by J S Landor
A heavy sigh escaped him. At least the curtains were nothing sinister. They’d been drawn for privacy around a sort of grand bunk bed. Instead of a ladder, it had a miniature staircase at one end with a carved banister. He wriggled towards it, climbed down and went over to the window.
It was hard to see anything much. Directly beneath him, a vertical wall dropped away like the side of a building, and in the blackness far below swirls of white came and went. His vision adjusted slightly. No … it couldn’t be … the wall didn’t belong to a building. It was an enormous hull: a ship!
Understanding came and with it a terrifying jolt. An instant later, the throbbing of the engine died.
‘What the devil was that?’ said a voice.
A light came on and a small, balding man in striped pyjamas heaved himself out of the bottom bunk, a black sleep mask pushed high on his forehead. ‘Dammit!’ he muttered, fumbling about on the bedside table. ‘Where are they?’
A pair of glasses lay on the floor, one of the lenses smashed. Jack hurried forwards to pick them up.
‘Are you looking for these?’
The man stepped back in fright. ‘Who the blazes are you?’
‘Jack … Jack Tideswell … sir.’ Despite the pyjamas, the man looked important. There were two monogrammed letters on his breast pocket: HL.
Jack held out the glasses and HL put them on.
‘Wait a minute!’ he exclaimed, peering at Jack through his one good lens. His bald head turned scarlet and his eyes bulged. ‘I know you! Why, you little villain! What are you doing here? In my cabin?’
‘I … I don’t know …’ Jack had never met this angry man in his life before and he had no idea how or why he came to be there.
An ominous creak made them both jump. Then the whole cabin began to vibrate.
‘Dear God! What was that?’ said HL, growing hysterical. ‘I hate boats – I hate water! I knew I should never have come …’
Someone banged on the door. Glad of the distraction, Jack rushed to open it.
‘What’s wrong with you? Didn’t you hear the alarm?’ A steward in a white uniform stood sweating beneath his peaked cap. Behind him, crowds of people moved along a narrow corridor. ‘Get your life jackets, go to deck five. You do remember the muster drill?’
‘What in heaven’s name is going on?’ said HL, hastily pulling on his trousers over his pyjamas.
‘We have a situation, sir.’ The steward stepped into the cabin as several people barged past. ‘The Pentland light is out – we’ve hit a sandbank. Everything is under control, but you and your son must go to the Muster Station. At once, please.’
‘My son!’ spluttered HL. ‘That good-for-nothing little thief is NOT my son! He’s a stowaway – arrest him! Good grief, man! Don’t just stand there!’
But by then Jack had spotted his chance. He’d already slipped past the steward and disappeared into the crowd.
***
Swept along in a crush of bodies and unable to see anything over the heads in front, he tried to stay calm. But every time the lights flickered a cry of alarm went up and very soon what had begun as an orderly evacuation turned into chaos.
Shoved and squashed till he could hardly breathe, he arrived in a hallway where scores of angry people swarmed around an ornate staircase.
‘What’s the hold-up?’ yelled a man in a red checked shirt. He hoisted a wide-eyed toddler on his shoulders. ‘I’ve got kids here. They’re getting trampled!’
From halfway up the stairs, a stout woman shouted back, ‘One of the doors is jammed. It’s single file!’
Heart thumping, Jack looked around. On the wall nearby he spotted a diagram of the ship’s layout. He traced a trembling finger across it and found he was on deck three, two whole floors below the deck the steward had mentioned. To reach the next staircase he’d have to double back.
It took ages to push his way into the corridor again. With his back to the wall, he squeezed past the oncoming passengers and broke into a stumbling run. It was hard to keep his balance and when he realised why, he felt sick. The ship had begun to tilt.
An elderly man lurched towards him, grabbing him by the arm. ‘What are you doing? Turn round! It’s a dead end that way.’
‘It’s worse back there!’ cried Jack. ‘Let me go!’
‘Listen, lad, I’m telling you, it’s no good. The front end’s cut off. You shouldn’t be on your own anyhow. Where are your parents?’
