the thick , cold , suffocating darkness of the grave . `` hand me one of the birds . '' hed track her down , and hed do it today . the man wore a gray suit and matching gray tie and the woman a beautiful suit the same cream color as the couch . his sense of excitement was nearly overwhelming . we merpeople keep to ourselves , afraid of swimming out of our watery limits . `` this place is like living in the dark ages . '' the long term potential is limited . 