THE SHIP OF DREAMS
Chapter Thirty-Three

At long last, the first class passengers gathered on the deck. Many of them refused to believe they were in any real danger, and kept telling officers to hold the lifeboat so they could run and fetch something from their rooms. Rose held tightly onto Jack, standing beside one of the slowly filling boats. Jack’s fever-bright eyes searched the crowds of passengers, clearly looking for any sign of Mac or Ana. He kept murmuring Mac’s name over and over, and all Rose could do was promise him they would be fine.

First Officer Murdoch was in charge of this particular boat, and he allowed men, women, and children into it. Cal stood with Coddie Anna and Ruth, glaring as Rose and Molly prepared to lead Jack across the deck. When they reached Murdoch, Rose peered down…there was quite a large gap they had to cross. She closed her eyes, feeling dizzy. "Coddie Anna?" She looked over her shoulder, noticing that her daughter continued to stand by Cal, holding tightly onto his hand. "Come on, darling," she added, and Cal nodded to her.

"Go on," he insisted, and she wet her lips.

"Aren’t you coming on, too?" she asked, not wanting to leave him behind. Ruth urged Coddie Anna towards the boat, and at Molly’s encouragement, followed along afterwards.

"First class seats are right up here," Molly insisted as the officer aided Ruth into the rickety lifeboat.

"It’s nearly full," Cal lied. "I’ll get the next. There will be plenty."

Coddie Anna frowned, knowing the real reason why Cal refused to get on this boat. He didn’t want anything to do with Jack, who was now huddled between Rose and Molly inside the vessel. "Oh, Cal, don’t be stupid!" Ruth snapped from her seat, and Cal looked at her. His lips were in a thin line, and he backed away.

"I will see you in New York," he growled, and began to push through the crowds of people. Murdoch watched him go with a sigh and a shake of his head, and then began to allow others to board. Ruth scooted sideways, watching as people from different genders and races took their places.

"I hope this boat doesn’t become too crowded," she muttered, and Coddie Anna raised her eyes.

Rose glared at Ruth, eyes flashing. "Oh, Mother," she hissed. "Shut up! For once, just shut up!"

Coddie Anna never heard her mother speak back to her grandmother before, and especially not in a tone so harsh. Oh, they bickered occasionally…mainly because Rose was so free-spirited, but she usually held her temper.

"Rose, how dare…"

"For once, Mother, I do dare. Don’t you understand? The ship is sinking. The water is freezing, and there aren’t enough boats!" She paused, taking a breath and glancing down at Jack, who was shivering beneath his coat. "Half the people on this ship are going to die."

Coddie Anna’s eyes welled up with tears, and she hung her head. "Mama…Nana…please don’t fight," she whispered. Molly pulled the little girl into a hug, and Rose felt instantly guilty for having lost her temper. However, with the current situation, it was very difficult not to let anger gain control, and she reached over to smooth Coddie Anna’s hair.

"You’re right, love," she sighed. "Nana and I shouldn’t bicker right now." She raised her eyes to Ruth, who had turned away. The group in the lifeboat gasped as it gave a sudden lurch, and Rose realized the officers were preparing to lower it into the sea. She felt her heart racing as she watched the rows of tiny porthole windows moving slowly past her, and bent forward to kiss Jack’s hot cheek.

"We’re going to be all right," she promised, listening to the quickly growing panic of passengers still on deck. She hoped that Jack’s daughter and niece were safe, gazing up at the star-filled sky. No moon broke through the velvet blackness, leaving the sparkling diamonds in an eerie shadow.

As the lifeboat hit the water, she realized how quickly they were going down. The tiny porthole windows connecting to the different rooms on the ship blinded her like large, yellow lights. She turned away from them, glancing down at Jack, who was nestled against her lap. She wondered if he would remember this incident at all after he woke up. The fever made him horribly delirious, so he barely knew the person speaking to him.

Rose glanced at Molly Brown, whose dark eyes were fixed on the doomed liner. Panic was continuing to grow, no doubt about that, and she could barely make out the forms of the officers as they frantically tried to load people onto the lifeboats.

"God almighty," she breathed quietly to herself.

*****

Anastasia, meanwhile, followed Michael through the maze of hallways leading to the upper decks of the ship. She felt her lungs burning from lack of oxygen, and her feet were probably covered with blisters from the tight, flat shoes. On any other occasion, she would ask Michael if they could possibly slow down, but she knew their lives depended on getting to the lifeboats as quickly as possible.

"There!" Michael shouted, pointing at last to what appeared to be a stairwell. Anastasia barely had a moment to stop when Michael gripped her hand and practically dragged her along again. They thundered up the metal steps, finally reaching the open air. Anastasia gasped as she felt the cold night chill on her skin, and wished she’d been able to dress more appropriately. Her bare ankles stung in the wind, and she was almost ready to break down in tears of agony when they finally reached a row of lifeboats.

"Wait!" she cried, pulling Michael over to the side, and the two of them crouched low.

"What are you doing?" Michael hissed, and she pointed nervously ahead of her. When he got a better look, he saw that Mr. Hockley was passing them, looking exceedingly angry. No doubt he’d seen Rose and Jack, and was trying to get as far away from the two as he could. Michael blew out his breath, remembering the incident the night before.

"Good thinking," he told Anastasia. "Come on, though. We don’t have time to just stand around." He helped her to her feet and they dashed off again, trying to find the next lifeboat. Unfortunately, Cal happened to be standing by the closest boat, attempting to bribe an officer into letting him aboard.

"Women and children only, sir," the officer told him, and Anastasia stared at Michael in horror.

"Oh, no!" she whispered.

