"Damn it!" one of the guys said, as he stopped at the edge of the lake.
One of the other guys grabbed Jon, while the third one aimed his rifle at him.
"Let go of me!" Jon yelled.
The first guy turned towards him and said "Not until you bring that bitch back."
"She's a mermaid. And I can't just bring her back."
"We saw you talkin' with her. We know she's taken a likin' to ya. Now bring her back!"
"What do you want her for?" Jon asked.
He walked up to Jon, getting in his face. "I've been hunting that thing for most of my life. I'm not letting it slip through my fingers. Not now." Then in a quieter, yet clearer voice, he said "Call the bitch back, or I'll have to kill you."
"That's murder."
"Call it what you will. You're in my way."
Well, Jon could certainly fix that. He still had the wishing stone with him and he was going to use it.
