The Titanic Conspiracy
By
Vincent McKalin
Smashwords Edition
Published by Vincent McKalin on Smashwords
The Titanic Conspiracy
Copyright 2011 by Vincent McKalin
License Notes
Thank you for downloading this free ebook. You are welcome to share it with your friends. This book may be reproduced, copied and distributed for non-commercial purposes, provided the book remains in its complete original form. If you enjoyed this book, please return to Smashwords.com to discover other works by this author or visit his website. Thank you for your support and for downloading this free story.
****
The Titanic Conspiracy
The great ship, watched by well-wishers on the pier, some of whom were waving to friends and relatives on board, pulled out of the Southampton harbor in England. The moment was finally here. It was the afternoon of Wednesday, April 10, 1912. Its much talked about, and long awaited maiden voyage had begun.
For this leg of the voyage, the ship's final destination was to be New York City in the United States. However, fate had planned otherwise.
It also had two other schedule stops to make before the first leg of the voyage was to be completed. Those stops were to board additional passengers and were scheduled for Cherbourg, France and Cobh, known then as Queenstown, Ireland, respectively. There was another stop, however, that was not scheduled for, or foreseen; a stop that would be disastrous. This stop would see the end of the voyage long before the ship reaches its New York's destination. This stop would bring the great ship and some of her passengers to be rested on the floor of the Atlantic Ocean.
The ship's uncompleted maiden voyage would be its first and only.
The cause of this disaster was attributed to a curse by one of the ship's passengers. It was never proven, however.
This story tells the tale.
The ship was the RMS Titanic.
****
Henry Rattary, watched as the Titanic docked at Cherbourg. He had never seen a ship so huge or so beautiful before. His mind wandered from everything else, including his family and rested on the great ship. Now, this is a ship to be admired, he thought. He was most fascinated with the Titanic's four funnels or smokestacks. He had never seen a ship with so many before.
The ship's exterior was something to behold. Henry wondered about the interior. He was not disappointed.
Henry felt lucky and proud as he boarded the ship. He felt lucky because he was a part of this historic occasion; the maiden voyage of the RMS Titanic. He was indeed lucky as the tickets he had bought for himself, his wife and two young daughters, to travel to the Caribbean, were originally for a different liner. He had disagreed with that ship's policy of not allowing children in the dining hall and was, therefore, transferred to the Titanic. He was proud because, as far as he knew, he was the only colored man to be given such an opportunity.
While Henry was elated on being a passenger on the Titanic's maiden voyage another man felt the total opposite of what Henry was feeling.
As that other man watched Henry boarded the Titanic, he felt betrayed. He was let down by people who should have known better.
How had this happened? He thought. How? How the devil did the executives of the White Star Line made such a mistake, if a mistake it was? He doubted that a mistake was made. It was deliberately done. But why? Why would they allow a black man on the Titanic on an occasion like this? He tried but he could not think of a logical explanation.
As he watched Henry mingling with the white folks, his hatred became more pronounced. His expression suddenly changed showing nothing but disdain for the man he thought to be inferior to him and who was allowed to be travelling on the same ship with him. He would soon fix that, though. He would correct the mistake that was made by the White Star Line.
He turned away and headed for his cabin, already making plans to free this voyage of the colored man.
****
William Gordon, en route to his cabin stopped at the cabin of his friend, Jack Sullivan, who was travelling with his wife, Ruth. Gordon met the Sullivans in Southampton while they were waiting to board the vessel and they became fast friends.
He had to bring them up-to-date on what was happening. He hoped that they would feel the same way that he was feeling about it. Yeah, they had to see eye-to-eye with him as he needed their assistance in getting the bastard the hell off the ship. He couldn't possibly approach them for assistance if they did not share his viewpoint, could he? Surely not.
He hoped that they would see things his way, though, as it was next to impossible for him to carry out the act on his own.
The door to the Sullivans cabin was ajar and he pushed it without knocking.
He started to speak even before he entered the cabin fully.
“I've just seen the strangest thing. You are not going to believe it. I, myself, am finding it hard to believe.”
“What did you see?” Jack inquired. “What could be so incredible?
“I've just seen a black man boarding our ship. A black man, can you believe that?”
“There's nothing strange about that; nothing at all.” Ruth said. “I thought you said you have incredible news. Why would a black man on a ship be so unbelievable?”
“You mean you expected it? William asked, shocked.
“Of course, black people travel on ships every day.”
“Yes, that may be so, but this is not your everyday ship. This is the Titanic, for Christ's sake. Come on Ruth.” Hell, it seemed as if he had befriended the wrong people.
“I think Bill has a point, Ruth. We were disrespected when that colored was allowed to board but we will have to sail with him. There's nothing else we can do.” Jack said.
