Maiocxx

Tales from the World of Cody and Lucas

Travels with Drew and Li

Char: Li Hamilton (now 16), Andrew Nelson (now 15), Tim Nelson (now 12), Charles Hamilton (now 14)
New Char: The Boys of Sandywater: Timothy (12), Connor (14), Ansley (14), Malachi (13), Ethan (12), Seth (16), Matthias (13),Travis (10), Liam (16) and Odin (13); and one girl: Jordan (13)

Author's Note: Most of the characters depicted in the following story are the original creations of Author/Illustrator Istari and appear here with his permission and blessing.

Prolog

The summer I was thirteen, we spent in California, staying with my mom and Tim and Jenny, my little brother and sister. While there, Li and I worked hard to identify and 'recruit' paranormal boys all along the Pacific Coast for our school. One of Master Brogan's older boys… Master Brogan had been Tim's master when he was a slave before Dad adopted him… drove us up and down the coast from San Diego to Seattle so we could identify likely candidates. We camped out along the way, but it was hard work keeping on top of things.

The result was fifteen new students and their families and three new masters.

But we complained… not very much, really… to Keldhar and our dads because we had to 'work' during our school holiday while the other kids didn't.

His response was, "That's the price you pay for being my star pupils." But he did set up our trip to Japan the following summer.

That didn't turn out quite as planned, as there we met Charlie… now Li's little brother… and were introduced to the world of transgender kids. Again, we spent a lot of our holiday and school year, too, working at some very difficult tasks but the reward was awesome… Charlie.

But, I guess our master finally took pity on us. At least I think he did.

Vacation

For some years, Master Keldhar had heard rumors that there were 'exceptional' boys living along the eastern seacoast of North America. So he had suggested a 'camping trip' along the coast where Li and I might have a real holiday… Keldhar style, of course. We were just to keep our minds open, but not engage in any 'recruiting'. He simply wanted to determine whether a school similar to ours might be in order.

With his newly-prized driver's license in hand, Li would do the driving… on the more sparsely populated sections, my 'learner's permit' would let me 'practice'. It was still quite early in the tourist season in North America, so we should not encounter great crowds. We were to stay rather close to the Atlantic seaboard. And we had no particular schedule, so it should be a 'fun' time for us both… our nights together under the stars in one sleeping bag looked more and more inviting.

The only restriction was we were cautioned to avoid going near Fremont, as that province of North America had regressed into a vicious police state. Anyone with useful talents… and especially those with paranormal gifts… would have either fled or have been forced to leave, anyway.

Charlie… Li's younger brother whom we had helped struggle through transgender… had been doing phenomenally well since his gender-reassignment surgery, but Master Keldhar had sent him back to Dr. Bernard in Capetown for a periodic check-up where he was currently undergoing some additional corrective surgery and some new hormone treatments. He would be ready to return to Alice when we were ready to come home, so we would gather him on the way back.

So, feeling very adventuresome, Li and I set out for Atlantic North America, a part of the world neither of us had visited before.

Stopping off on the West Coast for a quick visit with my mom and siblings, Tim and Jennie, who live there mostly year-round… except for visits… with Mom, our party suddenly acquired another member.

"Are you going to visit Sandywater?" asked an excited Tim.

Li and I looked at each other, dumbfounded. "You mean it's a real place?"

"Well, sure! The stories in the Internet are true. An' Master Brogan has a cousin named Brogan, too, who he believes lives there. An' he's sure there's really even a family named 'Deverill'!"

I didn't know how much Mom knew about Tim watching the stories of the boys there and their lifestyle, but I wasn't going to pursue that idea. "Yes, I guess we will," I assured Tim.

"Can I go with you? Please, please!"

"Now wait a minute," interrupted Mom, "you are not going to go off with Drew and Li. They have work to do. And besides, you're too young."

"Mom! I'm not a little kid anymore," protested Tim.

Getting a nod from my lover, I said, "We're not really on an assignment, Mom. We're just supposed to keep our minds open and see if the number of paranormals would make it worthwhile to have a school like ours in eastern North America. After we leave the big cities, we'll just wander down the coast and enjoy the sand and sun. We'd love to have Tim with us."

"I wish I could go, too," added Jenny, "but I know that wouldn't work. So, why can't Tim go and make it 'boys' night out'?" (Where had she learned that expression?)

"Please, Mom, please! I'll be good. I won't get in the way!"

Mom knew when she was outnumbered.

***

Master Keldhar had leased a small SUV for us in a town north of Boston, along with a pop-up tent and other camping equipment. It would be a little tight sleeping, but who cares with three naked bodies in one extra-large bag.

It took us nearly three weeks to visit the great population centers of the East… Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore and Wilmington… and, to our amazement, we found few very paranormals there. Yeah, we did find some in Provincetown, on Cape Cod, but they were all empaths.

South of Wilmington, we drove along the ocean, enjoying all the little towns and the sand beaches they had to offer. And sand in the bottom of the sleeping bag, too. I got to practice my driving, but we found very few paranormals. So what! We were having a wizard time!

I had finally found Sandywater on a map… it was actually on one of what is called a 'barrier island', that is, a strip of land fronting the ocean and separated from the 'mainland' by a bay or canal. And, the closer we were to it, the more excited Tim became.

We pulled in late one evening and managed to find a spot to pitch our little tent in the town campground. This early in the season, there was a lot of space. It was late and we did not want to wander around in the dark, so we 'feasted' on PB&J sandwiches before retiring to 'feast' upon other delights. I don't think any of us slept much that night.

The next morning we hiked into town and found a cafe along the seafront to have breakfast. We were dressed in our usual clothes… short-shorts that we Aussies call 'stubbys' and loose tees, although Tim looked cute is his 'muscle' tee. Also our usual trainers. We would soon find out our clothes marked us as 'outsiders'… tourists.

The cafe proprietor told us he hadn't been prepared for such early patrons, so it might be a little while before our food was ready. "That's OK," Li told him. "We're not in any hurry." And we settled in to do some serious people-watching, even though it was still quite early.

The few adults who happened by wore mostly shorts or jeans with tank tops… or no tops. We all tried not to gape at several topless women who passed by. But, shortly, our first kid came by… well, two of them together, actually.

The older of the two… probably about thirteen… wore sandals and ridiculously short shorts which made our 'stubbys' look knee-length by comparison. Nothing above the waist, although we saw a colorful tattoo across his chest.

The younger boy with him… maybe ten or eleven… was at the end of a short lead, so he must be a slave. He wore nothing except a wire contraption covering his boy-parts and a ball-gag stuffed into his mouth, and was carrying a load of fishing poles.

Both Li and I 'read' them as accurately as we could and were surprised at what we found. "The little slave-boy is quite content and seems very happy with his lot," I explained once they were out of sight.

"That's right," Li confirmed. "And the older boy seems to really love the little guy. They're just looking forward to a day of fishing off the pier."

"Well, I think the older one might be interested in other things," I chuckled. "Did you notice how he keeps feeling the little one's ass?"

"But no paranormal abilities," we agreed.

"See! Just like in the stories!" added Tim. "I hope we get to meet some of them."

"I'm sure we will," I told him. Our omelets were ready, so we switched our attention to filling our bellies.

We had barely started when a boy walked into the shop, carrying a card-board box. "Mornin' Mr. Caprizzi. Dad asked me to deliver these to you."

He was about ten and wore only sandals and a brief covering over his parts… little more than a jock. We couldn't help stare a little as he was a very cute little guy.

"Good morning to you, Travis. And thank your dad for me. I was just about out of these. Have you had your breakfast?"

"Yes, sir."

"But not so much that you couldn't eat one of my pastries?"

"Oh, no sir!" the kid beamed.

"Here you are. Why don't you go introduce yourself to those boys over there? They're new in town."

'''K, Mr. Caprizzi. And thanks!" He skipped over to us and sat himself down on the remaining chair without even being invited. Li and I were amused, but Tim could hardly contain himself. We were going to meet one of the 'Sandywater' boys!

"Hi! I'm Travis," he said, extending a slightly sticky hand.

"I'm Drew," I answered, "and this is my boyfriend Li and my brother Tim. Mr. Caprizzi is right, we are new here. Just here for a day or so to enjoy the seaside."

"Yeah, it's not hard to tell you're visitors," he giggled, "you've too many clothes on. Us kids don't dress that way here."

"I can tell," I said, looking him up and down… that made him giggle.

"Would you like me to show you around?" he asked.

I glanced at my lover and then replied, "Well that would be very nice of you, but don't you have things you should be doing?"

"No," he replied. "School's out now and I just make deliveries for my dad. He has a print shop and this was the only one for today. I was just goin' to hang out with some of the guys."

"Do you know a family named Deverill?" Tim asked him.

At that, Travis sat up straight with a look of surprise. "Well, yeah! That's my name, Travis Deverill."

"Really? It's my name, too… well, before I was 'dopted by Drew's dad. I'm Timothy Deverill Nelson, now."

"You will always still be a Deverill, too," I reminded him.

"Cool! My big brother's name is Tim!"

"We must be cousins! How cool is that?" responded Tim as he jumped up and hugged Travis. "Can I get to meet your brother?"

"Well, maybe," replied Travis. "I live with at home with my parents, but Tim doesn't live with us most of the time. He lives with Master Will and Malachi… he's sort of their slave."

"Slave?" exclaimed our Tim. "What did he do?"

"Nuthin, really. Well, when he was much younger, he used to do all kinds of crazy things. Some of them were real dangerous and my parents were afraid he would hurt or even kill himself. So they sent him to live with Master Will. And he's been able to calm him down a lot."

"At first, I thought it was awful he couldn't live with us, but I really love my brother, so I got over that. And living with Master Will has him so much better. Master Will has another boy, Malachi, who he is training to be a master, so he gets to practice as Tim's master, too."

"Will he ever be a free boy again?" asked Tim, looking stricken.

"Well, Dad says he still is. He's free to do pretty much what he wants to so long as he obeys Master Will and Malachi. Right now, he's at home with us, 'cause Master Will is away."

"Does he wear one of those things on his boy-parts?"

"Sure, and he doesn't often get out of it."

Throughout their conversation, I had been 'reading' Travis and I found a strong mixture of love and pride… he really loved his brother and wanted to be like him.

"Say!" Travis ventured, "Why don't I show you around. I don't have a cage to wear on my parts… I'm not big enough down there yet… but I like being naked, so can I take my cover off. Is that OK? Please let me be your guide!"

Tim looked at me and I nodded. "Go ahead and let's just see what happens. And yes, you can remove your covering." Travis slipped out of it and handed it to Tim who folded it and put it in his pocket. As he stood there showing off his pretty body all three of us drank in his beauty. He was a very attractive young boy just on the cusp of teen-hood.

"What would you like to see first?"

"Since you say we are overdressed, why don't we find some more suitable things to wear?" Li suggested.

"Cool!" replied Travis and he led us along the seafront to a shop called 'SUNSCAPES'

"Good morning, Mr. Wilson. I'm bein' a tour guide, today, and these are my tourists," he informed the proprietor who didn't seem especially surprised at his nakedness. He must have done this before. "They need some new clothes so they can dress like the rest of the guys."

And shortly we would be attired like the locals. Li and I chose some ridiculously short-shorts; they were so short, we would have to go 'commando'. A couple of tight-fitting, brightly-striped tank-tops and small belt pouches to hold our passports and cards rounded out our 'outfits'.

Tim would like to have gone starkers, I was sure, but we insisted he had to wear something. So, he chose a very brief covering that consisted of a pouch to hold his bits with two strings which tied around his waist and a very short top which came to just below his nipples and left most of him exposed.

And, of course, sandals for all of us.

In the fitting room, Travis applied sun-tan oil to all of us… his soft hands gave each of us erections.

The problem of what to do with the clothes we had been wearing was solved by Li's teleporting them back to our campsite. If Travis wondered what had become of them, he was either too excited to notice or too astute to ask.

Suitably dressed… it felt more like we were undressed… we stepped outside to join the other locals and passers-by. Strolling down the seafront, both Li and I could hardly fail to notice that the two boys ahead of us were now holding hands. "This is getting all too serious," I cautioned my lover.

"Oh let them be. Let them have their fun," he advised. "We'll only be here a short while."

"Do you know a Master Kiffin?" Tim asked his new friend.

"You mean Master Brogan, oh, yeah," answered Travis. "He runs a tattoo shop. Do you know him?"

"His cousin has a pecan farm near my home in California and he was my master when I was a young slave."

"You were a slave?"

"Yeah. My parents were killed when I was just a baby and he took me in and made me his personal slave. That was before Drew's dad 'dopted me and made me a free boy."

"Wow! I'll take you to him and maybe we can meet Seth… he's Master Brogan's son and he's real cool." And he dragged us down the walkway and into a shop.

There was a boy… about thirteen or so… strapped, face-down on a table as the artist was just finishing up putting the start of a design on the lad's right buttocks. "Be with you folks in a minute," he greeted us. "Now Kieran, that's all for today. I know it hurts and you've been very brave. Make sure you keep it clean so it heals well and next week I should be able to add the scarlet color."

"I will, sir," the boy promised as he was unstrapped and stood up gingerly, trying hard not to show his tears.

Turning to us, "Now, what may I…? Travis, you know your Dad will not let me give you a tat until you're at least twelve."

"Oh no Sir! I want you to meet some new friends. I'm their tour guide today. But Tim, here, was slave for your cousin in California. And the others are Drew, who is Tim's brother and Li, Drew's boyfriend."

"Well, this is a surprise! I haven't heard from my cousin for some years. Well, actually he's my second cousin; our grandfathers were brothers. We were quite close when we were kids, byt we drifted apart as we grew up. Let's see, he raises walnuts, right?"

"No Sir. Pecans."

"You were his slave, but you're not any more, right? What happened?" Brogan asked him.

"Well," Tim answered, "the pecan crop was very bad for a few years and he couldn't afford to keep me and the rest of his boys, so he had to sell me. Drew's dad bought me and 'dopted me and made me a free boy. Drew and his dad live in Australia at a special school, but I live with Drew's mom and little sister in California."

"Well, hurrah's for you!" laughed Brogan. "I'll have to look my cousin up and see how the crop is this year."

"Is Seth around?" asked Travis.

"No, he's busy with Progeny. They're rehearsing for the show tonight. You won't see him until after the show. Why did you ask?"

"I just wanted him to meet my new friends. He's so cool!"

"Yeah, sometimes more than he should be. But that's mostly behind him. You see," Brogan explained for our benefit," his mom disappeared when he was scarcely more than a toddler he was really wild after she left. The only way I could control him was to make him my slave. That worked and he's much better behaved, especially now that he has a boyfriend, Odin. So, I've released him and I'm counting on Odin to keep him on an even keel.

That was an interesting development and both Li and I would like to have known more, but, of course, we could hardly ask.

"Now, what about it, guys, are you ready for some decoration?"

Both Li and I demurred, but Tim spoke up, "Can I get one, Drew? Please?"

"Absolutely not," I replied.

"Oh, please Drew! Please!"

"If I brought you home with a tat, Mom would skin me alive!"

"I could give him a temporary one," broke in Brogan. "One that will wash off with a special solution."

I pondered for a moment… Li was enjoying my discomfort immensely… but finally said, "OK, if you are sure."

"Positive! What would you like?"

"How about a lightning bolt on my chest?"

"Good choice," Brogan replied. "Too bad Seth isn't here; he's very good at lightning bolts. Lie down on the table. I'll have to strap you so you don't move while I'm drawing. It will burn a little, but not badly."

And shortly we left the shop with Tim showing off his newly decorated body. "You hang on to that bottle of solution," I warned him. "You lose that and we're both in deep shit." Li just giggled.

At lunch… you guessed it… pizza… Travis made sure to invite us to Progeny's show that evening and to his house for dinner. Tim could hardly contain himself. He was going to meet his family!

After lunch, our next stop was at the gym where most all the boys worked out. But, today, there weren't many about.

Travis did introduce us to Liam who sat at the side of a fight ring, urging his young slave, Matthias, on. "Get the fuck out there and fight! You hit like a girl. I bet your sister could even beat you today! How can I ever make some money from you if you fight like a sissy?"

In reality, the little guy was being pummeled by two much older boys who took turns beating the shit out of him. But Liam wasn't about to let him off. Yet I could tell that Matthias wanted very badly to please his master and make him proud. And, despite bullying him, Liam was proud of his bantam fighter.

"So you make money having him fight for you?" asked Li, with some misgiving.

"Yeah, he barely earns his board and keep. Last fight, I lost a bundle on him. He's got to do better or I'll sell him." I could tell that was a complete lie; strange as it might have seemed to the casual observer, Liam loved him.

I couldn't resist. "Liam, you may have everyone else convinced that you are a bastard who gets his kicks hammering on your little slave. But, I can tell you are a ball of mush! You would do anything… even give your life… to keep someone from really hurting him. So, mister tough guy, your secret is out!"

He stared at me in shock. "So you know?

"Yeah, I really do like the kid. And he's much better off with me than he was with that aunt of his. She made him take pills to keep his bits from growing. But he needs a lot of discipline and I give him that. And he's big enough to make some appearances at the Ganymede Club. The men seem to like him, so that's a plus. So I guess I won't sell him quite yet. But let him know how I really feel about him?"

He looked back and forth among the three of us. "Who you gonna tell?"

"No one!" I answered. "Just try to be a bit more soft… let him know that you really do care for him. You might even like it."

"I won't tell anybody! Promise!" squeaked Tim.

"Is this Ganymede Club like it's really pictured on the web?" I asked Travis, once we had left the gym.

"What do ya mean?"

"Is it a place where boys go to show off their bodies?"

"Well, yeah, sort of. But it's about the only place in town where the guys can go to make a little money," he explained. "Tim took me there one time and I sort of danced with Ethan. He was dressed like a girl and all the people watchin' thought we were a couple… until he stripped. And then we both got a lot of money. Dad doesn't like me going there; says I'm too young."

"I can understand that!" I assured him.

"But it's a lot of fun if you don't mind some of them feeling you all over. Would you like me to take you there… I still have my card from when Tim took me."

"No," Li answered him, "if your dad doesn't want you going there, I don't think you should take us."

Travis and Tim both looked a little disappointed… Tim had been following the discussion avidly.

"Why don't we enjoy the beach?" I asked. That met with general approval. Of course, Travis volunteered to slather us with sun-block… that had the same effect as it had had in the dressing room. I couldn't help notice how thorough he was with Tim… to Tim's obvious enjoyment.

