Titanic

Chapter 2

Ruth was amazed by the luxury of the "Titanic", especially the main staircase of the first-class cabin, which was not inferior to the palace.In the process of visiting the first-class cabin, Ruth got acquainted with Andrews, the chief designer of the "Titanic", and Andrews told her that the ship was not perfect, and the lifeboats on the ship could only hold half of the actual occupants.

The inexplicable heartbeat just now cast a shadow over Ruth's heart. Although she couldn't figure out the reason, her mood fell from its peak.However, this was only a floating cloud that temporarily blocked the sun, and was quickly swept away by unexpected surprises.

After entering her cabin in the sea palace, Ruth was surprised to find that the second-class cabin of the "Titanic" was as luxurious as the first-class cabins of other passenger ships.She stroked the spotless marble washstand, so radiant that it reflected Ruth faintly.Turning around in front of the mirror, Ruth was satisfied, and felt that only such a tidy environment was worthy of herself.A middle-aged woman in the same cabin was looking carefully at the heater next to the bed, her mouth full of admiration.

Ruth didn't want to waste time in the cabin, she took out a book from the suitcase, hurried out of the cabin, went to the deck, and let herself bathe in the sun again.Carrying books with her is just a habit she has developed over the years. At this moment, Ruth really can't calm down and read.After sitting on the bench on the deck for a while, her curiosity drove her to wander around and learn more about this palace on the sea.

A crew member walked by, and Ruth stopped him immediately and asked, "Sir, can you tell me how big this ship is?"

The crew was happy to serve the young and beautiful lady, and replied with a smile: "I am very happy. The giant ship you are on is 880 feet (270 meters) long, 90 feet (nearly 30 meters) wide, and has a displacement of 66000 tons. Including Including the crew and passengers, it can accommodate more than 3000 people. The ship is equipped with a gym, swimming pool, Turkish bath, reading room, cafe, squash room and elevator. You can regard it as a world-class luxury hotel, what you need Everything you need.” The crew’s tone was full of pride and confidence.

Saying goodbye to this enthusiastic crew member, Ruth wandered from the bow to the stern, looking involuntarily at the first-class cabin above.The top floor of the giant ship is the first-class gym and lounge. "The second-class cabin is so luxurious, what should the first-class cabin look like? It must be like a palace!" Ruth murmured in her heart, her feet had already begun to lose control, like a child with a rich imagination, being caught The fairy tale world on the top of the ship is very attractive, so you have to take a look at it anyway.

With her head held high and a proud smile on her face, Ruth swaggered up the stairs, with the air of a first-class VIP.Sure enough, without encountering any resistance, she successfully climbed to the commanding heights of this sea palace.Approaching an arched window, Ruth peered in.This used to be the first-class gym.

There was a strange-looking mechanical horse beside the bed. Ruth looked at it for a long time, but couldn't figure out what this thing was for, so she turned her attention to a set of equipment for rowing.Someone was sitting on it rowing, and Ruth, who had never rowed before, was very interested and eager to try.Bolding herself up, she walked into the gym and joined the crowd of onlookers.

The oarsman looked up at everyone, his eyes stayed on Ruth, and asked with a smile: "Miss, do you want to try?"

Ruth nodded hurriedly, so eagerly that everyone laughed lowly.The oarsman stood up and introduced himself, "I'm Coach McCawray, come on bold girl, I'll teach you."

Ruth tidied up her skirt, sat on it without hesitation, waved her arms and paddled forward bravely under the prompt of McCauley.

"You're a quick learner! You'll make a good sailor, I guarantee you."

Ruth wiped the sweat from her forehead and smiled smugly.Although she was curious about everything in the gym and wanted to try it out, and the coach was very attentive and willing to help, Ruth did not dare to stay here for a long time. According to regulations, guests who are not first-class passengers are not allowed to enter here.

"No matter where you are, there are always grades." Ruth thought indignantly, and finally left the gym reluctantly. ﹡﹡﹡﹡﹡﹡﹡﹡Out of the gym, Ruth walked to the nearby lounge.The first-class lounge was so richly decorated that she felt that two eyes were not enough.The carefully carved wall panels and heavy high-end furniture make this place look like the Palace of Versailles in France. The decoration of the lounge is completely in the style of Louis XV, and the details are lifelike without any sloppy.Exquisite reliefs and works of art abound, with fine teak and brass ornaments, chandeliers and frescoes, Indian and Persian rugs.

Ruth walked along the wall and watched, and when she came to the fireplace, she was attracted by a miniature relief on the fireplace.After looking at it for a while, Ruth blurted out, "The Huntress of Versailles!" (Classical sculpture, now in the Louvre)

"Miss, you have a good eye!" said a gentleman standing by the fire.

