Titanic by Tom Bradman Read Free Book Online Page A

a man on the gangway. He had a strong southern Irish accent and was pushing against the seamen.
    â€˜Orders, chum,’ yelled one of the seamen. ‘Women and children first.’
    The Irishman swore at him. ‘That’s a joke,’ he said. ‘I can see men getting into those boats as well as women and children. That’ll be the first-class men, though. And there are plenty of women and children down here too!’
    Billy remembered what Mr Ismay had said, that the important people on the ship should have priority. It didn’t seem right, and it was clear others agreed.
    â€˜Aye, it’s rich men’s rules on this ship, right enough,’ yelled another man in the crowd. ‘But why should we drown so the rich can live? Come on, lads!’With a great roar the crowd pushed the seamen aside and burst out. Billy quickly stood back, not wanting to be trampled in the rush as at least one of the seamen had been. There were more shouts and screams from the direction of the nearest lifeboat, and Billy wondered what to do. Then he glimpsed Anya’s mother emerging from the gangway with her daughters.
    But when Billy looked more closely, he saw that only three of the girls were there. Anya wasn’t with them, and her mother was in tears.
    â€˜What’s happened?’ said Billy, hurrying over to her. ‘Where’s Anya?’ His questions were answered with a stream of incomprehensible Polish, but he soon got the gist of it. Anya was up to her old tricks and had wandered off again.
    And now she was lost somewhere on the sinking ship.

Chapter Nine

Cold Water Rising
    Billy tried to find out more from Anya’s mother, perhaps get a clue as to where she had seen Anya last, but it was impossible. Language was a barrier between them and there was nobody to translate. Those around them were all too concerned for their own safety and that of their families to stop and help any strangers. The more the ship creaked and groaned and shuddered, the more steeply the bow tilted downwards, the greater the panic and chaos.
    He knew Anya’s mother was in an impossible situation. She couldn’t search for Anya with the other girls, and she couldn’t go off and leavethem alone. They had to stick together, which meant there was only one thing for it.
    â€˜Don’t worry, I’ll find her!’ Billy said, pointing to himself and then down the gangway. Anya’s mother seemed to understand, and nodded.
    Billy smiled at her and the girls, all of them frightened and crying and clinging to their mother. ‘Wait here!’ he yelled, pointing at the deck where they were standing. Anya’s mother nodded again, and Billy decided that had to be good enough.
    He turned and descended into the ship, hurrying down the metal stairs of the gangway, leaving the sound of chaos behind him. The best place to look would be the first-class lounges, but the gangway would take him past the third-class cabin area where Anya and her family had their bunks. Billy decided it would do no harm to check in there first, just in case Anya had gone back.
    The gangway also took Billy past his own quarters. He glanced through the door and stopped. George was huddled on his bunk with his back to him.
    â€˜What do you think you’re playing at, Anderson?’ Billy said, surprised. ‘You should be up on deck helping the passengers. You heard Mr McElroy.’
    George jumped to his feet and stood between the rows of bunks. ‘I’m… I was just…’ he said, wiping his face on his sleeve. He took a deep breath and Billy could see his eyes were red and his cheeks damp. ‘Er… I might ask you the same thing, Fleming,’ George said, visibly cranking himself up into indignation and bluster, trying to conceal the fact that he had been crying by going onto the attack. ‘Hoping to find something to steal while everyone else is busy?’
    â€˜Watch your mouth,’ said