Pueros

Blincoe's Casebook:
1 – The Cross Murders

Chapter 1
Opening

(May 1999, Surrey, England)

Michael was cycling along a particularly secluded and narrow lane when he saw a large white van parked ahead, pointing in the opposite direction to his own. A man was leaning with his back against the van, towards the rear where there was an open door. The man appeared to have a map in his hands.

(June 1999, London, England)

"Yes" he asked and his assistant, Detective Inspector (DI) Burrows replied "We're needed in Surrey."

"Call for our car" the DCS ordered. The usual heavy London traffic meant that the car took well over an hour to reach its destination despite the siren.

(Later same afternoon, Surrey, England)

"DCS Blincoe?" he asked Burrows, who quickly pointed at his boss. The embarrassed red-faced man then introduced himself as Detective Sergeant Maxwell and shook the real DCS's hand. Blincoe acquainted him with Burrows.

"I'd wear wellington boots if I were you, sir," suggested Maxwell, "it's been raining here heavily, albeit intermittently, for the last few days."

The two Scotland Yard detectives selected, from a police van full of them, pairs that were several sizes too big so that they could wear the footwear over their shoes. The three policemen then started wading across the waterlogged field as Maxwell explained "Found at lunchtime, sir, by the farmer. Lucky really for apparently he rarely comes here. Field's fallow and he's paid a subsidy by the European Commission to keep it that way. Money would be better spent on more police, if you ask me. It looks like a carefully chosen site. Despite its large size, the whole field is not discernible from nearby roads, apart from the farm track, and the crime scene's in a wide hollow which makes it invisible even from there. There are also no buildings around."

After about 300 yards of slow progress across the mud, avoiding the standing pools of water, Blincoe and Burrows both shivered when they saw the top of the thing come into view. They were white-faced once they were standing at the brow of the gentle incline, leading into the hollow, for in front of them, at the bottom of the slope, was a wooden cross with a naked boy attached to it.

A woman was walking up towards them and Maxwell introduced her to his guests. The pathologist informed them "I can't do much more until the fire brigade manage to get the poor mite down, and that'll be a while. The lad's been nailed to the thing. The large spike through both ankles will have broken many bones. I'm afraid that I think that he was fully alive and conscious when it was done. Whoever the devils were, they clearly abused the boy over many weeks. Brands and piercings have been applied to various parts of his body. There are also old and new marks of heavy beatings all over and, judging by some semen stains on his inside legs, I don't think the abuse stopped there. These stains were probably made in-situ just before the lad was attached to the cross. As a final touch, the bastards attached an elasticator to the boy's scrotum. The lad's final hours must have been excruciating. It's no wonder they gagged him. I won't know until I get the body to the morgue whether the poor boy's testicles predeceased him or not. Time of death, about 6 yesterday evening."

A man then approached and introduced himself "DCI Jones, sir, glad you're here. Not our scene at all!"

Blincoe replied that he didn't think that it was his either.

Jones continued "Killers don't seem to have been over-cautious. They must be confident that they will not be suspects for, as well as the semen, from which we should obtain good DNA profiles, they've left behind footprints and tyre tracks. The latter suggests that they were in a large van. The former shows that there were four murderers wearing boots plus the bare-footed boy. I'm afraid to say, judging from the boy's footprints and a long rut running from the farm track down into the hollow, that it looks as if the poor lad, although he would need some help, was made to drag the cross to the place of his own crucifixion!"

(2 days later, Fife, Scotland)

A month later in a remote Scottish glen, Robert's body was found in a similar state to Michael's but nailed to a St. Andrew's rather than a St. George's cross.

Another month later, Interpol telephoned Blincoe. The body of a 14 years old blonde-haired blue-eyed boy had been discovered in a remote Swiss forest. He too had been crucified.

(August 1999, Cotswolds, England)

The Reverend would later go to the vicarage where he resided alone, although a part-time live-out housekeeper helped him with most of the chores. Like many Church of England vicars, Quigly had his eccentricities. Unlike most, though, his were expensive and he could afford them. The Reverend was independently wealthy and drew no stipend. He had also spent a lot of his own money on the maintenance of the church buildings, particularly the repair of the church steeple and the complete refurbishment of the previously ramshackle vicarage. The long-overdue steeple repair especially endeared him to the local community as well as the bishop. However, his pride and joy were his two brand new, very fast, sports cars, one red and one green, and his Harley Davidson motor cycle. It was therefore curious that, in these circumstances, his fourth vehicle was a large white van.

(3 days later, Norfolk, England)

Chapter 2
Per

(August 1999, London, England)

Blincoe conferred with DCI Burrows in the former's New Scotland Yard office, with its grand view overlooking the British capital.

"Let's assume that poor Per is the latest victim and summarise what we know so far," said Blincoe. "The victims are all handsome 14 years old blonde-haired blue-eyed boys from countries whose national flags bear crosses, but we can't find any other connection between them. They're all very heavily beaten and tortured over a period of about four weeks. Their torments include being branded and pierced on various parts of the body and, judging from their oral and anal injuries and residue found in their stomachs and rectums, they're regularly forced to perform fellatio and subjected to sodomy. The brandmarks and gold piercing jewellery are all in the shape of a pentagram. Eventually, after a month of this extreme abuse, they're taken somewhere remote and crucified. Not content with just nailing the lads to the crosses, all of which have pentagram motifs, the murdering bastards also castrate the poor boys. Modus operandi virtually identical, apart from the fact that the Swiss lad had his balls removed with a knife whilst he was still alive whereas those of the first two victims were destroyed by that wicked elasticator device. We know, from the mix of boot prints and semen stains at the three murder scenes, that there's at least eight people involved, and that some are probably children. However, the boots are all of the same very common make and impossible to trace to their places of purchase, and no DNA matches have been made. The murderers arrogantly perform the crucifixions in places where the gruesome scene would eventually be discovered and seem to be so confident of avoiding suspicion that they don't mind leaving clues behind. The pentagrams and crucifixion suggest that the victim's many horrible tribulations formed part of some mystic rituals."

Blincoe paused for a while. Burrows knew better than to disturb his boss when he was thinking.

The DCS eventually continued "I'm sure that there's something we've overlooked. The kidnappings seem too well executed and the victims too well selected for the snatches just to be anything other than well planned. This means that the murderers had identified the boys in advance and how did they do that when one lived in the south of England, one in Scotland and one in Switzerland, and Per's on holiday from Denmark? There must be something linking them, murderers and victims, all together. We've missed the connection so far but, if we find it, I think we'll find the killers. Burrows, I want our best officers to interview the previous victims' families again whilst we travel to Norfolk. We must find the link before it's too late!"

(Same day, somewhere in England)

Per looked around. The scene was well-illuminated by fluorescent tubes hidden behind white plastic panels that covered the whole ceiling. The bed was centred at one end of the room and the only door was on the right wall in the far corner. To his left, there was a bedside table with an empty glass and a jug full of water on top. Per found that, in the small cupboard underneath, there were a number of full jars and bottles and items of first aid. On the wall further to his left was a full-length mirror and beyond was a clothes rail, with several peculiar white garments on hangers alongside a number of white shorts, briefs and even skimpier items. There was a strange hospital-like trolley in the corner with filled bottles attached to vertical rails rising above one end. There were spare bottles on a shelf underneath. All of the containers had long plastic tubes leading from them.

Along the wall to his right, there were, in order, a toilet, with a roll of white paper on top of the cistern, bidet, with soap and sponge, and sink, with soap and flannel. Above the sink, there was a mirror about ½ metre square with a shelf below. On the latter sat a comb, a tube of toothpaste, a toothbrush, a bottle of mouthwash, a box of dental floss, and oral and deodorant sprays. The floor in the corner to his right was sunken and had a drainage hole in the middle. Above was a showerhead. There was no shower surround or curtain but there was a nearby shelf with soap, sponge, shampoo and gel. Several clean towels hung neatly from rails attached to the wall between the sink and the shower. Per shivered again when he realised that the room had obviously been equipped for someone to enjoy a long stay. His first shiver had been caused by seeing that the walls and floors were all black except for a large gold pentagram painted directly opposite him on the far wall, above which a small closed-circuit television camera, pointed right at the bed, was suspended from the roof. Hanging at the centre of the star was a quarter-size wooden crucifix. However, instead of the normal Saviour portrayed, there was a naked boy who looked remarkably like himself.

Chapter 3
Initiation

(August 1999, somewhere in England)

Per removed himself from the bed carefully. He was unsure about the length of the chain that attached his neck to the wall but wanted to explore his new small world. He found that the chain could not be dislodged from restricting him but the restriction was only confined to the far reaches of his room and he could reach without much impediment all of the facilities. He was examining the garments on the clothes rail, thinking that they could not possibly be for him for the shorts and briefs were surely too small and wondering who on earth would want to wear the other much more skimpy items, when the door opened.

A man in his mid-fifties entered. He had silvery hair and an aquiline nose. However, Per was more intrigued about his attire for the man was wearing a floor-length black gown with a gold pentangle embossed on the chest. The boy started to speak for had many questions to ask and protests to make but only managed to utter a few words when he was overcome by terrible pain flowing through his whole body and fell to the floor, writhing in agony.

When the pain subsided and his tears had cleared, Per saw that the man held a small electronic remote control in his hands.

"You will speak only when spoken to," he was commanded, "this device has several uses, one of which is to activate an electrical charge in your collar. I think you felt the result. It works with or without the chain because of its inherent very powerful but tiny battery. You will also obey me or my colleagues at all times or you will again experience severe distress."

The man paused and was content that Per now remained silent. He continued "You are here to fulfil a function about some of which you will shortly learn. However, you will first stand and remove your clothes as you will not be requiring them any more."

Per made the mistake of hesitating and quickly found himself writhing again.

"Stand and strip naked immediately," the man ordered, "or you will be squirming in agony on the floor until you die!"

After the pain had again abated, the beautiful boy stood and very reluctantly started to unbutton his shirt.

(Same time, London, England)

Chapter 4
Ritual

(August 1999, somewhere in England)

The pretty 14 years old blonde-haired blue-eyed boy walked reluctantly and with great trepidation towards the middle of his prison, dragging with him the light but sturdy chain that attached his neck to the wall behind. As he advanced, the door in the far corner opened again and two handsome boys, both aged about 12, entered. They were dressed in sleeveless black tunics that ran to just below their loins. Narrow black belts tucked the garments sweetly round their slim waists, above which gold pentagrams were embroidered. They wore black leather sandals without socks. They were also carrying black metal trays.

This entrance caused Per to make the mistake of pausing. Acute agony returned to his body and he fell to his knees screaming.

"You will learn to obey without hesitation," he heard the sinister man say, "or your sufferings will be prolonged. Now, back to your feet and take up position where I told you."

When Per was eventually able to stand, he cleared the tears from his eyes and this enabled him to see that the two younger boys had broad smiles. They seemed to be enjoying his predicament.

Per had already noticed that his chain gave him ample freedom to reach the corners at the end of the room where his bed was, but it was becoming taut as he approached the centre. He estimated that he would be unable to progress more than two metres past that point, which he now saw was marked by a small gold pentagram painted on the otherwise completely black floor.

