ONCE UPON A TIME, WHEN THE PRINCE MET THE MERMAID PRINCESS... 從前從前，當王子遇上人魚公主⋯⋯
   By YANG Mei-hung 楊美紅
   Translated by Michelle M. WU 吳敏嘉

1

    Once upon a time, five hundred meters under the sea, there was a splendid castle built of various precious coral, but no one knew for sure, whether a mermaid lived in the dark castle.
    Legends about the mermaid kingdom never ceased. A species that was half human and half fish may have existed, but no one could prove it, until transgenic experiments were conducted in gleaming hi-tech laboratories. The most advanced interdisciplinary research between transgenic sciences and biochemistry gave rise to a new species of mermaid. This new species was responsible for the exploration of underwater resources at the seabed and the investigation of new species.
    During the past century, ecological disaster after ecological disaster happened under the sea. Global warming brought about an endless battle between land and sea. Many islands were swallowed by the ocean, and many species met their demise in the coral reefs. The long and arduous process of evolution had been transferred into the sea.
    A multinational group of scientists, led by Dr. Jason, were responsible for developing the first mermaid prototype. Even though it was still in the experimental phase, it had garnered a great deal of public attention, thanks to media coverage. People referred to the first mermaid prototype as “Princess.”
    The best genes from land and ocean were obtained, decoded, then encoded into the mermaid, making the mermaid a most excellent transgenic specimen. That is to say that I, as the first generation of mermaids, the one and only mermaid, possess the most superb intelligence of the human race, and most graceful kinesthetic perceptions of the fish species.
    People say that I am the world’s smartest mermaid, and that I might possibly be the most intelligent and most competitive species in the future.
    During the fifteen years since my birth, I have completed more than a hundred underwater exploration missions.
    Before hitting the water, I always equipped myself with the latest underwater photographic gear and research tools. With impeccable behavior and demeanor, I camouflaged myself into the perfect underwater intelligence agent.
    Fish, according to what I know, have no sense of security at all. They have evolved into a species with the necessary skills to survive in the midst of adversity. For example, they can blend into the coral reefs and sandy terrain, and when anyone gets up close, they duck and hide into dark crevices. The ancestral motto for all fish families is: “A home is not a home, without shelter.” Nevertheless, in all my missions, I have been able to do well because of my extraordinary skills in the art of camouflage.
    I am tremendously grateful for what the human mind has given to me: the courage to take risks. But my greatest regret comes from having human eyes. That doesn’t serve me well at all, under the sea.
    It was during an exploratory mission, that I came to save him by chance.
    He was not agile at all, under the sea. His flippers and oxygen tank made him rather clumsy.
    His flippers had cut into his heel, drawing a single drop of blood as well as a great white shark from three kilometers away.
    I was observing the preying habits of baby sharks, when the accelerated motion of the great white shark caught my attention. “What is happening?” I carefully tailgated the shark to find out.
    He had no idea that a great white shark was coming up from behind him. He knew that something was wrong when the shark’s jaws clamped down on his oxygen tank.
    When the shark was circling him, and he was totally locked in by terror, I rushed up to him, grabbed him, and pulled him up to the surface of the water.
    The shark followed us, and there was no room for bargaining at all. I knew that the shark was ravenous, but the fear on his face mesmerized me. I could not bear to see him become prey to the shark, so I interfered with the rules of nature.
    For the first time, I became aware of how fragile and tiny human beings are in the face of nature.
    Just when the great white shark was about to bite again, in the fraction of a second, I bit hard on my lips to draw blood, leading the shark away, allowing the strong ocean current to pull me down into the deep, deep sea, leaving him alone on the surface of the ocean.

2

    He never could resist the phantasmagoric world under the sea. Adventures in inner space filled his life with fantasy, and by osmosis, his curiosity was piqued. Even his dreams became more colorful.
    As heir-apparent to one of the world’s largest multinational corporations, he was born with a silver spoon in his mouth. He was educated overseas in a first rate institution, and while in school, he met his wife, who also came from a privileged background. They got married, and had a son and a daughter. His wife was a gentle woman, and they led a peaceful and uneventful life. He threw himself into his work
    But he felt lonely.
    It was almost a curse. He knew that he didn’t lack anything, but at the same time, he felt as if he had nothing.
    Because of loneliness, he threw himself into his work. For years, his tension and nerves have made it difficult for him to sleep without the help of sleeping pills. In order to alleviate his fatigue from working so hard, he rekindled a childhood hobby and had a huge aquarium made. He started raising all sorts of beautiful and rare fish species in his aquarium, and took up diving.
    But he had not expected this to happen to him.
    “I was almost eaten by a shark!” Under the scorching sun, his mouth felt dry, and the rush of adrenaline was evidently too much for his heart. He started to feel drained and exhausted, like a piece of drift wood floating in the water,....