April 15 1912 2:15 am

Helen followed the crowd, no longer sure what to do. There were still so many people and only two lifeboats.
Water poured freely into every nook and crevice. Getting into a lifeboat now would be sealing someone else's fate. Helen drew level with the source of a noise that didnt fit the chaotic scene on all sides; violins.
"Mr Hartley?" Helen looked at the lead musician in shock. "What are you doing here? Still on board?"
Hartley gave a modest shrug. We have been tring to keep order. You know the old saying, 'music soothes the savage beast'? We figure it might have a calming effect on frightened passengers. He shrugged "You had best get to a boat miss. There arent very many left."
"What about you?" Helen asked, looking at the orchestra.
Hartley gave a sad hopeless smile. "Theres no boat for us. But we knew that from the beginning."
Helen shook hands with the eight musicians as they all wished her well.
"Its been a privlage playing with you, gentlemen." Hartly smiled to his crew.
"Aye" the rest coursed in agreement.
"perhaps we'll all go to heaven" a fiddler said hopefully. "And we'll get those little gold harps/"
"Not me" The celloman, John Woodward proclaimed stoutly. "If I cant bring my cello I aint goin."
There was a small subdued laugh from the others before they sobered up and began playing an old hymm Helen knew but couldnt quite place
E'en though it be a cross that raiseth me, still all my song shall be, nearer, my God, to thee; nearer, my God, to thee, nearer to thee!
Helen realized it was the song Nikola often sand when he was nevrvous or unsure.
"Put that oar in place, Careful men" An officer with the name 'Wilde' on his hat supervised collapsable B. Helen watched anxiously as crewmen and passengers tried to move the overturned lifeboat from its restaints and transport it to the boat deck.
"Steady lads, steady" With an almighty crash the boat landed upside down on the boat deck. the men began scrambling to flip the boat back over. Helen headed over to see if she could help.
"Dr. Magnus? Still on board?" Wilde asked in surprise. "I thought you would have grabbed the first lifeboat off."
Helen shook her head. "I couldn't leave knowing so many people needed help."
Wilde shook his head. "Is there another boat on the other side?"
"I wont take someone elses place!" Helen exclaimed. "There are plenty more deserving people who should have a place on the boat before me."
"Calm yourself Dr Magnus, if you please." Astor said from behind her. "It does not good to panic."
"Im not paniced, Im annoyed." Helen replied with a deep breath.
Astor nodded with an understanding look. "I am going to check for any more women and children. Perhaps in the dining hall? If you could help me convince them to leave, I would apriciate it. "
Helen took another calming breath and nodded. "Very well. One last loo." she followed Astor into the dining hall where many men and a few women were dressed in finest evening wear milling about.
"Colonol Astor Good to see you, dear boy! " A well dressed man proclaimed and waved his arm tipsily. "Well in a manner of speaing. Its a shame about the s-s-ship." he slurred "Care for a brandy?"
"No, than you." Astor refused politely. "We re here to collect any women or children that might have been left behind."
"You could ask, but most in here have opted to make the best of the sining. Or to go down with their husbands..." the Brandy man slurred. "Why just 10 minutes ago-"
Helen stopped listening. She had seen a familiar form slip into the smoking lounge. Heart pounding in her ears, Helen followed.
On a normal day, a proper victorian woman wouldnt even think of stepping into a gentlemans room. But times were desprate and so was Helen.
"Mr Andrews?" Helen asked, aproaching the shipwright carefully. The man in question turned to look at her slowly.
"Mr Andrews, surly theyll let you on a lifeboat? Theres still time."
"History will remember me as the man responsible for all this. I'm the one who made all this happen." andrews intoned solemnly. "Save yourself, Dr Magnus. and those who deserve a better fate. I will not flee to save my own sin when I have already condemned so many others to die."
"Mr Andrews, you cant mean that." Helen stared at the glassyeyed man then shook herself. There was no time to indulge in other peoples pity parties. "Forgive me if I dont give up so easily." Helen turned and headed out of the smoking lounge.