The surf was still a bit cold so Li and I mostly contented ourselves sitting on the sand watching our two young companions cavorting lasciviously in the waves. I was sure it was just as erotic as anything we might have seen at the Ganymede Club.

When it was time to get out, one of the other benefits of our abbreviated costumes became clear. After rinsing the salt and sand off our bodies, we were soon dry without need for towels.

After bidding our 'tour-guide' farewell, the three of us headed back to our camp-site to shower and change. We would wear our 'normal' clothes; after all, we were invited to the Deverill's for dinner.

Travis met us at the door. He was actually dressed in a nice sport-shirt and shorts. "Croeso i ein t?!"

"That's Welsh, isn't it?" I asked.

"Yeah!" he replied. How did you know?"

"Well, we have a couple of kids at our school and it sounded like them."

"I'm learning it as a surprise for my big brother, Tim." He lead us into the house and introduced us to his parents, Ceinwyn and Gavin.

They seemed like rather ordinary folks and as soon as Travis introduced our Tim, Mrs. Deverill swept him into her arms. "Oh, Tim!" she cried, "your dad was a cousin of John's. We knew of their misfortune, but we had been told you were killed, too. If we had only known."

Tim was thoroughly embarrassed, but Mr. Deverill saved the day, "Travis told us how you were a slave for Brogan's cousin and how you have now been adopted and have a good family. We are so pleased that things have workedout for you."

"Thank you, Mr, and Mrs, Deverill. It's been cool meeting you and Travis. May I call you 'Aunt' and 'Uncle'?"

"Certainly! And you," he said, indicating Li and me, "may call us 'Aunt' and 'Uncle', too, if you wish." Both Li and I were pleased.

Dinner was the best fish I had ever eaten… it was sea trout, we were told. And with it some little round things called 'hush-puppies'. Finished off with beach-plum pie and ice-cream.

Afterwards, we all sat on their deck overlooking the ocean.

"I'm sure Travis has told you we have another son," said Gavin. "He lives most of the time with his mentor, Master William. He's kind of like a slave, but not legally, although he wears a cage on his boy parts. Will has a young protege, Malachi, and, together, they have given him the rather strict discipline he has needed. But without being cruel."

"When he was younger," he continued, "he was obsessed with the idea of being a permanent slave and one who was kept in very strict, even cruel, bondage. That, and he went rather too regularly to the Ganymede Club and several times really hurt himself. Did Travis tell you about the Ganymede Club?"

"Yes, Sir," Li answered. "But we don't quite understand…"

"Let me come back to that. Well, finally we almost lost him completely to his fantesy, and that's when we sent him to Master Will. He has done very well and may soon become a completely free boy, again. At least his mother and I hope so. He just spent the week-end here at home, but he'll go back to Master Will and Malachi after the show tonight."

All thee of us nodded that we understood.

"About the Ganymede Club," I reminded him. "From what we've seen on the Internet, it seems almost like a boy brothel."

"No, not really. Yes, just about anything goes there, but management makes sure that no one is abused or hurt. Any boy is welcome, free or slave. It is not so much a sex club as a fun and lively gathering place, where things often get a little crazy!"

"Sex does, of course, take place, and there are special rooms and stages reserved for more intense activities. There is almost always a cute boy or boys dancing on the main floor to entertain the guests. It is not just a place where adults go to have sex with boys, but where everyone goes to have various types of encounters with everyone else. The boys are just as much in charge there as the grown ups."

"You must understand that Sandywater is a very unique place. One where sexuality is open and everyone is free to indulge so long as there is no injury or coercion. Even slaves have a perfect right to refuse the advances of another person, even their masters'."

"But why the stories on the Internet?" I asked.

"We want tourists to vacation here… it's really the only industry we have. But we also want them to know just what they will experience here. So the stories have served us very well. Another gentleman and I write the basic stories and a third man… a very talented man named Istari… turns them into the stories you see on the Internet. We sometimes move things around a bit, but what you see there is pretty much the genuine article. I know there are many who would disapprove of our lifestyle and our flaunting it, but that is their problem."

"Now," said Ceinwyn, "tell us about your trip."

So Li and I told them everything… about our school and our lives there, about our trip and our 'mission'. They seemed genuingly pleased that we trusted them.

"I'm sorry you haven't had more success," she said.

"Sorry to interrupt," said Gavin, "but you'll need to scramble or you'll be late for the show. Travis told us he was taking you. And you, young man, make sure Tim brings you home right after the show. He's going back to Master Will tonight but I'm sure Malachi will let him walk you home first."

Li spoke up, "How about if Travis camps out with us after the show? We have pleanty of room."

"Well, I need him to make deliveries tomorrow," replied his father.

"We'll have him back bright and early," I promised. I could tell there were two boys deleriously happy with the idea. In a flash, Travis appeared in just his covering and we were off to the concert.

We arrived at the town park shortly before the show was to begin. There was a smattering of tourists, but most of the audience seemed to be young boys. And most of them had dispensed with their 'day' clothes… a few sported cock cages… and were quite nude and not a bit embarrassed about it. In fact… aside from the tourists… only the four boys on stage setting up were 'dressed'… if one could call their attire clothing.

I took the opportunaty to 'read' as many of them as I could. No paranormals.

Travis quickly pointed out his brother, "Tim's the one with the mop of red hair. And Seth is the one with all the ink. The other guys in the band are Ansley… he's the long-haired one… and the blonde is Connor."

He started to giggle, "Connor's in l-u-v with Jordan… she's sitting over there."

Li and I looked where he pointed and saw someone. "That's a girl?" I asked.

"Yeah, she's got no boobs and lives with her aunt who tried to make her like girls. But it ain't workin! She's in love with Connor even though she treats him like a slave when they're together. The aunt caught them doin' things and she wanted ta cut Connor's balls off. But he's not a slave, so she wasn't allowed to. So instead she put a metal thing up through his dick and bent it so he can't get a boner… ever. He says it hurts a lot, but it's worth it. But I think he was crazy to have that over a girl."

I was inclined to agree with Travis.

"The person sitting behind her is her 'minder'. Ansley wants to be Connor's boyfriend," he added, "but I'm afraid it ain't gonna happen."

"Who's the other little girl sitting there?" asked Li.

"That's Ethan. He's a boy, but he likes to dress up in girl clothes. He's the one I danced with at the club that time. But he's happy bein' Malachi's full-time slave."

I looked at my boyfriend. Transgender?

Could possibly be, he replied.

"The one sitting by hisself over there," Travis pointed, "is Seth's new boyfriend, Odin. He's real sad 'cause his brother Leif is a slave in Fremont. He's sure it is his fault his brother is there and he's real upset about that. He's really cool and we all try to help him. They're really in love. Seth still wears his cage like Tim still does. But Odin has the key to Seth's."

The show was about to begin, so we settled down to listen.

The music was definitely 'rock' but different than any Li or I had heard before. There were a lot of original pieces and the vocals sang of love and courage and hope and caring. Of being open to whatever came your way, and accepting your fate bravely, but never losing hope.

When it was over I felt oddly stirred. Several times, I glanced over to Odin who had his head down on his knees and was weeping.

As soon as he could break free, Travis's brother ran over to us. "Hey, squirt! Introduce me to your friends."

"This is Tim, too. Tim Deverill. Drew here is his big brother and this is Li, his boyfriend. Tim is some kind of cousin. He was a slave of Master Brogan's cousin in California."

Both Tims stood there in shock for a moment and then ran into each others arms. After a bit, they separated and big Tim said, "Sorry, but I'm gotta go 'cause Malachi and Master Will are waiting for me. Say, squirt. How you getting' home?"

"I'm not," answered Travis. "I'm camping out with them."

"Oooo! Sexy!" hooted big Tim as he moved off to join Malachi.

"I wonder what he meant by that?" asked Li as Travis tried hard to keep a straight and perfectly innocent face.

By this time, Seth had managed to comfort Odin and the two of them came over to us. "Hi guys! Sorry I missed you this morning. Dad said you were in and this is Odin, my boyfriend. Dad tells me you were his cousin's slave in California when you were younger. What a surprise!"

"Yeah, but now I been 'dopted and Drew is my big brother," he told Seth proudly.

"You'll have to excuse Odin a bit; he's had a bad time today. About his brother and all."

"We heard about your brother and the sad time you are having," Li told Odin, placing his hand on the boy's shoulder.

"Never give up hope! One day he will be free again, I'm sure," I added.

"Thank you," Odin replied softly and gave us each a big hug.

A thought suddenly occurred to me. Couldn't you teleaport Leif out of there? I 'sent' to Li.

Come on, Drew. You know better than that. I would have to have physical contact with him. And we're not going to Fremont, remember?

I had to agree he was right. Still, I thought, there must be some way that Leif could be freed.

"Master Brogan and others are trying to have him set free," said Odin, "but so far, nothing. But, thank you for your understanding."

Another round of hugs and the four of us set off for our camp-site.

It would be a bit crowded with four in a single sleeping bag, so we divided things up… I would take Travis and Li would have Tim. We would sleep under the stars rather than in the pop-up tent.

As we started to get ready for bed, Travis suddenly dropped to his knees and began to pull Tim's shorts down. I could tell immediately what he had in mind. He was frightened by the idea of what he intended, but determined to show his feelings to Tim. So both Li and I vetoed it. "No Travis, I don't think that would be a good idea."

Both Travis and Tim looked disappointed, but I could tell some feelings between them were starting to form… feelings that I wasn't sure either boy was quite ready for. "You've never used your mouth on a boy before, have you?" Li asked Travis.

Travis hung his head. "No," he said miserably. "But I just wanted to show…"

"Well, tonight is not the time to begin. We know you meant well, but…"

Tim had listened to all this with mounting sadness. "But maybe I want him to."

"Yes, I think you do. But it really would not be right to rush him into it, would it?."

"I guess not," he answered. Actually, both boys seemed a bit relieved to be off that particular hook.

We all got ready for sleep and I slid naked into my bag and motioned to Travis to join me. He snuggled down and I turned him so he spooned in front of me. Lying there, I could feel his heartbeat and listen to the sounds of the nearby surf.

"You're a really cool kid," I told him while I stroked his soft chest and pert little nipples. "Thank you for showing us about today so we could meet some of your boys. It was wicked fun! But, we'll need to move on tomorrow."

"I had a good time, too," he admitted. "It was neat meeting you guys, 'specially Tim. Do you think maybe Tim… I was hopin' he might be my …" His hope was plain for me to 'read'.

"No, Travis. Your life is not Tim's life, fascinating as it might be. Tim needs to be with my mom and sister Jenny in California and with my dad and me in Alice Springs. Perhaps we might visit again someday, but we could not live here."

Travis started to tear up, "I just want to have a boyfriend like Seth does. 'An I'll never have one!" His disappointment was palpable.

"Yes you will but you need to find someone who lives here and shares your lifestyle. I'm sure you will," as I sent him feelings of hope. "The right one will come along and you both will know it."

He sighed and snuggled a bit closer. First love can be so bittersweet!

I was trying my best to hold my feelings in check, but the action of his little ass against me was making that very difficult. I was just about to turn him about when he whispered to me, "Play with me."

That took my breath for a moment. "Travis, you're a very sexy little boy, but I'm not sure…"

"Please!" he interrupted me, "please play with me! Tim always does when he stays with us."

I thought for just a minute, Crikey! Why not? It isn't as if he is an innocent lamb and I'm about to ravish him! How cool it would be! I moved my hands down across his tummy and groin until I reached the jewels between his legs.

When I touched his little pole, he gave a gasp. As I stroked, he made little 'mewing' sounds. Judging from the noises coming from the other side of our camp, similar activities had to be taking place there.

Shortly I heard and felt Travis take a deep breath as his not-so-little prick vibrated through his not-quite-dry orgasm. At about the same time also, his wiggling little ass drove me over the top and I emptied my juice onto his back and my stomach. (A good hot shower in the morning would be needed to remove the traces of the night's passion from four bodies.)

When we had both recovered our senses, he gave a big, contented sigh and simply said, "Thank you." And in a few minutes he was asleep.

I lay awake for a while. I was sure we had done the right thing so far as Travis and Tim were concerned… this was not the life for any of us, especially Tim. I just could not reconcile their seemingly idyllic life style with what Travis and his dad had told us about the Ganymede Club. And Travis would be equally unhappy with our lifestyle.

We delivered Travis to his father's shop early in the morning before moving on. It was an emotional farewell for at least two boys, complete with tears and sobs.

Once underway, Li drove and I held my weepy little brother in my arms. "This is simply not the life for you," I consoled him. "Travis has grown up with their lifestyle, but you would shortly be smothered by it." Crikey! I was smothered by it after only two days. "You and Travis can continue to be friends, just as you and Eldon are. Think what it would mean to Mom and Jenny if you stayed here."

"I know!" he said, "but it's not the same. You and Li have each other, but I don't have a real boyfriend."

"How about that boy from your school you told me about?"

"You mean, Little Joe? Yeah, he's cool. I guess I'll just have to ask him if he wants to be my boyfriend." And, gradually, he settled onto a more even keel.

It took us two days to navigate around the several rivers and bays which broke the coastline, but soon we were back along the coast in the Carolinas. No more paranormal boys revealed themselves to us and we finally found ourselves near the coastal city of Charleston.

Along the way, whenever Internet access was available at our camping spots, we tuned in to what was happening back at Sandywater.

Odin was still grieving for his lost twin and in Empathy he enslaved himself to Seth in a futile attempt to experience and atone for what he believed Leif might be suffering. Even a very intense abuse and torture experience at the hands of his friends did nothing to assuage his guilt and sadness. It did drive him even closer to Seth who told him, "You don't have to carry this burden alone, Odin. I'm here for you and so are the rest of the guys."

On a happier note, Hearts and Minds told of the beginning of a relationship between Travis and Ansley's cousin, Augie. Maybe Travis would find what he is looking for.

The last night before starting for home, we spent in a small campground near Charleston on the banks of the river run by a black lady, Mrs. Greene, and her sons. "Y'all be young to be travelin' by youself," she observed as we were checking in.

Li assured her we were in good shape, just enjoying the sand and sun.

"Well, you best be careful," Mrs. Greene continued. "You don't want go no futher south. Gettin' too close to Fremont."

Curious, I asked her, "Well we're planning to end our trip at Charleston, but suppose we did cross into Fremont?"

"You don' wanna do that honey-child. They be right pleased to get hold of three white boys, specially your little one."

"What do you mean?"

"A family from here with two little boys went to see an uncle in Fremont. They arrest the father for speeding. The parents, they's back here now, but Fremont still has the little boys until their daddy can pay the fine. They have them in the 'Factory'… that's what everyone calls their juvie jail."

"I can tell you first hand about it," she continued. "They gets the kids, there and works them most to death. My Samuel, he and two other boys nicked some apples. The other boys' daddies had money; an' I was just a poor widow-woman with chillin. They gave my boy six months at the 'Factory'. He bout near didn't git out alive."

Turning toward the back of their house, she called, "Samuel, come here baby."

A tall, skinny black boy appeared from behind the curtain. He seemed to be about my age.

"Show 'em what they did to you at the 'Factory'"

"Do I hafta, Ma?"

"Yeah. I wanna make sure they unnerstan."

Samuel turned his back and raised his shirt. A wicked red scar ran from his left shoulder-blade down below the waistline of his shorts. "That's what a blow-torch'll do to you. He got that for spillin' a barrow of sand on the ground. Once he got out, I knew we had to come here afor they took little Esau."

We thanked her for her concern and promised we were going no further than the city. It was time we should be going home, anyway.

While she had been telling us about it, I could feel Tim's rising anger and upset. As soon as we were away, I told him, "I'm sorry you had to listen to that. I hope you're not too frightened by what she told us."

"Not frightened for me, Drew. I know you and Li would never let anything bad like that happen to us. Just so angry someone could do that to a kid… to any human being. And I'm so sad for Odin."

"I know you are, little brother… we all are."

At Charleston, we split up. After turning in our trusty vehicle, I flew back to California to drop Tim there, before returning to Alice. Li went the opposite direction, to Capetown, to meet Charlie and bring him home.

Overnight in Concord… it's always grand to visit Mom and Jenny… we were all shocked the next morning when Tim appeared in his 'Sandywater' clothes… or lack of them. Fortunately, Master Brogan's fluid had erased his tat, but still…

"Did you forget to dress this morning?" inquired his mother.

"No," he replied without a blink. "These are my clothes from Sandywater."

"Well, I hope you didn't run around in public that way."

"Yeah, Mom. That's the way all the kids dress there."

Mom sat with her mouth open while Jenny tried to suppress her giggle behind her hands. Turning to me, Mom asked indigently, "What kind of place is this Sandywater that you took him to?"

"It's a long story, Mom," I answered. "I'm sure Tim will tell you all about it. Sorry, but I've got a flight to catch." I could see the panic on Tim's face, but I was not about to go there.

Li and Charlie's flight and mine, arrived in Alice two hours apart, so our dads and Master Keldhar were there to meet and welcome all of us home. It was late, so Eric and Peter piled us all into the big bed in their house and we slept in a tangle.

The next morning, we all met in Keldhar's office and Li and I gave him a full account of our trip. Keldhar was disappointed we had turned up so few paranormal boys. "Well, maybe our gifts are less widespread than we think," he mused.

Charlie suddenly broke in. "Master, even though Drew and Li didn't find many paranormal boys, didn't they find the boys at Sandywater had a gift of their own?"

"What do you mean, Charlie?"

"The way they love and care for each other. Isn't that a gift, too?

Keldhar thought for a while. Then he smiled and said, "You are quite right, Charles Dixon Hamilton. And one that is in much too short a supply in this world. Their's is truly a most precious gift and we should honor them for it. I'd say the trip was a resounding success!"

And another travel ends

Author's Note: If you would like to find more Tales From Sandywater, search for 3D Boys on the TOR network and find author Istari.

Char: Li Hamilton (now 16yo) and Andrew Nelson (now 15yo) and their fathers Eric, Peter and David; Li's brother Charlie (13yo); Andrew's mother, Amanda Scott, and brother, Tim (12yo) and sister Jennie (12yo); Travis Deverill (11yo), Garret Quinlan (16yo), Jayden Matthews (15yo), Rhys Simmons (11yo), Breslin Simmons (14yo) and the many other boys and grown-ups of Sandywater

Author's Note: Many of the characters in this story are based upon those created by Istari in his 'Tales of Sandywater' published by 3D BOYS on the TOR network. While the story seeks to mirror much of the action in Istari's work, the reader will find some discrepancies between the two stories. This author thanks Istari for his permission to 'borrow' some of his characters and his plot locations and for his encouragement in my telling the tales of some unusual boys and the community they inhabit… as seen through the eyes of 'visitors'.