"Do not stand on the sign of our Order" commanded the man, "but just before it. You will then sink to your knees, lean forward and kiss the sacred symbol. You know what will happen if you, in any way, hesitate to obey my instruction."

By now, Per certainly did know and so complied with the weird request.

"Good," said the man, "you will do the same every time you arrive at, and every time that you are about to leave, that spot, even if no-one else is here. You will never place any other part of your body on the sacred symbol other than your lips in homage."

The two boys now placed their trays, with embossed gold pentagrams on each, either side of Per, who momentarily thought of grabbing one of the lads in a crazy effort to escape but then remembered the pain collar and the chain. The boys moved away to stand either side of the man, who was about 4 metres in front of Per.

"You will now remove your shirt," ordered the man, " and place it on the tray to your left. After doing so, you will kneel again to kiss the sacred symbol."

Per wore his fashionable and expensive azure shirt with the top button undone and he had already unbuttoned another whilst standing besides the clothes rail. He therefore concentrated on the third button down but his nerves made him worry over it. The man, though, did not mind because he liked to see the sacrificial victims reveal their beautiful nude bodies tantalisingly slowly.

Per wore the shirt outside his jeans and, as he gradually succeeded in unfastening each button, more and more of his beautiful light pink chest came into view, causing the erection that the man was experiencing beneath his gown to increase in size. By the time that Per was attending to the shirt button next to his waist, the unfastening of which would unveil the cute little indentation that was his navel, the garment above had widened sufficiently to show off the sublime small dark pink orbs of his nipples. The man smiled at the thought of how much these sweet tits would suffer in the weeks ahead.

Per finally unfastened the lowest button and was ready to remove his top cover. Despite the threat created by the pain collar, the eager looks in the eyes of the three spectators caused him to pause, but fortunately not for too long and the agonies did not reappear. The boy felt his throat gulp as he slipped the garment off his shoulders and arms and placed it on the tray. The man also quietly gulped as the lad's perfectly proportioned dazzling upper body was fully revealed. Unfortunately for Per, this did not prevent the man from pressing a button on the handset for the boy had forgotten to kiss the floor. Instead, the man's action brought the unmindful lad painfully to the necessary position.

No-one said a word as the tearful Per eventually recovered sufficiently to accomplish his required mission and stand again until the man ordered "Now remove your footwear and socks and place them on the other tray. You need not pay homage until all four items are located there."

Per obeyed, more quickly this time and remembered to finish off in the expected manner.

All knew what was due to be removed next and the man just said "Continue, same tray as your shirt."

Per reached for the brass waist button on his light blue designer jeans. He nervously fumbled with it before managing to slip it through the retaining hole and reach for the top of the zip. He felt a bead of sweat form on his brow as he slowly lowered the zip. The man felt several beads as the front of the boy's jeans parted to unveil the dark blue tanga briefs underneath. Per looked up and saw that the man had grown red in the face whilst the two other watchers were still exhibiting broad grins. The boy moved his hands to either side of the jeans and experienced further tightening in his throat as he began to push slowly downwards. The man's hidden cock also tightened as the boy's gorgeous smooth thighs and legs were exposed. His 12 years old companions began to experience a certain hardening too.

Per placed his jeans on top of his shirt, performed homage and stood with his hands in front of his groin. The man was quiet for a while as he took in the magnificent sight now revealed only a few metres in front of him and grinned even more broadly when he thought of what was to be done to the beautiful visage over the forthcoming month.

He eventually broke his silence by commanding "Continue, back to the other tray and, when you stand after your homage, place your hands on your head."

He emphasised his order by holding his handset more prominently forward. There were little giggles from the 12 years old when Per reluctantly moved his hands towards the narrow sides of his tight-fitting briefs for they perceived some arousal underneath the tiny garment. The boy was aware of his unwanted stimulus and blushed in shame. The redness of the man's face intensified.

Per briefly hesitated to fulfil this final act. He had been seen nude by others before but only after sports by fellow schoolboys in the showers of his Copenhagen college and by friends when they occasionally skinny-dipped together in countryside ponds and rivers. He knew that his parents had seen him naked when he was a toddler but he had been shy of repeating that for as long as he could remember. He certainly did not want to be forced to strip before strangers but now recognised that he had no choice and so, before the man could activate the pain collar, he pulled his briefs downwards and his face became almost as red as the man's.

As the final cover rode down the boy's lovely loins, the chortles from the 12 years olds became louder. The man shuddered instead for he was filling his underpants with sperm as the excited smooth immaculate 14 years old genitals popped into view.

(Same time, London, England)

The silvery-haired Blincoe now had few friends. Those of his childhood had been left behind in his native Cumbria when he had left to pursue his career in London. Policemen usually only made new friends with colleagues but they tended to become more remote as an officer rose in the ranks. The DCS hated the quality of most television programmes and rarely watched his favourite soccer team because they only played a few away games in the capital. He therefore tended to overwork, spending much of what little leisure time he allowed himself on his home computer. He had been very happy to discover the internet for he now no longer had to go through the embarrassment of furtively purchasing gay magazines for the pictures his cock regularly craved for. It also enabled him to read the types of stories he loved, with his favourite being www.eunuch.org!

Chapter 5
Investiture

(August 1999, somewhere in England)

The boy holding the handset could not resist temptation and, pointing it at Per, pressed one of the buttons. The 14 years old captive collapsed again to the floor in agony, whilst the 12 years old cult acolytes roared with laughter. Eventually, the one holding the handset threatened "Get to your feet, slut, hands on head, or I'll press the button again."

Per slowly stood and resumed his original position. His tormentor, obviously the more forthright and sadistic of the two boys, gave the handset to his associate and approached the object of his attention. The boy walked round the stationary nude, observing the immaculate smooth proportions. His own little prick hardened when he saw the perfect curves of the young Dane's bottom and could not resist feeling them. Per's body remained still apart from his own penis, softened by the pain, which began to rise again. The 12 years old sniggered when he observed that his handling of the sublime buttocks was re-stimulating the 14 years old.

"I said he was a slut," the acolyte commented to his companion, "look at what his dick's doing in response to a little contact."

Per blushed again and closed his eyes in shame as more tears ran down the gorgeous rosy cheeks of his face whilst the younger boy continued to rub a hand up and down the cheeks of his bum. The 12 years old was happily thinking about what would happen to the lovely backside over the forthcoming weeks and was looking forward to making his own contribution.

Per instantly reopened his eyes when he discovered that his examiner's manual attentions had moved from his posterior to his genitals. The 12 years old weighed the 14 years old balls before running his fingers along the now horizontal cock. Per felt his penis ascend further outwards and upwards and knew that he was close. However, the teaser stopped his manipulations of the vibrating member and returned to his own original position, but not before re-emphasising his opinion of the captive with the single word "Slut!"

The boy had stopped just in time for the man now re-entered. He was accompanied by another, similarly attired, middle-aged man with black balding hair, who was carrying a video camera. Both were at first stunned by the sight of Per's continued and seemingly increased arousal but they eventually managed to regain some control of themselves and Per found the camera focusing on his naked frame. After filming the superb scenery for a while, the cameraman commanded "Turn to your right." The young captive complied. The camera now filmed the lefthandside silhouette of the beautiful specimen of boyhood, who was brandishing his rigid penis to marvellous effect from this angle. The camera focused in on this welcome view, registering a nice string of precum dangling from the uncut cockhead towards the floor. The two men were amazed that the boy could be so stimulated in his current situation.

"Turn again so that your back is towards us," the cameraman ordered and Per obeyed. The camera recorded the lovely rear view, including close-ups of the impeccable round mounds that comprised the boy's beautiful backside.

"Legs wide apart and bend over, hands on shins," Per was instructed and, when he had assumed this demeaning stance, he felt the two 12 years olds approach. They each took one bumcheek and prised them apart so that the camera could zoom in on the young Dane's pink virgin sphincter, followed by a view of the erection maintained below, now pointing rigidly to the floor. After making Per face towards the left for the other silhouette shot, the camera was stopped for now. However, it would film all the later important scenes during the boy's progress towards being a young male human sacrifice.

Some of the chain had wrapped itself round Per's neck as a result of following the video maker's directions and so he was told to resume his original position by wheeling back round the way he came. The boy acolytes stepped forward to pick up the trays, on which the 14 years old had placed his clothing, and took them out of the room. They returned quickly and walked past Per to the trolley in the corner, which they wheeled into position just behind the lad.

"Perform homage and then lie face up on the trolley, head towards the bed" ordered the silvery haired man and the young Dane did so.

The two younger boys then lifted the older boy's legs and ran them through strong plastic slings that Per now noticed were attached to the vertical rails at the foot of the trolley. He soon found his legs wide apart and wrapped over the straps at the knee, a posture that opened his bumcrack and exposed his anal entrance. Large bottles with thin tubes dangling from underneath were attached to each rail. The boy, who had tormented Per earlier, produced a jar from under the trolley. He opened it and placed two fingers into the greasy contents, which he then applied to the end of one of the tubes. He smirked at the prone 14 years old and introduced the tube end to the lad's sphincter. Per noticed that the camera had again been activated.

The boy acolyte cautiously pushed the tube against the virgin hole and, after several attempts, managed to gain entrance. The 14 years old audibly winced as the 12 years old pushed the tube carefully up his tight anus, but the lad's hard penis drooled even more precum. The acolyte halted the intruder's advance along the delicate rectum and instead turned a screw mechanism that linked the tube to the bottle. Per immediately felt cold liquid flow into his insides.

"You are having an enema," declared the silvery haired man, "it will clean your innards. It is important that you retain the solution inside you until I say otherwise. You know what will happen if you disobey. You will have three such enemas now and every day hereon."

When the bottle had emptied and the tube had been gently removed, Per encountered great difficulty in meeting the man's requirements for the pain that he now felt within was intense, as was the associated desire to expel the cause. The boy acolyte placed a large bedpan against Per's uplifted bottom and the young Dane struggled mightily not to fill it instantly. The camera caught some nice views of the groaning boy's distressed face. However, Per just about hung on until he was advised that he could release the fluid and he was very grateful to heed the advice. The relief that he felt in so doing was almost as acute as the pain he had suffered. Unfortunately, there were still two more enemas to endure.

After the water torture was finally completed, with Per's insides now totally pure, he was released from the leg straps and told to remove himself from the trolley. He was more than happy to do so, even if he had to kiss the floor insignia again. The boy acolytes returned the trolley to its place in the corner and, having given the handset back to the silvery haired man, left the room with the camera operator.

The remaining man commanded "You will now have a drink of the water on your bedside table but no more than one glass. You will then wash yourself thoroughly using the bidet first and then the shower. Make sure that you use the gel and shampoo provided in the latter, and that afterwards your hair is dried and combed neatly and your teeth cleaned well. Use the dental floss and mouthwash as well as the toothpaste, and finish your body off with the sprays."

