"Just got to keep pulling it, Lass," Korell said, as we struggled to pull up the net that was filled with fish.
We pulled and pulled and finally yanked it into the boat. We both stood, just breathing.
"There, that wasn't so hard. When the fish are all swimming in the opposite direction you're pulling you just gotta keep your head about you and keep on pulling it up."
"I know. It's hard, though," I said.
"Yes, but think of the contrary. We'd lose all those fish and not have enough money to even buy our bread. So the lesson is: to pull, no matter what."
I laughed a bit. Korell placed so much importance on our catching fish.
I still remembered it, as I sat on the beach, as if it had been yesterday. I didn't know what to do without Korell. Being just a girl, I could not run Korell's fishing business my self. I had to find another job.
I became companion to Mrs. Rivers, a widow in the small village I lived in. I, more or less, got paid to talk to an old lady all day. It really wasn't a bad job, but I missed being out on the sea. Mrs. Rivers and I would sit out on her patio, and watch the green-blue waves go in and out from shore. I guess I must have stared at it, in some entranced sort of way, for Mrs. Rivers would often say that I looked like "some strange, wild thing."
On one such occasion, Mrs. Rivers had made the remark, but I had barely noticed. My thoughts were running wild. I had to leave. I wanted to do something, not just be a companion until I was too old to do anything exciting. And I wanted to be somewhere—somewhere where I could only see the sea, in every direction I looked.
"Mrs. Rivers," I outburst, "I—I can't do this anymore. I have to—to do something. I have to leave here, and make my life part of something bigger. I don't know if you understand, but I—I have to," I said.
Mrs. Rivers frowned. "But, Child, I—I."
"I'm sorry," I called to her as I ran out of her house. I took all of my things from Korell's house and ran to the larger harbor, for the big ships.
Once I got there, I slowed down and started to look at each of the ships. There were lots of men walking around there, all of them hard and weathered looking. They eyed me, frowning, most likely wondering what a girl like me was doing on the docks.
I walked past them, with my head held high. I wouldn't let them think I was their inferior in any way. I looked at each of the ships, taking note of their style and condition. Korell had taught me about ships. I knew which ones were the fastest and the most well-built.
Finally, one of the ships caught my eye. It was a longboat. On the bow there was a beautifully carved mermaid. I stared at it for the moment. From the moment I had first heard of mermaids, I was enchanted by them. The brilliant creatures that dwelt beneath the sea. I almost felt a connection to them, because they lived in the sea and I had come out of the sea.
"Can I help you?"
I looked up. A man was in front of me. He had dark hair and very blue eyes. He looked strangely familiar, though I knew I did not know him.
"Um—yes, actually, I—I want to—where is your ship going?"
"Augusta, in Dreyna," he said.
"Can I," I dropped my eyes, "can I come with you?" I asked, biting my lip.
He looked only slightly surprised and said, "Well, you'd have to take that up with the captain."
"Can you take me to him?"
"Sure," he said, sounding quite friendly. He led me onto the boat to the captain's quarters.
"Cap'n!" he called out at the door.
"Yes! What? What do ya want?" I could hear the captain calling from inside.
The blue-eyed man smiled at me and opened the door. He went inside and motioned for me to follow.
"She wants to come with us," he said simply.
The captain frowned. "She's a woman."
I was annoyed at the statement. "I'm not bad luck, Sir, I helped on my—father's boat for a long time!"
"Got money or do you plan to work?"
I wasn't sure what to say. I only knew a little bit about sailing from Korell's fishing boat, and I only had a little bit of money. "Both," I eventually said.
The blue-eyed man raised an eyebrow at me.
"Well," the captain said, laughing slightly, "if you're gonna pay me to work on my boat, yeah, sure, you can come with us!"
I felt rather like I had been cheated, but I handed over the money anyway. When the man saw the way I sailed, he wouldn't think he'd got the best of me.