Disclaimer: The following is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to persons alive or dead is coincidental. The venue is fictional and any resemblance to actual bases, locations, is coincidental.
This story takes place in 1976 Canada and reflects the mores, traditions, customs, etc., of the times. I urge all of those who read this story to remember that what is "politically correct" today, was not thought of back then. If you are Lib-Left, politically correct and have jumped on the bandwagons of whatever causes are the fads of the month, please do not continue past this point. This also applies the so-called "Religious" Right and "Moral" Majority. I respectfully remind you that the "Good Book" also contains proscriptions, restrictions, do's and don'ts that I don't see or hear any of you thumping bibles about. Write me, I'll be glad to give you some excellent web sites. To all the anti-this and anti-that, Bible Thumpers, Libertarians and the ACLU, the bankrupt and increasingly irrelevant United Nations, please do not send me e-mails espousing whatever cause you're touting. I have no time for claptrap.
As this work contains scenes of explicit sexual acts of a homosexual nature, if such erotica offends you, please move on to a tamer site. If your mainstay in life is Bible-thumping cant, please move on. If you are not of legal age to read, possess or download writings of an erotic nature, or if possession, reading, etc., is illegal where you live, please move on.
This story is written in an age without worry, and as such unprotected sex is practiced exclusively. I urge all of you to NEVER engage in sexual acts without proper protection. The life you save will be your own.
I will respond to all e-mails (except flames). Please write me at my e-mail address: paradegi@rogers.com
The Boys Of Aurora: Chapter 19
The Phantom continued working until the bugle sounded Stand Easy. He put away his notes and stood up, stretched, and went into the galley. As usual the Litany and the Brats had disappeared with the speed of light the second the first notes of the bugle call sounded, the Litany to the canteen, Randy and Joey to the lounge where they would pet and fondle each other until another bugle call summoned them back to work. Smiling at the rampant horniness of the two young boys The Phantom wandered out to the loading dock for a smoke. He found Ray, who was idly dangling his feet over the end of the dock. At the first sound of the Phantom's step Ray turned and beckoned for The Phantom to come alongside.
The Phantom sat down and almost immediately Ray turned and gave him a quick peck on his cheek. "Hey, what was that for?" asked The Phantom.
"Yesterday," replied Ray with a grin. "And for helping me understand about me, and for a lot of things."
"You'd better be careful and not let Kevin catch you doing that," replied The Phantom. He laughed softly. "He might not approve at all!"
Ray chuckled and smiled. "Kevin is fine with us. He knows what happened."
"He does?" The Phantom stared wide-eyed and surprised at the young cook. "You told him about us, about what happened?"
Ray nodded. "Yes. I told him how I felt, and how you felt. We talked about how him and I feel about each other. He loves me and I . . . care for him deeply. We agreed that we were meant to be together. So he's happy. I'm happy." He gave The Phantom a nudge in the ribs with his elbow. "And is my very wonderful young friend happy?"
The Phantom smiled slowly. "Yeah, Ray. Very happy."
Ray cocked his head. "You told The Gunner?"
"I told him everything, Ray," replied The Phantom with a tight look. "It was difficult, and I thought he'd blow a gasket but, yes, I told him everything. We have no secrets now."
Ray's eyes widened. "Wow!" He lowered his voice. "You told him about me, and, um, the others?"
"Everything," confirmed The Phantom. He looked at Ray and smiled. "He says that you're his only rival. He was really pissed off about the other guys but he calmed down and we talked about everything. I feel a lot better that I don't have to lie to him."
"Good," said Ray with a firm nod of his head. "I couldn't lie to Kevin, either, so I told him exactly what happened yesterday, including that we ended up in bed. He didn't get too angry, and he still wants me to meet him on the Labour Day Weekend."
"Are you going to meet him?" asked The Phantom, remembering his conversation, and advice, when Kevin began his wooing of Ray.
"Damn straight!" Ray giggled. "It beats staying home and listening to my parents bemoaning the lack of Christianity in the labour movement - they're all Communists, according to them - or listening to my brother complaining about how hard done by he is at the seminary, or watching my little brother trying to hide his boners!"
"Ray!"
Seeing the shocked looked on The Phantom's face, Ray snickered and gave him a hug. "I'm only joking, Phantom." His brows wrinkled. "Well, not really."
"Which means?"
"Oh, Phantom, I want to be with Kevin, I really do. Even if things were aces at home I'd still want to be with him. My problem is figuring out a way to get out of Hell House and be with him!"
"It can't be that bad, Ray," said The Phantom kindly. He knew that Ray came from a family of strict religious fundamentalists.
Ray sighed and grimaced. "Phantom, you have no idea what it's like to prayed over every fucking day! You have no idea what it's like to have your every move watched, having to account for every minute that I'm out of the house!"
"Jesus. My parents let me come and go as I please."
"Mine don't!" Ray's face hardened. "I hate them, Phantom."
"You can't mean that," replied The Phantom, appalled. He loved his parents dearly and the idea that anyone could hate his parents was foreign to him.
"I do!" said Ray heatedly. "I hate them because they are constantly shoving their religious crap down my throat! I have no freedom. None! I can't look the wrong way without my mother, or my father, and now Tommy, quoting some bible verse at me!"
"Tommy?"
"My older brother. He's going to be a minister in our church. He goes to a seminary run by the church. He's studying how to scare the Devil out of little boys and the pension cheques out of little old ladies. He's a total asshole!" With a brother like Brendan, The Phantom could sympathize. "He's that bad?"
Ray nodded his head. "He's the reason I joined the Sea Cadets and the reason why I go away to camp every year. Tommy is so fucking holier than thou, that it's sickening. He's engaged to be married to a real honker. She's a bishop's daughter and uglier than sin!" He giggled. "Tommy is saving himself for marriage, so he doesn't beat off. He's 23 and he has never beat off!"
