Chapter 4: On With the Mission
8:30 PM, April 14th

I made my way toward the bow, pondering how I would break into the wireless room undetected. By now the sun had gone down and the night sky was filled with millions of bright stars. I was eager to get back inside as the air was bitterly cold.

I remembered seeing the wireless room on the map Smethells had given me, located on the port side of the ship near the bridge.

Perhaps I can just walk up and sneak in. I thought to myself.

"Hey, come here!" called a voice from somewhere nearby.

I turned my head and saw a man in a brown plaid suit sitting on a bench and smoking a cigarette. He had short brown hair and a was a rather portly individual. He was American, judging from his accent.

"Yes?" I replied, walking over to the man.

"Dontcha love this sea air? Really clears out the sinuses! Max Seidelmann. Philadephia, PA. Buyer for Haymakers Department Store. "The Sharpie of Spruce Street", they call me!"

"Frank Carlson." I replied, introducing myself and shaking his hand.

"You a sporting type? You look like a sporting type." Max said enthusiastically. "C'mon down to the smoking room for a nightcap. Riviera's looking for someone to play a few hands of blackjack with him. Whaddaya say? Not much else to do. Not tonight. Brr! Cold as a cast-iron commode out here! So... whaddaya say?"

I considered his offer.

Pringle will murder me if she finds out I'm deviating from my mission!

But then again, perhaps I could uncover some leads.

"Sure. I'll go." I replied.

"Great!" Max exclaimed excitedly. "First let's swing by the Parisian Café. There's a man there, name of Zeitel."

"Did you say Zeitel?" I asked upon hearing the name.

Max nodded. "Yeah. A German. Claims he's a businessman, but he's got something up his sleeve alright. I know the type, believe me! Dollars to donuts he's in some racket! So come with, why don't you? We'll hit the smoking room from there."

"Well, that does sound interesting." I replied with a smile. "Let's go!"

We proceeded down to the A-Deck promenade and headed aft. Max spent the majority of the trip talking business. I had little interested, but didn't want to seem rude either, so I made small talk. We arrived at the Aft Grand Staircase. The aft staircase was smaller and less opulent than the main staircase, only spanning between A-Deck and C-Deck, with a less ornate clock on the A-Deck landing. It had a similar bronze cherub statue to the one on the main staircase.

We made our way down to B-Deck, where the Café Parisien was located on the starboard side.

"He should be in here." Max said to me.

I felt a little apprehensive at the idea of coming face-to-face with Zeitel.

But this meeting could also prove to be very important. I reminded myself.

Max opened the door and ushered me into the café. The sight that greeted me was a brightly lit room decorated to resemble a sidewalk café in Paris, with a white interior, rows of potted palm lining the walls, and fake ivy creeping up the trellises on the walls. Wicker furniture lined the walls. The place had a pleasant charm to it. Two men were seated at a table in the center of the room. One man I immediately recognized as Zeitel. The other, a younger gentleman, I did not recognize, but I assumed to be Haderlitz.

"Hey Colonel how are you doing?" Max greeted Zeitel as we reached the table.

"Very well, thank you." Zeitel replied.

"Willi." Max said, giving the other man a nod. "I'd Like you to meet a friend."

Max said, gesturing toward me. Max and I sat down at the table with them.

"This is my friend, Carlson." Max said, introducing me.

"A pleasure." Zeitel said, lighting his pipe. "Haderlitz and I, we welcome diversion during such an uneventful passage. Don't we Willi?"

"Certainly!" the younger man exclaimed.

"Willi is at the University of Vienna, dissecting children's fables." Zeitel added.

"C-cultural mythology. It is quite interesting." Haderlitz stammered. "Though only a junior professor, I try to interest Doctor Freud. He is a genius and I…"

Zeitel interrupted him. "Yes, I am sure, quite."

Zeitel then turned to me.

"On the passenger list it says that you embarked at Cherbourg. Yet I have not seen you with the others. You were there, were you not?"

"I don't make much of an entrance." I replied.

