Rebecca stood at the front of the ship, her curly blond hair blowing around her face. She was finely alone, for a while. The dress that she was wearing showed off her attractive body, and the sash made her hips look more then perfect. Rebecca's hands were finely clean of ink stains, and they were as soft as could be. The wind became cold and she shivered. It was nice to be alone. Rebecca looked over the edge, and watched sea animals beside the ship. How beautiful and perfect. She thought

       Rebecca took the whole moment in, when a young man appeared next to her. "They're really quite beautiful, aren't they?" Without saying another word, Jack Thayer waited for a response. He wasn't in a hurry to interrupt the peacefulness of the moment. In a shirt, vest, and pants, for he'd left his coat in his suite, his deep eyes came out even more, and his relatively short hair even caught a breeze or two now and then.

       "Yes they are," Rebecca replied, as she turned to see a young man standing there. Rebecca looked at how neatly dresses he was, and then looked into his eyes as she tried in vain to tuck some of her hair behind her ears. His eyes, she thought, then looked down again and out to the sea.

       Jack stood for a moment, gazing out towards the sea. Then, fearing he may have been intruding turned away. "I'm sorry for interrupting you..." A few steps away, he turned back, "My name's Jack Thayer, by the way."

       The young blond woman turned back towards the seventeen-year-old, saying "No you were not interrupting" Rebecca desperation she pulled out an elastic and pulled her hair back "My name is Rebecca Smith."

       "Well, Miss Smith, it's my pleasure to make your acquaintance. I can't say that I've seen you around before, and I know I'd remember someone as beautiful as you." Jack unintentionally blushed, he couldn't believe that he actually said that out loud, but now that it was out, there wasn't much he could do. He just stood there for a moment, before continuing. "May I join you for a while until the sun sets? That is if you're sure I'm not interrupting you."

       Rebecca also blushed, She had not received a comment like that in a long time, the newspaper business it tough and beauty does nothing to sell a story. "Sure, you can stay, it does get lonely out here" Rebecca said.

       "Thank you." Jack walked back towards the prow, and stood there for the longest time, just looking out at the sea. In all of his trips across, this must have been the most beautiful day of all. "This certainly is breathtaking isn't it?" He finally said, breaking the silence. There was something about this woman that he hadn't seen before, but an instant familiarity about her as well.

       "Yes, it is even more beautiful then the sunsets at the beach I go to, but nothing is more beautiful, then a sun rise, the way it chases away the darkness" Rebecca replied

       "That's rather poetic, but I suppose the grandest of nature evokes something in the human spirit, doesn't it?" Jack shifted his weight and took in the view. "Where are you from?" Just as he asked this, a stronger breeze than usual caught his hair, blowing it ever so slightly out of order. He paid no mind, though. Jack found himself wanting to know more about this beautiful blond woman.

       "England, I work for a news paper there, now I am heading to Toronto, where if my article on the Titanic is good enough, they are going to give me a full time job" Rebecca said as she tried to tuck the lose hair behind her ears

       "Well, I wish you the best of luck with it." Jack stopped talking just long enough to notice that the sun was about to set onto the horizon. "Are you traveling alone?"

       "Yes" Rebecca said, feeling the chill of the wind more then ever "So what do you do?"

       "You mean when I'm not standing on the prow of a ship with a beautiful woman at sunset?" Jack replied with a glimmer in his eye.

       Rebecca laughed, "I mean for a living or do you live off your parents?"

       "I go to school outside of Philadelphia, and for the time being, I'm surviving on my parent's income, yes. This spring, I'm graduating and going into banking, however." Jack felt rather young at the mention of school, but nonetheless answered the question.

       "I would have loved to go to school. I did almost finish high school, then my father died. I took up the newspaper job then, learn everything I know on the job, but I would love to take some writing courses at a collage." Rebecca said, she was jealous of anyone who went to school, she could not, due to money, her father left her with tons of bank loans, she went from a first class person to third in a day, but thanks to a friend and lots of work she was a hard working second class lady. She would always be a lady, because her father said so. "It is getting cold out," Rebecca said "You must be really cold since you forgot you jacket"

       "Nah, it's not bad. It gets much colder in Philadelphia." Jack had noticed it had gotten a bit cooler since the sun had begun to set, but wasn't about to let Rebecca know. He hadn't even noticed that he was shivering a little.

