Chapter VI: Not At Their Best
A/N: Even though I am past the sinking, I have to go back a bit in time for the first point of view. I'm still on April 15th. After the first pov, we'll be back to our characters in Collapsible Lifeboat A. Thanks go out to The Cowgirl Bookworm for her help! Also apologies to speakers of Spanish. I had to use Google translate. Italics are foreign languages and thoughts I hope you all like the chapter. Yes, I know what today is. SSD
April 15th 0140, 80 miles SE of the Titanic, USS Florida
"Ever been to Iceland, Roland?" Erik asked.
"I haven't gotten there yet," Roland answered, not taking his eyes from the ocean in front of him.
"I've heard some of the Marines say that the most beautiful women live in Iceland. Not that either of us will be partaking though. So when will I get to meet Ghislaine?" Erik inquired.
"Hopefully in the middle of May. Cecily will likely meet her around the same time," his closest friend replied.
It was then that the telephone in the bridge rang, Erik went to answer it. The message was "Lieutenants Lethbridge and Sperling report to wardroom 1 for meeting."
Erik turned to his friend saying, "Looks like we have a meeting. Can't be good."
"No good news ever comes at this time of night," Roland agreed before saying, "Lead the way."
It did not take long at all for them to arrive at the wardroom. It was a good sized table with oak chairs. He and Roland went to their seats. They were not the first to arrive, but they were the least sleepy looking as they had been the officers of the watch.
The junior officers stood up immediately when Commander Blair, Doctor Kelly, and Captain Frankling entered, all three looking grim.
"Return to your seats," the captain ordered.
"Our orders have changed. Instead of participating in the war game, the Florida is going to be assisting in a rescue operation. White Star's Titanic has sunk after striking an iceberg with a massive loss of life. We are to rendezvous with the Carpathia, the rescue ship, provide assistance and escort them back to New York.
Erik flicked his eyes towards Roland, who had turned deathly pale. It was only then that he'd remembered that his old friend had told him earlier in voyage that Cecily and their aunt were returning to the states on the Titanic.
Since Roland was not likely any state to ask questions, Erik decided to inquire, "Sir do we have any idea as to what might be the numbers on the survivors?"
"Likely less than half of what was on board, Lieutenant Sperling," Commander Blair replied.
Erik immediately regretted asking that question when he heard the arms of the chair next to him creak.
Lieutenant Ring of the Marine detachment asked "Will my marines be needed to provide security on board the Carpathia Captain Franklin?"
"Uncertain at the moment. But have Gunnery Sergeant Hannah get the brig ready. Call it a hunch, situations like this can bring out the worst in people," the Captain replied.
The chair was starting to splinter. Erik tried to catch Roland's eye but could not get his attention. He couldn't imagine what his friend was thinking.
From an officer whose name escaped him at the moment, asked a question that made him wince, "What we do to if we come across bodies, sir?"
That question proved too much for Roland. Erik pinched the bridge of his nose at the sound of wood breaking next to him. When he opened his eyes, sure enough, Roland had broken both of the arms off of the solid oak chair.
And everyone was looking at him.
"Lieutenant Lethbridge, care to explain why you've broken one of my chairs," Captain Franklin asked neutrally.
Tell the truth Roland, Erik prayed.
"My apologies Captain. I have a lot on my mind. My sister and aunt were travelling on board the Titanic," Roland answered in a pea soup thick Welsh accent.
Captain Franklin stood up from his chair, shocked for a moment, no doubt trying to decipher his friend's accent and words. "Well, Lieutenant that is an issue. You are welcome to absent yourself from this for the time being until you know of them."
Taking a breath, Roland had his Annapolis accent back in place saying, "No sir, I can handle it. I would rather occupy myself doing something than have nothing to distract myself from the worst case scenario. I will replace the chair Captain." He sat back down.
Once that bit of excitement was over, Captain Franklin began giving everyone their assignments. Erik was only half listening until he heard, "Lieutenant Lethbridge, as you are not normally a part of my crew, you will be assisting Lieutenant Commander Kelly in the Sick Bay in preparation for the wounded. As long as you can carry out these duties without destroying anymore of my ship?" Captain Franklin did have a small grin on his face to soften the admonishment.
