The Tears of the Myrr

.:4:.

Sogleh called his scientists around him. All the Dybvander spoke English, more or less, but he spoke in Dybvands first and then in English. He was very content with the results lately, and especially with the two sinkers. He liked them very much. That was mutual.

Daniel and Todd had met all the Myrr now. A few months had passed, but they had lost every sense of time. Todd had been thinking about it, last night. It should be fall now, on the surface. That meant rain, storms, and cold. He didn’t have any of that here, and he wasn’t sorry for it. The only wetness he felt occasionally was when Forsta came out of the sluice and grabbed him.

Sogleh talked some more about his new scientists. The other crew members were completely ignored; he wasn’t interested in them. Other forkners escorted them. “So,” said Sogleh, “I would like to know if Daniel and Todd are willing to stay forever, to work on the birth of our sweet Myrr.”

They looked at each other, but didn’t have to think long. Of course they would stay.

“Very well, boys. Welcome to the nursery. You’re now officially forkners!”

The crowd cheered and congratulated them, and then went back to work. New ova were fertilized and the cells were watched. The embryos were checked. In a few days, a new Myrr would be born.

Todd walked to his microscope and saw Sogleh talk agitatedly with two other forkners. “Is something wrong?” he asked.

“Ah, Todd,” said Sogleh. “Nothing serious. But we’ve almost finished with Forsta’s froh.”

“So?” Todd placed his palm computer on his desk. “Then you’ll just take some new, won’t you?”

The men looked at each other, and Sogleh sighed. “That’s the problem, Todd. Forsta hates giving his froh.”

“Really? Why?”

“Ar… Who knows.”

“Maybe I can help you?”

The scientists laughed. “Todd, you’re a sweet boy, but I don’t think Forsta would appreciate it.”

“I can try, can’t I? You need his froh, and Forsta doesn’t like to give it. What do you have to lose?”

“If we can please you with it, come with us.”

Todd followed the men to a discrete room at the back of the laboratory. It was closed with a white door, and sat next to a small room that Todd liked to call the sperm bank. They stepped inside.

Forsta sat in the middle of the sterile room, on a table. He was dressed, and his hair was tied up. He was clearly out of the water for some time already, and looked bored and angry. He swung with his long legs and stared to the ground.

Sogleh coughed and the Myrr looked up. His expression changed immediately, when he saw Todd. He grinned.

Sogleh explained him that they really needed froh, and then turned to Todd. “Well, Todd, go ahead. On that shelf, you find the jars to collect the froh.” He nodded to the Myrr and left them alone.

Forsta jumped off the table and grabbed Todd in a tight embrace. Todd kissed him. “Mm, my sexy dragon, Do you know what I have to do?”

Forsta spoke more and more English, like Todd could speak a bit Dybvands now. “Ar,” he purred. “Collect froh.”

“Yes, collect froh, your sperm. So, not here,” he pressed Forsta’s hand against his butt, “But there.” He pointed at the jars.

“Orv,” denied Forsta. “Here. Nes vahr kherj, Todd.” He purred with a deep sound. “Ej tern nes.”

Todd closed his eyes slowly. “Oh, Forsta, pat ej.”

The Myrr kissed him with passion and pushed him down on the table. He opened the clothes and pulled them off. Then he undressed himself. His erection stood trembling upright from the skin fold. He purred like a large cat. “Kherjfyr, I want you,” he said. His nails scratched the bare skin in front of him. “I love you.”

“Stop talking, big dragon. Just fuck me.” He held his breath when Forsta pulled his legs apart and placed his cock in position. “Yes… Go on, fuck me deep. Just don’t come inside me, okay?”

The Myrr purred and said, “Okay.” Then he stuck his dick inside.

Todd uttered a soft scream when he felt the hot burning sensation deep in his ass. The Myrr held him firmly at his hips and fucked him fast and deep. It didn’t take long before he pulled back and filled the first jar. Forsta closed the lid, placed it back on the shelf, and took another jar. “More,” he purred. He pulled Todd off the table. “On the floor.”

Todd fell on the floor, on his knees. The Myrr knelt behind him, and mercilessly stuck his erection inside him. Todd moaned and grabbed his own arousal firmly in his fist. He gasped, and moved his ass to increase the speed.

Forsta held him at his hips and fucked him deeply. He panted and purred groaning. After a while, he pulled back again, and filled another jar with a deep, pleased groan. He still didn’t have enough. He sat back, on his knees, and grabbed a bottle of water. He couldn’t sweat, only on his scalp, where there were no scales. His hair was streaky with transpiration already. He used the bottle to cool his scaled skin, and his red cock.

Todd turned on his back to look at him. He didn’t come yet, and stroked his leaking cock.

“I want to fill you,” purred Forsta.

“No, you can do that yet,” answered Todd breathlessly. “Only the jars, today.”

“Orv… No… You!” He wanted to grab him, but Todd avoided his hands. Forsta fell on his stomach. He looked disappointed. “More,” he purred pleadingly, looking over his shoulder.

“You’ll get more,” promised Todd. He slid his hands over the scaled butt, and spread the cheeks. The anus was like a red rose between the green scales. He bent his head and licked it. Forsta purred loudly.
Todd sucked the moist ass and licked him deep inside. In the mean time, he lubed his cock. “I’m going to fuck you now, so keep a jar handy,” he growled. He slowly pushed inside.

The large body shivered in delight, and Forsta spread his legs as wide as possible. He was very tight. Todd couldn’t keep it up for long. He fucked him slowly, with long, deep strokes. He moaned from the depths of his heart.

“Oh yes… You beautiful dragon, I’m going to fill your sweet ass now!” Todd uttered a scream when he came.

Forsta purred and grabbed a jar. He opened the lid with one hand, and held it close to his cock. He lifted his ass a little, and shot another load into the jar. Then he fell back on the floor. He moaned almost humanly.

Todd lay next to him and kissed him. “Enough?” he panted.

“Never,” answered Forsta. He was still erect.

Todd laughed in disbelieve. “You’re incredible,” he said.

“Can I fill you now?”

“Oh, go ahead, you monster. Fill my ass now.” He yelped when Forsta pushed him on his back and thrust his hips between his legs.

“Yes,” he hissed. He purred deep in his throat. “Now I fuck you. Now I fill you.”

