In the following story, all of the characters are totally fictive and the setting is real. For whomever it would be illegal, immoral or prohibited for any other reason whatsoever to read a story about love between two young men is kindly requested to refrain from continuing. A free picture album illustrating this story (pdf) is available upon request at maringiustinian@gmail.com. Please remember to help Nifty stay online by sending your contribution. This being said, I hope you enjoy the tale.
THE STONE by Marin Giustinian
Prologue
This story, in fact, actually begins in 1002 AD ,in a land called Vinland, today known as L'Anse aux Meadows, Newfoundland.
Ingmar the Fair, a Viking warrior, preferred the favours of his two young Pictish slave lads, Garnaith and Breth, to that of the many women who admired him. Ingmar was a loyal companion of Lief Erickson, the son of Erik the Red, founder of the colony of Gundar in Greenland. Lief had been exiled for murder from Gundar and instead of returning to Iceland, he decided to head an expedition to explore the lands they had heard of southwest of Gundar. The expedition left Greenland, arriving in a land they called Vinland and there they established a new colony. The difference with Greenland was the fact that there was a native population. Their warlike ways, plundering and murdering whomever stood in their way, caused them frequent retaliatory attacks, making life difficult.
Lief sent Ingmar with a small group of men further south to explore the possibilities of more hospitable places to conquer and colonize. Garnaith and Breth were taken along to satisfy Ingmar's needs as well as the needs of some of his fellows.
Of course they ran into the same problem of native resistance. During a skirmish with the Mi'kmaqs in a bay now known as Ship Harbour, Garnaith and Breth managed to escape from captivity.
They were found, helpless and harmless, by the Mi'kmaqs. Their paleness, their soft skins and above all their flaxen hair and blue eyes impressed them. It was evident that they were a couple of bi-spirited men, 'berdaches', as native American homosexuals were called and respected as such. The two Picts were often wooed by the younger warriors who called them 'gwi's tapgunsat', boys of the moon.
For nearly a year and a half they lived apart, on the edge of the small tribal community, but their difference became unbearable for many of the tribe. As tension grew, the chief decided it best to exile them. They were given a canoe and escorted to an island where fresh water flowed, saying it was theirs. They were left to love each other and fend for themselves, with a canoe and the necessary items for lighting fires, fishing, and hunting.
Decades later, the Mi'kmaq legend of the 'moon boys' related that a gigantic wave swept them to perish together in the sea and that their souls, every full moon, returned to their island.
Young warriors who felt lust for each other even went there under the full moon to enforce their bonds, giving each other even more strength to fight their attackers.
The Vikings finally were forced to abandon Vinland, leaving the legitimate inhabitants in peace...
Then one day, some five centuries later, French sails were spotted on the horizon, followed by other the English ships, dooming the First Nations, destroying their culture, torturing to death the berdaches, and driving them all to near extinction.
But that's another story...
Eastern Shore, Nova Scotia, July 2018
Every year at Easter, the MacKenzie brothers, along with their wives and children, gathered for lunch at the family home with Grandma and Callum MacKenzie, the grandfather, alias Big Daddy. It was their annual Easter family 'get-together'. The Callum MacKenzie family home was located in the tiny coastal village of Little Harbour on the Eastern Shore of Nova Scotia.
Big Daddy was a ruddy, retired lobsterman and proud to be so, but he was even prouder of his two white-collar sons, Mark and John, both with steady salaries and wives with jobs too. Mark, the oldest, was postmaster in Sheet Harbour. He and his wife, Kay had two boys, Fergus and then Dorian. Fergus had just moved in with his girlfriend and future wife, Marjorie. She came with him to the lunch already recognized as a new member of the clan.
Callus's younger son, John, worked in a downtown branch of Scotia Bank in Halifax. He and his wife, Marie, had two children: a daughter, Marlene, and an older son, Donovan.
Donovan and Dorian, sixteen each, were no longer the squeaky voiced, awkward, hormone ravaged teens like many. Not yet completely grown men, but no longer children, they seemed to simply grow in grace. Both were slim, their features were delicate, nothing rugged nor rustic about them. They were soft-spoken, smiling young men and even if they barely saw each other during the year, they obviously shared an unspoken bond.
