Titanic 2020

Captain Smith continued to examine the brightly-lit ship through his binoculars. Then he slowly lowered them. 'We need the fuel. We'll have to rig up a bosun's chair—'

'Sir, with all due respect — that's madness! Whoever you send, in these conditions, across that distance, it's a death sentence.'

'Mr Jeffers, I understand your concern. But we're already facing a death sentence. Better to go down fighting, don't you think?'

Jeffers glared at him. Yet within a few moments his anger had faded. 'In that case, sir, I'd like to volunteer to go across.'

'I was counting on it,' said Captain Smith.

***

Jimmy gripped the guard rail outside. The rain pounded, the wind howled and the waves, as high as apartment blocks, threatened at any moment to throw the Olympic against the Titanic. Claire, beside him, had to yell to be heard. 'They shoot a rope from . . . here . . . to there and try to make it secure on the other side, then there's like a swing chair he sits in and a pulley system and he slides across . . .'

Jimmy stared at the waves. His hands were numb from just a few moments' exposure to the wind and rain. He yelled back: 'You would have to be . . . really . . . really . . . really mental to try that!'

It is a sad fact that once you say something out loud, it has a habit of coming back and biting you.

Claire and Jimmy were still debating the foolishness of any sane being attempting to take a bosun's chair ride between two giant ships in a hurricane, when First Officer Jeffers somewhat sheepishly called them back to the bridge. He handed them each a cup of coffee and a towel to dry their hair. Then he led them across to Captain Smith, who was back behind his desk. Pedroza, his pistol jammed into his trouser belt, sat on the edge of it, grinning as they approached.

'Claire . . .' Captain Smith began gravely, clasping his hands and leaning forward, 'sometimes compromise is the—'

'Enough!' Pedroza exploded suddenly. He jabbed an angry finger at Jimmy, then moved it to Claire. 'I know you two are responsible for that little rag of a newspaper. You think you're very smart, don't you?'

Jimmy shrugged. Claire looked at the floor.

'When you strike me, little children, I always strike back, and twice as hard. It's just a question of waiting for the right opportunity. And now here it is.' He smiled at them, because he knew what was coming. 'You see, Captain Smith and I do not trust each other. He wants to send this man — Jeffers — and this man — Jones? — to the Olympic to get fuel. But how do I know what they will do when they're over there? Perhaps they will sail away and save themselves. Or find weapons and try to lead a mutiny against me. So I have decided to go with them. I am curious about this Olympic — I might just make it part of my fleet. However, if I do go, what's to stop them cutting the rope when I'm halfway across? Captain Smith promises that his men wouldn't do something as uncivil as that, but I'm not so sure. So we've reached a compromise. I will go to the Olympic on the chair, and you,' he pointed at Claire,'will go across on my lap. No one is going to cut that rope. And you . . .' he nodded at Jimmy, 'will go across with my second in command.'

Claire wasn't having any of it. 'My daddy—'

'Claire,' Captain Smith said bluntly, 'your father agrees.'

She stared at him in disbelief. 'My daddy would never . . .!' She turned to confront him, but Mr Stanford had conveniently left the bridge.

'He has, Claire. If you don't go, we may lose both ships.'

'But what if he loses me?' Claire wailed.

'It would be unfortunate,' said the Captain, 'but we have no choice. Jimmy, what do you say?'

'Does it matter what I say?'

The Captain smiled ruefully. 'Regrettably, no. But I want you both to know that this is the bravest thing you could possibly do. Ordinarily I would never, ever consider putting the lives of children at risk, but this . . . this pirate . . . has given us no alternative. All of our lives depend on it. If you were in the Royal Navy, you would most certainly receive a medal for even attempting this.'

'Gee, thanks,' said Jimmy.

34 The Ghost Ship

Fear.

Fear and horror.

Fear and horror and sheer terror.

Jimmy stepped up to the bosun's chair. The wind was howling, the seas raging and the Olympic was drifting dangerously close, threatening at any moment to crash into the Titanic and sink both ships.

And yet — he also felt curiously exhilarated. Hundreds of passengers and crew were crowded along the deck to watch the spectacle. Captain Smith and his senior officers stood outside the bridge. The mutineers jabbered excitedly Because he was going first, Jimmy was pretty much the star of the show. It felt quite good, and would probably continue to feel quite good right up to the point where he died.

After a dozen failed attempts, a line had finally been secured between the two ships: but there was no real way of telling just how safe it was except by sending the first two passengers across.

'Let me just get this straight,' said Jimmy. 'If we get across alive, then we'll know it's safe, but if we fall into the water and drown, then we'll know that it's too dangerous.' Jeffers nodded. 'That's not very reassuring.'

'It's safe, trust me.'

'Why should I trust you? What do you base that opinion on?'

'Instinct,' said Jeffers. 'And experience.'

'Do you have experience of sending a helpless child between huge ships in the middle of a hurricane?'

'Two hurricanes,' said Jeffers. 'And no. So it's just you and him.' Jeffers nodded at Dolphin Arm, who was already sitting in the bosun's chair. Dolphin Arm patted his lap and waved Jimmy over.

'Oh God,' said Jimmy. 'It's bad enough as it is, without having to sit on someone's knee.'

With the change in weather Jimmy had gone back to wearing his overalls over his stolen T-shirt and shorts, and these were now further augmented by an inflatable survival suit. Benson, who had helped him into it, had assured him that if he fell into the sea the suit would keep him afloat and alive for at least an hour.

'And how long will it take to rescue me?'

'In these seas? We won't be able to get near you.'

'This isn't funny.'

Benson had looked at him gravely. 'I know,' he said. But then he added, 'Look on the bright side, Jimmy. It's not me out there.'

'Thanks. I'll try and remember that.'

If Dolphin Arm and Jimmy were successful Jeffers would follow. Then Pedroza with Claire. And finally Jonas Jones.

As Jimmy prepared to step forward, Claire came up and hugged him. 'Good luck,' she said. She was wearing her own inflatable suit.

'Claire — there's something I should tell you.'

'I know. I love you too.'

'No. I can't swim.'

Claire laughed. 'It won't make any difference, Jimmy. Just concentrate on getting to the other side. I'll see you there. And I don't really love you, it's just the sort of thing you say when someone's about to die.'

Jimmy swallowed.

***

Jimmy could hardly take his eyes off the swirling waters far below. He was sitting awkwardly in Dolphin Arm's lap with only a very thin leather strap keeping him in place. The spectators, whom he had expected to cheer him off, had fallen ominously silent.