“What do you mean she’s lost all control?”
“She’s seriously injured two people already, Dr. Simpson and William Dunford. Right now we have her confined to one of the patient rooms in the third-class hospital.”
“Where is Murdoch?”
“I don’t know. I came to you first. I got caught up in this after my watch concluded.”
“You said this woman is sick and violent?”
“Dr. O’Loughlin believes the sickness itself is making her violent.”
“How?”
Lightoller shrugged. “He wants to speak with you.”
“I’ll change and meet you down there,” said Smith, starting to shut the door.
“That’s not even the worst part, sir.”
“What are you saying, Charles?”
After getting dressed, Smith accompanied Lightoller down to the third-class hospital. Lightoller explained the rest of the story along the way, particularly emphasizing how the sickness that currently controlled Elise Brennan’s mind causing her to go insane could be contagious.
Could be.
When they reached the hospital and saw Dr. John Simpson, it seemed almost a certainty.
“His condition began to rapidly deteriorate right after you left,” said O’Loughlin.
“Aye, you could say that,” said Lightoller.
Dr. Simpson was sitting on the bench holding a hand up to the large purple welt on the left side of his face. He looked like he was struggling to keep his eyes open.
“He has a fever. A very high fever,” O’Loughlin continued. “Just like Elise.”
“Where is the steward?” asked Lightoller.
“William is in the other room. He also has a fever. He began to feel lightheaded so I suggested he go lay down. The bad news is I think Elise may have passed whatever ailment she has on when she bit them. The good news is I don’t believe the virus is airborne. So I went ahead and told Catherine to leave. Andrews elected to stay.”
Thomas Andrews shook Captain Smith’s hand and exchanged pleasantries.
“What is that sound?” asked Smith.
“That sound is Elise,” Andrews replied. “She’s in the other room.”
“Why is she...moaning?”
“I think the virus has made her incapable of normal speech,” O’Loughlin replied. “Moaning has become her only way of telling us that she wants something.”
“What does she want?”
Elise began to beat her arms against the door.
“To get out,” said O’Loughlin.
“To get at us is more like it,” Lightoller added, lighting up his pipe.
Captain Smith walked over and stood in front of the door to the second patient room. “How is it that you have her locked in there?”
“That’s the thing. Along with the ability to speak, she’s also lost the capability of intelligent thought.”
“You’re saying she can’t even turn a door handle, doctor?” asked Smith.
“Exactly. It is only the inability of her mind to learn and adapt that is keeping her locked up.”
“And I gather you’ve tried everything you can to help her, from a medical standpoint?”
“I can’t even get near her, captain. Generally, a sick patient wants to get better, and will cooperate in any way I ask. I’m afraid Elise has passed far beyond that point. She doesn’t even know she is sick. In fact, she may even think my intentions are to hurt her, not help her.”
Smith turned from the door to Elise’s room and looked back at Dr. Simpson trembling on the bench. A slimy, white pus now oozed from the bite marks on his face. The purple and black swelling increased by the second, giving the appearance that a large grotesque tumor was remapping the cellular structure of his face.
“How much longer does he have?”
O’Loughlin came up beside the captain. “I don’t know. Maybe a few hours. Less if he’s lucky.”
“We have to keep this from spreading any further,” said Smith. “We can’t take any chances.”
O’Loughlin nodded.
“We are already down one doctor. We can’t afford to lose you, and we can’t afford to cause a panic.” Smith turned to face Lightoller and Andrews. “That means this problem stays here in this room. The door will remain locked at all times, as this hospital will be off limits to any passengers. This will stay between us and only us.”
“And Catherine,” said Andrews.
“I’ll have a talk with her in the morning,” said Lightoller.
Smith nodded his approval. “Is there anyone else?”
“Margaret Brown,” said Andrews. “I was with her when she spotted Elise on the deck. She helped bring her to the hospital.”
“But as far as she knows Elise is dead,” said Lightoller.
“That’s right. She went to her room before Elise went...well, crazy, I suppose. So she doesn’t know about Dr. Simpson or William.”
“Then let’s keep it that way,” said Smith. “If she asks, Elise died.”
“It may not even be untrue come sunrise,” said O’Loughlin. “I can’t imagine her lasting much longer, as fast as the virus is progressing. Sad as it may sound, we’re very fortunate she has no friends and family aboard.”
“Should we move Dr. Simpson into the room with the steward, just in case he should become violent?”
“I don’t think he will become violent,” said O’Loughlin. “He’s dying, captain.”
“Elise was dying too,” Lightoller said. “We had to carry her into the room, have you forgotten? So she could die a nice comfortable death. She was as docile as he is now. How did that turn out?”
Everyone listened as Elise continued her assault on the door.
“He’s right,” said Andrews.
“I don’t think so. While they might be infected, there is no evidence to suggest their bodies will respond in the same manner. How do we know Elise didn’t have some underlining mental condition to begin with, and this virus is just exasperating it. Of course, I can only theorize.”
“No offense, but I’ve had my fill of your theories,” said Lightoller. “If it’s true you don’t know what this virus is and how it may react, then why should anyone listen to you?”
“Because I have a better understanding of medicine than you do,” O’Loughlin replied.
“You were the one that said Elise was dead,” said Lightoller, raising his voice. “This is a security issue now.”
“Okay, let’s all calm down,” said Smith. He took a deep breath and shook his head trying to clear the cobwebs. What a nightmare. He felt like he should still be asleep in bed, dreaming of better things. “All I care about is keeping this contained. With that said, I am the captain of this ship, and I think that Dr. Simpson should probably stay in the patient room with Mr. Dunford. I’m sorry, but I don’t want to chance this thing getting out of control.”
O’Loughlin sighed. “There is only one bed.”
“Then go find another one. There are unoccupied rooms in the forward hospital. Bring one of the beds back here. Thomas, would you mind assisting the doctor?”
“No, that’s not a problem.”
“Thank you.”
Andrews followed O’Loughlin out of the hospital.
“I think the doctor has good intentions, but perhaps the situation regarding his assistant has become too personal and has clouded his judgment. I need somebody I can trust to watch over this, at least for a little while. So I’m putting you in charge, Charles.”
Lightoller took a long drag from his pipe. “Does that mean I’m going to be sleeping here until we reach New York? I don’t think I can take much more of that racket.”
“No, you will still sleep in your cabin and go about your normal watch. I just want you to check on the hospital periodically and give me updates. Don’t tell anyone, including the other officers about this. People see a crowd down here and they might start to suspect something is wrong. If we all do our part, only three dead bodies will leave the ship in New York. Do you understand?”