Ruth was taken aback and looked at the other party in amazement.The gentleman greeted Ruth slightly apologetically, and introduced himself: "Thomas Andrews, Chief Designer of Harland Wolfe Shipyard, please forgive me for disturbing you!"

Ruth smiled generously, "Ruth Cabot, it's okay! It's a pleasure talking to you. You are the chief designer of the shipyard, so this ship..."

"Yes, this ship is a masterpiece of Harland Wolff Shipyard, and I am one of its builders." Andrews looked very proud.

"No, it's God's masterpiece!"

Andrews froze for a moment, then laughed heartily, "Yes, that's right, thank you for your compliment!" After a pause, Andrews added: "If you want to know about any problems with this ship, I will Willing to answer."

"Ah?" Ruth's eyes were cruising in the lobby of the lounge, looking at the dignitaries and dignitaries sitting on the sofa drinking tea and chatting from a distance, but she couldn't hear what Andrews said clearly.

Andrews was a little disappointed, but he still maintained a gentlemanly demeanor, and continued: "If you want to get to know the passengers here, I would also like to introduce you. Some of them are my friends."

"Really?" Ruth's eyes lit up with excitement.

"Want to know who is the richest here?" Andrews asked jokingly, before Ruth could answer, he pointed to an elderly couple sitting in the distance, "That's the American 'Macy's' founder Strauss and his wife, Madame Ida, with a dozen entourages and servants".

"Who is that arrogant man?" Ruth asked, frowning when she saw a man with an arrogant expression.

"Miss, don't say that. A person who is arrogant doesn't mean he is not a good person." Andrews' tone was like an old friend.The cheerful atmosphere that permeates the boat makes it easy to open up and be honest. "He's Benjamin Guggenheim, the world famous plumbing tycoon. He's a bit bossy, but he's a man!"

Ruth smiled and said nothing more.Andrews seemed to have more to say, and then introduced to her, "Then do you want to know who is the most powerful person on board?"

"who is it?"

"That man, Bruce Ismay, the owner of the White Star Shipping Company. He is our big customer. This time we built three large ships for him. In addition to the 'Titanic', there are also the 'Olympic' and 'Giant' .They are all unprecedented giant ships!"

"Then he is the king of this sea palace!"

"This metaphor is very appropriate." Andrews looked at Ruth with interest, "The captain can be said to be the prime minister here."

"What about you?" Ruth asked mischievously.

"Me? It can be regarded as a technical consultant, and it can also come in handy!" Andrews laughed heartily.

"It is a great honor to enter your palace, Your Majesty." Ruth curtseyed to Andrews.

Andrews was even more overjoyed. "Tell you, dear lady! This is not only a sea palace, but also the safest and strongest fortress on the sea. You probably don't know that if two of the 16 holds of this ship are flooded , it can still continue to cut through the waves; if four of them enter the water, they can also float on the sea. Therefore, it is not unreasonable for people to say that it cannot sink.”

"So, the ship is flawless?"

Andrews hesitated, "That's not true! After all, it is man-made, not a miracle created by God."

"for example……"

"For example, in my opinion, the height of the bulkheads of the ship is too low. The 7 bulkheads fore and aft only reach D-deck, and the middle 8 are lower, reaching only E-deck. Too low! Also, There were not enough lifeboats on board, there could have been 48, but someone cut it down to 20 in order to make the top deck look more spacious. In other words, only half of the people could get on the lifeboats.”

Although the technical terms that came out of Andrews' mouth made Ruth a little confused, she still asked in surprise: "How can this be? If an accident happens, half of the people are not destined to die. How can everyone Is life at risk?"

Andrews shrugged and glanced at Ismay in the distance, "This is the king's will. However, this configuration does not violate the legal requirements."

Ruth had nothing to say, "Thank you for the introduction, I think it's time for me to leave".

"If you want to know how great this ship is, I suggest you go to its most beautiful place." Andrews looked around, eyes full of love and satisfaction.

﹡﹡﹡﹡﹡﹡﹡﹡Standing on the top of the first-class main staircase, Ruth understood why Andrews regarded this place as the essence of "Titanic".The main staircase continues to the lowest deck, with oak paneling, gilded railings, and the entire staircase is decorated with gold and splendor.Behind Ruth is an exquisite wall clock, surrounded by carvings of legendary figures representing dignity and glory.

Ruth raised her head, and above her head was a huge glass dome with smooth lines and a seamless body.Sunlight filters through the glass and floods up and down the main staircase, creating a dreamlike atmosphere.This gave Ruth an illusion, as if she had become a princess in a fairy tale, in a beautiful palace.She showed the arrogance of a princess, and walked down the stairs with a relaxed step.

"where?"

"The main staircase of first class."

Standing at the top of the first-class main staircase, Ruth understood why Andrews regarded this place as the essence of "Titanic".The main staircase continues to the lowest deck, oak paneling, gilded railings, and the entire staircase is decorated with gold and jade.Behind Ruth is an exquisite wall clock, surrounded by carvings of legendary figures representing dignity and glory.

