Date: Thu, 26 Apr 2001 15:23:08 EDT
From: SSch191950@aol.com
Subject: A Promise and a Curse, part 13
A PROMISE AND A CURSE
by Stefan
Part 13 / Chapter 11
Author's note: My deeply thanks goes out to all people written me their
kind and encouraging letters. It's great to hear from my readers and I
enjoyed each one of them. And still my thanks goes to Andrew Alexander
for editing this story and the great job he's doing here.
Please visit my website under http://stefan680.tripod.com/stefanstories/
CHAPTER ELEVEN
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"I don't know what I felt those times. I saw Jo and was in
love. It had been like with Marcus in the old times. Just
that Jo was elder, well, not much elder but he had possessed
the same quality. He was strong, unapproachable and a damn
bastard. He was always thinking of himself.
Though it made me feel helpless to face him, this feeling
brought a sense of security with it. He told me what to do -
while I never knew what to do with myself. I belonged to him,
had been thankful for every chunk he threw at me. I snapped it
up like a hungry stray dog.
But what had been the price?"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Simon stopped writing and stared into space. What had been the
price? The sense of security he had felt had changed into a prison. A
golden prison.
He heard the door close. Ben came home. What a nice thought:
came home.
He left the diary open, went to meet him and pulled him close
into an embrace. It hurt that he never told Ben everything. A few
things can't be told; another reason why he had decided to write it
down. Ben would read it and maybe understand.
While he pressed his body close to Ben's the memory of Oliver
dying in his arms appeared before his inner eyes again. He felt his
body stiffen and not even Ben's embrace could soothe him.
Finally Ben pushed him softly away and looked into his face.
"Trouble?" he asked. Simon shook his head.
Ben took the filled bags from the ground and asked cheerfully:
"Up for a fabulous spinach bake?"
He knew that Simon had written because his face carried those
indefinable signs of sadness, but he didn't want to press him. He had
started reading his diary and it made him happy and sad at the same
time. Happy, because Simon allowed him to have a look into his very
soul; sad about the things he had to read. Simon had been more lonely
than he was able to imagine. But he couldn't speak about it. Not yet.
Silently he took Simon's hand and dragged him into the kitchen.
"Have you heard from Frank?" Simon asked.
"Yes, I heard teachers speaking about him. Yesterday was the
hearing."
"Yes, and you were not there to stand up for him." Simon cut the
Feta cheese into little cubes.
"I didn't promise anything," Ben answered. "I heard they will
give him a warning. This is punishment enough."
Simon grunted. "Ouch." Ben saw blood on the knife and upon the
working area.
"Shit." Simon said and lifted his hand. "Give me a plaster
please."
While Simon taped himself, Ben looked dumbfounded at the tiny
blood splatter. It was so easy to get hurt. Simon saw his stare and
said "Don't worry about that. No real risk."
"Well," Ben said, "then ..."
"Of course it doesn't mean we don't have to be careful," Simon
added and smiled. "So Frank will be around some time with you, yes?
When he has recovered everything will be like before."
Ben nodded and stirred the pot where he warmed the frozen
spinach.
"And Walt?" Simon continued to cut the cheese.
"Walt had been urged to leave the Academy. About time. Many
others, much better than he, would be happy about the new free place."
Simon turned. "Hey, what about your own paintings. I remember
Marcus had promised you to collect them for the next exhibition, right?"
"Yes." Ben's hazel eyes sparkled. "When they'll celebrate the
opening of his new hall in Friedrichstrasse." He hesitated. "I asked
myself if he could need help."
"What help?"
"In the hall. He'll have to engage some sales clerks, you know."
Simon stepped behind Ben. "Sales clerks? When will you have
time for this?"
"After school."
"And what about me?" Simon asked.
Ben turned surprised and studied the face before him. The
unreadable eyes, the soft lips and the small chin. He looked healthy
again, thanks to Ben's constant care. He didn't know what to think nor
how to answer this remark. Simon seemed to be so independent to him.
So damn anxious to have his freedom and now ... this.
Ben brushed the brown curl out of Simon's eyes. "Could you
repeat it please?"
But Simon remained silent. A shadow had fallen over his face and
he looked away.
