Eff Del

Flights of Angels

Book 2 of Young But Daily Growin'

Chapters 18-22

Chapter 18

When attempting to initiate change, it is often necessary to be aggressive. Aggression benefits the totality and promptness of the desired transformation. In order to make the change palatable however, you must also act with passion and understanding.

You cannot achieve positive results through anger. You cannot create consensus with fear.

We sat at the conference table sipping coffee and unconsciously munching muffins and Danish pastry as we watched the picture on the big drop down screen. The image and sound were both remarkably clear especially considering they were being transmitted to us by a device Chris was wearing on his jacket lapel… just one of many Skuggor devices that Barry had been introducing me to lately. The technology was so advanced that it would require inspection under an electron microscope to detect it for what is was.

The group I had jokingly begun calling our 'Skirmish Team' had flown down to Houston yesterday afternoon. Most of them were now seated in the public area of the meeting of the Board of Directors of the Nesswell-Turnbridge Academy for Boys. Doc Swaim, Doctor Scott and Taylor were waiting back at the hotel. They would be an integral part of the first visit to the school itself after the Board take-over had been successfully completed.

I'd noted that Bernie Turnbridge seemed to have heeded my advice and was absent. The meeting was being conducted by the Vice Chairman of the Board; a gentleman with the impressive if pretentious sounding name of Montgomery Prescott-Smythe.

We'd done our homework on each of the four sitting members of the board. Mr. Prescott-Smythe was in his mid-fifties and he'd made his money primarily in real estate development. He was well known for his behind-the-scenes political involvement having contributed large sums to the campaign chests of several highly placed politicians… mostly on a national level which included a few senators. There was little doubt concerning his involvement in high level management of the nest. Young boys' bodies were a valuable commodity among power brokers… especially when discretion was part of the arraignment.

The meeting had started precisely on time and was just at the point of concluding its quarterly performance review; essentially what would be called 'Old Business' if the meeting were following strict parliamentary procedure.

As the acting chairman droned on reading from a sheaf of papers he kept jostling in his hands, Mandy giggled and said, "You know, he reminds me of a big hamster trying to figure out what to do with a wrapped slice of American cheese." This elicited a loud guffaw from Barry which, in turn, drew a disapproving look from Walter.

"Seeing as how this concludes the old business," Mr. Prescott-Smythe intoned, "the Board will now move on to any matters of New Business."

This was the Commodore's cue to act. We could see him rise to his feet and clearly heard him speak."Mr. Chairman, as a point of order, before you move onto New Business, there is the matter of confidence in this Boards ability to continue in its present configuration."

This of course got the immediate attention of all four men seated around the table and a vocal reaction that we couldn't quite make out over the speakers.

"This is not the time in the agenda for entertaining comments from the floor sir." Prescott-Smythe's words were directed at the Commodore.

"On the contrary Mr. Chairman, this is precisely the time. The majority of shareholders have filed a letter with the Interstate Commerce Commission and the Texas Attorney General's Office stating our intention to call for a vote of confidence in this Board with the likely result being its dissolution."

With a sputter Mr. Prescott-Smythe responded, "This Sir, is highly irregular and unprecedented in my experience. Might I suggest that insomuchas our majority stockholder and Chairman of this Board, Mr. Bernard Turnbridge the third, was unable to attend this morning, we schedule an extraordinary meeting of the Board for say… he looked down at his calendar… eight weeks hence at which time we shall allocate time for you to present your credentials… after which we ahhh can entertain your request for a vote upon the makeup of this board."

"That Sir is an entirely unsatisfactory suggestion!" The Commodore's temper was flaring and I suspected he was beginning to enjoy this. He motioned Ricky up from his seat and took from him a large manila folder. "THESE are my credentials Sir."

He slammed the folder down onto the table causing all four members of the Board to jump noticeably in their chairs.

"You'll find that I hold the proxy for a majority of the share holders exceeding seventy eight percent of the total shares. It would seem that your Mr. Turnbridge is no longer the majority stockholder. You'll also find a document from the Securities and Exchange Commission confirming this fact."

He strode up to the head of the table and looked down at Mr. Prescott-Smythe who had remained seated.

"My name, by the way is George Tipton: here is my identification and here…" he pulled a sheef of papers from his inside jacket pocket… "are the incorporation papers of the Nesswell-Turnbridge Academy for Boys. On page six in the area I've kindly hi-lited in yellow for you; you'll see that the Board of Directors and all Officers of the corporation serve at the pleasure of the stock holders."

The Commodore placed a hand on the back of Mr. Prescott-Smythe's chair and leaned over so that he was looking the startled man in the eyes. "Sir… since, by virtue of these proxies I AM the stockholders… it is my pleasure to inform you that this Board of Directors is dissolved."

"B-but you can't do this!" Mr. Prescott-Smythe had risen red-faced to his feet.

"Seems to me I just did," the Commodore responded.

"Don't worry Monty…" said one of the other three Board Members. He was a rather corpulent man with slick black hair. I recognized him as Timothy Prichard the Secretary of the Board and he was waving his cell phone. "I've called for the police they'll be here shortly."

'Shortly' proved to be almost immediately. It seemed only a minute or so before three large men wearing the light blue shirts with dark blue epaulets and trim sporting badges of the Houston Police Department walked into the room. The lead officer wore sergeant's stripes on his sleeve. I turned to Walter. "That was a mighty fast response time Walter… and a sergeant answering a routine call?"

"It looks like a set-up Eric. Somebody was expecting this." As he spoke, Walter had picked up his phone and was in the process of placing a call.

I turned my attention back to the activity taking place on the screen. Mr. Prescott-Smythe was yelling and gesturing at the policemen and pointing at the Commodore who was at the same time waving his documents in front of the sergeant.

That man, who had identified himself as 'Sergeant Kurlin', finally threw his hands up in the air and called for quiet… which he received immediately; proof positive that when you are very large and are packing a gun as well, you usually get your way. Looking down at the Commodore the big policeman said:

"Mister Tipton, these may very well be documents that say you are what you claim t' be but… far as I can tell, this whole thang is a ish-yoo for the lawyers to argue ovah. Until you get this settled in front of a judge… from what I see, you are jest a trespassah at this here private meetin' and if you don't leave now, I'm going t' have to arrest you."

"Nonsense," the Commodore was getting really hot at this point and. though the policemen had him by at least twelve or more inches [>30 cm[ and an easy one hundred pounds [50 kg], he stood toe to toe with the big man. "That badge doesn't give you the authority to make any such decision over the legality of my being here or regarding the validity of my credentials. Furthermore, this is NOT a private meeting this is a board of directors meeting or a registered corporation that as a stock holder I have every right to attend."

The large sergeant made a sign to one of the other officers who approached Commodore Tipton, spun him roughly around, pulled his arms behind his back and fastened his wrists together in handcuffs.

"Seems to me that you have every right to take a little trip down to the jail is what I think."

Uncle Phil was on his feet now and he approached the group.

"Sergeant, My name is Phillip Regent, I am an associate of Mr. Tipton's and I believe that you are making a big mistake here. You are in essence interfering with a legal business action regarding the transition of directorship from one group to another according to a corporate charter recognized and ratified by the state of Texas and the Federal Government."

The big man glowered at Phil and then turned to the other officer who'd accompanied him. "Looks like we got us anothuh trespasser here plus this one is attemptin' to interfere with an officer in the performance of his duties… cuff him."

Uncle Phil was a well-built man and even though like Walter he was in his late sixties, he was formidable. He spun to face the policeman approaching him with handcuffs at the ready.

"For the last time I'm warning you that your actions here are illegal and it is you who are interfering in a private business transaction being performed in full accordance with the laws of the State of Texas."

Sergeant Kurlin's face was beet red with anger. He shook a big beefy fist in Phil's face and almost spit out his response. "An for the last time… I'm warnin' YOU… shut your fancy-assed mouth or I'll shut it for you. I'll decide what I can do here and for the time bein' what I can do is drag both of your asses down to the jail!"

Walter turned to me and said, "So far, they still think they're only dealing with small change private citizens like the Commodore; they don't know you're involved. I've made a couple of phone calls and I think Phil has just bought us enough time."

He no sooner finished speaking when on the screen we saw two tall figure swalk into the room. They were wearing Stetson hats and on their chest were round silver badges. Walter grinned at me and gestured to the screen. "Our Texas Rangers trump their Houston cops every time!" I shook my head I was still learning just how powerful and long reaching my private organization was.

The obviously senior of these two newcomers had identified himself as 'Ranger Cooper'. He'd pulled the big police sergeant aside and was talking to him. Though his demeanor was calm and he didn't appear in the least bit agitated, I could see the sergeant seem to deflate like a balloon with a slow leak. He indicated to his two fellow officers that the cuffs should be removed from my guys at once and he walked up to them rather timidly.

"It would seem gentlemen, that I may have ovah stepped my bounds. I was not awayah that the state attorney general's office was awayah of your intention heyah today. Please accept my 'pology and I hope that y'all enjoy the hospitality of our city. I surely hope that this little misunerstandin' will not tarnish your opinion the fine city of Houston."

Glaring at Mr. Prichard, the big policeman turned and left the room followed by his two cohorts.

Ranger Cooper doffed his hat to the Commodore and with a smile wished him a pleasant day.

"T-this isn't over you know." Mr. Prescott-Smythe was fuming. "I'm going directly to my attorney as will my three collegues I'm certain. We'll see you in court Mr. Tipton!" and with that the now 'ex' board of directors stormed out of the building.

Sitting at my side Mandy was laughing and clapping while Walter, Barry and Richard were smiling broadly. On the screen, Uncle Phil was looking directly into the transmitting device on Chris' lapel. "Nice work Walter. Talk about the cavalry showing up just in time… I'm getting too old to spend the night in jail. Eric, I think it's safe to assume that we've somehow lost a bit of our element of surprise eh?"

"Yeah," I replied "and I think I know how that happened. Someday I'll learn to listen to you older wiser guys."

"Well, I'll let you look into that situation Eric, We're all going to hightail it over to the school and hope we don't find anything wrong there."

As soon as the transmission had ended I told Walter, "Let me know when they get to the academy and start broadcasting again. I'm going down to my study to make a phone call to my good buddy Bernie 'the leak' Turnbridge."

***

I didn't waste a second on amenities. As soon as he answered the phone I was right in his face. "Bernie. I thought we had a clear understanding that you wouldn't speak about our business arrangement until after the Board meeting!"

"B-but Eric… I didn't honest. I only talked to Tim Prichard… he's the secretary of the board so I had to let him know I wouldn't be at the meeting."

"What else did you tell him Bernie?" I was really angry.

"Weeell… now that you mention it, I may have hinted to him that there were some big changes coming up… but I made him promise that he wouldn't tell… honest Why what's happened?'

I gave him a brief rundown on the showdown at the board meeting. "I wonder what surprises they're going to find at the school Bernie." I added sarcastically.

"I didn't talk to anyone at the school Eric I swear."

"You may not have Bernie but I'll bet Prichard and Prescott-Smythe did. If they had cops waiting at the board room, what do you suppose they've got cooked up at the school?"

I hung up and stormed out of my study. I glanced at my Rolex and noted itwas only 10:30 AM. I reflected that this was going to be a busy day. I also noted with satisfaction that I hadn't had a drop of alcohol yet.

***

I decided that I had time to check in with the boys since we hadn't even had breakfast together.

As I walked across the compound towards the pool I reflected on the conversation I'd had with Jack Sunday afternoon after I'd seen the 'assault team' off. I'd asked him to come down to my study with me and after a wonderful conversation about the upcoming adoption and family in general, I'd come right out and asked him, "Jack, one of the great things about being family is knowing that we can trust each other completely. I think I've come to know you pretty well and I think I can spot a problem when I see it."

"One thing I'm certain of is that fight you and Sean had the other day wasn't started because you were nervous or frightened about you boxing match. Something else is bothering you. How about sharing it with me? I just might be able to help make it better."

I'd poured us each a beer when we'd sat down and he took a sip of his before he fixed me in the gaze those startling green eyes.

"Well Dad…" as soon as he said that word his eyes sparkled and his face broke into a big grin… I grinned back. Then, he got serious again.

"Honest, part of it was the fight… the boxing. I mean I was nervous, not because I was afraid but because I'd never hit someone before. Walter and Richard have taught me a lot of stuff so I was pretty sure I could win but I didn't want to really hurt that other kid either… understand?" I nodded my head.

"Another part… well, you surprised me and you already fixed that…" he smiled at me again; "I was always happy since the first day you brought me here but, in some way, I always felt like the 'extra kid' you know? I mean you and Sean had you own special life and all the stuff you've done together and then I came along and I wasn't sure where I fit in. An' Dad, I REALLY wanted to fit in. I want to be part of it all soooo much. That's why I called you 'Uncle Eric'… if you were my uncle… then we were kinda family and I fit in… I belonged.

"When you asked me if I would be your son the other day, I was so surprised I almost wet my pants. I thought my heart was gonna stop beating! I'm so happy, I haven't come down from it yet."

He was smiling and shaking his head. His red hair had continued to grow since I'd brought him to Joyous Gaurde and I made a mental note that both boys needed haircuts… for that matter so did I but I dismissed that distraction for the moment and reached out and lovingly stroked his cheek.

"But Jack, there's something else beyond that isn't there?" He stared into my eyes and slowly I saw a pool of tears forming as he bit his lower lip and nodded his head.

"T-there's something wrong with me, Dad… something really wrong. That first day when Mandy and Rick came here and we were all at the swimming pool, I couldn't stop looking a Mandy in her bathing suit and every time I did… my cock got hard. That's not all… on my computer in my room… sometimes when I don't have to do other stuff; I sometimes look at other stuff on the internet…"

"Stuff like porn sites Jack?" I asked, trying to sound nonjudgmental. He nodded his head and blushed the brightest red I've ever seen.

"Yeah, like porn sites and … well… more and more lately… mostly all I look at is the girls and when I do, I can't keep from popping wood. Then that night you surprised me and brought Tip… err Taylor…"

"Tip is fine to say." I interjected. He nodded his head.

"Well, you brought him here and you told me he could spend the night with me. Well it was neat and that first night I let him fuck me a couple of times even though it hurt. It was Tip see and he'd never hurt me on purpose and besides… I only ever wanted to be fucked by two people in the whole world… Tip and… you… Dad. The thing is though… oh I feel so terrible saying this… but you're my Dad an all… or at least you're going to be…"

"I'm your Dad, Jack" I interjected again "We'll make it legal before the judge in about ten days."

He nodded again. "Well so, I can't lie to my Dad right? So… when Tip wasn't fucking me… when we were just hugging and even… even when he was sucking my cock, Dad, I was closing my eyes and pretending he was Mandy or one of those girls from the Internet."

"And , those times he was fucking me… well… I closed my eyes and pretended he was you! After the second night he'd been with me, he said to me 'Rufus, something is wrong. I don't know what it is but I don't think I should stay in your room with you anymore. The only time you seem to be with me is when I'm fucking you. Otherwise, you're a million miles away, so let's cool it a while.' So, as you know, he moved into the room you had for him in the guest wing, and Dad, I didn't even feel bad about it. I mean I love Tip… or at least I really like him a lot. He meant everything to me when I was his follow-boy but, lately, when I dream about stuff or think about stuff, I mostly dream about being with a beautiful girl… or with… you."

I almost spit out a mouthful of beer. I sat my glass down and reached over and took his hand.

"Well, Jack, in the first place, you need to start thinking about me differently. Funny, I sort of had this same discussion with Sean not so long ago. Jack, in my heart… and soon in the eyes of the world… I am your father. That means our relationship is something wonderful special and DIFFERENT from any other that you've ever had in your young life. As your father, you will have in me someone who will always love you unconditionally and unselfishly… and in a way that just a short time ago I could never imagine myself loving anyone."

"I'll be there for you when you need me and, sometimes when you THINK you don't." I gave him a rueful smile. "Our love is something that that will strengthen us and stand against anything in the world. However, we've got to realize what our relationship is. It is deep Jack… deep to the very bone… but it's NOT sexual. Oh, we'll still cuddle and even do a little 'other stuff' on occasion but more and more Jack, as we develop as a family and as you grow into the wonderful person that you are destined to be, you'll find that your world and your interests are going to be expanding wildly. And, increasingly, you're going to find that I'm the guy behind you encouraging you, cheering you on and catching you those few times you may fall. But, Jack, more and more, I'm going to be your father who loves you not your lover who you call father."

"Now the other part Jack, don't be afraid or upset because you're thinking about girls, That's normal son. The odds were always in favor of the fact that you'd be straight. You're confused right now because you were raised to act gay and taught to please men. That was conditioning, Jack, but it's apparently not your natural tendency. It may well be that, by nature, you're not even strictly straight but actually bisexual. I've personally always felt… and a lot of experts agree with me… that all people are born bisexual and circumstances in one way or another lead most of us to choose one side or the other."

