You may think that because this is the last book in the tragic story of Baudelaire orphans that it would be cheery and happy and end up with the Baudelaire orphans getting rid of Count Olaf forever. But if you think that, then you would be terribly wrong. Our story begins with the Baudelaire orphans and Count Olaf sailing over the dark waters of the ocean. They could still see the smoke from the burning hotel in the distance. Their arms were killing them from all the rowing that Olaf made them do. Everything was eerily silent, until Violet worked up the courage to say something.
"Where are we going?" she asked Olaf.
"It doesn't matter to you!" he snapped back. "Keep rowing!" Violet obeyed and kept rowing. The hours passed and night began to creep up on them. The wind was blowing and it was getting very cold. Then it started to rain. Olaf walked toward the cabin on the lower deck. The Baudelaires were relieved, they could finally stop rowing. They dropped the oars and walked toward Olaf. Olaf turned around and saw them.
"What do you think you're doing?" he said.
"We're going to the cabin." Klaus replied.
"No you're not." Olaf said. "I'm going to bed but your going to keep rowing." He then walked toward the door and opened it. Then he gave the Baudelaires a horrible look. This was the kind of look you'd give to an old piece of garbage lying on the street. It was a look of loathing and disgust. Then with that he slammed the door shut. The Baudelaires then heard the click of a lock. That meant they weren't getting in. So with a sigh the orphans returned to the oars and began to row again.
"Why are we even doing this?" Klaus asked.
"Because there is still too much for us to find out." Violet replied.
"Like what?" Klaus shot back.
" The location of the sugar bowl, the last pages of the Snicket file, and the meaning of V.F.D." she said back.
" But how do we know if we'll find out any of those things by staying with Count Olaf?" Klaus said.
" We don't, but we're better off staying with Olaf than going out there by ourselves." she said. " At least he's leading us in the right way." With that she stopped talking and continued to row. Even though she said Olaf was leading them in the right direction she didn't know that Olaf was actually doing the exact opposite. After many hours of hard rowing sunrise approached. Olaf came out of his cabin. He walked up to the Baudelaires and sat down.
"So how was your night?" he asked with an evil smile. The Baudelaires didn't answer.
"Not talkative?" he said. "Well that's okay because we're here." With that the Baudelaires looked up and saw that Olaf wasn't lying. They were there. They were approaching an island but this was like no island they had seen before. This island was made completely of wood.