“Captain K, alone in his cabin, had come to the same conclusion. He brought the egg out of its hiding place and wondered if he should throw it in the sea. After all, good men were dying so that he could keep it. But the egg dazzled him with its beauty, and it had begun to thrill him with its strange promise. There was no way he could give up such a wondrous thing.

“‘So what if the malamander is real after all?’ said the captain to himself, gazing into the magical light of the creature’s egg. ‘It’s still just a dumb animal, while I’m a man, and commander of one of the most powerful vessels in the fleet.’

“The thousand-fold voice whispered in his mind again: I can make your dreams come true. I can grant your heart’s desire.

“‘My wish right now is to survive this,’ said the captain, almost without thinking. ‘I don’t want to be killed like a rat in a barrel by this fiendish creature.’ Then he added, because he suddenly realized it was his heart’s desire, ‘I want to live for ever.’

“Then you shall, said the voice. For as long as you can keep the egg. But if you lose it, your wish shall become your curse.

“‘Fight harder!’ the captain roared to his men. ‘Prepare yourselves! Defend the ship at all costs!’

“The third night brought the strongest attack yet. The captain and the remains of his crew barricaded themselves on the bridge and fought to hold the malamander back. The captain himself received many injuries, but a strange thing happened: a sea mist that came out of nowhere surrounded Captain K and his wounds closed up as soon as they opened, his injuries healed. The exhaustion of battle left him time and again, and he knew that the egg, tucked safely in the pocket of his greatcoat, was indeed granting him his wish. He knew that he would survive the fight, that he would live for ever.

“But that’s more than could be said for his crew. By the time the dawn came and the monster had once again withdrawn, barely a handful remained. The Leviathan, which was billowing smoke and listing even further in the water, was directed at war speed towards Eerie-on-Sea, its engines hot and rumbling as the men burned everything in sight to create steam. The malamander was an Eerie legend, the captain reasoned, and maybe – just maybe – if they could lead it home, the monster would leave them alone.”

Dr Thalassi pauses, and looks thoughtfully into the paraffin lamp.

“And…?” says Vi after a moment, pulling her coat closer. “Don’t stop now. Did it leave them alone?”