"You may very well be one of the fortunate ones granted the opportunity to experiment and enjoy both proclivities. But Jack… straight, Bi or gay… there's no fault; no problem… no wrong or right. The only concern… the only sin, Jack… would be for you to be unhappy because you were trying to live your life according to somebody else's rules."

"You've only just turned sixteen, Jack. Your life these past few years has been hard and unnatural. In many ways, you've been cheated of your boyhood. BUT you're young enough still to enjoy those wonderful years you've still got before the world and nature says that you're a man."

"You've got a whole lifetime ahead of you to figure out who you are. Enjoy the journey my wonderful Rufus… don't be concerned. Be joyful."

"I know I've been unusually busy lately, but it won't last too much longer, Jack, and I promise I'm going to find ways for you to have normal social interaction with girls your own age. You'll learn my son, you'll learn about girls and you'll learn about yourself… you'll learn."

He got up from his chair slowly and leaned over and hugged me tightly around my neck. "I love you so much Eric … Dad… I sure got lucky the day I met you!"

I hadn't said anything at first; I just squeezed him tightly. Finally I said in a voice only slightly above a whisper, "We both got lucky that day Jack."

***

I was smiling at the memory as I rounded the hedge and onto the pool deck. I heard the dreaded sounds before I saw them

"Marco!"

"Polo!"

"Marco!"

"Polo!"

They both saw me at the same time. "Dad!" they yelled in almost perfect unison and I felt something wonderful tug at my heart.

Sean had been the one standing on the deck and he was in my arms instantly. Jack was only a moment or two behind because he'd had to get out of the pool. With their four arms wrapped around me, I ran my hands down their athletic young bodies and came to rest on two naked butts.

"What have I told you about the pool guys?" I said in my best pretend stern voice.

"Dad, we know we gotta wear swimsuits when other people are around but you guys got your meetin' until at least three o'clock every day."

Agreeing with Sean, Jack quickly added. "And besides. Dad, we keep our suits right here on the edge of the pool so if somebody should come by surprise… like you just did… we can dive under water and come up wearing them!"

I burst out laughing. "No, no you sillies! I wasn't talking about swimming naked. I was talking about playing 'Marco Polo' when I'm around… that game drives me nuts!"

"Are you gonna come in the pool with us, Dad?" Sean asked.

"I can't just now son. I'm going to have to head back to the conference room in a few minutes. I just came by because I wanted to see you two."

"Dad," it was Jack's turn. "I've finished studying the driver's hand bookand I think I'm ready for my written test. John said he'd take me out to the DMV tomorrow if that's OK with you."

I smiled at both of them. "That's great, Jack, and don't forget our deal. If you pass your written test, then, tomorrow night we talk about a car for you."

The boys exchanged a happy look and simultaneously I received a kiss on each cheek. Sean stepped back about two paces and threw his arms out to his side. "Man… what a family we got now!" he exclaimed happily.

***

Back in the conference room, we were gathered at the table watching the screen again. Chris had let us know they were entering the Academy campus.

I of course recognized the lobby from my previous visits. The group had arrived (hopefully) unexpectedly and had requested a meeting with Director Coleman. I saw him as he entered the lobby appearing to be confused and agitated.

"Gentlemen" he addressed our team "I'm sorry for seeming to be discourteous but you must understand that I am used to visitors making an appointment. We are a very busy organization and my… err our time is quite strictly allocated so… if you'd like to see the receptionist I'm certain we can set up an appointment that would be mutually convenient and…"

"Oh, there's no need for that Mr. Coleman." A familiar voice sounded from off camera. I was trying to place it when suddenly Bernie Turnbridge strode into view. He walked directly over to the Commodore with his hand out.

"Mr. Tipton, I'm Bernie Turnbridge. My accidental indiscretion seems to have made your meeting this morning more difficult than it needed to be. I felt that the least I could do was to come over here and make this introduction a bit easier."

In a matter of moments, Bernie had introduced himself to our entire team and, after handshakes and amenities, he turned to the now confused Director. "Mr. Coleman, let's all go back inside… I believe that plush office of your will accommodate us all yes?"

With that, smooth-as-silk Bernie had defused the edgy little director and made our entrance into the school painless. I smiled to myself thinking that he'd certainly made up for his earlier mistake. It was Bernie, rather than the Commodore, who explained to Director Coleman that the Academy was now effectively under new ownership and that it was destined to be guided in a new direction. Director Coleman was looking more and more uncomfortable as the conversation developed.

The Director had been the subject of serious discussion during our planning sessions. We all agreed that his full cooperation would go a long way to making the transition progress smoothly.

After examining his complete file and, based upon my personal experience, we'd come to certain conclusions. While he was an officious and self-important little man, Director Coleman was also a talented administrator and a highly capable organizer and manager. Under his twelve-year tenure, the Academy had functioned flawlessly and successfully.

While his remaining at the Academy was, of course out of the question, there was no need to bruise his ego or. for that matter to ignore his talents. Uncle Phil had identified one of the many companies I owned that had need of a good 'hands on' Director and after some discussion we'd decided Mr. Coleman could fit that bill perfectly. We'd decided that a generous improvement in his compensation package would make Mr. Coleman a friend for life.

The Commodore took over from Bernie. "Now Director Coleman, it is important to us that you not see these changes as in anyway being a reflection upon your very capable performance of your responsibilities here. The actual fact is, that we as a group, admire the way you have so capably manned the helm if you will."

"Well, Mr. Tipton, I certainly have tried my best to…"

"Ah, but you're being too modest Mr. Coleman. The truth is we've had our eye on you for some time."

"Y-you have? I-I mean HAVE you?"

"Oh yes indeed Mr. Coleman… in fact we're of the opinion that you are just the fellow to take the reins of one of our flagship companies… a prestigious organization that has been wanting a capable corporate shepherd for sometime now.

Err… Mr. Coleman, might I ask you to take a moment to peruse this little synopsis of our offer?" He handed the little man a beautifully printed packet which Phil had designed and prepared.

It was essentially an offer of employment as managing director of a very old and well known manufacturer of men's accessories… watches, wallets belts… things like that. It was a company that had always made a modes tprofit for us and that we essentially left alone because of its prestige, Its current Managing Director was due for retirement and we felt that Mr. Coleman with his innate stuffiness would be a perfect fit.

"On top of that" Uncle Phil had laughingly added; "The little guy might surprise us and turn the company into a real money maker." Mr. Coleman began reading the document and his eyes widened almost at once as he recognized the name of the company.

"I myself have been a customer. I-I've owned some of these products for years… they're first class, almost venerable."

"I'm glad you see the importance of this brand… this INSTITUTION… being skillfully and yet lovingly guided Mr. Coleman."

I chuckled and said, "If the Commodore hadn't been an educator, he'd have made a hell of an actor!"

"Or a Con man," Walter interjected. We all laughed and then turned back to the screen.

Mr. Coleman's eyes got bigger and bigger as he read and took in the information contained in the document. While not outrageous, it was in fact a very generous offer and you could see the excitement building in the little man's demeanor. Finally finished he gently placed the folder down on his desk and faced the Commodore.

"Well… ahem… I hardly know what to say other than to assure you that I am certain that I am in fact the man for the job."

"Wonderful, Mr. Coleman, wonderful! I shall have our people FedEX me copies of the full formal contract and, tomorrow after you've had a chance to examine it thoroughly, we'll get you signed sealed and delivered so to speak. Of course, you should feel free to have your attorney here with you tomorrow should you like… or feel that it's necessary…"

"Oh… NO… no that won't be required. We're all gentlemen here are we not?"

The Commodore was on his feet now, "Ah! Spoken like a true team player! Welcome aboard Coleman! Welcome aboard this is just… bully!"

Richard turned to me and said,"Bully? What the hell…"

But Walter cut in before I could speak, "The Commodore thinks he's playing fucking Teddy Roosevelt… oops! Sorry, Mandy!"

She just giggled and patted Walter's arm.

"Now, Director Coleman, I don't need to tell you that discretion is the key for us here. Tomorrow I'd like for you to have your staff know that there's going to be a mandatory meeting. We of course will be reviewing all personnel and you, of course, will be an invaluable help in this regard."

"At the same time, Mr. Hanuchek and his assistant will be spending some time with the boys… specifically the ones in what do you call it… the 'Senior' building yes?" He indicated Chris and Tip.

Coleman just nodded and assured the Commodore that everything would be ready tomorrow. It dawned on me that, although he had only just aged out of the Academy, the Director hadn't recognized Tip. It was then I realized what I'd always suspected; that, to these people, the boys were simply a product that they produced for an exclusive group of consumers.

An hour later, with the team back at the hotel that we conveniently happened to own, we were video conferencing discussing the day's events.

"The visit to the Academy went very smoothly thanks to Bernie Turnbridge's intervention. You might want to consider bringing him onboard Eric," Uncle Phil was saying and I could see most of the team nodding in agreement.

"We'll talk about that as things progress," I responded. "I don't think that sweet package we put together for Coleman hurt very much either though. Was he wriggling in his chair as badly as it looked on the video?"

"Even more Little E! He was sweating so hard the room began to stink," The Commodore was laughing as he spoke.

"This might seem to be going easy right now, everybody, but I don't think the smoke has settled yet." It was Ricky this time. "Those cops this morning were in somebody's pocket and unless we've got every Texas Ranger in the state working for us, there's a lot worse to come."

"I sadly agree with you Ricky," Walter commented. "Hopefully we've thought ahead well enough."

"Well anyway, guys, today was a job well done. Go out and have a great dinner, Oh and Uncle Phil… buy the Commodore the best bottle of rum in town for me… consider it the outstanding actor award."Everyone was laughing as we signed off.

***

I'd eaten dinner that evening, just me and the boys and afterward we'd spent a very pleasant couple of hours playing 8 ball… which Jack still insisted was an 'old man's game'.

I'd sent the boys upstairs to shower and to bed because I wanted to spend some time alone going over the plans for tomorrow. As I sat in my study, I almost reflexively made myself a drink. Raising the glass to my lips I realized with an almost electrical shock that this was the first alcoholic drink I'd taken today. I sipped it slowly as I made notes on my computer.

When I'd finished the drink, I realized that we'd done all the planning we could and we'd need to face the day on its own merits. I considered another drink and, to my actual surprise, I decided against it. Instead I walked down the hall to the elevator feeling pretty good about a lot of things.

***

It was rather late that night and I suppose I'd been sleeping rather lightly but I felt more than heard something or someone approach my bed. The covers were turned back softly and the bed reacted to the weight of someone crawling in with me. I turned my head in that direction but it was dark in the room and I couldn't make out who it was.

"A-are you asleep?" Jack's voice was soft and he was speaking in a throaty whisper.

"Jack? What are you…"

"Shhhh," His finger was over my lips.

"Please listen without interrupting Eric. I can't help this! You have to believe me that I need you to… I want you to… oh please, just this time just once to so I know that we've done it. I know I'm probably not making sense to you but, Eric… before I'm officially your son and you're my Dad forever. Just once just this once I need for it to be Eric and Rufus, the way it was supposed to be when we first met except… the way only you can really be… someone who cares about me and the way I feel… someone who really loves me and that I love more than anybody in the world."

"I promise Eric… I promise that tomorrow I'll wake up as Jack forever if only… oh please… if only this one time you'll make love to Rufus."

"Jack… Jack I…" his lips were suddenly on mine crushing against me with a passion… no, not a passion… more like a need.

"Just this once so I can know Eric… please just this once."

I breathed deeply. My heart was pounding in my chest. The beautiful boy softly rolled onto his back and he pressed something into my hand. I realized that it was a familiar white tube.

I softly stroked his thigh and leg as he initiated another hard fiery kiss and I felt my cock grow hard as a steel bar. I was having trouble breathing. I knew I had to speak… to take control of the situation… but…

It was difficult.

Do not accept things on face value. Neither should you always rely upon first impressions.
Despite what you've been told about the importance of these, things often turn out to be quite different from the way they were initially perceived.

Changing your mind is not a weakness; it is a prerogative for achieving growth and wisdom.
After all, what is an opinion in the end if it is not an intelligent analysis based upon perception, fact and experience? Always be prepared to change your opinion but be steadfast in your principles.

Your opinions are like the leaves of a tree while your principles are like its roots. The leaves will certainly change with the seasons… even wither and fall away and yet the tree grows and prospers so long as the roots stay strong and grounded.

Despite the fact that I had drawn and closed the blinds last night, the golden light of early morning cunningly found the chinks and sparse openings at the windows and poured in like some persistently flowing liquid. It slowly filled the room in honey yellow clarity silently driving back the smooth velvet of night's darkness.

I stood at the bedside looking down in loving wonder as dawn's triumphant illumination revealed the beauty that lay in peaceful repose; sprawled amid the wild tangles of last night's sheets.

Although he proudly proclaimed his sixteen years, in reality he was a very new sixteen. He was scarcely beyond the stunning fifteen year-old boy who had shared that strangely cathartic experience with me that long ago evening.

Despite time and circumstance, he was remarkably unchanged from when I'd first met him. Then, I had gazed upon his loveliness as he stood unabashedly naked, displayed for my pleasure and approval.

At that moment I had considered him a stunning example of a boy poised upon the precipice of that irrevocable leap into young manhood.

Now, as I drank in his astonishing beauty, my opinion was unchanged and as I watched him sleep, I was almost overcome by a feeling of heartbreaking love that bordered upon reverence.

His well-made limbs sprawled across the bed in casual, natural, yet almost comical ungainly rest. His red hair, mussed and strewn, framed his peaceful young boy face in a splendid pattern of disarray. His sensuous lips were partially opened as he breathed softly. I watched his chest… a chest still a boy's for now at least… as it moved in the rhythmic breathing indicative of peaceful sleep.

The emerald pendant I had given him that long ago first evening, blazed as green as his eyes as it rested just above one berry-brown nipple and rose and fell with each easy breath.

I hugged my arms against my naked skin. I was shivering slightly while I contemplated the potentially difficult reality that must be faced soon. Unrelentingly, this diamond hard morning stole away the blackness that had served as my false protection from the pangs of guilt. Dawn had stripped me of the night's smooth scrim of darkness that so deceitfully covered even the most severe lack of judgment.

I suspect he had been waiting in his bed; listening for me to come up and go to my room.

He'd certainly allowed enough time for me to almost fall asleep before he'd crept across the hall and into my bed naked and wanting. He knew he would find me drowsy and vulnerable.

His pleas, his expression of his need and desire had been urgent and passionately eloquent.

It had been completely unanticipated and. therefore, I had no legitimate defense prepared. He had clung to me almost frantically as he alternated between fervent kisses and beseeching request. I was torn between my assumed mantle of maturely and my deep almost aching love for this wonderful boy.

It was because of that love that I had rejected him twice in our shared pasts.

I knew too well that the first time, he'd offered himself to me it was out of a sense of duty to his client and a responsibility that had been indoctrinated into him by the training he'd received.

The second time had been out of gratitude for what I had done for him and some youthful sense of debt and, I suspect, because in no small way he'd come to believe I'd paid richly to reserve him for my personal use.

This time, however, was different. He was not offering himself; he was almost begging. It was not lust, however, it was a true desire… a genuine need… something they could never and would never have taught him back at the nest. This was primitive and deep rooted. The decision to steal silently into my bed was not one that my cerebral Jack would have made lightly. He had thought this out and his motives were honest and personal.

I'd held him tightly and tried to calm him but my mind was desperately trying to assess the situation.

I'd cursed myself silently for my own youth; wishing for the wisdom of my friend Professor Swaim and then, just as suddenly as a flash of lightning, I'd realized I had my own wisdom and my own intuition and in a swift blinding epiphany, I'd understood.

Jack… my beautiful, wonderful Jack… hadn't come to my bed because he wanted me to fuck him. He'd been fucked far too often and much too callously in his young life. Fucking was something he understood far too well for a boy his age.

His school mates had fucked him for practice and recreation; his clients had fucked him for pure impersonal carnal pleasure and, to a certain extent, for the feeling of power and control they craved and paid for. Even his hero, Tip, although genuinely caring for him, had in the end only fucked him. Just fucked him and left with a kiss and a smile.

I realized though that it wasn't the older boy's fault. At the nest, they were not taught to give pleasure that way. They were not taught to make love… they were taught to fuck… more accurately, they were taught to Be fucked.

That was why my Jack had never been able to overcome his pain… there was never any real opportunity to do so. He'd been taught and had come to accept the fact that sex was a duty that he was required to participate in at this point in his young life. It was never meant for his pleasure. He was the vessel… the provider of some other person's gratification. His feelings were never part of the equation.

With a start I knew… or at least surmised… that even those two nights he and Tip had shared in his room here in my home… Jack's home… Tip had probably done all of the fucking and had never thought to offer himself to Jack. Their training was a decidedly one-way street. Pleasure was for the giver and never for the receiver. It was foreign to how they had been trained.

