They are standing on the deck of the Sawasdee.
The sun is a fiery orange ball, sinking towards the horizon and painting the sea in hues of gold and purple. The gentle hum of the longtail boat’s engine is a steady, comforting rhythm. Hammie is leaning against the rail, gazing out at the water. Lekkie is curled up asleep on his shoulder. Captain Somtam, having set a steady course, walks over with two mugs of warm tea, handing one to Hammie.

Captain Somtam: A sea like this… it makes you think, eh, Hammie? Almost makes you forget the jellyfish and the giant lizards. Almost.

Hammie: (Takes the mug of tea, smiling) Thanks, Captain. It’s… a lot different from my birthday trip. I just wanted to camp alone and see some monkeys. Now I’m on a quest for a magic potion with a gecko princess, a brave leech, and a monkey who can’t sit still.

Captain Somtam: (Chuckles, a low rumble like a distant engine) Life is like my name, boy. Somtam salad. You think you are just getting papaya, but then—wham—there is chilli, lime, fish sauce, peanuts. It’s the mix of everything that makes it good. Your journey just has a little extra chilli.

Hammie: (Laughs) I guess so. I never thought I’d be friends with a leech. Especially one who thinks he’s the bravest creature in all of Thailand.

Captain Somtam: Ah, Lekkie. He is a small boat with a very loud horn. But when those mosquitoes came, or when he faced that fake crocodile… his horn was not just for show. He has courage. It’s just… a very noisy courage.

Hammie: He told me his grandmother once sucked a whale dry until it passed out.

Captain Somtam: (Strokes his moustache to hide a smile) I have been on these seas for forty years. I have seen mermaids and ghost nets and storms that can swallow islands. But a whale-sucking leech… that is a new one. I think Lekkie’s stories are like some fish I catch—they get bigger every time you tell the tale.

Hammie: What about the others? What do you think of them? You’re so quiet, just watching everyone.

Captain Somtam: A good captain watches. I see Princess Lizzy. When she came aboard, she was a city gecko. Worried. A little scared. Now… she is a princess. She stands taller. She knows the weight on her shoulders is not a burden, it is a purpose. It’s good for her. And for Goggles… that one has the eyes of a hawk and the heart of a mother hen. She worries for everyone. A good friend to have when the waves get rough.

Hammie: They’re the best. But are you ever scared, Captain? I mean, really scared? When those giant monitor lizards were chasing us, my heart was trying to jump out of my chest. And the pirates Siraphon warned us about…

Captain Somtam: Scared? Of course. A man who says he is not afraid of the sea is either a liar or a fool. But my fear is different from yours. You fear the monsters you can see. The big teeth, the sharp stinger. I fear the things you cannot see.

Hammie: What do you mean?

Captain Somtam: (Gestures to the water) I fear the ghost nets, like the one that caught us. They drift for years, silent killers. I fear the sea getting warmer, changing things. The beautiful jellyfish… you saw how many there were. It is not natural. The sea is strong, but she is also delicate. That is what I fear—that people will forget to care for her. That is a monster much scarier than Gingga.

Hammie: (Looks at the water with new understanding) I never thought of it that way. The Moken… Mama Ruth said they are losing their way of life because of things like that.

Captain Somtam: Yes. They are the true children of the sea. They can read the stars better than any map. They understand the tides not with a clock, but with their soul. To lose their wisdom would be like… like a library burning down. That is why your quest is important, Hammie. It is not just about saving a king and queen. It is about keeping the balance. Keeping the somtam of life from becoming too sour.

Hammie is quiet for a moment, thinking. He looks down at Lekkie, who stirs in his sleep and mutters, “Just one more drop… so tasty…”

Hammie: (Grinning) What about you, Captain? What brought you here? You could be taking tourists on easy trips, making good money. Why help us on this crazy adventure?

Captain Somtam: (Sips his tea, looking at the last sliver of sun on the horizon) Tourists… they look, but they do not always see. They want a photo, a souvenir. You… you and your friends, you are different. You came to listen. To help. My boat, the Sawasdee, she likes journeys with meaning. And maybe… maybe an old captain gets tired of the same calm waters. Maybe he also needs a story to tell his grandchildren. A story with a blond-haired boy, a talking leech, and a quest for floating potion.

Hammie: What makes you happy, Captain?

Captain Somtam: (A slow, genuine smile spreads across his face) This. A good boat that does not complain. A sky that tells you its plans. The quiet time between the storm and the shore. And seeing young people with good hearts do brave things. That makes an old man very happy. What about you, city boy? What makes you happy? Are you not missing your home?

Hammie: I miss my parents. But… this feels like home now, too. Being with my friends, having a purpose. Seeing a mermaid. Talking to a batfish. Finding out I promised not to eat her friends… It’s the biggest adventure of my life. I wouldn’t trade it for anything.

The last of the sun disappears, and the first stars begin to prick the deep violet sky.

Captain Somtam: Good. Hold onto that feeling. It is the fuel for the journey ahead. Now, get some rest. Tomorrow we search for the Moken, and for your floating gold. The sea has given us a calm night, it is a gift we should not waste.

Hammie: Okay, Captain. And… thank you. For everything.

Captain Somtam: Mai pen rai. No problem. That is what captains are for.

He gives Hammie a friendly pat on the shoulder and turns back towards the steering column. Hammie leans back against the rail, feeling the warmth of the mug. Lekkie suddenly pops his head up, wide awake.

Lekkie: Is it time for a starlight snack? I’m feeling a bit peckish. That whale story made me hungry.

Hammie laughs, the sound clear and happy in the quiet of the evening, as the Sawasdee sails on under the stars.