Gil stood up only to see an infected reach for Jonathan’s back as he took down a different infected.
The axe moved on its own, barely missing Jonathan’s arm as it found its target.
There was no time to do more than swipe the brains onto his sleeve when the crew realized the infected had managed to break a few of the doors leading to the small hallway.
New screams erupted as three rooms with splintered doors showed the slaughter of whole families and more infected.
“Here we go again.” Gil shook off as much blood and infected body parts as he could before they grouped in front of the three rooms.
Two crewmen stayed in the hallway, moving the wounded out of danger and preparing for if the infected got past the men, killing them.
Gil kicked the excess pieces of door inward, hoping to turn the infected’s attention toward the team.
The heads of the infected lifted, giving the team a chance for a better target.
Gil’s axe dripped with the blood of others, so when the closest infected started to go back to his meal, he placed the axe squarely under his nose, separating the top half of his head from the bottom half.
As the infected dropped, his head flipped open allowing his brains to slide across the floor in a grotesque show.
The other two crewmen quickly dispatched another that was standing on the sink basin to reach the top bunk as he chewed off the passenger’s arm.
The sudden quiet as the other two groups dealt with their infected was eerily disturbing after the adrenaline filled atmosphere vanished.
Helping the passengers from the bunks, the crewman slipped in the dead’s brains and blood, causing him to spin around on the slick floor until he was facing the interior of the cabin.
“Bloody hell,” he cursed and started to get up.
“No, bloody brains.” Gil retorted, laughter rising until he was bent over holding his sides, trying to contain the happy sound in the presence of death. “Sorry, man. I couldn’t help myself,” he tried to apologize.
“It is bloody funny considering we are covered in the stuff.” They joined in the laughter, letting out their own pent-up emotions.
“Hey, if you funny guys could wrap it up, we need you to get the carts and shovels so we can clean up.”
Jonathan understood the need to let off some steam, but the situation was becoming worse.
Everyone in the immediate vicinity fled their rooms when the crew knocked on their doors, giving them the all-clear. Bags were hastily thrown together, and families covered their children’s eyes as they made their way to the main dining area.
“Sir?” Gil approached Jonathan. “Did you want me to go back and guard the other infected members?”
“I suggest you take a quick shower and dispose of your uniform before you return. Otherwise, all the passengers will begin to scream just from the sight of you.” Jonathan grinned as he took in Gil’s body covered with brains and gore.
“You’re not much better off, sir.”
“Correct, crewman.” Jonathan became serious again. “Don’t forget to clean off your axe. You may need it before the evening is over.”
Gil relieved the crewman on guard about thirty minutes later.
While he had managed to wash off the gore, Gil still felt the stain of the night’s events begin to creep inside his head.
The axe in his hands wasn’t just a precaution anymore; it was the only thing standing between the infected and the survival of the ship.
Chapter 14
As the crew tried to recover and make the passengers feel comfortable, Jonathan and Nora made the trip to the captain’s cabin.
Jonathan stepped forward to begin the report.
“Sir, there’s been another incident and it was from someone we didn’t even know was infected.”
“How could you not know about them?” Anger radiated from the captain.
“I believe someone didn’t tell us they were infected last night. When they passed, their family must have opened the door to let us know, which allowed the infected to get out. ” Jonathan stood at attention as he delivered the only answer he had managed to conclude.
“This is serious. How many did we lose in this attack?”
“Ten dead. Ten more possibly infected. We have separated them all this time so no one is overlooked.”
Nora had been silent up until that point. “The more pressing matter is I have about thirty people who are carriers now. At any moment the ones from last night could attack their families or the nurses in the infirmary. This is going to happen more often as the people infected succumb to the disease.”
The Captain rubbed his bearded chin thoughtfully. “So short of a miracle, we may all be infected before the ship docks in America.”
The captain made a decision. There was no way the ship could reach dry land and spread to others on American soil.
“Lieutenant, tell the crew we are having a test and have them prepare the lifeboats to be lowered.”
“Sir, is that really necessary?” Jonathan questioned. “We don’t know that this will be needed. We have been able to contain each incident and now the removal crew is learning how to stop each incident much faster. We have more guards around the infected passengers and we can move those in the infirmary to the lower levels.”
“No, son. I was one of the survivors to just such an event many years ago, and thought it had been eradicated. Now, it has come back to haunt me.” The captain took off his hat to wipe his brow. “Let’s make sure that we begin with first class and clear out each corridor with women and children first. The men from each class can wait indoors until all the others have been loaded up. Then proceed to the second floor only when the first is empty.” He sighed heavily as he pronounced the sentence on his ship. “We don’t want a panic, so simply tell them it is a test and they are making history for putting the ship through its paces. In no way can they know there are not enough lifeboats or we will be in real trouble.”
Turning to Nora, he confirmed, “No one from first class or second class have been infected, correct?”
