The Nudging

Mythical beasts have been the awe of school-aged children for centuries. Marina had her own dreams as most little girls do, but they were not of princesses and princes. Rather, she dreamt of dragons. She longed to fly with freedom through the unconfined winds of her town, a small fishing village in rural Italy. She would perch on the stout back of a lime green beast as its Leviathan sized wings manipulated the air with ease. This is what passed her thoughts as she scrubbed the steps beneath her grandparents’ fish market. For each day it was her duty to rid the cobblestone of scales and gills and other bloody remnants of the fishmonger’s knife. The children in the old schoolhouse often mocked the lingering scent with comments too cruel to repeat.  

      Today was the day Marina was destined to learn what it was like to fly, but not above in the air as she dreamt. It began ordinarily enough. Her grandmother gently scolded her for being late; her grandfather waved his cutting knife; the neatly dressed pink-cheeked child smirked at her. Marina grabbed her bucket and filled it three fourths of the way with water and then added the suds. She liked the iridescent bubbles that formed when the liquids molded together. The mixture splashed out onto the pavement as she trudged dutifully along but with thoughts of escape in her mind. She looked at the dancing fire in the Baker’s shop and imagined it as the fierce breath of her gallant reptilian friend. She smelled the smoke of the Blacksmith’s fiery orange coals and imagined the Fishmonger’s cart burnt to the ground. She heard the methodical chopping of wood and imagined a Medieval army fighting for her as Queen. But she would not be an ordinary Queen who dealt with affairs of entertainment in posh surroundings. She would be a Queen who rode through the air surveying her land from above but kind to those below, especially the poor children of the town who did not know what it was like to bear rosy cheeks and smirk at pavement cleaners.

      As Marina was daydreaming, she felt a strange sensation, a jolt of the earth beneath as if a giant had stepped on the pavement cracking it with his ponderous footsteps. At first, Marina felt it was her dream, but as she snapped out of her fog she saw the rattling of the fish as they slid scale-like from the cart. Her Grandfather attempted to rescue his day’s catch but instead he fell off balance looking like a court jester as the fish he was slicing, a large monkfish, smacked him in the jaw. Her Grandmother, who was knitting nearby let out a shriek and the pink-cheeked girl grasped her mommy in fear. Marina, however, let out the most ridiculous and untimely laughter as the pail of water spilled and created a sudsy mess all over the little girl’s rose-colored loafers. After her Grandfather balanced himself, he looked at Marina with the threat of a beating and proceeded to comfort and apologize to the pink-cheeked girl. He looked so ridiculous humbling himself with a half-sliced monkfish in his grasp and the remnants of bloody scales on his face. Marina, not being able to help herself, let out another chorus of laughter. She was sure to get a beating now. Being a smart girl, she looked at her Grandfather’s scowl and ran towards the awaiting Tyrrhenian Sea.

      Without a plan, Marina waded into the Sea. Anything was better than facing her Grandfather’s wrath. She was a decent swimmer having grown up in a nation surrounded by water on three sides. She would swim until she reached one of the little islands and after that she would formulate a plan. She refused to live with her grandparents anymore. She had been a servant for the three years since her mother’s disappearance. As Marina began to swim into the aquamarine water, she felt the sand fading beneath her feet. Soon she was so far from the shore that she could no longer see her angry grandfather threatening her with a half sliced monkfish. How ridiculous he looked. Marina began to see silvery slithers bolting away from her. She had never scared fish before, but now they were darting from her as if she were some imposing predator. 

      Suddenly, Marina lost control of her movement. She had been lifted and tossed from behind by some sort of ocean dweller. Swallowing the salty seawater, Marina choked and gasped and righted herself into a dog paddling position to save energy and get her bearings. As she paddled, she glanced around at the landmasses in the distance. She could make out her home off to the left, but it took her a few minutes to re-establish the direction she sought. In the midst of her contemplation, a giant reddish-orange creature burst from the sea. It had tiger’s eye colored eyes dusted with beautiful marbling. Its scales made it look more like a dragon than a sea creature; although, it did somewhat resemble a seahorse, only much larger and somewhat foreboding. But Marina only got a glance because it delved deeply into the sea. For some reason, Marina was not frightened. She felt apprehensive, but also paradoxically somewhat relieved in its presence.  

