Adventure Quest

30 – Masterful Joel and Handyman Ben

After Ben finished eating he looked at his watch and then at Wendy. He said:

"It's been fifteen minutes! Where are they?..

Wendy hemmed and said:

"Oh, that's nothing. We should not wait for them, it could take a while. You see, my brother is… Um… Kind of an expert in this sort of things. He can go on for over forty minutes.

"Wow! Forty minutes?! All of the sudden I wanna join them! How the hell?..

"Well, I don't know. He has a lot of experience I guess.

"He's only nine! Jeez!

"Yeah, well, it doesn't matter. He had a whole group for jerking off, he and like five of his friends. They invented techniques and such. They used to take over our room for like two hours each time, locking the door. I wasn't allowed in, so I had to wait outside… Annoying.

Ben giggled and said:

"Well… Looks like we have some free time on our hands. Let's do something.

"Like what?

Ben thought for a moment, and suddenly his eyes lit up:

"I have an idea!

And he swiftly ran to his corner, and started disassembling his inflatable racks.

***

After an amazing thirty-seven minutes Sammy and Joel came back. Both were looking quite dizzy. Ben and Wendy were in the middle of intensive work. Both raised their heads to look at the boys that came in, and then lowered them again to continue their labor. Only Ben couldn't constrain and asked:

"Well, how was it?

"How was what?" innocently replied Sammy.

"You know what I mean," said Ben with a grin." How was the finish?

Sammy's jaw dropped:

"How did you know?

"How did we know?" jokingly asked Ben, looking at Wendy," You remember, Wend?

"Beats me," wisecracked the girl." I guess we're telepathic.

Joel interfered and told Sammy:

"They probably saw us. Whatever." he turned back to Ben and inquired: "What are you doing anyway?

Ben proudly looked up and said:

"We are building a Raft. To go downstream. We did it last time, remember Sammy?

"Yeah," replied Sammy, still quite embarrassed from being caught. Ben continued:

"Since you were outside pulling your willies we had to stay in here. So I decided to make a raft like we did last time, from the racks and inflatable mattresses. It's almost done, since you guys were going at it for like forty minutes… How the hell did you do that, by the way?.. I bet your dicks are purple by now or something.

Joel proudly hemmed:

"You wish, dude. I have a special technique.

"Yeah, yeah, I heard about that already. Wendy, stretch the duck tape over to the middle, okay?

Joel and Sammy were quickly put to work and in ten minutes it was all done. A large inflatable raft, with a hard bottom and soft sides, was ready to be tested in the lake. The four kids took it by the corners and ran outside, and in a few short moments the raft was floating near the shore of the crystal clear lake.

>>next chapter–green>>

32 – Old Enemies

Nate and Tommy were within about fifteen miles of the lake, as they were walking upstream.

They had at least three more good hours of hiking left in them for that day but the water just looked too inviting. The temperature in their zone had reached 86 degrees and the boys were no longer in such a great hurry to reach the lake.

They stopped at a point along the creek where the water seemed to take a break from its turbulent journey to the lake and had formed a small pool, which was just large enough for them to sit and cool off for a while. Nate stopped and dropped his backpack and began to undress. As usual, Nate's pecker was at full mast before he even got his pants off. This was becoming an expected and accepted part of life here on Zong. Naked Nate + Tommy = instant erection. Tommy never teased him or even said anything about the persistent erection… until now.

As Tommy undressed, his eyes were fixed on Nate's rigid appendage. "Whatever you've got," Tommy said, "it's catching."

Nate didn't understand what Tommy meant and was about to ask when he looked down and noticed that he was not the only one sporting wood this time. Before Nate's stunned mind could conjure up any words, Tommy's hand reached out and gave Nate's penis three quick tugs. Tommy turned and ran into the creek, splashing and yelling "Pecker tag! You're it!"

Nate stood there for a moment, both light-headed and excited. He'd never played pecker tag before but he had a good idea that it was a game he was going to like. He ran into the creek and joined Tommy. The water was cool and invigorating, seeming to re-energize his entire body… well, the parts that needed it anyway.

"You're it!" Tommy shouted again, ready to dodge Nate. But Nate was quicker than he looked and before Tommy had a chance to get away, Nate had a handful of boyhood. Tommy didn't resist. Nate stood there in the water holding Tommy's erection, his heart racing. This was a scenario that Nate had similarly played out in his daydreams, but now he seemed frozen with anxiety.

Tommy could sense Nate's anxiety and took the lead. He reached out and took Nate's penis into his hand and began to stroke him. After a moment's hesitation Nate did the same. He looked down at their prepubescent bodies. Under the water their legs looked short and squatty and their penises looked comically elongated. That odd optical illusion would stay fresh in Nate's memory for the rest of his life.

Tommy put his free arm around Nate's shoulder and smiled at him, a warm, understanding smile. He knew all along that Nate was falling for him. There were certain signs, like the eternal hard on. But it scared Tommy a little. In his young life he had never experienced innocent love or even infatuation. Sex for him had been part job, part comfort, but never love. He was having those feelings for Nate too and it felt different than anything he had ever felt. Whenever he noticed Nate looking at him he always felt a warm flush all over his body. When he looked at Nate he felt both sadness and elation. Sadness in knowing how lonely and ostracized Nate was, and elation knowing that he was becoming a major part in Nate's life.

Tommy placed his hand behind Nate's head and gently pulled him close and kissed him lightly on the lips. Nate returned the kiss. At that moment both boys wished that they could stay on Zong together forever. That is, until they heard heavy footsteps and a frightening, familiar voice.

***

"Holy shit!" The voice cut through the air like a bolt of lightening, leaving a gash of electrified air in it's wake.

Nate and Tommy both turned toward the voice to see Ox and his buddies coming over the crest of the bank.

Ox pointed at Nate, his face filled with recognition. "It's him!" He hollered to Nate as much as to his followers. "I told you he was a faggot!"

Nate's heart sank as Ox and Brandon walked up to the edge of the creek. Hank and Taylor, the younger boys, remained at the top of the bank looking unsure of themselves. Nate and Tommy pulled away from each other and faced the intruders.

Nate was petrified. Out here there was no one to stop things should they get out of hand, which they were sure to do. Ox was crazy and mean. Tommy on the other hand was angry. It was rare in his miserable life to feel pretty good. And he was feeling damn good in fact. Now these clowns had to show up and ruin it. It was like nothing good in his life was allowed to happen. Somebody always had to barge in and carry him back to his normal state of misery. Well, it wasn't going to happen this time!

"What do YOU want?" Tommy asked directly to Ox.

Ox looked at Brandon and said, "Can you believe this?" Brandon shook his head as if to say, gee, some people. "I'll tell you what I want, I want to kick your little boyfriend's ass."

Tommy never looked away from Ox, his eyes remained locked on. He wasn't about to back down. "Well that's just too bad, fatty. You're going to have to find somebody else to bully around."

Ox couldn't believe what he had just heard. He chuckled then grimaced as if he had just bitten down on a piece of spoiled meat. "What? What did you just call me?" He looked around at Brandon and the boys. "Did I just hear what I thought I heard?"

Hank and Taylor looked down at their shoes, feeling sorry for what was about to happen to the boys in the creek. Brandon continued shaking his head.

Ox looked at Tommy, his tone more serious. "Get out of the water, queer boy.

Nate, near panic said quietly, "No, Tommy! He's crazy."

Tommy said, "Don't worry. I know how to handle him."

Nate said at the brink of tears, "He'll kill you. Please don't piss him off any more!"

Ox said, "Don't make me come in there after you, sissy. I'll have to hurt you worse."

Tommy wouldn't hear of it. "If you want me you'll have to come and get me, you fat asshole!"

Ox's face went from calm to murderous in a hideous flash. "You're dead!" He yelled and ran into the creek.

Much like Nate did in the shower back in training, Tommy dodged Ox and Ox splashed down in the water, only Tommy shoved him in the back as he went down. When Ox got back up and faced Tommy his face was blank. There was no humor on it; it was time for serious business.

Ox lunged at Tommy and his right fist connected with Tommy's face hard. Before Tommy could recover from the punch Ox was on him. Ox placed his meaty hands on either side of Tommy's head and plunged him into the water. Tommy struggled to pull Ox's hands away but Ox was much too strong. Realizing that Ox was trying to drown Tommy, Nate jumped on Ox's back trying to get him to free him. Ox was incredibly strong and seemed impervious to pain. Nate beat the back of Ox's head with a fury of punches and Ox continued to hold Tommy under the water. Nate reached around and forced his fingers into Ox's eye sockets. Ox let out a primordial yell, but didn't let go of Tommy.

Nate looked into the water and saw Tommy's face distorted by the refraction of the water, his eyes were rolled up into their sockets. Nate's dream of Tommy drowning in the creek recurred to him. In the dream something was pulling Tommy down, enveloping him, and Nate realized that it was Ox all along. He should have known all along that it would end up being Ox. It was a warning. Now he was seeing Tommy succumb to the water for real. That thought made him fight even harder. Nate began kneeing Ox's back as hard as he could.

By this time, Brandon had joined them in the creek. Nate was grateful to see that Brandon was also trying to pull Ox off Tommy. "Come on, Ox!" Brandon was pleading. "You're killing him! We don't need this!"

Finally Ox let go, only Tommy didn't come up. A burst of bubbles came from between his lips and he sunk to the bottom of the creek, his eyes half lidded.

At this point Nate had nearly lost his mind. He swung wildly at Ox, all arms and fists, missing mostly. Ox turned to Nate and grasped his head like he did Tommy and down Nate went. By this time Brandon was in his own world of shock. He took one look at Tommy lying lifelessly on the creek bed, then turned away and vomited.

Nate struggled against Ox but it was no use. He could see Ox's angry, distorted face through the water. He could also see the sun and trees along the bank. He knew he was done for. Tommy was gone. He was on his way. Ox had won.

