Read Online Time Trapped by Richard Ungar - Free Book Online Page B

MacNaughton Room,” he says.
    â€œThanks. What about our cabins?”
    â€œWe don’t have any,” he says. “We’re not sleeping here. After dinner, it’s the final event and then we go back to the Compound.”
    â€œAll right, thanks.” I turn to look out over the rail again, but Raoul doesn’t move.
    â€œThe others don’t think I should be talking to you,” he says, lowering his voice.
    â€œWhat do you mean?” I say.
    â€œNot Abbie so much. But Frank and Lydia. They say that you’re in for it because of trying to escape.”
    I look at him for a moment and say, “So then why
are
you talking to me?”
    â€œI . . . I don’t know. I mean, I do. There’s something I need to ask you.”
    â€œOkay.”
    â€œDo you . . . do you think I’m in trouble with Uncle?” he asks.
    That’s a tough one. There’s no question that Uncle has been picking on Raoul more than anyone else today. But does that mean he’s in real trouble?
    â€œHonestly, I don’t know,” I say. “Sometimes I think this is all a game for Uncle. And part of his game is finding someone he can pick on. He used to pick on me before I . . . went away.”
    Raoul looks around nervously for a moment, as if to see if there is anyone else within earshot. Then he whispers, “I want to leave Timeless Treasures, Caleb. Can you help me?”
    I bite my lip. Does he even really know what he’s asking? And why me? I’m the king of failed escapes, not successful ones. Besides, I probably won’t be around long enough to help him. Uncle is bound to banish me to the Barrens any day now for my past deeds.
    I look out over the water and say, “Are you sure about this? If you get caught—”
    â€œI’m not going to get caught,” says Raoul. “There’s a place I know where he’ll never find me.”
    I almost feel pity for him. He’s naïve if he thinks there’s any place or time where Uncle can’t reach him. I of all people know how hopeless that is. But I also know that if I had another chance to escape, I’d be gone in a heartbeat.
    I glance over at Raoul, nod and say, “Okay.”
    Immediately his expression changes, and there’s a grateful and relieved look in his eyes. As if talking for a minute lifted a huge burden from him.
    â€œThank you, Caleb, really,” he says. “And if you don’t mind—”
    â€œDon’t worry,” I say. “I won’t tell anyone. In fact, we never had this conversation.”
    â€œThanks,” he says again, and I watch him walk away.
    I hang out by the rail for another couple of minutes. I have no idea how I can help Raoul, but I’ll try. My thoughts return to Zach. I wonder what he’s doing right now. I run a hand lightly over my wrist. Blocked. But what if I go back to 1959 and just wait a few years? Or to 1980. But Zach will be grown up by then and won’t remember me.
    A bell rings and interrupts my thoughts. “Good evening, everyone,” says a man’s voice. I look up at the closest screen. He’s dressed in a crisp white uniform, and his face is deeply tanned.
    â€œThis is your captain speaking. Since our departure from Oban yesterday, the weather has cleared, and the temperature is a pleasant eighteen degrees Celsius. We are cruising at nineteen knots, and in a few minutes, we’ll be passing between the isles of Rum and Eigg. If you have a look off the starboard deck, you’ll be able to glimpse Askival, the tallest mountain on Rum.”
    His voice is soothing. It has the same rhythm as the waves. If I wasn’t standing up, I could easily fall sleep.
    â€œI’ll now turn you over to the cruise director for a few announcements,” he says.
    There’s a brief pause and then another voice, this one high-pitched and squeaky, comes