Magnus Fin and the Selkie Secret

by Janis Mackay

  Hardly able to get the words out, his face flushed, his blue eyes wide, he stammered, “I – I – I saw her.”

  “Who did you see?” Aquella asked.

  “My mermaid.”

  Chapter 6

  Deep under the sea Magnus Fin, with Miranda close by his side, swam over the ribbed sand, over rocks and lobster creels, over rotting anchors, over a sunken ship, and on to the deep northern kelp forest.

  Kelp will heal your hand, Miranda said as they swam. We seal people have used kelp for centuries. You know, when I was a pup my mother wrapped me in kelp. She said it would give me special powers and keep me safe. That was a long, long time ago and I’m still here, so I think it worked.

  As they swam Magnus Fin listened. He didn’t know his grandmother was keeping him distracted with her stories. She could see his swollen hand. She could see his seal skin breaking through. She knew they had to hurry. She also knew it wasn’t ordinary rust that had caused such a strange reaction. She was worried, but tried not to show it. So she chattered, and Fin, happy to listen, forgot his pain and thought instead about a young seal wrapped in bandages of seaweed.

  She said if I was to grow up strong and be a leader for the selkie people I would need to make friends with kelp. I didn’t like the taste at first. I preferred a good fat salmon, but my mother insisted I try her kelp soup.

  On and on they swam. The sea seemed murky, flat and gloomy. As Magnus Fin cast his eyes about him, the destruction after the storm was evident. He spied smashed lobsters, broken creels and everywhere a brown haze. Miranda swam with her seal body pressed close to Magnus Fin, to protect him and keep him warm. Fin had jumped into the sea without his wetsuit, and a school uniform was hardly fitting swim gear for the cold North Sea, even if it was the month of June.

  They slowed down when the dark swaying kelp forest came into view. We’ll have you on the mend in no time, Miranda said, flicking her body to glide downwards. She nudged Fin along with her, then, when they reached the slow swaying tops of the seaweed, left him and dived down amongst the dark fronds.

  Fin treaded water and watched as Miranda, with lightning speed, pulled up strand after strand of the best kelp, using her flashing teeth and her deft flippers. She tore strands free of their holdfasts, and when she had finished looked like some storybook creature – a silver seal with a long wavy beard. Fin laughed at the sight, but catching the flicker of fear in Miranda’s eyes, his laughter quickly died away.

  We have to act fast, she said, nuzzling him out of the kelp forest and on into the still waters of a nearby cavern. Glancing about, Fin saw stones arranged like seats and tables. Miranda nudged Fin gently down onto a flat stone that looked like a table and there she wrapped the kelp bandages around his hand. Instantly Fin felt the effect. The seaweed seemed to suck the burning from him. He could feel his torn skin close up.

  It was only when the bandage was secured that Miranda allowed herself to slump down onto the flat rock beside her grandson and rest. She looked into his eyes, concern shadowing her beautiful face. We are lucky the kelp still contains healing power. So much is losing its power. You must have noticed – all is not well in the sea. What happened, Magnus Fin? Tell me, what did you touch?

  It seemed a long time ago. Fin tried to reach for the memory. There had been damp, gritty sand. And a storm. And rubbish. He had been excited. Treasure. He had discovered something. But what was it? I don’t know, was all he could say.

  Try and remember, Fin. These are uncommon tides, uncommon times. Angry storms one day, flat tired seas the next. Please, Fin – this is important. What happened?

  He stared at his hand, now fat with seaweed bandages. Slowly it came to him. It was a thing washed up in the storm, he said.

  What kind of a thing?

  I don’t know.

  Just then a luminous jellyfish drifted into the cavern, stretching its long tendrils. It seemed surprised to find a silver seal and a boy resting in there. Shaking out its many tentacles it turned and floated away.

  Neptune whipped up a storm to clear the seas, Miranda said. He does that often now, as though he’s angry. There’s a lot of rubbish in the ocean and Neptune doesn’t like that.

  I bet he doesn’t, Fin said, remembering the one time he had met the mighty King Neptune. The image of him waking from the long sleep inflicted upon him by the monstrous false king, then rising from that great bed of shells, his long hair like a mighty kelp forest, his magnificent sea-green skin and deep kind eyes, would be with him for ever.