"Don't," Ben whispered. "Be open to me. Please."
But Simon turned his back to him and began to roll out the flaky
pastry.
Ben's arms hung down useless, "It was just an idea, Simon. I
thought we may need the money."
"But why? Marcus will pay for us."
"I'd feel better when I could contribute a little, you don't?"
Simon shrugged and Ben sighed inwardly.
"My brother called," Simon said after a while.
"Still in Italy?"
"Yes, with Sebastian's cousin. Sebastian called and wants to
pick him up."
"Kay could forgive him finally."
Simon rolled his eyes. "Forgive. What a word. Kay often did
the same while in other relationships."
"But was he ever in love?" Ben responded a bit too sharply.
Simon turned once more and watched Ben putting the spinach into a
sieve for cooling down. "I don't know." He searched for Ben's eyes.
"I'm sorry," he said softly. "If you like to work for Marcus, please do
it. Perhaps I should look for a job myself."
Ben smiled haltingly. "It's just ... you can be damn cool
sometimes."
"I know." Simon smiled. "I vow improvement. Yes, Kay forgave
Bastian. I think he IS in love." Like me, he added to himself. Again.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"What had been the price? The price for my golden prison
had been to be at Jo's mercy. Vulnerability. I didn't
know what it could mean to be passed around like fresh meat.
But there has to be more than to have a tight arse and a
cock that never got tired. Little did I know. I killed
the pain in the pit of my stomach with foreign men, smelled
their fears, longings and desires. I intoxicated myself with
my power to give them what their wife at home couldn't give
them: The fulfillment of their secret wishes; their
unacknowledged wishes. And the reward had been affection
I bought with this from Jo.
So it had been, Simon, hadn't it? You do everything for money."
The pen between his fingers trembled slightly. He stared at the
words he had just written. Somehow it was a lie now. He wouldn't do
anything for money. Not anymore. The past was over. He had written
down anything he knew; anything that happened.
"No Ben, I won't change for anything in the world what I
have now: You. It is a joke fate plays on me; to find you
now when everything is almost too late. Yes, Jo and I did
blackmail the men and got a lot of money for it. But I
couldn't go on.
Jo had sold me and my love for money and I started to hate
him for doing this to me. What is a cock compared to a
secure life with you? Let us use the time that is left."
After thinking a short time he added a sentence, then he put away
the pen. He looked over to Ben who was laying on his side in bed next
to him, eyes closed, sleeping. He closed the diary and turned off the
light. But Simon couldn't sleep. There was the old guilt nagging
inside. And fear.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Kay disgustedly wiped cobweb from his face. In the thin light
beams coming from a small fly soiled window danced dust like golden
glitter.
Since he had recovered from the cold he felt restless. He
admitted to himself that it was the presence of Roberto pissing him
off. He couldn't even tell what it was in detail. Roberto was a nice
guy, but to see how Daniel was fire and flame again annoyed Kay. After
the wild night both had shared he saw Daniel in a different light and he
believed to possess a piece of Daniel. A piece he watched jealously.
Some nights he thought he could hear moans coming from the
bedroom but he couldn't make out the matching voice. He had forgotten
if Danny had made any noise. But he met Roberto with mistrust because
he couldn't make out his intentions. Why was he here? Just because
yearning drove him back here? After several months? And why Danny was
so stupid to make a mistake again while he must remember that Roberto
left him before.
Kay looked around in the round gloomy room of the castle's big
old tower. It seemed that Daniel wasn't here upstairs for a long time.
Half blind, he bumped into something iron. It clattered loudly
and echoed through the room. Kay groped and recognized an almost
complete rusty suit of armour. He examined it for a while but didn't
dare to touch it. Next to it he recognized more pieces of similar
equipment. The more his eyes adjusted to the dim light the more he
saw. Old chests, corroded by mold with iron fittings, old wardrobes
with wormholes, their rustic farmer's paintings pale and greasy. On a
stand clothes hung, moth-eaten, a Florentine hat with flowers, draped
with dusty spider webs, a feather boa and a top hat.
