Date: Sun, 14 Oct 2001 03:51:29 EDT
From: SSch191950@aol.com
Subject: Angel's Trumpets, chapter 7

ANGEL'S TRUMPETS

by Stefan
http://stefan680.tripod.com/stefanstories/


Chapter Seven


Rome's Underground

Sebastian nibbled at the unsalted Roman bread and drank a tiny bit of
water.  Who knew how long it had to suffice.  Slowly he really wondered
about his crackpot idea to come here.  Had he thought that Andrea would
wait for them just around the corner?  Even worse, he had dragged
Roberto into this undertaking and now he was responsible for him.  They
had reached the second level and actually, sooner or later, they must
meet the tunnels that were open for tourists.  For a while he listened
for noises or sounds but couldn't hear anything yet other than Roberto's
and his own laboured breathing.

    "Any idea how long Andrea could be here?" he asked Roberto, turning
his head.

    "Four days I guess.  What if he's run out of water?  How long can he
survive?"

    "Four days at most.  But he wasn't so stupid to come in here without
water, right?"  That was more a statement than a question and Roberto
didn't respond.  He rose to his feet.  His torch lit up the walls until
he broke into a cheer.  "Look, Bastian, here are arrows again!"

Sebastian touched the scratched tuff stone.  It was still wet, which
meant that it wasn't an old sign.  They doubled their efforts to go on,
but then, they heard a cracking in the stone and tuff and ducked their
heads.  But it seemed to be far away.  Roberto looked frightened at the
high ceilings whose walls were covered with openings to lay the dead
bodies to their last sleep.  Roberto started to run but stumbled over
the uneven ground and fell.  He hit his head on one of the stones
jutting out of the wall.  Sebastian bent over quickly and saw blood at
his temple. Roberto was unconscious.  Great!  Now the fat's in the
fire.  He opened the first aid kit and took out some gauze, wet it a bit
and wiped over the gash.  Suddenly he heard a faint hubbub in the
distance.  A dull trampling, as if a herd of bulls were trampling along
the tunnels.  He pricked up his ears and tried to locate where the
sounds were coming from.  Then it was gone.  He slapped Roberto's cheeks
but he didn't move.  Without thinking he lifted Roberto from the ground
in his arms and went with him further, leaving the first aid kid behind,
only taking both rucksacks with him.

Sebastian had again lost Andrea's arrows because he didn't pay attention
anymore.  He didn't know how to manage it, with Roberto in his arms and
the torch crammed alternately under his arm or between his teeth until
he broke down.  He panted like a dog.  He couldn't go on with this.
Roberto's face was extremely pale in the yellow circle of light and his
breath was shallow.  We all will die here, it flashed through his mind.
Perhaps next to a wall where there was rescue.

Despairingly he sat down, Roberto in his lap and bent his head.  He must
have dozed off then he woke up to the sound of voices.  He breathed in
the muggy air and couldn't get enough of it.  The torch was flickering.
Feverishly he searched for Roberto's second torch but he must have
forgotten it when Roberto broke down.  Sebastian let out a hoarse curse,
his lips were chapped and hurt, probably bleeding.   It didn't matter of
course.

The voices came nearer and went away instantly.  With all his remaining
strength he tried to call but his throat was so dry that it came out
just as a croaky, low shouting that nobody could hear.  A last thought
went out to Kay when he closed his eyes again.  It could have been so
wonderful with him . . .  He conjured his face before his inner eye, the
once blond dyed hair when he first met him, the reckless laughter, the
small blue tattooed ring snaking around his arm.  Everything merged
together . . . Marcus, Nicholas, his house and the plans he had had for
his life.




Rome's Underground

    "Jesus Christ, Sebastian really thinks he can do everything on his
own," Marcus cursed.

    "Yeah, that's him."  Kay said behind him.  "A real madcap.  Now,
let's go there.  We're the last ones."

They had attached themselves to a guided group of tourists at the
catacombs of San Sebastiano.  They had made the stop at George's house,
found Andrea's note upon the kitchen table and knew now that their
presumptions had been right.  Marcus didn't want Nicholas to go with
them and had a little fight with him and he had received a snap from his
young lover that he would treat him always like a little child.
Surprised, Marcus had to agree but was pretty apprehensive that he was 
two steps ahead now, illuminating the way with his torch although it 
wasn't needed.  For now they had light from the small wall and ceiling 
lamps, but it was a murky sight.

