Sea Lily Chapters Three and Four

Chapter Three: Sunken Ship1


After a break and a quick lunch of fresh kelp, of which Ella had never tried, the little group picked themselves up and started off again.2

Many leagues ran by Ella and her new friends. Gentle slopes rose in front of them filled with colorful sea grass and many little communities of sea snails and pearl oysters hiding amongst the strands. Large octopuses and fiddler rays tunneled under the grains of fine sand. They watched as pipefish zigzagged their way through the eelgrass. A colony of razor clams buried themselves as the four friends swam over them.3

In the distance a murky shadow lay half hidden by a hill of sand. Long pole-like images peeked over the top like candles on a birthday cake. They crested the hill and looked down on a sunken ship. In the hull near the bottom was a large hole. Sand had drifted into it and a layer of barnacles covered the sides. Three masts reached up towards the surface while a silent figurehead watched the coming and goings of the sea life with pale colorless eyes. Lifeless rigging hung from the foremast and mainmast waiting for able sea hands to make use of them. 4

Tearuslee swam out in front of the rest of them. Cheerfully she called back, “Come on! Let's take a look inside.” Her tail fin worked furiously as she rushed to stay ahead of Tad and a soft hum floated back to Ella. Tad had taken up the challenge and tried with all his tiny might to catch her. Giggling Tearuslee slowed down for him.5

Clay and Ella took their time. Cautiously they approached the sunken boat. Both of them feeling the stillness in the water of the area around the abandoned vessel. The sea life flowed around it leaving a huge area clear of all traffic. Clay scanned the boat suspiciously looking for a threat anywhere.6

Tearuslee popped her head out of one of the portholes that ran the length of the ship. Their black emptiness stared out at them, “Hey come on slow snails. It’s really cool in here.” She disappeared back inside.7

Clay and Ella had reached the hole in the hull. Ella peeked inside and saw only murky darkness. It was so dark that she could not see more than two feet in front of her. Cautiously she drifted inside. Clay scuttled in behind her guarding the back.8

In front of them farther inside and up towards the ceiling of the cargo hold floated a soft green light. Slowly it sunk towards them lighting only a pair of pale hands. Ella slid behind Clay as the strange light came closer.9

“Hey Ella, Clay look what I found stuck to the side of the companionway.” Tearuslee’s voice came out of the darkness.10

Both Ella and Clay sighed in relief. “Oh man! Tearuslee don’t do that!” exclaimed Ella.11

“Do what?” She asked.12

“Oh never mind! How does that glow?” Ella asked.13

Clay leaned closer to take a look. The glow was coming from what looked like a dish sponge Ella’s mom kept on the kitchen sink. It was square with little holes. It was the holes that gave off light. “Inside there must be an animal living in there, making this strangely shaped sponge its home. That’s the closest guess I could come up with.” Clay stated.14

“Well whatever it is it’s cool,” giggled Tearuslee. “Let’s go see what other treasures this old boat has.” She turned with a graceful flip and swam up the companionway towards the crew quarters. As they moved further into the dark ship faint lights flowed in the distance. But as they drew nearer some scattered through empty doorways while others stayed. Still moving slowly they ventured closer to the stern where Clay had suggested might be the captain’s quarters. Tad had joined them and reported that nothing useful had been is the galley or the crew quarters. “The lines are too rotten for any use sir.”15

“That’s too bad. We could have used of few lines of rope. Very well, let’s keep searching.”16

“Clay why do we need rope?” Asked Ella.17

“Never know when you might need to pull or push something. Might have come in handy.”18

From one of the empty rooms ahead of her Ella heard Tearuslee humming a lullaby. She came swimming out of the room at the end of the hall nearly running them down. “Come look what I found!” She said excitedly. They picked up the pace to follow her.19

