The Sea Beast

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"There was a time when children dreaded the night,

for the sleeping hours brought visions of horror."

"The dark times when those terrible sea beasts

would ravage our shores,

and no ship was safe on the sea."

"But thanks to the hunters, those days are over."

"Today, these valiant warriors battle the beasts far beyond the horizon,

risking their lives to rid the seas of those nightmare creatures."

"And the greatest of the hunting ships is the Inevitable..."

"And the greatest of the hunters is Captain Crow!"

- Yar! - Captain Crow!

I'm Captain Crow. Smelly old beast!

Hey.

Who's reading this story?

Oh my word!

What's this?

Lights-out was an hour ago. Oh, you'll be the death of me.

Come on. Along. Along you pop.

And, Miss Maisie,

the king and queen care for you hunter orphans

out of their kindness.

When you disobey the house rules, you disrespect them.

So we're not going to have any more attempts now, are we?

Absolutely not.

Hmm.

Hmm.

Fair travels, me swabs.

And remember,

live a great life

and die a great death.

- Bye-bye, Maisie! - We'll miss you!

See you tomorrow!

All hands on deck!

All together now!

Heave away!

Hold your tongues!

- Where'd you see it? - Dead ahead, Jacob.

Huh.

Are you sure?

Aye, a red tail. Biggest I ever saw. Just under the surface.

Then today is the day.

It's the Red Bluster.

I know it in me bones.

See there!

- Birds follow it. -

- We come all this way for a proper fight. - And we'll get it, me boy.

It's been 30 years since that thing took me dead light.

Now I'll have me revenge.

Aye.

Well,

we've passed Rum Pepper Island.

It's heading for the Dregmorr Sea.

If we're gonna do battle

with the greatest and most terrible thing in the sea,

it's best not to wait till after.

There might not be an after.

Haul away, all! Haul, you dogs!

Captain!

It's another hunting ship under attack!

It's Jim Nicklebones' ship.

- It looks like he's found a brickleback. - I'd say it found him.

We have to help him.

What course, Captain?

- We press on. - What?

If Jim Nicklebones were half the sea dog he says he is,

he wouldn't be in this mess.

Captain, you know the code.

It binds us to all who come before and all who come after.

And even that rum gagger Jim Nicklebones.

Ms. Merino, set a new course.

Aye, Captain.

Strike the spanker!

Clew up for an' main.

Thirty years I've waited.

Thirty years!

Blast!

Rudder to mid ship. Come around!

Don't worry. We'll be to the Bluster in no time, Captain.

Drive her down, Mr. Crisp!

- -

- -

It's too much, Captain! We're going down!

This is it, mates!

It's been me honor to serve with ya.

Haul away!

By God, it's the Inevitable!

Have at it, Black Bird!

Let it know we're here!

We've joined.

We have weather gauge. Shall we draw it upwind?

Aye, and cross the T.

Hard to port, Mr. Crisp!

I'll have her into the wind as high as she'll bear, Ms. Merino!

Furl the main and fore, and ease your head sails, swabbies.

Mainsail haul!

Here we go!

Heads up.

Aim low.

All right, ya fish killers!

We come all this way for a proper fight.

And now, we'll get it!

Nearly there, Captain.

Aye, Sarah.

Now, to port, Ms. Merino. And cross the T!

You heard him, ya lubbers!

Haul your mizzen! Main and fore!

Make it scream, piper!

Here we go!

Fire!

We've not discouraged our prey. Quite the opposite, I'm afraid!

Not to worry, Jacob.

Clew up aloft, Ms. Merino.

Haul away your main and mizzen!

Topsail, clew lines!

- Haul away! - Loose!

It's diving!

Get under the companionway and don't come out till it's settled.

Clever fish.

It's gone upwind.

Stand to. Wait for the word!

You heard the captain! Hands to braces.

Stand by, all!

No birds.

It's smarter than we think. The line's been severed.

- It's below us. -

Whoa!

- -

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Jacob!

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