Eddie jiggled the keys in his ignition. “Got ’em right here.”
“Excellent!” I got into Dad’s car. “What about the earplugs? Oh, and is the Merlin operational?”
“Yes, and yes,” Dad replied.
“All right!” I said, slapping the dashboard. “Put the pedal to the metal, Dad.”
Dad put the car in gear and peeled out of the school parking lot with Eddie hot on the trailer’s bumper.
“But can you swing by Dolly Donuts’ drive-through on the way? If I’m going to battle the Mermish Council, two protein bars just ain’t gonna cut it.”
I set the equipment bag down next to the boat lock’s control tower. I’d filled Dad and Eddie in on everything that had gone on since the night before—the situation with Luke and his mer family, and the plan to overthrow the Mermish Council, such that it was.
“Okay,” I said, wiping the maple glaze from my hands onto my lipstick pajama bottoms.
I unzipped the equipment bag and shook the hockey sticks, fins, masks, and snorkels into the water of the boat lock that separated Talisman Lake from the Atlantic Ocean. “Cori and Trey aren’t here with the boat yet, but the sooner we get started, the better. I need Eddie at the controls here to open the lock, and Dad, I need you to get the Merlin 3000 to Port Toulouse Beach to help Bridget.”
“Check,” Dad said, nodding his head. He handed me a huge Home Depot bag full of earmuff-type ear protectors like the kind policemen used at shooting ranges. “They didn’t have the rubber earplugs, but hopefully these will work.”
“Well, they’re not exactly stealth mode, but they’ll have to do,” I joked, dumping the bag into the water with the hockey equipment.
“Are you sure you’re going to be okay?” Dad asked. “I almost had a stroke when I lost you last night.”
“Don’t worry,” I assured him. “Mom will be with me this time.”
“I guess that’s comforting,” Dad said, but he looked anything but comforted.
Eddie was in the control tower working the switches. He’d already lowered the gates to raise the bridge, and the ringing bell and flashing lights signaled that it was time for me to go.
“Remember the plan!” I yelled as I cannonballed into the water, but I didn’t hear Dad’s response over the splash.
• • •
By the time the large metal gate from the boat lock opened out into Talisman Lake, I was in full tail mode. Just as I had hoped, Mom, Coach Laurena, and about a dozen or so other mers peeked out from the other side of the gate, welcoming the rush of salty water from the ocean. They all looked pretty zoned out, though, as the sound of the ship’s bell continued to reverberate through the water.
Hey, guys! I called out, but everyone ignored me and swam into the holding tank while Eddie closed the lakeside gate. They swam to the ocean-side gate, which was still closed, totally oblivious to the two armed sentries at the end of the canal ready to turn them into fish-kabobs if any of them tried to escape.
I had about five minutes to figure out how to get the Freshies’ attention before the water level in the lock was low enough for Eddie to open the ocean-side gate.
Mom waved her head back and forth, trying to sense the source of the bonging, and I could tell she still wasn’t able to see very well. I ripped open the Home Depot bag to hand out ear protectors. There was just a small problem: the bag only had five pairs.
Here guys, put these on. I tried to hand them out to anyone who would take them, but no one paid any attention to me. They were too busy trying to escape to the ocean, guided by the clanging of the bell. I took one pair and forced them onto Mom’s ears. It took a few minutes of grappling with her to keep them on before she turned my way.
Leave them on, I rang loudly so she could hear me. The Mermish Council is controlling everyone with the bell. These will help.
Oh, Jade, Mom finally said, once she was able to focus on my voice. Sorry, my eyes still haven’t quite gotten back to normal but I’m so happy you’re okay.
I hugged her tightly and tried to fill her in on what was happening while I hunted in the bag for more ear protectors.
Next, I slipped a pair on Coach Laurena and then went from mer to mer to try to decide which mers would get the remaining three. Finalin and Medora’s henchmen, for example, could come in handy in the coming showdown with the sentries so they each got a pair. I scanned the rest of the group with my final pair and made my choice.
