Read Titanic 2020 t2-1 for Free Online

thinking. 'I mean, you've no alternative but to sit on your arse, but is this all your work done?'
    Scoop exploded in laughter. 'Hardly started, son, hardly started! What we have to do now is make sure it's all working, start making up a few dummy papers, print them up, pass them around, get feedback. Each ship has its own design, you see, its own character, and that has to be reflected in the newspaper, so the sooner we . . .'
    Jimmy held up a hand. 'You keep saying
we.
Who exactly are you talking about?'
    'Well, you and me.'
    'I opened the boxes, I set up your gear. I thought that was it.'
    'Well — I thought you might want to help with putting the paper together.'
    'Why?'
    Scoop folded his hands in his lap. He looked towards the balcony, and the grey sea beyond. 'Because I can't do it myself. You see, lad—'
    There was a sudden sharp rap on the door. Scoop, seeing the panic in Jimmy's eyes, held up a calming hand. 'It's all right,' he said quietly. 'I ordered some food for you. Still — best if you slip into the bathroom until the coast is clear.'
    Jimmy hid himself, but kept the door open just a fraction.
    Scoop positioned himself at one of the desks, with his back to the door. 'Enter!' As the door opened he said, 'If you just put it down over . . .' but as he glanced around he saw what Jimmy had already seen: Claire, the surly teenager with the pink laces. Her black hair hung down over one eye and she was chewing gum. She hardly even looked at Scoop as she spoke, preferring instead to study her bright pink fingernails.
    'Dad ordered me to come down to give you a hand unpack— oh.' She had looked up, finally. 'It's done.'
    'Yes, Claire, all finished.'
    'You did all this?'
    'No. I had a team of elves to help me. Am I right in thinking your dad ordered you to come down
yesterday
to help me?'
    'Yeah, well, I was busy.'
    'I'm sure you were.'
    'That it then?'
    'Yes, Claire.'
    'All right. See you.'
    She shrugged and turned out of the cabin. Scoop waited until he was sure she was gone, then called Jimmy out of the bathroom. 'Sorry about that. The owner's daughter.' He shook his head and sighed. 'And to think that one day she'll inherit all of this . . .' Scoop waved vaguely. 'She'll probably paint it pink.'
    Jimmy sat on the edge of one of the desks and folded his arms. He wasn't the slightest bit interested in hearing about Claire Stanford. 'So why can't you put the paper together yourself?'
    'Well. It's like this, Jimmy — this is my final trip for the company, my job is just to set up the newspaper here on the
Titanic
like I have on every other ship the Stanfords own, then hand over the reins to the new man when we arrive in Miami. There's a nice big company pension waiting for me if I can get through this trip, as I'll have completed my twenty-five years of service. But if for any reason I don't complete the voyage, then I'll get nothing. It's just the way big companies run. Anyway, the thing is, I don't know if I can do it. I'm just not well, son. It's not the legs, I'm used to them being gone, it's the other stuff — my blood pressure's bad, Jimmy, I've a real shake in my hands, and my eyes go all cloudy and I can't concentrate for more than . . . anyway, the truth is, I lied to the doctors before we set off. I told them I was fine, but I'm not. If you don't help me do this then I won't have a leg to stand on.' He thought about that for a moment. 'Or two, for that matter. Jimmy, I want you to help me run the paper. You'll do a bit of everything — find stories, write them up, design the pages, print it. Will you do it, Jimmy, will you help me?'
    'No.'
    'Aw Jimmy — why not? You could do it, easy.'
    'Look, I'm sorry, all right? I'd be . . . useless, you know?'
    'But how do you know?'
    Jimmy shrugged. 'I just know. All right?'
    Scoop rolled a little closer. His voice softened. 'You got expelled, didn't you?'
    'How'd . . .?'
    'It was on the report they sent with the photo. What'd you get expelled for?'
    'For being