Date: Sun, 29 Apr 2007 08:38:58 +0000
From: Jack Smith <js_mas@hotmail.com>
Subject: New Beginnings 7

     WEEK SEVEN - THE EXPEDITION


     SECONDAY

     Wi-Su and I returned from a morning exploration of the
uplands to find that a second tent had been erected in our
clearing.  It was smaller than the first, though bigger than
the travelling tent we had slept in on our journey here.
When I looked inside the first tent I noted that all of Wi-
Su's possessions had been removed, replaced by those of
Father.  Father had arrived!  Do-Si informed us, when he
came up from the camp of the field workers, that Lord Srotyr
and Yue-Sin had arrived a while previously and on his
recommendation had gone for a walk to view the waterfall.
My heart was torn.  I didn't want to lose Wi-Su from my
side.  I had become accustomed to see him without clothes,
and now Father was here I knew that this would no longer
happen.  Father would take me into his possession.  Not that
this was an unpleasant concept.  I longed to see Father.
There had been so little time between his return and my
departure.  I wanted him very much.  But I wanted Wi-Su as
well.
     I thought my reunion with Father would be dampened by
this ambivalence that I felt but when I saw him, his
powerful frame, his handsome face, I found that all I wanted
to do was embrace him.  Of course what I did was bow
politely.  Yue-Sin followed behind, and I acknowledged his
bow with a nod of my head.  Father was breathing heavily and
looked a little grey after the climb up to the campsite, but
he improved during lunch, and by the time we were retiring
to sleep he seemed his normal self.  In reply to my question
as to his health he replied that all was well, and better
now for seeing me.  He took me in his arms and held me
tight.  I felt like my legs were jelly, overpowered by his
virile aroma.  He then suggested that before sleep he would
like to bathe.  He had heard so much about this miraculous
pool.
     With Yue-Sin guarding our privacy we disrobed by the
pool.  It was the first time that I had seen him undressed
in full daylight, and he was truly magnificent.  The fur
that covered his body seemed to gleam in the light of day,
its darkness contrasting more with the palidity of his skin
and making him seem hairier than ever.  I wanted to take
there and then, but worried about our discovery he
restricted our embrace to a arm in arm grip similar to that
I had shared with Wi-Su.  Unlike with Wi-Su though I managed
to snare his lizlion with my free arm.  Father returned the
favour, and soon had me erupting.  When I tried to
reciprocate he stopped me, saying he wanted to save that for
later when we were more comfortable, reminding me that he
had the ability to fire only one arrow a day.  After we had
slept, curled together as was our custom, I had the pleasure
to let that arrow fly.
     After siesta Father was keen to see the uplands that Wi-
Su had talked about with such enthusiasm after lunch.  With
Wi-Su in accompaniment Father and I made our way down the
stairs to the pool.
     "Wi-Su, I heard your report about this pool when you
returned from collecting the black substance to surface the
Town Square, but doubted the veracity of your description.
It did not seem possible, though I did not say as much to
you.  But now having seen it, and felt its powers, I don't
believe that you gave adequate expression to its qualities."
This was spoken by Father as we passed beside the pool on
our way to the steep climb of the path up to the top of the
ridge.
     "It is difficult to describe, my Lord.  I do not have
the eduction that you have, the power of words, to explain
such things.  Lord Cavon, with the beauty and power of his
speech and written word would be able to do it justice."
     "The young Lord does have a way with words, I'll grant
you that.  But I suspect the sense of well being and repose
that seeps little by little into one as one soaks in that
warm water is, as you suggest, beyond description."
     "I agree, Father.  But though beyond description I have
felt the benefit of its effects after our many hard treks
exploring this upland area that this path is leading us to."
     Father nodded then craned his neck up to try to see the
top of the path.  "Looking at this path I think it will be
sufficient to cause me to have need for its succour."
     We were less than half way up when I noted that Father
was again breathing heavily, clutching his chest, with his
face drained of colour.  Not wishing to draw attention to
his problems I used the excuse of the clarity of the day to
point out the various landmarks of the valley.  It was so
clear that the rising spray of the waterfall was visible.  I
think Wi-Su picked up on my motive for he chimed in with his
own points of interest.  While he was looking around Father
reached into his pocked and took out what appeared to be a
small leaf.  He chewed on this as he nodded in
acknowledgement of each of our comments, and soon he seemed
okay once again.  Feigning sore legs, Wi-Su, who was
leading, slowed the pace of our ascent, and Father managed
to arrive at the top with only a moderate increase in his
respiration.
     The view from the top over the rolling red uplands took
away what breath he had however, and it was a while before
he managed to say anything.
     "Wi-Su, again your descriptive powers leave something
to be desired.  The only thing I can compare the breadth of
this with is a view over the open sea."
     "I apologise for my humble knowledge of the language,
my Lord.  But not is it only breath taking in its expanse,
can you imagine the use we can have for this infinite
quantity of grass.  And not only that, something I didn't
mention is that the top of the drop that falls down to the
river is infested with Ironwood."
     "Ironwood," exclaimed Father.  "That I would like to
see.  Lead the way, Wi-Su."
     "Ah, Father," I interjected.  "I thought we might leave
that till tomorrow.  A stream cuts down from this upland
down to the river valley.  Its bed is broad and reasonably
even.  It would be interesting to see how well a horse can
cope with its grade, so if we rode down into the valley we
could head up river, it is not very far, and could test out
their climbing ability, have a look at the Ironwood, and at
the same time see if the horses find this grass to their
taste.  It has some similarities I have noticed with water
weed, and horses won't eat water weed.  I'm not sure that
they will been keen on this grass either."
     "How far is it from here to the edge of the valley?"
Father asked.
     "It took Wi-Su and I most of a morning to arrive at its
crest."
     "I think what you suggest has merit.  I would not like
to be arriving back at camp without a light to guide us.  It
could be dark, as we have started late.  Let us sit here and
admire the view before returning to camp."
     The balm of the water was needed again that evening.  I
floated beside Father, with Yue-Sin, whom I had asked
Father's permission to invite, nearby.  We had dined well
and now felt very relaxed, a few cups of rice wine under our
belts.  With Father's prior approval I led Yue-Sin away into
the dark towards the far edge of the pool, and their
proceeded to make love.  It was his first chance to show any
emotion, and he was almost in tears as he kissed and told me
of how much he felt my absence after the weeks of closeness
while Father was away.  I told him that I understood and
held him close, then balanced him on a step for another
fucking.
     In bed that night Father said in my ear, making sure
his words would not carry as far a the foyer where Yue-Sin
was bedded, "You are truly a wonder, my boy.  You have an
ability to let everyone know they are wanted, without
causing anyone to feel left out.  Yue-Sin is truly pining
for you.  I have never seen him so.  You did the right thing
by making him feel special.  And at the same time you leave
me with no doubt that it is truly I that you love, even
while the ripples of your fucking were washing over my
swelling lizlion."
     "The water gave us away?  I did not think of that.  But
you knew why I wanted to show him the pool."
     "I did.  But even without knowing I would have been
informed."
     "I will have to take care if anyone else is around."
     "There won't be anyone else, so there will be no need.
Goodnight Cavon," said Father, ending the conversation with
a wet kiss.
     "Good night Father."  I rolled so my back was too him,
fitting its curve into the curve of his body.  I reached
between my legs to find his mighty member and placed it
between my legs, thrilling at the feeling of having it in my
possession.

