April 17

Late evening

New-York

From the moment of arrival, the captain and I immediately took up the issue of installing a searchlight on the Titanic. We also ordered three new boats from the New York office of the White Star Line. Tomorrow they will bring all this, install it, and nothing to worry about until sailing.

The workday is over. The rest will wait until morning.

Leaving the ship along the gangplank on deck B, I leave into the night.

The city that doesn't sleep... Sinatra sang about New York very accurately. A hundred years ago, the rhythm of life in it turned out to be exactly the same as in our 21st century. Lots of people on the streets, traffic, bright signs. Having got out of the lanes where the piers of ocean liners were located, for a minute, I was confused. On the noisy 23rd street, having joined the flow of pedestrians, I felt at home. Having lived a week on the quiet outskirts of Liverpool, and after a week at sea, in a closed space of decks, where the lights turn off at 23 o'clock and everyone goes to bed, you wean from the bustle of the megapolis.

The main attraction at 23rd Street, Broadway, and 5th Avenue was not the MetLife building. Flatiron Building! The same 22-storey house! Locals compared it to an ocean liner floating down the street. I agree with them.

The intersection was also famous for its drafts, which lifted ladies' skirts up. Almost like in a movie with Marilyn Monroe. Men from all over the city came here to watch the show.

Not knowing exactly where I needed to go, I just decided to go straight ahead. Somewhere to the center of the city.

It has always been interesting why in cities they build houses with a fire escape on the facade? It looks ugly. And thieves can easily get into the apartment.

The streets bear little resemblance to modern New York. There are no huge 50-story residential flophouses, office buildings made of glass and concrete, in a word, everything that has turned our life into constant stress.

On the first floors of the buildings there are many different cafes, restaurants, shops. In principle, everything is as it is now. There's just something missing.

When I reached Madison Square, I saw the sharp spire of the MetLife Tower. In modern New York, it has long been lost among the glass skyscrapers. In 1912, the gray tower was the tallest building in the city. It was not faceless. It's not about the clock on the facade. It was built by people for people, not by misanthropic architects to torture people with meaninglessness.

After some thought, I turned onto Broadway. What can I say? A real megapolis. Liverpool, compared to this city, is a miserable village.

Exceptionally well-placed ads. Does not irritate, does not disfigure the facades of buildings.

From the outside, I looked like a hillbilly looking at the glitter of New York. I don't understand how guys can sleep on a ship, knowing that there is such a movement nearby.

Looking at the bright electric signs, I felt a strong blow to my shoulder, almost knocking me off my feet. Behind me, a woman's voice was shouting, "Stop the thief! My bag!" Reacting quickly, I rushed after the fleeing robber.

It was not difficult to catch up with him. My two years of experience as a policeman made itself felt. I knocked him to the ground and twisted both his arms. Compared to the criminals of Los Angeles, he was a pregnant cockroach.

A policeman ran up with handcuffs.

"Are you hurt, sir?"

"It's all right, policeman. You can take him away"

"You caught him very cleverly."

"I often have to deal with rabble."

"I understand you, sir" The policeman left with the detainee.

In the confusion, I did not notice that small personal belongings of the hostess fell out of the handbag lying on the ground: a nail file, a mirror, lipstick and…iPhone 6. Pretty old for 2022, but definitely made in the 21st century.

"F…k" I screamed in fear.

"You don't need to express your emotions like this, young man."

I heard from the victim who came up.

"You could say thank you for the fact that your phone did not fly into the trash along with an empty wallet."

"What a meeting! How long have you been in this era?"

"Already two weeks."

"White Star Line" the girl smiled, looking at my cap "What ship?"

"Titanic"

"It can't be! Today, when I saw that my neighbor and his wife had returned, I almost choked on breakfast. Silence on April 15 about the Titanic, silence on 16th. Then I began to suspect something. Today I'm watching Astor and Madeleine taxiing in a car. I even crossed myself, John did not disappear."

"I interfered a little. Nothing special. Just didn't want to die."

"A little? Just changed history. Indeed, a trifle."

We walked slowly down the street toward Central Park.

"Oh…I forgot to introduce myself. I'm Rose"

"Henry" I giggled. Now I had my own Rose. "Sorry I'm not Jack."

"Very funny" Rose pouted her charming lips.

"It's just a miracle that we met. I thought I would never meet anyone from our time here."

