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Close Encounter
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Chapter V |
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sped through the water so fast, Derry had to close his eyes so that he
wouldn't get dizzy. And then, just as suddenly, they broke the surface
and stopped. It took a moment for Derry to adjust to the abrupt change
and he didn't open his eyes until his head stopped spinning. He heard
Syrene start her odd, discordant song. He shook his head once to clear
it and opened his eyes. The brightness of the sun blinded him
momentarily after the murkiness of being below the surface. He squinted
against the brightness and started. The ship Syrene had found was
Rhafallia- Morgan's ship! Derry turned to the sea nymph, intending to
ask or beg or whatever it took to make her stop trying to lead these
men- men he knew, some he counted as friends- to a watery grave. Just as
he was about to say something, he realized she had already stopped. She
was watching the ship, a very annoyed look on her face.
"What is it?" Derry asked. Syrene shook her head, causing her long hair to whip against Derry's face and tangle itself around his neck. He managed to extricate himself without drowning and asked again. "Why did you stop? I mean, I was going to ask you to, anyway. That is my lord Morgan's ship- I know those men, and I wouldn't want." He trailed off as Syrene spun around to face him. "I can't do anything, anyway! They can't even hear me!" She was clearly upset. Derry looked at the ship, puzzled. "But they aren't that far away," he said. "Surely, your voice can carry that far?" Syrene sighed. "It can carry much farther, normally. But that ship is protected. By magic." Derry smiled as the impact of her words sank in. "Because Morgan is Deryni," he said. Syrene shrugged. "I don't know and I don't care. All I know is that it is magic and I can't penetrate it. So I guess I won't be staying here." She turned again and started to swim toward the mouth of the bay. "Hey!" Derry called. Syrene stopped and faced him again. "What about me?" |
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