Amara tried to untie the rope, but it was too tight. Her fingers were shaking as she pulled at the knot, her ears straining to hear the footsteps of the hunters drawing closer.
“Please, please, please,” the mermaid kept whispering weakly.
Amara felt sweat on her forehead. Her heart was beating like a drum, and her hands moved frantically to loosen the knot.
The hunters’ voices were now very close.
“Let’s see if we can take her,” one of them said.
Amara’s eyes widened in fear. The pot of water she had left on the ground was still there, and it would be easy for the hunters to know someone else was around.
Amara looked at the mermaid, and the mermaid looked back at her.
At that moment, Amara knew that her life would change forever because of what she was about to do.
But just before she could untie the last knot, the hunters’ footsteps stopped very close to them, and Amara quickly hid herself.
Her heart was beating fast like a drum. Her hands were shaking, and sweat was running down her back even though the early morning was still cold. The mermaid was breathing heavily, tears rolling down her cheeks as she looked at Amara with fear and pain in her eyes. She knew the hunters would soon find her and take her away.
Amara closed her eyes for a moment and whispered in her heart, God, please help us. Don’t let them find us here.
Just as the hunters were about to turn toward the back of the bamboo tree, one of the hunters, who was walking behind the others, suddenly screamed loudly, “An antelope!”
The other hunters stopped immediately and turned around.
“Where is it? Where is it?” they shouted.
“There! There! Running toward the other side!” the hunter said, pointing with his gun into the bushes.
The hunters forgot about the mermaid for a moment and started running toward the direction of the antelope, lifting their guns in the air, ready to shoot. Their boots made loud noises on the dry leaves as they rushed away, shouting and calling to one another.
Amara’s eyes widened in surprise. She saw it as her only chance.
She came out quickly from her hiding place and ran back to the mermaid.
“Please, let’s go now before they come back,” Amara whispered, her hands moving fast to untie the rope.
Her fingers were shaking as she pulled at the tight knot. The rope was rough and strong, and it hurt her fingers, but she did not stop. The mermaid whimpered in pain, but she looked at Amara with hope in her eyes.
“Thank you. Thank you,” the mermaid whispered weakly.
Amara finally untied the last knot, and the rope fell to the ground. The mermaid’s arms dropped to her sides, and she leaned against the tree, too weak to stand properly.
Amara looked around quickly. She could still hear the hunters’ voices, but they were now farther away, closer to the river, shouting and calling one another as they searched for the antelope.
She knew she had to leave immediately or they would return and find the mermaid missing.
The mermaid tried to stand but fell back, her silver tail brushing against the dry leaves.