It took him more time now, and Todd felt his ass burn. When the Myrr finally spurt his sperm deep inside, he could hardly move anymore. All his muscles seemed cramped.

Forsta fell down on him, and they kissed. “Now, enough,” purred Forsta.

Todd laughed. “For now,” he said softly.

“Yes. Only for now.”

They relaxed on Forsta’s clothes on the floor, and fell asleep.

*

Daniel sat bent over his keyboard. He wasn’t aware of his surroundings. The scientists always let him do his work alone, because they knew this sinker could concentrate very well. Still, two hands were placed on his shoulders. He looked up.

“Vahl, Danhjel,” said Anden purring.

“Vahl, princess…” he thought quickly. “Rungg,” he tried.

Anden laughed purring. “Orv, rongg!”

“Rongg Anden,” Daniel corrected.

But she shook her head. “Anden,” she said. “Orv rongg, Danhjel.”

“Daniel,” he said on his turn.

She did her best. “Danjel… Daniel!”

He laughed. “That’s it. Now, Anden, what can I do for you?”

She held her head tilted, but didn’t understand him. He tried to talk to her with hands and feet, and they laughed a lot. The princess was very amused. Daniel observed her. She was beautiful. In fact, she was gorgeous. He really would like to get to know her better.

*

Chris heard a voice behind her, calling her respectfully ‘miss Bacon’. She turned surprised. No one called her at her last name; she was called ‘Chris’. And then she was even lucky. Yvonne was called ‘thingy’. It was the sattlor. “Ah, O’Reilly,” she said.

“You remember me!” he said. He offered his hand, and she shook it. “How do you like it here, miss Bacon? Are you getting used to life under the sea bottom yet?”

“Getting used to it? I want to go back!”

“But miss Bacon, life’s so good, down here! What can you find on the surface, that can’t be found here?”

Chris thought about many things, and one of them was the sun. She knew that wasn’t fair, though. The sun had been behind clouds often. All that she had been thinking of, had lost its meaning. They had become symbols. The sun, the moon, day and night, storm, wind, rain, they were all just words. She longed for the sun, while she had cursed it many times for being too hot. She wanted wind and rain, while it had almost killed her, a few times. Only one reason still existed. The weather was nothing more than a vague memory, she didn’t have a home or family, but there was one thing she truly missed.
“I miss respect, O’Reilly. I’m nobody here. On the surface, I was miss Bacon, a self supported woman, with people working under me. Here, I’m nothing. Nobody looks up to me. They spit on me. I’m used.”

Steve nodded understandably. “It’s the same with me, miss Bacon. I was navigator when we were pulled down. We have been prisoners for a long time. In those days, they liked to see sinkers suffer. I knew what our fate would be, and saved me from it by learning Dybvands very quickly.”

“In prison?”

“Yes, while we were locked up. I listened to the guards. It’s been almost forty years when I was pulled down. We were trained to decipher coded messages from the enemy. The threat of the Russians was very real.”

“Russians?” Chris sniggered. “That’s long time gone.”

Steve led her to a couch and sat down. “What do you mean? Has there been a war? Did we win it?”

“War?” Chris sat next to him. “No, no war between the West and the East. The East is in war with itself. Listen, I’m no historian and world-politics can’t bother me at all, but believe me when I say the East is no longer a threat to us.”

“Are you serious? That’s great news. I never got the chance to question sinkers. Seeing a sinker was proving the world still existed, that no bomb had been dropped yet. It was my main reason to stay here.”

Chris laughed. “You’re still here because you were afraid of the bomb?”

“Oh, yes. I don’t want to die yet.”

“You’ll die eventually. How old are you? Forty?”

“Oh, Miss Bacon, how could I be? I’ve been down here for almost 40 years!”

Chris looked at him. Of course, he said so already. Well, maybe he had been very young, then?

“I’m over 80 now, miss Bacon.”

“What? You’re lying! How can that be?”

Steve smiled. “Dybvande, miss Bacon, is like the fountain of eternal youth. Stay and don’t age, or go back and die.”

“I’m 63,” said Chris. “And I want to go back. Do you really think I want to be pensioned forever? I want to die normally.”

Steve nodded. “Maybe I would have said the same, in your place. But I was only 40 when I got here. I was ambitious. I saved myself from death by becoming the sattlor of the sorrh, and now protect myself by staying here. I would die instantly, if I returned.”

“Is that the case? Do you get your real age when you go back to the surface?”

“Nobody knows for sure. Nobody tried. And I’m not willing to test it.”

“Coward; what if they’re wrong? You could live for years!”

“But what if it’s right? I’d be an old man in a second. Why give up the security of Dybvande, for a lost dream?”

They both went silent, until Steve said, “By the way, I would never feel at home in a world I haven’t seen half of my life. In a futuristic world.”

“Futuristic? What’s different now, compared to 1968?”

Steve shrugged. “It’s the 21ste century now. Much will have changed. I can remember the comics…”

“Ah yes, you’re an American. Well, Steve O’Reilly, I’ve seen some of your comics. Forget them, Steve. Forget Flash Gordon. People don’t like changes. We have the same cars and planes, only with different designs. We still take our place behind the traffic jams every day. We still live in the same ol’ boring houses, in the same ol’ boring streets. Forget it, man. The world hasn’t changed.”

“It hasn’t changed? Not one bit?”

“Nope. Yes, it’s a bit more filthy.”

“Filthy? In what way?”

“Smog! Where do you come from?”

“Los Angeles, Califo-“

“Ha! LA! It’s the worst! You can’t cope without an oxygen mask on a hot summer day, man… Smog everywhere!”

“But is everybody still on earth?”

“What do you mean? Of course… where else?”

“Mars? Jupiter? The moon?”

Chris laughed. “They’ve been on the moon, right after you’ve been taken down. But that’s it. There’s no planet suitable for humans. There’s no water. No Steve, humanity is restricted to earth. And all the sightings and movies are fake.”

Steve stared at her. “You can’t be serious! Technology should be advanced enough now, to discover other life forms! They should live on the moon now!”

“Steve O’Reilly,” soothed Chris. “Humanity is hardly able to map their sea bottoms. If they can’t discover Dybvande, how could they be able to find other life forms in the universe?”

Steve sighed and bent his head.

