„Land ho!“, calls the lookout and all the pirate monkeys rush to the rail. Indeed: there before them, in the middle of the endless, deep-blue ocean, lies a small, lonely island. It is farther from the nearest mainland than any other island. “Move it, you lazy sailors!”, shouts Captain Alfonso. “Hoist the sails, hard on the wind and into adventure … for on that island awaits a legendary hoard of gold!” The high waves rock the pirate ship back and forth and the strong wind tugs at the sails. “Beware, strong currents and sharp rocks!”, calls the sailor down from the masthead. He is sitting up in the basket and has the best view. Carefully the helmsman steers the pirate monkeys’ ship around the reefs. He keeps the little island firmly in sight. But what’s that? In front of the island a hill glows red out of the water. The helmsman blinks. No, he hasn’t been mistaken. “Cap’n, look over there!”, he cries in alarm. What he sees sends a shiver down his spine. Captain Alfonso throws his eyes wide open, quickly produces his spyglass and peers through it: in front of the white beach of the small island there is a huge kraken in the shallow water. Its long kraken arms lash through the waves and whip them into foam. It looks as if the water is boiling. Then the huge creature suddenly calms and lies still. “Stay perfectly calm!“, says the Captain to his helmsman. “Just head for the east shore of the island. The beach is still shallow there and we can sail around the kraken.” The helmsman corrects the course and the pirate monkeys’ ship turns slightly in the new direction. But just as they are level with the kraken, the cook down in the galley, deep in the belly of the pirate ship, knocks a bowl of banana salad to the floor. The clatter and crashing is deafening and very audible up on deck. “Great pirate-banana-darn it!”, the cook shouts loudly and adds a volley of curses. The Captain and the helmsman flinch … but it is already too late. The water around the kraken begins to seethe and bubble again. And already a huge face rises out of the waves.

„Who dares approach my island?“ The kraken’s voice rumbles like a thunderstorm. But the Captain isn’t intimidated and steps confidently up to the rail. “I am Captain Alfonso, the most terrible, dangerous, bravest, best and so on and so on pirate captain of the seven seas. Haven’t you heard of me? In any case, I am the captain of this brave pirate crew and I’m in charge here.” “So, so, the most terrible, dangerous, bravest, best and so on and so on pirate captain of the seven seas – I hear that a lot, but it has never helped anyone! I am Titus Tentakel and I will show you who’s boss here!”, bellows the kraken, lashes out with his long kraken arms and starts to lift the pirate ship out of the waves. But he lets it drop again straight away and begins to scream. “Ouch-ouch-ouch!”, howls the kraken so loudly that the pirate monkeys’ ears ring. They quickly cover their ears and pick themselves up again. The Captain looks over at the kraken. Titus Tentakel rolls in the water and moans on and on.

“Hey, Cap’n,” says the helmsman, “have a look at the suction cups on the kraken’s arms.” Then the Captain notices it too: the suction cups are bright red and full of wood splinters. “I think the kraken is badly injured,” the Captain observes. “Good for us. Then we can grab the treasure now — he won’t notice a thing!” But Captain Alfonso was mistaken: hardly has the pirate ship steered toward the beach when the kraken positions himself in front. “Hey, you little wannabe pirates,” rumbles Titus Tentakel, “I may not be in top form, but you still can’t outwit me!” The Captain thinks for a moment and then makes a proposal: “So, Titus Tentakel, you obviously have a problem with your kraken arms. We can pull out the splinters, but in return we want your treasure. You don’t stand a chance against us anyway, so accept our offer.” Titus Tentakel sinks, bubbling, into the water but immediately surfaces again. “All right, you’re right. The last pirate ships were so old and rotten that the wood splintered as soon as I sank them and the splinters got stuck in my kraken arms when I did so.

But you won’t get all my treasure for that. I’ll give each of you a gold coin.” “No, we want three coins per man!”, demands Captain Alfonso. “We’ll start with four of your eight arms and then we’ll get the gold. Afterwards we’ll take care of the other four arms.” Titus Tentakel reluctantly agrees and stretches his kraken arms toward the pirate ship. The pirate monkeys nimbly climb to the suction cups and pull out the splinters. After they have cleaned four arms, Titus Tentakel hoists a chest of gold coins up onto the deck for them. The pirate monkeys keep their promise and clean the other kraken arms too. “I must thank you,” admits Titus Tentakel. “But now get on your way and don’t try to steal my treasure again!” The pirate monkeys set sail and head for the next island. “Farewell!”, calls Captain Alfonso as they leave, “you know, I am the most terrible, dangerous, bravest, best and so on and so on pirate captain of the seven seas. When we have plundered the treasures of the other islands, we will return!” With that he waves to the kraken with his black pirate hat and grins.