Chapter 33
Danger Getting Closer

"Welcome back, Mr. Yang. I hope your trip was fruitful?"

Mr. Yang was taken aback by this cordial greeting. He had been accustomed to being treated as a low-class servant, even though he was Lam Sin's assistant and lawyer, a graduate from Harvard University. This was not the way he expected this conversation to begin. If anything, his fear grew, as he had no way of knowing what was inside the head of this man.

"Come, come, Mr. Yang. Don't worry. My day has started well. My accountants reported a nice profit from my businesses, and this morning, I had a beautiful new Japanese boy to break in. So I am now ready to hear what your investigation revealed on your trip to SP1."

The lawyer fumbled with some notes as he was gathering his thoughts. He dare not ask what happened to the boy he saw the last time he was here. It was too terrible to contemplate.

"Master Sin, as you know, when SP1 failed to report in at its usual time, I first sent a plane over. As you saw in the photos, it appeared a fire had destroyed everything. When I saw the photographs, I realized the extent of what we were dealing with, so I sent men to the island. That I have to admit was a mistake, as any evidence of who was involved was nearly erased with the men walking through the rubble and the surrounding grounds."

"So, you were not able to reach any conclusions?"

"Not as much as I would have liked. As speculated, the fire was deliberate, using the generator fuel drums to burn as thoroughly as possible. By the time I arrived, there wasn't much left to go through. Part of the building's walls survived, but everything that was inside was destroyed. The two men who were stationed there were never found. No graves were discovered. I believe that their bodies were disposed of at sea."

"Why go through all that?" Lam Sin wondered. "Dead men can't reveal who their killers were."

"They might have in this case," getting a surprised look from the Oriental.

"Go on, Mr. Yang."

"Their bodies would have shown how they died and what weapon was probably used. Whoever carried this out knew what they had to do. My guess is your men were caught unawares, most likely sleeping, when they were killed."

Lam Sin was silent for several moments as he digested what Mr. Yang had told him so far. "Anything else?"

"We may have a clue. Although our men trampled all over the island searching for evidence, thankfully, they had not touched the southern shore."

"You found something?"

"Possibly," as the lawyer produced more photos for Lam Sin's examination. They appeared to be footprints. "Look closely, sir. That first photo shows several barefoot prints. I'm not an expert, so I can't tell how many men landed, but it can be safely assumed several. The second photo shows grooves in the sand where small boats, possibly canoes, landed. I believe there were three," as Lam Sin stared intently at each picture. "The third and final photo is most intriguing. It shows the footprints of someone wearing shoes. I believe it was just one man."

"What do you make of all this, Mr. Yang?"

"I believe even more that this is somehow connected with those three missing American boys."

"How?"

"I'm not quite sure. Bare feet would seem to indicate men from one of the islands along with the evidence of canoes. The nearest islands are several hundred miles away, so paddling canoes to reach SP1 sounds improbable, but you have the footprints of one man wearing shoes.

"His involvement is puzzling. Maybe he's harboring the boys and got the cooperation of some native group to destroy the island to prevent the boys from being discovered. Or the boys could be on one of the native islands. They enlisted the help of someone with a craft capable of reaching your island quickly. In either case, canoes were brought to transport the men the last part of the journey as the larger craft could have been heard and discovered. They landed under cover of darkness, killed the men, burned the building, and dumped the bodies in the ocean. Again, Master Sin, this is only a supposition."

Lam Sin looked long and hard at his lawyer. "I have grown tired of this. A lot of my money went into getting these three boys here."

He paused for a moment as he reached under his throne-like chair and withdrew three photos, supplied by the caseworker in America, one each of the boys who were at the ranch, a full nude frontal shot. He stared at them. They were supposed to be with him at this very moment, providing the pleasure he had paid so much for. Lam Sin had spent hours fantasizing what it would be like having these three unique-looking boys at his disposal for whatever sexual perversions he could think of.

Looking back at Mr. Yang, he continued, "Instead, I have a traitorous captain and first officer. I have an island invaded, my men killed, and everything destroyed, probably by half-naked savages with spears and arrows. There's a mysterious man, one way or another, involved in all this. Is he somehow mixed up with the captain? I have three 'orphaned' boys with no family connections hiding on some miserable little island and 'you can't find them!'" as the man pounded the armrest on his chair, causing Mr. Yang to jump back. "Four weeks! Four weeks! All I've gotten from you is theories, possibilities, and suppositions. I don't need any more lawyer bullshit!"

"But Master Sin," Mr. Yang said with a trembling in his voice, "these investigations take time."

With a look that one would describe as coming from hell, Lam Sin leaned forward in his chair. "That, Mr. Yang, you don't have much more of. You better have before me very soon," as the man closed his eyes for a moment, "preferably naked, those three American boys or your fancy Harvard law degree will be shoved up your ass with a hot poker, courtesy of Wo Fat. Do I make myself clear?"

"Yes, Master Sin," as the man fell on his knees, head bowed, sweats of fear dripping from him.

He heard footsteps and made sure the man had completely exited the room before he looked up. He tried to calm his body from further shaking. He knew what the man was capable of, and this had been no idle threat. As he left the large room, he knew he was going to have to take drastic measures. Although he was a lawyer, and even working for this evil man had kept some principles, he knew he had to find those boys, and soon, no matter what the cost, even if innocent people would be hurt.

***

Breakfast was a talkative affair. John was amazed that four boys could talk at the same time and understand each other, but he wasn't complaining. In less than 24 hours, an explosive event was averted as the original three, hurt and jealous of the new arrival, quickly learned that he loved sex and was eager to join them in their sexual adventures. After finishing their chores, they stripped naked and went out on the sand in front of the porch. Laying a large towel down, Chris, Matt, and Mike wanted to learn how Joshua met John and the things they did together.

"Compared to what you do, and me being nine years old at the time, it was very little. We were lucky if we met once a week and only for a couple of hours."

"But you didn't waste any time, did you?" a smiling Matt asked.

"No, we didn't. I didn't know anything about sex, so John was showing me how it feels when you do certain things. He loved sucking my cock and the orgasms were fantastic."

"John can certainly make us feel good when he does that," agreed Chris.

"Near the end, he would cum by rubbing his cock somewhere on me, and I was amazed at seeing this white stuff on my chest or stomach or where he liked to do it, on my cock and balls."

"Did he ever talk of sticking his cock in your ass?" Mike put forth.

"No. Honestly, I didn't know he wanted to do that. Instead, he would put the tip of his finger inside. It felt weird but didn't hurt. While he was in prison, I read on the Internet how men love to fuck boys in the ass. So hoping I would see him again, I made a promise to let him do it as soon as he wanted. You like him doing it to you, don't you?"

"To be honest, be prepared," Mike began to share. "Your butt is not used to something big pushing itself inside. All three of us went through a lot of pain the first time, but it could have been worse as John was as gentle as he could be. The funny thing is after it's over, you feel empty inside. You realize you want to have his cock in your ass as much as possible."

"But we have to be patient now," explained Chris. "There are four of us now. So we might get to have sex with John but maybe every other day. That's why we do things between us while we wait for the time to spend with him."

Joshua nodded his head in understanding. "I'm looking forward to John popping my cherry tonight in the glass bedroom," getting agreeable smiles from the other boys.

While they were together last night, Chris and Joshua had discovered that they wore about the same size clothing. They agreed that either could wear anything of the other as both were about the height and weight.

As lunchtime approached, John decided to make up his weekly supply list to take into account another boy to feed and clothe. Troy was swiftly in the air.

"How did the arrival of Joshua go?" was Troy's first question.

"Much better than I thought. There were a few moments of ruffled feathers, but thankfully everyone recognized the benefits and have gotten along quite well. Chalk it to the adaptability of being young and more receptive to changes."

"That must make your life easier, now having to look after four boys. They seem to have wonderful personalities."

"Among other qualities," John thought silently to himself with a smile. He then gave his weekly requirements. In the end, he told Troy that when he arrived Saturday, he would share some information he learned from the rescue mission and needed his advice.

"Anything I can do to help. You know that." Ending the conversation with a thank you, John turned off the radio.

Lunch was another talkative affair. Then the man announced, "I need the afternoon alone to study what I brought back from Lam Sin's island."

"That briefcase you brought back?" from Matt.

"What briefcase?" Joshua wanted to know.

"Yes, that briefcase Matt. And Joshua, I picked up a briefcase when I was to Lam Sin's island. I'm hoping it gives me more information on this man and how he runs his empire, especially when he comes to kidnapping boys."

Joshua shuttered as he recalled the all-night session at the hotel as John mentioned this man and how the three boys now living on the island were supposed to be shipped to him for his sexual pleasure. He recalled John telling him that he participated with the Kalaukans in rescuing Chief Haoa's son. Although Joshua was happy to be here with John, he recalled one of the first rules given to him before they ever arrived on Paradise Island, 'Don't ever wander the island by yourself.'

As the boys got ready to leave, John spoke. "If I can suggest for this afternoon, why don't the four of you go skinny-dipping in the hot springs? I'll let your imaginations take it from there."

This got wide grins from all the boys as any last barrier between Joshua, and the three others could be broken. Grabbing towels, the four left the house, leaving John alone. The man smiled as he saw three evenly tanned boys heading down the steps and one almost milk-white accompanying them. Well, today is his first day to start getting that tan.

Retrieving the briefcase, he went to the living room and sat at his desk. Opening it, he saw the laptop and papers that he stuffed in the short time he had. Thankfully, it appeared that English was used, and nothing seemed encrypted. The papers, appearing like copies of the email, came through coded and decoded before printing. He first sorted the documents by date, and when he had completed that, he figured he had about 100 emails. He began reading and piecing together what he could learn about Lam Sin and his operations.

John discovered that the island Kauri was rescued from was simply named 'SP1', which stood for 'Special Processing, Island Number One.' There were four islands owned by Lam Sin, each called by just a number. Number One was the farthest east where Kauri was kept. One island was near the Philippines, another by Papua New Guinea, and the last was in the Indian Ocean. It appeared the purpose of each island was to find and kidnap boys from nearby islands or landmass and hold them until Lam Sin called for them to be sent to him.

First, the initial waiting period was determined by authorities and relatives' efforts to locate the boys. When it appeared there was no way the kidnappings could be traced to any of the four islands and no danger seemed imminent, the boys were sent to Singapore.

Second, depending on the boy, each island had instructions on preparing him for Lam Sin's pleasure. As a reward, the caretakers (kidnappers) were allowed to teach and have the boys suck their cocks and experience a little pain in some areas of the body, making John recall some of the devices he saw. Under no circumstances was an anal invasion of any kind allowed. That pleasure of a virgin ass was Lam Sin's alone under penalty of death. The exception to this was if the boy was later found unsuitable for Lam Sin and was given to the men for their pleasure. John wondered what happened to the boys afterward. He shuttered to think what was done after their sexual use was exhausted.

On a separate piece of paper, John tried to keep track of the number of boys kidnapped. Unfortunately, the oldest hard copy of the emails was nine months. Maybe more saved copies were on the laptop. Photos of the boys were attached to emails sent, although not on the printed copies and John again thought they might be on the laptop.

One common thread was observed through all the emails. They were being sent and received from someone calling himself Mr. Yang. Whether that was an alias used by Lam Sin or someone else, there was no way of knowing. By the time he finished reading all the emails, he had counted 23 boys being kidnapped between the four islands in the past nine months. Those who passed 'training' and were sent onward to Singapore numbered 21. Was Kauri among those who failed and used by the two men, thus being locked up in a hidden room? What happened to the second boy who failed? John didn't even want to guess.

Although 21 boys were kidnapped and, in the end, were sent to Lam Sin somewhere in Singapore, some emails spoke of local boys within several hundred miles being kidnapped. John couldn't help but wonder how many boys were in the clutches of this man? Did he have a stable of young boys to satisfy his sexual appetite?

Based on the descriptions of Lam Sin's preferences, he wanted only prepubescent boys no younger than ten years old. Although John was glad one island wouldn't be used for quite a while, he thought of the other three and if they currently were holding any boys against their will. His thoughts turned to somehow getting this information to the proper authorities. Maybe they could track this man down and stop all this kidnapping. Doing so could also backfire and put himself and the boys with him in danger. It could put Lam Sin closer to identifying who destroyed his island. Maybe Troy would have an idea.

Paper-clipping the printed emails and replacing them in the briefcase, he took out the laptop. He removed the Wi-Fi card to turn it on and wouldn't send a signal where the laptop was located and traced back to Paradise Island. After the opening screen, he looked up the hard drive directory and located a folder labeled 'Emails.' Opening it, he discovered the same emails as the printed copies. Still, there was a sub-folder titled 'Boys' that he opened. There were copies of emails sent that had a picture and video attachments. He began with the oldest and read forward. His stomach churned as he saw photos of boys standing naked, hands by their side, fear in their eyes. Other shots were close-ups of the genitals, ass, and other frontal and rear areas. Still, other shots showed boys with clamps on their bodies' sensitive areas, faces contorted in pain. Each boy had his folder with the final email from Mr. Yang to either forward the child or that he was not selected.

SP1 had only kidnapped six boys. Four had been selected and been sent to Lam Sin. He found Kauri's folder and had a difficult time viewing the photos. He had not been selected. There was even a short video, probably taken after the rejection, showing the Kalaukan boy faced down on the table, limbs tied, one of the men pushing a dildo in his ass. John turned the volume off to not hear the screams recorded.

He found a boy's folder simply named 'Reject.' The boy looked like any native island child, maybe 11 years old. John almost threw up as he saw the horrors this poor boy went through. The last connotation on this boy was 'no further use; disposed of.' How close was Kauri to be considered of no further use?

John closed the folder. He didn't want to see anymore. If the public ever saw such atrocity done on a young boy, any man perceived as a boylover would be hunted down and killed. This Oriental had turned the love for a boy into a torture session. Since no anal use was the rule among the islands for the boys to be sent to Lam Sin, one couldn't help but cringe at what that man would do. Doubtfully, he wouldn't ease the entrance to make any pain as minimal as possible. The screams of the boy being impaled for the first time were probably a turn-on for him.

He thought of Troy. Had this monster impaled him? Probably and more than likely several times. No wonder eight years later, emotional and physical scars still existed within the man. He then wondered if he should allow the pilot to view the contents of the briefcase?

Taking several deep breaths, he turned back to the laptop. He skipped over the other folders in the directory until he came to one labeled, 'American Boys.' On the screen flashed several photos of the boys taken at the ranch. There were several communiqués concerning the disappearance of Mike, Chris, and Matt. The Sea Queen captain had 'deliberately' sent the boys adrift in the hopes they would be found rather than go to Lam Sin. All islands were to be on the lookout for the captain and first mate that disappeared just before the freighter docked. "Hope he got away," John thought. "Thank you, Captain."

The next email was more disturbing as it instructed the men on SP1 to investigate the surrounding islands to see if the three American boys had landed on any and if someone was hiding them. This email was dated two days before the rescue. John closed his eyes.

"Great!" he thought. "Lam Sin probably thinks his island was destroyed to hinder that search, enforcing the idea that the boys were hiding nearby." He would have to be more careful. Hopefully, the new identifications will stifle any suspicions connected to his island. His thoughts were interrupted by the return of the four boys from the hot springs. Looking at the clock, four hours had passed.

"Hi, boys," he greeted them. "Did you have fun?"

"We sure did," began Joshua. "We found out we all like the same things in sex."

"Joshua was a lot of fun," admitted Mike. "He wasn't shy about anything we talked about. He learned a lot from the Internet."

"So he told me," giving Joshua a funny look.

"It was like when we were on Kalauka Island. We all took turns sucking each other, tasting each other's cum," Chris shared.

"Really?" John looked at the newest addition.

"Yep. Today I got to taste my new brothers," getting shy, but happy grins from Matt, Mike, and Chris.

John understood an important step in sex had been taken. Joshua had participated in oral sex and felt comfortable not only having a cock in his mouth but swallowing the results.

"Looks like you fit in quite nicely, and you still have a lot more fun ahead. Although the acts may seem the same, the kissing, licking, and sucking, you will learn that each person's body is different. No two react the same. It's what makes sex special and very personal. Just relax and look forward to more pleasures. You have four years of sex to catch up on."

"What did you find out from the briefcase?" Mike asked.

"Not much. Everything's such a jumble; it will take a while to figure it out." John decided it was too early to share what he had discovered so far. A new boy had joined the island, and everyone now seemed happy. No barriers seemed left between them. Sex was still alive and well. Let it stay that way for a while.

"What are we going to fix for dinner?" Matt inquired.

John thought for a moment. "You, Chris, and Mike fix whatever you want. Joshua, you and I are going to take some sandwiches and Kool-Aid to the glass bedroom where we're going to spend the night." That got grins from the three and a bigger one from Joshua. "But before we do, I want you to send a quick email to your mother telling her you made it safe and sound."

"Okay," as he dashed to the living room and the computer.

Mike gave the man a grin. "So, you're going to make our newest member a virgin no more?"

"That's the plan, but don't worry. I've been away so much the past several days; I also have three cute boys' asses to catch up on."

"You'll find us ready. We told Joshua that once he feels you inside, like us, he'll want it done a lot," Mike enlightened.

"I hope so. I plan on the next several days doing nothing but tasting boy cum and fucking tight little butts."

When the sandwiches and drinks were ready, Joshua returned. "I told my Mom I'm okay and was happy here. I said I had to go because you were going to pop my cherry." He laughed when he saw the look on John's face. "Just kidding."

"You're a joker," John replied.

"And you're a boylover," Joshua threw back.

"But he's also a pervert too," added Mike.

"Then, I am a lucky boy!"

***

As the three boys began discussing what they wanted for dinner, John and Joshua took their meal and began a leisurely walk to the glass bedroom on the other side of the island. Joshua was the first to speak.

"Remember when I was little and you used to get off rubbing your cock all over me and making me wet when you came?" The man nodded his head. "You sucked my cock every time I came to visit. I couldn't cum yet, but you always made me feel good. I don't know if you recall, but I was going to try and suck you off."

"I was introducing you to good feelings. I got my satisfaction getting off rubbing on your soft body and a lot of the time in between your ass, as though I had just fucked my little boy. I knew the thought of putting my cock in your mouth and the possibility of my sperm shooting inside was too gross for you at your age. I accepted that; I wanted you to do what makes you feel comfortable doing. In the end, though, you were licking the tip of my cock. You were also starting to suck on my nipples, pretending you were a baby, remember?"

Joshua smiled. "Yes, I was pretending I was getting milk from you, and you even put some whipped cream on them for me to lick off. We did a lot of kissing at the end."

"That we did," as John closed his eyes, thinking of the three years behind bars and the thoughts of those happier times sustaining him and knowing that no matter what happened, they could never be taken away.

As he and the boy walked along the shore, bare feet enjoying the pristine sand, the 13-year-old looked at the adult. "What did you find in that briefcase? I won't tell the others."

The man gave the boy a long look, trying to decide if he should reveal what he had read and seen. "It's pretty bad, Joshua. Young boys were kidnapped from different islands and even from some countries. I saw the pictures. I never thought some men could enjoy hurting boys. The expressions on some of the faces I'll never forget."

"What about this Kauri you rescued? Thankfully you got him before he was sent to Lam Sin."

John stopped walking and looked at the teen. "When boys are kidnapped and 'prepared' for lack of a better term, a decision is made whether they should go to Lam Sin or not. Most do, but some don't."

Joshua felt himself tremble as he asked the obvious question. "What happens to those who don't go?"

"They are left for the kidnappers to do what they want until they get tired of them. Kauri wasn't selected. As far as Lam Sin was concerned, there were no other boys on that island. Kauri was considered dead."

"If you hadn't rescued him…." leaving the rest unsaid.

"Eventually, they would have killed him and probably dumped his body in the ocean. No one would ever know what happened to him."

For the first time, Joshua felt some fear within him. His only experiences before arriving here of anything connected to sex were memorable ones, of a man who treated him kindly and brought out in his young body feelings he didn't know existed. He understood the need for secrecy, but couldn't understand why.

When John was arrested, everyone said he took advantage of him and tricked him into doing nasty stuff. He had to spend three years convincing his mother otherwise but lost a father who thought his boy, before he even reached his teens, had been brainwashed into a homosexual, proven by his refusal to testify against his molester. Although he had read in the newspaper and the Internet, as well as on TV, about men who kidnapped boys and abused them, he felt safe in his little cocoon world of just he and John. Still, the reality was that very evil men existed and that even those on Paradise Island could get hurt.

"You asked and I told you. Do you understand why you should never walk alone?" getting a nod from the boy. "I didn't say this to scare you. Hopefully, the arms of Lam Sin will never get close to us. Until he's arrested and put away, we're not going to act foolishly, and if it helps to ease your concerns, think about this: Lam Sin is looking for Mike, Chris, and Matt, not you. He doesn't know about you, and we're in a very big ocean. This island is like a needle in a haystack. You see what I'm saying?"

The boy again nodded his head. He told himself that he had waited too long to be with John once more to allow the dealings of one man to spoil this reunion. He thought he was safer here, surrounded by a vast ocean. Back home, you never knew who lurked around the next corner.

"If he knew about me, would he try to kidnap me?"

John tried looking serious as he responded, "I doubt it. You're not that cute." This got a punch in the ribs from the boy as both laughed to take their minds off Lam Sin.

During the slow leisurely walk to the glass bedroom, both observed the sun getting lower on the horizon. John told the teen how the sun looked so much brighter without the dirty air of industrial smog to mar its beauty. Joshua replied how amazed he was the evening before at the bonfire of the thousands of stars visible in the night sky, something he had never seen before. The man then questioned the 13-year-old about the four years since they last met.

"In the beginning, it was awful. I hated my brother for telling Mom and Dad what I thought was a secret between us. I later forgave him, as I understood he feared that you were hurting me or making me do something I didn't want. It was Dad who made it worse. At first, he and Mom kept telling me that you were a horrible person and it wasn't my fault for what you did to me. Our family had trusted you and you betrayed us. That bad men like you belong in prison and that I should tell the police everything that happened so that you would be locked up for a long time and never hurt another boy again."

Although this was a difficult memory to drag out in the open, John knew both had to reconcile with the past so that it no longer hung over their heads.

"I can imagine the shock when your parents found out. With me, the police just came to my door and arrested me. I was able to post bail, but the publicity made my home like a jail, afraid to go outside. Of course, in the beginning, I had no idea what happened. Since I had been arrested, the first thoughts were that maybe you felt different about what we did than what you told me when we were together. So to stop it, you told your parents."

"No! No!" Joshua said emphatically. "I did tell my bother the sex things we did and then he told our parents, and they, especially Dad, kept asking me, 'Did John do this to you? Did he touch you here or there? Did he threaten you if you didn't do what he wanted?' I told him you never hurt me, that you were nice and that I wanted to do sex with you. That's when my Dad got furious. He told me I was just a 9-year-old boy who didn't know anything and that he wanted me to tell the police everything that happened–I said no."

"That took a lot of courage, Joshua. It would have been easier to say what your father wanted to hear and forget about me."

Shaking his head as though telling the man he would have never done such a thing, Joshua continued. "The police came over. I remember they had a camera. They told me I wouldn't have to say anything about what we did in front of you and strangers in a courtroom. We could film it and that was good enough.

"I was scared, John. I didn't want you to be hurt. I knew how I felt inside about us, but the police, my parents even, later on, my grandparents kept telling me it was the right thing to do. I kept saying no. I remember the police telling my parents that it would be difficult to lock you up as long as they wanted to without my testimony.

"That's when my Dad started beating me, telling me I had to testify. My mother kept telling my Dad to stop, and even my brother Donnie was yelling at my Dad to quit hurting me. Donnie kept hugging me after every beating crying with me saying, 'I'm sorry, I'm sorry,' but I never said anything, John, I never did–I loved you."

The man grabbed the boy and hugged him as the lad shook with tears. "I know you did, Joshua. I know."

After a few moments, the boy stepped back, his tear-streaked face evident as he asked, "What about you?"

"Well, I guess my initial feelings were both scared and confused. I had no idea what my future was going to be and, at that time, wondering what went wrong, thinking you had turned against me. It wasn't until later that my lawyer told me the prosecutors were having trouble getting you to say what happened between us and that the case they wanted to use against me was getting weaker.

"Although I was happy with the news, I had no idea what had happened or what you were going through. It was your email that confirmed the beatings I had first heard about. In the beginning, I thought it was some rumor. I did feel hope knowing you weren't going to testify against me, but at the time didn't know what my future held.

"Some friends I had, the ones who later took care of Princess, told me weeks later that they had heard your father was beating you to testify against me. Donnie had come to their home for a visit and revealed that he told your parents, after first promising you to keep what you told him a secret. I guess that's when I got my first feelings of how strong a bond you and I had developed, and that you loved me even with the hell you were enduring.

"The prosecutors thought they still had enough evidence to send me to prison for 15 years, even longer once they got you to testify. I didn't know how long you would hold out. So when a plea agreement of three years was offered, I accepted it hoping it would end whatever you were going through."

"My Mom told me about it. Dad didn't like it, but at least felt like you were getting some kind of punishment. He hardly ever spoke to me afterward. I started talking to my Mom about how I felt. She didn't get upset but thought I was too young to understand my feelings, especially about sex. One time, my dad overheard me, saying that I loved you and got furious. He screamed at Mom and me saying he wouldn't live in the same house with a faggot kid. He walked out, and later my parents divorced."

"That was the last piece of news I got about your parents while I was in prison."

"What was it like being in prison? Did you hate me for what got you there?"

"To be honest, Joshua, I don't remember much of my early feelings. I recall being scared in the beginning after hearing and reading of things that go on inside a prison, but I stayed to myself, kept busy as much as possible, and just counted the days until my freedom–I never hated you.

"I loved you more as I realized what price you had paid. There were times I felt guilty thinking that a dirty old man like me took advantage of you, that it couldn't be love I thought I had, but the use of your young body.

"Later, you said you loved me, and even though you were 9-years-old, it meant a lot to me. As the weeks and months passed, there wasn't a day I didn't think of you, wondering how you were doing. I tried to picture you as you reached your 10th, 11th, and 12th birthdays. I told myself I would see you again if, for nothing else, to thank you for what you did. As you know, the opportunity never came."

"But we're together now, aren't we? Isn't that what counts?"

Giving the boy another hug, John agreed. "Yes, we're together again. We went through two very different paths four years ago, yet somehow they met again, and here we are."

The man looked at the boy's eyes and spoke a little more earnestly. "Although I'm very happy to have you here and for the chance to make up the past four years, you have to understand that Mike, Chris, and Matt are my family. I love you as much as them, but if I have to choose…"

Joshua nodded his head. "I know. I won't try to take their place. I just want you and me to spend as much time together as we can, and I want to treat the others as my brothers."

Chapter 34
The Humming Cave

A moment later, they arrived at the glass bedroom as the sun bid its final goodbye for the day. Joshua asked about how electricity and water were supplied.

"Well, as you know, there's a desalinization plant at the end of the shore on the other side of the island as well as solar panels to collect electricity. The original owner laid a pipe for water and a conduit for electrical power from there to here."

"That's a long way."

"Yes, a lot of work and money went to building this place."

"It's so beautiful. Why did he sell it?"

"No one knows for sure. One day he decided he didn't want to live here anymore. I came along at the right time to buy this place. I had been searching for weeks, but never seem to find what I wanted."

"You were lucky this place was for sale."

John nodded his head, recalling the words of Troy that the previous owner kept hearing strange noises. Although since he arrived here a year ago, he never detected anything out of the ordinary.

Climbing the steps they entered. A couple of small lamps were turned on, just bright enough to illuminate the inside, but not glaring to mar the enjoyment through the windows of the sky above. Both sat on the bed, not saying a word, each with his thoughts of how events that had first separated them had now reunited them together again.

Joshua, deep in thought, was startled when he felt John's fingers unbuttoning his shirt and slipping it off, revealing his bare chest. The man sighed as he saw the hairless armpits, the two beautiful light brown nipples, the smooth chest and abdomen to his navel, a couple of inches above the waistline of his cutoffs. John gently pushed the boy back on the bed as he continued to gaze at the teen flesh. He looked down and saw that without being touched yet, the lad's cock was poking more and more into the fabric of the cloth.

Seeing a contented smile on the boy, the man began using his fingers to lightly touch various areas of the upper body, teasing the small nipples, watching the points react as they hardened. With one hand rubbing his stomach area, he lowered his head and began to delicately suck on each hardpoint resulting in a soft moan from the boy. John recalled that even four years ago, when he first used his lips on the then 9-year-old, Joshua reacted the same when his tiny nipples were licked. The 13-year-old's hands wrapped themselves over the man's head as though telling him never to stop, to continue to take as much of his boy nips into his mouth as possible. At the same time, he wanted to reach down and remove his pants, freeing the stiff boycock within.

After several moments, John ceased the attention on the nipples as he saw how his sucking had raised the area to a slight puffing, like a young girl when her breasts make their first appearance. Satisfied with his results, he reached down and began to undo the belt and button of the pants, getting a large smile from the boy looking to be naked and at the pleasure of the man he loved. In a moment, he felt the slight ocean breeze coming through an open window wash across his nude form. He shivered, not from cold, but from the excitement of what was to come, his hard cock reflecting the anticipation of being connected with John as one.

Like earlier, when he woke up with Joshua in bed with him, John repeated the tender touching of the young cock and hanging balls, relishing in the soft flesh, almost feeling a pounding through the hard rod as it reacted to being fondled and stroked. He thought back when several times a week, he would play with a then 2" [5cm] cock and sack. It was during those moments that he would recall the times spent with his brother when he was 8-years-old. Back then, his knowledge of sex was extremely limited. He just knew that playing with his brother's genitals made his cock very hard and even leaked some sticky stuff that felt good. With 9-year-old Joshua, his experiences with Roberto helped him to enjoy a prepubescence boy more and to know what to do so that in the end, both could have their versions of an orgasm.

Joshua was expecting the next step to feeling the man's lips wrap around his teen shaft and begin the fantastic suction he enjoyed earlier this morning. But instead, John turned the boy over onto his stomach, exposing his back and ass cheeks and his very virgin anal canal. He shivered to wonder how it was going to feel as the man's hard cock slowly stretched him as he was penetrated for the first time.

At the hot springs, the three boys had told him that it would hurt some the first time, but felt it could have been worse had not John been as gentle as he was. They told him that once he was inside and the pain eased, pleasure would take over and his ass would love being filled and pounded by the man's cock. They encouraged him by saying to wait until he feels the squirting inside his butt as John reached his orgasm and shoots a big load of cum. So, he rested his head on his folded arms and waited for the occurrence of losing his cherry.

Grabbing a couple of towels from the bathroom, John placed them under the boy's hips raising his ass several inches. He then massaged the two half-moons of the lily-white buttocks. "Needs tanning," the man thought to himself. He slowly spread the cheeks apart, feasting his eyes on the gateway to paradise. Like before, with the other boys being deflowered, the opening looked so small that one would wonder how a finger could squeeze past, much less a man's cock. But he knew with patience and gentleness, he would fulfill another fantasy and make this boy his latest conquest. Since their reunion at the hotel, John's sperm had just been squirted in the cavity between the cheeks, making him wonder if any ever seeped inside. In a few moments, there would be no doubt.

Bending down so that his head was next to Joshua, he asked, "Are you ready?" getting a vigorous nod of the head. "Okay, I'm going to loosen you up for the next half hour with my fingers, starting with one finger. Then I will go into you. If at any time you want to stop, or it hurts too much, you tell me, and I will."

Joshua looked at his friend that he loved very much and smiled at him. Years of reading stories and seeing pictures of boys' asses being stretched by a man's cock had now arrived at the moment of truth. He had guessed that John hadn't tried using a finger deep in him before due to his age and surmised that the man wanted to pierce his tight opening. Now he was ready to fulfill the desire to couple with him. He wanted John to enjoy it and be available whenever John lusted for his ass.

After rubbing a finger across the crease of the boy's ass, he gently touched the crinkled opening, feeling it twitch to his touch. Just like all the boys he's had the pleasure of cherry popping, it seemed impossible that it could be done, but he knew it would happen. If all boys could experience losing their virginity in a gentle, loving manner, John believed that the memory of that first time would be one treasured forever. Even more so, the desire to be fucked again and again by his male lover would always linger. Spreading some lube on one finger, he placed in at the opening and gently started to push, telling Joshua to relax as it would go in easier.

Joshua had felt John's finger several times inside him in the past. He had pushed it into only his first knuckle, enough to make the anal ring react to its intruder. Tonight, after a couple of minutes, he felt the finger push in deeper, going into territory never explored before. Soon, John's middle finger was entirely inside the virgin ass. Joshua felt the finger wiggle inside as it seemed to explore this new territory. There was no pain but just a weird feeling of something inside him.

After a few minutes, John removed his finger and the boy next felt two fingers slowly push their way into the anal tunnel. This time there was a little pain, but nothing serious. It receded after a while as the boy's ass stretched to a new width it hadn't done before. When asked by John if he was okay, the teen nodded his head. The two fingers were removed, and then three tried to force their way inside.

This time there was a deep groan of pain as his ass muscle was stretched like never before. Joshua was afraid that like a rubber band, it would snap, and he would be in severe medical difficulty. Yet somehow, after slowly working a little bit at a time, he felt amazed when all three fingers of a grown man were inside. The pain was there, but he felt he could handle it. He wasn't going to quit now. He had waited four years for this moment.

John watched the boy carefully. As much as he wanted to get inside Joshua, at the same time, he was watching for any reaction that would say this wasn't the right time. He told the boy he had prepped his opening and that it was pretty wide open. The boy nodded his head feeling the cool air hit his ass and even going inside.

"Just like with the fingers, I'll start slow to help you get over the pain and get used to a man's cock inside you. Don't hesitate to say stop. We can wait a week and try again. We're not on any schedule."

Joshua turned his head at looked at the adult, "You're getting my cherry tonight."

John smiled and lubed his 6-inch [15cm] manhood. Placing it at the opening, he slowly pushed in the first inch, causing the anal ring to once again stretch. Joshua winced with the pain and said nothing as John stopped to give the teen a chance to get used to being fucked.

Joshua knew he had to take it. There was no thought of quitting.

John positioned his head at the opening. Four years ago, he began his fantasies, wondering what it would be like to fuck a virgin boy. Although he fucked Roberto many times, the boy was a veteran of man/boy sex. John knew Joshua was too young, and he was more concerned about hurting the boy. He thought that if the two continued meeting over the years, that by the time Joshua was 12, it would be time to pop the boy's ass cherry.

Of course, events have a way of derailing dreams and fantasies. Thankfully, in this case, it had only postponed it one year to Joshua's 13th birthday. It was even more amazing when considering just a couple of weeks ago; there wasn't even the inkling of the two being together again, much less at this moment in time as the man pushed his cock head, feeling the ring stretch as it never had before.

Pain! Although he knew the visitor was going to be larger than fingers, he grits his teeth as his ass stretched. John kept asking him if he wanted to stop, but he insisted he continue, but go slowly and let him get used to it. He felt the pressure and wondered if he could accommodate the man's cock. Yet the other three boys had described similar feelings and were able to feel him fully inside. So if they could do it, he knew he could. If only his ass would stop stretching! Finally, he felt the pop, as the head was inside and the man stopped. Joshua's sweat poured off his forehead as he got used to the initial intrusion. As foretold to him by the boys, the pain eased and he indicated he was ready for more. Inch by inch, he felt skewered as his ass canal reluctantly accepted the invader. He wondered how deep within his bowels the cock would go when he felt the man's balls make contact with his ass.

"You did it, Joshua! I'm fully inside you. Your cherry has been popped!"

The teen was awakening to the new sensations his ass was delivering. It was difficult to describe. His ass was being stretched as it never had before, yet he found it exhilarating to feel conquered, helpless, his body in possession of someone else. What would it feel like with real flesh and blood cock nailing him to the bed, impaling him, sending a stream of man cum into his bowels, branding him as men would brand cattle, making him the property of his owner?

Joshua took deep breaths as he laid there motionless, his ass fully stuffed by a man's cock. The pain was rapidly disappearing and a new sensation was replacing it. He was one with his friend, his male lover. The two had gone through so much because of their love, and it was finally culminating in the only way possible–the joining of two bodies in love and sex.

John then told him he was going to fuck him. He nodded his head as he felt the cock slowly pull back until only the head was inside and then pushed slowly back, stretching him once more. This time there was less pain, a little discomfort, just a feeling of bliss as though having the man's cock inside him took away all the troubles of the world. He felt the pace quicken as he knew the man was reaching his point of no return. He felt his cock sliding back and forth on the towel underneath as each push inside him caused his balls to begin the preparation for their release.

For John, another conquest was about to be achieved. This one was special, four years in the making, considering how impossible this seemed just a short while ago. He wondered what Joshua's mother would think if she knew that at this moment, her son's virginity had vanished and his young ass was about to receive its first deposit of man cum. Well, no matter. Joshua had wanted this for a very long time and was handling it well. Hopefully, like with Mike, Chris, and Matt, he too would look forward to a regular fucking by him. He felt his balls tighten up as John pounded harder. The tight, warm walls gripped his manhood as though begging him to release his load. The next act surprised him as he felt Joshua's body twitch and a moaning escaped from his lips. He then realized that the teen was about to have his orgasm.

Joshua couldn't hold back as each pounding of the man's cock deep inside him caused his four-inch [10cm] cock to rub on the towel underneath. He finally gave in and, with a moan, released his young boy sperm feeling his ass tighten around John's cock. A moment later, he felt as though he was being pushed through the mattress as the man gave one final shove, and Joshua felt the shots of cum hitting inside the walls. He thought it would never end, as he felt more and more of the liquid filling him. As the man's cock withdrew, he knew his ass was wide open as he not only felt the breeze hitting the large entrance, but also the dripping of jizz from inside. The white fluid contrasting against the raw redness of the anal opening was a very erotic sight. Both the man and boy turned to face each other.

John smiled as he saw the wetness surrounding the boy's cock and on the towel. He moved the towel away and hugged the boy. "Are you okay?"

"I wondered for a long time how it would feel. My ass is sore, but not any worse pain. It does feel all wet inside."

"Yes, you squeezed a lot out of my balls. It was a fantastic feeling."

"Does my ass feel the same as when you're doing it with the others?"

The man thought for a moment. "I would say yes if you're talking about the sensations, but what makes it special is the boy you're doing it with. That's what I think of. If I fuck Mike, I think how Mike's ass is feeling on my cock; the same with Chris and Matt. That's where the love comes in. Otherwise, it's just sex, the desire to get off.

"With love, you feel you're leaving a part of you inside them, a sort of thank you for the pleasures and love they have for you by sharing their most private opening. In return, each boy tries to show their love by making it as enjoyable as they can." Joshua slowly nodded his head, his eyes showing signs of getting tired.

"Come on, let's take a quick shower and get to sleep," as he helped the 13-year-old up and to the bathroom.

The water woke the teen up, and if he needed further stimulation for staying awake, it was when he felt John's lips wrap around his boy cock and suck it into another release of his young sperm, every drop swallowed by his friend. Dried, both headed to the bed. Joshua wanted to lie in front of John so the man's cock would be poking at his ass. The man wrapped an arm over the boy, and soon the soft sounds of two sleeping souls were heard.

***

"Hey, sleepy heads, wake up!" came the voice of Chris as he stood at the foot of the bed, observing the two naked bodies.

Looking at the nude form of Joshua, he tried to visualize the boy's ass stretched wide as John's cock made its first entrance. Recalling his loss of virginity, he could pretty well imagine how the first few moments felt as a man's cock slides inside and leaves its first deposit of cum, the evidence of being a part of a special connection between man and boy. Now that Joshua had experienced anal sex, he looked forward to fucking the boy himself and feeling the newest member's young cock inside him. He saw the two stirring awake and looking at him with a smile.

"Morning, Chris," John spoke first. "You're already up and around."

"Mike, Matt, and I want to show you something we discovered yesterday after you two left for here."

"What is it?"

"A funny noise is coming from one of the caves."

"What do you mean 'funny noise'?"

"It's hard to describe. That's why we want you to hear it."

"Okay, Chris. We'll check it out today."

Chris looked at Joshua and asked him how it felt losing his cherry.

The boy smiled at his friend. "It did hurt to start, just like you guys said it would. My butt is still a little sore, but when John was totally inside me, a new feeling took over and I didn't even think of the pain. It's like I wanted him to stretch my ass even more, go even deeper. When he did cum, it was like nothing you can describe, feeling the sticky stuff inside being spread around and then dripping out of my ass when John's cock was out."

"It felt the same with me," Chris acknowledged.

John sat up on the bed and grabbed the hand of each boy. "And it was a wonderful feeling for me too. It's not all about taking your cherries. Sure, that first time seems more like a conquest for a man, to be the first, but it's also to open the door to more feelings for both man and boy in the days, weeks, and months to come.

"It's the final step of trust, especially for the boy. He knew that it is the last sacred part of him he had yet to offer. He knows the possibility of pain exists. Yet he wants to show how much he loves and trusts the person to whom he is giving up that last doorway. I'll admit I'm a selfish man. When I cum in your ass, I feel as though you now belong to me. No matter who else, man or boy, fucks you from now on, you belong to me. I hope that doesn't upset you."

Chris reached around and hugged the man. "And we," looking at Joshua, "all four of us belong to you," getting a nod from the newest family member.

"Thanks, both of you."

With a wicked smile, Chris started removing his shirt and cutoffs. "You need to put another load inside me now so that you own me even more," as in a moment, he was naked. Joshua looked at his friend, recalling two nights ago when he showered and then had sex, with Chris relaxing him and making that first evening very enjoyable.

"Do you mind, Joshua?"

"No. Go ahead and fill Chris up," the boy responded, looking at John.

After feeling the man's cock inside him last night, he was curious how it looked as an observer, figuring watching Chris getting fucked would be like seeing how his ass took the man's cock.

Although John woke up semi-hard, seeing Chris strip, desiring to feel him inside, finished the last engorging of blood in his cock and he was more than ready to accommodate the 12-year-old. Getting the naked boy to lie on his back on the edge of the bed, he raised the smooth legs and placed them over his shoulders. Joshua took the tube of KY Jelly, lubing the man's cock and smearing some at the entrance to the boy's chute.

John, aiming his cock at the opening, slowly applied pressure until he felt his manhood slip past the anal ring, gripping his cock in the now-familiar vise-like clamp. A grunt came from Chris as he felt the first penetration, grabbing the sheets on each side with his fists. Getting a nod from the boy, John slowly pushed as his cock was engulfed. In a few moments, the man's balls signaled total entrance as it touched the flesh of Chris.

For Joshua, this was a fascinating vision. He pictured what he saw happening to Chris in the same scenario that occurred with him the evening before. His cock quickly got rock hard. Although he had seen similar forbidden videos of such acts, this was real, right in front of him. He began to realize how his ass had stretched, seeing Chris's ass muscle expand even more as John's rigid cock impaled the lad. It took Joshua much longer to get used to the cock inside him before telling John he could go ahead and fuck him. It was just a moment or two for Chris, and then he told John to go ahead, smiling at the man and telling him to fill him up. He asked Chris if he was feeling any pain.

"Just a little bit when he first started, but each time it's less and less. Now it's a wonderful feeling with him fully inside me. I don't want this to end," as he felt John's cock start its pounding motion in and out.

Chris instinctively grabbed at his cock and started stroking it. Seeing that, Joshua pushed the hand away, laid his head on the boy's belly, grabbed the young cock, and started to suck on it. Chris' toes began to curl as he grabbed the sheets again. "Wow!" was all he could shout, as he was in sexual heaven with a cock in his ass and a mouth on his stiff pole, together bringing him ever higher.

This was a new vision for John, too, seeing Joshua voluntarily suck the cock of the boy he was fucking. He felt his cock get harder with the combination of Chris's ass muscles and the sight of Joshua sucking away. He felt his balls tighten up within its sack and asked himself, 'why do these feelings have to end so soon?'

He wished he could fuck any boy for hours until he dropped over from exhaustion, but the body knew when enough was enough. Joshua's mouth was doing its job as he felt the ass muscles grip even tighter, indicating an orgasm as he observed what seemed to be Joshua swallowing the boy's load. With a mighty shove, he pushed his cock as deep as it would go as he unloaded shot after shot of his man spunk. When he opened his eyes, he saw Joshua licking Chris' cock clean. The man's cock softened and slowly slipped out of the boy's ass, followed by some of the milky cream deposited within its walls.

"Wow!" Chris repeated as his legs were slowly laid back on the bed. "Matt, Mike, and I have done one fucking while the other sucked, but this was so different with 'your' cock in my ass and Joshua sucking me."

"Glad you enjoyed it and I'm also glad Joshua on his own wanted to add to your pleasure. It's what makes the sex even better when one wants to do something without asking to make the other enjoy it more."

Chris wrapped his arms around Joshua. "Thanks. I'm glad you're here. We're going to have a lot of fun together."

