Date: Wed, 6 Jan 2016 05:13:56 +0000
From: tpickles <tpickles2@gmail.com>
Subject: Thai Pan - chapter 3

THAI PAN : A JUNGLE TALE

My latest story for Nifty takes a quite different approach to my previous
stories (for a list of which, please see the end of this chapter). This is
a more timeless tale. You could regard it as more of a sexual fable or myth
– with its roots deep in our collective history, culture and traditions as
gay men and male tribes. The tale involves teenage boys and their
discoveries with each other, and with a few men as mentors or guides. It is
set deep in a jungle forest amidst myths, rituals, rites, taboos,
initiation and elderhood.

....................... The ending of Chapter 2 ...........................

As I danced around more, thrilled by the erotic experience of such naked
outdoor pleasure, I felt the imminent rise of my Seed. With one hand I
squeezed my buttocks whilst with the other I stroked my Gra-juu vigorously.
My feet were planted wide on the ground and my body arched back as I
reached the point of no return. A thick string of Seed-juice erupted from
my enlarged cock-head, landing on my chest as a white rope of sticky fluid.
Another burst followed, landing on my belly and running back into my light
covering of pubic hair. As my body straightened up, a third and fourth jet
were pumped out by the strong muscles around my anus; they landed on the
ground before me and some leaked across my hand. My legs began to feel
weak, and I sank down onto a convenient boulder at the edge of the
clearing. I watched the juices trickle down my chest and abdomen. I licked
some of the cum from my hand, tasting the sweet, salty texture. In front of
me, I could see the globules of my Seed on the grass where the sun was
already beginning to thin and evaporate the liquid. I felt deeply sated and
relaxed. This was so natural; and so enjoyable.

Twenty minutes later, I walked back to the river bank, my still swollen
Gra-juu swinging before me. I walked back into the river and let the water
clean my body again. Then I climbed out, picked up my clothes from where
I'd undressed, and enjoyed the freedom of walking back to my hut naked.

CHAPTER 3

The small village of huts felt peaceful amidst the gentle noises of the
forest. I drew some water from the well and cooked some food using the rice
and provisions that I'd found in the hut. There was plenty of fruit ready
to be collected from around the village - bananas, mangos, coconuts,
papaya, even water-melon a little further away. It looked like I was
unlikely to starve. When my food was cooked, I sat down at a table on the
verandah to enjoy it, looking out across the encampment and towards the
clearing and the river. I wondered when Zee and PeeJay would return, as
they had promised. I wondered whether anyone else was making a similar
journey towards this jungle village. Given the number of huts that were
ready, it seemed unlikely that I would be living here on my own. I thought
back to all that Muni had said to me - and not said - but I still had no
clear idea of the purpose of my journey, nor of how long I was expected to
stay here.

After my lunch, I lay down for some rest. The day was at its hottest. There
were two hammocks hung beneath the hut and by climbing into one, I could
swing gently and doze in the shade, whilst benefitting from the light
breeze that passed through. My mind was filled with day-dreams - of Muni
and Zee and PeeJay, of home and friends, of the adventure of my journey,
and of my pleasuring by the river.

It was almost two hours later that I awoke fully. The sun was already
descending in the sky and the heat of the day was easing. I walked around
the village, exploring it in more detail. At he hut nearest to the chicken
coops and the pig pens, I found some bags of feed. I fetched water for
their drinking troughs and placed food in the hoppers. I walked around the
enclosures checking for any gaps where the animals might escape - or more
likely, forest predators could enter for a free meal. I followed one of the
tracks and discovered a series of rice paddy fields, and some other smaller
fields that had been planted with vegetable crops. There was a collection
of tools in a little shelter near-by, and I used these to dig up some root
vegetables and to pull a couple of green vegetables. These I could use for
my dinner. On the way back, I picked some fruit. With no means of keeping
food cool, I could only collect sufficient food for one day's needs. Back
at my hut, I placed this fresh food in a small meat-safe to keep the flies
away. Then I set out again in a different direction. After a time, I
thought I recognised this path as being the one that I had walked the
previous night in the dark to approach the village. Sure enough, after a
few minutes, I saw the barrier across the track with the small hut beside
it. I stepped around the barrier, reluctant to go further into the
'outside' world so soon after I had left it. My hand reached for the door
to the little hut. It opened inwards and as I looked inside, I could make
out a table and chair within. On the table lay a couple of fresh coconuts
and a bag containing some spicy sausages. I wondered who could have put
them there. Then I realised that if other people were not allowed to pass
the barrier, perhaps these were gifts that had been left for me. With a
sense of gratitude, I picked up the coconuts and the sausages and carried
them back to the village. Back at my hut, all was as I remembered it;
nothing seemed to have been disturbed.