Drew Narrates

At first, we thought Master Keldhar had gone round the bend, offering the three of us… Li, Charlie and me… a three-week holiday right in the middle of our school year! And then, we were all sure of it when he awarded our dads a likewise holiday. As it turned out, he wasn't going soft in the head at all. It was mostly a result of my mom's pleading with him to arrange our school holidays to conform with those in North America so we could at last all enjoy a 'family holiday'. Even so, Dad quickly made Qantas reservations for all of us… before Keldhar changed his mind.

The little house on Palaverdes Street was a bit crowded with nine of us. Li, Charlie, Tim and I even offered to 'camp-out' in the backyard, but somehow everyone had a bed of some sort in the house. That was fortunate as we had several days of rain.

With the rain pelting down we were getting a bit cabin-feverish, and we needed to quickly decide where we wanted to spend our 'parole' time. We all sat around the dining-room table discussing possible venues. It was early enough in the summer season that many places would still be uncrowded.

Well, it was Tim who came up with the idea! "Why don't we go back to Sandywater?" That met with approval from all us kids… emphatically including Jenny… but our dads were a bit cautious and Mom was totally freaked out.

"I really don't think that's a place for a family vacation," she offered, trying not to be too controlling. "From what I've seen on the internet, it's a bit too…"

"Well," I ventured, "they do have great beaches, yummy restaurants and lot of things to see and do."

"It's the 'seeing and doing' that concerns me." Mom answered. "From what Tim has told me about the place I don't think we would fit in with their life-style at all."

"It's all quite…" Tim began but was cut off by his mother.

"There's much too much sex and we might not be welcomed at all."

"Lighten up, Mom!" responded Jenny. "They're not going to cut you up and feed you to the sharks. Think of it as a cool learning experience."

"Jennie!"

"Mrs. Scott," added Li, "if it would get too intense for you, I would bring you home at once. But I think you would be fine once you got to know them. Yes, there is nudity, but you don't have to participate. Although most of the young folks do when it's appropriate."

"And all those cute boys running about almost naked," gushed my little sister. "How cool is that?"

"Jennifer!"

Li's Dad, Eric, broke in at this point, "You all know I have been working on my doctoral thesis about different cultures in modern-day North America and Li introduced me to a man by the name of Brogan Kiffin who I have been corresponding with. He's been a good source of information about the history of how their culture developed. It is unique, no doubt about it. But It would be great if I could go there and actually experience it for myself."

Another voice on our side, I thought.

"I don't think we have to worry about fitting in, Amanda," Dad weighed in. "From what the boys have told me and what I've seen on their internet site, they seem to easily adapt to most everyone who comes there. And they have a lot of families with kids who go there."

Score another for our team!

"Sounds like a fun place," added Peter.

"You guys are worried about fitting in?" asked Charlie. "This holiday will be the first time away from the school for me since my 'restoration' and I'm not at all concerned. Got to go with the flow!"

I could see Mom losing the battle, but I did not want her to feel that way. "Mom, I promise you'll really enjoy Sandywater. The people there are truly awesome in how they treat visitors and show them they really care about us. Tim's relatives, Ceinwyn and Gavin Deveril are just the greatest folks you'll ever meet and I am sure they would be thrilled to meet the rest of our family."

"This really means a lot to you, doesn't it Drew… in fact, to all of you?"

Eight heads nodded, some quite vigorously.

***

Qantas deposited nine holiday-seekers in Baltimore where we rented a nine-passenger van and headed south.

We arrived in Sandywater about mid-afternoon and Dad found us a super, three-bedroom condo on the eight floor at a place right on the seafront called 'One Virginia Avenue'. There was lots of space with a large common room and deck, and the view out-to-sea and over the town was spectacular. Mom and Jenny would share one of the bedrooms, the three dads another and us four boys the third.

Ours had two king-sized beds, but I don't think one of them got used other than to hold our small stacks of clothes.

Next morning, we were all ready to begin our adventure. Li, Charlie, and I would need to shop for suitable clothes… Li and I had grown out of ours from last year. And we all agreed Tim was now much too big 'down there' to go about in just a covering. And Mom would have put her foot down on that, anyway.

But, first breakfast! Li led us to Caprizi's on the waterfront and the proprietor was pleased we remembered… in fact, we ate most breakfasts there. In addition to heavenly omelets, crepes and other 'goodies' it was a great place to observe Sandywater coming to life.

We had just been served when a familiar figure came skipping in with a delivery.

Travis had grown quite a bit in the past year. He was obviously still wearing last summer's shorts, though, and he hung out rather much. Mom's and Jenny's eyes got big, but said nothing.

"Thank-you Travis. I believe there are some friends of yours over at the big table."

He turned and looked our way, gave a delighted yelp and dashed over to us. "You've come back! How cool is that?" I wonder where he learned that cliché.

There followed a full round of introductions… the first of many at Sandywater. Travis greeted everyone enthusiastically… even accepting a hug from Mom who chose to ignore his all-too-visible boy parts… until he got to Tim.

He hung his head and studied his sandals, not quite in tears. "What's the matter?" asked my little brother. "Aren't you glad to see me?"

"I-I-I-I have a boyfriend, now," he confessed, not looking up. "His name is Augustus, but you won't have to meet him 'cause he's away."

"That's cool!" replied Tim. "I have one, too! Well, almost!" That was news to the rest of us. "But we're still good friends, OK?" Travis looked up and gave him a huge smile, vastly relieved.

"We're here for two weeks just to enjoy the beaches and the food and all the other fun that Sandywater has to offer," I explained.

"Super cool! Wait'll I tell Mom and Dad and the rest of the guys! Hey! Could I be your tour guide today, just like last time?"

"Sure! Why not?" answered Li. "You can show us all the sights but keep your pants on this time." Mom looked a little askance at that statement.

We finished breakfast and set out; our first stop being 'Suncoast' to buy suitable holiday clothing. On our way I pulled Travis aside and whispered, "You're hanging out rather much."

"Oh!" he replied, somewhat embarrassed. "Guess that's why your mom and sister looked at me so strange." And he made a not completely successful effort to stuff himself back into his shorts.

We all chose Sandywater-style short-shorts… well, not quite as short as some… and striped tank tops. Even got Travis some that fit him… pretty much. The Dads chose some board shorts for the beach and Mom got a pretty blue-flowered one-piece, while Jenny was thrilled with her very first teeny-weeny-bikini. If anyone wondered why we boys didn't choose any swim gear, they didn't ask about it.

And, after a quick stop at the condo to dress for the day, we set out once more, our excited guide leading the way. 'We didn't get to go to the Ganymede Club when you were here before, but I'm older now and it's OK with my dad. Would you like to go there?"

I swallowed! Might as well get it out in the open, so, I nervously explained to Mom and the others about the Club. Mom didn't look too sure, but Jenny was certainly excited. I'm afraid Mom got out-voted again.

"C'mon," invited Travis, "my card will get us all in."

It was rather dark as we entered… only a few people about… and the stage was dark. "It's too early for much action," he explained. I heard Mom give a big snort.

We had only just gotten used to the dim lighting, when a boy about Travis's age came running over to us. With his dark brown hair in a bowl-cut and dressed in conservative shorts and sport shirt, I was sure he must be a tourist.

Wrong!

"Hi, Travis," he greeted us. "Did you forget we were to dance this morning? Master Bill is holding a slot for us."

"Oh gosh! I did forget. But now I… Oh, this is my dance partner, Bart. His dad is an owner of the Club and he just moved in with him a couple months ago. He's really good!"

"You can dance for us," I interjected, to general approval.

"Yeah," added Jenny, "I'll bet you are cool dancers!" Her mother just rolled her eyes.

Travis still wasn't quite convinced as he studied his feet. "Well, maybe," Travis admitted and then introduced us all. Bart dutifully shook hands with all of us, and even accepted a quick hug from Mom.

"Tim is a family member and he and Drew and Li have met most of the guys when they were here before. And I promised to take all the rest of them around to meet people. I'm sorry I forgot about the dance… do you think Master Bill will be mad at me?"

"Why don't you go ahead and dance for us?" Dad asked.

"Sure! We'd love to be entertained," seconded both Eric and Peter.

"Well, I …"

"Go on," Tim encourage him with a little shove, and Bart grabbed his hand and dragged him off backstage.

A few moments later, the announcer introduced them to the sparse audience. "Ladies and Gentlemen! The Ganymede Club is proud to present our newest attraction. Please welcome the inspired choreography of Bartholomew and Travis!"

They stepped onto the stage and, when the spotlight found them, we all gasped… except for small pouches hiding their bits, they both were completely naked.

After a bow to the audience, the music tape changed to a lively rock tune and they began to dance.

It was more like an athletic exhibition… lots of twirls and lifts and jumps. I was simply astounded… well, we all were. This was a side of Travis we simply had not seen before. Even Mom was entranced! And I think Jenny was drooling… whatever had happened to my sweet, sedate little sister. Had she been hanging out at the Pecan Farm again?"

The small audience was thrilled, too and I 'read' a lot of excitement and pleasure from all sides. But, then, in the background, I became aware of someone with an almost overwhelming pain and sadness. I checked to make sure it wasn't Charlie… he had been quite happy since his 'restoration', but I wanted to be sure.

Looking about, I spotted a kid hiding in a corner and the negative feelings seemed to be coming from him. In fact, he was crying his heart out.

I worked my way over to him, introduced myself and all the while 'broadcasting' calm and reassurance to him. Sitting down beside him, I put my arm around his naked shoulder. His name was Sheldon and it was his first visit to the club. He had obviously hooked up with the wrong man who had hurt him and abandoned him.

Against my better judgment but determined to help him, I held him against me and stroked him a bit trying to calm him down. As my hand moved toward his groin, he suddenly screamed, "NO! PLEASE DON'T HURT ME THERE!"

His genitals were torn and bloody. What had the man done to him?

I continued to hold and try to comfort him. But realizing I could do nothing further for him just now, I disentangled myself, gave him a final hug and told him, "I will try to get you some help. Trust me." Then I sought out one of the club managers.

"Please Sir," I told him, "there's a lad sitting over in the corner who needs some serious help. He's been sexually abused and injured by one of the other patrons. I don't know what your laws are here…"

"We do not allow that," he interrupted me. "We try to see that no one… adult or child… is hurt, but sometimes we miss one." The manager looked at me. "Are you a med-student, young man? You hardly look old enough."

"No sir, just visiting, but I've seen enough cases at the school I go to to recognize the signs." I didn't think it would be a good idea to tell him about my 'gift'.

"Well, thanks for your help and I'll call a physician and report this to the authorities and we'll get the poor boy some help. Please accept my thanks."

I shook his hand and could tell he was sincere.

I had been away from the rest for some little time, so I hurried back to them. They had been so intent watching Augie and Travis they had not missed me… except for Li. You missed the 'best part," he 'told' me paranormally.

What was that?

"They danced right out of their coverings. It was then I noticed that the two performers had indeed become fully starkers in my absence.

The 'show' was winding down and our group had shrunk, too. "Where's Mom and Jenny and Dad?" I asked.

"Well," replied Li, "when their coverings came off, your mom was too upset to stay, so she took Jenny and said they would meet us in the park. Just to make sure she was OK, your dad went with her."

The boys had finished and came dancing over to us, carrying their clothes. "Did you like it?"

"It was fabulous!" Charlie assured them.

We waited while they dressed… if that's the proper term. For Travis, that meant wiggling back into his short-short-shorts, but Bart… more of a fashion plate it seemed… took longer.

While he was finishing up, a distinguished older man… quite well dressed… approached us. Seeing him, Travis said, "I can't today, Mr. Jansen. I'm busy showing some friends around. Maybe tomorrow. Maybe my friend, Bart, would go with you."

Bart looked shocked, but Travis whispered to him, "It's OK. He's a nice man. You can go with him. It'll be OK." After a moment's hesitation, Bart held out his hand to the man. This was clearly 'virgin territory' for the kid.

After Mr. Jansen and Bart left hand-in-hand, Travis hastened to explain. "He's a lonely old man who just wants someone to hold and talk to. We usually walk down to the beach and he holds me on his lap and we just talk. His wife and children and grand-kids were killed in a plane crash. He comes here every summer just to be with some kids who will let him hold them and just talk."

"I try to comfort him and he gives me a big tip, but I would do it for free. I like him. And it's OK if he's not interested in more activities."

"Wow, Travis," spoke up Charlie, "that's beautiful."

"I'm glad you got to meet Bart," said Travis "He's cool!"

We left the club and found Dad, Mom and Jenny waiting for us in the park in a heated discussion.

"Well, I think the way they show off their bodies is just disgusting," Mom was saying.

"It's their life," he reminded her.

"It's lewd and demeaning!"

"Amanda," countered Dad, "don't you think this kind of thing goes on in our towns? But it's all hidden and the kids often get hurt or even killed. Here, it's all in the open…"

"It's certainly that!" snorted Mom.

"Mom, you must admit they are the cutest boys you ever saw!" chirped Jenny.

"Well, I saw a good deal more of them than I wanted to. And, anyway haven't I taught you anything?"

"Yes, but…"

"It's full of love and no one ever gets hurt," cried Travis, close to tears.

Mom stiffened and then opened her arms. "Travis, dear!" He hesitated for a moment and then allowed her to envelope him. "Travis, dear, I'm sorry if I hurt your feelings. It's just that it's so different."

"Mrs. Scott, I don't want to make you feel bad, either. It's just that…"

"It's way cool!" interrupted in Jennie, and her mother looked like she was about to explode.

"Why don't we all go have some lunch," broke in Peter and the crisis passed.

Nothing less than 'Grotto Pizza' would do and Mom and the Dads had three giant slices while us kids all took the 'all-you-can-eat special'. I watched the look of anguish on the proprietor's face as he saw the days profits rapidly disappearing down five throats. Eric did leave him a nice tip, so maybe he won't have to declare bankruptcy after all.

Travis excused himself for a minute to make a phone call. When he returned he excitedly announced, "Dad and Mum are throwing a big barbecue this evening! Everyone's gonna be there and you'll get to meet Garret an' Jayden an' Leif… oh, that's right, most of you were never here before. But, OK it'll be lots of fun.

I accepted for all of us and Travis took his leave to run home. After an hour's stroll, we hit the beach.

Us boys, of course, would go 'skinny'. If you looked down the beach it was easy to tell who the tourists were… they wore swimming gear. I noted with satisfaction how Charlie's 'new body' blended in with the rest of us and he was not a bit sensitive about it.

The Dads settled for their board-shorts and Mom was really pretty in her flowered one-piece. Jenny started out in her cute bikini, but, ignoring her mother's disapproving looks, soon shed the top and wore just the bottom.

Wow! My cute little sister now sported two cute little boobs on her chest? How cool was that?

OK, I'm SGO, but that doesn't mean I can't enjoy looking at a cute girl when she displays her charms. C'mon, will ya? I heard Peter say something to Eric about someone named 'Marybeth Mason' but I had no idea what that meant.
[Author's Note: Check out Marybeth Mason in Almost Brothers.]

The water was cold and the 'old folks' mostly sat and enjoyed the sand and sun. But us kids were not about to miss the opportunity to ocean swim no matter how cold the waves were. OK, every so often some us had to enjoy a short hug with each other to warm ourselves and on one of these brief interruptions, I found my little sister in my arms.

"I'm so glad you're my brother, Drew," she told me, giving me a kiss on my chest.

"Why's that?" I asked.

"'Cause then, I'm not tempted," she giggled as she spun away, leaving me at a loss for words.

We frolicked until late afternoon before heading back to our condo to shower and dress for dinner.

And that was sort of the pattern throughout our stay… shopping and strolling and adventures in the morning and the beach most afternoons.

Travis joined us most afternoons and Seth, Odin and Leif appeared several times. I could certainly tell how much Travis had grown… no wonder he hung out… and the others were… well, let's just say they grow 'em long here. Must be the water.

Depending on the day, there was a good bit of erotic play in the waves. Yes, it included Jenny, much to her mother's distress, but was all quite innocent. Sure it was! In the surf, my little sister was just 'one of the boys'.

We even spotted Connor and Jordan one afternoon, making out. They were too far away to tell, but I think he still has that thing in his prick. How can he stand it? I wondered. Would I do that for Li? Suffer all that time? Yes, I would!

By the end of our visit, Dad was considering 'skinny-dipping', but chickened out. And Mom had lost most of her shock at all the naked boy-flesh that was so uninhibitedly displayed.

***

A smiling Travis… wearing more clothes than I had ever seen on him… his boy junk wasn't hanging out… greeted our knock, "Croeso i ein cartref. Dewch i mewn." (Welcome to our home. Please come in.)

Before I could answer, our Tim jumped in, "Diolch. Mae'n anrhydedd i fod yn chi gwesteion." (Thank you. We are honored to be your guests.)

Travis's eyes got big as he broke into a delighted grin. "When did you learn to speak Welsh?"

"I decided to study it after our last visit. My boyfriend and I practice. It's fun." This was complete news to all the rest of us.

"Tim, Tim!" Travis shouted into the house, "Come and meet them. Little Tim is learning our language."

As I held my breath, Big Tim appeared almost at once… he was actually wearing clothes… I had never seen him in anything other than just his 'cage'… and was introduced. He shook hands with everyone and, in a very courtly manner, kissed Mom's and Jennie's hands.

As he and Travis led us through the house to the back patio, Jennie whispered to me, "He's a hunk!"

"Jennie, don't get your hopes up," I warned her. "He's strictly male oriented."

"Pity!" she sighed.

As we passed through the sprawling house, Gavin pulled Dad and me aside. "Just wanted you to know that Travis wants to invite you to stay with him tonight, Andrew. He wants to discuss something with you. I don't know what it is, but it's evidently very important to him. The choice is yours, Andrew. If you're not comfortable with this, please feel free to say 'no'."

"I guess it would be OK," I answered. "What do you think, Dad?"

"If it's something you want to do, it is certainly OK with me. And I'll explain to the others."

"Well, Travis has been such a good friend to us, I would hate to disappoint him. But I don't have any pajamas with me."

"I wouldn't worry too much about that," chuckled Mr. Deverill. "And I'm sure we can lend you a toothbrush."

The others were gathered on the deck and Mom looked at me a little questioningly but said nothing.