Brandon fell limply into the water, dizzy from the vomiting and the overwhelming rush of panic and fear. He looked up to the top of the bank and Hank and Taylor were gone… so were their bags. They had run, fleeing the murderous Ox. He thought for a moment about following them, running away from Ox and this horrible scene. He knew that Ox was doing Nate like he has just done Tommy. He turned to see in a daze. What he saw shocked him badly. His eyes rolled to the back of his head, much as Tommy's had done, and he fell limply onto the edge of the creek, passed out.

What Brandon saw was a hand coming out of the water, Tommy's hand… his dead hand! In it was a large rock dripping with creek water. Suddenly the hand flung the rock down on the back of Ox's head, making a sick, dull thud sound. It sounded like slapping a ripe watermelon. Ox slumped over Nate. Trapping him under the water.

Tommy stood up out of the water gasping for breath. He knew that he hit the target perfectly, falling the lunatic giant. Seeing that Nate was trapped under Ox, got Tommy going again. He grabbed Ox by the wrist and pulled him off Nate. Nate came up slowly, taking in a huge gasp of air as he reached the surface. He opened his eyes and saw Tommy standing in the creek, alive!

Nate lunged to Tommy and threw his arms around him, nearly knocking both back into the water, and hugged him with whatever strength he had left.

"Oh shit!"

It appeared that Brandon had come around. Tommy let go of Nate and stood ready for round two. "Let's get him out of the water!"

Nate and Tommy turned around and saw Ox laying face first in the water. Brandon waded into the water and began hauling Ox up. Nate and Tommy joined him. They got him up to the bank and dropped him. Brandon checked to see if he was breathing and amazingly he was. But he was hurt badly. Tommy had done a thorough job with the rock.

"What do we do now?" Tommy asked Nate.

"We get the hell out of here" Nate said. "This guy can get him medical help." Nate looked at Brandon.

Brandon looked down at Ox. He was afraid of him, more than he had ever been. But he knew that he couldn't leave Ox here like this. "OK" he said. "Get going. If he wakes up we get to start all over again. You won't want to be here for that."

"What's your name?" Tommy asked.

"Brandon"

"I'm Tommy, this is Nate. Where did those other kids go?"

Brandon looked up the bank. "They ran away. I can't blame them."

Nate feared for those little boys. "When you get help", he told Brandon. "Turn him in."

Brandon nodded. He understood. Raiding camps and beating kids up was one thing, attempted murder was another. It was over for Ox.

"What are you going to do after you get Ox taken care of?" Tommy asked.

"Go home." Brandon said. "I'm through with Zong."

Nate and Tommy Wished Brandon well, gathered up their packs and headed back toward the lake, glad to leave behind that whole mess.

***

With Ox and the whole messy incident miles behind them, Nate and Tommy began to relax. They even laughed about it.

"What are you, a fish?" Nate asked, remembering not only how long he had stayed under the water during the fight but also the time Tommy scared him trying to catch a fish.

"Yeah", Tommy said. "A rock fish!"

Both boys busted up laughing.

On a more somber note, Nate said, "I wonder where those little kids went, the ones who showed up with Ox and Brandon."

"Probably to the nearest medical station to get shots." Tommy said." Ox may be contagious."

Again, the boys cracked up.

The landscape began to change. The trees were becoming sparse and the creek was wider. Nate knew they were getting close to the lake. The boys stopped for a break at about 3:00 PM, judging by the position of the sun. They dropped their packs and sat at the creek bank. At this point the creek was furiously fast, the water rustling over a few very small waterfalls " about fifteen inches high " that followed each other in a distance of about thirty feet. It looked like they were long watery steps in the stream. The boys were quietly standing there, looking at the rustling water.

"Before Ox came along…" Nate started.

"I know." Tommy interrupted. "I was ready. I've been ready. I knew you wanted to but I was afraid to say anything."

Nate looked at Tommy, amazed. He was about to say the exact same thing.

They sat silent for a good five minutes. Then Nate gave Tommy a sly look and said, "Peter tag. You're it."

Tommy raised his eyebrows. "I thought YOU were it."

"We were tied!" Nate said. Then he went into a little act. "Oh, Oh! That feels SO GOOD!" Nate thrust his hips forward and said comically, "Do it! DO IT!"

Tommy laughed at Nate's exaggerated replay. Then he jumped up and started undressing. "I'll 'do it' all right." Tommy said laughing. "Let's go!"

Nate didn't argue. He got up and undressed as quickly as humanly possible. Both boys were eager to go back to where they were before Ox entered the picture, to somehow erase the entire bad scene.

The boys jumped into the water, being careful so that both were in the middle of the bottom step, and resumed their original position facing each other, fondling each other… kissing each other. Ox was totally forgotten. The cool water was feeling warmer as the intensity of the moment heated up. Nate and Tommy were finally allowed their moment and it was incredible. Nate could hear Tommy shouting out his pleasure somewhere in the background of his own intense pleasure. The funny thing was that they were kissing… so how could he be shouting?

Just then, Tommy shoved Nate away and faced upstream. A look of panic filled his eyes. Nate followed Tommy's eyes and saw a makeshift raft full of naked kids, coming straight at them and moving fast.

<<last purple chapter>>

33 – New Friends

All of their clothes the kids left in the cave. Why suffer? There is probably no-one around for miles. And now, taking joy from the tenderly-warm sun, the four naked kids were happily screaming as they were rapidly floating downstream on their self-built raft. The surface of the raft was soft and also warm, and pretty soon all four stretched out on it, quiet, letting their bodies absorb every ounce of sunlight they could get.

The stream started in the bushes of the lake, and went downhill, softly turning to the left and thus taking the kids away from their cave. There was a crystal-clear silence around; the only audible sounds were the tweeting of the birds and the soft relaxing rustling of the pure water. It was idyllic. The four quiet kids each thought that they need nothing else – just to lay here like that, listening to the relaxing stream, their bodies caressed by the soft sun.

Even Ben allowed himself to relax completely, and forgot altogether that the raft needs steering. The four youngsters got a hell of a wakeup call in the form of a cold bath when the raft bumped into a rock and one of it's corners went underwater for a brief moment.

Everyone jumped up, spitting and shaking their heads.

Ben took the long branch he used for propulsion and steering, and soon the raft was back on it's steady course downstream. But nobody wanted to just lay there anymore. Woken up from their magical daydreaming, the kids were now filled with energy. Joel asked:

"Isn't there a way to make this thing go any faster?"

"I'll try," replied Ben, and put more effort on the stick. It didn't make much difference. Joel refused to give up:

"Come on guys, let's help it!"

And he, setting an example to the others, lay on his stomach near the edge of the raft and started to flap his hands in the water in a propeller motion. Wendy and Sammy with happy laughter each picked a spot and followed Joel's example. Ben commented:

"You know that you're slowing the raft instead of making it go faster, right?.."

Wendy turned her cheerful face to Ben's and replied:

"Yeah, probably, but it's fun."

What right is right. Ben dropped the stick and very soon one more kid was flapping his palms in the chilly water of the stream.

Soon, though, everyone got tired of that and Joel once again started thinking of ways to make the raft go faster:

"Maybe if we all got sticks…"

Ben said:

"Relax, Racer Joe. Soon we'll reach the steps, then we'll go faster than you'll want."

"There is no such thing as 'faster than I want'", commented Joel, and then asked: "What are 'steps'?"

Ben smiled. All the kids looked forward. The stream was talking a sharp curve just up ahead.

Ben and Sammy knew the stream well. They took this trip many times last year, with Kyle and Jook. They knew that behind that curve are a series of rocky passes that they called "steps." When the raft goes through those "steps", it bounced up and down rocking the kids inside it, and accelerated ten fold in the fast stream. Then, there is another sharp turn and another series of "steps." It's something like a roller-coaster ride, but you have to be very alert: after the initial series of steps the raft must be turned fast enough to continue downstream, to the second group of passes. Otherwise, it would crash into the shore at full speed. Both Ben and Sammy remembered how painful it was when they descended here for the first time, and not knowing of the curve, crashed into it. Kyle was laughing, Jook was shaking his head, Ben and Sammy were screaming… Diverse moment.

Ben picked up the second stick that he thoughtfully put into the raft before departure and handed it to Sammy.

While the raft was slowly turning the curve, Joel and Wendy moved to the front. After the curve the stream suddenly became visibly shallower, and the raft immediately began to pick up speed. Up ahead was visible a white cloud of water particles, that were hitting something and making a rather loud noise. Joel exclaimed:

"Wow!"

Wendy looked at Ben again and asked:

"Are you sure you know what you're doing?.."

Ben nodded. It was enough for Wendy. Soon, they were close enough to the first set of "steps" to start the decent. By now the raft was going quite a bit faster, and all four kids released an instinctive scream as they went over the first tiny waterfall, felt the raft jump, hang in the air for a second and then splash down to the next step, covering the kids with a healthy doze of sprinkles. The sound of the raging water covered up the excited screams as the raft was already jumping the next step.

Splash! As always, Ben felt his tummy tingle as the raft jumped into the air to land back into the water a second later. And now once again… Aaaaahhhhh… Splash! And again… Whoosh! Suddenly, a sharp curve to the right became visible.

Ben and Sammy both simultaneously stuck their sticks to the left of the raft. It turned sharply, and was now flying diagonally towards the grassy shore. The two boys with one more effort turned the raft completely, and it immediately entered the second set of steps: the bigger one. Once again everyone felt a funny sensation in their Tummies as the speeding raft jumped from the first step and landed on the second one. All were happily screaming. Once more… Wham! And again… Bam! Here comes another one… Splat!..

Ben was having fun, but at the same time he and Sammy were restlessly looking forward, to keep the others safe. And they saw the danger first, both at the same moment.

