Maiocxx

Tales from the World of Cody and Lucas

Travels with Drew and Li

10. Scoping the Czarevitch

Char: Czarevitch Prince Ivan (12yo) and his brother, Prince Paul (10yo); Drew Nelson (now 15yo); Li Soon Hamilton (now 16yo); Count Rostov, Major Ivanoff; Sasha Beria (12yo)

Drew Narrates

The Christmas Holidays, as most of you are aware, come just at the start of our summer season here in Australia. And my lover, Li, and I were looking forward to some fun times at the beaches in Carns with our dads, David, Eric and Peter, before classes started again in March. Not that we were at all likely to have a completely carefree lark during the summer. Our headmaster and mentor, Master Keldhar, usually had some interesting… and sometimes dangerous… adventures ready to challenge us.

But it was a bit surprising when he called us… and our dads… into his office one Monday morning in early December, some two weeks before our summer break was slated to begin.

"How would the two of you," he asked Li and me, "like to spend the Holidays in a land of ice and snow?" Well, scrap any ideas of warm weather pursuits for our time off.

"Are you thinking of sending us on a polar expedition?" asked my ever-irrepressible lover.

"No, I was actually thinking of Russia; Moscow to be exact. And as the guests of royalty."

The monarchy had been restored to that vast land some five years ago and it was mostly peaceful, although there were still areas where the anti-monarchists were continuing to be a thorn in the side of the Czar and his supporters.

"It's come to the attention of some of Nicholas's court," Keldhar continued, "that there seems to be someone with paranormal abilities within the Czar's close family. The Orthodox Church has vigorously condemned such powers as evil, so suspicions have been kept very quiet."

"But Count Rostov has been in touch with London… and they referred him to me… about our sending someone to investigate. He believes it's one or both of the Czar's sons, Prince Ivan or Prince Paul. If his suspicions are correct, they would like someone who can evaluate their potential and begin a training regimen regardless of the Church's opposition."

"And you want us to go?" I asked, surprised.

"Correct! It would be a rare opportunity for you to practice some of your teaching skills and strike a real blow to the unrest that seems to permeate that unhappy land. Building some bonds of friendship with the two princes would pay dividends in the relationships between our two lands. Although the two of you are well-known in most of the world, Russia has been kept rather much in the dark, largely because of the Church's opposition. You would be going as minor members of our royal family, young teens seeking to meet other young royals."

"With the rumblings of discontent still prevalent in areas of Russia," broke in David, my dad, "is it safe?"

"I believe so," answered Keldhar. "They would only be in Moscow and that's well-removed from the insurgency." Turning to us, he asked, "What do you think, guys?"

"Why not?" answered Li… always ready for some new adventure. I chuckled and nodded yes.

And so, after a two-week crash course in royal etiquette and properly titled as barons, here we were arriving in the shadow of St. Basil's and being conducted into the Kremlin Palace. A glitteringly uniformed man flanked by two equally resplendent and attractive young boys stood waiting to greet us.

"I am Count Rostov," he boomed, "here to welcome you on behalf of his supreme majesty Czar Nicholas III and the Czarina, Katherine, to our Christmas Holidays."

"Thank you, your grace," Li answered him. "I am Baron Li of Richmond and this is my cousin Baron Andrew of Stafford." Then, we both bowed.

"Excellent!" exclaimed the Count. Gesturing to the two boys, "May I present His Imperial Highness the Czarevitch Prince Ivan and his brother, Prince Paul. You will be their special guests during your stay."

"Is great honor to meet you," said Ivan as he and his brother returned our bows .

We stood there for a few moments, exchanging pleasantries and it quickly became obvious the two princes were quite excited to meet such 'exotic' visitors and were very much looking forward to having fun times with us.

"Now," said the Count addressing the boys, "you two rascals are late for your riding lessons, so off with you while I show your guests to their quarters and about the palace." The boys nodded, bowed again to us and scampered off.

Exuding hospitality, Rostov led us upstairs to a quite comfortable suite of rooms, right next to those occupied by the two princes. "I trust these will be to your liking?" he asked solicitously.

"Quite so," I answered.

The Count then led us on a tour of the building and its grounds and, in due course, we arrived at a small, heated outbuilding. Motioning us in, he indicated several comfortable chairs and indicated we should be seated.

"Now then," he informed us, "this is one of the few places we can meet and speak in private."

We understood what he was telling us and nodded.

"And you are Li Soon Hamilton?"

"I am, sir."

"I must first express my thanks to you both," Rostov continued, "for agreeing to come here and instruct the two princes." I found that remark puzzling and Li did, too but we continued to give him our full attention. "It is not generally known, but the Czar is gravely ill and will probably not last until Easter-tide. When he passes, Prince Ivan will ascend the throne."

"He will need all the assistance he can muster to keep Mother Russia from sliding back into chaos again. While I and others stand ready to support him, it is our belief that some paranormal abilities… despite the opposition of the Church… would give him… as the Yanks put it… 'a leg up'. Your task is to teach them both how to acquire and use these abilities. Your Master Keldhar has assured me you are his two most brilliant and gifted students."

"I'm sorry, Your Excellency," I broke in, "but you misunderstand. Li and I cannot teach anyone how to acquire paranormal abilities. You either are born with them or not. We can help someone who already has paranormal gifts to discover and use them effectively."

"Yes," added Li, "if either or both of the princes have paranormal gifts, we can help them to identify them and train them in their use. But only if they already possess them."

Rostov looked shocked and somewhat disappointed. "That is quite a bit less than we had hoped for. Still, there is some evidence that either or both of them have something." He did not elaborate.

"We will be glad," countered Li, "to thoroughly test and work with them to see what may be latent. But it would be advantageous if you could find a gifted person with paranormal abilities who could act as their mentor once we have returned to our homeland. Such a person could be a strong support to them even if neither prince has inherent gifts."

It was clear that Rostov was disappointed and we were almost sure we might be dismissed and sent home immediately. He sat looking at us for several silent minutes, but then said, "I appreciate your candor, young men. Thus, it is my wish that you proceed to study the two princes and do for us whatever is possible. I believe I can trust you to do your very best."

"You may be assured of that," I replied.

And so began our stay as teachers and 'older brothers' to the two boys.

We found them to be delightful charges… intelligent, exuberant and very likable. We had never before been in charge of boys their age and grew quite fond of them. Actually, we sort of became young boys again in a way and enjoyed our times with them. Still we worked at evaluating their potential.

We soon discovered they were quite skilled in sexual matters… largely due to the influence of one of their 'tutors'. He tutored them, all right, but had not stuck to the approved syllabus. With his encouragement and participation, the two of them had developed quite a long list of ways to please each other and… after the first few days… us.

One of the most inventive was what they called 'skin wrestling.' This involved them both naked, wrestling until one of them could get his lips around the other's prick and won the prize… being allowed to deposit his boy-juice in his opponent's mouth. Not exactly something which either Li or I would consider much of a prize.

We passed on that one, but they usually shared some bed-time fun with us. Some of it was truly 'mind-blowing'… and blowing some other parts, too. Was it proper? We were not going to ask; just enjoy their young bodies. I'm sure someone in the palace knew of our 'extracurricular' activities with them, but no one interfered. So we were free to 'feast' while we evaluated and taught.

And, after being with them for a bit over three weeks, we were ready to report our findings to the Count.

Li acted as spokesman. "I have both bad news and good news," he told our anxious host.

"Ivan is what is called a 'sensitive'… that is, he can detect and receive psychic messages, but he has no paranormal gifts of his own. Paul, on the other hand, has several quite strong gifts. He is telepathic; that is he can send and receive messages to and from others. And he is an empath… he can read and interpret the feelings and intentions of others and can 'broadcast' his feelings to them. The latter is a very useful ability for one who will lead others."

