An experienced young pirate lives peacefully on an island in the ocean. Staying away from people, he successfully keeps his main secret hidden from the whole world. He is kept company by a girl with a light, playful disposition. This makes their life on the island feel like paradise. But the main secret attracts those who wish to possess it to their island. Preserving the secret requires them to have fortitude of spirit, physical endurance, and at times the impossible.

“Well, we’ve eaten, we’ve drunk, we’ve seen the fireworks—time to go home and concentrate hard on how to become a real winemaker,” a light, confident smile shines on the man’s face, a smile he’s never had before. Or perhaps he hid it well.
“Your wine really changes one’s state of mind,” Melanika admits with surprise. “You’ve cured yourself of your doubts.”
“Such is the calling of my magic,” Captain Wine smiles cunningly as he rises from the sand. He returns the dark wine bottle, which has a faint lunar reflection, to a bag made of thick, soft brown leather. One corner is roughly cut off with a knife in a hurry. He looks farewell at the ocean.
“I foresee an interesting future for you,” the sweet girl is genuinely happy for the man who has found purpose and meaning.
“It’s not enough to foresee it; I need to create my interesting future,” he shares the remaining nuts and candied fruit along the way.
“And the ocean is downright hot!” Melanika exclaims with pleasant surprise.
“Agreed. The most pleasant ocean you can find on a stormy night,” The swift waves spread along the shore in golden-white, foamy fans, washing the feet of the night companions. The stronger waves wash up to their knees, sometimes higher. “How convenient. I was planning to go for a swim, but the storm halted my impulse. And then you came, and I completely gave up on that persistent thought. Now the ocean bathes me. It doesn’t want to let go.”
“Convenient,” Melanika smiles. “No need to swim and waste energy. Better to invest your whole self in creating wine masterpieces. And you always have to invest your whole self in masterpieces.”
“I see you’re taking a stronger interest in this idea than I am,” the tired Captain Wine notes with a smile, struggling to wade along the soft, wet sand at the tide line.
“What else is left for me but to sincerely rejoice in and support your calling, when I don’t have one of my own,” Melanika sadly admits, walking nearby on the dry sand.
“What do you mean, no calling?” he is genuinely surprised and indignant at the same time, looking at the sweet, sad girl. “You prompted me toward the most secret thoughts that I had been avoiding for many years. It was a mistake to avoid them for so long,” he sighs heavily, regretting it. “Your calling is to inspire, to help lost souls find the right path in the darkness, to find a real life on a picturesque green island in the middle of the ocean, not a dreary existence on a lost piece of land cut off from the mainland.”
“It’s a good thing most people on the planet, who don’t realize their own happiness, can’t hear you right now,” the girl smirks, cheering up a little at the recognition of her valuable talent.
“I’d say it’s wonderful,” the man laughs sincerely and loudly. “If everyone on the planet, or even a small fraction, heard my words and thoughts, I’d immediately be pelted with millions of stones, sticks, and insults. People don’t like the truth. They want a fake smile and compliments.”
“Exactly. People are like that,” Melanika sadly agrees. “That’s exactly why I advised you to make wine, not write books,” the girl laughs. “Delicious wine will make you the best friend to every person, known and unknown. With wine like that, even your future books will become understandable to people. In the end, you’ll be recognized all over the world!” they both stop and freeze simultaneously, staring intently and with inspiration at the night starry sky.
“Did you see that, too?” Captain Wine asks in a whisper, continuing to look at the sky, not believing what he’s seen.
“I saw it,” Melanika smiles contentedly, quietly rejoicing in the unexpected phenomenon. “Did you manage to make a wish?”
“Of course, I did,” the man laughs. “It’s not the first time a star has fallen in my life. Although, it’s the first time I knew exactly what I wanted right away. I’ve never made a wish so lightning-fast in my life. It’s nice to know exactly what you want.”
“I don’t know what you wished for before, but this wish will definitely come true. Stars don’t just fall for no reason,” the sweet girl assures him with a light smile, having sincerely wished that the wish made by the dear and close man would come true.
“It will definitely come true,” Captain Wine whispers warmly and contentedly. “And I think I know what you wished for,” he smiles at his companion and at the clouds that are quickly enveloping the sky.
“Well, why deny ourselves a warm summer rain if we’ve already seen the starry sky and made a wish on a falling star? Now we can cool off in the rain.”
“I agree,” Captain Wine smiles cheerfully. “Drink up,” he generously hands over the dark wine bottle, rejoicing in the rain.
