By Cynthia Wilfert
“Need a seat belt, kid?” Gregory smirked.
Robin loosened his white-knuckled grip on the handrail. “I’m good.” He’d expected a wild ride, but time travel was like a thirty-story elevator drop into the past. The machine even dinged as it swooped to a stop. While Robin waited for his vertigo to pass, the date registered on the door panel. April 12, 1912.
The door slid open with a soft swish. Robin followed Gregory out onto the plush carpet of what appeared to be a fancy hotel suite. But the sensation of movement continued, and the only scenery visible through the window was water. Robin stepped closer to the table and peered at the emblem on the lamp.
RMS Titanic.
“Welcome to the most infamous ship in history.” Gregory flopped onto the mattress. “First class, no less. Hope you like the carpet, ’cause you’ll be camping on the floor.”
The time machine’s door quietly slid shut, leaving it to masquerade as a wardrobe. Robin wandered the room, gawking at the furnishings.
“That’s if you sleep,” Gregory continued. “You’ve got only forty-eight hours to impress me.”
Robin sighed, reminded of the issue at hand. He needed to prove himself if he hoped to secure a position with the firm. “This seems like a big event for my first job.”
Gregory scoffed. “Big? Sure. But perfect. We’ve got lots of rich people, traveling with all sorts of valuable baubles. And the victims won’t be around to miss their treasures. The ones who survive will have more pressing worries than whatever might have disappeared from their pockets.”
Robin swallowed his distaste. “I’d better get started.”
“Remember, only take things you can conceal on your person. And if you get caught and detained, you’re on your own. Sink or swim, kid.” Gregory chuckled at his own joke, settling back against the pillows.
Robin refrained from rolling his eyes until he’d left the cabin. He was soon distracted, marveling at the lavish décor as he made his way to the promenade deck. He gazed at the famous funnels and nodded to an officer in a White Star uniform.
He was really aboard Titanic. Surreal.
But he wasn’t here for sightseeing. Robin’s talent lay in his smooth charm. He walked up to a finely dressed couple and struck up conversation, smoothly ingratiating himself. No one expected a friendly, well-cultured young man to slip off their jewelry or pick their pockets. He soon had a stash of rings, bracelets, and a silver cuff link box, along with several passengers who thought they’d made a wonderful new friend.
But Robin wrestled with his conscience. He couldn’t help wondering which ones would survive the looming disaster. Knowing that he was stealing from people who were about to face tragedy disturbed him. His stomach churned while he watched a few children run along the deck.
Maybe Robin wasn’t cut out for time-travel thievery.
But he needed the job. Not many companies were willing to hire someone with a criminal record, and his history of theft was an asset for this firm’s illicit industry.
A high-pitched bark interrupted Robin’s reverie as a ball of fur darted between a gentleman’s legs and toward the ship’s railing. Robin rushed to intercept, scooping the little poodle up into his arms.
“Adorabella!” A steward wrangling three larger leashed dogs struggled toward them. “Thank you, sir. She’s an ornery one.”
She didn’t seem so ornery to Robin. She tipped her nose up, smelling the sea breeze. Then she licked his chin and snuggled against his chest.
“You’ve got your hands full there.” Robin nodded to the bulldog trying to lunge in one direction while the terrier pulled the opposite way. “I’ll help you get her back to the kennel.”
And so he found himself on the F-Deck, far from any priceless baubles, encouraging Adorabella to go back into her enclosure. She watched him walk away with big eyes and a little whine.
Robin remembered reading that three dogs had survived the Titanic’s sinking. None of them were poodles.
A sense of dread began to press in on him, growing heavier as he went about his business the next day. Still, he charmed more passengers, swiped a few more pieces of jewelry, and even made off with a small leather-bound Bible from the church service.
When they felt the ominous thump of the iceberg collision at 11:40 that night, Gregory jumped to his feet. “Let’s go.”
“Time for one last score?” Robin asked.
“If you hurry. I won’t wait a single minute past 1:30.”
Robin hurried. At the behest of one of the stewards, he put on a life vest before making his way down to the F-Deck and back, marveling at the lack of panic among the passengers he encountered. He wanted to scream at the people allowing a lifeboat not even half full to descend into the ocean, but forced himself past and back to the suite.
“Got all your treasures?” Gregory’s smirk was more tense than usual. Perhaps death was looming too large for him to be lackadaisical.
Robin nodded, and they moved into the time machine. It wasn’t until the door was secured and they were moving, the date on the panel steadily climbing, that they both began to breathe more easily.
Gregory cleared his throat. “Let’s see what you’ve got.”
As Robin shifted the life vest to get to his pockets, a furry head popped out the top.
Gregory’s eyes widened as the little poodle growled at him. “Well, that’s a first. I’ve never had a recruit go after a live treasure before.”
Robin petted Adorabella and put on his mask of charm. “I considered the champion bulldog, but he wouldn’t fit in my vest.”
Gregory burst out laughing. “Kid, you’ve got style. I think the firm will have a place for you.”
Robin wasn’t quite sure how to feel about that. He just nodded and held the little life he’d saved close to his heart.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
A captivatingly sweet story.
Thank you! :)
Captivating and exciting. I wanted more and more and more.
Thank you Cindy for such a talent.
Thank you! :)
What a sweet story! I look forward to reading more of your works.
Thank you, Sandy! I appreciate the encouragement. :)
Robin Hood? meets the Titanic!
love it… looking for more stories from you in the happy new year…
Thank you! :)
I was hoping he would save the dog! I like how you touched on the tragedy without making me all weepy.
Thank you! I would save all the dogs if I could. But it was cathartic to bring that one little bit of redemption out of the tragedy. Thank you for commenting! :)
Cute. I like the moral dilemma.
Thank you! :)
I enjoyed reading the story. I think you have a gift for writing. I look forward to your next story.
Thank you, Sharon! :)
Greatly enjoyed the story, Cynthia! I had to wonder, were there no recorded poodle survivors because the dog originally drowned, or because a time traveller pulled him into the (then) future? This theme always boggles my mind! Well done!
Yes, time travel is such a tricky topic! If the hero is present in the past, does that mean his actions are predetermined because they’ve already happened? In this case, I like to think the dog was meant to survive. :)
Thank you; I’m glad you enjoyed reading!
Good to see he understood what was truly valuable!
Yes! Thank you for reading and commenting. :)