The Flying Dutchman, or "Give me back my ship, bastards!"

Today was one of those days for Edward that nothing could ruin. He finally landed on the long-awaited shore, previously having spent several months in a restless sea. Yesterday there's a violent storm, which we're hardly able to survive with minimal losses. And here's solid ground under your feet, a bottle of excellent rum in your hand, a cloudless sky and bright sun above. Edward, returning to the ship after a walk through the surrounding forests, whistled a cheerful song and kicked shells under his boots. Particular pleasure's brought by the sound of golden doubloons in a solid bag on his back - an indescribable feeling's to find a pirate treasure! Even if you're a pirate yourself. And for good they'd sailed here for so long; it’s worth looking for luck on this marvelous island. Moreover, it received the rank of "marvelous" literally half an hour ago, just at the moment when Edward dug up the coveted trunk . Before this, the island'd been called: "Tear me apart, cuttlefish, why the hell did we swim here for so long, if there’s nothing here except sand? This sand's everywhere, just this once open a glass factory right here!" The last turn along the path craved by Edward himself, and a fascinatingly breathtaking view of the coast opens up. The pirate took a deep breath, savoring the salty sea air. The sun's shining, the seagulls were singing, the doubloons were tinkling... That's the romance of a sailor! If only the ship's in its place... Wait! Where's the ship?! Edward looked back to see if he was back where he'd started. No, everything's the same: the path and that fallen tree. Even a turtle's basking in the sun in the same place! The pirate felt panic rising. Where. Darling. Beloved. Jackdaw?! On stiff legs Edward ran to the water's edge, dropping the bag of loot behind him. Nothing. Empty. There's a ship, but now it's no longer here. Edward looked with hope at the bottle of rum in his hand, as if it wasn't rum but a true Aladdin’s lamp, which could immediately solve all his problems. The bottle's corked. It meaned he didn't imagine it. — Ade?! — perhaps, it's just a joke? Joke like this one is able to get you thrown overboard! Nobody responded. The quartermaster's never act as a person who'd decide to joke like that. Was it really a rebellion? Yes, this couldn't be! He loved his crew as much as he loved his children, he knew everyone's names! Well, maybe, not. Maybe, he knew only Adewale by name. And then, during the first month of their acquaintance, he didn't remember the name of his assistant. Well, who gave names to their children like this one? No one, even if they remembered such a name, would pronounce it the first time! Edward's attention's drawn to strange circles on the water. The captain came closer to the shore to see a weird occurrence. It'd be better if he didn't come closer. Life hadn't prepared him for such things. Edward fell onto the hot sand, unable to stay on his feet due to shock. After all, Davy Jones's found him! Now he'd punish the unfortunate captain for all his pirate atrocities! Edward promised himself that if he remained alive, he'd never take a step on the deck of the ship again! He'd return to Caroline and live a long and happy life with her on land... Oh, the assassins may be taking revenge on him for his betrayal? Because he ended the Duncan Walpole's heinous business? Edward's ready to join their ranks for, just leave his unfortunate soul alone! He'd even let his ring finger to be cut off. Even two. Even on his feet if it's necessary! However, everything's quiet and nothing's happening. Edward cautiously opened his eyes and stood up. The circles on the water have disappeared nowhere. Very slowly, step by step, the captain approached the weird occurrence. When the water began to reach his waist, he saw... He saw a huge hole from which the waves diverged. The water rushed down, and that hole's so deep that the bottom's invisible. Edward didn't dare come any closer. He stood there in the water, frightened so much that he wasn't able to move away from this abyss. Here the sailors began to rise into the air from the depths. The pirate recoiled and with fear gazed at every familiar face. They didn't move, as if they were sleeping, and the sight' made even more ominous due to it. The captain's face twisted in horror. It's surely Davy Jones himself who came for him! Blackbeard told him to be careful. No, he should have contacted these sectarians! Definetely, due to these assassins and their weird artifacts, he brought some curse on himself! A pirate flag appeared over the water. Neptune, was this really the Flying Dutchman?! Edward agreed to be hanged on the scaffold for all his sins, but not to be an eternal prisoner on board a ghost ship! The ship, rising from the very heart of the ocean, continued to fly upward. Wait a minute... Edward opened his mouth in surprise. An anchor in his throat, but it’s his Jackdaw! Holes in the sails in the same places, the familiar figure of a bird on the bow. There's no doubt, this's definitely Jackdaw! Meanwhile, the ship appeared almost completely above the water. He stood still as suddenly as he appeared. The Jackdaw swayed peacefully on the waves, as if nothing'd happened. The sailors were doing their usual things, and Adewale leaned overboard and waved his hand to Edward. — Captain, what's wrong with you? You look like Blackbeard's just given you "Queen Anne's Revenge". Hey? Captain? — the quartermaster couldn't understand what'd happened with his captain and why he's looking at him as if they'd risen from the dead. Edward continued standing waist-deep in the water with his mouth open, not believing his eyes. — You... Where have you been, damn you?! — the captain, with a fury pointed somewhere down; he's shaking slightly. — We were here, waiting for you. Have you outdrunk or what? — Adewale couldn’t understand what's happening. They stood here, scrubbed the deck, cleaned the guns. What's wrong? Edward rubbed his eyes. Nothing's changed. Only the quartermaster's looking at him like he’s an idiot. The captain couldn't move away from what he'd recentle seen. Things were really bad. He's lost his mind.