April 23, 1912
Morning
Atlantic Ocean
The morning turned out to be sad. When I saw Paul Getty on the boat deck, I slowed down. The mood of the young millionaire that day was no different from the rest. He was thinking about something, standing near boat number 15.
"Hello Mr. Getty."
"Greetings, Mr. Wilde. It would be inappropriate to say good morning today."
"Maybe yes. On the other hand, we're fine. This is already a reason to say that it's a good day. How old are you, Paul?"
"Twenty"
"You sound like you're fifty and know everything about life."
"I know something."
"You don't know anything. Only death is irreparable. Everything else can be resolved."
"Remember this when 1973 comes. Then you will die a happy person surrounded by loving children and grandchildren, and not an evil, grumpy, greedy old man. Perhaps you will even have one happy marriage instead of several unsuccessful ones."
"W-h-a-at?" the young man turned pale "Is this my future? How do you know it?"
"I know a lot about you, most of it unpleasant, Mr. Getty. Change the way you look at money. Then everything will change. Good luck, Paul. Oh yeah...the supertanker idea is great."
I walked away quickly so that the guy wouldn't have time to come to his senses and bombard me with questions.
April 26, 1912
Day
Cherbourg
I'm standing where it all began - on deck D near the gangway doors. First class passengers disembarking at Cherbourg are transferred to a tender that will take them to the port.
I say goodbye to George Zane
"That's it, George. What are you going to do next?
"Oh Henry, my life is going to change a lot now. I'm going to Germany. Dentists are needed everywhere. You know what is going to happen in two years and in twenty-seven. My task is to prevent this from happening. This world deserves happiness and peace."
"If you need my help, George, I'm always there."
"I can handle it, Henry. The only pity is that my grandson Billy will never become a movie star." "And my father will never meet your grandson on the set of Titanic."
"If you compare the interests of two people and the whole world, the world is more important, Henry. And there won't be any movie anymore. Nothing to shoot."
We hugged and George stepped off the ship.
I stand on the boat deck for a long time, looking at the sea.
April 26, 1912
Evening
Southampton
End of the journey. The first voyage of the world's largest steamship is over. The passengers are happy, the crew is alive and well. We happily hugged and shook hands. Like after a battle in which you had no hope of surviving.
With movements perfected to the point of automaticity, we moored at the port of Southampton. The opening doors clanged. The gangplank was brought forward
We solemnly lined up on the bridge. Opposite us stood the captain, Bruce Ismay, and Thomas Andrews.
Ismay speaks first.
"Dear friends! Yes, yes, today I am addressing you exactly like this. Together we made a dangerous crossing of the Atlantic. I have no words to express my admiration for your heroism. White Star Company expresses its deep gratitude to you for saving the Titanic on the night of April 14-15. Thank you for saving lives and for the company's reputation. We are proud of you. You have also been given a bonus in the amount of three-monthly salaries.
Ismay's speech touched me so much that I even felt embarrassed for the mug and plate with White Star symbols that I had stolen as a souvenir. In my world they are priceless, but here no one noticed the loss.
The captain spoke next
"You will have a new captain. This crew won't be disbanded. You all will stay on the Titanic with a one-step promotion. Mr. Wilde is now captain, Mr. Murdoch chief officer, Mr. Lightoller first officer, Mr. Pitman second, Mr. Boxhall third, Mr. Lowe fourth, Mr. Moody fifth."
The captain took off his cap, came up to me, took mine, and put his on me
"Congratulations, Henry! The Titanic is now under your command. I know how much you care about this ship. Take the liner."
Everyone started applauding, and I turned red as a lobster. In my entire past life, I have never been told as many good things as in the past two weeks.
Then I, accompanied by the captain and senior officers, together with Bruce Ismay and Thomas Andrews, go to the engineers and electricians, to the entire engineering crew. They will also be thanked with a bonus. Their contribution to saving the ship is no less than ours. While the officers worked above, the engineers did not allow the heart of the Titanic - her machines - to stop. No one prepared us for an Arctic expedition in the middle of spring. In such conditions, bringing the ship to her destination port was a feat. We survived, breaking the course of history, proving that there is no predestination. People create their own destiny. Unfair game, you say. But no. It's not enough to know what will happen; you have to be able to make sure it doesn't happen.
