Titanic by Tom Bradman Read Free Book Online Page B

Billy. ‘That’s more your kind of stunt.’
    â€˜You watch your own mouth,’ said George, his voice unsteady. ‘I can’t have you going around saying things like that. It’s time I put you in your place.’
    Billy was about to tell him not to be so stupid, but George punched him, his fist landing squarely on Billy’s jaw. The iron taste of blood filled Billy’s mouth and his head rang like a bell.But he got his fists up and managed to block the next few blows. George was swinging like a madman, screaming in rage.
    Billy gave ground slowly, still blocking George’s punches. Here he was on the back foot again, but hadn’t that been the way of it since he and George had met? Billy had offered friendship and had it thrown back in his face, and now something snapped inside him.
    He brushed aside another wild swing and hit out himself. His knuckles connected with George’s cheekbone and the older boy reeled backwards, shocked by Billy’s onslaught. Billy drove his left fist hard into George’s stomach and George fell to the deck like a sack of potatoes. He clutched his gut, curled up tight against a bulkhead and started sobbing.
    â€˜I can’t swim,’ George whimpered. ‘I can’t even swim.’
    Billy lost any remaining patience he might have had. He grabbed George’s collar and dragged him to his feet. ‘You’ll freeze to death in the water long before you drown, you idiot,’ he hissed, leaning in close. ‘And I don’t care howscared you are, or how much you hate me. A little girl is going to die if I don’t find her. You help me, or I’ll send you straight to hell myself.’
    â€˜But what can we do?’ said George, his face pale and desperate. ‘We’re going to die! One of the seamen told me there’s not enough room in the lifeboats. People like you and me will be at the back of the queue.’
    â€˜Maybe so,’ said Billy, his anger draining away. He remembered what Mr McElroy had said about George being a decent chap under all his bluster, and now he could see that George was just a scared boy, like Billy himself – the only difference being that George obviously couldn’t handle his fear.
    â€˜Maybe
we
are going to die,’ Billy went on. ‘But at least we can try to save somebody else, a little girl. Or do you just want to stay here feeling sorry for yourself?’
    George rubbed the tears from his eyes once more and took another deep breath, his whole body shuddering. He breathed out, and it was like a balloon deflating, any remaining bluster seeping away. ‘No, I don’t,’ he said quietly.
    â€˜Well, get a grip on yourself,’ said Billy. ‘We don’t have a moment to lose.’
    * * *
    There was no one in Anya’s cabin or in the third-class area when they arrived. The space that had been so full of life before was empty, luggage, clothes and papers strewn where fleeing passengers had discarded them.
    The deck seemed even more tilted here than elsewhere, perhaps because they could see more of it, thought Billy. Half a dozen bottles had rolled down and were clanking against a steel bulkhead.
    â€˜Search everywhere,’ Billy told George. ‘Under the bunks, in the chests…’
    He hadn’t realised just how big the third class accommodation was. When it had been full, the men, women and children had been packed in like sardines. Now Billy called Anya’s name and his voice echoed back to him.
    The two boys tore through the entire space. They checked the cubicles in the sharedwashrooms, and looked in every corner, every nook and cranny.
    â€˜She’s not here,’ George said finally.
    â€˜She must be up in first class,’ said Billy.
    â€˜First class? But she’s not allowed…’
    â€˜Doesn’t matter now, does it? Come on.’
    They ran as fast as they could through the ship. Several times they