Titanic- a Mr Murdoch story

Chapter 4: "ICEBERG RIGHT AHEAD!"

Yet again he utters the words

"What the hell is wrong with me?" his voice clear only to him self. The sound of the ship mummers in the back ground as the ships first officer steadies his balance against the wall not far from where he had recently dropped off his new found lady friend Elizabeth.

Shifting to stand upright he tugged at his jacket and quickly walked back to his cabin, almost running inside and shutting the door. A whole feeling of complete dizziness had over come him and everything felt wrong like he had something playing on the back of his mind but couldn't work out what. Deciding to sit down for a few minuets he did and steadied him self on the bed. Holding his head in his hands, he studied the ground trying to work out what was happening to him. His whole world felt as if it was crashing down around him and then suddenly, it didn't.

The sounds drowned around him and he felt his whole body fall into the sheets behind him. He laid back and closed his eyes until his mind stopped whirling around him.

Opening his eyes slowly he looked out onto the bow of the ship from his standing position near to the bridge. How did he get here he wondered looking around for signs of life. Not seeing anyone he stepped down and slowly made his way across to the bridge opening the door and peering inside...

"Is there a problem? Mr Murdoch?" The captain asked turning from his position at the helm of the ship. Slightly confused William Murdoch moved in closer towards his captain and reached out to touch his arm when his hand passed straight through.

Almost as suddenly as he pulled his hand out the scene in front of him moved and he watched himself standing in front of the panel of lights showing water tight doors had been closed, sweat dripping down his brow.

Walking across to himself he stopped as the doors to the captain's cabin opened. Out came the captain dressed as if he had been resting his eyes on his bed. His shirt was crumpled, his tie undone and hanging around his neck slightly. His waistcoat also had been undone and was hanging loosely over him. Walking further into the deck the captain turned and looked at his first officer

"what was that Mr Murdoch?" he questioned with a slight hint of fear etching to be released in his throat. Looking back from his captain to himself he noticed his usual slight stutter before he spoke when he was nervous about something.

"An iceberg sir" the Murdoch of this reality spoke.

Sitting up straight the way in his bed William Murdoch looked around his cabin and breathed deep hard breaths. Standing up he walked across to the bathroom and turned the water taps on splashing ice cold water across his face.

"Something is wrong here something is very wrong here" he uttered to him self leaning across the sink before him. Steadying him self once again, he dried off the water from his face and placed his towel back on the railing. Walking back into the room he noted the time by the clock sat upon the wall, it was 21:40pm and he was due to be on duty at 10pm to relieve his commanding officer Mr Wilde of his duty for the evening.

Taking out his proper uniform he got changed and looked at him self in the mirror. Straightening his tie he walked across to the bed and took his cap placing it on his head he then took the gloves and placed them in his over coat. Before walking out of his cabin he looked around his room, it felt odd like this was the last time he would see this room. Just as he turned he saw a sparkle which caught his eye and he turned to look back at it. Not knowing what it was he walked slowly over and picked up the thin gold ring. The light from outside his cabin must have shone through to give it some kind of sparkle but how did it get in here. Placing it in his pocket he had plans to take it down to the lost and found department after his duty this evening.

Smiling the young woman who had stolen the young first officer's heart, lent back against the door as this incredible man walked away from her cabin. It was like a dream come true to her, he brought out the side of her she thought she had forgotten; the beautiful young woman side. Her heart skipped a beat every time she thought of him and she replayed all the different things that had happened to her that evening with him...with William Murdoch.

Pulling her self forward she felt like screaming out and thanking the lord that she had been blessed with such a wonderful gentleman. Slowly walking across the room she sat on her bed and gazed out at the night sky as it slowly passed by her open window. The stars seemed so much more beautiful in the night sky the shone with not only love for her but for all the couples in love tonight on this ship of dreams.

"This really is the ship of dreams" she whispered to her self as she felt her eyes start to close slowly and her dreams filled with only one man, and with all her hopes, her dreams in life resting with him.

