“I’m excited, Rad. I won’t deny that.” To Jacky, “You told me you’re flying tomorrow morning. I take it you’re going to see the American oceanographer who discovered the skull?”
Jacky nodded. “That’s right. She works for an NGO in Mirissa. I’ve already arranged to interview her.”
“And you came to see me tonight because you want me to join you?”
“Right again.”
“Why?”
“Why?” She issued a short laugh. “Because you’re the world’s foremost expert on merfolk!”
“I mean, what do you want from me? I assume you’re planning on writing an article about the skull?”
“Yes, of course. Imagine—merfolk exist, and I’m the one to break the story! What do I want from you? That’s quite obvious, isn’t it? I want you to verify the skull’s authenticity.”
Now Marty laughed. “Don’t give me too much credit, Jacky. I can run genetic and histological analyses and other tests on the skull in the Oannes’ lab. That can rule out it belonging to any known species of ape or human. But it wouldn’t confirm that the skull is merfolk. It would simply confirm it’s from an anthropoidal species unknown in the fossil record.”
“Right. A species unknown in the fossil record with a humanoid head that lives in the ocean? Come on, Marty! How many candidates fit that description?”
He held up his hands. “Hey, you don’t have to convince me. I’m just saying, if you write a story claiming that skull is proof that merfolk exist, you’re going to get pilloried in the media. And having my name attached to a sensational claim like that won’t be good for either of us.”
“This isn’t the damn Netflix documentary, Marty! This isn’t someone in a suit brought to life by a Hollywood special effects team! This skull is the real deal! It was discovered in the belly of a shark that randomly washed up in a beach net. That can’t be faked.”
Marty knew she was right. If his tests revealed that the skull was indeed unknown in the fossil record, that alone would be groundbreaking. At the very least he would be credited with discovering a new species of primate. At best his aquatic ape theory would once more be the center of serious scientific debate and analysis. He might remain The Merdoc to the pundits in the media, but he would no longer be defined as a quack host of a debunked mockumentary. He would be doing serious science, which would go a long way to repairing his reputation as a credible marine biologist and zoologist.
In either case he would be in the world spotlight again—for the right reasons this time.
“Stop keeping me in suspense, Marty,” said Jacky. “What do you say? Are you coming with me tomorrow or what?
Marty finally allowed a grin to touch his lips. “I say the next round of drinks is on me.”
Chapter 4
RAD
Radhika Fernandez was battling conflicting emotions. Anger and betrayal that Marty had not told her the full truth of who he was. Excitement and wonder that he was a world-famous personality. Embarrassment that she had been so clueless all these months. More wonder that the skull of a mermaid might have just washed up to shore in the belly of a great white—wonder and a great dose of skepticism, that was. Because it seemed…too good to be true, she supposed. Why wash up here? Why Sri Lanka? Why just down the coast from where the foremost mermaid hunter had decided to relocate?