"But Ivan is the Czarevitch!" objected Rostov.

"That is true," I replied. "But with the steadfast support of his brother, they will make a formidable team."

Rostov nodded, accepting the inevitable. "Very well, proceed with whatever instruction you believe will helpful. I have my agents searching for a mentor for them, but with the Church's opposition……."

We spent the next few weeks again working closely with the two boys and soon had Paul able to channel his gifts and Ivan acutely 'tuned' to receiving messages from his brother. Despite his sibling's powers, Ivan was not at all jealous and quite ready to accept his brother as his teammate. For his part, Paul looked up to his older brother and the love they shared was nothing short of extraordinary.

Of course, we all took 'time off' to enjoy the Russian Christmas Festivities which culminated on January 6th with the Feast of St. Nicholas. We saw only fleeting appearances of the Czar and Czarina… Rostov's statement about the Czar's health was quite evident from what both Li and I could 'read'.

So, it was soon late January and we had about concluded it was time for us to return home, when the good colonel dropped his little bomb on us.

"We have located a person who might be a suitable mentor to the princes," he told us, flushed with excitement. "This knowledge has been kept from all but a few, but we would like your evaluation of this person's suitability."

"We would be happy to do so," Li replied. "When can we meet him?"

"Because of the need for secrecy," Rostov replied, "we do not think it wise to bring her to Moscow."

"Oh, she's female?" I broke in.

"Yes, and a thoroughly charming young lady of fourteen years." he replied. "She is currently living in Vladivostok. I know it is beyond the scope of your agreement, but would you be willing to go to her, with the young princes, and see if the arrangement will work?"

Neither of us spoke for a minute, but then I replied, "Your Excellency, we will have to discuss your request with our Master Keldhar, before we can answer you."

He nodded. "I understand. Please tell me what communication facilities you need and I will arrange for them to be made available."

"We have our own built-in communications," chuckled my lover, "but thank you for offering."

That evening, we spent several hours 'on-line' with Keldhar and our dads. The upshot was an agreement to travel east with the princes providing there was no overt danger along our route from the anti-czarist forces.

Three afternoons later we clandestinely took off from Shervemento in a nondescript Ilyushin jet and headed out over the vast Russian heartland. Hopefully, our and the princes' departure had been kept secret. Since it was to be an overnight flight, all of us soon settled into our respective berths.

After what seemed like a very short time, I suddenly was aware the aircraft was rapidly losing altitude. "The pilot has shut down both engines!" shouted Li. "I think he's trying to crash-land us, Drew. Help me hold the craft airborne." I reached over and grasped his hand and immediately felt him struggling, trying to guide the failing aircraft to a less-than crash landing.

"It's no use! My powers seem to be failing! We're going in!"

"Ivan and Paul, hold tight to your berths!" I shouted, as the plane began to settle into the swirling snow and the treetops. A bone-jarring minute later we were down in a clearing as a sizable tree fell across the body of the aircraft, pinning us in our berths.

After a minute to catch our breaths, Li called to me, "Drew, are you all right?"

"Yes," I replied. "Paul and Ivan, are you OK?"

No answer.

"I don't know what's going on, but my powers are almost completely crushed," Li said. "I can't reach out to anyone to call for help. Shit! I can barely read you, Drew."

"I know," I replied. "Can you get us loose?"

"No! I can't move a thing."

We lay there for some time, trying to understand what had happened. Clearly some force or power was acting to dampen both Li's and my powers. That and still, nothing from the princes. Either they were simply too frightened to answer or were unconscious.

Finally, we became aware of voices outside. Our pilot was arguing with a group of men. A gunshot ended that conversation.

My Russian is not well developed, but, apparently, they were anti-czarists… including our pilot… and were going to kidnap the two boys and leave me and my lover to freeze to death. Using tools they had brought with them, they soon removed our charges from the crushed fuselage

Shortly after they left, a party on horseback arrived and proceeded to free Li and me from the wreckage.

Their leader, a huge man dressed for winter hunting, introduced himself. "I am Major Sergei Ivanoff of the Royal Constabulary. We saw your plane crash and came as quickly as we could. Where are the pilot and the other two passengers?"

I saw no need for secrecy… our cover had been thoroughly blown … "As you probably know, they are the royal imperial princes and a group of men came and took them away."

"As we feared," he sighed. "I told that fool Rostov, to be sure that your flight did not cross this region, but he did not heed me. Well, we shall have to rescue the princes before they are harmed." Turning to one of his men, he instructed him to provide us with cold-weather gear.

"Can you ride?" he asked, indicating two of his spare horses. We both nodded. "We must go quickly, then, before the snow covers their tracks." Seeing our questioning looks, he explained, "We operate here in this region with stealth. The anti-czarist forces are much stronger than the Czar's advisers are willing to admit. So, we cannot call for aid quite yet; that would alert them to our presence and place the boys in still more danger."

We mounted up and he led us off into the snowy forest, following the quickly disappearing tracks left by the insurgents.

We had followed their trail for several hours when Ivanoff suddenly announced, "I believe I know where they have taken them. If so, we should be able to rescue them without setting the hounds upon us. Please make every effort to remain as quiet as possible."

Shortly, we crested a small hill and spotted a structure of some sort in the valley below. Ivanoff halted our party still in the trees to observe. Both Li and I slid off our mounts to find out what he had seen.

"They have taken refuge from the storm in that cabin or perhaps that is where they are normally stationed."

He handed me his binoculars and what I saw gave me the creeps.

"Yes", he continued, "the bastards have obviously had their sport with the boys and are now preparing to dispose of them."

What I had seen was the two princes… now stripped naked… being tied to posts set in the ground in front of the cabin. Unless we moved quickly, they would soon die of exposure.

Forestalling rash action by either Li or me, he whispered, "We must get closer. Yuri, bring the bows." And we followed the two of them on foot using the trees for cover.

From their equipment, Yuri had produced two long-bows and a quiver of hunting arrows. Seeing our looks of astonishment, the major explained, "We cannot use firearms as that would bring a hoard of others. When we need to kill quietly, we use the bows. At this range, they are quite effective.

By now, the thug tying Ivan had finished, and was using a short whip on his naked body. The other one had just started thrashing prince Paul and he called to his fellow for help.

At a nod from Ivanoff, he and Yuri released two arrows, one taking his quarry through his throat and the other skewering the head of the one bent over Paul. All without a sound being uttered.

Someone within the cabin called to the two thugs, and receiving no answer, stepped outside to be greeted by an arrow through his forehead.

Li and I dashed to the two boys, while Ivanoff and his men retrieved and cleaned their arrows and stowed their equipment. "We must leave quickly before their superiors come to check on them. I have disabled their hand radios, but they will come when they do not get a reply."

I had Ivan in my arms by this time, but his skin was waxy and his pulse very weak, despite the warmth afforded by my parka that I tried to wrap him in. Li had gathered up Paul who put his arms around his neck when Li wrapped him similarly.

We had mounted up when a wail from within the cabin startled us and a scantily clad boy dashed out to us. "Please sirs! Not to leave me here! I will freeze!"

"Who are you?" asked Ivanoff. "What are you doing here?"

"I be Sasha Beria. Him leader make me boy-whore. Make me to fuck little prince."

"Major," I cautioned our leader, "we need to get both these boys out of this blizzard and someplace warm, or they will not survive!"

"I know place," stuttered Sasha, "Not far! Take me with. I not want be boy-whore. I show you!"

Ivanoff thought for a moment, then nodded and pulled the boy up on his mount. We set off following his directions, Li with Paul wrapped in his parka and Ivan in mine.

