TITANIC: A STORY TOLD
Chapter Forty-Six
1912
Jack was signing the drawing. Rose, wearing
her kimono again, was leaning on his shoulder, watching.
Rose gazed at the drawing. He had X-rayed her
soul.
"Date it, Jack. I want to always
remember this night."
He did: 4/14/1912. Rose, meanwhile, scribbled
a note on a piece of Titanic stationary. She didn’t say what it said. She
accepted the drawing from him, and went to the safe in the wardrobe.
She put the diamond back in the safe, placing
the drawing and the note on top of it. She closed the door with a clunk.
*****
Lovejoy entered from the Palm Court through
the revolving door and crossed the room toward Hockley. A fire was blazing in
the marble fireplace, and the usual fat cats were playing cards, drinking, and
talking. Cal saw Lovejoy and detached from his group, coming to him.
Lovejoy spoke quietly. "None of the
stewards have seen her."
Cal’s voice was low but forceful. "This
is ridiculous, Lovejoy. Find her."
*****
Titanic glided across an unnatural sea, black
and calm as a pool of oil. The ship’s lights were mirrored almost perfectly in
the black water. The sky was brilliant with stars. A meteor traced a bright
line across the heavens.
On the bridge, Captain Smith peered out at
the blackness ahead of the ship. Quartermaster Hitchens brought him a cup of
hot tea with lemon. It steamed in the bitter cold of the open bridge. Second
Officer Lightoller was next to him, staring out at the sheet of black glass the
Atlantic had become.
"I don’t think I’ve ever seen such a
flat calm, in twenty-four years at sea."
"Yes, like a mill pond. Not a breath of
wind."
"It’ll make the bergs harder to see,
with no breaking water at the base."
"Mmm. Well, I’m off. Maintain speed and
heading, Mr. Lightoller."
"Yes, sir."
"And wake me, of course, if anything
becomes in the slightest degree doubtful."