“How can I drink it all?” Melanika asks aloud in surprise. “There’s a lot here!”
“The perfect amount!” Captain Wine assures her with a smile.
“Perfect for what?” the girl smirks, knowing herself.
“To learn how to fully enjoy the moment!”
“Perfect wine, perfect amount, perfect evening, perfect moment!” Melanika finishes all the wine.

“Well, shall we get started, then,” Captain Wine looks out at the street with a light smile through the cracked, dusty window of the wooden, single-story house, which looks more like a large barn than a home. “You have to create a masterpiece as soon as you decide to, not put off the great moment for later. Otherwise, your masterpiece will never take a breath of life.”
“That’s a good thought,” a sweet, drenched girl comes in from the street, hunching over as she wrings the rain from her wet hair.
“I rarely say foolish things,” Captain Wine smirks.
“Is it alright that I’m here, too? Does the presence of a stranger bother you while you’re creating your special wine?”
“You’re not a stranger. Closer to a relative, in fact,” Captain Wine assures her honestly. “And you can’t interfere. All the wine is already ready.”
“Then why were you still doubting what you should be doing?”
“The problem is that I have a lot of different wines. And I don’t know which wine is in which bottle, what its composition is, or what its effect is,” Captain Wine admits, looking a little confused at the multitude of bottles in the far corner of the house.
“They’re all different, aren’t they? Is it really hard to distinguish them from each other and remember which wine is where?” Melanika examines the unusual bottles of varying heights, volumes, shapes, and colors.
“Of course, they’re all different. It would be easy and simple to remember. But there’s a small complication. When I was making and bottling the wine, all the varieties got mixed up and switched places. It’s complete chaos here. And even if I wanted to, I wouldn’t be able to figure out which wine is poured where. That’s why I have to fully rely on my intuition, the smell, and the taste of the wine. Otherwise, it turns into one big roulette game. Although, based on past experience, that’s exactly what it is. So there’s nothing to be afraid of. I do what works, enjoying the pleasant process.”
“And what are the results?” the girl examines the dusty, large, elongated bottles with genuine interest.
“It’s different every time. And my wines affect people ambiguously. Even I feel a different effect from the same wine out of different bottles. In principle, that makes me happy. I didn’t want to create just one wine with clear boundaries of taste, aroma, and influence. Wine loves freedom.”
“Reasonable freedom,” the sweet girl cautiously adds.
“Of course,” Captain Wine agrees with a smile. “Without limits, you can lose freedom. And that’s worse than obeying a few rules for the sake of free sailing.”
“So, are you just going to add a cinnamon stick and a lemon rind to every bottle to mask the flavor?” the girl is moderately surprised by the recipe’s simplicity.
“You’re quite the joker,” Captain Wine laughs. “The most important moment is to mix the correct types of wine in the right proportions. And the supremely important moment is to invest the right energy and a pure stream of thought into the masterpiece beverage, otherwise I’ll just spoil the wine.”
“Which is something we definitely wouldn’t want,” Melanika whispers warily, moving away from the winemaker’s special wine collection.
“Exactly,” Captain Wine takes a classic wine bottle made of dark green glass and places it on the wooden table, which is stained with dark, absorbed drops from past wine experiments. “I don’t know what to expect from this variety, but we’ll try it. And you can’t be afraid, otherwise the wine will instill fear and anxiety. And we need a positive influence that makes life better, not one that makes everything worse.” He takes a one-liter bottle of black glass from his supplies, doesn’t wipe off the dust, and gently and lightly places it on the table.
“What will it be collaborating with?” Melanika peers with interest over the shoulder of the confident, experienced winemaker.
“I think an unusual variety will help us,” A small barrel-shaped bottle hides among the tall bottles.
“I hope the result won’t turn giants into Lilliputians and vice versa,” Melanika laughs lightly.
“I hope the giants don’t come to test that side of the wine,” Captain Wine smiles uncertainly, looking at the bottles and mentally preparing for the new experiment.
“Is there a chance of that?” the sweet girl asks more seriously, beginning to believe in an unpredictable outcome.
“There’s always the chance of an unexpected turn. But I haven’t had any cases involving external changes yet.”
“Not yet,” Melanika whispers softly, watching the light and careful movements of the master. “But anything can happen,” she tells herself, preparing for all possibilities.
“Actually, it’s all simple if you don’t overthink it.” He carefully takes a medium bottle and slowly pours from its neck into the neck of the empty wine bottle. He smoothly stops at two-thirds. He tops it up to the neck with wine from the glass barrel. He fills the remaining volume with a small dose of some special wine hidden in a cupboard. “The remnants of my last successful experiment.”
