Italy: Sinbad the Sailor (The Count of Monte Cristo, Chapter 31 – Part 4)

As the boat nears Monte Cristo, Captain Gaetano explains the grim truth behind the Mediterranean’s “missing” vessels. Ships expected at Bastia, Porto-Ferrajo, or Civita Vecchia sometimes vanish without a trace—not due to rocks or storms, but to long, narrow pirate boats that attack under cover of darkness. Franz presses the captain on why no survivors report these crimes, and Gaetano describes the chilling procedure: plunder, binding, a weight tied to every neck, and a scuttled ship sinking in minutes. The sea swallows everything, leaving no witnesses and no evidence—only a whirlpool marking the vessel’s final descent. This, Gaetano tells him, is why no one complains, and why lost ships stay lost.   New to the journey? Start from the beginning at: http://countdownofmontecristo.com Want to talk theories, themes, or betrayals? Join the conversation on our Discord: https://discord.gg/Sg2prdm Support the project on Patreon and receive full-length, story-only audio after each chapter: https://patreon.com/gruntworkpod Listen wherever you get your podcasts, or follow along on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCf3vyewhvQugX5M3oREl57A   The Countdown of Monte Cristo is a daily podcast reading one page at a time from Alexandre Dumas’ classic novel — every day, for four years. Whether you’re starting from the beginning or joining mid-journey, each episode brings you deeper into the story of The Count of Monte Cristo.