Date: Fri, 9 Jun 2006 06:15:48 +0100 (BST)
From: Mike Arram <mikearram@yahoo.co.uk>
Subject: Henry in Finkle Road - 24

  All the Michael Arram stories are gathered together now on
www.iomfats.org, if you would like to investigate further the characters
featured here.
  The story contains graphic depictions of sex between young males.  If the
reading or possessing of such material as this is illegal in your place of
residence, please leave this site immediately and do not proceed further.
If you are under the legal age to read this, please do not do so.


XXIV

When Henry awoke the next morning, he felt a different air about the house
of Templerstadt.  There was a sense of distinct activity in the air.
Servants were passing and re-passing in the passage outside his and Gavin's
bedroom.  Henry got up and peeked downward past the window drapes to see
gardeners placing hangings and floral baskets around the courtyard.  Two
secret service agents had taken over the gatehouse.  One of them was
speaking into a radio.  The king would be arriving from Strelzen at
ten-thirty, and it was already nine.
  Henry shook a very dopey Gavin awake and dragged him into the shower.
They had some subdued fun, but were ready and dressed in half an hour.
  `What's the king like, Henry?' Gavin asked for the third time.
  `Tall and red-haired -- a very determined guy.  He's got amazing dignity
and presence when he's on show to the world.  You'd never know he has the
genuine Elphberg temper, although that was on display a fair amount in the
sixth form at Medwardine.  He had a lot of issues in those days, but he's
different now.  He's awfully clever, in a fierce sort of way.  I think
Professor Wardrinski and he might get along quite well if they ever met.
Intellectually, they have a lot in common.
  `Rudi's studying PPE at Oxford, where he's well on course for a blazing
first, so Ed says.'
  `What's PPE?  Sounds like games at school.'
   `It's Politics, Philosophy and Economics, baby.  Budding politicos do
it, so it was a good choice for our friend Rudi.  Anyway, he and Ed keep in
touch, and Ed was over staying with him several times during the year.  I
think Ed accompanied the king as equerry last year in the Remembrance Day
service in Whitehall.  Don't you recall we watched it on telly?'
  `Oh yes, he laid a wreath on behalf of the Czech and Rothenian pilots who
fought in the RAF during the Battle of Britain.  Do I dare call him Rudi?'
  `No, baby.  The first time you talk to him you call him "Your Majesty",
and after that "sir".  You must never ask him a question.  He has to talk
to you first before you speak to him.  It's called protocol.'
  Gavin laughed.  `That must be hard for you, Henry.'
  `You know me too well, baby!'
  Harriet and Fritz were sitting close together eating breakfast.  They
were laughing hilariously when Henry and Gavin came into the room.  Henry
got coffees for Gavin and himself, and watched the other couple curiously.
There was no doubt that Harry had fallen into an easy relationship with
Fritz, but Henry could not work out if it was getting in any way romantic.
Nonetheless, the two of them left together after saying their good
mornings, and clearly had joint plans.
  `So what do you think, Gavin baby?'
  `Oh ... Helge says Fritz has really been smitten hard by Harry, but she
thought Harry was not the sort of woman to commit to anyone in a hurry. She
believes the two years' difference in age would mean a lot to Harry.'
  `And yet they were chatting away there ten to the dozen.'
  Gavin did not reply.  He was sipping his coffee slowly.  Henry got the
idea his lover had something to say to him.  Sure enough, Gavin put down
his cup and asked, `Henry, tell me why you believe in God.'
  Henry was knocked back by that one.  Still, it was something he knew they
had to talk about, so he said, `I notice you didn't ask, "Henry, why are
you religious?"'
  `Isn't it the same thing?'
  `No, not really.  Religion is the way you respond to your idea of a
deity.  Believing in God is a different thing altogether.  But you asked,
so I'll answer.  I believe in God because I feel His presence every day.
In everything I see and do, I feel God in and around me.  That's all the
proof I need, though I know it's not enough for some or even most people.'
  `And is He good?'
  `Oh yes, very good.'  And Henry knew exactly what was coming next.