“The one we drank on the beach?” Melanika clarifies.
“No, of course not,” Captain Wine chuckles. “If we had drunk even a sip of this wine, we’d have gone swimming in the ocean. For the last time.” The smile vanishes from his absolutely serious face as he imagines the possible end.
“I don’t think I’ll ever want to swim at night again.”
“And I didn’t dare, either,” Captain Wine smirks uncertainly.
“Are the thunder and lightning outside the window while you’re mixing the wines a coincidence?” Melanika looks warily out at the stormy night street. The entire sky flashes with frequent thunderstorms. The wind whistles, shaking the palms with their wet leaves.
“Maybe,” Captain Wine smiles contentedly, looking through the bottle at the small oil lamp under the ceiling. “Pitch-black, like our future,” he laughs mysteriously.
“And is that a good thing?” the tense, sweet girl asks uncertainly, looking closely at the full, dark bottle.
“We’ll have to hope so,” Captain Wine chuckles lightly.
“And what special potion have you created inside a regular wine bottle now?” Melanika is simultaneously interested and scared.
“I don’t know yet,” Captain Wine honestly admits. “We have to try it. Otherwise, we’ll never know. You can’t test something like this on plants. What a shame. I would have succeeded. Can you imagine growing a huge mango tree with wine?”
“I can imagine. That’s what’s scary,” the girl chuckles. “And who’s going to be the taster?” Melanika asks cautiously, hoping not to hear her name.
“I think I already know,” Captain Wine smiles mysteriously, hearing a faint noise behind the wooden door with cracks.
“You’re back to your sorcery!” A man with a double-barreled shotgun bursts into the house. “Someone ought to kill you wizards!”
“What’s wrong, Daniel?” Captain Wine holds the alluring, mysterious bottle with a smile, waiting for that lucky person who’s eager to drink the unpredictable wine.
“Did you conjure up this downpour?” the man indignantly asks. His gaze begins to gleam, and the wrinkles on his forehead smooth out at the sight of the bottle. He involuntarily licks his lips. His eyes open wide, blinking instantly.
“No, I don’t do things like that, you know that,” Captain Wine moves the bottle slightly and watches the eager gaze follow the enchanting vessel that promises joy.
“And what do you do?” Daniel asks in a soft voice, slightly lowering the aggressively pointed shotgun.
“Well, I made some wine. I’m wondering who to treat,” he strongly hints at a certain candidate with his entire demeanor.
“Why aren’t you drinking it yourselves?” the man looks at them suspiciously.
“We’ve already drunk enough,” Captain Wine justifies honestly. “If we drink any more, we’ll feel sick.”
“I even exceeded my limit today,” Melanika says slightly uncertainly, trying not to give away the secret plan.
“What kind of limits do you have,” Daniel smirks. “You’re both sober,” he looks suspiciously into their eyes and sniffs.
“Well, that’s the main principle of our limit! We drink for pleasure, not for intoxication,” Captain Wine concludes the discussion, returning to the important matter.
“That’s your business,” the brave guest resolutely walks towards Captain Wine, takes a wooden cup, and holds it out toward the bottle. “Pour me a little something to warm up, if you don’t mind, of course.”
“Nothing’s too precious for a dear neighbor! Almost,” Captain Wine clarifies with a smile, pouring the special experiment.
“Well, here’s to bad weather! I wish it would bring surprises like this more often,” he smiles, looking at the cup with anticipation. He drinks half of it in one motion, pauses, looking at Captain Wine in surprise without taking the drink away from his lips. He greedily finishes the rest, closing his eyes in the pleasant process.
“So, tell me, neighbor? Didn’t you like it?” Captain Wine quietly and cautiously looks for the result in the test subject.
“Are you kidding me?!” Daniel laughs. “How do you do that? I’ve forgotten what it’s like for something to be both delicious and potent. If I only had more! You’d be priceless. Although, you’re already a wonderful neighbor.”
“Potent?” Melanika asks quietly, looking intently.
“Normally, I need to drink about five liters of wine to feel the way I do after a cup of this wine. And what’s interesting is that my head is clear, and my body is relaxed just right. It’s truly a perfect drink. Although, you won’t forget the past with wine like this. And I usually drink exactly for that.”
“It’s pure wine magic,” Captain Wine jokes, glancing briefly at the girl. “It’s a shame I don’t have many wine supplies. Otherwise, I’d gladly share it with you without a second thought.”