Kay fought his way through the uneven floor to the window and
tried to open it, but it didn't give way. Apparently completely
rusted. Instead he took one of the old clothes and wiped over the dull
window glass. It was a great view over the mountain valley, grassy
hills, the vineyards and apple plantations. One of them had belonged to
Daniel's family.
Daniel had told him that his mother lived in a posh house near
the river running through the town and refused to live in the old
chaotic castle. Kay couldn't imagine to be buried alive here with
nobody for company nor to speak with. He didn't even have a dog or cat,
only the vegetable and herbs he grew in the little garden. Well, now
Roberto was here and Kay felt very superfluous.
He blew upon a box shaped chest and coughed when dust swirled
around. He sat down and buried his head between his palms. He longed
for Sebastian. Kay had promised himself to let Sebastian stew in his
own juice but the longer Sebastian and he were apart the more his
yearning grew. He did forgive him long time ago. Him and all the
others. Daniel had made it clear, that it had been solely a thing
between him and his lover although apparently everybody knew about it,
even his brother.
The thought of Simon jerked through him guiltily. He had left
him alone once more. But didn't Kay also have a right to lead his own
life? Well, you had enough of "own life"
and didn't care seriously for Simon. He was glad that he had Ben now.
Ben seemed to be an angel ... but Kay was afraid that his brother could
destroy what had begun.
He stood up again and lifted curiously the cover of the chest.
It groaned on its hinges. Kay pushed away dusty clothes and saw heaps
of old books, old framed pictures, a bunch of letters and loose pieces
of paper sheets.
He took one frame and saw an elder man with white thin hair, a
sort of a goatee, granny glasses and a clean old fashioned suit. With
effort he pulled out the photo and read the name on the backside.
"Joseph Victor von Scheffel - 1851."
Sebastian's and Daniel's uncle! Kay grinned. The von Scheffel's
all seemed to have that strong nose and the sensual lips. He laid it
aside and took the paper sheets. "Alt Heidelberg du feine" he read.
"Alt Heidelberg du feine
Du Stadt an Ehren reich
Am Neckar und an Rheine
Kein andre kommt dir gleich
Stadt froehlicher Gesellen
An Weisheit schwer und Wein
Klar ziehn des Stromes Wellen
Blauaeuglein blitzen drein ... "
Oh gosh, these were manuscripts! He wondered if Danny had any
idea they were here? And if they may be precious?
He noticed a sound coming from outside like a car driving up. He
tucked the manuscript and photo under his arm and rushed to the little
window. One second later he ran downstairs.
Sebastian jumped out of the car and caught Kay in his arms. This
was more than he had expected while he held Kay close and ruffled his
hair.
"Have a feeling you missed me, eh?" he managed to say into Kay's
ear.
"You twit, of course I did." Their lips met and gave Sebastian
an instant erection.
"Wow," Kay whispered, "guess this missed me too," he said
laughing.
"Sure." Sebastian freed himself from Kay's embrace.
"How are you?"
"Fine."
Sebastian looked to the ground where the paper sheets had fallen,
laying scattered all over. "What's this? Did you join the book
writers?"
Kay laughed and bent down to pick them up. "Look what I've
found." He held the photo under Sebastian's nose.
"Uncle Victor!"
Kay beamed.
"Where did you find it?"
"There." Kay pointed to the big old tower, towering above the
castle.
Daniel went around the corner and came closer, grinning. "Great
you're back, dear. And congratulations on your discovery. Now the
history books of Rome will have to be written anew."
Sebastian embraced Kay's waist. "Do you think I'll find my place
in history, eh?"
His laughter subsided. Roberto had joined them and Daniel
likewise put his arms around his waist. Sebastian eyed him
suspiciously.
"Nice to see you again, Roberto," he said very coolly.
Kay pricked up his ears. He didn't understand what Sebastian had
said because he spoke Italian but the tone of his voice was enough. He
watched Sebastian's face. He didn't look too happy. Perhaps he had the
same inhibitions.
Roberto grinned impishly. "Si, yearned for Daniele." Both
smiled at each other and Kay and Sebastian exchanged glances. "Let us
go in." Silently he asked Kay "How long has he been here?"
"Two weeks. Man, this is a drag, you know. I don't understand
when they are talking, Roberto speaks very little German. Do you know
him?"