     FIFDAY

     It was good to be on the move again.  As beautiful as
the valley was, and as interesting the exploration of the
upland, it was wonderful feeling to have Kito underneath me
again and a long ride ahead.  The ride up the streambed to
the upland had been a only a partial success, with the
horses making the climb without too much effort but turning
up their noses at the upland grass.  Also having Father and
Wi-Su together had not been so successful.  We made the
journey on ThirDay morning, and it was the only time that
Father left our elevated campsite in the two full days he
spent there after the day of his arrival.  I think Father
had sensed something in my attitude to Wi-Su and he was very
stiff and formal in all his dealings with him.  Wi-Su on his
part was very quiet.  On the final climb up to our campsite
Father again appeared to have difficulty, despite having
started to chew on a leaf prior to undertaking the climb.  I
suspect it was this more than anything that caused him to
not move from camp for the remaining time, but when I
suggested that I was going for a walk in the uplands in the
afternoon with Wi-Su his face clouded a little, and on
return he was morose and monosyllabic.  The pool thawed him
out, as we held each other in the water, but I decided that
I would not be able to go with Wi-Su again.  In response to
which Wi-Su made himself distant.  The next day was spent
sitting doing nothing other than listen to Father talk while
Wi-Su's location was unknown except during meal times, when
he ate with Yue-Sin and Do-Si.
     So it was good to be up early and be on horseback,
though it would be better still when we caught up with the
rest of the group, which had moved on ahead while Father
rested with me, and Wi-Su could make himself scarce.  Now we
had no option but to stay in a small group, and I had no
option but to suffer in silence while Father made snide but
not so soft remarks about Wi-Su's horsemanship, his
incompetence with a sword, his effeminate nature.
     To distract myself I observed in detail the land
through which we were passing.  For the most part the river
was its usual tranquil summer self, though in one spot it
did run through some rocks and form some white water.  The
red grass continued to be grazed by lizrabs.  Occasionally
my close scrutiny was rewarded by the view of a lizlion
charge and the bouncing escape of lizrabs.  Most of the time
a lizrab ended up in the jaws of the lizlion though who
would swallow it in what seemed like a single action then
after some time resting would make a leisurely return to the
water.  Whintox and miscal continued to dominate the valley
walls, but, possibly because I knew it was there, I thought
I was now aware of the deeper green of the Ironwood behind
them.
     What had appeared to be a larger version of the
travelling tent I had shared with Wi-Su on the initial leg
of our upriver trek proved to be the tent Father and I were
to share for the Expedition.  That first day it was set up
close to the smaller version in which Wi-Su slept with Do-
Si.  This closeness was for security purposes, as Father
seemed to quite uncomfortable with the presence of the
second tent.  He spoke in a whisper whenever he said
anything affectionate, would not partake in any sexual
activity, nor let me do so with Yue-Sin, even seemed
uncomfortable about our usual sleeping embrace.  This was a
Father I didn't know, one concerned about what other people
thought.