We shortly came upon a concrete-block building and Sasha announced, "Have gas heater and lights. Little princes be warm and get well."

The major sent one of his men to investigate, and he returned a short time later with good news. "This must be an old installation from Soviet times… some sort of guard-house. The gas still works in the barracks-room, so we should be able to warm the princes."

Leaving two of his men as sentries, we all entered and soon had the barracks warm enough to doff our parkas. Li and I immediately began to work on our charges, massaging them and otherwise attempting to warm them. Li soon had Paul conscious and crying… a good sign… but I was having less success with Ivan. His pulse steadily weakened…a product of both the near freezing he had suffered and the rape and savage beating his captors had inflicted on him.

I could also tell Li was suffering from whatever was affecting his powers. The little I could 'read' of him showed me he had a massive headache. And Sasha simply bawled in Rostov's arms, consumed by his guilt over what he had been forced to do to both boys, but especially little Paul

Paul soon was strong enough to be concerned about his brother, even though his 'gifts' had been shut down, too. "Friend, Drew," he asked, "will my brother be well again?"

At that moment, Ivan roused himself as Paul and I held him in our arms. "Do not grieve for me, little brother. I love you." He gave one last ragged breath and then was still. Despite the pain in his head, Li took the little boy in his arms and tried his best to console him

After wrapping Ivan's body carefully in a blanket from one of the bunks, I went to find Rostov. "What is this place? What is there here to guard?"

"Is great cave with much machines," Sasha broke in.

"What do you mean? Where?" Rostov asked him.

"Up on hill. Must not go there. Full of death."

The Major turned to me, "I think this must be a research complex, left over from Soviet times. God knows what they were researching. I don't know, but it may be the source of what is affecting your boyfriend."

"Possibly," I replied. "His headaches have been getting steadily worse as we have gotten closer. If there is something there running and we can turn it off, Li or I may be able to call for help. It's too late for Ivan, but at least we could save Paul."

Ivanoff nodded and he and one of his troopers set off up the hill, guided by Sasha. Shortly, they returned with interesting news. "There is a giant cavern with some sort of laboratory or such in it. We can hear the sound of some kind of machine running." I've sent Yuri and one of the others to break in."

"M-m-major," stuttered Li, "tell them to look for some kind of switch and turn the god-awful thing off." By this time, he was in acute pain and almost paralyzed. I wrapped both Li and Prince Paul in my arms and waited hopefully.

From up on the hill, there was a sudden explosion and rocks and dirt came tumbling down upon us.

But the humming sound had ceased and both Li and the Prince relaxed in my arms and I laid them both on one of the bunks. The gas flow to our heater cut off and the warming flame died.

Although the entrance to the block-house had been inundated, Ivanoff's troopers soon had us dug out. "As soon as we tried to break in, there was a big explosion. It must have been booby-trapped!" they explained.

And I suddenly realized my 'power' was back.

Li sat up groggily and the 'voice' of Master Keldhar filled our heads. Li! Drew! Where are you? I can't reach you!

I was about to 'answer' him, but Li beat me to it. We're betrayed by one of the insurgents and we're on the ground somewhere in Central Russia. The Princes are with us and Drew's and my powers were severely affected by something that was running in a Soviet-era facility that has now been destroyed.

I need to rest until my powers are fully restored. But don't tell Moscow, yet. There are complications.

I will wait to hear from you, replied our mentor.

Turning to Ivanoff, Li told him, "I've reached someone who will help us return to Moscow."

"I hope so," the Major replied. "We need to leave here very soon before the locals come to investigate the earthquake."

"Go ahead, Major; we'll be OK," I told him. "We have our own method of transport and we'll take care of the Princes."

He looked at me quizzically, but did not question me.

Sasha broke in, "Please take me with you, Major Sir! Not want to be boy-whore again."

"But you are much too young"

Spreading his scrawny arms wide, he said, "I know area much. Can help find those against Czar. Please! I stay here, I die."

I had 'read' our little friend and found him to be brave and true, so I 'nudged' Ivanoff a bit and he finally turned to his lieutenant and said, "Get the boy a kit. He is coming with us." And a few minutes later, the party rode off into the night.

Master, called Li, the Czarevitch is dead, and Prince Paul is injured but OK. Can you lift us to Alice?

Yes, replied Keldhar. Are you recovered enough?

I have Drew to help, my lover told him.

I placed Ivan's body over my shoulder and Li cradled Paul in his arms and we joined hands.

We're ready!

And none too soon as we saw riders approaching us.

****

An instant later, we were in a room in the Royal Flying Doctor facility in Alice Springs.

An orderly relieved me of my burden and an intern and a nurse wheeled Prince Paul away to an examining room as Li and I both followed to a waiting room where Keldhar and our dads waited for us.

After hugs all around, Li and I both told them what had happened to us.

"Well," said my Dad, "we're certainly glad you're back safe. We were really frightened about you for a while."

"Yes, I had no idea about how dangerous the flight might be or I never would have allowed you to go," added Keldhar. "I think I should let Rostov know that Prince Paul is safe and that Prince Ivan has died. Paul becomes the Czarevitch, now, so it is important they begin planning."

"Please, Master," I said. "I think it is better if you allow Li and me to break the news to him… once Paul is well enough to travel. There will be less turmoil."

"Always my wise and gifted students… no, partners!"

At that moment, the doctor who had been examining Paul, returned. "Considering that he's been beaten to a pulp and raped repeatedly, he is in fair shape, physically. Psychologically? Well, I don't know. He just stares into space."

"It would be good to return him to his family in Moscow and he should be ready to make the trip in a day or two. But, he'll need a lot of love and understanding if he is to recover fully."

******

Three afternoons later we 'appeared', unannounced, in Rostov's waiting room. After giving him time to recover from the shock of our arrival and the news of Ivan's death, we told him our story… at least most of it… while Prince Paul stood passively by.

Rostov motioned him to come, and he took the boy into his arms and comforted him. "Your brother was a brave and resourceful lad and we all shall miss him. But you are now the Czarevitch and we must move onward for Mother Russia."

Paul just stood there staring straight ahead. Clearly, he was in another place!

Rostov looked at us. "What is the matter with him? I do not believe he even recognizes me!"

"Your Grace," Li answered him, "purely aside from the physical pain and torment those men forced on him, he has suffered a catastrophic shock to his whole being. He loved Ivan very much and seeing him cruelly murdered was bad enough, but to be raped… that is the worst thing one human-being can do to another."

What can we do to help him recover?" asked Rostov in panic.

"Please understand, Sir," I replied, "it is possible he may never fully recover. But, to have any hope at all, he will need to have someone with him continuously for some time… someone he respects and admires."

You realize you have just committed us to a long-term stay here? 'asked' my lover.

Perhaps! I nodded.

Rostov sighed and pondered for a few moments. The he spoke. "There is really no one whom they were close to. A tutor, but we dismissed him because of his sexual involvement with them. Certainly not their parents, especially the Czar, given his condition."

"I know this is asking much of you, but would you stay on and help to rescue him from the dark place he has now gone?"

Glancing at me, Li replied, "Your Grace, Drew and I would like nothing better than to see Prince Paul recover and ready to face the challenges as the Czarevitch. But we will need to confer with Master Keldhar."

"I understand," he replied.

We spent quite a few hours 'talking' to Keldhar… and with our dads. After much discussion, all agreed we should stay on in Moscow and try to help Prince Paul. As our mentor put it, Whatever you can do to aid them will pay great dividends in the relationship between our two peoples. Already you have accomplished more than you can possibly realize on that score.

But I detect your feelings… both of you… toward this sad and hurting little boy and I cannot imagine you wishing to pursue any other course.