"These are going to be the happiest days of my life–I know it!" the teen replied.

Reaching around, Chris felt cum slowly dripping from his ass. Looking at John, he said, "I guess I belong to you even more," then hugging the man.

John smiled. "We belong to each other, all of us. Now I don't know about Joshua, but I'm hungry."

The boy confirmed he was looking forward to breakfast. Chris stated he had already eaten. So John and Chris took a shower while Joshua dressed and removed the soiled sheets to take back to the house to be washed. He found a clean set in a dresser and made up the bed for the next time two or more decide to come here and have some 'fun.' As they departed the glass bedroom, Chris told Joshua and John that he would go ahead and let Mike and Matt know they were coming.

As the 12-year-old disappeared, Joshua looked at John. "It feels weird doing sex with Chris."

"Weird? How?"

"Well, it made me think of that boy in the shower at school. He looks a little like him"

Gazing at the boy and taking a guess, John finished the teen's thoughts. "You fantasized about having sex with him." Joshua nodded his head at the correct assumption. "It was easy to guess that. You mentioned how you fantasized about some of the boys you saw on the Internet. They were the nearest thing to a real boy. Add to that the boy in the shower, being real, and it made your fantasy even sexier."

"Really?"

"Sure. You know I'm a boylover. So any good-looking boy, whether it was you when you visited me, or some boy in a movie, always got me excited with dreams and fantasies. The day the three boys landed on my island, I knew there was something special about them, although I also knew I had never met them before.

"It's funny how I condemn Lam Sin for kidnapping and using boys the way he does; one of my first thoughts when I saw them before I knew who they were, was having sex with them. The right thing would have been to see them safely back to America, but a combination of circumstances allowed me to share my past, be upfront of who I was, and allow them the choice of staying or going. Thankfully, all has worked out well for everyone.

"The boys know that their troubles aren't over and that they are still in danger. They know Lam Sin is looking for them. I've tried to keep them from worrying by shifting their focus on sex and its pleasures. To me, they are just three orphan boys who landed on my island, needing a haven, thus allowing me to fulfill a fantasy of mine, having boys to love and enjoy sex without fear of any authority.

"You saw how Chris has embraced it. Just look at them as three neighborhood friends you've met and have now moved that friendship to sex and love. Like you told me yesterday, treat them as brothers." He got an affirmative nod from Joshua as the house came into view, Princess barking and running up to them.

"When Chris and I showered and then went to bed together, it just felt strange. It was like I was dreaming about that boy at school, yet it felt like he was there with me."

"Fantasies are great, but the one you just told me is better kept to yourself. If you want to describe a sexual dream, make sure it involves one of the other boys," getting a smile from Joshua as the other three boys came down the steps to greet the duo.

"We fixed some breakfast for the two of you. It's on the table," Mike enlightened, getting thanks from John and Joshua. Then Chris was seen whispering to Matt and Mike. The two smiled as everyone went inside. There was a hot meal waiting for pancakes and eggs and both the man and teen expressed appreciation for the extra effort and the timing for everything looked and tasted as though just off the stove.

Matt came over and stood by Joshua. "So now you're an official member of our family," getting a puzzled look from the 13-year-old. "Getting your cherry popped by the same man who popped ours means we all belong together. Now the three of us can't wait to fuck you, and you fuck us."

"Thanks, Matt. Thanks, all of you. I'm glad you feel this way about me. At first, I thought it was a bad idea coming here because John already had the three of you. I guess what's made it easier is that we all love John and love sex too."

Mike then stood by the adult. "I see you couldn't start your day without sliding your cock up a boy's ass," causing John to almost choke on a mouthful of pancakes.

"Hey!" John replied, trying to defend himself. "Chris asked for it, and the four of you should know right now: if any of you show those cute bare asses to me, morning, noon or night, don't be surprised if some very hard man cock makes its home inside you and leaves a receipt."

"Now I know what you mean, Mike," Joshua spoke, getting a look from the 12-year-old. "He is a pervert."

This got laughs from everyone as breakfast was finished and the morning chores started. The boys had devised a schedule that rotated the chores among them. Those cleaning the inside were to be naked, a definite tease to John, who, despite his statement at breakfast, was trying hard not to grab, this time either Mike or Matt and fuck them on the spot. Instead, he went to his computer and read the daily news. Half his mind was on that, the other half, with a raging hard-on, snuck peeks at the two each time they walked by.

As much as he wished he were ten years younger, he knew he couldn't fulfill his desire to have sex with the boys all day long. He had to recharge and it seemed to take longer each time. He knew he had all the time in the world and with the boys satisfying each other, there was still sex a-plenty. When lunch was concluded, John asked about the cave the boys were talking about.

"It's almost in the center of the island on the highest point. We went there to see the sunset after you and Joshua left for the glass bedroom," Mike answered.

"I explored up here," John rebutted. "There are no caves."

"We found this one by accident," Matt put in. We were chasing a lizard and saw it go through a bush and disappear. When we got close, we could see there was a cave behind it and some noise also."

John was a little skeptical about a cave. Maybe it was just a hole in the side of a rock. He has spent his first few months on the island exploring and discovering about half a dozen caves that seem to go down, maybe to the ocean. The hot springs itself was water heated by a volcano far below to its current comfortable temperature. If this was a cave he overlooked, it was probably the same volcano outlet as the others.

Everyone walked along the trail as it crept upward to the island's highest point, about 600 feet at its peak from the shoreline. It wasn't a mountain of any kind but allowed one to view the entire island as well as its solitude surrounded by nothing but water. In the early days of exploration after he settled here, John spent several hours looking out over the vast ocean. He daydreamed, wondering about stories, real or not, of shipwrecked sailors and how they would feel reaching the island's highest peak and seeing nothing but the blue Pacific. Most people wouldn't want to live in such isolation on an island, no matter how beautiful and self-sufficient it was. Maybe in his case, he didn't have much choice, but he was never really alone. He had all the comforts of home and modern communication to get a hold of someone instantly.

"It's over here, John," Matt pointed out. The man could see how easy it would have been to overlook the entrance. A large scrub had obscured or covered the entrance; the boys had pulled part of it away. John stopped and stared. It was a large cave with a ceiling that looked about six feet high. At least, as far as the light reached inside, you could walk without bending over. The other caves on the island were holes in the ground varying from two to four feet in diameter, going to a dead-end not too far inside. John had Troy bring some lumber and the pilot helped him cover the caves, mainly for fear his dog might fall in. He had told the boys about the caves but warned them to be careful, but this one was unusual. He stepped back, cocked an ear, and did faintly hear some noise coming from its depths. The sound didn't resonate up or down but stayed constant like a humming noise.

"It was louder earlier," Matt added.

"It's probably the way the water is rushing underneath or some very deep volcanic activity."

"Is the island going to blow up?" Chris asked.

John smiled at the preteen. "No, Chris. We'd know if there was any danger. I'll admit this is a strange one. Maybe one day, we'll use rope and safety gear and see where it goes. It might be a short cave that ends just a few feet down. In the meantime, push the brush back up against it. I don't want Princess to get curious."

The four boys did just that and soon, one couldn't tell there was a cave unless one stepped close and could hear the strange noise. On the way back to the house, John once again thought of Troy's statements that the previous owner spoke of noises, possibly causing him to put the island up for sale. John shrugged his shoulders. Certainly, the humming from the cave wasn't frightening enough to want to leave this place. It would take a lot more than strange noises to force him to want to abandon this island paradise. The cave was just a curiosity piece.

As the five approached the house, some clouds were forming overhead, possibly indicating rain. Good, John thought. It hasn't rained here in a while. The boys may like it–and did they ever!

As soon as the rain began, all four got naked, ran outside, and jumped around. John took a seat on the covered section of the porch and watched with erotic excitement four beautiful naked boys having fun. It was like his own mini Kalauka Island, seeing all this young flesh before him. Joshua ran up the steps to John, the man trying hard not to reach out and grab the nude boy.

"I guess all of us had always wanted to run naked in the rain. It's like we were all reading each other's minds," the boy said excitedly.

"It's a wonderful sight to see the four of you as one going out there and enjoying yourself."

"Come join us, John," the teen encouraged the man. "You're not afraid of a little rain, are you?"

"Why not?" John stripped and ran down the steps to join the others. Soon, the boys were teasing the man grabbing at their hairless crotches and wiggling their asses at him, daring him to grab any of them, recalling his earlier comments.

Despite his year on this island, the man had never ventured outside in the rain, much less naked. His cock grew hard as he reached out to grab at the boys' also hard young shafts. Of course, the boys were faster than him and soon, John threw his arms up in defeat.

"All right, you win. Let's get inside."

Five dripping bodies entered the house and went for towels to dry themselves off. Matt asked Joshua to join him in the shower before dinner, which the 13-year-old eagerly accepted, looking forward to his first one-on-one with the 12-year-old. The other two boys used the shower in John's bedroom. In less than 30 minutes, four partially dressed boys were in the kitchen, opening up some cans of stew to prepare a quick meal. As John returned to the living room from his shower, Joshua came and sat by him on the sofa.

"I'm a little scared," the boy said, looking at his adult friend.

"Why?" a little alarm in his voice, thinking something had gone wrong.

"I'm afraid I'm going to wake up, and this was all a dream that I'm back home still trying to find you."

The man smiled at the blond-headed boy. "How does your butt feel from last night?"

"It's a little sore, but it's OK."

"Well, as far as I know, you don't have sore butts in a dream," getting a smile from Joshua. "This is real. You're here, we together, and you have three other wonderful friends to share in all your dreams and fantasies."

Joshua hugged John. It had been a long four years, but John was right. He was here living even a better dream than he ever thought possible.

After the meal, John was surprised to receive a request from Chris that all five of them watch a movie. For the first time, everyone sat around the television set while a DVD popped into a player. It was the latest Star Wars movie none of the boys had yet to see. Mike mentioned that no DVDs were at the ranch, so they watched whatever the outdoor TV antenna could pick up.

The movie was soon over, and the boys paired up for the night, Joshua and Matt together, Mike and Chris sharing the same bed.

"Do you want one of us to sleep with you?" Mike asked John.

"I'll be fine. I look forward to having the bed all to myself."

So lights were turned off, and another day ended. The sound of the gentle rain still coming down was all that was heard as five happy individuals fell asleep.

***

Mr. Yang looked closely at the large map of the Pacific Ocean. He was trying to come up with some plausible theory that would satisfy his master. After the meeting yesterday, he knew his life hung by a thread if he didn't produce.

He thought back to three years ago when he was hired to replace Lam Sin's previous lawyer. Rumors had abounded how the earlier attorney didn't satisfy the man and had disappeared, never to be heard from again. Mr. Yang fleetingly thought of leaving and going into hiding, but he knew that sooner or later, just like the Sea Queen captain and first mate eventually will, he would be found. And he knew the pleasures Wo Fat got from torturing his victims.

At this point, he was grabbing at straws, not having any concrete answers to what happened at SP1, the missing American boys, and if there was any connection. So he decided to make up an association somehow. His ethical feelings were taking second place to save his life. Using the information he knew about the Sea Queen and its deviation from course, Mr. Yang took a magnifying glass and looked at the area surrounding where the freighter could have dropped the boys. Of course, there was no way to know exactly where and when that happened, but details were not important right now. His eyes settled on a speck of an island. Looking through some documents he had, he read that the island had been sold about a year ago to an American millionaire.

Perfect! Where would three missing American boys be safer than with another American? Of course, there was no proof whatsoever. It was just speculation. This information would keep Lam Sin off his back while he searched for the actual location of the boys the Oriental had purchased. He started forming in his head a scenario that somehow connected the boys to this island to present to Lam Sin. Looking back at his documents, he saw that the new owner had renamed the island. On a paper tablet, he wrote, 'Paradise Island.'

Chapter 35
Getting Squeezed Right and Left

The men settled into chairs in the conference room of the Barstow Police Department. Four men were inside the closed room, including the Chief of Police, Captain Hardwick, and Lieutenant Joseph Longner. The third man was the FBI agent, Agent Slade, who worked with the Barstow authorities investigating the explosion at the ranch and its former occupants' disappearance. The fourth man was unknown to the Captain and Lieutenant. It was the FBI agent who spoke first.

"Chief, I want to start this meeting by thanking you and your men for their cooperation in regards to our inquiries into the circumstances surrounding what occurred in your jurisdiction four weeks ago," getting a slight nod from the chief.

"Because of the unusual nature of this investigation, my superiors have asked Homeland Security to get involved. Gentlemen, I wish to introduce you to Mr. Peter Ashton."

Before the new man could speak, the police chief spoke up. "Homeland Security? It was my understanding that this was in no way connected with any terrorist threat. Why are you involved?" directing his question to Peter Ashton.

"I mentioned to you sir that Homeland Security wanted to get involved," the Lieutenant reminded his superior.

"Chief, you are right. We are not investigating this as an act of a terrorist. Nor is it my intention to interfere with your department. As you do, I believe that this was some well-financed, well-planned act to kidnap the three boys who were living on that ranch. The concerns we have are the materials involved in that explosion, something not easily obtainable. Who was responsible and had access? And if this can be done once, can it be done again, possibly against a larger target, a city, military or industrial complex? You may be right that this was some sort of rich sick person wanting these three boys for his sexual pleasures. The fact that he went through such an elaborate scenario makes us question if he could be involved with others whose intentions may not be sexual, but political against this country."

It was the Captain who spoke again. "With all due respect, Mr. Ashton, this sounds like you trying to make a mountain out of a molehill. If this person was in any way connected to any terrorist group, why risk exposure for a simple kidnapping?"

"That is what we're trying to find out. We can't risk overlooking anything–9/11 taught us that."

"All right," the chief injected. "I respect your position and concerns. If we can help in any way, just ask. For us, we're looking for conspirators involved in what is being considered a kidnapping, and the three boys who are now being classified as victims in this case. So far, we have very little to go on."

Peter Ashton looked at the FBI agent, who nodded his head as though approving what was about to be shared. "What I'm about to tell you stays in this room. For the time being, you two are the only ones who will have access to what I'm about to reveal. Is that understood?" getting nods in return.

"Lieutenant Longner, you recall Agent Slade bringing up the name of Lam Sin?" getting a nod of the head. "Captain?" getting a negative response. "He's one of the richest men in the world, supposedly worth over 45 billion dollars."

"I've looked at the Forbes list many times," spoke Lieutenant Longner, referring to the publication that ranks the world's wealthiest individuals. "I've never seen his name."

"That's because he keeps all his wealth spread out under so many aliases and corporations that individually don't make him appear that rich, but combined, his wealth is vast. The CIA has monitored him for many years, but nothing ever came up that suspected him of anything outside his home area of Singapore."

"What's he involved with?" Captain Hardwick asked.

"He owns various shipping companies, real estate as well as control over several large corporations. He's also suspected of drug smuggling, money laundering, and prostitution. As I stated, he keeps it close to home, so the CIA and Homeland Security don't consider him a threat, but we watch him closely."

Taking a deep breath for effect, Mr. Ashton revealed the next aspect of Lam Sin. "It's also suspected he's a pedophile who keeps several boys around for his pleasures."

"Are you suggesting that he's the man with the resources to stage this kidnapping?" the chief asked.

"It's possible," Joe Longner cut in. "I shared my suspicions to you that someone with money had to be involved."

"I didn't suggest anything. I only wanted you, gentlemen, to understand what we may be up against in this investigation," Peter Ashton clarified.

"What about the authorities in Singapore?" coming from the Chief of Police.

"With 45 billion dollars, Lam Sin has just about everyone in his pocket. The CIA sent inquiries and was rebuffed at every turn. Their response is 'Mr. Lam Sin is a respected citizen whose contributions to his country cannot be measured'. Even if we had some proof and requested this man's extradition, it would be a waste of time. He's well protected there."

So how do we connect the kidnapping to him, if that's possible?" wondered the Lieutenant.

"Lam Sin does not have the boys," Ashton pronounced.

The chief gave a hard look to the Homeland Security agent, "and how do you know that?"

Giving a slight smile, the agent responded. "Two days ago, we got a report from our embassy in Hong Kong. Two men asked for asylum. They claimed to be the captain and first mate of the Sea Queen, the freighter that left Long Beach the night of the explosion at the ranch and disappearance of all the individuals who lived there. Three boys were placed in the captain's care for delivery to Lam Sin. He identified them as your three missing victims. He also claims the boys were not onboard his vessel when they reached Singapore."

As the Homeland Security agent enjoyed seeing the puzzled looks of the Barstow officers, he reached into a briefcase and pulled out three folders. All had the same information and were passed to the conference room attendees. Each quickly looked at its contents.

"I don't understand," spoke the police captain. "What does the criminal record of a convicted sex offender have anything to do with the three boys on that freighter?"

"I'll get to that, but first, let's go back to the Sea Queen captain. I told you he stated that although he picked up the boys in Long Beach, they weren't on his ship when it arrived in Singapore. He tried to convince us that although he smuggled contraband for Lam Sin, he never was involved in any kidnapping or slavery, sexual or otherwise, especially involving children. He was aware of Lam Sin's lust for young boys but had heard they were obtained locally or through a network of islands in the Pacific. When he was told that the three boys being delivered to him were for Lam Sin, he claimed he couldn't bear seeing them become the property of someone else. The captain wasn't aware that they were orphans, so he assumed the family was now looking for them. So he and the first mate plotted a way to get the boys off the ship."

"What does that have to do with this?" the chief asked, waving the folder in the air.

"I'm getting to that, sir. Partway to Singapore, the captain decided one evening to deviate from course and steer to an island he had heard was occupied by an American. He figured once the boys were there, the American would alert authorities, and the boys would be sent safely back home. He set off a small explosion on board, giving the crew the notion the ship was on fire. He knew he was betraying his employer, and as the freighter approached Singapore, he and the first mate abandoned ship. They spent three weeks hiding and working their way to Hong Kong and our embassy."

"How did he get the boys off the freighter?" asked the Lieutenant.

"He put them in a lifeboat."

"By themselves?" the chief asked disbelievingly.

"The captain couldn't put a crewman with them. He knew the tide was coming in on that island. So he figured the boys' best chance was in the lifeboat, and hopefully within a few hours would beach at that destination."

"Do we know if they made it?" again the chief.

"We don't have positive proof, but our experts say the odds were excellent that the boys made it."

"So why haven't we gone out and checked?" the captain wanted to know.

"That's where the man in the folder comes in," this time from the FBI agent. Getting a nod from Mr. Ashton, he picked up on the story.

"Four years ago, the man in that folder was arrested for molesting a 9-year-old boy. He plea-bargained for three years, did his time, and was released. Shortly afterward, he won a 100 million dollar lottery."

"Yes, I remember," Joe Longner recalled. "You mean this guy was the winner."

"He was. His past didn't become an issue with everyone wanting to be his new best friend. So shortly afterward, he purchased an island in the Pacific Ocean." The realization of what had been revealed dawned on the Barstow men.

"You mean the island the captain aimed for is the same one owned by this man?"

"Yes, chief, it was. We didn't mention the owner's past to the captain, and he wasn't aware of it. He intended to keep the boys from Lam Sin and safely to an American who could help them."

"My Lord, from one sick pervert to another," the captain commented. "Has anyone attempted to rescue them?"

"We can't. The island is 100% owned. It's not under the jurisdiction of any government. In essence, it is its own private country. Technically we'd be invading a sovereign nation."

"Bullshit!" the Captain retorted. "Has the owner declared himself King or President?"

Ignoring the outburst, the lieutenant asked, "What about a covert operation?"

Both Peter Ashton and the FBI agent shook their heads. It was Mr. Ashton who answered. "This may sound cruel, but we're talking about three orphan boys with no family whatsoever. No one misses them; no one is looking for them. No agency is going to authorize any action to rescue those boys."

"But they are underage boys, and they are Americans! You mean there is nothing we can do?" the chief asked, not believing what he had just heard.

"For the moment, no. There's no positive proof they are on that island. If they are and somehow get a message out asking to be rescued, there might be something considered. Right now, Homeland Security figures Lam Sin is the bigger issue here. So as of this moment, the Barstow Police Department is no longer involved with the search for these three boys."

"Jesus!" It was the Lieutenant summing up everyone's thoughts. "If the boys did land on an island ruled by a convicted sex offender, what horrible things could he be doing to those boys? This time he doesn't have to worry about going to jail. He owns his own god-damn country! Could they be worse off than had they been with Lam Sin? Is he torturing them sexually? Are they being forced to do acts against their will? Could the boys be right at this moment, begging the man to stop what he's doing to them?"

***

"Are you sure about this, Mr. Yang?" the questioner stabbed directly at the Oriental attorney. "You certainly came with up all the pieces very quickly since our last conversation."

"I recognized the urgency of getting answers to you, so I worked on this for nearly 24 hours straight. I know how badly you want those American boys."

"How did you arrive at this conclusion," Lam Sin asked, still skeptical after reading some of the outlines on a document given to him by the attorney, accompanied by a verbal presentation.

"Eliminate the improbable, what's left is the truth," Mr. Yang replied, then seeing the look from the man on the large throne chair, quickly added, "An old Chinese proverb."

"Well, you better hope your old Chinese proverb is true, or Wo Fat will be teaching you new sayings I'm sure you won't find as comforting." He got a quick nod of understanding from the attorney who was trying his best not to shake in fear in front of this man. "Now, one more time, let me see if I understand this. Your analysis of the photos you showed me points to this one island of natives that were involved."

"Yes, Master Sin. Only these people have the savagery to kill your men in their sleep. Their bodies were never found; thus I believe they were unceremoniously dumped at sea, probably because of the local sharks. What little information I could find out on these people is that they are very secretive. No outsider is permitted. Rumors have it that they practice some pagan type of sexual rituals on their children."

"Sounds like my kind of people," the Oriental spoke out loud, wondering what the rituals were and if he could incorporate them to enhance his enjoyment of the boys in his current harem. Mr. Yang ignored the comment. After a moment, Lam Sin asked, "And this American?"

"I'm not exactly sure, but I think after he had possession of the boys, he became aware of your island and wanted to make sure your men somehow did not find out about their location and have it reported to you. The American was, or became, friendly with these natives. What deal he made with them, I can only speculate. You have had a few boys from that area sent to you. So maybe this was a way of exacting revenge for that as well as to keep the boys' location a secret, sort of a temporary mutual alliance."

Lam Sin closed his eyes, digesting the information Mr. Yang presented to him. It wasn't 100% convincing, but by now, he was ready for any clues that would allow him to take the initiative. He wanted those boys! The longer this search dragged on, the less chance he would ever have of getting his hands on them. He had fucked all the young boys brought to him, all anal virgins, but this lust consumed him as he thought of his fat cock plowing into the cherry asses of these white-skinned foreigners. Looking at his attorney, he dismissed him.

"Thank you, Mr. Yang." That was it, nothing else. When the Oriental exited the room, another man was summoned to the presence of Lam Sin.

"How many men are currently there on SP1?"

"There are six at the moment, sir. Once Mr. Yang no longer needed any further information for his investigation, I believe they were getting ready to bring a construction crew in to start rebuilding from the fire."

"Hold that for the moment." The man was given the document outlining what Mr. Yang had put together regarding the fire, the involvement of natives, and the current location of the American boys. "Do you think your men could find this native island?"

"Ulanti. I am confident that they can."

"Have them go there and do whatever is necessary to find out if they took part in the murder of my men. Make sure, involved or not, that the people there know to fear my name." Pausing for a moment, the Oriental added, "And bring a few of the boys back to me." Lam Sin would question them to discover what sexual rituals the natives were practicing on their young boys.

"I will so instruct them, Master Sin. And what about this American on Paradise Island?"

"Have your men report to you what they find out on that native island and present it to me personally. I will then decide on what to do with the American."

"It will be done, Master Sin," as the man bowed and left the throne room to relay the orders to the men on SP1.

Lam Sin leaned back on his throne chair, closed his eyes again, and made a deep sigh. At last, he told himself, he was going to get answers, even if innocent people were hurt. His lips curled into a slight smile. He was feeling confident that very soon, three beautiful boys would be standing naked in front of him.

***

John awoke to feel refreshed. A good night's sleep in his bed did wonders. He twisted around under the covers and saw that none of the boys had joined him after he fell asleep. The previous two mornings had found Joshua. The first was a surprise, but yesterday was fantastic, having taken the boy's cherry the evening before. He sat up, stretched, and went to the bathroom to wash up. He saw that the sun was shining brightly after the rain of last night. Supposedly, the boys were still asleep. Getting dressed, he headed to the kitchen, where he was greeted by his dog.

"Morning Princess." He opened a can of food and laid down some drinking water. It wasn't until he was sitting on the porch eating bacon and eggs that he realized this was the same scenario from four weeks earlier when Mike, Chris, and Matt were discovered having landed on his island in a lifeboat.

He closed his eyes, reliving the events of having three boys become a part of a family and the sexual lifestyle everyone has enjoyed since. There was the trip to Kalauka Island, the rescue of Kauri, and the addition of Joshua. He smiled, thinking that for more than nine months on this island, his solitary life had been interrupted only by the weekly stopovers by Troy. That reminded him the pilot was due here today with the weekly supplies.

The first visit by Aukai revealed that a nearby island contained people who not only believed in being naked every moment they could but also engaged in a sexual lifestyle involving both genders of all ages. He recalled Aukai boldly taking the initiative, removing his sarong, and inviting him to lay on the bed with him and enjoy some man/boy sex. Before that, pictures and stories from the Internet had been John's source of erotic excitement, usually ending in a hand-stroke ejaculation. The feeling of a young boy's body brought back all the urges and desires he so greatly missed.

He associated the 12-year-old with Roberto from long ago who was at the same age as this native boy, Joshua only being nine when he last saw him. Although Aukai was of the same age and built, John quickly learned that unlike Roberto, his ass wasn't available for the man to enjoy. He not yet passed his island's traditional 'Right of Manhood' test classifying him as a man within the Kalaukan village and then available for whomever he desired to allow entry into his deflowered opening.

The 30 days between the first and second visit and second and third were torture. When the day arrived that the boy promised to return, John stood on the shore waiting for the canoe carrying that evening's sexual bliss to come into view. The visits were just overnight, but John made the most of it, and Aukai seemed to enjoy how the man's hands stimulated erotic spots on his young frame. Although anal sex was forbidden, both discovered they could please each other by sucking one another. Aukai was familiar with the taste of man cream, but for John, it was like he had been deprived of his favorite soda drink for six years. He couldn't get enough of the Kalaukan boy's young sperm. He was grateful for Aukai's youth, as the boy seems to recharge so quickly and ready to be drained again by John's mouth and tongue. If either slept, it was the last couple hours when Aukai and his warrior company had to leave.

It was the last visit when Aukai announced that instead of him coming to visit Paradise Island in 30 days hence, John had been invited to be the first outsider to the secret lifestyle of the Kalaukan people. Not only that, but Aukai asked John the honor of giving the native boy the 'Right of Manhood' test. The days following Aukai's last visit seemed to drag. All the man could think of was how it would feel entering a virgin ass for the first time, something he had never done or expected to do. He had fucked Roberto several times during those weekend visits, but men had used the boy for quite a while. John could still recall the pleasures his cock felt and the ultimate explosion inside the Spaniard's still tight hole.

Everything changed dramatically a week before he was scheduled to depart for Kalauka Island with the arrival of the three shipwrecked boys. When the time came to leave for Kalauka Island, he had taken the cherries of the three boys. Two nights ago, he had the pleasure of fucking Joshua.

Joshua's deflowering was special in that he had known him at the earlier age of nine. Having had anal sex with only Roberto so many years before and the 9-year-old's trusting nature to allow John to do anything he wanted, the temptations were strong to enter that very small virgin hole. Yes, he read stories on the Internet of boys as young as five being fucked by men but figured they were just stories. No boy that young could handle a man's cock without excruciating pain and surely some serious damage. At that time, thinking this sexual relationship would last many years, John was content to wait until the boy was twelve before initiating him to anal sex and the boy being hooked into it.

As the sun continued to rise in the sky, the weather was still a little cooler than usual from the previous night's rain. John returned inside to put on some warmer clothing. The four boys were waking up and soon sat at the table to enjoy their bacon and waffles' meals. There was little talk of what sex they had between themselves the evening before. John figured that their nightly rituals were becoming as common as taking a shower each evening unless something unusual or different occurred. Joshua was the only one still savoring these early escapades as he described what happened the evening before with Matt.

"We fucked each other last night," the boy shared the experience. John was still coming to grips with the flowery language change from the 9-year-old he knew that didn't know any four-letter words, to the 13-year-old who spoke like it had been part of his vocabulary for years. "I thought it might hurt some as I was still a little sore from you, but instead, it felt great–and Matt squirted inside me too."

"I'm glad both of you had a good time. That's what our lifestyle here is all about, the love and pleasures we share among ourselves. We're the fortunate ones, along with the Kalaukans, who can enjoy sex the way we want without hiding or fear of being caught and its consequences," getting a nod from Joshua, very cognizant of what can happen when such an intimate relationship is discovered.

Being Saturday, the boys asked if John had any special plans. "Troy will be here around noon, and I noticed that the schoolbooks that arrived last week are still in the box," getting a groan from Mike, Chris, and Matt and a puzzling look from Joshua.

"You mean we have to go to school?" the boy asked. "I'm on summer vacation!"

"Back home, you're on summer vacation; here we have to go to school. Remember one of your Mom's conditions for you to stay with me, that you continue your education."

John explained to Joshua that he and the others were going to be home-schooled on the island. They would be registered with online Internet classes that would take them through the courses they normally would be taking at a public school, yet accredited to receive a valid diploma. Even though the three orphans lads were to receive new identification papers, that didn't negate the need to study.

"Whether you stay here all your life or move on in the world, you need to be prepared as much as possible. We'll set days and times when you can take online classes; I only have one computer at the moment. I'm looking into getting laptops for each of you, so for now, a schedule will have to be drawn up to share access of what you need from the Internet to the private study time with whatever homework you're required to do." John saw a mischievous smirk emanating from Mike.

"All right smart-ass, what's on your mind?"

"Does reading and looking at porn classify as a study topic?" getting the other boys laughing.

Even John couldn't resist and join in, "If you do well on your core subjects, I'll give you extra credit for that course," John replied, still laughing.

"OK, let's get the chores done."

The man went to his computer to check for any email received and read the news. The world economy seemed to be an issue on everyone's minds with the COVID-19 wrecking habit. Stock markets were on a roller coaster ride up and down. Even his stock portfolios being managed by those he hired to oversee his finances fluctuated daily. He had lost thousands of dollars over the past couple of months, but fortunately, the lottery winnings were sufficient as to not cause any great concern. He knew his accountants were doing the best they could to minimize his losses.

"John! John!" came a shout from Matt as he rushed into the living room, giving the man a start. For a brief instance, John thought something had gone wrong with one of the boys.

"What's the matter, Matt? Somebody hurt?"

Catching his breath, Matt answered, "No, but three canoes are heading this way!"

Chapter 36
Unexpected Guests

"What!" The announcement caught John by surprise.

Nodding his head, Matt added. "They're too far away to see who it is. Do you think it's the Kalaukans?"

"I don't know, let's go see," as John grabbed some binoculars and followed Matt. Soon the other three boys joined them as they too had seen the canoes. Several minutes went by as the five stood on the shore, the boys trying to make out who were in the canoes while John focused the binoculars on the objects floating toward them. It only took a moment for the man to smile.

"It's the Kalaukans!"

"They're coming here?" Joshua asked.

"Looks like it. Guess you'll see the Kalaukans sooner than expected."

John continued looking through the binoculars as the three canoes came into better focus. He was impressed and admired the men that paddled those small vessels with strong, steady strokes drawing closer and closer. Knowing how the male population on Kalauka Island kept in good shape, John was sure the same rhythm had been maintained from the moment the canoes were pushed into the water. As the figures became clearer, John saw a young boy in each boat. Aukai was easy to spot, and the two others looked familiar. He handed the binoculars to the other boys so they could see. It was Mike who recognized one of the youths.

"It's Fauiki!" It was the 13-year-old Mike had spent time with after the sex with the Kalaukan chief. For Matt and Chris, the third boy was recognized as one of the participants when all the younger boys were together, sucking each other off.

John noticed Joshua shivering as he looked through the binoculars at the approaching visitors. "Nervous?"

"A little. I just got used to being naked and having sex with Matt, Chris, and Mike. Now, there're three more. What do they expect me to do?"

"Nothing," John answered. "They treat sex as we do, whatever you feel like doing. If this is too much too soon, don't participate. I'll explain you're new here and just not ready yet to have any sex with them."

"If I don't, they'll think of me as a wimp!"

Putting an arm over Joshua's shoulders, the man tried to soothe the boy's nervousness. "No, they won't. They will understand. They will make you feel real comfortable quickly. Ask the others how quickly they adapted and the fun they had," getting a nod from the other three.

"We'll look after you," Mike began, getting a weak smile from Joshua in return.

Soon, binoculars weren't needed as the canoes were ending their journey. Paradise Island's five members waited on the shore's edge as the canoes made contact with the sand. Also accompanying the three boys were Tangaroa and Takatu.

Aukai was the first to jump out of his canoe as he ran and hugged John. "It's good to see you again."

"Same here. What a surprise! What brings you here today?"

It was Tangaroa who explained as he approached John and gave a slight bow. "It is good to see you again, Matareka." Takatu also approached and gave the same slight bow. Joshua gave John a strange look when the man's Kalaukan name was spoken. He raised his hand before the boy could speak as though saying, "I'll explain later."

"I am honored by this visit. If I had known, I would have prepared a better welcome."

"It is not needed. We came to drop these three off to stay a few days with you," getting a quizzical look from John.

Turning to Aukai and giving him a stern look, it was Takatu who explained, "This pesky son of the chief wanted to come and see you, even though you were on our island just a week ago," getting a smile from John and a sheepish grin from Aukai.

Continuing, Takatu added, "Chief Haoa relented, but made conditions. Two other boys from our village had to accompany him. Fauiki and Maru were selected. The boys understand that they are guests here as long as you desire their company. Chief Haoa hopes when it's time to return them, you and your boys will come and spent a few days among our people."

It took a few seconds to absorb all this, but John quickly responded. "It's an honor to have the boys here. They are certainly welcomed to stay, even the pesky son of the chief," getting a dirty look from Aukai. "How about three days, and all of us will come to your island on Monday?"

"That will be fine. We will look forward to your visit Matareka," as Takatu turned toward the canoes.

"Wait! Won't you at least stay a short while and rest before returning home?"

"Thank you for your invitation, but Chief Haoa expects us to return as quickly as possible."

Soon, Takatu, Tangaroa, and the other warriors were in their canoes, ready to push off the shore. Turning to John once more, Takatu spoke. "Chief Haoa has given you permission to make his son swim home if he becomes too much of a bother."

"Takatu!" Aukai replied in anger, as John laughed at the comment and the boy's reaction. A few moments later, several men resumed their strong strokes as the canoes moved away from Paradise Island.

Turning to the remaining Kalaukan boys who had accompanied Aukai, John greeted them. "Welcome, Fauiki, and Maru. I hope you enjoy your visit here."

"Thank you, Matareka," the older boy replied.

"Let's get one thing straight," John said with a smile. "On your island, I'm Matareka. On my island, I'm John."

"Okay, John," Fauiki replied with his smile and Maru nodding his head in understanding.

Turning to Aukai, John made an observation, "I see you brought the cute one." If looks could kill, John would have dropped dead on the spot. Grabbing Aukai and hugging him, he laughed. "No jealousy here. We're all going to have fun for the next three days."

"Father chose who was to come along. It was a condition for me coming to visit you." It was then that Aukai spotted Joshua and then looked at John.

The man motioned for Joshua to come closer. "Joshua, this is Aukai and his friends, Fauiki and Maru. Joshua arrived here a few days ago, and he's staying for an extended visit. I've told him a lot about all of you and your people. If he seems a little in shock, it's because he wasn't expecting to meet you so soon."

Aukai approached the boy and kissed the boy on his cheek, the traditional first-time greeting. Joshua wasn't sure what to do, so he just muttered, "Hi Aukai."

"All right. We're all heading for the house." Looking at Aukai's companions, John spoke, "We're going to be inside. I loved what we did on your island, but now you're going to see my home and enjoy the fun with us in here," getting a nod from the two Kalaukan first time visitors.

As everyone began the walk, John asked Aukai, "How is Kauri doing now that he's back home?"

Aukai looked at John with saddened eyes. "His wounds are healing, but now he keeps telling me he will never be a man?"

"Why?"

"When I last saw him before he was kidnapped, he knew how excited I was about the upcoming 'Right of Manhood' test. This was before I asked you to do it. Although he was two years away from going through the ceremony himself, he looked forward to being called a man like our father one day and me. What happened to him on that island makes him think he can never take the test, for he is no longer pure."

John understood what was being said. He figured the 10-year-old had been raped several times during his ordeal. In the boy's mind, his anal cherry had been taken and made him ineligible to become a man in the Kalaukan tradition. "Hopefully, he will understand that what happened to him wasn't his fault. In the eyes of his village, he is still pure and can one day become a man."

"My father thinks the same way. Kauri's test is two years away. My father hopes the nightmare Kauri went through will be a distant memory, and he'll feel different when it comes to his time to become a man."

"Your father is right. I also believe that in two years, he will have two sons who have become men." As they continued walking toward the house, John shared recalling the boy's first visit. "I was wondering, how did you know I would enjoy having sex with you?"

"I didn't. Like I told you, you were seen walking along your shore naked a lot of times, so I took a chance that you might like being naked with me and maybe more. If you had said no or got upset, I would have left and never bothered you again."

John then asked about the boy's father.

"He is fine. He and my mother have been spending a lot of time with Kauri. Only yesterday did Kauri come out of the hut for the first time. Everyone is trying to help him forget what happened."

Soon, everyone climbed the steps that led to the porch and then inside the house. The new Kalaukan boys were fascinated being indoors in such a dwelling, as the buildings on the eastern side of their island were simple structures. John allowed his four boys to show them around. Later, they asked if they could show them the rest of the island. The man thought that was a good idea, leaving him alone to gather his thoughts.

He sat on his recliner in the living room, shaking his head. Seven boys on his island! How were the next three days going to be? He looked forward to enjoying the sexual pleasures of the four boys who lived with him, thinking that would exhaust him enough, but now there were three good-looking youths from Kalauka Island to add to the mix. "Lord, give me strength."

Although he had a loathing for Lam Sin, he couldn't help but think of the man and his stable of boys kidnapped and sexually abused, never given a chance to enjoy sex as it was mean to be. Yet, on Paradise Island, here were seven beautiful lads ready to participate in a loving exchange of sexual delights. In a way, John felt he had a better group of willing boys than Lam Sin could ever assemble.

He knew Troy would be here soon with the weekly supplies, but would they last for three days? Of course, he was supposed to return his visitors Monday and possibly stay for a visit, so he guessed it would balance out. For lunch today, the native boys would be introduced to sandwiches.

It was getting into early afternoon when the group returned, chatting away as though they had been lifelong friends. Even Joshua was smiling. John wondered what was going through the 13-year-old's mind. A week ago, he was in California awaiting John's arrival hoping the man would take him to wherever he lived, never expecting it to be on an island in the Pacific Ocean and living a sexual lifestyle, including nudity, with three other boys. Now he was among boys from another island who also embraced sex as eagerly as he did.

Aukai came up to John and said, "You have a beautiful island. I knew it was so when I first saw it a few months ago. I'm glad I got to see more of it."

"Thank you, Aukai. I've grown to love this place very much. My boys have made it even more so," getting an understanding grin from the native boy. "But seeing you and the others here is a real surprise."

"Father didn't want me to come. He said you needed to rest after helping him rescue Kauri. He said you'd done enough for a while, including giving me the 'Right of Manhood' test."

Looking at the 12-year-old, John spoke softly, "It is I who owe your Father a lot. He took a risk allowing me to come and visit, the first outsider to do so, and it should have been his honor to give you the test, yet he allowed me to do it. He's made me a member of the Kalaukan family with a Kalaukan name. He's shared you with me without any reservations, including today. I like you very much, Aukai, but I don't want to come between you and your Father for any reason."

Aukai gave the man a large smile. "I see there's a lot you don't know," getting a puzzled look from his adult friend. "As chief, many of the older boys want to spend time with him. It's considered an honor for a boy to spend a night with him feeling his cock inside them. Although most of us who take the test usually have it done by their fathers, many have asked my father, as chief, to give it."

"I guess I could understand that. Being the chief does have its privileges, but I thought the one boy he would want to initiate into becoming a young man would be his son."

"I was ready for him too, but when I asked him about you giving me the test as part of your first visit, he thought it was a good idea. Yesterday he told me he would give it to Kauri when he was ready. He said it would be easier for my brother."

John nodded his head. "Your father is a wise man. After what your brother went through, it's going to be tough enough. Having a family member involved will make it a little easier." Changing the subject, John asked about Fauiki and Maru.

"When I finally got my father's permission to come to see you, he said I had to take two others with me, that it wasn't fair I should have all the pleasure of visiting you. Fauiki wanted to see Mike. And I wanted to bring my best friend, Maru."

"Your best friend!"

Aukai started laughing. "I was acting jealous when you said that Maru was cute. He is cute, though. Some of the older girls have tried to get him to bed with them, but he said he's not ready for girls."

Shaking his head, John could only admire how Aukai acted when he mentioned his 'best' friend's appealing features. "I should punish you by pounding your little ass as hard as I can."

"I hope so," giving a cheeky grin.

"I give up."

"Maru hopes you will spend time with him."

"I look forward to it," wondering how he was going to squeeze so much sex in three days.

As it got closer to the moment Troy was due to arrive, John pulled Mike away from the group and spoke to him. "Troy is due here any minute. Take everyone to the hot springs and stay at least an hour before you come back.

"An hour?"

"Yes, I have to go over with him what I found in the briefcase I got from Lam Sin's island. I'll tell him you're hiking."

Mike then understood. "Okay," he said with a smile. "We'll think of something fun for everyone."

Fifteen minutes later, John heard and then saw the approaching helicopter. He instantly recalled the previous trip when Troy had brought him and Joshua home and the icy reception he had received from the three original boys. Thankfully, and quickly, there was understanding, and after just a few days, the four boys were acting like age-old friends doing everything together. Sex has a wonderful way of bridging any number of emotional gaps between people. The vehicle set down, and John greeted the pilot.

"Hi Troy, good to see you again."

"Same here, John. How are all the boys getting along?"

"Thankfully, all ended up working well. I guess boys find things in common with one another and that helps bond friendships. They told me to tell you hello as they went to the hot springs."

Troy started handing the supplies to John as it was loaded in the cart. When it was time for the pilot to depart, John asked, "Do you have a few moments, Troy? I want to talk to you about what I found during that rescue mission."

"Sure, I almost forgot," as both headed away from the helipad. Reaching the house, John unloaded the cart and placed everything away. A few moments later, both were in the living room. John prepared some coffee and handed Troy a cup. He brought out the briefcase and opened it. He then allowed Troy to read the printed copies of the email exchanges. He was silent as he flipped through each page. The laptop was opened, and the email copies with the picture attachments were shown. John thought he saw his friend's face tighten when the pictures of the kidnapped boys were viewed. He wondered if this was bringing back memories of what he had endured as an 11-year-old with Lam Sin as he awaited his father to come and get him.

"Troy, I'm sorry. I'm being insensitive. I should have known seeing this would bring back painful memories."

"It's all right, John. It was bad, but I didn't have to spend any time on one of these islands being 'prepared' before going to Singapore. Lam Sin came directly himself to get me. Probably the only time I know of when he left his home, and I did get back safely to my father. The others…" as Troy closed his eyes, "never did." John nodded his head in understanding.

"There were seven of us boys there who lived in the same bedroom. Where we were staying, it was called it 'The Palace' was nice. We were well-fed, but we couldn't wear any clothes. When I arrived, I remember Lam Sin undressing me and slapping my hands away if I tried to cover myself. The other boys, who were a little older, maybe 12 or 13, had been there a few months. They told me that Lam Sin just wanted to do anal sex with us. It was very painful, and he never was gentle, but soon you got used to it and never cried out." Troy paused and closed his eyes again.

"You don't have to say anything, Troy. I know those memories are tough to recall."

"No, I need to share this. Even after my father came and got me, I never told him what Lam Sin did to me. I'm sure he knew but was just happy I was home safe and sound." Taking a deep breath, he continued. "That very first time he entered me, I remember screaming and begging him to stop. I felt like I was being torn open. When he finished, there was a lot of blood coming from me. One of his assistants took me, cleaned me up, and gave me something for the pain. I was given a week's rest before Lam Sin wanted me again. The other boys told me to block the pain from my mind and let him do what he wanted. Since there were seven of us, he would take a different boy each night. So for six months, I figured he used me about 25 times. After a while, I was so used to what he was doing to me; I never felt anything anymore."

"What about the other boys?" John asked.

