For me, the captain’s cabin is a dream come true. Maps and charts are spread across a carved oak table, oil lamps hang from low beams, and a chest is stuffed full of what can only be described as “treasure.” Gold goblets, furs, silver boxes, and coins all spill out onto the floor, suggesting Rose has already had a good rummage.

Win starts to examine the goodies. “Rubies,” he murmurs, followed by, “Ooooh, a crown!”

I go to the curving window at the back of the cabin and look out. Directly below me is the sea, black and inky. The stars twinkle on the water like lights at a disco and the moon makes a glittering yellow path that leads toward the End. A hammock hangs by the window. I give it a swing and think how good it would be to fall asleep here, looking at the stars and listening to the sea lapping against the ship.

Rose taps a map that she’s spread across a table. “So, I’ve plotted a course to the End—”

I interrupt her. “You’ve plotted a course? How did you do that?”

“Danny showed me how to do it. Anyway, we’ll be sailing this route here”—she draws a line with her finger—“and the good news is, it will only take a day or so.”

A day or so . . . I think about Crowky and the head start that he’s already got. “We need to leave now,” I say.

Rose grins. “We already have left, Arthur.”

One look at the window tells me she’s right. I can’t see the moon anymore. The ship is turning.

We go out on deck. It’s clear that the honey badgers know what they’re doing. They scurry around, barking out instructions that Rose translates, and Win and I experience a bossy ten minutes of “raise this” and “tie that.”

Soon wind has filled the sails and we’re sailing away from the land. We watch as the Lost Girls’ fire becomes a dot and then disappears completely. Then our thoughts turn to food. Luckily it’s not just candy and rocky road in the storeroom. Win finds some dried peas and onions and makes us soup. The honey badgers love it, perhaps because Win puts a big swirl of honey in theirs.

After eating, Win and I agree that Rose and the honey badgers will take the first watch.

Before I choose my hammock I go on deck to take one last look at the stars. I find Rose standing at the bow. She’s wearing her hat and staring out to sea, her hands clasped behind her back. Already she looks remarkably captain-like.

I stand next to her and enjoy the warmth coming from the starlight. “I thought you didn’t like playing pirates,” I say to Rose.