Castaways of the Flying Dutchman

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**Title** **Castaways of the Flying Dutchman**
Author	Brian Jacques
Country	United States
Language	English
Series	Castaways series
Genre(s)	Fantasy novel
Publisher	Puffin Books
Released	2001
Media type	Print (Paperback)
Pages	336
ISBN	ISBN
Followed by	The Angel's Command

Castaways of the Flying Dutchman is the first novel in the Castaways series by Brian Jacques, published in 2001. It is based on the legend of the cursed ship The Flying Dutchman. A young boy, Nebuchadnezzar (later Neb (shortened) and Ben (reversed)), and his dog, Denmark (named after the country in which he was found and later Den (shortened) and Ned (reversed)), are the lone survivors of the Flying Dutchman, fated to wander the earth forever immortal and youthful, helping those who need aid.

The sequel is entitled The Angel's Command, and was published in 2003.

Another "Castaways" book, "Voyage of Slaves", was published in September 2006.

[edit] Plot summary

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

The story begins with a vague introduction to the mute boy, without naming him. It then explains how he came aboard The Flying Dutchman accidentally, and was somewhat violently "nurtured" back to life by the ship's cook. Then, while the crew is off drinking in the port town of Esbjerg, Denmark, a dog wanders onto the ship and is befriended by Nebuchadnezzar. He names the dog Denmark, for where he found the dog. The ship then sails to South America to Cape Horn, where the evil Captain Vanderdecken fails three times to pass. After the third attempt, Captain Vanderdecken curses the Lord for smiting him, and an angel descends from heaven and curses the ship to sail the seas for eternity.

The Angel saves Nebuchadnezzar and Denmark, and throws them overboard. They later wash up on shore and find that they are able to communicate by thought. They are found and taken in by a kind-hearted shepherd and tell him that they are Neb and Den, having shortened their names. After spending many years with the shepherd, the shepherd dies in a storm, trying to save a ewe. The angel appears in a dream telling them that they must move on at the sound of a bell, which they hear as one of the sheep walks past (the sheep is wearing the bell). Neb and Den, young but ageless, must leave.

Some 273 years later, they have changed their names again. Both names have been reversed; Neb is now Ben and Den is Ned. They get on a train without knowing where they are going, and end up getting off at the village of Chapelvale. They meet a lady named Mrs. Winn, and two kids, a boy and a girl, named Alex and Amy, respectively. Alex and Amy warn them about the Grange Gang. The gang leader, Wilf, takes an immediate disliking to Ben.

Together Ben, Ned, Amy, Alex, and Mrs. Winn go on a treasure hunt to save the town, which is about to be converted into a limestone quarry and cement factory. They team up with an old ship's carpenter named Jon (who is at first believed to be a mad scientist), a milkman named Will, and Will's family. They follow a series of clues written by Mrs. Winn's ancestor, who was believed to have been given the deeds to the town. The clue leads to a treasure (which is a Byzantine artifact) and another clue and continues that way until three treasures and clues have been found. The last clue, of course, is the hardest and is the last thing that may show them where the deeds to Chapelvale are.

The deeds to the village are found and Mrs. Winn is able to claim Chaplevale as her property so that it can be saved. However, the angel appears in a dream once again and Ben and Ned must leave Chapelvale, and their friends, at the sound of a bell. Jon finds a bell in the Almshouse and becomes excited about the discovery. He and Will decide to try the bell out. Ben and Ned run as fast as they can to escape the sound, as the angel has told told them that they must once again leave at the sound of a bell, but it is too loud, and they must leave.