Walking down the decks towards the bridge he stopped and put his gloves on as the cold chill of the wind hit him. It was cold tonight a lot colder than usual again images in his head made no sense but were there at the least. They meant something to him but what? What was he dreaming about? Were they even dreams? They felt more like reality to him but where no more than visions in his head when he came out of them.

The wind whistled past him once again as he continued his journey to the bridge where upon he spotted his commanding officer. Walking across to him he stood next to him gazing out into the vast ocean.

"Its calm tonight" Mr Wilde spoke first. His voice held authority and knowledge. For a moment Murdoch thought of speaking to him about his visions but decided not to when Commander Wilde turned and looked at the clock as the hands rested exactly on the time 10:00pm. Looking back at Murdoch he nodded and smiled a nervous smile, like he was worried about something.

"Have a good evening sir" Will spoke as Henry Wilde walked off the bridge. Stopping in his tracks he nodded and carried on.

Looking out at the view again he stood there contemplating his thoughts when a voice spoke behind him.

"Evening Will" Mr Lightoller said as he walked up behind him standing next to him on the bridge.

"Evening" came Murdoch's short reply as he continued his dream world. Looking at him Lightoller decided it was best not to disturb his commanding officer whilst he was in this kind of a mood. So heading for the door way he stopped and waited for someone to walk by when Murdoch appeared by his side.

"Did we ever find those binoculars for the lookouts?" Murdoch asked walking across to the deck and standing up upon the step looking out across the deck when Lightoller spoke

"Haven't seem them since Southampton" he replied standing on behind him. Noticing this was his first officer's resting place for the evening he decided to carry on with what he was going to. He and will were good friends and he knew something was on will's mind but decided not to venture to far into it. He made a mental note to ask him later when he came off duty.

"Well I'll be on my rounds, cheerio" Lightoller spoke before walking off. Watching him go Murdoch turned and looked back out into vast ocean in front of him. The cold air was chilling it was freezing this evening and he pulled up the collar on his over coat to cover his neck. Perhaps everything that he had been dreaming about really was just stress about being aboard this ship on her first voyage. Smiling to him self he noted that the deck had gone quiet and he turned to watch what he presumed to be a light in the distance.

Further out onto the deck, way above it in a crows nest sat two Officers'.
Looking at his comrade and rubbing his hands together officer Fleet broke the silence between the two

"You can smell ice, you know, when it's near." He looked at lee who simply replied with

"Bollocks!"

"Well I can" fleet replied.

Both of them looked at each other before rubbing their hands together and blowing on them trying to keep warm.

Staring at the light that now faded slightly, Murdoch rubbed his hands together trying to keep him self warm. Why was it so cold this evening, it hadn't been this cold in their entire journey so far. Putting his hands in his pockets he felt something and pulled out the small gold ring that he had found earlier. Staring down at it he examined it a little and smiled, he wondered who it belonged to. He had never really though about getting married he never wanted to have to leave that person behind whilst he went to different places around the world.

Then his thoughts drifted to images of her; Elizabeth. He was acting so strange around her when he left her at her cabin this evening. He knew tomorrow he would make up for it. It was his right to, what must she think of him. Her name meant so much to him now she meant so much to him. Could this ring be a symbol of something he wondered and laughed a little maybe he was finally going to be happy like everyone else?

Back at the crows nest Fleet and Lee are still trying to keep them selves warm and here a bustle down below to which Fleet looks over and smiles. Standing down from looking he looks at lee then they both look out straight ahead of them.

Fleet's face dropped closely followed by lee's as they both saw the ice berg dead in their path. Reaching out and grabbing the bell handle fleet swung it and rang the bell three times.

"Bugger me!!!" he curses then reaches for the telephone calling to the bridge.

Hearing the bell ring Murdoch quickly shoves the ring back in his pocket and turns looking out into the ocean. It was so dark he couldn't see anything yet he began to wonder what it was whilst in the back ground he could hear the phone ringing.

"PICK UP, YA BASTARD!" Fleet cursed whilst waiting for someone to pick up. Strolling out with his cup of tea in hand Officer Moody walked across the bridge and flipped line open so he could speak to the person on the other side. When a voice came shouting through

"IS ANYONE THERE?" Fleet shouted

"Yes what do you see?" moody questioned.