      Marina paddled for some time and then decided she must continue on her journey. Her grandparents would surely be sending out a “rescue” boat to fetch her towards her captivity if she lingered any longer. Diving forward into the awaiting arm-like waves of the sea, Marina propelled onward. She swam for well over an hour passing a variety of sea life from Monkfish to octopi. Finally, she approached a rock formation jutting out of the blue sea. Lifting herself onto the rock, she stopped herself from falling asleep by rocking and shivering for it was getting quite brisk as the sun ducked behind pillowy white clouds. Her stomach growled and she longed for a bowl of fish chowder no matter how flavorless her grandmother had served it. She wished she had thought to grab supplies of some sort, but her decisions had all been so impulsive and besides, how would she have carried them into the sea? Should she go back and supplicate herself? No, that was impossible now. She would rest for a few minutes and then force herself forward.

      Despite the rocking movement, the sound of crashing waves coupled by the screams of gulls lulled Marina into an exhaustion-induced sleep. After her eyes closed, her dreams piloted her into a magical realm where her mother sat at the end of her bed reading her a bedtime tale about rainbow colored fish that swam in schools of water the color of cake icing. Marina’s stomach growled even in her sleep, but the presence of her mother comforted her more than any cake batter possibly could. She longed just to feel the caress of her mother’s hand on her cheek and to feel love one more time. Marina began to cry in her sleep and her own tears awoke her.  

      Looking into the distance, she panicked that someone might be coming for her. But all she could see was a fog beginning to blanket the water’s surface. Peering into the fog, Marina thought she saw a shadow moving closer, or maybe it was the outline of what looked like a giant sea creature. She shivered as it began to get colder and her clothes were more than damp.  

      Reaching into her pocket, she panicked. The broken locket that her mother’s picture was placed in was missing. She always kept it there to hold her mother’s memory close. Now, it was gone—the only object she had left that her mother had given her. She would never find it in the vastness of the sea. Not for the last time, Marina broke down into hysterical tears. She scanned the ocean and contemplated drowning herself in its unforgiving depth. Feeling worn, lonely and defeated, she implored Triton for mercy. If the Sea god really existed, he would hear her and take pity upon her.

      “I cannot find a broken locket in the vastness of my domain, but I can mend a heart that has locked itself from love,” Marina heard the words, but saw not from where they came.  

      “Who are you? Please, show yourself,” shouted Marina no longer caring about politeness or safety.

      “You summoned me, and, therefore, you should know to whom you speak.”” 

      “Triton?”

      “You asked and I have appeared. Your locket, I cannot find, but I can bring something more valuable.”

      “I care not for trifles; only my locket!”

      “Who said anything about trifles? I deal not in man’s hoard, but rather in the bounty of life’s greatest harvest, all that is nautical, all that knows not the bounds of life’s journey.”

      “I have no energy for riddles; I mean no disrespect.”

      “And yet lack of belief is a sign of doubt and to doubt is to dishonor.”

      “If you would show yourself, I could believe, perhaps?”

      “That which you desire has not been seen for many tides and yet you still hold her dear.”

      With that simple pronoun, Marina knew of the voice’s truth.

      “I cannot come before you, as man has disgraced my realm and your own grandparents have raped my bounty scaling my children as if they were nothing.”

      “I am not them. I will not betray you.”

      “That is to be seen. Know, child, that I see all,” and with that the voice disappeared from Marina’s mind.

      More frustrated and forlorn than before, Marina pondered once more taking a fatal dive, but she could not do it. As if Fate had heard her and made her decision for her, she felt a bump on her left wrist, which was dangling into the ocean. She looked down to see the stone grey nose of a black-tipped reef shark. She recognized the creature by its ebony tip jutting out of the azure foam coated water. Slightly frightened, she withdrew her hand; although, she tried to do so slowly as not to look like a darting fish. Known for being shy creatures, she hoped it would swim away without incident. Luck was not on Marina’s side. The creature started circling the rock. From one predator to another, it seemed that Marina was destined to be preyed upon. She looked at the rock for any loose stones that she could use to frighten the shark away, but the ocean had worn it fairly smooth. It seemed she was trapped and night was approaching. She would have to survive on the small mass for the time being. Hungry, exhausted and forlorn she curled into a tight ball and attempted to secure herself to the rock. She dared not fall asleep for fear of the awaiting jaws below. As she yawned, she simultaneously dug her nails into her arms to stay awake. More than once she thought of the painful relief the jaws might offer, but she was not willing to suffer the pain. Besides, she thought of the voice of Triton and how it would dishonor him to intentionally end her life in His realm.

