LEGEND OF THE MER Read Online Free Page A

know it sounds crazy, but I have to go for a swim.  I don’t want you to worry about me; in fact, I’ve become an even better swimmer than I ever imagined.  My dad said that I took after my mom who was a really good swimmer,” Lana said as she pulled off her shorts that were covering her swimsuit.
     
    “Lana, you can’t be serious, the tide can change at any moment.  Your father was right, this is a dangerous place and you could be crushed by the rocks and reefs below!” Miss Perry shouted as she tried to stop her.
     
    “Miss Perry, I don’t have time to explain this right now, but trust me.  I won’t get hurt.  I don’t know how, I just know that’s all.  Please tell my father that I’ll swim home later,” said Lana as she jumped into the water.
     
    Miss Perry was gripped with fear and yelled, “Lana, I can’t just leave you here!”
     
    “Yes, you can.  I’m sorry, but I have to do this for myself.  Please do what you always tell me, take a risk Miss Perry.  Trust me in this,” said Lana as she dove down into the water deep below.
     
    The water was so thick and had the most beautiful blue-green she had ever seen, and yet, it was so familiar.  As she got closer to the bottom, she saw sights just as she had remembered.  How could a toddler remember what the b ottom looked like?  How could I have swum here at such a young age?   But, now she knew she had.  This was not her imagination, she had been here before.  She knew what every boulder down here looked like and where to find the next one.  The coral went from hues of pink to burgundy.  She even saw a spade fish like the ones she remembered.  There were several lion fish and even a sting ray floating effortlessly near the surface.
     
    Out of the corner of Lana’s eye, she saw a grey dolphin swimm ing in her direction.  At first she was a little scared, but as he got closer she felt more relaxed and realized that he was friendly.  He swam past her legs rubbing up against them as he did.  Lana put her hand down and let it run along his side as he passed.  How wonderful he felt.  He was cold and slippery; he seemed to enjoy her touch.  Lana grabbed onto his top (dorsal) fin and let him pull her along and he sped up and she loved it.  The dolphin sped past rocks and reefs, dodging in and out of them.  Lana couldn’t help but laugh inside at the fun s he was having.  None of this mak e s sense, but I don’t care , she thought.  Lana decided to just enjoy the moment.
     
    It wasn’t long and Lana began to get lightheaded.  The pain on either side of her neck began to throb again.  She let go of the dolphin and realized that she no longer recognized where she was or how deep she was.  It was such a rich dark shade of blue everywhere she looked.  The dolphin kept nudging her, but her head was now aching and she c ouldn’t think straight.  Am I looking upward to the surface or downward to the ocean floor?   Lana was getting dizzy and she began kicking; only not knowing where she was going.  Then everything was a blur and her head felt like it was going to explode.  Her neck felt so strange with stabbing pain on either side.  Then all she could remember was someone’s strong arms cradling her and she blacked out.
     
    ~~~~~

Chapter 3
     
    THE MER
     
    Lana didn’t know if she were alive or dead?  All she knew was that her head was pounding as well as her neck stinging.  Everything was dark.  She heard voices speaking softly.  They were strange, it sounded like an older man and a younger man.  Lana opened up her eyes and as she did, she saw what she believed was the rocky roof of a cave.  She blinked several ti mes to try and focus, yeah; it i s some sort of cave .  She was lying down on what she thought was a pile of seaweed.  The floor was also rocky and she could make out a ring of stones nearby where hot coals were smoldering in t he center.  That must be what ’s gi ving the cave some measure of light