Walking around the outside of my own hut, I found a second shower at the
rear. This was a simple affair with a shower head suspended from a
projecting log and a raised area of large flat stones beneath to stand on.
The stones sloped gently towards a run-off gulley. I stepped up beneath the
shower and removed the shorts I'd worn since lunch to go exploring. There
were no walls or curtains to provide any privacy but I wasn't bothered. I'd
not seen anyone all day - and I'd already enjoyed the freedom of my own
nudity by the river. I turned on the shower and stood beneath the firm jet
of water letting the water play down my body. I released my bladder and
watched the mix of water and piss flow strongly from the end of my cock; it
was a very satisfying feeling! I used my hands to rub my chest, arms,
belly, thighs, back, buttocks and feet. Then I stopped the water and
stepped away in the sunlight; it would only take five minutes to dry my
skin.

I used a large knife to open one of the coconuts and sat on the steps
drinking the sweet, milky-white juice. The prospect of fresh sausages and
newly harvested vegetables made me hungry. I dressed in a loose-fitting
t-shirt and some baggy shorts in part to keep any flying insects off my
body before lighting a fire and commencing cooking.  I ate and drank until
I was satisfied, and then, as the light was fading from the sky, I climbed
the steps to the hut's entrance and settled down for another night of deep
sleep.

oOo

The next day began much as the previous one. I awoke with the morning light
and lay on my bed beneath a thin cover listening to the sounds of the
jungle: the birds calling in the trees; the gentle rustling of some animal
grubbing in the dirt for food; the distant crowing of the hens; and beyond
them all, the soft sound of the water in the river as it cascaded over the
waterfalls. With nothing in particular to do, I relaxed on the bed
wondering at the possibilities that the day might hold in store.
Eventually, the need for a wash got me up and I stood beneath the shower in
the bathroom as the spray brought me to full consciousness.

There was plenty of food left over from last night for a good breakfast. As
I ate and cleared up, I thought I should be more organised than the
previous day. First I tidied the kichen area; then I folded and put away
the clothes that had been washed and were now dry. Next I went out to the
fields to select a few vegetables and herbs for that day's food. On the way
back, I selected one of the chickens. Wringing it's neck was something I'd
done many times before. Back beneath my hut, I plucked the chicken and
removed it's head and entrails. The whole bird would need cooking. I
chopped and boned the carcase and prepared a marinade using oils, chillies,
peppers and other ingredients that were stocked in the kitchen area. I left
the meat in a covered dish within the meat-safe to be cooked later.

After a couple of hours work, I stripped to use the outdoor shower and
rinse off the foods and fats that had gathered on my hands and arms whilst
I worked. The simple pleasure of being naked outdoors, my hands roving
across my own body, felt good. The natural response followed and my gra-juu
was semi-erect and pushing forward when I turned off the water. I thought
of yesterday and the pleaure I'd experienced in the river and the clearing.
With nothing better to do, I pulled on a pair of shorts and walked through
the trees down towards the river.