"Over those six months, four of the boys went to Lam Sin's bedroom, and I never saw them again. No one would tell me what happened. Shortly afterward, some new boy would arrive." Looking at John, Troy stated, "I heard over the years that the boys 'disappeared' after Lam Sin got tired of them. As far as I know, I was the only one who ever got out of there alive." John could only shake his head. "And I see from these exchanges that some kidnapped boys don't even make it to Lam Sin. They disappear too. This Kauri you rescued is probably the only boy who escaped a death sentence."

There was silence for several moments before John then spoke. "It's hard to believe such a person exists. It's bad enough when the occasional crazy person kidnaps a boy and kills him, but this man has been doing it regularly for years–and no one's ever stopped him! Based on the emails, at least 23 boys have been sent to him just in the past nine months!"

"I told you he's a very evil man. He's wealthy. People can turn their backs on such rumors of atrocities as long as there's money put in their pockets or fear of death should they try to betray him."

"Troy, I asked you to look at this to see if it was possible to turn this over to some authority that might help stop this man?"

The helicopter pilot thought for a moment and shook his head. "It would be very risky. Lam Sin has spies everywhere. Even I'm careful what I say to certain people. If Lam Sin knew someone was trying to stop him, he'd use every resource to find out who it was and eliminate him. Based on these emails, he's still hunting for that captain of the Sea Queen who put the boys in the lifeboat. Turning this information to law enforcement would give Lam Sin a lead on who invaded and destroyed his island. I'm sure he's pretty pissed about that right now. You may think acting anonymously might be safe, but I wouldn't count on it. I know you want to do the right thing, John, but you have four boys here you must consider, three that Lam Sin wants very badly. That man has survived a long time. He's not going to be easy to stop."

"What do you suggest?"

"Keep a low profile. In three weeks, you'll have the documents to disguise the true identities of the boys. I'm sure Lam Sin will eventually give up his search. It's not like he lacks boys for his sexual pleasures."

"I guess you're right. Oh, by the way, did you see who signed these messages? Does Lam Sin use the name Mr. Yang in his correspondence?"

"Lam Sin never communicates with anyone directly. He has a lawyer, I believe, who handles many legal matters of his businesses. This Mr. Yang might be it."

John gave some thought to what Troy had told him. It seemed like Lam Sin would be a part of what he had to avoid at all costs. So far, there didn't appear to be any evidence that he knew where his boys were.

"Have you heard any inquiries from anyone looking for the boys?"

Troy shook his head. "You must assume he's looking and using his contacts to see if anyone knew or heard anything. You must protect the boys and yourself from this man. You may have your island, but against him, you're just an ant to get stepped on and squashed. Since you are not associated with any country, there's no protection or resource you can call upon." John understood. He invited Troy to stay for lunch, and the man accepted. Sandwiches were quickly made, and small talk marked the meal. Troy asked about the Kalaukans.

"I am going to visit them Monday. Not sure how long, so I don't know when I'll call you this week."

The pilot nodded his understanding. "You're very fortunate to be allowed among them. I've spoken to several people, especially missionaries, who want to break through that secrecy they maintain. Do you know, John, that there are rumors that the reason for the secrecy is that the boys are sexually abused? They are forced to go through some painful rituals."

"Oh, really?" John was trying to act surprised at such talk.

"After Lam Sin, I can't believe that a group of natives are another version of that man. Those that I do meet on the western side are polite, honest people. Plus, they are very interested in seeing their children get educated by the schoolhouse they built and the trips by teachers to their island."

"I can assure you, Troy, that the Kalaukans are not like that. They have customs they're afraid will be lost forever if forced to change by others, like missionaries. So they're trying as hard as possible to keep as little outside influence as possible from infecting their lifestyle. I've been to their village. They don't sexually abuse any boy. The bonds with their boys are so close you forget that recently they risked their lives to rescue one of their own. I wouldn't have risked mine if the rescue was to return another boy home for sexual satisfaction."

Troy gave a long look at his friend. "You believe in these people, don't you?"

"They treat their boys as I treat mine," John realizing how vast that statement encompassed, but hoping Troy would just accept the simplicity of his words.

"I understand, John. As I said, these were just rumors, and I could tell how much you cared for the Kalaukans, as well as those who landed here and with Joshua."

"God Troy, just go," John thought to himself before he had to continue weaving more ambiguities about the Kalaukans and his own and boys' real lifestyles.

Thankfully, Troy stated he needed to go as both headed for the porch. "Tell the boys I said hello, and I'm sorry I missed them."

"I guess they're staying at the hot springs longer than I expected," John replied, glad that they were doing that. He didn't want to explain the Kalaukan boys' presence at this point after what he had just spouted to Troy.

"Well, John, take care of yourself, and I'll hear from you again when you can next week. If I hear anything regarding the boys, I'll let you…" as Troy stopped in mid-sentence and stared at the sight approaching the house. John looked to see what caught the man's attention, and his heart seemed to stop right there. Along the shoreline, seven naked boys were drawing closer, laughing, and talking, unaware who had just spotted them.

"Isn't that Aukai, Chief Haoa's son?" the pilot asked in a voice of disbelief.

At that moment, Mike spotted Troy on the porch and gestured to the others who froze in their tracks. For John, the only words that came silently to his mind were, "Oh, shit!"

Chapter 37
A Close Call

It seemed like time had frozen. On the beach of Paradise island, seven naked boys, three of them from Kalauka Island, stood staring at the two men standing on the porch. It was with the realization that a well-kept secret had just been revealed. They had, per John's instructions, stayed at the hot springs. They awaited the noise of the helicopter taking off and leaving the island. What they didn't know was that Troy's stay was longer than usual as the pilot was inside the house talking to John about Lam Sin and the contents of the briefcase retrieved from SP1.

As time passed, the boys' consensus was that the noise of the departing flight could not be heard in the interior of the island at the hot springs. After all, more than enough time had passed for the supplies to be unloaded and the pilot to leave. So everyone felt it was time to head back to the house. The afternoon was getting late anyhow.

They were leaving after spending time splashing in the warm water and fondling hard cocks aroused by the touch of others or just the excitement of being naked among other boys. Stories were exchanged about earlier that day when they chose partners for a wonderful session of sexual enjoyment. Chris echoed Mike's experience of having the 13-year-old Fauiki cum twice in his ass without removing his cock. Aukai added that a couple of days before they arrived, he too felt the fullness of the teen's cock and the sensation of having so much cum inside afterward. The boys asked Aukai how it went with John.

The 12-year-old paused and thought for a minute. "I guess John will always have a special spot with me as he took me through the 'Right of Manhood' test. I think he felt bad for hurting me and has tried ever since to be gentle each time he's inside me. He wants me to feel good. I do my best to make him feel the same."

"Aukai, can you tell the difference of each cock that goes in your ass?" Chris was curious.

"Oh, yes! I bet you could tell the difference between John and Fauiki."

Chris nodded his head, looking at Mike. "Fauiki doesn't get soft after cumming the first time. He keeps at it and fills you again," getting a sheepish grin from the Kalaukan teen. "John gets soft right after he cums."

"That's because he's getting old," Mike put in.

"You're always picking on him," Matt threw back.

"I'm just kidding; John knows that. I hope Fauiki won't get offended, but I enjoy having John fuck me anytime he wants. I love getting stretched inside," getting a consenting agreement from Chris, Joshua, and Matt as well as from Aukai.

It was Fauiki who then spoke. "You have learned very quickly how those of us on my island feel about sex. We start at a very young age. My father started sliding his fingers in my ass when I was six years old, and between him and the other men, they kept doing that until I was ready for my initiation. I believe that helped me get through the 'Right of Manhood' test. My butt was used to feeling stretched.

"I'll never forget when I was little enjoying the feelings my young body went through when my cock was sucked. Unlike Aukai here, I couldn't make any sperm until a couple of months ago. That just added more to the enjoyment. I wouldn't trade the past seven years for anything else. There is no greater feeling than having someone pleasure you and you do the same in return.

"I have gone to the schoolhouse for many years and read books about other nations. There is a lot of sex that happens between men and boys. But it's illegal in every country and what 'is' done has to be in secret for fear of getting caught and going to prison".

Joshua nodded his head, recalling how he and John were a perfect example of when such love is discovered and its consequences. "In my home and I know here on Paradise Island, the real true way of enjoying sex is done, and that's with love," the teen concluded, getting nods from everyone.

Joshua had been silent during all this, taking in what the 13-year-old native boy had shared. Although he was nine instead of the young age of six, as opposed to the Kalaukan boys, he recalled vividly the new feelings John introduced to his body. His little imagination couldn't grasp the concept of his young, immature cock being the lightning rod of so much pleasure.

It was those feelings and the expectations of new ones John had promised that developed into the bond he shared with the man and his stubborn refusal to testify against him. He had to wait four years before he could resume his sexual lessons and adventures with his adult friend. Even though he was apprehensive and somewhat disappointed that other boys shared in John's love, the week spent so far on this island had erased all doubts and fears as he saw the others as brothers who enjoyed the same sexual feelings he did.

After the time spent with the Kalaukan visitors, he realized that no matter what part of the world boys came from, the love of sex is the same. Given the freedom to choose and experience these new pleasures without fear of repercussions, no boy would ever want those experiences to end.

The ending at the hot springs took to sucking some cock and tasting sweet boy cream. Maru was hoping he would soon produce the same honey he tasted from the others. His body still reacted the same through every orgasm, but he desired the addition of his cock shooting his liquid nectar that he knew others, especially men, would savor. Fauiki asked Matt if they could have sex later and the 12-year-old quickly agreed, wondering what the feelings would be like getting back-to-back shots of cum from the teen's cock.

After all this, the seven in the hot springs decided that enough time had passed for Troy to leave, even though they never heard nor saw the helicopter depart. Thinking John was alone, they did not dress and cut across the island to the shoreline and onward to the house. As they approach the beachfront residence, Mike looked up and saw both John and Troy standing on the porch. Even at that distance, he could tell Troy was in shock seeing seven naked boys, three of them from Kalauka Island.

He shouted to the others who halted. Since there was no point in running away as they had been spotted, Mike told everyone to get dressed, as the Kalaukan boys put on their sarongs and the other four boys, their t-shirts and cut-offs.

Like Mike, the other three of Paradise Island, Chris, Matt, and Joshua, became nervous that they had been discovered naked in full view of Troy. Joshua was also afraid his short time with John was coming to an end and that he would have to go back to California. All the boys could also see the disbelief on John's face. How was all this going to be explained?

Fauiki, Aukai, and Maru faced a different set of concerns. Was the secret of the sexual lifestyle practiced on Kalauka Island in jeopardy? For the other boys, it was possible that their way of life on Paradise Island might end. There was nothing anyone could do now. After getting dressed, the seven closed the final distance between them and the house.

On the porch, John's mind whirled with many explanations that he could give to Troy to explain the sight he was witnessing. The last thing he wanted to share was that he and all the boys approaching the house were involved in a very heavy man/boy sexual lifestyle. Of course, he couldn't betray the secret he had about Kalauka Island and their customs.

It was the two boys, Mike and Fauiki, who saved the day. As the Kalaukan teen approached Troy on the porch, he began. "I don't know if you remember me, but my name is Fauiki."

"Yes, I've seen you before. I'm sorry I couldn't recall your name."

"Chief Haoa, in appreciation for John's help in rescuing his youngest son, asked that Aukai, Maru," as the youngest visitor was pointed out to Troy, "and myself to come here to visit and be a part of their life here."

"Yes," Mike cut in before Troy could respond. "Remember John; you told Chief Haoa that anyone from his village could come over anytime they wished?" The man just nodded his head, trying to follow what was being said to satisfy Troy.

"We have no way of communicating with John, so we came and surprised him yesterday with our arrival," Fauiki continued, then looked at John as though saying 'it's your turn.'

"I apologize, Troy, from keeping their presence from you. As Fauiki stated, they did just show up yesterday, and I'm returning them Monday. I decided to keep their visit here a secret, but now that you know, I hope I didn't offend you. I asked them to stay at the hot springs until you left." Looking at Mike, the man added, "But I never said anything about running around naked."

Mike cast his eyes down. "It's my fault. I brought up the idea of skinny-dipping. Then I remembered that maybe our visitors are more modest about such things." John tried desperately not to express any facial emotions. The last thing the Kalaukans were, was modest, he thought to himself.

"I told Mike we swim in the ocean many times without our sarongs, so it was nothing new to us. We wanted to be good guests and agreed to…skinny-dip," the Kalaukan teen explained.

"We decided to let the sun dry us on the way back," Mike continued. "We figured it had been long enough for Troy to leave, and we thought we just couldn't hear his helicopter from the middle of the island."

If awards could be handed out for acting, Fauiki and Mike would have won theirs today. John knew he better close this before a slipup would reveal holes in the story. Fauiki spoke once more. "We apologize for embarrassing you in such a manner," addressing Troy.

"No apologies are necessary, Fauiki. You just caught me by surprise. I've never seen any of you except on the western side of your island, so seeing you here at John's home is quite a shock. As for, ah, skinny-dipping, I did that a lot too when I was a young boy." Troy then turned to John. "You have indeed gained the Kalaukans' trust to have Chief Haoa allow these boys to spend time with you. For a moment, they looked so out of place, having only observed them on their island."

"Matt, Chris, and Mike made many new friends when we were there," John put in. "Boys are the best ambassadors for cementing friendships."

For the next several moments, small talk occurred as Troy became more comfortable with the story given to him about the naked boys. Fauiki even sounded more plausible as he explained that there were strict rules on Kalauka Island about dressing properly, so it was more of a youthful adventure to accept Mike's invitation to enjoy the hot springs nude. He capped off his performance by asking the helicopter pilot, "Troy, please don't mention this to Chief Haoa or anyone else. Besides it being embarrassing, we may never be allowed to visit John again as it would seem we have dishonored him and ourselves by what we did."

Troy patted the teen on the shoulder and smiled. "Don't worry. As far as I'm concerned, the setting sun played a trick on my eyes."

Stating he was way overdue to leave, Troy, accompanied by John and the seven boys, returned to his helicopter and in a short while waved as he lifted off and headed back home. When the copter was out of sight, John turned and gave Fauiki and Mike a big hug. "You guys were fantastic! What a performance!"

"Do you think he knows what we do here?" Matt asked.

"I don't think so. Even if he suspects something else is going on, he's polite enough not to say anything. My biggest concern was exposing your private traditions looking at the three Kalaukan boys," as John shared what Troy has said about rumors of boys being sexually abused.

Fauiki nodded his head. "We know there are those who think so. They think we are little boys who don't understand anything about sex and let the men treat us like toys. The 'Right of Manhood' to an outsider would probably be thought of like us being tortured."

"Times have changed Fauiki, sadly, not for the better. Many wonderful past cultures had customs considered barbaric by those people who thought of themselves as more civilized. Many traditions were lost, and people absorbed into today's societies ten times worse than the customs outsiders tried to change. Your people are among the very few left that has not let go of what makes you what you are."

"But we 'are' slowly changing," Fauiki answered John. "We use more of the outsiders' tools to make our life easier. It won't be long before our traditions are replaced by those who change us."

"Convenience to make life easier is one thing. Having a lantern instead of a torch for light is progress," John continued. "Fauiki, you tell Chief Haoa not to worry about outside tools to make life better for everyone but to hold on to those traditions and customs that define the Kalaukan people. There will be no way to replace them once they are gone." Turning to Mike, he added, "Thank you also. That was quick thinking on your part about the skinny-dipping. Although I imagine skinny-dipping wasn't the only thing going on at the hot springs," getting grins from all the boys on the porch.

"It was just the first thing that popped into my mind. I'm sorry we came back too soon. We thought Troy had gone."

"That's all right, Mike. It's my fault. We talked longer than I anticipated. I wanted him to leave but didn't want to seem impolite. I owe him a lot. He helped me in negotiating for this island and getting me settled in." Then a thought came across the man's mind. "Didn't I see seven naked hot-looking boys just a few minutes ago?" getting smiles from everyone. "Well, I'm going to get my camera and take lots of photos of you like that," as John went inside, and the boys removed their clothing. By the time the man returned with his cell phone, he was just a few feet away from the sexiest boys, anyone would want to see. Telling the boys to go down to the beach, the photography session began.

It began as a simple photoshoot as he took pictures of each boy standing alone. Then he had them paired with various others and then together in different groups. Seeing their smooth, youthful bodies, some with partial or full erections, got John excited, and he decided to take the next step. He got close-ups of each boy's genitals, their beautiful shaped cocks, and smooth hanging balls. The boys started getting into the picture taking by making it more erotic, bending over and having their asses photographed and then spreading their cheeks to show the tight young holes, many whose warmth and grip John had already experienced. It then turned into more and more of a porno show. Chris started it by grabbing Aukai's cock and sucking on it.

The other boys quickly caught on and soon it was a revolving door. Each boy spent a few moments on a different cock as John's fingers were pressing the shutter button as fast as possible, hoping the camera's memory card didn't get filled before he had taken all the pictures he wanted. His cock was leaking like mad, and he was sure the bulge in his pants could be easily seen.

Seeing he had not run out of memory, the boys insisted that John have pictures taken of him. He agreed and stripped naked. So the seven boys took turns using the camera as the man stood with each boy, arms over their shoulders, his cock as hard as it could be, but not concerned in the least. The pictures didn't get sexual, but John now had a photographic memory of this wonderful day on Paradise Island.

After dinner, everyone went to the computer in the living room as John uploaded the photos from the cell phone to the hard drive, and each shot came up on the monitor. It seemed like eight people talked at once as comments were made, especially on the more erotic scenes. It was John who summed everything up.

"No matter what happens in the future, we'll always have these pictures to remind the eight of us of the time we spent together today."

***

In a half-lit bedroom on a top floor suite of an expensive hotel in Bangkok, Thailand, the 13-year-old gritted his teeth as he felt the cock of the man above him enter his anal channel. He tried to ignore the pain, concentrating instead on the payment he would receive when this was over. The rich foreigner was known for paying double and triple the boy flesh rates, coupled with a generous tip. It was the thought of such money in his pocket that helped take his mind off the stretching his ass had never felt before.

News had spread quickly four weeks earlier when this foreigner arrived, supposedly from America. He put out the word he was looking for young teen boys to fuck, and he was willing to pay handsomely for such pleasure. The man rented the most expensive suite in the city and wore clothing and jewelry to signify his wealth. It didn't take but a day before he was taken to the underground brothels where underage boys were available. The man's eyes would nearly pop out of his head as he viewed the choices of 13, 14, and 15-year old boys with the smoothest skin and most without a hair to blemish their bodies. All the available boys would shake their cocks and wiggle their cute asses, hoping to be the lucky one chosen for that evening.

Then rumors began to arise how the foreigner bragged to the boys he had each night of being friends with Lam Sin. The boys were aware of Lam Sin's reputation for boy sex. Occasionally a young boy would disappear, never to be heard from again. Whether the infamous Oriental was responsible for the kidnapping was never proven, but it was enough to cause fear whenever the name was mentioned.

When the foreigner took a boy to his hotel suite during the first week, another boy would be close by to ensure nothing would happen. After a while, the boys became relaxed as they figured the man was a liar or had no real close association with Lam Sin. They surmised the man was just puffing himself up to enhance his already inflated ego brought on by his wealth. As long as he was a generous patron, he could claim to know God personally if he wanted.

The other item talked about among the boys was the size of the man's cock. In length, it was average, about 7 inches. But the 2-¼ inch [6cm] width across was the awe and fear of many boys. Those who had seen it called it 'the sausage.' In the beginning, the first boys to spend the evening with this foreigner talked of the pain associated with their small asses being stretched like never before. After being fucked by such a monster, they were so sore they were unavailable to other customers afterward for several days. Some of the other teens would poke fun at their younger associates, teasing them for being such pussies, but a few days later, they too would return with the same story of how they thought their ass would rip open as this huge cock made its entry. Despite such pain, many of the boys were willing to spend the night with this foreigner and endure whatever discomfort they would feel. The money was too much of an inducement.

It was one such boy who was making his second visit. For some reason, he was the only boy requested explicitly by the foreigner for a return visit. After the previous encounter, he had allowed his ass to heal, taking on no other customers until he felt ready. He had been in a boy brothel since he was eight years old. He was saving every baht (Thailand currency), hoping that he could go home soon with enough money to help his family. He felt fortunate that he only had to serve men for five years while many were there ten years until they turned 18 and could then work as bar boys.

The session was repeated before. First, the boy would lean over the side of the bed as the man's cock made its first entry, slowly worming its way inside, the boy grunting and trying not to yell in pain. After a short fuck, the man would have the boy on his back, legs raised, and again plow the monster inside the tight boy ass. Finally, in the last position at which point the man would shoot his massive volume of cum, the boy would sit on the foreigner's cock and ride it like a stallion, the foreigner's eyes tightly shut, occasionally grunting his enjoyment.

He was in this position in the semi-lit bedroom when the boy looked up and saw two burly men standing at the room entrance. He froze, his ass sitting on the man's groin, fully impaling the visitor inside. One of the men silently made a motion with his hand to the boy to get off. The man pointed to the door and gestured for him to leave quickly. Without a moment's hesitation, the boy jumped off the bed, the foreigner's rigid cock freed with a pop from the ass's grip. Dashing into the darkened living room, the boy searched for his clothing. He didn't even bother to get dressed as he searched for the door and prepared to leave.

In the meantime, he heard the foreigner shout, "Who the hell are you? What's the meaning of barging in here?"

The 13-year-old heard one of the men replies, "Lam Sin doesn't appreciate you mentioning his name in public. Your services as a caseworker were appreciated, and you were well paid for it and to keep your mouth shut."

The boy heard no more as he ran out of the suite, still naked, to an elevator and pushed a button several times for one to arrive. Fortunately, no one else was in the hallway as he got dressed. As the door to the elevator opened, the boy was relieved to see it was empty, for he still feared that more men would be nearby to kidnap him and take him to Lam Sin. The elevator door began to close as the teen heard a sound he would never forget, the blood-curdling scream of a man being murdered.

***

If someone were to tell you that on a tiny island in the Pacific Ocean, one man and seven boys awoke on this Sunday morning having had a good night's sleep, your response would probably be, "Okay, nothing wrong with that." But if you added that the sleep occurred after all eight residents had enjoyed raw naked sex among each other the evening before, your reply would probably be, depending on your outlook about man/boy sex, "That's disgusting," or "God, I wish I was there."

Yes, it may seem hard to believe that such a concentration of youthful flesh engaged in such perverted acts that are only whispered in today's society exists. One would be very naive to say such things don't occur. These eight represented a very small percentage of boy sex that goes on all over the world. In the more industrial nations like the United States, authorities try hard to clamp down on any suspicion of adult/child sexual activities. Sadly, the prisons are full of such men who only wanted to expand their love of a boy in a more intimate sexual way.

Although it may seem that such sex is against the law on the surface, the reality is that it occurs in many other countries. Many Asian and European nations had existed long before America became a country and then tried to impose its morality upon others. Within many borders, such acts are tolerated. It existed for hundreds of years; it exists today and probably will exist for years to come. Publicly, governments denounce such associations, but again, in reality, they know it takes place. As long as there was no harm of any nature, there was no interference. Several countries had been slowly lowering their ages of consent, pushing it as far as they could without some outcry from America, for instance. If boys could have more control over their bodies and with whom they wish to share it with, life would be better for those involved.

When the three boys first landed on Paradise Island, they feared sex. What happened at the ranch and the knowledge of what was to happen once they arrived in Singapore, instilled a dread of exposing their bodies to others and what might be done to them, assuredly against their will. It took a few days to convince and show them that sex was a beautiful thing if done right. Interacting with the Kalaukans reinforced that belief. Now, being naked whenever they desired and pairing up to experience sexual delights had become a norm. So as John and the boys on Paradise Island gathered for breakfast, It was John's sincere hope that at any point all over the world, men and boys who truly love one another were showing that emotion to their partners in the most cherished way possible.

With the meal concluded, John announced, "even though we have visitors, the daily chores still have to be done." Gesturing to his boys, he added, "You guys can explain how things work here and what your responsibilities are."

"Do we have to today?" coming from Chris.

"It's okay," Fauiki put in. "We all have our duties to perform daily on our island. It's part of learning responsibility, especially after the 'Right of Manhood' test. It's not all just learning to be a warrior." John looked at the teen, impressed with his maturity. "We'll help you," Fauiki added, getting a nod of agreement from Maru and Aukai. Soon, everyone went their ways, and with the Kalaukan boys' help, chores were completed quickly, and everyone returned to the house.

Apparently, out of respect for the boys' privacy, the reason for Lam Sin's obsession wasn't spread around the Kalaukan village. The chief and elders had kept the information pretty confidential, only divulging that the boys were on their way to Lam Sin and had been rescued. Mike looked at John and asked him if it was all right to share what led them to their current situation.

"That's up to you guys." Even Aukai was curious, not knowing all the details of how the boys landed on Paradise Island. So most of the next hour, the three original family members shared their past from when they were sent to the ranch until they landed on this island. John was happy to see that the boys could talk about what they went through without the nervousness and possible shame of what they had had to endure. It was a big change from that first day when the memories of what they had gone through were still so vivid.

When the narration ended, the Kalaukans were fascinated with what the boys' lives had been recent. It was Fauiki who summed up their feelings. "You were very fortunate to land here."

The three boys easily agreed. "John has been very good to us," added Matt. "And he's taken the bad memories of sex at the ranch and showed us the wonderful fun side of it," as his ass twitched, still recalling the man's cock in him and the sperm that had filled his innards the evening before.

The Kalaukan boys' attention then shifted to Joshua and how he ended up with John. The boy looked at the man, wondering how much he should share. "I met John when I was 9-years-old. Then he had to move away for a while, and I didn't see him for four years. I finally found out he had his island and asked if I could visit him." The boy looked at the man and got a smile and nod in return. Both agreed that the prison part of the separation didn't need to be shared at this time. John then picked up the narration.

"When I moved away, I thought I had said goodbye to Joshua forever, but I was surprised when I heard from him that he had been searching for me for a long time. He's grown up a lot, but he's still the same Joshua I remember from before." The 13-year-old then asked John the meaning behind the Kalaukan name the others called him.

"The Kalaukan people wanted to say thank you for helping rescue Kauri. They made me an honorary member of their village and gave me a Kalaukan name." The subject matter was changed when Chris asked Maru about his upcoming 'Right of Manhood' test.

"Aukai has helped me understand what is going to happen. I know it will hard that first time." Looking at his Kalaukan friend, Maru added, "I remember you telling me how it hurt." Aukai didn't say anything, but John cringed, thinking of the pain he had to inflict to follow an age-old Kalaukan custom. He was happy that it was over with and vowed never to do that again. Maru continued, "But it happens just one time, and then you're a man."

"It's very important for you to be a man in your village?" John asked.

It was Fauiki who shared his thoughts. "It is to us, John. Our customs are very old, and Chief Haoa has told us that most of the world would not agree with our lifestyle of living naked and especially our customs regarding sex. If we stop our customs and traditions, we stop being who we are."

John was glad the Kalaukans was steadfastly holding on to what 99% of the world would frown on it. Maybe the rest of society would condemn the Kalaukan lifestyle and sexual traditions. Still, how many of those spouting morality could claim no violence, no disease, and a wonderful harmony among its entire people? John felt fortunate to have met these natives and to become a part of them.

***

"Mr. Yang?" came the voice a few feet away from his desk. Lam Sin's lawyer looked up and saw his young intern, Chin Lee.

"Yes, Mr. Lee, come sit down. What can I do for you?"

"I thought this would be of interest to you, but I must ask that you not reveal where this information I'm about to share with you originated from."

A smile creased Mr. Yang's face. "A sort of inner-circle client-attorney confidentiality?"

"This is serious, sir." Chin Lee hesitated, thinking it was a bad idea to come to his boss and started to get up.

"Sit down, Mr. Lee. Whatever you wish to reveal to me goes no further than this desk."

"Thank you. I happened to be walking by the throne room (as everyone was calling it) when I overheard Master Sin talk to one of his men."

"Go ahead."

"I didn't stay long as I didn't wish to be caught as though spying on Master Sin. I did hear the man tell the Master that he and his men had just returned from the island suspected of participating in the destruction of SP1. They had also tried to find out about the disappearance of the two men stationed there."

A lump formed in the throat of Mr. Yang as he recalled reporting the morning before of an indigenous native group that was responsible for the attack, possibly led by the owner of Paradise Island, whom he felt was harboring the three American boys.

"Continue."

"The man said he tortured the village chief and two elders before killing all three of them. He also brought back four of the island boys for Master Sin's pleasure."

Sweat was beginning to form on Mr. Yang's forehead. He hadn't expected Lam Sin to act so quickly. He was looking for more time to continue his investigation.

"Anything else?"

"No. I left quickly. I felt this was information you should know."

"Thank you, Mr. Lee. I appreciate you bringing this to me, and I will honor the secrecy of this exchange."

As the young intern turned and walked away, Mr. Yang began to wonder what information the men sent by Lam Sin had gathered. He had no idea yet if this island and its people were involved in what happened at SP1. He selected it due to its proximity to Paradise Island. Had he made a lucky guess? Right or wrong, the island had paid dearly by the death of its leaders and the abduction of some of its boys. And was Lam Sin now sending his men to Paradise Island?

Chapter 38
Tragedy

Breakfast Sunday morning was a very vocal affair. It seemed the 12-year-olds and Joshua were playing musical chairs between the two hallway bedrooms while John and Fauiki had the master bathroom to themselves. The six boys would have a sexual session that included oral and anal sex and then goes to the other bedroom and repeat the process with a new boy. By the time they finally fell asleep, each boy had been sucked five times and fucked the same number. They had to admit their cocks were so sore from the lips wrapped around it that toward the end, they couldn't get it hard to slide it inside the ass of a boy. It was more like pushing a soft head against the anal opening. As they compared notes at the breakfast table, the schedule was made for the final evening tonight to complete what they couldn't do the evening before.

John enjoyed the lovemaking with the 13-year-old Kalaukan lad. The boy sure had stamina, John concluded. Not only was he able to enjoy twice the sweet nectar of the teen's cum, but the boy came twice in John's ass. It was no wonder the Kalaukan boys were so much fun to enjoy sexually. Most young boys have good sexual recuperative powers, but the native teens never seemed to tire. As breakfast ended and the boys got ready to do their chores, the talk was of how they were going to spend this last day together before John returns the visitors to their island.

Mike came up to John and asked, "Do you think it's okay to be naked all day?" The boys had stayed clothed even after Troy left, and until they went to bed, no one talked of being caught by the pilot and what could have been disastrous consequences.

"Well, we're not expecting any visitors. Yesterday was just bad timing. Being the last day, our friends will be here; I don't see why the seven of you can't show off your sexy little bodies." Mike hugged John, and his voice could be heard as he yelled at the others, "Take off your clothes; we're going naked all day."

John stripped naked but decided to sit on the porch. He never thought he would be this tired from sex. Fauiki kept the sex non-stop and never gave his body a chance to relax before he was at it again. The man had to admit that never in his life had one boy been so dominant and kept the sex drive constantly going. He never had a chance to recover when the teen boy began a new session using his hands, mouth, or cock.

He was slowly closing his eyes when a reflection of the ocean caught his eye. He tried to focus. It looked like a single canoe. It couldn't be the Kalaukans. Every time they came here, there were three. John almost jumped out of his skin when a voice behind him announced, "It's Tangaroa." The man turned his head to see it was Fauiki. "Something must be wrong," as the naked 13-year-old headed toward the shore. John was about to tell him to put on some clothes, but realized that his lifestyle was the same as Kalauka Island; being naked was the norm. So he got off the porch and followed the boy.

Upon reaching the shore as the canoe beached, Tangaroa stepped out and approached John. He didn't seem fazed at all, seeing the adult and Fauiki standing before him without any clothing. "Matareka," the elder began. "You must come immediately to our island. Chief Haoa is waiting for you."

"What's the matter?" John asked, but the elder just shook his head and repeated the same request. Soon, the other boys were spotted as they walked along the shore, and upon seeing the Kalaukan visitor ran to meet him."

"Is my father all right?" being the natural first question from Aukai. "And Kauri?"

"Both are fine, but you must return home immediately."

"Okay," John acknowledged. "Mike, Matt, go get clothes for everyone to wear. Tangaroa, tell your warriors to row down away to where you see the Sea Ray moored. We'll hook up your canoe and get to Kalauka Island as fast as we can."

John and the boys ran back to the house where everyone put on shirts and pants or their native sarongs. The mood was solemn as no one knew what this emergency was that required John's presence. Tangaroa made no mention of 'not' bringing the quartet of boys along. But John decided to have them close by. Until he knew what the urgency was, he wanted to keep close tabs on them.

When everyone reached the boat dock, the two Kalaukan warriors had tied their canoe behind the Sea Ray. John wasn't sure but thought they were two of the men who were involved with the rescue of Kauri, maybe of even lighting the fires or disposing of Lam Sin's men. The situation must be serious, he thought to himself.

After making all the customary checks, John realized he only had five life vests. Tangaroa told him to use them for him and his boys. The warriors would protect the three Kalaukan children. With that settled, John pulled away from the dock and soon gave it full throttle as the craft sped to its destination.

The first trip to Kalauka Island when being off course slightly could have caused him to miss the island, so he went slow as steady; he now knew the exact GPS location and aimed the bow in that direction.

It wasn't long before they reached halfway to their destination. John was starting to feel that pit in his stomach that he remembered from the rescue. Surely, if going to Kalauka Island represented danger, Tangaroa wouldn't have allowed John's boys to come along. The elder then approached the man.

"Is there anything you can say?" was asked of the Kaluakan elder.

"You will know everything when we arrive. The chief wants to speak to you personally." With that said, the elder returned to the stern and sat with the warriors and boys.

The rest of the trip was made in silence as the miles flew by, and soon in the far distance, the island of Kalauka made its appearance. As the craft slowed, several canoes were seen paddling from the island to the Sea Ray. Everyone aboard thought it was a welcoming committee to greet their returning sons and John and his boys. Aukai took the opportunity to use the craft's binoculars to focus on the incoming boats.

"Something is wrong," the native boy stated as he saw the canoes approaching. "I don't see my father or Takatu."

"They are probably waiting for you in the village," John surmised.

"As the chief's son, one of the elders is supposed to meet me. I thought at least it would be Takatu since he brought me to your island."

The canoes pull up beside the Sea Ray, and one of the native men quickly climbed the ladder and spoke briefly to Aukai, whose eyes widened as he listened. Turning to Fauiki and Maru, he spoke to them in the Kalaukan tongue and then turned to John.

"We must go to the village immediately. Something has happened. You and the others must stay here. Either I or someone else will return to bring you to the village." Before John could say a word, the three Kalaukan boys climbed into the canoes and were quickly paddled to the shore. Except for a few men guarding the shoreline, the island looked deserted.

"What's going on, John?" Chris asked.

"I have no idea. Something important that required only Aukai, Fauiki, and Maru to go ashore. We must wait until we are picked up."

For the next hour, the four sat quietly on board the Sea Ray, as there was no movement on the shore coming from the village.

Soon after that, the same canoes paddled back to the Sea Ray with the afternoon passing by. Neither Aukai nor any of the elders known to John were aboard. One of the native men climbed on board. His English wasn't good as he tried to communicate with John.

"Matareka. You come now. Bad! Death!"

"What do you mean?" John asked, but kept getting the same words from the native. The native gestured for the five of them to get into the canoes, and soon they were heading for the shore. John tried to get more information but kept getting the same words. 'Death' was the one that bothered him most. Was disease or plague sweeping the village? Did somebody die in an accident? He looked at the four boys who remained quiet, concern on their faces, and wondered if he should have left them on the Sea Ray. He especially kept an eye on Joshua. This wasn't the way his first visit here was supposed to be. The teen was very quiet, but John knew he was probably frightened to some extent.

As they approached the shoreline, John couldn't help but notice the stark contrast from the last time he was here, upon the successful rescue of Kauri. At that time, nearly the entire village was waiting on the shore, ready to greet the men and the return of a lost young boy. Now, it was practically deserted. A few Kalaukan men, presumably guards, stood to watch. As the canoes scraped the sand, everyone got out, and the Kalaukan men motioned for everybody to follow into the interior toward the village. The walk was quiet. As the fields were passed, it was an eerie sight to seeing no one tend the crops. By now, naked little children would have shown up to greet the visitors and escort them into the village. John's stomach continued behaving as it did the night of the rescue, knowing something was wrong but didn't know what.

The tall canopy of trees that protected the Kalaukan village parted, and soon, everyone had arrived. The first thing John and the boys noticed was that everyone appeared to be gathered in front of the main hut, where the celebrations had taken place after Aukai's 'Right of Manhood' test and the rescue. Two Kalaukan guards stood at the entrance. It was a very strange sight. On the one hand, it was erotic, seeing all these naked individuals, especially the boys. Yet one couldn't get sexually excited due to the solemn look on everyone's faces.

The four boys that had accompanied John had confused looks of their own and kept looking to their benefactor as though he might know what's going on. For Joshua, finally being in the village he had heard so much about, he wasn't sure what to make of it. The men who brought John and the boys from the Sea Ray stopped at the hut entrance, closed, and motioned for them to wait.

Several minutes went by when finally Fauiki came outside and approached John. "Matareka," referring back to his honorary Kalaukan name, "only you are allowed inside. I will take your boys to another hut, and we will wait for you there."

The boys looked at John. Besides confusion, there was starting to show on their faces a little fear. This wasn't the type of greeting all had been expecting. "Go with Fauiki. I will find out what's going on and be with you as soon as possible." The four boys nodded their heads and followed the 13-year-old. One of the outside guards pulled aside a hanging cloth covering the hut entrance and motioned for him to enter. Taking a deep breath, John stepped inside.

As the man's eyes adjusted to the lesser daylight that filtered through the large hut, he stood frozen at the sight that greeted his eyes. A few Kalaukan women were tending to three warriors that were lying on some mats. John couldn't see details, but it appeared they were pretty badly injured. Then his eyes caught sight of two bodies that were partially covered with palm leaves. John guessed that these had died of their wounds, but what caused all this? He nearly jumped out of his skin when a voice spoke behind him.

"They are Ulanti." He quickly turned around.

"Chief Haoa! What happened?"

"We spotted them on our southeastern shore last night. One was already dead, and the second died shortly after we brought him in here. I'm afraid a third one won't make it." John looked again at those wounded that were being treated. What could have happened? He looked once more at the Kalaukan chief.

"From what they were able to tell me, it looks like Lam Sin's men attacked their village."

"Lam Sin!" as that pit in John's stomach grew more painful.

"They tortured their chief and elders looking for three American boys they thought might be on their island. When they were convinced they knew nothing, they were executed. These men here," as Haoa pointed to those being treated, "were part of the chief's guard; they were severely beaten. Also, several young boys were taken when Lam Sin's men left their island. These men paddled here to warn us."

John's heart was beating a mile a minute. "My God, Chief Haoa. People are being killed on account of these boys! What kind of a monster is this man?"

The chief put an arm over the shoulder of his friend. "Unfortunately, the worst kind. Despite all the boys he could have for his sadistic enjoyment, he is obsessed with having those three. It had to have been something terrible from the little information I got from these men."

"Ulanti. Your two villages haven't spoken to each other in…"

"Almost 25 years. The chief was my childhood friend and, later, sadly, my enemy when he kidnapped my future wife. For these men to come here and warn us was an act of desperation."

"What do I do? He could come to Paradise Island at any time."

"Apparently, and I'm guessing, Lam Sin was eliminating a possible island closest to where they keep the kidnapped boys. Unfortunately, Ulanti was the target. As for you, you do what you must to protect them, but I don't think Lam Sin will come around this area anytime soon."

"Really! Why?"

"From what I've learned of him over the years, he wants to remain as secretive as possible. He may be upset at what his men did to the Ulanti because news of it could reach outside and somehow attach his name to it. He may be rich enough to pay off the law for boys' kidnapping and sexual abuse, but outside Singapore, murder would be much more difficult. Hopefully, he's now weighing that risk against the continued search for your boys."

"I'd like to believe that Chief Haoa. I want the boys to feel safe and secure, not in constant fear. They already know that Lam Sin is looking for them. All of us were hoping he would eventually give up."

"Believe in that, John. May I suggest you tell nothing of this to the boys? Tell them some village members got sick and didn't know if it was contagious, thus the isolation in this hut. I have already instructed Takatu and Tangaroa to tell everyone not to mention the Ulanti incident and to return to their normal duties and to make our guests feel at home."

"Are you not concerned Lam Sin's men might come here?"

"That is a possibility. The Ulanti are not known for their warrior skills," giving John a slight smile, "But they will find the Kalaukans more than ready should they attempt any harm."

"What will you do when the Ulanti men recover?"

"I've been thinking about that. Several of our warriors will return the bodies and those who recover back to the Ulanti. We'll give them medical supplies as well as better weapons, although a return visit from Lam Sin is now highly unlikely. As sad as this event was, it possibly could be a blessing as our two islands become united again against a common enemy."

John nodded his head as he prepared to leave the hut. He knew how serious the village was in protecting their secrecy and lifestyle. He imagined that every precaution had been considered regardless of how someone would try to penetrate this veil. Thanking the chief, he stepped outside to see a different atmosphere from a short while earlier. The people were no longer gathered in a solemn group, but up and about, as though nothing had ever happened. Some of the younger boys who recognized John came up to him to say hello, calling him by his Kalaukan name. It was one voice that caught his attention.

"Matareka," a childish voice reached the man's ear. He turned to see whose voice it was when he spotted Aukai and standing next to him, his younger brother, Kauri, who had called him. Seeing the two beautiful naked boys made him realize he was still clothed as his cock stirred within his pants. He got down to one knee as the 10-year-old ran up to him and hugged him. That lasted for nearly a minute before the boy took a few steps back to stand again by his older brother. The physical similarities were evident. Kauri was just a beautiful younger version of Aukai.

"Kauri, it is good to see you again." John noticed that the boy's wounds from the treatment he got from the men on SP1 had nearly completely healed. He wondered how the psychological recovery was going. "How are you feeling?"

The boy's face dropped a little. "I can never be a man here."

Aukai cut in, "I told him that what happened doesn't count. He can still be a man when he turns twelve."

"No, I can't!" Kauri shouted back. "Those men forced themselves inside me. I am not like others for the ceremony. I am not a virgin."

John thought a few moments then walked up to the young boy. Getting back down on one knee, he said to him. "You are already a man," getting quizzical looks from the 10-year-old and his brother. He continued, "All the other boys here have to wait until they are twelve years old to prove they are ready to be called a man. They know in advance who will give them the test and have time to prepare themselves for it. Almost everyone cries when the test is given. When those bad men used you, did you cry?"

The young boy's mind was whirling as he thought what to say. Aukai gave a grin as he could see where this was going.

"I did but just a little," trying to put on a brave front.

"Wow!" Aukai put in, "I would have cried and screamed and probably peed all over myself."

"I didn't pee all over myself!" Kauri answered, hunching his shoulders back, trying to look more grown-up.

"So wouldn't you say what happened to you was a lot tougher than the 'Right of Manhood' test here?" John asked, getting a slow nod of the head. "And," pausing for emphasis, "you were in an enemy camp, right? That also makes you a warrior. As far as I'm concerned, you're the youngest, bravest warrior of all the Kalaukans!"

A smile creased the boy's face. He was now given a chance to look at what he went through from a different perspective. Instead of feeling like he could never prove his manhood, he realized that he had done so in a much more difficult situation.

Aukai then added. "You can still take the test when you are twelve years old. That will just make it official, but I see you already as a man," hugging his younger brother and then a kiss. The scene was erotic, and John was moved by the two brothers' affections. Kauri then came over and gave John another hug. He spoke softly, "You can have me whenever you want, even though I'm not twelve. You saved my life."

Gently pushing the boy away, John replied in the same soft tone. "You don't owe me anything, Kauri. I'm glad I was there and found you. It is me who will be honored to have such a courageous warrior as you as my friend. I hope that one day I can enjoy the pleasures of such a handsome boy like you." The boy then ran off to tell his young friends of his newly discovered feats of bravery.

"Thank you, Matareka," a feminine voice came from behind the man. John turned quickly to see who it was.

"Mother, have you been eavesdropping?" Aukai asked.

Ignoring the boy, the woman continued, "My husband, Aukai, and I have tried to help him get over the experiences he suffered through. We healed the outside wounds, but those inside were harder. You brought him out of his shell, and he is our little boy once more. Now thanks to you, we also have a little warrior. I speak for all of us in our gratitude to you."

Before John could utter a word in response, Aukai and Kauri's mother came up to him and kissed him on his cheek. Smiling, she turned and went back to the other women who were nearby.

"Wow!" was all the 12-year-old boy could say.

John thought that was wow too. Looking at Aukai, he stated, "She's a beautiful woman. You're lucky to have a mother like that."