Screaming, their eyes widening, the two boys lifted their sticks and slammed them into the left side. The raft shook, but turned only slightly. Joel and Wendy at that moment also looked forward and their eyes widened, as they saw two naked boys standing right in the middle of the stream, looking in horror at the large speeding raft that was on it's way to hit them.

All six kids screamed simultaneously. Ben and Sammy, finally regaining their composure, once again stuck the sticks into the stream bottom and pushed the raft to the right with all their might. The sticks remained stuck in the sand in the middle of the stream and the raft, sharply turning, hit the shore and bounced back, dropping the four kids into the water.

All four surfaced immediately, looking at the couple of amazed boys. The boys were also looking at them with awe, realizing that they just escaped a very painful encounter. Then, noticing the girl, the two boys blushed and slipped into the water to hide their nakedness.

After a brief silence Joel started:

"Goddamn! What the hell was that?! I thought…" – looking at the two boys he suddenly stopped in mid sentence, and remained quiet.

Ben, rubbing his sore elbow and knee, climbed out of the water, and helped Sammy – who was rubbing a bruise on his head – to do the same. Wendy and Joel followed their lead, Joel for some strange reason keeping quiet and trying to hide behind his sister.

"Are everyone all right?" asked Ben with concern.

Wendy nodded; Sammy stretched his arms sideways and shrugged. Joel remained quiet, still hiding behind Wendy. Ben looked at the two awkward boys, still hiding under the water. They looked as if they were unsure of what to expect: would the kids that almost collided with them blame them for their crash? Would they be nasty to them? Ben asked loudly:

"Are you guys okay?.. Did you get hit?.."

One of the boys – a blonde haired good-looking kid that seemed to be slightly braver than his companion – replied:

"We're fine… Are you guys okay?"

"Seems like it. A few bruises, that's all. I'm Ben. What's your name?"

"I'm Tommy… And this is Nate." The blond kid slightly nudged his dark-haired companion with his elbow. That one hurried to add:

"I'm Nate…"

Ben smiled and cheerfully asked:

"What were you guys doing in the middle of the stream?.."

Tommy also smiled:

"What did it look like?.. We were…" – he suddenly stopped, looking at his friend Nate, and then continued: "Ummm… Swimming."

"Gee, swimming," – giggled Ben. "I can see that. Well, don't just stand there! Get out of the water, let's talk. Did you guys settle around here?.. Geez, come on, don't be shy, we're all naked!"

Tommy decisively stepped out of the water, calmly saying – as if stating the obvious:

"I'm not shy. Nate, come on."

Nate was still a little unsure, and turned slightly red as he looked at the four boys and one girl who were standing naked on the grass, all looking at him. It seemed that he fought a short battle with himself there, and was victorious. Quickly jumping up he also got out of the water, still a little red but much more optimistic.

Ben extended his hand to his new acquaintance and said:

"Nice to meet you, Nate."

Nate shook Ben's hand, Then Tommy. Ben smiled again:

"Anyway, as you already know I'm Ben. This is Sammy, Wendy and Joel. So, did you guys settle around here?"

Tommy replied, looking into Ben's eyes:

"Well, actually… We didn't really settle anywhere yet. We… just kind'a stopped here for a little while."

Ben and Tommy were now looking into each other's pupils. And Ben felt… It's hard to describe the feeling, but it was kind'a the same as when he met Wendy and Joel. It was a generally good feeling, when you know that you have found someone that you'll like, someone you're not afraid to share anything with. Ben felt that these two boys would become friends, both with him and with the rest of his gang. So he continued without hesitation:

"You know, our cave is roomy enough for two more. Wanna come over for a visit?.."

Tommy and Nate looked at each other, then back at Ben. Nate asked:

"Where do you live… oh, wait, I mean: where did you stay… camp… whatever! Where is your cave?"

Ben snickered and replied:

"It's up the stream, a couple of miles… At the lake."

"Really?" Tommy smiled wider. "We were heading for that lake…"

Ben's eyes widened:

"Cool! We've… well, some of us anyway, we're camping at that lake for a few years in a row already! We also started our raft from there… Wait a minute… The raft!"

All six kids instantly turned around and gazed at the furious stream. Of course, the raft was long since gone; there was no sight of it anywhere. Only those two ill-starred sticks were still standing upright in the middle of the river. Ben said, a little sadly:

"Washed away…" then he added, trying to hide the sneaking laughter a voice of a lost-little-boy-in-the-supermarket: "Ain't that sad…"

Everyone smiled, then snickered, then burst into laughter. Sammy commended:

"Ah well, at least we don't have to carry it all the way back to the cave now."

"The kid's got a point," said Wendy and touched Ben's shoulder: "Let's go?"

"Yeah," replied the boy and turned to Nate and Tommy: "Let's move out. Are you guys coming?"

The two boys once again looked in each other's faces and said in unison:

"Yeah."

"Cool," said Ben and started walking to the bushes that were around the "steps" in the stream…

***

The kids were walking up the stream and happily chatting. Only Joel seemed to drag behind, still trying to hide behind Wendy. Ben finally got tired of it and, leaving Tommy and Nate to talk to Sammy, he walked up to the younger boy and asked:

"Joel, what the hell is wrong with you, dude? Usually you're the loudest, and now… What happened?"

Joel replied, angrily whispering:

"Why did you have to go and invite them over?!"

Ben was surprised, as well as disappointed:

"Why not? Don't they seem like good kids to you?.."

"Maybe! But you don't understand! One of them is the kid…"

"What 'the kid'?" – didn't understand Ben.

"The kid at the airport!! The one that I kicked…"

Ben stopped dead in his tracks, his eyes widening. Everyone stopped as well, looking at him with a question. Ben looked at Nate and then at Joel. Then back at Nate, and then at Joel again. And burst into uncontrollable laughter…

Wendy and Sammy hardly managed to find out what happened from the wildly laughing Ben, but when they did they also started giggling uncontrollably, looking at the blushing grungy Joel and at the surprised and confused Nate. Both Nate and Tommy did not understand what was going on, and figured that it must be an inside joke. Finally, Ben was able to stop laughing. He looked at Joel with mock seriousness and said in the tone of a disappointed teacher:

"Well, young man, you know what you have to do. Go over and apologize."

Joel, with his head lowered and his ears slightly red, approached Nate. That one still didn't understand anything. Joel squeezed out:

"I'm sorry… That I kicked you."

Nate was completely lost. What was he talking about?.. But then, suddenly, he remembered: the airport, the passage way, the robot… The little tard! He looked down at Joel, who was still standing there with his eyes lowered, looking at his own bare feet. Then Nate's mouth also stretched into a wide smile, and he also burst into laughter, causing everyone else – besides Joel and Tommy – to plunge right back into wild giggles. Laughter was like steam, boiling and boiling inside, and now it busted the cover of the boiler and was exploding. Finally, Joel let go of his grunginess and joined the cheerful chorus. Only Tommy was still standing there, looking at everyone and smiling, somewhat confused: the inside joke was turning out to include his best friend, who he thought had never met those kids before!

Finally, when everyone calmed down, the issue was explained to him. Tommy said:

"Talk about a weird co-incidence!"

Ben responded:

"Tell me about it! I was just thinking the same thing!.."

The six kids continued their journey that now seemed much more cheerful. Joel was Joel again, and everything seemed to be just the way it was supposed to.

>>next chapter–green>>

34 – Walking away

James was both confused and intrigued. His encounter with Taryn ended uncertainly: the huge Rabbit told him a lot of confusing things and then it just disappeared into the thin air, together with the house, the teapot and the tea. It told him that he is one of "the chosen ones", but did not tell what are the chosen ones what the hell they are chosen for. It told him about how James must train to learn to control his energies, yet James never knew he had any energies and had no idea how to use them. It told him he is in a war against evil, but there was not one word spoken about what this evil is… And then it disappeared. Altogether. Completely. Even the warmth from the tea in James' stomach disappeared, as if he drank nothing at all.

The boy was promptly walking, trying to understand if he still has his sanity. Taryn said that James would see him again, when he is ready. James was unsure he wants to meet the giant rabbit again. At least until that one proves that he really exists and is not just a figment of James' imagination.

James was walking fast. He already crossed a large chunk of the jungle, bypassing a huge Trinlian plant. Then he headed down following what seemed to be a recently created cutout path. It was already getting close to the evening and the sun was slowly beginning to go down.

Finally, the path brought him to a lake. The lake was quite large. He walked around it to see a soft light coming from the bushes, along with muffled children's voices. James slowly and quietly crept towards the light until he reached the opening of a cave. The voices came from inside. He heard a loud and cheerful boyish voice repeatively say "come on, tell me how you got 'em!", and a quiet voice mumble something unclear in response to that . Then he heard a third voice of another boy say: "Okay, enough arguing already, I wanna start reading!"… "Okay", replied a softer voice, "let's sit in a circle." James crept closer as he heard some rustling, then quiet. And then the soft boyish voice started equally telling a story. It seemed like a logical continuation of the magical events that happened to him lately. And James just sat there, a quiet uninvited and unknown of guest, listening, growing more and more excited as the story progressed…

<<last blue chapter>>

35 – Spots of Sunburst

When the six kids reached the lake, the sun was already beginning to set. A mysterious shade of violet colored everything " a combined light from the setting yellow sun and the blue moon that was already in the sky since the afternoon, but only now became visible.

During the walk Ben's little group and their two newfound friends had a chance to get to know each other through and through. Ben, Sammy, Wendy and Joel found out how Nate and Tommy met, their previous encounters with Ox and their adventures on Zong up until now. The two newcomers, respectively, learned about how Ben's little group formed.

Joel was most interested in the Ox story. He asked Tommy to tell it again and again, savoring every little detail. After Tommy told him the story for the third time, Joel said:

"I just don't understand what's wrong with him. What, did he see you swimming and then decided he wants to kill you two of the sudden?.."

