Chapter 38 - A Glimmer of Hope
The jumpy piano rhythm of "Alexander's Ragtime Band" sounded from the first class lounge a few yards away. The band played upbeat tunes on the Captain's orders to allay panic. The Hockley's came up the A deck foyer and Cal was carrying the life-jackets, they were an afterthought after the evening he had experienced. Rose felt as though she was sleepwalking. Her mind focused on other things.
''It's just the God damned English doing everything by the book.'' He cursed.
''There is no need for such language Mr. Hockley.''
Trudy handed Ruth and Rose a pair of gloves each. Trudy exchanged looks with Rose, she knew what had happened having witnessed the evenings events from Rose's room.
''Go back and turn the heater on in my room, so it won't be too cold when we return. We would also like a cup of tea. Also, breakfast should be served in our room tomorrow morning, preferably later than usual.'' She turned to Rose. ''God knows what time we will rise tomorrow at this rate.''
Rose was vacant, ignoring her Mother's orders. She saw Thomas Andrews approach, he glanced around the magnificent room. Rose knew from his heartbroken expression that something was doomed.
''Mr Andrews.'' She collared him as he ascended the Grand Staircase.
He glanced around, he seemed to land after his mind had been so far away. ''Oh, Rose.''
''I saw the iceberg, Mr. Andrews. And I see it in your eyes. Please tell me the truth.''
Cal stood behind Rose.
''The ship will sink.''
Rose scanned his face for any sign of falseness. ''For certain?''
''Yes an hour, maybe two…all this... will be at the bottom of the Atlantic.''
Rose held his shoulders for support. She thought her knee would buckle.
''My God.'' Now Cal was stunned.
''Rose, there aren't enough boats, you know that, get yourself and your mother into a lifeboat. Don't wait!''
''Yes.''
At the Master at Arms office, Lovejoy handcuffed Jack to a 4 inch water pipe. A crew man burst into the office and burst out instantly. ''Sir, the Purser needs you right away!''
''Go on, I will keep an eye on him.'' Lovejoy told the Master at Arms. He pulled a pearl handled Colt .45 automatic from under his coat. The Master at Arms nodded and tossed the handcuff key to Lovejoy, then exited with the crewman. Lovejoy flipped the key in the air whilst Jack watched helplessly.
Twenty minutes later, Cal had ushered Ruth and Rose out onto the boat deck. They would be climbing aboard a lifeboat. The majority of the passengers still believed this was a drill and that they would be back on board by the time breakfast was served.
They were standing amidst a crowd of uncertain passengers in all states of dress and undress. One first class woman was barefoot. Others were in stockings. The maitre d of the restaurant was in a top hat and overcoat. Others were in evening dress, while some were in bathrobes and kimonos. Women were wearing lifebelts over velvet gowns, then topping it with sable stoles. Some brought jewels, others books, even small dogs. The craziness which surrounded them was unreal. Lightoller prepared the boat whilst they waited. Rose glanced around them, she felt as though she was dreaming. Her eyes couldn't focus on anything, then she saw Cal in front of her, smirking.
''My brooch, I left my brooch. I must have it!'' Ruth cried as she remembered her mothers piece. She turned to go back to her room but Cal took her by the arm refusing to let her go. She was surprised by his firmness.
''No, Ruth you will stay. We all stay.''
Ruth saw his expression, and knew fear for the first time.
Inside the Master at Arms office, Jack stood chained to the water pipe next to the porthole. Lovejoy sat at the desk, he put a .45 bullet on the desk and watched it roll across and fall off. He picked up the bullet and loaded his gun.
''You know I do believe the ship may sink.''
Jack watched as he crossed the room closer to him. ''I've been asked to give you this small token of our appreciation…'' He punched Jack hard in the stomach knocking the wind from him. ''Compliments of Mr. Caledon Hockley…and his wife.''
Lovejoy flipped the handcuff key in the air before catching it and putting it in his pocket. He left leaving Jack alone, gasping in pain.
Rose watched the farewells taking pace right in front of her as they stepped closer to the boat. Husbands saying goodbye to wives and children. Lovers and friends parted. Nearby Molly was getting a reluctant woman to board the boat.
