THE OTHER PART OF THE WORLD by Andrej Koymasky (C) 2009 written on January 12, 2002 translated by the author English text kindly revised by Bert Carley
USUAL DISCLAIMER
"THE OTHER PART OF THE WORLD" is a gay story, with some parts containing graphic scenes of sex between males. So, if in your land, religion, family, opinion and so on this is not good for you, it will be better not to read this story. But if you really want, or because YOU don't care, or because you think you really want to read it, please be my welcomed guest.
Part III - Chapter 11 - An incredible surprise
Celebrations were held in Curitiba for the tenth anniversary of the town becoming the capital of the Parana state. The most influential families of the town, one after the other, were throwing great parties, competing with each other in opulence and luxury, opening the saloons of their mansions to the state's fashionable society.
So, on January second of 1841, Afonso and his family were invited to the mansion of the Ferreira Fran█a, a member of which was a representative in the national parliament. The great hall was swarming with guests who were showing off their most elegant and rich clothes. Afonso, because of his incredible handsomeness and elegance, was looked at with badly hidden admiration by everybody, envy by many young men, and with coquettish interest by the young women of marriageable age.
It was just the beginning of the great reception when the slave, dressed in a rich livery, who was announcing the arrival of the new guests, announced with a stentorian voice, "Baron Bas"lio De Cunha Vargas and the lady baroness his consort, with the sons and daughters, baron Greg≤rio, baroness Isabel, baron Raimundo and baroness Esmeralda!
The announcement went unnoticed for almost everybody, in the murmuring of the great hall, but for Afonso. His heart, hearing the name of Raimundo, skipped a beat then jumped in his chest like a young roe in love.
He turned towards the great door and observed, carefully and almost holding back his breath, the group that was entering dispensing smiles to left and right, welcomed by mister Ferreira Fran█a and his spouse.
But none of the two young men following the aged couple was his Raimundo.
Puzzled, he drew near his cousin, who knew almost everybody in the town and its surrounding areas, and asked her in a low voice, "Do you know the baron Raimundo?"
"I certainly do, my dear. He is just entering in this precise moment."
"Ah, yes? And which one is he?"
"That young man strutting in, wearing honey colour trousers and tobacco colour tailcoat. Do you see? That one who is bowing to miss Amalia... Why are you interested in that boy?"
"Oh, nothing, I just heard about him... just curiosity... I've heard he leaved for a long journey... I thought he was in Europe."
"A long journey? Not that I know, bedsides his trip to Rio a few months ago, a trip of a couple of weeks..."
"And... do you know him well? Are you really sure he is that one?"
"Of course, that conceited and off-putting little being... I've heard that he is fianc▌ with a young marquise of Porto Alegre, but for what I know he really often and willingly takes his pleasure with the cheap actresses and housemaids of Curitiba... He has the notoriety of being an unrepentant Don Juan!"
Afonso was greatly perplexed. If Raimundo was that boy, who was the Raimundo he met? Their builds were almost identical, and also their faces had something familiar, but while his Raimundo had a beautiful mane of soft, curled, black hair, this Raimundo had dark brown hair just waved and cut in the latest fashion. This Raimundo had also long whiskers and a hint of a blond moustache, while Raimundo had neither whiskers nor a moustache...
To be absolutely certain, he asked his cousin again, "His father is the owner of the fazenda Casa dos Cravos, and thy produce tobacco, isn't that true?"
"Yes, you are right. They are amongst the richest fazendeiros of the surrounding area."
"The baron has only these two sons?"
"Yes, and those two daughters."
"And... with them is living some cousin, some young relative?"
"Not that I know. I don't even think they have relatives here in the Paran┤. I've heard that the baroness comes from Minas Gerais, they can possibly have relatives there... May I confide with you something, dear cousin Afonso?"
"Yes?"
"I like the older son of the baron, Greg≤rio, who in some occasions showed some kind interest towards me... And for what I know he, even though he is the older, is not yet with fianc▌."
"Do you have plans on landing him?" Afonso asked her with an amused little smile.
"Well... after all... I wouldn't be at all annoyed if Greg≤rio..." the cousin said coquettishly.
