We made it close when one of the officers demanded to know what our business was. The Doctor flashed his psychic paper and said, "Urgent business on the bridge. These two are with me."
The officer saluted and allowed us to pass.
"Time?" I asked Sam.
"Just before eleven," he replied, then he dropped his voice. "How did he get us past the officer? Who is he?"
"That's the Doctor," I replied in an equally low voice. "He's good at getting what he wants."
Sam asked no more as we made our way to the bridge.
We made it to the bridge and were nearly forced out again until the Doctor showed off his "ID."
"What is all this?" a man said as he approached us. He seemed to be in charge. "I said no passengers in the bridge!"
"Master," the Doctor said in a snarky tone.
"Doctor!" the Master said with enthusiasm. "Forgive me; I didn't recognize you. New haircut?"
"New hair," the Doctor replied with a smile. The men who'd previously tried to kick us out were back at their posts. "Now tell me, Master… Why would you go through all this trouble just to see me?"
"Just to see you suffer, you mean," he replied. "I dunno. I thought it would be fun to see you drown or freeze to death, or even just to watch you watch your friends freeze or drown. I assumed you'd come here at some point, so I convinced Andrews to fit all the storage rooms with wooden bolts." He looked the Doctor up and down; he didn't seem to notice me or Sam (who was utterly confused) the whole time. "How many regenerations does this make? Ten? Eleven?"
"Twelve," the Doctor replied with a tight jaw.
The Master laughed. "So you're telling me… if you die now, you're dead for good? What a laugh!"
Sam looked at me for explanation.
"I'll have to tell you later," I whispered, wincing at my lie.
"I can't stop what's going to happen," the Doctor replied with a grin, "but I can laugh at your mistake."
"What's that?" The Master smirked.
The Doctor leaned in close and I just barely heard the words: "They won't let you on a lifeboat."
The Master's smirk remained. "True," he muttered, "but do you think that will really be the end of me?"
Again, Sam looked at me. I insisted I'd explain later.
The Master pondered a moment, then his grin grew wider. "You know, I thought I'd seen you earlier, but you were still wearing a ridiculous hat and carrying around an umbrella." He paused as the Doctor's facial expression faltered a little. "This isn't your first time on the Titanic, is it, Doctor? Oh, this will be good! How many of your little friends did you take with you last time?"
The Doctor didn't answer; he only glared at the Master for a moment longer before turning and walking away, with me and Sam at his heels.
Once out of earshot of the Master, the Doctor turned to me. "Remember what I said about not saying my name where everyone could hear it?"
I nodded.
"Forget it. Forget everything about it. We want all of the me that we can find, and preferably before eleven-forty."