Before the boy could respond, John asked him to take him to the hut where the others were waiting. He needed to calm any perceived fears and get them ready for the trip home. He didn't want it spoiled by unconfirmed rumors. As they approached the hut, the man asked if Aukai knew of the explanation John would give the boys about some of the villagers' illness. He got a positive response. As the two entered the hut, John spotted Fauiki talking to the boys. Everyone quickly got up with the four boys of Paradise Island bombarding him with questions.

"Whoa! Whoa!" John said, raising his hand. "Let's sit down and I'll explain what's going on." Turning to Fauiki, he added, "Thank you for watching over them."

The teen nodded his head and replied, "We look forward to all of you joining us in custom and tradition when you can come on a real visit," as John understood that sex was soon to be the highlight of everyone's attention. Fauiki then motioned for he and Aukai to leave the hut so that John could be alone with the four boys.

"Let's sit down," the man repeated. When everyone was seated, he proceeded to describe what had happened based on the story the entire village was supposed to stand by as not to frighten the young visitors from Paradise Island. John hated to lie to these boys but agreed with the chief that it wouldn't do any good to pile on more fear about Lam Sin. Mike, Chris, and Mark were well aware of the Oriental's search for them. Hopefully, though, they were feeling somewhat secure living with John on Paradise Island.

"Kalaukans are very healthy people. So when two members get sick at the same time, it's a big concern for them. Fortunately, they have medication they traded for with outsiders and the sick are being treated. It looks like a bad case of the flu. They were put in isolation, so to speak, to make sure that no one else got ill. As you can probably understand, with such a small population here, a flu bug could spread quickly. Knowing we were planning on coming back soon for at least an overnight visit, they were being open and honest. It made me think that even though we five are pretty isolated, we should get some flu shots."

"But what about that oarsman talking about death?" asked Mark.

"As you noticed, his English was very limited. He probably wasn't aware of what he was saying and what the word death meant. But the two will get better and everything is all right."

"Are they children?" Mike asked.

"No, they are adults. I didn't recognize them." Sensing that the boys seemed satisfied with John's explanation, he changed the subject. "Now, are we ready to go home? I'm hungry." All the boys enthusiastically stated they were and soon, escorted by several of the Kalaukan villagers, returned to the beach. Shortly after that, the motors of the Sea Ray growled as the craft headed back to Paradise Island.

***

Mr. Yang slowly entered the cavernous 'throne' room whereupon he spotted the Oriental, Lam Sin, sitting upon his usual elevated chair. Bowing his head and lowering his eyes, he quietly spoke. "You sent for me, Master Sin?"

"Yes, I did. Your suggestion that we go to the Ulanti island proved fruitless. There were no American boys and, after much torture, concluded no one neither heard of nor was aware of their presence. What have you got to say, Mr. Yang?"

"Sir, please remember that I told you that there were three possible locations based on the distance from SP1. I factored the total number of hours of darkness available and what islands south were close enough to make a round trip undetected. The three I gave you seemed the most probable. Advising you to go to the Ulanti island was just a pick of the three based on their isolation and very little contact with the outside."

Lam Sin slowly digested what his lawyer had said, then looked at him. "I cannot send men to every island to search for these boys. Word may get out, and then I'll have to deal with possible government involvement."

"So, what do you wish to do in regards to the other two islands?"

"Kalauka Island trades with the outside world. Their well-known policy of not allowing any visitors into their village would seem to preclude keeping any foreign children there. It would have been in their best interests had those boys somehow landed on their island, to turn them over to some authority. I would have heard something by now had that happened. It would be too risky to go there, even though they could never get back that one boy taken from their island. If the Kalaukans knew I had him, they could complain to the outside world. That's why I told the men on SP1 that I did not want that Kalaukan boy they foolishly kidnapped. If we had to go to Kalauka Island suspecting the American boys were there, it would be difficult and bloody. It is rumored they can be fierce warriors when it comes to defending their island. I'm sure there are traps everywhere for unsuspecting visitors."

"Is it possible the Kalaukans knew their boy was on SP1, got the help of the American and attacked the island, maybe rescuing the boy?" was the question from the lawyer.

"Did you find any remains of a boy there?" getting a shake of the head from the lawyer.

"Too many pieces that don't fit."

"Why risk a rescue when they weren't even sure if any boy was there and what they may have encountered in guards and weapons?" Mr. Yang wondered.

"I don't know. I agree with you that it was someone close. It may have involved them had they known their boy was a prisoner. Since you said the bodies of the men there were never found, we don't know if the boy was on the island that night. They may have killed the boy earlier and disposed of the body. I can't believe whoever attacked the island had no reason whatsoever."

"What about the American?"

"That would seem the logical place for three American boys to be. He had the craft to transport whomever to SP1. Neither the Ulanti nor the Kalaukans could paddle that far. However, without proof, I could face repercussions from the American government as he is technically still a citizen of that country."

"I will investigate this American. Maybe there is some information about him that will help us prove whether or not he could be involved," the lawyer suggested.

"Good thinking. Do it."

Mr. Yang then asked, "So how will you know if the boys are there or on any other island?"

"I've been giving it some thought. I think I'm going to call on an old friend to help me."

"An old friend, Master?"

"Yes. When he was a young boy of eleven, he entertained me for several months while his father repaid a gambling debt he owed me. He was the only boy I ever let leave alive. He's an adult now, took over his father's business, and ferries people and supplies among the nearby islands. He can find out if the boys are on one of them."

"After all these years, will he cooperate?"

"Yes, Mr. Yang, he will do whatever I ask. For he knows I hold a dark secret that could ruin him and his business."

Chapter 39
Blackmail

In the Marshall Islands capital of Majuro, Troy was loading his helicopter, getting ready to deliver supplies to some of the outlying islands. The cell phone on his hip rang and he casually grabbed it, answering, "Hello."

"Hello, Troy. How's one of my all-time favorite boys? I still remember that tight little ass you pleasured me with for those many months."

The man nearly dropped the cell phone as his hands trembled, recognizing a voice he hadn't heard in over eight years: the voice of a man with whom he spent six terrifying months as an 11-year-old prisoner being raped over and over again.

"Master Sin," he choked out. "Why are you calling me? You promised my father you would never contact us again."

"That is correct, my young Troy. I made that promise to your father. He is dead. Now I am contacting you."

"What do you want? Didn't you give me enough nightmares during the months I was a prisoner at your palace?"

There was a pause as the young helicopter pilot waited for the Oriental's response. His mind was flashing back to the six months he spent as an 11-year-old sex toy for this evil man. He thought he would never get through the pain as the man forced himself inside him time after time. He recalled that after a while, he just became numb to the frequent violations he endured, until he was more or less a rag doll, limp and trying not to think about what was happening to him. The man's voice snapped him back to the present.

"I need you to do a job for me," came that voice from Singapore. Troy knew this call could never be traced. The man had the latest equipment to foil any attempt to trace the transmission but assumed it was coming from the man's secret, highly guarded estate in Singapore.

With sarcasm in his voice, Troy spat back. "Majuro is full of your spies and henchmen to do whatever you require. Why would you need me?"

"I need you," Lam Sin began, trying to control his anger, "to use your helicopter services to locate something for me. You know the nearby islands well and are friends with many of the island natives. My men, let's say, couldn't handle such a search with the delicacy you can. They tend to be a little aggressive in their assignments."

"Yea, there are plenty of stories of the way your men murder and kidnap boys for your perverted pleasure. I heard Ulanti was a failure."

Ignoring that comment, Lam Sin continued, "Not entirely. I'll have some fresh boy meat soon to enjoy. To get down to business, about a month ago three American boys were destined to be my guests. My ship's captain betrayed me and placed the boys in a lifeboat to land on a nearby island. I need to know which one they are currently located on."

Troy knew immediately the man was referring to the three boys that were living with John on Paradise Island. His mind whirled as he tried to think of a response.

"A month ago. That's a long time. They could be dead. Or even if they survived, could be anywhere."

"You are testing my patience. As you aptly stated, I have plenty of spies to gather information for me. Since no one could have left the surrounding area without my knowledge, I know they are within the vicinity of your business travels."

"So what do you want of me?"

"Ask around, find out what you can, and report back to me."

"And why should I send three innocent boys to you to suffer the nightmare I went through. No boy should have to endure that."

"Spare me the righteous indignation speech. Remember, your father worked for me. I paid him well, but he was an addict to gambling; not caring for the eventual consequences of that effect on his son. Your father didn't give a damn about anyone but himself. He piled up such a debt that he ended up whoring you to me to pay it off."

"You son-of-a-bitch."

"Call me what you want, but you will do this for me, and you will do this for one of two reasons."

Troy wasn't sure if his trembling was from anger or fear, for he knew the powerful Oriental could do just about anything and get away with it. In the criminal underworld, Lam Sin's name was synonymous as a ghostly figure. Very few people ever saw his face. Most who did, mysteriously disappeared. There had always been rumors of his taste for young pre-teen boys. The stories of the boys who vanished from their homes, never to be seen again, were whispered with fear.

"All right, Lam Sin, tell me why I should find these boys for you."

"How about $300,000?"

"What?"

"I've monitored your business. You're just barely keeping afloat. Your helicopter needs repairs. I probably through my contacts in Majuro could have it grounded for safety reasons. With $300,000, you could buy a new machine and even expand your company, hiring others to make it easier for you. All this for just asking a few questions, keeping your eyes open and reporting back to me."

"What if there are no American boys around here? As I said, it's been a month. They could be anywhere."

"They are there and you will find them."

"If I find them and let you know, what happens?

"Leave that to me," was the response. Troy knew what would happen. Chris, Mike, and Matt would be better off dead than with this evil monster.

"What if I don't want to spy for you?"

"That brings us to reason number two, my young friend. I have several hours of video recordings of the wonderful times you and I spent together: your crying, begging, and screaming as I rammed my cock up that little boy ass of yours. What if those movies magically surfaced on the local Internet so that all of Majuro and the surrounding areas could see what a cute little fuck toy you were?"

"You bastard!"

"I expect to receive your first report in about a week," as the connection was abruptly terminated.

Still trembling, Troy tried to calm down and go over what Lam Sin had told him. The man still wanted the boys from Paradise Island in the worst way. Why? There were thousands of boys he could have kidnapped for his pleasure. What made these three so special? Maybe because they were Americans and Lam Sin had expanded his taste for local young boys to include a new continent. No, there was something more.

That made the young pilot think of another incident that had been repeating itself in the man's mind: the naked boys he saw on Paradise Island. Although he graciously accepted the skinny-dipping explanation, he kept wondering how Kalaukan boys ended up visiting Paradise Island and running around naked along with John's young charges

For as long as he could remember, there had always been rumors that the Kalaukan people had some sort of a sexual lifestyle, especially involving their children. Nothing could ever be proven as the eastern side of the island, where the village was located, was fiercely guarded. No outsiders were ever allowed. The Kalaukans of whom he traded with on the western shores acted as though nothing was different or unusual in their day-to-day lifestyle. They were wonderful, gracious people that Troy called friends. Yet John, a recent newcomer to the area, not only had been invited into their secretive society but also Kalaukan boys were visiting his island. How did this relationship evolve so quickly? Troy did notice the varying degrees of suntans on the four boys. This was not the first time John's boys had been naked in the sun; and if the Kalaukans did have a sexual society, had that been brought over to Paradise Island? Was John having sex with those he rescued?

Troy thought back to a year ago when he was first introduced to John. All the man had told him was that he had been fortunate to win a lottery and was now fulfilling his lifelong dream of purchasing his private island. His searches to date had been unsuccessful for various reasons. So here he was in Majuro responding to an ad about an island for sale. Troy immediately liked the man and offered to take him to the property in question, previously owned by a man from the Middle East. John saw the house first and wasn't sure if he was going to like it. He told Troy that the building looked like it had been plucked from his old neighborhood and placed on this island. It reminded him too much of where he came from. John had assumed the dwelling would reflect some Middle Eastern architecture in design from the previous owner. It was Troy who tried to change the man's mind by explaining to him that the house was just part of the island. John needed to widen his senses and look at the beauty of the surrounding foliage, the hot springs, the clean sandy shores, the beautiful sunrises and sunsets he would witness every day. The man wasn't entirely convinced. It wasn't until he saw the glass bedroom on the other side of the island that he changed his mind and decided to make the island his home. Troy was somewhat surprised at the abrupt change in attitude. Although John saw it as the clincher in deciding to go ahead and purchase the property, to Troy the glass bedroom was a nice addition, but he saw nothing extraordinary about it. John's enthusiasm grew as he also learned that the island fell under no country's jurisdiction. Technically, he was his little independent nation.

For the next several weeks, Troy assisted John in getting the documentation and financial transactions finalized. The transfer of funds seemed to take forever going from the United States to Majuro and then to the bank of the previous owner and then waiting for the transfer of deed giving John 100% ownership. During this waiting period, Troy ferried John several times to what was now being called, 'Paradise Island' as John made minor changes in the home and surroundings. He also flew the man over some of the other nearby islands inhabited by the respective indigenous populations. One such stop was on the western side of Kalauka Island so John could see some of the natives. Then the day finally arrived when Troy took the new official owner of Paradise Island to his home.

John never shared with Troy anything further about his background and the pilot wondered why a man would want to live on an island alone with just a dog? During the weekly visits he made, John seemed to be enjoying the peace and solitude. He did look forward to Troy's visits and the two would talk for hours before Troy had to head back to Majuro.

Recently, John had been a little more excited than usual and Troy prodded him about it. He didn't know that the reason was the monthly visits of Aukai. Troy just accepted the fact John was happy on his island and left it at that.

Then the three American boys were shipwrecked on Paradise Island, originally intended for delivery to Lam Sin. Based on his own experiences, Troy knew the boys needed to disappear and offered John help in getting new identities and supporting paperwork. Again, except for the fact that the boys had been kidnapped to send them to the Oriental, Troy knew nothing more. Then a fourth boy arrived at the island that John knew from the past. And lastly, naked Kalaukan boys are walking along the shoreline of John's island.

As John's friend, Troy would think it inappropriate to pry into the man's personal life. What John and the boys did was none of his business. The boys appeared healthy and happy to be with a new and hopefully safe life. That was all Troy needed to know.

Now a man was threatening him. A man he thought he would never hear from again, bringing up the painful memories of 8 years ago. Not only that, but promising to let the whole world view the video recordings that Troy never knew were being made, if he didn't reveal the whereabouts of the three boys. He concluded that he needed answers if he were ever going to rid this evil man from his life as well as protect John and his boys.

Normally, John would be calling tomorrow, Wednesday, for his weekly supply list, but this couldn't be discussed on an open channel. He needed to talk to John face-to-face and right away. He decided that as soon as he made his daily rounds, he would head for Paradise Island. The missing pieces of a puzzle were there. He just had to get them to more fully understand Lam Sin's obsession with these boys. He also felt it was now time to rid the world of the Oriental.

***

Before boarding the Sea Ray for home, Fauiki and Maru had a group gathered around them as they shared their experiences during the shortened visit to Paradise Island and some of the technological wonders only seen by most in pictures at the schoolhouse on the western side of the island. This was to take their mind off the wounded and dying men in the main hut. Aukai then came by and stood beside John. The man asked the future leader of the Kalaukan people his thoughts about the attack on the Ulanti people.

Looking right into John's eyes, he softly stated, "I was scared. When Fauiki, Maru, and I were taken off your boat without you, I didn't know what was going on. Nobody would say anything to me. It wasn't until I saw my father and those Ulanti men that I realized something terrible had happened. When my father told me it was Lam Sin's men, I started shaking so badly. My father saw that and tried to calm me down saying everything was all right. Our island was safe. I had never thought of our island being in any danger."

"I'm sure it isn't. The Ulanti island was more remote with very little outside contact, so it was logical to go there. Your father has your home prepared and protected."

"Does Lam Sin wants Mike, Chris and Matt that badly?"

"I'm afraid so, Aukai. He paid a lot of money for them, so he considered the boys his property. He's prepared to keep searching and hurting people until he finds them."

"Aren't you afraid he'll come to Paradise Island?"

"Yes, I am, but I try not to show it in front of the boys, and Paradise Island is not Ulanti. I have guns and the means to call for immediate help. If I think the danger is near, I would leave the boys here under your father's protection."

When the Sea Ray reached home very little else was said and soon the lights of Paradise Island shone in the evening twilight. It was good to see a familiar sight. Everyone looked forward to a good night's sleep. Soon, the boat was docked and everyone inside, greeted by the dog. She was fed and everyone showered. Only Joshua and Matt paired up, as everyone else had their bed. Soon, deep sleep was upon all.

***

"Captain, can I talk to you for a moment?" as Lieutenant Joseph Longner poked his head inside the office of his superior, Captain Hardwick.

"Sure Joe. What's on your mind?"

"It's about those missing boys from the explosion at the ranch."

"Joe, we were told that the Barstow Police Department is no longer involved in that case. The FBI and Homeland Security have taken over."

"I know that Captain, but I can't get it out of my head about those three boys and the possibility that they may be prisoners on that island with this John character."

"Look Joe, I understand your concern, but there's no proof that they are there. The Captain of the Sea Queen placed those boys in a lifeboat and hoped they would land on an island that would contact the local authorities to pick them up. It's been nearly a month and nothing has come out of that area. We may have to accept the fact that the boys might have died out there in that boat."

"But what if they survived?"

"Why are you so wrapped up in this? It's out of our hands and we have missing children cases here that need to be looked into."

"I know, except that the proximity of the casting of the lifeboat and the felon owning the possible nearest island concerns me. So I've done some investigating."

"Joe!" the captain said, drawing out the name in one long syllable.

"I've been doing this on my own time. Let me show you what I've uncovered."

Looking exasperated, Captain Hardwick threw up his hands. "All right. You have five minutes."

"Thanks, Captain. First, since this John needed to travel to search for and eventually purchase this island, he had to have a passport," getting a concurring nod from Hardwick. "So I checked with customs to see if he had used it recently."

"And?"

Giving the captain a slight smile, he pronounced, "He came to California ten days ago."

"Go on."

"John was only in Los Angeles for 24 hours. When he left the U.S. he had a companion accompany him, a 13-year-old boy." Seeing the captain was becoming intrigued with the presentation, the Lieutenant continued. "The boy that boarded the plane with him was the same one he was convicted of molesting four years earlier and drew a three-year plea bargain prison sentence."

"You're kidding! How?"

"He was given legal guardianship by the boy's mother."

"That's impossible!"

"Sadly, Captain, it isn't. I found the court record showing her signature granting John legal guardianship for an unspecified time frame and approved by the judge. Guardianships are not investigated like adoptions. This was just a routine request. No reason to deny it. Maybe if the judge had known to whom the mother was given custody of her boy to, he may have questioned her decision."

"Why would a mother give guardianship of her son to the same man she accused of molesting him four years earlier? Not only that but be taken to an island several thousand miles away? Could this have been some sort of blackmail?"

"I don't know Captain. The strange thing is that John was here just 24 hours, yet when he left, he had the legal documents and the boy's passport showing him as guardian."

"So she had this all prepared for when John arrived?"

"Seems so. I'm guessing that she and John communicated before his arrival and therefore, under whatever arrangement they agreed upon, had the appropriate documents ready for when he arrived so he could take the boy immediately out of the country."

"Well, we can question her judgment by such a decision, but there's been no law broken. A judge could review this case, but unless there's proof of some wrongdoing, there's nothing he could do. Even if he could, John owns an island in which he makes the laws." Pausing for a moment, the Captain wondered, "Maybe this John was trying to make up to the boy for what he did to him four years ago."

"With all due respect Captain, can you really believe that? Case studies have shown, once a molester, always a molester. That's why we have them on a tight leash when they are released from prison. Our laws are made to protect innocent children. You don't think John turned guardian angel?"

"No, I can't. But apparently, the boy went willingly."

"Some children form a bonding, even with those who sexually abuse them. You've heard of the 'Stockholm Syndrome'? This boy refused to testify against the man. So a plea bargain was all the prosecutor could do instead of a trial, guilty verdict, and a longer prison sentence. The boy had somehow bonded with his perpetrator."

"And still after four years?"

"Who knows?"

"OK. So what does this have to do with the three missing boys?"

"Maybe nothing Captain. Maybe this boy John took with him was to join the others he already had on his island."

"Come on Joe, aren't you letting your imagination get away from you. You're a trained investigator. Are you suggesting this man is building some sort of boy harem for his sexual pleasures?"

"I don't know. Having his island puts him under no legal jurisdiction but his own. Who knows what he's doing."

"All right Joe. I gave you five minutes. You told me some interesting facts and theories, but nothing we can prove or get involved with."

Pausing for a moment, the lieutenant then made a request. "Captain, I want to take a couple of days of vacation."

"Why?" giving a suspicious look to the Lieutenant.

"I want to go to Los Angeles and question the mother."

"She hasn't done anything illegal. You can't go harassing her for what she did, no matter how disgusting it may sound."

"That's not my intent. Maybe during her meeting with John, the man may have said something to indicate he had other boys on his island. If he did, maybe we can pursue it further on the possibility it could be those missing boys."

"Joe …"

"Captain, please. If this leads to a dead-end, I will drop this and never bring it up to you again."

"All right Joe. Two days! And if nothing, you drop this."

"Agreed."

***

On Paradise Island the following morning at the breakfast table, there was the usual chatter involving John and the boys. This chatter was a little different as there was no sharing of the previous evening's sexual exploits among themselves, as had been the norm before going to sleep. Joshua and Matt were the only two to share a bed and both confessed that they immediately fell asleep once their head hit the pillows. The events of yesterday were still fresh in their minds. Matt commented that hopefully, all these outside issues would end so that they could have more private times together. Everyone at the table agreed.

"When we will go back again to Kalauka Island?" Chris wanted to know.

"Not too soon," the man answered. "Let's not wear out our welcome. Remember, the Kalaukans have broken an age-old tradition of allowing outsiders to their village and I know the five of us to appreciate that honor. We even had three Kalaukan boys visit us, but we need to respect their customs and protect them as much as possible. I believe too many back and forth visits may jeopardize that."

"How?" Mike asked.

"I don't want us to be responsible for any other person, accidentally or otherwise, discovering their lifestyle. I don't know how that might happen, but it won't be because of us. Do you realize if others find out, and one, try to change them, or two, learn about you three that Lam Sin's looking for?" This got solemn looks from the boys.

A few moments later the boys were about, handling their respective responsibilities. John reminded Joshua that as soon as he was through he needed to send an email to his mother. "Remember, for now, all she needs to know is that you and I are the only ones on this island and have yet to journey away from it."

Not much else was said. He was sure the boys didn't believe the story of the men catching the flu. Why would that be such an emergency? They didn't mention anything at breakfast, for which the man was glad. For the moment, everyone would stay on their respective island keeping a low profile and hoping Lam Sin didn't have a reason to visit. John decided to sit on the porch. He loved sitting on the rattan furniture, smelling the fresh air, and listening to the waves as they ended their journey on the shore. He was awakened when the boys came to him.

"John, there's a helicopter approaching. Could it be Troy?" Matt announced.

"It shouldn't be," the man replied. "I won't be calling him until Wednesday for supply needs that he delivers on Saturdays. If it is he, it must be something important. Let's go to the helipad," as the five left the house and traversed the short walk along the trail leading to the landing site.

Chapter 40
Secrets Revealed

All immediately recognized the incoming chopper as belonging to Troy, so curiosity brewed as to why he was making a special unannounced trip to Paradise Island. The craft landed and John and the boys greeted the pilot.

"This is a surprise, Troy. Is everything alright?" John asked.

"I apologize to all of you for dropping in like this, but there's a serious subject I need to share with you. Can we talk?"

"Sure, come on up to the house." Looking at the boys, he asked, "Is there some ice cream left?" Confirming there was plenty, John said that ice cream would be served. "You're welcomed to join us," looking at Troy.

"Thank you," as everyone headed to the dwelling, John and the boys glancing at one another nervously. For Troy to come unexpectedly and mention a serious issue was probably not good news. Less than 48 hours ago, another 'serious' issue had come up with the news of the attack by Lam Sin's men on the Ulanti. Several minutes later, everyone was settled in the large living room after enjoying a bowl of ice cream and waiting for the helicopter pilot to begin.

"So, what's this serious subject you mentioned?" John began.

Briefly, Troy mentioned the call he got from Lam Sin and the man's demand he finds out where the three boys were located. He didn't mention the two options the Oriental had presented him. He wanted to wait and see what John had to tell him.

"I was hoping that by the time I got the new documentation for Mike, Chris, and Matt, that Lam Sin would have given up on his search and go back to other local boys his men kidnap for him, but he's obsessed. He hasn't spoken to me in eight years. Why now?

"I'm sorry, John, but I can't help but wonder what makes your boys so valuable to him. It can't be that they are Americans. Boys are boys when it comes to fulfilling his sexual desires."

John took a deep sigh and looked at the boys in question. Originally, he had wanted to share with Troy only what was necessary. Now, the man needed to know what was fueling the Oriental's fixation on possessing the three lads. He looked at the boys, who in turn, nodded their heads. The pilot should know the truth.

Seeing the silent agreement between John and the boys, Troy sounded puzzled. "I don't understand."

"Wait for a second, Troy, and then you'll comprehend what this is all about. You know Lam Sin quite well. He lets his men kidnap boys from all over Southeast Asia and the Southern Pacific Ocean. Except for you, all those boys have a Polynesian bloodline. Not as dark as maybe some Middle Eastern boys but close enough. Somehow he had a caseworker planted in the United States to search for boys that were different."

The young man looked at John. "Different. What do you mean?"

"Take the tan away and what do you see. Joshua, show him your arms. "Because he wanted the whitest pigment boys possible. If you look closer at the three original boys, you'll see one has green eyes, one blue and one gray."

"This is why Lam Sin wants them?"

"I'm only guessing Troy, but somehow this caseworker working for Lam Sin, and knowing of the man's lust for young boys, came across the photos of these three recently orphaned children. Thinking his boss would enjoy possessing them, he notified Lam Sin, who made arrangements for the boys to be shipped to him. Again, for the three boys to end up in the same foster home required someone responsible for placing such children, thus the caseworker. That foster home had to be under the employ and/or control of Lam Sin." Troy was silent for a few moments while he digested what he had been told.

"As far as I know, Lam Sin had boys only taken from the surrounding poor countryside or nearby islands. I was the first and probably only purely white child ever to spend time in his presence. The other boys who were with me were darker-skinned. So I imagine the chance to get his hands on light-skinned American boys must have been a temptation. Knowing his perverted mind, he probably would have fantasized having these boys in his domain as he abused them."

"It's hard to say what goes through a man's mind like Lam Sin. Maybe he recently recalled you being his guest for six months, the only light-skinned boy he ever had. All of a sudden, he desired to have more."

"But kidnapping boys from America is a lot harder," Troy surmised.

"A good point. Kidnapping local boys was a lot easier. They disappeared and very little, if anything, was done to find them, especially from the more isolated islands that didn't have the capabilities to try and search," John added, "But such disappearance in the U.S. would be more difficult. Lam Sin planned it so that it appeared the boys were killed in an explosion; therefore, there was no big rush to search for remains, plus no relatives who would be asking questions either. The only thing that saved them from right now living in Singapore was a ship's captain with a change of heart."

Troy nodded his head. "Amen. Lam Sin must have spent a small fortune setting this up. With no luck so far in locating them, he thinks my travels will reveal where the boys are hiding." He stopped for a moment and asked out loud, "I wonder why he didn't try Australia or New Zealand? They're a lot closer."

"Maybe that was the problem, too close to his home base. Better to go further away and be less connected to the kidnapping," Johnn assumed.

"So, what did you tell him?" Mike asked.

"I told him that after a month, anything could have happened to the three of you. You could have died in that lifeboat or after rescue been sent back to the United States."

"I take it he wasn't convinced," John assumed.

Shaking his head, Troy answered. "His network of spies is huge. They monitor all travels in and out of the area. To be honest, I'm surprised he hasn't found your boys by now. Maybe the fact that this is a privately owned island by an American may have given him pause to attempt anything directly here without positive proof."

"He's getting close though," John revealed, telling of the raid on the Ulanti island and the men killed there while searching for the boys.

"My God, this man will stop at nothing. I don't know much about the Ulanti. I know they keep pretty much to themselves and have little contact with the outside world. I've just flown supplies in and out with very little exchange in conversation."

John continued. "So since nothing has come up in regards to the boys being rescued or being sent somewhere else, he's assuming the boys are on some island around here. The failure at Ulanti Island must have made Lam Sin re-think a new strategy for finding the boys. And since you travel to nearly every island and know the populace, you'd be the perfect 'spy' to try and find them. I'm just surprised that after eight years he contacted you."

"I guess he figured that even after what he did to me for those six months, and even after growing up and taking over my father's business, he could still have use for me," Troy said softly.

"How? Forgive my prying, but you're 19 years old. Eight years have passed. Unlike your father, who worked for Lam Sin, you have no such connections. Couldn't you just say no and he'd have to leave you alone?"

"I tried John, but he's tempting me or blackmailing me, whichever way you look at it." He got puzzled looks from everyone. Troy told them of Lam Sin's offer of $300,000, like a reward, for helping him find the boys.

"He knows my business is my life. Even though I do no business with him, he still influences many authorities here in Majuro. He could shut down my business if he wanted to. That's the kind of power he has, even way out here away from Singapore."

"Unbelievable!" was all John could say. "Until the boys landed here, I had never heard of this man."

"Do you know that when I was born, my father asked him to be my Godfather at my baptism? In 20 years, he has projected an aura of power and fear. Nobody sees or hears him, but somehow they know he's watching them. That's what makes him so frighteningly real and keeps everyone in check.

"I want to tell all of you that I would gladly lose my business to help protect everyone here. I had hoped the new identities would shield them, but it's going to be too late." Pausing, he slowly added, "I don't know if I could handle the other option."

He then shared what the Oriental revealed about the videotaped sessions of them during the months of captivity and sexual abuse. "It's bad enough that it's my nightmare that only you are aware of, but if it were revealed via the Internet to everyone around…" leaving the sentence unfinished, his voice cracking.

"Don't think about it, Troy. It won't happen," John said to his friend. "Are you on a timetable?"

"He wants me to make my first report in about a week," the pilot answered, taking a deep breath, trying to regain his composure.

"So maybe we can stall him for two or three weeks."

"At the most, John. Then he'll know I'm lying to him."

For some strange reason, at that moment, John thought back to the rescue of Kari from SP1. At that time, he felt uncomfortable about the killing of Lam Sin's two men. He realized as he thought more about it that it was a necessity to safeguard their secret, their safety. He looked directly at Troy. "We have to get rid of Lam Sin!"

"John, I have thought about that wonderful event for eight years, and I'm sure hundreds of others wouldn't shed a tear but would celebrate if that horrible man met his end."

Taking a deep breath, John continued. "There has to be a way to lure him away from his palace."

"He very seldom leaves Singapore as far as I know. If he does, he travels in complete secrecy with an army of bodyguards."

"Bait!" shouted Chris.

"What?" John asked, looking at the blonde-headed boy.

"Just like in the movies. Make him come to Paradise Island as though he's going to pick us up, and we set a trap for him."

"Forget it," Troy told the 12-year-old. "This isn't television. Good guys don't come to the rescue at the last minute. This is a monster we're talking about. He kills without giving it a second thought. Even if you could get him to come here, don't you think he'd be prepared for just such a situation?"

"Wait a minute Troy," John said out loud. "That might not be a bad idea. Of course, we'd need outside help."

"What are you talking about?"

"The Kalaukans."

"The Kalaukans! John, you're my friend, and as such, I'm here to help you protect these boys as best as I can. But if we are going to plan a dangerous plot as is being suggested, I want some honesty about you and the Kalaukans.

"Forgive me for saying this, but I know there's more to life here between you and the boys besides what you've told me. Don't get me wrong; I'm not here to judge. I know the boys are happy, so whatever you're doing can't be harmful, but since I'm now involved with my future and life at stake, I feel there should be no secrets between us. You're the only one I've ever told about my stay with Lam Sin. I know you would never share it with anyone outside this island. So trust me, please."

John leaned back in his chair as the boys looked at him, wondering what he was going to say. He looked at the four boys. "You need to tell me what you want. It's your secret as well as mine and the Kalaukans."

"I trust Troy," Mike pronounced, getting the same response from the others. Turning to his friend, John began. "It all started four years ago…"

For the next hour, John shared with Tony the story of his life for the past four years, his sexual relationship with the then 9-year-old Joshua, its discovery, and the three years spent in prison as a result. He spoke of winning the lottery and searching for a private island to get away from those memories.

"I'm sorry that when you were helping me secure this island, I wasn't more open about my past. At that time, I was trying to bury it as much as possible, and mentioning I was a boylover didn't seem the appropriate topic to bring up."

"No apologies needed. Your past and your sexual preferences are your own business. I don't judge people on that. I saw other qualities in you that made me want to be your friend and help you with getting Paradise Island."

"Thanks, Troy, that means a lot." John then continued by describing Aukai's first unexpected visit and the revelation that the boy had come from a village that believed in intergenerational sex among the children."

Troy nodded his head. "So the rumors are true. Kalauka Island does revolve around a sexual society. I had heard it for years, but every time I visited them, they seemed like normal people. All were dressed in their native sarongs, their intelligence impressive. They were kind and fair people. There was never a hint that underneath all that a different lifestyle existed."

"Listen, Troy," John spoke in a more serious tone. "You must never breathe a word about this to anyone. I'm violating Chief Haoa's trust by telling you. When I see him again, I'll have to let him know. Hopefully, he'll understand, but he could bar the boys and me from ever visiting his village again," as the four boys hearing this understood that a real possibility existed that they could never visit Kalauka Island and participate in their customs.

"Of course, John. You have my word. So their way of life and you being a…boylover brought you and the Kalaukans together."

"I guess that's a simple way of saying it. You see, before the boys landed on my island, Aukai, through his father, invited me over for my first visit."

"How did Aukai know you liked boys?"

John blushed a little, trying to find the words to say. The four boys sat quietly listening. "I walked around naked most of the time when I first settled here. I guess Aukai spied on me and took a chance when he came over. During his overnight visit, it was confirmed."

"Confirmed? I don't understand."

Again, a hesitation: "We had sex here on the island." A couple of the boys giggled as they saw how uncomfortable it was for John to share such an intimate memory.

"Oh, I see," Troy stated quickly and then waited for John to continue.

"The boys landed here and being a boylover, well it just evolved from there."

It was here that the boys wanted Troy to know how the sexual relationship evolved. "We were never forced. We were a little confused until John explained and showed us how sex could be fun," Mike spoke out. "We've loved it ever since and love John too."

It was Chris who then spoke. "We know that in most of the world, what we do together would be considered wrong and people go to jail for it. But the world doesn't know about our love here and how we share it in and out of bed."

Joshua was next to speak. "If you need more proof, Troy, I loved what John and I did four years ago. My parents at first told me I was too young and didn't understand what had happened–but I did. I couldn't contact John while he was in prison, but when he got out, I spent a year trying to find him so that I could be with him again."

"John doesn't love us just for the sex," Matt, the last to comment. "He's shown us in many other ways how much he cares about us and was willing to do anything to protect us."

With a low choking voice, the man of whom the boys had spoken of looked at each one and said softly, "Thank you. I love you all very much."

Addressing the boys, Troy asked, "Have all of you been to Kalauka Island and done…stuff with the other kids?"

The boys laughed at Troy's discomfort raising such a delicate question. It was Mike who answered. "Yes, we have. We were naked the entire time we were there and we did lots of 'stuff' with the other boys."

John then picked up from there. "So you see, when the three Kalaukan boys came by to visit, it was just a continuation of that special relationship between the Kalaukans and us. It was only natural for them to be naked as we were when we visited their island. They were premature in their arrival when they returned to the house, thus your discovery. I'm sure you doubted the skinny-dipping story."

It was now Troy who laughed. "It didn't sound quite right, but I let it go. I only thought about it again after Lam Sin called me. I knew I was going to have to talk to you and that somehow the real story of the Kalaukans would emerge."

The man paused for a moment before continuing. "Look, I appreciate you sharing your very personal lives with me and you have my solemn word. I will never betray any of what you told me. I don't know about the sexual relationship because my own experience as a boy was very bad. Maybe if someone like you, John had shown me differently when I was young, I'd feel more like your boys do now." The pilot then looked directly at the boys. "Be that as it may, I always knew you were happy living here with John, and if sex between all of you enhances that love in some way, who am I to find fault?"

"I know I speak for all of us in saying thank you for your friendship and trust," John concluded.

"So that brings us back to square one," Troy put in. "What do we do about Lam Sin?"

"Let's all of us think about it over the next 24 hours. Can you come back here tomorrow morning?" getting an affirmative nod from the helicopter pilot. "Good! I want you to take me to Kalauka Island so I can meet with Chief Haoa. We'll put our heads together and see if we can come up with a plan."

Everyone escorted Troy back to his machine and soon it lifted off and took to the air for its trip back to Majuro. The sky was almost black. A late light dinner was prepared, and of course, the conversation around the table was Troy's visit and the new pressure Lam Sin was exerting in his efforts to find the three boys.

"It went a lot better than I had thought," John stated.

"I'm glad we told Troy," spoke Matt. "I feel better knowing another grown-up can help us. I know you're doing the best you can, but having Troy makes it better."

"I understand Matt. I know you weren't implying anything, and you're right. Here on this island, the options are limited. Troy, having lived in this area all his life, might have ideas and contacts I don't have."

"You told Troy that maybe the Kalaukans might help," put in Joshua.

"Remember, I told you about Chief Haoa's son being kidnapped and how he, myself, and his best warriors rescued him?" getting a nod from the boy. "I'm almost sure he would join an opportunity to get rid of Lam Sin."

"Do you think he'll be mad for you telling Troy about what they do in their village?" Chris wanted to know.

"I hope not. I'm sure he'll understand once I explained the necessity and the need to work together in this venture."

With dinner over, everyone decided to sit by the bonfire. While the roaring flames crackled through the air, Mike mentioned that he missed the time spent here by the fire.

"You're right. We've been sidetracked a lot because of other events. My dream was to live a quiet life with all of you, enjoying our special relationship. I don't regret the visits to Kalauka Island or helping rescue Kari, but I want to spend more time with just you four. We discussed it at breakfast and I think the five of us made it clear we wanted to share more private time."

"Maybe when we get rid of Lam Sin, we can finally be all alone like we want."

"I hope so."

"John," Matt began. "When you said getting rid of Lam Sin, did you mean killing him?"

The man was afraid this question might come up. "Lam Sin is an evil man. You know what he does with boys. It's not sex the way you and I enjoy it. He hurts the boys, makes them cry and scream in pain. You heard Troy and the hell he went through for six months.

"He was the lucky one because he was able to leave alive and return to his father. Troy believes once Lam Sin got tired of the boys, they quote, disappeared, unquote. I'm sure you can guess what that means. God only knows how many young boys have died having been with Lam Sin. He doesn't care about life.

"If that isn't enough to scare you, think of what you'd be going through this minute had you made it to Singapore. What do you think would have happened once he grew tired of you? Now he's killing innocent people in his quest to find you. He tortures boys and kills adults. He doesn't deserve to live.

"I don't believe in murder. It shook me up when Chief Haoa's men killed the guards on that island, but when I discovered later what they had been doing with little Kari, I accepted what had to be done. I now accept what has to be done to Lam Sin. You boys, no matter what I do to try to conceal your presence here, will never be 100% safe as long as he is looking for you."

"But how can you get to him? Troy says he never leaves Singapore and if he does, he has lots of bodyguards," Matt asked.

"I don't know, Matt. I'm hoping that between the Kalaukans, Troy and myself, we can come up with a plan to lure him away from where we can get him." The boys nodded their understanding. "All right, everybody, time for bed. It's been a long day," getting no objection from anyone. As the five headed back to the house after putting out the fire, John approached Joshua. "Do you want to sleep with me?" This got a grin from the 13-year-old as he dashed off, wanting to be one of the first to use the showers.

***

"Look, Lieutenant Longner, I invited you inside my home because you're a police officer, even though you don't serve in this city, but I don't appreciate the implications that I'm not a good mother."

"I'm not implying anything, ma'am, I'm just trying to investigate the disappearance of some boys."

Laura looked at the man with exasperation. "I don't understand how three boys in Barstow could have any connection with my son. I thought you said they died in a fire. If I recall the news, the fire was so intense no remains could be found."

"It was the deliberate intention of someone to make sure no remains were found to cover up their disappearance. In reality, they were kidnapped and loaded on a freighter heading to Singapore. The ship's captain betrayed the 'buyer' of the boys and placed them in a lifeboat near what he hoped was a friendly island. No word has ever emerged on the fate of those three boys and if they did land on an island."

"Buyer?"

"Yes ma'am, it is believed a man named Lam Sin, an underground criminal, organized and paid to have these boys sent to him."

"For what purpose?"

The Lieutenant tried to phase the next statement delicately. "Lam Sin is a pedophile. I believe he wanted those boys for some deviant sexual purposes."

"My God!" was all Laura could say. Then looking at the officer, she asked, "I still don't see how this connects to my son Joshua."

"The ship's captain thought if the boys landed on an American island, the boys would have a better chance of being turned over to the proper authorities and returned to the U.S. So the lifeboat was aimed toward Paradise Island."

"And you think those three boys may be there along with my son?"

"I'm looking at all possibilities, that's all."

"Joshua has sent many emails, but never has he mentioned anyone else living on that island except for him and John."

"Ma'am, I realize I have no authority to ask this, but may I read those emails?"

Laura thought about it for a moment. "I don't see why not if it will satisfy your curiosity." She led the Lieutenant to her computer and brought up the emails received from her son, along with the attachments that were photos of the island and John. The man read and studied each one. True, the teenage boy never mentioned anyone else but John. He felt disappointed. Maybe the boys were lost at sea or landed on a different island.

"I guess that's it, but I can't leave here without asking why you gave guardianship to the same man who spent three years in prison for molesting your son. Forgive me; it just doesn't sound like something a parent would do."

"Is that why this same earlier question made me sound like a bad mother?"

"I apologize for that, but you must admit it casts a strange light on this: a boy allowed to leave the country with the same man who molested him."

"Lieutenant, I don't have all day to explain. A lot changed during the past four years. As an officer, you see a pedophile that only has deviant, perverted thoughts. He aimed to sexually satisfy himself at the expense of a young, innocent boy. That's the only character you see him as.

"At first, so did I, but Joshua convinced me otherwise. It took a while, but I saw his determination to prove to me that John wasn't the monster the newspaper portrayed him as being. There was love, something his father never fully gave him. So when he was released, Joshua asked for my help in locating him. It took a year just to get his email address.

"Even though I had the guardianship papers and passport if necessary, when John arrived here, he wasn't keen on taking Joshua. He thought it was a bad idea. I guess that was the last indicator I needed to know that John was thinking of my son's welfare. As a mother, I would have sensed if going with John so far away was a bad idea.

" As you saw by the emails, my boy is happy and is getting the love and attention he's missed for the past three years since my husband and I divorced. I appreciate as a public servant your skepticism about such an arrangement, but I have no concerns about the current well-being of my son."

"Thank you very much for your time," as Joe Longner got up and headed to the front door. "I appreciate your cooperation."

As Laura closed the door, she breathed a sigh of relief. She hadn't lied to the Lieutenant. The man seemed convinced that the emails were genuine and Joshua was fine and happy and alone with John. Although she didn't expect her son to share anything sexual that was going on, she knew it was probably taking place. Did that knowledge make her a bad mother? She didn't think so. She could always recall Joshua if she sensed something wasn't right. Of course, she didn't know that the officer's assumption was correct: that the three boys from Barstow were actually on Paradise Island. If she had, would she have felt different about her son being there? That question would have to wait at least another year before Joshua revealed it to her.

In the rental car on the way to the airport, Joe Longner felt disappointed. Although there was no proof that anyone besides John and Joshua was living on Paradise Island, his gut instinct told him there was a lot more going on. He got his two days vacation and had come away with nothing. He was heading back to his desk at the Barstow Police Department and to close the file on the three missing boys as he had promised the Captain.

Chapter 41
A Flash Of Light

On Paradise Island, John woke up to the now-familiar enjoyment of a naked boy lying next to him. Joshua was awake and before any words were spoken, both experienced wonderful orgasms.

First, John's mouth on the boy's cock kept the 13-year-old squirming and moaning until he couldn't hold back anymore and to release his precious boy juice that the man lapped up with great delight. In return, the teen's very tight ass provided the warmth and grip that the man moaned as each stroke inside repeated itself. Like Joshua tried a few moments ago, John tried to hold on, but couldn't and several strong shots of his man seed found a new home in the bowels of the boy. Both spoke of that intimate, intense pleasure each had just enjoyed.

"John, you sucked my cock when I was nine years old. How come you never tried to stick it in my butt?"

"We've covered this before, Joshua. Believe me, I wanted that very much. Every time I turned you over, played with your ass, and saw that beautiful pink opening, I had to control myself."