“Of course there's something we can do.” William was relieved. Jack was on the right track. With a little coercing, he would be fully on board. William hoped Ruth would follow suit.
“Do you mean, we protest?” Jack asked him.
“No. Why would we want to protest? How would we benefit from protesting, anyway? What I mean is: we kill him and threw him overboard to the sharks. He is no better than shark food, anyway. And with Ruth's assistance, we can accomplish it.”
“You are not serious, are you, Bill?” Ruth wanted to know.
“Of course, I'm serious. I have never been more serious about anything in my whole life.”
“Don't you think you are taking this a bit too far, Bill?”
“No, Jack. I think that he has taken himself a bit too far; way too far if you ask me. Are you guys going to help me get him off the ship or not? I can't do it without your help.”
“Okay,” Jack gave in. “Let us hear what you've got. And it better be risk free.”
****
At dinner in the second class dining hall, Henry noticed a young woman, who was sitting at a table across from him, smiling at him at intervals. He did not return the favor as he was sitting with his wife and daughters and he did not want it to appear as if he was showing interest in another woman in the presence of his wife, which was exactly what he would be doing. Still, the interest was there but his wife was present so there would be no time for a fling on this voyage. Or was there?
On one occasion, she winked at him while, slowly, licking her lips. Christ, she was seducing him. He noticed something else too; she did these things only when his wife wasn't noticing.
After dinner she discreetly handed him a piece of paper which was folded quite small. He, likewise, placed it in one of his trousers' pocket.
It read, simply: “Meet me in my room at midnight. You won't believe what will be waiting for you. Be discreet.” The number of the cabin was added as an afterthought.
Henry wished that he was travelling without his family. Still, they were not much of a problem as he had already planned how he was going to leave their cabin at midnight.
Just after midnight, Henry knocked on the door to the cabin to which he was invited.
A woman's voice answered from the inside.
“Come on in. It's opened.”
Henry, slowly, pushed the door opened then stepped inside. He couldn't believe what was waiting for him. He wondered if he was dreaming.
Ruth was lying on the bed, facing him, with nothing on. Her arms were folded across her breasts. Her thighs were crossed in a way so as not to expose her pubic area.
“Anyone knows you were coming here?” Ruth asked, getting up and revealing her rounded breasts with their stiffed nipples.
“Only you and I,” he answered; his eyes locked onto her breasts.
Ruth was now sitting on the side of the bed with her thighs slightly apart. She watched as Henry's eyes were lowered from her bust. She knew where his gaze would focus.
“What about your wife?” She questioned further.
“I told her I was feeling nauseous, and I was going on deck to get some fresh air. I know what discreet means. I'm not stupid, you know. I couldn't be an engineer if I was.”
“You're mighty proud of yourself, aren't you, boy?”
That came from behind him.
Henry made an attempt to see who had spoken. He was able to turn about forty five degrees before a blow caught him to the back of his head that knocked him senseless.
The blow pushed him forward. He landed on Ruth; his face buried between the breasts he was just admiring. He didn't know it, however, as by then he was out, cold.
When he came to, he was lying on the floor. Both his hands and feet were tied with a single string behind him.
Ruth was still sitting on the bed, this time fully clothed. There was a man with her.
“Why are you doing this?”
There was no reply.
Just then another man hurried in.
“Jack, Ruth, the way is clear. Let's throw this bastard to the sharks and get it over with.”
Henry didn't plead for his life. He knew it wouldn't help him.
“God is not sleeping. I know that he will avenge me. If I am not allowed to reach New York City on this ship, I can assure you, neither will any of you. You all will be joining me in a short while. Mark my words.”
“Shut the hell up,” Bill said angrily; kicking Henry to one side of the head until he lay still.
With Ruth operating as look-out and Bill and Jack struggling with the load, they took Henry and threw him overboard. Just as Henry was about to be thrown overboard, he opened his eyes, looked at his assailants and repeated, “mark my words.”
Their mission was accomplished.
Less than 48 hours later, the Titanic struck an iceberg and sank.
Bill and Jack didn't make it off the sinking ship.
Just before Bill was submerged for the last time, he heard Henry's voice echoing, “mark my words.”
Ruth made it onto a lifeboat but soon after, acted strangely.
“What are you doing here? You're dead!” She shouted, stepping backwards as if backing away from someone; her expression showing how fearful she was of whatever was stalking her. “Keep him away from me, please. He's dead!” She let out an ear-splitting scream then she threw herself overboard, into the icy water.
No attempt was made to rescue her. The survivors in the lifeboat watched for a minute or so as Ruth attempted to hold on to the water then gradually sank from their view.
“Why did she behave in that manner?” A woman made enquiries.
“I don't know,” replied another. “She behaved as if she had seen a ghost.”
It has puzzled and is still puzzling the great minds. How did the unsinkable sank?
Now, you know.
The End.