Chapter Three

The next few hours had me running around like a chicken with its head cut off. After a brief briefing from Captain Smith about David Blair whom we all knew as "Davy". I didn't know Davy well but he seemed like a nice fellow. He was disappointed about being lost and then dropped in the shuffle of us deck officers.

Brother if you only knew…

As soon as I thought of our lost deck officer my mind went to something else. If only we had those binoculars! Maybe then the look outs could've seen the iceberg and saved us! Whose idea was it anyway to not give them to us?

I mentally cursed myself for my brain going in every which direction at once. I couldn't change the fact we had no binoculars so I would have to focus on other things. To keep myself focused I forced myself to forget about them.

What could also change our course and history?

The wireless!

I looked over at James who was busy writing a quick note in the log.

"Is the Marconi system up and running?" I asked.

James looked surprised by my sudden question. "Yes. Why shouldn't it be? Are you planning on sending out a message?"

A message to the Carpathia! If, God forbid, we were to strike that iceberg they could come to our rescue sooner!

"James, you are a genius!" I exclaimed before running to the wireless office.

"What brought that on?" I heard Will's voice ask.

"I have no idea; he's been like that all morning," James answered.

If there was any other conversation between the two of them I didn't hear it. I imagine they had written my behavior off to excitement which suited me just fine.

In my excitement I had run past the Marconi office. Upon realizing my mistake I spun on my heel so quickly I tumbled over and landed flat on my face.

The deck: one.

My dignity: zero.

"Goodness! Are ye alright Mister Lowe?" Miss O'Brian said as she crouched down in front of me. "That looked like quite the fall."

Despite the pain in my body I climbed up to my feet and then helped Miss O'Brian up.

"Yes, thank you. I wanted to send a message and I realized I had missed the wireless office," I bluffed. "I'm not hurt. Really."

"If ye say so."

Taking the chance to look her over I noticed how different she looked. Neatly dressed in a freshly starched uniform and her hair neatly pinned back. She was nowhere near had the sight that I last seen of her when the ship was sinking.

Somewhere in the chaos and chatter of loading the lifeboats she had been shoved overboard by an unknown person. It could have been anyone who had done the shoving be it intentional or accidental. No one knew who had done it and no one claimed responsibility.

She screamed the entire way down and I knew I could never forget that terrified scream. Could she swim in that icy water? Could she even swim at all?

Thank God someone had taken pity upon her and pulled her into a lifeboat!

"Miss O'Brian, might I have a word with you when our shifts are over?" I asked.

She nodded, "Yes, of course."

"Thank you. Excuse me."

When I entered the wireless room Jack Phillips looked at me and raised an eyebrow.

"That was quite the fall you took," he said quietly. "Try to keep it down as Harold is napping."

I glanced to the bunk to see Harold Bride asleep on his back with the blankets pulled up to his chin. His chest rose and fell with his rhythmic breathing.

"What can I do for you?" Jack asked.

"Could you send a message out to the Carpathia?"

Jack's eyebrows went up. I was asking him to send a message to a Cunard line ship! Heaven only knew what he was thinking! It could have been anything from my wanting to send a message to a friend to flat out treason by sharing White Star Line's secrets!

Whatever Jack was thinking he did not voice an opinion but handed me a sheet to fill out.

"Don't question what's on it, just send it," I told him once I finished filling out the information. "It might just save our lives."

"Very well," he slowly replied and took the paper.

If I was lucky I wouldn't be labeled a mad man for my behavior.

Time would tell and right now I hated waiting.