“The fact that they didn’t find us, proves they’re not as good as they would hope to be,” said Chris. “Ships and planes disappear in the Bermuda Triangle for centuries. Nobody knows why. They say it’s because of gasses.” She sniggered. “We are a dumb race, Steve.”

Steve stood up and walked up and down. “Good Heavens, Chris, just think about it. If we returned to the surface, we could sell Dybvande for millions!”

“You can’t be serious!”

“Of course I’m serious! Think about it, Chris. We tell them what Dybvande can do for mankind, and sell the location. We let the authorities take it in, return to the surface…”

Chris stared at him, while he talked about it. It wasn’t such a bad idea at all. She could return without risk, she had been here for a few months, now. She could do it. And she would be rich for the rest of her life.


Whistling, Chris pulled the sheets of the beds. She sang an old lullaby and made the beds with wide arm moves.

Yvonne stared at her. She stepped aside when the woman passed by her and didn’t believe her nose. Chris was wearing perfume, and made the beds with joy?

She shook her head and started to mop the floor.

Chris frolicked by and stepped on a wet spot. She slipped and fell down hard. Yvonne held her breath, but Chris had started to laugh.

“What’s the matter?” asked Yvonne without respect.

“What do you mean, girl?”

“What are you up to? Did you find a way to get out of here?”

The older woman stopped laughing and looked at her.

Yvonne stuck her chin up. “You don’t have to look at me like that. Down here, you’re nothing more than me. You can tell me.”

“It’s important that I go back,” said Chris.

“Why? What do you have in mind?”

Chris sighed. “Can I trust you, Yvonne?”

“Of course!”

“I don’t believe you, but I have no choice. You’re the only one who’s on my side. Listen.” She told her what O’Reilly and she had planned.


Yvonne polished the floor, until she could see her smile in it. The scientists were pleasantly surprised when they saw the result. Finally, the laboratory was clean.

Todd stared at his bed. It was made up flawlessly. If he would throw a coin on it, it would bounce up. “Oh, I’m so happy they are finally at home!” said Daniel smiling.

Todd turned to him. “At home? Do you really believe they’ve seen the light, and improved their lives?”

“Don’t you think so?”

“Oh, of course. You’re right. I’m just too suspicious.” He left Daniel and looked for Sogleh.

The forkner sat in the reading room, with some of his colleagues. They sat with their feet up, and were visibly relaxed.

Todd joined them. “Clean here, isn’t it?”

“Indeed, just what we said to each other. Good work, from our ladies.”

“Ah, so now they’re your ladies?”

“Mister Andrews! Do I hear a little amount of jealousy?”

“Jealous? At them? No way. But is nobody else a bit worried by their sudden enthusiasm?”

“Ow, Todd, come on. Maybe they want to change their lives?”

“Chris and Yvonne, changing their lives. Who are you kidding? Sogleh, they only want one thing, and that’s going back to the surface. Don’t ask me why, but that’s what they want. They are bound to plan an escape, just now.”

“How can they escape? They’re no prisoners. And why do they want to go back? They have a long future ahead of them, here! Relax, Todd, you’re far too suspicious.”

Todd shook his head and sighed. “Sogleh, it’s fine if you don’t want to believe them. But please, keep them away from the babies. I don’t trust them, and so shouldn’t you.” He stood up and left them alone.

The scientists laughed behind his back, but Sogleh was quiet. Todd knew the women longer than they did. He knew what they were able to do. He decided that a little extra attention wouldn’t do any harm, and relaxed. First kirde, and then sleep. He longed for his fresh bed.

*

Halfmyrr woke Clime up by kissing him.

“Wake up, sleepy head, it’s late.”

Clime yawned and pulled him on top of him. “I don’t want to wake up,” he said. “I had such a wonderful dream…”

Halfmyrr smiled at him. “What did you dream, then?”

“Mm…” Clime moaned softly. “I dreamed you were lying under me, and I fucked your tiny little butt.”

The prince laughed and slapped him. “Get up, I have plans for today.”

“Me too,” sighed Clime. But he stepped out of bed and walked to the bathroom.

Halfmyrr waited for him, with his clothes in his hands.

Clime saw the enthusiasm. “Okay, tell me. What plans did you have for today?”

“We’ll visit the laboratory today,” said Halfmyrr. His eyes were gleaming. He looked excited.

Clime dressed up and smiled at him. “Cool! I’d love to meet your Myrr. And I’d love to see how the crew is doing.” The prince almost jumped up and down. “Is there time for breakfast?” he asked with a smile.

A hovering cart was waiting in the corridors. Livvreme and Voggne sat in the front, and Halfmyrr and Clime stepped in. It started to float. It was a quick and silent way of transportation.

The laboratory was at the end of the cave, far away from civilization. It was partly built under the bottom, and partly above it. Clime looked in awe at the entrance. It was impressive.

Sogleh walked to them, his arms spread.

“Rungg Halfmyrr!” he said happily. “Oh, welcome, it’s been such a long time!”

Halfmyrr embraced him, and introduced Clime. Sogleh shook his hand. “I’ve heard so much about you,” he said. “Please, come in!”

The men followed him inside. The laboratory was buzzing with activity. Sogleh showed them around, introducing Clime, and he walked further in.

Clime looked around. The place was very impressive. Myrr weren’t just created; it was a true science. Suddenly, he saw a familiar figure. He quickly walked towards him. “Daniel?” he said.

The man looked up, and smiled surprised. “Clime! Oh, wow! How are you?”
They shook hands and Daniel slapped him on his shoulder. The man looked fit and happy. Clime told him, and he laughed. “Oh, I am happy,” he said. “I’m at home here, it’s perfect. Did you see the others already?”

Clime shook his head, and Daniel turned around. “Todd!” he said.

The diver smiled when the young man walked to them. The boy stared at him, in surprise, and they laughed. “Clime!” He fell in his arms and they hugged each other. “Oh, man! That’s been quite some time!”

They only had eyes for each other for a while, but suddenly, Todd was pulled away. Clime looked up and saw how a large Myrr looked angrily at him. “Mine,” he purred unfriendly.

“Forsta!” Halfmyrr walked to the men. “Forsta, my dearest!”

The Myrr forgot about Clime and laughed. “Halfmyrr!” He walked to his father and embraced him with force.

Clime stared at Todd, who looked a bit shy. “Sorry about that,” he whispered.

“Not at all,” said Clime quietly. “I understand… So, you thought you could do better, mh?”

