Titanic 2020: Cannibal City

36 City of Night

Tracer bullets lit the night sky. The thump of explosions continued to shake the earth. The group of fugitives snaked along the debris-littered sidewalks towards Grand Central, ordered to silence, torches off, terrified that at any moment their presence might be revealed and they would be captured or shot by the President's men. The cannibals themselves no longer seemed such a threat. When they had first emerged from the sewer they had spotted small, ragged bands of them fleeing west, away from the advancing troops. They saw others carrying white flags going in the opposite direction. Those that were still resisting would surely soon be overwhelmed, and then there would be nothing to stop the soldiers racing across the city towards the Titanic. They might not be able to lure it into harbour, the way King Slash had planned, but there was no shortage of abandoned boats the soldiers could use to get them close enough to use their undoubted firepower to force Captain Smith to surrender the ship.

It seemed to Jimmy that the past few days had all been about dread, followed by dread, with a little bit of dread thrown in for good measure. When would it ever end? Yes, sure, Claire was back, but he had managed to forget in her absence that she was mean and sullen and now he wasn't really sure why he'd bothered to search for her in the first place. He was cold. And hungry. They were entering Grand Central Station — he'd heard of it, seen it in films, but Jimmy wasn't one to be overly impressed by architecture or reputation. It was just a big building with trains. To make matters worse he stepped right into a huge pile of crap as soon as they entered.

Jimmy slid off his trainer and wiped it on an upended bench seat. It had risen right up over the knot and soaked into his admittedly already rancid sock. He peeled it off and tossed it angrily away.

'What sort of a bloody animal makes that much crap?' he was demanding when he was immediately shhhhed by everyone around him.

First Officer Jeffers led them towards the rendezvous point. He stopped them a short distance from it and called out the names of the crewmen he had sent to accompany the other passengers. They were still six hours short of the agreed time, but there were already a large group of returnees waiting. They rushed out of the shadows as if the cavalry had arrived and immediately began shaking hands and patting backs.

Claire said to Jimmy: 'Shouldn't you be talking to them, getting their stories?'

'Shouldn't you be taking their photos? Oh yeah, you let some little fella steal your camera.'

Without thinking, Claire snapped back: 'I got another one, smart arse.'

'Oh yeah? Where is it?'

'The cannibals took it off me.'

'You mean the rattibals?'

'That isn't even a word, you thick—'

Ty sighed out loud. 'Could you two just . . . give each other a hug or something and stop this bickering?'

'Huh,' said Claire.

'That'll be the day,' said Jimmy.

Ty wasn't prepared to give up so easily. 'Look, all you have to do is . . .' He turned and grabbed hold of Ronni. He crushed her to him. He kissed the top of her head and in a high-pitched voice cried, 'Oh Jimmy, I missed you!' He released Ronni and smiled at the two of them. 'See — easy as that!'

Ronni stood in shock.

'Get a life,' rasped Claire, turning away.

'Wise up, would you?' griped Jimmy.

Without acknowledging it, of course, Jimmy had to concede that Claire had a point about the interviews. Despite his adventures over the past few days, he was still a reporter, and he was determined if they got through this to make sure he got his old job back. So he set about interviewing the returnees, though he made it look as if he was just having a casual chat, so that if Claire looked over it wouldn't seem like he was working. Claire, meanwhile, salvaged a disposable camera from a shattered gift shop and began surreptitiously taking pictures whenever she thought Jimmy wasn't watching her.

The stories were all similar, and predictable. Few had made it as far as their original destinations. There had been encounters with cannibals and bandits and giant rats and escaped zoo animals. Those who had made it home had found either skeletons or no trace of their loved ones; they had landed with unrealistically high hopes. Now all they wanted was to return to the safety of Titanic.

Once they were settled at the rendezvous point, Jeffers and Dr Hill tried unsuccessfully to raise the ship using the radios of the returning crewmen; then ventured outside again in pursuit of a signal. They returned, grim-faced, less than ten minutes later.

'I don't know — some kind of jamming device,' was all the first officer said.