Tommy said without pausing:

"Well, not just all of the sudden. He wanted to beat us up, and since we resisted… he got crazy."

"Yeah, but why did he want to beat you up?"

"Well, we weren't exactly swimming, we…" – Tommy ended the sentence abruptly seeing the way Nate was looking at him.

It seemed that Joel understood what Tommy meant to say. And so did the others. And an awkward silence appeared between the kids for a few moments. To take away the awkwardness Ben cheerfully said:

"Yeah. I get it. You were doing what Joel and Sammy were doing just this afternoon when Wendy and me walked in on them."

Sammy blushed, Tommy giggled and Joel tried to kick Ben but missed. Nate breathed out in relief and also smiled.

When the kids settled into the cave Ben went to his corner and extracted a rather large rectangular object from his backpack. Everyone wanted to hold the journal before Ben would start reading. Each kid ruffled through the pages, looking at the blue-ink handwritten text. There seemed to be something special about this object, everyone could feel it. It's like… the spirit of the writer was somehow transferred through a little bit. Ben secured a NeoLight right over their heads and took the journal, but Joel protested:

"No, the stupid light is messing up the atmosphere! It's too bright like that."

"Do you have any other suggestions, Joel?.." sarcastically inquired Ben. "I need to see the book, you know."

Sammy suddenly threw up his eyes:

"You know, you can use the pins."

Ben thought for a moment and then unsurely asked:

"You think that they'll provide enough light?.."

"If you backlight 'em with a Neolight, they definitely will," stated Sammy.

"Okay, I'll try it."

Ben went to his corner again and returned with a small box. Then he placed the NeoLight on the wall about ten feet away and opened the box. Four sighs of amazement were instantly heard, as the kids saw two quartz starburst insignias shining brightly from inside. Joel, as usual, was the first to say:

"Wow!"

Tommy added to that remark:

"Those are sunburst pins! They're only worn by the explorer corps!"

Ben shrugged his shoulders. Joel asked:

"How the hell did you get them?"

Ben shrugged again. He didn't like telling that story, because it always seemed like he was bragging. Sammy answered for him:

"He got 'em last year during ISTaZ training. For getting outstanding grades or something like that… I was sick in my cabin that day, and he just came back and said they've given him those, but didn't want to tell me any details."

Everyone looked at Ben questioningly. He just shrugged again.

Joel started to nag Ben to tell details. Ben didn't want to.

Finally, after five minutes of arguing, Tommy stated:

"Okay, enough arguing already, I wanna start reading!"

"Okay, " replied Ben, being glad to get away from the pins theme. "Let's sit in a circle."

36 – Young Prince

The kids sat in a circle around the sunburst pins. The pins, backlighted by the NeoLight, were warmly glowing, producing a magical gray twilight that was just right for the reading of a story. Ben opened the journal on the first page and said:

"The name of the story is not written here, it just starts right away. So… Here goes."

The five kids sat quietly, waiting for Ben to begin his reading. The light reflected off of the pins flickered. Silence hovered inside the cave. The soft rustling of the trees in the light wind was heard from the outside. Finally, Ben began reading.

"It was early morning, as the yellow sun was yet to come up and the red moon was coloring everything in bordow color, when the troops appeared. Seven hundred mercenaries all dressed in red leather, on battle horses, with only one task: destroy. Jow-Zwa's men were patiently waiting behind the seventh hill. They were to protect the young prince with all cost, and Jow-Zwa was ready to give his life, only to get the young lad out of there in peace. They were only one hundred and fifty, but they knew the way. Ke-Gandhar's thugs did not. Jow-Zwa was calmly clenching the handle of his sword. The first rider of the mercenaries crossed the sixth foothill. It was time. Jow-Zwa gave a silent command to the Arbaleters squad…

Panka-Zakdan atama Roth was looking at the large muscular man sitting beside him. His face was dark but confident. His huge palm was wrapped around the handle of a two-foot heavy Arbalet with a large arrowhead sticking out. Panka-Zakdan looked closely at the arrow. The head was not smooth, it's surface was carved in the shape of a toothed ladder. For extra validity. This way the arrow rips the organs apart and cannot be pulled out once it enters the body. Panka-Zakdan shivered, imagining the arrow hit someone. His bodyguard did not notice, he was heavily concentrating on his own wrist, and his powerful muscles were visibly moving underneath his skin, without any actual movement of his hands. Right, the way. He is accumulating energy. Panka-Zakdan was learning to do that on battle lessons, from Jow-Zwa. Jow-Zwa always said at the end of the lesson: "the young prince has more energy inside than ten warriors! The young prince will be a great warrior one day!" Great, why doesn't he let "the young prince" fight then? Why must the "young prince" sit here, behind this man-mountain, and wait for the others to die for him?.. "The young price must not fight, for it is great risk. The young prince will be emperor one day." Panka-Zakdan argued, tried to convince Jow-Zwa that he is ready to fight, he even tried to order the commander: "I am the emperor's son! I outrank you, Jow-Zwa! You must do what I say, and I say you let me battle!." Jow-Zwa smiled, put his hand on the boy's hair and said: "The young prince has fire. Wait, young star, your time to battle will come. Emperor's son outranks Jow-Zwa, but Emperor outranks son. Emperor told Jow-Zwa: protect my boy at all cost! So Jow-Zwa cannot let young prince battle." The "young prince" spit aside, angrily threw the smiling commander's hand off his head and walked into his tent, loudly closing the flap. No fair. And a few minutes later this huge… pile of muscles comes in here, bows to the "young prince", and sits beside him with that Arbalet. Bodyguard.

Panka-Zakdan once again looked on the concentrating warrior. Just in case, and because he had nothing better to do, he also started collecting energy into his hands, mindlessly watching how his muscles started flexing under his skin…

…The feeling of fire started taking over. How long was he collecting? Probably, for a pretty long time. Time doesn't matter when you are collecting energy. He was no longer feeling his body; there was no more flesh, skin, arms, legs… There was a charged fireball, ready to burn everything and everyone in it's way. He opened his eyes and allowed his ears to listen again. Sounds burst in suddenly, filling his being alongside the fire. He immediately realized that the battle had begun. Outside people were screaming, metal was clinging, Arbalet straps were flapping, arrows were whistling.

With his eyes, Panka-Zakdan could see everything, even what was behind him. He saw what he felt and heard. He saw the warrior sitting beside him. The warrior was also in the state; Panka-Zakdan could see the fire inside of him burning. Suddenly, they both heard (and saw, even though it was outside the closed up tent), how a mercenary is being stabbed, right next to them. And then a long sword tore the leather and the already dead man's face appeared inside, as he fell onto the crack he himself had made. Both the warrior and Panka-Zakdan immediately perceived what is happening outside.

Jow-Zwa was wrong. There were more mercenaries than he thought. He was right that seven hundred thugs are no mach for his squad, each and every warrior of which knew "the way", but he did not think there would be immediate re-enforcements. After his men killed the first few hundred with only minor losses, he suddenly spotted another army running from behind the hills. Where did they come from? The experienced commander was starting to get worried for the life of the young prince, Panka-Zakdan atama Roth, whose life he swore to protect. He immediately realized that no matter what the enemy will break in close enough to get to the tent. Leaving the battleground, he ordered a ring of fifty warriors to surround the tent and protect it, while the remaining squad will keep fighting the front line. His order was carried out immediately. But very quickly, the front line was forced to step back, as their energy was on the limit. They have been fighting in the state for too long. A few dozen creeps managed to break inside the camp, heading for the central tent. The protecting circle immediately killed them, but after them came more and more… until one thug broke inside the circle and was killed attempting to jump at the tent. His sword tore the tent's leather when the heavy arrow hit his neck, leaving him dead on the spot. The arrow was fired by Jow-Zwa, standing a bit to the side of the tent. Then he heard a loud roar from inside, and Mahra-Kolra, his most proven warrior, that was ordered to guard the prince, jumped outside. He was fresh power that was badly needed. All of the battle he was inside, collecting energy. His eyes were blazing with fire and his huge arms holding an Arbalet and a double sword.

Mahra-Kolra was huge. He was almost twice larger than any of the stupid thugs and thirty times as powerful, and that is without using the way. When he was using the way he was the most lethal weapon in the world, probably. Mercenaries were flying this way and that, and those that weren't flying, dead or fatally wounded were running away as quickly as they could.

Jow-Zwa was calmly looking at his champion, crushing the enemy, even though in his heart was worry. The mercenaries were like flies, they were everywhere, and more and more kept coming. When Mahra is busy fighting someone can creep inside the tent and hurt the prince. And if he left the field to go guard the boy, who will command the battle? He decided he was going to go in and guard the prince after all. He had trust in his men to continue the battle without him. And as he started walking towards the tent, disaster happened. A loud roar once again covered the field, a roar of pain. And when Jow-Zwa had turned, he saw Mahra-Kolra falling down.

It was a squad of enemy arbaleters. They all fired at once, and Mahra fell down, hit by a dozen poisoned arrows. For the first time during this battle, Jow-Zwa became scared. And blamed himself. If he had not turned away to go into the tent, he would have spotted the enemy arbaleters. There weren't huge armies of enemies left, Mahra killed many. But without a fresh warrior they would probably fail to endure the last strike of the remaining thugs. And then, making Jow-Zwa's heart jump with terror, from inside the tent came another roar…

…Panka-Zakdan saw everything. In the state he could see and feel all around him. And he saw Mahra-Kolra fall down, his energy fireball becoming black in Panka's senses and exploding with a cry of pain and helplessness. "It's time", decided the boy…

…Jow-Zwa watched in horror as the tent was torn, and the most revered and precious child in the world appeared from within. "It's the end", thought Jow-Zwa. And run in the direction of the boy, to protect him with his own flesh if necessary.