She felt as though she was having an out of body experience; that this wasn't happening. She thought of Jack with tears welling in her eyes. She wore just a cream coat over her thin dress but she didn't feel the cold one bit. Her body had numbed. The last hour had been one mass of information to take in and now she had taken a moment to think she had realised something - she may never see Jack again.
''Come on, you heard the man. Get in the boat, sister.'' Molly ushered a woman aboard.
Cal kept his eyes on Rose, he wanted to know what was going through her head.
''Hundreds of men will be left on the ship to die.'' She broke her stare and faced him.
''There's always room for gentlemen.'' He smirked.
She shook her head in disbelief. ''That's right, always you. But what about the others?''
''Like your friend the thief?''
Intuitively, she knew. He grinned at her as though he had won. Jack was set up. He didn't steal the diamond and she kicked herself for not realising sooner but she felt the hate build up inside for Cal. He was the one who had lied all along.
''He stole you, darling. All you need to know.''
She backed away from him.
''Come on, Ruth, get in the boat. These are the first class seats right up here.''
Molly practically handed Ruth over to Lightoller, then looked around for some other women who might need a push. This needed to be done as fast and calmly as possible.
''Come on, Rose. You're next, darling.''
Rose shook her head.
''Rose, get into the boat.'' Ruth ordered.
''Goodbye Mother.''
Ruth stood in the tipsy lifeboat, she could do nothing. Cal grabbed Rose's arm but she pulled it free and walked away through the crowd. Cal caught up to Rose and grabbed her again, roughly.
''Where are you going? To him? Is that it? To be a whore to that gutter rat?''
''I'd rather be his whore than your wife.'' She ripped herself free of him. ''You would never divorce me so I would have had to have lived my life as his whore. A better life for me than spending the next ten years breeding your brats!''
He clenched his jaw and squeezed her arm viciously, pulling her back toward the lifeboat.
''You are my wife.''
Rose pulled out a hairpin and jabbed him with it. He let go with a curse and she ran into the crowd. She ran through a cluster of the crowd. She looked back to find Cal furiously still chasing her. She ran breathlessly up to two proper looking men.
''That man tried to take advantage of me in the crowd!''
Appalled, they turned to see Cal running toward them. Rose ran on as the two men grabbed Cal, restraining him. She ran through the First Class entrance. Cal broke free and ran after her. He reached the entrance, but ran into a knot of people coming out. He pushed rudely through them to find Lovejoy at the other end.
But Rose was gone.
Cal was breathless.
''Did you see where she went?''
Lovejoy nodded calmly. ''She cannot go far.''
Jack pulled on the pipe with all his strength. It wasn't moving at all. He whipped his head around hearing a gurgling sound. Freezing water poured under the door, spreading rapidly across the floor.
''Shit.'' His heart beat faster, panic setting in. He tried to pull one hand out of the cuffs until his hand was red raw. He felt the pain of the metal against his skin but he didn't care.
''Help can anyone hear me.'' He shouted out into the abandoned corridor, knowing that no one was there. He violently rattled the handcuffs against the bench over and over. ''This is going to be bad.'' The corridor outside was deserted and already flooded a couple of inches deep. Jacks voice was faint in the narrow space.
Rose found Thomas Andrews in the first class corridor. She breathlessly ran into him, grasping his collar.
''Mr. Andrews. I need your help.''
Panic flashed in his eyes.
''Where would they take somebody under arrest?''
''What? No. Rose, get to a lifeboat.''
''No!'' She shouted firmly. ''I need your help sir as without it will take longer.''
He sighed. ''Take the elevator to the very bottom, go left, down the crewman's passage, then make a right.''
''Bottom, left, right. I have it.''
''Hurry, Rose.''
She ran to the last Elevator Operator as he was closing up his lift to leave. ''Sorry, Miss, lifts are closed-''
Without thinking she grabbed him and shoved him back into the lift. ''I'm through with being polite, goddamnit! I may never be polite the rest of my life! Now take me down!''
The operator fumbled to close the gate and start the lift.