As I approached, I slowed and then stopped. The noise of the water in the
river was clear, but on top of that there were more noises of deliberate
splashing. I moved forward carefully and quietly to see what was happening,
keeping myself as hidden as possible behind the larger tree trunks. After a
couple of minutes, I reached the edge of the clearing; to go any further
would make me visible. I crept around the edge of the clearing, slowly
getting closer to the riverbank, until a large boulder gave me cover. I
crouched down behind the boulder and carefully looked around the side.

The riverbank was the same as before; the water was pouring over the
cascades to fill the large pool. What was different was that now there was
someone swimming, diving and splashing in the pool itself. I tried to get a
better view of the person but with just their head above the water it was
difficult to distinguish any features. The person kept diving below the
surface exposing a pair of legs that came together in a pair of
light-colooured shorts. Unsure who this person might be - or how much risk
he or she posed - I decided to stay hidden. I moved around the boulder
until I had a good vantage point that was also screened by some bushes that
I could carefully move aside to get a better view.

I waited patiently until, a little while later, the person swam and waded
towards the gravel beach. As the person slowly emerged, I could see that he
was another boy, perhaps a year or two younger than me. His thin cotton
t-shirt clung to his slender body. His equally thin shorts were almost
transparent in the water, sticking to his thighs and revealing a pair or
rounded buttocks. As he stood on the beach, he shook his head send a spray
of water from his lengthy hair flying in all directions. As I was wondering
what he would do next, he sat down on the bank and pulled some bananas from
a knapsack that I hadn't spotted before. These he ate as the sun began to
dry him. Bananas finished, he lay down on the grass, just as I had done
yesterday. And - like me - within a few minutes, his right hand found its
way inside the waistband of his shorts to clutch his genitals.

Now I definitely wasn't going to move! The sight of this unknown boy
beginning to give pleasure to himself started to make me aroused as well. I
had to adjust the constriction in my own shorts. It was not long before the
boy sat up and looked around, as if checking to see whether he was being
watched.  I ducked down to stay out of sight. When next I looked, he'd
pulled the damp t-shirt up and over his head, revealing a slender male body
with two prominent brown nipples. As he stood up, I could see the prominent
bulge contained within his shorts. He walked away from the river and into
the clearing looking around for something. The semi-translucent shorts were
clinging to his ass and this erotic sight made me even more excited. I felt
my own hard erection. The boy approached a tree at the edge of the
clearing, perhaps 15 metres away from me. He bent down to collect some moss
and grass from the ground which he placed in a low fork in the tree's
trunk. Then he stepped out of his shorts. I almost gasped out loud - which
would certainly have stopped him from what he planned to do! His youthful
adolescent body was slender, dark brown and smooth. His gra-juu was
pointing out at right-angles to his body, long and slim. He held it in one
hand. He stepped towards the tree and placed his gra-juu in the
moss-covered fork in the trunk, then covered it with more moss and grass.
As I watched, he pressed his body into the trunk and began to rhythmically
move his hips in and out of the trunk. I realised he was using the fork to
hold his cock as his body humped and fucked against the tree. He was facing
the tree and unable to see around him. From my position, I could no longer
see his chest or his cock, but instead I was able to stare intently at his
hips, buttocks and the line of his ass. I'd been drawn to the sight of
other boys' bums before but this was different. This boy had two perfectly
rounded buttocks almost the same dark colour as the rest of his body. The
more he humped into the tree, the more his body began to sweat with the
energy and the excitement. I could see a line of moisture breaking out on
his skin and then coalescing and running down his back - and into the
crevice of his ass. The sight made me very aroused. I didn't want to reveal
my voyeuristic presence, but I needed to release my own gra-juu from the
confines of my shorts. Carefully, I pushed the waistband down until my hard
length sprang up. I grabbed it with one hand and started to stroke myself.
I looked across at the boy as he fucked the tree-trunk and his beautiful
rounded ass presssed in and out. I wondered what it would be like to touch
him there, to caress his buttocks, to stand naked next to him as he
climaxed in pleasure.