Inside the room Tearuslee took them to have once been magnificent. Carvings of leaves and vines ringed the door and window frame. Under what used to be a huge bay window stood an oversized wood desk. Years of being under water had warped and rotted most of it but Ella could still see the beauty it once was. On the drawers gold ornamental knobs gleamed in the eerie light while more leaves and vines outlined the square shapes. On top in a round discolored metal bowl were coins, crusted with sea gunk. Ella could think of no better word than gunk, nonetheless coins. “Wow!” She went over and ran her hand through them stirring up the gunk.20

The others wandered around the room peeking in drawers and under half rotted crates. Ella pawed through the top drawer of the captain’s desk as Tearuslee pushed aside sand on top, as she hummed under her breath. In the corner of the room something shiny caught Tad’s eye. He swam over and dusted it off with his fins. Clay wandered over curious to see what had caught Tad’s attention.21

“What have you got there lad?” Asked Clay.22

Looking over his scaled shoulder towards where Ella and Tearuslee were looking through the coins and he whispered, “I’m not sure. But I think it’s pretty.” He blushed, “do you think Ella would like it?” He held up a metallic disk about half inch thick with strawberry topshells engraved around the outside. In the middle, a spider conch shell sat also engraved, with a diamond shape cut out in the middle. It was the color of an old copper penny.23

Clay smirked as he glanced over his shoulder “oh I see. Yes, I think she would like it very much.” He pushed Tad from behind.24

Clay watched as Tad slowly swam over to the girls. He mumbled something, held out his fins and his dark pink scales around his eyes became red. Ella smiled warmly at Tad while she took the medallion “Thank you Tad. It’s beautiful. I was just looking for something to take back with me. This is perfect. I will always remember this adventure with this.” Clay heard her say.25

Tads blush deepened as he swam back towards Clay. Clay smiled encouragingly as Tad dropped down beside the mancrab.26

Suddenly the vessel shifted and the group fell off balance. Ella and Tearuslee both dropped the coins they had picked up to lay their hands on the rotten desk. Tad lurched into Clay who in turn scuttled back a couple of steps.27

“What was that?”28

“Did anyone feel that?” They asked together.29

“Is everyone alright?” asked Clay. He looked to see everyone nod his or her heads. As he glanced at Ella, near the window, a large shadow darkened the window then moved on. He scrambled near the opening to look out. When he did he saw nothing be empty sea. The others leaned out to see what Clay was looking at.30

“What d-did you see, sir?” Asked Tad.31

Clay turned towards Tad with a raised eyebrow, “a large shadow. It passed by not moments after the ship rocked. It was large enough to cover the whole window.” He turned to the rest of them, “I think we should gather our things and leave.”32

Everyone followed Clay out the door. Ella swam back to the desk and grabbed the metal disk Tad had given her before heading up the broken ladder to the main deck. 33

She ran into Tearuslee, who was leaning over the side rail on the starboard side of the ship. “Why are you stopping?” She asked. Tearuslee only pointed down. Ella carefully looked over. Entering the hole they had used in the hull was a huge creature. It had a big long head the color of the sand surrounding the boat. Long arms snaked in the boat and around it throwing up silt and mudding the water. A couple of arms reached up the side of the boat making Ella gasp in surprise. “Oh my goodness! What is that thing?”34

The arms encircled a beaklike mouth with two longer arms jetting in and out.35

“A giant squid.” Whispered Clay. “Those arms are tentacles. Deadly, they have suction cups that will pull you towards its mouth. I suggest we leave on the port side.”36

Tad’s dark color had faded to an even paler hue of pink and the girl’s color was white. All eyes were very round and fearful. As one the little group turned to make their way to the other side. Ella glanced back in time to see a tentacle slither over the railing. She stopped and stared in horror as it snaked closer. Moving all around, first one way then the other. Ella thought it looked like a strange looking dog searching for something. A hand fell on Ella’s shoulder startling her and she screamed. The tentacle stopped searching and started towards them. The hand had been Clay's and his strong arm pulled her back towards the others.37

