I think my arms are bruising inside their skin from the work, and surely nothing so heavy could fight and not tear free, but the net has held. And inside it there is--
"Caught something we have," the woman with the net says, and for a moment I can only watch, unsure of the matter; but we have, and I think that what we have caught understands faces. We drag it up the shallows and onto the beach, and the waves seethe quietly along its track.
"Well," I say softly, rather at a loss for words. I look around, see that the man from the sea has found the other man's daughter, and him as well, and rather hope that is a good omen. And I straighten and walk down to her in the net, and crouch down on my heels to look at her without presuming to stand over her. The stones of the beach sound like a handful of glass beads under my heels.
"Lady," I say (for the third time). "We have caught you and brought you to land. Will you speak with us?"
no subject
"Caught something we have," the woman with the net says, and for a moment I can only watch, unsure of the matter; but we have, and I think that what we have caught understands faces. We drag it up the shallows and onto the beach, and the waves seethe quietly along its track.
"Well," I say softly, rather at a loss for words. I look around, see that the man from the sea has found the other man's daughter, and him as well, and rather hope that is a good omen. And I straighten and walk down to her in the net, and crouch down on my heels to look at her without presuming to stand over her. The stones of the beach sound like a handful of glass beads under my heels.
"Lady," I say (for the third time). "We have caught you and brought you to land. Will you speak with us?"