Night from 13 to 14 April

Atlantic Ocean

The five of us stood near the door to the radio room. Murdoch, Lowe, Sloan, Jupe looked at me as if I knew all the secrets of the universe.

"Here we are. Now we need just go inside and make sure that the telegraph can be repaired exactly as I said."

"Still can believe it." Murdoch was confused.

"You have to" Sloan smiled.

Marconi operators Bride and Phillips were very surprised when they saw a crowd of five people in a small radio room.

"Is something wrong, Mr. Wilde?" Phillips was a little stunned by the number of visitors.

"Show me what's wrong with the telegraph?" Sloan asked in a firm voice.

"There is a problem, but we don't know what to do." Jack scratched the back of his head.

"Jack, can you be specific?" I asked.

"The device does not work and we cannot find the reason"

"Let me see, Jack. Maybe it's possible to resolve this"

"Doubtfully, Mr. Wilde. In addition, we are forbidden to repair the device on our own. Only a certified Marconi technician can do this."

"I don't care about certified professionals. As a Chief Officer, I need a telegraph communication. All the time, 24/7. The next day will be very difficult and dangerous for the Titanic and all of us. So, let me see the telegraph, and I'll deal with the Marconi company myself. If they have any complaints or questions, tell them to contact me."

"Please, sir. I will be very grateful if you show me what the problem is. Bride and I have accumulated a lot of telegrams that need to be sent."

I feigned thoughtfulness. Then examined the device, relays, and various arrows from all sides. A couple of minutes later, I delivered my verdict.

"Cable…Broken transformer cable. Upon contact with the metal cases of the devices, a short circuit occurred. This can be easily fixed by simply rewinding the cable with duct tape."

Bride and Phillips checked. Everything was exactly as I said. Electricians and officers looked at me with superstitious horror.

"Exactly, Mr. Wilde! You're right. So simple, but we didn't guess. Thank you!" Bride was happy.

"Is there any way we can thank you?" asked Phillips

"Well, there is one way. Can I send a telegram by myself?"

"Of course. Just say where and to whom." Phillips nodded.

"Nobody in particular. Just to everyone who is on the air right now." I said my strange request.

Everyone standing in the radio room looked at each other in bewilderment.

"Not a question, sir. Take the telegraph key…" Phillips made an inviting hand gesture

I began to think what I want to say to the world. It is unlikely that anyone will hear me, except for the radio operators of nearby ships and warships. "Travel only with those you love," I brought out on a piece of paper an immortal quote of Ernest Hemingway, who is now only thirteen years old.

The hand touched the telegraph key, the device gave a spark, and through the night darkness of the ocean, breaking through the whistle of the wind, the splashing of the waves, my words, turned into dashes and dots for all the sleepless in the North Atlantic.

After fixing the telegraph, everyone believed me completely. And I, in turn, calmed down a bit. It was no longer so scary.

Before tomorrow's step into the darkness, I had very little time left.

I decided to do one interesting thing, knowing that Dorothy was still awake playing cards and two hours left before my watch.

In the public areas of the Titanic, the lights have already been turned off. Only dim night lights were on.

I pulled Dorothy away from a game of bridge with her friends and led her by the hand down the half-lit corridors.

"Where are we going, Henry?" Dorothy asked laughing.

"You'll see." I answered, barely touching her lips with my lips.

On D deck, as we entered the dimly lit reception, the orchestra played the waltz "Songe d'Automne.

We danced. Tender and passionate. Dancing like never before in my life. The musicians put their whole soul into this melody.

They left as unnoticed as they appeared, and we were left alone.

Everything seemed to be a dream. Magic night on the Titanic to the sounds of an old-fashioned waltz. The famous actress from the past nearby. A month ago, I could not even imagine how my life would change.

We kissed on the couch under the tapestry in the darkness with only one glowing night lamp.

I was happy today. Because I may not have tomorrow.

Before going to bed, Dorothy wanted to take a walk around the promenade deck. It was already quite late. Around 1 am.

"What a good evening, Henry. I did not know that sailors could be so romantic."