       "How is it in first class?" Rebecca asked. She was cold and wanted to go inside, but Jack just seemed to stand there, he was shivering, but still insisted that he was not cold.

       "It's as extravagant of a ship that you'll ever see." Jack finally felt the cold a little. The sun had just finished setting and dusk was settling. "Would you like to see some of it? I know of a great lounge down on B deck. I'd offer you my jacket, but as you can see, it was a bit warmer when I left my suite."

       "Sounds great" Rebecca said excitedly, not to see that part of the ship, but to get out of the cold "Oh, I mean I would really like that."

       Jack stopped for a moment to look into Rebecca's eyes. He then offered his arm. "Shall, we?" As they stepped away from the prow and proceeded down to B deck, Jack remarked, "You know, you really are quite beautiful."

       "You have told me that many time," Rebecca said, trying to act like a first class lady, the way she was trained.

       "Well," Jack said smiling, "I'm sorry, let me know when you don't want to hear it any more."

       "It is just, working at the paper I am not complemented a lot" Rebecca said.

       "That's a pity." As they strolled down towards the lounge, Jack became more taken by Rebecca's eyes. They were quite captivating, and looked even more so in the evening twilight.

       Rebecca looked around in wonderment at the design of the hallways; they were even more wondrous now that the ship was completed. "They put a lot of work in to the ship," she said.

       "That they did. The best of the best is what we're sailing on here. Ah, here we are." Jack led Rebecca into the small quaint lounge. There was no one else there. "I guess we have it to ourselves. There's not usually many people here. That's why I suggested this lounge." They sat together on a sofa near the wall, surrounded by ornate tapestries and paintings lit by a few lamps around the room.

       Rebecca pulled her feet up and took off her shoes "They are more trouble then they are worth." She then shivered, as the heat of the ship overtook her and rubbed her hands together "My hands are always cold" She said.

       "Here." Jack held out his hands. "Mine are most always warm. I get it from my mother." He took her hands and held them in his, noticing that they were quite small. There was silence, broken only by the clock ticking on the mantle, when Rebecca looked up.

       "It is my writers hands" Rebecca said, looking into Jacks brown eyes, "Tom would make me wear gloves in the summer, because my hands were always cold, he said it was because I write."

       "I've heard that writing can do that to you." Jack smiled, as he warmed Rebecca's small hands in his own. "Who's Tom?"

       "Tom, a friend, he is like the big brother I never had," Rebecca said. Then she paused looked around the room "I remember now, I have been here before" Rebecca got up and ran over to one of the walls "It was before the walls were put in, a person working on the boat gave me a tour. We came through this wall, nothing was in here but the clock." Rebecca, then realizing what she had done, tried to recompose herself "The sad thing is, three days after showing me around, the man was killed working on the Titanic" Rebecca said and walked back to sit by Jack again.

       "Wow... I'm sorry to hear that. Did you know him very well?" Jack hadn't even heard about accidents during the building. "If you'd like, we can go someplace else."

       "No, he had some time off, see a one of the people who were in charge of design were suppose to meet me and give me a tour, But they never showed up. So this man gave me a tour and told me what he know, for one of my articles. He was one of two men who died building this ship. (True fact) I used that as a small article, I think I called it Quidence or forewarning." Rebecca said. "I love being on ships, when I was young, my father would take me on huge ocean liners and we would travel first class. I have always loved being on the sea." Rebecca stopped and was about to say something, but didn't. Memories flooded back to her. It was hard to believe that five years ago, her father put her in a lifeboat and said good-bye. That was the last she saw of her father. He die at sea.

       "So what do you plan to do when you graduate, and become a banker?" Rebecca asked.

       "Sailing is quite a distinctively impressive experience. The power of the sea against the will of man is quite fascinating to me. Of course, on a ship like this, you wouldn't know you were sailing if it weren't for the captain." Jack grinned a little. "As for what I plan to do, I'll end up banking for a few years, perhaps go into business like my father. Will you be reporting for a while?"