"Indeed. He's the best friend of Andrea."
"Andrea?" Kay imagined the slender young man with the dark hair
and the mustache.
He had met him in Rome and he couldn't get rid of the feeling that
Andrea wanted his former lover back. Unhappily he said, "I don't
understand all these coincidences. Daniel told me that Roberto helped
him with the apple harvest last September and stayed until December.
Since then he had heard nothing from him and suddenly he shows up
again. Isn't it strange?"
"Yeah, more strangely is that shortly after his vanishing the old
altar vanished too."
"Yes?"
"Yes. He and his great friend Andrea stole it." Kay stopped in
his tracks. "How do you know?"
"Long story, tell you when we're alone." He looked piercingly at
his lover. "And until then, no peep from you, understand?" He kissed
him and pushed him through the entrance.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"To the discovery!" was coming from four different mouths. They
held high their wine glasses and drank. "So it's absolutely certain
that Rome is older than Romulus and Remus, right?"
"Right." Sebastian answered. "Not the tribe of the Sabiner's are
the oldest but the tribe of the Summiter, also known as the Villanova
people. The historians assumed until today that they would have been
the first people residing upon the Palatine hill. Now we can prove it's
wrong."
"What - 'we '." Kay exclaimed. "You! Sebastian von Scheffel
will make it into all history books and annals of the world," he said
grinning and not without pride in his voice. "When will you give your
first TV Interview?"
Sebastian laughed. "Soon, I hope." He winked and emptied his
glass. "My co-workers are overexcited you can imagine. They examined
once more everything and came to the same conclusion. Well, everybody
would have found out sooner or later," he added modestly. "It wasn't my
merit. We work as a group."
Daniel nodded and translated for Roberto now and again.
"So Andrea and I live in a town actually 200 years older than
we're all supposing," Roberto said aloud.
Sebastian gave him a speculative look. "Do you know where Andrea
is right now?" he asked shiftily.
"Well ... no." Roberto's ears were getting a soft pink colour.
"Why do you want to know?"
"Thought he had made a new conquest in London."
"London?" Roberto said startled and Daniel looked confused.
"Well, let's drop the theme," Sebastian said and pulled out the
old paper sheets. "Kay found this in the old tower, have you seen it
before?" He handed them over and Daniel skimmed through them.
" 'Old Heidelberg you nice one' " he read. "No, never seen nor
heard," he said surprised. Roberto beside him peered curiously over
his shoulder but it was in German.
" 'You town, of honours rich and full
On Neckar and on Rhine
No one ever matches you.' " Daniel continued to translate
for Roberto.
Sebastian and Kay grinned at each other until Sebastian pulled
Kay very close to him. "Have you thought about my mistake?" he asked low
and Kay nodded. But he looked guilty. "I'm sorry for acting so
stupid. Should have went with you to be there when you made the great
discovery." Sebastian nodded.
" 'Town of merry lads
Rich for wisdom and for wine
Clear drive the river's waves
Blue eyes sparkling within.' "
Roberto laughed. "What's this old fashioned crap for?" he said.
"Hey, it's from our poet uncle. Perhaps very precious when they
are undetected yet. Do you have more of them?" Daniel had turned to
Kay who nodded. Roberto's blue eyes lit up. "Precious? You mean they
would bring a lot of money?"
Sebastian gave him a sharp look but said nothing. Instead he
pretended to be tired, said good night and went with Kay upstairs to
their old room.
Kay's heart pounded fast in anticipation. But he wasn't quite
sure about when to tell Sebastian what he did with his cousin.
They had hardly shut the door when Sebastian turned and pulled
Kay into a tight embrace. Kay felt his arousal through the fabric of
his jeans and pressed his body even closer. "You won't believe it,"
Sebastian said, "but I missed you terribly."
Kay grinned. "How terrible?"
"That terrible." He released Kay and began to undress very
quickly. Kay literally jumped at him until both were caught into fiery,
steamy and noisy sex which left both out of breath, sweating madly and
satisfied to no end.
"Phew," Kay moaned. "That was the quickest one ever." He turned
on his stomach and looked over to Sebastian laying shattered with open
eyes. He was about to find the guts for telling him about Daniel when
Sebastian asked "Have you heard from Simon?"