The lunch always lasted hours. Grandma outdid herself, as usual, and the desserts her daughters in law brought were always too copious, but abundance was part of the fun. After a second serving of banana cake, the boys asked permission to leave the table. The lady folk retired to the kitchen, chattering along as they cleaned things up. Big Daddy and his sons idled off to the living room, talking provincial politics. Dorian and Donovan walked off to the shoreside, taking some teem time on their own. It always took some time for them to find things to talk about. As they strode along, their shoulders bumped from time to time and they laughed more than they spoke. The sun was bright and high. Springtime was still a bit shy but the sting of winter was definitely gone.
They went directly to their favourite place, the little pier in front of Big Daddy's former lobster shack. They sat, as usual, facing the rocks and beyond, the distant islands floating in the haze, their feet dangling over the water.
"How's life up there in Sheet Harbour now for you, cousin? Not too boring?" inquired the big-city dweller, Donovan.
"Well, it's still okay, I guess. It's all I know. I manage to have some fun. The high school's not too big and I enjoy studying... good teachers... I suppose you're busy all the time going out in Halifax, girls, movies, malls, and all the rest! Every time I'm in Halifax, I get dizzy with the traffic and people everywhere."
"Last year, I didn't get out much. Too much work in school. I tried dating a few girls... but..."
He drifted off and suddenly changed subjects.
"But, I spend most of my free time on the internet."
"Looking at porn! Ha!"
"Not only... Pervert!"
They laughed, exchanging a knowing smile.
"What are you doing this summer? Got a job or what?"
"No job, no plans. In fact I don't know what I want to do after school. Should I go off to college or start out on my own? I thought I'd just think about my future, and, as usual, browse around in the library."
"I'm free this summer, too..." then pointing at the islands, Donovan added, "wouldn't you like for us to take Big Daddy's old canoe and go camping. I've never been to the Wild Islands, as they're called now. I'm sure our folk's wouldn't mind. We could go in July?"
"Do you mean it?"
Donovan immediately replied, flashing a big smile, "Yes, I mean it! Come on, let's do it. I'd really like us to do something together, just you and me. We're kin but we don't really know each other, do we?"
"Not much, but..."
"But what? I've camped out before. Dad can buy us a tent. We'd have great fun!"
"Why not..." murmured Dorian, almost to himself.
"What?"
"I said... I said, let's do it!"
Dorian startled when Donovan grabbed him in a massive hug making them almost topple over into the water.
When they were back at the house, they first asked Big Daddy if they could borrow his red cedar canoe and go on an expedition to the out islands camping for a week in July. He immediately agreed and called his sons over.
"Your boys here say they want to go camping over on the islands for a week or so this summer. I'm giving them the canoe you both used when you were their age. I'm sure you don't see any problem..."
The mothers overheard what Big Daddy was saying and moved in.
Kay immediately spoke up, "I'm not sure they're old enough to go out by..."
John interrupted her, "It's a father's decision to say when his son is old enough or not, and I say they can go. What do you say, Mark?"
"I agree."
The wives simply looked at each other and shrugged.
Little did the boys imagine that what had just been said would change their future for the rest of their lives.
The weeks passed. The boys had everything under control. They would leave Little Harbour on a Saturday and return a week later. For the rest, they would see. They decided what food to take and rounded up the gear they needed for camping and cooking on an open fire. John took care of buying a tent for them and Mark gave Dorian money for their life jackets and sleeping bags.
Summer was there for good. The forecast was good for the week. Saturday morning, their mothers drove them to Little Harbour for an early departure.
As they were unloading the cars, the boys insisted that nobody call them. They claimed that they needed the battery power for the GPS on their phones and call for help in case of emergency.
Big Daddy had sanded and varnished the canoe, making it gleam like the day it was launched. He helped them balance their load in the canoe under their mothers' worried look.
Grandma gave them a thermos of lemonade telling them to keep their heads covered.
