A VOYAGE TO REMEMBER
Chapter Twenty-Eight

Isolde awakened later that night to a jolt. She looked around the room curiously. Something was different. She realized she could not feel the humming of the Titanic’s engines.

A few minutes later, the door slammed against the wall. Isolde saw Cal enter. He ignored her and went straight for the green safe that was across the room. Feverishly, he took out the piles of money and shoved them into his coat pockets.

Isolde watched him and silently slipped off of the loveseat. Before Cal could even see her, she lifted her dress and sprinted through the open door. She did not dare take a moment to glance back. Stewards jogged down the halls, knocking on doors with orders to secure lifebelts. A young stewardess stood in front of her and pressed a lifebelt into her hands.

"Go to the top deck," the stewardess said politely.

Isolde frowned. "For what reason?"

"Routine lifeboat drill," she answered, turning away without another glance.

The young Welshwoman could hear the falseness in the stewardess’s voice. Not taking another moment of thought, she went through the halls to find Harold. She was briskly walking down a hall when a hand grabbed her arm to stop her. She looked to see the Smith sisters in heavy clothing with lifebelts secured.

Edith’s face was grim. "We must board the lifeboats at once." She added in a whisper, "Mr. Andrews has told me the ship is sinking. It will not stay afloat."

Elizabeth looped her arm through Isolde’s and sent her a reassuring smile, leading her out into the cold night. "We shall be fine, though."

Isolde walked with them in a daze. The boats were practically empty, being sent onto the dark ocean. Many refused to go. They did not know of the danger. Isolde recognized Officer Boxhall as he lifted Emily into a boat swinging from the davits. Erica, Elizabeth, and Edith filed on.

Edith suddenly looked around the lifeboat. "Where is Elaine?" No one saw her. The oldest sister stood up. "I must find her."

Isolde shook her head. "Stay. I must find Harold, and I shall search for Elaine as well."

She began to walk away when Erica’s saddened voice called to her. Isolde looked at her tear-streaked face. "If you see my fiancé, please tell him to be safe, and that I love him."

Isolde nodded before slipping into the newly formed crowds. Her eyes scanned the decks. She saw a young couple standing by a lifeboat. It was Elaine and her own fiancé. Isolde forced her way towards them.

"I won’t leave you!" Isolde heard Elaine say defiantly. The young man looked torn.

Isolde placed a hand on Elaine’s shoulder, snapping her attention away from her beloved. "Get in the boat. The men will be joining you later."

The Welshwoman glanced at the boat. It was nearly full, soon to be lowered away. Without a second thought, Isolde pushed Elaine towards the ship’s edge. She motioned to the two crewmen to put her on board. They lifted Elaine by the arms and set her in. She had no chance to escape. The boat was leaving.

"Thank you," Elaine’s fiancé said. "She would never have listened to me."

Isolde sent him a weak smile before continuing on her search for Harold. She sprinted down the length of the ship until she came across Officer Moody. He was busy raising boats onto davits and ordering women and children to board. Isolde stood in front of him.

"Have you seen Officer Lowe?" she asked desperately.

He recognized her immediately and sighed. "The captain forced him to man a lifeboat. He protested the entire time. You’d best be getting in one. They won’t be here for long."

"He’s safe, though?"

"Aye," Moody said. He turned his attention away from her.

Isolde was going to get in a boat when she remembered her steerage friends. She could not leave them when she knew an escape. She noticed the tilt of the ship as she ran down Scotland Yard. The steps were empty of crewman. She could hear the protesting of third class.

Finally, she found the riot. Tommy, the O’Neil couple, Jack, Rose, and Shamus were at the front. Isolde would not be able to make it through the crowds.

"Tommy! Flynn!" she called out. They turned their heads and caught her as the source of calling, but it took a moment for them to recognize her. She waved and they struggled to lead the others.

"It’s hopeless that way," Tommy said to Isolde as the group arrived in front of her.

She nodded. "I have a crew passage we can use." She looked at all the families. "We have to bring the others. We can’t leave them here."

Jack smiled at her. "I believe we’re in the presence of a heroine."

Tommy grinned at this. He looked at the mob waiting at the locked gates and tapped the nearest person’s shoulder. "Come with us. There’s a way out."

Others glanced in their direction. Many who spoke English willingly came forward. The others shook their heads and stood their ground. Isolde nodded and began walking. Her fancy dress was lifted in one hand as she began to climb the staircase. They went through Scotland Yard. The freezing night air did not deter them. People ran off in all directions.

"Now what will we do?" Rose asked angrily. "There are no boats that will allow all of us!"

A stranger looked at them. "Go to the port side. They allow men."

The group sprinted. The second to last boat was boarding. Rich and poor men stood at the edges, begging to board.

Isolde suddenly noticed Cal. A revolver was held in his hand. He glanced at her and glared. Shamus saw this and stepped in front of her. The blast of the gun filled her ears. Shamus collapsed to the ground. Cal smirked and began to step towards her when Tommy and Flynn pushed their way in and shoved Cal forward. Another blast went off. Isolde shut her eyes. When she opened them, Mr. Hockley was on the ground, his blood and life slipping onto the wooden decks.

