LIFE along the Cuyuni River was simple and peaceful. Except for the passage of neighbours in their balahoos or corials, the only other sounds were those of animals. In that area, many people lived near the bank of the river because of the easy access to water. There are two modes of travel, through the jungle or by river. By jungle, it would take days or weeks to reach nearby villages. By water, it would be much faster.

The houses were built out of nearby trees with troolie palm roofs that were always home to scorpions, centipedes and snakes. But those small structures were comfortable to live in.
Mary and Desmond De Souza lived in one of these houses along with their 12-year-old daughter. Desmond was away in the backdam hunting and fishing with some of the men. They would be back in a couple of weeks.

Mary now had to manage the small family farm alone. This meant that while she was at the farm, Samantha would stay at home and do the necessary housework. Early that morning Mary headed for the farm which was located more than three miles away.

Little Samantha cleaned the home, washed the clothes and cooked. By now it was late afternoon and the child had one last task; to fetch water. That was easy. She could afford to relax and do that later. She sat swinging in the hammock admiring her surroundings and listening to the beautiful melodies of the birds.

She opened her eyes and looked around her. She had fallen asleep and forgotten about the water. It was already dark. She ran to get her buckets and hurried down to the river. After rinsing the two buckets, she filled them and leaving her slippers on the small landing, she hurried to pour the water into waiting receptacles. Down she went again to get her second load. But this time there was a surprise waiting for her.

As she approached the landing she saw a young woman swimming and marvelled at her beauty, especially her long black hair which glowed brightly in the moonlight. She walked out onto the landing and called out to the woman.
“It’s too dark to swim. Come out of the water. It’s not safe,” she said.

This statement was greeted with girlish laughter and little Samantha smiled. She filled one bucket and was about to fill the other when a hand rose from the water, grabbed her and pulled her under.

Mary returned from the farm tired and hungry. She had worked hard all day clearing, cutting, planting and reaping. Packing her warashi ( a kind of basket fetched on the back with an extension strap worn around the head for stability) with cassava, eddoes and plantains, she had walked for more than two hours to get home.

When she arrived, Samantha was absent. This angered her. For the first time, her daughter had deliberately disobeyed her. She would give her a sound thrashing when she came home. She ate then went looking for her. After checking at all of the nearby houses she began to feel anxious. The men in the village began a search. One of them approached her with Samantha’s slippers and two of her buckets. There was no sign of her daughter. She began to weep.

She tried to control her worst fears. More than once children had disappeared and were never found. Because of this they were never allowed to move around after dark and were forbidden to go anywhere near to the river at night.

A large search was conducted during the daylight hours of the next day but nothing turned up. Reluctantly it was concluded that the child had mysteriously disappeared at the river. Mary was inconsolable. What would she tell Desmond when he arrived home? Sleep eluded her for three nights and tears besieged her during the day. On the fourth night, she fell asleep out of sheer exhaustion.

There was a beautiful mud hut nicely designed with seaweed and colourful shells of all sizes. Three children were playing, swimming, laughing, calling. One of them was waving to her. It was Samantha. She ran to her daughter but each time she drew near she seemed to just be out of reach.
“Samantha! Come to mummy.”
“No mummy. You come.”
“Come where baby?”
“Come stay with me and my new friends.”
“No! Come home right now!”

She tried to grab her and the dream ended abruptly.
Mary woke up crying. Two neighbours who were staying with her listened to her relate her dream and sent for the Village Captain. He listened and instructed her as follows.
“Go back to sleep. She will appear again. When she does, tell her you want to go with her. Ask her for the time and place,” the Captain instructed.

Mary coaxed herself back to sleep. Slowly the dream seemed to replay itself. When Samantha asked her to come and stay with her and her friends, Mary promised to. She asked her daughter for the time and place.
“Midnight on the next moonlight night down by our landing,” Samantha said.
She promised to be there.
When she awoke she told them everything. Plans were made. They would be ready when the time came.

Three nights later it was full moon and bright as day. Mary hurried down to the landing to wait for the appointed hour. At midnight there was a gentle splash and Samantha and a beautiful woman rose halfway out of the water.
Samantha beckoned to her mother smiling sweetly but Mary remained near to the end of the small landing following the instructions of her Captain. Smiling and sobbing she held out her hands calling to her daughter.

“Samantha, come baby. Let’s talk a bit before I go with you.”
Samantha glanced at the woman and as though some silent consent had been given, rose and walked to her mother on the landing. As soon as she was within reach Mary grabbed her and screamed for help. The surrounding jungle erupted with villagers armed to the teeth. Samantha was dragged kicking and screaming away from the landing and to safety on the bank.

Meanwhile, in the water, there was a terrible trashing and blood-chilling screams were heard. Then the silvery figure dived underwater accompanied by a few arrows and spears.
It took nearly a week for Samantha to stop trying to return to the water. She had to be constantly guarded. She was not allowed to go into the jungle or go near the river. Slowly but surely the child became sick. As everyone watched helplessly, the girl got worse. What could she do?, Mary wondered. How could she save her daughter?

That night she had another odd dream. The beautiful woman was approaching and trying to tell her something. Mary tried to listen but could not understand the strange gurgling noise coming from the creature.
“Save my daughter please,” Mary pleaded.
The woman smiled then vanished.
Mary woke up to find Samantha standing beside her hammock. She looked healthy and alert.

“Mummy, I have to spend time with them and time with you. If I don’t I will die.”
The child’s round eyes pleaded with her. Mary knew instinctively that this was true. She would save her daughter even if it meant sharing her with this water creature.

When Desmond returned he was quickly informed of the past events. Mary explained in detail about her dreams and Samantha’s illness. Like Mary, Desmond preferred to have her for a time rather than lose her altogether. What had to be done could not happen in the village.

Packing up their few belongings, they bid the villagers goodbye and moved away to live many miles upriver. In this way, Samantha was able to come and go freely. One thing had to change in their house, however: NO MORE FISH!!