Don't worry about your classes! What you have experienced and will experience is more valuable than any course I could teach you. Go with my full blessing!

And ours, too! chimed in our Dads.

So Li and I were installed in the spacious room that had been the Princes' so that we could be close by to him.

For several weeks, we took turns holding him and caressing him during the day as we took care of his physical needs. At night, one of always slept with him. "He has a huge load of guilt", Li told me. "Why is he alive and Ivan is dead? And he is adamant that it was his fault that his brother died."

Finally, after about two weeks of our 'body comfort' he began to cry.

Now, if we could just get him to talk!

That became my task as we agreed it was I to whom he was closest.

It took him in my arms and snuggled him down in my lap as we sat in a lounge-chair.

"Paul, please talk to me!"

"Why?" he bawled. "Ivan is dead and it is my fault!"

At last it was out in the open. I nodded at Li to try to gently damp down his feelings of guilt.

"It is not your fault," I assured him. "It is the fault of those awful men who captured you!" But he continued to sob on my shoulder.

"Paul," I asked him gently, "Do you trust Li and me?"

"Y-y-yes," he sniffed.

"Then I want you to tell me what those men did to you and Ivan."

"NO! I don't want to even think about it!"

I decided to risk it. "Paul, you will feel much better if you do."

He continued to cry for a but, by finally managed to speak after Li administered a bit more therapy.

"O-O-OK! I trust you."

"Just take your time and it's all right if you need to cry a bit. Start from the very beginning."

"We were asleep when the plane crashed and, at first, we didn't know what happened. Just that we couldn't move. We heard you calling, but were too frightened to answer. It I tried using my 'gift' to call for help, but it seemed like it was turned down real low."

"Then, some men came and freed us, but I could tell they were bad men. 'specially when they left without freeing you. They tied us to some horses and it was snowing a lot. We just had our sleeping things on and it was really cold"

"I don't know how long we traveled, but at last they carried us into some sort of house, where it was at least a little warmer. All but three of the men left and they untied us."

"The biggest man told us, 'You will soon be dead, but first we are going to have some fun with you!' I didn't know what he meant, but Ivan did and he cried, 'No! Please! Don't hurt my brother! He's just a little boy!' They all laughed at that and the big man said, 'We'll save him for last! After we're finished with you. Now strip naked.' Ivan tried to fight them, but they beat him and tore the clothes off him."

"They tied him over a chair and beat him a some more. Then they forced their man-things up his hole. Ivan just screamed and cried! After all three of them had raped him, they hung him up by his hands and whipped him until he was bleeding. He was already bleeding out his hole."

"Then they turned to me! 'Please! he's just a little boy!' Ivan begged them. But they didn't listen. "Take him outside!' And they dragged him out the door into the snow as they tied me over the chair."

"There was a boy with them and they made him go first. He didn't want to, but he was too scared. 'I'll try to be gentle,' he whispered to me. It still hurt a lot! But nothing like it did when the man did me."

"I must have fainted, 'cause the next thing I remember was being tied to a pole outside in the snow. I could see they had tied Ivan to another pole and he looked like he was already dead. It was so cold, I knew I was going to freeze."

"And then you were there and saved us!"

His account had come out in fits and starts and tears and it had been all I could do to refrain from crying with him. But, but after he had finished, he snuggled down and went to sleep.

His telling us had the cathartic effect we had hoped it would and from that day he continued to improve. He still missed his brother… and so did we… but he didn't let his sorrow overpower him.

But neither parent came to visit him.

After a week or more of improvement, I went to Rostov. "Please, Your Grace, he needs to have a companion… another boy about his age. He and Ivan were very close and he needs someone who can… sort of… take his brother's place."

Rostov thought for a bit. "They never had any really close friends. Their father thought it was best to protect them both from the reality of life after the restoration. However, there is a cousin, Alexei, who is Prince Paul's age and who has visited a few times."

"Then, by all means, let us see if he could be a companion for him."

Alexei arrived a few days later and the two of them bonded almost immediately. He was a perfectly charming lad and we quickly discovered he was a 'sensitive' just as Ivan had been. That boded well for the future.

But the boy was a complete innocent so far as sexual matters were concerned… he had had neither tutor nor older brother to clue him in. So Li and I spent quite a few nights instructing him… with Paul's eager help… in the finer points of boy-sex.

He was a rapid and enthusiastic learner and a four-person orgy was an almost nightly occurrence. Us 'old guys' had some difficulties keeping up with these two stud-muffins.

But Alexei was an enthusiastic student of other matters, too, and quickly mastered the other challenges he would face as the soon-to-be Czar's companion.

It was well toward Easter when Li and I could finally report Paul well again. And the four of us met with Rostov.

He immediately and took Paul into his arms. "I cannot tell you how much I have longed for you to be better again, Paul. And my thanks and that of all of Mother Russia to these two young men who made it possible."

Paul wiggled out of his arms and stood facing him bravely. Even in these few moments he had 'read' his father and knew with certainty that the throne would soon be his.

"I shall do my very best for Mother Russia," he replied, thru his tears. "Friend Li and Friend Drew have taught me much about how to be brave and strong and I shall show them how much I appreciate their help and their saving me. And with Alexei at my side…."

"I know you will," the Count gently told him.

Wow! I 'sent to my lover and the folks back at Alice whom I was sure were 'listening in'. He's just ten years old! Think of what kind of man he will be!

And he pulled Li and me into a tight hug. "I shall miss you very, very much."

Just remember, you can speak to us whenever you wish. I 'sent' to him. And we will always be you friends.

A few moments later, it was good to be back in Alice Springs.

And another adventure comes to an end.

11. Another Brother

Char: David Nelson; Dr. Rashid Herrari; Summo (12yo); The Warlord of the Peshmer - Mohammad ben Araffa; Master Keldhar; Li Soon Hamilton (Now 21yo)

OK, so this isn't really about a trip that Li and Drew took. But it's about another family member… David Nelson… and his travel to Afghanistan. The question he confronted there was this, "Is it time to add another boy to the Nelson Family?" It takes place five years after Kidnapped Canary

Prolog

With my son Andrew, together with his lover, LI, and his dad, Peter, off to university in England, I could, at last, turn some of my responsibilities at the Alice Springs School for Exceptional Boys over to my quite competent assistant, Eric Hamilton and… hopefully… complete work on my doctorate in anthropology. So, the beginning of this story finds me at a 'dig' in now mostly peaceful Afghanistan, attempting to undo some of the wanton destruction to priceless articles of human heritage caused by the ill-fated Islamic State terrorist organization.

In most cases, it had been destruction for destruction's sake and the very thought of it was enough to bring tears to civilized eyes. I was fortunate to be allowed to work under Dr. Rashid Herrari, that nation's preeminent authority on the sites that ISIS had desecrated.

The 'Dig' in Aghanistan

The 'dig' where we were working was in the in the area north of Kabul known as the Peshmer. Although nominally part of Afghanistan, it was not under the control of the government in Kabul, but under 'The Wise and Benevolent Rule of the Warlord of Peshmer, Mohammad ben Araffa, May his Tribe Increase', or so the permits we had be issued stated. Dr, Herrari had impressed upon me from my first day on site that we needed to keep in the good graces of this man.

Our party consisted of Dr. Herrari… he insisted I call him by his given name… one or two day-laborers as needed and Summo. The latter, a boy about twelve years of age, was our 'camp boy' who kept our tents somewhat clear of sand, carried water for cooking and bathing and generally made himself useful. He was a very attractive lad and it was not long until I was thoroughly smitten… even before I suspected he might have a 'gift'.

