The mermaid tied to a tree lifted her hand weakly towards Amara, tears dropping from her eyes. Please help me. They will kill me and my baby. The mermaid pleaded in a soft shaking voice. Amara stepped back in fear. Her body was shaking and she wanted to run away. But the mermaid’s sad eyes were calling her.
Amara was a poor woman in the village. She lived in a small mud house with a leaking roof. She did not have much money and she was always looking for ways to feed herself and her two children. Her husband died many years ago and since then she had been alone in her struggles. One early morning before sunrise, Amara carried her clay pot and went to fetch water from the river near the village.
The birds were just starting to sing and the cold breeze touched her skin as she walked on the narrow footpath. Amara liked to go to the river very early because there would be no crowd and she needed to return home early to prepare some cava for her children before they woke up.
When she got to the river, she filled her pot with clean, cool water and carefully lifted it onto her head. The water was heavy, but Amara was used to carrying heavy loads on her head. She started walking back home, but she decided to take the back road because it was shorter and she wanted to reach home before the sun rose fully.
As she was walking through the back bush path, she saw three hunters standing under a mango tree. They were talking and laughing, holding their guns and wearing their hunting bags. Amara greeted them politely. Good morning, hunters. The hunters answered her, but they did not look at her face, and their voices were cold.
They were too busy talking to each other and laughing. Amara continued walking slowly and as she moved she heard one of the hunters saying, “Ah, we are rich now. I still can’t believe we caught the pregnant mermaid near the river and we will get double money for this one.” Another hunter laughed and said, “Yes, they say if a mermaid is pregnant, the power inside her and the baby will give us plenty money.
We will sell them to the big man in the city. Amara’s heart started beating fast. She did not understand what they were talking about. Pregnant mermaid, double money, sell to the big man, she thought as she carried the heavy pot on her head. She walked away quickly, but her mind was troubled. She kept wondering, “Is it true that there is a mermaid near our river? Is it true that she is pregnant? Are they really going to sell her? As she moved closer to her small pathway that led home, she decided to pass through the small bush behind the
big trees so she could avoid the hunters. But as she walked, she heard a soft crying sound coming from behind a big bamboo tree. Amara stopped. She placed her pot gently on the ground and listened carefully. “Help! Help me!” she heard a weak voice. Amara was afraid. Her legs were shaking and her heart was beating fast.
She looked around to see if someone was there, but she could not see anyone. Then she slowly walked closer to the bamboo tree, and what she saw shocked her. There, tied to the tree with a strong rope, was a beautiful woman with long wet hair and shining skin. Her eyes were filled with tears, and she looked very weak and tired. Her stomach was very big, and it was clear that she was pregnant.
Amara looked down and saw something that made her freeze. Instead of legs, the woman had a long silver fishtail and it was tied with rope, making her unable to move. Amara opened her mouth, but no words came out. She was staring at a pregnant mermaid in the bush near the village river. The mermaid lifted her hand weakly towards Amara, tears dropping from her eyes.
Please help me. They will kill me and my baby. The mermaid pleaded in a soft, shaking voice. Amara stepped back in fear. Her body was shaking and she wanted to run away. But the mermaid’s sad eyes were calling her. She had never seen a mermaid before, and she had heard stories in the village about mermaids who take people’s souls and about how dangerous they were.
But the mermaid in front of her did not look dangerous. She looked helpless and scared, like a woman who needed help. Amara looked around quickly and saw no one. She took a step closer to the mermaid, her heart beating fast. “Please help me! They will come back to take me away. I don’t want to die,” the mermaid said again, her hand still stretched towards Amara.
Amara bent down slowly and whispered, “Are you really a mermaid?” The mermaid nodded, tears falling from her eyes, “Yes, and I am pregnant. They caught me when I came to the river at midnight. They tied me here to come back later. Please help me. Amara’s eyes were full of pity. She saw that the mermaid was shivering and there were bruises on her arms where the rope was tied.
Suddenly, Amara heard voices of men talking nearby. She quickly turned around and saw shadows moving near the bushes. “They are coming,” the mermaid whispered, fear in her eyes. Amara’s mind was confused. She did not know what to do. Should she help the mermaid escape? Should she leave her there and run away? The voices became clearer, and Amara could hear the hunters laughing and saying, “We will take her before people start coming out.” Amara’s breathing became heavy.