  `So why do bad things happen, Henry?  Why are there wars, plagues and
massacres, why do gays like us get murdered just because they're gay, why
... all sorts of horrible things?'
  `Oh, you do ask the big ones, don't you.  I could say that a lot of the
terrible things happen because people make them happen, all on their own,
in defiance of God's will.  But that would be too easy, because there are
diseases, natural catastrophes, countless things you can't blame on people.
To try to answer your question is to go into deep water, baby.  But I did
A-Level Religious Studies, and I've got a module to take in Theodicy when I
get back for the second year, so I shall do my best.
  `OK.  First off, you could say God has created for the Universe a set of
circumstances and rules which are the best He could do, but which allow
things to happen that are bad for the likes of us if we're caught up in
them.  Even so, on balance the huge majority of lives are not touched by
them.  So God has created a world where a happy life is possible for most
people.'
  `Hang on, Henry.  Do you mean you don't think God is all-powerful and can
do anything?'
  `As it happens, no, I don't think He's all-powerful.  Because there is a
second consideration.  Jesus died very young ... why?  It was terribly
unjust and horrible.  If God had been on the job, Jesus needn't have died.
So God can be powerless.  Yet even though Jesus was tortured and killed,
His life still was incredibly important, because God could make something
of it.  God can retrieve things.  There was a resurrection.'
  `I think of it as if we were shellfish on a beach.  So far as we know,
we're just floating around in the water.  God is the tide, moving us the
way He wants us to go, even though we don't realise He's doing it.  He's
got His own way of pulling us around, whatever dreadful things we do in the
world.
  `There's also a third thing.  If our existence continues after death --
and I'm perfectly confident it does, as you well know -- then God can
continue the process of saving souls in a different place, a place closer
to him, until we're ready to meet Him face-to-face.  I suppose I'd have to
say I just believe there's far more to the Universe than appears on the
surface, with God at work in ways we have no idea about.  Does that answer
your question?'
  `I'll have to think about it, Henry.'
  `What put all this into your head, baby?'
  `I've been talking to Helge.  She's very religious, you know.  I like her
an awful lot, and I can't imagine someone like her -- so good and so wise
-- could believe so firmly in something stupid.'
  `Whereas you think I could?'
  Gavin looked embarrassed.  `No, that's not what I meant at all, Henry.
You know I met you and fell in love with you long before you told me you
were a Christian.'
  `I know, Gavin my darling baby.  There's a lot more to say about this.
I'll give you time to pick holes in my logic.  Shouldn't be too difficult.
When it comes down to religion, logic has to give way to illogical belief
in the end.  You believe because you feel you must, not because anyone can
prove that you should.'
  `And if someone like me can't share such a belief and doesn't
understand?'
  `Then, Gavin, you have to pity me as a sad but lovable nutcase.'

Henry and Gavin went to change into something not quite formal, but still
more than casual.  Henry had a pair of comfortable chinos and loafers with
shirt and sweater that seemed to fit the day's mood.  Gavin wore a white
tee under a smart shirt he had bought in Oxford Street, and well-cut jeans
without the fashionable worn and tattered look.  When they went down to the
courtyard, they found everyone else had done much the same -- apart from
Oskar, who was in his usual sandals, long shorts and sleeveless tee.  But
then, he worked daily with the king, so he knew what he could get away
with.
  Gavin was bobbing up and down next to Henry as two police outriders
thundered into the courtyard, followed by a black BMW with the royal banner
fluttering above the windscreen.  An SUV full of secret-service types
rolled in behind.  The BMW's driver raced round to open the door, and King
Rudolf emerged with a grin.  He was no Windsor.  He was wearing cargo
pants, trainers without socks and a knitted top over a tee.  Oskar went to
greet him first, then introduced the house guests.
  After shaking hands with the older ones, the king finally reached Henry.
His eyes lit up.  `Well, little Outfield, back in my kingdom again?'
  `Glad to say I am, Your Majesty.  You seem to be keeping it nice.'
  The king laughed and gave Henry a big hug, whispering in his ear, `I've
missed you, Henry.'  He stepped back, turned and said, `You have to be
Gavin.'
