Infected Waters: A Titanic Disaster

by Alathia Paris Morgan

  ~~~~~~

  Arriving breathless from their hurried flight to Lillian’s room, she met Samuel in the hallway outside the door.

  “I’m going to dress for dinner. I’ll be ready shortly and we can all go and eat. Even though mother still feels bad, I’m starving.”

  “I’ll tell father you’re dressing.” Samuel was thankful they had made it before their father went looking for them. He had plans for later in the evening, which didn’t include babysitting his younger sister.

  The family emerged moments later, ready to make their way to the dining area.

  On other cruise liners, most first class dining rooms were not so extravagant, much less a second class dining room. The beautiful mahogany wood shined from new polish, and the room smelled of fresh cut oak.

  Seating was not assigned in second class, and the three travelers made their way to an empty table.

  Lillian tried not to gawk at the lavish surroundings as her father went to pull out a chair for her.

  When it turned in his hands, Samuel snickered, “Ha! They’re bolted to the floor, old man.”

  Ignoring his obvious faux pas, Richard seated Lillian and claimed the seat next to her, as if Samuel had never spoken.

  Trying not to swing around in the chair, Lillian locked her feet around the bar holding up the chair.

  “Can you smell the wonderful aroma, my angel? Such heavenly food. I’m only sorry your mother was unable to eat with us.” Richard placed the napkin in his lap while both Lillian and Samuel followed suit.

  The waiter appeared at Samuel’s elbow. “What would you like to have for dinner this evening?”

  “Ah, I’m not sure.” Glancing between Lillian and his father, Samuel lost his confidence when he saw the menu in front of him.

  “Will you give us just a moment to decide?” Richard inquired politely.

  “Certainly, sir. Just raise your hand when you’re ready and I’ll be right over.” The waiter gave a half bow and went to check on other arriving guests.

  “I think I’ll have the spring lamb with rice and green peas. Look, Lillian, they have American ice cream.” Richard pointed at the item, moving the menu closer to her.

  “Oh, can I have that first, please?” Lillian bounced in her seat.

  “Lillian, you are such a child. I plan to have the curried chicken with rice, and after my meal I will have ice cream,” Samuel stated with disgust.

  “Lillian, you may have anything you want to make up for your brother’s rude behavior.” Richard decided to reward them both for the hardship they would endure while on this journey.

  “Such a pushover. You know mother would never allow it,” Samuel pointed out, reminding them of her illness.

  “True, she wouldn’t, which is exactly why we must have our desert before dinner,” he announced, holding up his hand to catch the waiter’s attention.

  “Sir. Have we decided on a course for the evening?”

  “We have. We would like the American ice cream,” Richard answered, eyes twinkling mischievously.

  “And for dinner, sir?” the waiter asked, not batting an eye at their unusual request.

  After he had taken their orders and walked away, Samuel had to make one last comment. “I can’t believe the childish way you act, Father.”

  Ignoring them while they licked and enjoyed their desert, Samuel spotted his new friends walking into the room.

  “If you don’t mind, I will go and sit with the mature people on board.” Nodding toward Charlie and James, Samuel relocated to their table across the room.

  Samuel suggested they start dinner with ice cream, instead of waiting for the main course.

  ~~~~~~

  As the evening of the second night on the ship began to draw to a close, Nora gave the others a few hours off to eat dinner and rest. Nurse Angie and Nurse Peggy promised to be back by midnight so Nora could make the rounds and get some rest before everyone woke and a new day started.

  Checking on her only patient in the infirmary, Nora wondered what could have happened to the young man. They had managed to get some laudanum down him so he would rest and heal.

  After hearing about the bite, most of the crew were trying to stay as far away as possible. Having seen many sick and ailing people over the years, Nora was more curious than fearful.

  The deep scratches on his shoulder were disturbing because a human wouldn’t have been able to do that with their normal nails unless they had super strength. There hadn’t been any reports of wild animals roaming the streets of Southampton, or if there were, the authorities were keeping it very quiet so as to not cause a panic.

