Chapter 3
Jack thought for certain this time he would be saved. Not long after the first rescue ship had steamed out of sight, a second appeared to the south and seemed to be heading northward right for him. Just in time he thought as the elements were beginning to take over. He could no longer feel his feet or toes. He concentrated hard on wiggling them but he couldn't tell if he had been successful or not. He hadn't much luck with his hands or fingers either. He could only slightly bend them. They were just about frozen stiff.
Over the last hour or so he began shivering violently and uncontrollably. His breathing had become very shallow and irregular, though his chest was heaving as though he were drawing in large breaths. This is it, it's now or never. With that in mind Jack struggled to his feet. His legs were so difficult to maneuver it was almost as though they were artificial. Most of the work was being accomplished by the strength in his arms. Several times he nearly tipped the door but amazingly managed to stay afloat and bring himself to his feet. He began making large waves with his arms in the air, shouting for help. His voice was much too weak and his chest felt so heavy, he needed all his strength just to keep breathing. He suddenly felt he could not stand any longer. His feet were numb and were not helpful in keeping him balanced. He should have waited until the ship got closer. Maybe he would just sit back down for a few more minutes and save his strength for that moment. It seemed to still be heading right for him.
Before attempting to sit, Jack took a moment to observe the debris in the water or, as it now seemed, lack thereof . Aside from a few chunks of wood, there was nothing. Where had everything gone? When he had first found refuge on the door, he had seen and heard several bodies floating just a few hundred feet away maybe. The starlit sky had cast an eerie glow on their frozen, terrified faces. Now he only saw what he thought might be one, but it was too far away to be sure. He wondered how far he had really drifted from the wreck site. It had appeared that the rescue ship had performed some sort of search. It had stopped completely for several hours. Jack had even attempted to row toward it, using his arms as oars but the width of the door was to great for it to be effective. Regardless, he was still too far away, he knew that, but he had to try. Several hours later, the ship began to move and appeared to circle a predetermined area before finally steaming away to it's destination.
Jack managed a smile as the ship still headed directly for him. He felt it was safe to sit back down for a while. He was growing so tired and his chest ached so bad. He was sure he was developing a fever too. He tried to slowly squat down but he lost his balance. He landed back bottom first on the door and it immediately raised up out of the water, sliding Jack into the sea head first. For a minute he was sure he would drown. His brain told his arms and legs to swim but they did not seem to be obeying. He was sinking! Then, all of a sudden his head was above water. They had been working after all. He was just too frozen to feel it. He managed to swing his arms up and grip the door to try to pull himself back up. It was no use. He tried for several minutes but he just hadn't the strength. Unfortunately, this time sheer willpower just wasn't enough.
He focused on keeping his arms and legs moving. With one arm slung over the door, he kept afloat kicking his legs and moving his other arm. He had to keep the circulation in his body going, keep the muscles warm. He looked for the ship again and at first glance it was still coming towards him. It was close enough that he was able to make out some of it's features. It seemed to be a steamer as her could make out a single funnel. After a few seconds however, it seemed to be turning to the west. . "Nooooo!", Jack cried out, though it was barely a whisper. "Come back, please, come back!" It was turning alright.. He couldn't help but let out a small chuckle. Of course it would turn out this way. Just when he thought he had it made. He had met the most amazing, wonderful, and beautiful girl in the world, and she had fallen in love with him. Jack had many admirers in his time but he never returned their interests. Well, never loved any of them anyway. What was it about her that he loved so much? The answer was simple; everything. They were going to run away together and Jack had promised her he would show her the world. He had seen most of it after all, as well as she but she never had the opportunity to appreciate it. Her travels were limited to fancy formal dinners and gatherings of the elite society, always under close supervision, and always expected to be on her best behavior. They were going to go to Santa Monica and ride horses in the surf, drink cheap beer, and ride on the roller coaster until they threw up. He hoped she would find her way there someday and do these things, she would love it, and he hoped that when she did she would think of him and know that he loved her. He knew she would go on and make a wonderful life for herself. He only hoped that she wouldn't grieve for him for the few days they had together were by far the best few days of his entire life. He thought of the night before, when she had returned to him at the bow of the ship. How beautiful the sunset was and how they both really imagined they were flying. Her sweet scent, the most wonderfully passionate kiss they shared. The drawing. Making sweet love in the back seat of the Renault. Her promise to run away with him. He played these scenes over and over in his head as he rest it against the side of the floating wardrobe door. "I love you Rose", he whispered aloud. With that last thought, Jack Dawson began to surrender to his fate.