The man walked past the naked boy, who was covering his now flaccid genitals with his hands. He went to the clothes rail, where he selected some garments and transferred them to the bed. He produced a booklet from his flowing robe and placed it on top of the attire before continuing:

"After you have cleansed yourself, you will read the ceremony instruction manual. You will then make sure that you will not need to urinate for a while, washing your penis and hands afterwards, and redress in this attire. You will not dally in performing these tasks. Your progress will be monitored by the closed circuit camera on the far ceiling and you know what will occur if it is considered that you are loitering. I shall return when you have finished, which you will indicate by again paying homage to and standing before our sacred emblem."

As the man opened the door to leave the bewildered nude boy alone, he pressed a different button on the handset. The restraining chain immediately detached itself from the lad's collar and fell to the floor. However, the surprised boy forgot to repay this gesture with his own to the cult's sacred symbol and the man had to remind the miscreant neophyte by also pressing the pain-inducing button.

After recovering, Per did not bother with testing the door because he had heard the lock turn when the man departed. He instead washed himself as ordered, not wanting to invoke the ire of these weirdoes, and then read the short book. All the time, he tried to keep his genitals out of the overhead camera's viewline. He was shocked at the information the manual contained and thought that it was now obvious that he been kidnapped by really demented people. However, he assumed that he had no choice but follow the requirements if he was not to suffer unnecessary pain and was to survive. He did not know that the latter assumption was not part of his kidnapper's plans for him.

Per fitted himself into the tiny revealing white silk thong that was amongst the clothing laid out, wondering why anyone would want him to wear such a thing, when he suddenly realised why there were four separate coverings. The only possible explanation was that the outer ones, at least, would at some time be removed. Per's body shivered at the thought and this did not exclude his penis, which expanded a little. The minuscule garment was of the type that did not possess a rear cord running down the bumcrack but instead had two running down the outer sides of the buttocks. As Per achieved the fitting, he looked down and noted that he could see the full outline of his semi-hard cock.

The thong was followed by tight white briefs and short shorts, made of the same material as the first tiny cover. Finally, he pulled over his head the sleeveless white silk tunic, similar in shape to those of the boy acolytes but even tauter and shorter. As he tied the waistcord, he noticed that the garment only just hid the shorts. All the items were embroidered on the front with gold pentangles. He paid the expected homage and stood where ordered. The door opened shortly afterwards.

The silvery haired man reappeared with two others dressed in similar robes. Per noticed for the first time that the garments had buttons, black and therefore difficult to detect, running downwards from the waist. The cameraman was not amongst the threesome. The High Priest, for Per now knew the silvery haired man's status within the cult from the booklet he had read, which had included photographs of the leaders and brief descriptions of their roles, carried a black goblet with the usual motif. He handed the cup to the boy and ordered the contents drunk. Per looked down and saw what looked like white wine. Per knew better than to hesitate, for the man still carried the handset, and so replied "Yes, Master", for the manual had advised the boy how he should react to certain behests and situations, and consumed the liquid. It tasted medicinal but not unpleasant. In fact, the main ingredient had also been present in significant quantity in the enema fluid and was designed to enhance considerably all of the lad's senses to intense degrees, whether they were pleasurable or nasty. It would soon begin to have such an affect. Per remembered to fall to his knees to kiss the floor symbol after consuming the very strong stimulant.

"Come with us," commanded the man and Per again responded "Yes, Master" before performing homage and joining the men. The High Priest was pleased to note that the sacrificial offering had obviously successfully absorbed at least some of the instructions in the manual. Per quaked slightly as he approached the three men because he could now appreciate that the boy in the wooden crucifixion, displayed on the wall behind them, was unmistakably himself.

The barefoot Per saw for the first time what was on the other side of the entrance and it was not reassuring for he found himself in a long dark corridor. It was painted entirely black and was illuminated only by a few small rectangular wall lights. At the end of the passageway, there were two big black wooden double doors, both of which bore large gold pentagrams. The High Priest led the way and the two lesser Priests stood either side of the apprehensive boy as they advanced towards the doors. Per experienced an acute feeling of foreboding, accompanied by a further expansion of his now well-encased cock.

As they neared, the High Priest pressed yet another button on his handset and the doors swung open. The view now revealed caused Per to stop in his tracks but his two side escorts each grabbed one of the hesitant boy's arms and led him through the temple entrance. Inside was a large church-like chamber with a high roof. There were several occupied rows of pews either side of a central aisle. Per noticed that the people sitting in the pews, about forty in number, were all male, their ages ranging from about 10 to about 70. The adults wore the familiar black robes and the boys the black tunics. The whole edifice was black, apart from huge gold pentagrams painted on all of the walls and on the ceiling. The pews were in gloom because the spotlighting concentrated on the far altar. It was the sight of this that had caused intense consternation in the young Dane.

The altar comprised a large metre-high stone platform with wide steps all along the front. On the platform were three large black wooden crosses. Two were approximately one metre from the near edge, adjacent to each other, with the ends of their inner crossbeams about two metres apart. Long adjustable chain manacles hung from these ends towards matching sets embedded in the floor. The third central cross was located about eight metres further behind towards the rear of the platform. All of the crosses had gold pentagrams painted at the end of the upper and side arms. The middle cross displayed a full-sized replica of the carving in the boy captive's cell.

There was a small organ located against the wall to the left of the platform and a large cupboard against the wall on the right. As the party entered, the organist was playing very sombre music. The cameraman reappeared and filmed Per's progress down the aisle and onto the platform. The boy knew that it was not just the camera lens that was focused on him but all the eyes of the congregation, who had started to mutter amongst themselves about the attractiveness of the latest offering.

Once he had reached the platform, Per was turned round, positioned between the two near crosses, to face the worshippers and the cameraman placed his machine on a tripod in the middle of the aisle in order to record all subsequent proceedings. The boy's arms were released so that he could pay homage to the emblem embossed in the floor of the platform just in front of him, as the book he had read had instructed. Per was very scared but complied with the requirement as he did not want the pain collar activated. The low muttering in the assemblage increased a little, as if compliments were being exchanged about the lad's acquiescent servility.

The High Priest had stood behind a lectern to the left of the platform and the music now stopped. The silvery haired man then launched into a monologue that made no sense to Per. The opening words were "We are here to invest this boy with the honour of being tribute to our great Satanic lord, Diabolus.…"

The lad was proficiently bilingual but the speech sounded like nonsense to him, although he did catch chilling expressions such as "embellishing the body with his Satanic Majesty's sacred symbols", "impregnation with the seed of his Satanic Majesty's faithful servants", "satisfying his Satanic Majesty's requirements for suffering" and "making the ultimate sacrifice not once but twice." Per also did not understand why these frightening phrases made his penis become even harder.

After the High Priest had finished, the funereal organ music restarted and a number of things were now to happen to Per that had been omitted from the manual. The first was that his two guards removed the boy's tunic so that he was now outwardly attired in only his small tight shorts, displaying a noticeable bulge in a particular place despite the fact that there were two under-garments. The second, and much more disturbing for the boy, was that the men now attached his wrists to the padded leather manacles hanging from the crosses either side, so that his arms were stretched tautly apart above him and his feet were on tip-toe. The Priests then left the altar, their duties done for now, to stand by the cupboard.

The High Priest commanded "Let us begin to anoint the tribute!"

The congregation then left their seats, deliberately and orderly, pew by pew, and walked onto the platform, each individual about two metres behind the one in front. They approached Per and shocked the boy by spitting into his face or onto his chest before returning whence they came. When the worshippers had finished, large amounts of phlegm ran slowly down both parts of the lad's anatomy.

A pretty boy acolyte, different and younger from the duo that Per had previously encountered, now mounted the platform carrying a black goblet containing a gooey red substance with white streaks. The high Priest dipped two fingers into the cup and used the digits to begin to smear a broad red pentagram amongst the spittle on the boy's chest. A number of further dips of the fingers accomplished the task. The apex of the five-pointed star was situated just below the lad's throat. This upper triangular arm finished level with Per's nipples, to which the two middle ones were extended. The lower two reached downwards to be parallel with the boy's navel. The man also drew much smaller versions on the lad's forehead and cheeks.

Once the initial body decoration had been completed, the High Priest collected the goblet from the acolyte, placed it against Per's lips and invited the boy to drink the remaining contents. The lad now recognised that the liquid was blood, with a slight smear of something white. He was never to learn that the mixture in both cups comprised semen, forcibly produced from the previous Swiss boy sacrifice just before his castration and crucifixion, and some of the blood that flowed afterwards. It required a press of the handset's pain button to make Per obey the man's instruction and the boy just managed to avoid vomiting the horrible blend back up. Some of the mixture had split down the Per's chin and the man gathered it up with a finger, which he made the boy lick clean. The man returned the goblet to the young smiling acolyte.

As if these actions had not terrified Per enough, the High Priest now declared "Let us begin to adorn the tribute!"

The man stood behind the boy and applied a wide round rubber ball gag to the lad's mouth, effectively silencing him. He then pulled down Per's shorts, removed them from around the boy's feet and gave them to the acolyte, who left the platform. Per's briefs exhibited a much larger protuberance than the previous garment had been able to display. The terrified boy's feet were now chained, tautly wide apart to, but off, the floor, greatly intensifying the discomfort in his wrists for they now bore all of his weight.

Yet another young pretty boy acolyte walked onto the platform, carrying a monogrammed black tray. Per shuddered in horror when he saw that the tray brought ten items, another goblet, seemingly containing the same bloody mix as the first, three thick very sharp needles about ten centimetres long, three little gold pentagrams dangling from small opened flanged rings, a little black cup containing a transparent fluid, a black handled knife and a black cloth. The High Priest wiped his fingers clean with the cloth before replacing it on the tray. He smeared the needles with the fluid before doing the same to the boy's nipples and upper navel. The man hardened the lad's left tit between two fingers and placed one of the needles to the skin, just to the side, whilst pinching the surrounding flesh. He smirked at Per and drove the needle cruelly under the boy's nipple for it to emerge at a similar point on the other side, and then continued pushing until the middle of the implement was immediately beneath the tit. The man repeated the operation with the right nipple and, after pinching the skin at the appropriate point, the upper navel. Per's attempted shrieks were silenced by the gag, but the boy's chains audibly vibrated as his body shook when each needle was applied. Small droplets of blood emerged from both sides of each wound. However, the bulge in the lad's briefs increased in size.

The High Priest stood to one side to permit the gathering to see the fruits of his work. The organ music changed tempo slightly and the worshippers began a slow chant, incomprehensible to the agonised Per, whose copious tears were unable to wash away the bloody symbols on his face. After about 5 minutes, the chanting ceased and the High Priest removed the needles, each time replacing them with the small rings, snapping them agonisingly into place. Little gold pentagrams now hung painfully from the nipples and navel of the sobbing boy.

The High Priest picked up the knife and the aghast Per was terrified about what would be done with the keen blade. However, the man simply walked to both sides of the suspended spreadeagled boy and sliced through the sides of his briefs, which fell to the floor. The man was delighted to observe that the penis underneath was clearly displaying signs of acute arousal for the garment had ballooned slightly and his side view enabled him to see some of the boy's immaculate smooth jewels. However, the young Dane was deeply ashamed with what he saw when he looked down past his new excruciating and demeaning body adornments to his loins.

