Chapter 10 OCTOBER 3 1910, BELFAST IRELAND "OLYMPIC"
Let me clarify, there's ship diseases and then there's human diseases. Human diseases are ten times worse than ship diseases for two reasons.
Firstly, we have no immunity to the virus because it's human. Secondly, the virus is meant for human hosts and our bodies are unfamiliar to it so as a result, something as simple as a cold virus can kill us. It was just that kind of virus that Titanic had. So I hope you'll forgive me for going overboard with this.
Adriatic would be back sometime in the afternoon but I couldn't wait that long. Time was everything right now to me. I knew that a few minutes could mean the difference between Titanic living and Titanic dying.
I looked at my sister. She looked worse than she did five minutes ago. She was fading fast. That sealed it. I had to find help but I couldn't do it on my own. I was still stuck under the gantry in my building slip and couldn't go anywhere. Looking around, I saw the sailboats playing nearby. I called out to them, "Hey kids, can you come over here for a knot?" They loped over, still bouncing and playing as they did so. "Yes, Olympic?" They sang.
"Can you find Baltic for me?" I asked. Morning Star, the leader of the group nodded. "Of course we can." She said and sailed off, the others following.
A few minutes later, the sailboats returned riding on Baltic's bow wave. "It was the only way they'd keep up." She said to me as she approached. "Besides, they insisted." She added.
"Spare me." I muttered. "I need you to find Adriatic and bring her back here. Tell her we need her now." I ordered. Baltic looked at Titanic. My sister caught Baltic staring at her and gave her a friendly nod. She opened her mouth to say something but all that came out was coughing.
I rubbed her side to ease it. Looking back at Baltic, I said "Go find your sister, we need her." Baltic nodded. For once, her hazel eyes were serious as she said "I won't let you down, Olympic." I nodded. "I know you won't, Baltic. But please, hurry." I said. She grinned. "Back in a flash." She said and raced off. Sighing, I turned back to Titanic.
"How're you doing, sis?" I asked. Titanic smiled at my stupid question. "Not too bad actually." She replied. "You are a really bad liar, sis." I said. Titanic frowned. "That's a good thing." I assured her.
She laughed, usually a gentle, beautiful sound now turned harsh and raspy by her illness. And from the way she winced, I could see it was also painful. "Easy, don't strain yourself." I murmured. "You should be telling yourself that." She said.
I frowned. "What are you saying?" I asked. Titanic scoffed. "Come on, sis. You have to admit it. If I know you, and I should as we've been side by side for three years, you'll be awake all night on watch duty. And if that's not strain, then I don't know what is." She said. I sighed.
Standing to attention, I said dramatically "I, RMS Olympic of the White Star Line, hereby and solemnly swear on this day October 3 in the year of our god 1910, that I will not overly strain myself in any way." I switched tones and began using a robotic si-fi voice. "I will do what my sister says. I will obey her every command." I began bowing. "I am not worthy. I am not worthy." I chanted. Titanic laughed and laughed. "Oh stop it Olympic, you're killing me." She said between giggles.
"If you say so, sis." I replied grinning. "Maybe you should've tried that in French. Might've made it more dramatic." She suggested. I nudged her affectionately. "Oh, you think so?" I asked in a heavy French accent. "I know so." She replied with a smile. Then she yawned.
"I know you're tired, sis but you have to stay awake for now. At least until Adriatic comes." I said. Titanic glared at me. "Because the best thing for me is to stay awake?" She asked. I could hear the sarcasm in her voice and ignored it. "Yes, it is." I replied. "Fine." She snapped and turned away. I sighed.
Reaching over, I touched my nose to her side, shocked at the sudden burst of heat. "Titanic, I wouldn't have you do this unless I thought it was best for you." I whispered. Titanic sighed. "I know. It's not me that I'm worried about, it's you." She whispered back.
Meanwhile, Baltic was racing towards Southampton. She was going so fast in the Channel that she nearly collided with a barkentine coming the other way. "Hey, watch it." She growled. Panting, Baltic replied "Sorry, Terra Nova." The exploration ship grunted. "You missed, so no harm done. And no harm no fowl." She said.