"I can do that sir," Roland answered following the ship's doctor out of the wardroom.
Soon it was just him, Captain Franklin, and Commander Blair left. "Lieutenant, I left you last for a reason. I wanted to ask you one thing before giving you your assignment. I thought you said Lieutenant Lethbridge was from Denver," Captain Franklin asked.
"He is from Denver sir. I never said he was born there," Erik replied.
"I suppose I should have looked more closely at his file before he came aboard," the captain remarked before asking, "Did you understand his accent?"
"Yes sir. His father talks like that all the time. The lieutenant and his sister only slip up under very specific circumstances," Erik answered.
Captain Franklin nodded before saying, "Now Lieutenant for your orders: Use your engineering genius to get every knot of speed out of the Florida's engines. We won't be able to beat the Carpathia there, but I want us to get there in good time."
"Yes sir. Full steam ahead!"
April 15th, 0235
It would take an unholy amount of alcohol for Michael Turner to forget the screams of those in the water. And it was not like they could go back for more.
There were two reasons that he and First Officer Murdoch could not go back. Number one, their lifeboat was full. The second and more important reason, was that there was a murderer on the lifeboat and they did not want him to get any bright ideas.
Both the Italian kid and the girl were giving the killer the evil eye and they were not the only ones either.
There was something familiar about the girl, like he had seen or heard her talking earlier in the trip.
Must be the Welsh accent. She sounds like Fifth Officer Lowe.
His thoughts on the matter were interrupted when the prisoner started choking around the rope gag in his mouth.
Not wanting anything to happen to the berk, Turner ungagged him.
Only too late did he realize that it had been a ruse. The prisoner used his momentum and his own to attempt to capsize the lifeboat!
Upon it being righted again, Turner snarled, "Lad have you ever been to Singapore? I have. I learned a few things there that will make you wish you'd never been born!"
The Italian kid spoke next, "You know I have some cousins in New York, that would just love to meet you. Ever hear of the Black Hand?"
"Sharks are opportunistic feeders. Though, in my experience, they also enjoy living, squirming, meals," First Officer Murdoch stated in a deceptively calm voice. That kind of anger was always the scariest.
In another deceptively calm voice the girl asked, "May I have a crack at him?"
Turner flicked a glance towards the First Officer who nodded, "Come along back, Miss."
As the girl clambered over the benches, Michael finally got a better look at her. Dark brown hair, green eyes, and a US Navy greatcoat over whatever clothes she was wearing. She was also holding her hand of her right pocket. The coat was likely a gift from a relative.
When she finally got back to where he was, she did two things he did not expect. One was pull out a rather large hunting knife with her left hand and hold it up to the prisoner's eyes and start talking to him in Spanish.
"Me entiendes, Bien. Ahora podría hacerte un par de cosas. Podría castrarte. Podría quitarte los zapatos y empezar a desollarte de los pies para arriba. He visto las consecuencias de eso, no es bonito. Luego está la quilla arrastrándote. No sé qué es eso precisamente, pero suena desagradable. Por último, y este es mi favorito personal, puedo cortar tu cara bonita como corté la de Paul Thornton. Estoy seguro de que has oído esa historia." She sounded like she was talking to a friend the entire time. Her eyes said otherwise.
At that, Turner cracked the prisoner over the head with his billy club. He did not know who had been scarier in their calm, Murdoch or this slip of a girl.
Whatever she had said in Spanish could not have been too bad, he thought has she'd picked her way back to her seat by the Italian kid.
"Señorita, el cuchillo por favor. Lo recuperarás cuando nos recojan."
He'd been wondering when Murdoch would reveal his knowledge of Spanish. The girl had a look of pure horror on her face before she handed over the hunting knife.
This is what I get for showing off! Then again there are small children on this lifeboat and they've been through enough tonight!