"Yeah, he's doing fine with Ben. He said he never has felt so
happy in a long time."
Sebastian smiled "Great news." He stuffed the rumpled cushion
behind his head.
"And what about Danny's altar?" Kay asked, happy to delay his
confession.
"You know that Marcus and Nick had been in London for the Versace
auction. They met George Rosenstock."
"That old bugger? And Nicki?"
"He's ok I think. But imagine! Andrea was with George!"
"What? How's that?"
Sebastian shrugged. "New lover boy, apparently met in Rome." He
quickly filled Kay in.
"That's an odd story. How did Marcus find out?"
"Andrea told him."
Kay's face was a question mark.
"George didn't pay Andrea and Andrea is fed up with good old
Georgie-boy." Sebastian interrupted himself. "A kingdom for a photo of
George. Would like to see the asshole myself," he muttered.
Kay wiped over his disheveled hair. "And now? You know where
the altar is? We must warn Danny about Roberto. Shit, I know why I had
this bad feeling. What a nerve! He just walked in as if nothing has
happened."
"Indeed, The altar is in Prague." He leaned over, "Fancy to come
with me to bring it home?"
"In Prague?" Kay asked incredulous. Sebastian nodded. "But
how?"
Sebastian heaved his body out of the bed. "Tell you under the
shower."
Kay hesitated. Timidly he began, "I also have to tell you
something you won't like."
"What is it? Can't be that bad."
"It is."
Sebastian stopped in his tracks and squatted down in front of
Kay.
"Spent a hot night with my cousin, eh?" His grin vanished when
he saw Kay nodding.
"No! Say it's a joke."
Kay shook his head.
Sebastian rose and vanished into the little bathroom without a
word. Kay sat there dumbfounded and heard the water splashing in the
shower. He waited anxiously and couldn't bring himself to follow
Sebastian.
Five minutes later a dripping wet Sebastian appeared in the door
frame. "Aren't you coming? I need you to wash my back." Kay had never
been that fast getting under a shower before.
"Sweetie?"
Kay jumped, scared. He was about to fall asleep in Sebastian's
arms. "Are we quits now like Marcus and Nicki?"
Kay turned to face his lover. "Yes. I guess. But I didn't do
it for this reason, you must believe me."
"I believe you. But, please, don't do it ever again. It hurts
like hell, you know." His voice was casual but Kay sensed that
Sebastian was serious. He kissed him quickly, "I'm so sorry."
"Was he good?"
"Huh?"
"Danny."
"Oh you old bugger." Kay punched Sebastian in the upper arm.
"What do you expect, he's your cousin after all."
"Ok, I'll take this for a compliment." He pulled Kay to his
chest. "Ever been to Prague?"
"No."
"Nicki was."
"Great, he could come with us." He bit his tongue instantly.
Bad idea. He shouldn't tempt Sebastian.
"No, he has school. I thought about your brother. Wouldn't it
be good for him to have a little holiday? I'll go to the church and
discuss with the chaplain or whomever. Don't mind when it is the
police. And you both can relax, you had so little time together. I've
heard Prague is a beautiful town."
"Yeah, Golden Prague! The town of hundreds of towers and
belfries."
"So you like the idea?"
"Of course I do, even more when Simon comes with us." Kay paused
a second. "But why isn't Danny going to Prague to pick up his altar?
Perhaps you have better things to do now, for instance giving your
report to the academic journals, or something. Or having your TV
appearance."
Sebastian nodded. "I know, sweetie. I should definitely work on
my paper. I wonder if Danny is up for coming with us. I don't want him
to go there alone, you know. And neither he, me nor Marcus would like
to have Andrea delivered to the police. We have no evidence if Andrea
is denying everything. We have to join Europol but they won't bother
about a stolen altar, would they." He sighed. "For Danny there are so
many memories. The altar was cared for and beloved by the family. It
isn't because it is so precious and worth its weight in gold. And then
some idiot came along and took it away. I could slap Roberto and
Andrea." He lifted his head and looked into Kay's face. "But besides
this all - you and Danny together again is not exactly a nice
imagination for me."