“No, sir. So far, all the people we have lost or have the disease are from third class and crewmembers.” Nora answered as honestly as she could, knowing the serious nature of the decisions they were making.
“Move all of the infected downstairs and remove all crewmembers from the third class decks. Lock the gates and guard the main staircase until the other two classes are evacuated.”
“Sir, you are dooming the third class people. They’ll have no way to stop infected from attacking them when they die,” Nora protested, appalled at his dismissiveness of human lives.
“We simply cannot alert the third class passengers, even to gather the women and children because the men will riot and more people will die in the process. There is no other way to make this work, so we save as many uninfected as possible.”
A crewmember stuck his head in the door. “Captain, sir? Several icebergs have been sighted. Do you want us to reduce speed?”
Ignoring the accusing looks from Jonathan and Nora, he answered, sealing the ship’s fate.
“No. In fact, we need to speed up so we can break all the records in crossing the Atlantic.”
Quizzically, the crewman glanced at the three of them. “Yes, sir. You’re the captain.”
Shrugging it off, he left, closing the door behind him.
“I’m going to inform the radio crew to send out distress signals as a test measure. Hopefully, a ship will respond before the epidemic reaches the upper decks.”
“Yes, sir. I’ll begin now and have the orchestra play while we are loading them on board the life boats to help keep everyone calm.” Jonathan assured the captain.
Turning away from his chief steward, the Captain began to walk away from his cabin. Seeing Nora standing to the side of the door, he paused.
“I need you to come and find me when you are ready to leave. Don’t stay on board too long because they are coming for us. I
have something for the other captains when their ships come to rescue you.”
“Rescue us? Aren’t you coming as well?” Nora asked, distressed.
“No. If this can happen this many years later, then our world is doomed. We can only hope to contain it to this one ship, but it came from somewhere on land and if it continues to spread we will all die. I’ll see this through and make sure I do my part to stop it from reaching America.” With that, he turned and walked away, leaving Nora flabbergasted.
~~~~~~
Jonathan hadn’t uttered a word as he left the cabin, but Nora couldn’t contain herself any longer.
“Are you okay with his blatant disregard for human life?”
Jonathan, who had been walking briskly had to stop and address the angry words thrown at his back.
“Even if I don’t agree with his statements, I still have to do my job. He is right about panic causing people to do crazy things.”
Jonathan threw caution to the wind and embraced Nora, wrapping his arms around her.
“We have to survive this together. We don’t have enough life boats for everyone, and we can’t be the ones to pick who lives and dies. The only ones we are certain don’t have the disease are the first and second class passengers.”
“I’ll start moving those who can walk downstairs into the biggest rooms that are empty,” Nora conceded.
“You might have the men move them into the rooms vacated by the latest victims.”
“Don’t die,” Nora pleaded, pushing him back so she could see his face.
“I won’t. I’ve been dealing with them for days now and not a scratch.” When Nora started to speak, he stopped her. “Don’t! We have several hours of chaos before we have to worry about goodbyes.”
Parting ways, they went to prepare the passengers for the longest night they would ever have.
~~~~~~
Judith had been overseeing the infirmary when Nora entered, waking everyone up.
“I need to make an announcement.”
When all the patients and their families were focused on her, Nora continued. “We must move you downstairs since we have more wounded.”
Hearing the grumbles throughout the room at the thought of moving in the middle of the night, Nora knew she needed to stop the complaints quickly.
“If those of you who can walk would help the others, it will go faster and we can show you where you are supposed to go. Judith, Angie, please help me collect these last two.” Nora wrapped an arm around a semi-conscious patient, carrying most of her weight.
The room emptied and it took a few minutes before Nora was able to return.
Since they were wearing their uniforms, they were allowed to come up from the third class section, but the guards were already in place waiting for anyone who would give them trouble.
“What is going on?” Judith demanded as the obvious questions began to sink in when there were no new patients being brought into the infirmary.
“We are evacuating the ship,” Nora informed them calmly.
“The infection has spread, hasn’t it?” Angie put her hand over her mouth.
Nora collected the two bags she had hidden behind the door.
“What are we going to do?” Angie wailed as hysteria set in.
“Nothing. You are going to get a hold of yourself, walk out there and get in one of the boats. The other passengers are going to be nervous and it’s your job to present a calm front.”
“Yes, I can do that. Boats? Are we going to be rescued?” Angie asked, somewhat calmer.
“The captain is sending out messages for the other ships near enough to help us. It will be okay.” Nora tried to reassure them.
“What about me?” Judith hoped she wasn’t being punished for her mistakes now.
“When they take the second class women and children on the boats, then you can go so that we have someone from the nursing staff with each class.”
Nora didn’t meet either woman’s stares.
“You’re going to wait until you won’t be able to get off this sinking ship.” Angie concluded, and hugged her in an unusual display of emotion.