Zeitel's eyes scrutinized me carefully, and I knew I had to maintain my composure.

"I see. You are British." Zeitel finally said. "Not so many of you in Titanic's first cabins. These days most of the rich are Americans. Businessmen, like Max."

Zeitel blew a puff of smoke into the air.

"Tell me. Why do you go to New York?"

"I'm on business." I answered.

"Ah, business. How interesting, considering that the British are not so good at it." Zeitel growled, and I detected a hint of hostility in his tone.

I dismissed the insult.

"So, what do you do, Colonel?"

"Me? Inspecting our embassies." Zeitel explained. " Imperial Germany desires to make a good impression in North America. Willi is continuing on to the West, to conduct research on Aboriginal customs."

"Yes, the Indians, they are fascinating!" Haderlitz exclaimed excitedly.

"Yes, yes. However, I place faith in science, not superstition." Zeitel said, and once again I detected a rather condescending tone in his voice.

The Colonel was sayin' this wireless stuff's revolutionizing everything. Sending messages to each other. It's the end of books and newspapers!" Max exclaimed.

"Like the Titanic." Zeitel said, taking another puff of his pipe. "A technological triumph! Here we dine in comfort while racing along at twenty knots, yet still tied to the outside world by the wireless."

Haderlitz suddenly turned to Zeitel.

"That reminds me, Colonel Zeitel, when I go to send your telegram, they told me it was to be delayed. There are too many messages. The passengers..."

A telegram! I thought to myself. I have to get a hold of it!

Zeitel raised a hand and interrupted Haderlitz.

"I am sure our guests do not care to hear a detailed discussion of your encounter with telegraphy. Now, if you'll excuse me..."

"Yes, please excuse us." Haderlitz said, getting up from the table.

Zeitel stood up as well.

"Won't you call on us tomorrow? Here, in the café?" he asked. "The Linzer torte's quite passable for a British ship. Stop by. Willi and I'd welcome it most heartily."

"Yes. Most heartily." Haderlitz said, grinning nervously.

Zeitel turned to me as he began to leave.

"And before I leave, you must allow me to give you some advice: do not wander the ship. It is not good, I think, on a ship as big as the Titanic. Goodnight, friends."

Max and I watched Zeitel and Haderlitz depart and we exchanged glances with one another.

"See? What did I tell you? What did I say?" Max said, gesturing with his thumb toward the door.

"Them two, up to something I'd say! The brainy kid gives me the creeps! What a grind! He should hang out with that little blonde. She's a looker I tell ya!"

We stood up from the table.

"Come on, let's hit the smoking room. I'll introduce you to Riviera. What do you say?"

"Maybe later. I need to be going." I said, deciding to get on with my mission.

"Well, I'll be in the smoking room if you change your mind." Max said, sounding a bit disappointed.

As I exited the café, I was promptly ambushed by a woman in a silky blue dress. She wore her hair tied up in a beehive-like bun and wore a pearl necklace around her neck. I recognized her instantly as she strode toward me.

Oh no! I thought to myself, my heart filling with dread.

"But my dear, it's Daisy, Daisy Cashmore! Surely you remember…" she crowed with overenthusiastic glee.

"As if I could ever forget!" I said, putting on a fake smile.

"You're a naughty thing! Don't think I didn't know you'd snuck on at Cherbourg! Smethells told me all about it! The old boy's always dripping with news!" she exclaimed.

We all have that one friend that we can't stand but put up with for one reason or another, and for me, Daisy Cashmore was that "friend".

Before I could say anything more, Daisy launched into a gossipy tangent about all that was happening in high society.

"Heard about Lord and Lady Lambeth? Ruined utterly!" she exclaimed. "Scarcely enough left for appearances, I'm told. I always liked Georgia. Married Charles for his name and his fortune, sensible girl. But she's made her nest, now she must live in it."

I had no opportunity to interrupt. At that moment, I made eye contact with Max as he proceeded up the staircase to A-Deck, and I thought about changing my mind and running after him to the smoking room just to get away from Daisy.