“Swim! Swim as fast as you can!” He called.38

On they swam. Ella looked over her shoulder as more arms dove over the top. They reached the port side of the boat just as the beige colored head crested the main deck of the ship.39

“Hurry!” cried Clay. One by one the friends swam over the rail and down to the sand below. Tentacle after tentacle scrambled over the side pulling the long head behind them. Clay had taken last in line and was almost to the bottom when one spatula shaped tentacle snagged one of his legs and started to pull him back.40

Tearuslee screamed as she turned around to help him. Swimming hard she grabbed one of the sharpened spears and jabbed it into the arm of the squid. It yelped in pain and released Clay. Tearuslee grabbed Clay’s arm and pulled him to the others.41

The squid eyed them from the main deck. Its beak clacked as the tentacles slithered here and there agitated. Anger and resentment oozed off of it as its injured tentacle writhered with pain on the main deck.42

Huffing and gasping for breath the group swam until they could no longer see the sunken ship. At last Clay called a halt and Ella sank down on a small sand mound. Arms resting on her bare knees she let her head float back against the soft sand. Tearuslee dropped down beside her as Tad sat on Clay’s back. No one said anything as they waited for their lungs to stop burning.43

After sometime Clay stood in front of Tearuslee. He took her webbed hand and lowered his front legs so that she was higher than him. “My lady Tearuslee, I thank you from the bottom of this humble crab’s heart. You have saved my life and for that I am in your debt.”44

Tearuslee stood Clay up and threw her arms around his neck, “Oh stop it! You would have done the same.”45

“Even so that was a very brave and noble thing to do.”46

“I couldn’t let anything happen to you,” she had tears welling in her eyes. “I’ve known you all of my life.”47

Clay let her go nodded his bearded head and walked a little ways a way. He stood staring out into the deep where fish flitted in and out of coral and anemone. Not far from where they stood a stingray flipped its side fins spraying sand into the clear sea.48

Ella floated next to Tearuslee who stood watching him. A mix of emotions played across the young mermaid's face. One second Ella saw sadness then joy and last was love. “Tearuslee, do you love Clay?” She asked softly.49

She turned to Ella. A slow smile lit up her face as she said, “Oh yes.” She paused then continued, “like a father.”50

Ella was surprised; she thought there was more to it than that but accepted what Tearuslee had said.51

Clay just nodded his head then started off again. Tearuslee swam off with him while a tired Ella and Tad slowly followed.

52

Chapter Four: Lost!53

After they had been swimming for a time Ella slowed down to swim with Tad. They swam in silence for a while as Ella watched the changing scenery fly past her. They had reached the continental slope and the ocean water was growing colder and darker. In the murky depth Ella noticed a small light to the side of them. It steadily floated closer and a slightly larger shadow was following after it. Ella watched in fascination as it drew nearer. Suddenly she grabbed Tad’s side fin.54

“Ow!” He cried.55

“W-what is that?” she cried. Fear had replaced fascination and she tremble not only from the cold but also from fear. Ella tightened her hand on Tad’s fin.56

Tad peered at the shadow, eyes narrowing as he concerntrated. “Looks like a hatchetfish.”57

“What is it doing?”58

“Fishing.”59

“Fishing? Fishing for what?” She asked curiously.60

“Fish.”61

“Oh wow! It does that with that light thing?”62

He nodded.63

“Tad? What did Tearuslee mean back there?” She asked.64

“Back where?” Tad turned to her confused.65

Ella hesitated, “when she said she loved Clay like a father.”66

Tad chuckled, “Oh that! Clay practically raised Tearuslee.” Tad turned serious, “Her mother died of the creeping crust when Tearuslee was just a small fry.”67

“Where was her father?” Sadness filled her voice. The hatchetfish swam in front of them, making them pause.68

