Date: Tue, 9 Sep 2014 12:44:27 -0400
From: Eff Del <nolitimere156@gmail.com>
Subject: Flights of Angels-Chapter 21

Flights of Angels-Chapter 21

By Eff Del



There will always be people and things that fall short of your expectations.

There will always be those that lie to you or bend the truth to mislead you.

There will always be those who declare the strength of their convictions
only to forsake them when put to the test.

Despite these, never abandon belief.

Never forsake faith.

Never walk away from trust.

Sometimes the hardest things to believe in are the only things worth
believing at all.





Dinner that evening had all the prospects of being tense and awkward but I
was determined not to let that happen.

My father had always maintained that a meal shared around the family table
was intended to be a happy social event. No business matters, hard feelings
or random emotions were to ever enter the dining room. Mealtime was
intended to be a time of cordiality and interwoven closeness.

It was my intention to maintain that tradition tonight.



Chris and Taylor were seated across from each other at the far end of the
table; as physically far away from me as they could be.  They were trying
to hide their discomfort.



Following our earlier encounter, they'd attempted to excuse themselves:
hoping not to have to participate in this meal.

I'd insisted they attend pointing out that their absence would raise
legitimate speculation among the others that something was amiss.
Ultimately, that would be far worse than the discomposure they would feel
by sitting at my table.



There was genuine cause for a happy, hopeful meal tonight.

Besides Chris and Taylor, Professor Swaim had returned to Joyous Gaurde.

Richard would be leaving early in the morning to meet up with Barney "Wolf
man" Dunn. They would fly to New Zealand to head up the team of Skuggor
that would (hopefully) extract the two tiers of boys that had been
abducted.

Jack had completed two successful days of driving instruction and was
holding his ticket to his first coed social event. He also had his second
boxing match scheduled for Friday.



Even more exciting (for me at least), Sean had been working all afternoon
with Martha preparing the lasagna we were about to enjoy.  I was beginning
to realize that everything Sean was involved in was essentially the center
of my world.

As much as I loved everyone in my life, none meant more to me than Sean.
Ultimately, my entire life was a globe that encircled Sean. Everything in
it; everything that made me happy or interested was because of this one
little boy.



After the salad plates had been removed, he and Martha returned from the
kitchen.  With a smile so wide it seemed to exceed the capacity of his face
to hold it, Sean emerged carrying a huge tray of steaming cheesy lasagna.
Behind him, with a large smile of her own, Martha was carrying two baskets
containing four loves of freshly baked crusty Italian bread.

As these platters of bounty were sat down upon the table we all broke out
in a round of spontaneous applause.

Ever the little showman, Sean bowed dramatically acknowledging the small
ovation while Martha simple smiled and clapped back appreciatively.



The meal was wonderful and Martha made it a point to ensure we all
understood that every bit of the culinary work had been Sean's. She had
only provided the guidance and of course the recipes.



After we'd eaten, we all gathered in the parlor for drinks and desert. Sean
was basking in the attention everyone gave him regarding his cooking
skills. He was giving a rather animated and theatrical dissertation on
everything required to prepare a large tray of lasagna which was keeping
almost everyone in stiches. I noticed that Richard and Jack were off in a
corner by themselves laughing and sharing some sort of private joke. I'd
recognized a while back that a strong bond had grown between these two.
Richard treated Jack very much like the kid brother he'd never had and I
enjoyed observing their interactions from a distance. I suspected that one
day Jack, and perhaps Sean would regard Richard in much the same was that I
regarded Walter.

That thought caused me to look at Walter sitting on the coach laughing at
Sean's overly dramatic discourse. I discerned that he was fading fast
obviously a result of his radiation treatment and I took him aside so that
the rest of our group would think I was giving him some assignment.
Actually, I was making it possible for him to gracefully go to bed. Martha
used this as an excuse to make her own exit.