But now, I had entered his life and completely changed its direction. I'd had no intention of hurting him further than he'd already been hurt. My motives were inherently pure and most certainly sincere. I had offered him love and the legitimate bond of family. I'd held out the prospect of an entirely different way of thinking about his life… something quite foreign to what he had been taught to expect.

He was happy but confused.

Jack was at a crossroad, a major point of transition and he needed some spiritual closure as he moved from the old to the new.

In his mind, he'd decided that if I would have sex with him it would be different… that suddenly he could make the connection between sex and love… a connection that knew instinctively must exist. For whatever reason, he desperately needed to experience that connection as an affirmation of all that he hoped to be true about his future.

As he lay beneath me at that moment, his stunning green eyes blazed with emotional need that shone even in the room's darkness.

It was then that I understood. I knew what I must do… what seemingly only I COULD do. I shivered with the responsibility, the honor and the pure, pure love.

I realized that this would not be sex in the plebeian sense of the word. In this very room, in this very bed, Chris and I had sex… happy, exuberant joyful sex. This could not be like that. This had to be love making in the purest most sacred definition of the act. This had to be almost like a religious communion… a shared sacrament.

It was a physical need this wonderful boy had for a true demonstration of love.

I realized, with an insight that surprised me, that it was not unlike Sean's need for that spanking months ago. It was an affirmation… a confirmation… it was something I had to do and had to do more completely, more perfectly than anything I'd ever done before. This was all about him and not in the least bit about me. This was a life changing moment.

I'd kissed him softly and tenderly and hugged him tightly before I spoke. "Alright Jack. I love you way too much not to do this. We'll be together in that way tonight, but you have to understand that it will only be tonight."

"This will never happen between us again."

"I know Eric. I understand but it's just I need it to happen this once before I… before we can all become a family. Eric, if we don't, I'll always wonder, I'll always… please show me that you love me please, E-eric. I don't know how else to say it."

It was my turn to put a finger to his lips and silence him. "Shhh Jack. No more about anything except tonight… this… from this moment on… it's now only about you and me."

I raised myself up on one elbow and playfully brushed his hair from his eyes and then coyly ran a finger down his nose. I smiled as I spoke, " First things first my little Rufus." I paused to kiss him on the nose. "The clinical things, sweet boy; let's take care of some important business."

I held up the tube of lube he'd brought with him. "Pull your knees back so that we can get you sweetly slippery and gorgeously gooey."

His response was a very soft whisper, "Kay"

He tossed his hair and seemed to pause for a second and then, smiled nervously as he pulled his knees almost back to his shoulders.

I squeezed a generous amount of the clear lube directly onto his exposed brown pucker, placed more upon my fingers and gently but firmly worked them and the lube into his semi-expectant rectum. He didn't even flinch as my fingers penetrated his tight hole and I gently moved the lube all around inside of him.

Satisfied with my application, I then handed the tube to him and, as I straddled his midriff, he applied a generous coating over my cock without my ever having to say a word. Some things are obvious.

With that done, I positioned myself at the verge of his buttocks placing most of my weight on my knees while he gently raised and rested his lithe, young legs up and against my shoulders.

I alternated between kissing him and speaking soothing almost nonsense phrases as I ran my hands gently down his sides and over his stomach.

Slowly, I brought my left hand around and onto the small of his back and, in a gentle but firm grip, pulled his pelvis up and towards me. His not-yet-a-man's cock was jutting stiff and proud pressed against my navel as I slowly moved my own iron hard member forward with practiced aim.

He was staring at me with those incredible green eyes and he said, "E-eric don't notice if I look like it's hurting when you come into me. I want you more than anything. Please don't stop no matter what."

It suddenly occurred to me that he had no idea that I'd read the amazingly honest and articulate account of his life that he'd given to Professor Swaim. He didn't know that I knew about all of his experiences and all of the pain he'd been through.

My cock head was now at his tight little gateway.

"Shhh little Jack" I whispered as I pushed against his well lubed barrier.

Slowly and gently I slipped into his tight, slick, magnificent heat. His eyes flew opened and our gazes locked. He took in a deep breath. "Y-you… you're in me!" he whispered.

I smiled and kissed his left nipple. "Yes Jack. I'm in you… May I go deeper?"

"E-eric… it… it didn't hurt! You're in me and it didn't hurt! Ohhhh Eric… please go deeper… fuck me… it don't hurt!"

"No sweet little Jack. I won't fuck you but I WILL make love to you." With that, I slowly gently moved all the way until my pubic hair was tightly against his wonderful buttocks cheeks and my cock was enclosed in the hot, tight, welcoming sheath that was the deep precious loving essence of my sweet young Jack.

As I began to move in him I initially took slow long stokes striving every time to rub against his button. When I was successful I smiled to myself because each stroke was causing him to shiver and writhe under me as he locked his strong legs around my neck and tried to drive himself further against me seeking more penetration and more body-filling contact.

As we moved together in a slow but feverish dance without music, he began to moan and coo while I continued a series of silly comforting phrases mostly consisting of different ways of telling him how much I loved him.

Jack became completely involved in feelings that were new to him despite his unusually extensive experience. The feelings were obviously exciting, pleasurable and very welcomed.

I found myself, for the first time in my life, concentrating upon my partner's pleasure without any concern at all for my own and, as a consequence, I found that my own enjoyment felt new and exquisite. Funny how that works.

I don't know how long we engaged in our gentle, blissful coupling before I could no longer contain myself and I exploded into his tight young body. At almost the same time, with a soft but wild moan, Jack's stiff tool spurted out violently against my stomach and dripped down upon his own…

"Ohhhh… oh… I n-never… I NEVER…" he was crying into my shoulder as his legs released my neck and came down onto the bed. They were still spread wide as my cock remained buried deeply inside him.

"That is making love… not fucking… Jack," I whispered on the verge of tears myself. "That is how much I love you, my special boy."

I entered him and we made love two more times with a fervor and intensity I'd never before experienced until… at last… both of us, exhausted beyond the point of speaking, had fallen asleep sprawled in each others embrace.

This was how I'd awoken early this morning, risen from bed and stood gazing at this exceptional boy wondering if the day would bring dire consequences for last night's actions.

Once again, I cursed my youth. Would there be regrets, or a desire to form some new relationship on an entirely different level? Had I ruined everything in a moment of weakness? Was I, after all, just a foolish young man… hardly more than a boy myself… who had let his carnal desires rule his morals and his intellect? In the end, despite all my mental pontificating, had I thought with my dick and not my head?

Typically, for so early in the morning, my bladder interrupted my rumination and drove me with a sense of urgency to the bathroom. Having pissed and then brushed my teeth I returned to the bedroom.

He didn't seem to have moved and so I walked into the kitchenette and messed around with the coffee maker. It was not long before the simple contraption was emitting the hissing, gurgling noise that indicated the pot was almost ready. The exhilarating aroma now filling the little room reinforced that information.

Shortly, I'd poured myself a steaming cup of the rich black Kona and, as I took my first sip, two arms wrapped themselves around my chest. I froze momentarily. The confrontation… the anticipated moment of truth was upon me.

I turned slowly and my vision was met by two startling green eyes peering warmly at me from behind a shaggy veil of red hair. He was smiling broadly. "Good morning," he said softly.

"Good morning yourself, my beautiful boy," I said and I bent slightly and kissed him. "Coffee?"

"You got milk and sugar up here?" He was grinning because he knew I took my coffee black.

"Of course I do silly. I'm prepared… you're not the first person I've had sex with here in my bed room you know."

He flashed an evil little boy smile at that and I smiled back.

"But, you're most certainly the very first person in my life that I've ever made pure and simple love to here, or… for that matter, any place… maybe in my entire life, Jack."

"Oh, I doubt that," he said and his smile was warm with affection.

I handed him a mug of coffee and indicated the creamer, sugar and spoons set off to the side.

After he'd prepared his coffee he moved over to a chair and sat. I realized with a strange twinge that he'd chosen the very chair I'd used when I'd spanked Sean that awful evening.

I remained standing but I leaned back against the counter.

"Jack, I…"

He looked directly at me, freezing me in place with that laser-like green-eyed gaze.

"Dad… Dad… MY loving wonderful DAD… ," he said quickly. "I know you would have never done uhh … what we… did last night but… please try to understand that I really needed you to do it."

"When they made me do it at the nest, I knew all of the time that it wasn't supposed to hurt and I always knew that anything I ever did… anything I ever DO with you wouldn't… COULN'T hurt."

"Eric… DAD… You just know how to love too much and now, slowly… oh so slowly… you're teaching me how to do that too. E..Dad. I love you more than I ever knew I could ever love anybody. You're the best person I've ever known in my whole life!"

"I want to be like you in every way. I'm so happy and… and… oh Dad… so PROUD that you've chosen to make me your son. With all of the love that I have in my body I'm going to make you so glad that you chose to do that… I'm going to make you proud of me."

"Jack, I've been proud of you since the first time I ever met you."

He smiled and took a sip from his cup.

"I wasn't fair to you last night, Dad." He locked me in his gaze again. "I couldn't get it out of my mind. I knew that REAL love would make it be different… oh, I don't want to confuse or upset you… I don't even know if I'm explaining this right… but last night… you proved to me how much you loved me… I felt loved, I felt important I felt protected I felt… Dad, I felt EVERYTHING!"

"It almost made everything I've ever been through… all the terrible contracts and stuff… WORTH it… and Dad… it didn't hurt! It felt… well it felt wonderful and I always knew that's how love should feel."

"I'll never ask you to do that again. It wouldn't be fair to either of us and, besides, it wouldn't be proper because now… NOW you're my Dad. Oh, I know we have to wait about ten days before that judge makes it official but, you're my father for real and always and the only one who could love you as much as me is Sean… my little brother."

We both put our cups down at the same time and were in each others arms almost instantly.

A bit later we were finishing a second cup of coffee. We were laughing and talking about the world and about our futures. I was sitting on the chair this time and Jack, big boy that he is, was on my lap. I'd giggled and told him that if he got much bigger we were soon going to have to change places.

As I drained my cup I pulled his head down and kissed him.

"Last night was special for me too. Jack. Strangely, I think we really became family together. In a very odd way, it was almost as if that was unfinished business between us. Something very special happened and it wasn't purely sex."

"When I was young, one of my friends… David… was a Catholic. His church was all very mysterious to me and he tried to answer my questions about that. See, my family… OUR family… was never religious but David, my friend, tried toexplain his religion and especially that Catholic stuff."

"I remember that he told me there is one point in their service where they take bread and wine and through some kind of magic or faith… whatever… I don't know… but they believe that they turn those things it into something else… something mystical and wonderful."

"I don't remember all of it because It wasn't, and still isn't, remotely part of my belief system. BUT I do remember that he called that part of the Mass the 'Consecration' and he was very serious about it. I think it made him sad that I never caught on to his faith but he might be happy to know I remember that part, at least."

"That's what we did last night Jack… it was a consecration. We turned our two bodies into something mystical. Our two bodies became one… I don't know how else to say it except we joined our flesh last night Jack. I don't know how much more you can define family than that my boy… my dear wonderful boy."

He smiled and bent over and kissed me and said, "When you first moved in me last night it was like I'd been waiting my whole life to feel like that… to feel so close to someone… to know someone loved me that much. E-eric thank you so much for finding me and loving me. I'll always make you glad that you did."

"Jack… I…" He leaned over and placed a finger against my lips and gave me one of his mischievous smiles that made the freckles on his face dance. "Let's go wake up that little brother of mine. I'm ready for breakfast."

***

I suspected, though I didn't ask, that Sean had at least some idea that Jack was going to do something important and intimate behind my closed bedroom door last night. They had a private communication shared between them that I suspected many real-life siblings didn't have although the 'Bro-Dar' Kyle and I had shared would rival any close communication I knew of.

Sean greeted us at the door to his bedroom and broke into a large grin. "Mornin' guys! I guess you're ready for a shower, huh?"

It was only then that I'd even considered that Jack and I were still both completely naked. It was Jack who was quicker on the up-take. "You bet Tadpole. We finally got tired of waiting for you and we also decided that you make a shower so much fun that we didn't want to get washed without you. Were you planning on sleeping all morning? Come on silly little brother!"

That brought a gigantic smile to both of their faces and a tear to my eye.

The Shower Music Game was always pretty easy when Jack was the song picker. This morning the music filled the shower just as we had gathered under the overhead spray.

"In the town where I was born" came over the speaker. Sean jumped up in glee and I quickly grabbed him and placed my hand over his mouth.

"'Beatles… Yellow Sumarine!'," ,I yelled and then released Sean who quickly glared up at me and stamped his foot in frustration. The fact that he was naked and barefoot made this demonstration considerably less impressive.

"No fair Dad! No fair! You can't win just 'cause you're bigger!"

"Oh, come on little man! YOU can't win every time Jack's the song chooser. You guys grew up together and you share the same music."

"Actually Dad, that's not true" It was Jack now. "Music was very personal at the nest and I was much more interested in classical music while Tadpole here… well, he was interested in EVERYTHING." I hugged my little boy tightly to me. "OK Tiger Cub. I'll call it a real tie if you know the words."

He wiggled his wonderful little butt and raised his head up. "Dad… you silly. I ALWAYS know the words. And then he began to sing.

In the town where I was born
Lived a man who sailed to sea.
And he told us of his life.
In the land of submarines.

He spread his arms and the three of us hugged him tight and sang in funny-wet unison;

We all live in a yellow submarine
Yellow submarine
Yellow submarine
We all live in a yellow submarine
Yellow submarine
Submarine.

Martha didn't know what to make of us as she dished out the waffles and fruit but she knew that we were happy and that was all she required to make her smile. After the usual hugs and kisses after breakfast, she pulled me aside and drew me into hug like she used to give me when I was little. It felt so warm and loving that I almost forgot that there must be an ulterior motive.

This time however, her purpose was simple. "Eric" she whispered to me. "Those boys… those darlin's have made this big old house come alive. Do you ever think that if there was… well if he was still… if it was you and Kyle… then there would be Jack and Sean. What a perfect progression. God bless you, Eric, and God bless those sweet boys."

As I walked away I thought to myself that Martha had forgotten the sad truth about the missing piece… that empty space… the painful hole. Kyle, my brother, was not here and never would be. I knew that now though he'd haunted my world for years.

The empty space would always be there just as the space left behind by my Father and Mother would always be there.

I shook my head but I smiled grimly as I thought to myself that Martha had missed a spot in that progression of hers. What if we added Chris or even Tip to the equation… with my lost Kyle. Oh God! What a line that would be. Though only two of us were actually flesh and blood related, my father, and certainly my mother, would have loved that group.

I smiled again and glanced upward. Well Dad, the best thing to do when it's raining is to let it rain, right? But Dad, when it stops raining, it's kind of nice to pause and look at the rainbow, eh? In my mind I could see him smile and nod. My father was that kind of guy.

Before we parted, I scooped both boys to me into a funny but tight hug.

"Little man, soccer try-outs are in two weeks."

Sean smiled at me and did a little wiggle to let me know that he was excited but not very concerned.

"Jack, good luck on your written test this afternoon."

He smiled and flashed me the thumb and pinkie shaka sign that was once just a Hawaiian thing and was now, more or less, universal among surfers and kids. "You're both over confident smart asses," I said with a grin and slapped them each on their luscious butt cheeks as we parted on the patio.

I still had time before the events in the conference room were to take place so I walked across the big car park and into the garage. John was fussing under the hood of one of the two red jeep Cjs that we kept simply because my father had adored the tough little vehicles. I personally could care less about them. I preferred cars with more personality. John had so far been completely unsuccessful in his attempt to convince me they were loaded with personality.

"Hey Eric. Good morning!" he said as he spotted me and grabbed a shop rag to wipe his hands as he walked over to greet me.

"Good morning John." I took his hand and also squeezed his massive shoulder in a very affectionate gesture. "So this afternoon you take the red headed wonder for his written test. Do you think he'll do OK?"

John gave me one of those funny 'surely you jest' looks and replied, "Are you kidding? We're talking about Jack here. He's probably got the whole handbook memorized, Eric." His smile was warm and reassuring as always.

"How about the other thing… is that all set?"

"You bet. It's being delivered here at three o'clock which should be about a half hour before we get back from the DMV. Terry is completely on board with the project and he's ready for it. It'll be parked right out in the middle of the compound with a big bow on top."

"I'll drive up to the front door when we get back from the DMV so Jack won't see it until you're through with your meeting. In fact, I'll keep him busy in the game room whipping his ass at pool just to reinforce a lesson in not being such a wonderful smart ass."

I smiled and pulled John into a soft hug. "Thanks for taking such and interest John," I said.

He gave me a sort of funny look. "Eric, those two boys are pretty easy to take an interest in. I love Sean like I've never loved another person and Jack is just so… well, they're wonderful young men. Your father would be proud to call them his grandsons."

I nodded to him and walked towards the north wing for the morning activities in the conference room.

