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sitting on them – women and children for the most part, and a few men as well – looked embarrassed and even ashamed. But there was a small space on one bench, a space just big enough for Anya and her mother and sisters.
    Billy looked at Mr Ismay and his heart hardened against him.
    â€˜Mr Ismay,’ he called out.
    Mr Ismay looked up.
    â€˜Everyone can see there’s room enough in the boat for these wee girls and their ma,’ said Billy loudly. ‘Or are you just going to let them drown along with the rest of us poor people? Maybe the other fine folk in this boat will tell all their fancy friends about it when you get to New York.’
    Billy pushed Anya’s mother and the girls up against the seamen. He stared hard at Mr Ismay, refusing to let him look away.
    At last Mr Ismay nodded. ‘Let them on,’ he said quietly, and the seamen did as they were ordered, hurrying Anya and her family aboard. Anya’s mother glanced back at Billy, but then she and the girls were gone and the seamen closed ranks again. Somebody yelled at them, and soon there was a scuffle. Billy retreated, looking for George.
    He found him by the handrail further along the deck. The two boys looked down at the lifeboat as it was lowered to the sea. Anya was sitting on her mother’s lap, looking up at them. Billy waved, and the little girl waved back.
    â€˜A long and happy life to you, Anya,’ he said softly.

Chapter Twelve

Last Moments
    â€˜What now, Fleming?’ said George, turning to Billy. ‘You’re the man with the answers. Although I don’t think we’ll be getting on any lifeboats in the near future. I’m pretty sure they’ve all been launched, full or not.’
    â€˜You’re not wrong there,’ said Billy.
    He didn’t have any more answers. He felt bruised and exhausted and frozen to his bones, and part of him wanted to lie down and die, to wait for the dark sea to swallow him. But he couldn’t say that, not with George staring at him so hopefully.
    â€˜We should try to find Mr McElroy,’ Billy said. ‘If anyone knows what to do, he will.’
    It seemed to make sense to head for the bellboy station, even though that meant going towards the submerged section of the ship.
    The decks were still full of people, but none took any notice of the boys. Most were searching for lifejackets, and Billy saw several fights over these precious objects. He saw people leaping from the handrail and into the sea, which didn’t seem a good idea.
    Further on a priest with a powerful voice led others in a hymn Billy recognised.
    Eternal Father, strong to save,
Whose arm hath bound the restless wave,
Who bidd’st the mighty ocean deep
Its own appointed limits keep;
Oh hear us when we cry to Thee,
For those in peril on the sea
.
    They found the Chief Purser in his office. He was calmly emptying his desk drawers and putting papers in his pockets. He looked up and frowned.
    â€˜Where have you two been?’ he said. ‘I put the rest of the bellboys into a lifeboat half an hour ago. You might well have missed your chancenow. And what happened to your uniforms? You look like a couple of scarecrows!’
    â€˜Sorry, sir,’ said Billy. ‘I… I mean we… we were helping passengers…’
    â€˜Don’t be daft, you’ve no need to apologise,’ said George, rounding on him. ‘He wasn’t just helping passengers, Mr McElroy. He saved my life and the life of a little girl, so he did. And he got her and her family into a lifeboat.’
    â€˜Is that right?’ said Mr McElroy. He came out from behind his desk and put a hand on Billy’s shoulder. ‘I knew you were a good lad from the moment I set eyes on you. Can I assume you boys have also settled your differences?’
    â€˜Aye, that you can, sir,’ said George. He turned to Billy once more and held out his hand. ‘You’ve got more guts than