But Afonso had little interest on the hopes or the desires of his cousin, at that moment. He wanted to absolutely understand who the Raimundo he met in the house of this family was.
So, during the party, he did get himself introduced to baron Greg≤rio, and after a few ceremony sentences, he said, "Some time ago, amongst my patients, I had a young man whose name was Raimundo Vargas... baron Raimundo Vargas... is he by chance one of your relatives?"
"My brother? Greg≤rio asked, slightly surprised.
"Your brother? The youth who is talking with those two misses? No, no, not him. The person I am referring to had black hair, rather soft and curly..."
"No, there is no baron Vargas named Raimundo corresponding to your description in our family. Where did you meet this patient of yours?"
"He was just passing here in Curitiba... about six months ago... he was on a journey to Uruguay, if I remember correctly..." Afonso lied.
He certainly could not say he had been in their house and had met his Raimundo there, and especially that he said he was the baron's son... But the mystery was becoming more and more thick.
"Then it was just by coincidence." Greg≤rio said with levity.
Afonso thought he had to find a way to go again to the fazenda Casa dos Cravos to understand and discover who this Raimundo was he met in there, as he was not able to erase him from his mind or his heart. Of course he could not invite himself there, and he didn't know what to do to get an invitationи
A few days later, while Afonso was walking on Largo Da Ordem in Curitiba, he saw walking in front of the church of St. Francis' third order, a man he at once recognized - it was the servant who prepared a coffee for him in the Casa dos Cravos! If he remembered well that man's name was Prudente. At a fast pace not to loose his sight, he followed and reached him.
рMister Prudente!с he called out to him aloud.
The man stopped and turned, and Afonso had the clear impression that the man turned slightly pale.
рSir?с the man asked.
рYou are Prudente, the servant of the young baron Raimundo Cabral Vargas.с
рNoи you are wrong, sirис the poor secretary almost stammered.
рNo, I'm absolutely not wrong! It's you who served me a coffee in the Casa dos Cravos, it's you who told me that the young gentleman I met there was the baron Raimundo Cabral Vargas, and it's you who had my gig repaired by the slavesи You can't deny it!с
Prudente was visibly ill at ease and didn't know what to say, who to turn to.
Afonso, decided to go to the bottom of that fact, went on, рA few days ago I met the true baron Raimundo at a partyи he was not the Raimundo I met that day in the Casa dos Cravos, at your presence. You have now to make me clearly understand this mysteryс
Prudente, almost stammering, ventured, рPossibly your memories are not really accurate, marquisи The baron Raimundo was in Rio in those daysис
рI already know it! So, then, who was the Raimundo I met?с
рI was alone at home, marquis, sirис the man desperately tried to say.
рNo, eh no, you are not making me pass for a madman, not you! If you don't tell me at once who I met that day at the fazenda, I will come in person and ask the baron and his family explanations!с
рNo, I beseech you, you will ruin me. Please, marquis, sir, don't do such a thing!с
рSo then talk, for god sake! Tell me who really was that young gentleman. I have to know, I want to know and I will know, at any price!с
рPleaseи pleaseи I will tell, I will tell you everythingи But not hereи Where can we talk without risking to be overheard?с
рCome to my surgery, then.с Afonso said determinedly, asking himself what could that man, who seemed now to be terrorized, reveal to him.
While Prudente was following the doctor, he was asking himself what to do to sort out from this bad trouble. If the baron came to know about it, he could say goodbye to his job, and Paulo would bitterly pay the consequence.
Afonso closed his surgery door and had Prudente sit in front of him, рSo, then?с he asked in a hard and determined tone.
рMarquis, sir, I'm relaying on your good heartи I will tell you all the truth, but youи you have to promise me you will say no word to any living souls about what I'm going to tell you. Don't ruin me, marquis, sir, pleaseис
рI can't engage myself in such promise, as long as you have not told me all the truth. You can not ask me to become the accomplice of a crime, of something illegalис
рOh no, there is no crime, nobody infringed any lawи it was just aи a gameи a game that unfortunately took an unexpected bend, believe meис
рA game? Try to talk clearly, once for all!с
Then finally Prudente explained to Afonso who was Paulo, and how that day the young white slave made himself pass for the baron Raimundo.
