April 13

Day

Atlantic Ocean

Historical events are coming to the finish line. Tomorrow will decide whether we live or not. Can't say I'm worried. I am calm and confident. And I will do everything to get the Titanic to New York.

Before starting my watch, I decided to go to the stern. There was a promenade deck for third class passengers. I was very interested to look at them closer.

On the third-class promenade deck, I get sick. The heart begins to beat faster, it becomes hot. I sit down on a bench next to a woman holding a child in her arms.

I breathe deeply.

"Do you feel bad?" the woman asks worriedly "I'll call the steward".

"Thanks. Not worth it. Will pass soon." I put my head between my knees, moaning. Another interesting observation. Sometimes I feel bad next to the people who should die in this shipwreck. As if reality itself is trying to hurt me and prevent changes.

After a couple of minutes, I feel better.

"I'm sorry to startle you, Mrs..."

"Augusta Goodwin"

"Nice to meet you. I am Henry. What is your child's name?

"Sydney".

I almost fell into prostration again. Boy buried in Halifax, who for almost a hundred years could not be identified. Wow. It would seem that I should have stopped being surprised a long time ago. But I can't.

"And you, Mrs. Goodwin, are you going to America permanently or visiting someone?"

"We're moving forever. My husband was offered a good job by his brother at a power plant in Niagara. Our children have no future in England."

"Do you think everyone in America is happy and rich?" I look at her with a squint.

"Of course not. But at least there is a chance. Otherwise, why do thousands of people leave with every steamer? Britain doesn't need us. This is a country for the rich. Their children can get a good education, take high positions, and the fate of my children is to be their servants."

"If it doesn't work out in Niagara, I advise your husband to get a job at the Ford plant. They have very good conditions and salary."

"Have you ever wanted to leave England yourself, Mr. Wilde?"

In response, I smiled sadly.

"I'm kind of a migrant. I thought I'd leave and real life would begin."

"Began?" asked Mrs. Goodwin curiously, cradling the baby in her arms.

"Partially. I realized one thing - you don't have to run away from problems. They need to be resolved. It seems to us that where we are not, sunrises are brighter, sunsets are more beautiful, the ocean is warmer. High expectations from the move, as a result, a complete disappointment. It turns out that the sea is like everywhere else, money is still needed, work from dawn to dusk. Nothing new exists. Life is subject to the same laws."

"Then why did you move? You would stay where you lived."

"Nothing depended on me. I was put before the fact."

"What if you had to choose? Would you, Henry, stay where you lived, trying to change something, to achieve a better attitude towards yourself, respect for your work, or would you leave for a normal life? Even if not for yourself, then for your children."

It's hard to say, Mrs. Goodwin. You can run all your life, but life will not be enough to fight windmills.

"So, you must understand us."

"Of course, I hope that everything works out for your family."

"Thank you, Henry."

Then we just sat in silence, watching the children play climbing on the electric crane.

Peaceful picture. The calm before tomorrow's storm.

Now for me, another family from the Titanic is no longer just a story from a photograph.

I sat on a bench among ordinary working-class people, who were dreaming of finding new life in America and was happy.

It became noticeably colder on the open decks. Probably due to the ice fields getting closer and closer.

A sailor who took water samples said that the water temperature was already 28 F. In our history, on the afternoon of April 13, the water temperature was the same. There are no changes here yet.

Unfortunately for me, I met the captain on the boat deck. Why unfortunately? Because I didn't like Smith. At all. In my understanding, he was just a secular character with poor understanding the technical side of the liner. Many of the victims were on his conscience. Smith was unable to competently organize the evacuation. When it came to fulfilling his immediate duties, he could not do anything. It won't happen the second time. I'll take care.

"I was just looking for you, Henry!" The captain was in a very good mood.

"Really? Why?" My question was with a lot of sarcasm.

"It seems that fire in the coal bunker was stopped. The stokers have been fighting it since Southampton. Let's go together to check"

"Sure" To be honest, I completely forgot about this fire. And this was another coincidence with the real history.

"Completely forgot. In the morning I saw Miss Gibson with her mother." Said the captain over the noise in the boiler room.

"And?"

"Dorothy asked about you."

"And what did you say to her?"

"That you are busy with work, Henry."

"Well, that's right. That's what I'm on the Titanic for."

"Henry, what's wrong with you? I see that you like her and she likes you too. Dorothy asked me to give you an invitation to dinner tomorrow evening."

"It's against the rules, sir."

"There will be an exception for you. Moreover, you will soon become a captain."

"I haven't heard anything about it. Captain of what?"

"Titanic" The captain answered cunningly. "I'm already tired. Time to rest. A modern liner needs a young captain who understands new mechanisms. That's why I recommended you."

I was shocked. It turns out that Smith himself understood that he was not keeping up with the times.

"But I have never commanded such a large ship."

"There's a first time for everything, my dear Henry. Tomorrow you'll start to practice your communication with first class passengers."

"Is it necessary? I don't understand why the captain has to do this?"

"Me too, but it's interesting." Edward Smith laughed.

We inspected coal bunker number 6. Luckily, the fire was put out.

And then the captain and I went to the D-deck lobby, where we had that same, known to everyone from James Cameron's film, conversation with Ismay about speed.

I sat nearby, listening to their conversation from the first to the last word. The movie lied. Ismay didn't insist on nothing. He just said that we can beat the Olympic record. And nothing else. Director of the White Star Line didn't demand anything from the captain. So never trust movies. Even those that are filmed very talentedly.

Well, to hell their talk about speed and records. The orchestra played just great...