"Laurence, what is the green flash?" Laurence, as was usual, had come to read to Temeraire to read before he turned in for the night. Instead of the usual curiosity about the book, he was greeted with a different question.

"Where have you heard that?" He asked the dragon in return.

"Oh, I remember one or two of the sailors on the Reliant mentioning it, but I was not curious enough to ask about it then. Only, I remember hearing some of the Chinese mentioning it too, and since we hardly talk with them, how could they know something like that?"

"I hardly know what to tell you my dear, except that it is an old sailors tale." He began.

"But you are a former sailor yourself Laurence." Temeraire pointed out.

"True, and as you remember sailors are a superstitious lot. I myself have tried to put reasoning above all else through my career, but I must confess, it is hard to separate the life from the superstitions that follow – as with the crossing the Equator ceremonies." He paused at this point, collecting his thoughts.

It was true, what he told Temeraire, and perhaps more so after he'd become Captain to him; perhaps because of his upbringing, he'd always striven to drive away the superstitious nonsense that appeared on board ship. But entering the life as a twelve year old did not help matters, and inevitably he picked up the habits. He always attempted to set the example, but the feeling was still there.

"As I said," he continued, "It is an old sailors myth. It concerns the afterlife, of sorts, as it is believed that souls lost at sea may be treated differently to those who die on land. It is believed, generally, that when one sees the green flash at either sunset or sunrise, it signals the return of one of those souls from the land of the dead, to the land of the living."

"Ah." Was all Temeraire said, and Laurence expected him to disabuse him of the notion. "I like that." He turned his great blue gaze upon his companion. "Have you ever seen the green flash Laurence?"

Laurence looked out over the sea, at the setting sun turning the sky a brilliant orange.

"Once." He said. "Years ago, when I first began sailing the sea. Out in the Great South Sea – what you may know as the Pacific Ocean," he said looking up at Temeraire, "I was in the First Watch, and as the sun set, much like it is now, a green flash seemed to light up the sky. The Lieutenant on watch thought I was telling tales, you know." He added. Temeraire snorted.

"I would like to see this flash someday," he said almost wistfully after a pause. "It might mean one of my crew we have lost has managed to come back."

"I'm sure you will." Laurence stroked the smooth black hide beside him. "It is said the pirate Jack Sparrow once returned from the land of the dead, and his friend William Turner as yet still ferries souls across to the afterlife. Would you perhaps like to hear about them tonight?"

Temeraire curled himself around Laurence, pulling him in close so he could listen.

"Yes, I have heard of Jack Sparrow. I know he was a pirate, but I have heard he was a good man. Yes, I would like to hear of him, and his friend."