I find I fear (for Ray)

[tectak]

Oh, I see. You socked it in your previous post so it never came up, that is why I did not know you had written.

alter to altar thanks, yes also "deaths'" will correct.
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bittern 2 (ˈbɪtən)

— n
the bitter liquid remaining after common salt has been crystallized out of sea water: a source of magnesium, bromine, and iodine compounds

Used once as a preservative I believe, but basically a dry piece of hard overly salted bread. Think brackish scones! I believe it is an allusion to something from Coleridge, maybe Kublai Khan.
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Siren just means compelling as used here.

Thanks for the critique, I'll keep it handy for the next rewrite. Sleepy now!

Dale

Dream on.
Brilliant bit of info on bittern. Not know that. Do now.
Best,
tectak