Rashid had found him lying in a ditch some two year earlier. Presumably he had fallen off a vehicle of some sort. He had patched him up and fed him and was more than happy to have his companionship. But he would not, or could not, tell his savior how he came to be in a ditch at the side of the road leading to the Warlord's stronghold.

A very bright and curious youngster, he soon became indispensable and had welcomed me as an equal partner in the venture when I had arrived on site. Additionally, he seemed to have an uncanny ability to discover buried artifacts that we had overlooked.

After three or four episodes of his knack, I decided to ask my boss and mentor back at Alice Springs, Master Keldhar, about him.

Does he possibly have some hidden talent we don't know about? I asked.

You say he just spots some artifact in the dust that leads to a much larger and more valuable find? asked Keldhar. If so, that ability is not something that has been reported before. But, who can say? Do you think you might be able to bring him here when you return?

I thought about that for a while. I had become very fond of Summo and he seemed to to take to me, but I knew the only way I could get him out of the country was to adopt him.

Drew, are you and Li listening in?

Yeah.

What do you think about having a new little brother, Drew?

How cool that would be! came his reply.

Master Keldhar, I'll have to run that by Rashid… Dr. Herrari… I don't know how attached he's become to Summo. He's extremely bright and Herrari has taught him basic math and he reads voraciously. Unfortunately, we don't have much here for him to read.

I understand,Keldhar replied. You can certainly promise Dr. Herrari that the boy would receive a first-class education here.

I would not have expected anything less and I'll get back to you. Then, I 'signed-off'' and went to talk to Rashid.

"Of course, I would be delighted to see Summo well educated," He told me. "And to find out if he has some sort of psychic 'gift'. But the decision must be up to him."

Explanation Insert

I nodded, quite content to accept his wishes.

I spent the next few days with Summo as my sole helper while Rashid worked in a different part of our dig. Summo was intrigued by the idea of going to Alice, but was reluctant to leave his mentor. He promised to think about it 'very hard'.

It was several days later that Rashid summoned me to his quarters just before we retired.

"If you are determined to adopt the lad and take him with you to be educated, he should begin spending the night with you. But, there is something you should know. Come with me." And he led me into the part of his tent where he and Summo slept. Pulling back the blankets covering the boy he showed me Summo, fast asleep on his side in a secure, but gentle, hog-tie.

Dumbfounded, I asked him, "What's this all about?"

"Several times a week, he begs to be tied-up before he can sleep. He says it makes him feel safe. I do not know why. Perhaps, it remains from wherever he is from originally."

"Have you ever asked him if he wanted to sleep with you?"

"No. It never occurred to me. I don't think I could. I'm not enamored with boys. Like you are."

I was shocked at that statement, but he assured me my liking for boys was perfectly all right. "They need love and in this sorry land, that is often missing. I do not know what would have happened to Summo. If I had not found him, he would most likely have been at The Fort or have had a short and painful life. So, do not feel I disapprove. On the contrary, seeing the two of you together is a very beautiful scene."

Humility! That's what I felt. Rashid was an exceptional man in many ways.

I spent a few hours 'on line' with Keldhar that night. His consensus was that I might have to accede to the boy's wishes until he could be studied further.

One thing did occur to me, however, and I asked Rashid about it. "I think he should join me in my tent starting tonight. Would you mind if I tried to have him sleep with me instead of tying him up?"

"No, if both you and Summo are comfortable with that. It is important that he trusts you if you wish to take him with you."

That night, I waited until Summo was finished with our crude shower to see if I could get him into my bed. He walked between our tents clad in only a towel.

"Summo, would you please come here?"

"Yes, David Sir? What is it that you wish?

"Would you like to sleep with me tonight?

"But Master… he always called Rashid that… will miss me."

"It's OK with him. We discussed it."

He hesitated for a moment, but then dropped the towel. "Do you like me?" he asked, plaintively.

I assured him that I did. It was the first I had seen him completely naked and he was quite attractive... somewhat thin, but just like many boys on the cusp of puberty.

"Will you tie me up?

"Let's try something different. Just come in with me"

Another moment's hesitation and, then, he slid in beside me, snuggling into my arms.

We lay together for a while and then he sighed and said, "It is so nice here with you. So warm and safe! I ask Master take me in his bed, but he say 'No'. Why you do this for me?"

"Because I love you, Summo," I replied, "and this is a way I can show you my love."

"Oh!"

He snuggled up against me some more… I usually sleep in just my boxers… and his skin against mine felt just fabulous. Like another little boy so long ago. Soon, we both dropped off to sleep.

The next morning, I awoke just as he whispered, "Thank you! Thank you!" and wiggled out of my embrace to begin his morning chores.

At breakfast, Rashid looked at me quizzically, but was too polite to ask. "Things were OK," I assured him. "At least he didn't ask to be tied up." Rashid just nodded, knowingly.

That night, he was already in when I came to bed. "Is OK I be here?" he asked plaintively.

"I hoped that you might be here every night," I replied, sliding in behind him.

And for several nights, we just cuddled and slept… deeply, it seemed.

One night, I decided to push things a bit further, so I forsook my boxers so we were both naked. "Would you like me to rub you?" His vigorous nod was all I needed as I reveled in his smooth nakedness.

Rolling on my back and moving him on top of me, I began to caress his chest gently. He giggled when I rubbed his nipples. I moved down to his nice flat tummy and onward to his 'V'. He was breathing heavily and sighing. I could feel his heart racing.

My hands shook a little. "May I touch your boy parts," I asked.

"Y-y-yes!"

I grasped his penis with one hand… it was like a steel rod… and gently squeezed his well- developed balls with the other. He responded with a gasp and sigh.

I continued my stroking and soon his whole body was shaking. "Please, David Sir, It strange! What is happen?"

"Just relax and let it happen. It's good!" I assured him as I proceeded to drive him over the edge.

Like many boys his age, he was just beginning to be 'liquid'… only a few drops into my hand. But he squealed with ecstasy. I guess I had given him his first orgasm.

"What was that? It so…so…so…

"Did you like it"

"IT WUNNERFUL!"

"I'm glad you liked it. We can do it often when you sleep with me."

That was all the invitation he needed to become my nightly bed partner. And we soon progressed to some other activities as he quickly gave up the need for bondage.

Over the next few weeks, I was able to discover… bit by bit… how he came to be in the ditch where Rashid had found him.

His birth family was one that practiced sexual bondage. From the time he was quite small, he and his younger brother were always hog-tied in their beds. For them, it was tangible evidence that they were loved and cherished and safe.

He had been traveling with his parents and little brother in Kabul, when their car was struck by a tanker and engulfed in flames. He had been thrown clear and suddenly found himself an orphan. After a week on the streets and not yet being forced into sex, the Warlord's minions had swept him up. He was on his way to the Warlord with several other boys, but fell out of the truck when it swerved to avoid an oncoming one. Frightened beyond his wits, he hid in the ditch where Rashid had found him.

I was very happy and greatly relieved to be able to report to both Rashid and Keldhar that I had been able to replace bondage with love.

And for me? His presence in my bedroll each night was a fitting climax to each day's hard work. Had Drew ever been that young? Yes, he had, and Summo gave me something that I had not had for many years… a little boy to cuddle and please… just as I had with Drew.

And then, the bottom fell out of my new existence.

Summo disappeared!

After several days of fruitless searching, one of the day-workers told us he had been taken by one of the Warlord's men who mistook him for a run-away. That night, Rashid told me more about the Warlord's seemingly unsatisfied need for young boys.

"As is fitting for his station, the Warlord of Peshmer lives in splendor in… well, the term in Farsi is a collection of words which mean 'The Fortress of the Warlord of Peshmer'… to simplify, I will just refer to it as 'The Fort. To maintain The Fort, he needs numbers of workers and servants. For the latter, he employs young boys from the streets of Kabul."

