I'm almost certain that the smell of the rotting fish will be the least of your worries very soon.

[She can say from experience that wet, rotting flesh is no better, and these zombie mermaids are going to be leagues worse than the sirens she fought in her earlier months here.

But at his question...

...

She pauses, deliberates, and tugs off the scarf she had around her neck, tossing it over to him.]

I will be wanting that back when we are—

[Doesn't even get to finish that sentence because there's a loud BANG and then a lurch of the ship from below, water splashing aboard on all sides.]

Hah. So that did work.

[She laughs and waits, and lo and behold, a claw comes crawling up the side of the ship, the mermaid hissing and groaning.]