Chapter 119 – Ghost Ship (4)

(It sounds like a line straight out of some time-slip science fiction. I’m sure he doesn’t mean anything by it, but naturally, it feels like a jab at me, or an antithesis. Or maybe this really is just a dream shaped by my own feelings.)

His words, a little different from what I expected, left me unsettled. And new doubts welled up again.

(Is this really my dream? Or is it an illusion? A supernatural phenomenon? Or perhaps some kind of occult?)

“Ah, forgive me. I’ve been talking one-sidedly. So, what will you do? If you mean to stay here, all you need to do is eat and drink a single meal. I don’t know why, but that seals the contract. Fortunately for you, you haven’t consumed anything yet, so if you refrain from eating or drinking, you should be able to leave normally.

But now and then, before I could meet them and speak like this, there were people who ate or drank something and couldn’t return. I wonder what became of them… Though you wouldn’t know, would you?”

He said something terrifying as if it were nothing.
I was glad I hadn’t given in to temptation in the restaurant. I had nearly done something irreversible. Besides, the idea that eating or drinking in the land of the dead traps you there forever—that’s been a classic since the age of myths.

“I’ve never heard of anyone being invited here. All I know is that right now it’s 1929, and that this ship sank in 1912—long before I was even born.”

“Oh? So you’re that young? Ah, forgive me, that’s rude to say to a lady. Well, it seems those who come here appear in the age they most desire. This place is, in other words, a kind of land of the dead, but that’s why it should be called an empty eternity. Still, for those of us who went down with the ship, there’s no escaping it.”

He said this with a light shrug of his shoulders. It looked so natural that he seemed like any ordinary living man.
But this is a place of the dead, and I must wake up. If what he says is true, then that’s how it is.

“I see. Then how can I return? If I can go back simply by sleeping again, that would be easy enough.”

“I wonder. I don’t know that part either. It’s probably been years since I last spoke with someone from outside like this, and I can’t even recall what became of the last visitor. Most likely, it’s because we are bound to this single night without end.”

(It’s been years? And that’s supposed to be ‘once in a while’? Then that would mean only a handful of people have come here. But if that’s the case, how could he know who managed to return and who didn’t? That doesn’t add up, does it?)

It feels like his story makes sense on the surface, but Andrews-san’s words don’t quite add up.

“Um, when you say it’s been years, does that mean only a few people have ever come here?”

“No. It’s only that it’s been years since I was last called. Ah, yes, that’s right—of the visitors who come here, only a few of those who clearly called someone are temporarily freed from the spell of this endless night, and can speak like this. So, the ones who get to talk are often family members or close acquaintances of the caller. Back when I first sank, I had plenty of chances to talk, but the number has been decreasing year by year. Now, it seems only when a ship passes nearby at sea do people occasionally wander in.”

(So, this is basically a place to converse with the dead? Like some eternal Obon festival hall? But if that’s the case, then the Titanic’s dead are stuck here as earthbound spirits who can’t go to heaven, aren’t they?)

“Don’t you wish to be freed from this endless night, or at least avoid the sinking in this world of the one night alone?”

“In the beginning, I suppose I was grateful for the chance to meet those I couldn’t say farewell to. But if I could, I’d prefer to be called to heaven by now. Still, after spending so long like this, I can no longer tell what belongs to the living world, and what’s heaven or hell.”

“So, it really is impossible to change anything?”

“It seems so. Back not long after the sinking, there were people who tried over and over. I was even called by others myself. But it was no use. Not even the captain, nor any of the officers, could manage it. Even when they all tried together, it was impossible. This is a closed place, where the future is already fixed.”

“Then… does that mean you don’t know how to be called to heaven?”

“Priests and ministers have come and performed various rites, but it was no use. Still, little by little, the number of souls—or those with substance, at least—has been decreasing. So it may be that eventually no one will remain here, or perhaps this place itself will vanish entirely.”

He spoke evenly, in a tone and atmosphere that went beyond resignation. And I couldn’t believe he was lying.
Even so, since I had been given this chance to talk with him, a feeling stirred inside me. 

“So, there’s nothing I can do?”

“That’s right. If you happen to pass near here again, just toss a single flower into the sea. I heard that at the beginning, some people asked not to be forgotten. But it seems that, rather than being forgotten, they are remembered more than those who die in ordinary ways, and their story spreads even further. It’s ironic, but it really drives home just how great a tragedy it was.”

(I see. They must feel as if the sinking were their fault. No wonder they can’t find peace or ascend to heaven.)

“Yes, that’s right. I also learned about it only after the incident. So I won’t say anything to you, and I won’t do anything here. But—”

“But?”