Soon after Walter's departure, I made it known that it was time for the
boys to head upstairs.  Jack and Richard shared one more quick private joke
and exchanged playful jabs...obviously Friday's boxing bout had been a large
part of their conversation. Then, without complaint, both boys made a turn
of the room giving hugs and goodnight wishes. Chris and Taylor had been an
enthusiastic part of the after diner comradery and they both seemed
uncomfortable to watch the boys leave.



After a final round of drinks, Richard and Barry made their apologies and a
very tired Doctor Swaim took that opportunity to do the same telling me
that we'd talk tomorrow.

That left the big room suddenly empty with the exception of Chris, Taylor
and me.



My mind flashed back to that awful moment when I'd foolishly walked in on
them.



I'd stood there- just barely past the threshold of the door in a state of
total inaction. My mind was torn between overwhelming feelings of shock,
surprise and embarrassment. I was mortified that I had violated their
privacy especially at a moment of such intense intimacy.

And then, I'd felt a sense of rage and betrayal build inside of me as I
realized that I'd offered these two young men everything. I'd offered
financial stability  beyond their wildest dreams, I'd offered them purpose
to their lives I'd offered...and THEN I realized the stark truth; everything
I'd offered them was because they were capable of performing the tasks.
There had been no strings attached to their entering my life and inner
circle.

Chris was the heir apparent to Uncle Phil, Taylor had other places in my
organization that he'd occupy and prosper in after he'd fulfilled his
required task for us during the NEST business.



I'd never promised Chris more than brotherly affection and I'd never even
talked with Taylor about relationships. They were both almost the same age
and currently were involved in an adventure I'd dragged them both into. The
entire situation was something exciting and unlooked for by either of these
two young men.



I'd ultimately been the one who had taken Chris to my bed. Though he had
most certainly been the instigator, I could have said no and I surely had
made a point of the fact that my emotional involvement would be limited.
So, why then was I feeling angry and deceived?



It was Taylor who'd spoken first. They'd both stood before me naked and
frightened.

"M-M-Mister Tucker...it's not what it seems. We never intended to hurt you.
We felt an attraction for each other that night before we flew down to
Houston and then...well, we were alone in that hotel and well...it just
happened. I take complete blame for it...Chris still loves you and so do I...
but we...just...we just...oh shit! We just did it."



Chris stood there shaking as if it were freezing in the room although the
temperature was actually quite pleasant.



"Oh my god Eric! I never meant to hurt you I never meant to do this. I
can't tell you how awful I feel. I'll leave first thing in the morning and
I promise that you can trust me never to reveal a thing about Magnus
Venatus...I swear...oh please Eric...PLEASE find some way to forgive me. I love
you so much but you have so little of yourself that you give...YOU are so
involved in your boys and your redemption and your ...oh shit Eric...you'll
never find time for yourself and for someone who loves you."



I'd felt as cold as ice though his words burned into me like a brand. There
was in fact a great deal of truth in what he said. I tried to turn the
conversation in a different direction but the absolute trauma of the
situation could not be denied.

In the end, all I said before leaving was;

"Diner is at six thirty."



**********************************************

I now looked at them sitting miserably apart from each other because they
felt that was the right thing to do.

I took a sip from my tumbler of single malt scotch and thought to myself
that this was only my third drink of the entire day. For some reason I was
pleased by that fact.



"I was very surprised" I said as I walked across the room and sat down
between them which no doubt added to their discomfiture.

"But, I probably shouldn't have been." I tried very hard to show a genuine
smile even though my soul was achingly sad.



"You're both young and lovely young men and nature will always take its
course. You tried your very best to be discreet and it's me who was the
jackass that blundered into your intimacy and more than that...your privacy."

They looked at each other and then at me with a desperate hope in their
eyes.



"Eric...I...I still...I still mean everything I ever said to you. I love you so
much but Eric...but you...you'll never love anyone as much as you love your
boys and love your...'Great Game'. You're committed to them...they own you and
Eric...as much as you own me and my body...and you know that you do... you'll
never make a real place in your heart for me beyond what we've already
sworn to...I'm your brother by choice and I love you more than words can
tell...but I need...I NEED something more than you will ever  give me and I
understand that...but , can YOU understand that as well?"