He imagined himself in Sebastian's shoes.  Surely he would follow the
signs Andrea had probably made into the stone and from George's house to
the entrance of the catacombs wasn't a real long distance.  Perhaps one
and a half kilometres.  But the net of the tunnels was much broader.  If
they were not back by the evening, Daniel and Leandro would sound the
alarm.

Marcus' watch told him that they had gone on now for over an hour.  The
spare light of the ceiling had vanished because this part of the
catacombs wasn't in use.  He feared that some of the walls would break
in, or the ceiling, but it looked stable enough.  Then Nicholas remained
still abruptly.

    "Have you heard something?" Marcus and Kay listened.  There was a
faint knocking on stones.  Or was it just imagination?  Or the sound
coming from the tourist groups?  They were too far away actually.

Nicholas shone his light into a tunnel where the sound came from.   He
made a few steps into it and went around a corner.  Marcus started to
sweat more than he had ever sweated in his whole life.  "Nick, where are
you?"  He followed him, Kay in tow.  A large heap of stones blocked the
way, apparently it was broken off from the ceiling.

    "What . . ."

    "Sshhhh!" Nicholas listened and then the others heard it too.  There
was a scratching on stones and a whimper.

    "Sebastian?"  Marcus called.  And then a voice answered them.  But
it didn't sound like Sebastian.

Kay was already pushing back the stones and sand; the tuff stone was wet
and touch, he was incessantly calling for Sebastian.  They shoved aside
the stones like a mole would have done, until their hands were
bleeding.  "Bloody hell, watch your hands, Nick."  Marcus shouted, but
he himself didn't care about that for the moment.  On the other side it
had gotten silent so they doubled their efforts.  It was difficult to
move the stones but then they had made a small hole and Kay shone his
torch through it.  "That's Andrea!" he called out to them.

Marcus and Nick looked at each other.  And where was Sebastian?

    "Where's Sebastian?"  Kay asked him breathless, but Andrea was too
weak to give any intelligent answer.  He still had his empty water
bottle beside him; his throat was too sore to speak.  He had lost
consciousness somewhere and then the rumble of the breaking stones had
awakened him.  He was trapped because there was no way out backwards.

Marcus gave him some of his water and wiped his dirty face with his
hanky.  "Have you seen Sebastian?"

Andrea blinked.  "Bastian?" he croaked and shook his head.  He moved his
lips and Marcus bent down near his mouth to understand him better.
"Wrote letter to Roberto", was all that he could understand.  "Roberto
must . . . be here . . ."
He closed his eyes.  Marcus gave him more water.

    "We found your letter too, but Sebastian must be with Roberto then.
Probably Roberto was the mysterious caller."

Nicholas had sat down on the ground and leaned back on the wall, next to
Kay.  Kay had buried his head into his palms.  Nicholas thought he heard
him sob.  Soothingly he pressed a hand upon his back and pulled him
closer.  "We'll find him, we'll find him."

    "Are you strong enough to walk with us?"  Marcus asked Andrea and
tried to pull him to his feet.  "It's just about an hour to the exit."

Andrea's legs wobbled but he nodded.  Kay looked amazed at Marcus.  "And
Sebastian?"

    "You both follow the signs I've made and I'm searching on."

    "No way, Marcus," Nicholas said furiously; "I won't leave you here
alone, have you lost your marbles?"

A dragging sound was heard.  It was close.  Very close.  Kay ran out of
the tunnel to the main way and saw a dark figure shuffle along.  He
looked enormous and seemed deformed to Kay.  At first he was frightened,
but as he guided his torch light over it he saw Sebastian, upon his back
Roberto, whose feet and boots were trailing over the ground.




Subterraneous basilica of San Sebastiano

Sebastian insisted on carrying Roberto although he could barely stand on
his own feet.  Andrea was much too weak to be any help.  At one point
Sebastian had to give up and handed over Roberto's unconscious body to
Marcus.  Nicholas and Kay carried their bags and the torches.  Nobody
spoke, not even Kay who had to support Sebastian from time to time and
gave him water from his bottle.  He hadn't thought that it would have
been so serious and still his mind refused to believe that they all
could have ended up dying.

