Rimouski was bedlam. Although it was early morning, crowds greeted the ship when it docked. Newspapermen and photographers jammed the pier. All the townspeople seemed to be out, waiting for the survivors. Everyone was talking about the Empress. They wanted to know how such a tragedy could happen. They wanted to help.
The crowd watched solemnly as the bodies were taken off the ship. They watched as the injured were carried off on stretchers, and doctors and nurses from all around rushed over to help. They watched as the survivors stumbled off the boat. Many were still dazed, startled by the noise and the crowds.
Albert knew they were a sad-looking group, but all he could think about was finding his family and Grace.
Comments and rumours swirled around as Albert and the other survivors made their way down the pier. Newspaper reporters and photographers asked questions, snapped pictures.
“Did you hear Captain Kendall was drunk?”
“No. I hear he never drinks.”
“I heard that the ship wasn’t built properly.”
“Nonsense. She was a strong ship.”
“I heard that many of the crew survived. Why didn’t they rescue more passengers?”
“Look at those poor people. They’re in rags,” said a woman clutching a bag of clothes. “I’m glad I brought these. All my neighbours pitched in to donate.”
“Imagine! Those poor people were in the water in the middle of the night,” said an older man with a cane. “I don’t know how anyone made it through.”
“This way. This way,” said a sailor from the Lady Evelyn. “Follow me. We’ll get you all clean clothes and food.”
Albert followed the line of survivors to a brick building. As soon as he entered, volunteers rushed over, handing out clean clothing, cups of strong tea, fresh bread and hot soup.
“Do you know if anyone from the Salvation Army is here?” Albert asked a woman with curly white hair and a warm smile.
“I think I heard of a Salvation Army lad, older than you, who just came in. He was asking for news of his family and others in your group.” The woman pointed. “Over there.”
Albert’s stomach knotted. Could it be Lewis? He didn’t want to get his hopes dashed again.
Albert thanked the woman and hurried over to where she had pointed. His heart was thumping hard against his chest.
A young man was standing behind a curtain held up by a woman. Albert could only see the top of his head. His hair was brown and curly like Lewis’s. There was a gash across his forehead.
“Excuse me,” said Albert. “I’m looking for—”
Before Albert could finish his sentence, the young man popped out from behind the curtain. He only had a pair of pants on, and his right arm was in a sling.
“Albert!” he shouted. He tossed his left arm around Albert’s neck. He smelled of the river and his hair was dirty, but it was Lewis! Albert couldn’t believe it.
“It’s you. It’s really you. You’re alive!” Albert said.
“I am, kid,” he said, jabbing Albert in the arm with his left hand.
“What happened to you? To Father, Uncle Thomas and Aunt Betsy?”
Lewis’s face clouded over. “My dad is gone, Albert. I saw him get sucked under the ship when she went down.”
“Oh, Lewis.”
Lewis bit his lip. Tears dribbled down his cheeks.
Albert put his arm around Lewis’s shoulder. “Uncle Thomas insisted I hurry on deck and not wait for anything.”
“I know. He rushed me out of the cabin. My lifebelt was tangled, and he fixed it and made me put it on before he put his on.”
“Did you reach the boat deck?”
“Just in time. But we wouldn’t have made it there if you hadn’t come for us. You saved my life, Albert.”
“We were lucky that our cabins were not on the starboard side of the ship. None of us would have made it if they were.”
Lewis nodded. “I know. The ship was sinking fast when we reached the deck. There was no time left to do anything. There were no lifeboats around, so we jumped. I saw Father go down and disappear under the ship. I made it clear of the Empress just in time. The Eureka picked me up a little while later.”
“And Aunt Betsy?”
“She jumped, too. I saw her in the water. I heard her scream when Father got sucked under, but I didn’t see her after that. I’m afraid she didn’t make it either. I can’t stop thinking about my parents. And your father, Albert? Do you have any news?”
Albert shook his head. “Father was going to jump after me. I don’t know what happened to him.”
Lewis hugged his cousin. “It’s too much to take in. Our family … All those people we knew.” Lewis sobbed. “Sorry, Albert. I never cry. I just feel … it’s just too much. How could this happen, Albert? How?”