Night from 26 to 27 April 1912
Southampton
At night we were finally free. It was easier for Moody, Lightoller, Murdoch and the captain living in Southampton - they were going home. Me and Lowe had to go to Liverpool with a change.
Near the gangway I said goodbye to my colleagues. Harold decided to spend the night in a hotel and leave for Liverpool in the morning. I was in a hurry to get to the children and had no desire to stay in Southampton.
Miraculously, I caught the last London train. In the compartment I took out a newspaper, hoping to read the latest news. In two weeks, I fell behind in politics, economics and social life.
There were five minutes left before departure. Two minutes before departure, an unfamiliar captain wearing a Cunard company cap entered the compartment. Just over forty in age.
His face reminded me of someone.
"Good night!" he greeted me
"Hello!" I answered just as politely, looking up from the newspaper, then again buried myself in the article with the latest news.
The stranger glanced sideways at my cap lying on the shelf for things. I pretended not to notice. Completely immersed in thought, I did not want to be distracted by idle conversations. Even with a colleague.
"Do they write anything interesting?" asked my travel companion "You read so enthusiastically."
"Not that much. It's just that after a week at sea I became a little wild. I am hungry for information." I smiled.
"Do you like to stay up to date with world news?"
"Very. We are in a world in which there is more and more information and less and less meaning." I laugh.
"Arthur Rostron" The officer extends his hand to me.
I almost fall out of my seat.
"H-henry Wilde" I squeeze out, shaking his hand "White Star Line. I'm very glad to meet you in person"
"Mutually. All newspapers wrote about the arrival of the Titanic in New York. Congratulations."
"Are you the captain of Carpathia? Tell me about your ship, Arthur."
"I'm not there anymore, Henry. I was fired. Without explaining the reason. They simply said "you don't work here anymore." And then things got weird. I had barely left Carpathia when Bruce Ismay caught me. As if he was waiting at the gangway.
He said that White Star was very interested in me and giving me a salary twice as much plus Oceanic immediately to command. Drean job. I'm going to Liverpool to sign papers."
I was shocked. It seems Mark and Alex tried their best.
"Hooray! So, are you with us now? Welcome to White Star."
The train traveled west past villages and towns with names that meant nothing to me. We didn't pass through any big cities so there was nothing to see.
Rostron was asleep, and my thoughts were far from here.
April 27, 1912
Night
King's Cross Station
From Waterloo Station Rostron and I moved to King's Cross to continue our journey to Liverpool. Our train leaving in half an hour from platform 8. I couldn't help but see the famous Platform 9 ¾. How to tell the former captain of Carpathia that wizards boarded the Hogwarts Express through this wall?
Leaving Arthur on platform 8 with our suitcases, I walked away for five minutes. To be in London and not visit Platform 9 ¾ is blasphemy.
We slept all the way to Liverpool. There was no energy left to talk. Too many events in the last 24 hours. Arthur was shocked by the sudden dismissal and the same sudden offer of a more prestigious job on a liner next to which Carpathia was not close in terms of comfort and speed.
The lights of small stations flashed. Night train carried me closer and closer to Liverpool. The city where my new life began.
April 27, 1912
Morning
Liverpool
London train arrived early in the morning. In the crowd of greeters and arrivals, I make my way to the exit from the station. A gray Liverpool morning is brighter to me than the brightest tropical sun. Exactly two weeks ago I left here into the unknown, full of doubts, fear of an unfamiliar time and strangers. A twitchy, confused amateur who knew nothing about ocean liners.
Two weeks that broke all my stereotypes about the British, making me what I always dreamed of becoming. Two weeks of struggle for the future, from which I emerged victorious.
I walked from the station. It's about four miles to my house on Grey Road.
The suitcase is almost empty. I look around, take out my iPhone from my pocket, plug in my headphones, and hide the phone in the inner pocket of my jacket.
The intro of the Oasis song fills my ears sweetly
Step off the train all alone at dawn
Back into the hole where I was born
An hour later, the key opened the lock of the peacefully sleeping house.
I'm back.