In 1883, Oskar left with his uncle to get an education in the city, but was surprised to learn that he was part of a losing bet in a card game. For one year he was consigned to be a cabin boy for the Captain of Nerissa, a sailing ship headed for Teluk Betung. A storm sends the ship off course,three chimpanzees escape from their cages and Nerissa runs into an uncharted island.
While repairs are being made, Bardolf, the owner of the animals, goes onto the island to search for the chimpanzee and, taking Oskar with him, discovers that there is more to this island than meets the eye. Everyone knows that something unusual is going to happen when the moon rises above the horizon, big as a pumpkin, glowing blue, but no one had any idea that this event would transcend time.