Chapter No. 38 Seven Angels

Dawn: A glorious splash of gold in a deep azure sky announces the end of a chilly night. A gentle wind caresses yuccas, junipers, and chaparral. The morning songs of swallows and sparrows fill the air with shrill melodies while gulls and terns circle around the fringes of the shore waiting for their breakfast. This glorious California dreaming scene is a subdued overture for the grand spectacle that is about to take place.

While the two adult mermaids and the juvenile sit on rocks that jut from the main Marineland dolphin complex and sing praises for a new day, eager scientists, anxious technicians, and busy camera crews take up positions around the tank's perimeter. Muted conversations and occasional laughter spill from the expectant audience. The singing mermaids ignore them. The stage is set for the opening scene.

After the sun has begun to stab its rays across the rippling water of the marine tank, Dr. Anderson thrusts his right hand above his head like a conductor signaling the imminent beginning of an opus. He brings his arm down for the first beat, but several minutes elapse before anything happens. The mermaids suddenly cease singing, casting an eerie silence on the complex. A few snorts from sea lions and hissing from dolphin blowholes signal the end of the overture and the beginning of the first act.

Gray forms appear under the surface at the opposite side of the tank. When the mermaids spot them, their bodies tense and their eyes meticulously follow the slithering objects. Round and round the forms circle while the mermaids remain glued to their rocky perches.

Suddenly, the water's surface erupts with the splashing of new actors. Three adults, an adolescent, a juvenile, and two infants jump from the water, their red hair and glistening porcelain-like skin so sparkling in a rising sun, the enthralled audience has no choice but to ooh and aah.

The Galapagos mermaids emit high-pitched squeals that reverberate with ear-shattering power around the tank. It is a prelude to the stark raving pandemonium that follows, an exhilarating display of rapture that would never be forgotten by those fortunate enough to be present.

The Galapagos mermaids quickly vacate the rocks and slide into the churning water. The adults from both groups join with the adolescent and swim in a wide circle as the juveniles take up position in the center. With awesome power and unbelievable precision, the mermaids leap from the water in arching, twisting trajectories, criss-crossing one another at frightening proximity. During several of their leaps, the mermaids complete forward rolls. They vocalize continuously, their high-pitched voices combining to produce a rhythmic warbling melody. After a series of leaps, so well synchronized that they appear to be choreographed, the mermaids emerge from the water in vertical attitudes, riding on their flukes in the manner of dolphins. They circle around the tank at breakneck speed, splashing water in explosive sprays.

Abandoning professional decorum, the spectators applaud and whistle their appreciation for a prodigious show.

Then, as suddenly as it began, the first act ends. The mermaids take refuge in the depths of the marine tank, remaining submerged long enough to thin the ranks of the spectators to a dozen patient souls who would soon be rewarded for their perseverance.

Eric leaned on the railing near the rock-strewn end of the tank and stared out at the rippling water. He glanced up at Stevens briefly. "It's amazing how they can twist and bend so easily. They're certainly better than any dolphin species."

George kept his eyes on the rippling water near the rocks. "Delvin says that their ilium bones are wide and flared out. The sacrum is not fused as it is in humans, and their caudal vertebrae extend to the notch of the fluke. It makes their vertebrae columns continuous and highly flexible. That's why they're able to sit."

Eric smiled, more for himself than for George. "I wonder if anyone has taken the time to note that these creatures not only have a larger brain than humans, but that their frontal lobes are extremely large and contain numerous lamination and convolutions."

"So, they're smarted than we are," said Stevens with a sarcastic inflection. "Big deal. It doesn't bother me."

"There are some people on this planet that would consider that to be a threat to humankind."

"They're idiots," Stevens exclaimed, his voice rising several decibels. "It's time for the human race to grow up and quit acting as if we have exclusive rights to this planet."

"I agree with you, George. No need to get riled up."

"I'm not riled up. I'm just stating fact."

"Yes," Eric said, sounding depressed. "It's too bad we can't get that point over to the government."

"You're right about that, Hauptman."

Both men remained silent for several minutes.

Then, Stevens held his finger along side his nose. "You know, Hauptman, this creature has a very well developed paralimbic lobe. Delvin says that it's more complicated than those found in dolphins. What do you think that means?"

"Well, the paralimbic lobe is supposed to be the continuum of all the specific sensory and motor areas, which in man are distributed throughout the supralimbic lobe. Since this creature posses an olfactory bulb, which is absent or extremely small in Cetaceans, I would have to say that the sensory abilities of this species could not be deduced from its anatomy."

Stevens gave him a frown. "Why the hell don't you just admit that you don't know what's going on."

Eric smiled. "I was just trying to be polite." Then he sighed, more from release than disgust. "I wish that we did know more about these creatures. It's maddening."

"You're right about that, Hauptman."

Margaret Hauptman and Kathy Tuller sat on the tank ledge waiting for the reappearance of the mermaids. Kathy brushed long blond hair from her sharply featured face, gathering it behind her neck into a single fall. Her nose wrinkled as she stared at swiftly moving forms under the surface.

"I wonder what they're up to?"

Margaret pulled the purple strap of her bathing suit top to its proper position and scanned her eyes around the complex. "They're probably yakking to one another just like any group of females." She looked at Kathy. "I guess they wanted some privacy."

"I wonder if they'll allow us to approach the new mermaids." Kathy nervously rubbed her golden tanned thigh.

Margaret smiled and put her arm around Kathy's shoulders. "I wouldn't worry. I'm sure they'll be fine."