The High Priest returned the knife to the tray before moving to Per's rear accompanied by the acolyte. The man dipped the same two fingers as before into the fresh goblet and, with his other hand, prised the boy's now exposed bumcheeks apart. He pressed the bloody digits against Per's virgin sphincter and forced entry. The boy's body shook and his chains rattled again because of the pain caused by the unwanted invasion, but his erection visibly intensified under his sparse thong. The High Priest smeared the mixture of blood and semen along the lad's anus, before returning his fingers to the goblet for a fresh supply of the unique lubricant. He intruded into the rectum five more times until he was happy that sufficient had been applied to help accommodate what was to enter next. The acolyte left the platform with his tray and the High Priest loudly announced "As the senior earthly representative of our great Satanic lord, Diabolus, I now impregnate this boy with my own Diabolical seed and claim the boy's virginity in honour of our Satanic Majesty!" He then began to unbutton the lower half of his robe.

The announcement caused Per to try uselessly to escape from his shackles but the only results of his attempt was an intensification of the pain in his wrists and more chain clattering. The suspended Per was stilled when the High Priest held the boy firmly by the hips and pressed his long thick erection through the bumcrack towards the virgin sphincter. The engorged cockhead paused at the opening and shouted "For our great Satanic lord, Diabolus!" The man then pressed on mercilessly and took away Per's innocence and purity.

To the boy, the initial suffering caused by his defilement was worse than that encountered as a result of his earlier piercing. The middle of his body stretched forward to the utmost limits permitted by the chains in a hopeless attempt to try to avoid the agonising impalement but this proceeded remorselessly. The power of the rapist soon had his balls resting against Per's sublime buttocks and he withdrew his rampant cock almost all of the way out of the ravaged anus before returning it with venom. The man quickly gained a vicious rhythm in line with some restarted chants from the congregation.

Tears streamed from the boy's face and onto his torso. However, his own erection was now full and horizontal, with his thong standing out from his body. This gave the Priests who had escorted him to this terrible temple, and who were now standing near the side cupboard, an excellent view of the results of his climax. The High Priest also observed the telltale signs of boyish orgasm, which included a tightening of the young rectum around the older much larger cock. This caused the man to begin filling the previously virgin orifice, with a number of spurts of thick warm creamy sperm, almost simultaneously to Per's staining of the thong. As the man enjoyed his success at deflowering another youngster, he again shouted, this time in ecstasy, "For our great Satanic lord, Diabolus!"

The High Priest remained inside Per for a while, calming his emotions, before he felt able to withdraw his softening prick. There was an audible pop as the cock emerged from the boy. The man replaced his member whence it came and rebuttoned. He then commanded the two Priests "You may continue to adorn the tribute!"

The men opened the cupboard and Per almost fainted when he saw the contents for it was full of paddles, canes and whips, clamps and chains of various kinds, strange objects that looked like huge penises and many other nasty-looking items. The Priests collected two of the latter. One now held a short, wooden-handled, branding iron and the other a blowtorch. They walked back onto the platform and the blowtorch was lit by virtue of an electronic switch. It was soon heating the small pentagram that comprised the iron. Meanwhile, the High Priest had carefully marked the middle of each of Per's buttocks with a pen he carried within his robe. He stood back to allow the men to carry out their task. The tearful boy, recognising what was about to befall him, shook his head rapidly sideways in a fruitless attempt to beseech the men not to proceed.

The Priest holding the now red-hot iron went behind Per and presented the evil instrument to the boy's left buttock. The terrified Per could feel the heat just above his skin. The man paused whilst he took aim and the organ music reached a crescendo. He then lowered the iron onto the bare young flesh. The smell of burning meat could be detected, but not by the young Dane for he had fainted. It was not Diabolos' will that his offerings remained unconscious during their sufferings, so another pretty young acolyte stepped forward with a jar of powerful smelling salts, kept in reserve for just such an occurrence. Per was reawakened to experience the excruciating anguish already inflicted on his left bumcheek being quickly matched by the application of equal distress to his right bumcheek. This time the smelling salts were kept in front of the boy's nose by the giggling 11 years old.

The ceremony now proceeded but Per was no longer the centre of attention. Instead, other rituals took place, which the boy, in his tear-stained agony, could not later recall. However, he was required to remain in place until after the end to allow the congregation to climb informally onto the altar to inspect the 14 years old offering in his new refinement, including his semen-stained tiny covering and inside legs. Per was eventually unchained, ungagged and carried by the Priests by his arms back to his cell. There, creams and lotions were applied to his various wounds before he was left, lying downwards on the bed. The boy had just experienced the first of 28 daily ceremonies in which he would be expected to play the major role.

Chapter 6
Investigations

(August 1999, London, England)

"Let me summarise," the DCS said unhappily, "we can still find nothing other than their physical and age characteristics, and the fact that their national flags display crosses of one kind or another, to link all three murder victims and the missing Dane. The Scottish and Swiss lads were both boy scouts but there seems to be nothing connecting the two scout groups. Are you sure that they've not attended an international jamboree at the same time or shared a scout master?"

"Yes, sir," answered Burrows, "we've checked and double-checked. Other than the fact that they're both part of the international scouting movement, we've found no ties."

"Damn," declared Blincoe, "I'm still convinced there's something linking all four."

"I've brought the files on each of the boys," Burrows informed his superior, "in case you want to read them yourself."

Blincoe accepted the documents and, after grumpily dismissing his DCI, started to read them. Two hours later he recalled Burrows to his office.

"Found something that might link the other two boys," announced the DCS, whilst standing next to a large wall map of Britain. "Per's maternal grandparents, as we know, come from Thimblewick in Gloucestershire," he continued; "Well, Michael's file says that his paternal grandparents live in another tiny hamlet, Chissleton in Worcestershire."

"Yes I know," said the DCI; "what of it?"

"Ah, but did you also know," replied Blincoe rhetorically, smiling and pointing to the map, "that the villages are only a mile apart, either side of the county boundary in the heart of the Cotswolds?"

(Same time, somewhere in England)

Per was woken mid-morning by the same two boy acolytes whom he had first encountered in his cell the previous day. His body was still face down on the bed and the two 12 years olds had cherished the sight of the two black pentagrams branded onto each of the 14 years old bumcheeks before shaking the young Dane to consciousness.

"Welcome back to the world of the living," said the more forthright and sadistic of the two with a smirk; "please turn over. We've been admiring your new brandmarks and want to see your new piercings. I have the handset with me, so I suggest that you obey all of my commands."

Per reluctantly and slowly complied. His bum was still very sore and not just from his branding for his anus hurt as a result of his deflowering. The three piercings were also discomforting.

The 12 years old handed the handset to the other boy and then fiddled with the three little gold pentagrams dangling from Per's nipples and navel, causing the young Dane to wince with pain. However, there was an embarrassing reaction underneath his semen-stained thong, which was seen by the acolyte, who observed "I said yesterday that you were a slut and you're proving me right again."

"We weren't formally introduced yesterday," the 12 years old continued, "I'm Cycnus and this is Hyacinthus, acolytes to our great Satanic lord, Diabolus, and now, as it's our turn, newly appointed crucifers to you, newly invested tribute to our great Satanic lord!"

Per wondered what a crucifer was but knew that he dared not ask.

"Cycnus and Hyacinthus are not our real names, of course," the boy declared; "you don't need to know them and you'll know from the book you've read that when you are permitted to address us you do not use these sacred pseudonyms but another word. You do know don't you? You may speak!"

The 14 years old Per blushed and answered "Yes, sir" to the younger boy.

"Good, the slut's showing us proper respect," the crucifer commented to his companion, before returning his attention to Per and announcing "Now, slut, we've been kind enough to bring you something to eat."

The young Dane saw that a full three-course meal had been delivered on a tray and placed on his bedside table. However, he did not feel hungry, even though it had been over 24 hours since he had eaten a light breakfast at his grandparent's holiday cottage.

"You're to eat it all up," declared Cycnus, "or I'm afraid that I'll have to press the pain button until you do. This morning meal will be the only food you'll receive each day so it's important that none is wasted. It provides all the daily sustenance you'll need to keep healthy for we don't want you to become fat through over-eating. The intake is timed so that later enemas should flush most of the resultant waste away from your rectum, which needs to be kept clean for the sort of uses you experienced for the first time last night." Per shivered when this last phrase was uttered.

"After you've eaten," Cyncus continued, "I want to place your dirty thong on the tray as it'll have to be taken away to be cleaned. You really did seem to enjoy your first fucking, didn't you slut? You may answer!"

The acutely embarrassed Per replied "I hated it, sir, it was very painful and demeaning."

The crucifer laughed and asked "Why did you cum then? Answer me!"

The young Dane blushed again and quietly responded "I don't know, sir."

"Well, my investigations and observations on your body yesterday and today suggest it's because you're a real slut who's beginning to realise that he likes being abused and fucked," suggeated the 12 years old, who began to fondle Per's thong. "Look," he declared, "I can feel that you've got a hard-on now just because I've been playing with your new jewellery!"

The hand began to move up and down the red-faced 14 years old's silk-encased erection, which grew larger and more vertical, causing the 12 years old teaser to reaffirm, with another smirk, "Slut!" The second acolyte just giggled. The first now requested, as he continued to rub the hardening cock, "I want you to tell me what you are. I want the truth or my friend here will be forced to activate your collar!"

There was a brief pause whilst the young Dane considered his options. However, there was really only one and he finally replied in a hesitant voice, as he came close to soiling his thong again, "I'm a real slut……sir……who……likes……being fucked……and abused!"

As he said this, he wondered whether these words were actually true for his engorged penis, which had lifted his thong upwards, spurted more semen into the garment, whilst his whole body flushed and shook, and his bum rose from the bed.

"Dirty slut," commented the crucifer as Per came and some of the semen seeped through the silk casing onto his hand. He turned towards his companion and nodded. The second boy pressed a button on the handset and the young Dane's body now began to shake not in ecstasy but agony.

"That'll teach the slut to control himself in future" commented the first 12 years old to the second, causing both to laugh before waiting for the 14 years old to recover.

"Clean your mess off my hand," Cycnus demanded, whilst placing his sperm-covered right palm in front of the reclining Per's face; "use your tongue."

The young Dane obeyed.

"You'd better take the thong off now, slut," the crucifer continued, "or you'll soil the bed. Get up and remove it and put it on the tray."

The shamed 14 years old carefully removed himself from the bed and took off the garment, damp with gooey white liquid, revealing a smooth scrotum and a softening cock splashed with the same substance. He placed the soiled thong on the tray, in a space between the soup and pudding, and was told "Wash your prick and balls free of your mess with the sink flannel, slut, and rinse the cloth clean afterwards!"

Per did so, his face still bright red in embarrassment.

"Right, slut," the 12 years old instructed, "you can eat your meal now. Drink as much water with it as you want. We've kindly brought you a fresh jug. Afterwards, you'll need to wash yourself as thoroughly as you did yesterday. Remember, you're being watched on closed-circuit T.V. all the time, so don't dally. Once you're clean, put another thong on. There's one that has only one bumcord, which runs down your bumcrack, on the clothes rail. Use that, then resume the usual position before our sacred symbol. We'll come back once this is done. We're to spend the afternoon training you to perform certain rituals before giving you your three enemas. However, before we go, you may tell us again what you are!"