  Removing the sheet they had gently placed over his legs and side to keep anything from getting in the wounds, Nora stood over him, taking in the damage.

  The wounds on his side were more shallow and narrow in nature, but still had an angry red line around the edges, meaning infection was setting into his flesh.

  Unsure of how to care for him, Nora continued to place cooling rags on his forehead to help lower his fever.

  While the others were out, Nora went through the cabinets and found some empty vials. Making a quick decision, she walked over to the partition and made sure it blocked anyone’s view of the patient.

  Wrapping a band around his arm, she filled the syringe with blood and carefully sealed it in the tube. She then placed it on the edge of the sink and cleaned up all evidence of what she had done.

  Nurses were not supposed to draw blood from their patients. In fact, most nurses were simply there to assist the doctor when he needed them.

  Nervously trying to find a place to hide the vial, Nora noticed the doctor’s bag under the seat by the patient’s bed.

  Wrapping it up in an extra towel, she placed it close to the bottom and hoped that the doctor wouldn’t notice it when they made it to land.

  Nora would try to smuggle it out to the hospital that had offered her a job when she got to America.

  She left things as she had found them and began to clean the floors to disinfect them from the traffic of the day. As it finished drying, Peggy and Angie came back to take over for the night shift.

  “I will go check on our other patient and make sure he is sleeping so that he heals after his ordeal. Can I trust both of you to wake me if anything happens during the night?” Nora looked between them questioningly.

  “Yes, Miss. We can handle one unconscious patient between the two of us.”

  “We will take turns napping over there so one of us has our eye on him. It’s not like he can get up with the restraints holding him down, but just in case,” Angie responded efficiently.

  “All right. I’m off to the crew quarters. I just can’t help but worry about what’s happened so far, and we’ve barely left the shoreline. What if an epidemic were to break out while we are in the middle of the Atlantic?” Nora spoke mostly to herself, but knew any number of problems could occur.

  “I don’t see an epidemic beginning since not many people will be up and about during the wee hours of the night. You go and get you some rest so you can make sure it all runs smoothly tomorrow.” Peggy smiled at Nora’s concern.