"You never know how the sun can cook your brains when it's that bright!" she ordered.
Damian took place sitting up front. Donovan shoved off. They waved and obviously very happy to be free, away they went. Their paddling wasn't very coordinated at first but as the hours passed, they began to advance in good rhythm. The silent togetherness of gliding through the waters made time fly and spirits soar.
As they approached a very low island with a sandy beach, Donovan, who was in the rear, shouted to Dorian, "Let's pull over on the beach and eat our sandwiches. I'd also like to see what it's like up front, and you can steer us from behind."
They beached, had a quick lunch, and took a look at their chart. Donovan put his finger to an island further north, saying, "Let's go there and check it out. We can spend the night. They indicate that there's fresh water."
"Let's go!"
As they were shoving off, Donovan inquired, smiling, "Are you having fun?"
"More than I can say, cousin! I feel so high and... and, I'm happy to live this with you."
"Me too, Dorian!"
The Wild Islands are a maze of channels, islets, reefs of stone, and islands of all sizes, all looking like each other but each with its own personality. Some are harsh, nearly barren, others covered with dense patches of spruce or mixed woods and bushes.
The island they had chosen was not very high, apparently only about a seven acres big. It was surrounded by boulders like a fortress, with just a small sandy cove for them to beach. They found the trickling rill of fresh water. They followed it to its tiny spring from which seeped just enough water to keep them quenched and basically clean.
"Where do you think it best to pitch the tent?" inquired Donovan.
"Over there by the big rock. The spot's flat enough, with enough air to discourage the mosquitos. We can gather a bunch of tender spruce tips in the woods and spread them under the ground cloth of our tent. Good for comfort."
"Good thinking, Dorian!"
They pruned several young trees, pitched their tent over the springy layers of green, spread out their sleeping bags in the sun, and built a stone circle for their campfire. They went into the woods again and gathered enough dead branches to burn late into the night.
Their site was perfect. Going then back down on the rocks by the water, they basked a moment sitting shoulder to shoulder. Again words seemed useless. At one point, Donovan put his hand on Darian's knee and gently squeezed it. Darian turned his head and smiled, putting his hand on Donovan's. Energy flowed from one to the other. Dorian then stood, pulled off his shirt, exposing his very white skin to the slanting sun.
"Good idea," asserted Donovan as he did the same.
After a long moment of just sitting there in peace, Donovan heard Dorian's stomach rumble, making them both giggle.
"About time to roast the hot dogs, don't you think?"
"And toast the buns!" he replied, absentmindedly scratching his crotch.
They ate to their heart's content. The evening sky was a rhapsody of pastel clouds and gleaming flickers of gold on the trembling waters. They went to the spring to wash up. Then laughing, they returned to the fireside, tossed some more wood on the coals and grabbed a sleeping bag which they opened to share against the evening chill. It was impossible to not rub each other's thigh as they cuddled together in silence once more. The twilight breeze sighed in the woods, the clownish cry of a gull on wing made them share a glance, smiling. As the full moon rose into the star studded sky, nature seemed to hold its breath before yielding to the magic of the night. Dorian slipped his hand up Donovan's thigh, slightly touching the bulge in his jeans. Donovan pulled Dorian a bit closer to him, mingling their hair as their heads touched with the light of the lingering flames flickered, dancing in their smiling eyes.
"Bedtime?"
"Yes... bedtime... I think we'd be warmer if we zipped our sleeping bags together. What do you think?" whispered Dorian.
"I was thinking the same thing... and if you don't mind, we can sleep naked. I've heard that it's even warmer that way, with nothing on."
"I've heard that too. We can always try," hoarsely whispered Dorian in reply.
Dorian squeezed Donovan's thigh, then brushing his limp fingers over Donovan's evident erection, he stood. They scrambled into the tent, clothes flying everywhere.
Dorian lit the overhead lamp. They sat naked, face to face, legs entwined. They suddenly grabbed each other and pulled, their straining cocks crossing, damp with slick. They hugged, burying their faces in each other's neck. Then their mouths opened and met. They hummed as their tongues danced together.