Kay made a guilty face and Sebastian smiled. "No worry, Kay."
He kissed his nose. I'll write my report in Prague. I would be glad if
we can leave it behind as quickly as we can."
In the morning they found Daniel sitting at his breakfast table
in the kitchen. His forehead was full of sharp lines and he was staring
at a sheet of paper in his hand.
"Something wrong?" Sebastian asked good humoured. Without a
word Daniel passed him the paper.
"Thanks for all, but I have to go. You're right,
the town is still full of old and sick people. Have
to breath city air again. Sorry, Danny, I had a great
time with you.
Roberto."
Sebastian said nothing just looked at his cousin and stroked his
auburn, disheveled hair. "Left me like he came - unexpected." Daniel
said dryly.
Sebastian pulled a chair close to him and said, "I know why he
left you so head over heels. It was my remark last evening about Andrea
and London."
Daniel looked up, not comprehending.
"It was Andrea who stole your altar. He got the tip from your
lovely Roberto. But more important, I know where it is now."
Daniel let out a moaning sound. "This is ... I can't
understand."
"Do you know where you left Victor's manuscripts?"
In Daniel grew a suspicion, he rose quickly and came back a
moment later without them. "Gone also."
Sebastian nodded. "Perhaps he's trying to sell them somewhere.
He won't have success. Victor is a bit outdated."
Daniel plopped on his chair again and stared at Roberto's hand
writing.
"Don't be sad, Danny. He wasn't worth it. Um, there's something
else. Kay confessed everything to me last night ...."
Daniel lifted his head abruptly and probed his green eyes into
his cousin's eyes. "I urged him to tell you." He wiped his face. "I'm
sorry, man. I don't know what ..."
"It's ok. I mean, it's not ok." Sebastian tried a short laugh
and sighed then. "Let's not talk about it, ok?"
Daniel sighed also. "You said you know where the altar is?"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It had become Simon's usual habit to pick up Ben from school,
just like Marcus once had done every day with Nicholas and occasionally
still did. Ben enjoyed the feeling to be needed and wanted; that there
was someone waiting for him. Especially since Nick was still in London
he felt a bit lonely.
He passed pupils and teachers and approached Simon sitting alone
on a bench. Bright sunlight made his dark hair gleam with an almost
reddish colour. It was a healthy gleam Ben recognized happily. Simon
smiled, rose and took one of Ben's bags. "Have exciting news for you,"
he whispered into Ben's ear. "So? What is it?" But Simon's attention
was drawn to a man on the other side of the street, entering a car.
Confused tried to remember the man but couldn't.
"What's wrong?" Ben asked, following Simon's stare. "It's
Frank's car."
"He's not alone." Simon said slowly.
"Perhaps he found another lover boy. Come." Ben took Simon by
his shoulder and dragged him to his own car. "We'll make a visit."
"Huh?"
Ben grinned slyly. "Marcus' new working hall. Johannes is there
to prepare the exhibition." He beamed. "With my works." Simon beamed
too, leaned over and gave him a resounding kiss. "Well, I'm proud of
you."
"Better you are. Now what about your exciting news?"
"Got an invitation from Kay to Prague."
"Prague?"
"Yes! He'll be there with Sebastian to pick up the altar."
Simon told him about the events he learned from Kay on the phone.
"Exciting!" Ben exclaimed. But then his smile vanished. He
watched the traffic and his fingers drummed the steering wheel. "You
won't be here for my first exhibition?"
"Well, I don't know, Ben, if you would like to have me here, I'm
not going. Actually I thought we could go together. Look, the semester
is over soon, perhaps you won't miss that much."
Ben, of course, liked the idea. "When will you go?"
"Very soon. We are meeting in Prague. I'll go by train, it
isn't that far. I've never been to this town," he added.
"Me neither." Ben sighed. "I always wanted to but never made
it." He looked at Simon. "So Sebastian thinks it's an easy thing to
get back the altar? I mean, he can't simply show up in the church, grab
the altar and go as if it would be a pushover. Has Daniel any proof it
is his possession?"
"Yes, he has. A certificate from a museum, confirming the
authenticity."