"You're kidding!"
Ray shook his head. "Nope. He's never beaten off. He has wet dreams, which he says is God's way of cleansing the body of evil thoughts. Every time he has one he runs off to the church and prays for forgiveness. Christ, he's pathetic."
"My brother, Brendan? He used to beat off every night," confided The Phantom. "The first time I heard him doing it I thought he was having some sort of an attack! The noise he was making was terrible!"
Ray's eyes widened. "You heard him?"
"Sure, our rooms are right next to each other. Saw him, too."
"Phantom, you didn't!"
The Phantom grinned mischievously. "Like I said, he was making this racket so I went and peeked into his room. He was buck naked and pounding away so I watched. I was ten."
"You're lucky he didn't catch you spying on him," returned Ray. "I'd've of killed you!"
The Phantom laughed. "Well, he wanted to after I told my Dad all about seeing him doing strange things with his dick. Boy, was Brendan mad!"
Ray joined in The Phantom's laughter. "You actually told on him? Did your dad freak?"
"Naw. He told me that it was something that all boys did sooner or later and that I'd be doing it soon enough. He did give me shit for spying on Brendan. Then he gave Brendan shit for jerking off and not locking his bedroom door."
"Phantom, you amaze me sometimes," said Ray. "Your dad amazes me. My dad would take out his belt and Bible if he ever caught any of us beating off! As far as he's concerned the only sex allowed is between a man and a woman, and they have to be married." His face clouded. "I'm going to have to have a talk with Jeffy when I get home."
"Another brother?"
Ray nodded. "My younger brother. We share a room so I know that he's been slapping the monkey. Also, he'll be sitting there, watching television, and he'll start squirming and get all red in the face. He pops bone at the damnedest times." He chuckled. "But then, he's only 11, so I guess that's normal. He can't help it so . . ."
"Who can't help what?" came a voice.
They turned and saw Kevin, changed into work dress, coming onto the loading dock. He sat down on the other side of Ray, took him in his arms and kissed him passionately. "Now that is what I've wanted to do all morning!" He smiled and kissed Ray again. "Gosh, I missed you!"
"You saw him this morning," said The Phantom dryly. "What's the matter, didn't get enough last night?"
"Didn't get any last night!" returned Kevin indignantly.
"Chef stayed over," explained Ray.
"So, how about you and me going to the lounge and . . ." began Kevin hopefully.
Ray pushed his lover away. "Not a hope! I have work to do and you have a Dinner to set up!" He grinned lasciviously. "Besides, we'd have to bounce Randy and Joey out!"
Kevin grinned his killer grin and raised his eyes. "Jesus, don't those two ever stop?"
"They're growing boys. They need their sex," replied Ray with a laugh.
"You two are too much," exclaimed The Phantom, pretending to be disgusted. "There's more to life than a roll in the hay!"
"True," replied Kevin. He gave Ray a huge hug. "But, boy oh boy, I can't think of anything else with this guy around."
Ray gave an impatient shrug. "Knock it off, Kevin. We're in public!"
"No we're not," returned Kevin with a grin. "We're sitting on a loading dock with Phantom" He gave Ray's neck a quick nuzzle. "Come on, Ray, just a little bit of the old . . ."
Ray pulled away and glared at Kevin. "Damn, when I say no, I mean no! I love you, you big fool, but sometimes you just push the wrong buttons!"
"Boys, don't fight!" The Phantom grinned at both Ray and Kevin. Ray's conservative upbringing was showing. "You remind me of my brother!"
"We do?" Ray looked at Kevin, who grinned and licked his lips. Ray grimaced in disgust. What a horny bugger!
"Yeah, him and me, we used to fight all the time. He knew just what buttons to push to set me off." The Phantom shook his head. "He resented me, I think, because he was cock of the walk for five years or so, and then I came along."
"Tell me about it," said Kevin with a groan. "It was bad enough with Kieran and Connor, then Collins came along. Christ, the way my parents acted you'd think it was the Second Coming!"
"Little brothers can be a pain," opined Ray. "Jeffy's not too bad, really. At least there's hope for him. He likes to peek through the keyhole when I'm taking a piss."
Kevin giggled. "Big brothers are the worst! They are always on my case."
The Phantom agreed enthusiastically. "I could never please Brendan. I was a dork as far as he was concerned. Hell, he even ragged me about the size of my dick! He said it was too little and made fun of me every chance he got!"
"I'm safe in that particular department," bragged Kevin, flashing his perfect white teeth. "Neither Kieran or Connor have anything to write home about."
"As if you'd know," replied Ray with a sniff. "What do they do, go around naked, which wouldn't surprise me."
"Naw, they're just a couple of sex fiends," said Kevin, totally unfazed. "They're total perverts. If they're not screwing some member of the Kennel Club they've picked up, they're licking each other. They're a couple of complete horn dogs."
"Kevin!"
"It's true, Ray. They sleep in a double bed, in my room. Collins has his own room, which is good because they'd be after him just like they were after me!" He grinned and grabbed his crotch. "They'd both like to put a lip lock on the Kevin, but whenever I see the look in their eyes I become the fastest animal known to man."
"What's that?" asked The Phantom.
"An altar boy on roller skates with a priest chasing him," hooted Kevin.
"That's disgusting!" returned Ray.
"You've never been an altar boy," replied Kevin dryly. "It wouldn't be disgusting then!"
"Have you?" asked The Phantom.
Kevin shuddered and shook his head. "Nope. I managed to avoid that particular fate. I figured that I had enough trouble keeping my brothers out of my drawers, so I passed."
"You have a very strange family," opined Ray gravely.