A tempest of shivering lust overtook them both. Breathless, Donovan exclaimed, "Good God, Dorian! That's super hot! Your kissing is setting me on fire inside!"
"Turn off the lamp and let's burn together under the cover!"
Their caresses were awkward yet rewarding. Their toes curled, wiggling together as they jacked each other's oozing cocks. A scent of masculine impatience filled the tent. Breath shortened, limbs stiffened and the moans became grunts as they spewed their semen through sticky fingers onto their sweating bellies. As Donovan lit the overhead flashlight, Dorian dove down and liked the pearls of gleaming semen in his pubic curls.
"Yummy..." he uttered and returned to lick a bit further down.
Donovan's cock tingled. He spun around. The scent of pubescent cum filled his nostrils. He gasped and simply seized Dorian's elegant, slim cock with his mouth. They both sucked, almost gagging, clutching each other's buttocks with thirsty greed.
Like a rising tide, encouraged by their swirling tongues, they writhed, throbbed, and clawed until the overflow of a second wave of semen surged.
This time, totally exhausted, Dorian mumbled as they zipped up the sleeping bag together, "That way, it's cleaner, don't you think?"
They both giggled as they hugged and Donovan exclaimed, "Cousin, you always have the best ideas!"
The moonlight flowed through the several small opening of the tent, giving their peaceful faces an almost spectral glow. Enlaced, they slept until the dawn found them still entwined. Donovan squirmed a bit as he tried to crawl out of the bag.
Dorian grabbed his arm.
"I've got to pee!" whispered Donovan.
Then Dorian giggled, quipping back, "Good idea," as they both bustled out of the bag.
Oblivious to the morning chill, they pissed in the rising sun a double golden arc, sighing their relief.
"Bed again?"
"Of course!"
In a split second they were under the covers, clinging to each other. Dorian's belly began to groan as Donovan nibbled the nape of his neck.
"Hungry? I can light the fire for breakfast, if you want," mentioned Donovan as he fondled Dorian's balls.
"My fire's already lit. Let's burn for a first service of breakfast. We can have the second one later," mumbled Dorian, licking Donovan's chest as he slipped a bit lower under the cover.
From then on, they were totally devoted to the pleasure of each other, discovering the unlimited force of simply being one for the other, together.
Later that that day, as they finished exploring the island and having lunch, they were surprised by the sound of an outboard motor.
"I think we've got company..." stated Donovan.
"Let's leave... we can always come back," replied Dorian.
As they were folding the tent Dorian came upon a strange engraved stone under the tips of spruce where they had slept.
"Look at what was under us!" he stated, showing the stone to Donovan.
It barely filled Dorian's palm. The engraving was graciously done even if the incision was a bit rough. The stone was yellowish, quite different from those scattered in the area. The engraving seemed to depict, in a stylized way, two uncut penises pointing in opposite directions with the balls of each touching.
"Do you think it's something the Indians made?"
"Maybe, the Vikings..."
"Who knows... perhaps it's just something an idle camper did too..."
"Let's take it with us. We'll investigate later."
Before leaving the site, Dorian grabbed Donovan, kissed him, and whispered, "I don't know what's happening to me, but I can't get enough of you, Donovan!"
"I'm like you, cousin... and it's wonderful!"
The following days, they idled between the islands, exploring them, and enjoying more sensual fun in the sun. Their bonds grew stronger as their sex life intensified. They avoided contact with the tourists on their kayak tours, hiding if necessary. They wanted to be alone on earth and stay that way.
However, they had a problem finding fresh water. In fact few islands had springs. Twice, they had to stop over on the mainland whenever they spotted a fish shack or a public campsite to fill their five gallon water container and douse some water at least in their pits and crotches.
Wednesday, they pulled ashore at Norse Cove Camp Grounds. There was a café and supply store only four hundred yards inland. The people in their RV's and Caravans watched them walk by as if they were aliens in a civilized world. The cars speeding along the highway annoyed them. Inside the store, the people milling around seemed aggressive to them. Once their shopping was done and they were walking back, Dorian sighed and said, "Donovan, returning to civilization's going to be bad news!"
