Stars On The Atlantic

III

The Lusitania certainly rendered justice to her prestigious prefix of R.M.S. or Royal Mail Ship, a label signifying punctuality, speed, and quality. Flag ship of the Cunard Line, her outlines inspired power and luxury. On all nine decks of the enormous vessel, passengers from all walks of life and all classes in society came and went, chattered and laughed, enjoying their transatlantic crossing.

Jerry, who had worked on the ship long enough (and sneaked out from the boiler rooms often enough) to map out her inner structure in his head, was able to lead Amybeth from bow to stern and back to the bow again while never taking the same passage twice."How come you know the ship so well?" asked Amybeth admiringly."Let's say that I boarded her a few times in the past, and that my sense of orientation is not that bad," answered Jerry, this time being more careful."Also bound for New York? You've been to the New Continent quite often, then?""Y-yeah... Like I said, I like to travel," said Jerry."And you've also got the money for doing so?" asked Amybeth. "You don't seem much older than me, nevertheless.""I manage to make what's necessary by working for shipping companies," he said, choosing his words with precaution.Amybeth's face lit up with admiration as she exclaimed: "My God! But then you're a sailor! How fantastic it is!"The boiler room worker felt his heart sink in his chest. Nevertheless, he soon pulled himself back together again."So I am!" he answered, pumping his chest proudly. "In fact, I am heading to the Cunard Headquarters in New York to apply for an officer's position on one of the Company's ships. What about you? Why are you going to New York?""I am taking the train there to Minnesota to go live with my aunt. She is the only family I have left."Jerry kindly put a hand on the girl's shoulder."It will be an amazing new beginning, I am certain. Who's never dreamt of starting their life anew in America? I just can't wait until we steam pass the Statue of Liberty, what a sight it must be! That beautiful lady incarnates the paramount of freedom! Oh well, this ship we're on is praised for making the fastest crossings of the Atlantic. With a bit of luck, we could be docking in New York in no more than three days. That'd be right on Christmas Day!"His last remark brought a smile back on the face of Amybeth, whose eyes had sunk once again into weariness at the mention of her family.

During the remainder of the day, the two young people wandered about the ship, admiring her wake amidst the ocean waves, observing the officers performing a boat drill as they lowered the lifeboats and pulled them back up again, and contemplating in awe the passengers from first- and second-classes strolling around in their graceful attires. It was the longest time Jerry had spent abovedeck at once. Amybeth's presence made him lose entirely the notion of time. He couldn't get tired of seeing her smile and hearing her cheerful chatter. However, from time to time, he could see her glance towards the stern of the vessel, where the interminable wake which the Lusitania traced on the Ocean stretched all the way to the horizon. But Amybeth was glancing beyond the horizon. She was glancing towards Ireland. And during those few moments, her eyes would become watery. Though the Lusitania was majestic and beautifully designed, she hated her. She hated her because at every instant she was taking her further away from home. A home which now only existed in her memory. A home she could no longer call home. She also never imagined that she would one day be traveling onboard the Lusitania, a ship that made her life change forever. Ironically, this ship which was carrying her away from home was also the ship which destroyed what she once called home. It was the R.M.S. Lusitania that killed her parents.