Chapter 1 JANUARY 1909, BELFAST IRELAND "OLYMPIC"

I woke with a start. The workmen were just finishing up their day. Driving rivets into my plates and frame. I looked around, the red sunset was strikingly beautiful and the stars were just beginning to appear in the sky.

I wanted to ask these men what was going on but I didn't want to disturb them. At last, dusk had fallen and the workmen packed their bags and prepared to go home. "Excuse me," I said to a passing workman. "Could you tell me what's going on?"

He turned to look at me. "Ah, awake at last." He said. "Sorry, but I don't speak Shiptongue. Thomas Andrews does though. He's the yard manager here. I'll go and get him." He ran off.

A few minutes later, the workman returned with another man following close behind. He wore a black suit and tie that was covered in dust like everything else in the shipyard. He moved like a man with authority and inspired confidence in his men with his mere presence. He was a true leader.

He took off his hat and bowed down low. "Thomas Andrews, designer and yard manager. But you can just call me Tom." He said. "Hello, Tom." I said shyly. Andrews laughed. "Don't worry." He said. "My bark is worse than my bite."

A few workmen exchanged glances. "You've got that right." They muttered. "You're being built by these workmen here in Belfast Ireland and within a year, you'll be launched into the harbor and be fitted out for trans-Atlantic service for the White Star Line." He said. "A passenger ship?" I asked. He nodded. "Very good, Olympic." He said. "You're a quicker learner than the last one."

I ducked my head shyly. "No need to be shy, Olympic." Andrews said. "We're all friends here, no matter our rank." He smiled and touched his hand to my iron bow frame. I winced, and then relaxed as he ran his hands down along my sides.

"You're a strong one." He murmured to no one in particular. "And have plenty of potential. I just hope your sisters will possess your qualities." He said.

"Sisters?" I asked. "You'll have 2 sisters in the next couple of years." Andrews replied. "One's being built beside you." He added. I looked at the shadowy shape beside me. Although she was somewhat behind on her construction, I could already see that Titanic was going to be perfection.

(Don't look at me like that, sis. You know it's true!)

There was only one problem. She was snoring, and snoring loud. I groaned. "Not a quiet one is she?" I muttered. Andrews laughed. "She'll be awake soon enough. And I'll bet you'll be wishing she went back to sleep so you don't have to hear her talking all the time." (Yes sis, Tom actually said that. Now be quiet!)

"I've got to get on home." He said. "I'll see you tomorrow, goodnight Olympic." I dipped my head. "Goodnight." I said. And I was left alone in the Belfast shipyard until morning when the workmen showed to continue their building.

SEPTEMBER 1910 BELFAST NORTHERN IRELAND

I was nearly completed. The workers had finished my port side and were beginning on my starboard. Titanic, was beginning to take shape beside me. Her keel had been laid down the same time as mine.

The sun was just coming up over the horizon as I awoke, ready for the workers to begin placing my 24 boilers in.

Titanic was asleep beside me, seemingly small and insignificant compared to my own size and beauty. But, when finished, she was to be even larger than myself, and far more luxurious.

"Wake up, sleepybow!" I said. "It's a beautiful morning." Titanic didn't rouse from her slumber. I sighed. Since she wasn't fully framed yet, she wasn't fully alive. I would try to rouse her every morning but until my engine rooms were completed, she wouldn't wake. And that could take another week, at least. I seethed silently.

I had many strengths but patience clearly wasn't one of them. I hated waiting. I hated doing nothing, which was why sitting at the Belfast building yard was nothing short of torture.

I couldn't wait to be launched. At least I'd have the feeling of water lapping gently against my sides as I sat at my berth, taking on passengers.

All I had here was my sleeping sister and she was no company at all. All she did was snore, and if you've never heard a ship snore, take it from me, you should think you're blessed that you haven't. Especially if that ship is supersnorer Titanic. (You are a supersnorer, Titanic and you know it!)

At last, at around 5:00, the first carriage pulled into the lot nearby. It was Thomas Andrews.

I couldn't be happier to see him. The yard manager always came down to the building yard to see me before the workers arrived.

