UNDERCOVER on the TITANIC (book 1)

Part 40 - Eustache

Charlotte gave me a look of utter disbelief. 'That's preposterous. You blithely think I am going to believe you? The Titanic is the largest moving object ever built by mankind. People say it is unsinkable.'

Licia stared at me, horrified. 'Ziff, think for a minute. We are not supposed to be here and we cannot alter what happened. That would be a paradox. You have divulged too much. If you change the future, we might not exist.'

Charlotte was looking terrified. 'Who are you? What are you talking about? If this a joke, I do not appreciate your sense of humour.'

'Will yeh no let me get a word in edgeways?' Dunc asked. 'Ondie is looking for yeh.'

'We have got to get Denny,' Miguel interrupted.

'Dunc,' I said. 'Tell Triple Oh, I mean Ondie, we will meet him here, on deck.'

We ran back down to the smoking lounge just in time to see Messrs Smythe and Smith standing over Denny. Beside them was an overweight boy, a little smaller than I was. His dark hair was wet and slicked down against his head. He was smartly dressed in a suit with short trousers and was pink faced from some recent exertion.

Charlotte groaned. 'My dearest brother, the evil Eustache.'

Eustache gave us a wicked grin as we approached. 'Ah, here they are,' he piped in an irritatingly reedy voice. 'The stowaways.'

Denny tried to look serious but failed completely. 'An' how did you get this rid-dic-ulous id-dea?' He chortled at Eustache.

'Uncle,' Eustache addressed Sir Saint Denny, 'I met Mister McIntyre on my way from the swimming pool. He told me that he had met my cousins, Ziff, Lees and Miguel and I am quite sure that I have no relatives of that name. So I went to Mr Smythe, or perhaps it was Mr Smith, and told them of my suspicions. They told me about their meeting with this man and his three nephews and then I was sure.'

'In the circumstances,' Smith said . . .

'I think you should come along with us,' Smythe finished the sentence pompously.

'We trust you will come quietly,' Smith added . . . 

'and not make a scene,' Smythe finished.

Sir St Denny wagged a finger at one of the men. 'Now look here, Smith. I have just been reunited with my long lost twin brother. I will not have you interrupting a very interesting conversation.'

'I am Smythe, sir, with a "y" and an "e."

The other man said, 'It is I whom is Smith, sir, with an "i" just like the Captain, although we are not related.'

Smythe said, 'I am very sorry, Sir Saint Denny, but the ship's second officer wishes to ask this gentleman some questions.'

Smith added, 'I am sure we can sort this business out with a little co-operation.'

Denny heaved himself out of the armchair. 'Well, I do protest but I have no desire to be un . . . co-operative. Archie, I shall return as soon as I have sorted out this little contre . . . temps. Gentlemen, lead the way.'

'Denny,' I said urgently, 'we have something to tell you. It is very important.'

'Arrest them too,' Eustache demanded. 'They are part of his gang.'

'We have no orders to do that,' Mr Smythe said. 

'Ow,' Eustache exclaimed as Charlotte kicked his ankle.

'Eustache,' she hissed, 'You are a dolt!' 

'The second officer told us to bring this man to him,' Smith continued officiously, 'and to make sure no one else interfered.'

'Now then, sir,' Smythe said, 'if you would step this way.' 

Denny lurched away leaning heavily on Smythe's shoulder. 'Fear not mes enfants. I shall return.'

'But, but, but,' we entreated to no avail, so we followed at a discreet distance. To our surprise, Messrs Smythe and Smith marched Denny back up to the boat deck, heading for the bridge.

The deck was deserted except for one man; Kozak.   'Ziff, I 'ave to tell you. Ziss is ze Titanic and it is about to 'it an iceberg.'

'We already figured that out,' Miguel told him. 'But thanks anyway.'

Smith and Smythe marched Denny past the radio operator's cabin and down a long corridor with doors on both sides. 'These are the officers' cabins,' Charlotte reminded us. 'They're taking him to the bridge!' She whispered in an awed voice, as if we were visiting the King of England.

 Suddenly we were in what looked like a large control room facing a wall filled with big square windows. In front of these, a row of white pedestals supporting horizontal brass cylinders with dials on each end and big brass handles. One of them was labelled 'Engine Room Telegraph' and the handle pointed to 'Ahead. Full.' 

Near the middle of the room was a large spoked steering wheel gripped by a tall muscular seaman who was facing the windows. A man in an officer's uniform stood beside him. In one corner two men were bent over a large table. One was smoking a pipe while the other stared intently at the arc of a sextant. 

We hesitated at the entrance while Smythe and Smith took Denny to an officer they introduced as Second Officer Lightholler, the man in charge of the ship.

Smith said, 'This is the man who claims to be Sir Saint Denny's twin brother.'

'But we have reason to suspect that he is a stowaway masquerading as such,' said Smythe.

The officer near the wheel spotted Licia, Charlotte, Miguel, Kozak and me at the doorway. 'Are you involved in this affair?' We nodded so he beckoned us in. 'Please don't touch anything.'

Second Officer Lightholler look at Denny sternly. 'What do you have to say for yourself?' Denny swayed. 'I am inebriated your honour.' He grinned around his cigar.

'We have already established that he cannot remember his room number,' said Smith. 'And he has no identification,' Smythe added.

'Although he claims to be Sir Saint Denny's brother he has no proof,' Smith finished.

The Second Officer looked grim. 'Unless you can explain yourself. I shall have to lock you up until we can find out who you are?'

'No!' I exclaimed urgently. 'You can't lock him up. He will be trapped when the ship sinks.'

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