It was all going too fast. The tilt of the ship was dangerous and the last lifeboat was about to be lowered away. Isolde sunk to her knees at the sight of the men. She knew they were dead. Their eyes held no more life. The officer looked at Flynn and Jack briefly.

"Can you man a boat?" he asked quickly. They nodded. "Go on, then."

Jack helped Rose on as Flynn assisted Aine. Tommy placed a hand on Isolde’s arm and helped her to her feet. They stepped forward when the officer shook his head. Isolde stared at him with wide eyes. "Give us a chance to live, you limey bastard!" Tommy bellowed at him. Isolde knew that they would not be boarding. She pulled Tommy away, surprising herself at her calmness. "All will be well. Come. We’ll find another boat," she said as the lifeboat began to lower away. The others looked at her in shock.

Now the ship was in full chaos. Music still filled the air. Tommy laughed and looked at her. "Music to drown by. Now I know I’m in first class."

"Even at a time like this you joke," she mumbled as they made their way down the side. The boats were gone, every last one of them. She tried as hard as she could to remember what Harold had told her in case of an emergency. She looked at Tommy. "We have to swim for the lifeboats."

"Are you bloody mad?" he asked loudly. "We’ll surely freeze to death!"

She narrowed her eyes. "We’ll drown if we remain here." Screams suddenly filled the air. The bow of the ship had gone under. Only moments were left. "We go now, before the ship goes under."

They went to the rails where the water was less than ten feet beneath them. "Ready?" Tommy asked.

Isolde nodded. They jumped. The water was painful, as though stabbing her. Her teeth began to chatter immediately. She thanked the heavens she had a lifebelt, for she might have frozen and sunk right then. Tommy looked at her and grasped the shoulder of the lifebelt pulling her forward.

The boats were far away. What if they didn’t make it? Isolde couldn’t think of it. They had to try. She kept thinking of Harold to keep her mind off of the water. She thought of their first kiss, swimming together, the proposal. The fights were meaningless. All was dark. The Titanic’s lights had gone out for the final time.

She saw Tommy’s shadow and that he was still swimming strongly. She struggled to stay with his pace. He looked at her. "Almost there," he said.

The screeching of tearing metal caused Isolde to wince. She could not possibly imagine what was happening. A huge sucking noise filled the air. "She’s gone," Isolde whispered. Tommy could still hear her over the screams for help. "The Titanic is truly gone."

He looked up. The lifeboats seemed even farther away. It was useless. And just as he thought it, a collapsible boat filled to the rim with third class men appeared beside them. Tommy grasped the edge of the boat. The men did not protest. No one else was this close to them; two more people would not sink them.

Tommy looked at Isolde. Her skin was blue. Frost was in her hair. He grasped her hand and pulled her forward. The men lifted her in as though she were nothing. There were no other women aboard. Tommy clambered in after her. He saw her on the floor of the boat. She shivered almost violently. The Irishman sat beside her. She closed her eyes. He hoped their rescue had not been too late.

One Hour Later

The lifeboat filled with freezing third class survivors pulled alongside of the lifeboat sent to rescue people from the water. The men were helped onto the larger vessel. Tommy was one of the last. He shook Isolde and her eyes fluttered open. He smiled and tried to help her stand. But she was too tired. With a sigh, he lifted her up and passed her to the officer on the other boat. He got on as well.

Tommy glanced at the officer. "I’ll keep an eye on her."

The man shook his head. "No." The Irishman looked closer at his face. The man sat down heavily with Isolde still within his arms.

A look of recognition came over Tommy’s face. "I know you! I got you out of that scrape in steerage!"

The officer nodded.

Tommy took a step back. "I’ll give you your privacy."

Harold looked down at Isolde. The frost was still in her hair. Her lips were blue from the cold. He pushed a lock away from her face and gently kissed her brow. She moved slightly at that touch. Harold pulled away to look at her.

"Isolde, wake up," he whispered. "You’re safe."

She opened her eyes and smiled slightly when she saw him. "I thought about you the entire time," she whispered. "I almost thought I wouldn’t see you again."

He smiled, "I would never let that happen." He sat her up so her head was leaning on his shoulder. "I will always keep you safe."

Carpathia
April 18, 1912

Harold and Isolde stood at the rails of the Carpathia. His arm was securely wrapped around her waist as they looked upon the Statue of Liberty. Isolde leaned against him and sighed.

"New York," she said softly.

Harold looked down at her. "Our new life waits."

She smiled. "Yes. A fresh start with you."

He grinned and leaned down. "I love you."

"I love you, as well."

Harold kissed her on the ship in the presence of a new life in America, a life for both of them. Although the end had been tragedy, Titanic’s maiden voyage was certainly something. It was a voyage to remember.

Epilogue
Stories