I'd told Jack that if he passed his written test, I'd get him a car and he expected to present a choice of three to me this evening and then I'd decide on one. What he didn't know was that John had been my spy in this little venture and I'd known days ago what his three choices were going to be. John and I had gotten together and reviewed the situation.

We'd both agreed that Jack's choices were well thought out but entirely too conservative. He was being timid and didn't understand that money was not an object. My main priority was safety and after that I felt a young man's fantasy should be fulfilled.

To my surprise, all three of Jack's choices had been mini-SUV vehicles. My initial reaction had been one of surprise because that wouldn't have been my choice for my first car but I'd finally come to terms with the fact that boys today thought of things differently.

It was John who had told me I should be delighted that the kid was looking for a pick-up truck. Knowing that after understanding Jack's motivation for his selections, I was certainly going to up-grade his choice, John and I had both rather rapidly zeroed in on a German car.

Though I had initially been leaning towards a Mercedes, John convinced me to explore BMW because there was a 'WOW' factor associated with the brand that appealed to youthful tastes in a way that Mercedes did not.

I'd protested when he'd said that. In fact, I'd pointed out that I was younger than he was. I'd rather vehemently exclaimed that I myself was youthful and assuredly understood youthful tastes. "Hell John, look at me." I'd protested. "The last car I bought was a Jag F-Type! What the hell could be more youthful than a sports car like that?"

He smiled at me indulgently and then said, "Yep, Eric. That little Jag is a great exciting car and I love it. But please let's remember that you were so drunk when you bought it that I had to drive it home and Terry had to drive me back down the next day to pickup our other car we'd left at the dealership."

Properly put in my place, I'd listened to John and we'd eventually zeroed in on a X1 36i sport. The car we'd selected was in a lovely le Mans Blue with a tan interior. It car was significantly more powerful than I'd initially intended for Jack. It had a 300 horse power in-line six cylinder engine… pretty much classic BMW.

Despite my misgivings, John had convinced me that underpowered cars were actually far more dangerous to drive. He'd also pointed out the exceptional safety features BMW had designed into the vehicle and showed me its safety rating which was impressive.

He'd also assured me that this little wagon might very possibly be among the last of the 'true' BMWs as the company seemed to be headed in a different and potentially sad direction in an attempt to appeal to a wider market.

He'd also added that by the time Jack was ready for his driving test, the kid would be the third safest driver at Joyous Gaurde. "That would be just behind me and Terry," he'd pointed out. "You, Eric, don't even come close."

That had caused me to pout a bit until John poked me in the arm and offered to lose a game of pool to me if that would cheer me up. I'd giggled and told him never mind… all was forgiven.

As I walked to the north wing, I was smiling to myself thinking that I couldn't wait to see Jack's face when he saw that shiny blue 'Beemer' in the car park with a big red ribbon on top.

God, but I loved my two boys!

***

I walked into the big conference room and noticed that only Barry was watching the screen.

"This is the boring part of surveillance," Walter told me. "They're doing routine things that are most certainly part of their jobs but it's pretty dull for people in our… excuse me… MY line of work. So, we're taking turns watching what's going on. "

My mind flashed back to the man sitting on the fallen tree under the fire tower rocking and singing to my almost dead little boy… the boy he had risked his own life to save. A wave of affection poured over me. "Walter, how about you and I go downstairs and see what Martha can fix us for lunch."

He smiled at me and casually brushed his hand against my shoulder. "That sounds great, Eric. If I know Martha she's got some liverwurst put aside… she knows how much I love liverwurst. Your timing is actually great because there's something I've been needing to discuss with you."

***

As we sat at the table eating our very generous sandwiches, I casually asked, "Walter, you said there was something you wanted to talk about?"

Walter sort of leaned across the table and quietly said, "Well, Eric, it turns out I've got cancer."

I dropped my sandwich and grasped his hand, "Walter… I-I… Walter what can I do?"

He smiled and said so very calmly, "Eric… son… there's nothing you can do. I'm very very well compensated and that includes having the finest medical coverage in the world at my disposal. I've been in touch with Doctor Kirkland… he's one of the leading Oncologists in the world for my type of cancer and he tells me that, while it's inoperable, it is treatable and to a large extent controllable. I've actually already had my full dose of radiation and thankfully, due to the location of my tumor, you'll notice I've still got my hair." He smiled at that and I returned the smile but with a great deal of difficulty. "You probably thought I've been sneaking off to shack up with some woman." He grinned with a merry twinkle in his eye.

"Next Monday I begin my first round of chemotherapy and I'm told it shouldn't be very debilitating. Doctor Kirkland actually thinks that sporadic bad reactions to the chemo aside, I'll be living a relatively normal life-style for a good long time." He reached over and patted my hand and I realized that it was HIM who was trying to comfort ME… what a remarkable man he was.

"It's going to kill me Eric… but not for quite a while."

I blinked back tears quickly hoping he hadn't seen them forming and I took his hand in mine and just squeezed it as I tried to smile at him across the table. We stayed that way for quite a long while.

***

I didn't remain up in the conference room for any long period of time. Walter had been right; the action on the screen was boring and consisted primarily of The Commodore, Professor Swaim, Doctor Scott and Ricky interviewing individual proctors and reviewing their files. Thus far they had completed the proctors assigned to the 'Little Kids' building and were now slowly working through the academic proctors working at the 'Seniors Building'. The Proctors involved with the 'special training' would come tomorrow and many of those were the ones who would most likely be dismissed on the spot.

I'd been very interested in the interviews with the sports directors and the music directors, especially the orchestra leader who Jack in his interview had dubbed 'Proctor Maestro'. I found these all to be very interesting men with a dedication to their work that made their interviews actually exciting.

Unfortunately, Walter's news had taken some of the wind out of my sales and I found I had to leave the room and just find other distractions most of the afternoon. It was only as I was walking down the hall that I realized it was two thirty; almost time for Jack's car to be delivered and… I hadn't drunk even a beer the entire day.

I stopped to think about that for a minute and I realized that it wasn't so much that I was not drinking on purpose… it was more like I was too interested in life suddenly to need or want the reality dulling effect of alcohol. With a happy grin, I realized that I was truly enjoying being Eric Tucker for the first time in many years. It felt good. It felt REALLY good.

I was just walking out to the car park when I spotted Terry helping the Auto Dealer's representative place the outrageously large red bow on the roof of the gleaming little blue SUV. I recognized the salesman and I greeted him with a friendly handshake and soon all three of us were walking around the car and peeking into its interior.

"It's a real beauty Mr. Tucker!" Terry assured me. "Jack is gonna go nuts!" It suddenly occurred to me that Terry had not yet been admitted to that inner circle of employees who comfortably called me 'Eric' but I also quickly decided his time hadn't come either.

I smiled and took out my cell phone and called John to inform him that the 'Beemer' was here and that I was already out of my meetings so he could pull right into the back with Jack. John confirmed that Jack had passed the test with flying colors and they were already on the way home.

Somehow, Sean had gotten wind of what was happening because all at once he was running across the parking lot. "Wow! Holy Guacamole! Dad… is this gonna be Jacks?" I smiled and told him that it certainly was. He was hopping up and down with excitement.

"Dad, Jack and I looked at these but he was afraid to even mention a 'Beemer'! He's gonna be soooo excited!"

I pulled the excited little boy to me and said, "Sean, you and Jack forget that money is one thing we don't worry about in this family. You're both great kids… more importantly, you're both GOOD people. Neither of you asks for much so when I give you something, I want it to be the best because you deserve it."

He was about to say something when suddenly John's sleek black Camaro pulled into the driveway. I hadn't realized he'd used his own personal car to drive Jack out to the DMV but that was typical of John.

It came to a stop and sat there for a few moments before the passenger door opened slowly and Jack got out. He seemed almost in a daze as he slowly walked towards the blue SUV. His eyes were opened wide and his mouth literally hung open. He walked around it slowly before coming to the side where I was standing with Sean.

"Dad, John just told me… he said that you… is… is this really mine?"

Smiling I took his hand and dropped the keys into the palm. "Congratulations on passing your written test Jack," I said.

He just stood there looking at me and finally managed to say, "I-I never expected… I never thought… you said that I… Eric… DAD… Thanks! I love you so much!" and he was onto me… arms wrapped around my neck crying into my shoulder but I didn't feel bad… they were happy tears after all.

I mussed his beautiful red hair and I said in a husky voice, "There's still lots of daylight. If John is up for it, why don't you take your first driving lesson right now?"

Sean was tugging at my arm. "Can I…?"

I pulled him tight against me. "Sorry little man. Not for Jack's first few lessons. He's got to concentrate on what John is teaching him. Pretty soon, if I know John… and Jack, it'll be alright for you to ride with them. OK?"

"Kay," he smiled at me. Sean never fussed or wheedled. All he ever required was a straightforward sensible answer and he was satisfied.

"Let's let Jack and John alone to get down to their business. If you run over to the kitchen I'll bet Mrs. Edwards has a snack for you."

With a big grin he was off across the parking lot. I turned to wave as the blue BMW with Jack behind the wheel, pulled slowly around the corner and Terry and the man from the dealership were carrying the big red bow off to… someplace.

Turning again to walk back to the house I saw Walter coming in my direction with a serious look on his face. "Eric, I think you'd better come up to the conference room with me."

"Is something wrong Walter."

"That would be an understatement. When your pal Bernie spilled the beans to that guy on the Board of Directors, we kind of guessed there might be trouble waiting for us at the school, but this is something we didn't expect."

"Walter, you're scaring me. What's happened?"

"Well, we were watching those boring interviews when suddenly Chris just sort of burst onto the screen. As you know he and Taylor were walking around the two buildings just casually talking to the boys and checking things out. Well, the school records indicate there are twelve boys in the fourteen year old tier, there are ten boys in the thirteen year old tier and… well they're all missing. Not a one of them is on the campus!"

"What?"

"It gets worse. There were five boys out on contracts this weekend and they were due to return to the School on Monday. None of them has been returned."

"Eric, there are a total of twenty seven boys unaccounted for!"

Chapter 20

Obstacles and adversity are among the tools placed before us to forge our character.
Adversity has many positive uses. Difficulty can force us to tap into our personal well of unexpected strengths.

Everyone is handed adversity in life. No one's journey is easy. It is how we handle these difficulties and problems that make us unique. Anyone can hold to a steady course when the sea is calm.

"Well, I'm not one to say 'I told you so' Eric but we DID warn you about giving your pal Bernie too much information." Walter was drumming his fingers on the table-top in frustration as he reviewed the latest information provided by Barry.

"Got to hand it to those guys, this was a move we never saw coming and sadly, they had over four days to pull it off which frankly is an outrageous amount of time. While we were so carefully planning our 'surprise' take-over, they cherry-picked the most currently valuable boys and removed them from the campus completely undetected."

"It was done so smoothly that we might not have noticed the extent of their extraction for days if we hadn't had Taylor with us. Bringing him on board was a great idea on your part."

"So, what do we know so far?" I asked Walter, Barry and Richard more or less collectively.

Walter gestured to Barry who answered, "This was so skillfully executed that it must have been a contingency plan they've had in place for a very long time. Four days was more than enough time to pull it off but not nearly enough time to come up with the strategy."

"They've extracted all of the boys undergoing their sexual training; the entire 13 and 14 year old tiers. These were probably removed over the weekend while Director Coleman and his office staff were not at the school. While we've had access and potential control over the school's computer system for a long time, we haven't been closely monitoring every seemingly routine transaction."

"Right under our noses all the proper paperwork required for an 'extended field trip' to be taken by the group of boys was processed. Everything is straightforward in the eyes of the law."

"The people who have taken them have as much a legal right to have them as you did with Sean and currently have with Jack until his adoption is actually processed. All the right papers have been drawn and all the right signatures at least seemingly obtained. These boys are out under someone's legal guardianship and those papers will stand up under a judge's scrutiny Eric."

With a look of pained frustration Richard jumped into the conversation, "There's little doubt that they've been whisked off someplace they feel is secret and secure. Almost certainly the sexual 'education' of these young boys will be greatly accelerated so that they'll be a marketable commodity as soon as possible."

"In the meantime, they've also gotten hold of the five youngest boys who were out on contract; three fifteen-year-olds and two sixteen-year-olds. There were actually another six boys between seventeen and eighteen out on contract at the same time but these have all been returned as per schedule."

"Whoever these guys are, they wanted the young ones only. No doubt in order to guarantee maximum years of service from them to cater to very specific tastes. Also, remember that these five can be marketed out while the younger boys are gotten ready for service on an accelerated schedule."

"A handful of the 'special training' Proctors, as well as several of the Proctors who regularly picked up and delivered the boys on contracts, never showed up for work on Monday and are still unaccounted for. This leads to the assumption that a 'Mini-nest' is going to be set up somewhere."

"Our current problem in this regard Eric, is that it could be anyplace in the world," Walter entered the conversation again. "The nest obtains passports for all of its boys when they reach the age of twelve. This of course, made things easier if a boy was required for an international contract later on. So, with all of the proper paperwork in hand, these boys could have been whisked out of the country on any public airline with the TSA and Customs people smiling and waving 'bon voyage'. It was very slick. We'll find them soon enough though, and then we'll figure out how to get them back."

Walter placed a hand on my shoulder and urged me up from my chair.

"Don't take offense here, Eric, but your very best people are on this. Barry and his folks are without peer at what they do. Richard is already forming mobile 'strike teams' ready to deploy at a moment's notice and 'Wolfman' has his entire field staff on alert. Remember that Skuggor isn't some little local bunch of security guards. It's a worldwide network of highly skilled operatives. We'll find them and get them back Eric. There's absolutely nothing you can do right now that isn't already being done."

"Throughout all of this, you've got to be thinking about your boys… your family. Why don't you go take care of them and I'll let you know as things develop."

I nodded in agreement but then turned to him and said, "In light of this development, let's pull Chris and Taylor back up here to Joyous Gaurde for now and Doc Swaim as well. I really need him here for Sean and Jack. The Commodore, Ricky and Doctor Scott can get the Academy running smoothly again… especially since we currently don't have to worry about any of the 'special education'," I smiled grimly as I said this. "Uncle Phil can stay down there for another few days to provide back-up for them and do whatever hands on-stuff we may need on site."

"If I can make a suggestion then," Richard cut in, "why not fly Mandy down so she can be with Ricky? She's a stabilizing force for him and, actually, I think she'd be a big help to the entire team."

"Great idea," I said and then gestured to the three of them. "Make it so!" Despite everything, I couldn't help but grin.

"Get out of here, Captain Piccard!" Walter laughed.

***

Sean and I were waiting as the blue Beemer turned the corner and pulled into the car park. It was actually a momentary shock to see the driver door open and a red-headed green-eyed sixteen-year-old step out from behind the wheel.

He walked over to me attempting to appear casual and cool over the fact that he'd just driven an automobile for the first time but he couldn't fight the smile attempting to take over his face. He held out the key and fob as if to give them back to me.

I arched an eyebrow at him."What are you doing Jack? Those are yours. John already has duplicates for when he needs them for maintenance and stuff. From now on, son, that's your car. How was it?"

"Dad… it was Soooo Cool! It was great and the car drives so nice… it's perfect… and John says I did pretty good… didn't I John?"

John smiled and squeezed the boy's shoulder. "You did great Jack, I'm very impressed. You're going to be a wonderful driver."

"When can you take me for a ride Jack?" Sean was wide-eyed with excitement and pleasure. Jack looked up at John; his eyes asked the question.

"I think in a couple of days Seano," The big man smiled. "In a couple of days he'll be composed and confident enough to take you for a spin."

"Yeah!" My little boy gave his 'big brother' a friendly punch in the arm "I knew you'd do great Rufus!"

I turned to John and we exchanged smiles. "Would you like to join us for dinner John?" I asked and he shook his head once.

"I'd love to guys but actually… Jenny and I are going out for pizza and a movie tonight in fact, I should go hop in the shower and get changed."

I'd forgotten that John and Jenny were dating and in fact had, apparently, been seeing each other for some time. I seemed to remember him actually hinting that it might be getting serious.

"Good for you!" I clapped him on the arm. "Have fun."

I turned to the boys. "Well guys, there's still about an hour and a half before it's time to eat. It seems like ages since I've seen your bare butts in the swimming pool. What do you say?"

They were off like a shot laughing and yelling. I just followed smiling and shaking my head. As I rounded the hedge I could hear them in the water already and I noticed their clothes were folded neatly and resting on a nearby table. I couldn't help but be impressed for the umpteenth time at how well they had been raised. Just as quickly though I shook my head and decided I wasn't going to think about the nest anymore tonight.

I quickly got undressed and lay my clothing (much less neatly) upon a chair and dived into the clear water. After smiling at the boys, I launched myself into a set of vigorous laps and was soon joined by a sleek naked boy on each side essentially matching me stroke for stroke.

After ten hard laps of the pool I rolled onto my back and floated as I caught my breath. They imitated my action and floated beside me. We drifted on the water in this fashion for a few moments in comfortable silence before Sean spoke, "This is soooo nice. Just us together like this. I could stay like this forever!"