Then the lights started again and they knew it wasn't far to the exit
anymore.  They emerged in the remains of an subterranean church room,
very dimly lighted by a petrol lamp standing in front of a bronze bust
that showed the handsome face of a young man.  There stood some old
benches around.  Sebastian remembered that here was the place where the
guides held their first speech to the tourist groups to explain the
meaning  of the catacombs.  They all sat down to rest a little before
the steps started that would bring them up to the surface.  It was
stuffy and cold and Sebastian shivered.  Kay was holding his hands,
Marcus softly slapped Roberto's cheeks and his eyes fluttered.  He was
still bleeding.  Andrea was sitting beside them and stroked Roberto's
hair.

Suddenly Kay turned his head.  He thought he had heard a sound coming
from the darkness that was in the farthest distance.  A muffled knocking
on walls mingled with faint animal sounds.  Rats he thought or even
worse.  But then he heard it again and, looking at Nicholas, who had
heard it too.  Together they went over, guided their lights over the
walls until they detected a line that was carved into the tuff.

    "Looks like a door.  Look, here are small hinges", Nick whispered.
"Marcus?  Can you come over?"

Marcus' hands slid over the reddish-brown stone. He flinched when
the sound was there again.

   "Perhaps that's the ghost of the catacombs", Kay joked unhappily. 
"Or probably a man still alive after they buried him here."

Marcus shushed him.  He had found a small hole, poked his finger into it
and tugged at the wall.  It squeaked.  Marcus rattled now and earth
fell upon him from the ceiling.  All three jumped back but a small crack
had opened.  Cautiously Marcus took Nick's torch and guided the light
into the space.  There was nothing at first, just darkness, torn apart
from the circle of light.  A little bat flew squealing along their faces
and Kay choked.  Walls, neatly white washed.  A curtain and some
furniture, chests.  A faint whimpering.  A bedstead.  Clothes.  A
candle.  A cup and a plate.  An unbearable stench of urine.

Then a figure that moved.  Marcus took a step, then two and finally he
walked up to the bed and illuminated a face that was haggard, bearded
and had feverish, big eyes.  The honey coloured hair was glued to his
head, although somebody must had made the effort to comb it.  George
Rosenstock.  His fist still leaned against the wall; probably he had
heard their voices and tried to attract them.

Marcus detected even a pot of water and a wet cloth beside him.

    "For heaven's sake", Marcus whispered.  "What happened to you
George?"  He bent over and filled the cup with water.  He held it to
George's lips and he drank hastily, spilling most of it, the rest ran
over his dry lips.

George blinked.  It was long ago since he had seen a light that was
brighter than the small candle his visitor had always left beside his
bed.  He yearned for the hot tea he had always gotten.

    "Tea", he whispered.

    "What?"

    "He wants tea", Nicholas said by his side.  He had taken Marcus' arm
and clutched it tightly.

    "What happened to you?"  Marcus repeated.

    "Who are you?"

    "It's me, Marcus Weidenbruch."

Sebastian had entered the small chamber too.  On his face was painted
disgust and compassion.  "Andrea?"  he shouted.  "We've found George.
He's still alive."  At least for now, he added in his mind.  The nightly
visitor at Via Appia 34 must have taken him with him.  Probably for his
private pleasure or for curiosity of watching a man dying of starvation
or whatever.  Sebastian felt sick.  Very sick.  He fought against the
urge to vomit right here and now and turned away.



San Sebastiano at catacumbas

Nicholas sat dumbfounded on one of the church benches.  George, Roberto,
Andrea and Sebastian had been brought into the office where they were
receiving first aid,  Marcus and Kay accompanied them.  His eyes which
were gleaming through the layer of dirt upon his face touched the
interior of the church house without seeing anything.   They were
berated heavily to walk there without any permission but the state the
four men were in had quickly made forgotten the dangerous situation they
brought themselves into.

Nicholas sighed and stood up.  He inspected his bloody hands, the nails
were torn and dirty; his trousers frayed.  He needed a wash himself.
Absentmindedly, he walked over to a tomb behind a trellis work.  A white
marble figure of the dead martyr Sebastian was laying there, pierced
with arrows.  He was beautiful but Nicholas had no sense for it right
now.  He saw the carved statue laying relaxed and dead upon his marble
bed and matched it instantly with the still living Sebastian.  He didn't
know what Kay or Marcus would have done if Sebastian would have died.
And he himself, too.

The he remembered that Marcus had given him his mobil phone to call
Daniel.  So he pulled it out and dialed Sebastian's house.



