“Feckless, as I said.And so lovely.”Merou rubbed hischeekbone against Priddy’s scalp, drew back a handful of hair fromhis neck.His fingers probed the site of the wound he’d made thenight before, which Priddy had forgotten entirely, and which mustsurely have healed, because he felt no pain from it now.“Oh.Priddy.”
“What?”
“I’ve changed you.”
“I know you have.My scar’s gone.”
“Hush.How are you feeling?”
“That’s what I wanted to tell you while we were outside.Allthe things you said you could do for me—the pain, thecravings—they’re true.You granted my wish.”He chuckled.“Threw ina bit of plastic surgery, too.Poor Kit thought I’d hadbotox.”
“Let me take you upstairs.”
Priddydrew back wonderingly.That was the way you spoke to someone who’djust hurt themselves, tripped off the kerb and bounced off thebonnet off a passing car.“I’m all right, you know.Better thanI’ve ever been.”
“That’s good.But your feet must be sore from walking on thestones.Come here.”
Hescooped Priddy off the floor.“Hoi, you idiot,” Priddy managed,laughing.“What are you playing at?”
“You carried me downstairs last night.Do you reallymind?”
“No.It’s just weird.And anyway, you’ll never manage—not allthat way, with my big—”
“Shut up and listen to me.The world you live in is good, or itwill be now you’ve broken your chains.”
Priddy made a halfhearted effort to escape, but Merou had setoff on the spiralling upward journey.“Youbroke them.”
“You’d have done it yourself in time.You’re so much strongerthan you think.You could find a place here.”
Priddywasn’t arguing.Merou’s rhythmic movements were too distracting.“When you say here, you mean...Hagerawl, or Rosewarne,or...”
“No.Topside.”
“Well, I don’t have much choice about that, do I?And don’tworry—you’ve sold it to me.Cars, horses, lung stuff, two-leggedstuff.I took it all for granted, but with you around, everythinglooks different.”He leaned his head on Merou’s shoulder.“God, Isound like a right bunny-boiler.I know you can’t be here all thetime.”
“I’m here now, aren’t I?”
“Yes.When did you change this time?Did it hurt?”
“Not at all.I was in the water, seeing the Hendersons home.Itdid mean I had to take advantage of an open window in the cottageand borrow these nice things.”
Priddytook a handful of the jumper he was wearing.Now he came to look,it was a landsman’s version of a fisherman’s sweater, way too softfor hard work or open seas.Kit had never possessed such a thing.“Shit,” he said, breaking into giggles and almost upsetting Merou’sbalance on the stairs.“This is the dickhead boyfriend’s.He’sgonna freak.”
“Oh, no.”
“Yep.You should always nab expensive gear if you can—it suitsyou.”Priddy sobered, as much as he could whilst being carriedupstairs by a merman in stolen clothes.“I have to tell yousomething about him.He’s some kind of marine biologist from theNortheast Atlantic Institute.One of the guys you rescued had afancy watch with a GPS tracker on it, and he got a look at thecoordinates.He wasveryinterested.He’s brought down all kinds ofequipment, and he’s trying to hire a research boat.”
“GPS?Damn.I told Ayouana to look out for that kind of thing,but she’s more used to going through their pockets fordoubloons.”
“Who’s Ayouana?”
“She’s a kind of nurse.I’ll have to go out there and tell herto move things on.”
“Right now?”
“No.He won’t be going anywhere yet with his research boat, notwith this storm blowing in.Priddy, my love, the truth is that Icame to see you, not the Hendersons, and I have a feeling thevisit’s gonna be a short one.Do you really want to spend it alltalking about Kit’s new squeeze?”
“Not a minute of it.”There was a lump in Priddy’s throat, butit felt like melting sugar.“Why did you call me that?”