  But he will be sad to think that in clearing the ocean he caused you pain.

  Fin smiled at his grandmother. With the kelp bandage tight around his hand he felt no pain. Even the memory of the pain was gone. It would, he felt, be a good thing to stay in this peaceful sea cavern, with his grandmother by his side and the occasional visiting jellyfish, for a long, long time.

  But Miranda had a different idea. She raised her head and nudged him. With a quick movement she pulled off the bandage with her teeth, examined his hand then said, It has worked. There is still – thank Neptune – some goodness in the sea. Now it’s time to take you back to the land. We don’t want to be here when another storm rages. Come, Magnus Fin! And whatever that thing in the sand is – and I will try and find out what it is – don’t touch it.

  Miranda guided Fin up from the stone table. Together they floated through the water and out of the quiet cavern. As they swam through the strangely listless sea she told him, After Neptune’s sea-storms unusual things can happen. Creatures can cover great distances with the force of the ocean swell. Objects, buried for centuries, can end up in different continents. We selkies stayed safe in the cavern till the sea-storm passed. But beware, Magnus Fin, the deeps have been thrashed. The sea has changed and sands have shifted. All, I fear, is not well with our sea king.

  As Miranda spoke they swam over a bed of yellow sea anemones, where shattered lobsters lay, pincers severed from their bodies. Aye look, she went on, while we selkies found shelter in the storm, others were not so lucky.

  On they travelled, over the kelp forest then over a sunken ship. A heavy gloom pervaded the sea, as though the sea itself was tired – spent after its angry thrashings.

  Fin tried to slow Miranda down, so he could have a better look at the sunken ship. Through the green murky water it looked eerie and ancient. But Miranda seemed in a hurry. This was no time for explorations. She pushed him on. Fin grabbed hold of her flipper and travelled that way, like a streak of water lightning. Shoals of fish darted into the shadows as they approached. A wide-mouthed dogfish opened and closed its mouth. An eel uncoiled and flicked through the water, like a lasso. On they swam, passing flat fish, catfish, crabs and black fish.

  As they glided into shallower waters and the scent of land was upon them, Fin remembered he had something else to tell his grandmother. Miranda? I think my schoolteacher guesses I’m a – a bit different.

  Miranda swung round. She splayed her flippers and brushed his face with her long whiskers. What?

  The words tumbled from him. I think my schoolteacher saw the seal skin in my hand. I think he suspects. And he likes newspapers.

  By this time they had reached the door to the land world. Miranda hung in the water. Her words came deep and serious. Guard the selkie secret, Magnus Fin. Otherwise you, Ragnor and Aquella will have no peace.

  Miranda stroked the rock door with her flipper. Selkies had been crossing this threshold into the human world for millennia. Miranda’s beautiful eyes darkened. With these moody storms of late many selkies feel safer on land. Many’s the night, as you lie in bed and the moon hangs like a lamp in the sky, seal coats are discarded and selkies in human form seek safety in the cave. The land is also our home. But now, you say, even the land is not safe.

  Miranda fell silent then stretched her flipper and stroked Fin’s arm. For generations humans lived peacefully with selkies, but so many spurn us now. If our secret falls into ignorant hands only dear Neptune knows how we
are to survive, and the sorry truth is, I am not sure even he knows now.

  Magnus Fin continued to tread water. He was in no hurry to return to a place where people might jeer and point fingers at him.

  Go now, Miranda continued. Sensing Magnus Fin’s reluctance she softened her voice and stroked his head with her flipper. Be brave, Magnus Fin, child of both worlds. Give my love to my son Ragnor, to your dear mother Barbara and to Aquella. And please be careful. Now go.

  With that, Miranda flicked her tail fins, twisted round and glided away while Magnus Fin, with his healed hand, clutched the shell handle, pushed open the rock door, and left the selkie world.

  Chapter 7

  No sooner had Magnus Fin hoisted himself up to the black rock and retrieved his school shoes than he heard Tarkin’s signal: three short whistles. Fin looked up. There was Tarkin, standing by the mouth of the cave, waving him over.