Now he was making a deep-throated noise. His movements had speeded up. He
was thrusting ever harder against the tree. The sweat was running down his
exposed back, ass and thighs. With a loud groan he obviously climaxed into
the vice that was holding his gra-juu. His body shuddered and jerked a few
times. Watching him in these throes of self-pleasure, my own jism started
to jet from my cock, splattering my chest and covering my hand. I had to
clamp my mouth shut to avoid making a noise. As I finished spurting, the
boy was withdrawing his cock from the tree fork; it still looked long,
slender and swollen. He bent to the ground - giving me a sight of his
spread buttocks - and picked some more grass to wipe himself clean. Then,
satisfied, he picked up his shorts and walked back to the river to rinse
himself off in the water.

I thought about disclosing myself, but I didn't want this boy to think he
might have been secretly observed; and neither did I want him to see my
state of arousal and I tried to push my own thickened cock back inside my
shorts. As the boy began to swim and dive again, I carefully made my way
back around the edge of the clearing until I was standing on the path, and
then walked back up the incline through the trees to the huts.

Would I see this boy again? What was he doing here, seemingly all alone?
Might we become friends? And if we did, what might happen between us? I
considered walking innocently back down to the river again to create an
'introduction' but somehow I didn't have the courage. Instead I took
another shower to cool my ardour - using the indoor bathroom this time, in
case anyone was watching me - and lay on my bed to rest, reviewing the
events of the afternoon.

oOo

In the end, I didn't need to do anything - the cute boy walked into the
encampment!

I'd been dozing on my bed inside my hut for an hour or so enjoying my
daydream when a voice brought me back to consciousness.  "Hello! Anyone
here?" I didn't move or respond whilst I got my bearings. This was the
first human voice I'd heard since Zee and PeeJay left two days earlier.

"Hello!" came the voice again, "Does anyone live here?" This time the voice
was nearer. From the tone and pitch of the voice I guessed it must be the
same boy. I stood from the bed and walked quietly to the window, careful
not to reveal myself. I watched as the boy - now dressed again in his dry
t-shirt and shorts - walked between two huts and looked around. He was
definitely younger than me, shorter and slimmer. He was very cute looking.
Even if I'd not seen him nude, that rounded ass above his legs would have
attracted my attention. He stood there, innocent-like, wondering what to do
next.

I moved to the door and opened it quietly before stepping out onto the
verandah above him. "Yes, I'm here," I replied, "Hi there."

He turned to look up at me. "Oh hi. I thought this place must be deserted.
I'm sorry to disturb you."

"You're not disturbing me. You look hot. Would you like a drink?" I asked.
When he answered affirmatively, I added, "Come on up and I'll get us some
water." He mounted the wooden steps looking around him as he came forward.
"Come and sit down whilst I fetch the water." I pointed to a couple of
seats on the verandah and retreated inside to run some cooler water. When I
returned, he was sitting on the edge of one of the seats.

"Hi," I said again, pouring some water and passing it to him. "My name's
Nattawut - although one of the wise men from my village gave me a new name
recently - Pan."

"Oh," replied the cute boy, drinking half the water. "My name is Win. I'm
very happy to meet you Nattawut - Pan." He stopped for a moment and looked
around. "But if this is your village, I don't see anyone else. Where is
everyone?"

"No, at the moment, I'm living here all alone. Actually I've only been here
for two days. I was sent on a journey from my home village. When I got
here, two young men met me and said this was where I was meant to be. And
now you're the first person I've actually met in this area."  He looked at
me somewhat blankly, so I started to tell him more of my story, whilst
filling his glass with more water. He listened attentively.

"Wow, that's quite a story," he said, when I'd finished telling it. "So you
don't know why you've been sent here or what is expected of you."

I nodded in agreeement. "So tell me something about you, Win. Do you live
near here? Are there other villages near-by? I've not seen any sign of
people around here until you showed up just now."

