I looked at the two gifts. The Starfish was spiney and the rock looked to be gold.
I waivered and choose the rock. Her smile turned to a frown.
"Two gifts, one is from the sea and you would have been my mate and a merman. I could have loved you, she said. You being of the land choose the bright gold rock. It would seem that wealth is your desire. I cannot give gold and wealth, but I could make your desire that which brings worth to your foolish life."
"I tell you to walk home. On your way you my see some male animal. This animal will be either ready to mate or enjoying his own masterbation. As you love the land I make you part of the land. As the animal you become your desire and lust will bring the owner wealth and you worth, now go!"
I swam back to the shore and turned to see her swim out to sea. A feeling of dread came over me. As I walked home a horse, a bull, a goat, a pig, a dog, a cat, a bird, or worse would be my fate. My choice of wealth has brought me to my lust for wealth to become, wealth from my lust.