Panka-Zakdan, however, did not seem to need any protection. He was burning from inside, his eyes casting fire on the enemies he saw around. He also remembered about the squad of arbaleters, so he knew he cannot stand still for a single moment or an arrow will get him. With one energetic impulse hit he threw three thugs away from him, picking up a long sword in the process. As a sharp contrast to the giant Mahra-Kolra, the prince was tiny compared to the thugs. But his energy field seemed to outglow even the gigantic experienced warrior. He was like a bolt of lightning, zooming around the enemies and hitting them faster than they could see him. Jow-Zwa stopped for a moment, witnessing the skill of the boy. But he quickly regained his line of thought. As pretty as the sight of his student slaying huge thugs was, Jow-Zwa knew that the boy is not experienced enough to withstand the battle. He quickly ordered his men to prevent any more enemies from coming into the circle – whatever it takes! – while he himself ran to the boy to help him finish off the thugs what were already on the field. And he got there just in time.

Panka-Zakdan was on a row, and he felt it. Enemies were falling all around him, and he didn't even receive a single hit yet. Starting to get a little cocky, the boy did a double back flip during which he kicked the head of some trash bellow him, and landed perfectly. Suddenly, he was pushed aside by a strong arm and felt sharp pain on the side of his throat. He immediately jumped onto his feet, grabbed his sword and looked around. It was Jow-Zwa, with a very concerned look in his face. Panka-Zakdan turned around and stabbed a large thug that was trying to creep from behind, but while he did it he felt something warm and moist drip down his shoulder…

..In a few short minutes the battle was over, and victory was achieved. Over a thousand enemy men were killed, and a hundred more were captured. And as the remaining warriors turned their heads to look, they saw their commander leaning over the young prince. Jow-Zwa turned around and ordered:

"An antidote and the healer! Fast!"

The healer wasn't hurt. He was found in one of the tents on the edge of the camp, and with him he brought a black bottle of poison antidote. Jow-Zwa held the boys head tight and warned:

"This will hurt. Be prepared, young prince."

The boy quietly nodded. Jow-Zwa spilled the greenish-black substance onto the wound. The boy twitched, tears appearing in his bright eyes. But he did not scream. After he thermally washed the wound with the antidote, Jow-Zwa moved away and let the healer do his work. The old man kneeled next to the boy, rubbing his palms together. Then, he slowly touched the wound all around, watching it slowly close under the bio-energetic fields he was creating with his hands.

The boy was feeling a tremendous relief, as if someone took away the sharp pain on his neck and at the same time made him relaxed and wonderfully light. He mumbled something, then closed his eyes with a smile. Jow-Zwa lifted the boy on his arms and carried him over to a tent, where the young prince was placed on a bed and immediately fell asleep…"

Ben looked around and saw that he had everyone's complete attention. The kids' faces were of intense interest. They were eager to hear more. Joel quietly whispered:

"Wow… That does sound a little bit like what you said you could do, Ben."

Ben seriously responded:

"Yeah… It's not exactly what I feel, but it is pretty close…"

"Uhum, yeah, it is," impatiently said Sammy. "Well, come on, what happened next?"

"Yeah, keep reading, Ben," said Joel and sat more comfortably.

Ben lowered his eyes back to the journal and resumed his reading.

"When Panka-Zakdan woke up, he noticed that the sun was creeping in through the cracks in the tent. That meant that it was high afternoon. When the battle ended it was just over six o'clock, if he remembers correctly. Wow! Did he just sleep for a whole day's length? The boy raised his head. Immediately, he felt a dull pain in his neck. Touching the spot he felt a long stripe – a scar. Damn it, that was such a shame. Everything was going so well before he forgot about the arbaletters! The arrow would have killed him for sure if Jow-Zwa wouldn't have pulled him out of harms way. But it still slashed on the side of his throat. Suddenly he was attacked by fear: what if now he can no longer practice the way?! Panka jumped up to run and ask Jow-Zwa, but suddenly he stopped and imagined how pathetic it would look if he ran out of the tent crying: "Jow-Zwa! Does this scar mean I can't enter the state anymore?!." Why act hysterically? He can check by himself.

The boy concentrated, turned his mental sight inside of himself, and felt the energies run through his body. In a minute or two fire started to tentatively appear in front of his eyes. Thank the lord, everything seems to be working fine. The boy shook his head and let go of the energy flow, the fire disappeared. He suddenly thought of Rem… How Rem was jealous when Panka managed to get into the state for the first time. He kept asking how it felt and kept pleading: "You gotta teach me this, dude! Come on, please?.. Zak… Teach me!"

Warm feelings of friendship and love washed over the young prince. What was so special about that boy? Nothing. He was the son of the ex-Royal Bedroom Keeper (and national hero) Jed-Ikara-Skaz. They were born during the same week, the prince and the keeper's son, and both lost their mothers soon thereafter: the keeper's son at age four, when she died of a terrible illness, and the Prince at age five, when enemy snipers shot her outside the palace. The boys grew up together, under the guidance of their fathers, one becoming the young prince that was adored by the whole people, and one as his closest and most loyal friend. Around the palace they were always seen together. Rem (or Remada-Ikara-Jozes, as most people called him) was a dark-haired kid of average height, with a dark complexion and deep green eyes, always smiling, always forgiving, always warm and caring. Zak (or Prince Panka-Zakdan atama Roth, as everyone besides the royal family and Jow-Zwa were required by law to call him) was slightly taller, with light sandy hair, bright-cyan eyes, energetic (sometimes too much for his own good) and serious. He knew what his calling was, and knew that someday he will be emperor. And even though Rem was sometimes a little jealous of the respect Zak was getting, everyone knew that the prince's life will not be an easy one and Zak sometimes wished it was the other way around: that Rem would be the prince and he would be just a normal kid with no obligations or royal future…

Despite of all their differences, Zak and Rem were like brothers. And two years ago they really did become brothers, when Rem remained with no parents at all… No, let's not think about sad things. Better think about happy stuff. Once, when they were eight, influenced by the epic Wazwazanna battle, they made a pact that if they ever end up in a situation like the great Hamal-Gra and Mooko the Warrior, one of them would give his life to save the other. Then they started arguing about who will give his life for whom. Rem insisted that it should be him, because Zak, after all, is the sole ire of the emperor, and is very important, thus his life is more important. Zak disagreed that as a prince he must commit acts of bravery and self-sacrifice to be an example for the people, so it should be him who dies and saves Rem. They never did reach an agreement on that one…

…Zak smiled thinking of his best friend. And thought proudly: "wait till you hear about the battle we just won! Jow-Zwa will probably make it look like I've saved the whole squad…" Zak blushed a little at the thought, but decided not to interfere. After all, it is kind'a nice when everyone looks at you like you're the national hero… Then he thought of his father and blushed more. No, he can never lie to dad. He will tell him everything the way it happened. What will dad say?.. What will Jow-Zwa say, come to think of it?.. He did start fighting without permission. But there was no alternative, and everyone knows it! Zak smiled at the thought that dad could still punish him for this, and considered for a moment if it was worth it. Yep, it was. Even if he gets punished. Say what you may, it was damn fun to kick some ass in the state!

With that thought Zak put his head on his arms and once again imagined Rem's reaction when he gets the news…"

Ben once again paused his reading for a second, opened a bottle of water that he got from his backpack earlier and took a sip. All the other kids were impatiently silent, waiting for him to continue. Ben smiled and resumed the story.

"…When they were passing the monoruicks valley, Jow-Zwa made another attempt to convince Zak that he should not risk his life:

"Young Prince is good fighter, I do not say he is not, but Young Prince also study to be great leader. Jow-Zwa is good fighter, but Jow-Zwa is not good leader. Jow-Zwa doesn't know important things: read, write, talk to enemy. Jow-Zwa just knows how to fight enemy. If Emperor gone, and Young Prince gone, then Jow-Zwa doesn't know what to do. Does Young Prince understand?"

The "Young Prince" understood, but said with a stubborn look on his face:

"If I haven't interfered then they would get me anyway. And many more men would have died. So this time, it was right for me to fight and you know it."

"Maybe it was okay for Young Prince to fight this time, but it is not right for Young Prince to fight. No matter that many Jow-Zwa's men die, they die to protect Young Prince. No matter even when thousand die, its okay when die to protect Young Prince…"

"No, it is not okay! How can you say that its okay?! A thousand men? I'm just one man! I mean, one boy!"

"Even two thousand is okay, because Young Prince is not one boy; Young Prince is very important one boy, more important than men…"

"No, I'm not more important! Everyone are the same, dad told me so!"

"Okay, if Young Prince insists that he not more important, then so be it; but Young Prince should understand this: All those men have order; protect Young Prince, and they die to make order. Then at end of battle Young Prince jumps out to fight and gets killed. Then all men that died to make order, order of protecting Young Prince, die for nothing because no more Young Prince. So Young Prince should not fight."

Zak frowned, spit to the ground and said:

"Yeah, yeah, you can always turn it around like that. Let's just stop talking about this, okay?.. You're a hell of a demagogue."

"As Young Prince wish, we do not talk about this anymore. But can Young Prince allow one question for Jow-Zwa?"

"What is it?"

"Jow-Zwa does not understand, what is 'demagogue'. Can Young Prince explain to Jow-Zwa?"

"Sure. A demagogue is someone who can convince anyone of anything using alternative ways and turning things around, making things up and stuff like that."

Jow-Zwa thought for a few moments and started:

"In that case Jow-Zwa disagree. Jow-Zwa is not demagogue. Jow-Zwa did not make up things, and did not turn anything. Jow-Zwa just say that…"

Zak interrupted him:

"Okay, fine, whatever, just leave me alone, okay?!"

"As Young Prince wish."

