Hestopped himself from hyperventilating with an effort.God knew whatwould happen if he did.“A gill.”
“You saw them on me when I changed.I didn’t mean to do it toyou, and I have no goddamn idea how this happened, unless you’rehalf my kind already.”
“Half a mermaid?”
“A merman in your case—very much so—but yes.”
It wouldexplain a lot.Priddy had spent his whole life holding on to theillusion that he belonged in the real world.His accident in thenightclub had only helped sever the threads.“Tell me something.The drugs I took—could they have opened me up to this?”
“I don’t know.I suppose so.You don’t question weirdnessbecause everything already seems weird to you, and you’rehallucinating at the drop of a hat, so...”
Priddylet go his death-grip around Merou’s neck.He sat up sharply,almost spilling him from the bunk.“In that case, you really havegot to forgive Kit.”
“Why?”
“Because he made me more like you.”
“Think what you’re saying!I don’t know how much further thechanges will go, but you’ve seen what happens to me.And it’s aone-way street—you might have times when you’re human again, butthey’ll be short, like mine are, tied to the moon and the tides andgoodness knows what else.You can’t ever go back.”
“Oh, Merou.”Priddy took Merou’s shoulder in one hand, laid theother on the side of his face.“Why would I ever want to goback?”
Meroukissed him.For the first time, his mouth on Priddy’s feltuncertain—almost afraid, as if out of the two of them Priddy mightbe the one who knew what he was doing, who had a grip on thetopside and the Lyonesse worlds.When he eased back, Priddy kepthold of him: gently trailed a finger along the top of onecheekbone.“Will I get the weird eye thing, as well?”
“Oh.”Merou blinked hard, and the protective film flicked back.“You little sod.That happens when I’m trying not tocry.”
Priddywas rolling back down with him into their musk-scented tangle ofsheets when the wind made the foghorn wail again.The note of itwas different this time.He laid a restraining hand on Merou’schest.“Did you hear that?”
“Mm-hm.Sounded like a boat.”
“Yeah, it did.Better let me go and have a look.”
“Don’t be daft.Anyone out in this weather deserves to drown.We’re not Britain’s fourth emergency service, you know.”
Priddy gave a snort and dumped him down onto the mattress.Hehauled himself out of the bunk and went to look out of thenortherly window, the one that gave the best view of Hagerawl Bayand Hell’s Teeth.He’d liked the sound of thatwe, as if he and Merou might one daygo diving together into the storm-racked Atlantic to saveshipwrecked mariners, breathe for them, wrap them in magical jellyand bring them back to life.He didn’t believe Merou’s cynicalgrowl.Michael Henderson had probably deserved his fate, but he’dbeen saved.“It’s part of my job here to keep a lookout for shipsin trouble.I’ve got to...”He leaned on the window ledge.“Oh,Christ.It’s Geoff.He must’ve persuaded Bawden’s to deliver thatboat.”
Meroupushed up onto one elbow, unsuccessfully hiding a yawn.“Did yousay Geoff?”
“Yes.The stupid bastard’s got her on the slipway.I’ll have toget down there.”
“Hang on.You didn’t happen to catch his second name, didyou?”
“No, I...Wait.Something about knives, and it made me nervous,like his smile...Blades, that’s it.”
“Professor Geoffrey Blades.”
Priddyjumped hard.Merou was right by his shoulder.His lassitude wasgone, replaced by the intentness of a hunting cat.“Don’t tell meyou know him.”
“No-one better, twenty years ago.He wasn’t a bloody marinebiologist back then.”Merou pushed Priddy gently aside so he couldsee.“Shit.That’s him.Priddy, stay away from him.”
“Why?”
“Because I’m asking you to.I’ve already lost enough to him,and if he sees how you’ve changed...Stay up here until I getback.”
“I can’t.I have to stop him putting out to sea.”
“He’s already casting off.Let the waves take him, or thedevil.”
“I can’t,” Priddy said grimly.Whatever Geoff was doing, hehadn’t been likely to announce his departure with a blast on thehired boat’s horn.That had been a cry for help, for interventionof some kind.“He’s got Kit with him.”
