A cool drip of drool stirred him. Had he fallen asleep again? How long had he been out? He was growing tired of these mermaids and their tricks.
The tentacles wiggled a little closer to his face. “Are you awake, Tuck?” she said softly.
He grunted in affirmation.
“We should arrive any hour. I’ll let Professor Wiltkine rest a little more. I would like to ask you a favor, if I may.”
Tuck stared into her jewel saying nothing.
“Would you give Cassidy a letter?”
He rolled over careful not to disturb the professor. She handed him an oddly shaped object.
“The envelope is covered in wax to protect it.”
“I don’t want to…”
“Please?” she grabbed his arm. The lights adorning her chest illuminated her face.
He placed the envelope against his chest inside his exo-suit.
The dubious mermaid remained quiet. As he was about to fall asleep again the great fish whose belly he resided gave a vicious thrust tossing everyone on top of each other.
“What was that?” Tuck asked.
Not answering Citra attempted to straighten herself. The belly was alit with bright orange fervor. Her tentacles were knotted up around Tuck and the professor. They were too clumsy and in too small of a place to free themselves quickly. She reached with a hand and pressed against the bladder wall. Immediately, the tissue surrounding her hand cleared. Tuck watched the transparent power radiate further until he could see through Eallra into the water. It was dark, but Citra was able to project her illumination into the black.
“What do you think she sees?” Tuck asked the professor.
“I know not. My spectacles are in my pocket.”
“There!” She said.
“What is it?” Tuck missed it.
“It’s a giant squid.”
“Is that bad?”
“It could be worse. I feared we had been discovered. If that was true my sisters’ lives would be in jeopardy as would ours.”
“But it’s only a squid?”
“I said it could be worse…it could be better.”
“Why is that? Eallra can handle a squid can’t he?”
“Normally, yes, and he is accompanied by friends who could help. Which means there are probably more than one squid on the attack. Their typical means of defense is to chomp at the squid and swallow them.”
“He better not do any of that. I don’t want to fight squid parts in here.”
“He wouldn’t put us in danger. But I’m worried for him.”
“We should help the poor fella,” the professor offered. “After all it is we who put him in such a compromising situation.”
“But what can we do?” Citra asked.
“In my studies I have found that certain abominations from the sea are sensitive to specific stimuli in which they do not typically encounter.”
“Such as?” Tuck asked.
“Many creatures from the depths of the sea as well as the earth are accustomed to existence in total darkness.”
“What are you getting at?”
“Madam, would you be able to turn the tissue transparent again, but this time focus all of your light on the squid?”
Citra nodded. Eallra tossed again. Tuck became further entangled in her tentacles. Some, he just now discovered, were slimy. He picked a gooey appendage off of his face only to see Citra burning as if the moon had caught fire in the midst of the night.
“Give it all you can dear! I don’t suppose you’ll blind the beast, but the sudden appearance of such wonderful light ought to confusing him considerably.”
“That’s your great plan?”
“Did I mention that the brain of the squid, even the larger species is no more larger than a single delicious leaf we had for supper? They are instinctive. Reactive. They are incredibly stupid.”
“Doesn’t look very stupid to me.”
“Shish. Let the maid work.”
The two men watched Citra as she amplified her intensity. The squid flashed by allowing Tuck to catch a glimpse of its large pale eye. The professor whispered, “Have you not considered the way men domesticate animals?”
Confused, Tuck looked to the professor.
“The loyal dog, the proud feline, beasts of burden, the mindless sheep? They could all run away or destroy a man if they so choose. But they don’t. Because man is more intelligent than they. Not only this, but their brains seem to be just big enough to allow them to survive and no more. Surely, this light will disturb our attacker.”
Eventually, Tuck spotted the squid no more. Citra put out her light entirely.
“I suppose such effort is exhausting. Am I right?”
“Yes, professor. I’m quite tired now. I hope that is the last we’ll see of him.”
“Were you able to see the others? How are they?”
A little glow emanated softly then faded. Tuck saw her smile.
“No, but I could see their lights. The other mermaids were doing as I was. Why do you ask? Is there someone you are concerned about?”