Per, now standing again by the bed, and holding his hands in front of his naked genitals, replied "I'm a real slut, sir, who likes being fucked and abused!"

"Good," responded Cycnus, "it's really nice to know that you recognise your true self but, to make sure that you remember, I'll ask the question every time we meet!"

The two 12 years olds then left the room, re-locking the door behind them and chortling all the way.

Chapter 7
Instructions

(August 1999, somewhere in England)

Cycnus and Hyacinthus entered the cell about five minutes later, the former carrying a small cassette player and a strange pink plastic object, which to Per looked like a large penis. The crucifer placed both items on the floor. Despite his trepidation at what the day would now bring, and what the plastic object represented, the young Dane could not help smiling at the thought of the acolyte's ridiculous pseudonyms. Cycnus noticed this and observed to his companion "Look the slut's smiling. He must be looking forward to being sodomised and otherwise mistreated tonight!"

The 12 years old then addressed the now blushing and unsmiling 14 years old "Well, slut, remember that my friend here holds the handset. Now, tell me what you are!"

"I'm a real slut, sir, who likes being fucked and abused," reluctantly responded Per, who simultaneously felt his penis twitch but this thankfully went unnoticed by his tormentors.

Cycnus continued, with a smirk, "As I told you before, we are here now because we are required to instruct you in the performance of certain rituals before giving you your three enemas."

Per blanched at the thought of suffering the latter again.

The 12 years old proceeded "There are in fact two rituals to learn today. The first ritual that you need to master involves dancing in a certain manner to a particular piece of music. The second is to acquire the skill of performing fellatio satisfactorily. In case you don't know what fellatio is, the word means 'sucking cock', something that should be to your sluttish tastes!"

Per's face reddened even more.

"Now, slut," declared Cycnus, "I'll play the music to which you have to dance. Listen to it carefully for you must learn every nuance of the rhythm."

The crucifer bent over to press a switch on the player and the song began. Per, who liked a wide range of pop music, thought that he recognised the track, believing that someone called Maria McKee had sung the original. However, this particular version was sung by a choir, to an accompanying organ, and the words had been radically and chillingly changed. For example, the title seemed to have altered from 'Show Me Heaven' to 'Show Me Hell'!

After the disturbing tones had finished, Cycnus announced "Hyacinthus here, who likes to dance, will now show you what is required of you." The other 12 years old quickly removed his sandals and tunic to reveal himself attired only in tight skimpy black briefs, with a small gold pentagram located above a small bulge. The music restarted and the young crucifer began to dance. His routine involved much gentle twirling and erotic swaying and wiggling of his lovely slim hips. Per's cock began to harden as he watched causing Cycnus, who was looking at him rather than his companion, to comment "The slut fancies you Hyacinthus. He's getting an erection. I'm sure that he'll therefore welcome giving appropriate attention to your own later!"

"Now, slut," continued Cycnus after his friend had finished, "it's your turn. I don't expect you to get it right first time but I'll warn you that, if you aren't dancing to our satisfaction by the fourth practice, we'll have to start activating your pain collar."

The music began again and a reluctant and shamed Per attempted to dance in the same way as Hyacinthus. His first few efforts were poor and he received much instruction from the two crucifers, who circled him to see the performance from all angles, as to what he had to do to improve, particularly in respect of how to make his manoeuvres more sexy. With the thought of the pain collar as motivation, Per gradually overcame his abashment and gained reasonable proficiency, suffering only twice from the collar's activation before the acolytes were happy with his routine. Cycnus finally declared, after the young Dane's sixth dance, "Not bad, slut, but you'd better perform like that in the temple tonight or you'll really suffer. Now you can suck our dicks dry by way of thanks for our expert tuition!"

Cycnus soon joined his companion in wearing only skimpy black briefs before commanding Per to kneel. The crucifer then took up position on the other side of the sacred symbol embossed on the floor and ordered "Pull my briefs down and carefully and slowly lick and suck my dick and balls. You must remember that your aim in doing so must be to give me maximum pleasure. Do not cut any corners in giving my genitals your total, undivided and, hopefully soon to be, expert attention. Time and your own likes or dislikes are immaterial whenever you perform this act. Please also remember that you will have to become accustomed to accommodating much larger dicks in your mouth, some of them very hairy and rather smelly, and to swallowing much more semen than I can produce. Now, proceed!"

The 14 years old reached out with his hands to hold the sides of Cycnus' briefs and pulled gently downwards. A handsome, completely smooth small erection, popped into view, causing that of the young Dane to return under its sparse cover. Once the little black garment had been lowered to the floor, Per lent his head across towards the ivory-like horizontal rod. Reluctance and shame had now been overwhelmed by desire and greed to taste the delicious offering, which was soon encased by the young Dane's rosy lips. Per gathered the whole short length of the erection in his mouth and sucked several times before giving the pre-teen cock the attentions of his tongue. As he moved his tongue to the balls, hanging nicely under the rigid member, the 14 years old heard low sighs of delight being uttered from the 12 years old. Per achieved a pleasant routine of applying mouth and tongue to both penis and scrotum and eventually realised that the crucifer was finally close to orgasm when the boy held the young Dane's mouth tightly in place around his rampant cock. Cycnus then shuddered and impregnated Per's oral orifice with a small amount of sperm, which he had only recently, and proudly, begun to produce.

After Cycnus had gained full satisfaction from his climax, he released his grip on Per's head. The young Dane, who had swallowed his first semen, was grateful to be able to breathe again. Cycnus pulled up his briefs and went to redress in his tunic and sandals whilst Hyacinthus assumed his position. This usually quieter crucifer, noticing Per's thong sticking out as a result of resumed penile excitement, reiterated his companion's regular insult by commenting "Slut!" The new tribute to Diabolus now enjoyed his second lesson in the performance of fellatio.

The third lesson was much less pleasant because Cycnus now picked up with his right hand the plastic object, which was about 30 centimetres long and 6 wide and possessed a nobbed handle, and introduced it to the still-kneeling Per's lips.

"This is called a dildo," the 12 years old informed the scared 14 years old, "and most are designed to be stuffed up your anus, as you'll find out, but this one is specially designed for fellatio practice. So open wide!" The appalled young Dane had to have his pain collar activated before he would obey.

"I told you that you had to get used to dicks bigger than ours," Cycnus reminded Per, "and this represents the upper range of sizes that you'll be required to service. It's important that you learn to do so well and without mishap. I'm going to gradually introduce the dildo into your mouth and throat and I want you to practise sucking it. I'll withdraw it now and then, as a man would when he's fucking your mouth, and that's the time to take in some air. You'll need to become expert at this or you'll suffocate."

The crucifer, holding the tribute's head firmly in place with his left hand, then slowly pushed the rubbery plastic between the boy's extended lips and over his tongue before finally reaching the back of his throat, cutting off the air supply. Per gagged and tried to draw his head away from the invader, enduring the agony from the pain collar again as a result.

"Tut, tut," said Cycnus, "that wasn't very good was it? You must not do that when your servicing someone's dick or you'll be severely punished. Let's try again!"

The 12 years old continued the 14 years old's third lesson for almost an hour and a half before he was finally satisfied that the young Dane had acquired the technique necessary to adequately give pleasure to such a monstrous phallus, only about half of which could be accommodated in the teen mouth.

"Right," Cycnus finally announced whilst holding the dildo firmly at the back of Per's throat, "just one last act to perform before we give you your enemas. The dildo is hollow and contains a nice semen mix, kindly donated by a number of our Priests, which, by pressing a button on the handle here, I can spurt down your throat. It's important that you swallow it all or I'll have to go for the spare and try again, after triggering you collar of course!"

The crucifer pressed the button and a copious amount of stale sperm flowed into the horrified tribute's throat but the young Dane somehow managed to swallow most of the ghastly mixture.

Cycnus slowly withdrew the dildo and Per gasped for air. The crucifer represented the phallus to the tribute's lips because some semen was still dripping from its tip.

"Lick it clean," he ordered and Per, with a little white liquid running down his chin, eventually complied whilst Hyacinthus collected the enema trolley.

Chapter 8
Ceremonial

(August 1999, somewhere in England)

The High Priest, and the same two Priestly escorts who had guided Per to his investiture as the new tribute to Diabolus, eventually came to collect the deeply apprehensive boy and lead him to the temple, but only after he had consumed another goblet of stimulant. The temple set-up was slightly different from that experienced by the lad during his last visit. The number of worshippers was less as, to their regret, not all cult members were able to attend every evening rite. The front pews, either side of the aisle, were also now exclusively occupied by boys, although some youngsters shared other rows with the older spectators. However, Per noticed that the location of the cameraman had not changed.

Per was led onto the altar platform, where he was turned to face the assemblage before kneeling to kiss the sacred symbol embossed on the wooden floor. His tunic was removed and, whilst the High Priest moved to his lectern on the left and the two escorting Priests resumed a position by the cupboard on the right, the organ music changed to the opening tones of 'Show Me Hell'. The lyrics were now sung by the boys at the front of the congregation, apparently a choir. The young Dane started his erotic dance, outwardly attired in just his tight short shorts, revealing a nice bulge at the front. His first public show actually went quite successfully for he was encouraged to perform well by fear of the pain collar. The boy was also beginning to display a natural affinity for dance. All of the more mature cocks amongst the watchers, and many of the younger ones, rose in appreciation.

After Per had finished, the scene again became more sinister. The Priests returned to the platform and the boy was first manacled by one of them, as on the previous evening, between the front two crosses with his unchained feet on tip-toe. His shorts were removed, revealing the lad in just his skimpy briefs. The other Priest, having collected the items from the cupboard, attached the familiar ball gag to Per's mouth and severe nipple clamps, linked by a light chain, to the boy's tits, carefully avoiding the new piercings. The pain that immediately seared through the lad's body was acute, causing him to bend his legs at the knees, so lifting them from the floor of the platform. Tears started to stream down the young beautiful face. However, such reactions were ignored as the Priests departed to leave the platform to the distressed tribute and the High Priest, who began his customary monologue.

Per's suffering meant that he paid little attention to what was said until the pain in his chest eventually began to lessen and he returned his toes to the floor. He then began to hear such phrases as "Welcome our new acolyte initiate" and "Communion for the liturgy and seniors" amongst much mention of the great satanic lord, Diabolus, and other seemingly indecipherable nonsense. After the conclusion of the devilish sermon and the restarting of organ music, the Priests returned to remove the clamps and gag. Per experienced intense pain again as blood poured back into his tortured nipples but fortunately this soon passed, leaving a dull ache. The young Dane was released from his bondage to perform the usual homage, after which it was indicated that he should remain kneeling. He, shamefully, and all the spectators, happily, recognised the indications of intense arousal confined by his sparse coverings as he now waited to service cock.