She knew that if they came now, they would see her standing near the mermaid, and they might harm her, too. She looked at the mermaid, who was still begging her with tears and fear in her eyes. Amara did not know where she got the courage, but she stepped closer and touched the rope tied around the mermaid’s hands.
The mermaid flinched in pain, but she looked at Amara with hope. Amara tried to untie the rope, but it was too tight. Her fingers were shaking as she pulled at the knot, her ears listening to the footsteps of the hunters coming closer, “Please, please, please,” the mermaid kept saying weakly. Amara felt sweat on her forehead, her heart beating like a drum, her hands moving fast to untie the rope.
The voices of the hunters were now very close. “Let’s see if we can take her,” one of them said. Amara’s eyes widened in fear. The pot of water she left on the ground was still there, and it would be easy for the hunters to know someone was around. Amara looked at the mermaid, and the mermaid looked back at her.
At that moment, Amara knew that her life would change forever because of what she was about to do. But just before she could untie the last knot, the footsteps of the hunters stopped very close to them, and Amara quickly hid herself. Amara’s heart was beating fast like a drum.
Her hands were shaking, and sweat was running down her back, even though the early morning was still cold. The mermaid was breathing heavily, tears rolling down her cheeks as she looked at Amira with fear and pain in her eyes. She knew the hunters would soon find her and she would be taken away. Amara closed her eyes for a moment and whispered inside her heart, “God, please help us. Don’t let them find us here.
” Just as the hunters were about to turn to the back of the bamboo tree, one of the hunters, who was walking behind the others, suddenly screamed loudly, “At antelope.” The other hunters stopped immediately and turned around quickly. “Where is it? Where is it?” they shouted. “There, there. Running towards the other side,” the hunter said, pointing with his gun into the bushes.
The hunters forgot about the mermaid for a moment and started running towards the place the antelope was said to be, lifting their guns in the air, ready to shoot. Their boots made loud sounds on the dry leaves as they rushed towards the direction of the antelope, shouting and calling each other.
Amara’s eyes widened in surprise. She saw this as her only chance. She came out quickly from her hiding place and ran back to the mermaid. “Please, let’s go now before they come back,” Amara whispered to the mermaid, her hands moving fast to untie the rope. Her fingers were shaking as she pulled at the tight knot.
The rope was rough and strong, and it hurt her fingers, but she did not stop. The mermaid was whimpering in pain, but she looked at Amara with hope in her eyes. Thank you. Thank you, the mermaid whispered weakly. Amara finally untied the last knot and the rope fell to the ground. The mermaid’s arms fell to her side and she leaned on the tree, too weak to stand properly.
Amara looked around quickly. She could still hear the hunter’s voices, but they were now closer to the river, shouting and calling each other as they searched for the antelope. She knew she had to leave immediately or they would return and find the mermaid missing. The mermaid tried to stand but fell back, her silver tail brushing against the dry leaves.
“Please help me,” she whispered. Amara bent down, wrapped her arms around the mermaid’s waist, and tried to lift her. The mermaid was heavy and Amara was not strong enough, but she tried her best. She placed the mermaid’s arm over her shoulder and the mermaid leaned heavily on Amara, her baby bump, making it hard for her to move easily.
Amara took a step forward, then another, her legs shaking under the weight. They moved slowly, step by step, trying to avoid the dry leaves that made noise under their feet. The mermaid was wincing in pain, breathing heavily, and holding her stomach. “Ah! Ah!” The mermaid groaned softly. Amara looked at her with pity.
She did not know how long they would take to reach her hut, but she could not leave the mermaid behind. Every 5 minutes, Amara had to stop and rest. She would bend down, allowing the mermaid to sit on the ground for a moment while she wiped the sweat from her face. Her clay pot of water was still there, but she could not carry it now.
She left it behind, focusing on getting the mermaid to safety. The morning sun was beginning to rise, and the birds were singing louder now. Amara’s wrapper was soaked with sweat and her back was aching, but she kept moving. The mermaid was crying softly, her face pale and her hands holding her big belly. Please don’t leave me. I don’t want to die, she kept whispering.
I will not leave you, Amara said. Even though her body was tired and her legs were shaking, they passed through the small narrow bush paths, avoiding places where people would see them. Amara was afraid that if the villagers saw the mermaid, they might call the hunters or bring trouble to her.