“That’s a pity,” Daniel agrees disappointedly. “I’d take a bucket of wine like that from you,” he smoothly lowers the shotgun.
“Why did you come with a shotgun?” Captain Wine cautiously points out, expecting sudden movements after the wine.
“This?” Daniel looks relaxedly at the shotgun. “I don’t know. I’ve never shot it. And I don’t even want to. I don’t know why I bought it from the sea tramps. Take it for yourself if you need it. Just pour me some more of your wonderful wine.”
“Alright, but only half a cup. Otherwise, you won’t make it home,” Captain Wine says in an undertone, cautiously pouring the dark ruby wine, afraid of killing his drunk neighbor.
“I won’t make it?” Daniel laughs. “I make it home on my own two feet after a bottle of pure spirits any day or night. Even in a hurricane! And then I even have a nightcap for deep sleep.”
“Just don’t confuse my wine with someone else’s spirits,” Captain Wine states confidently, waiting for the reaction to the top-up.
“Alright, I’m sorry, neighbor. I didn’t mean any harm,” Daniel smiles cordially and calmly after another dose of joy.
“You’d better go home and change, or you’ll catch a cold. You can still get sick in the summer,” Captain Wine reminds him solicitously, looking at the large man’s wet, dirty clothes.
“You’re telling the truth,” the neighbor agrees drunkenly, rubbing his eyes. The shotgun drops from his hands and hits the wooden floor.
“Your shotgun,” Melanika wants to pick it up and give it to the owner.
“Don’t bother,” Captain Wine whispers, stopping the sweet girl’s well-meaning impulse and continuing to observe.
“Thanks for the wine,” the drunk Daniel says almost incoherently, staggering out of the house. Captain Wine and Melanika watch as he shuffles to the next house, leans his back against the door, slides down it with his back, and sits on the threshold. The door opens, Daniel smoothly lies down on the floor, and immediately falls asleep with an uncharacteristic, melodious snore.
“What was that?” Melanika marvels admiringly, looking at the ambiguous but powerful result of the experiment.
“The man’s tired,” Captain Wine laughs. “He’s resting.”
“Is he even alive?” Melanika peers into the dim light of the oil lamp in the crooked doorway of the neighbor’s house.
“He’s breathing,” Captain Wine notes with a smile. “Do you need the shotgun?” he cautiously picks up the neighbor’s double-barreled gun.
“Why would I need it?” Melanika wonders. “He needs it more. It’s his gun. I’m actually really surprised that he dropped it.”
“You won’t believe it; I’m practically in shock. Daniel hasn’t let go of that shotgun since childhood. Hunting is more important to him than breathing. And then this happens. I don’t think he’ll ever pick it up again. Just so you understand, it’s not impossible that he wanted to shoot me with it just now. Maybe you, too.”
“Shoot you?” Melanika asks again, bewildered.
“Killing a living person is much easier for him than dressing a dead chicken is for you and me,” Captain Wine explains eerily. “I’m even glad we made the wine so promptly. Consider it a life-saver for us. And I’m being serious.”
“I’ve heard of wine taking lives, but saving them?” Melanika is both admiring and surprised.
“Get used to it,” Captain Wine smirks. “My wine can perform all sorts of miracles on people. And non-miracles.”
“So you know everything about its properties?” Melanika looks at him suspiciously, expecting new secrets.
“How am I supposed to know everything,” Captain Wine laughs. “I can only feel it. And my intuition never fails me,” he looks proudly at the bottle. “I’m not letting you try it. The last thing we need is to unexpectedly find out about side effects. After all, if he was aggressive and became this calm, the situation might be the opposite in your case.”
“Yes, I think I’ll pass,” Melanika smiles uncertainly. “And how will the wine we drank on the beach affect me?”
“A deep, healthy sleep,” Captain Wine smiles kindly. “And don’t worry, my wine never gives you a hangover at all. Just lightness and fresh thoughts in the morning.”
“It’s interesting that your thoughts are light and fresh even when you drink it.”
“Yes, enjoy it while you can,” Captain Wine smiles. “I don’t have any more simple wines like that. Only the special ones are left. And I don’t know how to properly manage them.”
“I feel sorry for the quiet ones,” Melanika laughs, looking at the wines.
“I’m controlling the process, so don’t worry. My wines will fall into the right hands. Or rather, into thirsty mouths and souls.”
“I hope you know what you’re doing,” Melanika says, slightly doubtful, looking warily at the supplies in the corner of the house.