Gianicolo

Sebastian recovered relatively quickly but George, Andrea and Roberto
had to stay in hospital.  Andrea suffered from dehydration and Roberto
had received a concussion.  George had lost his memory the docs said,
and was in a very poor state of health.

Somehow the journalists of the yellow press had gotten wind of it and
Sebastian's phone didn't stand still.

    "Isn't it great to be a person of public interest?"  Kay teased him
next morning.  Sebastian shot him a sinister look.  "Staggering", he
growled.

    "You're a hero now."

    "Yeah, from a killer to a hero.  I don't see any heroic things.  It
was stupid and if you hadn't come to rescue me . . .

Kay stuck out his tongue and Sebastian smiled.  He hadn't told Kay about
his real feelings when he had quasi completed with his life, regretting
to no end that he never told him that he loved him.  But here and now he
dragged Kay closer and pulled the bedclothes over their bodies.  "I've
never told you what you mean to me, sweetie", he whispered, listening to
his own heartbeat.  "I do love you."

To his surprise Kay neither moved nor giggled. "I know", he said
simply after a while. He brushed Sebastian's sandy hair out of his
eyes. "I've waited long to hear that, you know."

    "Is that so?"

    "Yes.  Right from the very day we met.  But then . . ."

    "But then?"

    "Then you fell in love with Nicki."

    "I didn't fall in love with Nicki", Sebastian protested.

    "No?"

    "No.  Or have you fallen in love with Daniel?  You've spent a night
with him."

    "Oh well. . ."  Kay knew that Sebastian was right, although the
relationship of Nicholas and Sebastian was a bit different.  They had
known each other longer and the attraction had grown.

    "Don't speak about Nicki or Danny.  It's over."  He searched for
approval in Sebastian's glistening grey-green eyes.  "I'd almost lost
you."  He brought his lips near to Sebastian's ear.  "I love you more."

    "No, you don't, that's impossible", Sebastian snorted and started a
little fight under the bed cover and then he finally heard Kay's
familiar giggle.



Fourty Seven

Vincenzo had tried to contact Leandro but he wasn't at his work place
for two days.  His colleague had said that he had taken two days of
holidays because of family matters.  But Vincenzo didn't dare to show up
at Sebastian's house, so he hoped to meet him at Camillo's "Fourty
Seven".  It was Friday night and something special hung in the air.

The club was air-conditioned - a relief after the day's heat.  Sometimes
Vincenzo wished himself back to the town high above the ground where a
cool wind was always blowing, might the day be hot as it wanted.  But
returning would mean returning to Lena, his wife.

He caught a look from a man sitting on a stool at the bar.   He was
balding, although he still seemed to be young.  Vincenzo felt a tingle
under his skin.  He wasn't sure if there were darkrooms here.  Perhaps
he would find out.  He smiled at the balding head and received a wink
and a nod to come over.  Vincenzo climbed the stool and smiled again.

    "Want a drink?" he asked with a pleasant tenor voice.  Vincenzo
nodded.

    "New here?"

    "Yes, I used to visit Luigi's Bar."

    "Bad story about that, don't you think?  I'm Cornelius."

    "Vincenzo."  He received his drink from the barkeeper, Ginger Ale.
He hated Ginger Ale, but he gulped it bravely.  "Have you ever been at
Luigi's?" he asked then.

    "Sure, too bad it's closed for good.  Tasso was an eye catcher."  He
wiped over his head.  "Occasionally I perform myself.  I'm here to watch
this location.  Do you know Camillo per chance?"

   "No. I told you I'm the first time here. But if you'd speak to Tasso
perhaps he could put a good word for you."

Cornelius grinned.  Vincenzo saw dazzling white teeth, fresh from the
dentist, and grinned too.  Then he swung around on his stool to watch
the guests.  Mixed audience like at Luigi's Bar.  He tried to keep an
eye on the entrance but the later is was getting the more people
streamed into the bar.  So far no sign of Leandro though.  Vincenzo
sighed.

    "The strippers are pretty good", he heard Cornelius say.

    "Oh yes, I've seen them.  They've found a new engagement here."  He
finished his Ginger Ale and choked on the last drops.  He had seen
Leandro enter the rooms, accompanied with Daniel.  Damn, still that
auburn haired, strong man.  He couldn't risk a fight with him, Daniel
would easily take him for a ride.

