*Twenty*
Selfless Act of Courage
By this time, Zipper could feel the tug of gravity. She knew the bow was sinking fast. She walked the floors of first class still surveying every little detail. Seeing several people starting to panic. She knew she had to stay with the ship. Help someone, but who. Who would listen to her and come with her? She asked herself over and over again.
"Cora." She said aloud. She knew the little girl and her family would die tonight. She suddenly became obsessed with saving them.
She raced to her stateroom. Frank was not there, but Missy was.
"Missy. Thank God." She stumbled over the coffee table as she made her way to the desk. "I need you to give this to Officer Lowe."
She took out a pad of paper and a pencil. She started to scribble down a note.
"But, Miss. Your husband is already looking for you. You should be on the deck. Come on." Missy tugged on the sleeve of Zipper's dress.
Zipper only folded the note, after about five minutes of writing. She handed it to Missy. Then walked to the closet. She took out two lifebelts. She walked back to Missy, extended one of the belts.
The other belt she quickly tied around herself. Knowing it wouldn't offer much support. But what did it matter anyway?
"Please, hurry. Get to a boat. Go now and don't stop for anything. Give the letter to my husband. Good luck. Thanks for all you've done." She then hugged Missy. Leaving her in a shocked state of confusion.
Zipper ran to the lifts, taking them to E-Deck. She ran to the crew passage, the cold water soaking her feet. Rose hadn't been here yet, she was sure of that. The lifts operator was not as stubborn as he would be in a few minutes with Rose. Zipper knew it would only be a couple of minutes. She could tell by the water level. Which would be much higher for Rose.
She raced past the Master-at-arms' room. Jack heard her footsteps. "Hey! Is someone out there?!" He shouted, clanking the handcuffs against the pipe.
She had to go in. "Jack, believe me. Rose will be here. Okay, trust me. I have to go."
"You're leaving me?!" He shouted. His voice becoming hoarse because of the cold water at his feet, and the screaming he had been doing for a good half hour.
"Please, believe me, Jack. She'll come." She knew he was disbelieving now, But she had to get to Cora and her family. She raced back into the hall. The scent of ocean water filling the space now.
She heard the screaming of a little girl, and shouts from a man. She knew it was Cora and her father. They were in deeper water she knew instantly. She ran to them. There they were at the top of the staircase, locked behind the terrible iron gates. Crying and screaming for mercy.
"Come on." Zipper said. "You'll not get out this way. Where's your mother?"
Cora tried to hide the tears, but she was crying uncontrollably.
"We lost her. The other gate… water came in." The father's voice was strained. He too was on the verge of tears. "Why are they locking us in here like wild animals?"
"There's no time to talk about this. Just follow me." She picked up the little girl, who still wore the bracelet Zipper had given her at the steerage party.
Her father's footsteps were right behind them, splashing the water with each step. The ship shuddered, as more water rushed in all around them. Cora screamed as loud as she could.
Zipper's breath caught in her throat. She thought she had been prepared for this. But nothing could prepare you for the icy waters of the North Atlantic rushing in around you, engulfing you in it's deadly fury.
The father trailed further behind. He was not as agile as Zipper was. He couldn't maneuver the waters as swiftly as she.
"Hurry!" She called back.
No sooner had the word left her lips, did she turn around to see Cora's father being his over the head with a pipe that had knocked loose from the water pressure.
Zipper wouldn't allow Cora to turn her head to her father. It was a sight that made even Zipper sick. Blood rushed forth from his nose and mouth, he wasn't dead, but it was impossible for Zipper to drag him along with Cora and herself.
"My God." She whispered. She turned away, away from his eyes they stared at her in a plea for help. As his body sank down into the bloody water.
She knew he didn't have a chance either way. But the image was burned into her mind. They continued their race against the furious waters. Cora shivered in her arms. Both of them were so wet and cold already. Zipper knew it would only get worse. But she assured Cora otherwise.
"It'll be alright, okay?" She kept talking to her. "I'll get you out of here."