“Time will tell how right I am,” Captain Wine says with slightly more tension, looking at the dark, dusty bottles.

“Don’t you feel like sleeping at all?” Melanika asks thoughtfully, trying to gauge the man’s state from his look.
“It’s strange that you ask that after drinking my wine,” Captain Wine wonders with a smile, showing he is wide awake.
“That’s exactly why I’m asking—I don’t feel sleepy, even though I’ve had wine and it’s nighttime,” she quietly voices her unaccustomed state. “I just don’t understand how that happens.”
“That’s another feature of my wines. They’re like they’re created for nighttime fun and talking until morning,” Captain Wine states proudly. “It goes down easily. Thoughts are bright. Everyone’s happy.”
“Are they coming to you for fun or for talking until morning?” Melanika indicates a small crowd of people approaching the Captain’s house with confident strides.
“Who knows what’s on the mind of a crowd, even a small one,” Captain Wine whispers seriously, nudging Daniel’s shotgun under the kitchen cupboard with his foot. Close enough to reach it at any moment. “To what do I owe such an unexpected visit?”
“The way you talk so nicely! Don’t put on airs like an intellectual!” A drunk and insolent female voice shouts from the group.
“The thought never crossed my mind. I apologize for my bad habit of speaking this way,” Captain Wine hides his sarcasm, restraining a smile. “So, what did you want?” he says more harshly, as is customary. “I don’t have that much free time.”
“We were celebrating a Name Day, and we drank all our supplies. And they say you have some homemade wine,” their ringleader casts a greedy look at the tempting wine bottles in the corner. Those standing behind the small crowd glance at Daniel, who is sleeping soundly on the doorstep of the house. They think cautiously.
“I’m sorry, Rise. But my wine supplies aren’t enough for everyone. That amount would only wet your mouths,” Captain Wine excuses himself clumsily. “I live sparingly.”
“We’ll dilute it with water!” someone shouts from the crowd. “Then there’ll be enough for all of us!” A collective laugh erupts from the tipsy neighbors. “Hand over whatever you have! We’ll sort it out ourselves!”
“Alright. As you wish,” Captain Wine calmly agrees. “I have a proposition.” He rolls a large bottle out from behind a curtain. “This is your favorite moonshine. I’ve practically made it rum. It turns out, specially for you. And to make it more pleasant to drink, we’ll add some aroma to it.” He takes an elongated bottle from the wine corner and pours half of it into the large bottle. The transparent liquid takes on a soft scarlet hue, mesmerizing the gaze of those at the front of the crowd.
“Why spoil the product?!” voices loudly protest from the back.
“Don’t worry, you’ll like it,” Captain Wine assures them with a smile. “I worked equally hard on the rum and the wine.”
“Pour it, don’t listen to them, pour it,” Rise encourages him with a smile.
“This will last a long time,” Captain Wine generously hands over the reserved rum. “Just return the bottle, please.”
“Naturally,” Rise assures him seriously, accepting the generosity.
“Happy celebrating!” Captain Wine and Melanika see off the night guests, who try to drink from the large bottle as they walk. Their vision, clouded by previous alcohol, opens up. They look at the world differently, as if for the first time. All the loud, sharp shouts become soft and friendly. From a distance, it looks like children celebrating a friend’s birthday with tea and cake.
“Won’t they turn into children?” Melanika clarifies, stepping outside for the freshness of the summer night after the rain. From this height, there is a special view of the golden ocean.
“Physically or psychologically?” Captain Wine asks seriously, carefully observing the effect of the potion. He starts a small bonfire with the firewood stored inside the house.
“I don’t even know what to expect,” the girl smiles, bewildered.
“No one knows,” Captain Wine smirks, watching the crowd perform summer circle dances in the mud after the rain around the bent, old palm tree near Daniel’s sleeping house.
“Aren’t you afraid of breaking everyone’s lives?” Melanika clarifies, looking at Captain Wine with a smirk.
“Do you think their lives were better before my wine?” Captain Wine, smelling of campfire smoke, smirks seriously as he sits down on the bench near his house. He relaxes, resting his hands on his legs, takes a deep breath of the night’s freshness, gazing at the starry sky, the full moon illuminating the entire ocean with a golden glow, and the warm, pleasant bonfire crackling softly with sparks. The fire captivates their attention.
“It’s hard to say,” Melanika sighs heavily, sitting next to him. She tries to relax, but the crowd keeps her tense.