Tad continued as they started on, “no one knows. At least no one has ever said when I was around. I don’t think Tearuslee knows or wants to know. Sir Clay’s been there for her ever since.”69

“That must be why she is so determined to get this flower.”70

Tad said nothing as they swam on.71

Slowing her strokes Ella’s mind wandered to her own parents. The thought of her mother’s warm smile and chocolate chip cookies made her smile. The same when she thought of her dad’s huge bear hugs. To not have that made her shiver. But she watched Tearuslee swimming next to Clay. She was smiling and laughing. She seemed happy.72

They came to a grouping of boulders and seaweed. Here Clay said they would rest.73

“Everyone try to get some sleep. We need to get going in a couple of hours.” He rummaged around in his pack, pulled out a bundle of green leaves and handed them to Tad. Tad in turn gave each of the group a kelp leaf wrapped around a bit of fish.74

“On the surface we call this sushi.” Ella stated, taking the leaf delicately with a disgusted look on her face. The sea creatures gobbled theirs up, all but Tad who just ate the seeweed, as Ella stared at the green mass with her lip curled back.75

Tearuslee stopped humming and was the first to notice Ella not eating, “Ella, don’t you like fish?” She asked 76

Startled Ella glanced up at her and shrugged her shoulders. “I don’t know. I’ve never tried raw fish before.”77

“I don’t think this is about the food, do you?”78

Ella said nothing but continued to stare at the lump of food in her hand.79

Tearuslee swam over to sit beside her. “This must be hard.” She started, “being away from your family.” Ella nodded her head not looking up. “I really appreciate you helping me. I know all of my people will be thankful. Please don’t be sad. You will get home.”80

“You’re right. It really has nothing to do with the food. I’m homesick. I was thinking about my mom’s cookies. I am glad to help you and all the merpeople. And I’m glad I met you.” Ella smiled feeling better after saying it out loud.81

Tearuslee patted Ella’s hand and started eating again. As they finished Ella watched Clay pace around the boulders keeping watch. Soon the girls curled around themselves to keep warm. Ella stared out into the sea watching a school of fish swim by. Sleep didn’t come quickly the in ocean because it was too quiet. Ella was use to the animal sounds of the surface world. With Old Gray barking and the chirping of birds she knew she was home, but down here none of those sounds were present.82

***83

Tearuslee sat with her pale back against a large boulder. In her hands she held the shell with the map on it. She turned it one way, peered closely at it, shook her head and turned it another way. After studying the map that way she again shook her head.84

Ella, Tad and Clay stood off to one side and watched her. There was an uneasiness about the group. Nerves were strung to the breaking point and exhaustion made them grumpy. The rest did little good, for the events of yesterday still had Clay shook up. Homesickness still played heavily on Ella’s heart, while Tad looked nervously over his scaled shoulders.85

“What do you think is wrong?” Asked Ella glancing at Clay.86

Clay looked up from cleaning his spear in Tearuslee’s direction, “I’m not quite sure, human Ella.”87

“Shouldn’t we say something?” She asked again.88

They all glanced at Tearuslee just as she turned the shell once more. “A…guys?” They stopped whispering, “I think we may have gone the wrong way.”89

As one they said, “Wrong way.”90

She stood up and started pacing in front of them. “According to the map we should have come to a meadow full of sea grass by now or if I read it another way a rocky sea cliff that leads to the abyss. But I’m pretty sure we were supposed to be at a meadow.”91

Clay stalked over. “Let me see the map.” He demanded.92

Timidly she handed the shell over and then shuffled a few feet away from him. He turned the shell over and shook his bearded head. Again he turned it, just like Tearuslee. “She’s right. We should have gone left after the sunken ship.”93

“I’m sorry you guys.”94

“There’s no need to apologize. After that squid all I wanted to do was get away. Didn’t matter which way I went.” Ella said. Tad was nodding his head.95

“Thanks Ella. So I think we need to go back to the ship and head in the right direction. Which would be left.”96