THE SILENCE
Chapter One
Jack lay back on the seat and stared at the
stars. He drew on his cigarette and blew smoke at the sky. He had escaped from
the party in third class hall to find some solace from the quiet and cold. It
was still hard to believe. He was going home at last. Back to America. He drew
on the cigarette again.
Back to America. He'd been away five long,
hard years. He had left as a boy. Now he was going back a man. Older. stronger,
wiser. Or so he had thought. Now he was actually on his way, he suddenly wasn't
so sure anymore. As his traveling companion Fabrizio got more enthusiastic
about America, Jack became more scared. Scared of going back to face his
ghosts.
He took another drag of his cigarette. A
sound, above the constant drone of the engine and rush of wind and water, came
to his ears. It was a clacking noise, of shoes on the wooden deck as someone
approached quickly. Jack sat up to see who it was. The person ran past Jack to
his right, a blur of red and black. Jack looked after them. It was a girl,
first class from the look of her dress, but her red hair hung round her back
and shoulders. She ran on towards the stern, obviously distressed. It took a
moment for Jack to realize it was the same girl he had seen that afternoon on
the first class deck. He had been sitting with Fabrizio when he saw her, a
beautiful image staring out over the ocean. Despite the look of sadness on her
face, Jack had been enraptured by her. He had watched her intently, right up to
the moment when a man in a suit came up to her and she stormed away.
She was storming now, but with sorrow not
anger. He heard muffled sobs, suppressed by gasps for breath. The wind whipped
her red curls around her, and tugged at her dress. She slowed as she approached
the railing but still walked purposely towards it. Jack followed cautiously in
the shadows, still not sure of what she was doing, but not wanting to startle
her.
She gripped the railing hard and looked out
to the sea behind the ship. The wake of the ship fanned out, ghostly white and
faded way into the blackness. To Jack's amazement, she climbed up the rail and
gripping the flagpole, she swung over to the other side. Glitters of light
sparkled from her dress and Jack noticed her delicate little shoes. She was
like a doll, so small and delicate as she balanced on the gunwale. She then
slowly turned around, hanging tightly to the rail, but with her back to it.
He couldn't believe what he was seeing. It
wasn't every day you saw a first class passenger hanging from the back of a
luxury liner. He took a few hesitant steps toward her.
"Don't do it."
Her head spun round to see where the voice
had come from. After turning from darkness into light, it took a moment to
focus on Jack. She looked at him, so sad, so desperate, her delicate, pale face
framed by the wild tendrils of hair that blew like snakes around her. Even in
the pit of despair she was beautiful. He could almost see the finger marks on
her very soul. The light had gone from her eyes. Without acknowledging him, she
slowly turned back toward the blackness behind the ship, took a breath and
released her grip from the rail.
"No!"
Jack ran forward and slammed into the rail.
He wasn't sure if he heard a cry. It might have been the wind or the ship. It
may have been the Union Jack flapping around the pole. He looked down into the
darkness. Only the foam from the ship wake could be seen. He strained his eyes
to see if he could her. But there was nothing, just a strange silence above the
engine noise. Jack spun round desperately, looking for help. No one was on the
deck. He turned back to the sea. Still nothing. He spun back to the deck and
back to the sea, his heart thudding. What should he do? He couldn't see her and
he had no idea of where the ship had been when she went over. The ship was
moving sway all the time. He looked around in despair; there was no one in
sight. He turned back to the sea again. What should he do? He gripped the rail.
Oh God, he thought. I don't know what to do. I couldn't stop her, I can't help
her. Suddenly, he felt very cold, through to the core. A fear, a panic crept
over him as he stared into the darkness behind him. She was gone.
