Chapter 4: Bleeding Hearts and Bargains

Even me, I no fit talk when things start to change between me and Theodore.

E start small small, like harmattan breeze—before you know, everywhere don dry.

Maybe na imprinting, Theodore don dey follow me from the very start.

Like pikin wey never see mother before, na so he dey look for me every day.

The lab don catch mermen before. Everybody sabi how fierce and dangerous dem fit be. One time, one escape wey happen before leave more than a dozen staff dead or wounded.

Na that time dem bring police, call spiritualist join. Some say na marine spirit get am.

But Theodore never show any sign of wahala.

He be one of the biggest mermen, but somehow, he gentle pass anybody—especially with me.

Even my boss dey ask wetin I give am. Na only God know.

Even during experiments, he no dey fight back, just dey look me with those blue eyes, no dey blink.

The trust e get for me sometimes dey make me fear myself.

One time, as I dey collect water sample from the tank, I mistakenly fall inside. Safety net dey, but the holes too big, as I try climb out, my arm stuck, sharp edge cut me till blood begin drop.

My lab coat soak with blood. Red blood drip through the mesh into the tank, dey spread in blue-red ripples.

The pattern fine, but na real danger sign.

That moment, my whole body go cold, mind blank. I remember too well how bloodthirsty mermen fit be.

If shark fit smell one drop of blood from far, mermen fit sense am from far too.

Even if na small wound, wahala fit happen.

Then dem go swarm in, tear anything apart.

I dey remember story of that cleaner wey them find only e shoe after last incident.

Even though Theodore gentle, nobody go believe say he fit fight him nature.

I dey pray say my own no go end today.

I think say my own don finish.

Na so people dey talk for village when death dey near.

Cold sweat soak my back. I try pull my arm out, but pain tell me say e don dislocate.

Pain blind my eyes—tears nearly commot.

True true, Theodore shoot towards me like arrow, send wave through water.

For my mind, na so e go end—my obituary go read: "Died in line of duty, victim of marine creature."

Next second, he reach out.

My heart stop.

Those claws—deadly weapon wey fit open big fish—clear for water.

The claws sharp like cutlass. My blood dey rush.

Just as I wan lose hope, I feel my wrist gently held.

No pain, no force. Gentle like Mama hand when you dey sick.

I stare, shocked.

Na real surprise—e suppose bite, but e dey gentle.

Theodore move careful, face full of worry as he try push my hand up. See as I dey pain, he quickly let go, panic.

His face get that look wey pikin get when dem break plate for Mama house.

Then, to my surprise, he stick out his tongue and gently lick my trapped wrist.

Na cold, wet feeling. My mind dey spin, but I notice blood dey stop.

Him touch gentle, like say he dey fear to hurt me.

Na rare thing. Even ordinary animal no dey gentle like that.

Merman saliva fit stop bleeding and dey work like small medicine. He just dey look me, quietly stop the bleeding.

I dey imagine how local medicine woman for village go want collect that saliva for bottle.

I shock. I no know how long I sit there before bleeding stop.

My mind dey wander. Na miracle?

Theodore slowly push my arm, and with help of his saliva and my blood, I manage pull am free. I barely hold back the heat wey dey rise for my body as I stagger come out of the lab.

I limp small, but my heart dey beat love song.

Next day, after thinking plenty, I prepare gift for Theodore.

Some shiny stones, shells, beads, coral, and river grass.

I gather am for market, even beg old woman for river bank give me best ones. I put all for nylon, tie am well.

I hear say mermen like fine things, especially when dem dey make nest—dem use am to attract mate.

For home, I dey remember how I arrange my own room small, put small flower, pillow—everybody need small beauty for life.

True to talk, Theodore happy no be small.

He swim excited for tank, blow bubbles at me, then hurry carry him gifts go bottom, dey busy decorate him nest.

The way he dey arrange shells, I dey laugh. Na like small pikin arrange toy for first time.

He used to sleep on bare glass. With the stones I give am, he wedge deep green river grass between them, let am float for water.

Na real transformation. Even Seles eye am with small envy.

Coral and shells dey the stones. He especially love the sparkling beads, dey arrange and rearrange am, never satisfied. In the end, I no even see where he hide them—he must don stash am for nest.

He dey hide like squirrel hide nut. I fit bet say he get secret corner for bottom.

Pearls no move am—na only our local beads dey catch him eye.

That day, I no do any experiment for Theodore; I just dey watch am build nest, dey record him behaviour.

Na joy to watch. The way he dey dance round, na small happiness I dey collect for hard life.

As I dey go, Theodore, wey never talk before, suddenly make sound.

E shock me. I pause, look back.

I turn sharp.

He poke head out of water, dey point excitedly at him nest, like say make I look.

Like pikin wey arrange new toy, he dey wait for praise.

When I no move, he begin vex, swim behind thick glass before stop for my front, lips dey move.

The vex dey funny. E dey tap glass like say na bell.

Na hard syllable.

But I hear am clear.

Because I don hear that word many times before.

"Amaka."

My heart melt small. E sweet me say I fit mean something to this kind creature.

I no know when he learn to call my name.

Na so love dey enter body—small, small, till e full everywhere.

But as Seles eye me through the water, I fit swear say this story never finish.