"No, I'm not from around here," he replied in a rather sad tone of voice.
"I've been wandering in the forest for a week. I've been eating fruits and
whatever else I can find, and sleeping in caves and under big trees for
shelter." I looked at him questioningly, not wanting to pry into his story,
and trusting that he would probably tell me more when he was ready. I
didn't have long to wait. "I live in quite a large village. My parents went
off to the city to find some work and earn some money. They left me with my
uncle. At first, that was fun and different. He let me do mostly what I
wanted. But in the past few months, as I've been growing up, he's treated
me more harshly. He doesn't seem to like having me around and sleeping
under his roof. He shouts at me. And a few times, he's hit me even when I
haven't done anything. It's like he doesn't want to be responsible for me
anymore. I haven't seen my parents for more than two years and I don't know
where they are or how to find them. The last time my uncle kicked me, I
fell down the steps and hurt myself." He pointed to some bruising on his
left leg and arm. "I ran off into the jungle to get away from him. When
darkness came, I wasn't sure where I was, so I found somewhere to sleep. I
was quite scared that night. Then next morning, I was hungry so I went
looking for food. I followed a few tracks and after I'd found something to
eat and drink I realised I was quite lost. I tried shouting and whistling
but no-one answered my calls. So I kept on walking thinking that the paths
must lead to another village and someone would show me how to get home
again. But I didn't see anyone for the first two days. Then the next day
there were some older hunters but I didn't trust them, so I hid. And since
then I've just kept walking. Yesterday, I came to a big river. I decided to
follow it, thinking that there might be some fishing villages. I didn't
find anyone. This morning, I followed the river again. After a few hours, I
came to a big deep pool in the river over there," and he pointed, "so I
stopped for swim. Then I followed this path away from the river and I found
this village - and you." He stopped and looked at me.

"Well, you sound quite lost, Win. I'm sorry, but I don't know where your
village is either. But I have plenty of food here and you are welcome to
eat with me. This morning I killed and prepared a chicken which I was going
to cook this evening. There is more than enough for two of us. There are
also vegetables, rice and fruit. And if you want to sleep here tonight,
there are plenty of huts and bedrooms as you can see. There is only me
here. And I'm not an 'old hunter' - you can trust me."

"Oh thank you. I do trust you, Pan. I'm so hungry, I would love to help you
cook your chicken and share it with you. But I don't like sleeping on my
own. It has been too lonely on my own this week. Could I sleep in your hut
please? I just need a piece of floor and a blanket."

"You are welcome to stay and eat. And of course you can sleep in this hut.
There's no need to sleep on the floor: there are beds and mattresses. Why
don't you take a shower in the bathroom whilst I start preparing some food.
I found some spare clean clothes in one of the cupboards and maybe there
will be something that will fit you. Then come down to the kitchen area
when you are ready and we can eat." That said, Win jumped up eagerly and I
showed him the bathroom, the clothes cupboard and the various bedrooms.
Much though I wanted to suggest he use the open-air shower, where I could
watch him from the kitchen area, I realised that the younger boy probably
wanted his privacy after a week of being lost. He would need to feel safe.
I left him to get cleaned and changed and descended to start making a fire
and cooking some dinner.

oOo

The dinner was delicious. As I predicted, there was plenty of food since I
cooked the whole chicken. Win was ravenous and refilled his bowl several
times. We talked of life in his village and in mine. We shared some stories
of our schooling and our families. By the end of the meal, we were on the
way to becoming good friends. He still treated me with a great deal of
respect, deferring to me and asking permission before doing anything. He
obviously thought that he was my guest and that this was somehow 'my'
village - even though I realised I had no more right to be staying there
than he did.

When it came to bed time, I wondered what would happen. We had cleared up
the meal and climbed back up to the hut where I'd lit the lantern for some
light. "I want to take a shower before sleeping," I said, "Feel free to
choose any bedroom, Win."

He looked at me questioningly. "Would it be OK if I shared your room,
please Pan? I really don't want to be on my own for another night. I'll be
very quiet, I promise; you won't even know I'm there." Several thoughts
flashed through my mind - mostly centred around the notion of absolutely
knowing he was there, and of him not being so quiet. "That's fine with me,
Win," I replied, "It's a big bed and I'm sure we're both used to sharing
with friends from time to time at home."