Todd laughed. “It crossed my mind, once or twice.”

They left the Myrr alone and looked for the others. Soon, the crew was reunited and was chatting about the past months. Halfmyrr invited them for lunch, and they walked to the dining room.

But Chris and Yvonne didn’t join them.

*

“So, that was Forsta,” said Clime later that day. The lunch had been great, and he felt much better, now that he knew the crew was alright.

“Oh, yes. What did you think about him?”

“Oh, he’s great. A bit possessive, though.”

“Mm… Yes. That Todd boy, you mean?”

“Yes, he was jealous for no reason.”

“I know. I think my Forsta is a bit in love with Todd.”

“A bit?” Clime laughed. “My dear, he’s lost. Did you see how they looked at each other? If love can beam, they were radiating.”

Halfmyrr smiled. “And did you see Anden?”

“With Daniel, mh? Couldn’t miss it, could I?”

The prince sighed. “I’m happy for them. I’m very happy we pulled that stupid ship down, and didn’t enslave you. It had to be like this.”

Livvreme interrupted them. “Halfmyrr, Andrews would like to speak with you and Clime.”

The prince said he could let him in, and Todd walked into the room. He looked worried.

“Hello, dear,” said Halfmyrr smiling. “Did you forget to tell us something?”

“Not really,” said Todd. He sat down. “I couldn’t say it with the others around. They think I’m crazy.” He told them about the sudden change in Chris’ and Yvonne’s behavior. “Please, don’t say I’m too suspicious, rungg Halfmyrr.”

Halfmyrr sighed. “Don’t call me rungg, dear. And I won’t judge you, either. Clime, you know those women better than me. Tell me what you think of it.”

“I think Todd’s right,” he said. “I don’t trust them either.”

Todd looked gratefully at him. “I’m not crazy, am I?” he asked.

“No, of course you’re not crazy. I believe we have to keep an eye on that woman. Yvonne is less important, but Chris could be dangerous. I just don’t understand what she would want to do.”

“Me neither. Maybe she wants to harm the Myrr?”

Clime shook his head. “That’s too useless for her. She can’t win anything by doing that, can she? No, she’s addicted to power. It must be something else.”

“Okay,” said Halfmyrr. “Tell me more about that woman. What did she do, before she came here?”

“Search for Atlantis,” Todd said.

“And what else?”

“Nothing else. It was her life. She only searched for Atlantis.”

“Really? How strange. But, she has found it now. In a way, she should be happy.”

“Yes,” said Clime, “But now she has no reason to live, does she? She has found what she’s been looking for, and she can’t tell anybody…” His voice drifted off. “Oh, boy.”

Todd stared at him. “She can’t tell anybody, here. But she can tell everybody, back up!”

Halfmyrr groaned. “I think we have a problem, gentlemen.”


Todd was sent back to the laboratory, to keep an eye on Chris and Yvonne. Halfmyrr paced up and down.

“She can be very dangerous to us. We have to warn my father.”

“You have to warn everybody!” said Clime. “All the sorrh’s, all the countries here!”

“Yes, but how can I do that? They won’t listen to me, would they? I’m a mere freak!”

Clime jumped up and grabbed him at an arm. “Halfmyrr, if I hear you say that one more time, I swear, I’m going to slap your face on both sides. You’re no freak! You’re an important link!”

Halfmyrr stared at him in shock. “But–“

“No, Halfmyrr, say it after me. You’re no freak! You’re important!”

The prince shook his head, and Clime sighed. “Halfmyrr, your name says it all. You’re half Myrr. That name was given to you when you were born. People understood it then, they understood what you were. They knew you were the link, that you were living prove mankind can adapt to life under water.”

“Yes. But time has changed.”

“Taves, Halfmyrr,” snapped Clime. “I want you to stop sulking at this very moment. You’re important; you are the future. And at this moment, it’s important that you talk to your people. Save Atlantis, Halfmyrr. Save your life. The future relies on you, now. So hold your head up, throw that mask away, and talk to your people!”

The prince gasped for air. “Clime…” he panted.

“Yes?”

“Kiss me…”

Clime let him go, and turned away. Then he turned back to him, and grabbed him tight. He kissed him roughly. Halfmyrr sighed. They held each other tight, and cooled down a bit.

“You’re right, Clime. You’re harsh, but I know you’re right. I should talk to the Dybvander, and to the other people.”

Clime kissed his hair. “You won’t be alone. I’ll be with you, and so will Forsta and Anden. It’s time the Myrr are accepted.”

*

Chris walked to Steve, in the corridor. It was a secret meeting, and she ensured herself she wasn’t followed. When she was sure to be alone, she sat on the couch. “Do you know how I can leave?” she whispered.

“Yes. There’s a mini-submarine, that hasn’t been dismantled. You can use it to go back to the surface. But it’s dangerous, you’ll have to decompress when you reach it.”

“Hm… How can I do that?”

“We could warn the authorities from here, they could wait for you.”

“Will they do that?”

“I don’t know, you know the world better than me. I can’t help you with that…”


A small Myrr swam into the sluice and pumped it dry. She tried to breath the air, and it was difficult. After a few gasps, she got used to it. It went better, now. She opened the door and stepped into the dressing room.

She didn’t like clothes at all. They were heavy and strange. Everything was heavy for her, on dry land. She chose a single cloth and pulled it around her chest. It should be enough. She didn’t understand why she couldn’t walk around naked, inside. Sogleh had tried to explain it to her, with a lot of stuttering, but she just didn’t get it.

She was a young Myrr, and a real one. She had no hair at all, only scales. Walking wasn’t easy, just as breathing, but she could swim like no other. She loved to be in the water. Some times, though, she had to see Sogleh, and the other Myrr. That was just what had to be done.

Dressed, she walked carefully into the dry corridor. The light was too bright for her, and she blinked a few times. Then, she walked further.

She could hear voices, sounds. It was quiet under water, and she couldn’t hear very well, either. The language the Myrr used, could carry through the water like electricity. When she went around a corner, she saw two unfamiliar humans. Fearless, she approached them. She was taught to be safe, here.


Chris looked up and saw the small, green figure. She screamed. Steve jumped up too. “Go away, freak!” he yelled.

The Myrr looked at him. She didn’t understand him.

“Shoo! Shoo! Get lost!”

