WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:00.510 align:middle line:90% 00:00:00.510 --> 00:00:03.030 align:middle line:84% My boy began drawing on a large white napkin, 00:00:03.030 --> 00:00:05.872 align:middle line:84% holding it up to the captain when he was finished. 00:00:05.872 --> 00:00:07.580 align:middle line:84% Doesn't look like much to me, the captain 00:00:07.580 --> 00:00:11.040 align:middle line:84% said, turning the napkin around this way and that. 00:00:11.040 --> 00:00:12.750 align:middle line:90% It's not his picture, I said. 00:00:12.750 --> 00:00:16.410 align:middle line:84% It's a transcription of his name to his image. 00:00:16.410 --> 00:00:18.570 align:middle line:84% The boy can do that with most sounds. 00:00:18.570 --> 00:00:22.220 align:middle line:84% He can do that with your name if he wants. 00:00:22.220 --> 00:00:24.830 align:middle line:84% I have no name, he said, looking frightened. 00:00:24.830 --> 00:00:26.930 align:middle line:90% So don't be asking me for one. 00:00:26.930 --> 00:00:29.960 align:middle line:84% None of us have names neither, said the man in the blue shirt. 00:00:29.960 --> 00:00:31.310 align:middle line:90% Isn't that right men? 00:00:31.310 --> 00:00:32.820 align:middle line:90% No, no, they said in a chorus. 00:00:32.820 --> 00:00:36.200 align:middle line:84% None of us have any kind of names. 00:00:36.200 --> 00:00:39.200 align:middle line:84% Because when you say his name, I continue, the sound of it 00:00:39.200 --> 00:00:41.510 align:middle line:84% vanishes into the air and he vanishes along 00:00:41.510 --> 00:00:44.740 align:middle line:84% with it keeping all his power with him. 00:00:44.740 --> 00:00:46.570 align:middle line:84% The captain remained silent for a moment 00:00:46.570 --> 00:00:48.940 align:middle line:84% and then beckoned his men together about him 00:00:48.940 --> 00:00:52.120 align:middle line:84% in a circle where they spoke in crowish barks, 00:00:52.120 --> 00:00:54.730 align:middle line:90% very sharp and very unsettling. 00:00:54.730 --> 00:00:58.090 align:middle line:84% I was fearful and thought of quietly taking my son back 00:00:58.090 --> 00:01:01.570 align:middle line:84% the way we came, back to the dinghy and over the dark water, 00:01:01.570 --> 00:01:05.680 align:middle line:84% back to our house where we again be safe. 00:01:05.680 --> 00:01:07.240 align:middle line:90% Let's go my boy, I whispered. 00:01:07.240 --> 00:01:11.090 align:middle line:84% Let's leave here while there's still time. 00:01:11.090 --> 00:01:12.470 align:middle line:90% No dad, he said firmly. 00:01:12.470 --> 00:01:13.790 align:middle line:90% You go if you want. 00:01:13.790 --> 00:01:16.640 align:middle line:90% I need to stay. 00:01:16.640 --> 00:01:19.280 align:middle line:84% I was so amazed by his audacity that I almost 00:01:19.280 --> 00:01:22.400 align:middle line:84% forgot he was just a boy and that I was his father 00:01:22.400 --> 00:01:24.440 align:middle line:90% and with a father's authority. 00:01:24.440 --> 00:01:26.540 align:middle line:84% But just as I was about to assert myself, 00:01:26.540 --> 00:01:29.180 align:middle line:84% the captain broke from his men returning to us 00:01:29.180 --> 00:01:32.405 align:middle line:84% his arms crossed, his face a powdery white smoke. 00:01:32.405 --> 00:01:35.120 align:middle line:90% 00:01:35.120 --> 00:01:36.800 align:middle line:84% We have decided to keep your drawing 00:01:36.800 --> 00:01:39.440 align:middle line:84% and to keep your grandmother's soul to boot. 00:01:39.440 --> 00:01:40.771 align:middle line:90% What do you say to that? 00:01:40.771 --> 00:01:43.360 align:middle line:90% 00:01:43.360 --> 00:01:46.420 align:middle line:84% That death has many names in many languages and that now, 00:01:46.420 --> 00:01:48.920 align:middle line:84% you have his image in only one language. 