I turned away and closed the bathroom door. I undressed and took a shower.
When I'd dried myself, I put my clothes outside to get cleaned in the
morning. I considered finding some more shorts, but as I quite often slept
naked or in briefs, I decided that Win could probably cope with a naked boy
in the bed. In the living room I extinguished the lantern before walking
into the darkened bedroom. I could just make out the shape of Win lying on
the far side of the bed. I pulled back the blanket and slid in, conscious
of my own exposure. In the darkness, I couldn't know whether Win had been
watching me or not. He certainly didn't react in any way. We lay some
distance apart in the bed. It wasn't long before I heard the slow breathing
of his sleep; he must have been tired after his week of wanderings and
rough sleeping. It took me somewhat longer to fall asleep.

oOo

In the morning I awoke to the sensation of movement in the large bed. I
opened my eyes and remembered the presence of Win in the same bed. He was
sitting on the other side of the bed preparing to get up. I looked at his
slim back and the top of his buttocks; it would appear that he too had
slept in the nude.

He turned to look at me. "I'm sorry if I woke you," he said, "The bed is
very comfortable but I am used to getting up when it gets light outside." I
reassured him that everything was fine. "I will go for a shower then," he
added. As he stood up and turned towards the door I could see the whole of
his youthful body - and I couldn't miss the long, thin erection rising from
his crotch. He noticed me looking: "Sorry to offend you like this, Pan.
This happens to me every morning now. It will go soon when I stand under
cold water."

I lay in the bed and tried to smile back at him. "Don't worry about it,
Win. It's entirely natural for most boys of our age. Look!" I folded the
blanket back to reveal my own morning hard-on. His eyes moved to stare at
my rigid cock for several moments before he jerked them away again. "Oh,
you are big - almost a man, I think - and so strong." And he hurried away
to the bathroom. His evident interest in my manhood did not go unnoticed.

I got out of bed. Since we had both revealed our bodies, there didn't seem
much point in covering myself. I went out onto the verandah and descended
the steps to the outdoor shower. I turned the tap and began to soap and
rinse myself under the spray. I heard one of the bedroom windows above me
being opened. I pretended not to notice and continued to turn around under
the shower. At one point I sneaked a look at the window through half-open
eyes. Win was looking out and staring at me; I could only see his chest and
head, but he didn't appear to have got dressed yet. I closed my eyes again
and continued to exhibit myself in front of his gaze.

Later, as we ate some breakfast together at the table beneath the hut, now
both dressed, neither of us made any reference to our respective
voyeuristic behaviour. It was sufficient to know that I definitely liked
the look of his body, and he seemed to be interested in mine. In the
absence of anywhere else for Win to go, it seemed likely that he would stay
here a little longer.

As we were finishing our meal, I heard footsteps approaching along the path
from the entrance to the compound. I looked up and saw Zee approaching. I
stood up and welcomed him, fetching some water and a bowl so that he could
share the remains of our meal. "Hello Zee - you are very welcome - it is
good to see you again." I turned to Win: "This is Zee, one of the two young
men I told you about yesterday who showed me to this little village." I
turned back to him: "And this is Win. He arrived here yesterday and I gave
him hospitality. He has had an argument with his uncle and left his village
more than a week ago. He has been wandering in the forest ever since, until
he found the river yesterday."

Zee gave Win a little bow of acknowledgement and greeting. "I see that your
future role has already begun, Pan. This is much earlier than we expected
when you arrived just a few days ago. You are very blessed by your teacher,
Muni."

I looked at his questioningly, not understanding what he meant. "What role?
What blessing? Please tell me what you mean."

Zee took a long drink of water before answering. "Do you remember some of
the things that Muni told you about your journey? That there would be a
special purpose for you? That this would make you a true man? And do you
remember about the Ritual of the Seed that you shared with him - and how
the Seed was an important part of sharing and growing in wisdom."