Ben nodded, turned into Friedrichstrasse and stopped the car in
front of a huge shop window. "Come, the entrance is around the corner."
Simon saw the big square of the Gendarmenmarkt in the far
distance with the two, slender churches and the theatre in between. The
place was full of tourists, admiring the most beautiful place in Europe
- at least so the guides were telling them. Good choice of a place for
the exhibition hall, Simon thought. Marcus would make more money here
than in the other hall.
The room was still a chaos of furniture of all kinds and sorts,
paintings, drawings and goblins leaning on the walls, partly covered
with cloths.
"Hello?" Ben shouted and Johannes, the old restorer appeared from
another room, Matthias in tow. Ben beamed instantly. "Hello, Johannes,
we are here."
"I see." Johannes small eyes behind the glasses smiled. "Look
who's here."
"Another competitor for the job," Ben said but grinned. "I know,
Johannes, it was all Nick's plan." Matthias, Nicholas straight friend
of mutual shopping center times, nodded.
"Do you remember me?" he asked Simon.
Simon recognized him quickly. Of course he could remember the
night when Nick, Ben and Matthias had found and "kidnapped" him in a gay
bar. It was the day he and Ben had met for the first time. "How could
I forget you, eh? Straight man in a gay bar. Nice to meet you again."
Matthias' blue-grey eyes sparkled. "Johannes is so kind to show
me around. Gosh, it was a strange proposal I know very little about
furniture, you know."
Simon was still nonplused.
"You remember the vacant job here Simon?" Ben said. "Nick
thought that Matthias could do something better than to sell lamps and
batteries. Of course we'll have to learn a lot."
"You're doing fine." Johannes said. "good to see you again,
Simon. It's been ages." Simon nodded and smiled. He always had liked
the restorer of Marcus' working hall, although he hadn't seen him
often. So good old Nick didn't forget about his old friends, he thought
pleased.
"You see, it's still in a mess, but I promise you, Ben: when the
exhibition begins it will look beautiful." Johannes led them into the
room from which he had appeared. It was surprising large and Simon
wondered briefly now much rent Marcus had to pay for these rooms. The
prices in "boomtown" Friedrichstrasse were astronomically high.
Secretively smiling Johannes lifted a cover. A large wardrobe
appeared and all three young men gasped.
"Voila" Johannes exclaimed. "Andre-Charles Boulle. Late 17th
century. It's a pair, you know. the other one is in Louvre, Paris."
Ben didn't know where to look first: it was made of black wood,
probably ebony with gilt bronze fittings at the doors, showing floral
ornaments. The door panels were made of marquetry - precious wood,
tortoiseshell and pewter, depicting rich flower vases after antique
models.
"It's outstanding." Ben managed to say finally. "Who will be
able to pay so much money for it. How much is it?"
"Haven't set the price yet but I'm sure one of these famous
guests sleeping in the very expensive hotels around this place could
afford one of two of them." He winked.
Simon touched very carefully one of the polished fittings. "Do
you have more of this?" he asked.
"Sure, well, not that exclusive like this, but anyway." He
pointed at American Butterfly tables, Florentine Cassapanca's, French
Consulats and Indiscreet's corner consoles, writing desks and cabinets,
chairs and stools.
"Gosh!" Ben exclaimed. "I feel like I am in Sanssouci Castle of
King Frederick! Do you think we can cope with it?" He looked
quizically at Matthias. "I'm sure we can," Matthias answered, "sooner
or later."
"Your paintings are outside, Ben." Johannes said.
"Do you want to quit your job?" Ben asked while they went into
the hall again.
"I'm not sure yet," Matthias replied. "Must think it over.
How's Nick, still in London?"
"Yes, but coming back tomorrow, so we'll have to discuss this
here with Marcus."
Ben looked for Simon who had lifted a cloth, looking at one of
Ben's colourful abstract paintings.
"Do you know Arshile Gorki?" Johannes asked.
"Maxim Gorki I know, but no Arshile. Who is he?"
"Russian painter with a sad biography. It reminds me so much of him,
you know."
"Hm. Do you think I'm copying him?"
"No. It just has similarity. We like it very much."
"Will your mother come and your brother?" Simon asked suddenly.