"I do indeed," agreed Kevin. He thought a moment. "It wouldn't be so bad if they'd just admit that they like sucking each other's dick. I mean they try to be the biggest jocks on the block! They go out with girls and try to score. They drink beer, and every Sunday it's football on the television. They're always bragging about how big their big dicks are, which aren't. They pretend to be these two big, macho, straight guys and then they go to bed and the next thing I know its sex city. Shit, I have my own porno flick in my bedroom every night!"
"So that's where you learned how to . . ." began Ray with a grin.
"I just watched, Ray," replied Kevin emphatically. "Until I met you all I ever did was watch." He sighed theatrically. "Except for Adam. All we ever did was jack off together, so that doesn't count." He rolled his eyes. "All around me guys were getting off together and I just watched!" Then he laughed and gave Ray a quick peck on the cheek. "Then I met Ray!"
"I didn't teach you some of your tricks," returned Ray hotly. "Hell, the most I ever did before you came along was . . ." He shut up abruptly. Kevin did not know all the details of his relationship with Phantom and he did not want him to know. "Anyway, you can't tell me that all you did was watch your brothers."
Kevin made a face. "Them, and Chad and Nick. Now that was a show to remember."
"Chad? Nick?" The Phantom looked at Ray, who snickered and nodded.
"Hell, yes," replied Kevin firmly with a huge grin. "They've been fuck buddies since forever."
"Hardly forever," said The Phantom.
"Well, ever since they discovered that your dick is more than something to piss out of. Chad's been making Nick very happy for years."
"He has?" asked The Phantom, surprised. "And where is Nick? He's supposed to be here."
Kevin winked at Ray, who giggled. "The last time I saw him he was ranting at Chad. Nick is a very upset little man," replied Kevin, returning Ray's giggle. "Very unhappy."
"Why are you two giggling like a couple of schoolgirls?" demanded The Phantom.
"Chad and Nick!" replied Ray, barely able to contain his giggling. He nudged Kevin. "Go ahead, Kevin, tell Phantom about Chad and Nick," he managed to say through his giggling. "He looks like he could use a laugh!"
Before The Phantom could reply a huge grin broke Kevin's square-jawed face. He laughed and returned Ray's nudge with his elbow. "I don't know if Phantom can handle it, being a country boy. It's pretty kinky."
"I am not a country boy!" huffed The Phantom, giving both boys a sour look. "And believe me, after working two years in this place kinky is almost a way of life!"
This remark was greeted with more gales of laughter. The Phantom's face turned beet red but before he could explode Kevin held up his hand. "I'll tell you, Phantom, why Nick was all bent out of shape this morning but just remember what I said."
"At which time I suppose I'll see the humour in all this?" The Phantom gave Kevin a stern look. "We are supposed to be serving tonight, remember? If Nick can't do his job than I have to make other arrangements." The Phantom had no idea what Kevin, and Ray, found so funny in whatever arrangement there was between Chad and Nick. He really didn't care all that much. He was not given to gossip and frankly didn't care if the two stewards fucked each other or the Ship's cat. His main concern was that both Chad and Nick would perform well tonight. Whatever problem they had, and the underlying reason for that problem, could not be allowed to impact on their performance tonight. He told Kevin as much.
Kevin, still grinning, waved his hand dismissively. "You worry too much, Phantom. They'll be all right." He was struck by a barely controlled fit of giggling. "Chad will give Nick a quick blowjob and all will be well."
"I hope Nick brought his dildo," put in Ray.
"WHAT?" The Phantom almost fell off of the loading dock when that remark registered.
"It's a long story, Phantom," said Kevin. He managed to control himself and continued on. "First, you have to know that Chad is gay."
"He is?"
Kevin nodded. "He's the toast of Haliburton, I hear. The cadets of RCSCC BEATTY are the happiest boys in Ontario with Chad around."
"KEVIN!" exploded The Phantom, shock registering on his face.
Well, they are, Phantom," returned Kevin. He stifled another fit of laughter and hugged himself. "Chad is not all that discreet and he admits he's gay."
"Is that what got Nick going?" asked The Phantom, intrigued. Other than the Twins, he knew of no other openly gay boy.
Ray shook with silent laughter, as he said, "Not hardly!"
The Phantom glared at Ray and then at Kevin. "What happened? Chad not want to put out for Nick?"
Ray roared with laughter. "That too!"
"That did it!" The Phantom roared at Ray. "I have more important things to do than sit around here and listen to you two playing at being a couple of fishwives." He stood up and was about to stomp angrily into the Mess Hall when Kevin stopped him.
"Sit down, Phantom," asked Kevin. "And Ray, shut up."
"I'll try," replied Ray, wiping the tears from his eyes. "I just can't help breaking up whenever you start on Nick and Chad."
"Well, try to control yourself," ordered Kevin as he waved The Phantom back to his seat. When The Phantom was once again sitting down, Kevin fought back a grin and looked at him. He tried to keep a straight face. "Chad is gay. Nick pretends not to be, and uses Chad whenever they get together, which is four or five times a year."
"Uses Chad?" asked The Phantom, even more confused. "Fucks around with him you mean."
"That too," replied Kevin, nodding his head. "Only not the way you think."
The Phantom growled in exasperation. He was getting completely fed up with Kevin's little game. He managed, however, to control himself. "Kevin, I do not care if Chad is fucking Nick, or Nick is fucking Chad. It's their business. What I do care about is one of them fucking up my service tonight. Now, if you have something to tell me, fine. If not . . ."
"Anson came into the Mess yesterday morning," began Kevin calmly. "He tried to wake Chad up. Chad was morning Quartermaster but he didn't want to go on watch."
"Okay, but I still don't see what Anson has to do with Chad and Nick . . ."
"Well, if you'd let me finish," returned Kevin sternly, "you'll find out."
"Fine!" The Phantom threw his hands in the air. "Anson came into the mess. Then what happened?"