"I thought I would wait until we were all together to let you know what's been happening here before the others arrive," Gavin began. "The other guests will be here shortly."

"I'm sure you know that we did rescue Leif. I say 'we' but it was the boys who put themselves in danger to bring it off. Many of us thought them foolhardy, but I can tell you we are intensely proud of them. I expect Garret and Jayden will be here tonight as will Odin and Leif and their mom. Garret's 'Plan A' didn't quite work out, but his 'Plan B' did, so a lot of the credit goes to him. And, to Uncle Theo."

"What we didn't say on the internet account was that both Jayden… and, especially Liam… were far more seriously injured than we showed. Both were whipped rather badly but their wounds are now healing, but they still suffering a bit."

"Liam, in addition to having the crap beat out of him, was punished in other ways. They tried every way they could to get him to tell them who was behind the escape attempt. How he managed to hold out is a testament to his courage and strength. They were just about to cut off his genitals when 'Uncle Theo' arrived on the scene."

"He'll not be here tonight as he has taken on what can only be called a 'quest'. I hope you will go to see him, but not tomorrow… he has some things he must do that will take all day. He knows you are in town, Drew and Li, and he wants very much to talk to you. I'm sure you will find he is a very different boy from that which you met a year ago."

"The other thing we haven't put in the internet account has to do with this 'quest' of his. Many of the boys freed from the 'Factory' are here in Sandywater."

We were all shocked.

"How'd they get here?" Li asked.

"It's a rather complicated story," Gavin answered him. "And one, unfortunately, I can't discuss. It's not that I don't trust all of you, but only a few of us know the story, and we have been sworn to silence. That was part of the price for the rescue. It will be revealed some day, but not just yet. Let's just say that the boys have some interesting friends. And I'll trust you, Li Soon, that you won't try to read my mind."

"Absolutely, sir," replied LI, somewhat miffed.

"Anyway, most of the boys from the 'Factory' made it safely over the Virginia border. The problem was the Virginia authorities were completely unprepared to care for thirty-some naked, half-starved and thoroughly traumatized kids. In fact, they almost sent them back to Fremont!"

We all gasped.

"And then, a miracle happened."

We all must have looked puzzled as he hastened to explain, "A boy… no, a young man… from our city said, 'Bring them all to Sandywater and I and my slave will care for them.'"

My first thought was Garret, but that didn't seem to fit. And then it hit me! "Liam?"

"Yes, Liam," Gavin answered. "I told you he was quite a different boy and the whole community was willing to have faith in him."

"All the boys have pitched in to help," confirmed Ceinwyn, "and most of the townspeople, too. But it's the boys who have done the most, helping Liam and Matty every day and a lot of nights."

"And me and Tim help, too," broke in Travis.

"That's right," confirmed their dad. "It's been really quite spectacular. I expect Odin and Leif and their mom will be here tonight and Master Brogan, but not Seth… he has 'night duty' with the 'Factory kids'. Liam is pretty much stressed and all alone is a bit much to ask of him and Matty."

As if on cue, Master Brogan arrived and Peter was excited to at last meet his correspondent and the two of them went off to talk about their mutual interest. A few minutes later, Garret and Jayden came out on the deck. It was evident Jayden was still suffering quite a bit from his injuries.

Garret was dressed in jeans and a sport-shirt, but Jayden was naked except for a small covering. At the time, I thought he was still suffering too much to be able to stand wearing clothing. The still-inflamed whip-cuts stood out all over his body and I was sure they must hurt terribly… his head had been shaved for his role in the deception and he looked every bit the part of an abused penal-slave. I found out later that his normal attire was only his cock-cage, so he was actually 'dressed-up' for the evening.

Li immediately went up to the two of them, grabbed both of their hands and introduced himself. "I'm Li Soon Hamilton and Drew and I missed seeing you when we were here last year. I want to tell you how awesome you were to be able to plan the rescue of Leif."

"Awesome?" snorted Garret, "Hardly, I think. My plan didn't work and almost got Liam and my Jayden killed."

"Yes, but your second plan worked and I'll bet you had a lot to do with the other boys being freed, too."

"So you know about them?" Garret asked him, surprised.

"Yeah, Mr. Deverill told us about them."

Garret sighed and started to tear-up, "Well it was Jayden and Liam who had the really hard part. They're the ones who got hurt."

"Hey Garret, my love," interjected Jayden, "knock it off! Without you there would have been no rescue at all. My wounds are healing… 'specially with you takin' such good care of me." Evidently Master/Slave discipline wasn't much practiced in their house even if Jayden dressed… wrong term, probably… like one.

"Hi! I'm Drew Nelson and I agree with Li and Jayden. You were certainly the brains behind the whole thing and I can't imagine anyone thinking badly of you. You are a hero as much as the others," And I pulled the four of us into hug.

Garret's eyes glistened a bit and he softly said, "Thanks, guys. That means a lot to me."

At that point, there was a shout from Tim, Tim and Charlie announcing the arrival of the Fjelstad family and we all went to greet them.

"Odin!" I shouted running up to him. "And this is the brother you helped rescue?"

"Yeah, this is Leif and my mom."

"It's great to meet all of you," I assured them as I introduced the remaining folks in our group. Mom and Mrs. Fjelstad hit it off immediately and went off to chat with Ceinwyn. And I could tell right away that Odin was a much, much happier boy.

Leif was a bit shy… how could he not be after what he had been through… but our group made sure we were as happy as Odin and his mom were that he had been 'brought home'.

The rest of the evening was just feasting and sharing stories and memories. I was surprised to find out the Sandywater folks were as interested to hear about our lives at Alice and in California as we were to hear their stories.

We shared our stories with them… how Dad had rescued me from suicide and taught me how to believe in myself and, then, 'dopted me… How Eric and Peter became brothers after Peter lost his family and was made to serve a cruel and unjust slavery and how they found Li in a trash heap and raised him long before they knew he had paranormal gifts… about our life together at our school in Alice Springs and our mentor, Master Keldhar… how Tim and Charlie and Jenny came to us… about some of the trips that Li and I had taken. Pretty private stuff and there was much laughter and not a few tears shed.

"Would you like to see my room?" Travis asked me as the party was starting to break up. I could tell there was something more to it than that and it was important to him. "Please!"

I followed him upstairs and into a room that was definitely his… the posters said it all.

"OK, Travis," I chuckled, "why are we here?"

"I just wanted to… Would you spend the night with me? It's OK with my parents and Tim."

"Sure, if you really want me to. My folks are OK with it."

"I've missed you, Drew. And Tim, too. You told me last summer I would find a boyfriend of my own and I have. I love Gus and he loves me, but, I don't want your Tim to be sad about it. I don't want him to think I'm not his friend any more."

"He's not, and you will always be friends." I assured him.

"Cool! An' I also want to repay you for what you did when we camped out that last night."

"Now wait a minute, Travis. There's nothing to repay. You were feeling a bit down, so I was glad to help you."

"Well, I could see how excited you were when we were dancin' this morning so I though you and me might…"

I could 'read' him and knew what he wanted. Was I going to say 'no' to this sexy little boy who was offering himself to me?'

"Please strip me," he pleaded.

I slowly unbuttoned his shirt and slipped it off him. He stood there waiting for more. Unbuckling his shorts, I slid them down his legs and he stepped out of them. He had been wearing less clothes than I thought… he was 'commando'.

I gasped as he 'posed' for me, displaying his numerous charms. He certainly had grown in the last year; no wonder he had trouble keeping it in his shorts. Whatever doubts I might have had quickly fled and I was putty in his hands.

Somehow, my clothes were off me, folded neatly on the dresser, and he led me to his bed and forced me down on my back. Moving down my legs, he quickly took my hardened prick in his mouth and brought me to a smashing climax, swallowing every bit of my crème.

He ginned up at me, "How was that? Did I do OK? Tim says I do it right well."

I pulled him to me, "You were fabulous! Did your big brother teach you that?"

"Yeah! He's a good teacher and I like the way he tastes."

"Have you done this with Augie?"

"Not yet. He's still a little shy. But I'm workin' on it."

I flipped him over on his back and dived down between his legs. In a very short time, he emptied his small load into my mouth.

For a few minutes, we just lay there holding each other. But then he began to sob and I found out the real reason he had brought me to his room.

"Drew, I'm so scared! I'm so afraid I'm going to lose him!"

"Augie?" I asked him puzzled.

"No! My big brother, Tim. I'm afraid he might start to do bad things again. Master Will is at university and he took Malachi with him. So he's here at home alla' time now."

"But I though he was doing OK."

"Well, he is, but he was very sad Garret didn't let him go on the rescue team. He thinks Garret didn't believe he was brave enough."

"I can understand why Garret didn't choose him for the team," I replied. "He needed someone who could be cruel to the slaves if he had to be. Your big brother is very brave, but he's not cruel to anyone except himself. Look how he made the choice to come home from the farm when he understood how much he was hurting all of you."

"Drew, You told me I would find a boyfriend and I did, but Tim has never had a real boyfriend. When he did bad things to himself, it scared everyone."

"I understand what you mean," I told him. "But, I think maybe that has changed. Unless I miss my guess, Leif, as he recovers from his abuse, will want to find someone he can love just like his brother did. I watched Tim and Leif tonight and can tell he could understand Leif's suffering. After all, Tim suffered… yes at his own hand… and can feel what Leif feels. I think they might just become a couple."

"Really? So you don't think he might do bad things to himself again?"

I had to think for a moment. Why was Travis asking me?

"'Cause you know stuff, you can see stuff," the little boy in my arms explained.

"Travis," I responded, "just because I can do some things most other boys can't, doesn't mean I can see the future. Even Li can't do that. Why me? Why didn't you ask LI?"

"Well, I know you can tell what I'm feeling and so can Charlie. But Li can do all sorts of things and he scares me a little. He could read my mind and maybe make me do something foolish."

I was shocked. "Who told you about our 'gifts'?" I asked somewhat alarmed.

"No one. I just know, that's all."

Was he paranormal and we missed it? And then I remembered Master Keldhar one time told us there were people… they were called 'sensitives'… who could detect our gifts but did not have any paranormal abilities themselves. Travis must be one of those.

I sighed. "Travis, Li would never do that! He loves you, too. I'm surprised you feel that way."

"OK," he replied. "I'm sorry. I guess I'm being silly."

"No, not silly. Just a bit concerned and confused. As for Tim doing something to hurt himself…" I was certainly skating on thin ice here and could sense how important my opinion was to my little friend.

"Travis, I think your big brother is in good hands, very good hands. He made a promise to your Mom and Dad, didn't he?" Travis nodded. "I don't think he's liable to break that promise. And he has one other thing going for him that is probably the most important thing."

"What's that," Travis asked.

"A little brother who loves him dearly and who depends upon him to help him grow up. I think you and he are an unbeatable team."

The tears just poured out of his eyes. "Do you really think so?" I nodded.

"You and Tim share your bodies, don't you?" He nodded. "And that's good. He may have showed you how to do some things that you both like, but you have showed him how exciting it is to love another boy. Not that you will ever be boyfriends like I think he and Leif might. The love of brothers is different but just as real."

I could tell that he was really relieved. "See," he said, "you really do know stuff."

But I needed to ask him another question because I had seen how many of the boys showed their love to each other on their internet stories.

"Travis, has Tim ever fucked you?"

That took him by surprise, but he managed to stammer, "N-N-No. B-but I think he would like to but he says I'm too young."

"He's right about that," I answered, feeling relieved. There was opportunity for him. "For a boy Tim's age to fuck a younger boy is a very painful experience. Fucking should be reserved for two lovers who are older and then it can be an exciting experience."

"So, you don't think he wants to fuck me?"

"He may want to, but he would not want to hurt you. So, my guess is that he never will. I know many of the other boys fuck each other and some of them are quite young. That's something Li and I never do… we have other ways of showing our love to each other."

"You can feel all that, can't you?" he asked in awe.

"Travis," I replied, "you are a very special boy to Li and me. Yes, and to all of us, even Mom and Jenny. We all love you like a brother or son. We know your life is here and you'll grow up here, but we hope you might visit us in Alice some day."

I held him close. His naked skin against mine felt soooooo good, but different than Li or Tim or Charlie. But finally, he settled a bit, and then asked, "Are you up for another go 'round? I can feel you're hard again."

"You little sexy devil. Yeah I guess, but let me show you a different way." I flipped him around into a classic '69' position and we both went to work. Even managed to cum at the same time.

"That's very cool! I'll have to show that to Tim. And maybe to Augie."

He flipped around and held me for a few more minutes and then softly said, "Thank you. You're a true friend. I love you, Drew… I love all of you!" I rolled him into my arms and we were both soon asleep.

***

The next morning, back at the condo, Li grinned and 'asked' me, Well, how was he?

Not as good as you, but quite OK, I 'replied'. There's more. And I told them all about my night with Travis, omitting mention of our coupling, of course.

"What he wanted to talk about was pretty important stuff," I stated. "He was afraid that our Tim would be disappointed that he now had a boyfriend. I assured him that you were quite OK with that. But, more importantly, he thought I could see the future and he was worried that his big brother might lapse into self-harm again."

"I explained that I could not see the future, but I was quite sure big Tim was in good hands and would stay true to his promise to his parents. And I tried to impress on him that he was an important part of his brother's life and his struggle to stay healthy. I think Travis was comfortable with that. Did I do the right thing."

"Splendidly!" Dad replied.

As we had been asked, we decided to wait another day before we went to visit Liam and Matthias and their charges. Instead, Li guided us to Master Brogan's. "Well, welcome to all of you!" he greeted us.

"Seth should be home shortly and I know he's anxious to see you and meet your families. Anyone interested in a 'tat'?"

Before we could answer, a small whirl-wind dashed into the shop. "I'm late! Had to figure out where you all went."

"Travis," I asked him, "doesn't your dad have some deliveries for you to do? Much as we might like it, it wouldn't be fair for us to expect you every day."

"Oh, Dad has given me time off while you're here," he replied. "So I can be with you 'alla time."

"Well, that's great," said Peter.

The adults quickly agreed they were not really interested in 'tats', but not so Tim. "I want one on my shoulder, just like Travis!" I had noticed the lightning-bolt that our young friend now sported.

"Absolutely not," said Mom.

"Mom, please. Just a little one like Travis. I'll pay for it! I'm not a baby anymore!"

Mom looked about for some support, but Dad whispered to her, "I think it's really, really important to him, Amanda. A little one won't hurt him."

"All right," she sighed, "if you must!"

Then Jenny popped up, "I want one, too" And I thought Mom would have an apoplexy. "If he can have one, I want one, too!" Mom just threw up her hands.

Seth arrived at that point and any further objections were buried in the introductions. "It's really cool to meet you all. Sorry I couldn't be at the party last night, but…"

"How were things?" asked his dad.

"Not too bad. Liam and Matty handled things pretty well… only two or three nightmares to cope with."

"Well, my lightning-bolt expert, I have an order for two small ones."

"Make that three, more," Li, Charlie and I chorused.

Jenny and Tim both squealed a bit; us 'olders' managed to grit our teeth. After all, it does hurt a bit, but Seth is quite good. "You should stay out of the water, today," he told us. "Give it 'til tomorrow to heal."

"I imagine you met Leif last night. Isn't he a super kid? No wonder Odin was so sad. But he needs to find a lover like his brother did."

"I think he might be on the way to solving that," I opined.

***

After lunch, we decided to do some exploring up the coast a bit. "We're going to take a ferry cruise," Dad explained to Travis. "It will be late when we get back, so check with your mom and dad if it's OK for you to stay with us tonight."

Travis was back in a flash and asked, "Can Tim go with us?"

"If it's OK with your parents."

We collected Tim… he was dressed in the same shorts he wore at 'the party' but no top. Jenny salivated even though I had warned her that her interest was in vain.

Up the coast a short distance is a town called Lewes. From there, a ferry ran across the width of Delaware's Bay to a town on the Jersey side called Cape May. It was a two-hour crossing… almost like an ocean crossing I imagined. None of us except for Eric and Peter had ever been on a ferry like this before and we all enjoyed our 'cruise' immensely.

Cape May was a funky little town with all sorts of fancy houses and shops. But, we were surprised to find the beach area was private. Still, we still enjoyed strolling the 'Promenade' as it's called. Our 'ship' had a nice buffet dinner… which we demolished… on the return sailing to Lewes. The sun was just setting and the moon was out as we embarked.

Yes, it was a bit crowded with two extra bodies in our room that night. But both Travis and his bro' seemed game for any of our naked bedtime activities and I'm sure we got quite an education before we all fell asleep.

***

The next morning, we eagerly set out to visit Liam and Mathias and their numerous charges.

An old school building on the edge of town had been converted into a 'hostel' for them and Liam and Matty met us in what had been the school office. "Thanks for comin' guys," he told Li, Tim and me. "And who are all these other folks?"

Dad took over at that point and made the introductions; I was sort of getting tired of doing that. Liam greeted each of our group politely, even pausing to kiss Mom's and Jenny's hands.

Wow! This was certainly a different Liam than last year. For one thing, he was actually dressed in respectable shorts and a sport shirt and he didn't show any of the sneering bravado we had seen on our last visit. And his slave, Matty, had a covering over his 'cage'.

Turning to me, he said, "When I heard you were in town, Drew, I hoped you and Li would come to see me so I could tell you that you were right."

"About what?" I asked.

"That I wasn't the tough guy that I pretended to be and I really did love Mathias, despite how I treated him most of the time. It was all an act."

Both Li and I could 'read' him and knew he was leveling with us.

"I guess you know about our project," he continued. We all nodded. "Would you like to visit our boys? It's important that they begin to deal constructively with 'outsiders', so you could help us if you visited."

"We'd be happy to visit," answered Peter for all of us.

"Matty," he told his slave, "please run and tell Rhys and Breslin that they need to get the boys ready for visitors."

"Yes, Master. Right away!" as he dashed off to do Liam's bidding.

"I wish I could get him to just call me 'sir'," sighed Liam. Seeing the looks of astonishment on our faces, he explained. "While I was at the Factory, I had to do things to the boy-slaves there that I am totally ashamed of… that I never in my wildest nightmares thought anyone would do to a kid. Yes, it was necessary to make the escape attempt with Leif. But I continually thought about how badly I treated Matty and wondered if I was the same kind of brute that the other guards were."

"The whole time they were workin' me and Jaden over after the failed attempt, the only thing that kept me alive was this: I had to survive! So's I could tell Matty how much I loved him. So's I could tell him how sorry I was for treating him like trash. So's I could make it up to him."