Fabrizio looked at her with wide eyes. After she'd given the Bowie knife to the officer he whispered, "Were you going to do any of that?"
"No. But the murderous pendejo thought I would. So it worked like a charm," she replied.
"Quién eres para saber a quién le devuelvo el cuchillo," the officer asked.
"Dime quién eres, entonces podría decírtelo," Cecily replied not bothering to keep the snark out of her voice.
"William Murdoch. Y el tuyo?"
"Shit, Shit, Shit! Of all the ship's officers for me to be stuck with, the one that nearly caught Harry and I last night! I need to be very careful!"
Smiling politely she answered, "Cecily Lethbridge, encantada de conocerte."
"Nos hemos conocido antes, Señorita Lethbridge?" Murdoch looked like Christmas had come early.
"No me parece."
She watched him with narrowed eyes as he spoke with some of the other people on the lifeboat. Cecily had a very good idea what the man was doing. She wanted this conversation done and over with as soon as possible.
Murdoch on the other hand likely now had a pretty good idea who she was and was content to draw things out for a bit.
Just when she thought that he was going to let her be Murdoch asked, "Cuál es su opinión sobre la observación de estrellas Miss Lethbridge?" Cecily did not like the smirk on the officer's face.
"Me gusta Lo hago mucho en casa en Colorado. Las vistas desde las montañas son increíbles." She answered truthfully. Cecily was going to get Harry for that fib.
"Tuviste oportunidad de hacer algo a bordo del barco?" Clearly he had a theme to his questions.
"No mucho. Dejé mis binoculares en casa en Denver," she replied through gritted teeth, starting to get a headache.
"Yo personalmente prefiero un telescopio yo mismo. Junto con alguna compañía. Es bastante agradable sentarse con alguien y mirar el cielo nocturno," he murmured slyly, trying to get information out of her.
"He mirado el cielo nocturno con Har-er Erik. El amigo de mi hermano Erik. No me des esa mirada. Es como otro hermano," Cecily blamed her growing headache and hoped that the other officer would not notice her slip up.
No such luck. With that knowing smirk he said, "Buen intento, pero no lo suficientemente bueno. No tengo ningún problema con que estés involucrado con mi quinto oficial, pero por el amor de Dios, ten cuidado."
What the hell does he think we are doing? It's not like we are sneaking off to knock boots at every opportunity! Cecily knew she needed to disabuse him of the notion.
"Teniente, no soy su hermana ni su esposa. Lo que hago por la noche no es asunto tuyo."
The girl was not backing down, her green eyes looking like chips of ice. Her Spanish was better than any Will had heard in a long time.
"En circunstancias normales estaría de acuerdo. Sin embargo, en la actualidad, todos los oficiales se encuentran en una posición precaria. Téngalo en cuenta en su próxima excursión de observación de estrellas," Will countered.
"Estás haciendo muchas suposiciones. Harry y yo somos simplemente viejos amigos, nada más," Cecily fired back at him before returning her focus to the skies above.
"Viejos amigos que se encuentran a todas horas de la noche," he scoffed.
"Tengo problemas para dormir cuando viajo. Así que tiendo a deambular hasta que me siento cansado. Soy bastante bueno para moverme por la noche," Cecily remarked sweetly back.
"Así que no te has tropezado con ningún banco de cubierta en la oscuridad recientemente," Will couldn't help but smirk as the girl's ears turned crimson.
This time Cecily did not reply in Spanish, instead switching to German. He was sure it was not complimentary towards him in the slightest.
"Así que también habla alemán, Señorita Lethbridge. ¿Algún otro idioma?"
"Hablo galés. Tanto mi hermano como yo lo hablábamos antes de que aprendiésemos inglés en la escuela. Lo mantenemos hablándolo con nuestro padre, tía y uno de nuestros primos. Mi hermano también habla español y alemán. Sabes, tienes suerte de que mi tía no esté en el mismo bote salvavidas que yo," Will did not like the crooked grin on her face.
"Porqué es eso," Will asked warily.
"¡Porque ella es la que tiene la pistola encima!" Cecily replied clearly enjoying herself.