       "Till I find a better job, or I'll just write till I die, maybe put a novel or two out." Rebecca said "I just really want to live in one place for more then a year."

       "Well, that's a noble ambition." Jack smiled a little. "I'm sorry you haven't been able to so far. If you really love writing, though, I think you'll stick with it. Do you enjoy it?"

       "Yes," Rebecca said "I love working with words so they tell a story, The way if a sentence is written right it could tell the whole story. But it is hard to work for a newspaper, Some men have no respect for woman writers, they think we are property, like there cars, we are just for show. " Rebecca paused just realizing what she had said. It was true, but not something a first class lady would say. "I wish that I could be my self in this room, I mean the design put into it, makes me fell like I should act like a first class lady. I would love to run around the halls and decks like a kid again, to be free from the oppression of classes and age."

       "Why don't you? There's nothing stopping you, except the disapproving glances of older women who are more stuck on which hat they're going to wear to dinner." Jack smiled at Rebecca. "I'm sorry your profession has to be like that, though."

       "Let's go run," Rebecca said standing up and putting on her shoes in a determined manor. "Come on" Rebecca said taking Jacks hand and pulling him off the sofa.

       Jack laughed. "Okay!" They went out the door, and ran up to A deck. They ran together past all the windows of the first class smoke room, the lounge, and the reading room. When they reached the end, they stopped, out of breath, and leaned against the railing. "Whew, I haven't run like that for a while."

       "You mean," Rebecca said "You haven't do anything like that, ah, too bad your tired, because you it" With that Rebecca took off again.

       "Oh, I'm 'it', am I? We'll just see about that!" Jack ran after Rebecca for a bit and finally cornered her in a doorway. "Guess what? You're it." Only he didn't run away Rebecca just stood there and looked into his big brown eyes

       Breaking the moment of silence, Jack said quietly, "You know, I wasn't exaggerating when I told you how beautiful you are."

       Some of Rebecca's hair had gotten lose from the elastic and was blown onto her face; she pushed the hair behind her ear. "Thank you " Rebecca whispered, not sure of what else to say.

       Jack reached up and ran his fingers through her blonde hair. He found it incredibly soft, and her blue eyes reflected the stars. Music started to play softly, making the movement more perfect. Rebecca felt the cold, but warmth all at once. Jack took Rebecca's small right hand into his own, and kissed it ever so softly, while still captivated by her eyes. Rebecca looked up at the stars; "They are so beautiful tonight"

       Jack replied, "I know, I can see them reflected in your eyes."

       Rebecca took Jack's hand and led him to the middle of the sun deck (boat deck) the music was still playing, She placed one of his hands on her waist and the other in her hand, "Lets dance" she said

       Without a word, they began to dance in the light streaming from the windows. As they danced through the patches, their feet felt as light as air, with a slight ocean breeze making Rebecca's dress even more flowing and beautiful. For the first time, Jack was glad he had taken dance lessons for so long. Rebecca slowly moved closer to Jack till her head touched his chest. She loved dancing, She remembers when her father would take her dancing and to keep up, she would stand on his feet.

       The waltz slowly died away, and they stopped dancing. "That was nice, thank you." The band followed it up with an upbeat ragtime number. Jack smiled, "I'd dance to this, but I have no clue how."

       "That is all right" Rebecca said "I have no clue either, and who is here to see us make fools of ourselves."

       "Sounds great." Jack laughed a little, took Rebecca's hands, and pretended to know the steps. Rebecca laughed as the danced around the deck, when the song was over Rebecca collapsed on the deck, put her hands behind her head and looked at the stars "I haven't had this much fun in a long time."

       Jack laughed, "I'd have to agree with you on that one. Oh, Sorry about stepping on your feet..."

       "That's all right," Rebecca said, "Have you ever gone star spinning"

       "I can't say that I have. There was a nice shower of falling stars the other night, did you see it?" Jack replied.

