Chapter Text
March 2, 1832: Day one on the island
Today I have arrived on the island for my two-month long research study. The journey by ship was long and left me rather seasick, I’m afraid. So I was quite delighted to find the research cabin with ease and have situated myself comfortably. I think I shall rest for the remainder of the day and explore the island tomorrow, in which I will start my research into the unique wildlife this island has to offer.
March 3, 1832: Day two
The weather outside today is absolutely lovely as I stand outside the cabin writing in my journal. My thoughts for the day are to traverse the island with the maps I have, to see if I can get a lay of the land as it is. Thanks to previous studies done on this island, I have very detailed maps regarding the landscape and where to find fruits and such. There is also a small garden beside the cabin, which I perused this morning. Unfortunately, it is not in the best state. I may have to take a day to straighten it out as it is. I’m afraid my green thumb is severely lacking, so I hope for the best. I hope to find a spot in which to start my observations today.
March 3, 1832: Day two, 1 pm
I have followed the maps up the hill. One gets a very good view of the whole island up here. It is an extremely small place indeed. The first researcher spoke of some wild hogs, but from my understanding, they ate them to extinction, which is a pity. Though I don’t think I could kill a pig, even to eat. But I hate to think of a species going extinct.
The island is so vibrant and full of life and vegetation. There are many birds in the sky that flutter about the trees. Oh, the colours and plumage on them. They are even more so amazing than the drawings past researchers have made. I wish I were at all good at drawing so I could detail them better, alas.
I found some fruit trees in which to enjoy for lunch. I think I shall carry some back and make what I can out of the food I brought with me for dinner tonight. It will certainly be a struggle once I run out of the food supplies I brought with me. I suppose I could fish. The waters seem full of life. Though I will dearly miss sweets and wheat products, such as crumpets. Oh, my stomach rumbles at the thought of them. But I will deal without, for this island is so wondrous that I can put up with it.
I think tomorrow I shall start recording the vegetation and avian wildlife I see about me, recording any behaviours I witness. I’m very much excited to document everything I witness. I think I shall make a separate journal for all my scientific documentation.
March 6, 1832: Day five
Things have been progressing fairly well for me here. The weather has remained lovely, and I have made much documentation on the behaviours displayed by the birds on the island: how they interact with each other and their interactions with the vegetation. For example: which birds use which plants or trees for cover, which ones they use to make their nests, and which they gather food from. It really is quite fascinating. It is stunning to witness how the birds’ differences abide in helping them fit into their habitat and lifestyle. How a bird’s plumage, for example, might be coloured differently so as to blend in with the foliage they live and eat from. Or perhaps it is the other way around— perhaps a bird’s plumage comes from the type of foliage they are around. It does make one wonder about the mechanics of nature.
I’ve decided to take the day off today to organize the cabin, as it is, and maybe try to work in the garden out back. My food stocks are already depleting and I worry about living off fruit alone. I suppose I could steal a few eggs from the birds’ nests, though that feels a touch mean. Perhaps I will set up some nets in the water to provide a meat alternative. Perhaps I will go explore the shores tomorrow.
March 6, 1832: Day five, 8 pm
I’m afraid to say that I’ve had little success in the garden today. I have been distracted by some books left here by previous researchers. It seems one in particular was quite taken with fairy tales. There’s one particular tome with different entries on all sorts of fantastical, mythic creatures. I dare say it is quite interesting indeed. The page on mermaids has a lot of notes covering it. I think my fellow researcher might have gone mad in his loneliness and perhaps started to imagine seeing one. I can’t blame them, for I myself am getting a touch lonely. It is lonely having no one but the birds to talk to. I can see how one might go mad. I only pray that I do not.
March 8, 1832: Day seven
I have been exploring the shoreline as to where the best spot to set up some nets to catch fish might be. One of my previous researchers has left notes warning of the treacherous, dangerous shoreline, and rightfully so. There were many rock outcroppings, which get very slippery when wet, and I could certainly see how one might slip and fall, perhaps even hit their head. I shudder to think of injuring myself on this island when no one else is around. What if I lay on the rock, bleeding out till I succumb to death? It would surely be a dreadful way to go.