Cornelius held a package of cigarettes under this nose and Vincenzo took
one.  He took a deep breath and started to cough.  Cornelius laughed.
"What are you so nervous about, eh?"  He looked him up and down.
"Country bumpkin?"

    "Huh?"

    "I mean if you come from the villages."

Vincenzo looked haughtily. "Do I look like a nitwit?" Then he saw the
twinkle in Cornelius' eyes. "Sorry about that. I'm sure we Romans
must make a terrible impression."

    "Right."  Vincenzo held his cigarette that clumsily that the ashes
burnt a hole in his white trousers.  He cursed.

Cornelius took the cigarette gently from his hand.  "Why haven't you
told me that you don't smoke.  You don't have to be nervous."

Vincenzo turned fully to the young man.  "All right.  I just waited for
a friend."

Cornelius raised his brows.  "Friend or boyfriend?"

    "Hm."  Vincenzo shrugged his shoulders.  "Ex-boyfriend I'd say."

    "I see.  Where do you come from then?"

    "Volterra."

    "Never been there.  That's Tuscany, right?  Beautiful landscape, I
used to spend my holidays there several times."

    "I own a tobacco shop there,"  Vincenzo bit his lips.  He surely
owned the shop but if he would go back to submit his divorce . . .  And
what made him think this right now?  Since Leandro had obviously decided
to stay with Daniel there wasn't a chance for him.  There were other
guys too, like Cornelius for instance, just waiting for Mr. Right, like
himself.  He gazed at the other man; from the black, balding hair, to
the dark eyes, over the lean body to the big hands and feet.

    "Are you alone here?"

Cornelius nodded and inhaled the smoke from his cigarette.  He saw
somebody tapping on Vincenzo's shoulder from behind.  A pretty handsome
young man with dark hair and golden spots.  Vincenzo whirled around.
"There you are finally" he said, glancing at Daniel beside him.  "You
had family problems I've heard?"

    "Yeah, so to say.  Everything is all right now.  But what are you
doing here?"  A sideways look touched Cornelius.  He nodded.  "Well, I
don't want to disturb you.  Um, when are you going back to Volterra?"

Vincenzo looked as though he had been hit with a cudgel.  "Not yet.
Does this mean. . . does this mean. . ."  He stared at Daniel and
Leandro nodded.  He bent over and whispered "Did the Cardinal show up?"

    "Borghese?" Vincenzo's eyes widened. "It's Friday, the big day, holy
cow. I've forgotten about your plan.  So will you carry this through?"

    "Yes.  If he will come, yes."

    "You want to go with him into the dark rooms to play the bait?  Are
there dark rooms here?"  He turned round to Cornelius who nodded.

    "Jesus Christ.  Watch out for yourself.  I'm beside you when you
need help."

Daniel nudged Leandro.  Cardinal Gianluca had just entered the room
along with a rush of other guys.  He dragged him aside.

    "What was this about?" Cornelius asked.  He had finished his
cigarette and was sipping at his Ginger Ale now.

    "Oh, just a private matter."

    "Bullocks, you were talking about a cardinal!"

Vincenzo was reserved again.  He didn't know this Cornelius and in fact,
the murderer could be anybody.  "Why does it bother you."  He watched
Cardinal Borghese from the corner of his eyes.  He came straight in
their direction, leaned against the bar and looked expectantly to the
stage where the strippers were announced.  He looked as casual as he
could; surprisingly firm in his blue jeans and shirt.  Vincenzo saw
Cornelius staring at him.  "No word from you, ok?"

Cornelius nodded.  "When are you going back to Volterra then?" he asked.
Are you just doing holidays?  Your ex-boyfriend seems to be lost for
you."

Vincenzo was taken aback by the bluntness of his statement.  "Seems so
indeed."

The strippers had been welcomed with a loud cheering and soon their
action started.  Vincenzo remembered the night when he had been with
Sascha, first their dancing, then their making out in the toilet and
finally the dark room.  He saw Nando, Sascha's brother, dropping the
little bit of clothes he wore until he was naked, involved now in a
sensuous play with his colleagues.

Leandro and Daniel watched their performance from aside, constantly
keeping an eye on the cardinal who was shifting from one foot to the
other, the bulge in his jeans clearly visible.

    "He seems to be ready", Daniel whispered.  As the final curtain fell
he said, "It's show time."