"Well, first of all, I am a human, and a sailor is just a profession."

"Are you married, Henry?"

"No. The widower. Almost two years"

"But your wedding ring…"

"I wear it in memory of my wife Mary."

"Do you have children?"

"Oh yeah…four. What about you? Are you married, Dorothy?"

"No-no. Dating…it's hard to call marriage."

"Is he rich, famous?"

"Very"

"Why are you talking so sadly about him?"

"He's married"

"And he doesn't want to get divorced. Right?"

Dorothy just nodded in response.

"Then I'm sorry, but he doesn't love you. If a man says that he loves, but he has constant excuses why he does not want to leave his wife, he is just fooling around."

"I know…"

"You just feel comfortable with him. Career, travel, money."

"Is this bad?"

"Don't know. I wouldn't be able to do that. From this breathes something false and insincere."

"It is always harder for women to live in this world."

"Oh, come on…" I rolled my eyes.

Then we walked in silence, holding hands. I escorted Dorothy to her cabin on E-Deck.

On my way back to the bridge to take my watch, I saw Quigg Baxter's sister Helen. Young woman sat in an armchair on the B deck reception, wrapped in a fur boa. We already knew each other thanks to Quigg.

"Good night Helen. Why are you here alone? It's too late"

"Hi, Henry! Good to see you."

"Is something wrong with you? Can I help?" I sat down in the chair next to her.

"Tell me Mr. Wilde, have you felt like you are not living your life? But someone's else"

"I have it for two weeks." Laughing "I wake up and wonder where I am."

"I always think that I live with the wrong person. My family paid for his hospital, his medical education. And what do you think? He takes everything for granted. Everyone owes him. He doesn't owe anyone anything."

"Excuse me, Helen, are you sure these are your thoughts? Maybe one of the relatives constantly talks about the worthlessness or lack of independence of your husband? After all, when you got married, he probably seemed to you the best in the world?"

Helen considered.

"Mom constantly says that he sat on the neck of our family, that without us he is nobody. Says it was necessary to marry a man of our circle."

"Do you love him?"

"I love. But his ingratitude annoys me."

I raise my index finger.

"Love does not tolerate the word "but". If you yourself can't unequivocally answer whether you love or not, then you don't love. You are young, perhaps it makes sense to find a person who would become your love without any buts."

"You talk atypically for a man."

"I talk like a normal person. This is the problem of humanity as a whole. Live as you like, not as you have to. The way of life dictates the rules of behavior. It's boring to just be yourself.

You know, Helen, Queen Victoria died 11 years ago, and it always seems to me that her ghost still roams and influences minds. Don't go there, don't do it..."

I looked at my watch.

"My watch is in twenty minutes. Forced to say goodbye, Helen. Just listen to your heart".

"Of course, I understand. Thanks for the interesting conversation. It's so great to talk to you about everything."

"See you soon, Helen."

Near the entrance to the bridge, I found James Moody arguing about something with two strong athletic young men.

"What happened, gentlemen? How did you get into the service area?"

"Tell your colleague to return our thing. We won't leave without it." One of the guys said calmly.

"What thing?" At first, I didn't understand what they want.

"He knows"

James was nervous. He knew what they were talking about. But seems that didn't want to return anything.

"James, what are they talking about?"

"That book. Published in 1925"

Vihara…again. These guys were from 1925. The book was a clue for them to return to their own time. James was obsessed with literature. He immediately liked "The Great Gatsby". It is clear that he is very sorry to give it away.

"Mr. Moody, please return their book. It's very important. I'll explain everything later"

"Yes sir" Moody reluctantly left for the book.

"Thanks for your understanding, sir."

"Hope to return home?" It was interesting for me.

"Mr. Steed has already explained to us how to do it. Now we need a thing from our world which was with us" the second guy said.

James brought the book, looking at us in bewilderment.

"Happy homecoming guys." I said giving the book "And be careful. There are hard times ahead."

"It's all in the hands of the man, officer. We just need to make the right choice. Remember this."

The guy winked at me as he took the book. I never saw any of them again.