Chris held him. “Wait! She could have heard everything! Come here, dear,” she said to the Myrr. “Come to auntie Chris.”

The Myrr stopped, and did one step backwards. Chris came nearer.

“Come to me, don’t be afraid…”

The girl backed further away. When Chris made another step, she turned, and ran away.

Chris followed her. The Myrr wasn’t very good at running, but neither was Chris. She couldn’t get her. “Come here, you freak!” she yelled.

The Myrr ran around a corner. Chris followed her and ran into something. She fell on her back and looked up. The huge Myrr looked down on her. He looked furious.

“You,” he hissed. “You hurt Tjonda!”

“Tjonda?” said Chris breathlessly. “No, I’m not hurting her! I just wanted to talk to her!”

Forsta stepped nearer, and he towered above the woman. She tried to flatten herself. “Please,” she said.

“No,” said the Myrr. “Don’t trust you.”

Steve came around the corner, and looked at the scene. “Rungg Forsta!” he said. He said some more in Dybvands.

The Myrr looked angry, but did a step back. He looked down on Chris. “Don’t trust you,” he said again. Then he turned and walked away.

Chris breathed out. “Thank you, Steve,” she said. “Man, he was scary!”

Steve helped her up. “Chris, it’s important that we are quick, now. Tjonda might not have heard us, but it’s too dangerous to delay our plans. Forsta could talk to Halfmyrr, and then we make no chance.”

Chris nodded. She had gained her breath again. “Yes, you’re right. Can you bring me to a radio, tonight?”


Early in the morning, Chris, Yvonne, and Steve sneaked to a hangar. In a sluice, they saw the submarine Steve had mentioned.

“Right,” said Chris whispering. “I’ll go in. Yvonne, you’ll be at the radio, and Steve, you’ll stand guard.”

“How do I know you’ll come back?” asked Yvonne.

“For once, dear, you’ll just have to trust me.”

“Why can’t I go up instead?”

Chris sighed. “Because nobody will listen to you. Now shut up, and help me in the suit.”

They helped her in, and then helped her in the sub. There was only room for Chris. She had to lie on her stomach, and could hardly move around.

“It’s straight up,” Steve said. “You can’t use any detour.”

“Do I want to take a detour?” snarled Chris in the microphone. “I want to go up, a.s.a.p. Close the hatches.”

Steve closed the round doors and closed the sluice. It started to fill up. When it was full, the door on the other end opened.

“Right,” said Chris. “Any last words? I have one: Goodbye!”

She started the engine and slowly, she drifted outside, into the ocean. Then, she accelerated, and went straight up. She could only pray the ship was waiting for her.


Todd held his breath. He had followed them, carefully, and they hadn’t noticed him. Now, he had to get back to the lab as soon as possible. Quickly, before Steve could see him, he ran through the corridors. “Oh, Sogleh!” he panted to the forkner. The man stared at him. He was hardly awake, and Todd jumped up and down in front of him. “It’s Chris, and Yvonne, and that sattlor! Chris has left with a sub!”

Sogleh shook his head. “Huh?” he said.

Todd pushed him aside. “Oh, forget it. I’m off to see Forsta!”

But the Myrr was nowhere to be found. If he was in the water, there was no way Todd could reach him. They weren’t exactly using cell phones, here. He saw Daniel, and grabbed him by an arm. “Come with me, I’ll explain later!” They ran through the halls, in the direction of the palace.

Todd saw the hovering car of Voggne. It stopped when he yelled his name. Todd quickly explained what happened, and they drove off to see the prince.


Halfmyrr sat upright in his bed. He was wide-awake now, after he had been rudely disturbed in his pleasant dreams. “Okay, this is it, then,” he sighed. “I’ll go to my father.”

Clime stepped out of bed too, and they dressed. It didn’t take long to get on the hovercraft, and to go to the palace of the king.

Sorrh Ihjel was sitting sleepily on his throne. He was alone, only a few servants stood next to him. He listened to his son. When Halfmyrr was finished, Ihjel looked at Clime, and he said something in Dybvands.

Halfmyrr sighed. “He says you’re to blame, because you didn’t want them to be enslaved.”

“I don’t care,” said Clime. “Let it be my fault, if it makes him feel better. As long as he makes the right decisions, now.”

Sorrh Ihjel looked at him. “Wise words, young man,” he said.

They stared at the king. Halfmyrr laughed. “You too, huh?” he said. “It seems everybody speaks English, down here.”

“Yes.” The king sighed. “Clime, I was unfair. Come to think of it, I started this by hiring the sattlor.”

“Good, now that we’ve blamed each other, can we go on? Chris is about to reach the surface, and she’ll talk to the authorities. Soon, everybody will know about Dybvande.”

“If she survives,” said Daniel.

“What do you mean?” asked Clime.

“She has to decompress, hasn’t she?”

“Oh!” said Todd. “I heard her speaking about a ship! They’re waiting for her!”

“Oh good,” sighed Clime. He looked at Halfmyrr. “Now you have to talk to the kings, my dear. Remember what I said to you.”

“How can I forget? Ihjel, We need to speak to the other countries. Can you collect them for a meeting, as soon as possible?”

Ihjel nodded, and spoke to his servants. They left quickly. “Let’s prepare ourselves for an emergency,” said Ihjel. He stood up from his throne and stepped down. “Oh, by the way, Halfmyrr,” he said when he passed his son, “You look amazingly well, today.”

Halfmyrr stared at him, and then lifted his hands. He touched his face. He had forgotten to put his mask on.

Ihjel smiled at him. “Paende,” he said.

*

It took several precious hours to get the sorrh’s of the other countries together. They were accompanied by limarv, the ministers. Sorrh Ihjel welcomed them in the main hall of his palace. They sat around the huge table. Ihjel sat on the top end, with Halfmyrr at his right hand. Clime sat next to him, and then Todd and Daniel were sitting at the table.
At his left, there were Forsta and Anden. It was an impressive sight. Halfmyrr whispered it was the very first time for them, to sit at one table.

Ihjel introduced the Myrr and the sinkers to the guests. Then he explained who the guests were. The sorrh’s of the neighbor countries were Klemmht for Obannsten, Gibusk for Nesvleh and Ruent for Skuddoh.
Then, he gave the word to Halfmyrr.