Uncle Alzear! I cried. Once he had the ear protectors on for a few minutes and came back to his senses, his face broke into a broad grin.
We meet again!
Am I ever glad to see you! I yelled so he could hear me through the ear protectors. There isn’t much time, but basically, I’m breaking you all out of here so we can make a run on the Mermish Council.
An excellent idea! he rang.
But we still had a dozen other mers who were really out of it. We needed a way to snap them out of their daze or else they could do more harm than good.
Listen up, everyone! I rang to everyone who could understand me. At the bottom of the lock, you’ll find a bunch of sticks, masks, and equipment. Grab what you can to help the others make earplugs, and when the gate opens, we’re going to rush the sentries.
What about these? One of the henchmen had found the stash of rubber swim caps I’d nabbed from Mr. Chamberlain’s booth at the mall. He held up a neon pink one with the Safe 2 Swim logo.
Perfect! I said, grabbing another cap floating up toward the surface of the water. Coach Laurena helped me get caps onto five of the mers while the henchman and Mom worked on three others. We stuffed their long tangled hair under the caps and around their ears to muffle the bell’s noise. By then, the other henchman had figured out how to rig two face masks over another mer’s ears so the eight masks covered four more mers.
You all look great! I beamed. Five mers with ear protectors, eight mers with swim caps, and four with face masks over their ears. We may have looked like a bunch of crazy aquatic clowns who’d just escaped from Sea World, but I only hoped that added to the effect.
The lock’s ocean-side gate began to creak open.
Okay, everybody! I continued. It’s showtime!
• • •
Just like we expected, two rather large sentries with long, pointy spears defended the end of the canal. Little did they expect, though, that a bunch of Freshies tricked out in swimming caps, ear protectors, and face masks would be coming at them with underwater hockey sticks.
That alone confused the sentries long enough for Coach Laurena to lead a half dozen or so unarmed mers to the rendezvous at the rocky point. Once the sentries clued in to what we were up to, though, they sprang into action, spears first.
Uncle Alzear and the two henchmen led several other Freshies on offense, cracking hockey sticks against the sentries’ spears in a fierce battle while Serena popped out from behind a mossy rock and handed Petra off to Mom. Reese arrived seconds later.
All good? I asked, trying to duck around the fray to let Mom by.
All good, Reese rang back.
You kids be careful! Mom called out as she swam up the canal with her arm draped protectively over Petra, who flinched at the sounds of the battle.
We will, I called out as Serena, Reese, and I tried to join in the fight.
Go, go, go! Alzear called out to me from across the canal as he muscled a spear away from one of the sentries.
We can’t just leave you here, I replied, whacking a spear out of the way with my hockey stick.
Let us do our job and you do yours. Go! he roared.
That’s when I remembered Coach Laurena’s voice. How some of us needed to be on offense and some of us needed to be on defense.
A low rumble filled the water. I looked up the canal and saw the hull of The Lady Sea Dragon.
Trey and Cori! That was all I needed to know that we just might stand a chance.
Reese! Serena! Everybody! We’re moving out! I yelled to everyone who
was free. We zipped over to the rendezvous point to collect the others, then led the charge back to the mer village, The Lady Sea Dragon following in our wake.
A funny thing happens when you show up at an underwater mer village with a boat looming overhead. Hundreds of mers scatter like ants in a rainstorm, and the whole place becomes deserted in a matter of seconds. By the time Serena, Reese, and I made it to the town square with the rest of the Freshies, everyone was gone and the ship’s bell had disappeared.
I could still hear it, though.
Where’s that sound coming from? I turned in all directions.
They took the bell to the Mermish Council Chambers, Renata rang out from behind her stall where she was hiding from the boat. Dame Council took your friend and a few other prisoners, too.
My friend Luke? I asked, a familiar sense of dread building in my chest. It was just like the time a few weeks before when Luke had been judged in front of the tribunal. I only hoped they still hadn’t figured out who he was.