"What do you think? Gorgeous isn't it? Everyone's raving! Gushing! The Titanic! Couldn't be more fabulous!" she continued on without so much as pausing to inhale.

"And the sailing! Couldn't have been more convenient! Everyone's here: the Astors, the George Wideners, the Countess of Rothes … such a wonderful girl! The Strauses, I saw them on D-Deck tonight! The Ryersons, the Henry Harpers. I could just go on and on! And the ship's so very advanced! I was just saying to my dear friends, the Carters. They're bringing back a motorcar, do you believe? In the cargo hold! Bill Carter checks it daily! Really! Every day! He keeps the keys with the purser. And of course they let them. The Carters are fantastically rich! Lucille doesn't understand the attraction at all! With men and machines, I tell her, we girls play second fiddle… Well…"

"Can we please get to the point? I'm in the middle of something!" I finally managed to say.

Daisy frowned slightly, seeming disappointed that I wasn't interested in her gossip.

"Very well. My dear, I've a little favor. A tiny, tiny, tiny one."

"And what would that be?" I asked, folding my arms impatiently. "I hope you don't want me to go and spy on more of your friends like you had me do in Paris."

"Oh, it's nothing like that." Daisy replied, somewhat defensively. "Tonight at dinner, a man I don't know was making eyes at me. Be an absolute darling and find out who he is."

"And how should I do that?" I asked, shrugging.

"Look him up in the passenger list. All I know are his initials: G-Q-C. The list's someplace, find it! I'll wait right here. Ta!" she answered as if it was obvious.

"Alright, I'll look into it if I have time. Goodbye, Daisy." I said, deciding to escape while I still could.

I went out to the A-Deck promenade, sighing and shaking my head as I walked toward the bow. I had met Daisy during my previous assignment in Paris. A wealthy American socialite, she had provided me with some useful information, but usually just got on my nerves. Then, through means I had yet to figure out, she discovered that I was an agent and frequently asked me for favors. I wondered if she was smarter than she let on.

Focus on the task at hand! I told myself.

I needed to intercept Zeitel's telegram. I reached the stairwell that led to the Boat Deck and climbed up. I was standing just outside the bridge. A man in an officer's uniform stood staring out at the water.

Perhaps I can just sneak past him. I said to myself again.

At first I thought I was in the clear, but as I reached for the door to the wireless room, I heard the man shout at me.

"Excuse me, sir!"

I turned toward him and the officer hastily approached me, glaring at me disapprovingly. He had a beard and appeared to be roughly middle-aged.

"Third Officer Morrow here. I am sorry, but this is the officers' promenade. No passengers allowed! You're the second passenger tonight who's been here. A young woman tried to enter the wireless room earlier. Such cheek! Probably a suffragette! Regulations forbid passengers from entering the wireless room."

I instantly knew he was referring to Pringle. In my time as an agent, I had learned that bring polite and helpful could be very beneficial in these types of situations. I decided to try and make small talk to defuse the situation.

"Your watch tonight?" I asked, trying to strike up a conversation.

"Yes. Though the only thing to watch is the wireless room." Officer Morrow said. "They just keep bringing up more messages! Wireless telegraphy is all the rage these days!"

"It sounds fascinating!" I exclaimed. "I'd love to see it work sometime."

Officer Morrow sighed.

"Not tonight, I'm afraid. I've got an uneasy feeling. Something seems wrong..."

I recalled the strange feeling of impending disaster I kept having, and wondered if he felt it too.

"You seem worried about something." I said.

Officer Morrow quickly glanced up at the sky.

"No moon. I don't like that. Can't see what's coming. No moon means surprises, as if we don't have enough already." The officer explained, sounding exasperated and tired.

"Mister Ismay, the White Star Line president, is onboard. We're walking eggshells around him, I tell you!"

Officer Morrow let out a slight chuckle.

"Though that's nothing compared to creeping about my brother-in-law's doing at the moment! His entire London office is in an uproar!"

