The year was 1847 August 3.the night before the Merriam was about to set sail to china. Jameson walked into the town's pub and took a seat in the corner.he was accustomed to sitting by himself.Jameson preferred to be alone on his journeys. His family was miles away back in England.his ship mates were no more then just that ship mates.it was a life he has become use to over the years.
Jameson was in Spain waiting for his ship to set sail.he wasnt a normal sailor by any means.Jameson hopped from ship to ship usually getting off before the ship made it to its final destination. He picked up what ever job they offered on the ship he chose.there wasn't a position on a ship that he couldn't work.so many captains gladly accepted his hand for their ships.
This was his tenth year on his journey of ship hopping. He sat and watched all the other patrons.they spoke Spanish and other languages he was familiar with. A waitress came over and asked him in Spanish what he wanted.Jameson answered her in her native tongue.the same thing he order at every pub. Three pints and half a chicken with rice. The waitress nodded and left to place his order.
She came back shortly with one of his pints. Jameson stated to drink as he continued to people watch.he started to pay attention to a group of sailors across the bar.they were talking almost over every one.he took they were from America from their accents. The sailors had obviously had enough to drink.they were almost belligerent and teasing one of their mates.
"Youve been at sea to long Johnny 'ol boy, your becoming delirious you salty dog" one sailor said as he drank from his mug
"I've been sailing these seas for over twenty years I've seen all there is to sea of this world.you must take me as a fool to believe in old sailor tales" said another older sailor who seem to be the senior of the group.
"You say what you want enjoy your laugh but I know what I saw and I know what happened.you can't convince me of anything else"the sailor on trial proclaimed "I've seen a mermaid and she saved my life"
With those words Jameson almost choked on his drink. He listened more closely to the group.The victim of ridicule was trying to convince them that he had his life saved by a mermaid. His ship mates continued to joke on him and dismiss the idea of such a thing.
" you must of hit your head when you went over board or swallowed to much water"one sailor said laughing
"You may laugh at him but that man tells you salty sea dogs no tale.I've seen one for myself and lived with her for a year" Jameson said standing up.
The whole pub got quiet as Jameson spoke.all the attention was on him now. The group with the sailor in question bust out laughing.
"You old sea dog you must be as crazy as him.you've been at sea for to long"one sailor said laughing
The pub joined in with the laughter.most of them continued with what they were doing. Others whispered to their friends while watching him.
"Come tell me your tale chap...waitress bring me two more pints"Jameson said sitting back down in his chair.
He was not concerned with the steers or laughter.It was something he had become use to.Jameson had heard his own share of ridicule and accusations of insanity over the years of his journey.along the way though he met others who believed him or had seen what he saw.
Every new encounter with a believer sent him on another chase to find that mermaid he met so many years ago.
The woman that saved his life when all was forsaken.was out there in the sea so wemewhere.he knew it and didn't care what anyone else had to say. Jameson stroked v his thick beard as the young sailor made his way over.over the years white hairs had begun to fill his black beard. He pulled a pipe out his jacket and began filling it with tobacco.
When the young sailor finally came over and sat down.Jameson had lit the pipe and was puffing thick clouds of smoke into the air. They shook hands and Jameson took note of his strong grip.he held his hand for a second longer looking the sailor in the eyes. For a moment they just looked at each other.Jameson saw the look of seriousness in his eyes.he recognized the look after having this talk so many times.this young man had seen it.he just knew it. The look of relief in his eyes screamed finally someone believes me to Jameson.
"I'm John Phipps from Albany"
"Charles Jameson from London"
"Thee Charles Jameson... the mermaid Hunter?"