"Of course. She changed her shift for this. And perhaps Nick's
mother's coming too. It's the only opportunity for Marcus to meet her.
She's now living in Sebastian's flat."
"So? You didn't tell me. What about the father? Do you know
him?
"Why are you so interested?" Matthias threw in.
Ben had an idea why Simon was interested but he left the answer
to Simon.
"My father hates me for being gay," Simon said after a while.
"Oh - I see. It's the same with Nick's father."
"Fathers! Why do they have such big difficulties to accept?
Mother's are much more understanding."
Johannes shrugged. "You know, women and gays are always on the
same wavelength. Both love men."
Simon, Ben and Matthias stared at the old man, suddenly nodding
like a group of courting capercaillies. "This could easily be true."
Ben finally said. "And fathers want their sons to be like themselves."
"Yeah! Hard and tough and with a huge consumption of gals ... I
assume," Simon said.
Ben wrapped his hands around Simon't neck and shook him
playfully. "I won't mention your huge consumption of boys," he laughed
and Simon joined in.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Andrea threw everything of his clothes into his brand new
suitcase. He looked around and rushed into the bathroom again, then he
was ready to leave. Just as he was closing the suitcase the door flung
open and George stood in the door frame, a Martini glass in hand. He
looked thunderstruck for a moment before he said low, "What the fuck are
you doing here?"
Andrea rose. "Packing."
George came closer. "Why? Haven't you got everything here?"
"You still didn't pay me." Andrea said coolly.
"Ah, that's the reason. And why are you leaving now without the
money?"
Andrea shrugged. The locks were clicking.
"I've seen you with Marcus and his boy toy." George's voice was
acid. "What do you want from him?"
"Don't know what's the interest for you. It's none of your
business."
George stepped even closer and grabbed Andrea's shirt over his
chest.
"I ask you again. What's the reason? You got money from him?
Told him the place of the altar? A nice come back?" He released
Andrea's shirt. "No, you wouldn't. I don't think Marcus would be
interested. He knows nothing about it."
Andrea remained silent. He took his suitcase and rushed
downstairs. George followed him. "Do you fancy a threesome?" George
asked suddenly, standing in the large hall. "I can tell you, Marcus is
a beauty. But he won't stay with me. Not even for this." He opened a
door to a small room and Andrea saw a wooden screen with painted glass
panes. He hadn't seen it before and looked at it with interest.
"No, he won't stay with me." George giggled and emptied his
Martini glass. "You know I promised him to give him this," he pointed
into the room, "if he would stay with me for a week." His eyes were
rolling a bit uncontrolled now. Andrea couldn't help but grin. Surely
Marcus was fed up with him like he was himself; it was easy to
understand.
George had silently approached Andrea. "Everybody is leaving me", he
said weepy. "What can I do?"
"Stop drinking." Andrea said short. "And stop smoking during
sex. For instance." He turned and wrapped his hand around the door
handle.
"No! Don't go. Here, I'll give you the money, but please stay
here."
"George! I'm not staying!" Andrea shouted. "Ciao."
The door slammed shut and George hammered his fist upon the wood
in a sudden fit of anger. Then he dropped the glass and went over into
the room with the screen. He stood there for several minutes, first
desperately, then his anger grew. He ran into the kitchen and came back
with a hammer. He let it crash onto the glass panes.
Coloured pieces of broken glass whizzed through the room, hit
him, but he didn't notice. Again and again he smashed on the shattered
screen, at last the dark wood until it lay completely destroyed in small
pieces at his feet.
George was bleeding. He noticed it when his mind began to
clear. Warm blood was dripping from a cut on his forehead into his eyes
and his trousers were torn. With effort he took them off, staring first
at the splinter in his calf, then at the raging erection between his
legs.
It hadn't been so for ages. He clasped it with one hand, the
other one was wiping the blood from his face. It felt so good. So
hard, so hot. George couldn't stop his stroking hand. He moaned and
groaned, both for pleasure and for pain, his hand was getting frantic
until he shed his semen over his abdomen and the last drops were
dripping onto the remains of the screen.
He giggled once more. Without a look back he went into the
bathroom.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
End of Chapter 11 - there will be more soon.