"Like I said, Chad didn't want to go on watch so he gave Anson a blowjob," replied Kevin blandly, as if Chad blowing Anson was a common occurrence and of little or no consequence. "Anson stood Chad's Watch. Then they went sailing."
"Sailing! Chad showed Anson a new way to steer a whaler," hooted Ray. Then he and Kevin collapsed in a fit of giggling.
The Phantom waited impatiently for the giggling to subside. "Since Ray seems to know all about Chad and Nick, perhaps he'd like to continue?" he asked coldly.
Ray waved away The Phantom's remark. "No, Kevin tells it better."
Kevin snuggled close to Ray and grinned again. "Okay, here goes," he said to The Phantom. He looked at Ray. "And you, no giggling, please." Ray nodded, and giggled anyway. Kevin shook his head and continued on. "Phantom, before Chad moved to Haliburton, and before Nick's people bought the houseboat they live in now, they lived next door to each other in Gananoque. Nick was born a day before Chad and both their parents are real good friends so they've basically been raised together. Chad told me that when they were little they used to take baths together."
"Eliminates peeking through the keyhole of the bathroom door," said Ray with a smile.
"Shut up, Ray!" both The Phantom and Kevin said together. The Phantom motioned for Kevin to continue.
"Anyway, as they got older Chad realized that he was gay." Kevin shrugged. "He's quite open about it and never hides the fact. His parents aren't too happy about it, but they've learned to live with him being gay."
"And Nick. Is he gay?" The Phantom did not know Nick all that well, and what he had seen so far had not led him to believe that Nick was one of the brotherhood.
Kevin shrugged. "He says he isn't, and he puts on this big straight boy act. He's always putting the moves on the girls. Personally, after seeing him and Chad in action I have my doubts."
"You've seen him and Chad?" The Phantom's jaw dropped. "What do they do, charge admission?"
Kevin smiled and shook his head. "They didn't know that I was watching." He snickered and continued on. "Mind you, from what I saw, they should charge admission. It was quite a show. Made me pooch out the front of my undies!"
Ray, for once, said nothing. He put his hand over his mouth and rolled his eyes, shaking with silent laughter.
"Chad and Nick have been fuck buddies for years," said Kevin, continuing his story. "Chad still comes into Gananoque for the holidays. His mother's parents live there, and he goes down to the houseboat and him and Nick get it on."
"Which is where you saw them?"
"Yes, Phantom, which is where I saw them," replied Kevin slowly. He shook his head again and, despite himself, giggled. "I was there last year, for a regatta. So was Chad. Nick's father is Chairman of the Navy League in Gananoque so Chad and me didn't have to sleep on the floor of the gymnasium at RMC. We stayed at Nick's place, which is where I saw him and Chad going at it. Later Chad filled me in on some of the details."
"Convenient," sniped The Phantom.
"Come on, Phantom, Chad has to talk to somebody," replied Kevin reasonably. "Ray and I talk to you because you understand. Chad talks to me because I'm not after his hoop, or his ring." He paused and looked thoughtful. "How would you like it if the man you're sleeping with only sleeps with you to get off? Only uses you?" "I wouldn't," answered The Phantom honestly.
"Well, neither does Chad. Look, he's gay, and he likes being gay, and he likes Nick. He was the first guy that Chad ever fooled around with. Chad does everything Nick's way and I guess he just got fed up with it."
"Not to mention not letting Chad fuck him, and using a dildo!" Ray looked positively indignant. "That's a turn off and an insult, Kevin."
"What is he talking about?" The Phantom looked at Ray in a new light. Whatever did he know about dildos?
"Yeah, it is," agreed Kevin. He gave Ray another hug. "I've never used one and frankly, I prefer the real thing." He returned to his story. "According to Chad, Nick uses a phoney dick to beat off. He does it all the time, according to Chad. He does let Chad fuck him, but he has to wear a rubber, and he's not allowed to shoot into Nick's ass."
"Because that would be queer, right?" The Phantom was finally seeing what Chad had to put up with.
"Got it in one, Phantom." Kevin sobered. "Chad is a nice guy. He likes turning guys on, and he turns Nick on. What pisses Chad off is that he has to pretend to seduce Nick. What also pisses him off is that Nick wants to be seduced but Chad has to go through this silly little routine. Chad has to bring Nick some fist books, and they always start out with them sitting side by each, reading the damned things. Nick pretends to be reading the book and he gets hard, and then Chad is allowed to go to work on him. They always end up naked, with Chad sucking on Nick. Then Chad is allowed to fuck Nick for a while, but he has to wear a rubber. The first time they did it Chad didn't wear one - I don't think they knew what a rubber was! Anyway, Chad shot his load into Nick's butt, which pissed Nick off for a year!"
"Because only queers fuck each other in the ass," said The Phantom with a sad smile. "And of course, Nick isn't gay."
Kevin nodded. "He's just a straight guy who likes getting fucked and sticking a rubber dildo up his ass." He looked disgusted. "In the end Chad blows Nick while fucking him with a dildo. When Nick's finished Chad has to go to a neutral corner and beat off. When he's finished Nick compliments him on the size of his load and then adds insult to injury."
"How so?"
"He always thanks Chad for the books, and then orders him not to tell the girls, ever!" finished Kevin. "
"Poor Chad," murmured Ray.
The Phantom looked at Ray and shook his head. "Poor the both them," he said firmly.
"How so?" asked Kevin, a look of surprise on his face. "Chad gets what he wants, and Nick certainly gets what he wants."
The Phantom snorted in disgust. "No, they don't. Chad lets Nick use him, use his body. For doing that, Chad is a fool and fucking Anson won't change things a bit. Nick is a fool because he won't admit to himself, or Chad, that he likes what they do, that he enjoys what they do, that he wants what they do!"
"That's damned harsh," protested Ray. "Chad can't help it if he's gay!"