"We'll face that later. Now let's get out!"
That afternoon the skies clouded over, a drizzle of rain came and went. They pitched their tent on the lee side of a small island, far off shore. The wind sang in the scattered trees, the waves crashed in the rocks on the other side. Inside the tent, they cuddled, enjoying even more the delights of loving. Thursday morning, the sun was back up, but the chop was too much for the canoe. They delayed their departure until the waters calmed enough for them to return to their first and favourite island.
"I feel like I'm back home," declared Donovan as he stepped out of the canoe. Then he stopped and exclaimed, "Dorian, take a look at the flowers blooming in between the rocks!"
"They're welcoming us back! Donovan, I love being with you," stated Dorian as they pulled the canoe up on dry land.
As they walked back to their former site, Donovan asked, "Do you really love us being together?"
"Yes, I really do... I love living with you... drinking you... Well, I guess I simply love you," blushed Dorian as he followed behind.
"What did you say?"
"I said I LOVE YOU!" shouted Dorian.
Donovan stopped and turned, looking at Dorian.
"That's the first time anybody ever said, 'I love you' to me... Are you serious?"
"Yes! I'm as serious as I can be."
"Do you mean in love like going steady or something like that?"
"Shit Donovan! If I say I love you, I don't care if it's like this or like that! It's just love! Be it incest or gay or whatever, it's still pure love! I'm happy with you, cousin. You make me feel like I'm somebody important. I love your body, your cock, your taste. I love sex with you. So, yes! I guess I even love you in a going-steady, fucking together, faithful way! Now let's go and set up camp. It's getting late!"
They set up camp in silence.
"Come on Dorian, let's gather some firewood together. We have to feed our flame together, like lovers, don't we?"
"So you love me too?"
"Of course I do, dork! You're my first... and maybe my only love, so come on!"
They didn't stop laughing as they picked up the dead wood and broke off the dry branches. After dumping the pile beside the fire ring, Donovan stripped, took a wad of toilet paper, and left, saying, "I've got to take care of some business and then wash my butt. Come on, we can wash each other by the stream."
"Can't pass up such an offer," Dorian replied as he too stripped, "I'll bring the soap and towel."
"Thanks! Meet you there."
As they hastily washed each other with the icy water, they became quite red and randy. Dorian was scrubbing Donovan's back when he plainly stated, "Dorian, I want you to fuck me."
Dorian froze.
"Fuck you?" echoed Dorian, a bit taken aback by the sudden request.
"You know, put your wonderful, curved cock up my ass and fuck me until you shoot loads of sweet cum in me. Am I clear?" replied Donovan, shivering.
"Quite clear..." stuttered Dorian.
"Give me the wash cloth and turn around. I'll do your back."
"But that hurts!"
"No, I'll be gentle."
"I'm talking about fucking!"
"Oh, that... We can use the sun lotion for lube."
As they were towelling down, Dorian meekly asked, "Have you already put things up your ass? I mean, are you used to... you know?"
"I've never been fucked before, but I've already put a candle in me while I jerk off. It's really fabulous, Dorian."
"But I'm not a candle..."
"Don't worry! I love you more than a candle!" he exclaimed, grabbing his cousin's hand.
Donovan literally pulled Dorian back to the tent.
"Do you want me to... to fuck you right now?"
"Yes, now! We're already naked. In the tent under the sun, it's nice and warm. Why wait?"
Once they were inside, Donovan announced, "I'm going to suck you stone hard and then I'll slather lotion on your cock and in you go. Don't worry, we'll both love it!"
"But I don't know how to..."
"I don't think you have to KNOW how to fuck. You just let it happen. I'm sure it's in our nature. It's in our bodies. All we have to do is surrender to all the love churning in us and let it happen!"
Donovan was right. Once Dorian was hard and slick, Donovan laid on his back and pulled his legs back. Dorian knelt closer. Donovan took Dorian's leaking cock in hand and placed it against his anus.
