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 I - Chapter 4 - Great changes for Manoel
Manoel went upstairs in the great reception hall. Mister Euclides with his two sons and some guests were already present, as were his superintendent, his secretary and the governess. In a corner of the wide hall four musicians were seated playing chamber music softly. Downstairs the slaves were welcoming the new guests by opening their coach doors. Old Moses stood inside the second story doorway to the reception hall announcing the guests aloud as they arrived.
The wide reception hall was soon crowded with people, and the daughters of the guests were discretely competing to get the attention of the house-lord's two sons. At a certain point Moses announced the arrival of Mister Joaquim Meirelles Chagas from S┴o Paulo accompanied by his wife and son. The name meant nothing to Manoel, but as soon as he saw the man coming in, he recognised him; as when he lived in S┴o Paulo that man had been his client several times. The man usually took him to a brothel where he amused himself fucking the boy standing in front of a wide mirror.
Their eyes met, but the man didn't give any sign he recognised the boy. He either was quite skilled in hiding his recognition, or he truly didn't remember Manoel. Anyway, the boy thought, he possibly was just one of the many boys that the man paid to amuse him, all surely kept secret from his wife and son. Manoel was not able to stop watching the man.
While he was watching him, he remembered a detail - when that man paid him, he always took his wallet from a back pocket of his trousers, the one at the left. His other clients usually kept their wallet in the internal pocket of their tailcoat. He also remembered that the man's wallet was usually well padded with money notesи
Then Manoel thought that all summed up, he could use his old skill to slip away people's wallets, so he could get a nice little nest egg, so that when he would leave Mister Quadros Dutra's mansion he could survive for some time without many problems.
He carefully studied all the man's movements, trying to catch a good moment for his venture. He finally saw the man circled by other people who were huddled close together to hear him tell the latest political news.
ри and so Aureliano Coutinho dismissed Jos▌ Bonifacio from the charge of our Emperor's tutor and had the marquis of Itanah▌m take his placeис the man was telling to his attentive audience.
Manoel, moved in back of the man, and with a light and self-assured hand at the right moment managed to slip the wallet from the man's pocket. He still had it in his hand when he saw that Nicolau was watching him with a somewhat frowned expression. Manoel quickly lightly tapped on Mister Joaquim's shoulder and the man turned to look at him.
рSir, there was this wallet on the floorи I think it must belong to youис he said handing it to the man.
The man and Manoel looked at each other for a moment. After a reconnaissance flash in his eyes, the man said impassively, рYes, it is mine. Thank you, young man, very kind of you!с and he put it back into his pocket.
Manoel moved away. He saw that Nicolau was following him with his eyes and felt his heart in his mouth. He then noticed that Getulio was also looking at him, and from his contemptuous smile understood that very likely also the younger brother noticed his manoeuvreи and he felt lost.
Silently and stealthily the boy left the reception hall, up the stairway and to his bedroom. He quickly put his clothes and precious copybooks in a bag and headed toward the service stairway leading to the ground floor. He figured this was the best time to run away!
But, along the corridor he found Nicolau standing in front of him. The boy froze and blushed to his ear tips.
рManoel, where are you going?с
рAwayис the boy wailed.
рI've little time. Let's go to your room, as we have to talk.с Manoel obeyed. Nicolau closed the door behind him. рSit down.с he said to the boy.
Manoel sat on the edge of his bed and Nicolau sat at his side. рWhy did you do it?с he asked, serious but not harsh.
рI, mister Nicolauи I wanted to leave andи I thoughtи I have not even a milreis, and soис
рFirst of all, if you needed some money, wouldn't it have been better instead you ask me for it?с
рI didn't have the courageис
рBut you had the courage to try to steal them, hadn't you? And secondly, why did you want to leave? Aren't you happy here with us? We were becoming really affectionate toward youис
рYou see now that I don't deserve your affectionис
рDon't be silly boy! Explain to me why you decided to go away? Here you are studying, getting an education, you have good food, a decent shelter, clothesи what is it that didn't go well?с
рMister Getulio hates meи and you are about to leave for four monthsи and Mister Getulio will take revenge on me to make me pay for all the times you defended meи and especially now, if he too saw what I tried to do, as you saw meис
рListen, I don't have enough time right now, but I want to talk about this with you more again. Wait for me here in your room. When the party is over I will come here and we will talk about it again, agreed?с
рAs you order, Master Nicolauис the boy sadly answered.
Manoel awaited Nicolau's return, torn between the desire to run away and the word he gave to Nicolau.
Meanwhile the party came to an end and all the guests left. Getulio at once asked his father to talk with him and to also call Nicolau to join them.
рListen father, I require that little snake Manoel be immediately punished.с
рWhat ever for Getulio? What can he have done this time?с Euclides asked, somewhat irritated.
рI caught him during the party slipping the wallet out of Mister Meirelles Chagas' pocket!с
рNo way!с Nicolau immediately intervened. рI clearly saw it. He picked up the wallet from the floor and gave it back to Mister Joaquin!с he said, lying to protect the boy.
рIt is not at all so, and you know it very well. Stop protecting that thief!с Getulio angrily yelled.
рIt is surely as I said, you did wrongly interpret what you saw. And we also know very well that you, for some weird reasons, have hated that boy from the first day he set foot here. A few days ago you even scolded him because he was wearing an old suit you didn't use any more, without even thinking that is what father's decision!с Nicolau insisted with vigour.
рNo, you are protecting him against all evidence! What is it Nicolau, do you fancy that boy and want him in your bed?с his brother said with poison in his voice.
рEnough Getulio! I can't permit you to even think such a thing could happen! Apologize immediately to your brother!с mister Euclides yelled.