Waves lapped at the ship like a friendly dog at the hand of his master, and Pancake giggled. “Captain, captain,” he squealed, “The ocean wants to be my friend!” At that, the curmudgeon shoved young Patrick Butterworth into the sea, and attempted a return to his snooze. Breaking the surface sputtering and smiling, Pan stared up into the grizzled face of his hero.

There was talk of who he used to be circling the wharf, his fall from grace, his dishonorable discharge from the royal navy, but none of it mattered to Pancake, as the captain was a beacon of hope in his quest for the fabled Cape Caramel. “C’mon, Cap’n, let’s go sailing!” Fumbling and grumbling, the man who used to be Captain John Tendonawitz raised the sails of the rundown whaling ship that served as his vessel. “It’s a myth, boy, and one you’d do well to forget.” Ignoring the growl of wisdom, Pancake could barely contain his excitement as the old creaky ship pushed off from the pier.