  Gavin squeaked, `Yes, thank you, Your Majesty.'  Then he blushed bright
red.
  `You're a very lucky boy.'
  `I know, Your Majesty.  Henry's brilliant.'
  The king smiled at him and shook his hand, before moving on to the
Peacher twins.  `Eddie and Harriet, nice to meet you.  I've heard a lot
about you from Peter.'
  `Cool, Your Majesty dude,' said Eddie with a grin.  Harriet did a proper
court curtsey, as Helge had done.  She stood, her eyes met those of the
king, and there followed a pregnant pause, the sort when the world goes
still around two people.  Henry noticed it and Eddie did too.  Rudolf took
Harriet's hand, bent and kissed it.  Their eyes locked once more as he
looked up.  This time another pair of eyes noticed them, and Fritz flushed
with annoyance.
  The king took Helge's arm and led the others indoors in a chatting group.
  Henry and Gavin held hands as they walked.  Gavin hissed, `You didn't
tell me what an out-and-out babe he is!  I never realised redheads could be
so utterly gorgeous!  I nearly wet myself when he talked to me.'
  Henry laughed.  `I just forgot.  To me he's simply Broody Rudi, as we
used to call him in the sixth, before he was king.  His nickname was
"Chicken", cos it irritated the hell out of him.'
  Lunch was laid out in the great dining room.  Servants were everywhere.
Peter had been coached by Oskar to do the formal Rothenian welcome, which
he ended with the opening toast.  He raised his wine glass and offered,
`The House of Elphberg'.  Everyone applauded and Rudi acknowledged the
compliment.
  The king was sitting at the opposite end of the table from Peter, with
Eddie and Harriet on either side.  He made himself very charming to both
siblings, although Henry noticed his eyes straying again and again to
Harry.  Gavin was talking earnestly to Helge, leaving to Henry the
unaccustomed task of trying to hold up both ends of a conversation with
Fritz.  The prince was moody and withdrawn, and the looks he kept casting
down the table towards Rudi and Harriet were not pleasant ones.
  As the lunch moved on to coffee, Rudi made an announcement after first
formally asking the host's permission.  Though brought up in England, Rudi
had been educated by his formidable grandmother, the countess of
Kesarstein, in proper Rothenian formality.
  `My dear friends, some of you already have your invitations for the
Summer Ball at the palace in Strelzen next week.  It is an important
occasion for me personally.  My uncle Lord Robert Rassendyll will be here
from England so I can invest him as the new count of Hentzau.  His
daughter, my only cousin Eleanor, will be proclaimed Princess Royal and
heir presumptive to the throne.  Oskar has extra invitations for everyone
here, and I hope you all will be able to accept.  It is the beginning of
the season and will inaugurate the new Strelzen Summer Music Festival.  And
Henry ...'
  Henry perked up.  `Yes sir?'
  `Male on male dancing is to be allowed by royal command.'
  `Oh wow!  Pity Terry won't be here.'
  The king laughed.  `Oh yes, I sent him a personal message to make sure he
will be coming.  Also I want to see Davey Skipper.  I hope you all have
time to get appropriate dress.'
  `Brought my medal, sir!' Henry announced with glee.

Rudi joined them at the poolside that afternoon.  Henry dozed next to Gavin
after the heavy lunch, while the more muscular men present -- including the
king -- worked it off with a vigorous game of water polo in the indoor
pool.  Fritz had disappeared.
   Henry woke following an hour's nap.  Gavin was still completely flat out
next to him.  His recliner creaked as Rudi sat down beside him.
  `Well, Outfield, have you got time for a chat?'
  `Certainly, sir.  Wanna go and get something cool?  Let me adjust the
umbrella to protect Sleeping Beauty here.'
  Henry pulled a cool cotton robe over his hot skin.  Rudi had slipped his
tee-shirt on.  They walked barefoot to the grass and wandered around the
outside of the house.  In the shade of the north side they found a couple
of chairs on the lawn.  Rudi caught the eye of a passing servant and
ordered cold drinks.  The man bowed and hurried off.
  Henry waited patiently for the king to say what he had in mind.  Rudi
grinned.  `How was your first year then, Henry?'