"I never said anything about Chad being gay!" returned The Phantom. "I said he was a fool, and he is. Kevin, you said that Chad's Corps is the happiest in the country?" Kevin nodded. "Chad blows, or fucks the guys, makes everybody happy?" Again Kevin nodded. The Phantom rolled his eyes. "Kevin, think on it for one minute. Ray is quite right in saying that Chad cannot help being gay. He can no more help being gay that you can, or Ray can or I can. What is, is."
"But?" Ray raised an eyebrow.
The Phantom made a face and shook his head. "Chad is playing with fire, and I mean fire! Okay, he likes dick! So do you, and Ray, and so do I. The 'but' here is, we don't go around putting the moves on everything with something swinging between his legs! Chad does! Sooner or later he's going to run into a Paul Greene, or a Roger Home, or worse, and then God help him! This time he got lucky. Anson let Chad blow him, and Anson, for whatever reason, went sailing with him and, I assume, they did a few other things. But what is going to happen when Chad meets up with a guy who doesn't want what he has to offer, and turns mean? Beats him up? Or maybe even kills him!"
"I see what you mean, Phantom," agreed Kevin. "Chad shouldn't do what he does. He should be more discreet."
The Phantom nodded. "Chad might think that he's doing his friends a favour by blowing them, or letting them fuck him. He's not. All he's doing is getting a reputation as a slut, and sooner or later the guys who are doing him, and who want more, will find other outlets, other guys who don't want it broadcast all over town that they're into dick!"
"Like the steam baths," replied Kevin.
Ray gave Kevin a puzzled look. "What's a steam bath?"
Kevin chuckled. "It's a bathhouse with a steam room," he explained with a grin. "And a whole lot of private rooms for guys to meet."
A hard look came into Ray's eyes. He had a fairly good idea what went on in the private rooms. "And just how do you know?" His voice had an icy edge.
Kevin snickered and made a face. "I know, love of my life, not through experience, but by listening to two horny older brothers who thought that I was asleep."
Ray gasped. "Your brothers go to places like that?" He was shocked. Ottawa, a most provincial government town, had nothing that even approached a steam bath.
"Sure," replied Kevin without emotion. "There's a couple of places in Toronto that Kieran and Connor go to if they don't score with the chicks when they go to over to Toronto for a ball game, or just for some action. From what I heard they go in, they have a steam, and then they hook up with some guy. It's all anonymous. Nobody knows anybody. When they're finished, they put on their clothes and come home." He laughed quietly. "I always know when they've been to the baths. They don't wake me up in the middle of the night, grunting and moaning."
The Phantom shook his head and smiled. "We don't have a bath house, but there's a place that everybody knows about." He pointed southward down the bay with his chin. "It's called Harkness Bay. According to my father the gays go there and frolic."
Ray snickered. "Frolic?" He began laughing and his eyes sparkled with glee. "Frolic?"
"You know what I mean!" The Phantom saw the humour in what he had said and joined Ray, and Kevin, in the laughter. "Hell and sheeit, Ray, what else do you want me to call it?"
"Frolicking is good, Phantom," said Kevin. "I love frolicking!"
"Beats saying they're fucking," opined Ray, although he did frown at Kevin's remark about "loving frolicking." There were certain things, in Ray's opinion, that should never be talked about in public, even with a close friend. He also had another pet peeve. "I really don't care for the term fucking at all." Ray's primness caused the other two boys to break into more peals of laughter. Ray was not amused. He sniffed and grimaced. "I do not fuck and I do not frolic! I happen to think that I'm making love."
When the Phantom regained control he nodded his head. "Which is the way it's supposed to be, Ray. When you and Kevin are together, you make love. You care for each other." A sober look came over his face. "Gay men, and boys, any who have any sense, know what can happen to them if they're found out. They have few choices when it comes to sex. They either do without, they find a quiet friend, or they go someplace where no names are required."
Ray thought about that and then looked at The Phantom. "Phantom, Chad is too young to go into places like that," he said reasonably. "As for making out with the other guys, well what is so different from him doing that and the guys sniffing around the girls?"
"One is accepted, the other is not," replied The Phantom coolly. "It is quite accepted for guys to try to put the make on girls. That's supposed to be 'natural'. Chad is like every other gay boy. He wants to have sex, which I can understand. He wants to have sex with another boy. It is a perfectly natural thing for him to want. That is not the problem."
"The problem is that he's spreading it all around," said Kevin quietly. He sighed and regarded Ray. "He's only going to end up with a social disease or . . . dead."
"I know," replied Ray. "I still feel sorry for him."
"We all do," said The Phantom. "We should also feel sorry for Nick. He's going to have a horrible life." Ray's and Kevin's heads jerked up. "Chad is gay. He admits it and, rightly or wrongly, is open about it." He looked at each boy in turn. "Nick, on the other hand, enjoys, wants, and needs, boy with boy sex. He denies it, makes a game of it. What he cannot admit is his true, real self. He'll go on with his life, probably get married, and so on. Sadly, he'll still be Nick and he'll still have that need. He will still want and need a Chad in his life. He'll live his life like that, afraid to give in to his needs, and he'll be miserable. He'll have this secret he can't tell anybody about, or act on."
"He can always find a bath house, or a Harkness Bay," said Ray gravely.
"Yes, he can," replied The Phantom, shaking his head. "But then he runs the risk of being caught if the police raid the bath house. The Comox police sweep Harkness Bay every so often. When they arrest someone there the cops always tell the newspapers and the guy's name is published. I don't think that Nick would run the risk."
"So he finds another Chad," interjected Kevin.
"Perhaps," said The Phantom slowly. "Perhaps not. My guess is, not." He gestured emphatically. "You, me, we are all of us victims of circumstance in that we are expected to conform to what society, our parents, the people we know, expect us to be. We are expected to grow up and become good little boys, get married, have kids, and die." He smiled cynically. "That's perhaps an oversimplification, but basically that is what we are all expected to do!"
