WITH NO RIGHT TO LIFT MY EYES OR STRETCH FORTH MY HANDS TO MY SISTERS THERE.

I AM NOT ALONE IN THE HOUSE ON THE BORDERLAND. MANY CLUSTER THERE, DRAWN IRRESISTABLY TO THE DARK MOONLIGHT, HEARING THE BEBEECHING VOICES FROM THE SUNLIT WORLD. OUR VOICES ARE SMALL AND SILENT. WE HAVE NO PART IN THE BRIGHT WORLD OF DAY, BUT IN THE WORLD UNDER THE MOON WE ARE EQUALLY OUTCAST, REGARDED AS TRAITORS, COWARDS, UNSCRUPLULOUS THRILL-SEEKERS.

IN THE SUNLIT WORLD WE ARE TOLERATED BECAUSE OF OUR HOSTAGES THERE. OUR HUSBANDS KNOW THEY HAVE WEDDED FAIRY WOMEN, WERMAIDS, SEAL-WOMEN FROM OLD LEGENDS, WHO REMAIN ONLY WHILE SOVE TALISMAN HOSTAGE HOLDS US SAFE. A PLEDGE; THE CRY OF A CHILD. ME CAST NO SHADOWS IN THE LIGHT, AND WE WALK LIKE THE MERMAID OF THE FAIRY TALE, ACROSS A PATH OF SHARP KNIVES; BUT WE MAY LIVE THERE.

WE HAVE LOST OUR HERITAGE IN THE DARK WOELD. OUR SISTERS SIT AND SING ON THE ROCKS OF THE SEA, LAUGHING, SOMETIMES JEERING AT US WHEN WE STRETCH OUR HANDS TO THEM.

I KNOW | AM NOT ALONE IN THE HOUSE ON THE BORDERLAND, FOR ALL AROUND ME | HEAR THE STEPS AND WHISPERS OF THOSE WHO LIVE IN THIS STRANGE WORLD WITH ME, TIED BY INVISIBLE BONDS, ALLOWED TO VENTURE ONLY A FEW STEPS EITHER WAY.

BUT I DO NOT SEE THEM ALL AROUND ME. I AM AS IF ALONE HERE.

YOU THINK IT IS DARK IN THE SHADOWS? YOU BELIEVE IN THE SUNNY WORLD OF EVERY DAY?

COVE LIVE FOR A DAY IN THE HOUSE ON THE BORDERLAND, AND YOU WOULD RETURN IN JOY AND REJOICING TO WHICHEVER WORLD YOU MAY CALL WHOLLY YOUR OWN.

"They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor

safety."

6

Benjamin Franklin