“Smee, my good man! I am mightily happy to see you safe,” said James, taking the man into his arms and hugging him tightly. “I don’t know what I would do if I lost you. What were you doing in the crow’s nest anyway?”

“It’s the best place to keep an eye on you, sir. But I see now, you don’t need my protection. I have never seen such bravery,” said Smee, swelling with pride. “We’d better check on the captain, sir.”

James and Smee found Blackbeard gathering up some scattered items that had fallen to the floor and putting them back into a wooden chest, the one James had seen earlier with the carving of an eye.

“Sir?”

Blackbeard looked up from the chest briefly; James could see deep bruises around his neck where the Kraken’s tentacles had pulled him under, and he looked no better than he did when James found him on the ocean floor.

“What’s the report, James?”

“Everyone is accounted for, sir,” James said, blinking, still feeling dazed by everything that had happened.

“And what says Skylights? How’s my ship?”

“We’ll be lucky if we can get her to the Floating Boneyard, sir,” said Skylights, coming into the room at that moment and standing beside Smee.

“Is it as bad as all that?” asked Blackbeard, looking at Skylights.

“I’m afraid so, sir. It’s time to retire the Silent Wraith.” Skylights bowed his head.

“So be it, then,” said Blackbeard, looking around the cabin as a man might look at a loved one he knew he was bound to lose. “Are you all right, Smee? It seems you were the safest among us up there in the crow’s nest—who would have imagined?” asked Blackbeard.

“Are you sure you’re well, Smee? Should we have Turk take a look at you?” asked James, fussing over his dear friend.

“I’m quite well, sir, don’t worry about me. And may I say you were amazing today, just brilliant. The way you dived into the water after our captain! I have never seen such bravery. You saved the day!” said Smee, looking at James with pride. Then he cleared his throat. “Of course, you were brilliant too, sir. You both won the day,” Smee said, looking embarrassed and afraid he had offended Blackbeard.