Chapter 6 LIVERPOOL ENGLAND OCTOBER 1899

Since I'd won the Blue Riband, Lucania had become cold and distant. She rarely ever talked to me now.

Too late I had remembered that before I took it, the Blue Riband belonged to her.

She had worked very hard over many years to hold it like she did. And here I come, an inexperienced little thing, who dared snatch it from her right after her pep talk in Queenstown.

She must've thought I'd taken advantage of her kindness. So much for wisdom.

Finally, I sucked up enough courage to go and talk to her. She was at her usual berth when I arrived, the closest one to the shore.

Her deputy and sister, Campania, was beside her. She glared at my approach.

"Well, well look who finally decided to show her face." Lucania growled. She turned to Campania.

"Give us a minute here sis." She ordered. Campania dipped her head and left.

Once again, I was left alone with the Cunard leader. But this time, the tension in the air was higher. "What is your problem?" Lucania snapped.

I stiffened. "What do you mean?" I asked. "You know exactly what I mean. I tell you my line's history, I help you through the death of your sister and what do you do? You take the only thing that was holding my line together." She replied.

"The Blue Riband was open for anyone to take." I protested. "I needed that thing. With JP Morgan up my stern about a takeover 24-7, it may've been the only thing allowing us to hang on. Now, thanks to your little stunt, I may not be able to call myself British anymore." Tears filled her eyes.

"Are you happy now?" She asked. "Your archrival could fall to the Americans but you'll still be plying the waves under the British flag, all nice and pure. Oh yes that would please Atlantic, wouldn't it? Seeing me flying American colors, laboring under Morgan's rule. She'd be so happy, now get out of my sight, Oceanic." She growled.

I backed away a few paces. "Lucania, I never meant to harm Cunard." She laughed bitterly.

"You really expect me to believe that. You White Star liners are all the same, with one prop you're kind, open and friendly yet with the other you are devious, and cunning. You seek to throw Cunard to the depths. I've seen it before. I'm not the fool you took me to be." She sneered.

"Now go, before I call in Campania." She ordered. "Lucania, I…" I whispered. "GO!" She snarled.

"I'm so sorry." I whispered and whirling around, I raced off before she could see me cry.

Arriving back at the White Star docks, I was met by Atlantic. "Oceanic, what's wrong?" She asked, seeing my tears.

I flung myself at her, my body shaking from my sobs. I felt Atlantic's gentle, comforting touch. "Shh, shh it's okay. It'll be okay." She promised.

"No it won't be. Lucania's mad at me. I may've just ruined our last chance at peace and it's all my fault." I wailed.

"No, Oceanic it's not and don't you even think that for a second." She growled.

"But it is." I insisted. "If I hadn't been so stupid and taken the Riband, if I'd just opened my eyes and looked around me and seen the threat Morgan posed to Cunard, I could've avoided all this ruckus."

"You're exhausted, we'll talk about this more in the morning. Come on." She ordered, nudging me in the direction of her berth.

It was twice the size of the others and could easily fit two, if not three ships within it. Settling down beside me, Atlantic proceeded to rub my side in long, soothing strokes.

It was like a massage and I quickly relaxed.

"Sleep now Oceanic." She whispered. Sighing, I pressed against her. She raised her bow up to pull me closer to her.

Turning my head, I nuzzled deep into her side. Smiling fondly, Atlantic nuzzled me one last time before falling asleep beside me.

We woke with the sun. Atlantic had to go out on another crossing but I had to stay in port for a few days for provisioning. "Will I see you in New York?" I asked.

She shrugged. "Possibly." She replied. "That depends on how quickly you get across the Atlantic." She left at noon, leaving me in charge until she returned.

I sat at my berth, watching Germanic mix some herbs nearby. "What are you making?" I asked.

"This? This is a mixture of dock, comfrey, and thyme. Some of the older ships have been complaining about their aching joints so I'm making this to help." She replied.

I nodded. "What else do you have to do?" I asked. "I have a patch of lavender and foxglove I have to collect. It's late in the season so this might be my last chance to stock up." She replied.

"Could I help?" I asked. A bit surprised, she nodded. "Certainly, some help would be much appreciated." She replied.

Setting to work beside her, we quickly finished making her poluse and together we carried it over to Majestic and Britannic.

The sisters were some of the oldest in the fleet and the humid spring weather caused their worn joints to act up.

"Thank you Germanic, that feels so much better." Majestic murmured. "Don't just thank me, thank Oceanic. It would've taken a whole lot longer without her help."

I ducked my head, embarrassed by Germanic's praise. "We owe you one Oceanic." Britannic said. Majestic nodded her agreement.

"The only thing you owe me is a crossing without a single aching joint. That way I'll know if the poluse worked or not." I replied.

"Will do." Britannic replied with a grin. I found I couldn't help but smile back.

We soon finished applying all the poluse and headed out of the harbor to Bristol where most of the herbs were growing.

Carefully approaching the catmint growing on a makeshift grass platform hanging above the water, Germanic gently nipped the stems with her teeth.

"Be gentle when you break these. They work wonders against all kinds of coughs." She advised.

Nodding, I nipped at the stems just as she had shown me. We collected a pile of the herbs and using a leaf to wrap them, I carried my bundle back to Liverpool.

"Thank you for your help today Oceanic. I never could've gotten all this done without you." I nodded. "Anytime Germanic." I replied.

The sun was setting by now and I returned to my dock, tired. I let the workmen continue their provisioning as I drifted off into sleep.

In my dream, I saw my sister.

She didn't look small and unfinished like she had back at Harland and Wolff.
Here she looked complete. Her two funnels and triple masts made her almost identical to me, except her eyes.

Their beautiful dark amber color had always mesmerized me but now as they shone with starlight, they were beyond words.

"Sis, wow." I whispered. She smiled. "I am a spirit now, Oceanic. I reflect what I once was, or what I would've been." She replied.

"I'm sorry, you never had to die." I whispered. She nuzzled me.

"I know this is hard for you, but you must understand it was for a good reason." I nodded.

"White Star needs new ideas, bigger, faster, better liners now. They do not have time to continue building older classes." She said.

"I know that." I sighed. "You've seen so much suffering, so much pain but it is only the beginning. Are you prepared to handle the agony that will come?" She asked.

"I'm as ready as I'll ever be." I replied. "You are such a bad liar." She whispered.

"No one can be ready for what's in store for you." I stepped back, suddenly afraid.

What was my sister saying? What more could possibly happen to me that hadn't already occurred?

Olympic fixed her dark amber gaze on me. "Watch the threat that comes with the setting sun." She warned.

I nodded, unsure what she was warning me about. She nuzzled me. "Stay safe sister. Do not be afraid, I will always be here for you." She whispered.

Darkness washed over my eyes and I woke to the morning bird's call at dawn.

Yawning, I stretched out my stiff muscles and readied myself for a long voyage to New York.

"Have a safe trip!" Britannic called as I raced out. "Thanks, I will!" I replied.

Entering the English Channel, I passed Lucania on my way. Remembering our last encounter,

I looked away, not wanting to see her glare.

I never saw the pain in her eyes as we passed.