Underwater, the ice smashed into the steel hull plates. The iceberg bumped and scraped along the side of the ship. Rivets popped as the steel plate of the hull flexes under the load. The two stewards in the cargo hold staggered as the hull buckled in four feet with a sound like thunder. Like a sledgehammer beating along outside the ship, the berg splitting the hull plates and the sea poured in, sweeping them off their feet. The icy water swirled around the Renault as the men scrambled for the stairs.
On G deck, Mike was tossed in his bunk by the impact. He heard a sound like the greatly amplified squeal of a skate on ice.
In Boiler Room six, Barret and Hesketh staggered as they heard the rolling thunder of the collision. They saw the starboard side of the ship buckling in toward them and were almost swept off their feet by a rush of water coming in about two feet above the floor.
On the forward well deck, Kevin and Mia broke their kiss and looked up in astonishment as the berg sailed past, blocking out the sky like a mountain. Chunks of ice showered the deck where Kevin and Mia stood. "Get back," Kevin held onto her arm as he pulled her away, Mia looking at the iceberg in astonishment and fear.
From the bridge, Dustin rung the watertight door alarm. He quickly threw the switch that closed them.
"Hard a' port!"
Judging the berg to be amidships, he was trying to clear the stern.
Barrett and Hesketh heard the door alarm and scrambled through the swirling water to the watertight door between Boiler Rooms 5 and 6. The room was full of water vapor as the cold sea struck the red hot furnaces. Barrett yelled to the stokers scrambling through the door as it came down like a slow guillotine. "Go lads! Go! Go!"
He dove through into Boiler Room 5 just before the door rumbled down with a clang.
Kevin and Mia rushed to the starboard rail in time to see the berg moving aft down the side of the ship.
In his stateroom, surrounded by piles of plans while making notes in his ever-present book, Cam looked up at the sound of a cut-crystal light fixture tinkling like a windchime. He felt the shudder run through the ship. And it could be seen in his face. Too much of his soul was in this great ship for him not to feel its mortal wound.
In the First Class Smoking Room Biggles watched his highball vibrating on the table. In the Palm Court, with its high arched windows, Dana Grayson held up her drink to a passing waiter. "Hey, can I get some ice here, please?"
Silently, a moving wall of ice filled the window behind her. She didn't see it. It disappeared astern.
In the crow's nest, Hunter turned to Blake. "Oy, mate...that was a close shave."
"Smell ice, can you? Bleedin' Christ!"
Dustin stood on the bridge. The alarm bells still clattered mindlessly, seeming to reflect his inner state. He was in shock, unable to get a grip on what just happened. He just ran the biggest ship in history into an iceberg on its maiden voyage.
"Note the time," he said stiffly to Moody. "Enter it in the log."
Captain Mitchell rushed out of his cabin onto the bridge, tucking in his collar. "What was that, Mr. Brooks?"
"An iceberg, sir. I put her hard a' starboard and run the engines full astern, but it was too close. I tried to port around it, but she hi...and I-"
"Close the emergency doors," Captain Mitchell ordered.
"The doors are closed," Dustin reported.
Together they rushed out onto the starboard wing, and Dustin pointed. Captain Mitchell looked into the darkness aft, then wheels around to Fourth Officer Boxhall. "Find the carpenter and get him to sound the ship."
In steerage, Mike came out into the hall to see what was going on. He saw dozens of rats running toward him in the corridor, fleeing the flooding bow. Mike jumped aside as the rats ran by. "Ma—che cazzo!"
In his stateroom, Antonio got out of his top bunk in the dark and dropped down to the floor with a splash. "Cor! What in the world-?!" He napped on the light. The floor was covered with 3 inches of freezing water, and more coming in. He pulled the door open, and stepped out into the corridor, which was flooded. Mike was running towards him, yelling something in Italian. Mike and Antoinio started pounding on the doors, getting everybody up and out. The alarm spread in several languages.
A couple of people had come out into the corridor in robes and slippers. A steward hurried along, reassuring them.
"Why have the engines stopped? I felt a shudder?" A woman asked.
"I shouldn't worry, ma'am. We've likely thrown a propeller blade, that's the shudder you felt. May I bring you anything?"
Cameron Watanabe brushed past them, walking fast and carrying an armload of rolled up ship's plans.
Kevin and Mia were leaning over the starboard rail, looking at the hull of the ship.
"Looks okay. I don't see anything," Kevin said.
"Could it have damaged the ship?" Mia questioned.
"It didn't seem like much of a bump. I'm sure we're okay."
Behind them a couple of steward guys were kicking the ice around the deck, laughing.
Anton Mercer, dressed in pajamas under the topcoat, hurried down the corridor, headed for the bridge. An officious steward named Barnes came along the other direction, getting the few concerned passengers back into their rooms.
"There's no cause for alarm. Please, go back to your rooms."
He was stopped in his tracks by Jayden and Mentor Ji. "Please sir, there's no emergency-"
"Yes there is, I have been robbed. Now get the Captain at Arms. Now you moron!"
On the bridge, Mentor Ji was studying the communicator. He turned to Cam, who was standing behind him. "A five degree list in less than five minutes."
The ship's carpenter, John Hutchinson, entered behind him, out of breath and clearly unnerved. "She's making water fast...in the forepeak tank and the forward holds, in Boiler Room 6."
Ismay entered, his movements quick with anger and frustration. Captain Mitchell glanced at him with annoyance.
"Why have we stopped?"
"We've struck ice," Captain Mitchell answered.
"Well, do you think the ship was seriously damaged?"
Captain Mitchell glared, "Excuse me."
He pushed past him, with Cam and Hutchinson in tow.
In Boiler Room 6, stokers and firemen were struggling to draw the fires. They were working in waist deep water churning around as it flowed in the boiler room, ice cold and swirling with grease from the machinery. Chief Engineer Bell came partway down the ladder, shouting. "That's it, lads. Get the hell up!"
They scrambled up the escape ladders.
On B deck, the gentlemen, now joined by another man, leaned on the forward rail watching the steerage men playing soccer with chunks of ice.
"I guess it's nothing too serious. I'm going back to my cabin to read."
A 20ish Yale man popped through the door wearing a topcoat over pajamas. "Say, did I miss the fun?"
Mia and Kevin came up the steps from the well deck, which were right next to the three men. They stared as the couple climbed over the locked gate. A moment later, Captain Mitchell rounded the corner, followed by Cam and Hutchinson. They had come down from the bridge by the outside stairs. The three men, their faces grim, pushed right past Kevin and Mia. Cam barely glanced at her.
"Can you shore up?" Captain Mitchell asked.
"Not unless the pumps get ahead."
"This is bad," Kevin whispered to Mia.
She knew that this was serious. And as much as she loathed them now, she knew what they had to do.
"We have to tell Mother and Jayden."
"Now it's worse."
"Come with me, Kevin. I jump, you jump...right?" Mia asked softly.
"Right.
Kevin followed Mia through the door inside the ship.