The Priests collected a pretty boy, aged 11 and dressed like the others except for the fact that his short tunic possessed no pentagram motif. The acolyte initiate was escorted before the kneeling Per and the black garment was removed. The 14 years old saw that the 11 years old was wearing tiny black briefs, plain apart from a zip at the front. The Priests stood either side of the initiate, with their backs turned away from the congregation. One held a gold pentagram medallion whilst the other possessed a black tunic with insignia, the former worn by all confirmed acolytes under the latter. The worshippers started chanting. The 11 years old now carefully unzipped his briefs and a little erection popped into view. Per was rather attracted to what he had to do and soon had his lips encasing the small smooth penis, whilst his own became harder, and it did not take long to induce the younger boy's dry orgasm.

The 11 years old rezipped and was adorned with the medallion and tunic before being restored to his pew by the Priests, who returned to the platform for their own oral communion with the tribute. They stood before Per, one behind the other, and unbuttoned the lower halves of their robes to expose their own hard cocks, much bigger and less palatable than that of the new acolyte. The young Dane blanched when he saw the obnoxious sight of the first large, hairy and sweaty object that he was required to pleasure with his mouth but, remembering the pain collar, overcame his distaste and slowly lowered his lips towards it. However, Per was too slow for the eager Priest who, gripping the boy's ears, forced his engorged cock down the lad's throat. The man did not wait for Per to try to lick or suck but instead brutally raped the boy's beautiful face before eventually filling the oral orifice with sperm. The young Dane, the back of his throat now very sore, could not prevent himself from spewing most of the white liquid onto the floor when the cruel penis had been withdrawn. The Priest smacked Per across the face for not consuming his communion offering and ordered that this be rectified forthwith. The 14 years old obeyed by licking up the horrible substance in its entirety.

The Priest rebuttoned and left the platform to allow his companion the pleasure of Per's mouth. This second Priest permitted the young Dane's ravished orifice to take the lead and the resultant careful licking and sucking probably gave him more pleasure than his predecessor had achieved through using more proactively savage methods. Certainly, his climax was, for the man, delightful and this time no communion offering was spilt. The cameraman left his camera on auto so that he could also indulge, whilst the congregation restarted the chanting to replace the organ music whilst the organist, the fourth and last Priest on duty, stepped forward to enjoy himself. With the lesser cult liturgy satisfied, four senior celebrants then advanced from their pews, one by one, to commune with the new tribute.

This particular form of ceremonial ritual now over for the evening, Per re-performed homage before his briefs were removed and his manacles were reapplied, this time to his ankles as well as his wrists so that he was spreadeagled off the floor, facing the worshippers. The shamed boy's thong again displayed clear evidence of barely concealed guilty excitement, and this intensified when the High Priest applied liberal dollops of grease, obtained from a jar offered by the smiling Cycnus, to 14 years old anus. Per thought that the man would now fuck him and he was right, the young Dane suffering almost as much initial pain as he had done when he had lost his virginity on the previous evening. However, this time, he only soiled his thong with embarrassing precum as his prostrate was eventually tickled and his erection became full. The High Priest concluded his own anal communion with the customary ecstatic declaration of "For our great Satanic lord, Diabolus!"

The Priest, whose semen Per had at first been unable to retain, brought a gift for the boy from the cupboard onto the platform and gave it to the High Priest. It was a short, single-stranded narrow whip, made from toughened leather. The High Priest declared that the tribute had to learn to perform the sacred rituals without mishap before landing four heavy strokes across the boy's bum and a similar number across the lad's back, creating eight parallel vivid red stripes down the young posterior. Per screamed and begged for mercy but the only reaction he gained in response was giggling from the younger elements amongst the congregation. This became outright laughter when, with the delivery of the fourth stroke, a large stain appeared at the front of the sobbing boy's thong for the second successive day.

(5 days later, Thimblewick, Cotswolds, England)

Chissleton was much smaller than Thimblewick, the former being no more than a group of cottages. The latter had shops, two pubs, a church and a twice-weekly market. Neither had a scout group. Both sets of grandparents shopped and worshipped in Thimblewick, the latter fact tempting the police officers to the Sunday service in one last desperate attempt to find a connection to the crime. For a country church, the service was very well-attended. The DCS and DCI had been told that this was because the local Vicar was very popular, with some worshippers coming miles in preference to staying in their own parishes. After the service was over, many of the congregation reconvened in the nearby church hall for tea, biscuits and gossip. Blincoe and Burrows joined them.

"What brings you both to our humble village?" the New Scotland Yard detectives were asked by the silver-haired Reverend Quigly, sipping his tea.

"Some investigations," the DCS replied, "concerning the gruesome murder of three boys and the disappearance of another who, we fear, might be the fourth victim if we don't find him soon."

"Oh," declared the Vicar, "you mean those terrible cross murders that have been the main subject of media interest for over three months. I now recognise you from your T.V. appearances. Dreadful case, especially when you consider that the grandparents of two of the victims are parishioners of mine!"

"You know about that then," responded Blincoe, "I didn't think that it was common knowledge."

"Yes," replied Quigly, "both sets of grandparents contacted me independently about their sad losses. It is part of my function to try to console people at such times to help them overcome their grief. I try to advise that the good Lord works in mysterious ways and that there will be a divine reason for it all."

"Did you ever meet the boys?" asked Burrows.

"I met Michael a few times," the Vicar answered, "when he came to stay with his grandparents a few times and they attended church. However, I never saw the other boy, whose name escapes me. Never have been good at recalling names!"

"Per," Blincoe informed helpfully.

"Ah, yes, the young Dane," Quigly recalled, "he never accompanied his grandparents to church so that we never met as far as I can tell."

The churchman was then diverted from his conversation with the policemen by a tug on the arm from a little white-haired old lady.

"Ah, Mrs. Smith," the Vicar said pleasantly, "you're looking well. What can I do for you?"

The woman held up a photo envelope and announced "Holiday snaps of the grandchildren!"

"Ah, delightful," declared Quigly kindly, "you've brought them then. Let's find a quiet corner so that you can show me the pictures and tell me all about your vacation."

The Reverend then wished the detectives luck with their investigations, excused himself by saying "Duty calls" and strolled off, his free arm draped around the diminutive woman.

Burrows' mobile phone rang and, after hearing the message, he said to his boss "Interpol, Sir, they have a report of another handsome 14 years old blonde-haired blue-eyed boy disappearing in Bergen, Norway. The Norwegian flag displays a cross."

"Let's get back to London then," said Blincoe, "as, on the surface, there doesn't seem to be anything here for us, although I'm still convinced that there's a link to be found."

He added "Strange, I didn't expect another disappearance so soon. It's out of sequence with the others."

After his experience on Monday, Per was subjected to exactly the same ceremonial format over the subsequent five evenings so that, by the time the Saturday service concluded, he had orally communed with all the cult members in descending order of seniority, averaging eight acts of fellatio on each occasion. He had found that the last two nights, Friday and Saturday, were the least unpleasant as he had pleasured the boy acolytes. However, Per was soon to discover that Sunday ceremonials were by far the worst of the week.

Chapter 9
Sundays

(August 1999, somewhere in England)

Over the next seven days, the method of communion was reversed with all of the cult members, including the youngest, enjoying Per's immaculately clean rectum whilst the High Priest was serviced by the young Dane's mouth. On the Sunday, the tribute's third in the temple, the boy's front thighs, level to his nicely hanging genitalia, were branded with the group's sacred symbol.

That evening, Blincoe and Burrows returned to London from Oslo. They were picked up from the airport by their police driver. As the DCS and DCI were driven towards their homes, the more senior officer remarked "I should have known that it was a wild goose chase as the timing of the boy's disappearance was out of sequence. I'm disappointed that the Norwegian police didn't check out the lad's estranged father more closely earlier. Interviewed him but didn't take the opportunity to look round his house, with the boy in the guest bedroom all the time, fit and well looked after. I'm glad that I persuaded them in the end to take out a search warrant. It's a week wasted in looking for Per and I calculate that there's now only two weeks left before they castrate and crucify the poor lad. Bastards!"

Temple communion over the next six days reverted to the original format, although the numbers in the congregation dwindled as Per's novelty wore off. The weekday services were generally now attended by just the liturgy, celebrants and a small choir. Nevertheless, the young Dane was rightfully dreading the arrival of the seventh day.

Blincoe was becoming desperate as no new clues had been unearthed in relation to the crimes. He therefore returned alone to Thimblewick, for he had an instinct that there were links to be found there, and was again attending Sunday morning service in the parish church. His interest in the goings-on peaked when, at the start of the service, a group of boy scouts marched down the aisle, accompanied by four scoutmasters. The lead scouts were holding the group's banner, about to receive a holy blessing and on which, amongst other depictions and symbols, was a large pentagram.

"I didn't know that there was a scout group in Thimblewick," Blincoe advised the Reverend Quigly over later tea and biscuits in the church hall.

"We don't exactly," replied the Vicar, "the group serves a number of local villages and locates itself in a hall in the most central, about 5 miles away. However, this is the main parish church for the area."

The DCS was inwardly seething that local police and his own detectives had not appraised him of this fact.

"What does the pentagram on the group's banner signify?" Blincoe asked.

"Haven't a clue," responded Quigly, rather too quickly.

New Scotland Yard detectives, including Burrows, were back in the Cotswolds in force by that evening investigating possible connections between the local scout group and those to which the murdered Scottish and Swiss boys had belonged.

"Bingo!" announced a smiling Burrows, putting his mobile phone back in his pocket just as the pub in which he and his boss were staying rang the bell for last orders. "The local group has attended jamborees with the others within the last ten months. Seems they have a penchant for skiing for they spent part of the Christmas holidays in the Cairngorms, as did the Scottish lad's group, and February half term in Switzerland. The Swiss lad's group was the host. Too cold for camping so they stayed in halls."

"At last," declared Blincoe, "we've found a connection between all four victims. It's this area in the Cotswolds and presumably some people who live here and are associated with the scouts. It's a bit tenuous at the moment as we know Michael and Per weren't scouts but I'm sure that there are more clues to be uncovered. However, we've only got a week left to save the boy and God knows what pitiable state the poor lad must be in by now!"

As the DCS said these words, Per's thong was being removed after the conclusion of communion, revealing the young Dane in complete nudity for the first time before the congregation, now again full. The boy's excited genitals were to receive their first piecings in celebration of his last week of life. The High Priest ran one of the thicker cruel needles laterally through the sides of the boy's hard cock, near the uncut head, before inserting into the hole created a gold ampallang. This was followed by a frenum on the underside from which dangled a minuscule pentagram. Two scrotal piercings were performed equidistantly either side of the penis so that two more tiny gold pentagrams could be displayed there. Finally a similar guiche, from which a thin gold chain hung downwards to touch the floor, was added to the base of the scrotum. The arrival of the latter caused the gagged tearful 14 years old to spill semen onto the altar platform in a high wide arc. The new ornamentation was completed by branding pentagrams onto the sides of the agonised tribute's upper arms. The ceremony concluded shortly afterwards and every one of the worshippers took the opportunity to inspect the new adornments closely before they departed for their homes.

