Hey! So I'm happening that everyone is enjoying the Titanic arc so far so anyway enjoy the next bit! Thanks for all the reviews, they make my day!
By the way I made a mistake on the first chapter of this! The date the Titanic set sail from Southampton was the 10th of April not the 12th!
Fifteen: The Unsinkable Ship Part 2
14th April 16.30pm
Arthur didn't really know how to describe it. One moment he and Alfred were having a stroll along Arthur's private deck, the next he was kissing him. Kissing him.
Getting over the initial shock, Arthur pushed Alfred anyway from him.
"What are you doing?" He gasped out, eyes wide.
"Kissing you, obviously." Came the blunt reply.
"You know what I mean."
Alfred shrugged, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly. It was endearing to the Briton.
"I've wanted to do that since I met you 4 days ago. Don't lie to me and tell me you don't like me back."
Arthur avoided the blonde-haired man's gaze.
"Sod off."
Alfred grinned and closed the space between them. "Whatever old man." And captured Arthur's lips with his.
April 14th, 22.30pm
Jack Phillips was not having a good day. As radio operator on board the RMS Titanic, it was his job to relay important messages to the captain and give passengers any messages sent from loved ones.
Since the Amerika's messages about icebergs, the SS Californian had reported "three large bergs" at 19:30, and at 21:40, the steamer Mesaba reported: "Saw much heavy pack ice and great number large icebergs. Also field ice." This message never left the Titanic's radio room. Phillips was far too busy transmitting messages for passengers via the relay station at Cape Race, Newfoundland; the radio set had broken down the day before, resulting in a backlog of messages that the two operators were trying to clear. A final warning was received at 22:30 from operator Cyril Evans of the Californian, which had halted for the night in an ice field some miles away.
Phillips giving a howl of irritation, quickly signalled back, "Shut up! Shut up! I'm working Cape Race." And began working on messages once more.
April 14th 23.30pm
Charles Lightroller, Second Officer aboard the Titanic, stifled a yawn and patted First Officer, William Murdoch, on the back as he was taking command for the bridge for the rest of the evening. Sixth officer Moody, came out onto deck and called to Murdoch,
"Enjoy, I'm off to do my rounds."
Murdoch grunted and turned his attention to the crystal clear ocean. It was a very clear night; the sea was like glass, so smooth that the stars were clearly reflected. Murdoch smiled slightly. Another perfect night.
95ft above him, in the crow's nest, lookout Frederick Fleet blew into his hands in a vain attempt to keep warm while Reginald Lee, his companion, looked ahead in an uninterested way.
"It's bloody freezing!" Fleet choked out, rubbing his hands together.
"I can't see a damn thing." The other managed to reply, shivering. Checking his watch, he gave a groan, noticing it was only 23.39pm. Tonight was going to be a long night.
"That's because we haven't got any binoculars, genius. Wee mix-up back in Southampton." He turned and grinned at his partner, "doesn't matter anyway because I can smell ice."
Rolling his eyes, Lee muttered, "Aye, sure you can."
Indignant, Fleet cried back, "I can alright? Sure, it'll come in handy. You heard Officer Lightroller telling the other crew and especially us, to keep a sharp look-out for ice, particularly small ice and growlers."
Lee nodded and both turned their attention to the front of the ship. Immediately they froze. Because straight ahead, in the direct line of Titanic's path was an iceberg.
"Bugger me!" Fleet yelled and rang the bell three times.
Hearing the bell, below them, Murdoch looked up and spotted the iceberg.
"Pick up you bastards!" Fleet yelled into the phone, calling the bridge. Moody walked briskly to the telephone.
"Is anyone there?" He recognised the lookout Fleet's terrified voice.
'Yes, what do you see?'
"ICEBERG, RIGHT AHEAD!"
"Thank-you."
Sprinting onto to deck, he yelled to Murdoch, "Iceberg, right ahead!"
Murdoch ran into the bridge and commanded Quartermaster Robert Hitchens to change the ship's course.
"Hard a'starboard!" He bellowed and Hitchens began turning the wheel left, which would result in the ship's tiller being moved all the way to starboard (the right side of the ship) in an attempt to turn the ship to port. Murdoch also rang "Full Astern" on the ship's telegraphs, which would reverse the ship's engines.
Running back onto deck, Murdoch watched the Titanic come closer and closer the iceberg.
"Come on, turn, turn." He mumbled under his breath.
Above him, both Fleet and Lee watched in trepidation as the ship creeped closer to the berg.
"Why aren't they turning?!" Fleet yelled.
Ever so slowly the ship began to turn but suddenly with a thundering noise, the ship smashed into the iceberg with a glancing blow, causing bits of ice to come crashing onto deck. An underwater spur of ice scraped along the starboard side of the ship for about seven seconds.
All was silent apart from in the crow's nest as Fleet blew a sigh of relief, not realising the iceberg had done any damage.
Grinning at his companion, he said, "That was close, wasn't it?"
Glaring, Lee grabbed him by the collar and growled. "Smell ice, can ya? Bleedin' Christ."
A few minutes later, all of Titanic's engines were stopped, leaving the ship facing north and drifting in the Labrador Current.
To be continued...
I know, I'm awful for leaving this on a cliff-hanger but I couldn't help it! Reviews would be lovely! Cheers, LucyMoon1992 x