"He does not keep them for his own pleasure or that of his people," he assured me. "Rather he saw a need that was not being met in Kabul, one that was a danger to his people. So, he set about to remedy the problem and enhance his own position at the same time."

"He stations agents in Kabul to find and identify young boys Summo's age or a bit younger who have become orphans, an all too frequent situation in the city. They are brought to The Fort and, once there, the boys become members of his household and are treated somewhat like indentured servants."

"You mean that they are slaves?" I asked.

"Let us not quibble over terms," he admonished me. "He feeds them adequately, clothes them scantily and disciplines them somewhat harshly. They receive a basic madras education and are taught a trade and made ready to re-enter free society… such as it is… when they reach age eighteen. He, thus, creates a following of young men who are intensely loyal to him and ready to seize power if he should decide to do so."

"The discipline he metes out to the boys is strict, but not cruel with one exception. He considers any boy who runs away an anathema and punishes the boy accordingly. A boy caught running away is beaten and publicly branded. A boy who is caught running a second time is hanged."

My blood ran cold at this. "We must rescue him!" I said, stating the obvious. "He hasn't run away…

"But the Warlord has been told that he did," interrupted Rashid. "And he will be beaten and branded for it."

"But…"

Rashid held up both hands. "Easy, my friend. I have asked the Warlord for an audience. We will go to him and attempt to purchase our boy."

Two days dragged by before we were summoned to The Fort.

Arriving there before noon, we were told that the Warlord would see us late that afternoon. The interim gave us both the opportunity to observe his 'servants' as they went about their labors. It was pretty much as Rashid had described it… hard work, intense study and strict discipline. We did not see a sign of Summo, however. If my colleague was correct, he was probably somewhere in a cell recovering from a massive beating.

It was early evening when we were finally conducted to a large chamber and presented to The Warlord of the Peshmer, Mohammad ben Araffa. Following his lead, I bowed before the great man as Rashid introduced me.

Some little time was spent in polite discussion… how we were faring, the extent of our labors at 'the dig', etc. Finally, we got around to the reason for our visit.

"Noble Sir," stated Rashid, "We wish to purchase the boy Summo to assist us in our work."

"No", replied our host. "He is not dependable. He runs from my benevolence and will be punished on the morrow. As it is now late, I bid you remain the night and you shall see how he miserably fled and was recaptured."

We were invited to sup with the Warlord… which we did… and were then shown to comfortable quarters. Taking advantage of the opportunity to bathe and shower, we settled in for what was to be a nervous night.

The next morning, following an adequate breakfast, we were shown into a large chamber in the front of which stood a stool. Above the stool hung a rope with a noose. Off to one side stood a brazier with an iron heating. It was clear this morning's 'attractions' were to be a branding and a hanging.

"What you are going to witness," Rashid warned me, "will anger and dismay you. But it is vitally important that you do not react in any way. Just bear your shock and grief without any action and we may yet escape with our prize. Stay focused on that!"

He had hardly finished when all the boys were driven into the room and forced to their knees. I quickly spotted Summo as he was led in … his naked body was a mass of healing welts. He was also thin to the point of starvation.

He looked about wildly, his face a mask of terror. Spotting us sitting on the side, for one brief instant a ray of hope flickered. But seeing our grim looks, he sank once more into terror and sobbing.

On the other side of the room, against the wall, I fleetingly noticed a boy who could have been Summo's twin. No, he was too young! He sat simply staring into space; clearly 'in some other place'. But then, my mind snapped back to Summo and what was going to happen to him? Would we be able to save him?

"Since he has 'run' but once," Rashid explained, "he has simply been thoroughly beaten and will be branded publicly. We both know that he did not 'run', but it is of no use; the Warlord has been told that he did. The boy who will be hanged shortly, has made the error of actually running twice. His recapture signed his death warrant."

Ben Araffa entered and proceeded to scream and shout at the assembled boys… Rashid did not try to translate for me… there was no need.

Sumo was led over to the brazier and forced to grip his ankles, trembling so badly I thought that he might fall over. Two burly guards then steadied him while a third applied the glowing iron to his buttock. His shriek lasted but one short breath as he passed out and sagged to his knees. The guards laid him supine on the floor in front of the gathered boys … his brand still smoking … for all to see and heed the hideous message.

Shortly, a naked boy of about Summo's age was dragged into the room and forced to stand upon the stool. His hands were securely fastened behind his back and the noose slipped over his head. He stood shaking and peered out over the assembled boys.

I heard Rashid almost silently moan and then whisper a prayer for the ill-fated lad, Lord of the Universe, I beseech you to take unto your bosom this innocent boy who has been sorely used and shamefully murdered. And to the terrified lad, Be strong, my child for, after a short time of terror and pain, you will be with Allah and his holy angels. Then, I saw a single tear on his grizzled cheek.

"Let all of you know and learn," roared our overbearing host, "what fate befalls a slave who flees from my protection, not once, but twice. After a short pause to let the message sink in, he kicked the stool away from the lad.

The boy's scream was quickly choked off as the noose tightened about his slender neck. His feet kicked wildly and his body contorted at first as his eyes bulged out and his mouth opened in a silent cry. But soon, the motions of his young body slowed… and then stopped altogether. The silence in the room was profound. He would hang there, Rashid later told me, for a week or more as a warning to his compatriots.

At a signal, all the other slaves fled the room, screaming and carrying with them two of their number who had fainted. Rashid later told me that they were the younger brothers of the victim who had tried to escape to bring relatives to free them.

We were stuck there for the balance of the day as the Warlord had not given us permission to return to our camp. So, we were to spend another night as his 'guest'.

That night, I decided to call for some help.

In the privacy of our room, I explained to Rashid what I planned to do. "I'm going to make contact with the master of the school I work for. As I have told you, the school is for boys who have special gifts from God and educates them and trains them to use their gifts wisely. One of the boys who has graduated and is now at university may be able to help us. His name is Li Soon and he has some truly amazing abilities."

"But how will you contact him and what can he do to aid us?"

"Patience, my friend. Li Soon has the ability to converse with me and others with his mind."

Rashid looked skeptical, but he relaxed and I continued. Li Soon! Are you there?

"Aeee!" cried Rashid, "I can hear him in my mind!"

"Don't be alarmed!" I cautioned him. "You can answer him by just thinking."

Li, please introduce yourself.

Dr. Herrari, I am honored to meet you. I often 'speak' to persons this way. but only with their permission.

Rashid gulped, but then nodded. Do you know what our problem is?

Yes! came Li's reply. I can read that you are very concerned. Is it about the young boy, Summo?

Yes, I continued. He has been claimed by the Warlord who rules this area and we have been unable to purchase him.

This is the boy who can locate buried artifacts, correct?

Yes!

Well I know how much Master Keldhar wishes to study him. How can I help you?

The Warlord has captured him and refuses to allow us to purchase him. In fact, he has severely punished poor Sumo as a runaway.

Well, you know I can't teleport him away from this Warlord unless I can have physical contact with the boy. And, as you've already made clear to our mentor, that might cause all sorts of grief for Dr. Herrari. So how can I help?

Have you ever tried to influence another person thru a third party? I asked.

What do you mean?

Could you use me to send subliminal messages to the Warlord?

I don't know, he replied.I've never tried that. It might work, since you are a sensitive. But I would need to have physical contact with the person to send messages over that distance.

I think I can arrange that. Tomorrow morning, we are to meet with the Warlord before we leave. Will a handshake be enough?

It should be. At least to get a few messages across, Li confirmed.

