Ch 11 April 11,1912 11:22 am
Helen carried her medical bag at her side ignoring the customary stares she had grown accustomed to. Dr. O'Loughlin opened the door for her with a smile.
"We have only one more area left." Dr. O'Loughlin said. "3rd class. 706 men women and children. Fortunately, most of them are healthy. "
Helen frowned at the gates as they passed, but kept her mouth closed. She followed the Doctor down another 2 corridors before anything eventful happened. There was a soft giggle from behind her. She turned to find a small group of children following her, whispering in French behind dirty, weathered hands. With squeals of laughter the children laughed and ran in several different directions, then slowly crept back. The eldest, a girl about 7 walked timidly up to Helen.
"Are you lost?" She asked in French. Helen smiled and shook her head.
"Rich folk don't come down here." The girl said with a shrug. "We thought maybe you were lost."
"No." Helen replied. "I'm here helping the Doctor. Why don't rich folk come down here?"
The girl tugged at one of her dirty pigtails. "We see them up on the top deck. The one that touches the sky. But they don't see us. They don't look." she reached out timidly and touched the silk hem of Helens dress. "So soft. My dad says when we get to America we'll be rich too."
Helen smiled and pulled out her Silk handkerchief and handed it to the young girl. "I'm sure he will. In the meantime you can have this." She smiled as the girl held the cloth to her cheek. "Tell me what you think of the Titanic?"
"It's the loveliest ship!" The girl exclaimed, hopping from one ragged foot to the next in childish restlessness. "I sleep in a real bed! With blankets and a pillow and everything! "
"And there's food. Lots of it!" Another child added. "I didn't go to bed hungry last night. And there was breakfast this morning. It was scrumptious! With real fruit."
"And soft bread." A boy nodded. The other children chimed in with all the luxuries of 'their ship'
"What about the Gates?" Helen asked. The children fell silent, but their eyes held the excitement of a shared secret.
"That is the best part, Miss." Said the eldest. "The gates lock out the rich children. We don't get rocks thrown at us. We are safe here. "
Helen smiled and nodded. A cage is a cage.. Unless it's a refuge.
"Last night I got a bath. With hot water and soap. There are two down here. " A boy of maybe four added solemnly. It must have been his first experience with warm water.
"It's almost lunchtime. We need to get back. The eldest said, corralling the younger children around her. Will you still be here later? We're going to have a party tonight." She smiled.
"It's a celebration. We're going to America!" The small boy smiled "Please say you'll come."
Helen smiled but before she could reply the doctor returned from the room. "I will if I can, but I think I need to be off." She waved goodbye and quickened her pace to catch up with the Doctor. "So very sorry. I got sidetracked."
Dr. O'Loughlin shook his head. "Nah that was an old London fellow I could handle all on my own. I brought you down for the next case. " You have a good touch with children. I think that will be a great help. We have a small boy with a cough who doesn't speak English. " He walked up to a cabin and knocked carefully on the door. "I have a pregnant patient I need to look in on tomorrow, I would appreciate any help you can give me. If you're up to it."
"I would love to." Magnus smiled, ignoring the pang of sorrow when she thought of her own frozen Embryo. A minute later the door opened and she pushed it aside. A woman holding a coughing child looked nervously between them.
"We have tickets. We paid we paid!" She cried frantically in Spanish. "Please please don't throw us out!"
Helen shook her head and held up her medical bag. "We are doctors. We've come to help you son. What's his name?"
"Jose." The woman said timidly holding the little boy out to Dr. O'loughlin. "He was named for my father. He has coughed for three days now."
O'Loughlin held the baby carefully and examined him closely. Helen spotted another girl in the cabin and asked to give her a checkup. Her mother assented quickly.
The Dr. pulled medication from his bag and gave it to Jose s mother. "It's just a head cold. Give him this every 3 hours. I'll be back in another few days. Will you be alright?"
José's mother took her now sleeping son back and nodded. Helen stood and followed the Doctor out. "The girl has a sore throat but that's already clearing up. " she reported. The doctor nodded.
"I can't tell you what a pleasure it's been meeting you, Doctor Magnus. I look forward to working with you again." The Doctor smiled as they made their way back up to First class.