They sat about in small groups in the food court, most of them wishing that they could just move out now without waiting for the rendezvous deadline, but nobody was prepared to actually say it. Jimmy, Claire, Ty and Ronni occupied one booth. Ty got Jimmy to tell his story — everything that had happened since he'd lost Claire in the woods. Claire feigned disinterest. Ronni asked Claire what had happened to her since she'd gotten lost in the woods, and made sympathetic noises when Claire showed her her bullet wound.

Jimmy yawned and looked elsewhere.

'What I don't understand,' Ty said, 'is that guy, Cleaver, the minister, suddenly pulling a knife like that and killing Slash . . .'

'I always knew he was a killer,' said Claire.

'But why attack Slash when we were about to be released?'

'Because he wasn't a minister,' said Jimmy. They all looked at him. He nodded around them. 'You heard what he shouted? Long live the President! I saw his picture back at Fort Hope in an army uniform but until now I couldn't work out what he was doing pretending he was a minister. He was an assassin, sent out in advance of the attack on the city to kill Slash. What is it they say? Cut off the head and the body will die? Something like that.'

'And he heard about the Titanic,' said Claire. 'Maybe that guy in the woods told him, maybe that's why he killed him — maybe—'

'Too many maybes,' said Jimmy.

Claire glared at him. She was about to snap something back when Ty said: 'What about some peace and quiet for a while? I'm tired.' He rested his head on Ronni's shoulder and closed his eyes. Ronni looked up at Jimmy, mildly panicked. Jimmy smiled. Claire, despite her anger, couldn't help smiling either.

They slept as best they could in the hours leading up to the rendezvous time, curled awkwardly in the booths or stretched out on the cold marble floor. Jimmy tossed and turned; he kept imagining he was hearing a dull metal dragging sound, like a ghost dragging its chains. But when his eyes scanned the darkness there was nothing.

Although a bright day had dawned outside, little dispelled the gloom so deep in the heart of Grand Central. They had expected a steady trickle of returnees, but as they shook themselves and began to gather in preparation for their journey, it was becoming clear that nobody else was coming.

Jeffers formed the remaining passengers and actors into a column, two abreast with armed crewmen on either side. He checked his watch, gave one final look in the direction of the railway tunnels, then gave the signal for them to move out. Jimmy, Claire, Ty and Ronni were round about the middle of the column, excited but anxious. They all knew the chances of them making it back to Titanic were slim. Gunfire had largely died out during the night, which could only mean that the city was now in control of the President. Slipping through undetected was going to be very difficult. And there was no way to contact the ship to organise an alternative pick-up point. All Jeffers could do was take them to the harbour and hope that the ship's inflatables were waiting for them, as previously arranged.

But it seemed as if their journey was over almost before it had even started.

As Jeffers was directing scouts out of the front door to check for soldiers, they became aware of a clattering sound. It was somewhat masked by the height of the buildings surrounding them, but then the source of the noise suddenly burst into view: a huge military helicopter, descending on to the broad avenue before them, its massive rotor blades throwing up dust and debris, drowning out all other noises.

Jeffers was desperately using hand signals to get the forward scouts back into the station and pushing the column back behind him as the helicopter landed and its doors burst open. He had his pistol out and was about to fire at the first soldier who jumped out . . . when a familiar face appeared and began frantically signalling towards him.

Benson!

And now that he looked closer — behind the controls of the helicopter, Jonas Jones! Giving him the thumbs-up!

It was incredible.

Impossible.

But there they were!

Jeffers reversed his signals to now urge everyone forward. Jimmy had last seen Jonas close to the airport in New jersey — that's where he must have found the helicopter and decided it would make for a much faster and safer return journey. And now he'd risked it all by coming to rescue the rest of them. As for Benson — he didn't know or particularly care how he came to be on board! He was there, he was safe, and he was going to take them home.

'Get on, now!' Benson yelled, his hands cupped around his mouth. 'There's soldiers everywhere — come on!'

