A short while later the Lord Admiral watched smiling from the sidelines as hugs, pats on the back and congratulations greeted the two youngest castaways. The Professor shook Gilligan's hand so hard it nearly came off. "Gilligan, Gilligan, you're incredible. You confound my scientific training every time you turn around! Charles Darwin must be turning over in his grave!"

Gilligan shrugged shyly, flexing his sore fingers. "Oh – well, don't worry, Professor. Ginger's exorcism probably got rid of him too!"

Mrs. Howell and Ginger hugged Mary Ann tightly. "Oh! I thought the two of you were done for!" Ginger cried.

"Yes, my dear! We were quite distraught!" said Mrs. Howell. "Thank goodness I had my smelling salts in my bag. They're the only thing for fainting spells." She glanced over at her husband. "Are you sure you're quite all right now, Thurston dear?"

But Thurston Howell wasn't listening; he was clapping Gilligan on the shoulder as though he meant to knock him over. "My boy! There's a fortune to be made! It's the big top for us!"

Gilligan blinked, trying to steady himself. "Big top? Top of what?"

"The circus, my boy! Gilligan, lion-tamer and crocodile charmer! We'll play to packed houses all over the world! London, Paris, Hong Kong!"

Gilligan held up his hands in mock-protest. "Slow down, Mr. Howell! I'm pretty sure they just weren't hungry. I don't think your star act would last very long!"

The Skipper threw his arm around Gilligan's shoulders. "And neither would I. No circus, Howell, and no dangerous animals. That's final!"

Mr. Howell shook his head. "And where would P.T. Barnum have gotten with an attitude like that? I mean really!" But he smiled fondly and laughed, clapping Gilligan on the shoulder again.

When the group had finally gathered their gear and turned to leave, Gilligan caught sight of the Lord Admiral, almost forgotten in the hullabaloo. "A moment of your time, lad. Make some excuse to drop anchor for a few minutes. I need to ask you something."

"Oh! Oh, uh- Skipper?"

"Yes, little buddy?"

"You start back with the others. I'm gonna stay here for a little. I…uh…" and inspiration struck him. "I want to give thanks for the miracle."

"Oh." The Skipper was momentarily taken aback, and looked to whether the others were waiting, puzzled, by the trees. "Well, I don't like to leave you alone, little buddy, but I won't stand between a man and his Almighty. Especially not after what I just saw. Well – promise you won't be too long, all right? We won't go too far."

"I promise, Skipper. See you in a minute."

Gilligan turned back to the Lord Admiral as the Skipper, murmuring quietly to the others' questions, took the torch from the Professor and led them into the jungle. Alone, the two Gilligans, one in a rugby shirt and jeans and the other in full dress and braid, stood facing each other.

"I wasn't kidding. This whole thing's been a miracle. I can't tell them, though, can I? They'll never understand."

"No, they won't, bless them. But let it pass. You and I know, and that's enough." "Yeah." The first mate looked around. "So, what'd you want to ask me? And what happened to Tom Scallion? Where'd he go?"

"To his reward, lad, and a warm one, I hope. You cracked the curse: Scallion flew apart like sea spray when you flung his cursed cutlass in yon bay. And that's how you can free me, too."

"Free you?"

The Lord Admiral pointed with a booted toe at an object lying in the grass: the one object they'd forgotten to collect.

"My telescope, lad. It's the one thing that binds me to this earth. The old witchdoctor said that Scallion and I would be bound until some brave soul flung our possessions in the sea. It's been a grand adventure and I'd not have missed it, but this world is yours, not mine. T'is time for me to go."

It was a moment before Gilligan realized what his ancestor meant. The first mate slumped, swallowing hard. Everything was happening too fast – much too fast. "You-you mean…"

"You've folk waiting for you. So have I. My wife and son." The blue eyes were pleading now. "You have your future now. Give me my past. Let me go home."

Gilligan swallowed again. "Believe me, Lord Admiral, I sure understand but…but…oh, Lord Admiral, sir…what am gonna do without you?"

"What you just did, lad. You don't need me anymore. You'll be fine."

"I guess, but…I'm really gonna miss you. How'll I ever thank you for everything you've done?"

"Thank me? Good heavens, sir, it's I that am in your eternal debt! And I do mean eternal!"

That brought a brief, if sad smile. "Won't I ever see you again?"

The Lord Admiral shrugged slightly, lifting his eyebrows, and the ever present grin stole back to his pale face. "If you ever find another of my effects, well…who can say? You said it yourself: anything can happen here."

Gilligan took heart. He picked up the telescope and with just a moment's hesitation, flung it over the cliff towards the creaming breakers. The Lord Admiral watched it go, then straightened and snapped his hand to his forehead in a smart salute.

"God be with you, William Francis Gilligan. You're the best of us all."

Gilligan saluted in return, then took a deep breath and turned, heading for the jungle. Just before he reached it, he met the other castaways coming back. "Come along, Gilligan, dear," said Mrs. Howell. "This night air isn't good for you. If you stay out here too long you may come down with the Vertigo syndrome again."

"Lovey, that's indigo," said her husband, looking a little confused.

"Oh, don't be ridiculous, Thurston. "Indigo is a shade of blue. Vertigo is what you get when you fall from a cliff. Gilligan just did that."

"Yes, but—" Mr. Howell gave up. "Oh. Whatever you say, my dear."

"Come on, Gilligan," urged Mary Ann. "He'll hear you back at camp, too. Come back with us. I'll stay up with you, if you like."

Gilligan looked at her for a moment, then smiled and joined them. As they reached the trees a faint voice called after, "Oh brave new world, that hath such people in it! I leave you in good hands, lad. Farewell." Gilligan turned back, but the clearing was deserted.

The ghost was gone.

Gilligan gulped and heaved a sharp, heartfelt sigh. Instantly the Skipper's arm was around his shoulders. "What's the matter, little buddy? That other ghost – the Lord Admiral. You don't see him, do you?"

Gilligan smiled sadly. "No, Skipper. Not anymore." Then, with a sudden thought, he brightened. "Say, Skipper, have I ever told you about the guy I'm named after?"

"Wh-no, I don't think so."

"Come on. I'll tell you as we walk back." As the two men turned and headed into the torchlit aisles of trees, Gilligan's fading voice was saying, "He was a great captain, Skipper, just like you. He had a big family and lived to a ripe old age. He lost his father when he was just a little boy, but they met again one day…"

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One more chapter to go!! Thank you, all you shipmates who've stayed aboard for the long voyage!