Jack stared at him. It was such an absurd and pointless question. ‘They’re dead,’ he yelled. ‘Dead!’
Appalled, the man backed away. ‘But – how?’
Before he could say any more Jack fled, turning left, then right and on down another corridor.
In a deserted lobby, he paused between a pair of lifts. He knew others must have tried but he punched the buttons anyway. Overhead, the tear-shaped pendants of a chandelier jangled and swung. ‘Come on, come on!’ he yelled at the doors. They remained firmly shut, the panel of lights above them no longer functioning.
With a groan he tore on, passing one cabin after another until he thought the maze of rooms would never end. Then finally, turning a corner, he saw what he was looking for. It brought him skidding to a halt. Beneath the dim glow of a fire escape sign, torrents of water poured down a broad staircase.
Now he understood what the man had meant. At least three-quarters of the steps were engulfed in a murky, black pool. To get to the next deck he’d have to swim. He approached the water’s edge. There was no going back. He took a deep breath and waded in.
The cold hit him like a hammer blow and an involuntary scream exploded out of him. His body couldn’t take much of this; he had to move quickly. Wading deeper, he kicked against a door frame, using it to propel himself along. In a moment he would dive under. Three or four big strokes should be enough …
And that was when he heard it – barely audible above the creaking of the ship – a muffled cry. He stopped to listen. Had he imagined it? He pressed his ear to the wall. Nothing. And then – yes, there it was again: the whimper of a child. ‘Mum? Dad?’
Freezing water swirled around his ears, nose and eyes, sucking the energy out of him. For a moment he was torn in two, unable to abandon the frightened voice, yet driven by a desperate desire to save himself. What on earth should he do? He had to decide fast. He took a great gulp of air. If he hesitated now, he knew he would change his mind.
***
He surfaced with a splash, his head pounding and his hands numb. This was a bad idea. The cabin was dark as a dungeon and more than half of it was submerged. What if he was already too late? Ahead, something pale glimmered underwater. It seemed to confirm his fear. But when he paddled closer, he heard a sharp gasp.
‘Jack?’
Strands of blonde hair streamed towards him like silvery grass. A small girl with the most frightened eyes he’d ever seen clung to a porthole.
‘Jack! It is you! Oh please, you have to help me. Mum, Dad … I don’t know where they are.’
Jack gazed at her, his brain fogged by fatigue. ‘What’s your name?’ he spluttered.
A look of misery swept over the girl’s face. ‘You know who I am!’
He shook his head.
‘You do! You helped me with the picture, remember? On the quay. It’s Lily!’
Jack had no idea what she meant. ‘Look – I’m sorry – we can’t afford to waste time. How old are you, Lily?’
‘Seven!’ she wailed. ‘It was my birthday yesterday!’
‘So can you swim?’
‘Only with my water wings. And I don’t know where they are!’
‘It’s okay. You’re going to be fine. Here, put your arms round my neck. You mustn’t let go, understand?’
Lily nodded vigorously.
‘Can you hold your breath? For a long time?’
&nb
sp; Her eyes glistened. ‘Like a mermaid, you mean?’
Jack forced a smile. ‘Yes, that’s it!’ Somehow her belief in magic made him stronger. ‘Try counting to a hundred. Shut your eyes. Ready? Big breath. One, two, three …’
As he dived again, Lily’s fingers dug into his neck. He was glad he’d told her to close her eyes, because through the gloom the floating forms of two adult bodies were visible.
‘Twenty-eight!’ she announced proudly when they surfaced.
‘Brilliant!’ said Jack, struggling to keep them afloat. He could only just see the top of the staircase. ‘Think you can do it again? Bet you can count even higher.’
He pulled forwards with giant strokes as darkness closed in. This time he had to feel his way, clawing up the metal steps, one by one, like an astronaut in slow motion. It seemed to take for ever and when at last he reached the landing, he found the next flight was engulfed too. He had to keep going.
His lungs were at bursting point. How long had he been underwater? Perhaps only a minute or so, yet it seemed like a dozen. Then, just as his own strength began to fade, the little hands around his neck relaxed their grip. He lunged down. In desperation, he grabbed a handful of long hair, dragging Lily after him like a doll.