"Why? I would have let you. I loved you and trusted you."

"I know you did, but there were reasons, foremost hurting you. Remember the first time? Even though you got over it, there was some pain."

"But I was ready for it."

"True, but at 9-years-old, you probably weren't. You had a smaller butt. I couldn't take the chance. If I had hurt you, your parents would have known."

The boy gave it a thought. "I guess you're right, but now we can do it whenever we want."

"Very true," as both gave each other a close hug. It lasted that way for a very long time, eyes closed, each with his thoughts. John felt the boy shivering. He knew it wasn't from being cold, but the emotional moments of finally being with the man he loved. Then he heard the sniffling as tears rolled down the boy's cheeks. "What's the matter, Joshua?"

"We lost four years! I can't help but wonder what we would have done together if we had never been separated?"

"I know Joshua. It was a tough time."

"Were you starting to forget about me?"

"What do you mean?"

"Well, you had your island and Chris, Matt and Mike. Was I becoming just a memory?"

John took a deep sigh before answering the boy's question. "Remember when we met again, I told you how I wanted to see you after I got out of prison, but it just wasn't a good idea? I couldn't take a chance the police would discover we were together and assume I was 'molesting' you again. I would be sent to prison for the rest of my life. It was best to keep away from you.

"Never did I love you less than since the last time I saw you three years earlier. The lottery was a fortunate occurrence for me to leave the area. I had planned to live like a hermit on this island. I wasn't expecting a visit from Aukai and what happened afterward. You know the three boys landing here was just a coincidence, but to be honest with you, I did have a new life. I found the same love and pleasure with my new family as I had with you. At that time, the thought of us getting together again was never something I dreamed would happen. I hadn't counted on your love that strong that you spent a year not only trying to find me but convincing your mother to let you come here, even knowing what we would do."

The boy gave a slight smile as he wiped the tears from his face. "Mom couldn't understand." Lowering his voice, he whispered, "I even threatened Mom with running away from home to look for you."

"You crazy kid!" the man said, giving the boy another squeeze. "Had I known, right after I bought this place, I would have come for you!"

"You couldn't. Only after we got your email address and Mom knew how serious I was, did she realize how much I loved you and knew you would never hurt me no matter what we did. She knew kids learned all kinds of things about sex on the Internet and figured, sooner or later, I would be doing something. Mom decided I would be safer with you, no matter what we did."

"She's a very rare parent, especially in America. How is she explaining to others about you not being home?"

"Mom said she would tell them that I'm staying with an aunt back east for a while."

"We're together now, Joshua. Don't worry about the four years. Yes, it would have been interesting and lots of fun to see how our sex would have evolved between us when you turned 10, 11, or 12. But there's nothing wrong with you being thirteen. Your body may be bigger, but so is your heart, and to me, that's even more important. The sharing of our bodies just adds to that love." And with that being said, both were quiet and John soon felt the boy falling asleep, still clinging tightly to him.

It was those moments John recalled as he lay in bed, the boy still pressed close to him. If only life could be as simple and wonderful as what just happened between the two when they awoke, but reality made its ugly entrance as he recalled Troy's visit and the dangers facing everyone on Paradise Island. He knew the situation with Lam Sin had to conclude. Either Lam Sin had to be gotten rid of or the real possibility existed that all the boys, now including Joshua, would be sex toys of the Oriental.

Not wanting to upset the teen, nothing had been said about his fate. John figured Joshua was smart enough to understand that if Chris, Mike, and Matt were kidnapped, he would be taken too, an extra 'trophy' to show off and use. John realized he had to make contingency plans to get the four boys to safety if the need arose.

He gently got out of bed and let the boy continue sleeping as he showered and prepared to meet Troy, who would take him to Kalauka Island. The other three were awake and having breakfast. Making sure the dog had been fed, John then joined them at the table. There seems to be an eerie quietness.

"Where's Joshua," Chris asked.

"I let him sleep."

"You wore him out, didn't you," Chris replied, getting a few chuckles to lighten up the mood.

"More the other way around. Look, guys, I know we face a serious situation because of Lam Sin, but that should be nothing new to you. He's always been like a bad shadow hanging over the three of you since you left the ranch, and I know his threatening Troy to help find you make it seem worse now.

"Maybe it's a good thing. All this time, we've been hiding, doing nothing, hoping he never found us. I knew that couldn't last forever, especially with a man like Lam Sin who wants you very badly and has the resources to find you. It forces us to end this once and for all." John paused for a moment before making the next statement. "Lam Sin will never lay a hand on you. I give you my word. If he does get any closer, I'll send you away from here, even if it's back to the United States. At least you'll be safe there."

Immediately there were protests from the boys. "We're not leaving you alone!" Mike sternly shot back, getting agreements from Matt and Chris.

"Look, guys, this is not a topic for discussion. I know what you're trying to tell me, and I can sense your love, but if Lam Sin takes you away, you know what awaits? You heard Troy describe what he went through, and when Lam Sin gets tired of you, you'll disappear. How would I be able to help you if you're thousands of miles away?" The boys understood the picture the man was painting.

"You're all we have now, John," Mike started softly. "We're family. If you send us away, we'll be split up with counselors trying to make us tell them the things we did here."

"I understand that, Mike. I would have to leave it up to you to be strong and not say anything. If it did spill out, and I'm still alive, I guess I would live in exile on this island for the rest of my life, but I'll gladly pay that price if it means you'll be safe.

"Hey, we're jumping the gun. I brought this up if it gets really bad. I'm hoping to talk to Chief Haoa so that some plan can be made." Cocking his ear, John announced, "I hear Troy's chopper coming, so I have to go. I'll see you later."

Giving the three boys a large grin, he said in a lowered voice. "Joshua is completely naked on my bed. Why don't the three of you give him a hot sexy good morning?" He kissed the top of each boy's head. All said goodbye as John headed to the helipad where the helicopter had just landed. The boys headed to John's bedroom, removing their clothes along the way, and talking amongst themselves how best to wake the teen up.

"Morning Troy," as John entered the craft, fastened his seat belt, and put on the headphone.

"Morning, John. Ready?"

"Let's go," as Troy's expert hand raised the machine from the ground and headed west to Kalauka Island. John then told the pilot of his discussion with the boys about getting them away if it looked like Lam Sin was close to capturing them.

"Good idea. Whatever happens, they need to be away from all of it. I'm sure there are other options if need be."

Very little else was said as they approached Kalauka Island. John recalled Troy taking him here over a year ago to introduce him to the native people, but the man didn't remember much. Now, as they flew over the island, he saw the dense forest canopy that was hiding the village underneath. They approached the eastern side and landed a short distance away. A few small motor crafts were moored as outsiders were there bartering with the Kalaukans. John took a moment to observe the activities as small tables with fruits and vegetables grown on the island along with other native items were on display ready to trade for other necessities required. He saw the small building Aukai had described as the schoolhouse where a tutor was flown in from Majuro.

One of the native men seemed to recognize John and approached him. "Greetings, Matareka. Why have you not approached from the other side?"

"I came here with a friend to see Chief Haoa. Could someone contact him for me?"

"Of course, Matareka. I will go myself," as the man turned and ran into the forest.

"Matareka? Do you even have a Kalaukan name? I guess you haven't told me everything yet," Troy said with a smile.

Putting his hand on the man's shoulder, John replied, "That is a long story, but I'll tell you one day when this is all over with." It wasn't long before Chief Haoa appeared, accompanied by some of his guards as well as Aukai. A few of the traders spoke in low voices as they recognized the man who made very few public appearances on this side of the island.

Giving a slight bow to the leader of the native village, John began. "Chief Haoa, thank you for coming. Troy brought me here," as though explaining why John didn't come to the village directly.

Looking at Troy, the chief extended his hand. "Welcome, Troy. I haven't seen you in a long while. I can still remember when you used to come here with your father. Now you are running the business."

"Thank you, sir. It's an honor." Looking at the boy standing next to Haoa, the pilot extended his hand. "And who is this young man?" John felt more respect for Troy as the man did not mention meeting him before or that he now knew that Aukai was the native boy spoken of by John, who visited Paradise Island and had sex with him.

"This is my son, Aukai."

"I think I've seen you before when I'm here and school is in session."

The boy extended his hand. "I've seen you too. You and John friends?" also maintaining the secret of having met before.

"I helped him in purchasing Paradise Island and I usually make a trip a week to deliver any food and supplies he needs," getting an understanding nod from the 12-year-old who then came up to John and hugged him.

"Are you here for a visit," with that twinkle in his bright brown eyes that the man instantly recognized as anticipation for some hot sex between them?

"I wish it was." Then looking at the Kalaukan leader, "Chief Haoa, there's a serious matter that needs to be discussed. Is there a place somewhere close we can talk?"

The chief spoke a few words to the guards and then looked at John. "Let's use the schoolhouse. The guards will make sure we're not disturbed." Haoa told Aukai to wait outside. The boy began to protest, but one look at his father's face and the boy just nodded his head.

Approaching the building, John saw that despite the native hut architecture, there was a small gas generator for supplying electricity. Inside were school desks and tables, chalkboards, and shelves with books. There was a large projection screen with a laptop nearby. This was probably used when showing something on the Internet. It looked like the classroom could accommodate about 20 students. The three men seemed out of place, each sitting at a desk designed for a smaller person. It was John who began.

"Chief Haoa, I wish to start this meeting by having Troy share a phone call he received yesterday," then nodding his head to his friend. The chief signaled the helicopter pilot to begin.

Troy told the chief of the time he was a prisoner of Lam Sin for several months and finally rescued by his father. That past was being used against him by the Oriental and the choices given depending on his cooperation or lack of. As the man was narrating his story, John was observing the Kalaukan leader. There was something different about the man. The chief was wearing the traditional sarong along with trappings indicating his position as leader. It was his demeanor that the man observed. This was a different person from the more relaxed individual in the village. It was more like the chief who led the raid to SP1 to rescue his son. There was a look of sternness, a projection of authority. John was feeling better already. If there was to be another fight, he was glad Chief Haoa would be there.

The pilot concluded his story and John began. He watched the chief's face as he revealed the necessity to share with Troy the secrets of the Kalaukan village. The man didn't show any reaction. "So you see, Chief Haoa, this is all coming to a decision we have to make. Troy can stall Lam Sin for only so long. He will know he's being lied to and may send men to Paradise Island or even here."

The Kalaukan chief was quiet for several moments. He looked first at John. "As a member of our 'family,' you are responsible for the safety of our village. You are sworn to keep our traditions a secret." John started feeling very uneasy at this point, "But being an outsider, I understand circumstances can be different. As Troy is a good friend who you trust, you felt you could share what was necessary for the good of your boys. I wish there could have been another way."

Then the chief directed his next comments to Troy. "I have known you and your father for many years. I regret we could not have met more often. I must trust in John's judgment in revealing what he has told you about us. I know you're an honorable man and will never betray this knowledge to someone else. But there has to be a price to pay.

"I cannot let you come into our village. When my son Aukai asked me to allow John as the first outsider to partake in our rituals, I had many arguments with the elders. We have stayed a closed society for hundreds of years. We were aware of the outside world and what it could do to our way of life once it infested our customs. Thus no visitors allowed except here on the eastern side. If I were allowed to bring another outsider into our way of life, there would be much turmoil and possibly fear that this was the beginning of the end for the Kalaukan people."

"Chief Haoa, first let me put your mind at ease by stating you need not fear me divulging any information about your Kalaukan traditions. I know John risked his friendship with you by telling me what he did. And my…background…isn't like John's. I would feel uncomfortable partaking the rituals of your people."

"Thank you, Troy. Your father would be pleased with the worthy son he had."

"So what do you think, Chief Haoa? What can we do?" John asked.

Taking a moment to contemplate, the man responded. "You brought up a valid concern. The only way to defeat Lam Sin is away from his palace. I'm sure he is too well guarded there, but he has to have a very good reason to leave it."

"How about to personally pick up the three boys he was looking for?" Troy wondered. John gave the pilot a quick look. Returning the look, the pilot continued, "I know you mentioned on the way over here about wanting the boys out of harm's way, but we may not have that luxury. It may be the only way to get Lam Sin out of his palace."

"No, the boys will be long gone before Lam Sin sets foot on my island. If something goes wrong, at least I'll know they are safe."

"Troy is right, John. Lam Sin, once he knows where the boys are, will just send his men to take them. Neither you nor my people are capable of protecting ourselves once his men arrive in force and with weapons. He won't take any personal risks. He has to be convinced to come to get the boys himself–that will mean seeing them in person."

John looked at Troy first. "If our plan fails, you know what Lam Sin will do to them if he takes the boys back to Singapore, and when he grows tired of them, then what?" He then directed his next comments to the Kalaukan chief. "We may not have the men or weapons, but certainly, we can use surprise as we did at SP1."

"That was a different tactic, my friend. There were only two men there and they were taken unawares. Lam Sin will not come without being prepared. Since we wouldn't know how many men he would bring, we may have the element of surprise but not enough men."

"If I may Chief and John," Troy spoke up. "Wouldn't we have a better chance if we could control how many men Lam Sin brought?"

"How?" John asked.

"That's what we're here to discuss and hopefully to work out a plan."

Both John and the chief agreed. Haoa went to the classroom door and told Aukai to have meals brought over, as he didn't know how long they would be busy. John found some paper and pencils that he distributed among them for note-taking. Then, for the next three hours, ideas were tossed back and forth on how to lure Lam Sin into a trap and get rid of him forever.

It was mid-afternoon when the three men called it a day and scheduled a second meeting for the following morning. Maybe a good night's sleep would clear their minds and bring fresh ideas. After saying goodbyes, John and Troy boarded the craft and lifted into the air.

"Troy, can we make a trip to Majuro first? I want to bring home a surprise for the boys."

"Sure, but it will be almost dark by the time we get back to Paradise Island."

So the stop was made and the helicopter was on its way back. It was Troy who commented on the surprise John was bringing. "I bet the boys will be happy. You know, though, it won't be the same by the time we land."

"Don't worry, Troy. It won't take long to make it like when we picked it up. You know you're welcomed to join us."

"Thanks for the invitation, but I have to get back and reschedule my deliveries. Once our plans regarding Lam Sin are finalized, I'll have some busy days afterward." Soon, the lighted landing pad came into sight and the four boys were there waiting to greet them. As John stepped out of the craft, he handed them three large flat boxes.

"Pizza!" everyone shouted.

"Thought you would like the real thing instead of the frozen ones we've had here. Go back to the house and heat the oven. It won't take long before they are hot just like when I picked them up." As the boys scampered back up the trail, John turned to Troy. "Thanks for the ride and side trip. See you tomorrow morning at the same time?"

"I'll be here. Good night."

As John entered the house, the long-forgotten scent of real freshly made pizza floated through the air. The boys were already at the table; the warm boxes opened to reveal large pizzas of different combination toppings. "OK, guys, time to dig in."

For the next thirty minutes, everyone just enjoyed the meal and thanked John for the special treat. With stomachs full and everyone on the porch to watch the rising moon, the conversation turned to John's meeting with Chief Haoa.

"Chief Haoa was gracious enough to understand why I told Troy about their tradition, but he forbade Troy from ever visiting the village."

"Why?" Matt wanted to know.

John briefly replied that a new outsider would create tensions and an increased fear of their lifestyle being made public. "And Troy isn't into that part of the entertainment they enjoy like you do, so it worked out."

"Did you came up with a plan?" asked Matt.

"Not really. Chief Haoa and Troy believe the only way to get Lam Sin to come to Paradise Island is if he can see you in person. He's too smart and well guarded to be easily tricked. I guess your idea of being 'bait' may be the one used," looking at Chris, who suggested it the day before.

"Chief Haoa and Troy? You didn't agree?" Mike asked.

"I don't want to put you in danger. If we don't stop him, then you become his prisoners." Before Mike could respond, a strong vibration shook the ground causing everyone to stand.

"Earthquake?" Chris asked, hanging on to the railing.

"No," Joshua answered. "I've felt several earthquakes in California. This doesn't feel like one." The vibration was consistent but not excessive. Nothing was heard falling off shelves or walls inside the house. It lastly for nearly fifteen seconds before it abruptly ceased.

"You're right," the three boys agreed, also having lived in earthquake territory. If it wasn't an earthquake, what was it?" asked Chris.

Nobody spoke for several seconds, wondering if that was all or more vibrations were coming. John was thinking back to what Troy had told him why the previous owner sold the island. Was what occurred one of the reasons?

"You know what that felt like?" Mike spoke out loud. "It reminded me of when my parents and I once lived in a house a couple of blocks from a railroad track. Two, three, or even four locomotives would lead some trains. As they went by, the ground vibrated and you could put your hand on the inside walls and feel it too. My mother hated that house and we moved out a few months later."

"I think you're right Mike," John concurred. "It's been a while since I lived near some railroad crossings and once in a while you felt that vibration we just did."

"How?" put in Chris. "We don't have any trains here. Could it be the volcano underneath?"

The man shook his head. "We have a heat source below that warms up the hot springs, but there hasn't been any volcanic activity around here in quite a while. The nearest is the Hawaiian Islands."

Then without warning, the vibration began again as everyone instinctively grabbed the porch railing as though trying to keep their balance, which wasn't necessary. Twenty-five seconds later, it stopped, but this time a once-familiar sound came from the hills away from the house.

"The humming cave?" Chris and Matt asked simultaneously.

"The humming what?" Joshua wanted to know.

"It's that cave you probably saw with boards covering it during your hikes," John answered.

"I was told you boarded it because it was dangerous to go inside."

"I had no idea what was causing the noise. I couldn't see inside and didn't want to take a chance one of you boys dropping into a hole we couldn't reach."

"It's a lot louder than the first time," Mike observed.

John shook his head. "I don't know. Maybe there is some volcanic activity causing a noise inside that cave. Since it is just noise and not a rumble shaking the ground, I'd guess it's coming from many miles away."

"We should check it out, John," put in Mike, agreed by the others.

"That's not a good idea. It's dark and someone could get hurt."

"Come on, John," urged Joshua. "I'm just being told about a cave that hums. I want to know what it is."

"We can't go to sleep with that humming noise that may be going on all night," Matt added.

The man continued to try to convince the four boys of the danger of exploring a cave during daylight, much less dark, but the boys wouldn't listen. "All right, we'll take a quick look, but you will do exactly as I tell you–no questions. Take the wagon and bring the 300-foot rope from the shed." John also told them to bring flashlights with new batteries in them and a spare set in their pockets.

Fifteen minutes later, the quintet walked along the trail as the noise got louder the closer they got to the cave. They reached the cave just as the humming sound dropped in volume. "That's weird," Mike observed. "It's like it was shouting to us when we were far away and now that we're here, it quieted down."

"Yea, right Mike," Joshua quipped, "And when will we see E.T.?" getting some chuckles from the others.

"Quiet guys," John commanded. "Matt, Chris, Joshua, you shine the flashlights on these boards while Mike and I remove them."

John looked around, expecting to see his dog by him, but she was nowhere to be found. One of the reasons the boards were put up was to also keep a curious dog from getting into trouble. "The vibration and noise must have scared her into hiding." The man thought to himself.

A few moments later, the plywood boards were removed and the cave entrance was exposed. Strangely, the humming noise volume dropped again. "See?" Mike pointed out, but this time got no remarks from anyone.

"All right, here's what we're going to do. Mike and I will tie the ropes around our waist and see how far we can go. This is for finding our way back if there are tunnels underground. Tie the other end to that tree there. The three of you stay here, pointing to Chris, Matt, and Joshua. If we're not back in two hours, go back to the house and get a hold of Troy and explain what happened." Everyone understood what John had said. The man looked at the 12-year-old. "Ready?" Getting a nod from the boy, both entered the six-foot opening.

The moment they entered the cave, the humming stopped. John felt that acid feeling in his stomach, the same churning he felt several times during the rescue of Kauri. It wasn't so much fear, but not knowing what was ahead. Was Mike right? Was the humming cave calling to them? John realized how ridiculous that sounded, but the evidence was there. The two flashlights were aimed ahead and at first, it looked like a dead end as a solid wall greeted the projected lights. But as the two walked forward, they saw that the cave made a right-hand turn.

John stopped for a moment and pointed his flashlight to the ground.

"What is it?" Mike asked.

"See how smooth the cave floor is. I don't know much about caves, but I would have thought it would be rougher, little dips, and loose rocks, but it looks like someone had just swept the floor." Mike's flashlight illuminated the same sight. He gave John a puzzled look. "And it looks like we have a six-foot ceiling all the way. Let's continue," as the man and boy walked further, deeper inside.

Another shocking discovery greeted their senses when they made the turn to the right. Steps were leading downward. John counted twenty of them and then another turn, this time to the left. "This is not a natural thing," John said out loud.

"These were cut out of the rock," the boy stated, stooping down closer to examine the steps. "Who could have done this?"

John was quiet for several moments while he searched for a plausible answer. "Well, history stated that the Japanese had control over this area during World War II until the Allies pushed them out. This could be a cave they hid in or used to stored supplies and ammunition. They used caves a lot on other islands, like Iwo Jima."

"Do you believe that?"

"I don't know Mike. What we have seen so far would have taken a lot of men to cut these steps. It would seem more practical to find a cave that naturally leads down deeper into a hill or mountain than spend all the labor on this. There are plenty like that here on this island. If the Japanese did do this, it must have been for an extremely important reason."

"A mystery!" Mike shouted.

"Could be. Let's see where these steps lead. Be careful walking down. How's your rope?"

"I'm good."

With flashlights aimed down at the steps, the two carefully placed one foot at a time on each flat stone until they reached the bottom. The humming sound returned as they shined their lights down another corridor. Again, the floor was relatively smooth, but this time the tunnel seemed endless. Soon they reach the end of the rope as they felt a tug, having traveled 300 feet. "What do we do now John?"

John looked at the laminated dial on his watch. They had been walking for about 25 minutes. "If we go further ahead, we won't have the rope to guide us back."

"But there's been no other tunnel. How could we get lost?" asked the boy

"You're right, from the cave entrance to here. Up ahead is still unknown."

"I want to go on," Mike stated. "If this branches off to other tunnels, we can turn back before we get lost."

"You sure?" getting another confirmation from the boy. Untying the ropes that were their lifeline to the surface, both proceeded onward, lights probing ahead, the humming sound their companion. They walked another 15 minutes when their flashlights hit a solid wall at the far end with no tunnels leading right or left. "Dead end," the man announced. "All this walking to nothing but a mysterious dead-end tunnel."

"That sucks," was Mike's sentiment about the situation, getting ready to turn around and go back.

At that moment, the so-called solid wall at the tunnel's end swung open and a brightly lit room lay ahead. Stunned for a moment by what both man and boy had witnessed, it was John who made the obvious conclusion. "The Japanese never made this."

"What could it be," as Mike turned off his flashlight, John doing the same.

"I have no idea. I keep waiting for a TV crew to pop out and say 'Surprise!'"

Slowly, both walked closer to the open chamber. They could tell now that the humming sound originated from there. The two stopped in awe as they entered what they considered a hidden underground room and surveyed the surroundings. The room itself wasn't large. Cut out of the rock, and it was square-shaped, maybe twenty feet on all four sides with what looked like an eight-foot ceiling.

The first thing noticed was a large white circle in the center of the floor, approximately six feet across. One side of the wall had what could only be described as some sort of instrumentation panel, black the entire length, tilted in a 45-degree angle. All across were various geometric shapes: circles, squares, triangles, octagons, rectangles and pentagons, and a couple of others he couldn't recall their names. Several copies of each shape were spread across the panel. Each geometric shape had various colors that the man realized was one of the basic primary colors, red, blue, or yellow. Some of the symbols occasionally blinked.

As John ran his hand over these shapes, he found that the entire panel was flat, with no raised surfaces of any kind. No writing or labels indicated what these shapes and lights were or what, if any, were their functions. He could see no wiring or any opening. Above, the light seemed to just emanate from the rock ceiling itself, a soft glow strong enough to illuminate the room but not harsh to the eyes. The humming sound seemed to be coming from everywhere within the room.

"What is this place?" Mike asked.

"I have no idea. There's no writing, no pictures, anything to explain what this place is and what it is doing here."

"Are you thinking what I'm thinking?" the boy gave John a look.

"Well, let's not jump to conclusions. I know this doesn't look like something a military or scientific group would build, but don't credit little green men yet."

"John, look over here!" Mike called out.

As the man approached, the boy pointed to what looked like a compartment at the far end of the instrument panel. It was approximately a cubic foot square covered with some sort of glass where they could see the contents inside. Several circular objects, like bracelets, about two inches wide lay within. All had the same geometric symbols on the outer edge, as seen on the strange panel.

"Wonder what those are for?" Mike thought out loud, as both continued to stare at the objects. They tried to find some way to open the compartment and finally found a small release latch that popped the lid open. John and Mike each took a bracelet and put it on their wrist, feeling a slight vibration on their skin. Then, without notice, the humming sound grew a little louder.

"Damn, where is that noise coming from?" as John tried to focus his hearing.

"Must be a speaker around here somewhere," as Mike continued looking around the instrument panel.

Man and boy put their ears against the rock walls vainly trying to pinpoint the sound. Both gave up as they again stood opposite the instrument panel. "Let's take another look at those symbols. Maybe there's a pattern we can discover," John suggested. He looked at his watch and saw it was 9:15. They had only 10 more minutes before they needed to get back before the boys outside the cave panicked. As they crossed the room, they simultaneously stepped into the white circle first observed when they began their examination of this strange place. In a split second, both saw a blinding flash of light followed by complete darkness.

Chapter 42
Where Are We?

"My lord! My lord! We have to get back to London. Should I wake Master Michael?"

John tried opening his eyes. He wanted to. Closed as they were, his pupils felt like a thousand flashbulbs had gone off at once. He very slowly pried his eyelids open, trying to clear all the blue dots dancing around. Then a different light registered in his brain. He tried to focus, to concentrate. No, he told himself, this light wasn't from inside the cave. It was the sun shining above. His head hurt like hell as he tried to think through this confusion he felt.

He turned his head and saw Mike lying a few feet away. It looked like the boy was also struggling to consciousness, but he wondered why the boy was wearing some sort of Halloween costume. John then peered down at himself and saw that he was also dressed in the same odd outfit. Then he remembered an unknown voice and the mention of London. He looked up and saw this man peering down at him dressed in a different outfit.

"Who are you?"

"My Lord, I'm Jakes, your coachman. Are you all right, sire?"

John needed time to understand what was or had happened. Looking at the coachman, he replied. "Just a small headache Jakes. Give me a little more time before we leave."

The man bowed. "As you wish sire, but we must return to London before dark. There have been more reports of bandits in this area." The man turned and departed, walking up a slight slope and then out of sight. John then turned to Mike.

"Are you ok?"

"My head hurts."

"So does mine, but the pain is slowly going away."

"What happened John? The last thing I remember was this flash of light in the cave and now waking outside in the sunshine. Wasn't it nighttime when we entered the cave?"

Mike bent his head and finally noticed the clothing he was dressed in and then observing that the man was wearing similar garments. "And what's with the crazy costumes? And where are we? Did I hear that man say something about London and bandits?"

John took a moment to survey his surroundings. It looked like they were in a dip in a valley. Gentle rolling hills were all around and carpets of lush green grass completed the landscape. They were sitting under a shade tree, one of many that dotted the area. The sun was at its zenith, so the man figured it was around noon.

The air was soft and gentle, but it did not contain the scent associated with being on an island surrounded by the ocean. Wherever they were, it was not on Paradise Island. At their feet on top of a large cloth was the remnant of what appeared to be a picnic. There were plates, eating utensils, and a couple of small goblets. Chicken bones could be seen as well as pits and cores from probable apples, peaches or some other fruit. The goblets had some purple liquid still inside. It was more than likely wine.

Taking another glance at their clothing, it looked like something he would see actors wearing in movies of earlier Europe. It was as though John and Mike were placed in this strange situation representing someone already known. Seeing that Mike was still waiting for an answer, John tried to understand what had happened.

"We might be dreaming all this. The flash of light knocked us out and somehow, maybe by the machine's manipulation, we feel as though we're somewhere near London in the past."

"Some dream. It feels too real to me. I don't remember my head hurting like this in a dream."

"Same here, Mike. Maybe we're guinea pigs in some sort of test."

Mike gave it some thought. "Whether we're dreaming or part of an experiment, if that control panel in the cave is responsible, well, we better start thinking little green men."

That idea had quickly crossed John's mind and he tried to dismiss it. That was suggesting alien visitors. He knew, like most of the world, that for years there had been speculation of aliens visiting Earth going back to Roswell and before. Nothing was ever confirmed and most sightings and contacts were proven false, but did he and Mike encounter proof that such visitation occurred? Whether they had or not, the bigger question was, what happened and how were they to return from whence they came?

Jakes, the coachman, and another man returned to where John and Mike were. "Are you ready, sire? We must be going."

"Yes, we are Jakes, but first amuse me for a moment. What year is this?

The man puffed out his chest. "It is the year of our Lord, eighteen hundred and twenty under the new glorious monarchy of King George the Fourth."

"Thank you, Jakes. We're ready to go now."

"John!" Mike started to say.

"Later," John cut Mike off. Man and boy followed the two men up a slope until they reached what appeared to be a dirt road. Waiting there was a closed carriage hitched by four beautiful black horses. Holding the reins were two men, apparently the drivers. As the one servant who had cleaned up from the picnic scurried to place everything away in a basket attached to the rear of the carriage, the coachman hurried to open the door so that John and the boy could enter. Both noticed the shield painted on the door and underneath written, 'Atque Animi Civitates'. John just gave a slight shrug of his shoulders to Mike. After they entered Jakes then rushed to his standing position on a platform at the back of the coach along with the other servant. He whistled to the drivers, who cracked a whip and the horses began pulling the carriage.

As their journey began, supposedly to the great city of London, John and Mike were deep in thought. Finally, the boy couldn't stand the suspense any longer and again asked John what happened.

"I don't know Mike. I'm as shocked and confused as you are. One thing for sure, this is not a dream–this is real. Somehow we got sent back exactly 200 years into the past."

"Why this country and not 200 years back on Paradise Island?" Mike inquired. The man could only shake his head. Mike tried to ease the tension a little. "I didn't see a flux capacitor in the cave, referring to the 'Back To The Future' movies."

The man couldn't help but laugh. "I didn't either. What happened to us was controlled. I think it's from that panel with geometric shapes. I know this sounds like science fiction, but the room may be a time travel portal."

Mike was quiet for several moments when he realized something. "The white circle! We were crossing the room to go to the panel and try to find where that humming sound was coming from. I think when we both stepped inside it, that's when we saw the bright light and woke up here."

John thought about it for a moment. "I believe you're right. The question is, how do we get back? Do we look for another white circle?" Mike just shrugged his shoulders. While making that gesture, he felt something loose on his right wrist. He pulled on the long-sleeve of the shirt he was wearing and called John.

"Look, I've got one of those bracelets on my wrist." The man raised his sleeve and saw that he had one also. "It's those we put on in the cave," the boy assumed.

"Or a set like it. Maybe this is a good sign. It's possible these bracelets somehow keeps us connected to the cave and will bring us back."

"But when? How long have we been away from the others?"

The 12-year-old had brought up a good question. They knew they were 200 years into the past, but what was the current day back home? Had minutes, hours, days, or worse passed by? "I wish I knew, but we can't worry about that now. Somehow the servants on this coach know us. Thankfully we're of nobility and supposedly wealthy, but let's see what else we can learn. Did you study much of English history during this period?

Mike thought for a while. "There were different social classes."

"That's true. At the top were royalty and the Lords, followed by knights and the very rich that didn't qualify as royal or had titles. The classes went all the way down to paupers, vagrants, and gypsies."

"OK, if we're of the higher class, how come the servants seem to know us?"

"Another question I don't have an answer for you. It's possible that although you and I see each other as we always have, maybe we look different from others. We'll just have to play it by ear and see where this goes. It seems, for now, our best hopes are these bracelets and their connection back to our time."

"Did we swap with the people we are pretending to be? Are they on Paradise Island right now?" All he got was another slow shake of the head from the man. If that did happen, whoever it was would certainly be as confused as he and Mike were at the moment. There were too many questions with no answers. "John," Mike asked with a trembling voice. "What will happen if the others go into the cave to look for us, find that room, and step inside that circle?"

"Hopefully, they followed my instructions and got a hold of Troy," the man also wondering if at this moment the boys were spread on different continents and various periods. Looking at Mike, he tried to change the focus of their concerns. "We can't dwell on that or any other 'what if' questions right now. It won't do any good. We have to look out for ourselves and hope that at any moment we'll be back in the cave."

"What happens when we get back?"

After a few moments of thought, John gave a firm answer. "We seal it up permanently."

The boy was a little surprised at the suddenness of such a decision. "Don't you think we ought to tell someone?"

"No, Mike. Can you imagine what our lives would be if the world knew of this? Paradise Island would no longer be our home. Hundreds of people would camp out on our shores. Your backgrounds would be discovered. Mine would be revealed. We would be separated, never to be together again. It's better if its presence is never known beyond those of us on the island.

Maybe I've watched too many movies of what we do in the past affecting the future. I know this sounds selfish. I hope you understand what I'm trying to do. Being together is more important than anything else."

John and Mike spent several moments in silence as they looked out at the rolling hills passing by, the only sound the hoofbeats of the horses. Soon, some small dwellings appeared in the distance, apparently farms. The man kept trying to understand why such a time travel device was on his island and its purpose. Maybe those who were there were studying earth's human history or the planet's evolution from its creation. Whatever the reason, the technology involved surpassed anything mankind was currently capable of and instead was the stuff of science fiction books and movies. And was the cave abandoned for some reason? Again, too many questions and not enough answers.

"John, maybe we don't know what happened and maybe we'll never get back, but I'm glad I'm with you." The man put an arm over Mike's shoulders. Thankfully that did happen. How terrible it would have been to be separated into different time frames and locations.

The carriage continued on its journey. More homes were closer to the road. There, cottages were seen with enclosures containing pigs, cattle, horses, and sheep. As they passed farms where people were outside, John and Mike observed the residents giving a slight bow. Nobility was greatly respected or feared, and courtesy strictly followed.

"They seemed more scared than anything," Mike noticed.

"Remember, this isn't 2020. Here, you can go to prison for not paying your debts or taxes. And even though England had courts and judges, sentences were harsh. Do you recall reading about the Tower of London? Titles or wealth meant nothing to the executioner."

"Wasn't America and England at war?"

"It was over by now, England losing twice. Whatever you say, never mention the United States. It could be the quickest way to be labeled a traitor."

The ride continued in silence as the dirt road changed to cobblestone as they approached the outskirts of London, the capital of the then most powerful nation in the world. She had colonies that spanned the entire globe, traded with just about every country known at that time. Her navy was second to none. If you were of nobility or wealth, life could not be any better than living in this great city at this point. Soon, merchants were seen hawking their wares of just about everything imaginable. All bowed as the coach passed, but Mike saw something else.

"Why do they look at us like that?" Mike wondered.

"It's something that hasn't changed in 200 or 2000 years. The poor always resented or hated the rich."

"And what's that smell?" the boy twitching his nose.

John had noticed it also. "Sanitation in this part of the town consisted of open drainages where everything flowed down to the river. Many diseases were rampant and death was very common from that. People didn't live too much past their 30's or 40's. Sadly, many children never lived to reach their adulthood or even their teens."

"That's terrible."

"So again, we must be careful. I don't know if being sent here gives us immunity from catching anything."

The carriage moved on, as they got deeper into the city. The streets became wider and cleaner. The homes and shops were larger, more brightly painted and the noise grew louder. John looked at Mike and saw the look of awe on the boy's face. This wasn't a Disneyland ride or a visit to a re-created movie set. Forgotten for the moment was the predicament he and John were in–this was real. They were traversing through a page in history. The images they saw would later be painted on canvas to be seen later by future generations. Mike wondered out loud what the home they supposedly lived in looked like.

"Whatever it is, it's probably a museum or tourist attraction in our time," John answered.

At that moment, the two of them were nearly thrown from their seat as the carriage made an abrupt halt. The black horses reared in the air as they tried to avoid a small figure standing directly in front of them. After checking to make sure Mike was all right, John looked through the window to see what caused the sudden halt.

Standing in the middle of the road was a young boy, the man guessing he was about 12 years of age. The lad appeared terrified as he stood there frozen in his tracks. If the carriage hadn't stopped when it did, more than likely, the horses would have trampled the youngster. The realization that he had almost being killed had petrified him so much that he wasn't responding to the drivers yelling at the boy to move.

Jakes stopped by the carriage door and asked if John and Mike were all right. "Just a little shaken, but otherwise no harm," the man replied.

"What's the matter with him?" Mike wondered as he too looked out the window.

"I don't know. He looks like he is still in shock over the close call," John replied.

"What are you standing there for, you little brat?" again being yelled at by one of the carriage drivers. "Get out of the way!"

The boy stood there motionless, fear still on his face. John couldn't understand why the lad didn't move. The danger was over. He could now go on his way.

"I said get out of the way," came a second warning as a small crowd of people stopped what they were doing to see what was happening. John didn't like what was unfolding. He didn't know what, if anything, he could do. He felt sorry for the frightened youth. The horses had finally calmed down with the help of the drivers. His indecision, though, was settled when the next event occurred.

Jakes had gone up to one of the drivers and was handed a whip and approached the boy. "If you don't understand words, maybe you'll understand this," as he raised his arm, ready to crack the whip on the child. At that moment, the boy appeared to come out of his shocked state as he saw the man with a whip ready to hit him. His eyes darted around. He then saw John and Mike's heads sticking out the carriage window. Immediately, he broke into a run dodging past Jakes, who tried to grab him and stopping in front of the two travelers.

"Please sir, help me!" was the cry from the boy.

Jakes ran up and grabbed the boy by the collar. "How dare you approach his Lordship? You are going to regret the day you were born. I'll teach you some manners," as the man raised his arm to strike the boy.

"Stop!" came the command from John as he opened the carriage door and stepped on the ground, so quickly that the second servant didn't have time to position himself by the door. The crowd grew larger as events were unfolding unexpectedly. A titled Englishman had stepped onto their soiled streets. "Let him go," were the next words directed to Jakes.

The coachman immediately released the boy, stepped back, bowed, and answered, "Yes, my lord."

John took a closer look at the boy. The boy himself stared at the man, observing the clothing and knowing he had broken an unwritten rule that such as he should never approach someone of a higher class unless called upon. Mike watched intently, wondering what was going to happen next. Despite the precaution of doing anything to attract attention, here was John in the middle of the street, a large crowd watching, addressing the boy.

"There's no need to be afraid," he softly spoke to the lad. "No one is going to hurt you. You're free to go on your way." The youth continued to stand there, unmoving.

Finally, Jakes approached John. "Sire, this is a dangerous situation. This crowd could attack and we would not be able to protect you and Master Mike. We need to move now! Besides, it is beneath you talking to this boy." John gave the coachman a puzzled look. "Sire, he is a peg boy. He wears the ring of such," pointing to the black band on what would traditionally be the married finger of the left hand. "He ran away from his owner. Even though you stopped me from whipping this boy, his masters will once he is returned." John noticed that hearing what awaited him, the boy trembled noticeably, abject fear apparent.

Before John could ask what a peg boy was, two men broke through the crowd and approached the carriage. One was a tall authority-type figure wearing the uniform that John assumed was of the local police. The second man was short and fat with bushy eyebrows and a scowl on his face. John disliked him at once. Both stopped in front of John and bowed. He noticed that when the boy recognized the shorter man, he trembled even more if that was possible. He dropped to his knees and grabbed at one of John's legs. Jakes prepared to pull the boy away when a motion of John's hand caused him to halt.

The man in uniform looked at the large collection of people gathered about, observing something never before happened in their part of town. "What do you think this is, a bloody circus? You'd think you have never seen a lordship before. Now get on, all of you," as the crowd quickly dispersed.

Turning around to face John, he apologized. "I'm sorry my lord. People can be so damn nosy. I'm Constable Jones and this is Mr. Fletcher; he's the owner of this runaway boy. A thousand apologies for the disruption of your trip and Mr. Fletcher has promised that this boy will pay dearly for his transgressions." John felt the boy tighten his grip even more on his leg. It almost felt like a tourniquet; the boy was squeezing so hard.

"A runaway?" John asked.

Then the fat man spoke. "That's right, your Lordship. He ran away from me before I could deliver him to a client he was supposed to entertain. I was paid a goodly sum for the boy's services for which I've now lost. I also apologize for the boy interrupting your journey. He will be severely punished for running away, costing me money, and even insulting your Lordship by touching you. When I am through with him, he may be of no further use, but it will discourage my other boys from any similar nonsense ideas."

This was getting confusing to John. A runaway 'peg' boy who was supposed to be entertaining a client? At the moment, none of this made any sense. He was at a disadvantage not knowing all the customs associated with this time. He looked down at the frightened face of the boy. Maybe he didn't know what a peg boy was, but he sure knew fear when he saw it, and this boy was terrified at what awaited him. Regardless of the customs of this era, he wasn't going to allow a young boy to be beaten as bad as Mr. Fletcher had indicated.

"Why would this boy run away, Mr. Fletcher? Why is he so frightened?"

The scowl deepened on the fat man's face. "This boy is an ingrate sire. He doesn't appreciate the home I gave him. I could have thrown him in the streets to freeze or starve to death. Instead, I take him in and provide food and shelter. In return, I use him in a business enterprise." The man was cagey. There was still something wrong about all this.

"The constable says you own this boy?"

"Yes! Yes! I bought him from his uncle, who was about to throw him out." Fletcher turned to the officer. "Must we continue with this? I have a very upset client that I have to provide a new boy free of charge because of this little monster."

The Constable looked at John, trying to figure an amicable way to end this discussion. "Your Lordship is most generous and kind in showing concern for this lad. He does, though, belong to Mr. Fletcher and must be returned to him."

The fat man stepped closer to the boy who scooted behind John still holding on to his leg. As Fletcher's hand reached out to grab a sleeve, the boy screamed out, "No!" causing the man to step back, startled at the boy's reaction.

"Wait a minute Mr. Fletcher. You may own this boy, but obviously, he's terrified of going with you."

"He should be. He knows what awaits him for his disobedience. With all due respect to your Lordship, please instruct the boy to come with me."

John was thinking fast. An unforeseen incident had created complications he wasn't expecting nor prepared for. Not knowing how this time travel element worked, was he endangering his and Mike's chances of returning to Paradise Island? The easiest solution would be to return the boy to his 'owner.' Enough problems were confronting him, but the part of him that abhorred hurting a boy for any reason welled up inside. He felt like this was a sort of Lam Sin type scenario, an evil man who didn't care if he hurt boys but was only interested in using them, in this case, for money. Whether he returned home safely or not, how could he live with his conscience knowing he had allowed a cruel man to beat a young boy to within an inch of his life? He turned to Mr. Fletcher.

"Since you claim you provide a wholesome environment for this boy and others you have, I would like to see it for myself." At this moment, all John could do was buy time as he thought through this.

A gasp escaped from everyone's lips, stunned by the curiosity of this wealthy aristocrat to visit such an establishment, shunned by most of the populace. John felt even further lost not knowing what the astonished looks represented. It was Jakes who approached him.

"My lord, do you think it wise to visit such a place? Please consider your reputation. If it were to be found out that you made such a stop, it might be construed of your, shall I say delicately, different type of interest."

Even the Constable questioned John's wisdom for such a venture. "My lord, Mr. Fletcher does legally own his establishment that caters to certain tastes some men prefer. Your Lordship shouldn't be seen at a place like that" Like what, John wanted to scream? If it was supposed to be a good home for the boy, why was everyone against him seeing it?

"Sire," the Constable continued, "think about your ward. The young man shouldn't be exposed to sights he may see."

Trying to act like a man used to being in charge and giving orders, John spoke to those around him. "I appreciate everyone's concern about my reputation and what my ward will see or not see. I've made my decision and expect everyone to follow it." Looking at Fletcher, he told the man, "The boy will accompany me."

The fat man bowed and headed toward his carriage. Turning toward Jakes, who stood there in disbelief at what had transpired, he ordered the coachman to resume their journey. Looking down at the boy who still clung tightly to his leg, he placed a hand on his shoulder. "You can let go now. No one is going to touch you. Come on inside. You're riding with me."

Constable Jones approached John and asked if he could accompany him to ensure a safe trip to what would be a seedier section of London. His offer was graciously accepted and soon two carriages and the Constable on his horse began to move.

Inside the coach, Mike and John sat on one side while the still frightened boy sat on the other. His eyes darted around looking at the plush interior of the carriage and then at the two who sat opposite him. John would occasionally smile at him as he tried to assure the boy he was out of danger–but that was right now. Would this man turn him over to the cruel Mr. Fletcher once they reached their destination?

Mike had been quiet the entire time from the moment the coach stopped almost running over this boy. He couldn't contain himself any longer. "What did you do John?"