Chapter 10
Clues

(September 1999, Thimblewick, Cotswolds, England)

"Well," DCI Burrows answered, "we've been looking into Per's and Michael's activities whilst they stayed with their grandparents. There's still no direct connection between the two boys but there are links via third parties. Per enjoyed outdoor activities and joined the local bird-watching club and poor Michael liked soccer and played some games for a local junior team. Both have strong church ties, as does the scout group."

Blincoe contemplated the latest clue for a moment before ordering "We've got six days to save Per. If the bastards stick to their usual schedule, he'll be castrated and crucified on Sunday. In fact most of the key action seems to take place on Sundays, two of the abductions and all of the murders. If churchmen are involved, how can they be absent from duty on the Sabbath? You concentrate on the scout group whilst I go to see the vicar."

(Same time, somewhere in England)

"Well, the pigs are getting close," he announced, "which is something that we didn't expect from them. They're obviously not as stupid as we thought they were. However, there's no reason to panic. If we keep calm and do or say nothing silly, they won't get any closer."

The Reverend looked round the table in the meeting room of the church hall. The men present had mostly come to the area since the vicar's own arrival, which was no coincidence for they had all been members of a ring that shared the same interests and the new churchman's money had financed their adoption of new lives. The local community was at first suspicious of an influx of newcomers but, as most seemed to consist of happy families who contributed significantly to parochial activities, these early inhibitions were overcome. In fact, village life had been reinvigorated by their presence. The vacancies that arose for a new choirmaster, organist and warden for the main parish church had been quickly filled and it's small congregation had suddenly grown considerably in numbers. The scout group had been reformed with energetic and innovative leaders, successful junior soccer teams established and various popular special-interest societies set up.

The only man present who was not one of the vicar's proteges was the rector. The man was 59 years old and generally lurked in the rectory, rarely appearing in the villages of the parish being exceedingly lazy. He usually kept his answer phone constantly on so that his colleagues and parishioners could not disturb his privacy. However, there were two activities for which he did stair from somnolence. He liked gardening and had an infatuation with the parish magazine, which he used as a mouthpiece to air his personal views on a wide range of matters, having a high opinion of his own intellect. This often manifested itself when he made fun of simpler members of the parish congregations, whereas he treated the more sophisticated with slimy deference if he could not avoid them. He had been rector for 25 years and would be so till he retired or died.

The rector was very self-centred, as well as short-tempered. He flew into un-Christianlike tantrums for the slightest reasons, once shouting profanities at his predecessor's recently widowed wife for knocking the edge of his lawn with her car's rear tyres. The rector was married with a son but also had a secret of which the vicar was aware. The latter had used his knowledge to blackmail the more senior but obnoxious churchman into quietly co-operating with the subtle infiltration of cult members into every fabric of the local community and with their subsequent activities. In return, the rector's seduction by a certain choirboy had been forgotten and he had been allowed to join the cult as an ordinary worshipper. The man had enjoyed the ceremonies that he had attended and his son had also entered enthusiastically into the depraved activities, adopting the pseudonym 'Cycnus'.

"What about the young acolytes?" asked the sweating rector.

The churchwarden, whose favourite pastime was video photography, gave the rector a barely disguised look of disgust and answered for the vicar "They'll be alright. We picked and groomed them well. I think that they gain more enjoyment from our rituals than the adults and will make sure that they're not the ones to give the show away. No, it's our older nervous brethren that we have to worry about."

The rector looked down at his own feet in abashment before mumbling "What about DNA?"

The vicar gave a sigh of annoyance before replying "The police aren't allowed to take samples for DNA testing without your permission unless you're arrested. They haven't got enough evidence to arrest anyone and, if we keep it that way, DNA technology will be of no use to them."

The churchwarden commented "Quite right. The pigs will never locate our temple or our nearby tribute and we've relocated the van to a safe place. Make sure that no-one mentions the vehicle to anyone. It's registration has no ties to this area, so the police won't connect it unless someone tells them about it. Let's all just sit tight and let the storm pass."

However, the cowardly rector would not be assured and now asked "What about the boy, should we just quietly dispose of him?"

"Definitely not," said the vicar, thumping the table, "Diabolus wants his tribute presented on time and in the required manner. We go ahead on Sunday as planned!"

(2 hours later, Thimblewick, Cotswolds, England)

"Of course I take some Sundays off," he advised, "even churchmen are entitled to holidays. However, I'd have to check my diary to tell you which Sundays but I'd like to know why you're asking."

"We believe that the cross murders, which have always taken place on the Sabbath, have some connection to the area," the DCS replied as innocently as he could, "and we're trying to eliminate as many people from our enquiries as possible. It seemed easiest to start with those who usually work on Sundays who should be able to account for their actions on the days in question."

"I see," Quigly responded, not entirely convinced, but he went to collect his diary.

"You mention six particular Sundays," said the Reverend as he flicked through the diary, "now let me see." The Vicar looked at the entries for each of the days in question and provided the detective with the information he had requested. Quigly had been on holiday in France in June when Michael was murdered and Robert was abducted. He had been conducting Sunday services in Thimblewick as the young Scot was being killed a month later but was again in France when the young Swiss met his end in August.

"I have a bit of money from my previous career," the Vicar informed the DCS, "and am therefore lucky enough to keep a house in France for summer breaks."

"Where about in France?" asked Blincoe, apparently nonchalantly.

"Franche-Comte," Quigly answered.

The detective pressed on with his subtle questioning, discovering that the Reverend's previous work was in finance before he gave up mammon for God. He also learnt that the parish rector, seemingly reluctantly, assumed Sunday services when the vicar was absent but he failed to establish any direct link between the church and the murders. However, as he was leaving, the DCS spotted something on the wall of the vicarage's large entrance hall.

"That's a nice cuckoo clock," he said, "can I ask where you got it?"

(5 days later, Thimblewick, Cotswolds, England)

All white vans known to be in the area were checked and eliminated from enquiries, as was much footwear. However, local people drew a line at volunteering for DNA testing. A campaign had suddenly started in the parish magazine protesting about the implications of the police request. It was supposedly stimulated by indignation at the suggestion that local people could be involved in the cross murders, as well as protestations about the threat to privacy and civil liberties. It was publicised by much of the national media now heavily present, having discovered the police interest in the area in connection with the crimes. Much comment was made, especially in the tabloid press, that the police had no real evidence linking the murders to this part of the Cotswolds and had given too much consideration to some very tenuous ties. As a result of all this, few came forward to be tested.

Blincoe, in particular, was being singled out for criticism. The DCS knew that his career was on the line. If his next move proved incorrect, and Per was successfully castrated and crucified on the following day, he would probably have to resign. He felt that he would deserve to do so. However, he took consolation in the rector's panicky nervousness under questioning and Quigly's clearly evasive answer about the cuckoo clock.

Chapter 11
Denouement

(September 1999, somewhere)

Per was not at first able to discover the few contents of the white van as he had been rendered unconscious in the same way as during his abduction. The drugged boy, vivid red whip marks all over him, had not been taken directly to the vehicle but had first endured a journey in the boot of a car. When the sore gagged nude lad did finally awaken many hours later, he found that he had been strapped immovably to a stretcher fixed firmly to the floor of the moving van. On either side of him sat the two crucifers. Behind Cycnus was a Harley Davidson motorcycle and a stepladder, the former also strapped in place to the floor whilst the latter was attached to the side. Behind Hyacinthus was a big black wooden cross of the type with which the tribute was now very familiar, it too secured to the wall.

(Same time, Norfolk, England)

"Right," replied the DCS, "all we can do now is hope that they show up!"

Blincoe removed himself from the car to stretch his limbs after his uncomfortable night. The car was located in a lay-by of a quiet country lane, equidistant from the two camping sites in Norfolk that it had been discovered the Cotswold scout group had used in the past on weekend expeditions. Burrows had found out that the sites of the crucifixions of the previous three young victims, always close to where they had been kidnapped, had also been very near sites frequented over recent years by the highly active and adventurous group. It was Blincoe's theory that the act of murder would take place on one of the two similar locations in Norfolk, from were Per had been snatched.

Blincoe's expectation that the bastards would still go through with the act had been heightened by the annoying report of Quigly's sudden disappearance from his vicarage, embarrassingly unseen by the watching surveillance team. The Reverend had apparently used his expensive Harley Davidson to drive across a farmer's track at the rear of the vicarage, increasing suspicions about his intentions. These were not alleviated by the very tense rector, who could only advise that his Church of England subordinate had requested some urgent leave for an undisclosed reason. A scoutmaster had also escaped his tail.

(6 hours later, somewhere)

Per was unstrapped from the stretcher and removed from the van under the close supervision of the crucifers and the two Priests who had inflicted so much pain on him. The young Dane was encouraged to urinate before being presented with a bucket, filled with cold water from the lake, and a bar of perfumed soap. The boy was commanded to wash. He was not told that his naked body had to be pure to meet Diabolus. Whilst the frightened lad complied, the cross was removed from the vehicle and rested on the ground on one of its crossbeam arms.

After Per had completed his ablutions, dried himself with the proffered towel and had his hair combed by Hyacinthus, he was instructed to pick up the heavy cross, using his right shoulder to take the weight under the cross-section. The tremulous young Dane, with the stimulus of the pain collar fitted with a fresh battery round his neck, reluctantly obeyed but with some difficulty because the structure was very heavy. The branded and pierced nude boy, covered also in goosepimples and shivering slightly in the cool autumnal air, was then ordered to carry the cross to the centre of the leaf-strewn muddy clearing.

(Same time, Norfolk, England)

(Same time, somewhere)

Per, privately querying the need for his early chilly wash as his feet were now dirty and his legs had been splashed with mud, was ordered onto all fours, thereby also muddying his hands and knees. The boy was required to place himself so that his hardening cock pointed down at the middle of the cross. From this position, the tribute was told to kiss the pentagram painted on top of the upper arm before remaining in situ for communion with the celebrants one last time. The crucifers took up positions first, Hyacinthus in front, Cycnus behind. The young Dane soon had young English penises simultaneously in both his mouth and anus. They were to be followed those of the four adult celebrants.

After consuming the ejaculated communal offerings in his orifices, Per was commanded to perform his final homage before lying face-up on the cross so that his arms extended along each crossbeam and his legs down the central span. The young Dane did not like the situation at all but, with the pain collar in place, knew that he had no escape. However, his deep apprehension did not prevent his cock standing vertically upwards.

The two cult Priests now firmly held in place each of Per's hands so that the palms were uppermost and the inner wrists exposed, whilst the two crucifers held the young Dane's legs in place. The 14 years old began to struggle fruitlessly when the High Priest collected from the van a mallet and three long sharp round-headed metal spikes, as well as the gag that the boy had worn earlier.

(Same time Norfolk, England)

However, the detective worried that Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, was too late in pointing out to him his fundamental folly. The fact that the previous crucifixions had taken place near to the abductions was mere irrelevance. It now occurred to the detective that it was where the victims lived that was most important to the murderers, in line with the boys' nationalities and their national flags, all displaying crosses. He recalled that the scout group had once camped on the island of Zealand.