"And after Uncle Leo got us away, Matty was the one who took care of me and nursed me back to health. The whip marks are mostly gone, now, but Matty's love and care will be with me forever."

"I've told him that I want to free him when he's of age so we can be a couple. He doesn't quite buy that yet, but I'm workin' on it. And when the boys from the factory were suddenly freed, we both knew it was our task to care for them and help them along."

"All of Sandywater has pitched in to help, but it's the guys who have come here to be with them day and night. Rhys and Breslin Simmons are with them today. We met them on the way to Fremont and they live here now, but all the guys have helped."

"We've been able to return a few to their parents, but we still have twenty-two including two brothers who refused to go with their parents… that's why I was busy yesterday. After meeting the parents, I can understand why. I was never going to make them go with parents who would simply abuse them some more. So, we kept them and sent the bastards packing… sorry for my language, but they upset me. They had actually sold their sons to the Factory to get drug money."

"Our goal is to have all of them ready for adoption by the end of the summer."

I found it very hard to believe this was the same Liam we had met a year ago! Actually, it wasn't… the experience rescuing Leif had been a life-changing one, just as Gavin Deverill had told us.

"If you are ready… Oops…"

"What's the matter?" Li asked.

"Well, some of the boys still are…"

"Naked?" asked Mom. Liam nodded. "Well, don't be concerned about that. Since I've been here, I've seen more unclothed male anatomy than I believed possible."

"And, I bet they're cute," chirped Jenny.

"Jennifer!" scolded Mom.

"It's OK. Mom. I'll just behave like I do at the Pecan Farm." That led to a discussion with Liam as to how Jenny and Tim came to us and how Jenny had visited among the boys at the Pecan Farm. Liam seemed a bit unconvinced, but evidently decided to trust us.

He led us into the common room where Breslin and Rhys were playing quiet games with the boys. "Don't be surprised if some of the boys are frightened," he warned us. The only men they have known for years always wanted to hurt them. It's something they haven't quite got over yet."

As he had predicted, when we entered, the boys scattered, most of them hiding behind the furniture. "Easy guys," Liam tried to sooth them. "These are friends and they are not going to hurt you. They are just visiting today, but wanted to meet you all."

"And these," he told us, indicating his two helpers, who were now trying to coax the boys out into the open, "are Rhys and Breslin Simmons. We met them on the way to Fremont. They go to the sports school here and have helped Matty and me from the start."

Rhys and Breslin both waved, but were much too busy for a formal introduction. And gradually the boys came out to meet us.

Mom noticed a very small boy… thin and elf-like… crawl toward her and look up at her hopefully. "That's 'Elf'… at least that's what we call him," Liam told her. "No one knows his name, so he's 'Elf', and he was put into the factory when he was a toddler. One of the guards took a liking to him, so he wasn't raped like the rest of them."

"Mrs. Scott, would you see if he'll come to you? He never had a real mama to hold him." While the rest of us watched, Mom sat down in an open space and… sure enough… Elf crawled into her arms.

"You read me, please, lady?" he piped holding up a well-worn book. Mom arranged him on her lap and began to read softly to him and he relaxed as the others resumed their games. They allowed Jenny and us boys to approach them, but were still nervous about our dads, so they moved out of the room.

Suddenly Mom gave a little squeak and all eyes turned to her. The rascal had taken Mom's hand and put it right on his boy-parts. "No, Elf, no!" Liam scolded him, rushing to their side.

Elf burst into tears. "Please, lady! I forget! No punish, just read." He grasped her hand and held it to his cheek. Liam nodded and Mom resumed reading.

Later Liam explained, "The guard who looked after him would take him in his lap and play with his parts. That's the only love he ever knew. It's been tough trying to convince him that there are more acceptable ways to receive love from someone. He's so little he doesn't quite understand."

The atmosphere in the room calmed again, and we resumed our 'visit', until Mom finished the book. I heard her tell him, "Promise me you'll always remember you're braver than you believe and stronger than you seem and smarter than you think." I remembered that… it was Christopher Robin to Pooh… she had read that same story to me when I was little.

Elf threw his thin arms around Mom's neck and the two of them hugged for some time before we were able to rejoin our dads.

Liam looked at Mom with tears running down his cheeks. "I'm sorry for that, Mrs. Scott. It's just so so so…" Mom enfolded him in her arms… they are always big enough for love and comfort. "Matty and I are going to adopt him. I don't know how, but we're going to try to give him back his childhood."

"Liam," she told him, "I'm confident you and Matty will find a way."

Turning to Matty, Liam asked, "I didn't see Joy and Berta?"

"No Master. They decided to stay in their room today."

"We have two kids," Liam explained, "who claim to be boys, but are really girls. They're havin' a really hard time fittin' in."

At that statement, Charlie jumped up. "Are you sure they're not boys?"

"I know what a girl looks like!" Liam replied, somewhat annoyed.

"Could I see them?"

"Well, I guess so. Matty, see if they'll l accept a visitor." And Matty led Charlie down the hall.

"Liam," said Dad, "there's a reason Charlie asked that question. He wasn't being rude."

"Oh?" asked Liam somewhat defensively .

"Every child," Dad continued, "is born knowing they are either male or female. It's called 'gender identity'. But, very occasionally… we don't know why… the child's body does not match his gender identity. They are called transgender kids. And that child will need special love and understanding and care if he is ever able to grow into a responsible adult."

"Really? I never heard of such a thing. Transgender, you say?"

Dad explained in more detail about some of the problems transgender kids and their caregivers face. He had just finished when Charlie came running back into the room. "They are transgender, both of them!" he gasped.

"How is it you know so much about this?" Liam asked, beginning to suspect.

Charlie fixed his gaze on him and replied, "Because I'm transgender! I was born into a girl's body but a doctor in Capetown operated on me and made my body almost like a boy's body. And my Dads and my brother Li and his partner Drew have helped me to accept myself and I have never been happier." Turning to Eric. He asked, "Dad, do you think Master Keldhar can ask Dr. Bernard to operate on these two boys?"

"I'm sure he will and I'm sure Dr. Bernard will agree," Eric replied.

"I'm on it," Li said. And a few moments later, he told us, "Master Keldhar says thanks for waking him in the middle of the night and he'll get right on it first thing." That led to a discussion about some of Li's amazing abilities which left both Liam and Matty floored. But, we asked them to keep things quiet and they agreed.

Then Charlie spoke up. "Dads," he said looking squarely at Eric and Peter, "You and Li and Drew and his dad have given me so much. I'd like to give something back. I'd like to stay and help Liam and Matty with these two boys. And go with them to Capetown. May I?"

We all were shocked.

I sensed the discussion among Li and Eric and Peter and was sure what they were going to say. "Charlie," said Eric, his voice breaking, "if that is your true wish, we would never say no."

***

And that's how Charlie left the comfort of our close 'family' and stepped out boldly into the wide world. In time, he not only saw Joy (Jay) and Berta (Bertram) thru their transition, but remained with Dr. Bernard, was educated by that great man and became his assistant. Charlie had answered his true 'calling'.

***

And that was the first of several days we all spent with 'Liam's boys' during our time in Sandywater. As soon as Mom stepped into the room, Elf would come flying into her lap with the well-worn copy of 'Winnie the Pooh' and listen entranced as if hearing it for the first time. I suspect she had briefly entertained the idea of our taking him home with us, but she knew Liam's wishes and respected them. Elf would be part of his growing up, too.

We even took the boys and their care-givers on their first-ever excursion to the beach. At first frightened by the waves and surf, the boys soon succumbed to the delights boys have always enjoyed at the beach since forever. And Jenny… well she was just 'one of the boys', too.

Midway through our second week, 'Progeny' held one of their periodic concerts in the band-shell along the seafront. We wouldn't have missed that for anything.

We sat as a group with Gavin, Ceinwyn and Travis and I could tell they were waiting to see what our dads', mom's and Jenny's reactions would be. The 'band' members were dressed in their usual costumes… that is, virtually nothing… and… surprise… it all seemed quite normal to me.

The boys sang and played their hearts out with Tim doing many of the vocals… most of the music written by one of them 'specially for this concert. Travis's pride in his brother's talent was plain enough to even the most casual observer.

Tim, Li and I were somewhat prepared for what we heard, and Dad, Peter and Eric were impressed, no doubt about it. But Mom was completely blown away and Jenny looked shell-shocked.

When the concert was over, Mom turned to Ceinwyn with tears running down her cheeks. "I've never heard music like that before," she gasped. "It's all about love and courage and caring for each other and it's so…so…so very beautiful." Ceinwyn just smiled and squeezed her hand.

Jenny sat as if in a trance. Finally, she stirred and breathed, "Yeah, the boys are cute. But this is just…just…just way beyond cute! I feel like I never felt before!"

Just then Big Tim came strolling over. "How'd we do? Did you enjoy it, Mr. and Mrs. Nelson and Hamiltons and you, too, Jenny?"

In answer, Mom took him into her arms and told him, "Timothy, that was the most wonderful thing I have ever experienced. Maybe, at last, I can understand what makes Sandywater and all of you so special?"

Jenny pried him out of her mother's arms, held him close and said, "I know you're not interested in girls, but you guys are way, way beyond awesome. I love every one of you!"

Tim actually blushed while Travis had an acute attack of the giggles. I think the evening was a howling success.

On the last day we helped Liam during our stay, late in the afternoon, Mathias pulled me aside. "Please, Master Drew, can you help me? Can you answer a question?"

"Well, I'll try." I told him. "But why do you think I could help you? Does Liam know?"

"No Master Drew," he replied. "But Master Travis says you know stuff!"

Oh Travis, what have you got me into here? "I'll listen to your question on one condition."

"What's that?" he asked looking somewhat fearful.

"That you will call me just 'Drew'," I answered.

"But I'm just a slave!" he sort-of wailed. "It's not proper!"

"Matty," I hugged him to me, concerned that I had frightened him, "It is quite proper for you to call me whatever I wish. And, anyway, you are not 'just a slave'."

"I'm not???"

"First of all, you are a human being. Second, you are a strong and brave boy who loves Liam very much and would do anything to make him happy, and who is loved very much by Liam in turn. And, third, Li and Tim and Jenny and I and our folks love you too."

His eyes got big at that last. "You mean all of you?" he croaked.

"Yes, the fact that you are a slave has nothing to do with how Liam or all of us feel about you. You are a friend to us and will always be a friend to us."

It took a bit of time for him to digest all of that, but then he asked, "Well what have I done wrong? Why does Master Liam want to make me a free person? Why isn't he pleased with me being his slave?"

"Because he sees much more than a slave in you."

"How can that be? I'll always be a slave! It's what I am! It's my life! Why does he want me to be a free person?" he began to sob.

I realized that he was terrified by the very idea of being free. He had never been free and it was a frightening unknown to him. "Matty," I asked him gently, "don't you ever wish to be free?"

"Well, yes," he bawled. "But then I get frightened and know that isn't for me. I wouldn't know how to behave. An' I'm just a kid! How would I live? Who would take care of me?"

"Matty," I tried to convince him, "Liam would never abandon you. If you were free, he would continue to care for you… you would care for each other just as you always have… and you could be lovers!"

"No," he replied sadly. "It's too much!"

I decided to try a different tack. "Matty, what do you think about poor Elf?"

He looked surprised and much brighter. "He's a cool little kid who has never had a childhood. Before we rescued him, he never had someone who loved him."

"Don't you wish you could be his dad?"

"Well, yes, but…"

"If Liam freed you and the two of you became a couple… if you pledged when you are old enough… you and Liam could both be his dad."

"Really?" I nodded. "I guess that would be so," he said rather doubtfully. "But I'm not sure I could …"

"Matty, do you remember the book that my Mom read to Elf the first day he crawled into her lap?" He nodded. "In the book, Christopher has a friend who is rather frightened about the changes in his life and he tells him, 'Promise me you'll always remember you're braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.' I want you to remember that. Will you?"

He smiled up at me. "Master Travis was right. You do know stuff

***

The last night before we left for home, the Dads threw a big party at a place called 'The Rusty Rudder'.

Of course Gavin, Ceinwyn, Tim and Travis were there… Tim looking spectacular in his 'dress-up' duds. Jenny… actually dressed in a skirt and blouse… just heaved a sigh. So far as Li, Tim and me, it was the first time we had worn long-pants since leaving California.

The rest of the gathering was almost everyone we had met and come to know in Sandywater: Master Brogan and Seth; Odin and Leif and their mom; and, of course, Garret and Jayden and Uncle Theo.

We even managed to steal Liam and Mathias away from their 'brood' leaving them in the capable hands of Rhys and Breslin. Liam was dressed to the 'nines' and Matty looked splendid in shorts and sport shirt. He seemed actually rather comfortable in 'high society'. But they shocked the daylights out of us when they arrived with Liam carrying little Elf.

After one of the best seafood dinners I have ever enjoyed, Dad rose to say a few things.

"I hope I do not need to tell you how much we have enjoyed these past two weeks with you. Not only enjoyed, but a tremendous learning experience for all of us. We are so prone to just except our own lifestyles as valid that we often forget there are others… dear to us… whose life experiences are vastly different, but just as valid as ours. Well, I believe I can safely say, we shall not make that mistake again."

"Tomorrow we will leave you… but really, you will always dwell in our hearts even though we may be half a world away. It's our firm hope to visit again in the future and, perhaps, some of you might do us the honor of visiting us in California or Alice Springs. We would welcome you with warm hearts."

"Thank you for an awesome time and may God bless you and this community."

At that point, Elf wiggled out of Liam's arms and came running up to Mom. "Please Mrs. Lady Scott. I make you a present!" And he beamed up at her as he placed in Mom's hands his well-worn copy of 'Winnie The Pooh'.

And another trip comes to an end!

Char: Li Hamilton (now 16), Andrew Nelson (now 15), Tim Nelson (now 12), Eldon, the Duke of Burundistan (13yo),
Jonnor (11yo); Princess Ariana, Joran, Zagar and the people of the Navi

Eldon's young boyfriend disappears, seemingly by magic, and Drew and Li are enlisted to find him

Prolog

Eldon had a perplexing problem. Not an unusual situation for the young Duke of Burundistan. Since coming to the throne a bit more than two years ago when he was but eleven-years-old, he was usually busy solving some problem or so; that's what his people expected of their Duke. But this problem was not about trade or foreign affairs or education… he was good at solving those. This problem was a problem of the heart.

He was in love!

With another boy!

One who had been close to him for most of a year… eleven-year-old Jonnor, his personal servant.

But, how to tell Jonnor about his feelings for him. Without frightening him. Or worse, being rejected by the lad.

As he sat in the window seat looking out over his city that was just beginning to light up as the sun disappeared behind the mountains to the west, he made a decision… one that might bring him great joy… or deep sorrow.

Rising, he walked to the intercom on his desk and spoke into it. "Please send Jonnor to my quarters in five minutes." Then he carefully threw off the robe he was wearing, stepped out of his briefs and seated himself on the side of his bed.

The next several minutes were sheer agony for the young duke. But, at last, there was a discreet knock on the chamber door. "Come." And a lively young boy dressed in shorts and tunic came skipping into the room.

Spying his master sitting naked on the bed, the lad fell to his knees in surprise in front of him and asked, "How may I serve you, Your Grace?"

"The first thing you may do," answered Eldon, "is to come here and sit by me."

Jonnor rose and, after a moment's hesitation, sat down beside Eldon.

"The next thing is that you must no longer be my servant."

Jonnor nearly freaked out at that statement. "Y-y-your Grace," he stammered. "Have I done something bad? Have I not served you well?"

Realizing he had badly frightened the poor boy, Eldon put his arm about the lad's shoulder. "No, little one. You must be my friend… my very best friend."

"Y-y-y-your G-g-g-grace! What do you mean?"

Swallowing his growing panic, Eldon replied, "Jonnor, I love you! More than I have ever loved anyone. From the first day you came on my service!"

Jonnor sat in shock as Eldon pulled him close and pressed their lips together. For long minutes their tongues chased each other as he slipped his arms about the boy. When they finally broke, Eldon told him, "You must call me by my name. And I want you near me for the rest of our lives."

It took the young boy a few minutes to digest what he had just heard.

"I've wanted to tell you for many months," Eldon went on, "but I was afraid I might drive you away!"

"El-el-eldon, I've wanted to tell you that I love you, too. But I was afraid."

"Oh little one, you feel so good in my arms. May I undress you?"

In answer, Jonnor rose and urged his former master to pull his clothes off until he was as naked as Eldon. "Come, lie here on the bed with me." And they began to explore each other with hands and lips. At Eldon's urging, they reversed and began use their mouths on their pricks, soon bringing each other to very satisfying orgasms. Although it was probably Jonnor's first experience with another boy, he performed like a trooper.

Afterward, they rolled together and slept the night in each other's arms.

At breakfast, the next morning, Eldon led his young lover into the dining room and addressed his uncle, the Prime Minister. "Good morning, Uncle! You told me that I would one day find the person with whom I wanted to spend my life. Well, I have found him."

"Big surprise!" chuckled his uncle.

"What do you mean?" Eldon asked in panic

"Your feelings for young Jonnor have been quite evident for months. And you have chosen well. I'm very happy for both of you."

Is It Magic? Or Something Else?

We had not been back at The Alice Springs School For Exceptional Boys more than a few weeks when we received a disturbing message from our friend Eldon, the young Duke of Burundistan. Or, rather from his uncle, the Prime Minister.

"We are at wits end," he told us. "Eldon's new boyfriend, Jonnor, has been abducted and we don't know by whom or why. But we can't find a trace of him anywhere. He was sitting at table with us one evening and suddenly there was a flash and he and one of the servers were simply not there!"

Our mentor and the headmaster of the school, Master Keldhar had called us into his office and showed us the message from Eldon's uncle.

"It sounds as if they were teleported somewhere, doesn't it?" asked my boyfriend, Li.

"I believe you may be right," replied Keldhar. "The question is, 'by whom and to where and to what purpose."

"Teleporting usually leaves a faint trail," said Li. "But it dissipates quickly. Maybe if I were to go there right away…"

"That's sort of what I had in mind," broke in our mentor. "And take Drew with you. He can be your assistant if you find something."

"Me?" I asked astonished.

"Yes, I depend upon YOU to keep your lover from doing something impulsive… he's been wont to do that. I'll clear it with your dads."

***

Less than an hour later, we were standing in the reception hall of the palace in Burundistan.