“Want some?” Captain Wine pulls out a bottle of wine from a pile of coconuts under the most comfortable bench in the world.
“I don’t know,” Melanika whispers, looking suspiciously.
“This wine is neutral, don’t worry,” the Captain smiles, calming the inexperienced girl. “It’s for peace of mind.”
“Alright, give me some. I hope this wine won’t make my life any worse,” Melanika takes the cups from a crate near the bench.
“How could it get any worse?” Captain Wine laughs. “These good-hearted, responsive people have the toughest lives of all. Everyone uses you, and no one appreciates you,” He pours half a cup of amber wine for each of them.
“It sounds like you’re talking about yourself right now,” the girl smiles lightly.
“Yeah, it looks that way,” Captain Wine admits with a smile. “So, let’s drink. We have nothing left to lose but our kindness.” They clink wooden cups, relaxing on the wet bench, leaning against the wide backrest. “Nice.”
“I agree,” Melanika smiles more calmly, looking at the remnants of clouds floating in the starry sky, illuminated by the golden moon. “And the fresh sea breeze is very timely now. Your wine is like meditation for the lazy. You fully relax without resisting your thoughts.”
“Yes, this is one of my favorite varieties,” Captain Wine looks gratefully at the bottle, enjoying the silence.
“I take it there’s only one bottle left of each type?”
“There are two or three of some, but I don’t remember which ones. I drink intuitively,” the experienced Captain confesses playfully.
“And how did you know which wine you were giving them?” Melanika clarifies.
“Their ringleader immediately looked at that bottle. You can’t underestimate the intuition of other people, even if they don’t listen to it themselves. As you see, he guessed what they all needed. A real leader. Although, Rise has never been one,” he smirks, sipping the wine. He slightly closes one eye.
“Why are you squinting?” Melanika notices in surprise.
“I don’t know why it happens. Everyone else drinks my wines easily, but for me, they’re like flames. It’s like I gathered the top of a bonfire with my hand and tossed it into my mouth. It burns everything inside, starting with my tongue and ending with my whole core. It’s quite a trial.”
“Yes, those are the sensations,” Melanika supports, understanding. “Only they seem to be harder on you somehow. But it should be the opposite, since it’s your wine, a piece of your soul.”
“Maybe it’s because I know the power of these wines. Self-suggestion enhances the effect. And it’s a little scary, based on experience. That’s why I wince,” Captain Wine quietly admits.
“Yes, it’s a little scary, knowing what kind of wines you have,” Melanika nods. “Is the night really this long?” she stares intently at the east, but there’s still no dawn. “And the moon is still there.”
“I don’t keep track of time,” Captain Wine smiles, looking at the horizon. “I just always try to appreciate it.”
“That’s right. But shouldn’t it be getting light already?”
“You’re insightful,” Captain Wine smirks slyly.
“Does your wine change the perception of time?” Melanika voices.
“My wine changes the essence of time. Hours drag on like viscous ruby wine, slowly counting down the minutes in drops. Seconds evaporate in aromatic vapors. And the night gets longer. And life simply stands still.”
“It’s nice that such a good night is lingering longer,” Melanika relaxes dreamily.
“It’s not the night lingering; we’re lingering in it.”
“And has dawn arrived for those who haven’t drunk your wine?” the girl wonders, glancing at the small houses around them.
“No, of course not,” Captain Wine laughs. “It’s just that those who drink my special wine suddenly start appreciating the beautiful moment, stretching out the pleasure as long as possible.”
“And how did you end up here? You’ve only been on our island for six years,” Melanika suddenly realizes she knows nothing.
“I was a pirate,” Captain Wine recalls with nostalgia.
“A pirate?! Are you serious?” the girl’s astonishment knows no bounds.
“Can piracy be anything but serious?” Captain Wine smirks. “Did you think everyone calls me Captain for no reason? I was the Captain of the best ship. The gods themselves grew the wood for my Heaven’s Spark. Don’t get so worked up. I haven’t been a pirate for many years. You see, now I’m just a regular captain on land. Although, I never stop feeling like a real sailor, plowing the oceans on my beloved divine ship. My Heaven’s Spark could outrun any ship. Even in a storm without sails. It soared above the water, winged by the blessing of the gods. And not all pirates are as terrible as people think.”
“Or like that,” the girl smiles suspiciously. “Maybe some just drank your wine and became good people.”
“The best people!” Captain Wine assures proudly. “They became demigods, carrying light to the hearts of people all over the world.”