I smiled to myself, but then I just couldn't help it and I said, "Well, boys, enjoy it because Professor Swaim is coming home tomorrow and he's going to be getting back to devoting most of his time to your education so your little spate of freedom is over."

"Dad!" Sean was treading water alongside me now and looking at me with his best 'butter would melt in his mouth' face. "Don't say it like that. We LOVE the Professor don't we Jack? Goin' to class is MUCH more fun than hangin' around by the pool all day… ain't it Jack?"

Jack was already chuckling and Sean was trying very hard to keep a straight face as he spoke. I just rolled my eyes and reached over to the top of his head and pushed him under.

When he rose spluttering to the surface, it was obvious that war had been declared. Jack seemingly felt duty bound to take the younger boy's side and very soon I found myself outnumbered in a splashing and dunking melee.

While the boys enjoyed the rough housing, I enjoyed the grab ass part of the battle but all too soon I was resting on the side of the pool grabbing my breath. I noted with satisfaction, though, that they were both breathing hard as well.

***

After we'd eaten, Sean and I were engaged in another chess game while Jack was stretched out on one of the couches with a book. "John said he's going to let me drive out to Deer Run for my boxing practice tomorrow Dad. That's OK isn't it?"

"Son, if John thinks you're up to it, that's plenty good enough for me. I suspect though, that the idea of showing off your new car might be part of your motivation, eh?" He lowered his book and looked over at me with a grin.

"There's another thing that I wanted to ask you about, though." His face was considerably more serious now. "The Club is having a dance next Saturday. Do you think I could go? I've never been to a dance or anything with girls and stuff."

"Of course you can go, Jack… but, do you even know how to dance?"

"A little… see… Mandy has been teaching me a little and she says I do OK. So… I can go then?"

"Absolutely, remind me in the morning and I'll arrange to have your ticket ready for you to pick-up before your practice tomorrow. And speaking of tomorrow, guys, it's time for you to head upstairs. I'll be up to say goodnight in a bit. I've got a few things I need to do."

As always, there was no complaint and no fuss from either of them. They were on their feet, gave me a kiss and were down the hall headed for the elevator without my needing to say another word.

I walked down to my study and dialed the number to Chris' room at the hotel in Houston.

"Hello" The response came after several rings and I'd almost hung up. I didn't recognize the voice on the phone at first.

"Taylor? It's Eric Tucker. I thought I'd called Chris' room."

"Oh… err Hi Mr. Tucker ahh… yeah this is the right number. Chris is… ah… right here. We were ahh just talking… hold on."

"Hello Eric? Why are you calling so late?… oh I forget it's earlier out by you huh?"

"Yes Chris, I'm sorry if I've disturbed anything I was just calling to make sure you guys have gotten the word that I'm flying you back here tomorrow."

"Oh yes… Yes we know. Phil told us earlier today. That… err… that's great. We're… I'm looking forward to getting back."

"Good then, I won't keep you. I'll see you tomorrow then. Goodnight."

"Goodnight Eric."

I hung up the phone thinking to myself that the conversation had sounded strange… almost awkward. I wondered if something was going on that I didn't know about. I quickly dismissed my uneasiness realizing that if something was wrong, I'd learn about it soon enough.

For some reason, I'd half expected to find one or both of the boys in my bed but it was empty and so I walked down the hall. Jack's door was opened and a small lamp was burning at his bedside. He'd obviously been reading.

His book still lay open across his chest. I carefully took it from his relaxed grip and marked his page. I placed it on the table and pulled his light blanket up to cover him. I bent over and placed a soft kiss on his forehead and turned off his lamp.

In the room across the hall, Sean lay bathed in the blue light of the moonlit sky that came in from his window. His small, achingly perfect, young body looked almost like a marble sculpture as he slept; one arm stretched out to the side and the other resting upon his flat stomach which rose and fell slightly with each soft breath.

His perfect legs were slightly splayed and I laughed to myself as I noted his little cock was erect as a steel rod. 'Enjoy those good dreams little man" I whispered almost silently.

His thick black hair was spread upon the pillow revealing his stunning face… smooth and untroubled. His eyes were closed and his impossibly long black lashes didn't even quiver as he slept… engaged in the wonderful dream that was causing his small little boy's prick to rise to whatever occasion his subliminal imagination had created.

As with Jack, I pulled the light cover up over him and kissed the small, exquisite vision as I whispered; "goodnight".

Although my bed was empty and, despite the unpleasant news from the nest, sleep came quickly and I awoke to find a small, naked boy straddling my stomach.

"Mornin' Dad!" he leaned in to kiss me. "Did you sleep good? After we shower an' have breakfast Jack an' me are gonna' kick the soccer ball around 'cause he says I'm probably out of practice and tryouts are soon. Wann'a play with us?"

I'd lifted him off of me and placed him on the floor and together we walked into the bathroom. I answered him as I casually took my morning piss. "I don't know yet little man. Unfortunately, I've got some stuff I've got to do up in the meeting room and then, actually, I was thinking that while Jack is out on his driving lesson with John, you and I could take the 'redcat' out to Greenwolds and get your soccer shoes, shin guards and whatever else you might need. Then, we could grab a burrito. How about that?"

"Great!" His smile lit up his whole gorgeous face, but my gaze was drawn appreciatively to his lush little butt as he moved my shaving gear prominently onto the counter near the closest sink. Sean most definitely preferred me to be clean shaven and he liked to watch me perform this morning ritual.

As I worked the badger hair brush around the mug working up a stiff, rich lather, I thought to myself that Jack must be near the age of shaving… maybe he already was… funny how much I don't know about the boy I'm about to adopt… I should look into that.

He'd be needing a razor, a mug and a brush. I intended to start both boys off as my father had done with me; brush and blade. They could of course drift into whatever method pleased them but I wanted to at least start them out traditionally.

After working the thick creamy lather coated brush into my morning stubble,I reached over and covered Sean's chin, lip and the tip of his nose in the thick froth causing him to giggle with pleasure.

Most mornings my shower continued to be primarily an experience shared between Sean and me. Jack liked to sleep later than we did and, therefore, usually showered alone in his own bathroom… except, of course, when sleeping arrangements found him waking up in my bed.

This was quite all right with me because the morning shower ritual had been an important part of the relationship between my little boy and me from the very first morning we'd awakened together. I knew the day was coming when he'd decide that he was too old to share this morning pleasure with me and I'd promised myself I'd enjoy it as long as it lasted and acquiesce gracefully when the time came for it to end.

It was still 'game on' this morning and I was grateful for that.

***

Although the morning was no particularly special occasion, Martha had pulled out all the stops for breakfast. She placed before each of us a plate with two eggs over easy… or 'over squeezy' if one were speaking 'Sean-ish'. At the side were four strips of crispy maple cured bacon, buttered toast and a side plate of cantaloupe slices. As if that weren't enough, in the center of the table she'd set a platter stacked with thick slices of baked French toast with cinnamon sugar.

I happily finished my eggs and bacon and reached for the platter of French toast only to discover that the bulk of its bounty had already been divided between the two boys. I looked down upon the two remaining slices and then at the young heathens across from me as they wolfed down the food as if they'd only just escaped from some desolate prison camp.

Sean looked up from his plate and saw me looking at the both of them. "What Dad?" he said with a syrup coated smile.

"Not a thing son." I smiled as I pulled the two golden brown portions onto my own plate conceding to myself that I really couldn't have eaten more anyway. 'I was that young and bottomless once' I thought to myself.

"Jack, I'm taking Sean into town for his soccer equipment. I never asked if you're interested in joining a team this year."

He looked up at me with those almost hypnotic green eyes. "Thanks Dad, but no. I really thought about it but the boxing season stil lhas several weeks to go and I'd really like to concentrate on that. Besides, I want to devote as much time behind the wheel as John can spend with me. I really want to get my license as soon as possible."

I nodded but I remembered the upcoming dance and his very hetero internet interests lately and wondered if the randy young redhead wasn't planning for the future.

I was still enjoying a cup of coffee when the boys asked to be excused. They cleaned the table and carried everything into the kitchen as always and then happily exchanged hugs and kisses with Martha.

"Now boys, I'm planning on a big cheesy lasagna for dinner tonight so I'm only putting out some fruit for your snacks this afternoon. It'll be in bowls in the fridge when you're ready… no nosing around for cookies and things like that."

"Oh Mrs. Edwards… me an' Jack wouldn't never do something like that." Sean was looking at her with his big blue/green eyes and an angelic look on his face.

She pulled him towards her and grabbed him by his cheeks gently and firmly. "Right Mister big blue eyes… and the devil wouldn't dance on a Sunday… if his fiddle was broken." She pinched his cheeks gently and Sean endured it because he knew a loving kiss was certain to follow.

As we were leaving, I told Martha not to worry about lunch for us because I'd already spoken to John and he and Jack were going to meet us at Cocina Alfredo later on.

***

I had to admit to myself that I loved nosing around Greenwolds Sporting-goods and having boys to use as a handy excuse was a great thing. As I looked at the separate displays I thought to myself that Sean's kidnapping and subsequent recovery had stolen the baseball season from us but there would be many seasons yet to come. I was really looking forward to soccer because it was something neither Kyle nor I had participated in. I understood the game well enough from a spectator's perspective, but based upon everything I knew, I couldn't wait to watch my Sean in action.

Selecting the shin guards was a quick and easy task. Sean preferred the type with a bottom loop for the foot and elastic straps that went around the calves. "I like them to feel like they're part of me… like I'm wearing them instead of them just bein' somethin' stuck down in the front of my socks," He'd explained.

We found Nike and Adidas products that he liked although he'd only ever used Nikes products back in his days playing for the nest. We got a pair of each because, from my point of view, there was enough of a difference in the design to justify the multiple purchases.

The shoes were another matter entirely. Sean corrected me straight on by explaining that soccer shoes were called 'boots' by anyone who understood the game. He was quite specific as he began to explain the important aspects of a good pair of soccer 'boots'.

"So, you know what you're looking for then?" I'd asked. He'd confirmed that he certainly did and so I left the selection up to him and the poor young man who was waiting on us. After about thirty minutes Sean was torn between two pair both of them NIKEs but of a slightly different design. He looked up at me as he sat there holding one of each.

"These would be perfect for a hard dry pitch and even if the grass wasn't very good and these would be excellent on soft wet fields and places when the surface was thick and spongey. But, REALLY Dad, they're both awfully good boots."

I smiled to myself and wondered if he'd ever understand. Sean had no concept of selfishness or desire for material things. He appreciated quality and anything well-made and he enjoyed those things he had but couldn't grasp the concept that he could own more than one 'good' thing. Jack was the same which is why he'd never even considered proposing a BMW as one of his car choices. These were unselfish, clear-minded boys who truly appreciated everything that they had.

"Sean," I'd knelt down next to him and was speaking sotto voce. "We should get them both. You never know what conditions you'll be playing under. Why not have the perfect pair for whatever you face?"

"Really Dad?" I knew I'd never get enough of his smile. "That would be great… it would be perfect! Thanks Dad!" He hugged me and kissed me right there in the middle of the sporting goods store. I squeezed him tightly to me not caring who was watching. This will end someday soon, I thought to myself, But please PLEASE not TOO soon. This was as close as I came to praying.

As we walked through the store, I threw several items into our cart… like water bottles and three new size 4 soccer balls. I hadn't realized that there were different-sized balls for the age groups. Sean was at the last stage of youth sized balls. Next year he would be playing with a full sized ball but this year he'd be dealing with the slightly smaller 26 inch [65 cm] 'balón' and I knew that he should be practicing with that size rather than the full sized balls I had back at the estate. I'd also picked up several pair of long soccer socks and a couple pair of light weight soccer shorts for him to use during practices.

He was walking by my side… actually dancing or strutting… it seemed like Sean never actually 'walked' like normal people and I spied a display I'd not even though about.

I pulled him close and whispered, "What about… you know… protection down there?"

It took him a minute or so before he realized what I was talking about. Once it dawned on him he grinned up at me.

"Dad, I already got a couple of jocks. You bought them for me last time we were here an… much as I wish I had… I ain't grown very much in that department since then."

I was still looking intently at him and he finally realized why. "Dad, you don't seriously think a guy could play soccer wearing a cup do you? It might keep my nads protected, but man, would that rub and chafe! Ooooh it hurts just to think about it! Dad honest… our nuts are pretty safe out there. I sure don't need some hunk'a plastic stuck between my legs while I'm tryin' to run an' kick and stuff."

I looked at him with what was no doubt a very sheepish grin. "I'm only concerned about protecting you Sean."

"I know Dad, an' thanks. But honest,I'd rather take a ball in the nads than have to try to play wearin' a cup."

"OK then little man I understand. Is there anything else you need or want?"

"Nope. The club will give us our uniforms and sweat suits an' bags and stuff. I'm all set thanks Dad!"

"OK then, I'll call John and have him and Jack meet us at Alfredo's."

***

Jack and John had left right after breakfast. John was driving Jack's car as it left Joyous Gaurde because they had a passenger. They were dropping Mandy off at the airport. Captain Lucas would fly her down to be with Ricky and then, late this afternoon, he'd fly back with Doc Swaim, Chris and Taylor.

After Mandy's flight departed, Jack would take over the driver's seat and John would continue his driving instructions.

We'd beaten them to the restaurant and were standing on the simple front vestibule waiting for them.

I watched with a mixture of pride and amusement as the blue BMW turned into the parking lot. The boy behind the wheel ignored several available spots that were between other parked cars relatively close to the entrance. Instead, he slowly drove to the rear of the lot and parked the car in the empty row. I wondered if this was caution because he was not yet confident enough to slip his vehicle in between two others or if he was simply being protective of his own shiny new car.

I remembered when I'd first started driving; I was almost pathologically protective of the beautiful red Mercedes CLK convertible that my father had given to me. Even long after I'd gotten my license I always chose to park as far away from other cars as possible; not because I wasn't capable of properly parking the car, but because I was so afraid of dents and nicks from carelessly opened doors or improper driving on the part of others. I remember Mathew, who was John's predecessor, laughingly telling me that if I would simply put a little scratch in one of the body panels myself, then I could get over it and treat the car less cautiously.

Of course I never did that. I loved that car and is was as perfect as if it had just driven off the showroom three years later when an old man in a full sized Chevy van had 'mistaken' the accelerator for the brake and shot like a guided missile straight across the Deer Run Club parking lot and into my wonderful red convertible as she sat parked while I was inside playing tennis.

My car was totaled and the old man after recovering from his happily minor injuries, was never allowed to drive again.

As those pleasant and unpleasant memories played out in my head, I decided to not even mention Jack's parking peculiarities to him. I just smiled and pulled him into a hug as Sean opened the door and the four of us walked into the enticing aromas emitting from the kitchen of the wonderful Mexican restaurant.

***

After returning to Joyous Gaurde, the boys and I (all wearing swim suits) horsed around in the pool with John for about an hour before I had to get out and get dressed to receive an up-date in the conference room. The boys stayed in the pool with John. He and Jack would leave in about a half an hour so that Jack could drive out to Deer Run for the boy's boxing practice.

Sean had announced excitedly that Martha was going to let him help her cook diner. I decided that might certainly be an interesting affair and was almost sorry I wasn't going to get to watch.

In fairness though, I'd thus far discovered that there wasn't much Sean didn't learn to excel at very quickly and so I decided, "Why not add cooking to the list"?

I found Walter and Richard hunched over a stack of papers some of which looked to be topographical maps. Barry was engrossed in something on the computer as his fingers seemed to fly over his keyboard.

"Any good news guys?" I asked as I took my seat at the big table.

"Well, there's news," Walter looked up with a sort of half smile. "Although I don't know if you'd call it good or bad."

I raised an eyebrow and didn't have to ask for further information.

"The thirteen and fourteen year-old boys taken from the school are now out of the country." Walter stated matter-of-factly. "Just as we feared might happen, they were flown from Houston's Hobby airport on a chartered flight to Los Angeles Friday night and were all placed upon a regular Air New Zealand flight in the wee hours of Saturday. By our time Sunday, they were all delivered and ensconced at a private estate on one of the defunct coffee plantations on Atiu."

"Where?" I asked a bit bewildered.

Walter smiled at me. "Yeah, I know. Not exactly a household word is it? Atiu is one of the islands in the southern group of the Cook Islands. It's a little north west of Rarotonga which is the big island and the capital."

"Well that's pretty good news isn't it?" I asked as I got up and walked over to the coffee maker and poured myself a cup. "If I remember right, the Cook Islands are part of New Zealand, … right? So we should be able to get good local co-operation once we establish the fact that these boys were actually taken out of the country illegally. Seems to me this should be easier than I was afraid it was going to be."

Walter got up and walked over to me and guided me back to my chair and I noticed that both Richard and Barry had expressions on their faces that … well, that didn't seem very encouraging.

"Eric, the Cook Islands are a kind of hinky situation in-so-far as international law is concerned." Walter had poured a cup of coffee for himself and sat down next to me.