       "Yes," Rebecca said. "The stars are so beautiful, the remind me of when my father took me out on deck and taught me everything he know about stars. That was my last happy memory with my father, the ship we were traveling on hit something, I don't know what, and sunk, "

       "I'm sorry to hear that. Fortunately, there's no chance that Titanic could sink. Even Capt. Smith says so." Jack changed the subject; "I love just looking up at the stars at night." He laughed. "Well, I suppose during the day doesn't make much sense."

       "You mean you have never seen morning stars. Were I live you can see the moon, in the middle of the day." Rebecca said "I love being on ships, but there is no such thing as an unsinkable ship."

       "I meant that you really can't go stargazing in the afternoon." Jack laughed. "I'd agree that there's no such thing as an unsinkable ship, but there is such thing as an extremely safe ship, and Titanic is definitely one."

       "I don't know, you lose someone because of a ship wreck and you never really trust a ship again." Rebecca said. She sat up and pulled her legs up to her body. "It is cold out, maybe they are not taking a southerly route like usually."

       "It is a bit chilly, I guess the dancing was keeping us warm. Well, that and the running." Jack smiled. "I'd trust Capt. Smith, though. I don't think there's much to be worried about." Jack put his arm around Rebecca to make her feel safe.

       Rebecca sat there and watched the stars, "you know, no matter how many times I cross the ocean, each time is a new adventure."

       "That's nice to think about. I can't say that I've found it the same, though. Usually, the same millionaires talk about the same money, and the same millionaires' wives gossip about the same old subjects." Jack leaned back against the wall.

       "I know," Rebecca said "The same stories told by old men about past glories, but I have found traveling second is totally different then first. I traveled first with my father all the time."

       "Well, from what I can tell, the second class talk about first class, but they're more removed from the situation, is that true?"

       "I don't really know, I just know, we are a little more realistic. I mean, we all have to work for a living, unlike first who are just given money," Rebecca said.

       Jack got an odd look on his face, "What do you mean given money? My father has worked long and hard for what he has. True, there are some older aristocrat-types who just inherit it all, but the great number of us have worked for it."

       "I know that Jack" Rebecca said "But I have been in first class, I know what it is like. I would still be there, but a couple bad deals and my father's death, and I ended up at the bottom, no money, nothing. And when I went broke, at 15, no one offered help, it was poor Rebecca this poor Rebecca that. NO one would do something. I ended up on the streets till Tom took me in. " Rebecca hated first class people for that, she could remember spending a week on the streets, cold and hungry.

       "I...I... I don't know what to say." Jack stammered. "I'm..."

       "Shocked," Rebecca said "I understand, I was too when no one acted. I have my point of view because of what I went through and you have yours."

       "Yeah, I suppose I've never had to deal with rejection from the upper crust."

       "Well it's hard" Rebecca said "The one thing they didn't know, that in New York there is a bank account under my name with one million dollars. My father put it there and hide it, so in case something happen I would still be provided for, But I can't touch the money till I am 20, so I, ironically was the riches person on the street." Rebecca laughed, it was great that her father had provided for her, but now she didn't really want the money, she was fine earning money like normal people.

       "Well, at least you have something to fall back on if your present situation falls through." Jack replied, trying to make light of the situation.

       "But I don't want the money," Rebecca said "I have worked to get where I am, Why would I want the money, why?" Rebecca paused; she looked at Jack and into his brown eyes "why would I need the money" she pauses and whispers "if I had you?"

       Jack slowly moved his hand through Rebecca's blond hair, and leaned down and kissed her. Rebecca just sat there, this was totally unexpected.

       Jack sensed an uneasiness in Rebecca's reaction. "I'm sorry," he said, and leaned away looking at the deck.

       "No" Rebecca said, "It's all right." She turned his head to look at her "It's just" what was it, maybe because they were in different classes. Appearance is everything, maybe it was the fact when they got off the ship, she would never see him again, or maybe it was because this was what she wanted.

       Jack looked into her eyes for a moment, waiting for her to continue. "It's just, what...?"

       "It's just" Rebecca paused "were are in two different classes, two different worlds, I may never see you again," (pause) "Jack, how do I not know, you are going just leave and I'll never see you again. I wish I...."(Pause)"I wish I could be in first class again, and this problem wouldn't be here.", she stopped, had she said too much, but it is true appearance is everything.