As he spoke, I realized that I did understand. It wasn't a pleasant
realization but it felt almost like a heavy cloak had suddenly fallen upon
my shoulders. It was the mantle that my father had always intended for
me...me not Kyle...Kyle was never meant to bear the burden...Kyle was always
meant to be free and happy.

If Chris was my brother by our mutual choice then that was also his
privilege and his right.



It was me who had been raised and intended to assume the burden of the
"Great Game"...my father's creation. The thing that made everything possible.

This was my destiny and my yoke. My father had my mother to support him.
He'd also to an extent had my grandfather. He'd also had Walter and Phil
from the very start. I realized suddenly that I had no living father to
rely on but I had my support from Walter, Phil and now Richard and Barry. I
also had Martha and John...and yes, when this event had blown over, I would
have Chris as well. These people were my support.

More than anything though, I had Sean and Jack I had a family of my own
creation and I realized that needed to be all I could truly hope for.



I smiled wanly at the two sad almost cowering young men. I walked across
the room with its gold and crimson carpet and took Chris by the hands
raising him up from his chair.

"You were never brought here to be my lover Chris. You were brought here to
engage in the Great Game. You were chosen for your talent and your
dedication. Has any of that changed?"



He didn't hesitate.

"Of course not Eric. How can you possibly doubt that?  I committed my life
to you and I don't lie."

I smiled at him and nodded my head.

"Good Chris. That's what I was hoping you'd say. Taylor...I know a lot of
this is a mystery to you but understand, I don't hold you to any blame
either. The sad part for you both... if you truly care for each other is that
you Chris are essentially going to be involved up here while Taylor will be
involved back at the NEST in Houston. Can you both handle that?"



"Eric...I..WE...Eric you don't understand...we just..."  Chris was stumbling over
his words and having a hard time saying what was on his mind.



"It was sex Mr. Tucker." Taylor's grey eyes flashed almost defiantly though
his spirit was obviously broken.

"You know about the NEST...for godz sake I've been raised to believe that sex
is something you give and accept as a part of everyday life. You...you're a
Norman...sorry I mean a person from the normal world...you people think of sex
as something special...something sacred almost...to me...to us NEST boys, it's
just a thing...a really nice thing ..Something people share between each
other. It's what I was taught. I NEVER meant to do anything wrong or to
hurt anyone...especially you sir."



Chris was looking at me intently with tears now heavy in his eyes.

"Eric...Oh for the love of God, you've got to understand that sex has nothing
to do with love. Oh my gods how can I make you understand that?"



I closed my eyes for a moment and recollected that recent wonderful night
with Jack as we sealed our mutual adoration for the one and only time. What
Jack and I had shared that night was so pure, so perfect so almost divine
that it could never be discussed with another person...I actually doubted
that we would ever discuss it between ourselves again. It was, however the
most absolutely perfect blending of sex and love that I'd ever experience
in my life and I thought to myself;

`Ah you poor young men...how wrong you both are. In some cases, sex has
EVERYTHING to do with love...you just haven't learned that yet.'



I shook my head slowly and gestured towards the door.

"It's late and we've all got a lot to do tomorrow. We need to be ready with
a plan for Richard when he arrives in New Zealand." By now I was leaving
the room and my back was to both of them.

"We'll find time to talk about all this...later. In the meantime Taylor, do
you still want your own room upstairs or will you prefer staying with Chris
in his condo?" I turned and the pain and distress on their faces matched
the ache in my soul. I attempted a smile and said;

"Actually, your bags are already in the condo. Might as well leave them
there."

I walked out and headed for the elevator.



*********************************************************



The moon had waxed just short of fullness and though it was high in the
night sky, its light almost blazed through the window in my room. I stood
in my underpants looking out at the estate. The manicured lawn and thick
woods beyond it seemed transformed by the golden light into some almost
magical kingdom far beyond the reach of earth's current bothers and
tribulations.

