" He whirled his pony to follow his brother, who had angled off toward where wheel ruts could be dimly made out near the lower end of the valley.Shant...r followed in silence. He could see in his mind the small but thriving community, with children playing in the dirt, the smoke from cooking fires curling lazily upward. Then came the killing, the burning, leaving shattered homes, trampled fields, and bloody corpses. He thought grimly that the ceremonies of the green clad priests had not really. She was just as mad as he was and she chose her words carefully. ‘I spent time in the hood, so don’t you ever underestimate me.’ Eric’s eyes flashed and Ariel could see anger and pain rippling back and forth between them. ‘Takes one to know one. I paid more dues in the projects than you’ll ever know.’ Drawing in a deep, sudden breath, Ariel slipped her hand out from underneath Eric’s big frame and slapped him across the face, hard as she could. Her nails had jabbed him slightly, scratching. Some even had swirling dark ‘knots’ upon them in place of birthmarks. In many regards, they had the appearance of wooden sculptures. Some even had a few leaves or small vines growing from their bodies. Yet they moved with the flexibility of a fit human woman. The breasts of the more buxom dryads were a paradox unto themselves. They didn’t jiggle as the creatures walked, suggesting they were solid. Yet Epimonos discovered another human man locked in heated foreplay with a dryad, and he could see. .. yes, Dan, youcan smile ... I was getting people mixed up in my own head).Chapter 01:Patrick and John arrive on 399 (Mermaid Island) - ARadio repairs -A + 2 monthsPat's Change into a woman - A+ 4 months, 3daysChapter 02:Daniel Sherman arrives - A+ 4 months,10 daysDanni (nee Daniel) changes - A+ 4 months, 13 daysChapter 03:Danni's gills - A+ 5 months, 4 daysGill use by everyone - A+ 8 monthsFirst milk - A+ 8 months, 3 daysPhoebe, Peter, Michelle, and Gail wash ashore - A+ 8 months, 5 daysFirst.