Davy wasn’t sure how long he’d been unconcious. He came up to the surface when the large yellow ball was just starting to come up from the ends of the ocean. The ball now seemed to be hanging high in the expanse of blue that reflected on the water. His tail felt like a one of the humans who cooked took a large knife and cleaved it in two. Every time he touched the sand with his fins, it felt like sharp coral biting into his skin.
“Oh Davy,” sobbed a soft, familiar voice, “what have you done?’ Davy’s eyes fluttered open. He was in his brother Peter’s lap. He felt his oldest brother’s salty tears and heard his heartbreaking crying.
Micky shrugged. “What’s done is done. I think it’s stupid, too, but who knows?” He grinned. “Maybe the girl is crazy enough to go for him!”
Peter let Davy go as he sat up to take a swipe at Micky, who laughed and pulled away. “If you’re going to stay here, maybe we should at least help you stand. See if you can use your legs now, Davy.”
Davy tried to stand, but instantly collasped again, his face screwed in pain. “Davy, what’s wrong? Does it really hurt that much?” Davy nodded, then made a face again as he gingerly got to his feet again, this time sitting on a rock outcropping on the damp sand.
Micky lifted one of Davy’s legs. “If my fins were this short, I’d be sore, too!”
Peter laughed as Davy grabbed the closest shell he could reach and threw it at Micky, who made for the shallow water and easily dodged his now fin-less brother. “Stop it, you two! You’ll attract attention!”
“He’ll attract attention, anyway.” Micky pointed at Davy’s bare limbs. “Don’t humans usually cover those?”
Davy looked down at his bare legs and...other bare parts. Mermen didn’t have to worry about such things! He reached for a what looked like the remains of the sail from the ship that was destroyed the day before and quickly threw it around his legs.
Micky frowned as voices were heard on the shore. “We gotta get outta here! Come on, Pete!”
Peter squeezed Davy’s shoulder. “Don’t worry, Davy. We’ll find some way to get your voice back from the witch. You’ll be able to sing and play music with us again!”
Tears pricked Davy’s eyes as Peter dove after Micky into the bright blue waters. I’ll never see them again, he thought sadly. I love them, even Mike. I wish there was a way I could make them understand how important being human is to me!
Davy tried to climb off of the rock, but his shaky legs went out from under him again as he felt the imaginary piercing blades under his feet. This is crazy. Why am I doing this? How am I going to tell Winifred I love her if I can’t speak?
Winifred and her friend James walked down the beach together. Winifred now wore a lighter bell in pale blue and carried a funny pale blue thing over her head. She closed the object like a sea flower closing and turned to James, who wore another simple light suit. “James, I swear I heard voices...”
He shook his head. “There’s no one on this beach, Winifred. It’s too early in the morning for anyone but us early birds.”
Davy stood, trying to get Winifred’s attention, but he ended up grabbing the rock in pain when he got back on his feet. He tried to walk a few steps, like he’d seen the humans do, but the pain was so intense he grabbed the rock again.
“What’s that?” Winifred and James ran over just as Davy collapsed in the sand on his knees. “Poor thing! He must have been caught in that storm we had last night!”
The next thing Davy knew, a strong arm was hauling him to his brand-new feet. “Here you go, boy. Anything broken?”
Davy shook his head...then looked right into the stunning blue eyes of his beloved as she took his other arm. Suddenly, the pain in his feet seemed far more bearable. She smiled at him, and he almost turned into mush again.
“You know,” she said as they walked towards the tall spires in the distance, “you’re so familiar. I know I’ve seen you somewhere before.”
James nodded. “I think I have, too. Have we ever met you on the beach?”
Davy nodded and opened his mouth to tell them, but nothing came out. He made a face. He’d forgotten about that part of the deal. What am I going to do? he wondered. How am I going to explain who I am?
Winifred sighed. “I guess you can’t be him, then.”
James shook his head. “Are you still thinking about that, Winnie?”
“I know he’s out there somewhere, James. All I remember is that song, and that beautiful voice...”
Davy’s face fell further. She doesn’t know me! All she knows is my song!
James misinterpreted Davy’s crestfallen look. “Poor bloke. You must miss your family something horrible. We’ll take you home and get you cleaned up, then we’ll go about getting you home.”
No, I can’t go home! Davy leaned on Winifred’s shoulder. I just want to be with you.
Winifred put her arm around his waist to steady him. Davy forgot everything, even his brothers, when she touched him like that. It made him shiver with pleasure. He even managed to forget how painful walking was as they helped him to the big castle on the edge of the sea.
Chapter 4
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