"Now push... not too hard, but push."
With a wild glare in his eyes and nostrils flared Dorian urged his throbbing erection down into Donovan. When the bulb of his glans slipped in, Donovan gasped and then beamed.
"Yes, Dorian! Go on, it feels so good!"
Dorian leaned over Donovan, devouring him with his eyes as he slid ever so slowly into his cousin.
"Kiss me," uttered Donovan, taking Dorian's head in his hands.
Dorian let himself melt on Donovan's writhing body. His cock sank all the way in as their lips met.
"Yesssss..." hissed Donovan, "that's so good... now fuck me... go ahead and move!"
Dorian pushed a little more, then withdrew a little and immediately shoved back. Nature took over. Never had he dreamt of feeling such bliss. He quivered as he pushed in, then pulled out a little, undulating, with sweat pearling on his forehead. He instinctively sought with each thrust to penetrate deeper and deeper, twisting, and thrusting over and over again. He throbbed. His cock pulsated in spasms on its own. Donovan hunched up squeezing the root of Dorian's cock with his most intimate muscles, milking it as Dorian pulled back. Dorian trembled on the edge of oblivion, lost in total rapture. He drooled, mouth agape. Their eyes glared as Donovan moaned, clawing Dorian's buttocks, urging him on. Their bodies, like their souls, flowed together as their rhythm increased.
Suddenly Dorian stiffened, arched his spine, throat wide open as if in a silent scream. Then he howled. He was dying, grunting with every uncontrollable thrust, caught in the riptide of a global orgasm. Donovan's semen spewed, triggered by Dorian gushing into him.
Then nothingness...
Totally abandoned, Dorian panted, cradled between Donovan's thighs, inert. Donovan gently seized his cousin's head and pulled him into an awakening kiss, followed by a smile of bliss. Barely believing what he had just lived, Dorian blinked, then buried his face in Donovan's neck, humming as if he were purring.
That's when Dorian's stomach gurgled again, then growled, nice and loud, making Donovan chuckle. Their laughter exploded. Dorian bounced on Donovan's quaking belly, screaming, "I'm alive! I'm hungry! And I'm in love!"
Collapsing on Donovan, he declared, "My wonderful you, turn about's fair play! Tonight, I must be yours to take. I can't stand being a virgin any longer."
"It's more than fair play, Dorian! It's me loving you inside you, man! Loving you all the way!"
That night, Donovan and Dorian, under a waning moon, soared again together, beyond the stars, beyond reason, beyond return.
As they awoke, they both knew and dreaded their return to the mainland, to family, and to civilization. Above all, they both dreaded the moment when they had to go each his own way.
Dorian was whimpering, tears in his eyes when Donovan took him in his arms, kissing his wet cheeks.
"What's wrong, cousin?"
"I don't want to go back..." whispered Dorian, kissing Donovan in the neck, "I can't imagine being away from you now."
Donovan held him tight, rubbing his back, his buttocks, kissing him.
"Then we'll simply stay together."
"What do you mean?"
"I mean when we get back on the mainland, you'll come with me to Halifax. We've got to work on identifying the stone and then I'll move in with you in Sheet Harbour. There's a place available since your brother's out of the house! If I finish high school there or in Halifax, it's the same."
"You'd leave your friends and the city to come live with me?"
"I could leave everything, go anywhere as long as it's for us to stay together. We're family after all, aren't we?"
Dorian rolled over on Donovan and whispered.
"Yes, cousin, that we are!"
They didn't stop talking together while they prepared breakfast under a brilliant sun. They were busy planning all the things they had to do once back on the mainland. As they were stashing leftovers in the food cooler, Dorian, winked at Donovan, asking, "We've still got some sun lotion don't we?"
"For now we've got enough..." he softly replied, tilting his head with a coy smile on his damp lips.
"Do we have to leave really soon?"
"Only after, we take care of some urgent business with the lotion."
"Not too sore?"
"Never too sore..."
