Chapter 14: The Illegitimate Son of the Dawson Family

The lower-class cabin was a four-person room, quite reminiscent of Ma Jun’s dormitory at Yan Ying, though a bit smaller and lacking the loft beds with desks underneath. Even so, compared to the hard sleepers on the old green trains, this was a considerable improvement. Jack was horsing around with his companions. The other two were washing their faces, working up a sweat that made stoking a boiler look relaxing. When they saw an Asian man appear, everyone turned in surprise.

“Jack Dawson?” Ma Jun looked at the young man, his lips curving into a slight, gentlemanly smile as he extended a hand.

Jack, puzzled, came over and shook his hand. “Do I know you?”

“Are you American?”

“Yes!”

“This may seem a bit abrupt, but I have a question—are you an orphan?”

Jack hesitated, his tone growing wary. “What are you trying to say? I don’t know you.”

“Excellent!” Ma Jun nodded in satisfaction. “So you truly are an orphan. But in fact, you’re not, are you?”

“What?” Jack’s eyes widened. “What are you talking about?”

Ma Jun took out a cigarette, offered one to Jack, and lit them both with a metal lighter.

Jack had never seen such elegantly packaged cigarettes or such a beautiful lighter before. He didn’t refuse; he took a deep drag, savoring a taste he would not soon forget.

Ma Jun smiled inwardly and said, “Mr. Dawson, I need a word with you. It concerns some private matters.”

“All right.” Jack hesitated, then nodded.

“Hey, Jack, this fellow doesn’t look like a good sort. Are you sure you want to go with him?” One of Jack’s friends, a Frenchman named Brizio, came over, looking concerned.

Ma Jun shrugged, glanced at the Frenchman, then looked at Jack.

Jack smiled, patted Brizio on the shoulder, and then gestured to Ma Jun, leading him out the door.

They stopped at the stairwell. By now, the ship had been sailing for some time, and the stairs were relatively quiet.

“Have you ever heard of the Dawson family of Boston?” Ma Jun asked, exhaling a curl of smoke and speaking with an air of mystery.

“I’ve heard a little,” Jack replied.

“It may be hard for you to accept, but the truth is this: you are a member of the Dawson family—a child born out of wedlock.” Ma Jun spoke gravely, spinning a tale from thin air.

“What?” Jack was so stunned that he burned his fingers on the cigarette. He quickly sucked on his fingers, his eyebrows shooting up. “That’s not funny at all!”

“I am the assistant to Leonardo Dawson, the youngest son of the Dawson family patriarch. A year ago, he learned of your existence and sent me to find you.” Ma Jun maintained his serious expression. “By the grace of God, I have finally found you! Of course, it’s hard for you to believe, and I have no proof to convince you, but all you need to do is come with me to Boston once we reach New York and meet Mr. Dawson. The truth will be clear then—you two look remarkably alike!”

“You’re serious?”

“If you’re uneasy, your friends can come along,” Ma Jun said with a smile. “For now, just consider me a friend, and when we arrive in America, a friend inviting you to his home.”

Jack thought for a long while before nodding. Then he looked at Ma Jun with a smile and asked, “Are you Japanese?”

“Chinese.”

“I don’t mean any offense; I’m just curious. Why would Mr. Dawson choose you as a steward? You know, Congress did pass the Chinese Exclusion Act.”

Ma Jun smiled mysteriously and leaned in to whisper, “The powerful make the rules—and the rules do not bind them. Clearly, Mr. Leonardo Dawson is such a man. Besides, I am the child of Chinese students who studied in America; I was born and raised there.”

“All right.” Jack shrugged, now more inclined to trust Ma Jun, though he held some reservations. Perhaps only after meeting Leonardo Dawson would he believe completely. But the Titanic would never reach America, and Jack himself might not either.

“Mr. Jack, not everyone in the Dawson family will welcome you,” Ma Jun warned. “So, until we safely reach Boston, we’ll remain just good friends. Still, you can count on me watching out for your safety.”

Jack shrugged. “I don’t understand all that. All I know is, you’re my friend now.”

Ma Jun smiled and pulled three packs of cigarettes from his pocket—actually, from his space ring—and tossed them to Jack. “Do you like this little gift?”

“They’re fantastic!” Jack eagerly caught them.

They headed back. Outside the room, Ma Jun said, “I hear some family members are in first class. I need to take a look. Until I return, don’t go up there. For the sake of those three packs of cigarettes!”

“Make it two more packs, and you’ve got a deal,” Jack replied with a grin.

“Mr. Leonardo Dawson only smokes cigars—Cuban cigars,” Ma Jun said, handing over two more packs.

“Well, I’m not him!”

Having settled things with Jack, Ma Jun whistled his way toward first class.

“Uncle, you’re such a smooth liar. At this rate, your acting skills will soon break the ceiling!” Xiaohua, ever timely, giggled in his mind.

“Didn’t the system say my acting was trash?” Ma Jun snorted.

“That was sarcasm, silly. Couldn’t you tell?”

“One day I’ll give you a body and spank you hard!” Ma Jun replied, smiling.

“You pervert! How could you have such indecent thoughts about a cute little girl like me?” Xiaohua huffed, projecting her image before Ma Jun—a sailor dress, pouty lips, one hand on her hip, the other pointing accusingly at him.

Ma Jun nodded appreciatively at her fair skin, curvy chest, and slender legs, making no effort to conceal his gaze.

“Ugh! I’m not talking to you anymore, you pervert! Go play with Rose instead!” Xiaohua stamped her foot, her face flushed, and vanished in a huff.

Ma Jun was in high spirits. “You’re pretty sharp to guess what I was thinking!”

“Hmph, naturally!” Xiaohua replied, then caught herself. “Oh, I said I wouldn’t talk to you!”

As expected, she fell silent. Ma Jun was happy for some peace and quiet as he made his way to the stern deck.

The sea stretched out calm and blue under a boundless sky. Titanic’s four great smokestacks dominated the view; thick smoke billowed from the first three, drifting on the wind.

To tell the truth, Ma Jun had never seen a ship so massive, and witnessing it with his own eyes was awe-inspiring.

“One day, once I’ve conquered enough worlds, I have to get myself a giant cruise ship just for fun,” he mused.