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I finda siren mean that you are always lonely?"

Yes, Maire says

She’s right

I have always been lonely

Even when Bay was here, I often felt alone

This is what I need to face Even when I care about other people, there’s a part ofalone Maybe it ht, the ones who say that sirens don’t have souls

If I had one, would I be less lonely? If you have a soul, are you always companioned?

But then I realize that even if I did have a soul, it’s not as though someone else would be there It would only be more of ht?"

I nod In the days since I last spoke with Maire, I’ve focused co For the spectacle The celebration When I talk to True, that’s what I call it because that er,to be I’ve practiced in the lanes and worked with True on the fish and eels I’ve nia from the print I took in the bar of soap, and it’s cruder than I would have liked, but I did the best I could

Aldo looks at the pile of turquoise fabric in my arms "Is that your costume?"

"Yes," I say I used some of the coin to buy the cloth and had a seamstress sew it to my cut-doetsuit It’s more like streaether in water, and the effect when I swi different to watch I think of the costume as my Oceana robes, because this was the color she alore at the pulpit And the color she e sent her body through the floodgates

Aldo unlocks the stall where I plan to store my costus for the event tonight True should be along any minute with the fish and eels in their buckets I think Aldo will do his best to keep things secure, but I can’t risk anyone ta me the key They’ll stay safe incrowd," Aldo says "The bettors are in a frenzy They’re wondering what you’ll do after this"

"Who knows," I say

Posters hang in the deepht People have started to recognizeme more money, but it also erous thing

But it’s all co I’ll be back to swim And then, with the money I earn, I’ll be able to buy the air from Ennio and take it with oes as planned, then I’ll have everything I need to leave Atlantia very soon

All I’ll need after tonight is for so the cart He nods to Aldo and hands everything off to him except for a bucket with the fish and the key and the locks, which he hands to me, and another bucket, which he keeps for himself

The entire time his mouth is set in that firm line I’ve seen once before

"Are you ready, then?" Aldo asks, e’ve finished

"Yes," I say "We’ll see you tonight"

We start back up into the deep Neither of us says anything, and then True takes my arm and pulls me into an e out the bucket Not s new?" I ask