While I attempted to console the badly shaken and disconsolate Duke, Li was closeted with the Prime Minister and palace officials trying to piece out exactly what had taken place. We later went to where the lad had been sitting and examined it minutely.

Suddenly Li shouted, "Drew! Come here! I detect a trail. But I can't tell where it leads. I'll have to follow it to see where it leads."

"No! Wait a minute!" I exclaimed, running to him. "You don't know what's at the other end! It might be dangerous!"

"I've got to try to trace if before it dissipates completely. I'll be careful."

I tried to reach him, but only succeeded a grabbing his hand before he 'jumped'.

There was a moment of darkness… well several moments… evidently we had traveled an immense distance… and we found ourselves standing in some sort of meadow.

But a meadow unlike any either of us had ever seen. The grass was a vivid blue and the sky violet with wispy orange clouds. "Where the hell are we," we both said in unison.

As we stood there completely dumfounded, there was a sudden flash of light and an explosion of enormous power. And, after that I didn't remember anything!

For what seemed like eons to me I was surrounded by flashes of light, explosions and jagged lightning bolts of every color imaginable. Weird noises buffeted me and drowned out any effort I made to speak or even scream! Some body or something… I couldn't tell what… was beating the crap out of me.

But, at last, the maelstrom into which I had been pitched began to fade and I could begin to see faint light again and feel my bruised body.

***

"David, I think he's awake," I heard someone say. Opening my eyes just a bit, I saw Dad leaning over me and I realized I was lying in a bed… a hospital bed in the clinic at the School. I tried to speak, but my throat was so sore that only squawks came out.

"Don't try to talk," Dad said, "just lie there and regain your strength. Wherever you've been, it's been pretty rough, judging from the bruises all over you and the way you screamed."

Another head popped up on the other side of the bed. "Oh thank God, you're alive!" sobbed Li, his eyes red from weeping. "It's my fault… my fault! I almost got both of us killed!"

"What happened?" I asked.

"My jump took us literally out of this world… to another world… I think it may be around our sun but opposite earth so we can't see it. That strange comet that is looping around our sun may have something to do with it. Anyway, there seems to be some sort of psychic barrier that caught me by surprise and I jumped us back to here at once. But you must have taken the brunt of it."

"You had us very worried," added Dad. "We didn't know if you were going to be all right or not. How do you feel?"

"Sorta lousy," I replied.

"Well we're very much relieved," added the voice of Master Keldhar.

"Yeah," added my lover, "I should have been a bit more careful, but I didn't want to lose the trail. I'm pretty much convinced that's where the boys were taken."

"OK, time to discuss things later," admonished Eric. "Drew needs to rest." And they all withdrew except for Li. "I'm so very, very sorry, my love," he wept, laying his head on my chest.

***

The next two weeks were the most boring of my life. You might think loafing around doing mostly nothing and being waited upon hand and foot would be the ideal. Well, not for me! By the end of the second week I was ready to go out of my mind.

Since my bruises had healed and my strength had come back, I was at last allowed to go back to regular activities.

As soon as we could, Li and I went to see Master Keldhar. "Several additional boys have been taken," he told us sadly. "That makes a total of twenty-three. We have kept your suspicions about where they have been taken under strict secrecy. No use causing panic unless we are sure. And besides, we'd be laughed 'out of court' if we tried to float that explanation.

"What are we going to do about it?" I asked.

"What can we do?"

"I can go back and try again," asserted Li.

"No, I'll not take that chance… I don't want to lose either of you. If the comet is to blame, it will be gone again in a month or so."

"So, we're just going to abandon the boys to their fate?" I asked with some alarm.

"I'm afraid so," our mentor answered sadly. "In the meantime all the various factions on this world of ours are blaming each other. Things have gotten rather tense."

"Then we have to try again!" I exclaimed.

"I've already told you I will not risk the two of you a second time!"

"Master," said Li, "if I can take Drew and use some of his power to supplement mine, I am sure I could break through the barrier. I'm convinced that is where the boys are being held and, if we could reach them, I can teleport them back here. The trace has long since dissipated and I'm the only one who could possibly find them."

"And suppose they capture you, too."

"If we got into real trouble, I can bring us back."

That's not what our mentor wanted to hear. But over the next few weeks as the strife and bickering here on earth continued to mount and things moved rapidly toward wars, he finally gave in. Sitting down with our dads, the five of us began to make plans.

***

"Since they seem to be using psychic power," suggested Li, "the portable ray-projectors should have the same effect on them as on humans."

"That sounds reasonable," agreed Peter. "So, you must go armed,"

"I hope we could avoid hostilities," Dad put in. "They may have technology that is several levels above ours."

"The fact they haven't openly attacked us might point to lesser technology," said Eric. "That's why they have used teleportation instead of openly demanding what they want. They may be as unsure of the level of our technology as we are of theirs."

"Guess we won't know until we go and find out!" I quipped.

***

We were as ready as we could be. Equipped with two projectors apiece and spare batteries, we were dressed for rough travel. In the plaza in front of the main school building, we shed our shirts and tucked them into our packs. Li hopped up on my back so he could get good skin-to-skin contact with me. And we were ready to make history.

We hoped!

After a short pause to say our goodbyes and with fervent wishes for our success, Li 'jumped' us.

A short moment of disorientation and we again landed in the strange meadow. But, this time Li deployed all his power and the 'barrier' shattered like broken glass.

We ran to the edge of the meadow and then paused to reconnoiter. "I can 'hear' the boys! Some of them, at least!" I said to Li.

"Me, too, but there's a lot of 'background' noise. Whoever's holding them must have minds that work like ours. That means the projectors should work."

At that moment, two strange creatures burst from the 'forest' and ran toward us brandishing wicked-looking spears. They were humanoid, roughly two meters (nine feet) tall and their skins were a bright blue.

I could 'hear' them shouting in my mind. WHO ARE YOU? WHY ARE YOU HERE? IT IS FORBIDDEN TO COME TO THE LAND OF THE NAVI!

Their manner was very threatening, so I gave them a full-power shot from my projector and both tumbled in a heap to the ground. "They communicate mind-to-mind," I said, awed.

After a minute or two, one of them sat up and asked… much less belligerently… Who are you? What is it you want?

We want the return of the children you have stolen from us, Li told them.

His partner had recovered by this time and said, We will take you to the Princess. It is she you must see. If you will come with us, we promise you no harm.

Li and I looked at each other. "I think we should trust them. I detect no deception."

"I agree," he replied.

We traveled for several miles, with the two warriors looking back at us with worried expressions every so often. Finally, topping a rise, we looked down on a sizable city that stretched for quite some distance. The buildings appeared to be all made from wood, marvelously shaped and finished and of some size… to accommodate their greater height, I guessed. A rather strange cacophony of sounds engulfed our brains, but then both of us found we could 'channel' to a specific person so that was much better.

Physically, we heard nothing except the wind and the movement of many people, some of whom went about on some sort of silent 'sleds'. The people we saw were tall and graceful, and their blue skin coloring enhanced the appearance of the bright colors of their clothing… mostly sarongs and cloaks. Li and I had quite a bit of trouble grasping the reality of what we were seeing.

As we were about to enter the city, one of our two 'escorts' faced us and went to his knees. Please, all-powerful sirs, treat our Princess Ariana with respect and dignity. Whatever it is that you seek, she alone can grant."

"We will honor your Princess Ariana and treat her with respect, Li assured them. We have no wish to do her or your people harm.

Somewhat satisfied, they led us into the city.

The seat of the Princess and her court was some distance into the city and as we traveled, the people all expressed both amazement and horror as we passed. From the 'comments' it was clear we were regarded as potential enemies by many and beings of some importance by others… everything on a continuum from devil to angel.

But, at last, we entered a somewhat larger building and were taken to a large room. On a dais at one end sat a young, but very regal female of their people attended by an older male.

Our two escorts prostrated themselves and immediately held a conversation… we could not 'hear' it so it was obvious they were adept at channeling, too. At length, they rose and beckoned us forward and we approached the woman. The Princess Ariana, Ruler of the Navi, and her uncle, Joran, Keeper of the Peace, boomed in our respective minds. May we present two beings from the land which they call Earth.

Li and I bowed respectfully and I 'spoke' for us, I am Andrew and this is my friend Li Soon, your highness. We have come to you about a matter of great importance to our people… one that, if not settled, could mean the destruction of both our worlds.

"A bit overplayed," Li said to me, "but effective in getting their attention."

As your two guards may have told you, our people have weapons that could destroy your world, but only want the return of the children taken from us.

I had clearly frightened her… I wasn't pleased about that as I somehow liked this young woman and felt she might be quite willing to help us.

She looked stricken and turned to her uncle, What has that fool Zagar done?

He sighed and replied, My agents tell me that he has imported some number of the young of their species and is 'experimenting' with them.

After I expressly forbade him to do so?

I'm afraid so.

Turning back to us, she said, Great Sirs, it appears you have every reason to be angry and distrustful of us. One of my subjects has caused your people great grief and harm. Even so, I would bid that we be friends.

And we would be friend of the Navi, Li responded, but only if we can return the stolen children to their rightful places.

She nodded and conferred with her uncle, Yes uncle, you are right. They must hear the story of the Navi and, perhaps, we can enlist their help in dealing with Zagar. Let us adjourn to my rooms.

She rose and left the hall, beckoning us to follow.

The room to which we were taken, was comfortable with benches and divans… a bit high for Li and me. She and her uncle seated themselves and invited us to do the same.

Uncle began, Our world is about four times the size of the object you call 'Moon' and in the distant past, it revolved about a small, somewhat unstable, star many hundreds of what you call 'light-years' from your star.

As our star became increasingly unstable, the people were resigned to the fate which our ancestors were sure awaited them. But one of their Warriors… after a violent eruption… discovered a strange gem, buried in the debris. Worn as an amulet, it conferred upon the bearer strange powers.

With the amulet, the warrior was able to fashion a giant sphere of power to enclose our world and protect it from the imminent destruction of our star. The sphere… what you might call a canopy… could hold enough energy to nourish our world for a period and could be 'recharged' while orbiting a nearby star. The amulet also permitted its bearer to move us from star to star. It was their hope that they might find another star around which they might orbit permanently.

Alas, until now, we have been unable to find such a 'permanent' home. We have visited many stars, but they all… like yours… were either unsuitable or already occupied by a planet with sentient beings. We vowed from the beginning that we would never purchase our safety by conquering others.

The ability to use the power of the amulet has passed from father to son in an unbroken line of three-hundred forty-two warriors. The present holder, Zagar, is the first and only one to use his powers destructively. He and his followers have moved to a high plateau and defied his sovereign, Princess Ariana, Ruler of the Navi. We have been unable… because of his powers… to dislodge him or bring him under control and he has surrounded his redoubt with a barrier similar to the one you encountered entering our world.

Their story was absolutely incredible and, in any other circumstance, I might have dismissed it as childish fantasy. But everything we had seen over the past several hours had been incredible. I could 'read' both the Princess and her uncle and could tell neither were trying to deceive us.

Li spoke for both of us, Your Highness, if we could bring this Zagar back under your control and end his rebellion, will you help us to return our children to their rightful parents?

We would be eternally grateful, she replied, and would do all in our power to erase this terrible wrong. But, Zagar has great power and a dedicated band of warriors. How will you do this?

As your guards can testify, I replied, we have a device that can neutralize his power and render his followers unable to assist him for a short period to allow your warriors to capture and bind him and remove this amulet that is his source of power.

She looked at us both with tears of hope in her lovely eyes.

It would take two of their days for her to assemble her forces and move them to the base of the plateau that held Zagar's fortress. While this was being done, Li transported us to a place just below the rim, from where we could see what was going on.

The village consisted of a number of stone buildings surrounding a central plaza. Prominent in the plaza was a large cage in which the kidnapped boys were being held. Youngsters from the village seemed to draw great enjoyment from poking them and beating them with sticks.

"Two of the boys seem to be hurt," I observed. We later learned they had been severely beaten for leading the others in refusing to cooperate with their captors.

"I know," replied Li, "but we can intervene until Ariana's forces are in place or this might become a blood-bath."

So, we settled down to wait.

***

At last came the signal that the Princess's forces were in place. Gripping my hand tightly, Li smashed the barrier and 'jumped' us right into the middle of the plaza in the center of the heavily fortified village. A squad of armed troops led by another Navi in a bright yellow cloak poured out of one of the buildings and charged toward us brandishing wicked-looking spears. Both Li and I used our 'projectors' liberally and they all were soon rolling in the dust.

There were now two crosses in the center of the plaza with boys strapped to them by their arms in addition to the cages.

At Li's signal, the Princess and her guard topped the rise and strode into the village, stopping dead at what they saw. What is the meaning of this sacrilege? Cut them down! Cut them down at once! her 'voice' echoed in my mind. And get those children out of those cages and properly cared for!"

Yes, your highness! At once! came the reply from a frightened-looking older woman who was obviously the female in charge.

Yes, your highness, at once! came the reply from the captain of her guard. Two of the guardsmen loped across the clearing to the crosses, with Li and me on their heels.

A few swipes of their spears and the Navi warriors lowered the limp and battered bodies into our waiting arms. My boy was clearly moments away from death, but Li 'signaled' to me that his… although dreadfully injured… would likely recover.

As I clasped the boy's broken body to me, he stirred and whispered weakly, "Is… that… you… Eldon?" And I suddenly staggered at the shock as I realized who it was I held in my arms.

"Jonnor!" I breathed.

"Y-yes!" barely audible from his swollen lips.

"Eldon is well and only looks to your return," I told him gently.

He struggled to grasp my arm. "I don't… think… we will… ever… meet… again… in this… world. Please…… please! Tell…… Eldon…… I…… love…… him!"

His hand dropped to his side as he breathed for the last time.

The enormity of what had just occurred hit me like a tsunami as I sank to the ground with my burden. And I thought my heart would break.

The warrior standing silently beside me, stripped off his royal, scarlet cloak and spread it upon the ground and motioned to me. He knelt beside me, took Jonnor's lifeless body and wrapped it tenderly in the cloak before returning it to me... somehow I knew he had paid both Jonnor and me a huge honor. Then, he returned to his place beside Princess Ariana leaving me to grieve.

By the time my tears ceased, Li had handed his burden off to one of the Navi women of the village and knelt with his arm around my shoulder. Together, we lifted Jonnor to begin his journey home. We made sure the other boys were being cared for by the women so they, too, could begin their journey back to our world.

By this time, Zagar had been stripped of his power… it had been awarded to his young son over his vociferous objections… and he was on his way to the Capital to be judged by the Navi elders.

But I knew I had a sad journey ahead and I turned to Li. "Could you transport Jonnor and me directly to Alice from here?" I asked him as I approached the Princess with my scarlet burden and bowed. He thought for a moment and then nodded, realizing what I had in mind.

Your highness, I must ask your assistance. I know there is limited time before you depart, but I have a sorrowful errand I must perform. While I am gone could you please have all the earth boys taken to the 'connection point'? From there, Li will send them back to our world once I have made ready for them.

Friend Andrew, I will do whatever you require to erase this terrible blot on our world.

And, in turn, Li and I will do our very best to protect your world from those of our world who would destroy it.

Li and I walked to the edge of the plateau where I asked him, "Are you sure you can transport all the boys to wherever Master Keldhar and the others decide is appropriate?"

"I guess I just have to," he grinned. "If the two of you go now, that's two less bodies I'll have later. The 'jump' will be somewhat easier from the 'connection', and we can time it so Alice or wherever they decide is aligned properly. I wish I could be there to help you comfort Eldon, but getting all twenty-one of the remaining boys back is more important. I think I should be able to manage two or three a day. I know that is cutting it close, but what choice do we have?"

"Just don't forget yourself!" I chided him. "If you were to be trapped here…"

"Easy, lover. I'm planning to take you to bed in Alice as soon as I can."

Grasping his hand and holding Jonnor close, I once again felt the now-familiar jolt before finding myself standing in Keldhar's office.

"DREW!" both Keldhar and Dad yelled in unison, springing to their feet.

"Yeah, I'm back," I gasped. "We located all the abducted boys and will be ready to bring them back to our world in a day or two."

"Our world?" asked Dad. "Where the hell are they?"

I gave them a short synopsis of our 'adventure'… including the contents of my bundle... as they sat there dumfounded.

Keldhar finally regained his wits. "My God! What are we going to tell everyone?"

"That's part of the problem," I answered. "To secure the boys' release without violence, I promised we would protect the secret of the Navi world. At least until they leave our solar system. Li and I figure it will take twelve or thirteen days to transport everyone but we need to begin as soon as we can as their time in our system is growing short. As soon as they are all at what is known as the 'connection' point, Li will let me know. But we must have a secure place to put them all while this is going on."

"I suppose," said Dad, "that would be someplace here at the school."

"I agree," replied Keldhar, "and we'll have to enlist some of our masters and students to take care of them. At least one boy to be a companion to each of the returnees."

"Can we trust them to keep mum?"

"I believe so."

I had laid Jonnor on Keldhar's couch but, now I picked him up again. "I trust Eldon is still here?"

Our Master looked stricken, "Yes! I'll call him at once."

Moments later he dashed into the room, followed closely by Tim. "You're back! Did you…?" And then he spied the 'package' I was holding and stood there in shock.

"I'm deeply, deeply sorry, Eldon. Your Jonnor was a hero and he paid the price heroes often do. He passed to the next world in my arms, after asking me to tell you of his eternal love for you."

He stood cradling Jonnor as I helped him pull back the cloak. "My beautiful Jonnor!" was all he said as he sobbed, collapsing onto the couch. After a while, he looked up at all of us, tears pouring down his young cheeks. "But I must go on! My people expect this of me."

Tim walked over to him, sat down and took them both into his arms. "Eldon, I know I can never replace Jonnor, 'cause I am not him… I am Tim. But, I pledged my friendship to you more than two years ago and I now renew that pledge. Not as your boyfriend and lover, but as another special friend. If you would wish it, I will go with you and be with you for a time when you return to your people."

Who says my little brother doesn't have a 'gift'?

Epilogue

The transport of all the boys back to Alice Springs was completed just in time, leaving Li utterly exhausted. I was at his side constantly for several days until he was sufficiently rested to be able to visit with the boys we had rescued.

One of the school's dormitories had been converted into a hostel where all the returnees could be cared for and nursed back to health until we were sure the 'comet' was well away from our system. And, although our world seethed with anger, we were able to keep our secret safe.

The entire world was astounded when we announced their boys had been rescued and told the story of their abduction. The first reaction was anger and a desire for retribution, but that soon gave way to more sober thinking… especially when the boys who had been through hell together refused to be drawn into it.

