I’ve some entries for Arlo’s Journal from “Mermaid Rising” that set up “The Mermaid’s Apprentice.” Here’s the 2nd entry following those from Section 2 of “Mermaid Rising.”
July 13th - Day 2 at the Hospital
I know the date - hooray! I felt so lost without that basic of life. The hospital arranged on my request to bring me my laptop and a change of clothes. It was with some trepidation that I received the key to my rig, all locked up like someone was caring and kind enough. It’s hard to tell if anyone went through my stuff, but as far as I can tell my research is unhindered.
I also know where I am the Isle of Syreni as I had suspected with the mermaid carving in the room. Coincidence? It is probable the ‘mermaid’ went through my journals and charts to see where I’d been. Yet, where would a mermaid learn to read? It could be presumed they would know much from studying sunken vessels. What I’d give to be able to do that! I digress, the fever hasn’t quite left me yet and I may still be delirious. Still it was best to presume she’d used my navigational data to bring me to a location I’d be comfortable with.
It’s a relief to spend time studying my data. Even if only briefly, just making sure it was intact. I’ll get back to that later. I have a need to know more about my rescuer. Fortunately they brought my laptop with its power cables. You can’t always be sure with island people if they know about tech stuff, but these people seem informed. My doctor here had studied at Yale. He’d opened up to me, so had the nurse as if I’d passed some sort of test. Even the place no longer felt military. I’d noticed how educated he seemed and asked him about it.
Stranger and stranger. When I first stopped here for supplies before getting lost on the island, they had seemed relatively backwards as viewed from the port, third-world and all of that. Obviously that was a front, and who would blame them. From what I’ve seen the place was a paradise and they wanted outsiders to stay out.
It’s nice here and they wheeled me outside. I sit under an awning looking over manicured lawns and ancient statues. It’s clear these people love the sea. Their reasons for hiding these palatial gardens from the world at large is enough for me to keep my mouth shut.
Note: This post was resurrected from my old site. It may not be the one that showed up on the site. The date of publication here is from when it was added to this site.
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