"I'm no mermaid Hunter just a man trying to find the truth.....So tell me your tale mate"
The waitress came over and placed the two pints on the table.She looked at Jameson with a look of pity he had seen many times from bar maidens.many people couldn't accept things outside the norm.most just considered him an old fool who had some old drunk tales.nothing more then a next drunkard in the pub looking for attention.once the waitress walked away the sailor began his tale
Two years ago I rode the iron maiden on a voyage to the strait of Gibraltar. I was just a deck hand nothing more then a fresh fish at sea.still green behind the ears wanting to sea the world. Just another drop off and pick up for a merchant ship. Nothing to fancy. Half way through the voyage we ran into a bad storm.
The ship took a good beating.the winds broke down the mass and killed a few of my ship mates.I was thrown over board by the white waves.as I fought the tide I kept getting pulled under by the current. as I finally lost track of the ship.my strength began to leave me. I fought the current as best as I could but I finally found myself floating deeper down then I could help.
As I swallowed water and accepted my fate in Davey Jones locker.I saw something swim past in the pitch darkness. I thought it was a shark and I was really about to meet my end. Then I felt two hands grab me and pull me. Last thing I remember before I passed out was seeing long shiny yellow hair.
Then I awoke on a beach with her starring down at me. She was the prettiest women I've ever seen. Green eyes with long flowing golden hair. Her body was created by God himself. She was without a blemish or fault.the perfect woman and every man's dream. She Fed me dance and sang to me many nights.She had the voice off an Angel.her name was parinth and she treated me like a king.
When parinth took to the sea her legs turned to fins. It was the most amazing thing I've ever seen. We swam together many times.She was so graceful in the water.I've been swimming for years but parinth made me feel like a klutz compared to her.
after a month or two I spotted a ship that was passing a few leagues out. She begged me to stay with her but I flashed the ship down.while we waited I thought I had convinced her to come with me back to the new world. She agreed and kissed me.once the ship docked parinth ran into the woods. I chased her but by the time I cleared through it she was jumping into the water.
I screamed and pleaded with her not to leave but she looked back and then submerged. The deck hands that came to land.claimed they didn't see her with me.They treated me as if I was a madman or cast away.who had been stuck on the island to long. By the time I made it back to Albany. I had visited that island three times and never found her again.ship to ship they hear my tales but look at it as a delirious dream.
I read about you in a paper in port in Cuba a year ago.They said you've traveled the seven seas hunting mermaids. It said you were missing for a year.thought to be dead in Davey Jones locker. It was like 8 years you had already put into your search.the papers said you were insane.
your the reason I'm here now in this journey. After reading about you I set back out in search of my parinth. She has to be out here somewhere. One day returning to the island I know she will be there. This time I still stay with her I won't come back to this wretched world of yellow belly's.
"Were you with safrin the whole time....Have you seen my parinth in your travels?"
"I haven't even found my safarin and it's been a decade to this date"
Jameson took a huge sip of his beer.They both sat in silence for a moment. Jameson took a few more pulls of his pipe.the food the waitress had brought was in front of him still untouched. He had listened so intensely that the food had gone cold and his beer warm. Jameson signaled the waitress to bring him another. The cold food was no issue to him, that wouldn't be his first cold meal and probably not his last.
"Have you found any others since safarin....since she left?"
"Nope I've visited my island three times a year and some years more. I've even lived on that island for another year waiting and hoping....."
Jameson took a big swig of his beer. John did the same.They sat in silence for a minute just finishing their beers. John signaled the waitress for another round.
"You should put your attention into something better.your still young and have so much more to give the world...don't waste your time chasing phantoms....many nights I still hear her songs.when I'm alone on the deck by my self. I wake up in cold sweats at night thinking about her.....don't let this hunt take control of you"
"She is out there and one day I'll find her again..when I do I already know what I need to do this time...thanks you for the drinks...it was nice meeting you captain Jameson...I will find parinth and the world may or may not ever know but I'll know and that's all that matters."
John got up and dropped a few gold pieces on the table. he shook Jameson hand and they nodded at each other. It always ended like this Jameson thought. another man will be searching the seas for a dream. A woman that he lost that will never be found.
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