  `Quite a shock, Rudi.  Not the academic work, though it is demanding
doing History and Theology.  The thing is, I had not expected to have to
grow up so fast.  I got a job that brought me into Cranwell's sleaze
centre, or what was the sleaze centre till Terry bought it.  The things
I've seen and had to do, you wouldn't believe.  But mostly it's been Gavin.
He's not needy or whiney, bless him, but he's utterly devoted to me.  He
puts me in charge and I have to be the moral leader in our relationship.'
  `And you love him?'
  `Oh yes.  There's a very real purity about him with which I'm still
coming to terms.  He's not exactly naive and he's not exactly
straight-laced -- not with the things we do in bed, at least -- but he is
just absolutely open and completely possessed by the finer feelings of
humanity.  He hasn't a bad word to say about anyone, apart from his vile
brothers, though he's certainly got reason for that.  But this doesn't make
him weak, far from it.  In some ways, he's the strongest man I've ever met.
He's so shy he's scared of being in the same room as a stranger.  At the
same time, he's done the bravest things I've ever seen a man do, totally
without flinching.'
  `You certainly find them, Outfield.  Suppose I were to tell you that Ed
Cornish is more in love with you now than ever.'
  `I wish you wouldn't.  I thought we'd found a new level of relationship
in London over New Year.  We swore eternal brotherhood.'
  `That was good intentions on his part, I would imagine.  But he and Guy
have parted, though they needn't have because Guy is staying in Cambridge
for postgraduate work.  I suspect it's because Ed can't get you out of his
head.'
  `Has he told you this, Rudi?'
  `Not in so many words.  But he's my best friend, he really is.  He's even
trying to learn Rothenian.  And I know him inside out, gay or not.'
  `I'm sorry to hear that, Rudi.  Because Gavin and I are the real thing,
y'know.'
  `Yes, I see that, Outfield.'  He paused, then confided, `That Harriet
Peacher is really something!'
  Henry laughed a little.  `I thought you were spoken for, Rudi.'
  The king looked sheepish.  `You mean Angela?  We went out for a bit,
she's in my college.  I believe she's actually a cousin of mine, one of the
Dalrymple people.  We've even ... er, consummated the relationship.  But I
rather think it's the celebrity she's in love with, not Rudi Burlesdon.
No, there isn't any mileage in that affair.  She got what she wanted out of
it, a spread in Vogue and a modelling contract.  So ... what about Harriet?'
  Henry gave him a quirky look.  `Fritzy's already been showing interest
there, and it would upset him no end if you moved in on her.'
  Rudi frowned.  He did it rather well, with a certain brooding majesty,
like a thunderstorm coming up from behind a line of hills.  `Henry, he's
only a boy.  She's two years older than he is.'
  `Boys can dream too, sir.  You should know that.'
  The king sat quietly while a servant came up and offered them their
drinks on a silver tray.  Finally he mused, `She is really something,
Henry.  Intelligent, beautiful ...'
  `And very, very wealthy.'
  `That's hardly a consideration, Henry.'
  `I'll tell you one thing that should make you think twice.'
  `What is it?'
  `Marry her and Justin will become your nephew!'
  Rudi stared at Henry.  `Me,' he guffawed, `the monkey's uncle!'

Henry was more than a little troubled by the king's confidences.  He knew
Fritz well enough to understand that the boy was in dead earnest, seized by
a full Rothenian passion for Harriet Peacher.  Fritz was the prince of
Tarlenheim and, even in the twenty-first century, the traits of his
ancestors were fully realised in him.  Although the love was disguised with
humour and whimsy, Henry could nonetheless sense it lying just beneath the
surface.  Fritz had all the potential for noble anger and decisive action
so marked in his forebears.  The Tarlenheims had always been loyal to the
Elphberg monarchy, but they were as volatile as the rest of the Rothenian
nobility when it came down to affairs of the heart.