I sensed him before I heard him and turned slowly as he took my hand in his
own and drew me away from the window. He was looking up into my face and
his wide beautiful eyes reflected the moon through the window like two
highly polished gemstones. His smile was soft , half sad and breathtakingly
gentle.



Silently, almost ghostlike, he guided me to the bed and I watched his
smooth perfect body; naked in the golden moonlight, slide across the sheets
as he pulled me after him.

The covers had already been turned down and now, he was kneeling above me
gently tugging at the elastic of my boxer briefs.

I looked up and he nodded his head slightly. I realized what he was asking
me though no words had been spoken. I raised my hips off the mattress and
allowed him to work the soft undergarment down past my buttocks and groin
and then slide it quickly down my legs and off.

Still completely mute, his pulled the covers up and over us as he lay down
on top of me- treating my lips to a soft but decidedly loving kiss.

After untold minutes clinging to each other wordlessly in the darkness he
finally spoke softly;



"I love you Dad."

I swallowed hard almost afraid to try and say anything but eventually I
managed to barely croak;

"I love you too Sean...more that I'll ever be able to let you know."



Somehow he'd known that I needed him tonight and he'd waited for me. This
little boy who owned me heart and soul had come to me because he'd
instinctively sensed my pain and knew that he could help.



We held each other as the bright moon moved slowly beyond the window
allowing the room to fill with darkness. No more words were said. Love is
its own conversation.



***********************************************************************



Walter looked none the worse for wear as we gathered in the conference room
and reviewed the information that Barry's people had collected overnight.



"They've got the boys housed on what was once a coffee plantation located
east of Lake Tiroto and west of the village of Areora. It's essentially a
couple of large plantation style houses surrounded by overgrown forest.
It's not even all that close to the beach and its very sparsely guarded.

The small estate is as we've already told you, owned by a Chinese diplomat
of sort known as Charles Chang. There is no indication by the way that Mr.
Chang is there on the island with the boys at this time. As we more or less
assumed, these boys have been brought to this isolated part of the world in
order to accelerate their sexual training and make them available for...shall
we still call them `contracts' or should we now simply say `prostitution'?



I nodded grimly at Walter and he continued.

"The Cook Islanders as a whole are rather smug in their isolation. From
their point of view they're not a very valuable part of the world with the
exception of tourism of course and therefore pretty much stay out of the
concerns and legalities of the rest of the world. Hell Eric, it's almost
two thousand miles from Auckland, New Zealand to Rorotanga and then it's
another 150 miles from Rorotanga to Atiu.

They feel justified and protected by their remoteness and for the most part
they should except we're interested in something that isn't natural to
their life style and that they've got no idea even exists; Mr. Chang's
school for kidnapped boy whores in training."



I shook my head and got up and walked over to the coffee machine.

"So, guys, how difficult should this extraction be?" It was Barry who
answered;



"Actually Eric, this part should be a piece of cake. You see, so far, they
still think that the NEST take-over is the work of a bunch of do-gooder
stockholders who want the `Contracts' to stop. They have no idea yet that
they are dealing with us...well, YOU if the truth be told. We should get
these kids back with no problem. Once that happens, the other  kidnapped
boy will be more difficult and then...well, Eric once our full intentions are
made known and your involvement is no longer secret...well...Sir, you're going
to be glad you have the Skuggor." He smiled but it was not a gleeful smile.
Walter shuffled some papers and said;



"The boys in Atui are being held under the supervision of a man named Nick
Banek. He was a high level guy at the NEST who handled most of the younger
boys in their final training and their first year of contracts. There's no
indication that he is in anyway involved with the boys sexually or ever was
for that matter, his sole interest seems to be in creating perfect male
prostitutes and ensuring that they perform to extraordinary levels. Whoever
is behind this is no doubt paying him very well."



My mind flashed back again to Jack's narrative to Doctor Swaim. Nick Banek
could only be Jack's `Proctor Nick' and I hated him instantly.



