Too few, there were too few of them. William craned his neck to get a better view across the sloping boat deck, his brow covered in a sheen of sweat from the exertion of cranking out the lifeboats. Where were all the women? The children? He desperately wanted to fill his boats, but damn it, the passengers were thin on the ground. As Wilde had said, it was too cold and noisy out here for them.
He turned to look at the crewmen assisting him. The seamen were diligently working at the falls, straightening them out and making ready for the boat to lower as soon as they received his command. Titanic's Third Officer was toiling alongside them, making sure that everything was prepared according to their training. "Make fast the plug, boys, we wouldn't want to drop them down only to sink it," instructed Pitman.
Murdoch swivelled, the hem of his greatcoat swirling around his legs as he did so. He glanced toward the bow, hopeful that he'd see more passengers coming out from the interior of the ship.
At that moment, Moody approached the boat, trailed by Ismay and a group of women. "Sir, these have come from aft, I sent the steward back for more." Moody was huffing slightly from exertion, his nose and ears red from cold. He turned to the group, coaxing them forward with gentle yet firm pulls at their arms and elbows to approach the boat.
Mr Ismay fussed around solicitously, encouraging the women to get into the boat. "Alright ladies, it's perfectly fine, see here, take my hand, the Officers have everything well in hand, up you go," he persuaded, and the women one by one eagerly took his proffered hand to board the boat. "Yes, yes," he nodded, almost by rote," That's right ladies, in you go."
Bruce sounded every bit a cheerful spokesman, and not a man who knew his life was in danger. Will saw right through him instantly but was still grateful for his presence, as his overly chipper demeanour did seem to calm these passengers a little. And it was better than the near-hysterics the Chairman had shown earlier, until Lowe had given him a right bollocking to stay out of his way.
Murdoch observed the group of women, noting for the first time that a number of them held small children. "Quickly lads, let's keep moving, ready the falls!"Dear god, the children, he thought, there must be at least a hundred on a ship this size, and he'd only seen a few.
As the last of the ladies settled into the boat, Murdoch looked about and saw a man standing nearby, anxiously hovering and staring at a slight blonde woman who had gotten into the boat. "Sir… may I get into the boat? My wife… " Murdoch's clear blue eyes slid to follow the man's gaze, noting the woman's hands held protectively over her small belly. Suddenly, his throat felt tight, and he swallowed down the emotion that threatened his composure then. He understood now.
Will's eyes glanced left and right, the other passengers were all fore or aft, and none near enough to hear the crewmen calling them over. He thought of his own dear wife then, and he felt for the man.
Will could not help but feel his eyes prickle at the scene, the image of his Ada and how he would feel springing up unbidden. How could he deny this man the joy of being a father, when he wanted it so? How precious and fragile a cargo he had in his charge, one that came more easily to some women than others.
Ada once had been with child, but they were not to be so blessed. They'd hoped and tried since, but their yearning had not been satisfied as yet. Perhaps this woman, too, had longed and cried in the night for a child of her own. Now here she was, in his care and he had the responsibility in his hands to ensure she would be safe and cared for. Ada would approve. He took a breath and forced himself to push her face out of his mind. For now.
"I wish you would get in, sir" The words left his mouth as more an order than a reply.
Instantly, as though he were afraid Murdoch would change his mind, the passenger sprang into the boat, the woman waiting for him flinging her arms around him in relief, a sob escaping her throat.
Murdoch felt the undercurrent of turmoil in him lessen a little. Even if he did nothing else right tonight, he could hold onto that small thing. He glanced over at Pitman then, who was looking at him with approval. Murdoch returned a grim smile, and said "Pitman, you go in charge of this boat, and also look after the others."
He paused for a moment, an idea coming to him. Perhaps once they got to the waterline, they could row to the boarding gangway on D Deck and pick up more passengers from the lower decks. "Then stand by to come along the after gangway, you may be able to pick up passengers there," he finished.
Pitman acknowledged this with a nod and climbed into the boat. He turned back to Murdoch, who extended his hand to his junior officer. "Goodbye, good luck." It felt inadequate, but it would have to do. Pitman met his gaze, firmly shook his hand in return, then settled into position. "Lower us away."
William swallowed and stepped back from the boat, catching the eyes of the men at the davits waiting for his instructions.
"Steady men, and ready to lower," he bellowed, his Scottish burr more pronounced with the urgency, voice loud but controlled, perfectly schooled from years of experience. Arms raising to signal above the din of the boat deck, he waved both arms together, his gloved hands held perfectly balanced as a visual cue to his men.
"Lower away, left and right together!!"
The ropes creaked and twitched, the men grunting with the effort as the boat slowly started to descend. "Steady… steady… left and right together…" Very aware of all the eyes on him, Murdoch continued his calm but firm instructions as the boat lowered out of his sight, and he could only watch as the ropes paid out, nodding his approval to the men working. "As soon as she's away, ready the next boat."
Suddenly, a burst of light and a loud bang drew his attention upwards. The tails of a rocket arced down into the water, fizzing as they hit the surface. All around, the sea was dark and smooth, and Titanic was alone with what seemed like every star in the sky.