Almost there, he told himself. But he’d used every last ounce of effort. He had to open his mouth and breathe. Water rather than air rushed down his throat and his feet kicked wildly. Then blackness and confusion filled his mind.
Chapter 7
‘Come on, lad, don’t give up now. Yer done well to get this far. Yer got guts, I’ll give yer that.’ A big man, with bushy eyebrows and an even bushier beard, crouched over Jack, pounding his back.
Jack retched. ‘What happened? Where am I?’
‘Fifth deck. Carried yer ’ere meself,’ said the man. His overalls smelled of oil and hard work. ‘You was lucky. Got ’ere in the nick of time. If I hadn’t seen yer …’
He stopped short, his eyes widening as if he’d seen an apparition. ‘Well I never!’ he said. He peered into Jack’s face. ‘Seems there’s no “if” about it. Mouse! Yer back, after all these years! This ent luck or chance. Somethin’ else is goin’ on.’
‘Lily – the girl – where is she?’ cried Jack in confusion.
‘Never you worry. She’s all right! Look, ’ere she is, poor little mite. Gave me a proper surprise. Pulled you out, then up she pops, like the ghost of a Christmas angel! Yer saved her life, mate, no doubt about it. Her hair was caught in yer hand!’
A shivering figure in a white nightdress huddled against a ventilation shaft nearby, coughing, sobbing and trying to speak all at the same time. ‘I got to f-f-fifty-nine,’ said Lily. ‘Then I couldn’t think. I … I just couldn’t think …’
The ship gave a lurch, leaning further on its side towards the ink-black sea. A wall of water exploded over them and all at once they found themselves sliding down the deck towards the railings. Lily screamed, digging her heels into the floor.
‘Hold on!’ roared the sailor, grabbing her outstretched hand.
Jack was certain they would slip right over the edge, but the rolling waves seemed to have another plan. An enormous swell lifted the ship so it was on a more even keel, and though it lasted only a few seconds, they managed to scramble to the railings.
Cries for help filled the night air. Everywhere people struggled for handholds before the deck dipped back down. Above them, an enormous neck-shaped funnel groaned. It had the ship’s name emblazoned across it: The Empress. Jack closed his eyes as a great jagged crack ripped downwards through the letters.
‘This ent no good,’ muttered the sailor. He scooped Lily into his arms. ‘The Empress has a date with destiny, I’m afraid. Come on, Jack! We ent got long!’
Jack didn’t move. The sound of his own name had him rooted to the spot. First HL, then Lily and now this man – they all knew him. ‘Wait!’ he called. ‘I don’t understand. Who are you?’
‘Why,’ said the sailor, ‘it’s Bill, of course. Bill Armitage. First engineer. Ent ’ardly surprising you don’t recognise me. I’m older now – and hairier!’ He tugged at his beard. ‘But you … well, you ent changed a bit, Mouse. Look at yer, still wearing them old pumps!’
Jack glanced down at the black plimsolls. He’d only borrowed them today. ‘You’re mistaking me for someone else.’
‘Oh no I ent!’ Bill’s eyes sparkled with emotion. ‘You’re Jack Tideswell, that’s who you are – a piece of bloomin’ magic! And I was put ’ere to save you. I only just realised that!’
‘Magic? What do you mean?’
‘I dunno. It’s a puzzle beyond my reckonin’! But yer ’ere for a reason. And so’s she.’ He gave Lily a wink. ‘Proper important this one, sittin’ all posh at the captain’s table. You best look after her, Mouse.’
There was another ear-splitting groan. Lily grabbed Bill’s hand in fright. He looked up at the funnel, then at the ship’s stern which had risen out of the water. ‘Come on, we gotta get higher up!’
‘What about the lifeboats?’ Jack could see crowds of people on the boat deck above.
‘They won’t be able to launch ’em. She’s listin’ too ’eavily. Reckon she’s gonna roll.’
‘So what do we do?’