"Banek seems to be in charge. There are only five other adults that we know
of at the estate and three of them are training proctors. The other two are
what the NEST called `Outriders'.

They're the ones who delivered the boys to their contracts and picked them
up afterwards. They're also the ones who `disciplined' clients who broke
the rules to any great extent. They're pretty nasty people by all reports."



Again my mind wandered back to Jack's autobiography.



"Is one of them named Martin Longstreet?"



Barry's eyebrows shot up.

"How do you know than name Eric?"



"Oh I just do...well, it he?"



"No, he's not there. Martin Longstreet is or at least was the head of the
Outriders and is by all reports the baddest mother fucker the NEST has ever
employed. He's a tough mean and very intelligent man and I fear we'll have
to face him sooner or later."



I took a sip from my coffee cup and stared out the window down into the
garden maze.

"What about the other boys...the ones kidnapped from their contracts?"



Walter sighed and looked up at me.



"They're being held at a large private ranch in Montana. Interestingly
enough, it also belongs to Chinese diplomat Chao `Charles' Chang. It one of
those places so large and isolated that in order to reach the main house
you more or less uses up a tank of gas...so if you weren't invited, you're
fucked trying to get home. There aren't many uninvited visitors there.
You're friend  Martin Longstreet is there with the boys and all of the rest
of his nasty, nasty Outriders.

Once we take the boys from Atui Eric, they'll know we're coming after them
and they'll know it's you who's behind it."



Barry, with his usual sense of humor jumped into the conversation;

"So...are we scared of these guys or do we go?" His grin was infectious.
"Here's the plan; Three large helicopters are going to move right now from
Roritonga to Atui. They'll be marked differently and all three will carry
tourists so they don't draw any attention. They'll stay on Atui while
Richard and his team of twelve Skuggor fly from Aukland to Rorotanga. From
there they'll fly in two groups acting like tourists to Atui.

Once on Atui, they'll take essentially hike in to the jungle where they'll
meet up and take transport out to the plantation. They'll surround the
plantation houses and move in at dark. Resistance should be minimal if any.
They're not expecting anything.

Once the boys are back on Rorotonga, the boys will be flown back to the US
under Wolf Man's supervision.

Richard will fly back on a separate private flight with the `Proctors' he's
captured and they will be taken to one of our sites for interrogation."



"How does that part sound to you Eric?" Walter asked.



" Well. It sounds almost perfect however Taylor, "I turned to the young man
who almost blanched at my sudden attention, "I'm putting you on a flight
today to Aukland. Some of those boys know you but more importantly you know
all about those boys. I want you to fly back with them to Houston and make
the entire experience as painless as possible...OK?"

He didn't hesitate.

"Yes Eric, I'll get my flight set right away!"

"Don't be silly Taylor, we've got people who do that. It's being handled
right now! Everything is being handled."

I stood up and somehow just felt invigorated.

 Make it so!" I smiled as Walter scowled up at me. "Ah Walter, I just LOVE
saying that!"



He smiled back and nodded to Barry who immediately began typing
instructions. Some would get helicopters moving to Rorotanga and some would
be moving personnel around and some would be waiting for Richard and `Wolf
Man' upon landing.



If all went well, in fifty two hours or so, the stolen boys would be back
in Houston hopefully thinking this was all nothing more than a big
adventure.

Somehow I felt rather certain that the real fight would actually begin
after that.



As I walked across the garden towards the main house my mind ds was full
of  thoughts of Sean and of course Jack and I couldn't help but wonder if
life wouldn't have been simpler and easier if I'd just adopted them both
and left well enough alone.

That would have been a normal reaction but...I'd read Jack's narrative, I'd
felt Sean's youthful anxiety and I knew...I just knew I was doing the right
thing however difficult this fight might turn out to be.



(To be Continued)



So...Once again thanks for all of your notes of support and for sharing your
own thoughts about this little adventure.  I adore all emails about this
story and I try very hard to answer them so, drop me a line if you're so
moved.

-Eff