(Same time, Zealand, Denmark)

The spike was placed on the marked spot and the mallet was raised. The High Priest looked into Per's terrified and tearful eyes, observing the frantic shakes of the young head trying to beg 'No!' The man smiled again before landing the first of six agonising blows that would be required to secure the boy's wrist firmly in place between the nailhead and the wood amidst much spurting of blood. He then moved to the lad's right arm.

With Per's upper limbs now agonisingly fixed in place, the High Priest moved to the young Dane's crossed ankles. The sound of many bones cracking reverberated around the clearing as the third larger spike was bloodily hammered into position. However, the boy's torment had only just begun for the unbelievable pain that he now experienced in his limbs intensified still further as all six celebrants helped to haul the cross upright and slip the base into the prepared trench. The naked lad fainted as his whole weight was concentrated on the spikes through his wrists.

(Same time Norfolk, England)

(Same time, Zealand, Denmark)

The High Priest then stood in front of the cross facing the other celebrants whilst he conveyed another sermon, although it was shorter than those conducted in the temple back in England, before turning again to face the crucified tribute. The evil sextet began a brief chant whilst looking at Per, tears streaming down his young face and body whilst he suffered terrible pain and torment. Amazingly but, as the cult members had discovered with their previous victims, not unusually in the circumstances, the boy's cock remained erect and throbbing.

One of the Priests collected from the van a small black bowl with gold pentagram emblazoned in the middle, in which was resting a small razor-sharp knife with black handle and similar motif. The items were handed to the High Priest who mounted the stepladder, which had remained in place next to the cross. As the man came parallel to Per, he placed the bowl on the top of the ladder and reached out for the young Dane's genitals with his left hand. Holding the deliciously smooth scrotum firmly in place, the High Priest picked up the knife and introduced it to the middle of the organ, just underneath the base of the rigid horizontal penis. He began the emasculating incision whilst uttering the usual loud incantation of "For our great Satanic lord, Diabolus!" As well as blood, a long white stream of reproductive fluid also now emerged from the 14 years old genitalia. As this was happening and the boy's testicles were exposed, the clearing was suddenly cast into dark shadow and a whirlwind arrived to send leaves spinning wildly all around. The High Priest was ecstatic for it surely indicated Diabolus' presence to accept his sacred tribute.

(October 1999, Thimblewick, Cotswolds, England)

Blincoe and Quigly momentarily looked at each other without saying a word before the latter, whilst wiping his stubby nose, broke the silence with a sigh and an invitation. "Let's speak over a cup of tea!"

The duo soon found themselves in the vicarage parlour, in the same seats as during their previous meeting here.

"The vipers used me," declared the still tearful Quigly, "whilst they were up to their evil ends. How could they? How could I have not suspected? The rector, the choirmaster and all the choir, the organist, the warden, the scoutmasters and a number of their young charges, the organisers of several clubs and societies, including some of the soccer coaches, as well as others more anonymous. All led by that devil Masterston, Vicar of St. Bartholomew's over at Seddleton on the other side of the parish."

The DCS let the Reverend proceed without interruption, as he seemed to be seeking some form of absolution from his lament.

"I often wondered how Masterston occupied his time, his church having such a tiny congregation, only one officer and no choir. The devil had to infiltrate his own placemen and his evil practices into mine to secure his aims. I always knew that his tales of where he made his own money didn't somehow ring true. You say that he made his fortune from child pornography and sex tourism when based in Amsterdam and he met most of his cohorts through those activities."

Blincoe nodded in confirmation.

"Well," continued Quigly, "he certainly seems to have hidden that past well. The bishop tells me that, as far as the Church was concerned, Masterston had an impeccable academic background before he came here a few years ago, with references, both human and paper, to prove it. More of his deviant cronies helping him out, I suppose, especially the awful rector who vouched for him and encouraged his return to the locale where he had grown up. I wonder if his evil stemmed from the rector's abuse of him when the former was just the choirmaster and the latter a choirboy. Did his deep hatred of Christianity, that caused him to profane and hate its chief symbol so much, to adopt extreme devil worship and kill three boys and maim another, result from the rector's lechery?"

The DCS did not reply but also did not disagree with the vicar's theory.

"I feel very guilty," Quigly declared, "about not telling you the truth about the cuckoo clock, that it was a present from Masterston after one of his holidays in Switzerland. At the time, I was annoyed at seemingly being suspected in the crimes and I didn't want a colleague to suffer similarly."

The vicar's tears became more fulsome as he added "Per might have been saved from his suffering if I had not been so foolish!"

Blincoe again did not disagree, but the detective was sympathetic for he believed that he had been even more culpable. He had compounded his error over the crucifixion site, caused by the fact that the young Dane had been abducted in England, making him believe that the boy would remain in the country, by not investigating Seddleton and its people more closely.

"I'm also sorry," confessed Quigly, "that I didn't tell you about my mother's sudden illness, which made me jump on my bike to go to see her for a few days. I save miles by taking the shortcut along the farmer's track. However, I panicked when I heard how bad she was as she's over 80. In fact she never recovered and she was buried two weeks ago."

The vicar's sobbing overwhelmed him at the sad thought and he could not carry on his monologue for a few minutes, but the DCS maintained his quiet.

When Quigly eventually recovered, he asked "How is Per?"

Blincoe spoke at last, replying "Recovering slowly. I've just been to see him in hospital in Copenhagen. I've more time to do such things since I announced my early retirement from the force as I'm currently on terminal leave."

He did not add that his could still maintain a pleasant lifestyle despite his withdrawal from working life so early because of his substantial occupational pension.

"The Danish army helicopter," he continued, "arrived just in time to frighten off Per's tormentors and save his life. As you know five of the six would-be murderers were quickly rounded up except for Masterston, who escaped on his motorcycle. We've still no trace of the bastard, if you'll forgive my language, Reverend."

The vicar pretended not to notice the profanity uttered in frustration.

"It's amazing what medical science can do today," the policeman announced thankfully; "Per's wrists are already fine and the piercings are healing. Although it'll take a number of operations, the boy's doctors are confident that they can restore his ankles to full working order and there's talk of plastic surgery to remove those wicked brandmarks. Apparently, it's too early to say what long-term affect the damage to his genitals will have, and there's the mental scars to consider as well. However, the lad's taking everything very bravely."

Blincoe displayed a sparkle in his eyes as he conveyed the last sentence.

Quigly, tears drying, asked a simple one word question "Motives?"

"For most," replied Blincoe, "sex and associated thrills, purely and simply, as none actually seemed to believe in the so called High Priest's theology. For Masterston, I think there are, as you've already hinted, more complex unknown motives. We still don't know, for example, why the victims had to be handsome 14 years old blue-eyed blonde-haired boys, for none of those we've arrested seem to know!"

In fact, it was to be over two years before the DCS discovered the answer to this particular quandary.

"I understand," advised Quigly, "that the poor Swiss boy was actually brought to the Cotswolds to suffer in that terrible so-called temple created within the catacombs of Masterston's church before being returned to his homeland to be killed."

Blincoe nodded affirmatively before doing the same to the vicar's next statement:

"And that everyone contributed to the selection of the victims, studying and enquiring about apparently suitable potential choices, even encouraging parishioners to discuss and show photographs of their families. I don't think that any of mine will ever again trust anyone sufficiently to do so outside their families. In fact, my congregation has fallen by over three-quarters and the church hall is empty after services. I used to enjoy talking with my flock about their own. Now, I doubt that I shall do so again."

Blincoe departed from the sad vicarage shortly afterwards. Thimblewick looked a much quieter and more morose place as he drove through the village to make his way back to his own lonely London home. That evening, after microwaving and consuming a rather pitiful ready-meal with a much nicer glass of wine, the former detective opened the large envelope that he had retained as a personal memento of the cross murders. He withdrew his favourite photograph and then began to unzip the fly of his trousers.

It took almost six months for the first of several sensational trials at London's Old Bailey relating to the cross murders to start, sadly without Masterston who remained on the loose. As a result of the various proceedings, a large number of men were sentenced to life imprisonment or long terms and a smaller number of boys were to be detained 'at Her Majesty's pleasure' or placed in care. Per bravely attended, on crutches, all of the trials as the key witness. His parents accompanied him at first. However, they were eventually happy, because of the resultant serious disruption to their own lives and that of their daughter, to accept the kind offer from the retired detective, whose intuition had saved their son, to accommodate and look after the boy at his London home. After all, they had all become close friends during the man's many frequent visits to the Danish capital to see how Per was progressing and the boy's English grandparents had been so traumatised, by his original abduction whilst in their care, that they no longer wanted the responsibility. The lad, who had withdrawn from his circle of his peers, also seemed to revel in the man's company.

In fact, Per considered Blincoe his hero for being responsible for his salvation. The boy also appreciated the man's personality for he was very kind and generous, with his time as much as anything else, and was full of interesting detective and other stories, although the lad suspected that some might have been augmented for his amusement. When not required in court, Blincoe would often take his guest on interesting joyful varied excursions to cinemas, museums and art galleries or to see the sights of London and provincial cities and towns, as well as holiday resorts and the countryside.

Per fell in love in particular with the English Lake District. The young Dane was very happy to have recovered from his ordeal sufficiently to be able to throw away his crutches and enjoy the various Lakeland walks with his adult companion, who was invariably full of absorbing anecdotes about the places they visited.

Blincoe himself had never been happier and this was not just because he was in the constant company of a beautiful boy, blossoming even more as he passed his fifteenth birthday. The former detective was delighted to see that both the lad's physical and mental conditions were gradually recovering from their traumas under his gentle supervision. The duo's close platonic companionship was only interrupted by court attendances, occasional hospital check-ups, the state-funded personal tutor Per needed to maintain his educational progress and regular reunions with the boy's family. However, their relationship changed radically just before the last trial was due to finish.

Per had retired to bed, in a bedroom that use to belong to one of his host's daughters, but, as usual, his temporary guardian had stayed up, ostensibly to watch some television. However, the 15 years old Dane could not sleep and crept back down stairs in his pyjamas, intending to creep up on his adult friend to surprise him. The product of the boy's action was actually a shock for the two of them for he found the man masturbating whilst looking at a photograph of a naked crucified boy.

The deeply shamed and red-faced Blincoe attempted to cover up what he was doing but realised by the expression on Per's face that he had been too late. The man tried to mutter an apology and to explain himself but the seemingly initially transfixed silent boy's reaction to the discovery was not as anticipated.

A large bulge appeared at the front of Per's pyjamas, mesmerising Blincoe in return. After a short pause, the young Dane began to unbutton his top and remove the cover before quickly slipping off the trousers, revealing himself in just skimpy black briefs with a more profound and defined protuberance on the front. The totally captivated former detective's cock, still sticking out of his trouser zip but hidden under his hands, quivered vigorously.

Per quietly walked to stand immediately in front of Blincoe before slowly pulling down his briefs. A full erection, emanating from fully restored and still-smooth genitals, popped into view. Having thrown his final garment away, the lad knelt, gently pushed the former detective's hands to the side and engulfed the man's own hard penis in his sublime mouth.

(September 2000, somewhere in South America)

Masterston was now planning this fresh venture in his luxurious but temporary exile. He did not mind what he had to do or how much he had to spend to secure his aim. After all, an angry and frustrated Diabolus had to be placated.

The End