Ruth raised her head, and above her head was a huge glass dome with smooth lines and a seamless body.Sunlight filters through the glass and floods up and down the main staircase, creating a dreamlike atmosphere.This gave Ruth an illusion, as if she had become a princess in a fairy tale, in a beautiful palace.She showed the arrogance of a princess, and walked down the stairs with a relaxed step.

The shifting lights and shadows along the stairs heightened Ruth's sense of dreamlike unreality.She quietly squeezed the book in her hand, letting the feeling at her fingertips remind herself that all this is real.Ruth is not a vulgar fan who is illiterate and only wants to make a name for herself, but living like a noble princess is a dream rooted in the heart of every young girl and an inherent instinctive desire.Even Ruth, who has read a lot of books, has her own independent thinking and the courage to put it into action, can't resist this temptation.

When she walked to the bottom E-deck, she felt a slight shaking, if she didn't feel it carefully, it was almost negligible. "The boat is moving!" Ruth turned around and ran up.

When she stood under the sun again, she could see the misty sea, and the palace on the sea was moving slowly under her feet.Ruth's body was trembling with happiness, just like the "Titanic", she was rushing towards an infinite and vast world.

Ruth has just graduated from a church school and is full of fantasies about the future. She looks forward to an adventurous life full of excitement, freshness every day, and miracles.So, after seeing a job posting for an American school in the newspaper, Ruth sent it a resume without hesitation.When she graduated, she received an invitation letter from this school.When she told her parents that she was going to America, they were stunned.

Ruth was their only child, so she was very spoiled since she was a child. Her parents were very obedient to her and always satisfied her any request without hesitation.It was their doting that formed Ruth's unrestrained and free personality. She was more courageous than boys, daring to think and do, and to take risks.However, they are still worried about letting her go to the other side of the ocean alone. After all, Ruth is a girl, and this is the first time for her to make a living independently, and she is going to a strange new continent.

Although the parents did not explicitly express their objection-respecting Ruth's choice had become their habit, and an unspoken tacit understanding was reached among the three, their silence itself represented everything.Ruth did not bring up the subject again, and after supper she wandered alone in the evening breeze and the scent of flowers.Ruth's family lived in a secluded countryside. At night, the cicadas and frogs sang, not only did not feel noisy, but made the world seem more peaceful and peaceful.

Although Ruth is lively and active and likes a warm atmosphere, staying at home in the country still makes her feel comfortable. After all, this is the place where she was born and grew up, and every plant and tree is so familiar.

Ruth bent down, sniffing the fragrance of roses, with a look of intoxication.Her father didn't know when he walked behind her, "Ruth, can we talk?"

Ruth turned around, showing a mischievous smile, helped old Cabot to a bench, and sat down side by side.Ruth lay on her father's lap, which she had loved since she was a child, and it made her feel his warmth and security.Although she advocates women's self-reliance and self-improvement, she is inherently dependent on her father.Although she now has her own piece of sky, she still needs the sunshine of her father's love.

Old Cabot: "Ruth, we have always respected your ideas, and this time is of course no exception..." Ruth sat up with a surprised expression on her face.She knew that her parents would make such a decision. Although they were reluctant and worried about themselves, they were still full of joy when they heard the news.

Old Cabot: "However, this time is different. What you are going to is a completely strange place, a foreign country, and far away on the other side of the ocean. There, we have no friends to ask, let them take care of you, everything will be fine. You have to rely on yourself. If you choose this path, you must bravely face all difficulties and challenges, and rely on your own efforts to gain a firm foothold there. When you encounter setbacks, you can’t easily shrink back, let alone give up on yourself, Cabot There are no cowards in the family, whether men or women, we are all warriors who dare to accept challenges. Therefore, don’t embarrass the Cabot family, and must go all out to stand out.”

Ruth stood in front of the old Cabot and solemnly gave a military salute, because the old Cabot was a retired captain, and he treated Ruth like a boy since he was a child, and gave her an education with a strong military flavor. "Captain Cabot, please rest assured, I will definitely go forward bravely, defeat all enemies, and win the victory."

Old Cabot smiled happily, took his daughter's hand, and asked her to sit back beside him. "You also have to remember that although we are not by your side, we will miss you every day, pray for you, and bless you. In case of trouble, after all, some things cannot be changed by manpower, then go home , rest for a period of time. A strong fortress cannot be conquered in one go, and we will start all over again after recharging our energy."

The good intentions of the old man infected Ruth, and her eyes became moist.Now, standing on the deck of the "Titanic", recalling the scene at that time and old Cabot's heartfelt words, Ruth still feels her nose sour.She took out her handkerchief, wiped her eyes, pulled herself together, and looked in the direction of the New World confidently.

(End of this chapter)