But Jack’s words were lost in a roar of groaning metal. The deck heaved as if The Empress was shrugging. There was nothing they could do, she seemed to say.
Slowly, they climbed back along the ship. Bill made them put on lifejackets that he found in a stowage container. He seemed lost in his own world, rambling on about the ship’s misfortune.
‘My old dad would be ashamed,’ he cried. ‘The lighthouse never went out in his time. He was a good keeper.’ He steadied Lily against his knees as he fastened the lifejacket around her tiny waist. ‘Wanted me to follow ’im, but I ’ad me own plans. Dreams don’t always work out, do they?’ He brushed away a tear and turned to Jack. ‘All set?’
‘What are we going to do?’ asked Jack again.
‘Yer gonna jump.’
‘What!’
‘We ent far from the coast and the rescue boats’ll be ’ere afore long. It’s yer only chance.’
‘But you’re coming with us – aren’t you?’
Bill shook his head.
‘Why not? The ship’s sinking, you said so yourself!’
‘There’s others what need my ’elp, Mouse.’
Jack stared at him.
‘Don’t stand there gawking. Go on! Make sure you jump clear. Then swim, hard as you can. I know yer can do it. I seen yer, remember?’
‘No!’ sobbed Jack.
‘Have you forgotten our little bet?’ Bill gave his cheek an affectionate cuff. ‘Won fair and square, yer did. And I still owe yer! Now go on! There’ll be such a pull when she goes.’
Jack climbed the railings first, hardly daring to look down. Walls of water smacked against the hull and rocketed skywards, plucking at him like giant fingers. It felt like standing on the edge of the world.
‘No! I – I can’t!’ protested Lily when it was her turn.
‘You have to!’ urged Jack. ‘Come on. Think, Lily. What comes after fifty-nine?’
‘Sixty.’
‘See. You knew the answer all along! You’re halfway to being a mermaid already.’
Lily held out her hand. ‘Promise not to let go?’
Jack fought against the terror that was making his whole body shake. ‘Promise,’ he said.
***
As the two children jumped, a blinding white light illuminated them, sweeping like a laser beam over the sorry hulk of the capsized ship. The Pentland lighthouse, cause of the disaster, had come back on.
Jack closed his eyes tight. The wind whistled in his ears and the waves rose to greet him. Only somehow he never reached them. He just kept falling – down, down, down through the light
– until eventually the tiny hand that held his simply melted away.
Chapter 8
He came to with a jolt, bright points of light dancing in his eyes. Six high-pitched bleeps, time pips on a radio, sounded somewhere far below and a newsreader started talking. A hand touched his shoulder and he jumped.
‘Hey! Your message sounded kinda miserable. I came straight over.’
An impish face covered in freckles beamed down at him.
‘Charlie!’ The smell of chewing gum battled with the overpowering aroma of Nan’s cooking. He was home, back in his room! He threw his arms around his best friend.
‘Blimey, you okay? You look completely out of it!’ Charlie Day patted Jack on the back, her cheeks blossoming bright red. With her other hand, she pulled on the black beanie which had almost fallen off her head. ‘What’s up? Don’t tell me Blunt sent one of his messages.’
‘No … he didn’t. W-what time is it?’
‘Six o’clock. Why?’
Jack plunged his face in his hands. Impossible. Either he was going mad or the events he’d just experienced had taken place in no time at all. He glanced down at his clothes and the black gym shoes. They were bone dry.
‘Jack, what’s the matter?’
‘I was on a ship …’ He spoke slowly, as if trying to convince himself. ‘An ocean liner.’
‘What?’
‘I was trapped, it was sinking … Charlie, it was terrible. I nearly drowned!’
‘Hey, you were dreaming, that’s all.’ Charlie patted his arm. ‘You fell asleep. When I came in you were slumped over the desk like you’d been shot.’
‘No way! I was there. I remember every detail. There was a cabin full of antique stuff. And a bloke with broken glasses … he called me a thief! And then … well, then I rescued this girl. Only when we jumped ship we got separated.’
‘Yeah? What was she like?’ asked Charlie, casually.