The water seems to be full of life; near the shore is many a small minnow. I dared to walk out on some rock outcroppings, further into the waters, to find some large fish and I think I shall try a net or two there. I see a few crayfish as well, so perhaps I could set up some traps. I shall have to check the previous researchers’ documents on how they made their traps, as I have never made such one myself before. I have little fears, however. As, if the worst comes to it, I can always make a line instead and use a hook from the cabin to tie onto the end.
March 11, 1832: Day ten
I have set up some nets with mild success, and the cages have worked very successfully in catching the crayfish. They are quite delicious once cooked, indeed, though I do miss butter. Alas. I often stare out at the lonely sea, thinking back to home. I miss more than I thought I would. I spend my days wandering about the island, making more documentations, recording everything I see. It entertains me well enough, though I do wish now that I had not planned such a long stay here. Unfortunately, nothing can be done about it now. There is a small cove across the island, which I wish to explore tomorrow.
March 12, 1832: Day eleven
The cove is marvellous indeed. There is lots of life and even vegetation in the water. I have found bivalves, starfish, and sea urchins. There are all sorts of life forms, such things one might find in tide pools. I think I shall explore this area more, for many of the life forms are quite marvellous. I started collecting some things I saw, for they were all so beautiful. I only collected shells and dead things. Though I did pocket a few clams for food. There were some very lovely red scales a little deeper in the water, so I think there might be some bigger fish further out. I think I shall try setting up a net there tomorrow. All in all, a success!
March 13, 1832: Day twelve
Wading out further in the cove has confirmed my belief that there is larger fish further out. I’m afraid wading further in wasn’t quite delightful, however. The cove floor is covered in seaweed, that is not the most pleasant thing, brushing one’s skin. Otherwise, I think it is a lovely little inlet and perhaps I may go on a swim out into it one day. As of now, I think I shall set up some nets with the rocks to hold them down.
I found more of the lovely red scales, but none of the research books I have back at my cabin have proven any success in identifying which fish they belong to. I also found some very thin red seaweed, looking almost like grass, along the rocks. I chuckled at the sight of it, as it reminded me of what the researcher had jotted down on the page about mermaids. He noted his fantasy creature as having red hair. I see the easy mistake now.
The researcher did say he was never able to catch the mermaid, however. As he put it, “They are a very slippery fellow and escaped my grasp yet again.” Poor fellow.
March 16, 1832: Day fifteen
My nets in the cove have proven much success. I collect clams there almost daily, for they are delightfully enjoyable indeed. I have figured out a particular trick with my knife as to pry them open. I have found it handy to carry my knife on me at all times. One never knows the help a sharp blade might aid in. Lord knows I have found it handy many a time.
I have been thinking recently of the tales of old, of the old Greek myths, tales of Poseidon and sea creatures. When one’s alone on an island, in the middle of the sea, it all starts to make sense, creating wild stories to pass the time.
I shall go collect my nets later.
March 16, 1832: Day fifteen, 12 pm
Rain. I will check on the nets another day. I’m thankful for the full library of books to entertain me.
March 17, 1832: Day sixteen
Still raining today.
March 18, 1832: Day seventeen
Rain has cleared, so I am venturing out to check my traps.
March 18, 1832: Day seventeen, 10 am
I have wandered out to the cove. The water has risen sufficiently from the rain the past two days. I dare say it will make my trek to get my nets back a lot harder. I think I will try to trek the rock outcroppings. Perhaps it might be wiser to take my boots and stockings off.
March 18, 1832: 10:30 (?)
Very slippery. My net was not in the same spot I secured it, so I had to do more exploring. Thankfully, I see it now. It looks rather full as it is thrashing about. I think I see the red fish that I found the scales of earlier. We’ll see about hauling it in.
“Woe!” Aziraphale cried as he took a cautious step forward, only to lose his footing and slide down the slippery rockface right into the water. His journal flew from his hand as he struggled to get a hold of anything.
Aziraphale landed in the water, thankfully uninjured, but his trousers were now soaking wet. “Oh dear me.” He fretted, the cold water lapping up to his waist.
“Oh, my journal!” Aziraphale cried, realizing it was lost. He searched around him with no success, only for the splashing and squirming of the net to draw his attention back.
“Oh, yes, right.”
Aziraphale waded over, finding where the net had caught itself on a rock. The net, indeed, seemed to be filled to the brim with fish. Aziraphale wasn’t sure how he’d manage to haul it back up the slippery rockface.