"Where's Adriatic?" Baltic asked. "In the harbor." Terra Nova replied, gesturing with her head. "A sailboat cracked her mast while sailing in high winds. Adriatic's trying to mend it. Why do you ask?" She said. "Adriatic's needed at Belfast." Baltic replied. "Poor thing." Terra Nova murmured, referring to Titanic. "It's one thing to be dockside sick, it's another to be sick while still under construction. Go on then, I won't keep you." She said. Baltic raced off but stopped after a ways. "Terra Nova?" She called. The expedition ship halted and turned to face Baltic. "Yeah?" She asked. "Good luck down there. I hope you reach the pole." Baltic said. Terra Nova smiled. "Thank you. You stay out of trouble, ok?" She said. Baltic grinned. "Not a chance, Terra Nova." She replied. "Ha! I figured." Terra Nova laughed. Baltic nodded farewell and resumed her journey to Southampton.
Adriatic was putting the finishing touches on the sailboat's cracked mast. "What are we not going to do again?" She asked. "Not sail in high winds." The sailboat replied. "That's right." Adriatic said. "It'll be sore for a while so take it easy. No sailing for at least a week. I'll check back later, ok?" She instructed. "Ok." The sailboat said.
"Adriatic!" Baltic called. "Oh, now what? Don't tell me you've had another collision." Adriatic growled. Baltic slowed as she approached. "No, I did not." She hissed. Adriatic noticed something in her sister's tone that demanded urgency. "What is it? What's wrong, Baltic?" She asked. "You're needed back at Belfast, now." Baltic replied. "Lead the way." Adriatic growled.
Baltic turned around and raced off, Adriatic following. The two speeding ships were soon joined by Carpathia, Cunard's healer. "Two medics are better than one." She said when Baltic began to object. "Fine!" She sniffed. "Let's just go before anymore Dogs show up." Carpathia glared at Baltic.
"I don't appreciate the racism." She growled. "You're not supposed to." Baltic hissed sassily.
"Alright, enough." Adriatic interjected before the two ships could start up a quarrel. "We're not going anywhere arguing like this. Baltic, lead on." Adriatic said.
The three ships resumed their voyage. "Adriatic, the other Cunard ships say that White Star ships are Tortoises but at the speed you're going, I'd say you're trying to capture the Blue Riband." Carpathia panted. "We both know I'm not fast enough for that now. I wouldn't stand a chance against Mauretania or Lusitania, I'd be wallowing in their wake far behind. You should get out more, if you're having trouble keeping up with an old timer like me. You need exercise." Adriatic replied "Humph." Was Carpathia's response.
Baltic slowed at the entrance to Belfast Lough. "There are still a lot of snares drifting around." She warned. "Just follow my lead." Carefully, she weaved her way through the masses of ropes and buoys. "Baltic's being careful, it's a miracle." Carpathia exclaimed, sensing the opportunity for a hazing payback for Baltic's racism. "Who are you and what have you done with my sister?" Adriatic added. "Ha, ha." Baltic muttered.
I was waiting for them when they arrived. Titanic was sleeping softly beside me. I'd given in to her needs and decided to let her sleep. I could always wake her up when Adriatic did arrive. "Well done, Baltic you were quick." I praised her. Baltic ducked her head shyly. "S' nothing." She muttered.
"Thank you." I murmured. "Go rest, you've earned it." I ordered. She nodded. "I'll be nearby. If you need anything just give me a yell." She said and left, docking nearby. I made to wake Titanic but Adriatic stopped me. "No, let her be. It'll make my job easier if she's not fidgeting." She said. I nodded and moved back.
She moved in to inspect Titanic. "You were right to call me, Olympic. Titanic's Icecough has crossed with human influenza." She said. "Oh Neptune." Carpathia whispered. "The problem is, there are so many different types of influenza. It's always crossing with something and each time it does, it becomes more resistant to the herbs." Adriatic explained. "Intelligent, very intelligent." Carpathia murmured.
"Can you treat it?" I asked them. "I have a few things that might help but I don't know if they'll work or not." Adriatic said. She reached into her compartment again and pulled out some more plants. "Lavender and feverfew." She said. "They grow everywhere around here and they'll keep her temperature down." Carpathia said as Adriatic placed them in front of me.
"Have Titanic chew them and swallow the juice." Carpathia said. She gave me a bowl, "Have her spit the pulp into this." She said. I nodded. "Thank you." I said.