“I’ll make sure to get off before it becomes too late,” Nora promised them. “Now, hurry before the boats fill up.”
~~~~~~
Gil had been asked to help the other guards and stay at the staircase until the floors above him had been cleared.
The test would fool some of the people, but any of the crew would know exactly what was going on with all of the rumors flying around.
He only hoped that Lillian and her family were able to get off the ship before the third class infected tried to break free of the barriers they had placed in each stairway and exit.
~~~~~~
The loud knocking on their doors jerked Richard out of bed.
“Yes?” he questioned of the person banging on their door.
“We are having a test, sir. Dress quickly, put on your life belts, and proceed to the first class decks for further instructions.” The man turned away and hit the next door with his fist.
“Richard, what on earth is this about?” Millie Jean’s voice questioned him through the door so that no one would see her in her sleep state.
“Millie Jean, you and Lillian need to dress quickly. Remember the rumors you heard yesterday? Well they are true and we are evacuating the ship. They want us on the first class decks immediately.”
Richard began to pull clothes on as Samuel dropped his shoes in his hurry to be ready to leave.
Opening the door to Millie Jean and Lillian’s room elicited a squeal from a partially dressed Millie Jean.
“Hurry up. We can’t take any chances. We need to leave now.”
“I just need to pack our clothes and…” Millie Jean was cut off.
“Mother, we could die if we don’t leave now. They won’t let us take our stuff.” Samuel shook his mother’s shoulders roughly.
“Samuel!” Millie Jean huffed indignantly.
“Put a coat on and whatever you think is most valuable and hide it your bag or coat. We are leaving in thirty seconds.” Richard helped Lillian into her coat as he spoke.
“What in the world…” Millie Jean sputtered.
“Mother, I saw people attacked and eaten last night. The infected people are here on board and they are coming for us if we don’t get off of this ship immediately,” Samuel urged.
Lillian gasped as she realized the things she had seen around the ship were real.
“Gil! We have to find him. If he’s with us they’ll let him leave. Otherwise, the crew will be some of the last ones on the ship.”
A loud noise seemed to vibrate through the ship and then all motion ceased.
“Come on, it’s starting. We have to go now.” Richard pulled his family out of the cabin and began to run down the hallway, already filling up with people.
~~~~~~
Nora wandered through the lines of people looking for any signs of fever or torn clothing indicating the infection had spread. This managed to keep Nora busy for quite a while as there weren’t any signs of illness among the passengers.
The first class women and children had been loaded up, and they were beginning to bring the second class up to the boats that were quickly being filled.
The ship seemed to pick up speed for a few minutes before shuddering, coming to a grinding halt.
A whisper went through the crowds gathered in line waiting to be loaded onto the lifeboats.
“This isn’t a drill.”
“They aren’t telling us something.”
Shaking the arms of a crewman, a panicked gentleman screamed, “What is wrong with this ship? It’s supposed to be unsinkable!”
“Sir, please remain calm. We are simply performing a test and will have everyone back on board in a short amount of time.” The crewman lowered the man’s arms and gently shoved him into line.
Richard and Millie Jean, who were only a few steps behind the man, exchanged troubled glances.
The uneasy feeling that had been bothering Richard since the steward’s quick responses about the disaster in their berths was quickly gaining ground.
“This line is taking forever,” Richard whispered to his wife and two children. “I’m going to go see if they have started letting down the boats on the other side yet. Samuel, if they will let you on the boat with your mother and sister, please go.”
“No, Papa. You can’t leave me. I want to go with you. Gil is still missing and we have to find him before it’s too late.”
“Go with your father, you ungrateful brat. Maybe with you by his side, they will let you both onto a life boat before it sinks,” Samuel spat.
“Now, Samuel...” His father tried to calm him by placing a hand on his shoulder.
Their shared moment disappeared as Samuel’s fear sank in and his father’s obvious regard for Lillian brought his jealousy out.
“Stay away from me. We don’t need you. I can protect my mother just fine.” Samuel stepped in front of his mother, protecting her from his father’s appeals.
Tears streaming down her face, Lillian pulled on her father’s arm. “Come on. They don’t want us, and we need to find a way out of here, now.”
Following his daughter’s lead, Richard pushed through the slowly growing crowd as the line merged to form a mass of bodies that were going nowhere.
“This way.” Lillian took a left and went up to the next line and pushed her way through the passengers waiting patiently.
Close to the front of the ship, the lines thinned out to almost nothing, but as they went to get in behind a short group of people waiting, a shout erupted.
Someone had opened the gates to the third class passengers and let one of the infected escape.
Chapter 15
The passengers in third class felt the ship stop, but when they went in search of someone with answers there were no crewmembers to be seen.
The infected rooms had been left unguarded, so when the frightened passengers opened their doors and didn’t find anyone keeping them in, they emerged only to find others roaming the hallways as well.
Infected Waters: A Titanic Disaster Page 14