“When the Olympic is retired and dismantled, I’m thinking of buying something from her to be preserved.”

“Well, that’s quite grand. From your appearance, you seem to be from the East. You must be from quite a distinguished family, then?”

(For the first time, he actually showed genuine interest in me. Well, not that it really matters.)

“Yes. If I wanted, I could even buy the whole ship and preserve it long-term. Should I do it?”

“Hahaha, now that sounds amusing. But it won’t be necessary. Just put up a plaque next to some mementos from the retired Olympic, something like ‘There was also the ill-fated ship Titanic.’ That would be enough.”

“Understood, I promise. I’d like to make that my personal commemoration of having come to this ship.”

“That’s good. I don’t think we can offer you anything in return, so I’d be grateful if you did that. And besides, it’s been nice being able to talk about something other than gloomy matters for once. Thank you, young lady, traveler from the East. May your journey and your life be full of blessings.”

“Thank you. I pray that eternal peace comes to you, Mr. Andrews, as soon as possible. Well then, farewell.”

“Yes, farewell.”

While continuing to quietly converse with Mr. Andrews as we sat there, I gradually began to feel my consciousness fade.
By the time I heard his final words, everything had completely blurred.

“…—lady. Milady, it is morning.”

When my awareness returned, it was to the usual cool and refreshing voice of Shizu.
Since she has a spare key to this room, she wakes me just as she does at the Ootori estate.

Yes, everything was back to normal, back to everyday life.

So I sat bolt upright with a “gabaa!” motion.

“Mm—! I slept so well!”

“Good morning, Milady. …huh?”

“Is something wrong?”

Shizu, who had been about to take my clothes out of the closet, suddenly took on a serious air.
Proof that something had happened.

“There is a necklace here that I have never seen before. What could this mean?”

Her voice was sharp with suspicion. It might be a bad situation, but the first thing that crossed my mind was the ordinary, mundane logic of a regular person.

“Something the previous guest forgot?”

“When I first entered this room, I confirmed there were no suspicious items. The only things in here should be your clothing and personal belongings, Milady.”

“Nobody came in after you left the room yesterday.”

“Yes. And there were no signs of the door being opened either. What could this mean?”

“What? Is it safe to touch?”

“As far as I can see, there’s no problem. It’s a necklace. Please wait a moment.”

Saying this, she took out a handkerchief.
Then she turned back around and unfolded the item in the handkerchief on her palm.

“Here it is. Do you recognize it?”

What she showed me was the accessory I had hurriedly put on in the dream of the Titanic, when I was in the form of a sixteen-year-old. I hadn’t paid it much attention then, but now it looked almost ridiculous with its huge red gemstone—probably a ruby.
A simple yet intricately crafted necklace centered around that ruby. No other gems were set into it, but it radiated such presence that none were needed. The metal parts were likely pure gold.

Seeing it again made me fall silent for a moment.

(Did it manifest because it was something I wore in that dream world? If so, could I have brought out something else instead?)

It felt so familiar that I almost slipped into escapism.

“Milady, do you recognize it?”

“Yes, it’s a necklace I saw in a dream.”

“A dream, you say. Something you used within a dream. But then, why is it here now? Could you really bring something back from a dream?”

“If I could do that, I’d already be the richest person in the world by now.”

“That’s true. So then, what will you do with this necklace? Shall we report it as a lost item?”

At Shizu’s usual cool voice, I shook my head.

(A memento of the voyage—or perhaps something given to me as funds to build a memorial hall. Well, when I eventually make one, I can just make up some story and put it on display.)

I decided not to think too deeply about it.

“I’ll take it home as a keepsake. Just keep it stored safely.”

“…Understood. More importantly, you should change. Master Kouryuu is already waiting in the lounge.”

“Ah, yes, yes. Then let’s get changed quickly.”

“Yes, Milady.”

There had been a number of strange things, but it had turned out to be a good change of pace. And, even though it wasn’t really related to me, I had finally met someone who told me not to change history. I’m sure I’ll never forget this dream, nor this incident.

With that monologue lingering in the corner of my mind, I returned to what will no doubt continue to be my tumultuous everyday life.
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Please don’t worry too much about the item from beyond the dream.
In a certain Titanic movie, there was a cursed blue diamond, so this is simply a gem of the opposite color.
It’s just meant to show that, in this world, there are mysterious things besides reincarnation. Probably.
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In terms of the story’s flow, this feels like a natural stopping point, either here or when leaving America.
From here, it’ll be ten or so chapters of wandering around Europe. A six-month overseas trip… I’d like to try that at least once.
Also, the Atlantic crossing itself is closer to being a side story.