"We'll be nearby. We're not about to leave such a serious case." Adriatic said. "Again, thank you." I looked at Carpathia. "Both of you." I added. Carpathia nodded. "If you need us, send Baltic as we'll be out of hearing range." She said. "I will." I promised. "We'll be back at sunset." Adriatic said and left, Carpathia following.
Once they had gone, I gave Titanic a hard shove that rocked her on her slip. She woke up at once. "What was that for?" She demanded. "Dinnertime, silly." I said. Titanic groaned. "Adriatic brought some new plants for you." I explained. "Oh, goodie." Titanic said, her voice dripping with sarcasm.
"It's lavender and feverfew." I told her. "You're supposed to swallow the juice and spit out the pulp." I said. She nodded. "How would you like your plants, salty or extra salty?" I asked. Titanic screwed up her face. "Salty, please." She said.
I dipped the plants in saltwater and handed them to Titanic. "Order up." I said, placing the spit bowl in front of her. "Lovely. What do they think these things are, tobacco?" She said, lowering her head to eat them. She spit them out at once. "Ugh, these are worse than the other ones." She exclaimed. "Titanic," I scolded. "Eat the plants."
"No, they're disgusting." She said. "If I have to shove them down your throat for you to eat them then I will." I growled. "Go on." Sighing, Titanic leaned down and scooped up the pulp she spit out. Wincing at the sour taste she sucked the juice out of the leaves and stems before spitting the rest out into the bowl. "Ugh, nasty." She shuddered.
"Aren't they all?" I teased. Titanic glared at me. "It's not funny." She growled. "Yes, it is." I replied, laughing. "What's funny about it?" She asked.
"You, you're such a drama queen." I said. Bowing down I presented her with an imaginary crown. "I crown thee Queen Titanic, ruler of Dramaland." I said.
I pulled back as she took a swing at me. "Missed." I sang. Growling, Titanic pulled back. "Just you wait, I can deal with you once we're in the water." She said. "Oh, I'm shaking in my props." I said sarcastically. "You don't have props yet." Titanic reminded me. "Smart aleck." I muttered. Titanic just laughed.
At sunset, Adriatic and Carpathia returned. "How'd the new herbs go?" Adriatic asked. "Difficult." I answered. "I had a heck of a time getting Titanic to eat them."
"They're nasty." Titanic added. "But they help you nevertheless." Adriatic scolded. "So, I'd eat them without complaining if I were you." She said. "Not complaining would be nice." I added. Titanic glared at me. I stuck my tongue at her in response.
Adriatic felt Titanic's sides with her bow. "It's worse than I thought." She murmured. "How so?" I asked worriedly. "The lavender and feverfew have done nothing as far as I can tell." She said. "Let me see the bowl." Carpathia ordered. I handed it to her. "Hmm, Titanic did drink all the juice." She said. "Of course I did. I wouldn't disobey orders." My sister said.
I brushed against her. "Easy, sis. No need to get upset." I murmured. She nodded and shook me off. "Well, what's the problem now?" She asked Adriatic. The older ship sighed. "Nothing's working. Lavender and feverfew were the best herbs I had. This is out of my props." She said.
"What do we do?" I asked. "Titanic needs human assistance now." Carpathia answered. "If that's what's best for her." I agreed.
Adriatic nodded. "It is." She replied. "Alright, where do we get human help?" I asked. Titanic snorted. "I never thought I'd call my sister an algae brain but I thought the answer would be obvious." She looked at Carpathia. The Cunarder nodded.
"Someone who's experienced." She said. "Someone who speaks our language." Adriatic added. They looked at me. I nodded. I knew who they were talking about now. "Tom." I said.
I don't know how word got to Andrews but by nightfall he was at the yard. "Why didn't you tell me earlier?" He asked me. I shrugged. "Adriatic and Carpathia were keeping an eye on Titanic." I answered.
Andrews sighed. "Well, you still should've told me. I could've helped." He said. He felt Titanic all over. "It's influenza alright. And it's taken a pretty good hold on her." He said to me. "At this point, you should be glad she's still alive." He added to me.
My eyes widened. "That bad huh?" I asked. Andrews studied Titanic for a moment before replying. "I don't know how to tell you this Olympic but I don't think she'll last the night." He said.