Recorded Across Generations.
For Those Who Come After.
The body of a fish, yet with the face, hands, and feet of a man. It drifts beneath the waves, watching the world above. Some say they were once human, those who drowned while crossing the sea. Their bodies sank into the depths, yet never truly died. Something beneath the ocean needs eyes upon the world above. So the drowned remain, drifting beneath the waves day and night, watching every vessel that passes overhead. Drift too close, and one reaches up with human hands, seizes your ankle, and draws you into the deep. Those who eat its flesh gain no strength. Fine scales creep across the skin. Webbing spreads between the fingers. Day by day the voice grows rougher, until no human words remain. Then, against your own will, you walk into the sea. Beneath the waves, your eyes open. You, too, begin to watch the world above. Watching, for the thing beneath the sea.
人面，人手，人足，鱼身。它栖于海中。 有人说，它们本是人，是渡海时溺死的人。尸身沉入深处，却未曾真的死去。海底有样东西，需要有人替它看着上面的世界；于是这些溺者被留下。日日夜夜，它们浮在浪下，望着头顶掠过的船。你若不知深浅，游得太近，便会有一只伸出人手，攥住你的脚踝，将你拖入它守望的深渊。 食其肉者，得不着半分气力。皮肤上先起细鳞，指间生出蹼来，声音一日日粗哑下去，直到再吐不出人话。而后，你会不由自主地朝海走去，走进浪里，沉入水下，睁开眼。 你也开始，望着头顶的船。替那海底之物，看着。
棲 列姑射之水 The Liegushe River
陵魚人面，手足，魚身，在海中。