"I had to do something. I couldn't leave him at the mercy of that man Fletcher. I'm playing this by ear."

"What are we going to do with him?"

John quietly thought for a moment. "Maybe being sent here at this place and time was for a reason. Maybe this boy plays some important part in future history and we were sent here to make sure he's not harmed for whatever that could be."

The boy looked at the two across from him not comprehending anything they were saying. They spoke as though he might be important somehow. How wrong they were, he thought to himself. Then he noticed the man leaning over, getting closer to him. "What's your name?" the man inquired. The boy answered with silence.

"There's no need to be afraid. No one's going to hurt you. I just want to help. If that weren't true, you'd be in the hands of Mr. Fletcher at this very moment."

All the man got in return was slight shivering from the boy and continued silence. John leaned back on his seat as he took a closer look at their new passenger. He still guessed the boy was about 12 years of age. The clothing he wore was not anything expensive, but not rags either. Fletcher at least dressed him appropriately. The dirt and sweat were obviously from the running and falling on the ground. His eyes were gray and his hair auburn. In reality, he was a handsome looking lad, but what was he running away from? And what again was a 'peg' boy? He decided to try once again in getting the boy to open up.

"My name is John and this is Mike."

"Miles," a soft voice answered.

Extending a hand, John replied. "Pleased to meet you, Miles." It was at that moment that the boy fell on his knees in the small space between the seats, head bowed.

"Master! Master! Please don't send me back. Please!"

Grabbing the boy by the shoulders, John tried to calm the still frightened child. "I'm not sending you back. You have my word." Miles then jumped up and returned to his seat. He looked directly at the man.

"Sire, I shouldn't be that close to you. You are a Lord and I am a lowly filthy boy."

Looking at Mike, John thought of the obstacles presented to both. For example, the boy across from them had probably never been to school. His experiences had only been as a youth with an uncle and under Mr. Fletcher. Trying to explain his and Mike's predicament as time travelers from the future was nothing neither the boy nor anyone in this present generation would understand. More than likely, they would be considered demons of some sort. But there had to be a reason for being sent here and now.

"Miles, You were very close to me when you grabbed my legs and you don't see me upset, do you? Your bravery is what makes me want to help you. I don't believe some people are better than others just because they have a title. In public, you are right; I am a lord, this is my ward and we handle ourselves as such. When it's private, like it is right now, I want you to not think of us as nobility, but as friends wanting to help you," hoping he wasn't overwhelming the boy with this unheard-of association.

Yes, it was unheard of, thought the boy, but the man had saved him. Maybe there was some hope for him. "Sire…John?"

"That's right, Miles. Now so that I can figure out the best way to help you, tell me about yourself. Does Mr. Fletcher own you?"

"Yes, he does. My parents died of typhoid two years ago and I went to live with my uncle. I guess after a while he didn't want me. About three months ago Mr. Fletcher showed up at our farm, paid my uncle some money and I was told I belonged to him. I was brought to his house and began service as a peg boy."

"I was sold too before John rescued me," Mike put in. The man gave the boy a stern look as though telling him to keep their personal history out of the conversation.

"You were a peg boy too?"

"Mike will share his story later. Right now, I'm trying to figure out how to help you. Why were you running away?"

"A client of Mr. Fletcher was always asking for me, so I was sent there a lot. He was rough and hurt me more than the peg did. I hated being there. So while Mr. Fletcher was taking me to this man today, I jumped out of his carriage and ran away."

"Sex!" John thought to himself. It had to be. It may be 200 years in the past, but sex was still an important part of a country's society. Yes, it was a hush-hush topic, but everyone knew it existed. The homeless boys sold themselves for whatever they could get to survive. And it wasn't uncommon for relatives to sell their children, even knowing what fate awaited them. Child sex was probably a more hidden taboo, but it was available for the price, just as in the 21st century. Boys like Miles, with no family connection, were used until they were either too old for certain men's tastes or sadly die of some disease contracted.

"How many boys does Mr. Fletcher own?"

"There are six of us; two are ten years old, two 11, and two of us 12. Mr. Fletcher said I was replacing another boy who had gotten too old."

John then noticed the black band on the boy's finger and was about to ask him about it when the carriage came to a stop. Looking out the window, he realized he was probably deep inside the poorer section of town, punctuated by the dirty buildings and the ever-present smell. Mike tried to cover his nose with his hand.

"How can anyone live breathing this all the time?"

"I imagine if you live here all your life, you get used to it and it doesn't bother you," John replied.

Jakes approached the carriage door and opened it. All three stepped on the ground facing an abnormality among the surroundings. In front stood a clean, apparently recently built or rebuilt, freshly painted two-story home. It seemed so out of place. John figured that such a business would not be accepted in a more affluent section of London, thus relegated here, but it didn't mean the occupants had to live in squalor, as the surrounding area seemed to indicate. A small crowd looked in awe. Fletcher's coach was easily recognized, but the one containing John and Mike had crests on the doors indicating a man of nobility and wealth, nothing was ever seen before in this part of the city. Mr. Fletcher then approached the group, giving the boy Miles a dirty look.

Chapter 43
Miles

"Welcome to my home and business." The man was smiling, trying to be efficacious. It had the opposite effect on John. He still disliked the fat man. "If your Lordship will, I'll show you inside."

During the ride back to his home Fletcher had begun to wonder if this man who had saved one of his boys from the whipping he deserved was possibly a boylover. Maybe his Lordship wanted to see the place himself before engaging in a contract to use some of his boys for his sexual pleasures. His other wealthy clients used middlemen to negotiate a deal, but maybe this man wanted a first-hand look at what was available for his enjoyment.

The Constable, after dismounting from his horse, approached John. "Sire, if you insist on going inside, at least leave your young ward here. I will look after him."

What was so horrible inside that the Constable felt that Mike shouldn't see it? John had guessed it was sexual, and if that were true, it certainly wouldn't upset a boy who has spent his new life in a sexual lifestyle on Paradise Island as well as with those on Kalauka Island. Miles didn't mention anything about being mistreated 'here', so there shouldn't be anything along that line to worry about. He also didn't want to be separated while they were in this period. If both had to be near each other when the time came to return to the cave, best they stay reasonably close.

"Thank you, Constable, but my ward will accompany me. Mr. Fletcher, let's see this fine home you claim you're providing for this boy."

Fletcher led the way, followed by John, Mike, and Miles. A servant opened the door and bowed as the portly man entered. His eyes grew wide as he saw John approach. Bowing even lower, he spoke, "My Lord."

The first impression John got as he entered was that although this house was in a less desirable section of early 19th century London, the furnishings inside spoke of wealth. Paintings and artifacts adorned the large room. Other rooms later shown were similarly decorated. Mr. Fletcher led John and Mike through the kitchen, where two cooks were preparing the next evening meal.

Bowls of fruits and vegetables could be seen and one of the cooks was cutting a piece of venison and placing it in a large pot. The odors emanating suggested a tasty feast ahead for the house's residents. Through the kitchen, everyone went and into a large dining room with a table large enough to seat nearly a dozen people.

"As you can see, sire, suitable meals are prepared. The boys and I eat together and I partake of the same dishes as they are served."

Then Fletcher led everyone upstairs. Of course, his bedroom was the largest, but John couldn't find fault with the other three. Each room had two beds that the boys of the same age shared. In one bedroom, two naked 10-year-olds were sleeping on top of the covers. "The boys work most of the time in the evening hours, so whenever they desire, they may sleep in their rooms." Despite his personal feelings for the man, John had to grudgingly admit that the home was clean, the boys well fed and taken care of.

"My Lord, with all due respect, as a master of your estate, you have many servants with responsibilities to adhere to. If any fail in their duties, I'm sure you use whatever course of action is necessary not only to discipline such a servant but as an example to the others. Here, I do no less. I run a business that caters to certain clientele and must assure that they are satisfied with what I charge. Letting a boy like Miles run away from a client that has already paid reflects badly on me. I could gain a reputation for not being able to control my boys. No client would do business with me if they knew I couldn't supply him as contracted. If I don't set the example, maybe another boy will attempt to flee. I do own all six boys legally as Constable Jones will attest to. And I want to assure you sire that my clients are not allowed to beat or harm any of the boys."

John found himself boxed in a corner. Mr. Fletcher was right from a business standpoint, and ownership of other people, especially children, was permitted. So the fat man had the legal right to do whatever he wanted to any of his boys, even though they were being used for obviously sexual purposes. There were no rights or protection for children at this time. He turned to face the boy, Miles.

"I can't find anything wrong here. Mr. Fletcher seems to provide a good home. From what I've seen outside, you are more fortunate than others living in the streets. What is it you're doing that scares you from going to another man's home?"

The child looked at John. "You haven't seen the basement!"

"The basement?" giving a questioning look to Mr. Fletcher.

"Of course! I run a peg boy business. I know this is usually typical of young boys on His Majesty's ships due to lack of women, but I adapted the same for the few who enjoy similar pleasures as our gallant sailors at sea. The basement is a room for them to prepare before they go to a client. As opposed to at sea, where a peg boy sits for hours every day to be used by several men daily, my boys just sit on them shortly before being sent out. I didn't think my Lordship would want to see such an obvious room."

John was beginning to feel like an idiot being lectured to by this man as though he should know what a peg boy is. Despite being a boylover himself, he never read every historical account of sexual applications involving a boy for sex. This practice of engaging a peg boy was not widely publicized. He was beginning to put together a picture of what the 'peg' part of the boy was about. Was this preparation, plus the sexual abuse of Mr. Fletcher's client, that caused Miles to try to escape this sort of life?

"I appreciate your concern about what I should or should not see, but you will show me this basement."

"As you wish, sir. May I suggest your ward stay here? It's not an appropriate site for his young senses."

"No, you may not. He will accompany me."

Giving a slight bow, the fat man spoke. "Let me first go downstairs. Two boys are preparing for customers. I will inform them of your impending presence," getting a nod from John.

During the entire tour and exchange of conversation, Mike had been quiet. John turned to him and asked, "You know this house has something to do with sex, don't you?" The boy responded he had figured it out. "I'm glad you've kept quiet and acted accordingly. I don't know what I can do for Miles, but we're in this deep now, so let's see what happens." He then looked at the boy in question. "I'm not sure what I can do for you," getting a fearful glance in return. "But don't give up. Maybe I can still find a way to help you."

A few moments later, the same door the man had entered earlier opened and Mr. Fletcher indicated they should follow him. Down the stairs, they preceded until they reached a room dimly lit by several candles. The basement was very small and narrow, maybe 18 feet long and barely 15 feet wide. To the right and left the walls were barren. A small window on one side allowed some sort of ventilation. Across the room was a small table with a bowl and what could be described as a spatula alongside. A board attached to the back wall and about two feet from the floor stretched for about 10-feet. Two naked boys were sitting on the board, a small space between them. From the dim light, it appeared as though they were just quietly sitting on the board. As John and Mike approached, the full definition of being a peg boy emerged.

On either side of the two boys were what could only be described as wooden pegs, approximately one inch in diameter and three inches in height, rounded on the top, attached to the board. They were an equal distance apart and one could see that all six of Fletcher's boys could be sitting on their appropriate pegs at the same time side by side. The pegs seemed to have some residue of a slippery substance. John looked at the bowl on the table and assumed the boy would grease up the peg before sitting on it. The two boys currently on the board were showing no expression. They had been here many times, loosening up before being sent out following a wealthy client's middleman inspecting and selecting a boy for his master's gratification.

"The men I provide my boys to enjoy one special aspect of their young bodies, so they are prepared accordingly," Mr. Fletcher began to explain. "When I get a request by a patron, the boys come here for a short while to loosen themselves for the client's pleasures. Then they are bathed and I deliver them myself. Depending on how many hours my client has paid for, I return to pick them up. When they are not out providing a service, the boys enjoy the comforts of living here."

Anal sex! These boys were groomed specifically to provide wealthy anonymous men a boy he could fuck for however long he paid Mr. Fletcher for. John looked at Mike to see how he was handling what he saw. He was surprised to see a bemused look on his face. Miles had his back turned toward the sight of his fellow peg boys being 'prepared.'

Stepping closer John looked at the two boys on the bench. He assumed they were both the middle age of available 11-year-old boys. Seeing that his Lordship was getting a closer look at the boys, Fletcher told them to stand up and show their 'progress.' Both stood up, getting a slippery plopping sound as they slid off the pegs. They then turned around, back to John, bent over, and spread their ass cheeks, showing the dilated holes the time sitting on the pegs had created. Mr. Fletcher then snapped his fingers and the two boys repositioned themselves over their respective pegs and slowly bottomed out, their asses flat on the wooden boards.

"I will be taking them to clients a little later," the man explained. "They don't want to waste time loosening them up, but still want a tight hole. Being on the peg solves that."

All John could do was nod his head. The sight in front of him was erotic, making his cock stir, but it was tempered not knowing if this was voluntary by the boys or forced by Fletcher. The facial features were blank, giving no clue. The fat man led the group back upstairs. Mike lingered back as the others disappeared, grabbing John's arm. "I want to stay here a little bit longer."

"Are you sure? There's nothing here you can do. I don't like the idea of us being separated if anything happens."

"Just for a little while, please. I want to talk to those boys."

John guessed Mike felt some sympathy for the 11-year-olds being used in such a manner and how close he came himself to being abused by a more cruel man. "All right. Just a few minutes," as the man and Miles caught up with Mr. Fletcher.

At that moment, a 12-year-old boy came down the stairs. Wearing just a towel, he quickly removed it showing no embarrassment of exposing himself to a total stranger, not bowing or paying any respect. He greased up a peg at the far end of the board. Finally acknowledging Mike's presence, he gave him a look of disdain, apparently not caring if the boy was of nobility or not. A moment later, he too had a wooden peg inside his ass.

The teen approached the two 11-year-old boys, extending his hand. "My name is Mike." The boys gave confusing looks but slowly extended their own hands, introducing themselves as Oliver and Jack. The older boy was motionless and said nothing.

"You should leave here, sire," the one named Oliver started to say. Bowing his head, he continued in a whisper. "We are the not proper sights for your eyes," apparently feeling a little embarrassed sitting with a wooden peg up his ass in front of nobility, having already been humiliated presenting their stretched holes to total strangers in the way they had.

Trying to put the boys at ease, Mike asked what happened when they went to a client's house. It was Jack who enlightened the teen. "The men who pay Mr. Fletcher just want us mainly for buggering. Sometimes we have to suck their cocks to get them hard, and then they stick it inside us. Having already been on these pegs helps, as it doesn't hurt too badly. We just lie there until they are done. Depending on how much time the client paid Mr. Fletcher, sometimes we just wait until the client is ready and then he does it again to us."

"You should leave sire," repeated Oliver. "I pray you never have to experience being a peg boy."

"I don't understand," Mike replied. "I've seen the house and your rooms and you have a nice place to live with plenty of food.

It was Jack who answered. "It looks that way to others, like your Lordship, but when we're not servicing a client, Mr. Fletcher brings friends of his over and they take turns on us all night long."

"He doesn't have to worry about that," the oldest boy spat out. "See how prim and proper he's dressed. He's the type that never gets his hands dirty. I bet he even has a servant to wipe his ass."

"Shut up, George. Have you no manners?" Jack scolded the boy. "The master will beat you if you don't show respect."

"For him? I bet he would scream and holler the first time a finger buggered his lily-white ass."

Putting on that bemused expression he had shown John earlier, Mike decided to show the arrogant boy a thing or two. Fumbling with the buttons on the clothing he was not familiar with, he began to strip. "Sire, what are you doing?" Jack asked. In a moment, the boys were even more astonished as Mike stood naked in front of them. His next act shocked the peg boys even more. Mike went by the bowl and scooped some of the slippery greases. Going to the peg next to George, he applied a large glob of lubricant, and then returned the spatula.

Smiling at the three boys, Mike bent over the peg, grabbed his two ass cheeks, spreading them as much as he could. When he felt the peg touching his anal opening, he slowly slid down until the entire three inches was inside and his butt cheeks made full contact with the board. "Not quite as big and deep as John, but I can handle this," Mike stated as a matter of fact.

Jack and Oliver were stunned at the sight. George started seeing Mike in a different light. A boy of nobility had stripped naked in front of them and then sat on a peg as though it was the natural thing to do. In their minds, it only added up to an obvious conclusion.

"You used to be a peg boy?" Jack asked. Even George had come to that conclusion. Mike realized it was the second time he was asked if he had been a peg boy, first from Miles and now Jack.

Mike couldn't help but laugh as he felt the peg inside him, the predecessor to the modern dildo that would be part of many sex acts. The boys had accidentally discovered dildos in John's bedroom. They never asked the man about them nor used them as part of their sex games. John's cock was 'peg' enough. He wondered if the man had plans to use them on his four boys. There was a couple that would test their limits. Mike wondered what it would feel like inserted by either John or the other boys of Paradise Island.

For a moment, he forgot his current situation. Looking at the 11-year-old Oliver next to him, he decided that while down in this basement, the sole emphasis shouldn't be on just the peg in their asses. He reached over, grabbing the 2½-inch cock of the boy, starting a stroking motion and feeling the young cock quickly get hard. It was like an electric shock through the boy's body. Never had anyone else done this to him. The men he went to would grab, pull and roughly handle his cock and balls, not enough to cause any great pain, but certainly nothing like he was feeling now. Jack, on the other side of Oliver, felt his cock stiffen as he watched this boy of nobility stroke the now hard shaft of his fellow peg boy, causing the boy to moan with new pleasures never felt before. He started stroking his member as he saw Mike doing to Oliver and was soon feeling some new sensations. The 12-year-old George with the attitude, felt his cock getting harder but forced himself from touching it.

Knowing he didn't have much time before John would miss him, he sped up his stroking on Oliver and the boy groaned more and more. The new feelings in his young cock had caused his anal muscles to squeeze around the wooden peg eliciting even more new sensations. Finally, he felt as though his body was going to explode as he experienced his very first orgasm, a dry one, but no less mind-blowing. A few moments later, Jack's hand had produced a similar erotic climax, but with him, a drop of cum sat on the tip of his cock, curiously observed by the boy.

Mike got up, grabbed the nearby towel, cleaned himself up, and quickly got dressed. Looking at Jack and Oliver, he told them not to let Mr. Fletcher know what just happened, getting promises in return. "I wish I could stay and show you more, but I must leave. At least you know there's more to being a peg boy than just sitting on those pieces of wood." Waving goodbye, Mike climbed the stairs as the two boys tried to absorb what had just happened. They gave each other grins and, without a word, grabbed each other young cocks and started stroking them to a second orgasm.

"Wait till we tell the others," Oliver stated, adding that it would be the boys' secret, never letting Mr. Fletcher know what they had just discovered. Oliver then looked over at George. "Come on and sit on this peg next to me. It's still slippery. I'll show you what new feelings we just learned." George smiled and proceeded to change positions.

As Mike joined John, he heard his friend speak. "Thank you for the tea, Mr. Fletcher, but right now, I wish to speak to Miles in private. Will you allow me?"

"Of course, my Lord. Please use this office here. Take whatever time you need."

Entering the plush room they had seen earlier when Fletcher gave them the grand tour and closing the door, John turned to the boy. "OK. Here's your chance in private. Tell me everything that scares you. The more I know, the better the chance I can find a way to help you. Legally, Mr. Fletcher owns you, so despite my title, I cannot break the law. So I need something from you or else there's nothing I can do, despite my dislike of Mr. Fletcher and what he does here to you boys."

Miles sat on one of the cushioned chairs and looked at the man. "It's the man Mr. Fletcher sends me to. After my uncle sold me, Mr. Fletcher said I was going to be used by just one man. He made it sound like I was special because I wouldn't have to get used by different men. But this man has a very big…." not knowing exactly how to say it in front of John.

"I know what you mean. In other words, even after spending time on the peg, it wasn't enough for this man?" getting a nod of the boy's head.

"It hurt a lot. I begged the man to be slow, but he didn't care. I cried all the time I was with him."

"Didn't you tell Mr. Fletcher? He told me he doesn't allow any of the boys to be hurt or misused."

"I tried, but he said this client paid nearly double the price for what he called, 'my boy ass.' So I had to please him. Sitting on the pegs never got me loose enough for him."

"How often did you go to this man's home?"

"Three times a week. Just when the pain in my rear was going away, I had to go back."

"Mr. Fletcher never showed concern for what you were going through?" John asked, knowing what the answer would be.

"No," the boy replied softly. "And while waiting for the next summons, I still had to pleasure him."

"Mr. Fletcher?"

"Yes. On days we weren't going to a client, he would take us to his bed and use us the same way, but his is a lot smaller."

"So, what happened today?"

"It had been a week since the client asked for me. I was hoping he had grown tired of me. Even doing it with Mr. Fletcher didn't give me the pain that man did. It was the first time in a while I wasn't sore back there." Miles paused for a moment before continuing. "Mr. Fletcher called me and told me that the client had paid for a whole day's use of me, the most money that had ever been paid for any boy. He told me to get ready and he would take me over. I was so scared. I begged Mr. Fletcher not to leave me for so long, but all he did was slap me and told me I better make the man very happy. On the way over, I jumped out of the carriage and ran."

John was quiet for several moments. What could he do? He couldn't let this boy get whipped. "Let's go back into the drawing-room and rejoin Mr. Fletcher." Miles gave the man a look of dejection. Was he going to give him back to Fletcher? His mind raced as to how he could make a getaway. Better to take his chances on the streets but what happened next surprised both John and the boy.

"Miles, I've done some thinking," Fletcher began. "Because of his Lordship's intervention and obvious concern for your well-being, I have decided not to punish you. Instead, if you get ready like you were supposed to, I'll take you to your client. If you please him for the entire day you are there, I will forgive what you did this afternoon and pretend as though nothing ever happened."

John felt the boy tremble. It wasn't a good choice: either get beaten by Mr. Fletcher or abused to the point it would probably jeopardize his health. He tried to find a third choice. One then came to mind.

"Mr. Fletcher, I will pay you twice the amount that your client offered for this boy." Miles looked at the man, not sure what that meant. Mr. Fletcher gave John a strange look.

"You wish to have Miles for your pleasure for the next 24 hours?" thinking he had hooked a new boylover client, apparently very, very wealthy.

"No, I wish to buy him." The boy recognized what John was trying to do and saw some hope.

Fletcher's mind was starting to see easy money if he worked this correctly. "Sire, he is worth a lot more. I have a client willing to pay me handsomely for the enjoyment this lad can offer not only today and more than likely in the future. Several visits will gain me more money than your offer."

"Mr. Fletcher, Miles has told me of the great discomfort he has been going through with this man. Even a few hours each visit has resulted in constant soreness and pain in-between visits. He says he has brought this up to you. What shape do you think he will be in after an entire day? He won't be physically able to make you any more money. If Miles can't 'work,' what good would he be to you? Accept my offer, refund your client, and make a very tidy profit."

Fletcher thought it over. The boy would be worthless after a beating he originally intended to give and his Lordship was right about his condition after 24 hours with his client. A 100% profit is nothing to throw away. Many, many boys ply the streets of London. Finding a replacement won't be difficult. "Sire, you have a deal. I will get the boy's papers. Will you object to the Constable being a witness?"

"Not at all," as both the Constable and Jakes were called inside. Miles looked up at John, tears starting to form in his eyes. The man grabbed the boy's hand and squeezed it. Mike was happy to see that Miles would no longer have to sit on those pegs or get as abused as he had heard happened. He thought of the three boys downstairs and wished they could escape their current fate. Soon, the document was prepared, witnessed and the boy became the property of John. Jakes was instructed to ensure that whoever handled his finances was to bring Mr. Fletcher the agreed sum. The coachman was still stunned at the events that had unfolded this afternoon.

"One last thing, Mr. Fletcher. Please have this black ring removed from the boy's finger." The man called a servant who took Miles to a room, whereupon a few minutes later, the boy reappeared staring at the white patch of skin the ring had covered. The Constable offered to continue escorting the carriage until John, Mike, and Miles were safely home.

The sun was nearly gone as the carriage resumed its interrupted trip back through the center of London. John looked at Mike and asked him what happened in the basement while he was upstairs with Mr. Fletcher.

Giving his friend a grin, he replied, "You feel a lot better than an old wooden peg."

Both John and Miles gave him puzzled looks until Miles asked, "You sat on one of the pegs?"

"Piece of cake. Had to show that snotty kid George I wasn't a sissy," getting another confused look from Miles, not comprehending some of the slang Mike was using.

"You sat on one of the pegs?" John repeated the same question Miles asked.

"Yes, I got completely naked and sat with them for a few minutes. Then I came up and rejoined you."

John just shook his head while Miles just stared at the boy. "Sitting on the peg for the first time, didn't it hurt?" came from the English lad.

"No, it wasn't that big." Without thinking, he let slip, "John is bigger than that peg."

This was getting more confusing than ever. Miles gave both John and Mike a puzzled look. "You are John's peg boy?" That caused chuckles from the two. Miles' limited experience assumed a boy sitting on some sort of a peg preceded all man/boy sex.

"Mike said too much. Let's say he and I enjoy each other. We do the same thing you were forced to do, but we do it because we love each other and we make it very enjoyable."

"You can have fun doing what that client did to me?" Miles was addressing Mike.

"You sure can if it's done slow and easy and with love."

Miles became quiet as he tried to understand what the man and boy had told him. It was hard for him to comprehend, based on his own experience, that a man's cock forced up a boy's ass could be called love. No further comments were made, as the carriage got closer to its destination. They seemed to exit the city and were approaching a country estate. It stopped in front of a large wrought iron gate that had the same crest on it as was on the doors of the carriage. Above the gate was the name of the estate, Langley Manor. John, not that familiar with English history, didn't recognize the name. A servant opened the gate and bowed as the carriage entered. It was nearly dark outside, but numerous torches gave sufficient illumination for all three passengers to stare in awe at the large domain.

"This is where you live?" Miles asked, not believing this was to be his new home.

"Is this where we live?" Both John and Mike were silently asking themselves. A beautifully manicured garden greeted their eyes. It seemed that every conceivable type of foliage was growing on this large estate. A short while later, the carriage stopped and Jakes jumped immediately to the ground to open the coach door. Then he ran inside to inform the servants of the Lordship's arrival. Upon exiting, everyone stood still admiring the beautiful structure. John then thanked Constable Jones for his assistance during the afternoon.

"A pleasure, my Lord. I hope you don't mind me saying this, but I'm happy that you were able to save this boy from Mr. Fletcher. He may legally own the boys and can conduct such a business, but I never cared for the man."

"I agree with you. Maybe, someday, we can rescue those remaining boys and shut down his place for good," as Miles stood next to John listening.

Jakes then returned and stood next to the trio as he saw eyes taking in the scope of the mansion. "Aye, it does make you stop and take a breath, sire. Your great-great-great-grandfather built the first section in a Medieval style. Later, your ancestors added to it using a Palladian style, and lastly, Strawberry Hill Gothic. I am the third generation to serve this estate and every one of my kin never grew tired of looking at it."

Wanting to act like he had lived here all his life, John answered. "Yes Jakes, it's beautiful. I cannot walk on by without taking a moment to reflect on what my family accomplished here. Its beauty also reflects the loyalty of those like you and those before you. And lest I forget, I appreciate you looking out for my ward and I this afternoon. I realize you were just expressing your concerns."

"Just doing my duty, sire. If you'll excuse me, I've got to board the horses and feed them. I've been told your dinner is waiting and a third plate had been set out for the new boy."

The three proceeded to the large wooden doors that were open; servants were there to take their coats. They gave Miles a strange look but said nothing. Another servant mentioned that their meals were ready and they walk through a long hallway to the dining area. Both John and Mike felt strange seeing paintings hanging on the walls that were apparently of past generations: those who built and occupied this place over the centuries. The last painting made the two stop in their tracks. It was a painting of John and Mike, the man sitting on a chair with the 12-year-old standing next to him. It could have been painted just yesterday. What was it doing here? Miles stared at the painting too and commented, "You look good there."

Both John and Mike wondered what other surprises or mysteries existed? John told himself that the first thing he had to do tomorrow was to familiarize himself with this huge estate. He'd look suspicious asking servants for directions around his own home.

When they entered the dining room, more servants were waiting as they pulled out chairs for the three to sit and began bringing platters of food. All three sitting at the table realized how hungry they were. The meats were tender, vegetables steamed perfectly, and fresh fruit that looked like they had just been plucked from a tree. With servants standing around, the conversation was limited. Thankfully neither the servants nor anyone else asked questions or requested instructions that would have shown John's ignorance with this time, place, and position as lord of this manor. A strict routine that had been in place for who knows how long was being observed.

When the meal concluded, individual baths were drawn in separate rooms where the three could relax. For both John and Mike, taking a sit down bath was a novelty, something they rarely had done in the past, showers being the quickest way. For Miles, being attended to was something he never dreamed would happen. He wondered what his future was going to be like. John had spent an enormous amount of money for him. He wanted to repay the man, but he only knew of one way he could do it. About an hour later, all three, dressed in the long nightshirts of those days, were in John's bedroom.

As the three sat on the large bed, the man produced the document that showed the transaction with Mr. Fletcher purchasing the boy Miles. "You know what this is, don't you?" John addressed the boy.

"Yes, sir. You own me now."

"No, Miles, I don't. The money was spent on purchasing your freedom."

Getting up from the bed, John approach a fireplace in which logs were cracking and flames licked the air providing the warmth of the room. Crumbling up the document in his hand, the man tossed it into the fire and watched as the flames eagerly engulfed it, quickly turning it to ashes. Miles couldn't believe what he had just witnessed. Getting back on the bed, John hugged the boy. "You are now a free boy. You can live here or go wherever you want." Then he felt the boy shudder as he began crying.

No words were spoken for a while until the 12-year-old ended the tears with a sniffling sound. He looked up at John. "I'll try to make you happy and never regret what you did." John smiled and told Miles to go to bed, as he wanted to talk with Mike for a little bit.

After the boy left, John leaned back on the bed, Mike lying next to him. "What a day or two! I don't recall yesterday's ending and now going through today. No wonder I feel so tired."

"Yes, you woke up on Paradise Island and before we head for bed, we end up here."

"How are you holding up, Mike?"

"Tired and still very confused. This trip to old England was interesting and maybe a little exciting seeing things nobody in our time has ever seen. But I want to go back to Paradise Island–will we ever go home?"

Chapter 44
A Short Bonding

"I don't know," John could only answer, looking at the bracelet on his wrist. "Our hope seems to lie with these." For several moments neither spoke before the man questioned out loud, "I wonder if I did the right thing with Miles? Could something you or I do change future history?"

"Of course you did! Just like you helped Matt, Chris, and myself and saved us from a terrible fate from Lam Sin." There was a quiet pause before Mike asked the next question. "John, what about that painting? It was of us. I felt so weird looking at it."

"I did too. It might explain why the servants seemed to know us. What's confusing is that we appear to have lived here since our births, yet in reality, we're strangers. We seemed to have faked it today, although our interaction with Mr. Fletcher and his peg boys did stir a lot of confusion," getting a smile from the boy. "What about tomorrow or the day after? Are we going to continue to be lucky? And how much longer must we be here?" Rubbing a hand along the boy's back over his night garment, he smiled at the boy. "If it weren't for the unknown ahead, I'd take advantage of this big plush bed for some fun."

"1820 or 2020, you're still a pervert," getting a laugh from the man.

Pointing to the rising tent in the boy's nightshirt, John asked, "what is that?"

Despite the situation they were in, Mike was starting to feel horny. Giving a cheeky grin, he added, "Let me be your peg boy tonight," as he removed his one-piece clothing, helping John to do the same.

For a short while, all was forgotten about being 200 years out of time and the events of the past several hours. No more was discussed about the challenges of maintaining their identities of a Lordship and his ward. Instead, two naked forms hugged and cuddled one another, skins touching as much of each other as possible. Maybe their current environment was alien to these 21st-century visitors, but the sex being enjoyed could have taken place in any period or location, past, present, or future.

It wasn't long before Mike was moaning in pleasure as the man's tongue worked on the cock and balls of the boy, thoroughly licking them and then sliding the teen shaft into his warm, wet mouth. Little did they know, though, that Miles was peeking in the doorway watching.

Both man and boy, with eyes closed, left the thoughts of being in a strange place behind them. They could be on Paradise Island as they sought to pleasure one another. Mike could feel the ever-growing orgasm approaching as his shaft was licked, the mushroom head sucked on and the man slowly sliding a finger into his tight hole.

No matter how many times his young cock had been sucked, it always felt like a new plateau was being reached as his entire body prepared to react to the inevitable conclusion. John always loved watching any boy's reaction to what his lips and tongue could do to a young cock. From learning how to pleasure from Roberto many years ago in Spain to 9-year-old Joshua to Aukai and then to the three boys who landed on his island, he never tired of seeing young bodies squirm in sexual ecstasy.

With each instance of sucking a tasty shaft of the same boy, he also knew that the boy was learning to control himself, to try to hold on as long as possible, to make that final moment the best it could be. So it was with Mike. The 12-year-old was trying desperately not to cum and John was caught between the convulsions of the boy's body and keeping the penis of the lad in his mouth. Shouting he couldn't hold on any longer, the explosion came. To John, it seemed like each orgasm was producing a tiny bit more boy cream than before. Whatever the amount, he let it stay inside his mouth swirling it with his tongue, enjoying the sweetness of it before swallowing. For the boy Miles, he felt his cock harden at the sight he had just witnessed, never realizing that such pleasures could be had from that part of the human anatomy.

"As always, John, that was great."

"I enjoyed it too, Mike."

"At least if we're stuck here, we can still enjoy this whenever we want." Flipping over on his stomach, Mike pronounced. "It's your turn. I want to feel you inside me."

After tucking a pillow under the boy's hips, John's cock found the tight portal that awaited his entry. He hoped the leaking pre-cum would be sufficient lubricant, as nothing else seemed available at the moment. With the same steady pressure he used the very first time he popped the boy's cherry, he slowly pushed until the anal ring gave way, his cock head clamped tight, and a small moan from the boy indicating success.

Giving the boy a chance to get used to the anal stretching, he quietly asked him, "Ready?" getting a nod of the head in return. John slowly slid his entire length inside the boy's ass, once again feeling what every boylover dreams of, a warm gripping tunnel surrounding his rigid pole. Then the age-old dilemma once again confronted the man. Part wanted to stay in this frozen position forever, feeling the anal walls ripple and grab at various areas of his cock. It was as though it had finally found a home and never wanted to leave it.

But the greater part wanted more, the sensations of sliding his cock back and forth, the balls churning its potion, waiting for the right moment of release. To John, the consolation was that this boy's ass was always an open invitation. He knew whenever he wanted, he could repeat over and over the same scenario that he felt now. And so the fucking motions began as the piston movement started slowly and increased with each stroke. At this point in his life, John wasn't like he recalled with Roberto 8 years earlier when he could fuck for longer periods before release and recharge more quickly. Now, it seemed he hardly got into a rhythm when the signal came it was going to end.

He tried stopping until the urge died down and then continue, but somehow it wasn't satisfying for either him or the boy. Better to go with the flow to its natural conclusion. No boy ever complained. The union was one of love, not of endurance. "Quality, not quantity," he consoled himself, and within a few moments, he knew he was close. A couple of deep poundings and the floodgates opened as stream after stream filled the innards of the boy. Shortly thereafter, the softened cock slid from its temporary home as the boy grabbed a nearby towel to catch the results of the man's love as it dripped from its now-widened opening.

To the young boy watching this from the doorway, he wasn't sure what his feelings were after seeing the man and boy in intercourse. None of his experiences were pleasurable. All he could recall were the pain and tears. Sometimes he thought he was being punished for his parents' deaths and his uncle selling him so easily. Yet in front of him, the boy had asked the man to enter him and had enjoyed it. He watched as both hugged each other, an embrace of love. He heard John tell Mike he better dress and go back to his bedroom.

"I have no idea what tomorrow will bring, but at least we should be as well-rested as possible." Miles then slowly turned and headed to his bedroom with a lot to think about.

Putting on his night garment, John then opened a glass door and stepped out on a balcony. It was somewhat chilly as the man's eyes tried to sweep over what he could see in the dark. As he looked up at the sky, at least this part was familiar to him as hundreds of stars decorated the night canvas, just as they did back home on Paradise Island. He took a deep breath. He asked himself how long were he and Mike destined to be here? Now that he was 'home,' what was he supposed to do every day? Did he have a business he was involved with? What happens if he has to mingle with other royalty? Would his ignorance of this time betray him and jeopardize his freedom? He certainly couldn't 'google' for some help. Maybe time travel is a wonderful concept, but if you're not prepared, it could be a nightmare. He stepped back inside and closed the door. Blowing out the candle, John crawled under the sheet and blankets and, within seconds, had fallen asleep.

***

The weight of someone sitting beside him woke John. Sitting on either side of the bed were Mike and Miles. Looking at the grandfather clock nearby, he saw it was nearly 2 AM.

"What are you two doing here? It's the middle of the night. Weren't you asleep?"

"We haven't gone to bed yet," Mike told the man.

"What! Why? You know we may have a big day tomorrow and unknown challenges."

"Miles has been with me the entire time."

"I'm sorry, John. I needed to talk to Mike. I didn't want to wake you.'

Getting into a sitting position, John looked at the boy in the semi-darkness. "A lot has happened to you today, quite a bit for a young boy. You were heading to a man who normally hurts you; you run away and get nearly trampled by horses; Fletcher threatens to beat you; I buy you from him and now you're a free boy. I guess I would have trouble falling asleep too."

"He saw us when we were having sex," Mike enlightened.

Giving Miles a somewhat stern look, John told the boy, "Even though you are a free boy, there are still some rules you need to obey, and that's not spying on other people. It's rude and very impolite."

"I wasn't spying, honestly. I wanted to talk to you some more. When I came to your door, I saw what you and Mike were doing and I wanted to see why it was fun for both of you, even the last part when you were on top of him."

"He waited until we were through, went back to his room until I returned to mine, and then came to see me," Mike concluded.

"You two have been up all this time? You need to go to bed right now. Maybe you don't need any sleep, but I do." John sensed hesitation from Mike. "What is it?"

"Miles and I had sex."

John didn't know whether he should be angry or laugh at the simple statement.

"Please don't be mad at Mike. It was my fault. I wanted to know why he enjoyed what the two of you did."

"And your explanation evolved into sex?" John asked Mike.

"How else could I show him? He wanted to know and he felt comfortable talking about it with another boy. I tried explaining it but figured he should experience it first hand. We stripped naked, laid on the bed, and had sex. I gave him his first blow job."

"I never knew you could feel so good. All this time, I never knew about sex. When Mr. Fletcher bought me, he said my rear was the only good part of me and that I was going to use it to make men feel good."

John motioned for the boy to come closer as he wrapped an arm over his shoulder. "Well, if you're going to learn about sex, you couldn't pick a better teacher than Mike. Just keep this between us. Nobody else here must know what we do in private," getting a nod of acknowledgment from the 12-year-old. "Now go to bed!"

"There's one more thing," Mike began as John felt Miles tremble a little bit.

"What is it?"

"He's too shy to ask and was afraid you'd get mad at his request. He wants to know why it feels so good when a man sticks his cock up a boy's ass."

"Now, at 2:00 in the morning!" Realizing that he may have come across a little strong and possibly frightening the English lad, he gently asked, "Are you sure, Miles? You don't have to. You've been treated pretty badly there. Maybe you should give more time before letting someone do that to you."

"I want to, John. You did more to me than anyone has ever done. Right now, that's the only way I know of thanking you. Please! I saw how gentle you were with Mike and how he enjoyed it. Let me feel the same thing."

"Go ahead, John. Let him sleep with you tonight. I'm going to bed," as Mike lit a couple of candles and then left the man and boy alone. Getting off the bed, Miles quickly threw off his night garment and stood naked in front of the man.

"Do you like me?"

In the dim light cast by the candles, John took a long look. "You are a very beautiful boy," as the man admired the smooth chest with the light brown nipples, the circumcised cock, and the small sack below.

"Turn around. Let me see where you and I are going to join together and make love," getting a giggle from the boy as he turned his back to the man, showing the beautiful globes of his ass. Miles was afraid he would be embarrassed or ashamed or even feel fear as he had before when getting naked, but no such thing happened. He knew that he was going to feel something new and wonderful, like when Mike introduced him to oral sex. John lifted the covers and invited the boy to get in bed with him.

Taking his nightgown off for the second time, the man's hands explored the young boy. He relished in the soft smoothness of the flesh. He wasn't sure at first what he might discover. Living 200 years in the past, sanitary and personal hygiene was sometimes difficult to maintain. The smell through the poorer part of town was evidence of that. Thankfully, Miles was an exception. At least Mr. Fletcher made sure the boys bathe regularly, and the bath of a few hours ago with its soap and fragrances enhanced the sexuality of the child beside him. The room's darkness and not being able to see what he was touching under the covers seemed to give an extra erotic aura as the man's cock quickly stiffened. He smiled to himself. Technically, he was fondling a 212-year-old boy. Not knowing exactly what Miles and Mike did in their sexual play besides Mike giving the 12-year-old his first oral ride, he moved slowly down the chest, across the stomach, and stopped at the base of the smooth hairless pubic area. Miles didn't say anything or made any attempt to stop him. Even though it was dark, John thought he saw a smile on the lad's face.

A nail-like fleshy tube of boy cock was encountered as the man slowly stroked the shaft. Moving lower, he felt the soft boy's sack. He felt two small objects and gently rolled them with his fingers. He didn't spend any more time in the genital area. With the boy wanting to invite the man into his anal home, plus the man's desire to feel such pleasure, he wanted to penetrate the boy and show him that such an action need not be one of pain and discomfort, but enjoyment and desire. Throwing the covers off both of them, John gave instructions to the boy.

"I'm going to lie on my back. You position yourself over me and you control how much and how fast you want to go," getting a nod of understanding.

Miles squatted over the stiff cock of the man. He noticed that there didn't appear to be any pubic hair as he saw in other men, but figured there was a reason. He slowly lowered himself but froze when the head of the man's cock made contact with his anal opening. For a moment, fear overcame him as recollections of the past overwhelmed him. He recalled the visits to Mr. Fletcher's client. As he felt the stranger's cock touch his opening, he braced himself for the inevitable pain that was to come. He begged the man to go slow, to let him get used to the monster cock. But the client had a perverted sense of pleasure hearing the boy scream and his ass opening to an unheard-of size as he pushed completely inside in one savage thrust.

"It's okay, Miles. You don't have to do this," sensing the boy's apprehension.

"No, I want to do this. I don't want the memory of being with that man the only one I have."

Gritting his teeth, Miles slowly pushed and felt his anal ring slowly give way, and the third cock to ever enter his ass had pushed through. Surprisingly, there was no pain at all. John's cock was nothing like he had experienced before. His size was more like Mr. Fletcher's, but what was so different was that he controlled the entry. No one had given him that option, always wanting to enter in one motion. Miles was being allowed to get accustomed to the new visitor until he was ready to add more of the length inside him. Taking another deep breath, he slid himself further and further on John's cock until he felt his ass making contact with the man's stomach. A cock was totally inside him and there was no pain!

"How do you feel? You did great and I love the feeling of being inside you."

"Really? It feels so different like you should be inside me."

"That's how it's supposed to feel. Then there's the love part as my cock slides in and out and says thank you with the sperm from my balls."

"I want to feel that, John."

"Okay. Get off and lie on your stomach and I'll do it like I did Mike."

As Miles lifted himself off the man's cock, a new sensation hit him. The past had always been of relief when the pain ended and he could go back to Mr. Fletcher's. Now he 'wanted' a cock inside him. He lay on the pillow as he had seen Mike do and waited to be filled again.

Being as gentle as he could, John's cock slowly pried the anal opening and began the six-inch journey inside the beautiful ass of this 12-year-old boy. Although John was aware of the boy's horrifying ordeal as he was sexually abused, he never thought that he would be having anal sex with this boy. As he bottomed out, he asked Miles how he was doing."

"I'm fine. Now I know why Mike liked it. When there's no pain, it feels good."

"The best is yet to come," as John began fucking the boy. Another tight warm ass was engulfing his man shaft and he was riding on another cloud of boy love. For Miles, it was something different as his ass gripped the cock as it pulled away, not wanting it to leave, then welcoming it back home again as his anal walls wrapped itself around it.

He felt the movements go faster and he knew John was about ready to cum. He didn't want it to end but knew it had to happen. Now that he knew what pleasure awaited for not only him but also what he could provide John, he hoped this wonderful experience would be a regular thing. He heard the man grunting and then giving a final hard shove as the warm liquid of John's love washed the inside of his ass. The man panted for a little while before the softening cock slid out of Miles. He then felt a towel as John tried to clean any leakage from the recent joining. Then he lay next to him.

"Thank you, Miles. That was a wonderful ride you gave me. It's even more special because you allowed me so soon after what you had been through. I hope you saw that sex can be beautiful if done right with two people who care about one another."

"I loved it. Thank you for showing me. I want to do this all the time!"