Through the wrought iron door of the elevator car Rose could see the decks going past. The lift slowed. Suddenly ice water was swirling around her legs. She screamed in surprise, she had never felt water so cold. The car landed in a foot of freezing water, shocking the hell out of her. She clawed the door open and splashed out, hiking up her floor-length skirt so that she could move. The lift went back up, behind her, as she looked around.
''Left, crew passage.''
She spotted it and slogged down the flooded corridor. The place was understandably deserted. She was on her own. She kept herself focused on the instructions which Mr. Andrews had given her.
''Right, right... Right.''
She turned into a cross-corridor, splashing down the hall. A row of doors on each side. Her heart beat quickly. She called out his name. She turned into a cross corridor and she splashed down the hall. There was a row of doors on each side with no indication of where Jack was. She began to run down the left corridor.
''Jack'', she yelled hoping he could hear her. The lights flickered on and off and she struggled to breath feeling the icy water surround her body. Debris floated in the corridor bashing into her as she struggled to walk.
Inside the Master at Arms office, Jack was hopelessly pulling on the pipe again. He strained until his face was red and he was out of breath. He collapsed back on the bench, realisation hitting him. There was no one down here; no one would know he was here. The ship was already underwater and through the porthole Jack could see lifeboats been rowed away from the ship. He hoped Rose was in a lifeboat and that she was safe. Suddenly, he thought he heard a voice, Rose's voice, it was shouting his name. The lights of the ship flicked on and off. Seconds later, the voice came again, this time clearer. New hope filled him.
''Rose I'm in here.'' He tapped his handcuffed wrists against the bench. ''I'm in here.''
The door opened and Rose came rushing towards him bashing into the debris which was floating in the room. She threw her arms around him.
''Jack, Jack, Jack... I'm sorry, I'm so sorry.'' She kissed him, just happy to have found him.
''That guy Lovejoy put it in my pocket.''
''I know, I know.'' Rose pulled him towards her again, he leant against her shoulder for a second, just happy that she was here. She pulled away and glanced at the handcuffs.
''See if you can find a key for these. Look in that cabinet right there. It's a little silver one Rose.'' She clambered past the floating debris and opened the cabinet door.
''These are all brass ones.''
Jack indicated to a small drawer in the desk. ''Check right here Rose.''
Immediately she rummaged through the drawer. Jack watched as she quickly pulled bits of paper from the drawer. He was so glad that she was here. ''Rose, how did you find out I didn't do it?''
Rose looked at him. ''I didn't.'' She paused for a moment as his face fell serious. ''I just realised I already knew.''
A smile came across Jack's face. That was all he needed to know, that she trusted him. ''Keep looking.''
Rose continued to check in the other drawers and cupboards. Jack could see movement out of the porthole. Rose threw the last drawer into the knee high water. ''There's no key.'' She panicked for a moment, breathing hard. The both glanced around at the water, which was two foot deep. Jack had pulled his feet up onto the bench, feeling the icy water bring pins and needles to his body.
''Rose listen, you're going to have to go find some help.'' Jack saw as Rose nodded a worried look on her face. ''It'll be all right.''
Rose nodded, knowing that Jack was depending on her now. She knew she had to find some way to free him. She slogged through the debris to kiss him just once. She splashed her way into the doorway. ''I'll be right back.''
''I'll just wait here.''
Rose splashed down the hallway to a stairwell going up to the next deck. She climbed the stairs; her long skirt was leaving a trail like a giant snail. The weight of it slowed her down. She dragged herself up the stairs to find herself in the steerage hallways. The corridors were narrow and winding, almost like a maze. She was alone there; she knew that but still continued to shout for help down the corridors. A long groan of stressing metal echoed along the hall as the ship continued to settle. She ran down the hall. She turned a corner and ran along another corridor in a daze. The hall sloped down into water which, shimmered, reflecting the light. The margin of the water crept toward her. A young man appeared, running through the water, sending up geysers of spray. He pelted past her without slowing.
''Help please, we need help.'' He didn't look back. She felt like she was in a bad dream. The hull gonged with terrifying sounds. Rose leaned against the wall as the lights flickered out leaving utter darkness. The ship groaned loudly and Rose felt herself begin to hyperventilate. A second later the lights flickered back on. That one moment of blackness was the most terrifying of her life. Rose knew there was no help up here; she had to get back to Jack.