“And how many pirates have you transformed?” Melanika asks absolutely seriously, interested in the most secretive and colorful side of the former pirate who settled on the island.
“Only a few dozen people,” he sadly recalls, regretting the missed opportunities. “I didn’t get a chance to do more.”
“Why so few? Wasn’t there enough wine for everyone?” Melanika wonders, lightly teasing the serious Captain.
“Pirates prefer stronger drinks,” Captain Wine smirks. “Yes, you understood correctly. They all like rum more. There’s a reason there are so many songs about it. Although, they always drank whatever they found in ports and the surrounding areas. There were few supplies on the robbed ships. We must have had an unlucky crew. We attracted problems more often than loot, despite the divinity of our ship.”
“Did constant problems on the ocean drive you to shore?” Melanika guesses, sympathizing. “Were you forced to be here?”
“That too,” Captain Wine nods sadly. “When all the alcohol supplies ran out, I started looking for an alternative. Everything tasted awful, hit me in the head, and made my legs weak. And in the morning, my head would pound like a mast breaking during a hurricane.”
“And you came up with the recipe for a special wine?” she smiles excitedly.
“No,” Captain Wine smiles sadly. “That recipe found me on one of the ships we were robbing. Well, ‘robbing’. It was more like the hooliganism of young vagabonds. We cornered a small vessel then. Only a few simple people on board. Nothing valuable but water. But we didn’t touch it; they didn’t have enough themselves, and the journey wasn’t short. We even shared food with them. And as thanks, an old man from that family secretly gave me the secret of a special wine. We parted as good friends. I gave Galeus a scrap of brown leather from my bag. You probably noticed it yourself. It had my personal mark. All pirates know it. I just wanted to protect good people, so I gave him a pass to all the seas and oceans of this world. I wanted to show pure kindness.”
“So what was the turning point?” Melanika clarifies. “Or does the recipe of this wine itself change lives?”
“It turned out that quite a few people were hunting for this recipe. Greed kills honor in people. A warship found that family. Galeus, of course, didn’t give away the secret recipe. Military men are harsher and more cold-blooded than pirates. They killed everyone on that ship. Even my mark didn’t stop them.
“And under other circumstances, the military wouldn’t have touched them with your mark?” the girl seriously listens to every word.
“Of course, they wouldn’t have!” Captain Wine laughs. “Sailors of all seas and oceans know that going against me means bringing a curse upon themselves. But the greedy military men turned out to be fools,” he says harshly and seriously, clenching his cup.
“And they intentionally brought a terrible curse upon themselves?” the girl whispers, surprised by the foolishness of the sea savages.
“And not just that,” Captain Wine adds more calmly. “Now they know who might have the wine recipe. And every bottle of mine becomes a serious threat to my life and the lives of those around me.”
“That’s why you live alone,” everything immediately falls into place for the sweet girl. “And that’s why you didn’t want to openly engage in winemaking. To keep the secret knowledge from becoming public. And to save the lives on the island.”
“I thought, how much life is there. I’ve lived for myself. I want to have time to help others, too. I came ashore for that reason, not out of fear of a deadly chase. The ocean taught me over the years not to fear death. It’s only scary to lose loved ones,” he looks painfully at one of the hills, covered with dark green night jungles with the faint golden gleam of the moon, which has stopped in the starry sky above it.
“You’re not telling me everything?” the girl guesses.
“They killed my whole crew,” Captain Wine recalls heavily, finishing his wine. “The best crew in all the oceans. My loyal comrades knew that certain death awaited me if I fell into the hands of the military. They knocked me out, stuffed me into a barrel, and threw me overboard. The ocean tossed me here. It’s a good thing it all happened not far from here. And they told the military men that there had been a mutiny and that I had been killed shortly before they arrived.”
“Wait, how did you find out they were all killed? Someone could have survived. It was a big crew,” Melanika considers.
“My barrel wasn’t the only thing that washed ashore then,” Captain Wine sadly recalls. “When I got onto land, I found the wreckage of our Heaven’s Spark and the bodies of my comrades. Not all of them, to be honest. But no one could have survived. Those military men have more cruelty than pirates. I buried my comrades near the shore. And I settled here. The ocean is closed to me now. The wine secret has closed all my paths.”
“And now I don’t even know if I gave you good advice about the wine. Maybe it’s better not to make the secret knowledge public? The military could come from the sea to the land, after all. And not just the military. Rumors spread fast,” Melanika begins to regret her recent advice and the looming threat.
