‘If it’s true, I will never see Freddy or my parents again,’ Rose said with a sad little sigh, as she leaned over the railing on B Deck promenade and looked down on the open decks below.
It was late afternoon and they had just shared tea in the library. It had been as different an occasion today from yesterday as it was possible to be. The five of them had sat quietly sipping tea, deep in thought. Even Trudy had seemed troubled and reflective. It was only now that they were out on deck without Karl that their worries seemed ready to be exposed.
‘If it is true, this ship will be gone and so many people dead.’ Felicity gave a little shiver.
‘I tried to tell Oliver that the ship was going to sink, but he told me not to talk rot and would hear no more.’
‘Oh Trudy, you know you were not to mention this to him. What other reaction did you expect to get?’ Felicity scolded.
‘I know, I know, but it is hard to keep something like this from one’s husband. I know he is not perfect… All right, I will be honest; I know he is not likeable, but he is my husband. For better or for worse, you know. And it feels a little like I'm murdering him by omission.’
‘So you tried and failed; be content with that. You did what you could. And maybe this is all balderdash and we will arrive in New York just as planned.’ Even as she said this, Lizzie knew that there was no chance that they would be arriving in New York. Somehow, in the last day, she had come to believe what Karl had told them without doubt.
It was the stories of New Atlantis that had convinced her. He had such an easy way of telling them, as if they truly were memories of his past. They were far too elaborate to have been the concoction of an insane mind. And Cara’s no-nonsense support only made his position stronger.
‘Is it awful of me to hope we do not land in New York?’ Trudy asked tentatively.
‘Not at all. The idea of New Atlantis is very appealing. And I would much rather believe it exists than believe that Karl is a mad man.’ Lizzie gave a little, jerky laugh.
‘You are in love with him, aren’t you?’ Felicity asked.
‘Yes, I do believe I am. Is it too sudden do you think? I only met him Wednesday, and yet it feels like years since then.’
‘I do believe in love at first sight. I have never experienced it myself. My feelings for Maurice are much more pragmatic. He was a good man who offered for me, and as there was no one I liked better at the time, and I was rather interested in the travel marriage to him would include, I said yes. Nevertheless, I do believe people can meet and fall helplessly in love at first sight.’
‘I came to love Freddy as I watched him work with the natives in the Congo. It was never a grand passion.’ Rose sighed again, and Lizzie noticed a tear at the corner of her eye.
Lizzie placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. ‘Freddy will live on in his child, Rose, just think of that. And he would want you to be safe. Why else did he send you home when he found out you were with child?’
‘I know… I know… but I will miss him terribly.’
‘Let us not dwell on what we may lose. Let us think about what we might be gaining. New Atlantis sounds wonderful. Karl has told me such stories.’
‘It does sound amazing, doesn’t it?’ Rose perked up a little. ‘To think that they have no need of ships like this. That they can move through space in a blink of an eye from one side of the world to the other.’
‘And no disease or illness. To be able to live indefinitely in those clowns.’ Trudy clapped her hands like a little girl.
‘Clones, Trudy. Karl explained cloning to me. It is very interesting. To think that inside a little drop of my blood is a blue print of every aspect of who I am, right down to my preference for using my left hand rather than my right. And that they can build a whole new body from that blue print, not in nine months like we are doing now, but in a month – fully grown to adulthood. It is incredible.’
‘Is it too incredible, do you think?’ Felicity ventured. ‘Are we being too gullible, letting ourselves be drawn into the possibility of this world?’
‘Does it hurt to imagine it if it turns out not to be true? It will provide a wonderful tale to tell our grandchildren in years to come. We sailed on the maiden voyage of the grand Titanic with people who thought they were from the future and believed the ship was going to sink. What a laugh we will all have then.’ Lizzie gave a little giggle. ‘I am enjoying imagining that world. It is better than reading a romance novel to while away the hours.’
‘True. It is something to think about, isn’t it?’ Trudy pulled at her hat that was being dislodged by the wind. None of the others had worn hats because the wind made it a precarious activity. However, Oliver insisted Trudy maintain the proprieties, and so she wore her hat outside and bore the consequences.
‘How is your little stewardess holding up? She cannot talk to people as we can with each other,’ Felicity asked Lizzie.
‘She looks very drawn and serious; not the smiling lass she was the first day. I have told her she can talk to me about it all if she needs to. I have to wonder if she feels it is her duty to tell someone about what is going to happen.’
‘But they will think she is mad. Who would believe her?’
‘Precisely. I think that will be what stops her. However, she has more of a duty to this ship than we do. It must be extra hard for her.’
‘We will try to support her a little, shall we?’ Rose suggested stoutly.
‘Yes, I think we should. Safety in numbers, as it were. If we all stick together, we will at least not feel like raving lunatics, even if others might see us as such.’
The four of them gave a little laugh, each wondering just how far from the truth that statement might be.