And Jow-Zwa turned away, focused on his horse and the road ahead. Zak lowered his head in frustration. Great, Jow-Zwa just had to ruin Zak's good mood, didn't he? All those arguments… pretty good arguments, actually. Damn it! Zak was pissed that Jow-Zwa won the discussion. For some strange reason, Jow-Zwa's primitive logic was always enough to win arguments with Zak. And he says he is not a good leader! One thing Zak was always good at was arguing. He could out-argue anyone, even his father sometimes. Dad would smile and run his large hand through Zak's hair when an argument went in the youngster's favor and say: "You would be a great emperor one day…" But not Jow-Zwa. Jow-Zwa always found something very simple to say that always made it feel like he had the last word.

By that way, that's what Rem always said about Zak when they argued: "You always have to have the last word, don't you?" Zak, having his father a smart man who knew that knowledge is power, was steadily turning out to be a very educated boy. He had four teachers around him almost every day of his life in the castle. They taught Zak mathematics, linguistic skills, energy physics, books, manners, discussion rules, ethics, politics and everything else that a leader of a people should know to rule wisely. So he had a clear advantage over Rem, who was only learning reading and writing, and some math. Rem knew that Zak could easily win any argument but he still confronted his friend every time, refusing to just give up. He had this quality in his character: his refusal to give up or let go. When he and Zak argued he would get very serious about his points and in the end when Zak would win, Rem would just say something like "Okay, let's not talk about this anymore"; and throughout the whole day afterwards he would walk around sad making Zak feel guilty. Sometimes it got really bad and they stopped talking to each other for the rest of the day, but before going to sleep they would always make up.

Zak remembered their worst ever fight very well. It was just about half a year ago, and it was about some stupid military move, he doesn't even remember exactly what it was now. They fought for a whole hour, and then Zak, after presenting his devastating arguments said: "You see?" Rem said that no, he doesn't see anything. Zak asked if Rem STILL claimed his way and Rem said yes. Zak said "Prove it." Rem said "I just know I'm right, I don't need to prove it." Then Zak, getting mad and frustrated, blurted out without thinking: "That's cause you're stupid, you can't prove anything you say."

Rem looked at him with those dark sad eyes of his and just walked away without saying a word. Zak was too mad then to think about what he said, but later it suddenly hit him. He stopped in the middle of the corridor on his way to the yard: "oh my god, what have I done?! I just called my best friend stupid, and for real!" The remainder of the day Zak walked around like he's mortally ill, and finally, in the late evening he found the courage to go and talk to Rem. He walked into his best friend's bedroom slower than he ever did before. Rem was already in bed, but he wasn't sleeping, he was quietly reading the Mecerar's journal that he borrowed from Zak a few weeks before. Zak silently walked over to Rem's bed, and sat on the corner. Rem just then noticed him and looked right into his eyes, with that same sad look. Zak didn't know what to say. He leaned closer to Rem's face and touched his arm. Then he finally managed to squeeze out:

"Dude… You know… What I said back then… I…"

Suddenly Rem threw off his blanket, extended his arms and pulled Zak into a tight hug. Zak felt so warm inside, and it was like a hundred-ton weight was lifted off his shoulders. He breathed out loudly, in a soft cry, and suddenly words came out easy, without the stuttering, as he mumbled quickly:

"I'm sorry, I'm so-so sorry, you know I didn't mean it dude, right? You know I didn't mean it, right? Rem?"

Rem held him close and quietly nodded his head. And then…

Zak didn't even know himself why he did it; it just felt that it is the right thing to do. He leaned closer to Rem's face and kissed him. A gentle light kiss, right on the boy's lips. Rem was a little hesitant at first, but then he tentatively returned the gesture. After a few seconds they broke contact. Rem's eyes were cheerful and a little surprised. He smiled and asked:

"What was that for?"

Zak looked back and said what he was thinking:

"Cause I love you."

Rem said looking into Zak's eyes:

"I love you too…" and after some thought he added: "When you're not a jerk."

Zak smiled and leaned back in, starting another kiss.

When their lips broke Zak looked down to find Rem's nightgown forming a small tent. Rem also looked there, and both boys started laughing…

…It was after that evening they started their mutual masturbation sessions. They both did it alone before, both knew the other was doing it – they even shared techniques, both saw each other naked a zillion times – at home, in the washhouse or swimming in the lake, but for some reason the thought of doing it together never crossed their minds until that night and that kiss they shared…

…The horse swung aside avoiding a painful encounter with a spike bush, bringing Zak back to present time. They were just in the end of the Monoruicks valley. Jow-Zwa was silently riding near the boy. Zak curiously looked at the legendary warrior. Was he even a bit insulted by Zak being rude to him like that?.. Does he get insulted at all? Doesn't seem so. Zak called:

"Hey, Jow-Zwa…"

The commander looked at Zak and responded immediately:

"Yes, young prince?"

"Do you ever get insulted by anyone?"

"Jow-Zwa does not understand what young prince mean."

"Well, do you ever feel sad over things people say to you?"

"Depends on people. When Emperor say something sad, like emperor brother die, then Jow-Zwa sad."

"No, I mean things they say about you."

"Jow-Zwa doesn't have time to be sad for things people say about Jow-Zwa. It is just words. Words don't hurt Jow-Zwa."

"Yeah… Well, I wish I could be like that."

"Like what?"

"Like you. So that words won't hurt me. Usually they hurt me the most."

"Someday Young Prince understand that words are just words, then they don't hurt anymore."

"Maybe… Do you think dad would be mad about me doing what I did?"

Jow-Zwa smiled:

"Don't worry, Young Star. Let Jow-Zwa talk to emperor. Jow-Zwa say the truth, then emperor not mad."

"Okay…" said Zak. And then added:" Thanks.""

Ben stopped to take another sip, and looked at his five listeners. He read everything as it was written, and was a little worried about reading the parts that involved sexuality. But it didn't seem to affect anyone in a bad way when he read about the kiss that the boys in the story shared. Ben waited a moment to hear the soft rustling of the trees outside. It was quickly becoming dark as night descended. Then he continued.

" At sunset the caravan reached the city. People were quick to give way for the tired horses as they saw the Elite Commander or their army, Jow-Zwa, followed by the Prince himself, ride into the walls of Zanna. They headed straight for the emperial palace.

Zak admired how beautiful the decorated walls of the castle were in the red illumination provided by the setting sun. Scenes of bravery and glory were portrayed on those walls, telling the stories of major great battles the empire had won, and portraits of great warriors. On the other side of the wall were carved portraits of all the great emperors. Zak dreamt that one day his portrait would be on both sides of that wall.

The gates opened. Jow-Zwa, by tradition, gave way to the young prince to ride into the palace. Zak directed his horse in between the massive gates as he tried to assume a graceful sitting position, to look dignified. He was sure that behind the gates is, as always, father, waiting for him. But as he looked around the yard he couldn't see the emperor. "Strange", thought Zak, "dad is always here to meet me after a journey." But then he quickly forgot about the elder's absence as he spotted a dark-haired boy standing in the center of the yard.

Rem looked concerned, and was stretching his neck out to see better who was riding in. Zak immediately dropped the "dignified" facade and swiftly jumped off his horse, running towards his best friend. Rem finally noticed Zak and the drops of worry dissolved in his eyes, as his face turned happy and his mouth stretched into a wide smile. Finally, they stood next to each other, briefly looking into each-other's eyes. Then Rem extended his arms and the two boys shared a brief hug. Zak quickly broke it though, and before Rem had a chance to say anything, pulled his best friend by the hand in the direction of the palace screaming on the way:

"Dude! You're not gonna believe what happened! Come on already, I'll tell you all about it!"

Rem had nothing else to do then to give in and the two boys ran into the castle entrance, not even noticing the two guards at the door that hurried to bow when the young prince ran by.

***

"You jumped out?!" Rem wide opened his eyes, not quite believing what he heard."

"Yeah! I knew that we weren't gonna make it if I didn't, so I did. They needed a fresh warrior."

"Yeah, Zak, a Warrior! Not a twelve-year-old!"

"Hey! Don't go there! You know I'm a good warrior."

"Yeah, yeah, the pride of our empire, yadda-yadda. Go on, what happened?"

"Well, everything was going great. I probably killed like thirty thugs. But that stupid arbaleters squad… I forgot all about them."

"And?!.."

"And nothing. Jow-Zwa pushed me out of the way, so the arrow only scratched my neck."

"Oh my God! But it was probably poisoned!"

"Yeah… The healer had an antidote. Here, check this out." – and Zak proudly demonstrated his fresh scar to his best friend's amazed eyes. Rem swallowed hard and said:

"Does it hurt?"

"Nah, not anymore. It did at first. But it was strange, you know: it was like someone else's pain. It was very sharp, but I felt like it was outside of me, so I didn't even scream or anything. It felt weird. And then I felt the blood going down my shoulder… It was pretty scary."

"Shit, dude… Are you sure you're okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine. But what about you? You looked kind'a strange when I rode in."

"Well… To tell you the truth, I kind'a felt something happened to you… I don't know how, I just felt it. So I got worried, and was waiting to see if you were okay."

Zak's eyes widened:

"What do you mean, you 'felt it'? How could you have felt it?"

"I don't know. That's what is weird. It's been happening a lot lately; I feel bad things that are happening even if I'm not really there…"

"Wow! That's cool! Maybe you're a prophet?"

"Am not! Come on! A prophet senses things that are about to happen, not things that already did happen!"

"Yeah, good point… Come on, let's go. I wanna say hi to dad."

And the two boys ran out from Zak's room and ran down the hall, where the study of the emperor was.

The study was empty. Zak was beginning to get worried. First his dad wasn't there to meet him, and then he is not in his study. Zak didn't know where to go next, but as always, Rem provided a counterweight to Zak's emotionally driven character with his own levelheaded thinking. He immediately suggested:

"Let's ask Jow-Zwa."

