The End of the Flying Dutchman, Part Ii

...“Harpoons away,”this ensign said, “Impact in a minute or less.” The captain nodded, strange as this was, they’d picked on the wrong ship to test. Out on the Atlantic waters across the waves the missiles screamed, striking the Dutchman amidships, blasting the ship to smithereens. The gory bodies of the dead were shattered or burned by the blow, the whole hulk sank beneath the waves, a bunch of sailors watched it go. An ensign said to the captain, “Sir, we should report the attack.” The captain shrugged,”I guess we must, but you know they’re just gonna laugh.” Sure enough, that is what they did, figuring it local pirate types, they made note and forgot of it, continuing on to the fight. That’s how the Flying Dutchman sank, though no one knew it at the time, the folklore is still going ’round, the stories still passed down the line. It’s me, the naval analyst, who put these pieces together, spurred on when I saw less instance of ships sinking in bad weather. Part of me thinks it’s kind of sad, to see an old legend vanish, knowing I can’t tell anyone, they would laugh me out over this. But I suppose we benefit, so in the end it’s fine with me, the ocean is dangerous enough without ghosts out roaming the sea.