"And if we don't, we're freaks," said Kevin. "I know for a proven fact that Kieran and Connor have been doing each other for years. They go to the bathhouses and have sex with strangers. That's their business and it's a deep, dark secret. In public they're two jocks who nobody dreams would be interested in each other, or in other guys." He shook his head. "They will do anything to keep their secret safe. Which means Kieran will get married. So will Connor"
Ray's face hardened. "And either live a secret, double life, or never have sex with a guy again and suffer. Good!"
"Ray, how can you say that?" asked The Phantom, flabbergasted at Ray's hardness, his utter lack of sympathy.
"I can't feel sorry for people like that, Phantom," replied Ray evenly. "I can live with a guy being gay, in going to the steam baths, or Harkness Bay. I can live with Chad blowing every bone in a fifty-mile radius of Haliburton. Right or wrong, that's his business. What I can't, and won't agree with is people like Nick, or Kieran, or Connor, or every other gay who allows himself to be forced into something, like marriage, when he knows it's wrong, that he knows it will cause hurt and pain to innocents." He squared his shoulders. "If you want to be gay, be gay! If you want to be straight, be straight! But dammit, don't try to play both sides of the street."
"Sometimes we have no choice," said The Phantom. "Let's be realistic, here. We can't be openly gay. Society won't allow it. You know what would happen if you came out, Ray. We have to live in the shadows, to pretend to be something we're not."
"And we're miserable," retorted Ray. "We live in fear, afraid that someone will find out about us. We allow other people to dictate how we live our lives. I allow my parents to dictate who and what I will be. That is going to end and I really don't give a fuck what they think or do when I tell them to take a hike. Phantom, I will not be tyrannized by my parents, or the Little Big Men of this world. Not any more, not after what you did, Phantom. I will not allow it! I will not allow it!" He pounded his thigh and then burst into tears.
"Holy, Jesus!" Kevin's strong arms enveloped the weeping boy. He murmured softly into Ray's ear, and then looked at The Phantom, begging for help, begging for an explanation.
The Phantom reached out and his hand slowly caressed Ray's tear-streaked cheek. "My poor, sweet Ray."
Ray shook off Kevin's embrace. He straightened and wiped the tears from his eyes. "I don't want to live like some fugitive, Phantom! I don't want to be afraid of who I am!" His eyes were steady and piercing as he looked directly at The Phantom. "I'm going to start fighting back, just like you did, Phantom, just like you . . ." He smiled slowly, and shook his head with the barest of shakes. He would not betray their secret. He turned to Kevin and reached up and stroked his cheek, feeling the rough bristles of Kevin's beard. "I'm falling in love with you, fool." Ray smiled wistfully and looked at the Phantom, then returned to look at Kevin. "I never expected to, Kevin, but I am." He chuckled wryly. "You offered Matty a bed if he needed it. Do you think you could find room for me?"
Kevin, confused and stunned at Ray's outburst, looked at The Phantom. The boy's face told him nothing. Something had happened, something other than Ray sleeping with Phantom. Whatever it was, it was unimportant. Ray was falling in love with him and that was all that mattered. He took Ray in his arms and kissed him gently on the forehead. "Ray, you don't have to ask," he said quietly, his voice full of emotion. "I know that I'm in love with you, and I want you with me, always." He looked again at The Phantom. "I know that Ray is in love with you. I can live with that so long as he's with me. I know that I can't ever compete with you, Phantom."
The Phantom raised his hand and shook his head. "You and Ray belong together. I will never interfere in what you have. Ray knows how I feel about him, and about you. You're not in competition with me, Kevin. You never were."
Ray hugged Kevin closely. "I need you, Kevin. I need you near me. I need to know that if I pick up the phone you'll come to me. I don't think that I could go on living with my parents if I didn't have you."
Kevin gently kissed the top of Ray's head. "Remember what you told me, that I'm stuck with you?"
Ray smiled and nodded. "And I'm stuck with you. I think I got a better deal."
"I think you both came out on top," replied The Phantom with a slight chuckle.
"Sometimes I do," said Kevin with an evil snicker.
Ray punched Kevin in the ribs. "Kevin! Really, have you no shame?"
"Nope," replied Kevin honestly. "I'm not ashamed at all. I'm in love with you, you little goof, so why would I feel shame for making love to you?"
"You shouldn't," interjected The Phantom. "And that is what I am trying to make you both understand. Being gay is NOT something to be ashamed of. Society tries its damnedest to make it that way, but it doesn't stop you two from loving each other. And by saying that I mean you both feel something wonderful for each other, so wonderful that deep down inside just being with each other matters a whole lot more than sex."
Kevin nodded and took The Phantom's hand. "When I'm with this skinny git called Ray I feel, hell, I feel like he's the part of me that's missing. He completes me. Sex is a part of our relationship. That goes without saying, I think. But, Phantom, if Ray told me now that we would never have sex again, that all we would do is to hold each other, need each other, I'd still love him and I would still want to be with him."
"Sex is sometimes overrated," replied The Phantom as he squeezed Kevin's hand. "It's nice, and I like it, but sometimes . . ." He smiled wistfully. "When I am with . . .um, my special friend, it's not always hop into bed time. I'm like you, Kevin. He is the most wonderful thing in my life and just being with him fills me with such a feeling of, of . . . happiness. Just having him hold me in his arms is enough. Waking up in the morning, with him snuggled up against me is enough."
Ray wriggled out from Kevin's embrace. He gave The Phantom a quizzical look, wondering if, and when, he would ever openly acknowledge that The Gunner was his lover. He shrugged mentally. He had no doubt that Phantom had a reason for keeping his love affair quiet. Still, it was Phantom's business, not his, and not Kevin's. He gave Kevin a slightly scornful look. "Sheesh, you guys are sounding like something out of dime store novel!" he said, not wanting Kevin to ask any questions about Phantoms 'special friend'.