Nando had given both a silent sign, that he and his colleagues were
ready to start the game.  They would wait in one of the dark rooms for
Leandro.

Vincenzo suddenly showed up at their side.  "Can I help you?"

Daniel looked surprised.  "Yes you can.  Follow me and wait at the exit
with me.  He shouldn't have a chance to escape then."  He turned to
Leandro and pulled him close.  "Watch yourself, honey.  See you in half
an hour."  He pressed his lips upon Leandro's and gave him a resounding
kiss.  A long glance and he pushed Leandro in the direction of the bar.
Then he dragged Vincenzo with him.

    "Glad you could make it, your Eminence."  Gianluca's cheeks glowed
from what he had just seen.  The poison of the Angel's Trumpets coursed
through his veins and his view was sort of blurred.  He focused his gaze
upon the young man of his nightly desires.  He looked ravishing tonight.
Gianluca almost lost it but he pulled himself together as well as he could.

    "Hello Leandro.  How's it going?"

Leandro was surprised by the casual tone.  Gianluca's pupils were
widened and upon his skin was a thin film of sweat. Leandro felt sick when 
he thought about the next step.  Slowly he raised his hands to the 
neckline of Gianluca's shirt.  A thick patch of hairs peered out.  He 
played with them although his fingers were burning by this touch.  
"Have you something in mind, cardinal?"

    "Call me Gianluca", he answered huskily.  The film of sweat formed
into thick droplets although it wasn't hot in here.  The dance floor was
filled with pairs, dancing together or alone and the loud music droned
in his ears.  He felt Gianluca's eyes all over his body, followed by his
hands, that fumbled at is butt and brushed the side of his leg.  He felt
really sick.  Gianluca stared at the entrance to the corridor which led
to the dark rooms.  His body radiated heat.  Unexpectedly he grabbed
Leandro's hand and pulled him with him.

Cornelius had watched in awe.  Something was going on here. . .  Very
slowly he followed.



Leandro opened the door to the room at the far end of the corridor.  He
knew or hoped that Nando and Christian were waiting for him there, well
hidden behind a screen at the window.  They had made sure that there was
a candle already burning for a better sight, Leandro breathed out,
relieved.

Soon as Gianluca had closed the door he was all over Leandro, holding
him tight and his hands roamed over his body. He didn't give him time to 
think, in a jiffy the buttons of his shirt popped off to the ground, his 
trousers followed and he was naked.

Gianluca fought with his own shoes and trousers he dropped and stood
there with a huge tent in his boxer shorts.  Leandro's mind was racing.
He felt nausea rising when Gianluca pushed him upon the bed, pulling out
something rustling from his jeans pocket and dropped it to the ground.
Then he ripped off his boxers and Leandro's nausea grew.  That was the
most humongus tool he had ever seen in his life and his body jerked
involuntarily just by the mere thought that it could enter him.

It was absolutely silent in the room, there were just Gianluca's and his
own laboured breath.  "Now, my boy, let's have some fun.  I'm sure
you've never seen that before."  Gianluca giggled scarily.  It sounded
hollow and high pitched from lust.

In the corner behind the screen Nando jumped.  That was the voice he had
heard several times.  High pitched from lust.  He peered around the
corner to have a look.  Yes, that was it.  The monstrosity.  He tried to
make out the thing that was laying on the ground next to the bed, a
patch of white, but couldn't see it good enough.  Gianluca's body flung
upon Leandro's and he was getting nervous.  Then the image of his
brother shot through his mind.  He had also been laying helpless under
the weight of this body and couldn't free himself.  He gave Christian a
silent sign to get ready.

Leandro whimpered when Gianluca's tongue lapped his body.  The huge cock
slapped against his thighs and a sharp stench of sweat and desire stung
his nose.  His hands made involuntary defending movement but the
cardinal didn't seem to notice.  He breathed through his nose like a
bull out of control.  Soon, very soon he would feel the tip of that cock
against his entrance.  Nando should hurry up!  Now he was busy with
ministering to Leandro's balls, the long shaft rubbing against the inner
side of his thigh, smearing it with its slimy lube; he bucked
frantically and couldn't hold back.

Leandro heard a loud cry and felt sprayed with a hot liquid all over his
abdomen. His stomach heaved.