"ICE BERG RIGHT AHEAD!"

"Thank you" moody replies hanging up and walking to the door that enters to the bridge. Seeing the iceberg suddenly come into view Murdoch races towards the bridge as moody shouts to him

"Iceberg right ahead!" wasting no time Murdoch leans past him and shouts to quartermaster Hichens who is at the wheel

"HARD A' STARBOARD!" Still wasting no time he barges past Moody and nocks the cup of tea in Moody's hand all over him self. Running towards the telegraph bell he quickly changes the direction to full astern.

What the hell was happening? This cant be happening? Why didn't I see this! It kept running through his mind before it suddenly hit him as he was standing willing the ship to turn.

All the images over the past few days clashed together inside of his mind his whole body gripped onto the side of the ship he saw everything he had witnessed in his dreams his visions they were all coming true...and he could have done something about it.

"IS IT HARD OVER?!" Murdoch shouts to the quartermaster.

"HELM'S HARD OVER SIR!" he shouts back and the bell rings on the ship signaling full astern. Now there was nothing left he could do but prey. Watching the ship turn slightly and gripping hold of the ship he saw the crewman below him run as the ship came towards the iceberg

"IT'S GONNA HIT!" he shouted and ran away from the edge.

Clenching his jaw, Murdoch looks on as the ship hits the ice berg and a sudden reality of complete failure falls upon his shoulders. As the berg passes he tries to force the guilt from his mind but the only release he's getting is from the sweat dripping from his brow. Screaming out once again he orders this ship

"HARD A' PORT!"

Almost in tears now his reality soon hits him again and he runs back to the bridge and rings the water tight door alarm. Wasting no time he flips the switch and turns the handle that begins the closing of the water tight doors. Down in the boiler rooms the men scramble beneath the clashes of the waves as they try and get out when all around them water pours in.

"GO LADS GO!" Barrett screams out to his men pushing them though the doors before scrambling him self out just in time, knowing that he couldn't do anything for the poor souls left behind closed doors. Back on the bridge as the ship passes the berg Murdoch continues looking at the water tight door lights then speaking in a low tone he orders moody to

"Note the time...enter it in the log." Just as moody walks away he checks the time and carry's on walking. Looking to his left slightly Murdoch looked at him self standing in his tuxedo looking back at him his vision from before when he had been here before, he had now switched rolls and was looking at a visit from the past. Silently he closed his eyes and a tear fell down from his cheek.

"Why?" he whispered so only he could hear. Suddenly a door opened to the left of him and he wiped away the tears knowing exactly who it was before the person came out. Turning he watched his captain walk across the bridge and Murdoch followed his movements turning his body to watch him. When the captain turned back he looked Murdoch in the eyes and asked

"What was that Mr Murdoch?" a definite sense of worry echoing in his voice. How could he tell his captain what had just happened? He couldn't but he knew he had to because time was not his friend any more and he had lives to save. Looking straight into the captains eyes he spoke trying to keep as calm as possible

"An ice berg sir" he spoke and the image of him self in the past disappeared

"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 hit... and I..." before he had a chance to finish he was cut off as the captain left the bridge heading out to the starboard wing closely Murdoch followed him as he barked an order

"Close the water tight doors!"

"The doors are closed sir!" he spoke as he followed his captain. As the captain walked further out he barked out another order

"All stop!" hearing this Murdoch turned and the a crewman shouted

"I SIR!" following his captain and waiting as he looked over to the darkness trying to get a view he stepped down and both he and Murdoch stepped up and looked over at the ice that now rested on the deck of the ship.

"Find the carpenter get him to sound the ship!" Captain Smith spoke. Rushing off Murdoch knew his duty; he knew what his dreams meant he knew what he had to do.

Ok guys that's chapter 4 sorry it took so long I was a bit put off by one particular reviewer as you can see in the reviews. But thanks to cassi who made me feel a lot better about this story and gave me a chance to start writing again thnk you and hope you are enjoying the story so far theres still abit more to come yet so guys don't forget to rr please thanks xxx