He ran up the deck towards the third class
stairwell. He virtually threw himself down up, colliding with a steward coming
up. Normally polite, Jack couldn't bring himself to speak. His eyes wide like a
frightened animal, he looked at the steward and carried on down hurtling down
the stairs, not hearing the steward's curse. On he went down the corridor
towards the third class hall. The noise of the music, talking and laughter
seemed to tear at his soul. He flung the door open and looked for Fabrizio. Jack
saw him across the crowded, smoky room, sitting with Tommy Ryan, another
immigrant with America burning in his heart. They were drinking and Fabri was
making faces at a girl nearby. Pushing his way through the crowd, Jack got to
Fabri, who was so engrossed in what he was doing didn't see him.
"Fabrizio," he gasped.
"Fabrizio, I need to speak to you now!"
"Aw Jack," smiled Fabri and
muttered something in Italian. His eyes were glazed from beer. "Is there a
problem no?"
"I need to speak to you," urged
Jack, tugging at Fabri's arm. He caught Tommy's arm by mistake and caused him
to spill a little beer.
"Hey, go steady boyo. Don't waste good
ale," Tommy retorted.
"Sorry," Jack muttered. "Come
on Fabri."
His friend seemed oblivious to the panic in
Jack's eyes or the urgency in his voice.
"Where we go?"
"To our cabin."
Fabri reluctantly got up and waved to the
girl.
"This had better be good Jack. I miss my
beer already."
Jack pushed blindly through the room and out
into the corridor.
"What 'es the problem?" Fabri asked
again. But Jack didn't answer. He almost ran to the cabin, unlocked the door
and bundled Fabri inside.
"Well Jack?"
Jack bit is lip and looked at Fabri who sat
on Jack's bunk.
"I saw someone jump off the back of the
ship."
A smile almost played on Fabri's lips.
"This is joke, right?"
"You remember the girl this afternoon,
with the red hair? Her."
"This is not funny Jack."
"Am I laughing?" Jack ran his
fingers nervously through his shaggy blonde hair.
"I was on the deck and she came running
past, all upset. She went to the back of the ship and climbed over and I said
don't do it and she looked at me and jumped off and I couldn't stop her and
there was no one there and I don't know what to do Fabri. I couldn't stop her.
I couldn't stop her." Jack sank to his knees. Fabri stared at Jack, trying
to sober his head up and take it all in.
"You are sure you saw her?" Fabri
questioned unsurely.
"Haven't you listened to what I just
said!" cried Jack.
"I went to the rail and looked over, but
it was dark and I couldn't see anything. I couldn't see her. But I didn't do
anything! I couldn't see anyone to help. Maybe I should have jumped in after
her. I don't know what to do Fabri. She must be dead. From the fall or the
cold. I need to tell someone about it."
Fabri took off his cap and smoothed his dark
hair.
"I don't understand why a rich girl
would jump off of the ship."
"She was upset about something,"
Jack replied and then said desperately, "Look Fabri, I gotta tell
someone."
"No," said Fabri. "You cannot
tell anyone Jack."
"Why?" Jack asked miserably.
"You say no-one was there but you."
"Yes."
"I know you Jack. But other people
don't. Why would a rich girl jump off the ship eh? They will say you threw her
over, that you tried to rob her or touch her."
"No!" yelled Jack.
"Yes," yelled Fabri back, getting
up. "Think about it Jack, think. We are third class passengers. Rich girls
don't jump off of ships."
"But I gotta tell someone."
Fabri grabbed hold of Jack's collar and
pulled him roughly to his feet.
"You wanna go America in chains eh? You
tell anyone Jack and they will have you on a murder charge. As quick as that.
Believe me." He released his grip and Jack staggered back a little.
"You tell no-one. NO ONE. We go back to
the party, yes and we pretend nothing happened."
Jack looked at Fabri wretchedly.
"I don't know if I can."
"You can." Fabri looked him
straight in the eye. "You 'ave to."
Jack still stood there. Fabri shook him.
"Come on Jack. Wash your face. We have
to get back."
Jack numbly obeyed and went to the small
sink. He splashed cold water on his face and dried it roughly with his towel.
"Now, you saw nothing Jack,
remember?"
Jack nodded grimly and followed Fabrizio out
of the cabin.