Castle Swimmer (Unofficial Book Version)

Prologue

Imagine the calm ocean.

Now don't. What are you doing? It's nothing like that!

The ocean is alive and more vivid than even the most thorough of nature documentaries. It is light at the top, with lovely little krill. In the middle bits, there's more diverse wildlife than any one film camera could capture in a lifetime. And in the depths . . . my goodness. It's simply beautiful. Beautiful in its simplicity as well. But the life forms are beautiful, and anything but simple. Bioluminescent cuttlefish and algae, beautiful hydrothermal vents, translucent jellyfish with stringy stingers, giant squid, sperm whales and other unknown creatures yet to be found.

How strange would it be if these creatures were almost like us? They probably already have the means: they communicate with very specific and unique parts, whether they be overt mechanisms that we can detect and interpret, such as the expulsion of ink, the use of bioluminescence, or subtle gestures like certain electrical patterns, strange noises and behaviors.

But imagine they were akin to early civilizations of humankind. Prophecies, sacrificial lambs of sorts, deities, leaders with tough decisions. Moving with the geography and starting vivid cultures in the crevasses and plains and cliffs. Several groups that, although few and far between, are of paramount importance. And yes. There are all the emotions that we are used to. There is anger, confusion, happiness, sadness, and of course romance. There are all the petty things we focus on, but they are what makes us unique.

What would become of these kingdoms? We don't have to imagine, because thanks to Wendy Lian Martin . . .

. . . they're all here.