рSoи his name is Paulo and not Raimundo?с at the end Afonso asked, totally taken aback for that revelation.
рYes, marquis, sirи it was only an innocent, harmless game, ours, believe me. A game that I consented to carry on only to cheer up a little that poor, unfortunate boyис
рI want to believe you Mister Prudente. By the way Paulo has in his features something familiar with his stepbrothersи But how, is that boy the illegitimate son of Baron Bas"lioи and he keeps him in his house like any other slave? And also treats him badly, as you told me? It is a real shame!с
рThe baron Bas"lioи he doesn't really abuse the boy, he just tolerates him. If he could he would even like not to keep him at home. Who abuses him is the baroness and, at times, also the sons and daughters. The baroness never forgave her husband for having taken his pleasure with that young mulatto slaveи As she cannot take revenge on her husband, or on the slave-mother who is dead, she takes revenge on poor Paulo.с
рYou are affectionate to that boy, I think I've understoodис
рI have always tried to protect him, as much as it was possible to doи So, thenи will you say nothing to the baron? May I count on your silence?с
рYou certainly can, I give you my word. But you have now to answer with total sincerity to another question I have to ask you.с
рTel me, marquis, sir.с
рBetween you and this Paulo, is there a relationshipи of an intimate kind?с
рAs I told you, I always tried to protect himис the man answered, but the light blushing that coloured his cheeks betrayed him.
рMister Prudente, as I think you can have well understood, I'm nurturing a very strong interest towards that boyи I would be ready to do everything for him, believe meи But I have to first understandи Is Paulo your lover?с
рIи marquis, sir, you seис the secretary said more and more embarrassed.
рForgive me if my question could seem to you too straightforward, but I need to know. I, after that fortuitous encounterи I almost can't sleep in the night just thinking of Pauloи I am feeling strongly attracted to himи Frankly, sincerity for sincerity, I always felt attracted only to people of my own sex, but never as strongly as towards Pauloи I believe I am in love with him. This is why I asked you if the boy is your lover. If he were, I would understand that all my dreams, all my hopes are in vain. But if it is not so, you can understandи can't you? I have to get to offer my love to the boyи in the hope he could and would accept and return it. Therefore you have to tell me, with my same frankness, what really is there between you two.с
рBetween Paulo and me there is an affectionate friendship that express itself also through a physical contact, marquis, sirи But saying he is my loverи I don't think I can affirm something like this. And rather, as at this point you and I are talking with such a great franknessи I can tell you that you are not the only one who nurtures in his heart such a hope, such dreams. Also Paulo, after he met you, even now after half an year, also Paulo is consuming himself for you, he is not able to forget you!с
Afonso felt like a wave of warmth wrapped around him, warmed him, rising at his temples, and with a barely audible voice, feeling extremely moved, said, рAre you telling me thatи that also Paulo isи is in love with me? I was not wrong, then?с
рIn spite of all I did to make him understand that he had to forget youи yes, marquis, sir, yes, it is so! Paulo is consuming with love for you!с
рYou aren't taking me for a ride?с
рNo, marquis, sir, why should I?с
рI have to see him again then! I have to absolutely meet him again, as soon as possible!с
рAre you thinking toи to come at the Casa dos Cravos, marquis?с
рI could not show up so, without a reason, not invitedи Help me, Mister Prudente, give me a good idea to get to meet Paulo again, and I will be forever grateful to youис
рI could try to take Paulo here in Curitiba with me, the next time I have to come for some errands, for some businessис
рYes, when?с
рI can tell the baron that the headed letter paper is finished and that I have to come to the printer to order him some moreис
рVery good. When?с
рPossiblyи Thursday afternoonи around four o'clock.с
рI will be here in my surgery waiting for youи will you bring Paulo here?с
рI really hope to be able to, marquis, sir. Should Iи should I say something to the boy?с
рNo, I would rather surprise him. Don't you think it could be a good idea?с
Prudente smiled, imagining the emotion, then the joy that Paulo would feel, рI totally agree with you sir. But if you permit me to ask, how do you think you can manage to meet him again, to meet him sufficiently often as I imagine that you and Paulo as well desire? I would not be able to bring him here to Curitiba to often, I'm afraid.с
