The Merman's Children: Epilogue

Anderson accomplishes much in his short (little more than a page) Epilogue to The Merman's Children. 

He begins by presenting historical dates and events:

"In May of the year of Our Lord 1312 died Pavle Subitj the king-maker." (p. 257)

To paraphrase the remainder of the opening paragraph:

Mladen Subitj succeeded his father as Ban but failed either to complete the reconquest of Zadar or to curb feuds among Hrvatskan clans;

Katchitji pirates troubled Dalmatia;

the Nelipitji attacked the Subitji and Frankapani, leading to civil war in 1322;

Venice, allied with Nelipitji, took Shibenik, Trogir, Split and Nin;

"Dark were those decades." (ibid.)

The narrative has moved from fantasy into real history. When the aged Father Tomislav preaches, his congregation includes:

"...widowed, defeated, graying Captain Andrei..." (ibid.)

We must remember that Andrei had been Vanimen, mer-king of Liri, but is now a mortal man.

Tomislav thinks that God:

"'...forgave a poor little shadow and raised her to Heaven...'" (p. 258)

We know that Tomislav's daughter is happy elsewhere, magically merged with Ingeborg and living as a halfling with the last merman, Tauno. There is plenty of room for two personalities within a single human psychophysical organism.

Then Tomislav speculates that all of creation will be resurrected on the Last Day. That would include Tauno and the two parts of the composite Ingeborg. But then Tomislav concludes that what he has just said:

"'...could be heresy.'" (ibid.)

We have been reading a story. There the novel ends.