I warned him, I can't give you an exact time.

That's OK! I'll monitor and be ready. Understand, it might take a few days for the messages to be effective. I'll say good-bye for now. I need to do some studying in the Archives.

Rashid looked a bit shell-shocked. "What is he going to do?"

"He is going to try to plant some helpful ideas in the Warlord's mind. Ideas which he thinks will make the Warlord amenable to our reclaiming Summo," I explained. "All I must do is shake hands with the Warlord and open my mind to Li."

"And you believe this scheme will work?"

"We won't know until we try."

"And, if it doesn't work?"

"If anyone can pull this off, it will be Li Soon. The only alternative we have is some sort of extralegal teleportation. And none of us wants that."

Rashid considered that for a moment and then said, "I will not let that boy languish in The Fort. If it came to that, you must get him out of there no matter the consequences. Summo has a talent that is unique, one this poor world needs. I will not let it be squandered."

I was amazed and my respect for this man grew even more.

That night, our nervous sleep was hardly enough to keep us going the next day.

As we met with the Warlord to take our leave, I stepped forward. "Great Warlord, it is the custom of my people to bid farewell by clasping hands." Ready, Li. "Will you honor me and my people by doing so?"

Rashid almost choked… one did not ask the Warlord of all Peshmer for such intimacies.

The Warlord looked askance for a moment, but then extended his right hand and I clasped it.

Almost at once, I felt Li's power surge through me and ben Araffa looked startled. But he said nothing and we stood there for perhaps thirty seconds. Li, then, 'broke the connection' and Rashid and I departed at once.

Once clear of The Fort, Li was back in my head. I believe it worked, but the best I could do was to suggest he re-think his refusal to let you have the boy. That and to admit to himself he may have erred in punishing your boy and hanging the other one. Actually, he had already begun to suspect he had been deceived by his agents and committed two grave errors. You'll have to wait several days before you might know whether my 'suggestions' have worked.

Thank you so much, Li, both Rashid told him.

Let me now how things turn out! Now, you must excuse me as I am late for class.

We returned to our camp, both of us in a high state of excitement. It was difficult to maintain our high hopes, however, as it was almost a week before we were summoned to The Fort again.

We arrived in early afternoon and had to wait an hour before the great man was ready to see us.

Waving us to seats before his desk, he dismissed his ever-present aid and fixed us with a grim stare. "If any of what we are about to discuss were to become known, I will feed your carcasses to the magpies. Do I have your honorable word that you will not divulge even one sentence and that this conversation never took place… even that you were not here today?"

We both nodded rather shakily.

"My whole power lies in being infallible, but today I will confess to you that I was forced by the failings of two of my agents to do something less than honorable in my dealings with two of the boys here."

"My trusted agent in Kabul… may he rot in hell... deceived me when he presented me with three siblings who he swore were orphans. They were orphans because he had their parents murdered so he could curry favor. He has now been returned to Kabul without his testicles or tongue."

"The boy that I hanged did run twice. But he should never have been here in the first place. I have sent his two brothers to an uncle in Kabul along with compensation for their older brother."

"The boy Summo was picked up by my agent in error who honestly believed he was a runaway. He was mistaken… an error I assure you he will not make again as he contemplates his new assignment in my stables."

"But he should not have been punished and all the other boys suspect that. However, he was punished and his continued presence, here, has cast an unfortunate spirit over all the other boys."

"You have told me, Doctor, that he has an unusual talent… one that contributes greatly to the success of your work. And you, Master Nelson have asked to adopt him as your son, so he may travel to your land to attend a very special school in a town named Alice Springs."

"I shall leave it to the two of you to work out whatever arrangement you think best. But, he is yours." Saying that, he rang a small bell and his aid entered leading Summo.

Still badly bruised from his flogging, and painfully thin, he threw himself into my arms.

It was dark by the time we reached the 'dig' and I tried, without success, to feed Summo some warm soup. Then I took the still shaking boy into my tent and slid us both into my sleeping bag being very careful to avoid touching the inflamed burn on his buttocks.

"Oh, David Sir! I be so afraid you forget me at Fort!" he sobbed.

"Never, Summo. I would never forget you and never give you up. But Doctor and I had to make the Warlord give you back to us and that took some time. I'm just sorry we could not save you from the beating and branding."

"Is OK. Now back with you!"

Clasping his naked body to mine, I wept with him until neither of us had any tears left. There would be no sex this night.

After that, we both slept.

When I awoke the next morning, he was still cuddled against me and the erotic feeling of his soft… albeit bruised... skin next to mine was, once more, a sensation that brought back memories of that other small boy who had slept in my embrace so many years ago.

Life resumed at a somewhat normal pace at the dig. Summo shortly regained his strength, but not his sunny disposition. Twice in his young life he had had that life brutally ripped away. He continued faithfully to serve our needs, but, increasingly, he clung to me day and night.

Gradually, however, he struggled to put this latest horror behind him as my time here at the dig was rapidly coming to a close. Only a few weeks remained and Summo had not conclusively agreed to become my son and travel with me to Alice.

But with his seeming 'guidance' buried artifacts were found and unearthed right under our feet. Rashid was often beside himself with the excitement of each new find.

And every night I tried to give back to the boy some of the parenting his family's odd sexual practices had denied him.

So, gradually, he overcame the fright of his time with the Warlord and warmed to my attention of him. Our usual practice, after his evening chores were done, was for him to crawl onto my lap as I sat watching the glorious sunset that was common here. I would pull a light blanket over us and cuddle his naked body against me, leaving him completely vulnerable to my touch. He really enjoyed my fondling him, a prelude to more intimate pleasures when we rolled into my sleeping bag.

One day, we had unearthed a particularly valuable… and heavy… specimen and prepared it for lifting and travel to Kabul on the morrow. It had been a brutally hot day and Rashid and I were exhausted, so he sent me off to shower and rest. "I told Summo to be sure there was sufficient water in our 'shower'," he told me. "I believe we both need some relief."

The cool water in our makeshift facility was soothing and I reclined in the shade afterward with just a towel over my naked body and drifted off to sleep.

I awoke sometime later to find a small, naked boy curled up in my lap. "Well, young sir," I joked, "to what do I owe the honor of this visit?" He giggled, but then looked serious.

"David Sir, you like me much?"

"Summo, I love you. I want to make you my son," I answered somewhat puzzled.

"Is good! Then you do something for me?"

"Well, yes."

We had been sleeping together for several months… no bondage any more, just cuddling… and often enjoyed stroking and oral sex. But his next statement floored me.

"You fuck me, please."

I gulped. "Why do you want me to do that?"

"Boys at Fort say it much good. Show real love."

"Did they do that to you?" I asked fearfully.

"No, they say to wait for lover or papa."

"Well, I'm not sure," I began lamely.

"Want to know how it feels." he pursued.

"It hurts a lot at first!"

Truthfully, I had never fucked a boy… God, no, I had certainly never done that to Drew. It would not have been cool at all! I had had it done to me by an upperclassman in school, so I did know something about it. It was not an experience that I remembered fondly.

In fact, my bedtimes with Drew had been rather tame... just cuddling and stroking. Only once had we gone further. Granted, at Alice, Drew and Li had explored the full range of boy-love... they were lovers, after all... and we did occasionally have an orgy that included the both of them and Li's fathers. But nightly manual and oral sex with a delectable little boy was a new and breathtaking experience for me. But should I?

"Is OK! I be brave!"

"But…"

"Please, David Sir. Please!

I'm not an empath like my son, but I could see and feel this was something he had stewed about for some time and wanted very badly. So, somewhat against my better judgment, I gave in to his need.

"We can do right now?"