Chuckling, the man answered, "Well, we'll see. I want to do it as much as possible too. But remember, this stays private between the three of us," getting a nod of the head from the boy. "If you want to sleep with me here, that'll be alright."

John began to get the covers in position when Miles shocked him with the next question. "Tell me more about Paradise Island?"

"Where did you hear about Paradise Island?"

"Mike started telling me about it, the wonderful magical things you have, and the other boys that live with you."

"I'm going to strangle that boy," John said to himself. Looking at Miles, he stated, "Mike shouldn't have said anything. Like our sex, it's private between him and me."

"Why? It sounds like a beautiful island, but I'm confused. If you live on Paradise Island, how can you be living here too?"

John's mind was whirling. As if he didn't have enough to worry about hoping to survive in this period in time, now a young boy wanted to know how he got here. "Listen, Miles, Mike, and I don't belong here. Our home, Paradise Island, is very far away. Somehow, maybe by magic, we were taken from our island and landed here. Everyone seems to know us, but we only arrived here a few hours before we met you. That painting in the hall, we never were there when it was done. Right now, we're very confused and a little bit scared. That's why I wanted to give you your freedom right away. That same magic may take us away."

As if on cue, Mike came running into the bedroom all excited. "John, my bracelet!" It was glowing on the boy's wrist. John looked at his bracelet as it began to glow also. "What does that mean? Are we going home?"

"I don't know. Let's hope that is the case. Let's stay close in case it happens."

"No!" Miles shouted. "You can't leave."

John bent over to look at the boy. "I told you we don't belong here. You're free now, maybe even lord of this manor. If we go, just remember us. Mike and I will never forget you."

"Take me with you then," as Miles clamped on to the man's leg, reminiscence of earlier in the day when he was threatened by Fletcher.

"Miles, just as we don't belong here, you don't belong…." The conversation was never completed as a flash of light erupted in the room. Miles, who had been clinging to the man's leg, felt himself falling to the floor. He looked around. John and Mike were gone.

"No, please don't leave me. I don't have anyone else," as the boy began to cry. The following morning John and Mike were reported missing.

***

One week later. Miles was standing in the long hallway looking at the painting of John and Mike. He had been spending most of the past seven days staring at the portrait going over the events of the day when he was made a free boy. Jakes silently came up to him.

"No sign of them, Master Miles. It's like they disappeared into thin air," getting a slight smile from the boy. "I'm afraid they may have met a terrible fate."

"No, they didn't Jakes. Wherever they are, they are where they are supposed to be," getting a puzzled look from the coachman, who had now accepted the 12-year-old as the new lord of the estate.

"Of course, Master Miles. Anything else?"

The boy thought for a moment. "Yes Jakes, there is. Get my carriage ready. We are going to pay a visit to Mr. Fletcher's establishment."

"Master Miles?"

"And have the servants prepare for five new residents that will be coming back with me and living here. I am going to buy out Mr. Fletcher's business as well as the building he conducted it in. When he has moved out for good, I want it torn down. There will be no more peg boys."

"That may be difficult young sire…and cost a lot of money."

Turning to look at the coachman, the boy extended his hand. "His Lordship always had faith in you. I know you will help me in this matter."

Taking the boy's hand and bowing low, Jakes replied. "Thank you for your trust in me. If I may say so, together we will shut down that terrible place. I will get the carriage ready."

As Jakes departed, Miles looked again at the portrait. "This is my way of saying thank you, John. I pray you and Mike are safely back on Paradise Island."

***

"Let me go, you bastards! John, help me! John!"

The man struggled, trying to open his eyes. That once familiar bright light and dancing blue dots kept his eyes squeezed shut as it hurt too much to open, but through the pain, he heard a voice calling to him.

"Where are you taking me? John! John!"

Despite the pain, the man forced his eyes to open, if only a crack. He was lying on the floor. He raised his head enough to see two men dragging Mike through a doorway as the boy struggled to try to free himself. He tried to call out, but his vocal cords wouldn't cooperate. He heard one last plea from the lad before darkness overtook him and he lost consciousness.

Chapter 45
Rome: A.D. 35 (Part 1)

"Ionannes, my friend. Can you hear me?" John heard a voice through a semi-haze floating through his head. He slowly opened his eyes. The blue dots were gone. He tried to remember what happened. There was the flash of light as he was talking to Miles, then hearing Mike calling out to him. His eyes tried to focus. He was lying on his back, an elderly gentleman softly touching his shoulder, calling him by some odd name. Others stood around. Their clothing was strange. All were dressed in white robes of some sort.

"Ah, Ionannes, you're awakening. Bring water," the man leaning over John directed to someone, who dashed away. "Take it easy; you received a nasty bump on your head."

"What happened? Where am I?" getting looks of concern from those standing near him. John tried sitting up, but extreme dizziness set in and he was forced to lie back down. Soon, he felt a cool wet cloth being applied to his forehead.

"Take it easy. Rest. We'll take you to your bed. When you are feeling better, we will talk," as John found himself slipping back into unconsciousness.

***

Mike was also awakening. As he struggled with those who were dragging him away, he was hit on the head and slipped into darkness. He looked around. He was in a room of some sort. He guessed it to be maybe 20 feet [6m] square. It appeared to be built of stone blocks. One side had a window with bars across. A couple of small torches were attached to the walls giving what lighting one could see. Was he in some sort of prison? Yet there were cushions around, bowls on top of tables with fruit. At the door, though, he saw what was a guard, holding a long spear and a sword sheathed by his side. His clothing was something out of an old history book. He looked at his wrist and breathed a sigh of relief. The bracelet was still there. So, there was a chance this would be another quick stop like in London and then he would be back in the humming cave with John. A voice caught him by surprise.

"I'm glad you're awake. For a moment, I thought you were dead."

Mike looked in the direction of the voice; another boy was in the room with him. He appeared to be about 10 or 11 years old, with blond hair and deep blue eyes. He noticed the clothing on the boy and then looked at his own. Both were wearing the same sort of white tunic. "My name is Marcus. What's yours?"

"I'm Mike."

"Mike?" The boy tried to pronounce. "That's a strange name. Where are you from?"

The 12-year-old was trying to think. The flash of light signaled their departure from the year 1820, but it didn't send them back home to Paradise Island. Where did it send him? Where was John?

He took another look around. It was the guard who worried him the most. It wasn't the fact that he was armed with deadly weapons, but his uniform was something worn a very long time ago. If this was real, the humming cave hadn't gone forward in time to send them back home, but instead further back, but how far? He looked at Marcus. Ignoring the boy's question, he asked his own, "Where are we? Why are we here?"

"I don't know where we are. A sack was put over my head and wasn't removed until I got here. I did hear the guards talk to each other about where we were going." As Marcus revealed what he had heard, Mike's eyes widened in shock and fear. For he now knew where he was in time and where he was being taken. A well-known pedophile from ancient history was awaiting the two boys.

***

It was several hours later when John re-awoke to the same group of people standing around him as before. He was lying on a bed of some sort; he tried looking at his surroundings. What caught his eyes were brightly painted vases of different sizes standing on pedestals. Also, busts of different men and women adored the walls. He looked up and saw the same older gentleman who had spoken to him earlier. His hair was white and the face wrinkled, yet there was a sort of kindness and concern on his face.

"Ionannes, how are you feeling? Can you stand up?" John raised himself into a sitting position and then slowly stood up. A couple of arms stretched out to steady him as he regained his equilibrium. "Good. Let's go outside. The servants will bring food and drink."

John observed the architecture as he was led through a hallway to the outside. He realized with a shock he was standing in a Roman villa. Like the manor in London, he could see vast gardens and ponds. Here, there were columns, flowers, pictures, and even a fountain. They stopped in what would probably be called the atrium.

Despite the beauty of his surroundings, he realized that instead of hopefully returning to Paradise Island, he had been sent further back in time, maybe as much as 2000 years. He also understood why he was being addressed as Ionannes. It was a loose Latin translation of the name John. So who was he supposed to be in this time and place? And was he speaking and understanding Latin and not even aware of it? He was sure his mind was thinking in English. And where was Mike? He vaguely recalled the boy calling out to him. It looked like two men were dragging him away. The old man interrupted his thoughts and questions.

"Here, my friend, eat and drink. You'll feel much better."

"Thank you…old friend. That hit on my head has rattled me some. It's difficult remembering events of the past. So please bear with me."

"Of course. I'm surprised you've recovered as quickly as you did. The handle on that centurion's blade hit you pretty hard."

"It's tough remembering exactly what happened. Did you see everything?"

"Don't you remember? You and I and Appius were walking in the garden when four legionnaires came and said they had orders to take the young boy. You questioned where such order came from and was told it was from Captain of the Guard Lucius Sejanus. Appius ran inside while you argued with the soldiers. In return, one hit you on your head with the handle of his sword. Appius was caught and taken away."

"Why?"

"I have given it some thought while you were recovering. It probably happened last week when the emperor made one of his rare visits to Rome. You and the boy decided to go see if a young male slave could be purchased as a companion for Appius. The emperor must have spotted your boy and decided he wanted him. He has all his orders carried out through Lucius Sejanus. When you were located, he sent the men to take the boy."

John was confused. Trying to clear his head and think straight, he found himself in another situation where he knew little to nothing about the time and place he was currently in. He had to carefully word his questions to get the answers he needed without revealing his ignorance of the people he and Mike were portraying.

"But Mi…Appius belongs here!"

"Dear Ionannes, you bought Appius. He was not your legitimate son. As such, he could be taken away, but only on the order of Caesar. I know you liked the boy and had raised him for the past five years, but he is gone. After you are well, if you wish to find another son, we will go and see what new boys are available." The old man paused for a few moments. "Appius was a good lad. It was a pleasure tutoring him. He was bright and had a great future ahead. I will miss him too."

"No, I don't want another son. Appius is very special to me. I must have him back."

"Ionannes, be reasonable." Lowering his voice, the old man continued, "You have heard the stories of our glorious emperor and the boys he keeps. It can never be proven because anyone inquiring of a missing boy or questioning the tastes of our emperor can be punished by death. Appius is gone. The emperor Tiberius is probably back at his villa and the boy will join him shortly."

"Where's that?" getting a puzzled look from the old man as though John should have known where Tiberius Caesar spends most of his time.

"You know, at the Villa Jovis, on the island of Capri."

***

Like many preteens, Mike didn't care much for school. He saw no practical purpose for it. He didn't want to be part of a gang and was picked on by fellow students because of that fact. Going to school was just another day of being bullied. After his parents' deaths and trying to adapt to whatever foster home he was assigned to, it left even less ambition to crack open textbooks, and when John wanted the boys to take classes online, he moaned and complained like his fellow rescued comrades. Deep inside though he knew that if he wanted to go to college and make something of his life, education was necessary.

He cared for John and knew the man was only thinking the best for him and the other boys. Life couldn't be all sex and fun on Paradise Island. In the back of his mind, he knew that one day he would have to leave John and make a life of his own. At 12 years of age, he knew one day he would reach adulthood. On that day, he would have to say goodbye to everyone and stand on his own two feet. So, while he waited for the new documentation that would allow him to be officially enrolled in a school, he used John's desktop computer and looked at various historical periods of long ago.

There was one exception to the rule about schooling–he loved history. He didn't go into the details of historical events but skimmed over the highlights of people and their impact in times past. So he knew a little about London of the early 19th century and the different classes of people. He wished he had known more to help John, but unfortunately, their stay in 1820 was less than 24 hours before they were transported to a new time and place.

Here, though, it was a different situation. He knew almost immediately when he saw the guard at the door what city they were more than likely in and the approximate time. The guard's uniform and its breastplate and helmet gave the best guess of being the first century AD. When Marcus had shared what he overheard the guards saying, as they transported him to their current dwelling, Mike was able to narrow it further.

It was the reign of Emperor Tiberius. So it could anywhere between 14 and 37 AD. The emperor didn't want to rule Rome, so he made some Roman, whose name Mike couldn't recall, in charge of day-to-day affairs. Once in a while, Tiberius would travel to Rome, mainly if needed, at the Senate to resolve some special issue or discuss an upcoming war. Otherwise, he lived in a huge villa on the island of Capri.

Rumors always abounded that his favorite pastime was being surrounded by naked children of all ages. His sexual preference was with young boys. Up until his 70's, Tiberius continued to have sex with preteen males. Somehow, he and Marcus were destined to be a part of the emperor's naked empire; but as boys, were they also going to be used as sex toys?

Mike's confirmation of the period also included the two-piece knee-length tunic that he and the younger boy were wearing. What puzzled Mike was that families of either wealth or power wore such a tunic. So why was he kidnapped to be sent away to a new home? It had to be on the order of Tiberius Caesar. Only such a man that many considered a god, could wield such power. Something had happened before he and John arrived at this time involving the boy he was replacing.

His next concern was John. Events happened so fast that he didn't get a good look at his fellow time traveler. They had just materialized in what Mike now realized was a villa at the moment he was grabbed by the Roman soldiers. John tried to stop them from taking him but was hit on the head by one of the men and collapsed. He figured John must be as confused as he was trying to understand their situation. Mike guessed about 24 hours had passed; they had already been here longer than they were in London. Again, he looked at his wrist to see the bracelet. At least he knew there was still a chance of returning home. If his theories were correct and he was about to go to Capri, he knew John wouldn't be able to rescue him. So all he could hope for was the bracelets to light up, not needing both of them nearby, and get them out of their current predicament.

At that moment, the door opened and a second guard entered. Mike and Marcus stood up. "We are now ready to begin our journey to the emperor's villa. You should be honored. Caesar chose you when he was here last week. Now, I could tie you up and make the trip very uncomfortable for you, or you can promise to behave and not try to escape. If you keep your promise, you will not feel any rope." Both boys gave their word to conduct themselves as promised. With the guard leading the way and the one who was at the door following behind, the boys began the walk on a voyage that would take them to Emperor Tiberius' land of naked children and boy sex.

***

John was devastated. Mike had been kidnapped and was on his way to Capri to more than likely be a sex toy for the most powerful man in the world at this point. He felt so helpless. On Paradise Island, he was trying to protect Mike and the other boys from falling into the hands of Lam Sin. Yet here there was nothing he could do. He was in an unfamiliar setting, not knowing what limitations he had. He knew nobody he could ask for help. If anything, the old man discouraged him from taking any action. Mike was gone, this was the way things evolved in Rome of the first century.

He also discovered that he had been unconscious off and on for nearly 24 hours. So there was no way of knowing how far away the boy was at this moment. The island of Capri lay off the coast of Italy, so Mike would eventually have to be taken by a boat of some sort and surely accompanied by guards. He tried recalling what he knew about Capri.

Shortly after winning the lottery and his desire for his private island, he began his search off the European coast. He quickly found out those islands for sale were few and extremely expensive. One search included a trip from Rome to Naples, approximately 165 miles. John could only guess how fast travel was at this time but figured Mike would be on Capri in 7 to 10 days. He then realized he still had his bracelet. That was some comfort as he assumed they were the key to getting back home. He just hoped Mike still had his. "The bracelets have to reactivate soon," the man tried to convince himself. At the moment, that was his only hope.

***

For Mike, he was becoming more despondent as each day passed. He and Marcus, accompanied by the two guards, had been on the road for a week. Although they were in a covered cart with plenty of cushions to rest upon, bouncing over the stones that made up the roadway from Rome south was very uncomfortable. They stopped three times a day for relief and meals. One guard would hunt for meat. The driver of the cart prepared it as best as he could. It was becoming common for Mike to lean out the side of the cart, throwing up what he had eaten a short time earlier. His humiliation was compounded, as the two guards laughed at him, saying how soft the boy had become living in luxury.

Marcus, though, was mostly quiet. Mike learned the boy was ten years old and came from a wealthy family. Guards had also come to his home and taken him away. At least once a day, the small boy would start crying. Mike would hold him, trying to convey the fact that he had one friend he could count on. "What will happen to me? Why does the emperor want me? I've done nothing wrong," he kept asking each day during the one period when he did talk and it was directed to his older companion. Mike kept silent about what he had read about Tiberius' pedophile nature. Thankfully, the guards never said anything about what awaited the two boys once they arrived at Capri. Being taken away from family was traumatic enough. Knowing you could be sexually abused may be too much for the young boy to handle emotionally. Mike still didn't know why he, or whoever he was supposed to be, was found appealing for any perverted use. Depending on what the current year was, Tiberius could be anywhere from his mid-fifties to mid-seventies in age.

Mike also learned that here his name was Appius, apparently a reference to an early Roman leader who began construction on the path they were on, aptly named the Appian Road. The guards would call his name in an unkindly manner each time his stomach would react to the food he had to eat. In the evening, he and Marcus were allowed to sleep outside the cart, being reminded by the guards of their word not to try to escape. The cool breezes felt good. As the fire crackled nearby, Mike thought of the bonfire back home and the times spent after a good home-cooked meal.

So many questions were on the 12-year-old's mind. What was happening to John? Although he didn't know it, he had reached the same conclusion the man had that there was very little, if anything, that could be done to reunite them. He was alone. He looked at the bracelet on his wrist. Why hadn't it activated and send him away from here, preferably home? Was it because of the ever-growing distance between him and John? Or was his bracelet broken? His stomach got even queasier, pondering the possibility he was trapped here forever. Did John's bracelet work alone and he was no longer here? He also thought about those left on Paradise Island. Assuming the number of days away in time had also passed back home, by now, he and John were probably considered lost forever. There were so many questions, all of them frightening with no answers. Two days later, they reached the coast. Mike and Marcus were turned over to two new guards who loaded them on a ship, which shortly thereafter began the final part of their journey to Capri and the emperor Tiberius.

***

John was quickly learning what it took to run a villa and vineyard. For the past week, he tried to adapt himself in his new life, learning to understand who he was supposed to be and not arouse any suspicions of his ignorance. Some ran the operations with little or no intervention needed by him, for which he was grateful. He was pretty dependent on the old man, whose name he learned was Petronius. Whenever John felt he might be compromised as to his real identity, he would mention still flashes of pain as a result of the attack on him. Petronius graciously accepted the excuse and took the time to refresh John's memory of names and events.

Each evening before falling asleep, he would review what new information he had learned to not make any repeat mistakes. It turned out he was a widower, whose wife passed away many years ago before they had a chance to conceive a child–several busts of her decorated the villa. Needing a son to take on the family name, he adopted Appius. Petronius had been hired as the boy's tutor.

Since John continued to believe that there was a way to get Mike back, the old man suggested consulting an advocate to plea for the boy's return. The advocate arrived at the villa and politely but firmly stated that because John had never modified his will to include the young boy, he couldn't be considered his legitimate heir. John should have also made an official public announcement when he had decided to give the boy the family name. Just assuming he was adopted did not constitute a legal declaration. In the eyes of the law, Appius was considered as just a former slave boy living in John's villa. Therefore, he was a fair game if the emperor decided he wanted the boy to live with him. Of course, John wasn't there when all this supposedly happened. So he couldn't offer any defense on his part. Tiberius spotted the boy, liked what he saw, and ordered that if the boy was not legally a family member, the emperor wanted him on his island. What was troubling John was what if the boy being taken to Tiberius did not look like the one the emperor originally laid eyes upon? What would happen to Mike?

The advocate continued. "Ionannes, you should be proud that Appius was selected by Tiberius Caesar. He will live a life of luxury and, with proper tutoring, may even find a position to serve the emperor and the empire."

"He 'was' being properly tutored, my dear advocate," Petronius stated in a low voice.

"No disrespect Petronius. Your knowledge is unquestioned, but it is not wise to try to circumvent Tiberius' wishes. Many have regretted trying." With that being said, the advocate departed, leaving John and Petronius alone.

"You must accept the fact that Appius is gone. Maybe the advocate is right and the boy has a brighter future than my knowledge could give him," the old man tried to console John.

"Do you know what happens to boys living on that island? You told me yourself that he 'enjoys' young boys. Let's be honest. They are used as instruments of sex."

Petronius quickly looked around to see if anyone was nearby who could have overheard. "Ionannes, you must be careful what you say out loud. Those are only rumors. If a guard ever happens to hear you question the emperor's motives for having boys taken to him, it could get you killed."

Sadly, or unfortunately, however you looked at it, Petronius didn't have history on his side, which detailed the sordid life the emperor had at that time. Until his dying day, he was known to have sex with young boys. John wondered if Mike was aware of Tiberius' background. If not, he would soon find out. Looking at his only friend, he spoke softly. "I know, Petronius. Appius meant a lot to me. I hope you're right that it's just rumored. If Appius gains from his stay at the Villa Jovis, I can only be happy for him."

"Which brings me to a point I am saddened to announce," the old man looked at John.

"What is it?"

"It is time for me to leave. You brought me here to tutor Appius. Since he is no longer available, my duties are completed. I must go and find another pupil."

"No, you mustn't. Even though there is no student for you at the moment, you've been invaluable to me during my recovery. Please don't go. Your wages will always continue whether there is a pupil or not."

"You are very kind, Ionannes, but a tutor needs a student, just like a potter needs the clay. You can take away the clay, but is he still a potter?

John was in a quandary. He wanted Petronius to stay. There was so much more he needed to know and learn. In essence, the old man had been 'his' tutor. "What must I do to convince you to stay?"

"We have discussed that. Many times you have told me you don't want a replacement for Appius."

"You're not fair, Petronius. He has only been gone a week and you expect me to forget him so quickly."

"No, you will never forget him. For five years, he has been a part of your life since your wife died, as he has been a part of mine, but you know you may never see him again. All you can do is remember him in your heart. You must begin again before too much time passes. You must find a boy worthy to carry your name. He must be properly educated so that he may take over when you are gone. You know now not to repeat the mistakes of the past."

John was quiet for several minutes. He didn't know what to do. Poor Mike was somewhere where he couldn't reach him. Lord knows what he has been made to do. He looked at the bracelet on his wrist. "Damn it!" he quietly told himself. "Why aren't you doing something? How long must we be separated? Are we ever going home?" The latter question made the man realize that in all probability, this could be home for the rest of his life. If that was the case, he had to adapt to the realities of this time and place. He wouldn't forget Mike, and he would carry the hope that one day they will be together again. Looking at his friend, he quietly responded, "You're right, Petronius. It's time to move on. We will begin the search for your new pupil and my new heir."

***

"My name is Tatianus," the naked 15-year-old boy introduced himself. After the journey from the Italian coast to Capri, both Mike and Marcus were brought to the royal villa of the emperor Tiberius. They were escorted to an empty room and waited there. The 10-year-old, although awed by the beauty and vastness of his surroundings, was still frightened, not knowing what lay ahead. Mike tried to recall what he could about the Villa Jovis. Supposedly, it was situated at a very secluded spot on the island. Tiberius' quarters were in the north and east of the palatial villa. They were particularly difficult to reach and heavily guarded. Most of the palace consisted of gardens and pools. Mike thought he heard children's voices as they climbed the path to what could be their new home.

About ten minutes after they had been brought to this room, a naked teenage boy Mike guessed to be about 15 years old entered and introduced himself. "I will be in charge of you as you become acquainted with life here at Villa Jovis. I will train you in the arts of pleasing men and you will be available at any time for such service as the emperor desires. Please him and any other guests you are sent to and your lives here will be very good. You will be well-fed and tutors will educate you for your future. Disobedience is never tolerated. It can result in severe punishment, like being whipped, or in the extreme case, thrown over the wall to your death on the rocks below. Any questions?"

Mike wasn't sure if he should say anything, but curiosity got to him. "Are you still pleasuring the emperor?"

Tatianus chuckled. "No, I am too old. Caesar does not want boys when hair starts growing on their bodies, like mine," as he pointed to his pubic bush. "In my case, after pleasing him and his guests for three years, I was rewarded with the position of preparing and training new arrivals to this island."

"Are there just boys living here?" Mike asked.

"No, there are some girls, mainly for the few visitors who prefer them. You can play games with them, swim in the pool together, but you may never have any sexual contact with them." Looking at the two newcomers, Tatianus continued. "While you are here at this villa, you will wear no clothing. Throughout the day, either the emperor or, more than likely, his guests will place their hands on you, touching you in various places. Some like to play with a boy's genitals, fondle your ass or even slip a finger inside your anus. Whatever they desire, you will let them. Never say no or try to push away advances by any man here. If you are scheduled to be a pleasure boy for the evening, you will accompany whoever chooses you and provide him your body for his enjoyment. If the following morning, we hear good comments on how well you performed, you will be rewarded. If there are complaints, further training or punishment may be necessary."

Mike was thinking quickly to himself. "So instead of servicing Lam Sin, I end up servicing a bunch of ancient perverts."

For Marcus, all this talk of being naked and sex was an unknown topic. Like many boys living among the wealthy, he was pampered, never being exposed to the carnal lusts that were part of the Roman lifestyle. He was still trying to comprehend why he was even taken from his parents. The boy was still in shock, seeing another older naked boy standing in front of him, not knowing anything of puberty. He was trying to stop himself from trembling but couldn't. Mike noticed the fear in the boy's eyes and turned to Tatianus, "Sir," wanting to start the relationship with a show of respect, "as you probably can tell, young Marcus has no idea what awaits him."

Tatianus came closer to the 10-year-old. "You are a very beautiful boy. I can see why the emperor chose you. You may end up being one of his favorites."

Turning to Mike, the 15-year-old responded. "He will learn. He is not the first virgin boy with no knowledge of what was to become of him. He will adapt to his new position in the emperor's household."

He looked closer at Mike. "How old are you?" Mike told the older teen he was twelve. "You may be twelve, but there's a sort of wisdom in your eyes, like those of an older boy. It must have intrigued the emperor as he very seldom brings boys here older than eleven. Twelve-year-olds quickly change in body and are no longer what the emperor and his guests desire.

"All right, here's the schedule. You will not join the other boys and girls for a few weeks, depending on how your training is progressing. You will get used to being without clothing at all times. Then you will get accustomed to allowing your bodies to be inspected and touch anywhere at any time. The final part of your training will be on how to please a man. When I feel you are ready, you will join the other boys in the courtyards ready to perform your duties."

"What happens to the boys once they are no longer…desirable?" Mike wondered.

"They become servants here while they continue their education. Most become officers in the legion. Others are assigned administrative posts within the empire. Now follow me while I take you to your temporary quarters during your training."

Little Marcus looked at Mike with questioning eyes. During their long journey from Rome, he had depended on the older boy to sort of look after him. "Don't worry, Marcus. Everything will be all right," as he grabbed the boy's hand and followed Tatianus into a hallway and to a modestly furnished room. There were a couple of beds, a table and chairs, and very little else.

"Food and refreshment will be brought to you shortly. I'm sure you're tired of what you ate during your journey here. Afterward, you may rest for the remainder of the day. In the morning, we will begin. You will start by giving me your tunics and adapting to being naked all the time. Do not leave this room," as Tatianus walked out and closed the door.

Mike sat on the edge of one bed and Marcus quickly sat next to him. "What is going to happen to us, Appius? Why do we have to be naked and let men touch us and do such things?"

Putting an arm over the boy's shoulder, Mike tried to calm the child's fears, yet couldn't sugarcoat why laid ahead. "Marcus, there are some men who like naked boys, like to touch them in private places and do things to them. The emperor is one of them. To be chosen to live here and please the male guests is considered an honor. It will be scary at first, but you have to be strong."

"Aren't you scared, Appius?"

"Yes, I am, but I'm not going to let anyone know it. I will show I'm strong and can do anything the other boys here do."

"I will too, Appius. I will be strong like you."

All else was forgotten for the time being as a naked teenage boy brought a platter of meat, fruits, and drink. Both boys realized that they hadn't eaten yet today and were famished. An hour later, the same boy returned and removed the dishes and left the two newcomers alone. Outside the small window, darkness was falling.

"Marcus, we're going to have a very important day tomorrow. We better rest up as much as we can," as Mike laid back on one of the beds. It wasn't the most comfortable but beat the bouncing cart and the hard ground they endured on their travel to this place. As the boy settled into a comfortable position, he felt Marcus crawl in bed beside him. There wasn't much room, but Mike scooted over as much as he could to allow the 10-year-old to share the bed with him. He looked at the soft features of the child. He thought to himself: Had this been under any other circumstance, he might have taken advantage to explore the young boy sexually. But, if events hold, once they were both naked, he'll have all the time he needed to look at Marcus' nude features.

Chapter 46
Rome: A.D. 35 (Part 2)

In Rome, John was finding it difficult to accept the fact Mike was gone, maybe forever. Petronius was threatening to leave unless he provided a new pupil.

"It's not just for me, Ionannes," he emphasized, "it's for you and the future of your estate. When you are sure he will be your heir, announce it publicly and include him in your will. Then not even Caesar can touch him under those circumstances."

Picking a strange boy to live at the villa presented unknown problems. Supposedly, he and Mike replaced the original occupants that dwelled here. So if he adopted a new boy and made him son and heir, what happens if he and Mike are whisked away and the original son and heir return? The many questions were giving him headaches. How much different this was from less than a day spent in London. He saved a boy and gave him a better life. Here, decisions were required on almost a daily basis. He had no idea what effect his presence would have on future events, but he couldn't keep torturing himself about Mike and on history. He had to live for the present and an unknown length of time in the future. Today he was traveling with Petronius to find a new boy to live with him at the villa.

The idea of going to a slave market repulsed John. He recalled how Fletcher used boys to supply those men whose only enjoyment was anal sex with them. He knew from Petronius' statements that Appius was originally purchased here at one of the daily auctions.

At the slave market, the trick was going to be to spot a boy who appeared intelligent and had the potential to be educated for the duties and responsibilities he would inherit. They would have to be converted to a Roman, with all connections to the past forgotten. Most boys were purchased for slave labor and for later mating with the owner's female slaves to produce more human bondage. Appius was seven years old and something special about him seemed to catch the previous owner's eyes.

After questioning the boy for several minutes, the lad was bought and became the boy that he was before being taken away, now as Mike. The old man lamented all the years of educating Appius plus learning the business of running a vineyard, only to be kidnapped for some purpose not spoke of out loud, but well-known among the populace. John told Petronius that he could search among the boys being offered for sale, and if he spotted a potential candidate, to then involve him in the final decision and payment.

John tried to take his mind off the slave market and took a short walk among the narrow streets where shops of all kinds existed. People were yelling and trying to convince passing customers to purchase their wares, whether it was food, clothing, tools, or other commodities. The man tried to come to grips with the reality that he was walking among people who have been dead for 2000 years!

Archeologists were probably digging up these very buildings and trying to learn what life was like and of those who dwelled here. His white tunic indicated a position of wealth, power, or both, and the local citizens either approached him, hoping to get a few coins from the man in barter or kept their distance. Leprosy was the most dreaded disease of this period, with leper colonies outside the city limits. After wandering around for nearly an hour, he turned back in the direction of the slave market.

Petronius was nowhere to be found, so John sat on a bench where he could watch the proceedings of human beings being sold. Men, women, boys, and girls were put on display. From what John could observe, most were captured when a Roman army invaded a town or village.

Rome's empire at this time was huge. It included Gaul (France) and Britannia (England). Part of the spoils of war were slaves. Those to be auctioned were bound in chains. Usually, they were sold individually, although a mother/child might go together. In nearly every instance, they were naked, the auctioneer pointing to various highlights of the human anatomy that might be of special interest to a potential buyer. For men, their strength and masculinity for working in the fields and other heavy labor was emphasized as well as breeding for more slaves; women, for either their sexual appeal or for maintaining a home and producing children…new-born slaves.

Many men viewed underage girls that were available for sexual purposes. Boys didn't fare that much better. Each child stood naked before the crowd. Many, especially the girls, were crying. It seemed the bidding was more vigorous when it came to purchasing a preteen boy or girl. John then saw Petronius approaching and got up to meet him.

"Ionannes, I believe I found what we're looking for. He's scheduled to be auctioned today, but we might be able to make a special arrangement to buy him directly."

Leading the way, the old man led John to a building behind the auction. Going through some curtains, they found themselves in a hallway with what could only be described as cages, holding those who were to be sold. The stench was overwhelming. Several men with weapons stood watching the human cargo to ensure nothing would happen. Eventually, John and Petronius went through another curtained doorway and found themselves in an enclosed courtyard. A heavyset man sat at a table, counting piles of coins collected so far for slaves sold. John stopped cold.

"Fletcher?"

The man looked up at John. "What did you say? Are you the one interested in the boy from Britannia?"

John was shocked. The man at the table was Fletcher, the one who used peg boys in 19th century England–it couldn't be. The Fletcher he met earlier wasn't to be born for 1800 years. Yet there he was. The clothing was contemporary for the time, yet everything else was the man he had met before. Despite what his eyes and senses were telling him, his brain rationalized that the resemblance, no matter how close, could not be the same man. Yet here sat a clone copy of the man who had also used humans to profit himself. "My apologies. You reminded me of someone else." The man gave John a strange look. Petronius grabbed John's arm and pulled him away.

"Are you all right Ionannes?"

"Yes, yes, I am. That man there reminded me of someone I met before."

"Of course he does. We purchased Appius from him five years ago. He has run the local auction in this part of town for many years."

John felt a little foolish. He realized once again how vulnerable he was due to his lack of history regarding the person he was portraying as well as the local surroundings and its inhabitants. Yes, the man looked like Fletcher but wasn't. Maybe this first-century Fletcher was the ancestor of the 19^th-century version? It was just a strange coincidence.

Looking at Petronius, John inquired, "So tell me about this boy you found that will do as a replacement for Appius."

"Well, he's from Britannia. He was just brought here to Rome about a week ago. The Roman army killed his parents. He was the son of an elder in his village. The boy was one of a few who learned to read and write. From my conversation with him, he appears bright. He's angry right now because of his current situation, but that's to be expected. I think we can mold him to be a proper Roman citizen and a potential heir."

"You feel this confident for a boy of seven years of age?"

"This boy is a lot older. He's twelve."

"Twelve! Isn't he a little old? Appius was seven and it took five years to have the education and experience he possessed before he was taken."

"This is a very bright boy. Intellectually, maybe compared to where Appius stood at the age of twelve, he might be a year or two behind, but he was the only boy I found that comes close to what we need. There's no telling when another of such a background will appear. If we take a raw boy of seven, we'll need five years to bring him up to where Appius was, and five more years will have passed. In the meantime, you can't announce him as your heir. You need to protect your property for the future as quickly as possible."

"All right, Petronius. I've always trusted your judgment. Bring the boy over and then we'll see what it will cost us to buy him."

"Right away, Ionannes. I'll fetch him so you can decide."

Several minutes went by as John sat on a chair. It was a beautiful day, not too warm and a cool breeze drifting overhead. He had nearly fallen asleep when he heard the voice of Petronius. "Ionannes, here is the boy I spoke of."

As John opened his eyes, he once again froze. "Oh no, not again," his mind flashed as he felt himself trembling. He got up out of the chair and approached the boy, who gave him a puzzling look. The boy was dirty and smelled of not having washed in many days. The small rag wrapped around his waist made the boy look even filthier. However, underneath all that was a figure the man recognized immediately, with disbelief.

"Miles?"

***

At the Villa Jovis, a new day dawned as Tatianus opened the door and peered inside, where he saw the two new recent arrivals sleeping on the same bed. He then banged on the door, waking Mike and Marcus.

"Time to get up. This is your first day of orientation and training. We have a busy day ahead."

The two nearly fell off the bed startled by the sudden intrusion as well as being caught on the same mattress. The 15-year-old didn't say anything about seeing them sleeping together, so both just got up and sort of stood at attention waiting for the first order of the day.

"First, you will be bathed. You stink from your travels. Then I will show you where you will be eating your meals while in training. When you join the other boys in the courtyard, you will eat at a different location, but before we leave, I'll remind you that yesterday I stated that as long as you live here, you would wear no clothing of any kind. I have brought you sandals for footwear. So remove your tunics. They will be burned."

Marcus looked at Mike with fear in his eyes. "Don't worry, Marcus. You'll get used to being naked all the time. Soon you will see other naked boys and feel right at home," as the boy removed his tunic and stood nude before the 10-year-old.

"Do you want me to help you take that off?" The boy didn't say a word, so Mike gently grabs the lower part of the tunic and slowly raised it over the boy's head, exposing the undressed form of the lad. Instinctively, Marcus tried to cover his genitals with his hands.

Tatianus looked at the bracelet on Mike's wrist. "Normally, naked boys are not allowed to wear any jewelry, but that's an interesting piece you have on your wrist."

"Please sir, it's a family heirloom," Mike pleaded, knowing if the bracelet were taken away, there would never be a way to go back home.

I'll allow you to keep it, but remember, someone of higher authority may order you to remove it," getting a nod of understanding from Mike as well as a quiet thanks. As long as he had the bracelet, there was hope.

"Follow me," came the command from Tatianus as a naked 15-year-old led a similarly naked 12 and 10-year-old boy down a hallway. Mike was unsure how much of his maturity he should expose. He told the older boy that he was twelve, but thankfully his body was supporting that lie. He mustn't let on that he was a better-educated person than any of those he would encounter.

The bath was like a giant indoor pool. There was no one present at the time, so Mike and Marcus bathed alone. After Tatianus concluded the boys were sufficiently clean, he led them out of the room.

The trio entered what was the dining room, a drab looking windowless area where three small tables were present. Sitting at two of the tables were two naked boys each, while the third table was empty. "The boys you see sitting at this table are in their final period of training," the 15-year-old began to explain. "Soon, they will join the others to provide the pleasures that the men desire. The boys at this table are halfway through their training. That empty table is for new boys, like the two of you. Always sit only at your table. Do not sit with others or talk to them. A slave will bring your meal soon. Then we will begin your first lesson."

***

"This couldn't be happening," John told himself. First, a man who looks identical to Fletcher and now a boy standing in front of him the spitting image of Miles. What was going on? Could this be a residual effect of time travel? He continued to stare at the boy, thinking that the lad would recognize him and explain how he got here in Rome. Instead, it was Petronius calling to him.

"Ionannes, are you ill? Is there something wrong about this boy?"

Backing away from the lad, who continued to stare back at him, John answered. "No, I'm well. He looks like a fine boy. Does he know what his life is going to be like if he comes with us?"

"I've told him, but as I mentioned earlier, he's angry at the murder of his parents, taken away from his home, and being chained like a slave."

John looked at the boy. "Are you a man of your word? Did your father teach you about honor and keeping a promise made?" The boy gave the man a long look but slowly nodded his head. "Good, if we take these chains off, do we have your word you will not try to run away?" again getting a slow nod of the head. "Petronius, get the key to these shackles," as the old man left.

John couldn't understand what was happening. In the span of a few short moments, two figures that looked identical to those he encountered when he was in London, but not the same, confronted him. This was too much of a coincidence. He took another hard look at the boy. "What's your name?"

"Cadeyrn," the boy replied. "Am I going to be your slave now?" the 12-year-old spat out. Before John could answer, Petronius returned with a guard who unlocked the shackles freeing the lad.

"We need to discuss payment for the boy," Petronius reminded the man. "If I may, let me haggle with Duilius. As he did five years ago for Appius, he will try to cheat us for this boy. I will bring him down and get a reasonable price." John just nodded his head as the old man left.

He motioned for the boy to sit in another chair while he tried to understand what was going on. A jangling on his wrist reminded him of the bracelet he was wearing, the only connection to getting back to Paradise Island. Was there more to just being sent to two different places in time? Was the machine in the humming cave manipulating events? He tried to find parallels in all this. What was common so far? Then he grabbed a wild idea. Somehow the cave knew of his life on Paradise Island and had him repeating similar actions in London and now in Rome. He had rescued three boys from Lam Sin. He rescued Miles from Fletcher. Now he was rescuing Cadeyrn from slavery. His friend back home was Troy. In London, the coachman and here Petronius. All coincidences? Maybe these trips were a test of his character. Are the appearances of someone who looked like Fletcher or Miles part of that test? And why was Mike taken away? Was he being subjected to something similar? And how long before they return home? Would the next jump be to another time and place to repeat a similar intervention in someone's life? His thoughts were interrupted by the voice of Petronius.

"Ionannes, here is the receipt for the boy." He chuckled a little as he continued. "Duilius tried to claim we cheated him five years ago when we purchased Appius and tried to make it up with an exorbitant price for this boy, but I got him down to something acceptable. He stated he was losing money to us again," as Petronius told John what it was going to cost.

"Thank you, my friend. I'll make arrangements to have the aureus sent to Duilius. Come," as John addresses the 12-year-old. "Let's go to your new home."

***

Mike wasn't trying to understand the reasons behind what had happened. His growing concern was why he was still in ancient Rome after two weeks. He was beginning to doubt the bracelet was going to work or that something else was required, like he and John being nearby, something that wasn't likely to happen. A couple of times, he thought of throwing the bracelet away, assuming there was no trip back home in his future, literally and figuratively. He didn't know why the humming cave was still keeping him here. Maybe he had to complete a task or some other assignment. At present, all he could do was keep a low profile and never give up hope of ever leaving his current situation.

The so-called training was not surprising in what was required of the boys living at the Villa Jovis. In 2000 years, nothing had changed in what boylovers of ancient Rome desired compared to the 21st century. The bodies of smooth prepubescence boys were admired; their soft skin a delight to the touch, the undeveloped genitals a pleasure to stroke and fondle, the ass cheeks so delicately carved into mounds of sensual enchantment, and when viewed, the small crinkled anal opening was hypnotic, calling, challenging, maybe even daring someone to pass through the portal and discover what pleasures a young boy's tight ass can deliver.

All the boys were expected to present themselves to whoever wanted them and to please their guests completely. Their bodies no longer belonged to them but the emperor. He or any of his guests could select a boy of his choosing to satisfy the man's lust and need for sexual relief.

"No man is permitted to hurt a boy," Tatianus was explaining to Mike and Marcus. "Some men enjoy spanking bare asses, and that is permissible as long as it isn't extreme. Some men enjoy giving pleasure back to the boy, so you may experience some of those feelings you had given. In nearly every case, the ultimate act desired will be anal coupling. Every man is different in size, so some may enter you with little or no pain. Others are larger, and there will be more discomfort, but you must never refuse! You will be examined every time you have completed your assignment. If it is felt you need time to rest before you can be selected again, it will be given."

Mike was doing his best to act like a boy never having experienced sex before, much less with a grown man. He feigned apprehension, concern, and even a little fear, but he knew that he could handle whatever was thrown at him. Marcus, though, was a different story. From what the boy told him, he was the son of a Roman senator. So why was he kidnapped to be a part of this brothel of boys? The 10-year-old was smart but had been sheltered in the sense he knew very little of what life was like outside the villa he lived in. His young mind couldn't comprehend that boys like him could be treated as sexual toys for grown men. He kept asking Mike why this was happening to him. All the boy could do was comfort him as much as possible and assure him everything would be all right.

Although Mike and Marcus were not allowed to talk or intermingle with the other boys, the four who were advanced in their training were used to stage, to a certain extent, what the newcomers could expect when spending an evening with a guest of Caesar. After breakfast on that first day, the two newest trainees went to another room where they were to stand quietly, hands by their sides, as the other boys would walk around and take close looks at their nude forms. No talking or touching was allowed. This was to acclimate Mike and Marcus to understand that while they were roving about in the gardens and pools, there will always be eyes staring at them. Many will approach for a better closer look. After lunch, an hour was spent standing in the same position. This time the four boys were supposed to say erotic comments about their naked bodies.

"I bet this older boy's mouth could suck the juice out of my balls," one would say.

"Forget it. This little one has the cutest ass I've ever seen. My cock would die of pleasure inside that tight tunnel," a second boy would comment.

"I would fuck Appius at the same time I'm sucking this little one's cock," from another.

All this time, Tatianus was quietly observing the training. After the two short sessions of the morning and afternoon, Mike and Marcus spent the remainder of the day in their room, except when mealtime came. Once, left alone, the youngest boy broke down and began crying. "I can't do this!"

"You have to, Marcus. You must be brave. For tomorrow, the training will be about being touched everywhere on your body, especially between your legs and on your ass."

"Why are there men who like to do those things?" the boy asked, his crying slowing down to sniffles.

"I don't know. Some men enjoy the company of a naked boy and like to do things with them that make them feel good. You'll get used to it. It's scary right now, I know, but we're here and this is our lot; we must make the best of it. If you fight it, it will be a lot worse."

After the evening meal, Mike was able to corner Tatianus alone and asked him why Marcus was here. "From what he told me, his dad is a Roman senator. I wouldn't think a boy could be taken away from such a high public official."

The 15-year-old shrugged his shoulders. "I am not told the reasons the boys who come here were selected. Some of the boys share with me their backgrounds and I get a pretty good idea of why they were chosen by the emperor. As for Marcus, I heard rumors his father angered Caesar, telling the senate that they should select another to lead as Tiberius was hardly ever in Rome. As a senator, he was immune from punishment, so his son was taken away from him. Normally a citizen's heir cannot be taken from the father." Lowering his voice, the 15-year-old concluded, "It is rumored that Marcus' father was killed right after the boy was taken."