"How long have you been here, Rose?"

"Since 2015. Seven years"

"And you never met anyone?"

"Except for those whom I met in the first days, no one."

"You have no idea how happy I am to meet you. I'm tired of people who don't understand anything about things that are important to me."

"Do you like the Titanic, Henry?"

"Highly. Fell in love from the first day. The officers are very good, the captain is a real man - fair, demanding."

"You seem to be better off here than in our era."

"Definitely. I'm happy."

"Can I come see Titanic? I dream of seeing the stairs where Rose and Jack kissed. That final scene... I always cry when I watch it."

"Of course, come. I'll show you everything. There is something to see. The liner is simply a work of art. I'll introduce you to everyone."

Her eyes lit up.

"Do you also know the one who shot himself?"

"I know" I laughed "Will Murdoch. Very good man. These guys are much more than that movie where they were shown for three minutes each."

We walked further down the street.

"Are you afraid to walk at night with a stranger?" I asked.

"Actually, I'm afraid. You leave with a stranger, and then someone finds you in a steak." Rose scoffed.

"How do you feel about New York in 1912, Henry?"

"Boring. People are strictly dressed, there are no McDonald's, normal stores." I yawn "Everything is weird for me"

"I didn't like it at first either. Now, on the contrary, I am delighted. Nothing extra. The flourishing of the city. If you could choose a transfer year, what time would you choose?"

"Seventies or sixties, perhaps. That's when New York had a real dawn. Andy Warhol with his Factory, Studio 54, Bob Dylan, Truman Capote..."

"It was atmospheric. Now what? People walk around buttoned up. Don't say a word to anyone. I'll think a hundred times before asking or answering..."

"Understand. It was hard for me to get used to it. Hey! Have you seen John Lennon's house?"

"No. I heard but didn't get to go. I thought next time I'll come and see."

"I will show. Very nice house overlooking Central Park. People used to be able to build. Oh well, now they do. Everything got mixed up in my head." Rose took my hand and led me.

Midnight is on the clock. There are fewer people on the street. The roadway is gradually emptying. Times Square is not even remotely similar to modern. Low buildings, simple signs, no electronic displays.

"Look, the Astor Hotel is on the right. Fashion place. In modern New York, it has long been gone. There's a cool rooftop bar overlooking the city."

"Let's go there tomorrow."

"Of course. I'll introduce you to two more people from our world. A great place to celebrate an acquaintance."

"Are you talking about the ones you met after moving?"

"About them. But you'd better see them yourself than I'll tell you half the evening."

"Are they that good?"

"More than. Not boring, that's for sure."

With conversations and memories of a past life, we reached Central Park. Now is not the same as we knew it in our world. However, not worse.

"You know, Henry, I have a feeling this city is truly opening up for me only now. I was born and raised in Manhattan in the park area, and I have never experienced such bright pure emotions as I do now."

"You didn't tell me how you got here, Rose."

"Nothing special. As I said, I have lived in New York all my life. My mother is Dutch, my father is American. Very rich people. Seven years ago, I left my house in the evening to meet my friends at a bar. The last thing I remember is a strange fog near Park Avenue, at the intersection with 63rd Street. Coming out of the fog, I saw everything differently. This is how my life here began. iPhone still shows 2015. I never thought or dreamed about time travel."

"Lucky. You are in your body and with things from your world. And I was shot two weeks ago. Here I got into the body of the Henry Wilde. Chief Officer of Titanic. I also got a good British pronunciation from him as a bonus. Like you, I never dreamed of time travel or moving between the worlds. I was fascinated by the Titanic because my dad was on the set with James Cameron. I often thought about what I would do if I were on board."

"Here you are. Dreams Come True."

"Yes, but the longer I'm here, the less I understand."

"You still have to learn so much that will take your breath away ..."

We met the dawn on the bench, looking at Dakota, listening to the Imagine song. Lennon's music is timeless and spaceless. It will sound equally brilliant in the past, present and future. It will be understood by a person from 1912 as well as from 1982, 2017 and 2563.

The sun slowly rose over the gothic towers and the first birds began to sing. She laid her head on my shoulder, and I was afraid to move.

I walked with Rose to her mansion on Fifth Avenue, telling her where to find me, just in case. We agreed to meet at nine o'clock in the evening at the Astor Hotel in Times Square.