"Let's start out by saying that all citizens of the Cook Islands are New Zealanders but not all New Zealanders are citizens of the Cook Islands. They are sort of a nation within a nation. They make their own international treaties and have established their own economic boundaries. They virtually ignore all international extradition requests and are a haven for people seeking to escape international jurisdiction by making the seeking of legal restitution an almost impossible task."

"Although the islands are spread out over an area larger than Europe, they're really sparsely populated and actually comprise a land mass of only about 100 square miles all told."

"For many years now, the Cook Island government has encouraged economic competition especially between the United States and China. The island of Atiu once was home of several coffee plantations most of which failed in the early 1980's but the land is still undeveloped. In fact, there are no cities… actually no real towns on the island… just five villages which are more-or-less growing together. The total population is about seven hundred people. The seclusion is wonderful and frankly, the place is an island paradise."

"If I were going to plan this kind of a caper Eric, I don't think I could come up with a more perfect spot. On paper they have the boys there completely legally and there just aren't many people around to snoop and ask questions. The boys are now on a large private estate belonging to a man named Chao 'Charles' Chang. He is some sort of Chinese diplomat to the extent that he has immunity in most western nations."

"Our current file on him is surprisingly small; perhaps, because of his international status and perhaps because he is very, very rich. Not as rich as you Eric, but rich enough to be very formidable. We have been able to ascertain that he is a very regular client of the nest. Scarcely a week goes by that he hasn't contracted for one of the boys… usually the fifteen year-olds early in their 'careers'."

Something flashed in my memory. I recalled Jack's autobiographical commentary to Professor Swaim. Jack's first 'client' had been someone named Chang. I recalled him bragging to Jack that he almost always got the nest boys first… didn't he tell Jack that he had friends inside the Academy?

I was certain I was right but I'd check it out after leaving the conference room.

"So what do we do now Walter?" I asked.

"Eric, we're working on several extraction plans. We've got a nice-sized contingent of Skuggor in New Zealand and, of course, an even larger compliment in Australia. With your permission, tomorrow Richard and 'Wolfman' will leave for Auckland and, by the time they get there, Barry and I will have finalized our strategy."

"Sounds great Walter," I said and then I had a thought. "What about the five boys snatched from their contracts?"

Richard answered me this time. "We're pretty certain that they're still someplace in the USA. They would need to keep them close, handy and available for contract. They certainly will want to keep money flowing in while they re-organize. Remember that, from this point on, they don't have all the other funding coming in to subsidize themselves. I'm not certain that snatching these five boys was part of the initial plan. It seems more like a spur of the moment reaction to the news of our planned take-over. I suspect that we'll have them located by morning."

"OK then guys," I got up and was walking to the door more-or-less in a haze. "I'll see you in the morning and for gawd's sake, all of you try to get some sleep. Richard, have a good flight tomorrow."

I was a bit stunned. At least we knew where the majority of the boys were now. They certainly weren't stressed out because what young boy would be stressed over being taken to a tropical paradise especially by people that from his perspective were folks that had looked over him and protected him all of his life?

As I walked down the hall and passed by the kitchen I noticed that Doc Swaim was there talking to Martha and Sean. The group had obviously gotten in from Houston.

I walked in and we exchanged a few words but he was obviously tired so I left him with both of us agreeing to talk after diner.

For some reason, I suddenly realized that Doc's presence meant that Chris was back as well. I smiles to myself thinking that just being with Chris would calm me down and help me to evaluate the situation rationally. I walked out to the charging line and jumped onto a golf cart and headed for the condos.

There was another cart plugged into the charging station so I knew Chris had returned. I didn't want to frighten him but I kind of wanted to surprise him so I climbed the stairs quietly.

The door to his condo was opened and without a thought I walked in. There were two travel bags lying on the floor of the big main room but no sign of anyone so I wandered down the hall towards the master bed room.

Knowing he was probably very tired and likely asleep, I tried not to make any noise. If he was sleeping, I'd probably do just as I did with the boys; plant a kiss and leave him alone. It was comfort enough just to have him back.

As I neared the door to the bedroom, I was surprised to hear noises from inside. They were guttural sounds and higher pitched whines, the unmistakable sounds of sexual activity.

For some reason I didn't hesitate. I simply walked into the room.

I was greeted by the view of a muscular ass moving in frantic pumping action while a pair of equally well developed legs were wrapped around the back belonging to the thrusting ass.

I couldn't think quickly enough to stop myself. I just blurted out, "Oh my god!… Excuse me! I should have knocked! I'm so Sorry!"

Instantly the action on the bed froze and two familiar faces stared at me in wide-eyed panic.

"Mr. Tucker!" Taylor exclaimed looking at me from over his shoulder and from below him, Chris was looking in horror as he almost cried, E… Eric! Eric We… I… ERIC!"

Chapter 21

There will always be people and things that fall short of your expectations. There will always be those that lie to you or bend the truth to mislead you.There will always be those who declare the strength of their convictions only to forsake them when put to the test.

Despite these, never abandon belief. Never forsake faith. Never walk away from trust.

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

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

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

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

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

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

There was genuine cause for a happy, hopeful meal tonight. Besides Chris and Taylor, Professor Swaim had returned to Joyous Gaurde.

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

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

Even more exciting (for me at least), Sean had been working all afternoon with Martha preparing the lasagna we were about to enjoy. I was beginning to realize that everything Sean was involved in was essentially the center of my world. As much as I loved everyone in my life, none meant more to me than Sean.

Ultimately, my entire life was a globe that encircled Sean. Everything in it; everything that made me happy or interested was because of this one little boy.

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

As these platters of bounty were set down upon the table we all broke out in a round of spontaneous applause. Ever the little showman, Sean bowed dramatically acknowledging the small ovation while Martha simply smiled and clapped back appreciatively.

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

After we'd eaten, we all gathered in the parlor for drinks and desert. Sean was basking in the attention everyone gave him regarding his cooking skills. He was giving a rather animated and theatrical dissertation on everything required to prepare a large tray of lasagna which was keeping almost everyone in stitches. I noticed that Richard and Jack were off in a corner by themselves laughing and sharing some sort of private joke. I'd recognized a while back that a strong bond had grown between these two.

Richard treated Jack very much like the kid brother he'd never had and I enjoyed observing their interactions from a distance. I suspected that one day Jack, and perhaps Sean, would regard Richard in much the same was that I regarded Walter.

That thought caused me to look at Walter sitting on the couch laughing at Sean's overly dramatic discourse. I discerned that he was fading fast, obviously a result of his radiation treatment and I took him aside so that the rest of our group would think I was giving him some assignment.

Actually, I was making it possible for him to gracefully go to bed. Martha used this as an excuse to make her own exit.

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

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

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

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

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

And then, I'd felt a sense of rage and betrayal build inside of me as I realized that I'd offered these two young men everything. I'd offered financial stability beyond their wildest dreams. I'd offered them purpose to their lives I'd offered… and THEN I realized the stark truth; everything I'd offered them was because they were capable of performing the tasks.

There had been no strings attached to their entering my life and inner circle.

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

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

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

So, why. then, was I feeling angry and deceived?

It was Taylor who'd spoken first. They'd both stood before me naked and frightened. "M-M-Mister Tucker… it's not what it seems. We never intended to hurt you. We felt an attraction for each other that night before we flew down to Houston and then… well, we were alone in that hotel and well… it just happened. I take complete blame for it… Chris still loves you and so do I… but we… just… we just… oh shit! We just did it."

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

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

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

In the end, all I said before leaving was, "Diner is at six thirty."

***

I now looked at them sitting miserably apart from each other because they felt that was the right thing to do. I took a sip from my tumbler of single malt scotch and thought to my self that this was only my third drink of the entire day. For some reason I was pleased by that fact.

"I was very surprised," I said as I walked across the room and sat down between them which no doubt added to their discomfiture. "But, I probably shouldn't have been." I tried very hard to show a genuine smile even though my soul was achingly sad.

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

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

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

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

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

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

This was my destiny and my yoke. My father had had my mother to support him. He'd also, to an extent, had my grandfather. He'd also had Walter and Phil from the very start. I realized suddenly that I had no living father to rely on but I had my support from Walter, Phil and, now, Richard and Barry. I also had Martha and John, and, yes, when this event had blown over, I would have Chris as well. These people were my support. More than anything. though, I had Sean and Jack I had a family of my own creation and I realized that needed to be all I could truly hope for.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Chris was looking at me intently with tears now heavy in his eyes. "Eric… Oh for the love of God… you've got to understand that sex has nothing to do with love. Oh my gods how can I make you understand that?"

I closed my eyes for a moment and recollected that recent wonderful night with Jack as we sealed our mutual adoration for the one and only time. What Jack and I had shared that night was so pure, so perfect, so almost divine that it could never be discussed with another person. I actually doubted that we would ever discuss it between ourselves again. It was, however the most absolutely perfect blending of sex and love that I'd ever experience in my life and I thought to myself, 'Ah you poor young men… how wrong you both are. In some cases, sex has EVERYTHING to do with love… you just haven't learned that yet.'

I shook my head slowly and gestured towards the door. "It's late and we've all got a lot to do tomorrow. We need to be ready with a plan for Richard when he arrives in New Zealand." By now I was leaving the room and my back was to both of them. "We'll find time to talk about all this later. In the meantime Taylor, do you still want your own room upstairs or will you prefer staying with Chris in his condo?"

I turned and the pain and distress on their faces matched the ache in my soul. I attempted a smile and said, "Actually, your bags are already in the condo. Might as well leave them there."

I walked out and headed for the elevator.

***

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

I sensed him before I heard him and turned slowly as he took my hand in his own and drew me away from the window. He was looking up into my face and his wide beautiful eyes reflected the moon through the window like two highly-polished gemstones. His smile was soft, half sad and breathtakingly gentle. Silently, almost ghostlike, he guided me to the bed and I watched his smooth, perfect body… naked in the golden moonlight… slide across the sheets as he pulled me after him.

The covers had already been turned down and now, he was kneeling above me gently tugging at the elastic of my boxer briefs. I looked up and he nodded his head slightly. I realized what he was asking me though no words had been spoken. I raised my hips off the mattress and allowed him to work the soft undergarment down past my buttocks and groin and then slide it quickly down my legs and off.

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

After untold minutes clinging to each other wordlessly in the darkness he finally spoke softly, "I love you Dad."

I swallowed hard almost afraid to try and say anything but. eventually. I managed to barely croak, "I love you too Sean… more than I'll ever be able to let you know."

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

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

***

Walter looked none the worse for wear as we gathered in the conference room and reviewed the information that Barry's people had collected overnight. "They've got the boys housed on what was once a coffee plantation located east of Lake Tiroto and west of the village of Areora. It's essentially a couple of large plantation style houses surrounded by overgrown forest. It's not even all that close to the beach and its very sparsely guarded."

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

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

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

I shook my head and got up and walked over to the coffee machine. "So, guys, how difficult should this extraction be?"

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

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

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

"Banek seems to be in charge. There are only five other adults that we know of at the estate and three of them are training proctors. The other two are what the nest called 'Outriders'. They're the ones who delivered the boys to their contracts and picked them up afterwards. They're also the ones who 'disciplined' clients who broke the rules to any great extent. They're pretty nasty people by all reports."

Again my mind wandered back to Jack's autobiography. "Is one of them named Martin Longstreet?"

Barry's eyebrows shot up. "How do you know that name Eric?"

"Oh I just do… well, it he?"

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

I took a sip from my coffee cup and stared out the window down into the garden maze. "What about the other boys… the ones kidnapped from their contracts?"

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

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

Barry, with his usual sense of humor jumped into the conversation, "So, are we scared of these guys or do we go?" His grin was infectious.

"Here's the plan. Three large helicopters are going to move right now from Roritonga to Atui. They'll be marked differently and all three will carry tourists so they don't draw any attention. They'll stay on Atu while Richard and his team of twelve Skuggor fly from Auckland to Rorotanga. From there they'll fly in two groups acting like tourists to Atui."

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

"Once the boys are back on Rorotonga, the boys will be flown back to the US under Wolf Man's supervision. Richard will fly back on a separate private flight with the 'Proctors' he's captured and they will be taken to one of our sites for interrogation."

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

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

He didn't hesitate. "Yes Eric, I'll get my flight set right away!"

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

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

He smiled back and nodded to Barry who immediately began typingin structions. Some would get helicopters moving to Rorotanga and some would be moving personnel around and some would be waiting for Richard and 'WolfMan' upon landing.

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

Somehow I felt rather certain that the real fight would actually begin after that. As I walked across the garden towards the main house my mind was full of thoughts of Sean and, of course Jack, and I couldn't help but wonder if life wouldn't have been simpler and easier if I'd just adopted them both and left well enough alone.

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

At times we come to a point in our lives when it seems we cannot decide the direction we should take. That is when we must trust our inner senses… the heart, the soul and the mind. They must combine to make a right choice.

In order to commit to any positive action, we must first have a positive vision. The vision is the guide to our path.

"This is an SF45 or to be official; a 'skugga flugg 45' but actually, we call them 'shadow flies'," Barry said as he offered me the tiny thing that seemed almost dwarfed within the palm of his hand. It was oblong and gray and for all the world, it appeared like nothing so much as a man-made pistachio nut. I took it from him carefully and he smiled.

"You don't need to be so gentle with it Eric. They're made to take a great deal of abuse.

We in the Skuggor laugh whenever the press makes a big deal over government drones as if they're on the cutting edge of technology. It's funny to watch people being amazed by those big floppy clumsy things!

"Eric, their drones and OUR drones are like comparing the Wright brothers' first plane to an F-35. THIS is one of our drones."

"That little thing you're holding has a solar powered ion-plasma drive. It can fly at speeds up to 180 miles per hour [275 km/h] for a short time, but usually it hovers at a designated spot or at a very slow velocity as we use it as a spy eye. Our control range over it is currently just under 800 miles [1250 km], but we're working on that."

"It transmits video and audio at a split second less than real time to anyplace on the planet thanks to its ability to draw and switch connections with the network of satellites favoring those in the best proximity to its location. It is almost completely silent to the human ear and will soon exceed that silence by many decibel ranges."

Because we can remotely change the color of its casing, it is for, all intents and purposes, a mechanical chameleon and. therefore, can be as close to invisible as even our current technology can make it. Rest assured though, we're working on that."

"As a rule, when deployed, they are not armed, but they can be equipped with a charge of surprisingly powerful explosives or chemicals that are mostly of our own devising. One of those chemicals can almost instantly render a room full of people unconscious without actually killing anyone. By the way, we're working on improving that. Of course we'll be using 'shadow flies' to reconnoiter and then monitor our mission tonight."

I smiled and returned the tiny object gingerly to him. "Barry, you guys astonish me almost every day. I feel so ignorant sometimes."

He smiled in return and touched me on the shoulder. "Eric you shouldn't feel that way. It's your money that finances all this research and Eric… your father didn't know about most of our technological developments when he was alive. He financed the technology just like you're doing now and trusted us to deploy it properly. The Skuggor were created by your father and Walter. To a man, we are loyal to you as your father's successor. The only thing that could break that loyalty would be an attempt to order us to create a crime against humanity. We are not robots and we certainly are not stupid, mindless Nazi types but we do respect decisions made from higher up. As to the extent of our technological development… I'm not certain even Walter knows and Walter is… well Walter is Walter."

"When all of this current distraction is over, Eric, we should make a time for you to visit one of our armories… you'll love it, You'll find we've got stuff Ian Fleming never dreamed of in his wildest imagination… we're far past anything ever offered to poor James Bond."

"As far as tonight goes, everything is now in place. Since there is a three hour time difference between us…well actually a twenty seven hour time difference, but strategically speaking, we're three hours ahead of them… our assault will begin at three o'clock in the morning or midnight their time."

"Everything is under control now. Walter is resting so that he'll be ready to sit in the command seat, Richard and 'Wolfman' are the best that we've got…the best in the world if the truth be told and they're in place. Taylor has arrived in Auckland for when we've gotten the kids back and as of right now, Boss, I'm in the hot seat. With no pretense at modesty, I gotta tell ya… they don't come any better than me!" He grinned and I wanted to hug him so bad but instead I just squeezed his shoulder.

"Thanks Barry. I guess I'll go out and amuse myself until tonight then."

The boys were still in class with Professor Swaim and Walter was napping. I wandered along the walkway and decided to pay a visit to John. He was sitting on a stool by his workbench studying a rather thick book.

"Hi John. What the heck are you up to?"

He spun around to greet me with his trademark large smile. "Hi Eric. I'm just investigating ways that we can reinforce and protect our cars from possible assault. This stuff you're currently involved in… you know; things that I'm not supposed to know about… well it got me thinking."

I grinned and gave him a one armed hug. "John, you've always been too smart for me, but honestly, I don't think we've got all that much to worry about. I'm only trying to make something that was wrong for a long time better… right, that's all."