  Fin made his way to the cave, a sense of dread hanging over him like a dark cloud. He should be feeling happy. He had seen his grandmother. He had been in the selkie world. He had seen a sunken ship. His hand was completely healed. He examined it again just to make sure; not a hint of seal skin could be seen. But Magnus Fin wasn’t happy. Not one bit. Miranda, the selkie queen, had seemed ill at ease, and even the mighty King Neptune, she said, was unhappy.

  Fin glanced back at the flat and lifeless sea then twisted his hair around his finger and sighed. All he had wanted was to find treasure and now he was trusted to guard the selkie secret. That felt like a heavy burden to carry. If the secret got out, the selkies would be in the news – and such news could change their lives for ever.

  Reaching the cave, he immediately saw Tarkin’s bright eyes flash to his hand.

  “Don’t worry,” Fin said, waving his fingers. “It’s sorted. I’m fine. I’m normal.” Fin stared at Tarkin who was hopping from foot to foot, a huge smile on his face. “But what about you, Tark? What happened? You look like you just won a gold medal or something. What’s up?”

  “You are so not going to believe this, Fin. I saw her. I seriously saw her. My mermaid. She made it to Scotland! All the way from Canada. Can you believe that?”

  This was one thing too much for Magnus Fin. And anyway, hadn’t Tarkin thought he’d seen his mermaid at least twenty times in the past year? He’d seen her in swimming pools. He’d seen her in puddles. He’d seen her in Loch Ness.

  “That’s great,” Fin said, his voice as flat as the sea as he peered over Tarkin’s shoulder. “Where’s Aquella?”

  “She’s lying low inside. Fin, you gotta lie low too. I think Sargent suspects stuff. So I’ve got a plan.”

  Fin sneaked into the dark cave with Tarkin on his heels.

  “You guys have gotta act as normal as possible. I saw the way Sargent looked at you – and it’s not the first time. I know that look and I don’t like it, not one bit. And now that my mermaid has found me, I’ve gotta act normal too. We’re in this together.”

  “I think Tarkin’s overdoing it,” said Aquella from the back of the cave. “And I reminded him that he isn’t exactly Mr Ordinary Boy, is he? I also told him his mermaid could have been a mirage.”

  Magnus Fin squatted down on a stone next to Aquella. Tarkin squinted to see in the shadowy cave.

  “No, she wasn’t a mirage, and no, I’m not Mr Ordinary Boy, and that’s why I know what it’s like. Really, guys, you gotta take me serious.”

  “What do you mean?” Aquella asked as she took Fin’s hand in her own and checked his skin.

  “Selkies – that’s what he means,” Fin murmured, pulling his hand back. “Sargent suspects.”

  “Correct,” said Tarkin. “He might set a detective on to you. Scientists even – or,” Tarkin lowered his voice, “the paparazzi.”

  Aquella gasped. “The papa what?”

  Tarkin, glancing over his shoulder, repeated slowly, “PA–PA–RA–ZZI! Meaning photographers with big cameras that snoop on celebrities or, you know, folk that are different, like mermaids or selkies… get it? You know how crazy he is about newspapers!”

  “Well, I don’t get it,” she said, folding her arms, “not a bit.”

  Fin, looking pale, said nothing.

  “Listen, Aquella,” Tarkin whispered, “there are a few things you gotta learn about being human. And if you want a good life, have fun and all that, you don’t want to go around telling everyone you’re a selkie. Believe me – they’d put you in a cage. They’d charge people to come and gape at you.” Tarkin had forgotten his whisper. “Act normal – know what I’m saying?” Aquella nodded. Fin listened but said nothing.

  “Anyway, I’m a land girl now,” Aquella insisted. “I am normal. I can read, and use a fork and knife. I can almost tie my laces.”

  “You’re doing great. You’re seriously clever. But look – I don’t mean to be rude – but you do, you know, um, walk kind of strange.”

  Fin twisted his lucky moon-stone that hung on a leather lace around his neck. Things were going from bad to worse. His hand had been bad enough. The gloomy sea felt wrong. The thing in the sand was awful. The idea of snooping journalists was even worse. And then to think that the selkies might be forced to go away – that he might never see them again. And poor Aquella looked on the verge of tears…

  Magnus Fin groaned loudly. The others stared at him. “I saw it glow!”

  That stopped Tarkin going on about normality. “You what?” he said.