"We have been through a terrible trial," declared young Eleaser from Israel as he stood with his arm around his new-found friend, Yasser, a Palestinian. "If I am to be your future leader," he told his countrymen, "I shall never again go to war with our neighbors."

"And I, too," pledged Yasser, "will not lift my hand against Eleaser's people. We will settle our differences peaceably and work together to make a better life for all. Truly, we must be 'the Peoples of the Book."

All the other boys expressed similar sentiments… had these sad and unfortunate happenings perhaps had a fortunate outcome? Time alone would tell.

Char: Tim Nelson (12yo), Eldon, the Duke of Burundistan (13yo), The Prime Minister, Eldon's Uncle Warnak; Li Hamilton (16) and Andrew Nelson (15), Tim's brothers

With the loss of his boyfriend and lover, Jonnor, Eldon is rapidly coming undone. Can Tim's 'gift' save him and restore him to his birthright?

Tim Narrates

It was a sad… and lonely… flight that bore me, Eldon and the body of young Jonnor home to Burundistan. Throughout the flight, I tried to hold Eldon and comfort him, but the young Duke … my good friend… simply lay rigidly in my arms and stared into space. We were met by Eldon's Uncle Warnak… the Prime Minister… who whisked us both us off to the palace.

After he made sure that I was as comfortable as possible under the circumstances, Warnak hurried off to confer with Eldon about plans for Jonnor's burial. And for resuming his role as Burundistan's Duke.

Eldon was absent at dinner that evening… Warnak had invited me to take meals with the family. "We are so grateful that you have traveled with Eldon to comfort him in his sorrow, but he is home now. So please accept our fervent thanks and you are free to return to your own land."

I felt somewhat like I had been dismissed. "Please, Your Grace," I replied, "I would at least wish to stay for Jonnor's funeral and be of whatever comfort I might be to Eldon."

The Duke looked at me quizzically.

"When I was here before, disguised as a black slave," I explained, "Eldon and I swore eternal friendship and I feel I should honor Jonnor by being with Eldon in his time of sorrow."

The Duke looked at me with renewed respect. "In truth, Timothy, I did not recognize you. That was quite a confused time for us all. But I recall the pact you and Eldon made. Please forgive my rudeness. All of Burundistan will be grateful for your faithful service to our Duke."

"Please remain with us as long as you wish. With your permission I will move you into the room which adjoins Eldon's chamber." Warnak looked very sad. "It is the one that was Jonnor's before…"

Well, at least I wasn't being summarily sent home!

The next few days were difficult… I guess that's an understatement as Eldon was mostly unresponsive, refusing most meals and simply sitting on his balcony staring at the mountains to the west. I sat with him… he seemed to know I was there… barely. And began to be somewhat concerned, but kept my tongue.

The announcement was made that Jonnor would be publicly cremated in the plaza before the palace. And I was to be accorded a place of honor standing just behind Eldon and his uncle.

The morning was dreary… on several accounts… and we were all assembled. I had tried to help Eldon dress that morning, but he had brusquely sent me away.

Jonnor's body… wrapped in the scarlet cloak the Navi warrior had honored him with… was laid upon the pyre and the fire kindled. Eldon stood in the palace entryway… he seemed unduly agitated and I watched him fearfully.

As the flames began to consume Jonnor's body, Eldon suddenly threw off his royal cloak and the crowd gasped. He was naked as he started to march resolutely toward the flaming pyre. Everyone was frozen in place!

Suddenly understanding what he was about to do, I yelled, "No, Eldon! Noooo!" Dashing after him, I tackled him to the ground a second or two before he would have launched himself into the flames.

He struggled wildly, shouting, "JONNOR! I'M COMING WITH YOU! WE'LL BE TOGETHER AGAIN!"

Court physicians came and administered a strong sedative and he gradually stopped fighting me and they carried him away to his chambers.

Warnak knelt in the dust before me, tears streaming down his bearded cheeks. "Timothy! You saved him! Once more you saved our Duke. How can we ever repay you? You acted while the rest of us were paralyzed! How did you…?"

"He was my friend, Your Grace. I couldn't let him destroy himself. I should have seen what he had in mind sooner."

"Not even our palace empath had any idea what he planned. You are a true hero, Tim. We desperately need you to help him overcome this deep sorrow. Will you stay and help him? Help all of us?"

"It would be my deepest honor to do anything I can to help restore him… to see him once again as the brave, strong and loving Duke his people need. Yes, Your Grace, I will stay as long as I am needed."

***

But over the next several weeks, he did not pull out of his funk… indeed he seemed to be less responsive every day as he lay in his bed mumbling. "Jonnor, I failed. I didn't come with you. But I will as soon as I punish… punish… punish…"

I watched in sadness, until the germ of an idea came to me. It had a lot of danger and I was not at all sure it made sense, so I 'discussed' it with Drew and Li before I went to Eldon's disconsolate uncle.

Eldon seems to need to punish someone for Jonnor's death, I explained to my brother and his lover. He obviously can't punish the Navi, so I want to offer myself as a substitute. I want to let him punish me as a substitute. I believe if he does that he may regain his normal personality.

Well, you are probably right, 'replied' Drew, but it could be dangerous… maybe even fatal. I don't think you should…

Drew, when we were here before, I pledged to be his friend always.

That may be true! Li broke in, but you might be seriously harmed and I agree with Drew. It could be a catastrophe for you. Are you prepared to risk that?

Li, it will be a catastrophe for the whole world if Eldon is lost.

Well, we're not prepared to lose our brother, either, declared Drew.

I 'heard' them conferring for a minute or two and, then Li came back 'on line.' OK, if you'll agree to a safeguard. You must have a 'safe-word' to use if his treatment of you becomes more than you can bear.

OK, I'll agree, but I don't think it will come to that.

You don't know that, so your safe-word is 'Dunderbeck'.

The sausage-meat guy, I chuckled. OK, deal.

And if you so much as mumble that word, Li assured me, your ducal pal will think all the demons of hell have descended on him and you'll be outta there!

Sufficiently 'protected', I went to Warnak. "Your Grace, I fear for him. He has this idea he must punish someone for Jonnor's death."

"Really? That seems strange. Even when his father and grandfather were killed by the rebels, he bravely continued on."

"But the leaders of the rebellion were punished, weren't they"

"Yes they were hanged."

"And when that monster, Barras, 'enslaved' you all, the people punished him when he was unmasked, right?" Warnak nodded. "But no one has been punished for Jonnor's death."

"Yes, you are right, Tim. But he cannot punish those Navi. They are lost to us in the great cosmos."

"But he needs to punish someone."

"But who?"

"I will bear the punishment."

"You? But why?"

"Because I am his friend and it may be only way to save him. I must be severely whipped until the desire to punish leaves him."

"But you could be harmed, perhaps injured permanently."

"For my friend, I am willing to take that risk." I did not tell him about my 'safe-word' of that Li was watching over me.

Warnak looked at me and just shook his head in wonder, "Are you sure about this?" I nodded, "Very well," he sighed.

Several hours later two burly guards conducted me to an area in the lower level of the palace where there was an actual dungeon… an ancient torture chamber. It had been little used since Eldon's grandfather had ascended to the throne.

There, an individual dressed all in black… a Master Torturer I was later told… prepared me to receive Eldon's punishment. I was stripped, blindfolded and ball-gagged, my butt was plugged and I was laid, face up, on a rack of some sort. Squeezing my boy-parts into some sort of wire cage-like device and attaching some toothed clips to my nipples produced a good bit of pain, but nothing that I couldn't bear.

My torturer then fastened my ankles to the bottom and my hands over my head and stretched me a bit. It was uncomfortable, but not painful at first. And then he left me to fetch my 'punisher'.

After lying there for an hour or two… well it seemed that long… my muscles began to ache and cramp.

At last I heard footsteps and he returned leading Eldon into the room. I felt Eldon caressing my body as he flipped my nipple clamps sending bolts of pain through my chest. "You have done quite well," I heard him tell the torturer. "But he needs to be stretched more."

I heard Eldon's footsteps move away from my side and quickly the gears on the rack began to grind as my restraints began to tighten, until I thought my arms would come off. I screamed, but the sound was muffled by the gag.

"Please, Your Grace, you must whip him, not tear his limbs off."

"All right. What do you have for me to use."

"Here is a nice 'cat'," replied the torturer.

Eldon's footsteps approached once more.

There was a swish and a line of fire erupted across my chest, just below my nipples. The pain was unbelievable! And I screamed.

Another line of fire across my groin… thankfully the cage would protect my boy-parts from serious injury. Another cut of the 'cat' across my thighs. Another on my chest. And another. And another… I lost track of the count.

"ELDON! THAT IS ENOUGH!" boomed the voice of his uncle who had been watching from the doorway. "Take the Duke to his chambers and wait for me there!" he instructed the servants.

There were sounds of Eldon being led out and then Warnak was at my side.

"My god! Look what he's done to you! You're bleeding!" he said as he tore off the ball-gag and wiped my face with his tunic. "How could you have agreed to this? Are you mad?"

"No, Your Grace," I gasped. "He is my friend and if this succeeds in bringing back from his depression, it will have been worth it."

"Well, let’s get you off this rack and get your whip-cuts treated," as he moved to the mechanism.

"No! Please Your Grace!" I begged. "Eldon must release me. Just give me a little slack." He did and my arms and legs didn't hurt quite so much.

"I will return with my nephew and I will make him understand," Warnak vowed, as he ran from the dungeon.

As short time later, I heard them returning. From the top of the steps, his uncle admonished him. "Eldon, do you know who it was you punished? Who it was you whipped? Did you not recognize him?"

"Why, yes. It was one who killed… IEEEEEEE! NO! NO! IT CAN'T BE!" And I heard him come dashing down the stairs and over to me.

"Tim! Tim! How could I have done this to you? Why did you let me?" he sobbed as he struggled to get me out of my bonds and off the rack. Picking me up in his arms, he carried me up to his chamber and laid me on his bed. Laying his head on my chest, he bawled like a newborn… I guess, in a sense, he had been reborn.

For several days, while the doctors tended to me and my whip-cuts began to heal, he never left my side. "Tim, why?" he kept asking me.

"Because you are my friend and you needed to punish me to help you recover from Jonnor's death."

"I don't understand!"

"I know you loved him very much and his death was more than you could bear, but you must put his death behind you. Your people need their duke."

"I don't fully understand, but you are right. I must once again be the ruler they expect instead of a foolish wimp."

"You were never a wimp," I assured him. "Just a loving and sensitive young man who lost the most precious person in his life. I know I can never replace Jonnor and I would never try to. But I love you and I will always be your friend."

He looked shocked. How shocked I would learn a day or two later.

His uncle told me later what he had said to the regency council

"I must ask you to forgive the way I have acted since I returned. It was shameful! It was weak! It was not what you should expect from your duke. I loved Jonnor very much, but he is gone and I must move on. It took the sacrifice of a good friend to teach me that."

"But it made me understand something."

"That good friend was willing to bear a lot of pain, even risk his life because of his love for me. And I have come to know he is one who I can always depend upon… who will always be there for me when I need him."

He came to me just before sunset, right after he had met with his council. "I know there will never be another Jonnor," he told me. "But that part of my life is past. I have come to realize that I need to someone by my side as I continue to rule my people… someone who loves me so much that he was willing to risk pain… pain that I can't begin to imagine… and even death for me. Someone I love very much and whose judgment I trust completely."

"You are that someone, Tim!"

"I know it is asking very much of you, but will you be my faithful companion throughout life so that, together, we may honor Jonnor by ruling my people wisely and well?"

WOW!

That night we made gentle love in his bed. And we both 'visited' with Drew and Li.

The next day, I sat down and wrote a letter to my families:

Char: Brothers Travis Deverill (12yo) and Tim Deverill (14yo) and their parents Gavin and Ceinwyn; Andrew Nelson (now 15yo) and David Nelson, his father; Li Soon Hamilton (now 16yo) and Eric and Peter Hamilton, his fathers; Master Keldhar and the other Masters and Students of the Alice Springs School for Exceptional boys

Drew and Li receive some long-hoped-for visitors.

Drew Narrates

It's been a very quiet year here at the Alice Springs School For Exceptional Boys… at least for my lover, Li Soon, and me and our families. No grand adventures… no exciting and dangerous assignments from our headmaster, Master Keldhar. Just the opportunity to really study and learn all we could about our respective 'gifts'. And to spend our nights in blissful lovemaking. I'm afraid our respective dads didn't get much bed time with either of us.

In some ways, it seems like Master Keldhar… and the rest of the school… has forgotten us. Not that that was such a bad thing; being Master Keldhar's prize pupils can be a bit uncomfortable at times. Thankfully, none of our fellow students held that against us.

Oh sure, Li and I had made a short trip in August to Burundistan to visit our now ducal brother, Tim. But that was mostly to assure our families he was happy and fulfilled with his role as consort to Archduke Eldon.

But 'Spring Break' was only a week away and the whole family would be together once more here at Alice… our first since our vacation in Sandywater several summers ago. Mom and Jenny would be flying in from California and even Tim would be with us. It hadn't been established whether Eldon would come along. After all, he was now part of our family, if only peripherally. But the royal party would stop in Johannesburg to pick up Li's brother Charlie. They would all be arriving in two weeks.

Master Keldhar had agreed to turn over an entire guest house for us as soon as classes broke for the holiday, so there would be room to spare for our whole entourage.

But Li and I were a bit puzzled one Monday morning when Dad insisted we go with him to the airport… he needed help with an incoming shipment, he told us. No one was due in for two weeks. And it sounded a bit fishy to me.

Li had no inkling, either but it turned out my suppositions were spot on.

Especially when he led us to the 'Arrivals Area' instead of incoming freight. Must be something coming by courier, I 'told' Li.

Yeah, he 'replied', but your dad has got so good at shielding, I can't even read him. So it could be anything!

We didn't have to wait long.

I tried to spot someone among the deplaning passengers with a message attaché or parcel. No such luck, but the last two thru the wicket caught our attention at once.

"Travis and Tim!" we both screeched as they came pelting toward us.

"Hi guys, and you too, Mr. Nelson," Travis greeted us.

"What a grand surprise!" as we engulfed them in our hugs.

"Diolch. Mae'n anrhydedd i fod yn chi gwesteion." (Thank you. We are honored to be your guests.), Tim added in Welsh.

I looked over my shoulder at Dad, standing there grinning smugly. "How long have you known they were coming." I asked somewhat giddy.

"Since last week. It's not very often I get to put something over on you two," he chortled.

"What are you doing here?" asked Li.

"Well," explained Tim, "our 'rents thought it was high time we saw some of how the rest of you poor souls lived, so we're all goin' 'round the world. So far we've been to the Rocky Mountains…"

"Yeah, Yellowstone was cool!" interjected Travis.

"And the Bay Area of North America… we stopped to see your mom, Drew. An' she told us that your Timmy is a duke, now and all 'bout your reunion and invited us to come along. Our folks are in Sydney right now an' want to spend some time there and in Melbourne… Dad wants to visit the University."

"It's pronounced 'Mel-bun', Tim. See, I'm talking just like a Kiwi."

"It's Aussies, here, Squirt," he corrected his brother. "Kiwis are in New Zealand and we ain't been there yet."

"Yeah? Well, anyway, our Dad talked to your Dad, and here we are," gushed Travis.

"Our folks'll be here the same time as the rest of your families. I hope you won't mind us being here?" questioned Tim.

"Mind? It's just super grand to have you. Classes are pretty much over before Spring Break, so you can visit and see all the strange things we learn," Li assured them. "Holy shit! We'll have what? Fourteen if Eldon comes!"

The whole way back to school, we jabbered back and forth about the things going on in our lives. Dad just drove with a bemused look on his face. Haven't seen them so pleased and excited in quite a while? he thought.

Li's Dads had been to Sandywater with us and were equally delighted to see Travis and Tim and to learn their folks were coming to the reunion. Master Keldhar was off at a meeting, so he'll have to wait until tomorrow to meet our friends.

Li and I spent the rest of the day getting them settled in our rooms… we couldn't have the guest house until Spring Break actually began. As you might guess, Travis wanted to be with me, so Tim would bunk with Li.

Dinner with the school was exciting as everyone wanted to meet these 'real' boys from Sandywater. I think quite a few of our classmates were surprised they were wearing clothes.

Shortly after supper, Travis and I… at his vehement urging… wished Li and Tim good-night and hurried off to my room.

Once safely in its confines, Travis threw his arms around me and gave me a big, somewhat sloppy, kiss. "Oh Dew, it's so cool to see you again! Yeah, I have Gus now and I love him very. very much, but you will always be my very special friend."

"And you are very special to Li and me, too… 'specially' to me," I replied. "It's a different kind of love than we have for our boyfriends, isn't it?"

He nodded. "Drew, do you think we could… might… you know, just like that night in the tent?"

I was going to refuse him? That I wasn't ready? That he wasn't ready? Don't be daft!

My hands shook as I knelt and unbuckled Travis's shorts and dropped them to his feet. He was actually wearing briefs and, from the size of the tent in the front, he was more than ready. Slipping my hands under the waistband, I slid them down his smooth, well-formed legs as his no-longer little boy parts popped out.

Wow! He was going to be well-hung, just like his brother.

My heart was stuck somewhere in my throat. What is it,I asked myself, about this boy that turns me into a pile of jelly?

"I've really grown this year," he giggled. "Tim says I'm bigger'n he was when he was my age. Do you like 'em?" He giggled at my stupefied expression. "Wan'ta play with them? Maybe even suck a bit?"

When had he become this aggressive? Poor Augustus, his lover, must not stand a chance!

Finally gathering my wits, I replied, "Let's just cuddle a while first. Lie down and I'll be right with you."

Leaving my clothes in a heap on the floor, I slid in beside him and pulled his warm and still-tender body close. With my arms about him… well, it felt just fabulous… so different than when Li and I cuddled. And I was transported back to that wonderful night in our camp along the seafront.

"Yeah, I have a boyfriend now," he told me, "but it's really, really nice being with you. It feels different than when Gus and me are together."

"Yeah! And I enjoy having you here, but it is different from when Li and I lie together. I'll bet he and Tim are having lots of fun. How is Tim doing these days?"

"Well," he replied, "him and Leif are sorta close now even if Tim won't admit it. They often go with Seth and Odin and spend the whole night on the beach. Gus and me even got invited one time, but mostly they don't want us kids about. I can unnerstand that and I'm just happy that Tim's maybe found someone."

