The hand on his shoulder tightened, but the old man said nothing. Part of Jan—a small voice inside—was urging him to run. He fought his fear and stood without moving.

As the ship drew closer, Jan saw that it was long and sleek, and rode low in the water. He was admiring its lines when he realized that rather than slowing as it approached the shore, the ship was moving faster.

“Samos! She’s going to run aground!”

But he was wrong. Biting back a cry of astonishment, he watched the ship begin to rise in the water, floating higher and higher on the waves, as if being lifted by some marvelous dolphin. The water parted in white curls before its prow as it surged toward the shore. The ship continued to rise, until it seemed to be riding the air instead of the sea. It came to a halt a few feet from land, floating on a boiling cushion of white foam, its keel cleaving only the air.

Silently, the ship swung around until the starboard side was facing the shore. Silently, a gangplank appeared at the edge of the ship and extended itself onto the sand. The hair on Jan’s neck stood up, but he was unable to resist the mystery. He stepped toward the ship. Samos reached for his arm—not to restrain him, but to join him.

Moving in silence, the old man and the boy ascended the plank.

The ship was silent. Silent, and empty.

Jan shivered. They should turn and run now, he thought, as fast and as far as they could, away from the sea and away from this witch ship. But whatever was calling to him was even stronger now, and the call was too powerful to ignore.

Samos started to speak, but a sound from behind interrupted him. They turned in unison, then Jan yelled and dived for the gangplank, which was sliding back into the ship.

He fell short in his jump. Lying on the deck, with the golden sun burning his back and the sound of the surf pounding in his ears, he felt the ship move away from the shore. His stomach clenched, and he yelled again, though yelling was obviously useless.

He looked at Samos. The old man’s face wore a look of astonishment, and of fear. Yet lurking behind these was one thing more, thought Jan—a hint of burning, radiant joy.

“Back on the sea at last,” Samos whispered.