Gianluca lay motionless for a moment.  That wasn't planned he cursed,
but then he lifted his head and smirked.  There was nothing that
couldn't rise again.  He looked at the body beneath his own, trapped
between his arms, saw the shock in those eyes and he covered his lips
with a gush of spittle and pushed his tongue between them, to open the
mouth.

Leandro gagged.  Gianluca giggled.  He felt his cock risen again.  Good
boy.  Slowly he crept to his knees and lined it up with Leandro's
entrance.  At the same time he groped for the plastic bag he had dropped
beside the bed.  Soon, my boy you will receive the most earth shattering
climax you have ever received.  Your first and your last one.

Gianluca laughed now.  Too bad he wouldn't  have a picture of this.
Such a beautiful boy and bound to die now.  At the same moment the flash
lights started.  Gianluca couldn't decide if this was happening in his
head or in reality.  Another lightening.  He screwed his eyes up.
Leandro's scared face was clearly visible for a brief moment.  He held
the plastic bag and tried to unfold and open it when he felt two strong
hands around his arms

    "Enough, cardinal.  Stand up."  A sharp voice sounded through the
room.

Dumbfounded he held still. Strong arms dragged him from the bed.
Leandro closed his legs and curled himself together.  Then he couldn't
hold it anymore.  His stomach heaved with the urge to vomit.  He bent
over the bed and let it come.

Christian tossed him a hanky and his trousers while Nando held Gianluca
tight.  The cardinal's muscles had gone limp.  He still hadn't realized
what was going on here.

    "The police will be highly interested in the photos, cardinal."
Nando spat out the words.  "How about a good fucking session with you
now?"

He pushed Gianluca onto the bed, brought him to his knees and ripped
down his own jeans.

    "No! " Leandro screamed.  "What're you doing?  Stop it."

Nando glared at him hatefully.  "Do the same what he did to my
brother."  He turned and bent his body over the quavering cardinal.
Leandro had put on his jeans and tried to pull Nando away.  It was that
moment when Gianluca found his guts again.  He rose unexpectedly, jumped
from the bed and was behind Leandro.  He wrapped his arm around
Leandro's neck, strangling the windpipe and conjured a pistol from under
the pillow.

Neither Nando nor Christian had noticed that he had hidden it there.
Gianluca giggled.  Actually the bullet from his   gun was intended for
himself.  Now it would be for another one.  He pressed the muzzle
against Leandro's head and rasped "Out of the way."

He hesitated a moment.  "Give me your clothes."  His pistol pointed to
Nando.

Nando's hands trembled.  Holy shit, holy shit, he thought.  How could
this happen?  He undressed as quick as he could and tossed Gianluca his
clothes.  Gianluca hopped around to get into the trousers, all the time
threatening Leandro with his gun he had held tightly against the area of
his kidneys.  He didn't bother with the shirt or the shoes.  He pushed
Leandro through the door and locked the room from outside.

    "One move and you're a dead man."  He had slung Nando's shirt around
the pistol.   Leandro felt the cold muzzle in his back.  Daniel would
wait outside he thought and perhaps Vincenzo.  But what could they do?

He saw a young, balding man hanging around against one of the walls.
That was the guy Vincenzo was sitting with.  Cornelius made big eyes
when he saw the state Leandro was in.  Leandro tried to give him a sign,
but Cornelius looked bewildered.  But he followed them.

They passed the room and the dance floor without Leandro having a chance
to get rid of Gianluca.  What could he do anyway?  Gianluca was mad
enough to start a massacre here.

Both exited the bar and Leandro saw Daniel standing beside the
entrance.  On the other side he detected Vincenzo.  He saw how Daniel
flexed all his muscles to jump.  "No, Danny.  Stay where you are!"

Gianluca grinned distorted.  He lifted the shirt for a brief moment and
Daniel saw the shaft of a pistol gleaming in the moonlight.  Suddenly
Leandro felt a punch and Gianluca started to run with him towards a car
parked at the curb.  He tore open the door, pushed Leandro inside and
drove away with screeching tyres.  In the rear view mirror he saw how
Daniel and Vincenzo jumped into Sebastian's red Fiat and followed along
the street that led towards Capitol Hill.



Capitol Hill

Leandro wiped his face.  He still had the obnoxious taste of vomit in
his mouth.  Gianluca, next to him, still grinned. It was as if this grin
had been carved into his face now for all time.  This was a showdown as
he liked it.