  “I saw it glow. Really. I mean, it could be a minesweeper or a bomb. I was hoping it would be treasure. Another bit of the Titanic would be good. Or gold coins. But whatever it is, it glowed, like it was telling me, ‘Back off!’”

  Tarkin shot a glance outside, then back at Fin. “What are you talking about?”

  “It was washed up in the storm. I tried to open it – it’s some kind of box. It really hurt and it glowed.” Fin’s voice cracked. “Do you want to see it?”

  Tarkin was usually up for any adventure. He’d risked his life on the sea for Magnus Fin, and there were many times he wished he too was a selkie. But now didn’t seem the time to investigate a dangerous glowing box.

  “Dunno man,” he muttered. “The paparazzi might be out. I mean, we’re supposed to be in school.”

  “Well, I would,” Aquella said.

  “OK.” Fin stepped out into the sunlight. It dazzled after the darkness of the cave. “The coast is clear,” he reported. “Come on.”

  Reluctantly Tarkin left the safety of the cave. Fin and Aquella were already hurrying ahead. “Hey!” Tarkin called. “Wait for me!”

  The fulmars were out in force, wheeling and screeching in the blue air, but there was no teacher or snooping journalist. Relieved, the three of them ran over the sand. A minute later they circled the hole and stared down.

  “Wow,” Aquella said, “you dug all that?”

  “Yes.” Fin nodded, wishing he hadn’t.

  “It’s deep,” she said.

  “Totally huge,” added Tarkin.

  It was. And somehow it seemed much deeper than it had been an hour ago. Fin stared down the sandy hole.

  “Hey, buddy, thought you said it glowed?”

  “It did. I know it just looks like a hole in the sand now. But honest, something down there glowed!”

  They all bent their heads forward and peered down. Fin bent the furthest. Even though whatever was in there had hurt him, he was still curious. It pulled him like a magnet. He dropped on to his knees for a better look, but this time kept his hands behind his back. Some sand had slipped back in, half covering the metal thing. Fin wondered if he’d imagined the glowing bit. The sun was higher in the sky now and rays of sunlight fell down the hole. The rusty metal, Fin saw, had studs on it, one of which was ragged and sharp.

  Aquella found a long stick on the sand. “Here,” she said, giving it to Fin, “prod whatever’s down there with this. But don’t touch it!”

  Magnus Fin stabbed at the rusty metal thing and cleared the sand off it. He poked it,
trying to prize open the flat casing that looked like a lid. He jabbed it. The three of them, staring down, heard the thing clang as Fin hit it. Fin jabbed under the lid again and tried to flip it open. Suddenly the metal thing glowed red. Bright red! Aquella screamed.

  “Don’t touch it,” Tarkin yelled. “Just leave it.” He grabbed Fin’s sweatshirt and yanked him back. “Wow, this is way too creepy.”

  Fin flung the stick down. “I told you! It’s alive!” His face had turned pale but he didn’t run away. “It’s a kind of box. I mean, it could be a bomb. Maybe it’s – you know – radioactive?”

  Tarkin had jolted backwards. He stood now, shaking like a leaf. “I’ve read all about bombs. That ain’t no bomb. There’s something seriously weird going on here. Listen guys, you gotta take me serious. Leave this thing alone. You gotta act normal. Want my advice?”

  Fin and Aquella didn’t say anything, but Tarkin gave his advice anyway. “Let’s throw the sand back in, lie low in the cave, and cook up some story about your hand and why we’re not at school. Then launch Mission Act Normal, OK?”

  The glowing red light died down, but Fin still found it hard to pull his gaze away. He’d set his hopes on finding treasure, and now, even though the thing had hurt him, he couldn’t convince himself it wasn’t treasure.

  “Good idea,” said Aquella, “let’s cover it with sand.”

  At that moment they heard a shrill voice ring out. It was a man with his dog, heading their way. In a flash Tarkin kicked sand into the hole. Aquella helped while Magnus Fin could only stare as the mysterious box – along with all his hopes of treasure – vanished.

  “Quick! Back to the cave!” Tarkin ordered, and the three of them sped over the beach and slipped into the darkness of the cave.

  There they stayed, waiting for the school day to be over, while lazy waves licked the rocks, while bats flew above their heads, and while the mysterious glowing thing in the sand lay nearby, buried but not forgotten.