Alright, here goes nothing. "So, lemme get this straight," - I interrupt the Captain just as he rounds up his flashback, -"you wanted everyone to know I was special by sacrificin' me? What for? I already was your first mate then, so to speak..." "You still don't get it?" - he stares at me. Works every time, I don't know why. - "Dead men tell no tales, remember?" "Yeah, but why-" "For nobody asking-" - he stops midway, a strange glow in his eyes. Simon kneads my hand again. "It's ok, buddy," - I whisper, as we hug, when suddenly: "Well, there's somebody I would like you to see," - our eyes meet, "to discourage any further questions...

The evening was full of closing dances. Madeleine waited for the first time for the end of the celebration, wanted to finish the day, forget herself. But time, as it happens, has turned into the worst enemy, and stretched out as intended. The figured hands on the clock seemed to have frozen and refused to let the princess go of the embrace of humiliation. The clouds of grey thoughts were bitterly upset. The guests began to disperse. From the front door of the palace, one by one the coaches drove away...