"Ojalá tu tía sea más cuidadosa en su uso que él," he nodded towards the unconscious prisoner.
"Ella querrá usarlo en él," the girl snickered.
Before saying anything further, Will noticed rockets being fired. Clearly from the rescue ship.
Switching back to English, "Come along everyone, we should make for where the rockets are from. The rescue ship is nearby."
Relieved murmurs went through the lifeboat as they took up the oars.
0530 April 15th
Once on board the Carpathia and all of his passengers from both 14 and the collapsible he had towed, Harold found himself waiting to see if Cecily was in any of the remaining lifeboats.
Mina had been in Lifeboat 14. When he had asked where her niece was, she had told him that Cecily in her infinite wisdom had given her life jacket to a child who had gotten separated from her parents.
He had wanted to turn the air blue up hearing that, but had turned his mind to other matters. Such as scaring people away from rushing the lifeboat as it was being lowered by firing his pistol.
At least he hadn't found her went he went back in. He had found five people. One of them had already died in the night. One of the men he had found would likely be losing one of his legs, both if he was unlucky. The man's wife had gotten aboard the Carpathia before them and had been ecstatic to see her husband alive. It would likely be one of the few happy reunions.
Mina was inside getting checked over by the ship's doctor. The only way that had been able to get done was by him promising to go outside and watch for Cecily. Hopefully.
Once Harry got back outside, he heard a rather loud splash and someone spluttering in the water. He heard Murdoch growl, "Don't worry, you're not dying on my watch. You're for the hangman after what you did!"
As he wondered what the devil had happened, a familiar voice called out, "At least he's awake now!"
Of course she wound up on Murdoch's boat! He thought as he rushed forward, feeling lighter than he had felt all night.
First he saw a violin case being pushed over the ledge and sure enough, Cecily clambered onto the Carpathia.
Looking around, her eyes went wide when she saw him. Whispering, "rydych chi'n fyw", Cecily gave no damn to propriety and hugged him, which he returned.
She was trembling during the entire hug. When he tried to disengage, she just held him tighter.
"Your aunt is waiting for you inside. She was in my lifeboat," he murmured.
Once Cecily was inside, a man in first class attire was dumped onto the deck bound at the hands and wrists soaked to the skin. Master at Arms Turner climbed aboard followed shortly by First Officer Murdoch.
Captain Rostron was nearby, and upon seeing the soggy man on his deck inquired, "First Officer Murdoch, why is this man tied up?"
"During the sinking, he killed a man. Myself, Master at Arms Turner and two passengers saw him do it. Mr. Ferretti where are you?"
"Over here Mr. Murdoch," a young Italian man walked over, kicking the prisoner on the ground.
"And where is Miss Lethbridge…" when Murdoch saw him he asked, "Mr. Lowe have you seen her?"
"She is inside with her aunt sir," he replied.
"Actually, I am outside again," Cecily was back, this time with Mina who was watching them both with eagle eyes.
"All four of you saw this man pull the trigger," the Captain asked with four nods in reply. "What's your name, boy?" he asked the one on the ground.
"Patrick Hearst. And my uncle is going to make their lives a living hell!" he shouted. Harry gave Cecily's hand a squeeze that she returned.
"You're on my ship right now, well out of your uncle's reach. Soon, you'll be in the hands of the US Navy," Rostron nodded to his master at arms who grabbed Hearst.
"There is a US Navy battleship coming up to provide assistance and later an escort to us. You four will have to write up your statements before the USS Florida arrives and before you get any kind of rest," the Captain said.
Cecily seemed to perk up a bit at the mention of the vessel.
"Do you know anyone on that battleship?" he whispered.
"A friend of Roland's. Erik might be able to get a message to him sooner than any telegram," she replied.
He couldn't help but bristle a little at her familiar use of the name. Before she left to write up her statement however, she stood on her tiptoes to whisper in his ear, "Nid oes gennych unrhyw beth i boeni amdano. Mae fel brawd arall. Byddaf yn siarad â chi yn nes ymlaen."