       Jack reached down and took Rebecca's hand, "I don't know what the future is planning for us. I don't even really know what it has in store for me beyond school." He paused for a moment, and shifted around so as to face her better. He ran his hand down her cheek, and lifted her chin, "What I do know is that I'll try my hardest not to leave."

       Rebecca hated uncertainty; she had live with it all her life. Now when she finally had something she wanted it might leave. "I know" was all she could say, in fear she might cry, like Tom said, her emotions were always high strung.

       "You know," Jack said as he held Rebecca's hand, "I never thought one evening could change my life so much." He smiled as she looked up...

       "One night can change a lot, in one night I lost my father, in one night I meet you" Rebecca said, smiling, then she laughed "I am expecting any minute for some romantic music to start, that is the way of the theater."

       As if on cue, Salut d'Amor started coming out of the first class lounge. Jack smiled, "Well, I suppose theater really does imitate life, as they say."

       Rebecca laughed "I guess it does"

       Jack stood up, "Would you be up for another dance? Certainly I could dance to this better than the ragtime piece earlier?" He smiled as he offered her his hand.

       Rebecca accepted "I think I am up to another dance."

       Jack helped her up, and then they started to dance to the orchestra's music coming from inside the first class lounge.

       As they were dancing, the ship gave a sudden jar, Rebecca, with her stupid high heals on, had to steady herself, "What was that?" She asked

       Jack felt a slight sideways movement, as if someone had gently pushed the ship. "I have no clue, perhaps an abrupt steering mechanism?" As he said that, the noise of a number of people coming out of their rooms broke the previous serenity. "Perhaps we should go check it out."

       "We should go check it out. And you realize that if it is anything big, I have to go to work again. There are no working hour for writers." Rebecca said.

       "Boy, they never let you even have a night off, do they?" Jack smiled, "well, let's go see the fun, then, shall we?" They proceeded around to the starboard side of A deck, and found a group of people standing around watching the third class passengers kicking something around down on the lower deck. "What happened?" Jack asked his father, who had appeared in his overcoat beside them.

       "It appears we've struck an iceberg. We'll be a day or two late into New York now," replied John B. Thayer.

       "Oh, Father, I almost forgot, this is Rebecca Smith. She's a reporter," said Jack.

       "It's a pleasure to meet you, Miss Smith," replied the elder Thayer.

       "It is nice to meet you as well Mr. Thayer" Rebecca said, She turned to Jack "Well back to work. I have to get my writing stuff, and some warmer clothes." She lifted Jack's vest with her finger "It looks like you will need warmer clothes too"

       "Oh, yeah," replied Jack, laughing. "I'd almost forgotten about that." He whispered into Rebecca's ear, "I guess the dancing kept me warm." As he turned to retrieve his overcoat from his room, he winked at Rebecca.

       Rebecca turned and quickly followed; she hurried to catch up to Jack "Are you not going to walk me to my room?" She asked

       Jack turned around, "I thought you'd never ask." He smiled. "I'm glad that Miss Reporter has time out of her busy ice-watching schedule to join a young man in a promenade on the deck. Just kidding, of course." They reached her room and stepped inside.

       "It's a mess" Rebecca said, "I haven't had a chance to clean it up." She looked around and papers and hats and junk was everywhere. Rebecca picked up her papers and put them into a bag "Have you seen my pen?" she asked picking up odds and ends to find the pen.

       "Here it is," replied Jack, picking up the pen from the table by her bed and handing it to her. "Do you really have to do your job now? Can't you wait until tomorrow morning when the gossip mills will be running wild?"

       She took the pen from him, and looked in his eyes "Its gossip, I don't do gossip." She picked up a hat pined it on "so are we going to get your coat?"

       "Yes, of course, just a second," replied Jack. "Give me your hand." Rebecca did, and Jack took it into his. Gazing into her eyes, he brought it to his lips and kissed it. "Now we can go."