"What uproar? Can you elaborate?" I asked, feeling like I was actually getting somewhere.

"Tom works in the Admiralty." Officer Morrow began. "Seems our plans for troop deployments against Germany disappeared three weeks ago. Tom says the big boys are petrified the Jerries will get wind of it! Could upset the balance of power."

Upon hearing this, I couldn't help but wonder if Zeitel was somehow involved.

"Politics! Desk-top espionage! Bureaucrats! Pah! Give me the sea! You can toss the rest." growled the officer.

"So, I take it you don't care much for politics?" I asked.

"Never have. Not since the war." Officer Morrow responded.

"Which war?"

"South Africa. Boer War. The officer was a drinker." Officer Morrow explained, and I could see that I had awakened some bad memories, something I quietly regretted.

"He was drunk when they trapped us out on the Veldt, on a moonless night. It was a massacre. We never saw them coming. Drink always leads to the devil."

It all made sense now.

"No wonder moonless nights make you jumpy!" I said.

Officer Morrow stroked his chin thoughtfully.

"An interesting connection. For all I know it could be true. A man's got his troubles. Sick child. Being away from home. But I hate whiners and apologizers. But thank you for your insight."

His mood seemed a little better now. I thought I'd try my luck again.

"Would it be alright if I had a look at the wireless room? I've heard so much about it, and I've always wanted to see it for myself." I said, trying to convince him to let me in.

Officer Morrow sighed.

"I suppose. Have a look, why don't you? Mind you, Phillips'll have my head if he catches you in there, But I don't see any harm. Go on in!"

"Thank you, sir." I said calmly.

"Good night." Officer Morrow replied, and returned to his watch.

I opened the door to the wireless room and went inside. To my relief, the room was empty. The wireless room was tiny, consisting only of a small desk, assorted telegraph equipment, and some baskets for incoming and outgoing telegrams. To my left was a door that I assume led to the sleeping quarters. To my right was a door labeled "SILENT ROOM". I heard muffled voices coming from within the sleeping quarters.

The operators must be taking a quick break. I'll have to hurry! I thought to myself, knowing that they could return at any moment.

An empty cup sat on the desk next to the telegraph key. It had previously contained coffee judging by the smell. I looked at the enormous backlog of telegrams and dreaded the thought of having to sort through every single one.

I had best get to work. I thought.

I picked up the outgoing telegrams and began to flip through them as quickly as I could, looking for anything suspicious. After only a few telegrams, I spotted one that was addressed to Berlin and contained a string of numbers and letters.

That must be it! I thought to myself as I placed the telegram in my satchel.

I quietly departed the wireless room and headed back to my cabin to decode the message.

Back in C-73, I opened my steamer trunk and picked up the cryptograph. Resembling a small typewriter, the code machine was surprisingly heavy for its size. I struggled to pick it up and carry it across the room to my table. Much to my dismay, I accidentally slammed the machine down on the table much harder than I had intended. I cringed as I saw that one of the metal feet had left a deep gouge in the table. I gritted my teeth as I repeatedly ran my finger over the gouge.

"Perfect! That's just wonderful!" I muttered to myself. "I suppose that'll come out of my pay!"

I didn't have time to worry about it. I had work to do. I sat down at the table and connected the battery to the device before turning it on. I placed the telegram on the table and prepared to decode it. I had to start by entering the four digit code at the top of the telegram.

"8754"

Next I had to punch in the encoded message.

"ANHQSPPAIXWBFCXY AM"

I flipped the "decode" switch and the machine first made a series of slow clicks, followed by a series of fast clicks, and then it printed out a small slip of paper. I retrieved the piece of paper and read the decrypted message.

"Rubaiyat hidden in boiler room 3, coal chute 4. SB will deliver painting after pickup. Will confirm. Zeitel."

"Painting?" I puzzled. "Why is it always art?"

However, I finally had the drop location! Now all I had to do was find a way to get into the boiler rooms.

To be continued…