"But I did notice," he giggled, "that Tim sometimes walks kinda' funny the next morning. I guess if I had that big thing of Seth's up my ass, I'd prolly walk funny, too. Me and Gus ain't tried that yet, 'cause it'd hurt him, I think. I'm much bigger than him."

I had seen what Seth had and what Travis now had and had no doubt of that. And I was thankful he and Gus had decided to wait.

"We just like to suck," he assured me. "How about you and me…?"

Getting all of him in my mouth was a lot harder than I remembered.

After that we just held each other until we drifted asleep.

Next morning, we lay there for a while, awake but not quite ready to get up. "Tell me what's been happening in Sandywater," I urged my bed-partner.

"Well, you know most things if you've been followin' the story on the Internet."

"True. So tell me some things I don't know."

He giggled. "Let's see. All the 'Factory Kids' are gone… most of them 'dopted an' the Province took the few that were left. Liam is workin' hard tryin' to convince Mattie to let him make him a free boy but he ain't quite sure yet. I try to help, but he's still pretty much afraid."

"An' there's a rumor goin' round that Connor has a way to take that thing off his prick, so he's been spendin' a lot of time being tutored by his geography teacher… and several other ladies. Didn't know you could make a baby by tutoring."

"Jordan doesn't know about it and she's still pretty much tied to Samantha… she's a real bitch… almost as bad as Jordan's Aunt Terri."

"Samantha's out to get Jayden, but she lost that battle a long time ago. Besides, he and Garret are back in London, but it's not clear which one is the slave. I guess, in a way, they both are… to each other. Isn't that a hoot?"

"Tell me about your Tim getting' to be a Duke."

So, I told him who Eldon was and about our adventures with the Navi and how Eldon's BF was killed. And how Tim had risked his life to rescue Eldon from his grief.

"Wow! Tim's really brave to do that!"

"Wouldn't you risk your life to save Gus?" I asked him.

"Sure!" he admitted. "So Tim and this Eldon are lovers?"

"Yes, Eldon is the Archduke of Burundistan and Tim is what they call his 'consort'. Together they're going to raise a little boy who will some day take Eldon's place. I think he's coming to our reunion, so you'll get to meet him then. He's really a great guy and we're all sure that Tim is really happy."

"You know any other dukes who need a consort? Nah, just kiddin'."

"Where are you going after you leave here?" I asked.

"Well, on to New Zealand and then to Japan and China and India. And then to Russia and Europe and The British Isles and Iceland. By the time we get back home school will be started… I'll have to work to make up, but I don't have to take geography this year. In fact, I think Mr. Davis is plannin' to have me teach a lot of the time. How cool is that!"

"The only thing… well it's real pain to have to wear so many clothes while we're travelling. It ain't right. But Mom an' Dad says we hafta, so I guess we just hafta suffer."

The next morning, after breakfast, the four of us went to see Master Keldhar.

"Well, I'm certainly pleased you came to visit us," he told them. "I've heard so much about Sandywater from Drew and Li and I follow your stories on the Internet. But to know that you are real people and you're standing here before me… well that's a real treat."

"Master," I inquired, "Could you see if maybe they have some 'gifts'?"

"Certainly, if you wish."

Both Travis and Tim nodded.

He took each of them by their hands and concentrated. After a bit, he relaxed and reported, "I believe Travis is a 'sensitive'… that is, he can sense psychic power from others, but has no powers himself. But no paranormal gifts."

They both looked disappointed until he reminded them, "You certainly have other gifts that are not paranormal… I could read that easily. The ability to love deeply… to be brave and caring… those are things that are just as important as any paranormal gifts."

"Thank you, Master Keldhar," replied Tim. "Yeah, thanks very much!" echoed his brother.

"You are quite welcome," Keldhar replied. "Now, go an enjoy your stay with us. I'm sure these two rascals will keep you occupied."

I stayed behind as the others left. "Master, there is one favor I wish to ask."

"And that is?"

"They're simply not used to wearing so much clothing and I was wondering…"

"Yes, they may dress 'Sandywater style' so long as they are on campus. And you may join them if you wish."

"Thank you, sir!" I shouted as I ran to tell them.

Our classmates were somewhat shocked at first, but many of them soon joined us. By the end of the week, our school resembled a somewhat irregular nudist colony.

***

The guys wanted to know all about this mysterious place called 'The Outback' Master Keldhar allowed us to use one of the school vehicles, so we drove out along the Ross Highway quite a distance. I hoped we might see some 'roos, but they were hiding. We did see one unfortunate victim of a contest between a kangaroo and an eighteen-wheeler… the 'roo lost. And then Li had to explain about 'wasaroos'.

Another day, we took them to ANZAC Hill and the memorial for the Aussie and Kiwi troops who were killed in the Gallipoli fiasco. Most of what they learned there was completely new.

"We don't study much about the so-called 'Great War'," confessed Tim. "'specially since the CSA stayed out of it."

"Well the way we heard," Li told them, "the Confederate officials hoped Germany would win and they got caught with some big losses when it didn't turn out that way. And there are all kinds of rumors that the North might invite them back in."

"Yeah! I'll have to ask Mrs. Caldwell about it when we get home," added Travis.

"Oh! Do you need some tutoring?" I teased him.

"Not that kind!" he replied emphatically.

Returning from ANZAC Hill, we stopped at the Todd River.

"I don't see no river." said Travis. "Just a lot of rocks."

"Well. there's one there," I informed him. "Don't forget, we're on the opposite side of the earth from Britain, so the river is upside-down. The rocks are on the top and the water on the bottom." Both Travis and Tim looked at me strangely. I'm sure they were not quite sure if their collective legs were bring pulled. "You should be here when they have the 'Henly-on-Todd Regatta'."

If the guys still had any doubts, they must have decided not to pursue them. "You're cruel," Li told me later that evening. "Pretty soon they'll not believe a thing you tell them."

***

Keldhar had made arrangements for all four of us to go on a camel ride one evening into the outback, something neither Li or I had done before. If you have ever ridden a camel… well, it's certainly different and quite rough. I noticed Li was sort of floating along just above his saddle and I called him on it. He sighed and settled back into the saddle and suffered along with the rest of us.

After two hours all of us were happy to stand on our own two feet again.

"If I had to travel that way," declared Travis, "I'd walk!"

"Yeah!" agreed his brother, "my ass hurts worse than after one of Master Will's spankings."

"But that's the only way they had to travel, before modern roads," Li explained.

On the way back to the school, we stopped at Heaventree Gap Lodge where there is a colony of rock wallabies. We all had fun feeding and petting them.

***

On another day, we were enjoying lunch in a downtown pizza place… a treat for all of us since our master doesn't think pizza is good for growing boys. Suddenly, we were confronted by a figure dressed all in black who began shouting epithets at us. Oh no! It's 'Pastor Lamebrain! I alerted my partner.

Lamebrain continued to shout at us for a few more moments, but then suddenly burst into a shriek and began to beat about his clothes, before running screaming from the restaurant. What did you do to him? I asked my guilty-looking partner.

Just dumped a nest of scarab beetles down his britches.

"You know Keldhar doesn't want us doing things like that!"

"You gonna tell him? he ginned at me evilly.

Travis and Tim had sat frozen thru the whole episode, but Tim now asked, "Who was he? And what was that all about?"

"That is Pastor Lamborn… we call him 'Lamebrain'," I explained. "He believes that boys who have gifts… probably all boys, for that matter… are evil. Calls us 'Spawns of Satan'. He'd like to see our school destroyed. No one pays much attention to him except the small group of idiots who go to his church."

"A few months ago," continued Li, "one of the senior boys was in town on an errand, and Lamebrain tried to run him down. Jack just jumped out of his way, but then nudged his car into the pond. The constables hauled him out, charged him with DUI and took his license away."

"Keldhar was not pleased at what Jack had done as he likes to keep us out of controversy," I added. "Told him, 'Just step out of the way, hereafter.' But he really thought it was a hoot."

"Does this guy always give you a hard time?" asked Travis.

"Not very often," I assured him. "It's rumored he abuses the boys who go to his church-school."

"It's not a just rumor," interjected Li. "You remember what that kid told us? But Keldhar doesn't want us involved, so I guess he'll go on until one of his followers has had enough."

"One night," I explained, "we caught this little skinny kid tryin' to sneak into our building. He was naked an' scared an' cold so we took him to my room to warm up."

"He told us he was from Lamebrain's church," Li continued, "and it was 'training night'."

"All the boys his age… four or five of them… from the church had to go to the basement of the church to get 'trained'. That meant they had to strip naked and were then forced to stand with their hands tied over their heads."

"After a while, Lamebrain comes in and rubs some stuff on their pricks that makes them get super-hard right away. He jerks each of the boys until one of them cums. Then he unties that boy and makes him suck him. Instead, the kid kicked him in the balls and escaped. He was looking for a place to hide."

"It was pretty late, so Drew and I decided to keep the boy with us and we would take him to Master Keldhar in the morning. The poor kid was terrified we would take him back to Lamebrain even though we promised him we wouldn't."

"Both Li and I thought we had calmed the kid down, so we cleaned him up a bit and put him to bed with me."

"Next morning the kid was gone!"
[The further story of this 'kid' and pastor Lamborn in chapter 1 of Adventures with Summo and Timo]

"Right away we went to Keldhar and told him about the kid and what he told us. I wanted to go to the authorities, but he said no."

"'You have no proof,' he told us."

"'Well, I know the kid was telling the truth' Li burst out."

"'I'm sure he was,' replied our master. 'But the authorities won't act without a victim and Pastor Lamborn would just deny your story. Unless you can find the boy and get him to agree to tell them what happened!' We could tell he was sorry, but we had to admit he was right."

"We both looked for him without being too obvious, but had no luck. Maybe he was taken in by one of the indigenous clans that live near… I sure hope so."

On the way back to school, Travis pulled me asside. "Tim wants to be with you tonight," he warned me. "He has this crazy idea you're tryin' to steal me away from Gus. I keep tellin' him that's not true. But he just won't listen."

"Thanks for letting me know. I'm sure Tim and I can work it out," I assured him.

It was pretty quiet the rest of the afternoon.

That night, at his request, I did have Tim with me.

He was very quiet and said there was something we needed to talk about.

"You're really hot for the Squirt, aren't ya?" he asked me.

I was taken aback! "Well, yes, he's my favorite of all the Sandywater boys, but I know…"

"I don't want you breakin' his heart," he interrupted. "He's got a good thing goin' with Augustus an' I don't want you messin' it up. Gus is a neat kid an' I don't want either of them hurt."

"I wouldn't think of it!" I replied, with some heat. "What kind of monster do you think I am?"

"Well, I'm just sayin'!"

"Look Tim. You and Travis are very special to me and Li and I hope we will always be good friends… but that's all. I have a lover and I never would think of trying to steal Travis away from Gus."

He glared at me a bit, but then… "I'm sorry," he began to cry. "I know you wouldn't. That was dumb of me".

"No it's not," I assured him. "He's your brother and you love him very much and would do anything to see that he's happy."

He wiped his eyes. "It's just that he's found someone and they are so happy… I don't want nuthin to spoil it." He sighed. "I wish I had someone."

"I think you might find that you already do," I told him. "Travis says you and Leif have been pretty close."

"Yeah, he's really cool kid, an' he understands what bondage and pain are all about. But why would he want to hook up with someone who does that to himself?"

"But you have learned to control your impulses, haven't you?"

"Well most of the time, Drew. It's like an itch that I just can't scratch!" he bawled. "Sometimes I just can't stand it any longer and then I have a friend, Noah, who helps me to scratch it. Mom and Dad trust him to not let me go too far."

"But you really do love Leif, don't you?"

"Yes!" he sobbed. "More than you can ever know. He's had such a horrible time and he's just recovering from what those bastards at the Factory did to him. He's such a cool kid! Yet he still has time for me!"

I could read the love and longing in his heart.

"If I were you," I advised him, "I would tell him how you feel about him. You might be surprised at his reaction."

"So you think there's really a chance he might…?"

"Yep." And I gathered him in my arms and pulled him close.

"Squirt was right! You do know stuff!" he sniffed.

I pulled him close and held him until he was calm. "Tim, you are good kid! Yes, you have something in your nature that causes you to want bondage and pain. But you have been so brave and strong to try to move on in your life. Travis is so very fortunate to have a big brother he adores: a brother who loves him with all his heart and would do anything to make him happy."

"Do you really think so?" he asked, sniffing back his tears.

I nodded.

***

Early the second week, we all visited the Royal Flying Doctor Service and saw how medical services are provided to the far-flung cattle and sheep stations. Li and I had never been there before although we had heard about them.

But the most fun that day was our time at the 'School of the Air'.

Along with some of our classmates, Li and I periodically volunteered at the school helping the instructors. Travis and Tim were fascinated at the technology used to provided primary education to students who were scattered over thousands of square-kilometers. They even got to talk to some of the students and were amazed and pleased some of the older ones followed the Sandywater saga on the internet.

One of the little boys Tim talked to suddenly reminded me of Elf and I asked him about our little friend. "What's become of our little friend, Elf," I asked as we headed back to the school.

"Oh, he's a trip," Tim assured me. "Liam and Mattie are gettin' ready to adopt him; 'course Mattie has to pretend since he's still Liam's slave. Liam's workin' on that, but doesn't have him quite convinced that bein' free would be a good thing."

Travis broke in, "Yeah, but Elf has appointed himself official greeter for any new family that comes to Sandywater. He tries to get them into the swing of things."

"He refuses to wear clothes 'cept for a small covering," Travis began to giggle. "That's a bit much for some of the moms, so he has to spend some time gettin' them to let their kids dress Sandywater style."

That evening, we had a call from Gavin and Ceinwyn, or rather Tim and Travis did.

Their parents had moved on to Melbourne to enjoy the University and the Fitzroy Gardens and were planning to arrive in Alice on Saturday, the same time all the others would be arriving.

"While we were in Sydney, I even climbed 'The Coat-hanger', Gavin told his incredulous sons.

"What the hell is the 'Coat-hanger'," Tim wanted to know, after they had finished the call.

"That's what Sydney-siders call the Harbor Bridge," Li explained. "And you can climb to the very top of it."

That was a side of their dad, the boys had never seen before.

***

Saturday morning, was quite a busy time at our airport. Mom and Jenny were actually on the same flight from Melbourne as Gavin and Ceinwyn. And Eldon's royal flight arrived twenty minutes later. It took several vans to transport everyone and their baggage out to the school.

We immediately occupied the guest house and spent most of the rest of the day settling in. Tim, Travis, Li and I were bunked together while Eldon shared a room with his consort and Charlie. The adults and Jenny divided the remaining rooms and by late afternoon all were settled.

That first night, Keldhar invited everyone to dinner in the Great Hall. Most of the students… and many of the masters… had gone home over 'break' and the ones still there were excited to share their meal with such interesting and important guests.

After dinner, Keldhar welcomed everyone. "I can't begin to tell you how happy I am to see all of you. Mrs. Scott, you and Jennifer are always the hit of any gathering.

"And Your Highness… Eldon… we are so grateful you could join us. I can tell it's a much happier occasion than when you were last here. And your consort… are we permitted to call you 'Timmy' while you are here?"

Timmy turned bright red, but nodded vigorously.

"And Charley, it's good to have you home, even though I know you are doing great work in Capetown."

"And a very special welcome to our friends from Sandywater," he continued. "I have gotten to know these two fine boys… excuse me, young men… of yours, Gavin and Ceinwyn. I hope you are very proud of both of them for they possess the most important gifts of all… courage and kindness and the ability to love and care for their fellows. And I think your plan to travel about our whole world as part of their education is spot on."

"Our boys here at the school have many opportunities to travel widely and I'm sure they would tell you how much it has added to their education."

Yeah, and nearly got us killed on occasion, I thought to myself.

"That's something you and Jenifer might want to consider some day, Amanda."

"I know how much our boys wanted to visit their friends here at Alice Springs," responded Gavin. "And their mother and I are overwhelmed by the kindness and hospitality we have received here in Australia."

***

One evening, we were treated to a performance by 'Drum Atweme'. It's a group for at-risk aborigine kids and teaches them about their customs, especially music and dance. The drummers were quite good and invited all of us to dance with them.

The next morning, we drove into the outback near the city to visit an aboriginal settlement that welcomed visitors to learn about 'dreamtime' and aboriginal art and culture.

We even got to try out throwing a boomerang at a target… something both Li and I had failed at miserably.

Who got the most hits on the target?

Well, never underestimate my little sister!

We also learned about the wild foods that grow in this inhospitable climate on which these folk can subsist indefinitely. After much teasing, Big Tim was induced to try one of the 'Witchetty Grubs'.

His comment afterward? "Well it was OK, but I don't think I'll give up cheeseburgers and milkshakes."

***

Li and I and our dads had our Quantas passes and Keldhar managed to wrangle tickets for the rest of the group, so we had a two-day trip to Uluru. Li and I had been there on school trips, but the others had not. No matter how many times I see that huge, towering piece of rock just sitting there in solitary splendor, I still get goosebumps. It had not been on the Deverill's tour schedule and it would have been awful for them not to have experienced its spell.

There were so many things we all did, it's hard to remember them all.

***

Our time together was rapidly coming to an end, but Mom waited till the last dinner to drop her bombshell. I noticed she and Jenny and Dad had all arrived together… Dad with a goofy grin on his face. What had they cooked up?

"I want all of you to know," she told us during dessert, "Jenny and I will not be returning to California. At their invitation, we have decided to join the Deverill family for the rest of their trip. David has spent the last several days making all the arrangements. You are right, Master Keldhar, it will be a splendid education for both of us.

There was a stunned silence followed by hearty applause before Travis brought the house down with his quip, "You mean we're going to have a with us for our whole rest of the trip?"

"Hey, Squirt!" his brother chastised him, "Jennifer is a young lady and you better treat her as such."

"Just kiddin', bro!"

The next afternoon, we saw them off on The Ghan… the train that makes twice weekly trips in both directions between Adelaide and Darwin. From Adelaide, they would fly on to Christchurch in New Zealand. Charlie, Timmy and Eldon flew out the next morning and suddenly we were 'alone' again.

"We need to do this more often," Peter spoke for all of us.

"Time to get back to studies," Keldhar reminded us. "Actually, I've been considering a project for the two of you,"

Oh shit! Another one of our Master's crazy trips! Li and I 'said' to each other.

More adventures to come? Well. we'll see.

NEXT PART