"You two!" The officer spotted them, and Anastasia jumped. Cal seemed to notice her, and his eyes narrowed, but he said nothing. "Get in," he added, and Anastasia glanced at Michael.

"Yes, sir," she replied timidly, and Michael aided her over the gap and into the tiny wooden vessel. When they were seated side-by-side, Anastasia leaned sideways, and whispered into Michael’s ear, "They must’ve thought you looked like a child," she told him.

"For once, I’m glad of it," Michael whispered back, and, seeing that the Grand Duchess was shivering, wrapped an arm around her.

"He’s still looking at me," she whispered, and Michael saw that Cal still had his eyes on her from where he stood. Eventually, he seemed to suggest enough money to the officer that he was eventually allowed into the boat. Anastasia swallowed hard, feeling sick to her stomach. Don’t let him frighten you, she heard a voice speak inside of her head. You are the Grand Duchess Anastasia Romanov, the youngest daughter of the Tsar Nicholas II. You are of higher rank than he is, though he doesn’t know it. She held her head high, staring back at him, and set her jaw.

For a few moments, the two engaged in a staring contest, each refusing to let down his or her guard. Michael noticed what the two were doing, and was greatly amused that Cal looked exceedingly more uncomfortable than Anastasia did. He folded his own arms and stared at the man himself. Beating you at your own game, he thought, fighting a laugh.

He felt his stomach rise to his throat, however, when the lifeboat eventually gave a great jerk. He felt Anastasia cling to his waist as they began to lower slowly down towards the ocean.

*****

Eventually, the lifeboat hit the water with a soft splash. Rose felt a few gentle waves lift them slightly, and watched as the officers and sailors desperately tried to pull them away from the suction. The bow of the ship was almost completely covered with water, so they could just barely see the top of the metal rails. People were dashing along the deck, trying to find a dry place, while others merely stood watching the water rise in shock.

Jack let out a small groan from where he lay on her lap, and she bent forward to kiss his forehead. "Maybe if we remove his coat, it might help his fever a little," Molly suggested, feeling the heat radiating from the younger man’s skin from where she sat. Jack began coughing, and the sound was so dreadful that Coddie Anna felt ill herself. Ruth shook her head, giving an obviously frustrated sigh, but kept her mouth closed.

"I have some brandy that might help," another woman in the boat suggested, pulling out a tiny flask from her fur coat pocket. "If anything, it’ll loosen the fluid in his chest."

Rose hesitated, but realized that since they were on a lifeboat, there would be nothing to ease his discomfort. "Thank you," she replied, accepting the flask and unscrewing the metal top. She eased Jack into a sitting position, allowing him to lean against her.

"Rose?" he whispered, and she smiled softly.

"Shh," she told him. "This might be a little strong, but it should help your cough a little." She cringed at the smell of the liquor, and allowed Jack to take a few tiny sips of it. He nearly spit out the first mouthful, but got used to it after a moment or two. It burned going down his throat and sent him coughing again.

"Do you feel as though you’ll need to cough anything up, Jack?" Molly asked, patting his back. Coddie Anna turned towards her grandmother, not wanting to watch in case he did. Almost as soon as she’d suggested it, Jack gagged and managed to spit over the side of the boat. He gulped for air, his lungs burning and screaming with protest.

"Works on my husband all the time," the woman who’d provided the brandy announced, encouraging them to keep the flask.

"Ma’am?" One of the sailors spoke, and Rose looked at him. "You might want to try soaking something in seawater. It’s cold enough that it might help the fever."

"Use this," another woman added, removing her scarf from around her neck.

"Oh, no, don’t…" Rose argued, but the lady had already pressed the article of clothing into her hand.

"I’ll hold onto you so you can lean over to dip it in," the sailor who’d spoken offered, and Molly took hold of Jack for a moment. Rose gasped in surprise as the sailor’s strong hands wrapped around her waist. She looked at him, and after a minute, stretched as far as she could. The smell of salt from the ocean was strong, and she blinked as a few small waves splashed against the side of the boat.

"Are you all right, Rose?" Molly asked, noticing Ruth’s horrified expression. If only she had a camera; it would have been a priceless photograph to have in a collection.

"Yes," Rose called, carefully pulling herself back into the boat. "Thank you," she told the sailor, realizing she was blushing horribly. He gave her a friendly nod, and immediately took up his post. "And thank you also," she added to the two women, who smiled in return.

Jack let out a soft groan, trying his best not to move. Everything ached so badly that he felt he could cry. But he didn’t dare, not with so many women surrounding him. He tried to make his lips move...they were so dry and cracked, and he desperately wanted a glass of water. "Rose?" he croaked, and she looked down at him, smoothing his forehead.

"Where..." He swallowed, cringing at his swollen throat. "Where is Mac?"

Rose felt her heart break. "Oh, honey," she breathed, not knowing what else to say. "I'm...sure they're just fine, love."

Jack suddenly let out a small noise, and his eyes closed. Molly looked at him, and Rose began tapping his cheek, calling his name in a harsh whisper. "Jack!" She looked at the pudgy woman beside her, and Molly shook her head.

"He's gone into a faint, Rose. Probably best, as much as I'd hate to say it."

Rose glanced at the officer, who was currently turned towards the ocean, his muscular arms working the oars. She blushed, wishing he hadn't touched her. It was probably with no such intention, she added quickly to herself. But still...she narrowed her eyes, looking down quickly when the officer turned to them again.

"Looks like we've got some company up 'ere, mates." He nodded towards another lifeboat, and Rose sighed, holding Jack close to her.

Please let us get out of this, she prayed, feeling a single tear slide down her cheek.

Chapter Thirty-Four
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