He looked at me and his big eyes were moist. "Eric, we never talk about it… we just kind of understand, but… well your father… he was like a father to me too… he had this way of reading me; heart, mind and soul. When you first brought me here, I was a drifter with no real direction. You know that, but after just an hour of him and me being together…talking and joking and…well, he hired me… he brought me into this place; this family… well, YOU brought me here, but your father, he gave me this job and this life and well I…"

I placed my hands upon his shoulders and forced him to look me straight in the eyes. "John… John, do you honestly think that I don't know how often you wish that my father had let you drive them that day? Do you think I don't know your anguish or see the pain in your face every time the subject even remotely comes up? The only difference between us John is how we handled it."

"I stayed drunk for three years and you did your job and went on with your life."

His eyes were glassy with un-shed tears and after a quick shake of his head, a sad half smile appeared on his solemn face. "Eric, I tell myself that I could have made a difference… that I could have saved them, but I don't know… maybe I wouldn't have seen that truck coming any more than your father did… maybe I would have died with them… I don't know… I only know that in my heart I lost my family because your father was driving when it should have been me. Just like you, I lost my father and mother and my sweet little brother that day Eric."

"Eric, as a snot-nosed very confused kid… you brought me here and your father saw something in me. This is my life… this is my family and I want to keep you all safe."

He had pulled away from me and was looking at me intently. "Eric, I'm going to ask Jenny to marry me and if she accepts, we're going to continue to live here and we'll still all be family. My duties and responsibilities won't chance. In the meantime, despite what you think or say, I'm going to make part of Jack's training evasive and defensive driving."

I pulled him to me in a hug. "John, if you do propose and if she does accept… and with a lug like you that COULD be doubtful… we need to find you guys some better place to live… I mean that apartment over the garage… it's not…"

He was laughing now, "Eric, I love you, but you have no idea how life goes on in the real world. That 'apartment over the garage' has more square feet than most houses in America. It's luxurious by anybody's standards, but yours. We could have three kids and still have plenty of room. In fact we'd have to send out search parties up there to find them if they wanted to hide. Me an my future family are staying right where we are."

I smiled acknowledging my innocent ignorance, but I then quickly added, "Well then, the wedding has to take place here on the estate OK?"

He was grinning. "Where else could it happen Eric? This is my home."

"Cool John, and I promise it is going to be one hell of a party!"

I smiled and walked away.

I wandered into the kitchen and Martha was there as always fussing over the stove. She turned as I walked in and because she was Martha she knew that I needed her.

I sat down on one of the counter stools and she walked over and ran her fingers gently through my hair. "Somebody needs a haircut" she said softly as she looked into my eyes.

"Yeah. I think Friday for me and the boys." Suddenly feeling like a little boy, I grinned and asked, "Are there any cookies, Martha?"

Her smile was swift and warm and I felt a glow in my belly and chest as she turned to the counter and soon a plate of her legendary soft chocolate chip treats was placed before me followed almost instantly by a large glass of milk.

After downing three cookies in silent pleasure, I raised my eyes up from my glass of milk. "Martha, do you think it's alright to destroy something in order to try to make it right… to make it like it should have been?"

She didn't miss a beat. "Well of course Eric. How else do you think this country got started in the first place?" She was patting me on the shoulder now just like she did when I was a little kid on one of those few times I was actually puzzled over a homework problem.

My mind wandered. In my life there were two women that I'd loved… my mother and Martha. My Mother was gone with my father and brother, but Martha was still here and Martha was still the epitome of love.

Cookies finished, I rose from the table and wrapped her in a tight loving hug. "I love you Martha," I whispered in her ear.

"I love you too my sweet Eric… and I love those two young ones. You've brought life and joy back into this grand house and though I know you've got heavy things on your mind and hard roads ahead of you… Eric, you've surrounded yourself with love… how can you lose?"

I pulled her into a tightly against me and smiled down into her face before planting a kiss on her forehead. "Thank you for sticking with me when I was so screwed up. Thanks for being you," I whispered and left the room quickly so as not to embarrass her.

The boys came almost hurtling at me as they left the classroom and their hugs almost knocked me to the ground. As we walked tightly clinging to each other, Jack announced,

"According to the log I've been keeping, I've only got fifteen more hours of certified instructions and then I can take my actual driver test!" I ruffled his thick red hair and noted that he too needed a haircut.

John met us in anticipation of Jack's behind the wheel tutelage and announced that in his considered opinion, tomorrow Jack was ready to take passengers for a ride.

"Holy guacamole Rufus! You're almost a regular driver like John and Dad!" Sean exclaimed as he gave the older boy a soft punch on the arm that was quickly returned in kind.

As I watched the blue BMW disappear around the turn and down the driveway,I suddenly felt a small arm wrap itself around my waist. I looked down into those impossibly blue/green eyes and found that they were wrought with concern. "Dad, you aren't very happy lately. Is it somethin' me or Jack have done wrong? Are you sorry you adopted me or something' like that? 'Cause it would be all right if you wanted to un-adopt me… I'd understand. I just want you to be happy."

I felt a pain in my heart and I almost choked upon the air I gaped in astonishment, "Sean… oh god, how can you even wonder about something like that? I love you so much that there are not even words to express it and Sean… I love Jack that way too. NEVER. NEVER doubt or question that. What's going on is that I'm, trying to make life better for some other boys… actually the other nest boys. It's very complicated. You're not ready to understand that yet, but you will someday and when you do, I hope you'll be proud of me."

He hugged me tighter and sort of buried his face against my chest. "I love you so much Dad," It was almost a whisper. "I'm proud of you every time I see you or think about you… I wish I could make you happy alla time."

I kissed the top of his head and in a similar soft voice I said, "Sean, you DO make me happy all of the time. I don't ever want to think what my life would have been like if not for you."

I suddenly had an idea… a strangely compelling desire to do something I hadn't thought of doing in a very long time. "Sean, would you take a ride with me… one that won't be so much fun?"

"Sure Dad… any place you want to go."

We walked back over to the garage and, even though we weren't wearing our jackets and caps, we got into the Red Cat and pulled through the gate. I was almost sick to my stomach because I was so embarrassed that it had been so long since I'd been here. After the automatic gate had opened to my code, we drove up a short but steep little hill. It was our private family cemetery. The area had been purchased by my great grandfather and he and all of my deceased family were lying here. While I truly revered my great grandfather, I'd never known him. He was also not the reason I'd driven to this place today.

After stopping the car, I got out and with Sean following me we walked the short distance to the crest of the hill.

"This is a cemetery… a burying place isn't it Dad?" He'd grasped my hand as we'd begun our walk. I slipped my hand out of his and wrapped my arm around his shoulder, drawing him into me in a tight hug.

"Yes, Sean. This is where my family has been buried since my great grandfather… the one who build Joyous Gaurde and moved the Tuckers from Chicago."

We walked over the gravel path and I steered him in the direction I need to go.

Without comment from me, we walked past the markers of Pa Pop; my grandfather and my grandmother whom I'd never known and eventually reached the grouping under the slender magnolia tree. They were black marble and relatively plain. They stood in a row with one space left ominously empty in the grouping… that space was mine I knew.

I was tempted to point that out to my little boy and tell him that. if not for him, I'd probably be sleeping there by now but I did not. I'd brought him here not to frighten or upset him, but simply because I needed his company. I indicated the three upright stones to him. "These are where the bodies of my mother, father and Kyle are Sean." I said with my arm tightening around his little shoulder.

"Remember when we were in Savannah and found your parents and grandma? It's the same thing here Sean. I believe that, though their bodies are buried on this hill, their living spirits are free to soar throughout the universe. I haven't been here for a long time, but every time I do come here I feel like I can talk to them… and I feel better. If you don't mind, I'm going to talk to them now with you here. "

"Sure Dad. You were there when I did that with my family in that place in Georgia."

I nodded and then began to speak in the direction of the three headstones, "Dad, Mom, and you too squirt… Kyle, I know you've been watching everything that's been going on so you certainly know my little Sean here. He's an official Tucker now and one that the entire clan can be proud of. One day soon I'll bring Jack here as well, but I also know that we don't need to be here and I certainly know I don't need to come to this place to talk with you; but today, I just felt as though Sean and I should pay a visit. I don't need to keep telling you how much I miss you and how much I would give to have you here with me, but I'm trying to live in a way that I hope makes you all proud."

Sean had been concentrating upon the third marker and there were long tears in his eyes as he looked up at me and asked. "Dad… Eric… I sure wish I had known Kyle. Do you think he'd a liked me?"

I leaned down and kissed the top of his head and said softly, "I know he would have liked you Sean. He would have loved you just like all of these Tuckers would have loved you." I waved my arm to indicate the small graveyard."

As we stood there, I leaned down and asked softly, "Sean, do you think you'd like to have your parents and your grandma moved here so you could visit them when you wanted to?"

He thought about that for a few minutes before he said, "Nah. I know this is gonna sound terrible Dad… so I hope you'll understand, but those people don't really mean nothing' to me, I know they're my family, but I don't remember them. I don't ever remember being 'Sean Douglas'. I was just a baby. I'll always love them in my own way cause they gave me life and loved me even when I didn't know it and I'll always think about them but…if you're right and their spirits are free in the universe, then they know what's going on and if I ever need to talk to them, I can do it whereever I am I think."

"You, and Jack are my family. The only family I've ever had that I remember or really know about. You're the only ones who matter to me… OUR family is all that matters.. All I want to care about. Does that make me a terrible person?"

My heart was thumping as I pulled him tightly against me and managed to say, "No my wonderful little son, There is nothing you could do that would seem terrible to me. Sean, I love you so much that it makes me ache and my family… all of these Tuckers would love you as much as I do. Just like those graves in Savannah Sean, these are your family too."

He'd gently but insistently pulled away from me and was softly rubbing his hands over Kyles's marker and he turned to me with tears welling in his blue green eyes. "I sure feel like Kyle is my family. I know you prob'ly don't believe me, but we REALLY were together up north when that…'stuff' happened. I told you about it when I was in the hospital. I was bad lost and something terrible was about to happen to me, I wasn't scared, but I was. But Kyle found me and… I don't understand it so good, but he actually saved me… Oh Dad, I feel like I know him! I really do."

I pulled him back against me so tightly that for a moment I thought I might be hurting him and whispered into his ear, "You did tell me about it Sean and I DO believe it happened. I know it's all true and it's wonderful"

He stopped stroking the cold, dark marble of Kyle's marker and after giving it a soft, loving little pat, he looked up at me. "Sometime, can we come back here an' just visit? I'd like to sing a song to him someday. I think he'd like to hear his guitar again."

I was overcome and literally choked as I attempted to answer and breath at the same time. I couldn't speak and my eyes stung from the tears that were welling. I managed a sharp nod and guided him back down the path to the waiting red sports car.

We arrived back into the compound just a few moments before the blue BMW pulled in.

Jack was grinning from ear to ear and he walked toward us with the feisty panache that I believe only a red head can display. His green eyes were twinkling as he exclaimed, "John says that after I get my license, he's going to teach me to drive like James Bond!"

I saw John sag and dramatically roll his eyes to heaven and so I stepped in and said, "No, Jack. John is going to teach you to drive DEFENSIVELY. You're going to learn how to handle a car under unusual circumstances. He's going to teach you to be a better driver not an international spy."

"Anyway, you're jumping the gun, Jack, because FIRST, you have to get your license eh?… so,… Rufus Tucker, Super Spy… for now, your mission is to rush into the house and wash up for dinner… you too Sean."

An ear-to-ear grin had captured his face at the 'Rufus Tucker' part and I'd be less than honest if I didn't admit that my heart did a little flip-flop as well.

They both ran towards the house with arms and legs flying like two large birds with flapping wings. As athletic and naturally graceful as they both were, sometimes they could act positively goofy.

John walked toward me and it was obvious that he knew that something very serious was going down and it was preying on his mind. "Eric, I know I'm not supposed to know that something very big is happening… but you need to believe that you can trust me to watch over the boys."

He'd locked me into intense, almost robotic eye contact and I guess I yielded first as I replied, "I never feel the boys are safer than when they're with you John. How can you imagine that I'd think otherwise? My own skinny teenaged self trusted you that first day we met at Arnie's Pool Hall and my father and I have trusted you ever since. I'm sorry I can't tell you what's going on right now John, but that's for everyone's safety."

Without another word being spoken, we hugged each other tightly right there in the middle of the car park and I walked back to the house trying and eventually succeeding in catching up with the boys.

After dinner, Doc Swaim more or less took charge of the Sean and Jack. I felt bad about that, but I really needed to sneak upstairs to get some sleep before the mission on the Atiu Island plantation.

Chris had been acting as sorrowful and needing as a puppy that had been chastised for chewing up a pair of slippers. I'd briefly toyed with the idea of asking him to sneak upstairs with me, but decided that I really needed sleep more than I needed sex tonight. Besides, the wicked part of my nature decided that letting him feel so bad would make the next time we actually got together all the more exciting.

I kept the blinds closed as I shed my clothes and lay down upon the bed. It felt so empty. Since bringing Sean home, it had seldom been occupied by less than two people… more often than not it had been me and my wonderful little boy as we slept locked together in a loving embrace that I once could not have imagined.

As I lay there hoping for sleep, I played over in my mind all of the amazing ways my life had changed since I'd first brought home the little boy in the blue blazer. I was astonished when I realized that it hadn't even been a full year yet.

Sleep somehow overtook me rather quickly and I was awakened by a signal on my cell phone directed from Barry which gave me just enough time to shower, dress and head to the command center.

As I entered the room the screens were flashing almost psychedelically. Several young men who I recognized as Skuggor but didn't actually know by name were seated at various stations around the room. Barry was working four screens and Walter was calmly watching one large display while talking into a receiver and making notes on the keypad of a separate laptop on the table in front of him.

Barry smiled at me quickly and then almost instantly returned to his screen. "Glad you woke up in time to make it. Have a seat." Walter grinned at me because he knew I wouldn't have missed this for anything.

The images transmitted by the 'shadow flies' were nothing less than extraordinary. Walter's display kept shifting from view to view and all of the pictures were crystal clear. Although I knew it was midnight over there, the images were amazingly well-defined. I commented on that and Walter responded, "Eric, we're years beyond that 'night vision' crap that they use out therein the 'real world'. We don't need to put up with fuzzy green images. I'm no techno geek expert like Barry but, as I understand it, we've learned to modify and amplify ambient light wherever our little 'bugs' are flying. What you're seeing now isn't the full extent of our capability. Right now the bug on this screen is operating under highly modified starlight, but if we had to, we could get better images even under heavy cloud cover."

"As we move into the compound there, the bugs will automatically adjust to the more intense lighting of the lamps and stuff in the buildings. The only situation that we'd be blind would be in absolute darkness… like a cave or a perfectly sealed room… but even then, we could resort to our heat sensing technology. If there was something living in that situation, we'd still have a better image than today's military 'night vision'. The fact is, to us on our screen this looks like a scene taking place in the early evening, but to the 'bad guys' over there, its dark as midnight. Actually, it IS midnight." He grinned because that had suddenly struck him as funny.

"The images received by the sensors in the little 'flies' are instantly transmitted and then re-worked through our computer system and improved… I think the proper word is 'enhanced'… to the point of perfection. Despite what you see and what I've just said, Barry the brain over there tells me we're on the verge of getting even better." Walter wadded up a piece of note paper and tossed it hand grenade style so that it bounced off Barry's head. To his credit, Barry just rolled his eyes and shrugged.

"Why don't we share our technology with the government Walter?"

He looked up at me and smiled. For a moment he looked just like a picture of a sly fox I remembered from a story book I'd had when I was a little kid.

"Oh, we do Eric… all of the time. We just make certain that we're at least ten years ahead of whatever technology we share with them.

"So, Barry has told you about the 'shadow flies'…'bugs' is what I call them. For this mission, we're only using four. Barry has each of their images on his screens and he'll be feeding me the most relative views while he and a couple of our colleagues monitor the others so that we're not caught by surprise. I've gotta tell you, I just love these little bugs. I wish your father had been alive to see them. We only had a few prototypes when he was with us, but he would have loved them more than me Eric. Oh… the nasty things he'd have used them for… oops! I probably said way too much, I'm sorry. Anyway, I've got to take a piss. This medicine the doctors have got metaking is the best diuretic I've ever experienced."

"Barry, fill Eric in on what we know so far."

Walter got up and left the room, Barry gestured to one of the nearby Skuggor indicating he should take his place in front of the four screens and he walked over to the corner of the room where the coffee bar was. "Coffee Eric?" He raised a cup vaguely in my direction.

"Yes, thanks Barry. Just black please."

He strolled over offering me a steaming mug and he sat down in Walter's recently vacated chair. "We did some early reconnoitering soon after the choppers with our guys landed. We sent two 'shadow flies' into the compound. We kept them mostly close to the wall and thanks to our ability to change their color, they weren't detected so we got good pictures, good sound and great information."