  “Hmm…you could be right. I’ll leave the worrying for tomorrow. Night, ladies.” Nora waved as she closed the door behind her.

  ~~~~~~

  Samuel left dinner with his friends, Charlie and James. Ignoring his family when they left the room, he leaned closer to the two guys. “I was able to score three bottles last night.”

  “Why didn’t you say anything while we were on the decks this afternoon?” James clapped him on the back in congratulations.

  “I didn’t want to take a chance on being overheard. There are always so many people up there, and you never know if they are listening.” The closest people were three tables away from the trio.

  “Sounds like you’re learning, my man.” Charlie grinned, rubbing his hands together. “We are going to have a marvelous night.”

  “We were going to start playin
g cards, but someone mentioned that they were putting together a shindig over in the library with chaperones, of course.”

  “What are we waiting for?” Samuel started to hop up and head in that direction.

  “We were thinking we might go back to our cabin and refill the tanks.” Charlie moved his dinner jacket back, enough to reveal the flask hidden there.

  “I’ll collect one of the bottles and meet you both in your room in about ten minutes.” Samuel rose slowly this time so as to not attract attention and made his way to his hidden stash.

  Leaning against a wall, he waited to see if anyone had followed him. When there were no footsteps in either direction, he opened the supply closet and reached down to recover a bottle of the whiskey.

  Counting to make sure they were all there, he placed one in the band of his pants at the back so it wouldn’t seem as obvious.

  Knocking on the door to the cabin the guys instructed to, it was opened a crack until James saw it was Samuel. He motioned him inside, then checked the hallway to be sure it was clear.

  “Now, let’s pass these bottles around and go meet some girls,” Charlie choked out as the whiskey burned its way down his throat.

  An hour later, well on their way to being drunk, the three men made it noisily through the corridors and arrived at the dance. Standing close to the wall, they received disapproving looks from the older people in the room.

  Samuel had begun to give up on dancing with an appropriate woman when a gorgeous redhead entered the room, drawing all the room’s attendees’ focus to her.

  Amazed when she joined his group in the back corner, Samuel couldn’t help but introduce himself.

  “Hello. I’m Samuel, and this is Charlie and James.” He nodded to each in turn as they took her offered hand.

  “Judith. Nice to meet you boys. Would one of you dance with me?” Not one to wait on protocol, she held her hand out to the first taker.

  As they each took turns dancing with Judith and sharing their hidden flasks with her, the night sped by quickly until they were the only group left in the room.

  “Let’s go have a smoke, and then you boys can escort me to my quarters.” Judith playfully grabbed James’ hand, pulling him outside onto the deck in the open air.

  Following her like little lost puppies, the boys had lighters out and ready when she placed the cigarette between her fingers.

  Smiling at Samuel, she accepted his light and the conversation centered around who could do this or that the best.

  “May I escort you to your room, Miss Judith?” Samuel asked, ignoring the frowns from his friends.

  “Since you asked first, you may. Good night, boys.” Judith kissed each one on the cheek. “Maybe you’ll be faster tomorrow night,” Judith flung over her shoulder as she took Samuel’s offered arm.

  When they were far enough away from the main corridors, Judith shoved Samuel into a corner, out of sight, and softly covered his lips with hers.

  Knowing he was inexperienced gave her the upper hand in the situation, and when his hands started to roam, she broke the kiss.

  “Good night, Samuel. It’s been a wonderful evening.” Judith left him standing there as she disappeared around the corner.

  A door opening in the hallway brought Samuel back to the present. He straightened up and pulled the handkerchief from his breast pocket to wipe any remaining lipstick away.

  His watch fell out as he replaced the handkerchief and the hands were at one in the morning. Racing drunkenly, he hoped his father was fast asleep so he didn’t get into trouble from staying out so late.

  ~~~~~~

  Walking to the crew’s corridor, the halls were sparse with people making their way back from dinner.

  Finding a crew member, she asked, “Can you tell me where to find the injured crew member? He’s a steward, I think.”

  “Yes, Miss. He’s right down here. Third door on the right.”

  “Thank you.” Nora continued on to the door he had directed her to.

  Knocking gently, Nora announced her presence. “Hello? I’m here to check on Patrick to make sure he is doing okay.”

  Not hearing a response, Nora let herself in and found Patrick laying in his bed, moaning.

  Cautiously approaching him, she could see that his wound was worse. He had ripped the bandage off his arm, which had begun to fester and drip puss onto the sheets.

  Uncertain if he was safe to be around, Nora went ahead, despite her fears, and grabbed a wet towel to help bring down his growing fever.

  As the cool water landed on his face, he groaned and grabbed her arm.

  “Don’t leave me, please. I don’t know what’s happening to me. It hurts so bad.” Patrick pleaded with her as she moved back to the basin to wet another towel.

  “Shhh. We will lower your fever and that will make you feel much better. Can you swallow a few pills to help fight the infection?” Nora hoped what she was giving him would fight against the infection that was growing out of control.

  Taking the pills from her and placing them in his mouth, he tried to bring the glass of water up with his unhurt hand, but it was shaking so badly that Nora had to help him bring it up to his mouth.

  “Thank you, nurse,” Patrick croaked through his cracked lips.

  His body began to shake as his temperature cooled slightly. Unable to handle the pain, he closed his eyes, slipping back into unconsciousness.

  Nora was stuck, needing someone to monitor him through the night, but not really wanting to expose anyone else to the infection which was raging in Patrick’s body.

  Jonathan poked his head inside the door, just as she was trying to come up with a solution.

  “Are you stalking me?” Nora questioned playfully to help lighten the mood.

