The situation in Singapore had got much worse. The waters around the island, as well as all her ports (and all others sharing this sea), were in the pirates‘ control. There were too many for the Merlions and the boy to tackle alone. They knew they had to get past the pirates and get onto the island in order to gain more help.
However there were so many ships that it would be too far for them to hold their collective breath and swim underwater to the shore. And they feared that continued resurfacing would make too much noise to do it in stages.
Their journey would therefore have to take place above water. Slowly and quietly, keeping as much as possible away from any light created by the pirates or the moon.
Together the Merlion and the boy plotted a route that would keep them away from the larger ships they recognised as being the most dangerous, and that would land them a long way from all ports and jetties but close enough to somewhere safe the boy could go to and make contact.
They were fortunate in their timing and travelled on a moonless night. This meant the pirates were burning many torches to light their activities and so the Merlions swam beyond the reach of this light and found a path shrouded in darkness along which they could swim.
Slowly, carefully, quietly.
Until they reached an unwatched beach and a cave for the Merlions to rest in.
However there were so many ships that it would be too far for them to hold their collective breath and swim underwater to the shore. And they feared that continued resurfacing would make too much noise to do it in stages.
Their journey would therefore have to take place above water. Slowly and quietly, keeping as much as possible away from any light created by the pirates or the moon.
Together the Merlion and the boy plotted a route that would keep them away from the larger ships they recognised as being the most dangerous, and that would land them a long way from all ports and jetties but close enough to somewhere safe the boy could go to and make contact.
They were fortunate in their timing and travelled on a moonless night. This meant the pirates were burning many torches to light their activities and so the Merlions swam beyond the reach of this light and found a path shrouded in darkness along which they could swim.
Slowly, carefully, quietly.
Until they reached an unwatched beach and a cave for the Merlions to rest in.
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