I nodded. "I recall some of what he said - but it didn't make much sense to
me."

"Your purpose is to grow in wisdom until you too become a leader, an elder
of men and of boys. This is what happens to boys as they journey into the
forest. It is what I hope will happen to PeeJay and I. But Muni saw that
you have been marked out for many years already. You are becoming a leader
- a leader of lost boys. That is why he gave you a new name - Pan - the
leader of lost boys. And now the first lost boy has come to you in the form
of Win. If he chooses to stay here with you, your task is to take care of
him and help him to grow from a boy into a man. He will learn from you and
your example; and as you show him by your example, you will gain in wisdom
and knowledge from him. You in your turn will grow into a wise elder of
boys and men, knowing the ways to live in harmony in this world. This is
your calling. We know there are other boys wandering in this jungle. They
have left their villages for many different reasons; or they have no
family; or they have been abandoned by those who previously took care of
them. When the time is right, some of these boys will find their way here.
Some will choose to stay for a time, until they are ready to go back into
the world. They will look to you, Pan, to be their leader and mentor."

I stared at him as he spoke. I didn't know what to say. I felt shocked.
"But ... but ... why me?" I eventually blurted.

Zen sat silent, not responding to my question. After a few moments he
looked towards Win. He, in turn, looked at me. "What he says feels right,
Nattawut," - he used my old family name in friendship - "Even though I have
only been here for less than a day, I can feel that this is a special place
- and you are a special boy." He paused before continuing, "Already, I
trust you. There is something about you that gives me confidence that you
will always do the right things by me. I can feel your interest and your
goodness. You make me want to stay here and live longer in this village
before I am ready to find my way back home. I sense that you will help me
to grow up and become a stronger man - someone who can face up to my uncle
and make things better in my own village."

"I don't know what to say."

"There is nothing for you to say," Zee responded. "And there is nothing for
you to do. Both PeeJay and I have been aware of something about you. We
were told to get this place ready for your arrival. There are other men and
women who live some way away who have been expecting your arrival. You are
not likely to see them, but they know of your presence here. They wish you
well. They respect the wisdom that will grow in you and make you an elder.
They will support you by bringing gifts and leaving them at the entrance.
They want the lost boys to be looked after and mentored as they grow up.
Muni saw that you were ready to step into this role. There are no textbooks
telling you what to do. You will know through your own instinct and
intuition. Whenever you are in doubt, just listen to the wisdom that is
already growing and developing within you."

"And I will help you, Pan, in whatever way I can." added Win, now reverting
to my newly-given name, "I want to stay here with you - if you will allow
me."

"Of course you can stay here," I looked at him, "I don't want to be alone,
and there is plenty of space - and enough food for many people. Although I
do not own this land or these huts, you are welcome to stay as long as you
want." I leaned across to Win and gave him a hug. He acknowledged my offer
by holding my body firmly to him.

Zen began again: "Other lost boys will probably find their way here in
time. As you say, this compound is large enough for many people. Part of
your role will be to organise the life here so that everyone is cared for
and everyone contributes to the life of this village. The young men like
PeeJay and I - and there are others too - have grown up in similar villages
as we too seek to grow into elders. You may receive visits from
time-to-time, from us and from our elders such as Muni. We are here to
guide you when necessary. We will ensure that this special place is kept
safe for everyone who is here."

I nodded, beginning to realise the gravity of what was expected of me.

"And one more thing you should know, Pan," continued Zen. "There will only
be boys living here. They will vary in age - some younger than you and some
older - but all will be 'lost', each in their own way. You, Pan, are their
leader, and they will each recognise this. But - and this is important -
only boys who are able to create Seed are allowed to live here and be led
by you. You remember the Ritual of the Seed that you undertook with Muni?"

I looked at Zen and nodded, conscious that Win was looking questioningly at
me. "I do."

