Merfolk do not age but have high infant mortality because of:
shark
orca
sperm whale
ray
sea serpent
many other killer fish
wind
wave
poisonous fangs and spines
cold
sickness
hunger
Agnete had seven children of whom four survive. One is too weak to survive a long sea journey so she is taken ashore where she is baptized, thus becoming physically mortal although gaining an immortal soul. That leaves three "Merman's Children" in the sea. What will become of them? Only time and further reading will tell.
Kaor, Paul!
ReplyDeleteI can see "immortal" merpeople suffering high losses of infants from attacks from predators or cold and hunger. But losses from sickness does seem to contradict being immortal, which should include not being able to get sick. After all, that was the case with the "immortals" of THE BOAT OF A MILLION YEARS, who could be killed by accident or violence, but not by sickness.
Ad astra! Sean
Yeah, unaging people would have very strong immune systems.
ReplyDeleteKaor, Mr. Stirling!
ReplyDeleteExactly! Anderson did have Hanno confiding his peculiar longevity to a Catholic scientist at the Rufus Institute he founded in the 20th century. This scientist did wonder how long even the immune systems of "immortals" like Hanno could survive persistent abuse from bad habits like smoking.
Ad astra! Sean