He walked over to me and touched my port bow with his hand. "How are you today, girl?" He asked. "Bored." I grumbled.

"Ah, come on now! In a week's time you'll be launched and be taken to your new berth at Southampton for outfitting." I was speechless. A week, one week and I'd be going.

"But, Tom," I asked. "What about my sister. She'll be awake soon." He smiled and patted my side reassuringly. "Don't worry, Olympic. I'll make sure she's well cared for."

"I want to be here when she wakes, sir." I pleaded. Andrews stroked my side gently and I relaxed at his touch. "You will be, I'll see to that." He replied. I sighed. "Thank you, Tom." I murmured. "I can't have my best girl all mopey now can I?" He asked.

He checked his watch. "It'll be another hour before the workmen arrive. What do you say we play a game?" He asked. "I don't see why not." I replied. "What kind of game?" I asked.

"How 'bout 'What is that thing'?" He said. I nearly squealed with delight. It was my favorite game.

"You first" said Andrews. "No, you first." I replied, laughing. He shrugged. "I'm thinking of something and it's a vegetable." He said.

"Can humans eat it?" I asked. "If we eat a lot and want to throw up in a few hours, yes. Next question."

I had to think. "Does it grow around Belfast?" I asked. "No." Andrews replied. "Number 3."

"Does it grow tall?" I asked. "No." He replied. "4"

I thought hard for a moment. "Does it produce berries?" I asked. "Yes." He said smiling. "Does it grow in groves?" I asked. "Usually." He replied. "7"

"Is it wine?" I asked. Thomas Andrews grinned. "Very good, Olympic, you're getting quick." I laughed. "Well I have been practicing." I said. "Ok, your turn." He said. "I'm thinking of something and it's a mineral…"

We continued on like this for almost an hour. Mine was a snoring Titanic (we both tried not to laugh at that one). His was Broadway in New York (which made me a little wistful, so he tried to make up for it by coming up with a different one).

I was trying to figure out what his latest answer was when the first workmen began to arrive. "Is it loud?" I asked. "Very." He said, trying to hide a smirk. "17"

"Is it in Belfast?" I asked. He nodded. "Yes," he replied. "18"

"It's black, white, and red, it's large, loud and is in Belfast, its stationary… is it a ship?" I asked.

"Yes." He replied. "Yes." I murmured. "Ah, ah. But which one?" He asked. "What?"

"Well, I'm thinking of a specific one." He said. I frowned. "Oceanic." I said. "Right company, wrong ship. 20, I win."

I groaned. "Well, who was it?" I asked. "You." He replied, laughing. I couldn't help but laugh too.

The first workmen approached us then. "Enjoying yourself Mr. Andrews?" He asked. "Yes, and so is Olympic." He replied. "I've gotta get going." He whispered. "Be a good girl." He added and walked away.

The day pasted slowly, as days usually did at Harland and Wolfe. I watched some sailboats steam by, playfully riding the harbor swells. A few called out to me. "You'll be out here soon enough, Olympic." One of them said. "And when you are, you'll be bossing us tiny toys to move out of your way."

I laughed. "I doubt that, just as long as you little things don't get in my path when I'm moving, we'll get along fine."

They all laughed. "See!" One cried out. "She hasn't even left dockyard yet and she's already giving us orders" cried another.

Oceanic, the old flagship of the White Star Line, steamed by on her way to her berth. "All right, that's enough, Olympic has enough to worry about without you little things bugging her. She'll have a sister in a few days." Oceanic said to the little sailboats. "Really." They squealed. "Can we see her when she wakes up?" They asked. "Yea, can we? Can we?" They sang. "Kids?" Oceanic warned. "It's alright, Oceanic." I said. "Yes, you may see her if she wants you to. I'll let you know when she wakes." I said to the little sailboats.

"That'll be great. Thanks Olympic!" They sang and steamed away. The tugs had arrived to help Oceanic into her berth. "Hello, Olympic" Called one.