Halfmyrr stood up, after Clime had pinched his leg. He took a deep breath. He had never shown himself to anyone, let alone to the sorrh’s. But he shouldn’t be afraid. Clime already said it to him, he was important. He explained what the problem was.

The sorrh’s listened worriedly, and Klemmht asked a question. Halfmyrr translated it for the crew. “Sorrh Klemmht just asked me, what to do now.”

“Do they speak English?” asked Clime.

“I’m sure they do, but they won’t admit it. Speak, I will translate.”

Clime stood up. “Gentlemen, we have a situation here. We might have a day left, maybe two. Chris has to decompress, before she can be on the surface again. But she can talk to the people above, while she is in the chamber.”

The sorrh’s nodded understandably, before Halfmyrr could translate.

“So, there are two options. We either stop them before they come down, or we wait for them.”

They nodded again, and then bent to the limarv for advise.

“How can we stop them?” asked Ruent.

“We could send the Myrr up,” said Clime.

“Ar,” purred Forsta. “Myrr can go to the surface.”

“They can?” asked Gibusk surprised. “They have no problems with the difference in water pressure?”

“Orv,” purred Anden. She started to master English as well. “Myrr don’t just breath air.”

The sorrh mumbled surprised, and it sounded admiring. Clime smiled, and blinked at Halfmyrr. “Told you,” he whispered. Halfmyrr smiled relieved.

“Let’s send the Myrr up, then,” said Klemmht. “If they agree, of course.” He bent his head respectfully towards Forsta and Anden.

“We agree,” said Forsta.

*

They didn’t waste a much time, and went to the laboratory. The sorrh’s had never been here. Even Sorrh Ihjel had never met Sogleh.

The forkner was very surprised to see the royal guests, and bowed deep.

“We have no time for that, Sogleh,” said Halfmyrr. He explained what happened. “We need the Myrr. As many as possible. We need to go to the surface, to stop Chris.”

“Yes, I understand, rungg Halfmyrr. But the true Myrr can’t be sent up. Only your children, Forsta and Anden…”

“Send them up, then. Don’t waste time, Sogleh!”

Forsta and Anden didn’t hesitate, and walked to the sluice. Todd and Daniel followed them quickly.

“Forsta, wait!” said Todd. “Please, be careful!”

The Myrr turned towards him, and smiled. “Yes,” he said short. He embraced him. “I will be careful.”

“I can’t live without you, Forsta,” said Todd softly.

Forsta kissed him. “Don’t need to. I will return.” He purred something.

Daniel hesitated in front of Anden. “Princess,” he started. “Oh, what do I care? Anden, I love you,” he said. He took her hands and looked straight at her. “Return safely, and marry me,” he said.

Anden stared at him, and laughed with a loud purr. “Ar,” she said in Dybvands. She kissed him. “I will marry you, Daniel,” she said.

The Myrr pulled away and undressed. They stepped in the sluice, and waved. The door closed.

Todd sighed, and walked to Daniel. “You too, eh?” he smiled. Daniel nodded.

They walked back to the laboratory.

*

Forsta and Anden swam to the surface. They had done it before, when they were little. Every Myrr had tried how far they could go. Only they could reach the dry air, though. It took a long time to swim all the way up.

The water started to feel warmer, and the pressure slowly disappeared. It became lighter, too. After a few hours, they reached the surface.
Carefully, they looked around. Forsta pointed at a ship. It was a warship, big and threatening. They had to act quickly.

They swam to it, and found a rope hanging from the high railing. They climbed in it. Very cautiously, they climbed on board.
They walked slowly and pressed against the metal walls of the constructions on board. They peeked into the rooms, until they found what looked like the right staircase.

Anden looked down, and could see humans. They were talking excited, and angry. She pulled her brother back. With a silent jump, they dove back into the water.

“What shall we do?” asked Anden in the purring language of the Myrr.

“Attack,” said Forsta.

Anden shook her head. “No. Too dangerous. We might not survive. I have another idea.”

Forsta followed her when she swam a little deeper. She made strange noises. The water started to bubble around them. Dark shadows followed from below. “Good ship,” she purred, when the water turned white with tiny air bubbles. “Lot’s of people.”

”We might be too late, they could have warned other ships!”

“Good,” said Anden. “More ships to build with. More people to use.”

The water was now milk white, and strange fish swam through them. Very large fish, and a lot of them. The Myrr pulled back a little, when the enormous bodies passed them. She made more loud noises, and they began to swim in a wide circle around the ship. “Get back,” she warned Forsta. They swam away a little more.

The fish swam faster now, and the water started to swirl. The fish were almost invisible. They became a blur. A huge vortex formed around the ship, and started to pull it down. “There it goes,” purred Anden pleased.

“Let’s go down, and wait for it.”

“No, wait just a little longer. It can give us a ride, once it’s under water.”

Forsta purred laughing. They did that when they were kids, they used to pull ships down and used them to ride down. It had been a long time ago, though.

The ship went down quickly, and the vortex stopped. It was now pulled down by its own weight and the gravity.

“Did people jump off?” asked Forsta when they swam to it.

“I hope so, my fish didn’t eat for a while,” said Anden.

Forsta shook his head, and grabbed a rail in his hands. “Todd calls me a dragon, but the only dragon here, are you,” he purred.

Anden smiled, and uttered a humanly scream when the ship pulled them quickly to the bottom.

*

At the bottom, the Myrr swam to a few very large, metal doors. More Myrr swam here, and they were waiting.

“Open the hatches,” purred Forsta. “Big catch, today.”

The hydraulic doors opened slowly, and the floating ship was pushed inside. It fitted easily. It wasn’t the first large ship to be captured. The Myrr followed, and the doors closed again.

It was a huge sluice. The water pumped out. The ship was carefully supported when it fell dry. All the Myrr disappeared through doors, and it was left alone. After a few minutes, an army stepped in. They searched the ship for survivors.

After all the survivors had been captured, and the drown people removed, a new group came in. They started to dismantle the ship.

A few hours later, it was all over.


Forsta and Anden returned to the laboratory, with one of the hovercrafts. “I need to dress,” purred Anden.

“Why bother?” asked her brother while he was steering.

“I’m going to marry,” she said dreamily.

“That Daniel sinker?”

“Oh, yes.”

“I’ll marry Todd,” he purred pleased.

