swam off, leaving the guests to finish feasting and each make their way home as best they may.

One was not feasting, however. The moment she had heard her father speak those words, Jihana made straight for the pool, for she had made a vow, and merfolk honour their vows.

"Was my mistress successful?" the slave Dirnec asked.

"She was," Jihana answered, a true smile on her face this time. "And she holds to her word; in return for your most valuable and treasured assistance, you may ask for any reward you desire."

"My mistress is more gracious than I have a right to expect," clever Dirnec told her. "As for a reward...well, I would count myself the best-pleased creature on land or sea if my mistress would be kind enough to-"

What? I'm sorry; you'll have to speak up. I can't hear you over the water.

The tide's cut you off, you say?

Well, well. Fancy that.

I shouldn't bother to run if I were you, children. It only prolongs the inevitable, and I know none of you can swim. I do hope you enjoyed my story.

By the way, if you haven't figured out what we eat by now, you humans are even more foolish than I first thought. Goodbye.