00:01:48.920 --> 00:01:50.590 align:middle line:84% You can steal my picture, but you still 00:01:50.590 --> 00:01:52.930 align:middle line:84% won't have the drawing of his other names, drawings 00:01:52.930 --> 00:01:56.750 align:middle line:84% that I could trade with you when you needed me to. 00:01:56.750 --> 00:01:59.180 align:middle line:84% A valiant answer from such a small boy. 00:01:59.180 --> 00:02:02.870 align:middle line:84% But then even for such a brave boy, you are a brave boy, 00:02:02.870 --> 00:02:04.820 align:middle line:84% the captain said, giving me a look 00:02:04.820 --> 00:02:07.340 align:middle line:84% I took to mean that in the area of courage 00:02:07.340 --> 00:02:10.710 align:middle line:90% the son surpassed the father. 00:02:10.710 --> 00:02:12.830 align:middle line:84% The blue shirted man came up and whispered 00:02:12.830 --> 00:02:15.150 align:middle line:84% into the captain's ear a long whisper, 00:02:15.150 --> 00:02:17.690 align:middle line:90% the length of a woolen string. 00:02:17.690 --> 00:02:20.870 align:middle line:84% The captain nodded slowly and turned to me and my son. 00:02:20.870 --> 00:02:24.190 align:middle line:90% Let's go above deck. 00:02:24.190 --> 00:02:27.910 align:middle line:84% Before I could say a word, we're all above deck 00:02:27.910 --> 00:02:31.960 align:middle line:84% and under a black heaven, moonless and distraught. 00:02:31.960 --> 00:02:35.830 align:middle line:84% I put my arm around my son's waist and held him fast. 00:02:35.830 --> 00:02:37.610 align:middle line:90% You've won, my boy. 00:02:37.610 --> 00:02:39.490 align:middle line:84% The captain said your grandmother's soul 00:02:39.490 --> 00:02:41.880 align:middle line:90% is going where it belongs. 00:02:41.880 --> 00:02:44.960 align:middle line:90% Let me see it, my son asked. 00:02:44.960 --> 00:02:47.750 align:middle line:84% You can't see it, the blue shirted man said. 00:02:47.750 --> 00:02:51.670 align:middle line:84% It has no visibility nor weight, nor color, 00:02:51.670 --> 00:02:53.410 align:middle line:90% nor odor, the captain added. 00:02:53.410 --> 00:02:55.450 align:middle line:90% It has none of the qualities-- 00:02:55.450 --> 00:02:59.490 align:middle line:84% none of the qualities you expect in your world. 00:02:59.490 --> 00:03:02.460 align:middle line:84% He will know-- how will I know you freed her soul then, 00:03:02.460 --> 00:03:03.150 align:middle line:90% my boy asked. 00:03:03.150 --> 00:03:06.450 align:middle line:84% How will I know you've kept your word? 00:03:06.450 --> 00:03:08.640 align:middle line:84% Stand very still, the captain ordered. 00:03:08.640 --> 00:03:10.920 align:middle line:84% And you right beside him, he said 00:03:10.920 --> 00:03:13.130 align:middle line:90% pointing to me with his sword. 00:03:13.130 --> 00:03:17.630 align:middle line:84% Notice that there is no wind, no breeze, no movement of air 00:03:17.630 --> 00:03:20.750 align:middle line:84% and that there's only stillness and the flat screen 00:03:20.750 --> 00:03:22.900 align:middle line:90% of the night. 00:03:22.900 --> 00:03:23.620 align:middle line:90% Yes, I said. 00:03:23.620 --> 00:03:25.660 align:middle line:90% There's not the faintest stir. 00:03:25.660 --> 00:03:28.570 align:middle line:84% Now, hold your breath, the two of you. 00:03:28.570 --> 00:03:30.820 align:middle line:84% We stayed very still, not breathing 00:03:30.820 --> 00:03:33.730 align:middle line:84% and suddenly felt for the quickest of seconds 00:03:33.730 --> 00:03:38.810 align:middle line:84% a feathery whisper brush our faces. 00:03:38.810 --> 00:03:41.180 align:middle line:84% That's that then, the captain said. 00:03:41.180 --> 00:03:43.940 align:middle line:84% That's what, I asked, annoyed by his mumbo 00:03:43.940 --> 00:03:47.550 align:middle line:84% jumbo, by what I thought were his theatrical airs. 00:03:47.550 --> 00:03:49.860 align:middle line:84% Her last breath just flew by you, he said. 00:03:49.860 --> 00:03:51.840 align:middle line:84% Her last breath carrying her soul. 00:03:51.840 --> 00:03:54.440 align:middle line:90% 00:03:54.440 --> 00:03:57.710 align:middle line:84% At his final words, we found ourselves, my boy and I, 00:03:57.710 --> 00:03:59.480 align:middle line:90% returned to our house. 00:03:59.480 --> 00:04:01.940 align:middle line:84% The ship had vanished, leaving where it once 00:04:01.940 --> 00:04:05.500 align:middle line:90% had been a black line of sea. 00:04:05.500 --> 00:04:06.000 align:middle line:90%