My sister didn’t like the look of him, I guess. Renata peeked out and seemed to recognize a few familiar Freshies in our group, calling them by name. Oh, Laurena! I saw your brother and sister head toward your family’s grotto!
Coach Laurena brought a hand to her mouth and looked like she was about to burst into tears.
Oh right! I reached over and put an arm around her shoulder and smiled. I didn’t get a chance to tell you.
There was a rumble from the boat’s engine as Trey shifted the boat’s gears high overhead. Renata cowered behind her stall once more.
Don’t worry about the vessel, Renata. They’re our friends. Reese swam to my side. He pointed to the flip-flops hanging from her stall. But, do you mind if we borrow a few of these? I promise I’ll get you new ones once this is over.
Anything if it means being done with this foolishness. She waved her hand in the air.
Okay, everyone, I addressed the Freshies. Reese and Laurena will show you how to make earplugs with the flip-flops. Start with your families first and get as many people back to the square as soon as you can.
What are you going to do? Reese asked as he pulled a few flip-flops from the stall.
Serena and I are going to try to find her parents and Luke, I said. Renata—do you think you could lead us to the chambers?
Renata snuck a peek over her shoulder at the hull of The Lady Sea Dragon.
Friends, you say?
I thought of Trey and Cori up in the boat—waiting to jump into action whenever I’d need them.
Best friends.
Well then, let’s go, Renata replied.
Here, Reese handed me and Serena each a flip-flop, just in case.
Thanks, Reese. I gave him a quick hug and he blushed when Serena pecked him on the cheek before we headed out.
We zipped around and through stalls and houses and mounds of kelp and rocks until we reached the outer edge of the village, across the valley from where we’d entered that morning. The area looked vaguely similar to what we’d seen during our Luke rescue mission.
Wasn’t there a tunnel around here somewhere? I felt along the bottom of the rocky ridge for where the current swirled and found an opening where the water pushed out at us like the last time. Oh, here!
I could hear the sound of the bell pulsing from within the tunnel and was just about to force my way through when Renata stopped me.
No, that’s not safe. I used to deliver food here before they took away my privileges. She tugged at my arm. Come, I know another way in.
Renata led us a little farther along the ridge through another series of tunnels that converged into the same meeting space where they’d held Luke a few weeks before. This time, we slipped into the grotto from a small opening at the base of the cave while sentries floated by the main entrance above.
The grotto was about as big as the inside of Bridget’s Diner and its walls sparkled with bioluminescence, like I’d seen once on a Planet Earth video, lighting the space with a dim glow. We slipped along the far wall, unseen, and settled behind a large pillar of stone decorated with intricate carvings. I poked my head around the pillar to get a look at what was happening.
A lot of familiar faces graced the front of the Council Chambers. There was Dame Council with her narrow nose and sharp eyes, and Jowls with the same jiggly face and ridiculous hair. The nice elderly mermaid with the seashell necklaces was there, too.
Oh, no, I whispered in a low ring. Finalin and Medora were being guarded by sentries. Serena tensed beside me. Luke was with them, too.
I’m telling you, this is the same boy we imprisoned in the lake several weeks ago, Jowls rang as he swam around Luke.
How can you be sure? I was assured he’d been imprisoned with the others. Dame Council studied Luke closely, then turned to another merman, who she pulled by the arm toward her. And this one—he’s not affected by the bell like the others. Who are you?
As I said, the merman rang, I’m from another pod across the ocean.
Nonsense! Dame Council rang. We are the only pod of mers that exists.
I couldn’t believe what I was seeing at first, but the merman’s tanned faced and short graying hair brought me back to that day when a helicopter thundered overhead as we blocked the road leading to the construction site where Mom and Serena were trapped in the tidal pool.
That’s Mr. Chamberlain, I rang quietly to Serena as we stayed hidden behind the pillar.
Who? she asked.
Lainey’s dad.
Lainey’s dad? Serena asked. Her eyes widened.