That's right! Ask Jow-Zwa! Why didn't Zak think of that? Both boys headed outside. Zak knew for sure that after a battle Jow-Zwa would be outside talking to his men before allowing them to go home. The guards at the doors once again hurried to bow as two boys swiftly ran by…

Sure enough, Jow-Zwa was making a speech to his men. Zak, without thinking much, interrupted him:

"Hey, Jow-Zwa!"

"Yes, Young Prince?" the commander immediately turned away from his men and towards the boy.

"Where is my dad? Did you see him?"

"Yes, young prince, Jow-Zwa see Emperor. Emperor is in sleeping chambers."

"Strange… Why is he in the chambers before night time?"

"The Emperor say he rest for this day, because headache."

"Oh… Okay, thanks Jow-Zwa!"

Zak turned to Rem and both boys started running. Suddenly Zak stopped, saying to Rem:

"Wait a second, dude…"

Turning back, he walked up to Jow-Zwa and interrupted him again by pulling the warrior's sleeve. Jow-Zwa turned again, and asked:

"Yes, Young Prince?"

For some strange reason Zak felt a little bit embarrassed. He said quietly:

"Did you talk to him?.. About today?.. You know…"

Jow-Zwa didn't laugh at the awkwardness of the boy, he didn't sport a superior smile, didn't snicker under his nose. He looked at Zak without the tiniest hint of amusement in his eyes and said seriously and sincerely:

"Yes. Jow-Zwa talk to Emperor. Emperor understand."

Zak looked at the mighty man with grateful eyes:

"Thanks, Jow-Zwa."

Jow-Zwa smiled and replied, for some strange reason phrasing a correct sentence:

"You are welcome, Young Prince."

Zak smiled back and ran back towards Rem.

***

Rem Stopped when the two boys were approaching the emperor's sleeping chambers. Zak also stopped, looking at his friend with a question. Rem explained:

"You go ahead. I'll wait here."

Of course, here it is again. Zak became a bit angry. What is this fear everyone has from the emperor? Jeez! He is just a man. He is a great man, no doubt, but for Zak he was what he always was: his warm and loving daddy. He did not understand the fear other people expressed in even looking at the emperor. And Rem… Well, he and Zak grew up together, always side by side. Dad considered Rem as his own stepson, especially since Rem's father died. Rem's dad was the emperial bedroom keeper, a smiley man that was the only one of the serving personnel to become a pal of the emperor and sometimes his confidant. Two years ago Rem's dad was during a friendly chat with the Emperor, and asked why the great Emperor is sad lately. The Emperor was not afraid to tell his confidant that he has extremely sensitive documents to be transported into the enemy empire, to his spies there, its a matter of life and death for the whole two-hundred spies working there, and no one of the men he trusted completely was available to deliver the papers. The loyal but simple men would not be clever enough to sneak the documents past the border, and the warriors would blow their cover to engage in battle with enemy scum. Rem's father immediately suggested his services, and with a blessing from the emperor he was sent on his way to become a national hero. But he never returned. The documents were safely delivered, and on the way back he ran into a battalion of enemy forces. One of the men in the battalion was an ounce smarter than the others, so with the clay he called brain he cooked up a heavy and extremely intelligent thought: if the man is going in the direction of the enemy empire, that means he must be an enemy. The poor bedroom keeper was killed immediately, and his body was found somewhat later by a battalion sent by the emperor who was worried about his friend not returning at the set time. When the battalion returned with the news, Jed-Ikara-Skaz was made into a national hero and was buried in the warriors' cemetery outside the city, with a touching speech by the emperor, and was very quickly forgotten by everyone except the people that truly did care about him: The Emperor and two little boys that lived in the palace…

Of course Zak missed the funny kind-hearted man, but he understood that his loss is nothing in comparison to that of his best friend's. Both boys lost their mothers when they were a mere four years old, and Zak still felt the pain of her loss sometimes. At first, Rem cried a lot. Zak would calm him the best he knew how, and sometimes it helped. Then came a period when Rem no longer cried, he was just submerged in gray melancholy, always sad, never cheerful. But it too had passed, the wounds have healed, and Rem became Rem again. He still missed his father a great deal, though. It was then that the Emperor decided to take the boy under his care, and announced him as Zak's stepbrother. Zak was thrilled, but Rem didn't really pay much attention to that, and nothing really changed. Most people didn't even know about that issue, and the ones who did know about it didn't take it seriously. And as for Zak and Rem – they were already like brothers since they were born, so naturally nothing really changed for them either. Except one thing: Rem stopped being so afraid of the great Emperor and would sometimes go talk to his caretaker together with Zak. But he still refused to fully implement for himself that the emperor is his stepfather. He just did not want to grasp it. You could sum up their relationship as a young nephew that is visiting his distant and important uncle, whom he respects and is slightly afraid of. Zak always tried to get the two closer, but Rem did not cooperate.

And now, as always, Rem did not want to come into the Emperor's bedroom. Zak urged his friend on:

"Come on, dude, don't start this again! You can come in there, he wouldn't mind."

Rem looked up and said the usual:

"It's his sleeping chambers. I have no right to disturb him there."

"Damn it, come on, will ya! How many times do I have to tell you: he wouldn't mind you being there! It will only make him happy! It makes him happy when I'm there!"

Once again, the usual reply followed:

"You are his son, I'm not."

Zak punched the wall beside him to work out his anger, and said:

"Fine, stay here, you little chicken! I'm goin' in."

Rem calmly replied:

"Okay. I'll wait."

Zak turned away and pushed the massive door.

The emperor looked up when Zak came in. And Zak, looking at his all-mighty father, froze in his tracks.

The emperor was lying in bed, covered by a cream-colored sheet. Near the bed was a small stand, on which stood a full plate of food and a jar with wine. It was clear at first glance that the food had long since gotten cold, but it was not touched.

Ever since Zak was a baby he remembered the figure of his father as a tower of strength. And ever since he was old enough to understand the concept he knew that his father was a famed warrior, who fought many battles and was always victorious. And was very proud of that. Zak would always feel completely safe when the huge powerful man would embrace him. He would lean his small head against the muscular chest of the man he loved so much and just indulge in this feeling of protection, knowing that nothing can do him any harm… And that this powerful man would forever be there for him…

And now Zak immediately felt that something was wrong. That feeling failed to come, as on the bed was a weak man. Zak felt it with his nerves, he felt it with the energy field, he felt it with all his being.

The emperor's pale face formed a happy smile, as he saw his son come in. He lifted his upper body from the bed and extended his arms forward.

Zak, without hesitation, ran into those large arms, and in a second father and son were sharing a warm hug.

"Dad, you're not mad, are you? " was the first thing the excited boy managed to ask.

"Mad? Mad about what? " asked the emperor, surprised.

"About me… Going into battle…"

The emperor smiled and ran his large fingers through the bright hair of the boy.

"Mad? You did what was necessary to save those men, and yourself. You did well, Zak. Don't have a doubt in your mind about that…" the emperor's hand suddenly froze in the boy's hair and his face became serious: "But don't you EVER do that again, okay?.. Okay, Panka-Zakdan?.."

Zak raised his eyes to meet his father's. Dad almost never called him by his given name, only when he was very serious. Zak quietly nodded.

"Because… You must understand…" the emperor continued, "that many people depend on you. That is why you are very important, Zak. Very important. What you did there was justified, but that was the last time you were in a situation like that. We will never again underestimate the enemy, and never put you in harms way like we did. So you just remember: don't do that again. You need to protect yourself at any cost, because you will soon be Emperor."

Zak looked down and stubbornly mumbled:

"Soon… Right… I'm twelve. I still have lots of time before I'm Emperor. And you can't always protect me, you know."

"I know, Zak, I know. And I pray that you are right, that you still have a long time before you are Emperor… Because I don't want you to experience my harsh life yet…"

Zak did not understand the why dad made that last statement. He never said things like that before. And a blunt touch of worry came into contact with the boy. But he drove it away, holding on to his habitual thought: daddy knows best. And that daddy, the great Emperor, once again ran his hand through his only son's hair and whispered:

"Go, play with your stepbrother. You should always relax after a battle. Go, my child…"

Zak did not need to be asked twice. He swiftly kissed his father's cheek and ran off to find Rem. Relax, he said. Well, Zak had the perfect way to do that…"

Ben paused and looked up. "Here comes the tricky part", he thought. After taking another sip he slowly stated:

"Ummm… I don't know, maybe I should skip the next part. It's kind'a… sexual, you know?"

Everyone looked at him. In their eyes was both impatience and determination. As if they were silently saying: "Come on, Ben, don't be silly." But Ben was still waiting for a more definite answer. Finally Joel said:

"Be-e-en! Who do you think we are? It's us, remember? I just did it with Sammy a little while ago, and it looks like Tommy and Nate been pretty busy too…" turning to the others he asked for approval: "Right guys? Does anyone here have any problems with sex stuff?"

Everyone hurried to shake their heads.

"See?.." concluded Joel.

Ben did see. And he did not have a doubt in his mind that no one of the group will have a problem with "sex stuff." But he was the one who had to read it…

Ben was a kid with a strong will. It took him about a minute to overpower himself, after which he lowered his eyes and resumed his reading, in a quiet equal tone…

***

"…Rem's dark hair gleamed in the yellow light of the candle. His face also gleamed, as it was slightly sweaty. His breathing was quickly becoming faster, and Zak who was in this situation with his best friend for so many times, knew that he would soon reach the point of no return. Rem whispered, stating the obvious:

"I'm getting close."

Zak increased his own actions, not to be falling behind. His breathing was also quickening as he was promptly reaching that point as well. But suddenly Rem let go of himself and looked at Zak with a question. Zak knew what it meant: Rem wanted to go there this time.