“Good! I hope Halfmyrr will marry that diver sinker. We can all marry together.” Marriage had a special meaning in Dybvande, since they all lived for so long.

Forsta stopped at a dressing room, and they put clothes on. They helped each other with their hair. Looking impressive, they stepped into the laboratory.

*

Chris woke up. She had been unconscious, and now, she had a headache. She tried to see where she was. With a groan, she lifted her head a little, and focused on the environment. It was a cell. “Shit,” she said quietly. Well, what did she expect, trying to escape in the Bermuda Triangle. But, she thought pleased, at least she had told the navy everything she knew. They may have had time to warn the authorities. Maybe it had been successful, after all.

Oh, they didn’t believe her, at first. But the mini-sub had been registered, and reported missing since the eighties. Once they checked that, they believed her. She hoped others would come down, to rescue her. If the Dybvander punished her now, what use had all this been?

She sighed deeply. She had mentioned her price for the information, and after some haggling, they had agreed. But she didn’t have the money yet, and it was no use here. She had to be rescued, to live in wealth on the surface.

Footsteps interrupted her thoughts. A man appeared at the gate of the cell. It was Cyphel. “Vahl, Chris Bacon,” he said. He opened the gate, and walked in to cuff her. She was too weak to struggle. “Lyg,” said the jailer. He pulled her up and out of the cell.

Outside, she saw Yvonne and Steve. They were also cuffed, and stood pale and anxiously waiting. Steve was trembling.“They won’t kill us,” he said to Chris.

“Is that good?” she asked numbly.

“We’ll have to go to the caves, now.” His voice was croaking. “I’ve been there once. It’s very, very bad.”

Cyphel forced them to walk, and they stepped into the hall. They didn’t have to go far. A hovercraft was waiting, with a few guards in it. Meekly, they stepped in, and it floated off. Cyphel stayed behind. He was grinning. “So,” said Chris. “Tell me about the caves.”

“You’ll have to see it to believe it, Chris,” said Steve.

They left the palace, and the hovercraft floated through streets. For the first time, Chris could see how Dybvande was built. At first, she thought they had left the sea bottom. But there was no water here, so she had to be under the ground. She looked up, and tried to see the ceiling. Far, far above her, she saw lights. They were fluorescing pinpoints, like a sky full of stars. Many stars. Suddenly, she realized how immensely big the caves had to be.
The buildings were large, and many stories high. She could see the high windows, all without glass. Every house was lit, with the same gleaming light as the palace. She could see the people walking inside, the furniture, the plants, and the pearls everywhere.
The large houses hardly filled the cave. In a way, they made it look bigger. It gave perspective to the space. Without them, the place would just be ‘big’. Now, it was immense.
No wonder they needed the ships and planes, and the slaves. The caves had to be watertight and supported, before the water could be pumped out.

It became colder around them, when they floated further. The houses were not as flamboyant anymore, and some were not even finished yet. The streets were empty. For a long time, the prisoners could only see the light bundle of the hovercraft on the floor. But they could sense an enormous space around them. Then, there was light again. It was a tunnel, closed with a heavy door at the end. The hovercraft floated to a halt, and the prisoners were pushed off.

Two other guards took them over, and the vehicle drove off again. They were pushed into a room.

Chris looked around, and saw rows and rows of benches and lockers. There had to be thousands. The guards pushed them further, and led them to a distant row. There, yet another guard was waiting. Three lockers were opened, and they could see the heavy deep-sea diving suits. An order was snarled.

“We have to chance in these suits,” translated Steve.

Meekly, they obeyed. Resistance was useless.

When they were dressed, they were forced back into the tunnel. One of the guards said something, one word, and Chris looked at Steve. Steve shivered. “He said ‘farewell’,” he translated.

They stared at the door in front of them. Behind them, another door slowly closed. The water started to rise. Yvonne started to scream, and Chris pushed her away when she crept against her. “Keep your head up, girl,” she said. But she didn’t sound too unfriendly. When the girl started to cry in her helmet, she placed an arm around her. “There, there, girl. It isn’t that bad.”

But it was. The tunnel filled up slowly, and the waiting was agonizing. Instinctively, they tried to swim, but the heavy, lead soles kept them firmly on the bottom. But they didn’t drown. The oxygen flasks worked perfectly. They wouldn’t drown, thought Chris when the door opened. They walked into the cave, and looked around in awe. No, they wouldn’t drown. But they wouldn’t be happy they didn’t.

Around them, people in suits were working hard. Guards in different suits were walking around, heavily armed. Chris sighed again. It wouldn’t take long before they would use Myrr to guard here, she thought.

Atlantis wasn’t dead. Atlantis was very much alive. Atlantis was growing. She stepped forward, her head held high in the helmet. And as long as they didn’t rescue her, or kill her, she would help Atlantis to grow.

*

Dybvande, Obannsten, Nesvleh, and Skuddoh were in state of the highest emergency. They were ready for it, and waiting. Many ships had gathered on the surface. A few warships, but mostly they were research ships. The Atlantics knew they were observed.

The Myrr were inside. They would appear on the radars as soon as they started swimming. “Why can’t we just attack them?” asked Klemmht. “We can sink them, can’t we? Why are we waiting?”

“Because they’ll just send some new ships, Klemmht,” said Gibusk. “If we sink them now, others will know something is down here. They’ll send divers, subs, or maybe even drop a bomb on us. It’s too dangerous.”

“We have become careless,” sighed Ihjel. “We thought we were indestructible. And now we have to pay the price.”

“Can’t we just be friends with them?” asked Ruent. “We could live here, and they can live on the surface. Let’s talk with them.”

“Yes,” sneered Gibusk. “And let’s just explain the slaves are on our pay roll. And say we borrowed the ships from them. Think, please, Ruent. Don’t be stupid.”

The king looked offended, but didn’t answer. The four kings held meetings like this since the first ships arrived, but they still didn’t find a solution.

Sorrh Ihjel stood up with a sigh. “Okay, gentlemen. We can’t think of anything. It’s time to consult my son and the Myrr.”


It wasn’t just Halfmyrr and his Myrr who entered the room. The three sinkers came in as well. The kings looked worried and whispered something in Dybvands.

Halfmyrr translated. “They wonder if you will be capable of deciding what we should do about the humans on the surface, since you belong to them.”