  “No, Miss. I’m rather appalled because you are sitting on my bunk. I didn’t think we knew each other well enough for this kind of behavior.” He winked, continuing the easy banter between them.

  Cheeks blushing, Nora quickly stood and moved toward the door, only to realize that there wasn’t enough room to pass by him.

  As he moved sideways to let her by, they both turned to speak at the same moment. They both fell silent as their close proximity became infused with tension.

  Jumping back as they tried to move away from each other, Jonathan fell onto his sick bunkmate as Nora moved closer to the door.

  Righting himself, Jonathan braced his arm across the narrow space to regain his balance.

  “I have two other guys who will be taking turns with me to keep an eye on him tonight. If his fever gets worse, or anything else happens, I will send someone to come and get you,” Jonathan reassured her as she opened the door so no one would think anything illicit was going on.

  “I appreciate it. There isn’t much I can do at this moment except keep an eye on him. I have already given him as much medicine as I can to make him comfortable.” Nora sighed in frustration.

  “You have to rest yourself, since the doctor is not really available. You are going to have to take up his slack. The ship has over 2000 people on board and they are going to need you to be there during the day, ready for whatever happens.”

  “Thank you. It doesn’t matter how bad of a doctor he is, he is still the doctor while he’s on board. I am afraid things are going to get worse tomorrow. If this continues, I know I won’t be able to sleep at all.” Nora smiled tightly, trying not to let it bother her.

  “Well, we have this covered, so take advantage of it and go to sleep.” Jonathan walked to the door, forcing her into the hall.

  “Go. There is nothing you can do. Good night, Nurse Ryan.” Pointing his arm in the direction of her room, he didn’t bother hiding his grin.

  “Yes, sir.” Nora grinned back at him. “I’ll check on him before breakfast.”

  Nora turned to head to her room. Glancing back at him, she found him standing in the hallway with his arms crossed, tapping his foot as he waited for her to leave before going inside with Patrick.


  Shaking her head at his antics, Nora continued to her room, smiling to herself, forgetting for the moment the infected patients on board.

  ~~~~~~

  Nora felt she had barely gotten to sleep when the door opened and a very tipsy Judith came stumbling into the room at one in the morning.

  “Oooff.” Judith clumsily hit the edge of the berth with her shin. “Sorry. I’ll be quiet in a minute. Where is my stupid suitcase?” Judith moved around in the semi dark room.

  “Try under your bed where you placed it earlier.” Nora tried to keep the anger from spilling out as Judith hit her head on the berth, trying to pull her suitcase out.

  “Do you need some help?” Nora figured if she offered to help, Judith would settle down faster and go to sleep.

  “Nope, I have it. Just a second. Wait, that’s my hat box. Now what would my night gown be doing in there?” Judith wondered out loud.

  No longer offering, Nora sat up and took charge of the situation.

  “Stand up,” Nora ordered as she pulled Judith to a semi-stable position. “Take off your dress.” Nora reached down for the correct suitcase and plopped it onto her bed.

  Riffling through until she found a gown, Judith had only managed to undo one button.

  Unbuttoning her dress for her, Nora began to wonder how Judith functioned in the real world.

  “There, now. Up and over your arms, just like that.” Turning to get the gown, Nora was impressed when she turned back to find Judith hadn’t moved a muscle. Arms still in the air, Nora carefully placed the garment over Judith’s head.

  “Let’s lie down for just a moment,” Nora soothed, helping her under the covers.

  Seeing Judith was turned on her side, Nora turned back to her berth, only to see the open suitcase. Sighing, she began to replace everything and put the case back under Judith’s bunk.

  As she lay in her own bunk, listening to Judith’s drunken snores, Nora realized there were many other things to be thankful for.

  Counting through her list of blessings, her tired eyes finally closed to the sound of snoring. The perfect background noise to cover the stillness of the ocean night, waiting for the perfect moment to claim her victims.