I thought carefully before answering him. "No, there is something I must do to prepare you… to make you ready."

"Is OK. I wait."

"Come into the tent with me." The Warlord's agent had given me a box of 'toys' when he released Summo to us. Even though we were sleeping together… and I was enjoying our bedtime play… I had never had the desire to use any of them. Rummaging through the box, I found a medium-size butt-plug and a tube of lubricant.

"Lie on the mat and put your cute little ass up in the air," I instructed him. Applying some of the lube to his little bud and my middle finger, I was ready… presumably.

I gently thrust my finger into his chute and got a squeak from him.

"Did it hurt?"

"Noooo, just feels strange"

"I thrust a second finger and got a hiss. "Did that hurt?"

"Yes! Well, no. I be brave."

Decision time! I lubed the plug and got ready to cause him pain. Placing it at the entrance, I began to push it slowly in.

He erupted in a squeal and tears. But I knew I had to continue. Giving the plug a hard shove, it breached his ring and slid inward with a sort of sucking sound.

He gave a strangled yell and gasped.

"I know that hurt, but it should be better now."

"Y-y-yes," he told me tearfully. "But is OK, now. Just feels strange. Why you do this?"

"I need to stretch your little hole so it will not hurt so much. Now, I want you to wear this plug all night and tomorrow. You only take it out when you need to poop and then put it right back in. Tomorrow night, if you still want to do it, I will fuck you."

"Is OK! Promise?"

"I will never break my promise to you."

"I know. Should not have asked"

We were both restless that night. It's hard to even cuddle when your partner has a plug up his ass.

The next day was one of the longest of my life. And for him, too, for quite different reasons.

He was a bit fearful.

I was secretly hoping he would change his mind.

Silly, me!

Evening came. Pay-off time!

Removing his plug, I examined his hole… a bit red, but no damage… and told him to lie on his tummy. A few pillows under his groin positioned him satisfactorily. After lubing him once more and stroking and lubing my equipment, I was ready.

"This will hurt quite a bit at first, but then should feel good!" I warned him.

"Is OK! I be brave! It be cool!"

Several medium, hard thrusts later, I was fully in him, to the accompaniment of a myriad of squeaks, sobs and gasps. I lay there on top of him letting him get used to my insertion and enjoying the exotic feel of his naked skin against time.

"Still, OK?

"Yessss!"

Fucking … and being fucked… must be instinctive and I began a gentle up and down motion.

"Oh! Is wonderful!" he gasped. "Please do much hard!"

Increasing my tempo, I was surprised when he began to thrust his impaled ass upward to meet my down-stroke. It wasn't long until my seed rose and I emptied my load into him. As I discovered later, he had cummed, too.

We both collapsed until we came down from our highs.

"Now have your seed inside me! Oh, Papa David! Thank you. Thank you."

It was the first time he had called me by that name. Papa! It felt good.

I carefully turned us both on our sides and we fell asleep with me still inside of him.

Next morning, I awoke to a barrage of kisses all over my body. He was ecstatic and, truthfully so was I. Our relationship had crossed a new boundary. But we both agreed that stroking and sucking was much more enjoyable… and far less messy.

That evening as we lay together, he told me, "You make little boy very happy be your son. You be my papa, yes?"

"Yes, my son! A thousand times, yes!"

Two weeks went by while I finished up the notes I had taken for my thesis. Rashid was quite happy with Summo's decision. I could tell he really loved the boy and was ready to give him the chance for a new life, for education. And even though I had originally agreed to adopt Summo as a matter of expediency, he was going to be my son and Drew's brother in every sense of the word. He insisted on continuing to serve both of us right up until we actually left the 'dig'.

One evening I was busy laying out our beds while Summo finished up cleaning our mess-kits and other pans from our supper, when Rashid staggered into my tent carrying a small boy.

"David, help me!" he gasped as he handed the boy to me. "I'm being overwhelmed!"

Instantly, I was almost overcome by a wave of terror, sorrow and pain that forced me to collapse onto my camp chair. He was clearly a strong empath and was 'broadcasting' at full volume.

Li! I need your help! I yelled psychically, hoping he would 'hear' me.

Yes, David. What is it? Holy shit! I see you have another boy and he is giving you a problem. Wow! Is he ever strong! Hold him tightly and I'll try to turn him off.

Once again, I felt Li's power surge through me to the point I must have blacked out.

It was a few moments until I recovered, to find Rashid standing over me and the boy asleep in my arms.

"He said it might knock you out," my colleague told me. "But you would be all right. He said he stopped the child's powers without permanently harming him. He said that all would be well and that we would shortly have a great surprise, but he had to go to class."

"What kind of surprise?"

"He didn't say."

Just then, Summo came in, carrying my clean mess-kit and our pans. He took one look at the boy in my arms and everything crashed to the ground.

"TIMO! TIMO!" he screeched, snatching the now-awake boy from my arms. "Oh, Timo, is it really you? I thought you dead in car wreck!"

The little guy reached up and stroked the now-crying Summo's cheek, "You find me. I afraid you no find me when bad men hurt you."

"He's my brother," Summo explained to an equally shocked Rashid and me. "I thought he killed with Mama and Poppa."

As it turned out, Timo had literally been thrown into the arms of the Warlord's agent and had been at The Fort for months. But his on-and-off 'gift' had been driving everyone there to despair. Summo had been at The Fort for such a short time and had been kept there in solitary confinement so that they had not been able to 'find' each other.

"Papa David," Summo asked after the two of them had bawled together, "you think he be another son? He maybe go with us to Spring of Alice?"

In answer, I held out my arms and they both melted into my embrace while Rashid stood there shaking his head in wonder.

Another son? Why not two?

Epilog

Rather than allow Timo to regress into bedtime bondage, Summo and I spent most of the next two weeks in a nightly love-fest with him, and the little guy soaked it all up like a sponge. He was a very affectionate child and repaid our efforts to 'civilize' him… is that the correct term… many times over. By the end of that time I was sure I could take both of them to Alice without undue trauma. So, I began to lay serious plans for my trip home as a new father once more. How cool was that?

The departure from the 'dig' was an emotional one for all of us. Professionally, Rashid Harare was the finest 'teacher' I could have hoped for and I was proud and humble to have been considered his colleague. But much more than that, he had been a faithful friend who insisted that I pursue my degree and fully supported my desire to provide a better life for two young boys whom life had treated very unfairly. I completely understood how much the loss of Summo's nascent 'talent' meant to his work.

With a bit of encouragement… surprisingly from the Warlord-of-The-Peshmer... the authorities in Kabul were more than cooperative. The British Ambassador, likewise, cut through the considerable red-tape and soon both my new sons were equipped with exit-visas, and temporary British passports, pending final action by Canberra.

While the bureaucrats were doing their dance, the boys and I went shopping. I could hardly take two naked pre-teens halfway around the world… at least not on commercial airlines. That would not have been cool at all, even though my two small companions were much more at home in that mode of undress.

Alan Joyce, now Australia's Minister of Aviation, magically made first-class seats available on both Qantas and our connecting flights.

When all was ready, I 'contacted' Master Keldhar. We should be in London the-day-after tomorrow, and I'll let you know when we'll arrive in Alice.

And Li! Please don't try to snatch us off the aircraft in flight. That would likely make the aircrew rather nervous.

Now, would I try to do that? he protested.

You might.

The end of this adventure?

Author's Notes: How will Summo and Timo fare at the Alice Springs School for Exceptional Boys? Will Drew and Li accept them as true brothers… albeit much younger? Will Keldhar unlock the mystery of Summo's talent?

Further tales you'll find in a new series of stories entitled 'Adventures with Summo and Timo'.

Maiocxx, September, 2017