They clambered on board, pulling each other up, rolling across the floor, crawling into any space they could find. Jimmy got one leg up, and Ty grabbed his hand and hauled him in. Jimmy turned to help Claire, but she wasn't there. There was only half a dozen of them left to board — she must have slipped past him in the scrum. Jimmy leaned forward to bellow in Jonas Jones' ear — 'Did you get it? Did you get the part?' He got a thumbs-up in response. Jimmy turned back, smiling, and tried to pick Claire out of the throng again, but he still couldn't spot her.

'Ty!' he shouted above the roar of the blades, 'Where's Claire?'

Ty had a protective arm around Ronni, even though she didn't need it. He nodded down the body of the helicopter. 'Didn't she . . .'

They still couldn't see her.

The last of the passengers was dragged up and deposited on the floor.

'All aboard!'Jeffers shouted.

'Ready for take-off!' yelled Benson, beginning to close the doors.

It was then that Jimmy saw her — just a momentary glimpse as she was dragged backwards into Grand Central. He couldn't see who by, and he didn't care.

'No!' Jimmy shouted, and threw himself forward through the almost shut door. He landed in a heap on the road.

Benson's panicked face looked out after him. 'Jimmy!'

'Claire!' Jimmy pointed towards the terminal. At that very moment a bullet pinged into the ground beside him. Jimmy looked to his left. Soldiers! Still a considerable distance away, but crouched down, shooting towards the helicopter. Another bullet cracked off one of the blades.

'Jimmy!' Benson yelled. 'We have to go!'

Jimmy just shook his head and darted towards the terminal.

He charged through the entrance and there, not more than fifteen metres in front of him, was Claire — and the minister.

A beaten, blood-encrusted, swollen version of Calvin Cleaver with a knife to her throat, forcing her back.

'Stop!' Jimmy yelled.

Cleaver looked towards him — and laughed.

Jimmy had no weapon, he had no anything.

But he kept coming.

'Let her go, you monster!'

Cleaver kept moving backwards. He stepped into the exact same gargantuan pile of crap that Jimmy had tramped into the night before.

The gunfire from outside grew more intense.

There was an immense cacophony as the helicopter began to lift off — but the sound did not diminish as it should. It was hovering, waiting, putting everyone at risk.

'Let her go!'

Jimmy was right up close now.

'Jimmy! No!' Claire screamed. 'Go!'

'Yes, go, little boy!' Cleaver laughed. 'She's mine . . . and the ship is mine . . . and there's nothing you can do!'

Cleaver was mad. There was no doubt about it. It was in his eyes and mouth. But he was also right. There was nothing Jimmy could do but follow; there was nothing Claire could do — not even struggle; blood was already dripping from where the point of the blade had pierced the skin on her neck. Cleaver was obviously convinced that if he possessed Claire, then the Titanic would never sail away and leave her.

'Just let her go,' Jimmy begged. 'Please — take me instead . . .'

Cleaver cackled. 'You? You're worthless . . .'

Then Jimmy heard it, even above the noise of the battle outside.

A sound he had first heard in the night, and dismissed as a nightmare.

Claire heard it too and recognised it.

The dry metallic drag.

But Cleaver heard nothing. He was too busy screaming at Jimmy: 'Get out of here or I'll rip the throat out of you!'

From out of the gloom behind him a huge, grey elephant stomped into view. It was almost upon them before it let out a deafening trumpet call, so close that Cleaver's head involuntarily twisted towards it. His surprise was so great that he momentarily relaxed the pressure of the blade against Claire's neck. Sensing it, she immediately elbowed him in his bony ribs. As he doubled over she tore herself from his grasp and dived to one side, just as the elephant's massive bulk ploughed into Cleaver, impaling him on one of its tusks. Cleaver screamed as the ivory spear erupted through his chest and blood sprayed out of him. The elephant roared again, throwing back its head and raising Cleaver off his feet, forcing the thickest part of the tusk into his torso. As Cleaver continued to scream, Jimmy dived to one side to avoid the advancing creature and Claire pushed herself back against the wall. The elephant rumbled past them and in a matter of moments it disappeared back into the gloom on the other side of the station, taking Cleaver with it.

Jimmy and Claire ran towards each other.

They stopped.

'I planned that,' said Jimmy.

Then he grabbed her hand and they ran for the doors.