Nobody, absolutely nobody could stop him now.  He too had seen the Fiat
behind them, but they wouldn't dare to step out and start a fight.  Not
with that weapon of his.

Gianluca turned into the Piazza Venezia; the white marble building of
the National Altar towered above them.  He turned left and passed the
only passage that was intended for cars, leading up to the Capitol,
leaving the Mamertine Dungeon behind. He crossed the place in front of
the capitol and stopped the engine. Then he opened the door and dragged
Leandro out, his gun still pointing at his body.  Leandro said his last
prayer.  If he was bound to die here and now he would have led a good
life.

He saw the red Fiat arriving at the place, but the doors didn't open.
The silhouettes of Daniel and Vincenzo were dark against the dull light
from the lanterns.  Gianluca laughed out loud.

    "Come on out, you clever guys!" he shouted and still laughed.  Then
he pushed Leandro forward, between the Capitol building and the museum,
through a tight passage between shrubs and bushes and small trees.

Leandro recognized it as the place of the Jupiter Temple.  Sebastian and
his colleagues had set free the base of the temple two years ago.
They were protected with wires, but Gianluca dragged him further.

They reached the edge of the museum's building.  To the left hand he had
a free view down to the Forum Romanum, softly illuminated.  In the far
distance he could see the Colosseo.  And then he knew where he was.  It
was the Tarpeian Rock.

His memory flashed back to the very first day when he had arrived in
Rome.  George had stalked him, mentioning the place for hustlers high
above here.  But at this midnight hour the place was deserted.  Gianluca
stopped him.

In front of them was a fence that was torn, under the small trees were
strewn cigarette boxes, tissues and used condoms. The fence had bulges
and was torn partly and Leandro started to  hyperventilate.  The
Trapeian Rock was a steep rock reaching from the Capitol Hill down to
the Forum Romanum.  A good way to fly down . . . .

He heard Gianluca's disrupted breath in his neck.  "Now, my pretty boy,
let's finish what we have started.  Your friends there can't help you."
And soon he fumbled at Leandro's zipper.  "It's soft here, and I will be
gentle, I promise."

Again his voice was high pitched.  Leandro started to fight.  He rammed
his elbow into Gianluca's bowels when he heard rash steps behind them.
Daniel!  he thought relieved but Cardinal Borghese swung around and held
his gun outstretched.  "Do not move further."

Leandro turned around.  It was Vincenzo!  But where was Daniel?  From
the other side, hidden in the shadows of the museum's building he heard
a sound of shoes, rustling over branches.  Vincenzo lifted his arms high
in the air.  Then he lost his nerve, turned around and vanished into
darkness.

Gianluca  laughed again.  It shrilled terrible in Leandro's ears.  He
unbuttoned his jeans and then the zipper.  The elephantine cock sprang
out.  "Let the fun begin, pretty boy."

But then there was a panther like shadow that sprang out of the dark.
It pulled Gianluca down to the ground, and Leandro fell with them.  He
couldn't make out the tangle and stared fixedly upon both men fighting.
They rolled around the uneven ground, between bushes and  approached
dangerously near the abyss.  Leandro tried to drag at Gianluca's hair,
kicked him with his bare feet and searched for a stone.

A loud bang tore the night.  "Daniel!"  Leandro shouted.  He saw
Daniel's arm bloody and started to scream.  But Daniel hadn't noticed
the pain, not yet.  With all his strength he tried to shove and push
Gianluca's body  near the abyss.  Centimeter by centimeter he succeeded,
Leandro was helping him.  Then Gianluca hung just with one arm and hand,
dangling back and forth, and cried for help.

Daniel rose to his feet, swaying.  He stared down at Cardinal Gianluca
Borghese-Caffarelli whose face was ash grey and the sweat poured down in
streams.

    "Help me, I can't hold on longer!"

Daniel and Leandro looked at each other.  It was that moment when they
missed the gun, Gianluca was lifting.  He had clutched the shaft during
their fight.

    "Watch out!" Daniel screamed.  Leandro made a quick movement and
trampled with all his might upon Gianluca's fingers who held tightly to
the stones.

With a loud cry, Gianluca fell.  They heard a thud and closed their
eyes.


From the distance the wailing of sirens sounded.  Daniel took Leandro by
the naked shoulders and went with him slowly backwards to the large
place in front of the Capitol.  He was bleeding incessantly but he
didn't care.  All that was important was Leandro.

-- More to follow --