They stopped to rest again under a mango tree, and Amara checked the mermaid’s face. “Are you okay?” she asked softly. The mermaid nodded weakly, but tears rolled down her cheeks. After some time, Amara gathered her strength and lifted the mermaid again. They continued moving, resting, and moving until finally they reached Amara’s small mud hut at the edge of the village.
Amara pushed the wooden door open carefully and looked inside. Her two children were still deeply asleep on the mat. She was happy they were still sleeping so they would not see the mermaid yet. Amara helped the mermaid inside and laid her gently on the floor which was covered with a small old mat. The mermaid groaned in pain, her hands on her belly, her tail lying weakly on the mat.
Amara looked at her with concern. She saw that the mermaid’s body was swollen in some places, and there were red marks where the rope had tied her. “I will bring hot water,” Amara said softly. She quickly went outside, took some water, and placed it on the small fire in her kitchen. “When the water became warm, she poured some into a small bowl and brought it inside.
She dipped a clean cloth into the hot water, squeezed it, and gently placed it on the mermaid’s swollen arms and shoulders. The mermaid winced in pain, but after a while, she let out a soft sigh of relief. Amara continued to massage the mermaid’s body with the hot water, wiping away the dirt and sweat and pressing gently on her back. Thank you.
Thank you. The mermaid kept whispering, tears rolling down her cheeks. Amara felt pity in her heart, and she also felt afraid. She did not know what would happen next, and she did not know why the mermaid was on land, pregnant, and caught by hunters. The room was quiet except for the soft groans of the mermaid and the small crackling of the fire outside.
Amara looked at the mermaid’s big belly and wondered, “What kind of baby is inside her? Will it be a fish or a human?” She did not know, but she knew she could not let the mermaid die. The mermaid opened her eyes weakly and looked at Amara. My name is Nene, she said softly. Amara was surprised. N? That is a beautiful name.
My name is Amara. Nin smiled weakly, but her eyes were still filled with tears. Thank you, Amara. I will never forget this, she whispered. Amara nodded, holding N’s hand gently. Suddenly, they heard the sound of footsteps outside the hut, and Amara’s eyes widened in fear. She quickly looked at the door and then at N who was trying to sit up but was too weak. Amara placed a finger on her lips.
Shh, don’t make a sound. They both listened quietly as the footsteps moved closer to the door of the hut. She turned quickly to look at N, the pregnant mermaid, who was lying weakly on the mat. N looked at Amara with fear in her eyes, clutching her big belly with her silver tail folded under her body.
Suddenly, the door opened with a loud creek. Amara rushed quickly and pushed the door forward, using her body to block the person outside from seeing inside the hut. Who is there? Why are you opening my door like that? Amara asked, breathing heavily, sweat on her forehead. Standing by the door was Mama Jadeeka, the village gossip.
Everyone in the village knew her as the woman who loved to poke her nose into other people’s business. She was holding her waist with one hand and her other hand was on the door trying to push it open wider while stretching her neck to look inside Amara’s hut. Amara blocked her view with her body, spreading her arms across the door frame.
Mamajadeeka raised her eyebrows and tried to look over Amara’s shoulder. “What are you hiding in there, Amara?” she asked with suspicion in her voice. Amara forced a small laugh. “Hide? Hide? What? What is it, Mama? So early this morning.” But Mamajidka did not stop. She bent to the left and then to the right, trying to see inside the hut.
But Amara moved with her, blocking her view like a wall. “Ah! Ah! Amara, you are behaving strangely this morning,” Mama said, clicking her tongue. “Are you hiding something or is there a man in there with you?” Amara’s eyes widened in shock. “An a man in my hut? Mama Jedeka, what kind of talk is that early in the morning?” But Mama Mangjeka was not ready to leave.
She pressed her face closer, her eyes sharp like a hawk’s eyes, looking for even the smallest clue. “I only came to borrow your water pot,” Mamaadeka said, folding her arms across her chest. Amara gasped. She suddenly remembered the pot of water she left in the bush when she was rescuing Nene. She knew she could not give out the pot now because the hunters might be looking for the owner and if they found out she was the one who took the mermaid it would bring big trouble.
Amara swallowed hard and forced a small smile. Ah! Mama, I am using the pot now. I can’t give it out. Please. Mama raised her eyebrows higher and hissed. You using the pot? What are you using it for now? You are hiding something, Amara. I can smell it,” she said, leaning closer, her eyes narrowing suspiciously.
