She was just emerging from the store to offer Jimmy a share when a hand was clamped roughly over her mouth and the muzzle of a gun was placed against the side of her head. 'Shhhhh.'
Jimmy used a discarded wrench to pry off the metal casing over the underground storage tank, and was just looking down into the darkness, trying to determine if there was actually any petrol left in there, when a shadow fell over him.
'Raise your hands, you cannibal monster,' said a ragged voice.
Jimmy raised them.
'Now turn around very slowly . . . and throw me the keys.' Jimmy started to turn. 'If you try anything I'll put a bullet in her.'
Jimmy completed his turn.
Ronni was bug-eyed with fright. The man with his hand across her mouth and gun to her head was overweight, steaming with sweat and covered from head to toe in grime.
'Hello, Jonas,' said Jimmy. 'Long time no see.'
32
Betrayal
They were given thirty minutes to think about it.
Jeffers remained silent as they were escorted from King Slash's throne room back to their prison below. Once the door was closed and locked behind them the passengers and crew clustered around Jeffers and Claire, demanding to know what had happened.
Jeffers asked for silence, his face grim.
'This . . . Slash — he wants the ship,' he said. 'He wants us to lure Titanic into port, and then he will seize her. If we do not agree he will kill one of us every thirty minutes and roast our bodies on the fire for supper. He will keep doing this until we give up the ship, or until there's none of us left.'
They all stared at him. They had expected to die from the moment they were captured, but when it hadn't happened instantaneously they had allowed themselves some small measure of hope. But now this situation seemed even worse. They were being offered a chance to save themselves — at the expense of the ship that had saved them.
Dr Hill was the first to speak. 'We cannot risk the Titanic. There are hundreds of passengers and crew still on board — if they get the ship they will surely kill them as well as us. They have no reason to keep any of us alive.'
'We don't know that,' said Rodriguez. 'Maybe he just wants the ship — not the people inside.'
'If it buys us some more time,' said one of the passengers — Mr Robinson, clutching his wife's hand tightly — 'maybe we should agree. Captain Smith might be able to find a way to rescue us.'
Dr Hill shook his head. 'If Captain Smith becomes aware that we're being held hostage, he will not attempt a rescue. He will sail away rather than lose the ship.'
'But he can't sail away,' observed Claire. 'Not without the missing part.'
'We don't know that for sure,' said Dr Hill. 'Jonas may still be alive. He could still make it back to the ship.'
'He's gone,' said Rodriguez. 'If the cannibals didn't get him, the rats surely did. He could hardly walk when I saw him. The ship is dead in the water. We have to try and save ourselves.'
They argued back and forth. There was angry pointing and raised voices, threats and warnings and cries of despair. The only members of their company who did not contribute were First Officer Jeffers himself — and the Rev. Cleaver, who remained sitting, off to one side, hands clasped, eyes closed, his lips moving every so subtly, apparently in prayer. Claire looked at Jeffers two or three times; he was at the centre of the group, he appeared to be listening, but there was something about the distant look in his eyes that made her think he had zoned out, that he was thinking his own course through it all. Eventually, as they continued tearing each other's arguments to shreds, he pushed through them and went and stood in front of the door, just staring at it. Claire also detached herself from the group and stood by him.
Without looking at her, he said: 'There's something about this that isn't right.'
'There's none of it that's right.'
'No — I mean . . . I don't know exactly what I mean. It's about the show — the musical, the costumes — they're all . . .'
'Actors,' said Claire.
Jeffers nodded.
'Their language, the way they act — it's like a performance . . .'
Claire wasn't really sure what he was driving at, but she was prepared to trust his instincts more than most of those still arguing amongst themselves on the other side of the room. Dr Hill would go with whatever Jeffers decided. Probably the remaining crewmen would continue to obey orders. Ty would do the right thing, she was sure. The remaining passengers, though — they might do anything to survive, even if that meant betraying the Titanic.
Eventually, with everyone still arguing, the door opened and a Wolf Man entered. Silence fell immediately.
'Have you come to a decision?' He demanded. 'Are you prepared to give up the ship?'
They all looked to Jeffers. He nodded around them, then faced the Wolf Man. 'Yes,' he said, 'we will surrender Titanic.'
Claire's mouth dropped open. Although most of their group had argued for such a decision, to hear it coming from Jeffers was quite a shock.
'I am the senior officer present,' he said. 'I have made my decision. Dr Hill, you're in charge until I return.'
Claire never thought in a million years that Jeffers would give the Titanic up so easily. She was about to protest — though, she noted, nobody else was — when Jeffers addressed the Wolf Man again, 'The Titanic is yours, subject to one condition.'
The Wolf Man immediately barked: 'What?'
'That's between me and Slash.'
Because of his mask it was impossible to read his face. There was a long moment when nothing was said, before he angled his head to one side and snapped, 'This way.'
In turn Jeffers indicated for Claire to follow him. She hesitated, unsure if she wanted to be part of this great betrayal. But then she decided it would at least give her the chance to make one last effort to talk him out of it. As they were led back down the corridor she hissed: 'What are you doing? You can't give her up!'
He didn't look at her, and as he spoke his lips barely moved. 'I need you to trust me.'
Slash sat regally, with a Royal Butcher on either side. The Wolf Man bowed, approached and whispered in his ear; Slash nodded and the Wolf Man withdrew.
'A condition?' Slash sneered. 'You are not in a position to make a condition!
'I believe I am.'
Slash bristled. The Butchers inched closer; Claire was aware of their hands moving to the hilts of their swords.
'I am giving you the Titanic, said Jeffers, 'I believe that deserves something in return. All I want you to do is kill me and to let the rest of my party go free.'
Claire spun towards him. 'You can't—'
'Be quiet! It's my decision.'
This then was his grand plan — a noble sacrifice to save their lives . . . or an easy escape from the guilt of giving up his ship?
Slash's real face was hidden, but he sounded like he was smiling. 'You have my word. Now, how can you be so sure that you can deliver the ship?'