       Rebecca looked at the dresser and went over a picked up a small box and put it in her pocket and joined Jack at the door. They walked through the halls and a lounge.

       "Hold on a second" Rebecca said

       "Mr. Andrews" She called

       "Rebecca, where is you lifebelt" He asked

       "Is it that bad?" Rebecca asked

       "Yes, I am afraid Titanic only has an hour two at the most." Mr. Andrews said. Then he left to convince other passengers to put their lifebelt on.

       Rebecca looked at Jack "Now what?" she asked

       "Well, would you like to accompany me to my room to fetch my overcoat, or should you go?" asked Jack with a worried look in his eye, still holding her hand.

       "No" Rebecca said "I'll stay with you, plus I am sure there will be an extra lifebelt in you room" She hated hearing Mr. Andrews words, She had lost her father to an ocean. It wasn't going to take her.

       "Okay, then, let's go." Jack and Rebecca went down to C deck to retrieve his overcoat from his suite. "Thanks for not leaving," Jack smiled. As they reached his room, they found Jack's father going in as well.

       "Hello, father, any news on the situation?" asked Jack, not wanting to over worry his father.

       "Yes, son, Mr. Andrews has confided in me that TITANIC will go down tonight. I want you to put your lifebelt on and head up to the boat deck. I'll meet you up there in a few minutes with your mother."

       "We also encountered Mr. Andrews and he told us that too," replied Jack. "I just came back to get my lifebelt and overcoat."

       "Well, we'll meet you up there, and please hurry," said John B. Thayer, Sr., as he left with his wife and maid.

       The door closed and Jack turned to Rebecca, "Just a moment." He went into the back room and got his coat and two lifebelts. His thoughts were running wild. Jack knew that there weren't enough lifeboats, but hoped that Rebecca didn't, so as not to distress her. He was a good enough swimmer that he could probably make it to a boat if he jumped. As he was putting them on, he said, "Promise me that you'll get on a lifeboat if we get separated in the crowd..."

       Rebecca knows what he was thinking, "I will" She said "I know that there is not enough lifeboats, and I will not be taken by the ocean like my father." Rebecca was trying to act brave but it was hard, especially because her father was not here and she was trying to keep away the memories of that night.

       Jack put his hand gently on her cheek. "We'd better get going upstairs so you can start your reporting..." As they turned to leave, Jack took one last look at the suite where his family had lived, and checked to make sure that everything important was already taken out by his parents. Then he locked his door, and they went up to the Boat Deck.

       It seemed like all hell had broken out, people were confused and everything was happening so fast. Rebecca rubbed her eyes trying to make picture of five years ago go away. "Be brave" she whispered "Be brave" But right now that was the hardest thing to do. She held tightly to Jack's hand, she did not want to get lost in the crowed

       "This way, hurry!" Jack suddenly felt like there wasn't time to work on journalism, as the lifeboats were already leaving. "You can formulate your thoughts on what to write while you're in the lifeboat."

       Rebecca just stood there it was all happening too fast. Jack was pulling her towards the lifeboats, but her feet didn't want to move. She was now facing her greatest fear, and it seemed to be winning.

       Jack could feel Rebecca pulling back. She seemed to gradually be becoming more paralyzed. He turned back towards her and took her by the shoulders, looking her straight in the eyes. "Do you remember what Mr. Andrews said? There's no time to lose. Do you understand me?" Jack realized that she was pretty far-gone, so he walked her up to where Officer Lightoller was loading boats.

       "Excuse me, sir, may we board?" asked Jack.

       "Well, she can, but for now it's women and children only," replied the officer. "You'll have to wait for a later boat."

       "Rebecca...?" Jack turned back towards her. "I'll take a later boat, but I think you should get in this one now."

       Jack really had no plans to try for another boat as long as there were women and children aboard, but he was a good enough swimmer that he figured that he could make it if he got away from the crowds in the water. If that's what it came to...

       "I've heard those words before." Rebecca said "Jack, you will survive won't you?" Rebecca took a deep breath, she had to be brave, and she would. The pictures of the crash so long ago disappeared and she seemed to be winning for the time. "I will see you on the next ship" Her legs started moving towards the lifeboat, she was no longer in control, her instinct for survive was.