Amara’s heart was pounding in fear. She pressed her back harder against the door, blocking every space Mama might use to see inside. “Mama Nideka, I asked you, what is it you are looking for?” Amara asked, her voice becoming firmer. Mama Jedikica shrugged and snapped her fingers. I only came to borrow your pot, but since you are behaving like this, maybe you are hiding a man inside your hut.
Amara’s eyes widened and her mouth opened, but no words came out for a moment. A man in my hut? Me. Ah, Mama Nideka, please leave my compound. Stop talking nonsense. Amara shouted, waving her hands to chase Mama Nideka away. Mama Jadeeka clapped her hands together and shook her head, turning around slowly. “Amara, I will come back later.
Let me see what you are hiding in this your hut,” she said, walking away but still turning her head to look back. Amara watched her until she was out of the compound before quickly shutting the door and leaning against it. Breathing heavily, she turned around slowly and saw N looking at her with fear and confusion, tears in her eyes.
Amara moved to her and sat beside her, touching her hand gently. Don’t worry, she has gone. You are safe for now, Amara whispered. Nodded slowly, holding her belly, breathing heavily. Thank you, Amara. Thank you, she whispered back. But before Amara could say another word, she heard a loud gasp inside the hut. She turned quickly and saw her son Chiji standing there with his mouth wide open, his eyes looking as if they would fall out.
“Mama, mama, what is that?” Chijio shouted, pointing at Nene, who was lying on the mat. Amara’s heart dropped to her stomach. Na tried to cover her face with her hands, tears rolling down her cheeks. Amara rushed to Chijio and placed her hands on his shoulders, trying to calm him down. “Chioke, please don’t shout. Please calm down,” Amara said, her voice shaking.
Chijio’s eyes were still wide and he was trembling. “Mama, what is that? Why does she have a fish tail? Is she a witch? Is she going to eat us?” Chiji cried, stepping backward. Amara felt tears gather in her own eyes. She did not know how to explain it to her young son. “She is not a witch,” Chijioke. “She is a mermaid, but she needs our help.
She is not here to hurt us,” Amara explained, kneeling to his level. Chijoke shook his head, tears dropping from his eyes. Mama, the elders say mermaids take people’s souls to the river. They say mermaids are dangerous, Chigio said, sniffing and wiping his tears with the back of his hand. Amara hugged him tightly. Chijioke, “Not all mermaids are bad.
This one is sick and pregnant. The hunters wanted to kill her and her baby. We cannot let them do that. We must help her,” Amara whispered into his ear. Chiji’s body was shaking and he looked at N who was still lying on the mat, her silver tail shining in the dim light of the hut.
Na n slowly removed her hands from her face and looked at Chijio with tears in her eyes. “I will not hurt you. I promise. I just want to be safe.” Nina said softly. Chigi swallowed hard, looking into Na’s eyes. Amara held his hand tightly. “Please, Chigi, promise me you will not tell anyone. If people find out, they will take her away and kill her and punish us, too.
” Gigi looked at his mother, then at the crying mermaid, then back at his mother. He nodded slowly, tears still in his eyes. I will not tell anyone, Mama. Chijuki said softly. Amara hugged him tightly, kissing his head. Thank you, my son, she whispered. Chijio looked at N again, his eyes softer now. Are you hungry? He asked the mermaid shily.
Nina managed a weak smile, her eyes filled with gratitude. Yes, thank you, Nene whispered. Amara stood up quickly, wiping her tears. She moved to the corner of the hut to prepare some hot pap for N. But deep inside her heart, Amara was afraid. She knew that Mangjitica would come back again, and if she found out about the mermaid, the whole village would hear about it.
She also knew the hunters would soon realize the mermaid was missing and would begin searching every house. Amara did not know how long she could keep N safe in her hut. But she knew she would try because deep inside her heart she knew this was not just an ordinary mermaid. This was something bigger, something spiritual, something connected to the destiny of her family.
The sun was already high in the sky when Amara finished washing her children’s clothes and sweeping the compound. She was trying to act normal, but inside her she was afraid. She kept remembering how she hid Na, the pregnant mermaid, in her hut and how her son, Chijioke, promised not to tell anyone.
But deep inside she knew the hunters would come looking and they did. Hours later, three hunters with guns and angry faces entered the village. They were asking everyone they met on the road who went to the river early this morning to fetch water. The person left a clay pot there, but nobody knew who it was. The hunters even described the pot and the place where it was found, but no one had an idea.