But with the water closing off the exits and most of the gates locked, she began to find herself lost in the hull of Titanic.
Meanwhile Missy stood there in the stateroom a long moment. She knew the ship was sinking. She had been to the lower decks. Her shoes were still wet from the flooding waters. How could she be expected to just leave the ship? She didn't know where Frank was. And Zipper had just run off. Where was she going? Missy's mind raced with a thousand unanswerable questions.
She looked at the folded piece of paper in her hand, then to the lifebelt. Slowly she slipped into the belt and tied it at the sides. Then, she headed out. Not knowing where she was going, or why. She wouldn't have even tried for it, had Miss. Rosenberg not insisted upon it. "God be with you, Michaela." She said aloud as she left the stateroom, quickly walking to the boat deck.
She exited into the cold night, on the starboard side. The air was so freezing, she had never felt it this cold before. Her maid's uniform was not the warmest, but the lifebelt offered a bit more insulation from the cold.
"Women and children, please!" She heard Officer Lowe's familiar voice.
Missy speedily walked over to him. He was helping an elderly woman into the boat. Tears streamed down her face as she stared at her husband, whom Lowe had refused a seat.
Finally he turned to Missy. "Missy?" He questioned. He looked around her, thinking Michaela would be with her maid. "Where is Michaela?"
Missy looked saddened. Lowe braced himself for her to say something bad, or anything. But she didn't speak, she only handed him the folded note.
He took it immediately. Forgetting about his passengers as he read.
"To my dearest Harold.
I've gone below deck, to steerage. There is this family with a child, that I have to help. Do not ask how I know. That's something I can't tell you. Maybe someday you can ask Rose DeWitt Bukater about. She knows everything. I know how bad the lower decks are, but just know I have to do this, or I would be plagued by her memory forever. If I shall never see you again, then I love you. I know you are out there being brave and courageous. Remember these people are counting are you. I was thankful I came to this ship, I got to meet you. I now know what true undying love is. I never could have learned that without you. I love you.
Goodbye, good luck, and all my love,
Michaela Rosenberg Lowe"
Lowe read the words. But couldn't believe them. He had sent the steward, why didn't she come to the deck?
"Bloody hell." He said, he knew he had to go find her. He turned away from his station.
"Lowe! Get back here." Lightoller commanded.
The ship groaned as if in extreme agony. He looked off to the bow, she was completely underwater. The bridge would slowly meet the icy water as well. He knew the bottom deck were surely gone by now. Or would be soon. What chance did he have. He could either risk his life for someone that was probably already lost. Or he could stay with the officers and help others be saved.
"Goodbye, Michaela, my love." He said, fighting back the tears. He turned back to Lightoller. Who was fighting with unruly men.
"Keep order! Keep order I say." He commanded. Holding out his pistol.
Lowe watched as he turned from the crowd. He quickly loaded the pistol, preparing for the worst. "Mr. Lowe. Mound this boat."
Lowe nodded. Not wanting to leave the ship so soon. He knew she had to still be alive. She couldn't be gone.
"Right! Is everybody alright?" He asked the crowd, trying to calm them down. "Nobody panic!"
He and Lightoller finished loading the women and children. Lightoller helped Missy into the boat. She was overcome by grief, and couldn't even think straight.
Lowe stepped into the boat, prepared to lead it in the waters below. He noticed a person with a shawl wrapped tightly around them. Looking very suspicious. He yanked the shawl away from the person to reveal a man in his late-teens.
"Please, let me stay." He begged.
Officer Lowe became disgusted and picked the boy up by his shirt collar, throwing him back to the deck. The young man started crying and begging for his seat back.
"Be a man, would you?" Lowe said sternly. Staring in disgust at the whimpering man. "There are still women and children onboard. I'm sorry."
With that Lowe took another woman into the boat. "Quickly sit down." He instructed. Once he was sure everyone was seated he stood at the end, holding his arms out. "Lower away men! Left and right together!"
He felt the jolt as the lines started down. He looked at the ship, the panicking crowd, the crying passengers. A sight he would hold forever in his memory.
