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