       Jack caught Rebecca's eye one last time, "I'll survive if God wills it," he said. "I'll see you soon." He let her hand go as she stepped into the lifeboat and sat down. As she disappeared over the edge of the ship, a tear came to his eye, slowly rolling down his cheek.

       Jack watched Rebecca being lowered in the lifeboat until he couldn't see her any more, then he looked around the decks to see if there was anyone he knew there. He saw an acquaintance Milton Long standing by the second funnel.

       He walked over and stood there chatting about small things with Milton for a while. All through, his mind was racing, thinking about all the things he'd done, and all the things he hadn't done. He thought about his siblings, and his parents, whom he hoped, had gotten into a lifeboat in time. He should have known that his father wouldn't have left him behind.

       By this time the ship was well down by the bow, and they had done a pretty good job of staying away from the crowds, as the crowds had moved astern. They talked about jumping overboard and swimming out to the boats, which were waiting only a hundred yards or so away. They figured that if they could stay away from the suction of the ship and the crowds en masse, they would have a fighting chance.

       As the crowds thinned around them, they went out to the rail. There were a number of chairs and such floating in the water, and they had to be careful not to hit any of them, lest they be knocked unconscious and surely drown. Milton looked over at Jack, "Are you coming, boy?" and sprang from the railing into the water.

       About ten seconds later, Jack followed...

       As soon as Jack landed in the water, the cold over took his body and his breath escaped him. He swam as hard as he could in the direction that he thought was away from the ship and toward the surface. As he came up, he saw the second funnel that he had been standing next to only moments earlier, come crashing to the surface of the water.

       He was carried under again by a large wave, and when he finally fought his way back up, his hands came upon something hard. His head surfaced and he found an overturned lifeboat, of the collapsible type.

       He struggled to climb onto the back of it, as there was only a half of an inch of keel to hold onto. By now the cold had numbed him to a considerable degree, and the only thought was holding onto the boat.

       He sat there and watched the ship tip up, with an incomparably loud sound of all the boilers and engines coming loose and crashing down to the bow. The ship then appeared to break in two and the stern continued rising. The ship soon disappeared from view, and there was silence for a moment.

       Then a chorus of voices rose from those floating in the water, begging the boats to come back. After twenty minutes, they began to quiet. There was a stillness as never before as the people in the water succumbed to hypothermia.

       The 28 people grouped on the boat dared not move, so as to not overturn their boat and be thrown into the water... Waiting only for rescue...

       Long about 4:30 the lights of the Carpathia could be seen in the distance and within another hour, she was loading lifeboats out of the water. Another lifeboat had rescued the 28 people off of the overturned collapsible boat. Soon, Jack was climbing up the ladder to the decks of the ship they would all complete their transatlantic voyage on.

       Just as he came over the ship, he saw his Mother, who thought for sure that his Father was with him. Unfortunately, his Father was one of the 1500 lost in the horrible night. He greeted his Mother joyously, and the reunion was wonderful.

       He soon was searching for Rebecca among the survivors. He watched her get into the lifeboat, so he knew she was aboard. After a few minutes, he found her in a corner, trying to interview fellow survivors. Always the journalist, she went straight to work.

       He waited for a moment for her questions to finish, then said "Rebecca?" She turned around...

       "Jack" she yelled, ran over to him and gave him a hug. "Your alive." She was so happy to see him, she totally forgot about being polite. "The reporters on land are going to hate me for this" she laughed.

       Jack couldn't help but laugh, in the face of the situation. "Well, you do have the upper hand against their yellow journalism," he said. He smiled, as he looked into her eyes, glad that he had survived to see her again. "I told you I wouldn't leave you."

       Rebecca was happy to be with Jack. "And you didn't. Oh when we get to New York, The new papers will pay for my stories and I will be set for a few months." She was so happy she felt like a kid with a new bike. "I saw you mother, but not your father, I sorry, it is hard to lose people to the ocean." She paused, usually at this point in her trip she would throw a flower out for her father. "Your clothes are still damp, you need to change" She said...