“Rumors spread like lightning,” Captain Wine agrees. “And don’t worry about the advice. I’ve wanted to engage in this secret, dangerous business myself for a long time. As you see, I’ve managed to create a certain amount. I need to create a little more, change people’s lives. And then I can calmly retire,” he quietly looks at the golden radiance of the ocean.
“Do you think it’s time for you to rest?” Melanika asks doubtfully, genuinely surprised by Captain Wine’s decision.
“What am I supposed to do in this world? I can’t endlessly create special wine and change people’s lives. You can’t change all people, especially considering that people don’t change,” Captain Wine pours wine for himself and the girl, resignedly.
“They don’t change,” Melanika quietly agrees, taking a sip of the viscous, rich drink, feeling every note of the aroma and the winemaker’s invested emotions. “Now it’s clear why you want to retire so badly. How old are you?”
“Thirty-three,” Captain Wine says with a smile. “Yes, I know, I look about fifteen years older. Don’t be so surprised. The ocean ages a person much faster than ordinary land life. Alright, go on, ask your question,” he smirks lightly and kindly, expecting her direct interest.
“Anything’s possible,” Melanika doubts. “What if the secret recipe or the special wine itself drains all the vital energy?”
“I thought about that too, but I doubt it. I’ve been sailing the sea since childhood. I had to grow up early. And get old,” he whispers, taking a sip of wine. “Enough of memories and regrets! We’re not drinking such wonderful wine to get upset over trifles. And we shouldn’t recall gloomy things at all; they’re very upsetting.”
“And when will morning come?” the girl asks seriously, staring intently for the sun on the dark horizon.
“To be honest, I don’t know,” Captain Wine admits, laughing. “We’ve drunk a lot. We could sit in the dark for a whole day.”
“But I don’t quite understand. Or rather, I don’t understand at all. How does that work? Is it bright morning for everyone else, and dark night for us?”
“No,” Captain Wine laughs. “It’s different. For those who’ve drunk the special wine, time pauses and stretches like rum molasses. Or we’re living life slowly,” he laughs, enjoying the light wine. “We’re just starting to live.”
“But what about the other people? Time has slowed down for us, but not for them. Are we going to sit on the bench, frozen, while they walk past us, two living wine statues?”
“If we don’t stop drinking, something similar will happen,” Captain Wine agrees thoughtfully. “Or I don’t know.”
“What kind of unusual and unpredictable wine is this?” Melanika quietly admires and becomes wary, sipping it.
“Any miracle turns into a nightmare if you don’t learn to use it cautiously and wisely,” Captain Wine looks at the girl seriously, warning her with his gaze.
“Tell me, why do you, such a serious, experienced, adult man, a pirate,” she says in a whisper, looking around, “allow others to use you as a shoulder to cry on and as a reliable, kind helper for just a ‘thank you’?”
“You know, I’m not greedy. I don’t need anything from people. And I’m not stingy with my help. Especially if there’s no one else to help these people. And I’m ready to wipe the tears of the suffering without a second thought, as long as it doesn’t bring them even more tears and suffering. I don’t see the point in living only for myself. Everyone lives that way, even if they say they live for others. I share what I have. And people decide for themselves whether or not to share with me. It’s their life. And it’s not for me to decide how other people should dispose of their own lives. And deaths.”
“And haven’t you thought about what you’ll do if the military comes? Or other hunters for the recipe?” a sudden gloomy thought upsets the sweet girl, outlining possible events in her still-young but rich imagination.
“I’ll drink my wine,” Captain Wine drains his cup and places it on the damp bench. On the horizon, a ruby radiance flashes for a moment and then goes out in the depths of the ocean.
“Wait! What was that?” Melanika stares intently at the horizon, waiting for the flash to repeat, but there’s nothing.
“I returned the usual course to our time. You want to see the dawn, after all,” Captain Wine reminds her, smirking.
“Nah, not really,” the girl whispers, watching the appearance of the first sunbeams over the restless water expanses.
“Then have some more wine,” Captain Wine chuckles softly.
“I think that’s enough for today,” Melanika smiles lightly, putting both cups back in place and scattering soft sand over the remains of the bonfire. A white, farewell wisp of smoke rises in a thin column. The girl smiles lightly, watching the wine-infused dawn appear after the long, golden night.

I am not urging anyone to do anything.

All events and characters are fictional.

Any resemblance to actual persons or events is purely coincidental.

I sincerely apologize if I have offended anyone.

Highly Recommended Age: 18+

The author bears no responsibility for the reader's perception of the book.