In 1932, a boy named Izod lived in Ireland. He was an orphan; his mother died at his birth, and his father, Izek, died when he was only five.

Izod lived in a garbage can because his real home had burned down.

Izod found work shining shoes, but he didn't have enough money for food or other necessities. One night, Izod went to bed and had this dream...

Izod asks, "Where am I?"

Around me, in the world of Candle Cove,

And he sees a tall man in a black cloak with red hair.

The stranger says, "Welcome aboard the ship Laughing Pig!"

Izod asks, "Who are you?"

The stranger replies, "I am Percival Plunkett, captain of this wonderful ship called the Laughing Pig."

Izod says nervously: Ah, I... Izod... I'm an orphan...

Percival says: Boy, don't be afraid of us, we'll feed you, water you, and clothe you, we'll make you comfortable!

Percival shouts loudly: Alexander, make some soup and bake some bread immediately, we have a new crew member!

Alexander quickly says: Of course, Captain, just as you said...

Izod, smiling, says: And I thought pirates only existed in fairy tales.

Percival winks: So we do exist, but there are very few of us left.

An hour later, Alexander says: Captain, the food is ready!

Percival says: Well, Izod, let's go eat!

Izod says: Of course, I'm hungry.

On the table were fragrant soup, fresh bread, a samovar with fried fish, and sweets.

Izod, beaming with happiness, says: "This is the best thing I've seen in a long time!"

Percival adds with a laugh, "Looks like someone has a good appetite today..."

Izod ate the food and, full, said, "Thank you very much!"

Percival says, "Please, and now we have new adventures!"

Izod asks, "What adventures?"

And then the villainous Horace Sinistra appears and says, "Oh, what a young man, Percival! Give him to us!"

Percival, covering for Izod, says, "Never in my life!"

Horace Sinistra says, "And if I give you..."

Percival interrupts and says, "We don't need your handouts, I will never give up Izod."

Horace Sinistra says, "Then we will fight."

Percival says, "Whatever you want, but I will not give you Izod, don't even think about it!"

Horace Sinistra asks with a laugh, "What else will happen?" Percival replies, "You'll see."

Horace Sinistra says to his crew, "Well, get out of here! There's no point in talking to him!" Meanwhile, Horace Sinistra and his gang, having received nothing from Percival, depart.

Percival says, "Finally, they're gone."

Izod asks in a trembling voice, "Are they really... going to take me?"

Percival, hugging the boy, replies, "Of course not!"

Percival says, "And today we're going to have a great adventure!"

Izod, forgetting what had happened, happily asks, "What?"

Percival replies, "We're going to Cutlass Island."

The entire crew swam to shore when suddenly a creepy skeleton in a black cloak, with the feel of youthful skin and glassy eyes, appeared. His jaw was strangely clenched; he spoke but didn't open his mouth. Everyone knew him as the Devourer. The Devourer reached out and said, "What a young man! He'll be perfect for my new costume!"

Percival raised his voice and asked, "What do you want?!"

The Devourer pointed at Izod and said, "I need this young man."

Percival said, "Alexander, go with Izod to the ship and stay there until I return."

Alexander and Izod quickly departed for the ship.

Percival drew his dagger and asked, "What do you want?"

The Devourer exclaimed joyfully, "Kill this young man!"

Percival struck the Devourer and said, "You'll regret ever coming here. I'll do everything in my power to make you disappear."

Percival returned and said, "Well then, crew, let's move on."

Izod laughed and asked, "Percival, is it true you were wearing a clown costume?"

Percival blushed and said, "Alexander, I asked you not to tell that story about me!"

Alexander scratched his head and said guiltily, "Well, I'm sorry, the child was asking so many questions about you that I couldn't help myself."

Percival, seeing Izod's joy, said, "Well, Alexander, I hold no grudge against you." And they sailed until they encountered a giant octopus, which swallowed their ship, but Alexander knew how to make noises that frightened the octopus, and it spat him out.

As Percival was about to fall asleep, someone sent him a letter, and the note they found read, "Thank you for caring for my son. Please respect me, Percival Plunkett."

Percival felt uneasy, looked into the water, saw the refrigerator, swam to it, opened it, and found a note: "Thank you, Percival."

It turned out that Izod had planned the whole thing. When Percival found Izod, he hugged him and said, "Now we will definitely never be separated!"

When Izod woke up, he realized it had been a dream, and he didn't know Percival.

Izod's heart sank with pain, and he burst into tears; he truly had no one to support him like Percival.

Izod, looking sad, went to polish everyone's shoes with a sponge. Only 21 people passed through the town that day, and he managed to earn only 32 kopecks.