рYou are rightи but we will think about this later, after Paulo will tell me if he too feels the desireи if he wants to accept my love. Possibly, in that case, can ask baron Bas"lio to sell me the boyис
рI don't think it would be possible, marquis, as the baron swore to the boy's mother, one her death bed, he would never sell the boy, and in spite he would be more than happy to be able to free himself of the embarrassing presence of the boy, for what I know of him, the baron is a man who would never break the word he gave, an oath he did makeис
рBut if Paulo wanted to be mine, if he wanted to live with me, I have to find a way to make this happenис
рMarquis, sir, I would really be happy if Paulo could leave that house, if he could come here to live with youи I will think about itи who knows, we may find a solution.с
рI could kidnap him, flee away with himи Possibly moving to Rio, or even farther if necessaryис
рLet's leave this as the last solution, marquis. You well know that our laws severely punish aи a slaves thief.с
рI would be ready to take the risk, if Paulo wants me.с
рLet that be the very last solution, listen to me.с
рAlright, dear Mister Prudente. I thank you, for this moment.с
The following Wednesday Prudente made disappear almost all the headed letter paper with the barons coat of arms, then warned Dom Bas"lio it was necessary to have more printed as soon as possible. As he foresaw, the baron just told him to look after it.
рSorry, baron, as I need also to do some other errands downtown, may I take with me one of the slaves to give me a hand?с
рOf course, just take one with you. Just tell the superintendent who you take with you so that he doesn't happen to look for that slave for a task and does not find him.с the baron answered in an indifferent tone.
Prudente was silently rejoicing.
So, on Thursday afternoon, he made Paulo wash and change his clothes, then took him with him on the gig and drove to Curitiba. The boy was excited and happy for that unforeseen trip, even though it was a very short one.
рI already came to Curitiba once, do you know, Mister Prudente? But it happened almost ten years agoи so I almost don't remember anythingис Paulo said along the road.
рI am sure that this time you are not going to easily forget Curitiba.с the man answered craftily.
рOf course, I'm almost twenty years old, now. I'm no more a child.с
рOn the contrary, you have become a very handsome young man, you are nicely grown up.с
рHey, but tell me, Mister Prudente, do you still like me now that I'm grown up, or did you prefer me when I was a kid?с
рYou are more and more beautiful, my boy.с
When they were in Curitiba, Prudente stopped the gig close to the building where was Afonso's surgery. He pulled out from the waistcoat pocket the turnip, opened the lid and checked the time - it was twenty to four. He asked himself if the marquis was already in his surgery waiting for them. They got off the gig. Prudente made a plan.
рPaulo, take these coins. In that street, as you turn left at the first corner, you will see a small shop where they sell inkpots, pens, pencils and inks. You have to ask for a red pencil and you got to have some change, if the price didn't change. When you are done come back here, and if I'm not here, just wait for me near the gig. Alright?с
рSure, Mister Prudente. I'll run.с
рNo, take your time, my boy, there is no need to rush.с
Prudente watched the boy go. He then entered the door of the building in front of which he had stopped the gig and was in the small hall he already knew. From there started a helicoidal stairway leading to the upper floor and on the wall at its side there were three doors. He knocked at the last door that he knew was that of the surgery. A short moment later Afonso came to open. He looked at Prudente, then at his back.
рCouldn't you manage to take him here?с he asked, disappointed.
рI could, marquis, I just sent him for a small errand. As we are before time, I just wanted to ascertain you already were here.с
рIt is almost two hours I am here, I am waiting to see him again, and I am beside myself, believe meис
рI will be back to the gig and as soon as Paulo is back I will send him here, at your place, without accompanying himи I will then go for some errands. Keep him here with you. I will come later to fetch him when it is time we go back to the fazenda. Is it alright, marquis, sir?с
рMore than alright! Thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart.с
Prudente went back to the gig. After a few minutes the boy came back running.
