[He has to remind himself that the alternative is just doing nothing, and allowing these events to happen without even trying. Surely trying and failing is better than doing nothing at all.
Then something occurs to him.]
Wait... you said some of the merpeople are living in this lake now?
no subject
Then something occurs to him.]
Wait... you said some of the merpeople are living in this lake now?
[He face falls.]
...They must be really hurting right now.