"Enjoying the view from your beauty dock?" Another tug paused as it buffered up to Oceanic. "Don't mind her." She said kindly to me. "She's just grumpy because she feels overworked with all this new traffic coming in and out of the harbor." I nodded. "How are you today, Oceanic" asked the leading tug. "I'm fine, thank you Vulcan." She replied. "Oh, didn't see you there Olympic, how are things up there?" Vulcan asked.

"Boring as ever." I sighed. "I wish I could be in the water and working too."

"You might think that now." Oceanic said. "But after a few months at work, you'll be wishing you could wreck yourself so you could be in dry-dock, and you'll be complaining just like Herculaneum here." She nodded to the mouthy tug that was pushing at Oceanic's side.

Oceanic slipped easily into her berth. "Ah." She said. "Now that's more like it." Her lines were moored and she was secure as her passengers disembarked.

As the crane began offloading supplies from her hold, Oceanic winced.

"What's the matter Oceanic?" I asked. "I'm not as young as I used to be." Oceanic replied. "A few weak spots here and there, but I'm ok."

I wasn't so easily convinced however. "You sure?" I asked. "When you get to be my age, you'll know what fine is. As long as I still float and am in no danger of sinking, I'm fine." I nodded, surprised by Oceanic's sudden sharpness.

"How long are you staying?" I asked, wanting to turn the conversation in a different direction. "A week, maybe 2 weeks, all the ships in the harbor now are staying to watch your launch, Olympic." Oceanic said. "Even you?" I inquired, surprised.

"Just because I'm the flagship, doesn't mean that I think I'm superior to any vessel or that I'm the old grump that many young'uns think I am." She snapped.

"You sound plenty grumpy to me." I teased. "Oh, just stack it." Oceanic growled. I laughed and fell silent, letting the sun's rays warm me.

After a few minutes, I began to feel drowsy and allowed myself to succumb to sleeps beckoning call.

A cry woke me from my slumber. Wearily, I glanced around. I saw nothing.

Then I heard the cry again, it was right beside me. I realized it was my sister. I reacted instinctively and called out to her.

"Titanic, it's okay. You're being built at Harland and Wolf, you're okay." Titanic stopped wailing. "Where, who are you." She asked. "I'm right next to you, Titanic. My name is Olympic, I'm your sister." Titanic saw me and pressed herself against my side. "I'm sorry if I woke you." She murmured. "It's just that I opened my eyes and it was dark. I couldn't see a thing."

"It's okay, sister." I murmured, the feeling of affection for this new ship overwhelming me. So this is what it feels like to be a sister. I thought.

"I've been waiting for you to wake up for some time now. Welcome to Belfast shipyard, sister." I murmured.

"Thank you, sister." Titanic whispered. As Titanic settled back onto her slipway, I began to tell her all about life in the Belfast shipyard. "The only bad thing about it is the waiting. You're literally stuck in one place as workers fit you out and you can't do any work yourself. Other than that, life's a breeze here."

We were still talking when Thomas Andrews arrived the next morning. "Olympic!" He exclaimed. "Your sister was born last night and you didn't tell me?" I laughed. "Sorry, Tom, I just got to talking."

"Well, I can see that." He said, approaching Titanic, he introduced himself. "Welcome to Belfast, Titanic." He said. "I'm Thomas Andrews, the managing director." Titanic looked at him. "Thank you, Mr. Andrews." Titanic said.

"No need for tittles, Titanic." Andrews said. "You can just call me Tom."

"Well, I'm pleased to meet you, Tom." Titanic said. "Olympic has just told me all about you." Andrews looked curiously at me. "Indeed she has." He said. "Oops." I laughed.

Andrews smiled, and then checked his watch. "Goodness me, I've got to get on. I've a meeting in half and hour with some of the Board of Trade officials to discuss some of the details of your launching, Olympic." He said and left.

Titanic looked at me. "What's a launching?" She asked. "It's when a ship is released into the water once she's been completed." I replied. "Then what?" Titanic asked. "She's then toed to the outfitters yard where her details like her furniture and sources of power are put in place before she's then moved to her new dock to await sea trials."

She asked question after question and I realized I liked her curiosity. We continued on talking far beyond when the sun came up over the horizon at 9:00.