      After about twenty minutes, which seemed like an eternity, Marina was startled by the marbled Tiger’s Eye stare of the creature that she had glimpsed earlier. The reddish orange sea dragon was leaning onto the rock with its snout just inches from her mouth. She could feel its pungent fish breath heating up her face and, despite the odor, it actually felt warm and soothing. Somehow, she felt very secure in its presence. Marina unhooked her arms and gingerly one of them approached the creature for a gentle caress of its cheek. The dragon tilted its head much like a cat and let out a soft murmur. Then it barked much like a seal and gently head butted Marina on the arm. It kept barking much like a puppy would do to get its owner’s attention.  

      “Oh, you want me to go with you?” questioned Marina.

      The creature responded with an affirmative bark as if it understood her question.  

      “But I am not as good a swimmer as you. I will never keep up.”

      The creature turned from Marina causing a pain of absolute loneliness and abandon that she had only felt one time before. Marina’s mother crossed her mind and for the first time in a long time she could actually picture her beautiful mother before her—the long fiery red hair, the amber eyes of a tiger, the plump welcoming arms. With these thoughts in her head, the creature circled back and moved to the side of the rock as if inviting Marina to ascend onto its back. Marina looked at it questioningly and it let out one affirmative bark.

      Climbing onto the sea creature, Marina felt as if riding a horse for the first time, slightly awkward but doable. As it took off through the sea, she at first was dragged too far into the water and became startled that she would drown if it decided to dive, but instead, it adjusted itself and swam at the surface. Marina stroked the back of its neck avoiding its pectoral fin, which propelled it through the water. It seemed to enjoy the caresses as it again let out a series of rumbling purrs.  

      Within an hour Marina could see the shore, which had appeared so far to her from the rock. She could even make out a figure that looked like a man waving to them on the shore. How could he possibly be waving to her? She did not understand for she did not know anyone on the other islands. The creature seemed to be heading directly for him, however. As they approached the shore, Marina could see a circle of black tipped dorsal fins, a barrier between them and the man. The creature stopped purring and opened its mouth letting out a floating ring of fiery breath, which undulated through the waves towards the tips. The reef sharks swam away and the clouds dispersed with them as if frightened by the blazing light.

      As the Creature approached the shallow water, it nudged Marina from its back. Using its snout, it prodded her forward towards the beach. When Marina turned to thank it, instead of a sea dragon, she saw her mother bursting from the water with a smile of welcome on her face. How was this possible?

      “Mom?” Marina questioned with tears in her eyes.

      “Yes, Marina. Your father and I have been waiting for you,” she said with a nod to indicate the welcoming man on the beach. “We were hoping that it would not be for many seasons, but you are here now before your time, as was I.”

      “But the sea dragon?”

     “When you were a little girl, I used to read you those fantasy books you loved. Your favorite was The Fiery Sea Dragon. I thought that form would comfort you and create the trust that I needed to bring you here.”

      “Where are we?”

      “You will understand in time. Time is the great clarifier of truths.” Marina allowed her mother to lead her towards the father she had never met.

      As the elderly man paddled his skiff towards the rock, he recognized his granddaughter’s body.

      “Marina? Marina! You have chores. It is not your time. Not like your mother,” he pleaded. Then with resignation, he continued, “So like your mother, you leave us too?” and he dropped the paddle into the ocean as he broke into tears at the bottom of the chaffed skiff, its wood peeling off like a layer of neglected skin bruised and tired. He would have remained in that position of defeat for hours, but he heard the clank of metal hitting the rock. Looking up, he saw Marina’s locket, the chain broken, like a lifeless form floating back and forth. Back and forth. Back and forth with the undulations of the sea. He saw the visage of his daughter and her beautiful red hair. The locket continued to slide to and fro hitting the lifeless rock on which lie the lifeless Marina.  

      “That which you desire has not been seen for many tides and yet you still hold her dear.” And with that the man took one final breath at the bottom of an empty skiff with an empty heart.

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