Mike tried to absorb what he heard. Kidnapping and murder were not so uncommon these days. The people didn't know yet, but if Tiberius' rule was barbaric, Caligula, who would be the next Roman Emperor, would be a lot worse. "Tatianus, may I ask how old our emperor is?"

"Of course. We recently had a large celebration here on the emperor's 77th birthday. Everyone was thanking the gods for giving our Caesar a long life. Every boy here had been selected by a guest to spend an evening in his respective chamber." Lowering his voice, Tatianus added. "I wish I was younger. I miss the evenings in a man's bed chamber and enjoying his attentions."

"You do?"

"Yes, I do, Appius. There is a feeling of satisfaction and reward when you leave the following morning, his seed deep inside you. You know you have fulfilled your duties and his seed the payment for the pleasure you provided."

"Are you not allowed to bed with a man anymore?"

"When Atticus comes here to the villa, he will ask for me. He was the first man I laid with when I was Marcus' age. He was so gentle and kind. He still likes me even though I am much older. But he is not one of Caesar's favorites, so he doesn't come here as much anymore." Heaving a sigh, Tatianus concluded, "How I envy Marcus and wish I could trade places with him."

"I think I understand."

"Tell me, Appius, why were you brought here?" Tatianus wondered.

"I don't know. I just remember some soldiers coming and taking me away."

"Maybe your father also displeased the emperor." All Mike could do was shrug his shoulders. He had no idea why events had unfolded the way they had. As a parting compliment, Tatianus told the preteen, "Your first day went well. If the remaining training continues the same, you will soon join the others in the courtyard. Then you will wait for your chance to use your body to please one of the emperor's guests. Since Tiberius personally selected you, maybe your first opportunity will be very soon as our glorious Caesar will want to bed with you!"

"That's all I need," Mike thought to himself, "to be fucked by a 77-year-old man."

As Mike lay on his bed, he pondered the conversation he had with the older boy. In a way, he could understand how he felt. If you're with a man who cares and is gentle, the sex can be wonderful. The boy's eyes started to tear as he recalled the evenings spent with John and the passionate love they both shared. He understood Tatianus' feelings. With all that had happened since his arrival to this time and place, there had been no time to think of the past on Paradise Island and the sexual pleasures he and his companions, along with John, had enjoyed. To be truthful, like Tatianus, he missed having John's 'seed' inside him, the result of the love mutually enjoyed.

Refocusing his thoughts, Mike closed his eyes and tried to remember what he could about Tiberius from the Internet. Then it hit him. The man was in his last year of life. Any day, Caligula would assassinate him and take over the throne. A period of cruelty, extravagance, and sexual perversity would cloud over the Roman Empire during his reign.

***

As John, Petronius, and Cadeyrn rode quietly in the carriage back to the villa, John couldn't help but to try to understand why he would encounter two figures from his previous time travel visit. Seeing the boy sitting next to the old man, he realized he would have sworn on a stack of Bibles that this was the same Miles he last saw when the flashing light enveloped him and Mike and then transported both to this place in history.

Just a short while before, Miles had offered himself to the man and John recalled the pleasure he felt deep inside the former peg boy. As he stared at Cadeyrn, his cock was reacting to that memory, seeing what appeared to be the exact twin sitting so close to him. He silently chastised himself, saying that although this boy reminded him of Miles and the sex they shared, in reality, he was not.

The boy himself was quiet, noticing the man who purchased him looking at him for long moments at a time. Holding back no longer, he blurted out, "Are you going to fuck me every chance you get? I heard Roman men like little boys," catching John off guard with the outburst. A split second later, a crack was heard as Petronius slapped the boy across the face.

"You ungrateful piece of shit!" Petronius began, catching John again off guard, seeing a different side of this tutor. "This man has saved your life! Had you gone on the slave block, whoever would have bought you would have surely fucked you several times a day until you were no longer of use? Then you would have been killed and another boy would replace you. You are being given a chance for education very few former slave boys receive. You will learn a trade and have the opportunity to be declared this man's son and eventual heir. So if Ionannes wants to fuck you, you will gladly present your ass to him and please him in every way you can."

The old man looked at John and saw the look of shock on the man's face. He lowered his eyes and sat back quietly. Cadeyrn had a look of fear as he held a hand to the cheek that was slapped. No further words were heard the remainder of the trip.

When they reached the villa, Cadeyrn was led by servants to be bathed and clothed in a proper tunic. John went out to the atrium to mull over the words Petronius had spoken to the boy. Was the sexual reference just an emotional reaction to the total disrespect shown to John or had there been something sexual going on with the real Appius and his father? Petronius entered the room and sat opposite the man.

"Oh Ionannes, how can you forgive me? I said some terrible things. I knew how much you missed Appius. Ever since he arrived here five years ago, he has been your source of pride and companionship. You confided in me how he pleased you in bed and how much it added to the love you had for him. I was hoping this new boy would somehow, in a small way, give you some of that same satisfaction."

John was confused and trying to find a response to the old man. The tutor confirmed his suspicions that Appius and his adopted father had a sexual relationship. Now Petronius was trying to fill voids with a boy to not only educate and train to eventually be master of this villa, but to be a new sexual companion, but before he could reply, a servant brought Cadeyrn into the atrium. The dirt and smell since his capture was washed away and he stood there in his tunic. If there was any doubt of the uncanny resemblance to the boy from London, the bath removed it. It was Miles down to the last freckle.

"You look much better. How do you feel?" John asked.

The boy shuffled his feet a little before responding. "I am not a Roman. Why am I dressed like this?"

"Cadeyrn, I'm sorry about what happened to your parents and the village. If it were up to me, I would have left it alone. Rome has more than enough territory," getting a strange look from Petronius. "But this is your new home. I cannot replace your parents, but I hope we can be friends to start. Petronius here will give you the best education any boy can receive, and I hope to apprentice you to learn how to run a vineyard and to process it into wine. It will take time, but if we work together, you will be set for life. Your first lesson is to dress like a future master should look."

The boy didn't say anything for several moments. Looking at John, he said in a barely audible voice, "I'm sorry for what I said in the carriage."

"It never happened," John returned with a smile. "Now go with Petronius. I believe he wants to give you some tests to see what you've learned so far."

As the two departed, John chuckled to himself. Despite whatever period he had been cast into, there was always a good-looking boy with sexual possibilities. In London, it was Miles. Had he stayed in that time, he would have had Mike and Miles to enjoy intimate sex with. Here, Cadeyrn could be a possibility. John was sure over time that he would bed with the boy. If he were going to be stuck here in the first century, he would enjoy whatever young lad came his way. Tiberius wasn't the only one who enjoyed naked boys.

CHAPTER 47
ROME: A.D. 35 (PART 3)

Marcus tried to push the boy's hand away every time he came close to grabbing at his young 2 ¾ inches [7cm] cock or reaching for the silky boy sack with the just dropped small pearls. He twisted away whenever someone tried to touch his ass. His hands constantly covered his genitals.

"Stop!" an exasperated Tatianus shouted. "Marcus, you must not cover yourself or refuse to let someone touch you wherever they want. You are here to please the emperor and his guests with your body."

"I don't want to! I want to go home!"

"Appius, will you talk to him. I want him to understand and be willing to do what is necessary. Otherwise," pausing for a moment, "a more extreme method of training will be used."

Mike took the boy aside. "Didn't I tell you last night that today others would be touching you all over? Didn't you say to me you were going to be brave?"

"I don't like it here, Appius. I'm scared. Why won't they let me go home?

"Marcus, this is your home. You have to accept that. It will be easier for you."

"Do you like them touching you? Your thing is stiff."

Mike, while acting a little nervous during this part of the training, actually found it erotic as the four boys took turns tweaking his nipples, squeezing his ass cheeks, fondling his cock and balls. He tried to pretend it was Chris, Matt, and Joshua joining in. The result was an erection. Tatianus made no comments. Erections were normal during training. "It feels good when someone touches it," Mike explained.

"Really?"

"Yes, it does. Tell you what; will you let me touch you all over? If you get used to me, then the other boys won't feel any different when they put their hands on you."

The 10-year-old thought for a moment. He never gave a verbal reply but slowly lowered his hands to his side, exposing his genitals for everyone to see.

Mike slowly ran his hand down the boy's chest, pausing a moment to rub over the tiny nipples on the chest. He worked his way down over the stomach. He felt the boy tense as he got closer to the small cock, so he skipped over and rubbed down his thighs and legs. Turning the boy around, he ran his hand down the soft skin of the back and gently over the small mounds of Marcus' ass. Turning the boy back to face him, he reached between the boy's legs and gently cupped the petite ball sack and the now stiffening boy's cock. Tatianus and the other boys in training watched quietly.

"Is that so bad?" Mike asked. The lad shook his head. "Are you ready to let the other boys touch you?" A slow nod of the head was the response.

"Good work, Appius. Now Marcus, let's try this again. If you concentrate hard enough, instead of being scared, you will find it feels good. See, even the short time Appius touched you has made you hard." Motioning to the other boys, Tatianus orders, "Okay, let's continue our training."

Later in their room, after dinner, Mike asked the young boy. "Now that you got over your shyness, did you mind being touched? Your cock was hard the whole time."

"It did feel good. I'm sorry I acted like a baby."

"Don't worry about it. You had a right to be scared. If you were back home, you might do stuff like this, probably with a friend, when you were a little older. This training is not the way boys should learn about sex, but since we are here, we must train the way they want us to be."

"Did you do sex stuff with other boys?"

Mike closed his eyes for a few moments, recalling the enjoyment that each day and evening brought, either with John or the other boys. How could he explain to Marcus the erotic excitement of walking naked in a village of men, women, boys, and girls? Would the 10-year-old understand that you don't have to be grown up to have sexual feelings, that lying in bed with another, young or old, could result in some of the most pleasant experiences any boy could have?

"Yes, Marcus, I did do sex stuff before but never told anyone I told you. If you do, I might be forced to leave you before training is over, and you'll be here alone with no one to talk to."

The boy wanted details, but Mike admonished the boy to silence. "Those are private things done between very close friends and kept secret. You understand?" getting an affirmative nod of the head.

"What will we learn next?"

Mike didn't want to frighten the boy again but felt he couldn't lie to him. "You are going to learn to suck a cock."

Marcus gave the boy a strange look, trying to understand what he meant. "Suck a cock?"

Yes, you will learn to have a man's cock, or thing, in your mouth and suck on it like candy. Men love little boys doing that to them."

The boy tried to come to grips with what awaited him. It sounded so horrible, so disgusting. Does that act result in men pissing in their mouths? He felt himself trembling with fear again but tried to control it. "Is that what Tatianus meant when he said something about coupling?"

"No Marcus, that is when a man sticks his cock inside your butt." This time Marcus couldn't stop shaking.

***

The first week Cadeyrn was at the villa had gone well. Petronius told John that the boy was further advanced in his studies than when he guessed at when he questioned the lad at the slave market.

"He is less than a year behind where Appius was when he left. Of course, his studies were more like farming and hunting where he came from. So Cadeyrn will have to shift his focus to academics. I believe he can catch up within nine months."

"That's good news, my friend."

"How about between the two of you?"

"After his tutoring with you, I take him out to the vineyard and let the overseer show and explain the art of growing grapes and turning them into wine. He doesn't say much or asks questions. Maybe it's still an adjustment period for him."

"Same here, Ionannes. He's attentive and seems to understand what I am saying, but unless I ask him a question, he keeps silent."

"Maybe he doesn't feel this is his home yet."

"You should draw closer to the boy; the sooner, the better. You need to establish that special bonding as you had with Appius."

"Appius was seven years old. It was a lot easier to introduce him to a male-to-male bonding at that age. Cadeyrn is twelve. It might not work. Maybe man/boy sex is not a custom, or even allowed, where he came from."

John realized that lately, he had been talking as though he had been here for many years, referring to the teaching of sex to a boy five years earlier. The three-plus weeks spent in Rome so far was changing him. He hadn't thought of home recently. Maybe his subconscious had closed the book on his former life and helping him adapt to his new one. Was he going through the same adjustment as Cadeyrn? He did think of Mike, but only in the context of hoping he was doing well wherever he was.

"Nevertheless, Ionannes, you will not feel comfortable announcing him as your son and putting him in your will unless you have that special relationship. Your wife is gone. Appius is gone. Cadeyrn is your life now."

"I appreciate what you are saying, Petronius. Let's see how things develop. When I think Cadeyrn may be ready for that bonding, I will work with him."

It would be another two weeks before an unusual incident arose that brought Cadeyrn to his bedside.

***

Mike and Marcus had moved to the middle table in the dining room. The oldest trainees had graduated and were now living among the gardens and pools of the Villa Jovis, waiting to be called by the emperor or one of his guests to spend an evening providing the kind of pleasure only a prepubescent boy could offer. One day they saw two new, what appeared to be 11-year-old boys, come into the dining room and sit at the same table they had once occupied.

"The boys you see sitting at this table are in their final period of training," Tatianus began to explain. "Soon, they will join the others to provide the pleasures that the men desire. The boys at this table are halfway through their training. The table you now sit at is for new boys, like the two of you. Always sit only at your table. Do not sit with others or talk to them. A slave will bring your meal soon. Then we will begin your first lesson." Mike and Marcus smiled at one another, recalling the same speech given to them when they arrived.

Once he told himself that he would go through with it, the cock-sucking part of the training wasn't that bad for young Marcus. It was while being sucked by another boy that he experienced his first orgasm, almost causing him to faint. Tatianus and Mike tried to explain to the 10-year-old that this new feeling always happens while a cock, large or small, was in another's mouth. Marcus agreed it was a great feeling and he liked it. He began to understand why men would want boys to give them the same sensation, as their smaller mouths became the receptacle for their enjoyment.

For now, the cocks he had to service were the other 11-year-old boys in training. Their small genitals were easy to put in his mouth. He learned how to lick the shaft and the ball sack. His tongue probed the piss slit and between the legs up to the anal opening. All the boys had dry orgasms, except Mike. So the 10-year-old hadn't been introduced to the taste of cum.

That changed the day he had to suck Tatianus' much larger shaft. He had been forewarned that men shoot a creamy liquid called sperm that would come out of their cocks and into his mouth. Recalling the small quantity Mike had been producing, he figured everyone shot the same amount and he would have no trouble handling what he was required to swallow from Tatianus as he began to suck him. Mike almost laughed when he saw the 10-year-old's eyes bulged when he felt the several strong squirts of boy juice being deposited into his mouth while trying to swallow it as quickly as possible.

"You did well, Marcus," the teen trainer said after getting his cock licked clean by the boy as he had been taught to do. "You and Appius have learned to be fondled and touched anywhere on your body and have mastered the art of sucking a man's cock. The final lesson is getting fucked. It is the hardest, but I know you will do fine. The oldest trainees will graduate in two days. You will then move to the senior table in the dining room."

Before the final lesson, the two boys got to participate in the same training they had gone through themselves. The new boys, standing naked, hands by their side, listened as Marcus, Mike, and two other boys talked dirty and got the new trainees accustomed to being verbally spoken to erotically. Later, all took turns running hands over the latest students' bodies, paying particular attention to fondling cock and balls, playing with their asses, and enjoying the reaction of young tube flesh stiffen from the attention they received. Mike watched Marcus with amusement recalling how not too long ago, the boy fought against being touched. Yet now, he was enjoying the sexual atmosphere the training was providing. The cute 10-year-old was going to be in demand a lot once he graduated.

The final lesson wasn't difficult for Mike, of course. Although he pretended to be concerned about pain and blood, his ass easily accepted the wooden carved cocks of different sizes and shapes. Marcus almost slipped back to his early training days of being uncooperative, not wanting to have anything stuck inside him.

"Remember, Marcus," Tatianus began, "No man is allowed to hurt you. There will always be some pain since you are small, but the men must be slow and gentle. If he isn't and hurts you badly, he can never come back to this villa again, and you will get sufficient rest before you return to service. Now, let's start again with the smallest one and go from there."

Mike felt sorry for the boy. Until a couple of weeks ago, the boy was completely naïve about sex. Since then, he had gone naked for everyone to see and touch wherever they wanted. Although he had learned how he could receive pleasure from his little cock being played with and sucked on, performing that feat on another was difficult for him, especially if cum was shot into his mouth. Now, his anal opening, which he always had thought was for bathroom purposes, was being trained to open for another cock to slide inside. Even the smallest wooden cock was painful for him. Mike figured the boy was causing most of his discomfort by not relaxing his sphincter muscle for easier, less painful entry.

Later in the evening, when Mike and Marcus were back in their room, he tried to calm the boy. "You have to learn to relax, take deep breaths, and not think about the pain. If you fight it now, it will be a lot worse and more painful when grown men start to stick their cocks inside you."

"But Appius, I'm just 10-years-old. I have a very small hole. It can't stretch for those bigger cocks without hurting me a lot."

Mike tried to think of another way to help his young friend when an erotic idea came to him. He smiled, thinking how it might help Marcus, and at the same time give him a first. "Let me stick my cock inside you to show you it won't hurt as much as you thought."

The boy gave his friend a funny look. "You want to stick your thing in my butt?"

"Sure. You've touched and sucked it many times in training. You know it's not like those wooden toys you've seen. I'll be slow and gentle and you'll see how easy it is and maybe get to like it."

Marcus wasn't convinced that there wouldn't be any pain but also knew that his older friend wouldn't hurt him. He had been like an older brother since they were the first thrust together in that room in Rome. He was kind and sort of looked after him during the training, but he knew that sooner or later he was going to have to allow such anal entry whenever desired by a man. If Appius could show him that it could be done with minimal pain, it would go a long way towards accepting his role as a pleasure boy for the Roman Empire.

For Mike, the thought that he could have his version of popping a cherry made his cock stiffen immediately, something Marcus quickly noticed. He recalled how John took him and how much the man enjoyed being the boy's first. Despite the thought of such a conquest, Mike wanted to help Marcus. He knew the possibility was great he wasn't ever going to leave the Villa Jovis, so he felt a little responsible for looking after the boy.

"It's up to you. If you don't want, I'm going to bed. Tomorrow is supposed to start our last phase of training, taking larger toys and I want to be ready."

The boy was silent for several moments. Then he looked at Mike and nodded his head. "Yes, I want you to be the first."

Mike tried to control his enthusiasm. On Paradise Island, this would have been a sort of ceremony graduating to the next level of sexual discovery and enjoyment, like the 'Right Of Manhood' on Kalauka Island. In reality, though, it could be the difference in whether Marcus made it or not as he moved to the courtyards to be stared at. His tiny cute ass will cause many a man's cock to full erection and the desire to feel it inside such a small boy.

"Okay, Marcus, bend over the bed. Reach behind and spread your cheeks. Relax, let me in and you'll see it will be fine. You might even enjoy it."

Doubting that, the boy positioned himself as he felt Appius' cock slide along his ass crack, occasionally probing the miniature opening. Thankfully, Mike was oozing some pre-cum as there was no lubricant in the room. He positioned his cock at the opening. "All right, I'm going to start pushing slowly. Remember what I told you. Relax, push out and it will go in a lot easier."

The 10-year-old felt the head of his friend's cock trying to push inside. He tried to relax and not fight against it. He was going against his nature that his anal opening was only for excreting something out, not having something enter inside. The pressure was a little stronger and he felt his ring starting to widen. No pain yet. Then there was the look of surprise as he felt Appius' cock pierced the opening and stopped just inside his virgin tunnel.

"I'm just barely inside. Are you OK?"

"Yes, it's a strange feeling, but it doesn't hurt too much. I feel like I should be pooping, but I can't."

"You're doing great, Marcus. Now I'm going to push the rest of the way in. If it starts to hurt real bad, let me know, I'll stop and let you get used to it," getting a nod of the head from the boy beneath him.

Mike had done it. He was taking the cherry of a boy. What a story he'll tell John if they ever meet again. Recalling how slow and gentle John was to him, Mike slowly pushed himself further and further inside until he felt his stomach make contact with the boy's ass. "I'm completely inside you. How do you feel?"

"It feels kind of strange, but there's no more pain. Are you going to fuck me now?"

"Yes, I am," as Mike reached below the boy and started stroking the already stiff boy cock. He began his slow motions that over time grew faster, causing the boy beneath him to grunt as Mike jabbed harder and harder with each plunge. God, he missed this, he told himself. He closed his eyes and could almost pretend it was Matt or Chris or even Joshua, feeling his cock ready to explode. He opened his eyes to see the sweat pouring off him and Marcus.

The 10-year-old was approaching an orgasm caused by both his cock being stroked and the sensations of having a cock sliding in and out of his ass. There was no soreness, just a new feeling never experienced before. He knew what was about to happen as he felt Appius' thrusts grow harder and deeper. Soon, he felt the inner walls being coated by the juice being shot by the cock inside him. He felt his own body going through those feelings he had recently been introduced to. Soon, the cock inside him seemed to shrivel and plop out of his ass. He was no longer a virgin.

"How did that feel?" Mike asked.

"It's hard to describe. It was a strange feeling, but a nice one. I wouldn't mind you doing that to me again."

Mike laughed. "Well, I enjoyed it too. Remember, most of the cocks that will go inside you will be men. If they do it slow and gentle, you can handle it and might even like it. Now, let's go to sleep."

Not surprisingly, both slept on the same bed. Marcus spooned against the older boy, who felt his cock nestle inside the crack of the soft globes of the boy. Just before sunrise, both awoke and Marcus allowed Mike to fuck him again.

***

John was sitting by the pool in the garden when he got a surprise. Cadeyrn came from inside the villa stark naked and jumped into the water. Whether he saw John or not wasn't known. The man observed the boy swimming back and forth. Cadeyrn then stopped by the edge of the pool for the first time, acknowledging John's presence and just looked at him. No words were exchanged and then the boy resumed his swimming. Twice more he stopped and stared at his benefactor as though trying to decide on something. John couldn't see much of the features of the 12-year-old, but what little did show above the water line was pure boy beauty. Cadeyrn was more muscular than usual, probably from the type of life he had in his village. Boys here didn't have video games or the Internet. They worked alongside their fathers and relatives, trying to make a living, to survive. The results of that hard work were evident in the physique of this boy. John tried to tell himself that no matter how much the facial features seem to match Miles, there was no resemblance when it came to comparing the muscles of the two. Miles was a softer, less lean young boy.

Finally, the boy stepped out of the pool standing still for a few seconds as though allowing John to get his first look at the total magnificence of this pre-teen boy. He then picked up a towel that was nearby and began to dry himself. Afterward, he laid the towel on the ground next to where John sat and lay on his back, exposing his nude frontal profile to the man.

The first thing John noticed was that the boy was uncircumcised. Giving it some thought, he realized that at this point in the Roman Empire, boys were not circumcised. A religious sect of the time, the Jews, were the only ones who cut the foreskin off the male babies. The man tried not to stare. All the boys he ever encountered were circumcised, his boys of Paradise Island as well as those of Kalauka Island. He had been used to nearly assuming all boys were 'cut', that he forgot that many were not, even in his time. On Cadeyrn, the foreskin barely covered the head of the cock, lying atop a set of smooth, silky balls. No hair was observed anywhere on this little god of exquisiteness. His thoughts were interrupted by a question coming from the boy.

"Why did you pick me?"

"I didn't pick you; Petronius did."

"Then you didn't want me?"

"I didn't say that. Petronius knew I needed a boy that was smart enough to learn and maybe take over this villa and vineyard when I am gone. I saw you and thought he made the right choice."

"Are you going to die soon?"

John laughed. "I hope not."

Cadeyrn thought for a moment. "Why did you call me Miles?"

So the boy remembered. "You reminded me of a boy I used to know. You look a lot like him. Shouldn't you go inside and put something on?"

"You don't like how I look?"

"No, that's not it," John said, feeling a little uncomfortable. He would love to continue admiring this naked boy, but there were others around and the sight could cause problems. "It's just not proper for you, being a possible future heir, to expose yourself like this. That is done privately in the bed-chamber."

The boy gave the man a grin. "I understand," as he took the towel, wrapped it around him, and went inside.

Petronius exited the atrium and passed by the boy as he sat by John. "Well?" he asked John.

"Well, what?" looking at the tutor, wondering what he was up to.

"Isn't he a fine-looking boy?"

"I guess so," trying to sound nonchalant.

"Ionannes, you can't fool me. The tent under your tunic betrays you," as John felt himself turning red at the obvious reaction from staring at the naked boy.

"Is there a point to this conversation Petronius?"

"Cadeyrn is trying to get your attention."

"Why would he do that?"

"Look, the boy has been here for three weeks. It's been more than a month since Appius left. It's time to move on. Cadeyrn is here and available. He knows your needs."

"What do you mean, 'knows my needs'?"

"The boy has begun to understand what his future is to be and the part he must play. Thankfully he's accepted what happened to his parents and village as no fault of yours. He knows what happened to your wife and Appius and the void within you. He realizes that part of his new duty, as a possible heir, is to try in some small way to fill part of that void. His exhibition a few moments ago was an example."

"Are you saying he was trying to seduce me?"

Petronius gave a wry smile. "Let's say he's willing to open a new door in the relationship between the two of you."

"I don't know old friend," John slowly replied. But he looked within himself and wondered why the hesitation. He was a boylover! Whether on Paradise Island, London, or here 2000 years in the past, the thought of a naked boy waiting for him should have driven him to immediately join the 12-year-old and explore every inch of that beautiful body. Petronius interrupted his thoughts.

"I know this is very different. Appius was just seven years old when you first took him to bed. He was young and all he knew was that he loved and trusted you. He did anything you desired because of that and it lasted for five years. You may not have that much time with Cadeyrn, so don't lose another day in hesitating. Go right now."

"Now?"

"Yes, he awaits in your bed-chamber as you told him that is where a proper Roman boy should only expose himself."

"I didn't mean for him to be naked…" stopping abruptly as Petronius raised a hand.

"Go Ionannes. You need him. And give him the chance to need you."

Getting up, John clasped the old tutor's arm. "I don't know what I would do without you," as he left the poolside area and headed to where a naked boy was waiting.

CHAPTER 48
ROME: A.D. 35 (PART 4)

"Today is your final day of training," Tatianus began as he looked at both Mike and Marcus. "Both of you have done well. I know that whether it is our great Caesar or one of his guests, both of you will do your best to please them. And what you do now until you get too old to be pleasure boys will be rewarded with a lifetime of success and financial reward."

Mike and Marcus listened intently. Since that evening when the 10-year-old allowed his older friend the honor of being the first to enter his ass and leave his boy seed, the boy had tried harder in accepting the larger wooden-shaped cocks slowly pushed inside him by Tatianus. Some did hurt and Marcus did cry, but overall he was learning to relax his anal muscle as much as possible to minimize the pain.

Back in their room when they were alone, Mike discovered that by opening the door to being fucked, Marcus had wanted his older friend to do it as much as possible. From a boy who dreaded and feared the thought of having anything stuck inside him, he couldn't get enough from his older friend. Mike's cock was just the right size that didn't hurt when entering and gave him the pleasure he enjoyed.

Once each evening, before they went to sleep, and first thing in the morning, Mike found his cock wrapped in the tight tunnel of the boy. In between, Mike pleasured the boy by sucking on the small cock until Marcus would shutter from his dry orgasm. Mike even allowed the boy to slide his small cock inside his ass to give Marcus a small sense of what he was experiencing.

"Your final test will be with me. It is one of the rewards I get for training such boys as you. I will fuck each one of you. It will be the first time you will feel a man's seed inside you." Mike and Marcus gave each other bemused looks.

"Appius, since you can shoot some already, you will also add your seed inside Marcus. Then tomorrow you will go to the courtyard, be assigned a sleeping area, and familiarize yourself with the grounds here at the villa while awaiting your first call by a man."

Mike was first as Tatianus ordered the boy to suck his cock to its full steel length. Then bending over a table, Mike awaited the entry. It would be his first large cock in a long time. Although he knew he would be able to handle it, he thought back to when John entered him and how he wished that were the case now. Soon, he felt the slippery pre-cum coated shaft of the 15-year-old press against his anal opening. The muscle started giving way as the visitor pushed through the gate and was inside. Mike grunted but otherwise was silent. Marcus watched with wide eyes knowing Tatianus' cock was much larger than what Appius had slid inside him. He knew he was going to be stretched well.

"You're doing fine Appius," commented the trainer.

Soon, the familiar pounding began as the cock inside Mike began its rhythmic in and out motion. As Tatianus felt his teen juices boiling inside his balls, his speed increased, and soon it was like a jackhammer slamming himself deep inside the ass of the boy below him. Soon, he yelled he was cumming and Mike felt a gusher of warm nectar fill him, so much he knew it was dripping from his ass. A short while later the cock slowly slid away from the home it had enjoyed and Mike quickly stood up, grabbed a towel, and began to clean up the continuing flow of boy seed exiting his rear. "Boy, can that kid cum a lot. It felt like a gallon dumped inside me," Mike thought to himself.

"You did well, Appius. I know that any man who desires you will not regret his choice."

"Thank you, Tatianus."

"Give me a few minutes, little Marcus and you will be next," as the 10-year-old wondered if he would be able to pass the test. Mike came up to him and whispered.

"Just relax as you've been doing. Let him get inside. Once he's in, let him set the pace. You'll make it," getting a nervous grin from the young boy.

Less than an hour later, Tatianus told Marcus to prepare his teen shaft for entering the tiny opening. The boy now knew how to suck cock, having that part of his training daily among the other boys and Tatianus. This time cum won't shoot into his mouth but instead fill his boy chute. When that moment came, the trainer stated he was ready as Marcus lay across the table. Soon he felt the head of the largest item that was about to enter him probe his tight little hole, slowly applying pressure as it sought to gain entrance.

Like Appius had told him, he relaxed as much as possible, but the pain was beginning as his anal muscle was being asked to stretch like never before. He was about to scream out in pain when he felt the head of the teen's cock push inside and freeze in place.

"Great, Marcus!" Tatianus commented. If you can handle me, you will be able to accommodate just about any man," as he began the slow push to have his cock enveloped by the clamping ass muscles of the blond-headed boy. Marcus was trying hard not to cry. Tears filled his eyes, but he fought against saying anything. Appius stood by him, giving him looks of encouragement as he felt what he thought was a monster filling his insides, but he was handling it. The pain was numbing somewhat as his tiny ass accepted its visitor and did its best to relax.

For Tatianus, this was an experience he never grew tired of. Approximately every 10 to 14 days, he got to be the first to 'graduate' each student by depositing his cum inside a virgin hole. During the entire training period, he suspected that Appius was experienced in sex more than he let on, but the boy never divulged anything. Whatever the boy's background, he was going to give him a surprise in the morning; a man already wanted him.

He returned his thoughts to Marcus underneath him and increased his pace as his cock pounded away until that special feeling began and he knew he was close. Giving one last push, his cock erupted, again leaving a pool of white liquid as proof of his conquest.

Catching his breath as his now shriveled cock slide out, followed by a steady stream of his sperm, he looked at the two newest graduates. "Congratulations! Both of you are now ready. Tomorrow you will live in the grand villa, eating the best food, a nicer bed, and knowing that each day you have the opportunity to offer yourself for a man's pleasure."

***

John entered his bed-chamber and closed the door. There, still naked, lying on the bed, was Cadeyrn. He gave the boy a long look before sitting next to him. "Why are you doing this? Do you feel it's part of your education to please me?

Again asking the same question as he had at the pool, Cadeyrn replied, "You don't like how I look?"

"No, that's not it. You are a very beautiful boy, and I would be lying if I said I didn't desire you."

"Petronius told me about Appius and how much you loved him and that the two of you made love almost every day. This is strange for me, for I have never made love with anyone. I saw men and women in our village lay together and I asked my father about it, but he said I was too young to know about such stuff. I didn't know men and boys made love too."

"Cadeyrn, I'm not sure how to answer you. Yes, Appius was very close to me and we loved each other very much. We showed that love as much as possible when we were alone in this bed-chamber."

"Can you ever love me?"

"I will never replace your father, but you and I can have a special relationship if you want."

The boy was quiet for several moments. He was still adapting, in a way, to his new life. Two months ago he was working in the fields with his father. A teacher, his parents knew, had just arrived and was calling to him.

"Go, Cadeyrn," his father told him. "Study hard so that you can live a better life when you are a man."

The school lesson had hardly begun when there was a ringing of the bell signifying danger. Coming over the ridge were Roman soldiers. Rumors had abounded that the Roman Empire was conquering lands in Britannia, and no one knew where they would strike next. Horror stories abounded of underage girls and boys being raped by Roman men.

The teacher told the boy to hide as he grabbed his sword to join the other men against the invaders. They never stood a chance. The disciplined, well-armed Roman legions made quick work of the men, then they gathered up the women and children for the long journey to Rome and be sold on the slave market.

Now, he was living with a Roman who did like to have sex with boys. Yet this man didn't look frightening. After watching him for nearly a month, Cadeyrn had concluded that the man was very lonely, losing the boy who had previously lived with him.

When Petronius first hinted that such a relationship would be beneficial if Ionannes was to formally adopt the boy and make him his heir, he thought back to the stories told in his village. He then recalled the outburst he made in the carriage, for which he apologized. If he understood the old man, was he supposed to allow himself to be raped? Better if he were dead.

But over the weeks, he learned more and more about the former relationship between Ionannes and Appius and became less concerned about being forced to do something he didn't want. He wasn't sure how to broach the topic with the man.

Petronius suggested, "You must think of a way to show your interest. Do not tease. If you are sincere, be so. Listen to him, watch him, allow him to show you the real inside, the part he showed Appius. I assure you that not only will you please him but also you will find he can please you, and from there the bonding begins." So the boy thought of the nude swimming episode that had led to this current moment.

Cadeyrn then hugged John catching the man by surprise. "I can never be Appius. I don't want to be him, or this Miles you spoke about earlier. If you ever love me, it must be as me…Cadeyrn!"

Disengaging himself from the boy, John got up and drew the curtain over the window and blew out the candles, plunging the room into semi-darkness. Removing his tunic, he lay down on the bed, motioning to the boy to cuddle up beside him. With the boy facing him, he slowly ran his hands down the smooth back and over the solid globes of the boy's ass. A life of hard work had firmed the buttocks.

Reaching further down, he rubbed over the muscled thighs. No sound came from the 12-year-old. The boy, not knowing anything about sex, mimicked the man by rubbing his hand down John's back, ass, and thigh

"Is this what a man and boy do naked in bed together." The naïve lad asked.

John smiled at Cadeyrn. "It is a very small part. Over time you do things that you know will make the other feel good."

"What things?"

"Lie on your back and I'll give you an example."

Getting into position, the man noticed the 3 ¾ inches [9cm] erection standing straight up. The boy may be a sexual novice, but his young body knew how to react to the proper stimuli. John began by running his hand down the boy's chest. He tweaked the small nipples getting a gasp from the boy's lips. The little points stiffened. This was a new sensation for the boy, compounded by another when the man's mouth encircled each nipple, gently sucking on it.

Cadeyrn was experiencing confusing emotions. He had been raised to fear the Romans, as they would brutally torture a boy as they raped him. Yet here he was willingly giving of himself to a Roman and finding himself enjoying new pleasures he never knew his body could produce.

John worked his way lower, licking around and sticking his tongue inside the belly button, getting a giggle from the child. The man was happy to see that the boy's defenses had finally broken down and was enjoying this discovery of sex. Cadeyrn got nervous as the man's hand got closer to his pubic area. "Ionannes, my thing is so small."

"No, my boy, it is just perfect, and soon it will give you the greatest pleasure of them all." John gently grabbed the hairless cock and slowly pulled back the foreskin exposing the beautiful mushroom head. He lightly traced his finger over the head, again getting another gasp from the boy as his brain tried to comprehend these new feelings.

Cadeyrn felt John slide lower on the bed, spreading the boy's legs and positioning his head directly above the cock. In an act the boy would never have imagined, he felt a man's mouth encircle his stiff penis and begin a soft sucking motion, accompanied by the sliding of the foreskin up and down over his shaft. His hands closed into fists as these new sensations were rippling through his body. He wanted the man to stop as he felt there was something wrong, but his curiosity and the increasing eroticism of what he was feeling were too much.

He started with low moans that increased in volume as he felt himself rising to a pinnacle never attained before. He thought he was going to piss in the man's mouth, but Ionannes just told him it wouldn't happen and to hold on as long as he could. A moment later, his body arched, then shook with his very first orgasm, shooting a few drops of virgin boy juice.

John released the now soft cock as the foreskin covered the head once again. A boy had discovered the wonderful joys of man/boy sex. After watching Cadeyrn taking several deep breaths before resuming normal breathing, he asked, "Did you enjoy that?"

"I never thought you could feel like that. What happened?"

"You had an orgasm, the result of your body enjoying the attention paid to it."

"I'm sorry, I think I peed a little in your mouth."

John chuckled, "No dear Cadeyrn, that was sperm, the product of your balls inside here," as he fondled the smooth sack with the small balls inside." Cadeyrn gave John a puzzled look. "There is a lot you have to learn about sex. Together we'll begin the road to learning how to please one another and make each other very happy."

"Is this sex what Appius enjoyed with you?"

The man thought for a moment. Yes, it was the same, but now it seemed impossible that he and Mike would ever share that love again. "We had beautiful times together. We never got tired of this and our love grew ever stronger."

Cadeyrn's face took a serious look. "Is this the part where you stick your cock in my butt?"

"It's a pleasure men do enjoy with young boys, but we won't do it now. The first time must be done slow and easy so it won't hurt you and that you enjoy it too. Maybe tonight or tomorrow."

"Will you suck my cock again? I want that feeling."

"We'll make each other happy every day if you want," getting a smile from the boy as he nestled closer to the man, eyes closed, slowly falling asleep.

John let Cadeyrn drift off following his introduction to his first orgasm. His cock was hard as a rock, but he controlled any urges, as he was happy the relationship between him and the boy had taken a giant step. Cadeyrn wouldn't replace Mike but would help ease the pain of the unknown while they were here.

It was then that he saw the bracelet on his wrist begin to glow. What was going on? He slowly got out of the bed as the light grew brighter. His emotions were mixed. Was he finally going back to Paradise Island? Or was the humming cave sending him to another place and time? He then realized he was naked and threw on a robe. Wherever he showed up, would he be like that or once again clothed in the outfit of that period? And what about Mike? Would he join him?

He looked at the sleeping boy on the bed. Sadly, once again he must leave a young boy. He hoped that Cadeyrn, with Petronius' help, would make it. The room erupted into a brilliant flash and then nothing.

***

The following morning, Tatianus escorted Marcus and Mike out of the closed, windowless training building and into a bright sunny courtyard. The sun felt good on Mike's body, reminiscence of being naked on Paradise Island. Marcus' eyes not only was adjusting to the light in the sky but seeing several other boys and a few young girls, gathered in small circles, all naked.

A small boy, not much bigger than Marcus, came up to the trio. Tatianus made the introductions. "Marcus, this is Nipius. He will show you around where you will sleep and eat your meals. Then you will wait until someone summons you for the evening. Good luck."

"Will I see you?" the lad asked Mike.

"Of course you will," Tatianus answered instead. "Your beds are next to one another, just like it was in training. When you're not a pleasure boy, you two can spend all the time together you want."

"Come on Marcus, let me show you around," as Nipius grabbed the boy's hand and led him away.

Mike silently wished the boy success in this new life as Tatianus slapped him on the shoulder. "Don't worry. I bet he'll be a popular boy for a while. Usually, newly graduated boys are in demand in the beginning. I'm sure he'll be sharing a bed with a man this evening."

Tatianus then got serious as he looked at Mike, "All right, Appius, there's just the two of us. I knew from the first day there was something different about you. Your name is not of a language I've heard of. You carry yourself as though you could have been the teacher and I the pupil. You helped Marcus make it through the training. I know you were brought from Rome and are the son of Ionannus, but you don't act and behave like a Roman Senator's son. Why are you different?"

"Ionannus! So that was John's name," Mike thought. "Tatianus, if I told you the truth, you wouldn't believe me."

"Try me."

"My name 'is' Mike. I come from an empire called America. I'm used to your training because I live with three other brothers and we do what you taught Marcus several times a day among us."

"There is no empire called America," Tatiannus retorted. "You're just teasing me, but let me tell you the truth." Looking directly at Mike, he announced, "You, dear Appius, have a supreme honor. Caesar has asked for you tonight." Mike was stunned. The most powerful man in the world wanted him to be his sex toy for the evening. He tried to smile and mumbled how honored he was and would do his best to please Tiberius. "I know you will, Appius. Make me proud of you," as the 15-year-old turned and left, heading back to the building the three had exited. He chuckled to himself. "Empire of America. If it did exist, we Romans would have conquered it." It was now time to greet two new boys into training,

Instead of taking in the beauty of the magnificent Villa Jovis, Mike wandered around aimlessly thinking about what might happen tonight. Other naked boys of various ages came up and greeted him. If it wasn't for the fact that this was 2000 years earlier in a Roman villa, he could have been on Kalauka Island among the young boys and girls there. One, whose name he immediately forgot, took him to the building where beds were laid out, pointing to his. The boy confirmed the one next to his was his young friend Marcus. Then he was escorted to the dining hall where only the pleasure boys and girls were allowed to eat. Except for sleeping and eating, all the children were to stay outdoors so they could be selected.

He had to admit the surroundings were magnificent–tall columns and statues of famous men of the past adored everywhere. The air smelled of fresh flowers and the laughter of the children playing in the pool was evident. Knowing that their young bodies could be called upon at any moment to please a grown man, their mirth and childlike voices never hinted at any fear of what they were supposed to do. Mike wondered how long he would be able to fool everyone. Tatiannus already suspected. Puberty would be making its entrance upon him, sooner or later, and he couldn't be a pleasure boy for long. But, as he told himself, as long as things don't get rough, he'd manage it. And maybe, just maybe, John will find me and together we can go home.

As Mike looked around, he spotted Marcus surrounded by three men, all taking turns running their hands all over the 10-year-old's small frame. The boy just stood there trying to smile and pretend he enjoyed all the attention being paid to him. After a while, the three men got into an animated conversation as though it was being decided who would be the first to enjoy this virgin boy. Finally, one who appeared to be a noble of higher rank won the argument, and giving Marcus a nice squeeze of his small ass cheeks, took the boy by the hand, and led him away, probably to his bed-chamber. The boy spotted Mike and tried to give him a weak smile. Mike, in return, gave thumbs up and a smile, encouraging the boy to do his best. He knew that technically, his virgin ass was about to be raped and hoped the man would be easy and gentle.

As sunset approached and the sky got darker, a guard approached Mike. "Appius, Caesar is awaiting you. Follow me."

Mike grew nervous. What kind of sex was he going to be exposed to? Although history only noted the man's addiction to boy sex, it gave no details as to what occurred behind closed doors. No one was privy to that, and thus, nothing ever recorded. Was Tiberius gentle, giving pleasure as well as receiving? Was he cruel, causing pain and discomfort? Did he enjoy torturing boys? Was he just an earlier version of Lam Sin? Who was going to chastise him for such acts if that were the case? He was Caesar, a god! As much as the 12-year-old loved sex, he was shivering with uneasiness. Giving himself to someone like John and Tatianus was one thing; having his body used in whatever matter deemed 'pleasurable' was something else.

Mike and the guard escort crossed the courtyard and passed through two security gates leading into the private quarters of the emperor. They entered a building and walked through a long hallway. They stopped at a cavernous door, and the guard pounded on it; then he looked at Mike.

"The emperor knows you are here. Wait until he tells you to enter. Then please him with your body the best way you can. If you do well, he may reward you in some way," as he turned and left, leaving Mike all alone.

A moment later, a gravelly voice came from behind the door. "Enter."

"This is it," Mike told himself. That a 77-year-old cock would be pounding his ass was a sure thing. What else happened was unknown. Well, this is what he had been trained for, so hopefully, the old man's stamina would be just to fuck him. So the sooner it was done the sooner he could leave the emperor's bed chamber and head back to his bed he had yet to sleep in.

"Enter!" the voice shouted a little louder. Taking a deep breath, Mike reached for the door handle. Then he saw it. The bracelet began to glow.

"Yes! Yes! Get me out of here! Please, take me home to Paradise Island," as the now-familiar bright light flashed around him and soon, the blanket of darkness greeted the boy.

The door of the emperor's bed-chamber opened and a graying old man, wrapped in a robe, stepped outside. He took a quick look down the hallway seeing no sign of the boy who was to please him this evening. "Guard! Guard!" as the soldier who escorted Mike to Tiberius' quarters came running from another corridor.

"Yes, Caesar."

"Where is the boy I told you to bring?"

"Caesar, I brought him here. Then I pounded on the door to let you know he had arrived."

"Well, he's not here. What happened to him?"

The guard was confused and nervous. "I swear Caesar; he was standing right here just a couple of minutes ago. I told him to enter when you called him."

"The boy must have run away. Find him, whip him, and cut off his balls."

"Yes, Caesar."

"And bring me another boy!"

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