"And you love it," retorted Kevin.
"Yeah, I do," replied Ray with a sly grin. Then he grimaced. "It's just too bad that we have to go back to the real world at the end of the month, go back into the closet."
Kevin heaved a sigh of regret. "Yeah. That's what hurts, Phantom, having to hide, having to pretend to be something I'm not." He shook his head. "I'm gay. It shouldn't matter, because being gay does not change the essential me. It doesn't affect how I think about certain things, how I react to certain situations, or how I do my job, or what grades I get in school. The only difference between a straight guy and me is that I sleep with another male. He sleeps with a girl."
"If he's lucky," retorted Ray. "If he's lucky he might get a hand wipe from her."
Kevin nodded knowingly. "Kieran is always complaining about spending big bucks on some broad and not getting to third with her. Connor bitches that his girlfriend won't even let him feel her tits."
"Stupid buggers," said Ray with a grin.
"Yeah." Kevin gave Ray a huge squeeze. "I am so happy that I am not a stupid bugger," he finished solemnly.
"You're just a silly bugger," returned Ray. "Now get off me, I have work to do, and so do you."
The Phantom chuckled and smiled at the two boys. Kevin was so smitten with Ray that it showed in his every move and gesture. "Ray is right, Kevin, the dinner table awaits."
Kevin groaned and stood up, adjusting his woody as he did so. He blushed and grinned at The Phantom. "See what he does to me?"
The Phantom snickered. "Must be true love."
Ray snorted and looked up at the obvious, huge bulge in Kevin's work dress trousers. He grinned and murmured, "Phantom, I need to go over to Wardroom Stores for a minute. Can you spare Kevin to give me a hand?"
The Phantom struggled to control a giggling fit. "Oh, I think I can spare him for, say, half an hour?"
Ray jumped from the loading dock and nodded at Kevin, who grinned foolishly and jumped down to join his lover. He looked up at The Phantom. "Thanks, Phantom, you're a real friend."
"That's what friends are for," The Phantom replied, shrugging, a sad look coming into his eyes. "There will come a time when Nick and Chad will need friends. You both know that."
Both boys nodded sagely. "You going to speak to them?" asked Ray.
"No," said The Phantom shaking his head. "They have to find their own way, walk their own path. I'll be their friend when the time comes."
"To pick up the pieces," said Ray.
"Or bury them," returned Kevin unkindly.
The Phantom heaved a heavy sigh. "Sometimes that's all a friend can do. I can't, and won't interfere in their private lives. I'll help them, if they ask, but I won't interfere unless it impacts on their jobs. If that happens, it becomes my business. Until then, they're on their own." He looked down at Ray, then at Kevin. He reached into his pocket and fumbled with his package of cigarettes, thinking. He lit a cigarette and turned to look out over the harbour. He could hear Kevin and Ray giggling and murmuring, but ignored them. How much they had grown up in such a short time. Ray had been a shy, diffident boy and was fast becoming a strong, outspoken, youth, sure of his himself and very much aware of himself. Kevin, brash, cocksure, a little loud, had changed, for the better, becoming a warm, loving boy who basked in his love for Ray.
The Phantom also realized that he had changed. He had found love, true, but more than that he had found friendship and respect. Last year, he hadn't felt this way. He hadn't really understood or appreciated what an effect the Sea Cadets would have on him, what an effect AURORA would have on him. Before AURORA, there had been friends, which was hardly surprising. But, now, it was different. Sam had been his friend, but not in the way Ray, or Kevin, or the Twins, or any of the other boys of AURORA were his friends. The boys here, in this place, had shown him love and respect and affection, they had accepted him as one of their own, and suddenly it came to him what Nelson had meant by calling sailors "A Band of Brothers". The Sea Cadets brought them together, a disparate group of boys, and, through training and camaraderie allowed them to grow, to learn to accept each other for each other. They ate together, they trained together and slept together. They fought each other and yelled at each other, they had fun together, and in so doing learned to love each other, to support each other, to forge a bond of brotherhood. Now he understood.
A soft moan broke The Phantom's reverie. He turned and saw Ray, flushed, grinning sheepishly. Kevin, who had his hand up the front of Ray's shirt, turned a deep red.
The Phantom took a last drag on his cigarette and gave the two boys a wicked grin. "You two might want to head off to Wardroom stores," he said with a low chuckle. "I figure that you have maybe twenty minutes or so to . . . frolic."
Tyler's hand shook as he began to dial the long distance telephone number that The Gunner had written on the piece of paper. Tyler was standing in the Ship's Office with Harry directly behind him. "Well, here goes," he said quietly as he finished dialling the last digit.
The telephone was answered on the first ring. "Pax Vobiscum," said a high-pitched, nasal, slightly whining voice.
Tyler, who was High Anglican, was a little unsure of what he was supposed to reply. The Gunner had not mentioned that a Latin lesson was involved. He hesitated and then remembered the responses he had heard during the one, and only, Latin Mass he had ever attended. "Et cum spiritu tuo," He replied slowly, hoping he'd got it right.
"What is your problem?" Major Meinertzhagen closed his eyes and waited. The telephone he had answered was called the "Trouble Phone". The telephone number was given to only the very trusted friends of the Order. Its ringing was almost always a harbinger of disaster.
Tyler was momentarily flummoxed. Harry would tell him later that he had a look on his face that seemed to say that he did not know if his ass was punched, reamed, or bored. Tyler decided to quote the Latin quotation. He quickly rhymed it off.
"One moment please."