Jack thought for certain this time he would be saved. Not long after the first rescue ship had steamed out of sight, a second appeared to the south and seemed to be heading northward right for him. Just in time he thought as the elements were beginning to take over. He could no longer feel his feet or toes. He concentrated hard on wiggling them but he couldn't tell if he had been successful or not. He hadn't much luck with his hands or fingers either. He could only slightly bend them. They were just about frozen stiff.
Over the last hour or so he began shivering violently and uncontrollably. His breathing had become very shallow and irregular, though his chest was heaving as though he were drawing in large breaths. This is it, it's now or never. With that in mind Jack struggled to his feet. His legs were so difficult to maneuver it was almost as though they were artificial. Most of the work was being accomplished by the strength in his arms. Several times he nearly tipped the door but amazingly managed to stay afloat and bring himself to his feet. He began making large waves with his arms in the air, shouting for help. His voice was much too weak and his chest felt so heavy, he needed all his strength just to keep breathing. He suddenly felt he could not stand any longer. His feet were numb and were not helpful in keeping him balanced. He should have waited until the ship got closer. Maybe he would just sit back down for a few more minutes and save his strength for that moment. It seemed to still be heading right for him.
Before attempting to sit, Jack took a moment to observe the debris in the water or, as it now seemed, lack thereof . Aside from a few chunks of wood, there was nothing. Where had everything gone? When he had first found refuge on the door, he had seen and heard several bodies floating just a few hundred feet away maybe. The starlit sky had cast an eerie glow on their frozen, terrified faces. Now he only saw what he thought might be one, but it was too far away to be sure. He wondered how far he had really drifted from the wreck site. It had appeared that the rescue ship had performed some sort of search. It had stopped completely for several hours. Jack had even attempted to row toward it, using his arms as oars but the width of the door was to great for it to be effective. Regardless, he was still too far away, he knew that, but he had to try. Several hours later, the ship began to move and appeared to circle a predetermined area before finally steaming away to it's destination.
Jack managed a smile as the ship still headed directly for him. He felt it was safe to sit back down for a while. He was growing so tired and his chest ached so bad. He was sure he was developing a fever too. He tried to slowly squat down but he lost his balance. He landed back bottom first on the door and it immediately raised up out of the water, sliding Jack into the sea head first. For a minute he was sure he would drown. His brain told his arms and legs to swim but they did not seem to be obeying. He was sinking! Then, all of a sudden his head was above water. They had been working after all. He was just too frozen to feel it. He managed to swing his arms up and grip the door to try to pull himself back up. It was no use. He tried for several minutes but he just hadn't the strength. Unfortunately, this time sheer willpower just wasn't enough.
He focused on keeping his arms and legs moving. With one arm slung over the door, he kept afloat kicking his legs and moving his other arm. He had to keep the circulation in his body going, keep the muscles warm. He looked for the ship again and at first glance it was still coming towards him. It was close enough that he was able to make out some of it's features. It seemed to be a steamer as her could make out a single funnel. After a few seconds however, it seemed to be turning to the west. . "Nooooo!", Jack cried out, though it was barely a whisper. "Come back, please, come back!" It was turning alright.. He couldn't help but let out a small chuckle. Of course it would turn out this way. Just when he thought he had it made. He had met the most amazing, wonderful, and beautiful girl in the world, and she had fallen in love with him. Jack had many admirers in his time but he never returned their interests. Well, never loved any of them anyway. What was it about her that he loved so much? The answer was simple; everything. They were going to run away together and Jack had promised her he would show her the world. He had seen most of it after all, as well as she but she never had the opportunity to appreciate it. Her travels were limited to fancy formal dinners and gatherings of the elite society, always under close supervision, and always expected to be on her best behavior. They were going to go to Santa Monica and ride horses in the surf, drink cheap beer, and ride on the roller coaster until they threw up. He hoped she would find her way there someday and do these things, she would love it, and he hoped that when she did she would think of him and know that he loved her. He knew she would go on and make a wonderful life for herself. He only hoped that she wouldn't grieve for him for the few days they had together were by far the best few days of his entire life. He thought of the night before, when she had returned to him at the bow of the ship. How beautiful the sunset was and how they both really imagined they were flying. Her sweet scent, the most wonderfully passionate kiss they shared. The drawing. Making sweet love in the back seat of the Renault. Her promise to run away with him. He played these scenes over and over in his head as he rest it against the side of the floating wardrobe door. "I love you Rose", he whispered aloud. With that last thought, Jack Dawson began to surrender to his fate.