A MERMAID'S TALE

Or: THE SAMURAI THAT GOT AWAY

by Pepper Raskell

(Author's Note: "Samurai Jack" and related characters (c)Cartoon Network.)

My name is Merlina, and I am a mermaid. I live in a beautiful kingdom deep beneath the sea, which is ruled by my mother, Queen Delphina. Our kingdom is peaceful and prosperous, and all that dwell within it are content with their lives. Well...Not quite all of us. Right now, I am the exception to this happy rule.

Why am I unhappy, you ask? Because soon, the day I've come to dread ever since I was a mer-baby, will finally arrive. Soon I will meet--as well as wed--my future husband, Prince Tyburon, who lives in Oceanica, a kingdom not far from ours. This marriage, which had been arranged when I was only a few days old, and the prince was only five, is to unite our two kingdoms, a dream shared by both my mother and Tyburon's father, King Poseidon. (Being only a baby at the time, I had very little say in the matter.)

When I was finally old enough, I let my feelings about my forthcoming nuptials be known to my mother:

"No! I won't do it!"

"But you must, Merlina!" Mother insisted. "King Poseidon and I arranged this marriage when you and Tyburon were both children! You must wed the prince, for the sake of both our kingdoms!"

I didn't want to hear any more about Prince Tyburon, or marriage, or uniting the two kingdoms. I swam out of the throne room.

"Merlina! Where are you going?" Mother shouted.

I pretended not to hear her. I just swam further and further, as fast as my fins could carry me, until I was out of the palace.

I could hear Mother calling out to me. "Merlina! Come back! Merlina! MERLINA!!!"

I needed to get away from Mother, and all that talk of marriage, and the union of our kingdoms. I decided then and there to head for the open sea before Mom sent the palace guards to fetch me and bring me back. I hated to leave my mother, and the safety of the palace and of our kingdom, but I needed some time by myself for a while.

I swam away as fast and as far as I could, not even looking back once.

After being underwater for about an hour or two, I was just about to swim up to the surface to get my bearings, as well as figure out where to go next. Suddenly, a small school of fish, swimming unusually fast, zipped past me, as if trying to escape from something. Having lived most of my life under the sea (after all, I am a mermaid!), I knew that fish only swam that quickly when they were endangered. I looked around, but saw nothing, not even a sea serpent.

Just then, a big, dark shadow began to hover over me, blocking out the sunlight that shimmered on the water's surface. I heard two big explosions, like thunder, just above the surface. Then I saw something get tossed into the water and sink down. It was a fisherman's net. Soon it became obvious to me that the shadow hovering over me was a huge fishing boat, looking to take the bounty of the sea.

I had heard many stories about mermaids and mermen who were foolish enough to become caught in such nets, and were never seen again. Some ended up being sold to private aquariums or carnival freak shows; others ended up as food for someone's dinner plate. (Mer-people are considered a delicacy by certain species of surface-dwellers.)

It was my misfortune to become caught in the net, along with any fish that weren't fast or smart enough to avoid it. This net trapped just about everything in its path, including a few dolphins and one very slow sea turtle. Not wanting these creatures, as well as myself, to become the fishermen's prize catch, I pulled hard on the net, trying to tear it open. But the net was made of a very strong material. Not even the turtle's snapping beak could cut it.

Then the net, heavy with fish, began to rise towards the surface. I kept on trying to tear the net loose, but it was hopeless. It looked like I was going to become another foolish mermaid who would end up either in someone's private aquarium, or worse, on someone's dinner plate. I feared that I would never see mother or my beloved kingdom ever again, as I looked at the world below me for what I knew would be the last time.

At least, there was a bright spot to this situation: at least I wouldn't have to worry about that dreadful wedding anymore.