Tyler could hear a faint rustling, as if the pages of a book were being rapidly turned. In the office The Major quickly leafed through a loose-leaf binder. The binder contained an alphabetical listing of all the codes issued to friends. He found the quotation and nodded. "Good morning, Chief Petty Officer Benbow."
Tyler's mouth flew open, startling Harry. "You . . . you know who I am?"
The Major smiled. The boy at the other end of the telephone could not know that the Order, the very careful Order, kept very precise and detailed records of everything, and everybody, who might have occasion to do business with the Knights. "Benbow, Edward Tyler Stephen. Chief Petty Officer and Master at Arms of HMCS AURORA," replied Major Meinertzhagen with a slight smirk.
"Jesus!" Tyler looked at Harry and rolled his eyes. He placed his hand over the receiver of the telephone. "They know who I am," he exclaimed in a low whisper. The Major, who had overheard Tyler's aside to Harry, chuckled dryly. "At the risk of seeming repetitious, I shall continue." He quickly scanned the printed page in the binder. "You are the Master at Arms of HMCS AURORA. You are eighteen years and two months old, having been born on the 24th of May, 1958 in the Aurora General Hospital. You are a recent graduate, and Class Valedictorian, of Upper Canada College School. You graduated with a 98.3 per cent grade average, and are an Ontario Scholar. You declined a scholarship with the University of Toronto to become a Candidate Naval Cadet at Royal Roads Military College, where you will report the first week of September, this year."
"You know all that?" asked Tyler, stunned at the information being read to him.
"I do, indeed," replied The Major. "That, and much more." He chuckled again and continued. "Your father is the Chief Financial Officer for the British and North American Assurance Company. Your mother is a homemaker and is actively involved in several charities. She is a patron of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra. You have younger brothers, Martin Gregory and Geoffrey Douglas." The Major heard the young lad gasping at his revelations, smiled and, to prove his point, added, "You also have a sister, Elizabeth."
Tyler wondered just what in the hell he'd run into. They, he, whoever was at the other end of the telephone line, seemed to know all about him. "Hell, he probably knows if I'm circumcised or not," he thought. "You seem to be well informed," Tyler said into the receiver.
"We try to be," replied The Major, not taking offence at the touch of sarcasm in the boy's voice. "Now then, young Mr. Benbow, how may we help you?"
Tyler took a deep breath. "A friend needs some help. It's not a real big thing, and I'm a little embarrassed to think it all that important, but it's real important to two friends of mine and, well, you see, The Gunner . . ." Tyler shut up abruptly. He had no idea who he was talking to, nor was he sure that he should be naming names other than Todd's.
"I assure you, young man," The Major rumbled nasally, "that as the Chancellor of the Order has given you the telephone number, and your identification code, everything is important to Sir Stephen. Please, Mr. Benbow, tell me your cause of grief."
Stifling a giggle at the man's strange formality, Tyler nodded. "Well, like I said, you might not think it at all important . . ." The voice at the other end of the line did not reply so he continued on. "My friend Todd, Todd Arundel, he needs a little help."
Major Meinertzhagen grunted and made a wry face. Mr. Michael might be on the verge of making the Arundel twins his Pages of the Presence but . . . personally The Major would just as well turn the pair of them over his knee. Still, he must put personal feelings aside. "Chief Petty Officer Arundel, major, is in difficulty?" he asked, not quite able to keep the testiness from his voice.
Tyler covered the receiver again. "Wow! The Gunner is the Chancellor of some Order, and he's a 'Sir'," he whispered to Harry. "And this guy, whoever he is, he sure knows Todd! He got right cranky when I told him Todd's name and . . ."
"I am not cranky," interrupted The Major. "Now, please do get on with it!"
Tyler quickly rattled off the reason for his telephone call. " . . . So you see, sir, Todd is being penalized for something he can't help being. He should be First Prefect. As for the other boy, well, as far as I'm concerned, he's an ass!"
The Major was forced to agree with young Mr. Benbow. While the young cadet had not named Todd Arundel's tormentor, and reportedly did not know him, The Major did. He curled his lips in disgust. He knew exactly who the previous First Prefect of St. George's had been: Charles Bowes, a loathsome, feckless, overmedicated creature who played on his family's name and now non-existent fortune to gain his ends. A young man without character and the morals of an alley cat who would, in the course of time, come to a bad end through drink and drugs. Charles Bowes was an ass! "The matter shall be attended to," said Major Meinertzhagen presently. "You may inform young Arundel, major, that he shall be named First Prefect of St. George's College within the month."
"He will?" squeaked Tyler, allowing his surprise to control his voice.
Major Meinertzhagen allowed himself a slight smile. Ah, the young men of today. They had no idea that certain forces could be brought into play, that certain information could, and would, be used to influence decisions. He glanced again at young Benbow's dossier. The boy came very highly recommended by Stephen Winslow and his name had, in fact, been the first name on the list of potential candidates that Sir Stephen had recommended to the Grand Master. Very highly recommended. "You have attracted the attention of a high and mighty personage, young man," said The Major sternly. "Be worthy of his trust in you and of your abilities and never again doubt the word of a Knight of the Order. Pax tecum, frater."
Tyler stared into the telephone handset, barely hearing the dial tone. He swallowed and looked at Harry, surprise written all over his handsome features. "Harry," he gasped, " . . . He said that I'd attracted the attention of some high and mighty personage! He called me frater!" He frowned. "He also gave me a rocket for doubting the word of a Knight of the Order!"
Harry looked perplexed, having no idea what Tyler was talking about. "Frater? Rocket?" he blustered. "What in the hell . . . and just what is a Knight of what Order?"
Tyler carefully hung up the telephone and stared evenly at Harry. "I am not all that sure," he replied, a knowing smile creasing his face. "However, I happen to know just who that 'high and mighty personage' is!" He nodded toward the door. "He is going to tell me, no, us, all about it. You and me, Harry, we're going to see The Gunner!"