It was something they discovered a relatively short while ago. Zak and Rem both knew that going there is not something they can do every time. It consumed so much energy from both boys that it was not right, nor needed, for "quickies" – just casual wanks they shared. It was only right for long and serious sessions of relief that they shared only when they felt the need to. And this time, Rem was not the only one who felt the need to. Zak also knew he wanted to take the trip.

He too stopped his actions, and looked at Rem.

"You wanna?" asked Rem, breathing heavily.

"I think so. Are you sure?.."

"Yeah. I really wanna. We weren't there for so long… Take me there, please."

Zak nodded, and closed his eyes. Then he slowly brought his palms together, until the tips of his fingers were touching. The circuit was ready. Zak, with a mental effort, let the energy flow through. Immediately his whole body was consumed, and the boy's consciousness fell into a fiery abyss, as the circulation was building up more and more…

…Rem knew how to tell when Zak is ready. He waited until he saw those familiar spots of energy flow in his best friend's eyes. Zak was now a container, he had in him the energetical power of two people, and energy was almost leaking out of him. Rem moved closer. Zak was completely ready. Rem knew that entering the state when you are on the verge of a profound sexual release is mind bombing: your body is super-sensitive and you can feel the energy violently pushing you towards that release. It takes tremendous self-control to avoid going over the edge, breaking your hands and grabbing it to quickly bring it to a fiery finish. Rem knew that right now Zak is fighting an enormous battle within himself. More than anything right now he wants to just contact himself there, to relieve himself of the glorious pressure he is under. And the only reason he is fighting this battle is for his companion, for Rem. Rem couldn't reach this state of energy flow yet, especially when he is on the verge. He needed Zak's help. And, as always, he channeled all his energies to create an immense feeling of gratitude, so Zak would feel how much Rem needs him to win the battle, and how grateful he is for Zak letting him share his energies. So far, Zak never lost the battle, even once.

Zak felt Rem near him. He felt his energy, he felt his gratitude, and it fueled him to keep holding his own raging energies flowing inside his body, without breaking out and flowing into the air around him, creating a chain reaction of release. And then, he suddenly felt that the moment is right. That both he and Rem are ready. This clear understanding always came at some point, when you know that it's time. And Zak, channeling half of his energies for departure, disconnected the tips of his fingers.

Snap!.. …And Zak's fingertips grabbed the slightly wet warm shoulders of the boy sitting directly across from him. The energy was steadily flowing, and in front of Zak's inner sight was quickly growing a raging fireball, that got hotter and hotter by the second. Finally, the energy got so intense it was ready to burst out of the fireball across from his. And then, he felt the counter-flow…

…Rem let his body calmly receive the violent energies that were bursting out of the fireball in front of him. It was always a glorious moment, when Zak's warm fingers touched his skin and suddenly he would be inside, he was in the state. The energy inside of him grew and grew until he couldn't contain it inside anymore. The time was right, and Rem's arms threw up, touching his best friend's shoulders with his fingertips. And instinctively, just as he did the first time they took the trip, Rem's mind opened a path for the counter-flow.

He and Zak were now one. They're mutual energy was racing between their bodies, sliding faster, and faster, until the two boys could take no more. They're hands simultaneously let go of each other's shoulders and flew down, each aiming for the center of the other's violent pre-orgasmic energies, that in their consciousness seemed as a red hot throbbing outlet, the outlet for the energies they can no longer contain within themselves.

Both boys made contact simultaneously, and in that same moment their bodies shook violently, their backs arching, their energies finding that profound sexual outlet they have been searching for.

Zak watched with his inner sight how all the energy from the fiercely shaking fireball in front of him surged for the outlet he was holding between his fingers and burst out, flying through the space between them, at the same time feeling his own energy fly out. The energies collided in mid-space as the two boys kept experiencing wave after wave of intense release, until there was no more energy left and their bodies fell back powerless.

…Zak was slowly returning to normal consciousness. He noticed that he was breathing loudly, with small whimpers. Then he heard similar whimpers from across. They just lay there for a while, both enjoying the post-orgasmic calmness and listening to their own hearts calm down. Then, after taking a deep breath, Zak found the strength to move. He slowly raised his upper body, immediately feeling something warm and moist slowly run down from his chest to his stomach. He looked down to see a puddle of clear transparent liquid slowly dribble down his sweating body. It was Rem's. Then he looked over at the naked body of his best friend, still lying backwards, to see a similar puddle on his chest: slightly thicker and with a weak shade of white. "Perfect hit", thought Zak to himself with a smile.

When they went there it always fired so powerfully! "As if an arrow from a tightly strung Arbalet", suddenly thought Zak. Then the running down liquid that already reached his crotch finally brought him back to reality.

"Shit, where did you put the towels, dude?" asked Zak in a slightly distorted tone.

Hearing the question, Rem too took a deep breath and raised his upped body. Immediately looked down to see the dribbling liquid. Smiled and looked at Zak:

"Wow, yours landed right in the middle. A perfect hit!"

"Yeah, I know. Yours too, look." – replied Zak pointing to his own chest.

Both boys giggled a little, and then Rem reached for the towels that were neatly prepared on his left.

While they were diligently wiping themselves, Rem commented:

"Wow, that was a powerful one…" Then he suddenly stopped wiping and looked up at Zak: "Dude… Thanks."

"Sure," said Zak, without looking, as he continued to work the towel around his chest and tummy.

"No, dude, I really mean it… Thank you." said Rem, looking serious.

Zak finally raised his eyes and looked at Rem. Realized, that Rem is serious. Awkwardly said:

"Come on, it's not like I don't enjoy it. It's as much fun for me as it is for you, you know that."

"Yeah," replied Rem slowly, "but you don't need me to have this much fun, you can always do it by yourself. I can't. So… Thanks."

Zak smiled and simply replied:

"You're welcome."

Rem smiled as well, and resumed his cleanup procedure. After they were both done they tossed the towels aside and reached for their clothes. Zak suddenly said:

"You're right, it was a powerful one. I was afraid mine would reach the ceiling…"

Rem grinned and agreed:

"Yeah. I felt so too. I was actually afraid it would go over your shoulder and mess up the floor or something…"

Both boys burst into pleasant giggles. When those ended, Zak said:

"Well, dad's wish is granted. I don't think I can be any more relaxed than this."

And both boys, now dressed, simultaneously fell down onto the bed, exhausted."

***

Ben paused again to take a sip of water. Looking around he saw that the kids are all a bit red, being excited from the part he just read. All the boys without exception were sporting wood. And, of course, Joel had a mischievously – evil smile on his face, like he was planning something. This can get interesting, Ben thought with a smile. But he knew that the story had a different way to go. Without saying a word he lowered his eyes and resumed reading.

***

"Zak woke up late. When he finally forced himself to get out of bed and his room he noticed that there was an unusual quietness around the palace. Zak felt as if he is all of the sudden in a different place. Everyone seemed worried, and – moreover – everyone was looking at him, Zak, with compassion. What was that all about?

Zak was still hovering on a cloud from last night's "trip" with Rem, and did not pay too much attention to what was going on. He ate breakfast – even though the time was getting close to dinner, smiled at all the bowing servants on the way to and from the dining room. Met Jow-Zwa once. The commander had a worried look on his face. He promptly said "Good morning, young prince" to Zak and passed by, to do about his business. Zak shrugged and continued to Rem's room, pondering about what was going on. Everyone in the palace were long since used to having the pride of the nation – the Young Prince – run around the corridors and passageways, so it was quite impossible to greet him formally and bow every single time. But today for some reason everyone were extra-careful at being extra-formal and Zak was already getting slightly irritated by that. Moreover, some of the people started to worriedly whisper to each other, throwing compassionate glances at him. Finally, Zak reached the room of his best friend.

When he entered, Rem was sitting on the bed. Zak's heart skipped a beat when he saw the boy's face: Rem was extremely sad, even terrified. And it was clearly visible that he cried, a short while ago.

Zak ran to his best friend and took Rem's hand into his own, asking:

"What happened?.. Are you okay?.. What's wrong?.."

Rem did not answer. He raised his eyes for a moment, to look on Zak, and immediately lowered them again. But it was long enough for Zak to see tremendous suffering in those dark eyes. Zak was starting to panic:

"Dude! Don't do this to me! Tell me, what's wrong?.. Are you okay? Are you hurt or something?"

Finally Rem spoke:

"No, I'm not hurt, Zak. I'm okay, really…"

"Then what the heck is going on?! Everyone are acting weird today. And then I find you like this… What happened?"

"They told me not to tell you…"

Zak kept looking at Rem with a question. He knew that Rem would not be able to keep a secret from him. Finally, Rem worked up the courage, raised his eyes again, and looking straight into Zak's pupils he whispered:

"Your dad is sick."

Zak's eyes widened:

"So? I knew that from yesterday. I went to see him and…"

Rem suddenly interrupted with a soft cry:

"No, you don't know!! Listen!.." he stopped for a moment to take a deep breath, and continued, his voice shaking: "You don't know… Today in the morning the doctor came to see him again. And he said that it is for sure now… That it's that thing."

"What thing?.." asked Zak, his heart pounding hard and a growing uneasiness in his soul.

Rem hardly audibly whispered:

"The thing my mom had…" and then repeated louder: "It's the illness that my mother had."

Rem's eyes were still looking into Zak's. And Rem felt THAT. He felt, though Zak's eyes, what Zak was feeling. And grabbed Zak's hand firmly. An echo of painful but already dull feeling washed over the boy, as he looked at his best friend who was clearly and immensely quickly consumed by horror. Then, his blue eyes blazing with immense sadness, he quietly said:

"No…"

Then, suddenly pulling his hand out of Rem's, pushing Rem away and running backwards a few steps he scram:

"No!!"

And burst out of the room.

Rem lowered his eyes and began to cry again."

<<last green chapter>>

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