The hunters themselves did not see Amara’s face that morning, so they could not describe her. They went from house to house knocking on doors asking people, “Did you see who went to the river early this morning?” Everyone said no. The hunters were becoming angry. They felt someone in the village was hiding something.
They finally arrived at Amura’s small mud house. Amara was pounding cassava in a mortar when she heard a loud knock on the door. Her heart jumped. She wiped the sweat from her face with her wrapper and went to open the door. The three hunters were standing there looking angry and tired. Good afternoon. Amara greeted them trying to smile. Good afternoon.
One of the hunters replied coldly. We are looking for the woman who went to the river early this morning to fetch water. She left her pot there. The hunter said, looking directly into Amara’s eyes. Amara’s heart was beating very fast, but she controlled herself. She took a deep breath and replied calmly, “I don’t know who went to the river this morning.
I have been here since early morning, pounding cassava.” The hunters looked inside the small hut, but saw nothing suspicious. Amara stood firmly, praying silently that they would leave. After a few seconds, the hunters shrugged and turned away, leaving Amara’s compound. Amara quickly shut the door and leaned against it, her chest rising and falling fast.
She knew she could not keep the mermaid in her hut anymore, or the hunters might return and search her house. That night, when the moon was shining in the sky and the stars were blinking brightly, Amara called her children, Chijioke and his younger sister, Nenna. Chichi Nenna, she whispered, “Mama is going somewhere. I want you to lock the door from inside and do not open for anyone until I return.
” “Mama, where are you going at night?” Tijio asked, worried. “I will come back soon, my son. Just do as I say,” Amara said, touching his cheek. The children nodded and Amara covered Nin the mermaid with a big wrapper, tying it around her to hide her fishtail. She opened the door gently, looked left and right to see if anyone was watching, and then carried Na on her back like a baby.
N was weak, but managed to wrap her hands around Amara’s neck as Amara carried her through the small bush paths towards the river. Amara was scared as she walked. Every sound of the crickets and frogs made her heart jump. She was afraid of meeting someone on the way, but she kept moving. Finally, they reached the river.
The moonlight shone on the water, making it look silver and beautiful. Amara went close to the water and carefully placed Nene down by the riverbank. Nene was breathing heavily, her hands on her big belly. “Thank you, Amara,” Nene whispered, tears rolling down her cheeks. “You saved me and my baby.” Amara knelt beside her, tears in her own eyes.
“I pray you will be safe,” Nene, Amara said. Nin managed a small smile and then she slowly crawled into the water. As soon as the water touched her tail, it shone brightly and her strength returned. She turned and looked at Amara one last time. “Amara, your kindness will not be forgotten,” Nene said softly.
Then, with a soft splash, N swam away into the river, disappearing under the water. Amara stood there for a long time looking at the quiet river, the moon reflecting on it. She turned around and walked back home, her heart heavy but peaceful. 7 days later, Amara woke up in the middle of the night because she wanted to pee outside. She tied her wrapper around her waist and opened the door quietly so as not to wake her children.
As she stepped outside, she stopped suddenly. In front of her door, she saw three gold boxes shining under the moonlight. Amara looked around quickly, but there was no one. She bent down and touched the boxes. They were real and heavy. Amara was confused. She carried the boxes inside her hut, placing them in a corner.
She could not sleep that night thinking about the boxes. Who dropped them? Who do they belong to? Should I keep them? She asked herself. She decided to wait for the owner to come and ask for them. But days passed and no one came. Amara opened the boxes one day and found that they were filled with gold, coral beads, and silver coins. Amara sold some of the golden beads secretly and with the money she bought a bigger house in the village.
She bought new clothes for her children and they started eating good food everyday. People in the village began to notice that Amara was looking beautiful. Her children were looking healthy and she was no longer wearing old clothes. Amara became the wealthiest woman in the village. But she never told anyone how she got the gold.
Every night she would sit outside under the moon and look at the direction of the river, smiling and praying for Na and her baby. She knew in her heart that it was Na the mermaid who left the gold boxes for her as a thank you for saving her life and her baby. Amara taught her children to always help people in need and to show kindness to strangers.
And whenever someone in the village asked her, “Amara, how did you become so rich?” She would smile and say, “Kindness always comes back.” And that was how a poor woman who helped a pregnant mermaid became the wealthiest woman in the village.