"Every new lost boy who arrives must undertake the Ritual of the Seed. As
you are beginning to be aware, the Seed is our source of creation; the
rituals bring forth new creation; they are the origin of wisedom. As their
leader, Pan, you will teach others the Ritual of the Seed. Since Win has
been the first boy to arrive, you must teach him first. I emphasise again,
only those who boys who undertake the Ritual of the Seed are allowed to
stay here in this place. There are more Rituals to learn and perform. When
you are ready, we will return to share these rituals with you; perhaps Muni
will come and teach you those Rituals that we ourselves do not yet know."
He paused, and we held each other's gaze. "Do you understand me, Pan?"

"Yes, Zee, I do. Whilst I cannot know what is going to happen nor how I
will undertake this role, I am willing to accept the trust that Muni and
you have put in me."

"That is good. And now, since Win has already arrived, and we don't know
when others may follow him, I have some instructions for you." I looked at
him expectantly. "You have already found the river. Next to the river is a
large round clearing in the forest, covered in grass, and surrounded by
tall trees." I nodded. "This is the most special place. It is the place of
Ritual. When Muni shared with you the first ritual, the Ritual of the Seed,
he used a small vessel. Later he put a lid on this vessel and told you to
take good care of it. The first thing you must do, this morning, is take
that vessel to the clearing - on your own, without Win - and choose a place
to dig a small hole. Then empty the vessel into the hole and replace the
earth and grass. This seals the circle of ritual, blesses it, and creates a
source of shared wisdom here on this land. Then you must clean the vessel
and keep it very safe. Do you understand?"

I nodded, aware that Win sitting next to me had no idea what we were
talking about.

"Next, you and Win have some jobs to do today that will keep you both busy.
First, you must clear a small circle in the large clearing and place some
stones around it to form a firepit. Then you must gather a large pile of
timber and store this near the firepit for burning. In the future, after
other boys have arrived, you will be able to organise them to gather
firewood, but today you must do it yourselves. Second - and this will take
longer - you must build a small platform in the clearing some metres away
from the firepit. It should be this high," and he indicated something less
than half-a-metre. "You can use stones and logs to build it. It must be
stable. Later you will probably need to make the platform bigger. The
platform is where the Rituals take place. For now it must be large enough
for three or four people to stand on it. Just downstream from the bathing
place in the river, you will find some planks of wood that have been washed
up. Use these planks to form a level surface on the platform. Make sure it
is solid. These tasks will probably take you all day to accomplish, so you
should start when I have left. Do you have any questions?"

I could see that Win had plenty of questions but that he realised this
conversation was intended for me. "No. I understand what you are asking."

"Good. You have done well, Pan. PeeJay and I will return this evening, just
as it is getting dark. We will meet you both in the clearing. If Win still
wishes to stay here with you, you will undertake the Ritual of the Seed
with him. If he completes the Ritual and shares his Seed, you can allow him
to stay. Just like you, he will have questions, but the true leader is one
who shows by example rather than telling someone the answers. I hope you
understand me."

Again, I nodded. "Then it is time for me to go. You have much to do today.
You can expect us again this evening. Thank you for your hospitality this
morning."

And with that, Zee stood up, bowed, and walked away from the compound. I
could see that Win was full of questions, but he already had the insight to
know not to ask too much at this stage. He was already trusting me.

"Come on then," I smiled, "It seems we have lots to do today. Let's get
ready."

.............. to be continued soon in Chapter 4 of 'Thai Pan' .............

YOU MAY ENJOY MY OTHER WRITINGS

'BOY: The Mentoring of a Gay Teenager'
http://www.nifty.org/nifty/gay/adult-youth/boy-series/
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0177EX1XY for the Kindle version
Search your local Amazon / Kindle website by the title.

TOBY: The Secret Journal of a Gay Teen
http://www.nifty.org/nifty/gay/adult-youth/toby/

THAI PAN: A Jungle Tale
http://www.nifty.org/nifty/gay/adult-youth/thai-pan/

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(c) Tom Pickles, 2016   I love reading your reactions to my writings
tpickles2@gmail.com.