Chapter Nine

True to his word James did not report me but somebody certainly did! Who my betrayer was was beyond me. As far as I knew no one else had heard the conversation between James and myself. That is unless it was the very same being that sent me back here? Could he have been trying to prevent me from changing the course of history? Did I somehow sink myself and Titanic's future by talking?

When I was to be sent away to be confined to my cabin it was James who began to lie in an effort to save me. He started babbling about how I was planning on writing a fictional story and we were discussing ideas and how the characters might react when put in such a situation. It hardly made sense to me but James continued to weave his lie in an effort to rescue me.

Unfortunately for me his lies fell on deaf ears and I was confined to my cabin for twenty-four hours. Our doctor didn't find anything wrong with me and blamed it on exhaustion. At the same time I was grateful they did not think that I wanted to attempt any form of suicide otherwise I would really be in trouble. I certainly did not want to end tied up somewhere for the rest of the voyage.

During my isolation I found myself staring up at the ceiling. I was informed that I would be taking part in a day long "rest cure". People would occasionally be checking in on me but they wouldn't be allowed to stay for very long.

I hadn't bothered putting on my tie, detachable collar, or even my shoes. I couldn't see any reason to be uncomfortable while I was miserable here. I was bizarrely practical that way.

There was a knock on the door that caused me to look towards it. I suspected it to be Doctor O'Loughlin and said "Come in, Doctor" as I sat up.

To my surprise it was Lights on the other side of the door who grinned at me.

"I'm a doctor now? When did I get a promotion?" Lights joked. He leaned into the room just enough so that I could see his head and shoulders.

"I thought you were Doctor O'Loughlin," I replied sheepishly.

"No, he's busy tending to someone in First Class. Something about an upset stomach. Maybe sea sickness."

I nodded a little, "I hope he releases me soon."

"We've been trying to push for him to let you out tonight or tomorrow morning."

"We?"

Lights looked over his shoulder and then quickly stepped in. It was then I could see that he was carrying a cup and saucer in his right hand. The door closed quietly behind him before he spoke again, "The rest of the deck officers. I can't say I can figure out the way your brain works but you don't have any reason to be lying to us."

"I'm not lying!" I insisted.

He held up his hand to stop me, "Harry, we're doing all that we can to get you out of your prison. You need to be patient with us."

"I'm sorry," I quickly said and looked away.

Changing the subject Lights said, "I brought you some tea. Miss O'Brian was kind enough to give me an extra cup and saucer."

Stretching his hand out he handed me the cup and saucer which I gratefully took.

"That was nice of her," I said.

"James asked first but he got caught up in some business so it was up to me to deliver it to you."

"My hero."

It didn't take long for Lights to burst into laughter over that one. Removing his cap he gave a dramatic bow, "At your service, Mister Harold Godfrey Lowe."

It was my turn to laugh at that one. Lights did certainly appear to have two sides to him. One was the level headed officer and the other was a six-year-old trapped in a grown man's body.

Straightening back to his full height Lights grinned at me, "You should enjoy your Saturday off! It has been insanely busy this morning."

Saturday.

I felt my heart stop for a split second upon hearing those words.

Titanic had only one day left to live!

"Lights, have any ice warnings reached the Captain?" I desperately asked.

"As far as I know they have. On the bridge you need to stop talking about ice warnings as you'll be locked in here again." He glanced down at his pocket watch, "I've got to get back to the bridge. I'm not supposed to even be here!"

"Go! Go! Go!" I ordered him. My urgency was mostly to keep Lights out of trouble and to keep me from getting into deeper trouble. I felt fearful that I could be locked inside my cabin and forgotten about when Titanic sank. I could swim like the best of them but if I were unable to escape from my prison I was certain I would drown.

I looked down at my hands which still held the tea cup and saucer. I could feel the cup and knew the tea had grown cold between Lights receiving it and now.

I drank it anyway.

Sometime during my imprisonment I fell asleep while lying flat on my back. I had slept fairly peacefully until there was a loud knocking on my door and the Captain along with Doctor O'Loughlin entered my small cabin.

"Mister Lowe?" Captain Smith's voice said. His voice roused me from my sleep and I looked over at the two of them. They both stood there stone faced and I couldn't read what they were thinking or feeling.

I pulled myself up into a sitting position and quickly apologized for being in such a state.

Cutting to the chase Doctor O'Loughlin said, "I'm glad to see you took my advice and got some rest."

"Yes, doctor," I said.

"I trust there won't be any more worry and talking about icebergs?" Captain Smith asked sternly.

"Oh, no sir!" I quickly lied.

Captain Smith looked over to Doctor O'Loughlin. "In your professional opinion can my first officer be released?"

"Unless something comes up I imagine Officer Lowe may return to duties tomorrow morning."