Sai and Bo make it to the island, which is so small that Sai initially mistook it for a floating pile of rubble when she spotted it from the ship. Now, sitting on the island’s black sand beach, Sai tells Bo everything that she learned about his true relationship to Captain Sangra. Bo is thrilled to hear that the captain was looking for him when they docked at Pitaya. He sees one of the Prosperity’s lifeboats floating offshore and swims to retrieve it. They use the boat for shelter, packing sand and seaweed around it so that they won’t freeze to death.

For three days, Sai and Bo survive on the tiny island by drinking rainwater and eating tiny clams that Sai collects on the beach. Bo cannot seem to get rid of the chills, leaving him weak and making Sai fear for his health. Their fourth day on the island is Sai’s 13th birthday. She opens the gold case with Paiyoon’s eyeglass for the first time since he gave it to her. Tucked inside, she finds the fishermen’s map with the dragon snaking through the island chain. She views it through the eyeglass and finds words that were not visible before.