The village where my parents had their shop was not close to the sea. But the sea was not very far away either, and often fishermen came to the shop to buy materials for the maintenance of their nets and boats. Like all the customers they often stayed longer then necessary and talked about the news from the neighbourhood and from far away. I loved to listen to all those stories. I often did not understand half of the things the grown ups were saying, but that made it only more intriguing to me. The fishermen sometimes talked about the Sea People. Sea People could take every shape they wanted. They could help a fisher catching a lot of fish. But sometimes they made a boat catch nothing for months, while the nets of the other boats were full. And they could do much worse. There were many little rules and rituals to avoid that the Sea People would get upset. I did never hear a fisherman say he did believe in Sea People, or that he did not. But they often talked about those rules and I never did hear anyone of them say that he did not follow them.
Once a few fishers were talking about voices, which were heard on a certain place on sea. The crews of different ships had heard them. Out of the depth of the sea came the words:
?This is the place, this is the time, but where is the man??
Though it was good fishing on that place many boats avoided the place. One of the few people who still dared to go there was old Bladoch.
?If it is your time, it is your time.? he said.
?If you drown yourself it is your time, one of his colleagues answered, ?Dead will have to catch me, I will not try to catch my dead. As long as those voices are still heard, you will not see me there.
?If you trust in Laanx, you will be safe.? said the priest of our village, bumping on the wooden floor with his staff. Why should a grown up devout man fear voices?
?Easy to say so far from the sea?, said Bladoch shrugging his shoulders.
?I do not want to hear talk like blasphemous talk like that?, said the priest.
The shop became quiet; everyone was looking at the priest. Baruch did not reply.
?Tomorrow me and all people here will go to that place. If you will not be there, you do not have to come to the temple for healing or help.
I was looking around the shop, I was supposed to keep my mouth shut when the grown ups were talking. But no one seemed to want to answer.
?We are going to the sea and the voices tomorrow?, I shouted with joy.
?It?s no trip for children,? my father said stern.
?Oh yes, she will be coming too, smiled the priest, you big stupid man can learn faith and courage from this brave child.?
Bladoch nodded with a little smile on his face.
The faith and courage of a child indeed,? he muttered.
I had only seen the sea once, and had never been on a boat. I enjoyed the trip. It was a beautiful sunny day. The sea was singing a song. It sometimes seemed like you could hear words in it. I was looking at the sea, and tried to understand how the ship was sailed. I got in the way of the sailors to often, so I had to sit down next to the priest. Because I did not dare to talk to him I sat there quietly. As we came closer to the place where the voices were heard the other people grew more and more silent. I could only hear the song of the sea. Sometimes I thought I could hear words in it, but I was not sure. When we reached the place of the voices, the anchor was thrown out and we all listened. And then there was this strange clear voice that seemed to come from the deep:
?This is the place, this is the time, but where is the man?
The priest jumped up and walked with his staff lifted in warlike way in front of him in the direction of the voice. He leaned over the rail of the ship and stared over the sea. I did hold my breath and even the sea did seem to do the same for a moment. There was the voice again:
?This is the place, this is the time, and THIS is the man.?
Out of nothing, a big wave came over the ship. It did nearly take me with it, but I could grasp a rope. Then the wave was gone. So was the priest.
On the way home nobody did speak. I listened to the song of the sea. I was sure I could hear words in it.