Everything I thought I knew about the Chamberlains suddenly came into focus. Mrs. Chamberlain had said Mr. Chamberlain had a “rare genetic disorder,” which was why they had adopted Lainey. Being a merman definitely qualified as “rare”!
But why would his construction company want to fill in the tidal pool if he was a Webbed One all along? Serena asked.
That’s a very good question. Then I remembered. The Chamberlains had moved here from Europe. They weren’t even from Port Toulouse. I don’t think he even knew it was there.
Dame Council and Jowls turned their attention back on Luke.
I’m not sure how he escaped, but he must be sent back to the Freshie prison, Jowls insisted, poking his finger at Luke’s chest.
My whole body shook with rage. There was no way I was going to let the Mermish Council mess with Luke again. I had to figure out a way to get the earplugs in his ears so the bell would stop controlling him.
You may want to ramp up security at the lake if you’re planning to put anyone else in there, I said as I tucked the flip-flop under my shirt and slipped out of my hiding place. Serena did the same while Renata stayed hidden.
You! Dame Council swam up to us with the speed of a very hungry barracuda.
How can this be! How did you escape the lake? Dame Council stared from me to Serena. She spun around and surveyed the sentries. Who has breached the lake’s security? Who among you would dare? We’ve already imprisoned Alzear—don’t think we will stop at him.
Alzear is innocent, I rang in an even tone, just like the rest of the Freshies. Do you think you can just keep locking up everyone who disagrees with you?
A few sacrificed for the greater good are worth it. Dame Council sneered. And as soon as we find out how you three got out, we will continue to protect the sanctity of the Mermish Council.
Haven’t you ever heard of free will? Democracy? Serena said in a slow and steady ring. Power to the people?
And can you knock it off with the bell? I added. It’s giving me a headache.
Dame Council checked our ears for earplugs but found none. She swam back to the group and bent her head toward one of her advisors. Why does she speak to me this way? Why are she and the other one not affected?
Face it, sister, a voice came from behind. You can’t force everyone to do your bidding.
Renata slid out from behind the pillar and swam past me toward Dame Council.
Well, t
hankfully for us, Dame Council spat back as the sisters faced each other, the bell has been passed on from the original Dame Council Follinia to me and not you, a common servant.
Renata’s graying hair swayed around her angular face. I could see it now—the narrow nose, the intelligent eyes, but on Renata the features looked wise instead of sinister like Dame Council’s scowl.
The thing you do not remember, dear sister, Renata rang, was that our grandmother, Folly Porthouse, was a servant to her people. Something that has become lost on you.
The original Dame Council Follinia is actually Folly Porthouse? Serena grasped my arm. With the ship?
What…? I began.
Grandmother’s bell was always meant to serve as a reminder that Webbed Ones, humans, and mers are united. Renata eyed her sister. It would make her sick to know how you’ve sullied her memory.
While Renata and Dame Council kept the rest of the Mermish Council entertained with their squabbling, I drifted over to Luke and plugged his ears with two rubber nubs I’d ripped off the flip-flop.
Shh, I rang quietly, keeping the nubs in Luke’s ears as he shook his head back and forth like a horse trying to avoid a buzzing fly.
Serena snuck up behind Mr. Chamberlain on the other side of the room and rang quietly in his ear. He glanced at me, and a flash of recognition crossed his face.
Meanwhile, about a kajillion pieces of the puzzle started arranging themselves in my mind. Folly Porthouse—the woman who sailed the Atlantic to get her fiancé back from the war, only to have her ship sink at the mouth of the northern passage of Talisman Lake. Had she become a mermaid when she “drowned”? But the only way that could have happened was if she’d been a Webbed One to start with. Or was she the daughter of a mer, maybe?
Like me?
Luke was just coming to his senses when the last piece of the puzzle slipped into place in my brain.
Wha…? he rang.
Stay cool, I whispered, grasping his hand as the earplugs blocked the ever-present clang of the bonging bell.
Real Mermaids Don't Need High Heels Page 14