Then, there was a terrifying nasty hiss, and water splashed Aziraphale’s face as the net flipped over. Aziraphale was met then with a thing: a creature of only myth and legend, slashing its claws towards him, hissing its rows of razor-sharp teeth in threat.
“Heavens! Dear me!” Aziraphale jumped back in alarm, losing his footing in the water and stumbling back to the rock face.
The creature lashed again, the net tangling over it. Aziraphale’s hand was at his heart, which was racing, still in shock at the creature.
“You’re… real.” Aziraphale stuttered, remembering the messy ramblings on the page about mermaids from the previous researcher.
The creature hissed again, thrashing about to get the net off its body.
Aziraphale stared in awe of the creature, taking it in. It looked human enough, startling Aziraphale. Its skin (if you could call it that) was pale, covered in flecks of red scales and red, thin fins. The creature had two arms and a very long black tail, which was wrapped up in the netting. Its tail was covered in more red fins, the ends of which flicked and splashed. The creature lashed about, fighting to get free of the netting. The fish also in the net flapped about, half dead.
Aziraphale’s heart was still racing. He’d caught a creature of legend. If he could document it and… His hand went to his knife, pulling it out, but he froze. He couldn’t kill it. No. He didn’t have it in him. He wasn’t that kind of researcher. He watched the creature struggling and slowly approached. It lashed out at him, hissing, and Aziraphale jumped back.
“I’m not going to hurt you, I promise.” Aziraphale held his knife away. “I’m going to help you, okay?” Aziraphale slowly moved forward, and the creature hissed lowly.
“I’m just going to go up this rock, okay?”
The creature snapped its teeth at Aziraphale, but he was able to crawl back up the rock. Aziraphale kept his knife close in case the creature decided to try and kill him. His heart was racing, terrified still.
Aziraphale drew his eyes cautiously over to the rock to where the net had got caught. “I’m just going to cut you free,” Aziraphale spoke slowly, slinking over, keeping the creature in sight.
He reached where the netting had caught and swiped his knife clean through. The net snapped free into the water. The creature took off instantly, the netting still wrapped around its tail.
Aziraphale took in a long breath, dropping his hand to the rocks behind him. “Poseidon,” was all he managed.
When Aziraphale had gathered his breath, he began to sit back up. He looked around to find where his journal had fallen off to. He found it and picked it up with a grumble of disappointment to find it all wet and sodden. Aziraphale clicked his tongue in discontent. “There goes all my good journalling.” He muttered.
Aziraphale returned to his cabin with no fish and quickly started a fire. He hung his book carefully over the pot support above the flames to hopefully dry the book out. It didn’t look like the ink had smudged too much, so hopefully, it would be all right. Aziraphale then sat down in his chair by the fire and propped his feet up close to the flames, watching the flames dance as he recalled the creature, still feeling like it might be a dream.
“Maybe I am going insane. Just like that last researcher.” He said to himself. “Maybe I drank seawater by mistake.”
Aziraphale flipped over the journal a few times to a new page to put over the rod to dry it out more. Eventually, the journal seemed rather dry, and Aziraphale inspected the damage done to his previous journal entries. Thankfully, it was still legible. Aziraphale then situated himself, putting on his spectacles to start detailing his strange encounter from the day.
March 18, 1832: Five pm
Out at the cove, I encountered only what could best be described as the previous researcher’s mermaid. I know how ludicrous that sounds, but still, I saw it with my own eyes. Though I suppose my mind could be playing tricks on me.
The creature was caught in my net. Perhaps it had swam into the cove with the rising tide and saw the fish caught in the net as an easy snack, only for itself to get caught.
It had a long black tail with red fins, rows of razor-sharp white teeth, and claws. It seemed very dangerous indeed and hissed at me continually. I think I recall it having yellow eyes and red hair. It is strange to think of a fish-like creature having hair. Still, I suppose it is a creature of myth, so anything is possible. It had a rather human torso. It had many red fins and red scales about it. I wish I studied it more so I could document it better. I dare say I shall never see it again, as my previous colleague had no such luck trying to capture it. I’m sure the creature is wary of humans after the last researcher tried to capture it. It is a shame, though, however, for it was certainly a marvel and would be a note to the discovery of science itself.
I shall go out into the cove again tomorrow to see what I can see. I did not get any fish today anyway, so I shall have to set up the net again.