"Because they think the whole nest takeover was done by a bunch of do-gooders with lots of bark, but absolutely no bite, their security there on Atiu is relatively non-existent."

"Now, the first news I've got for you isn't very pleasant. Our initial intuition was correct and the sexual training of these boys has already been accelerated. The fourteen-year-olds had already been exposed to anal intercourse and other interaction. This was apparently the normal age these things happened at the nest."

I feigned ignorance because I wasn't yet ready to share the knowledge I'd gained by reading Jack's interview with Professor Swaim.

"Since arriving at Atiu, they've broken that age restriction and it seems from what we've gathered that all of the thirteen-year-olds have been sodomized repeatedly. They are now at a point where the entire group of boys seems to be copulating indiscriminately between themselves. Based upon our surveillance, these actions take place exclusively between the boys with supervision and direction provided by three of the adults. From what we've been able to determine, none of the adults have in any way interacted sexually with the boys"

This, of course, also matched Jack's account of 'special training' neststyle. The training proctors seemed to never engage in actual sex with the boys. Rather, they guided them and advised them, allowing the actual action to take place between the boys themselves.

"We've got video Eric, but somehow, I don't think you want to see it right now."

I nodded with a sick feeling in my stomach. "You're right Barry, I don't need to watch pictures of thirteen and fourteen-year-old boys having sex under adult supervision and encouragement."

"There are only two adults, there whose main function was 'muscle' and they either believe they're perfectly safe or they're very very lazy. They mostly just sit out on the front veranda of the main building drinking beer and reading magazines. Sadly for them TV is rather poor in that part of the island and the plantation doesn't have a satellite receiver. Since we've been monitoring the place, they've never even taken a stroll around the perimeter. They obviously think they're very safe… stupid jerks."

"After we get the go ahead, we should have the entire complex under our control in about ten minutes and have everyone airborne in less than half an hour."

Walter had returned to the room at this point and Barry yielded his seat back to him.

"Let's get this show on the road, " he growled and shortly Richard and the very recognizable hairy face of Barney 'Wolfman' Dunn were on Walter's display. Richard smiled because he knew Barry was watching.

"How do I look on TV Barry? Should I try out for a news anchor job on one of the networks or am I more the movie star type?" Barry coughed, Walter sort of growled and I said, "Hello Richard. Did you have a good flight?" The image on the screen was so good that we could see him turn a bright, deep red.

"Oh! Oh! Oh… Sorry! Eric, … I didn't know YOU were watching. I thought we were just doing a sound and visual check I…"

Walter cut in, "Forget it Richard, how do we stand?"

Richard recovered quickly. "We're ready to move Walter. We have the place completely surrounded. After we take out the two goons (if you can call them that) we'll move intothe main house. That's where the other three adults are sleeping. Once they're under our control, kindly 'Uncle Barney' will lead a small team into the other building where the boys are and lead them out to our transports."

I couldn't help myself, "Uncle Barney?"

Richard giggled. I wasn't certain I'd ever heard him giggle before. I'd certainly heard him laugh, but… giggle? "Yeah, that's his real name… Barney. You knew that, right Eric? Anyway, we've got him dressed up like a teacher or preacher or whatever they call these guys…"

"Proctor" Walter interjected.

"Yep, that's it; Proctor. Show them the outfit Wolfman. Come on, show them."

We could hear protests off of the visual but Barry or one of the Skuggor apparently moved or adjusted the lens on the 'shadow fly' and there stood 'Wolfman' wearing a tweed sports jacket (with leather elbow patches no less), complete with a bow tie and he looked so uncomfortable that my heart actually went out to him.

"Yeah, we figured if he looked scholarly yet authoritative, it wouldn't scare the boys. Suddenly being faced with a bunch of gray suited ninja types in the middle of the night… that might be a bit traumatic… especially for kids who've never really known any stress in their entire lives.

"Once we've arrived at Rorratanga, the boys, Wolfman and Taylor will get on-board a regular flight back to LA. And then to Houston and the nest. We'll subdue the adults using protocol 'Q' as we agreed Walter and I'll airlift them back and eventually we'll have them under custody in Slida av stall 4. "

I knew from my tutelage with Walter and Phil that 'Slida av Stall 4' was a code name for one of the highly secret Skuggor locations here in the United States. I just hadn't yet remembered to ask where it was.

I smiled to myself, though, because I remembered that 'slida av stall' translated essentially into 'steel cunt'. I Wondered how 'Proctor Nick' would enjoy his stay there.

"OK, then guys… on my count." Walter was speaking to Richard and Wolfman not to Barry and me. I felt a tingle as I realized the operation was actually about to begin.

"Three… Two… One… GO!" Walter almost whispered the words.

Walter's big monitor went black for just a fraction of a second and then a remarkably clear image of the front porch filled the screen as the shadow fly moved in to capture the scene.

Seated next to each other were two burly men dressed in shorts and tee shirts looking for all the world just like two guys on vacation except for the shoulder holsters they wore. The image on the screen was so clear thatI was able to ascertain that the holsters each contained SIG 250s.

As we watched, two gray-clad figures appeared seemingly from nowhere. Silent as shadows… I almost giggled as I thought that because the English definition of 'skuggor' IS 'shadows'… they were at the side of both men and applying injection devices against their necks.

The man seated to the left looked up in a quizzical, almost comical fashion as the injection was applied before his eyes rolled back into his head and he folded over like a limp towel. The man seated to the right made no movement at all. He just collapsed into unconsciousness.

The porch was quickly filled with men dressed in gray. Four of the Skugga entered the house and were followed by six others carrying the limp bodies of the unconscious nest outriders. The image transmitted by the 'shadow fly' was perfect and unwavering. I thoughy to myself that the picture couldn't have been better if this were a staged television show.

In the big room inside, there were four cots. Three of them were occupied and the swift moving Skugga placed themselves strategically as one by one they woke up the sleeping nest Proctors. As the hapless men sat up in groggy confusion, they were each administered an injection to the neck and quickly collapsed back onto their pillows.

The screen quickly changed to show six Skugga in their now very recognizable gray uniforms moving through the front door of the other building.

A man was sitting in an easy chair reading by the light of a single floor lamp. He turned with a startled look on his face as the Skugga entered the room and surrounded him. It was only then that I noticed that each Skuggot carried a short, stubby weapon that looked like a hybrid created between a pistol and a rifle. I made a mental note to ask Walter or Barry about them later.

"Well boys, that's Nick Banek," Barry said, though I wasn't certain if he was speaking to Walter and me or to the Skugga on the display screen.

My mind did the quick translation; 'Proctor, Nick'. I'd hated this man since reading Jack's story as told to Doc Swaim, but I had to admit he had balls. He threw down his book and stood up facing the lead Skugga who I suddenly realized was Richard.

"Who the hell are you and what the fuck is going on here?" He had little time to say anything else because an injector was quickly placed against his neck and he collapsed almost instantly.

In the next room the twenty two boys were sleeping. I smiled because the quality of the sound being transmitted to us was so good that you could hear every little snore grunt and fart in the room.

"Righty-O then boys!" Wolfman's loud basso voice filled the room and almost instantly twenty two little heads shot up from their cots. They were confused but Wolfman took instant control.

"Now then boys, this has been a good little test and fun trip hasn't it?" The boys issued bleary eyed agreement.

"Now, though, it's time to head back to the nest so… quick as quick can be get dressed and follow these wonderful gentlemen in the gray outfits."

There wasn't a grumble or a protest. They were after all nest kids and they did what they were told. In a very few minutes the boys were following a team of Skugga down a path into the jungle and soon would be aboard the transport. It was essentially mission accomplished, but I knew that Walter had plans for the captured adults.

"Goddam it, I've gotta piss again!" Walter stood up from his chair. "I damn sure hope this chemo shit I'm starting Monday doesn't fuck up my plumbing any worse. I'm too damn young to have to wear diapers and don't a one of you say a damned thing!"

I realized that I'd been gripping my coffee mug so tightly that the handle was making an impression on my skin, I also realized that it was empty. I must have been drinking unconsciously while the action was taking place. I looked over at Barry. "Time for a re-fill?" I asked. He smiled as I reached out and took his cup from him and walked over to the coffee bar. "How do you take it Barry?"

"Just a tiny bit of creamer… no sugar. Thanks Eric."

We were sitting side by side now sipping the hot coffee. From the very beginning I'd made certain that the private Kona blend my family had enjoyed for generations was the only coffee served up here in the command center. Good coffee for good people.

"Barry, what was the stuff they injected the adults with… they aren't dead are they?"

"Nah, it's actually a cocktail we've used for a long time. Your father himself actually applied it to more than a few people. It forms a momentary blockage in the circulatory system… kind of like a momentary aneurism. For just a split second it stops the heart and shuts off blood flow to the brain. Its almost instantaneous coma or seizure… you choose… but it results in on-the -spot collapse with no after-effects except for a fucking horrible headache. They'll all be conscious by now, but we'll wait for Walter to get back."

As if on cue, Walter walked back into the room and took his place in the command chair.

The image on the screen was now the big room in the first building. The five men were in chairs side by side with their wrists fastened to the arms of the chairs. Four of the men looked frightened and compliant, but 'Proctor Nick' was angry and aggressive.

No words were spoken as two Skugga using injection guns inserted something into the chest of each of the five men.

Only after this was completed did Richard speak, "Gentlemen… no, I don't mean that because you certainly aren't gentlemen… scumbags… yes that's more appropriate. So, scumbags, we know what you've been doing over the years and we certainly know what you've been up to here. If I had control of this operation, there would be a mass execution right here, right now. Sadly for me were all going to have to take a couple of long plane rides together."

"I know what some of you are thinking… especially you… mister head scumbag," he was pointing right at Proctor Nick. "You think that when we get to the airport you can raise an alarm and the authorities will step in. Since you're all here legally and have legal custody of those poor boys you'd be right. In fact, it would probably be us that was soon in custody. But see, I'm betting that everything else considered, you'd each rather live than die. Am I right?"

Even Proctor Nick sullenly agreed.

"So scumbags, here's the deal… we've just injected into your chests a little nanobot that responds to our remote commands. These cute little guys now burrowing their way into your bodies are completely organic and, therefore, can't be detected by any security screen… especially those as pathetic as the ones in New Zealand airports."

What should interest you most of all though, scumbags, is what those cute little nanobots are designed to do. Even as I speak to you, a little bot has worked its way into your heart. If I or any of my colleagues here click the right code on one of these devices we're holding, there will be a minor explosion in your left ventricle. In short, you'll experience an instant and permanent stoppage of your sweet little hearts. Any doctor… particularly any doctor working at an airport in Auckland… will dismiss your demise as a sad, sudden and very FATAL heart attack. Therefore scumbags, as we pass through security stations you will be compliant with our directions and in time… if so instructed…you'll actually appear cheerful."

Richard tossed his control device up into the air and then having caught it, turned again to the five men. "So, scumbags, here's the deal. I suspect that you don't believe what I just told you and that one of you is planning to call security at the first airport. I suppose I've got to demonstrate these little nanos really work. Sadly, that means that one of you has to die. Do you guys want to pick… are one of you so fucking faithful to the nest that you want to volunteer? Or… are going to make me choose?" Richard was walking slowly in front of themlike a tiger waiting to pounce upon its prey.

"Oh for fuck's sake, we believe you!" It was none less than Nick who'd broken first. "What do we have to do?"

"Actually, scumbag, it's not very hard. We're going to fly back to the good old USA and you're all going to be our guests in one of our cozy little nooks. We'll ask you some questions and when we're satisfied with your truthfulness we'll actually let you go. Have you all understood that or do you need proof?"

I wasn't very surprised when they almost replied in unison swearing to high heaven that they'd cooperate.

Walter stood up and stretched like a lion on the savanna. "We're pretty much done here for now. Barry's guys will continue to follow things so that the kids get safely on the planes and all. It'll be a couple of days before we've gotten those jerks to our compound and can question them. I'd say this was a good job. Did you enjoy it Eric?"

I couldn't help it…I just hugged him right there in front of his subordinates. "It was great Walter. Thank you…thanks to everybody" I gestured to in cludethe entire room.

As I turned prepared to leave Barry was standing in front of Walter and me. "Breaking news here guys. One of the fifteen year old boys that were kidnapped from their assignments is back out on contract right now. We've located them and we have the property surrounded. Since Richard is half a world away, I need to know what you want to do."

I looked at Walter but to my surprise, he nodded at me indicating that it was my call. "Do we have a shadow fly there Barry?"

He grinned and I suspected that he was tempted to make a smart-ass remark but instead he simply replied, "Of course Eric."

"OK, then, let's move on. After we've secured both the boy and the client, I'll decide our further action."

I turned to Walter and the nod he gave me was all I needed. He obviously agreed with my choice.

It was a top floor condo in an obviously well maintained middle-class community. The gray clad Skugga didn't break down the door. I learned later that there were no commercially used door locks that any Skugga couldn't open almost instantly and those chain things… well, I won't even get into how useless they are. The shadow fly picture was excellent, though a bit jumpy because it wasn't deployed on a majorly controlled mission like the Atiu assault had been.

They were both naked on the couch. They'd obviously fallen asleep with their arms around each other as they were watching TV. It was the man who woke first and after shaking off the befuddlement of sleep, he jumped up and threw himself in front of the slowly waking boy.

"Don't! Don't for God's sake! Don't hurt the boy! Whatever you want, I'll give it to you! I'm rich. I promise I can give you whatever you want just…please…don't hurt the boy!"

By now, the boy was awake and the man was holding him in a tight protective body hug.

"Do we have voice contact with these Skugga?" I asked either Walter or Barry.

"Of course we do Eric." Barry answered. "You're getting direct communication with the team leader right now.

I remembered my training with Walter and Phil. "Shadow leader this is Lancelot do you recognize this protocol?"

I could see the poor young man almost choke. He was obviously new and certainly never expected to be communicating with me. I realized that my code, 'Lancelot', was higher than whatever Walter's code was. This was akin to some poor sergeant suddenly getting a call from the President of the United States… except for the fact (as I was beginning to understand) I was probably more powerful.

"Sir, yes Sir." Came the reply.

"Shadow leader, I want you to be very gentle with these two people. Will you have your men find them blankets to cover themselves with?"

"Sir, Yes Sir!"

After the two were covered and beginning to realize that they were not going to be killed immediately, I spoke to them, "You can hear me, I know though you cannot see me. You should understand that I can hear and see you and I mean you no harm. Please try to be comfortable. I'll have my shadow leader withdraw most of his men, though he and two others will stay in the room with you. Is that alright?"

"Yes.. yes, I understand, but I don't understand what this is all about. This has never happened before… what do you want from me?"

"We want to understand why you think it's all right to use a young boy as a whore. Why you think it's all right to abuse his young body just because you can afford the pleasure." In my mind, I was thinking about that scene in the 'Wizard of Oz' with the guy behind the curtain.

"The first thing we want from you is an acknowledgment of how wrong it is to sodomize helpless boys!" I was winging it, but I knew where I wanted things to go but suddenly he surprised me.

"You… you don't understand! I've never done anything improper with Bobby. We've just had a friendly father-son relationship. I know what other men have done to him. I've tried on countless occasions to adopt him… he is an orphan after all. For whatever reason the nest wouldn't allow that and so, I'm forced to contract him as much as I can afford. Sadly poor Bobby has had to go out on other contracts when he was ill used."

"I'm innocent of any wrong doing sir, but I'm willing to pay whatever price you require just… PLEASE don't hurt the boy. He is as innocent as any child raised as he's been could possibly be."

All I could think about was Jack. "Bag em and bring them here Shadow Leader."

He coughed over his surprise and discomfort. "HERE as in 'Lancelot's Place', sir"

"Yep, I'll be expecting them." 'Lancelot's Place' meant Joyous Gaurde, which was why the young Skugga was perplexed.

Something in what I'd just seen got me to thinking and I wanted to talk to the two of them.

As I walked out of the north wing, the sun was just rising. I stood still as the birds began their morning songs. I took a deep breath of the sweet, moist morning air and strolled towards the main house.. I glanced up at the wonderful old building and realized that under that roof Sean and Jack… the two people I loved most in the world… were sleeping safe and content.

About an hour ago I'd initiated an operation that had roused twenty-two young boys from their sleep but I hoped and prayed they were boarding a plane back to a better future.

As I stood there, Barry walked out of the door and he stood beside me. "It's done." He said happily.

"What?" I hoped At once that I hadn't sounded curt or aloof.

"Operation 'Flights of Angels'… it's done."

He was smiling and I reached over and grabbed him on the shoulder. "Barry, I don't think we'll ever be done will we?"

He rewarded me with a huge grin. "Nah…that's why we do this stuff Eric.

Folks, I'm so sorry this chapter has taken this long. Fighting cancer is a bitch… sometimes you win and sometimes IT wins, but I'm determined to beat it to a pulp. This time, it won a little.
Please keep reading this little adventure and know how very much I appreciate your responses.

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