Back in English she turned and asked, "Mr. Murdoch, my knife please?"
"Yes of course Miss Lethbridge."
He could only imagine what she'd done with the rather large hunting knife the First Officer handed back to her. He hoped she'd given the murderer a good scaring with it.
0600 April 15th
All he wanted to do was have something to eat and sleep, but due to Tommy's murder that he and the other three had witnessed sleep would have to wait.
Fabrizio trailed after Cecily, Master at Arms Turner, and First Officer Murdoch, while they were being led away from the other passengers and crew. News of the murder was starting to spread around the ship like wildfire despite Captain Rostron's best efforts to keep the news contained. Patrick Hearst had not gone quietly. He had made as much noise as he possibly could, even bound and gagged.
Next to nothing had been said about the uncle who could supposedly make all of their lives a "living hell". The other three had been quiet.
Once they were in an interior room of the ship, another Master at Arms said, "I understand that all four of you want to do nothing more than sleep, but you all need to write up your statements before you forget anything in regards to the murder. You will be provided with food and drink." There was a steward with him.
"I'll take some coffee," Cecily said.
"Make that two," Fabrizio added.
"I'll take some tea," the First Officer requested.
"How about something stronger," Turner asked which got him a look from the First Officer. "What? We're all thinking it, I'm just saying it!" This earned him another dirty look from Murdoch before he said, "Just some coffee."
Once everyone started writing, Fabrizio could not help but think of the conversation in Spanish he had listened to in the lifeboat. There were enough similarities between it and Italian that he could follow it. Half of the time the Murdoch and Cecily were talking about stargazing for some reason and one of the other officers of the Titanic seemed to be the subject of the conversation as well. Probably the one he had seen Cecily speaking to up on the deck. They had certainly looked cozy, and Fabrizio was not going to ask any questions on the subject as it was not his business.
Getting involved in other people's private lives was a surefire way to get into trouble.
When the coffee arrived, Fabrizio was able to focus better on his statement, the beverages certainly had that effect on the other three as well.
He had heard many superstitions about people who were left handed. Cecily's scrawl was barely legible.
"I've seen doctors with better handwriting than yours Miss Lethbridge," the First Officer remarked barely even looking up from his writing.
"You aren't saying anything I haven't heard before Lieutenant," Why does she keep calling him that? Cecily drawled before continuing, "I would prefer to type this up but all of the typewriters aboard this ship are in use so I am praying that someone aboard the Florida can read my chicken scratch," she replied curtly.
"Can anyone read your handwriting," Turner asked.
"My father, my brother, and a few others. Though my father now needs glasses to do it. I've been typing for a while now," Cecily was far more polite to the Master at Arms.
"I can think of someone else who might need to learn to read your handwriting," Murdoch stated, back to talking in riddles.
"Tome unas largas vacaciones con su esposa, Teniente," Cecily muttered with a smirk.
Fabrizio did not need any context for that comment, which promptly shut First Officer Murdoch up, with slightly red ears.
Cecily was the first to finish her statement, though she started writing up second letter. Murdoch finished next. Fabrizio himself finished a short time later, with Turner finishing last.
The Carpathia's Master at Arms collected their statements saying, "Get some shut eye, you'll need it."
Murdoch turned to him saying, "Mr. Ferretti, you will be staying with the crew. If you have any trouble, talk to one of us."
A/N 2: I knew this chapter was going to be a beast. But even I didn't realize how out of hand it was going to get. There was no place I could split it. So… What did you all think? I tried to give you the translations of the Spanish, but it messed up the formatting. I will come back later and give the translations when it won't mess up the formatting. Though the last bit of Spanish really needs no translation. What Cecily said and what she meant is pretty obvious. SSD.
Welsh translation
"rydych chi'n fyw"- You're alive
"Nid oes gennych unrhyw beth i boeni amdano. Mae fel brawd arall. Byddaf yn siarad â chi yn nes ymlaen."- You have nothing to worry about. He's like another brother. I will talk to you later.