Titanic 2020: Cannibal City

18 Arrival

There were, of course, some people on the Titanic who simply weren't interested. Hard-bitten crew who'd seen everything before; passengers who'd lost interest in pretty much everything since the plague had struck — or who might just have been like that anyway. But virtually everyone on board was outside, lining the rails, for the mighty ship's arrival in New York.

It had limped along so slowly over the past few days, and with daybreak the coast had been swathed in mist, so nobody outside of the captain and his officers on the bridge really had a firm idea of how close they were — but then the mist had lifted and there she was, the Statue of Liberty, torch aloft. There was something magical about seeing her. She still spoke of hope and welcome, even though the people looking at her from every deck now knew not to expect anything. Claire was on the top deck, surrounded by her team, all genuinely excited, chatting away and pointing. She was looking at Lady Liberty through her telescopic lens — the only one amongst them who could actually pick out the weeds snaking up the green statue and the birds' nests lining her crown. She supposed in the good old days someone would have been employed to stop the old lady looking like she was homeless. But Claire said nothing. Instead she trained her lens on the harbour, before moving it up and across a skyline familiar from a thousand movies. She wished Jimmy was with her. They would have had a grand adventure on the streets of Manhattan.

Though they were busting to get ashore, Captain Smith, as ever, was taking no chances. It had been a battle just to get the ship this far, so no detailed planning had yet been made as far as shore visits were concerned. He would not be rushed. The Titanic dropped anchor just off Liberty Island. The captain, showing how much he respected what the news team were doing, chose to address the passengers and crew alike through a special edition of the paper instead of addressing them over the PA or just printing off his own message. Claire was quite proud of that. She devoted the whole of the front page to his statement. And even rewrote part of it, because it was dead boring.

His main point was — millions of people had died in New York. It was probably rife with disease. If there were survivors, they were probably rife with disease. If you got ashore and became infected with anything, you might not be allowed back on. The safety of the ship was paramount. Teams would go ashore to ascertain conditions in the city and secure the vital part required to fix the engines, which was the primary reason for coming to New York. Then the Titanic would continue its voyage.

One of the reporters, Andy, stood beside Claire, looking wistfully at the city. 'Do you think FAO Schwarz qualifies as essential supplies?'

'FAO Schwarz?'

'Toy store. They say it's the biggest in the world. There's lots of young kids on board, we could do with getting a load more toys. You know, the latest electronic games, loads of cool stuff.'

'Would this be for you, Andy, or the kids?'

'Oh the kids, definitely. But you know, if you want someone to go and check it out, well, I'm happy to volunteer.'

'You'd put your life on the line for some computer games?'

Andy thought about it for a few moments. 'For the kids, definitely.'

'You're very brave,' said Claire. 'And misguided, if you think the captain is going to let you off to go shopping for toys.'

Andy grinned at her. 'Talking of misguided, how did Alan's interview with that minister turn out?'

'You mean Brian's?' she asked. Andy shrugged. 'I don't know, haven't seen it yet.'

'Probably still working on it,' said Andy. 'Are you sure he has an IQ of 140?'

'I'm not sure of anything.'

'If he's so smart, how come he can't make a better cup of tea?'

'Wait'll you see,' said Claire. 'He'll surprise us. The interview will be brilliant.'

'I'd prefer better tea.'

Everyone on the Times was feeling upbeat about the arrival in New York, despite the captain's warnings. Certainly they would have to scramble later on to have their reports from the city in time for publication, but that was part and parcel of being a journalist. Deadlines! But there were a number of mundane tasks to be completed prior to going ashore — Claire wanted to run a series of features about passengers who'd been with the ship right from the start but were now going to leave its relative safety and take their chances onshore. A number of these interviews had been carried out already, but her journalists hadn't quite gotten round to writing them up. Now that they were needed it was proving difficult to get her staff focused on the task. All they were really interested in was New York.

Ty was finding it particularly hard to settle. He had no idea what he would find if and when he made it as far as New Jersey — or if he would return to the ship. Since his parents had died the people on board had become his family. But if he found survivors of his real family out there he would find himself torn. Blood was thicker than water. Now, every time he tried to continue with his article, he only managed a few words before sitting back and sighing.

'This is impossible,' he said. 'And now there isn't even anyone to make the tea.'

'Make it yourself,' said Debs.

'Where is Wonder Boy anyway?'

'Give him a break, would you?'

Ty made a face. Debs made one back.

'Ty,' said Claire, 'if you really can't work, go to Brian's cabin and find out how long he's going to be.'

'Me? Do I look like a messenger boy?'

'YES!'

From everyone in the office.

Ty pretended to huff off.

Three inflatables were to make the initial approach to New York. The first ashore would carry First Officer Jeffers, Dr Hill, Jonas Jones, Mr Benson — relieved to finally be off farmyard duty — and half a dozen other armed crewmen. Their job would be to secure a base at Battery Park and establish a perimeter before cautiously probing further into the city to try and establish what the conditions there were. Claire had tried her best to be allowed on to this first boat, but had been refused. If Jeffers decided it was safe, then she would be permitted to land with the second and third boats, which would contain additional armed crewmen and the passengers who wished to disembark. After that the plan was that vehicles would be commandeered and a convoy would make its way through the city towards the factory in New Jersey where Jonas Jones hoped to secure the part that would allow the Titanic to continue on its voyage. Along the way, passengers leaving the ship would be dropped off to begin their journeys home. If they chose to return to the ship they would be picked up on the way back at prearranged pick-up points. While all of this was happening the inflatables would bring more crew ashore to search for oil and supplies, which would be ferried back to Titanic using larger vessels abandoned at the docks.

Claire couldn't wait to get ashore. Yes, of course it would be dangerous, but she desperately wanted to know what had happened in New York. She had a reporter's insatiable curiosity. Standing on the lower deck, with the waves lapping softly against the mighty ship and the even mightier city laid out in front of her, she was gripped with excitement.

'First boat — away!' cried First Officer Jeffers, and the inflatable began to speed towards shore. The other two inflatables continued to fill with passengers.

'If you're going ashore, now's the time to get on board, ma'am.'

Claire nodded at the coxswain and glanced anxiously along the deck — Ty had not yet reappeared after going to check on Brian.

'Just a few more minutes,' said Claire.

The coxswain nodded reluctantly. Claire glanced down at the inflatables, which were set slightly below her and waiting to be winched down to the water. One was completely full, the other had just the two places left. Her eyes settled on a familiar, wide-brimmed black hat. At that very moment the Reverend Calvin Cleaver raised his head and their eyes met. A shiver ran through her and she looked quickly away, but not before she registered the look he was giving her: cold hatred.

A hand came down on her shoulder and she jumped.

'Claire . . . sorry!' It was Ty. Andy and Debs were with him. 'We were looking everywhere for Brian, but nobody's seen him. His parents are frantic, we've been everywhere we can think of. . .'

Claire had a knot in her stomach. She looked back down at the minister. She could only see the top of his hat. 'OK, Ty, climb in. Andy, Debs — keep looking. Have him paged over the PA. Find him — and keep me posted.'

Claire stepped into the inflatable and took her seat beside Ty. A few moments later the craft was lowered into the water. With the noise of the engine it was impossible to be sure, but Claire thought she could hear someone humming a familiar tune as the inflatable began to speed towards New York.