Clime smiled. “I thought we had gotten that over with, by now. Okay. Gentlemen, we’re sinkers, but we live and work here. We found our love here. We don’t belong to the surface anymore. That has to be sufficient to you.”

Klemmht nodded. “I understand, Hackley. Please, join us. Help us. We don’t know what to do.”

It was Daniel who cleared his throat. “We have to deceive them. We can’t kill them, there are to many people, and they will continue looking for life under water. We have to convince them there is no life here.”

“Sounds good,” said Ihjel. “How do we do it?”

“Destroy the ruins,” said Todd. “That’s what made us come down here, in the first place. Flatten the bottom, destroy all traces.”

“They would notice that, wouldn’t they?”

“Smoke curtain,” said Clime.

“Come again?”

“We can’t run, but we can hide. Camouflage Dybvande and the other countries. They’re under ground already, so make some sort of camouflage above the bottom, to deceive the radars. That way, we can still move around without being noticed.”

“How can we do that?” asked Ihjel.

“First, we have to cover up, and chase the ships away.” He turned to Anden. “You control the fish. Can you cause a sea-quake?”

Anden grinned. “A sea-quake?” she purred. “How demolishing would you like to have it?”

Clime smiled. “Just enough to scare the ships, and to cover us up again. Can you do it?”

Anden rose from her seat. She looked stunningly impressive, in her robes. The sorrhs backed a little away when she held her head up high, and looked around with pride. “Pay attention, men,” she purred with a low sound. “I’ll demonstrate the power of the Myrr. Follow me.”

The royal company followed her through the halls.

“Sogleh,” she said to the forkner, “You should warn the building sites. I will shake the planet. Let them hold on tight to something. It will be rough.”

The forkner hasted himself to warn the others.

Anden walked with aim. She was clearly enjoying herself. Forsta walked next to her. “Can I help?” he grinned.

“No. Make sure everybody is safe. I want to do this on my own.” She looked up. “But thanks for your offer,” she smiled.

Forsta stood still at the sluice, and the door closed behind Anden. A few minutes later, she could be seen outside the glass tube. She didn’t swim far away.

Sogleh joined the company. “I’ve warned everybody. Are we safe here?”

“Maybe not,” said Halfmyrr. “But I don’t want to miss this. Open all the doors. We can run when it gets too rough.”

Outside, Anden spread her arms. She was making a show of it, aware of the watching men. She called her fish with loud purrs. Even the princess was impressed for a second, when the large bodies appeared around her. The humans had once called them ‘deep-sea-whales’, but in the human language, they should be called ocean machines. They were huge.

The animals waited in front of her. She swam closer, and touched one on its nose. She looked it in one of its eyes, and purred softly. “My friends, I need you,” she said in the language of the Myrr. She purred a bit more.

The fish slowly retracted. Carefully, they turned around and swam away from Anden. They spread up and surrounded the laboratory. More fish appeared around her. The black sea filled up with even darker bodies. Some had fluorescent lights over their scales.
Anden looked behind her, at the watching men. She grinned. They were waiting anxiously for her next move. They should hold on tight to something, she thought pleased.
She turned back, and raised her arms. Her voice sounded high and slit through the water, when she purred her final command.

The heavy fish swam up, with a move of their tails, and suddenly plumped down.

The ground shook.


Inside, the royal company almost tippled over.

“We should sit down,” laughed Halfmyrr. “Here comes another one…”

The black bodies hit the ground again, and let it shake even more. Then, they showed why they were called ocean machines. Like pistons, the fish started to hit the ground in turns.

“Damn!” yelled Clime in awe. Everybody was sitting now, and held each other tight. There was nothing to be seen outside, only sand and rubble. A high sound could be heard above the roar.

“Anden,” explained Forsta. “She’s singing.”

“She’s a siren,” smiled Daniel. “I think we better go deeper inside.”

With difficulty, the men made their way through the doors. They sat down in the lab and waited for peace to return.

Slowly, the glass dome was covered with sand. Anden was succeeding, and was hiding Dybvande under a thick layer of dirt. Soon, they would be completely invisible again.

After a full hour, peace returned. The ground stopped shaking, and the loud noises ebbed away. Anden returned to the group of men. She was tired, but satisfied.

“It’s done,” she purred. “We’re safe again. No one will ever find us.”

The Sorrh backed away from her when she passed by to walk to Daniel.

“My Daniel,” she said while she took his hands, “Now I ask you to marry me. Say yes.”

“Yes,” said Daniel softly.

Forsta grabbed Todd by his hair. “You,” he purred. “You will be mine forever now. You too should say yes, now.”

Todd laughed and pulled his hair in turn. “Of course, you dumb dragon, yes, yes!”

The men watched how the Myrr kissed their chosen lovers. The Sorrh turned their eyes away, feeling a bit awkward. Ihjel cleared his throat. “I guess I should give permission, then,” he mumbled.

Halfmyrr laughed. “Even if you didn’t, father, there’s no way to stop it now. The Myrr have proven themselves. You can’t avoid them anymore. It’s time the Dybvander accepts them. It’s time you accept me.”

“I always accepted you, son,” said Ihjel softly. “You never accepted yourself.”

“Yes,” nodded Halfmyrr. “You’re right. But it’s time to change things in our world. It’s time to introduce the Myrr. Are you ready for a very big announcement?”

Ihjel nodded slowly. “It will be such a ceremony… Oh, I have so much to arrange!” He suddenly looked stressed. “I must return to my chambers. I have to talk to the limarv. I must… I will go now.”

They watched the Sorrh leave, followed by the other high placed men.

Clime breathed deeply in and out. “It will be quite a shocker, what’s going to happen now, Halfmyrr. Are you sure you will be able to handle it?”

“Mm,” mumbled Halfmyrr. “You mean my father will make me Sorrh, will introduce the Myrr, and will have three weddings at the same day?”

“Probably, yes. The Dybvander will be very shocked with all the changes. Maybe there will even be a revolution…”

“Ah, no,” laughed Halfmyrr. “We’re a lazy folk. They will shake themselves and continue with their lives, trust me. There will be no war.”

“If you say so.”

“But, my dear sinker…” He stepped closer to Clime. “You haven’t said it yet.”

“Said what?”

“Say yes,” whispered Halfmyrr.

Clime laughed. “Yes, my paende, yes. Oh, yes…”

They kissed passionately.

-END-
(c)Laevi