  By the time Henry got back to the poolside, Gavin had woken and gone back
to the main house.  Henry found him in their room, changing, but soon put a
stop to that.  He threw off his own robe and shorts, wrestled Gavin to the
floor and ripped his pants down with a minimum of resistance.  Having
mastered his lover, Henry pushed him face-down into the carpet, found an
entry and pounded his backside hard, just the way he knew Gavin liked it.
His groin slapped Gavin's buttocks loudly as he became more and more
frantic with his thrusting.
  Gavin responded to Henry's open lust for him with huge enthusiasm.  He
said it excited him no end to think another boy wanted his body as badly as
Henry did.
  All too soon they were exhausted from their rutting.  After a quick
shower to clean up their emissions, they decided it was time to get ready
for the evening's fete.

Dinner that night was to be fully formal -- white-tie, with decorations
worn in honour of the king's presence.  Henry and Gavin opened their
wardrobe and extracted the film- wrapped evening suits that Matt had
generously ordered to be tailored for them.  They spent a long time getting
themselves ready.  When they were as perfect as they could be, and had
buttoned up their black waistcoats, Gavin very seriously placed the
red-and- yellow ribbon with the attached medal of the Order of Henry the
Lion (Second Class) round Henry's neck.  Then Gavin kissed him and told him
how beautiful he was.
  They went down to the drawing room hand-in-hand, to be met at the door
and kissed by Peter Peacher.  He looked at them approvingly.  `You'll do
very nicely.'  Then he grinned.  `We've got two additional guests tonight,
babes.  You'll love this, Henry -- Alastair Bannow and Chad Wardrinski.
The king made a point of it.'
  The boys entered a magnificent setting from a bygone era.  The walls were
lined with Oskar's liveried staff in footmen's garb, complete with powdered
wigs.  The chamberlain stood at the head of the room in a full-bottomed
eighteenth-century coat over a red-and- gold waistcoat, holding a
gold-headed staff.  Servants were waiting with drinks for the guests.
Matt, Oskar and Fritz wore the red sashes and stars of their Order of the
Rose, and King Rudolf and Fritz in addition wore gold chains of the grand
cordon.
  Eddie came up and smiled quirkily at Henry.  `Nice little order,
chivalrous dude.'
  `Why, thank you, Eddie.  I didn't know you had these sorts of clothes.'
  `Dad has them made.  There's a closet full of them in the Mayfair house.
Harry brought them over, didn't you, sis?'
  Harriet looked radiant in diamonds and a stunning sky-blue silk ball
gown.  She smiled at her brother.  `You clean up beautifully, Eddie.  Those
clothes look magnificent on you.  It's great to get a chance to see you
like this.  You and I are going to dance till dawn at the Summer Ball.'
She grinned at Henry like a tomboy urchin.  `Bet you'd never guess that
Eddie dances superbly.  Mom sent us together to have lessons when we were
nine, and we're natural partners.'  Eddie gave her a shy grin that Henry
would never have believed him capable of.
  Henry looked around.  Dr Bannow and a lady who Henry assumed must be Mrs
Bannow were talking very civilly to Matt.  Wardrinski was chatting with the
king, who was clearly enjoying the encounter.  Henry sidled closer.
Wardrinski noticed him, and seemed both surprised and faintly annoyed that
he was there.
  Rudi gave his trademark evil grin and called Henry over.  `Professor
Wardrinski, do you know my old friend Henry Atwood?  He sometimes acts as
my equerry when he's here in Rothenia.'
  Wardrinski blurted out, `You know this young man, sir?'
  The king laughed.  `You ought to know, professor, that Henry here is one
of the best- connected young men in Britain.  We were at school together.'
  `Ah,' said Wardrinski in a rather resentful way, `the old school tie.
Some of us have had to make our way in life without it.'
  Henry couldn't resist saying, `I owe a lot of my fame to modelling,
professor.  Apparently there are quite a few people out there who admire my
good looks.'
  Wardrinski looked as if he were sucking a lemon.
  Rudi laughed and returned to his conversation, holding Henry's arm to
stop him from moving away.  `So, professor, you seem unwilling to
acknowledge the efficacy of the relics that are the religious heritage of
my kingdom.'
  Wardrinski shrugged.  `I'm sure the relics are important national
treasures, sir.  I wouldn't say a word against them.'