рHere is the change. Is this pencil alright?с the boy cheerfully asked.
рVery good. Now, Paulo, you have to do another errandис
рYes, sure.с
рI have to go to the printer's shop, and it will take me some timeи You have meanwhile to enter that gate. You will see a stairway. You don't have to take it, on the stairway's right you will see three doors. Go to the last one and knock there. Te person who will come to open, will tell you what you have to do.с
рAlright, Mister Prudente. And after that?с
рAfter thatи I will come by to fetch you. You just wait for me in there.с
рYes, bye Mister Prudente, see you later.с the boy said with his usual gaiety and entered the gate.
While Prudente was going away with the gig, the boy went through the small hall, knocked at the door that Prudente told him, and at once it opened.
рOh, good Lord of the heaven!с the boy exclaimed with a chocked voice, widening his eyes, and remaining petrified seeing in front of him Afonso.
рOh, the baron Raimundo! You came to visit me, I see. But how comes that you are wearing so humble clothes, today?с Afonso said trying not to burst in laughter.
рOh, my godи Iи Iис the boy stammered starting to tremble.
рBut come in, baron, please, don't stay there at the door. I am really glad to meet you againис Afonso said and, gently taking the boy's arm, made him enter then closed the door at his back.
рIи Iис the boy repeated lowering his head, scared and confused.
Then Afonso took him in his arms, caressed him on a check and with a gentle voice said, рAren't you happy meeting me again, Paulo?с
рIи youи you know who I really am?с
рYes, I know.с
рAndис
рAnd I am so happy having you finally here, with meи Paulo, I am in love with you, after that day when we met, I am doing nothing but thinking of youис
рEven thoughи even though I am just a slave?с the boys asked almost in a sob.
рPaulo, the good lord you were invoking just before, didn't he create all of us equal?с
рBut he created the masters and created the slavesи I well know that we are not all equal.с
рEven if it were as you say, love makes too people equal, don't you believe it? I, as I just told you, I'm feeling I'm in love with youи But you, Paulo? Do you too feel something for me?с
рSir, marquis, sir, you entered into my heart on that day, you are the only light of my lifeи butи but who am I to deserve your love?с
рYou are Paulo, you are the boy who enchained my heart, who stole my soul, who seduced me with his smile, with his deep and sweet eyes, with his incredible beautyис
рBut I am just a slaveис
рDoes this prevent you from giving me your love?с
рOh no! If I just could I would give all of myself to you, soul and body, spirit and mind, I would give you all the breaths of my life, all the beats of my heart.с
Afonso then kissed the boy with tender passion. Paulo returned the kiss, forgetful for a while of everything. He then gently parted from the man and looked at him with luminous eyes.
рTell me I am not dreaming, sir, tell me that all this is realис
рMy sweet Paulo, to me too it seems a dream I finally can hold you in my arms, I can tell you how much I love you, and know that you too love me!с
рIt's too beautifulи too beautifulи I, sir, marquisис
рNo, Paulo, call me Afonso, as we said that day, please.с
рBut you are a marquis and Iис
рNo, to you I am just Afonso, crazily in love with you, never forget it, my sweet, dear Paulo.с
рYesи I can call you just by your name, if you wantи But thenи how can we manage to see each other, to love each other? The reality is that I am just a slave, and you are a marquisис
рI will find a way to take you away from the fazenda, to take you away with me, to have you live with me, if you too want it.с
рOh, if it was possible, I would be the happiest boy in all the universeи Afonso. God! How beautiful is your name!с
рJust my name?с the young man asked him playfully.
рNo, all of you is wonderfulи reallyи All!с
рYou still didn't see the rest, as I too didn't yet have the pleasure of seeing you nakedис
рIf you want to undress meис
рI am afraid that today we will not have the time. But I want at least have you in my arms, caress you, kiss youи until Mister Prudente will come to take you back.с
рWhen will we make love, Afonso?с
рDo you desire to do it?с
рOh, yes, I desire itи if you too want it.с
рI am burning with desire to make love with you.с
рYes, I too am dying with desireи I love you, Afonso!с
CONTINUES IN CHAPTER 12
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