"Are mermaids really dangerous?" Kathy asked, squinting her eyes in the bright morning sun.

"Many animals are dangerous," Margaret said, lowering her eyes. "These creatures are no different."

The mermaids suddenly emerged from the depths and swam over to the rocks that dominated the far side of the tank. They quickly climbed up and mounted the flat stone ledges, arranging themselves in a familiar pattern: the adults occupy the high peaks and the adolescent and the juvenile claim lower positions nearer the water. The two infants remained in the water, swimming around and playing in typical childhood preoccupation.

The infants appear to be simply miniature versions of the adults. Their faces do not exhibit any recognizable immaturity. The only difference is that they lack breasts, sporting tiny nipples that are nearly invisible.

The adolescent, on the other hand, possesses rudimentary breasts that appear as round buds peaked in the center with small nipples.

As the infants amuse themselves, splashing, whistling, and squealing, the other mermaids remain silent.

The sun's rays slice through the cool morning air, casting slowly shortening shadows on the golden yellow glow that permeates every surface. Birds begin to gather in trees like a chorus, adding their voices to beginning of the second act.

The mermaids occupy their time primping, as is their ancient custom, combing their long glistening hair and rubbing their skin to polish it to a velvety sheen.

Margaret and Kathy decided that it was time to become acquainted with the new mermaids. They carefully slipped off the tank ledge and slowly swam toward the creatures. The infants stopped playing and quickly hid behind convenient rocks.

When the two humans approached, the Micronesia mermaids became alarmed. Terse whistles and shrill cries from the Galapagos mermaids quickly calmed them. The two women climbed up the rocks to a position near the Galapagos adult pair.

"Hi Mar-ga-reet. Hi Kath-ee," the two mermaids intoned in perfect synchronization.

"Hi!" Margaret greeted them as she searched for a comfortable seat. "How are you today?"

"We are fine!" they sang.

Kathy pointed to the Micronesia mermaids. "We would like to meet your new friends."

The Galapagos adult pair stared at her for a few seconds before the male responded. "Sure Kath-ee."

He emitted what sounded like screams and the three Micronesia adults slithered over to take up positions around Kathy.

After several minutes of silent staring, Kathy reached out to grab one of the creature's arms. She clasped its hand in her own and shook it. "Hi!"

The mermaid pulled its hand away and examined it before extending fingers to touch Kathy's face, rubbing them over Kathy's lips.

When the other two Micronesia adults suddenly grabbed Kathy's arms, securely restraining her, Margaret tensed. "Are you ok, Kathy?"

Kathy stared at her with a concerned wrinkling of her brow. "I ... I don't know."

The Galapagos male placed his hand on Margaret's shoulder. "Please Mar-ga-reet. Please Kath-ee. They will not harm you."

The red-haired mermaid traced down Kathy's slim neck with its hand, slowly moving its finger down her chest to the bikini top. The creature ran its fingers around the cloth, under the right arm, and around her back and then placed its left hand around Kathy's neck and pulled her forward so that it could look over her shoulder. Quickly spotting the tie that held Kathy's top, the mermaid deftly unhooked it and pulled the top off, pushing Kathy back.

Eric and George watched the bizarre proceedings from the tank edge.

Eric chuckled. "Oh, oh! What's going on over there?"

Stevens' face rapidly evolved from shock to amusement. "It seems that the new mermaids are a bit more audacious."

"Perhaps, we should see if they need help," Eric said.

Stevens opted for a more cautious tack. "I don't think that we have any reason to be alarmed . . . yet,"

Kathy's blue eyes followed the red-haired mermaid's hand as it gently caressed one of her firm breasts and played with the nipple, causing it to harden. Kathy jerked her head to swing long blond hair from her face. The mermaid traced down her slim side stopping at the tie to her bikini bottom, paused to examine it and then untied it before she repeated the impudent action on the other side. The garment dropped and the young woman knelt totally naked before the mermaids, her taunt abdomen pulsating in and out at a rapidly increasing frequency.

The mermaid inserted its fingertip into Kathy's umbilicus and then turned its head momentarily to vocalize with the other mermaids. The vocalizations were more prolonged when the creature examined Kathy's bushy patch of velvety pubic hair.

Kathy's eyebrows lifted and her mouth parted as she watched the mermaid's probing hand. She turned to look at Margaret, but Margaret simply gave her a teasing grin, prompting Kathy to make a face at her.

Margaret was both amused and embarrassed. She was concerned that her turn was next.

She turned to give the Galapagos adults an inquisitive look. "What are they saying?"

"They are cur-ious, Mar-ga-reet. Why do you hide your bod-ies? Your bod-ies are bea-u-ti-ful!"

A rosy blush invaded Margaret's cheeks. She had difficulty expressing her reply.

"Well, I . . . That is, we . . . It's our custom."

The Galapagos female tilted her head. "You are fun-ny, Mar-ga-reet!"

Then she did something that was definitely not part of her culture: she hugged Margaret. The totally human expression of affection caught Margaret off guard. The touch of the creature sent a tingling up her spine.

Margaret gave her a forced smile. She was both elated and confused.

Are mermaids capable of expressing love like humans? Did they really mean that Kathy's anatomical form is beautiful in the aesthetic sense or are they referring to her body as a delectable source of food and sizing up the tenderness of her flesh?

Margaret had no way to read their true feelings because there's no frame of reference, no body language experience, to reveal emotions. As far as Margaret was concerned, these creatures are as alien as if they were from another planet.