  `Ah, but do they have more than historical significance?'
  `Obviously, sir, they have a national meaning and reinforce your people's
sense of their own identity.  The Black Virgin of Glottenberh is a focus of
a national festival.  For all that your Church peddles superstition and
bolsters ignorance, there has been an alliance with the state here in
Rothenia which has done something to help keep the nation together.  But I
imagine the link has weakened in recent years.'
  The king frowned.  `There was a great surge in attachment to the Catholic
Church under Communism, and the cardinal archbishop was a major player in
the May Rising of 1989.  There has been a cooling off since, although I
believe the Church still commands a greater allegiance within my kingdom
than it does in other countries.  But the question was whether you see the
cult of relics as having any spiritual meaning.'
  Wardrinski hunched his shoulders, unwilling to offend a king in his own
kingdom, but unable to set aside his ingrained pugnacity.  Finally he
replied, `Spirituality to me is a word without meaning, so spiritual
meaning has to be a complete oxymoron.'
  Henry felt obliged to chip in.  `Again, it comes down to this, professor.
You won't accept people's feelings about their inner lives, however strong
they are.'
  `Young man, it is just subjectivity.  I have told you this already.
Don't you see that we cannot as serious scientists accept anything as being
real which cannot be objectively assessed and measured?'
  The king laughed.  `The very thought!  Imagine devising a system of units
to measure spirituality.  What would you call it, Henry?  How about a
`chant'?'
  `Good, sir,' smiled Henry.  `Then you could start regulating the whole
business of religion.  A priest could generate a kilo-chant, a bishop a
mega-chant.  We could have an EU commissioner to deal with complaints from
humanists about spiritual pollution if they lived next to a church.  I
mean, a parish church might generate as many as sixty kilo- chants per
Sunday, more if it belonged to an Established church.  Cathedrals might be
monsters, as many as fifty mega-chants, but nothing compared to a two
hundred-mega- chant monastery.  You can see why your local atheists might
get annoyed, all that irradiation by unshielded prayer.'
  Rudi had caught fire with the idea.  `Suppose we could channel it somehow
into a European spirituality grid.  Think of it, with the UK down to a mere
six percent of the population attending church, we could transfer
mega-chants from more religious societies to less to keep everything in
balance.  Now there you are, Professor Wardrinski, how about that as a way
of rationalising and measuring religion?'
  Wardrinski had a look on his face which indicated he thought he was being
sent up, but could not quite see the joke.  `As I keep on telling people,
sir, religion brings out the illogicality in people.'
  Henry drifted away again and began chatting with Mrs Bannow, whom he
found charming.  When next he looked, he saw the king deep in conversation
with the Peacher twins.  Gavin was talking to Fritz, who kept casting black
looks in the direction of Harriet and the king.
  It was soon time to take places for dinner.  The chamberlain thumped his
staff and two footmen opened the door into the grand dining room.  The king
led the way with Mrs Bannow, followed by Oskar and his sister, and Peter
with his.  The rest of the party entered in more random pairs, though Henry
made sure he was with Gavin.  By some awkward coincidence, Wardrinski had
to walk stiffly in with Bannow, and they ended up sitting opposite each
other.  Peter took the end of the table opposite the king and formally
opened the dinner with a toast to his distinguished guests.  Bannow and
Wardrinski both gave identical stiff smiles and nods.
  The dinner was elaborate and lengthy.  With Gavin sitting opposite him,
clearly delighted by the evening and looking now quite handsome, Henry did
not mind at all.  He had Fritz on his right, and tried to work out how the
younger boy was feeling.  But Fritz had all the self-command of an
aristocrat and gave little of himself away.
  The candlelight glinted off silver, crystal, jewellery and orders of
chivalry.  Henry was quite entranced.  The food too was magnificent, for
Peter had brought in a chef from Milan.  It was past midnight when Oskar
rose and gave the formal blessing that concluded the meal.
  Henry was stuffed with a dinner the like of which he had never
experienced before in his life.  He saw the same satiety in Gavin's eyes.
They slid into bed with no thought other than sleep in their heads.