With the wind in their backs, their spirits high, and their now perfect coordination paddling the canoe together, they literally flew to Little Harbour. When they arrived, it was high tide. They ran ashore, pulled the canoe up on ground next to Big Daddy's shed, took their bags, and strode to the house. At 5:00 PM on the dot, they entered the yard and shouted, "We're back!"
Grandma came to the door.
"My goodness, Mercy me! You two look like heathen savages! Mind me! Before you stink up my house, go directly upstairs and draw yourselves a hot bath! Put your stuff in the first room, the one with the big bed. I don't want to wash two pairs of sheets when you're gone! Callum!" she shouted, "our filthy little grandsons are back!" Beaming, she scurried back to her kitchen to bake a big apple pie.
The boys ran up the stairs and closed themselves in the bathroom, stripping as the tub filled.
"Where are the two rascals?" mumbled Big Daddy as he came into the kitchen.
"I sent them up to wash! They stunk like grown men and hardly looked human after a week out there in those islands."
"Let'em be, dear! Let'em grow some together... They're might near being grown men by now anyhow!"
"I'll let'em grow as much as they want to together -- but CLEAN!"
As they dressed they called their mothers, and when they came back down, they did smell better with nice, fluffy hair bouncing around their fair faces.
"Hello, Big Daddy!" they both chimed as they entered the kitchen.
"Come and give me a hug! You both look great! Have a good time out there?" greeted Big Daddy, opening his arms.
Grandma broke in, "Have you called your mothers?"
"More than a good time!" replied Dorian, "I got to know my cousin, and now he's the best friend I've ever had!"
"Likewise for me, Big Daddy!" added Donovan, taking Dorian by the shoulder.
"Goodness gracious! Are you two deaf or what? Answer me! Did you call your mothers or not?" insisted Grandma.
"Yes, Grandma! We called and Mum's going to drive us both down to Halifax tomorrow," replied Dorian.
Big Daddy seemed to be oblivious to all the shouting.
"Best friends, you say! Damn good news, boys! Let's go unload the canoe. Where did you leave it?"
"Down by your shed."
They emptied the rest of their equipment and stashed it in the shack. As they were hanging the canoe on the wall, Big Daddy said, "This canoe belonged to your fathers, now I'm giving it to you. Never forget that. You can take it whenever you want."
"Thanks a lot! We'll need it to go pebble hunting later on!"
"Pebble hunting? What's that nonsense?"
"We've got something to show you later. You'll understand..." replied Donovan.
Back in the house, the boys showed the engraved stone to Big Daddy. He looked at it for a certain time and asked, where did they find it.
"We found on the first island we camped on. It's the small one just due north of the cape. There's a spring with fresh water there. It's our favourite."
"A freshwater spring you say?"
"That's right..."
Big Daddy smiled saying, "That has to be Moon Island. God knows why it's called like that. They say it's really nice, kind of special... that's all I know."
"Have you ever seen a stone like that before around here?"
"Never... but by my reckoning, that looks like some kind of Viking thing. The stone's not from around here, that's for sure... and the way it's weathered means it's been around for a long, long time! When you get to Halifax, you'd better take it to get examined in the big museum they have down there, if you really want to know more about it."
That evening they ate like famished tigers. As Grandma served them seconds of apple pie, she smiled, affirming, "You see! You still need your old Grandma! Now go up to your room and get in that big, clean bed up there. Get back to sleeping like decent folks instead of laying around on the ground! You're boys, not stray dogs!"
"Let'em be, dear," mumbled Big Daddy as he lit his cigarette.
They slept for eight solid hours, and after a very tender awakening, they came down for breakfast. Dorian's mother drove up around ten. She had packed a bag for Dorian's stay with Donovan. She hugged them both. After a chat and some coffee with Big Daddy and Grandma, they left for Halifax.
On the way, they told Marie about their adventure and finished by informing her of their decision to have Donovan move in with him for his senior year. She simply replied, "We'll talk about that with Donovan's parents.
"But, Mum, what do YOU say?"
"I said we'll have to think about it..."
"What's there to think about? Can he come or not? We can study together... and he's now my best friend. If he can't, we'll have to run off together somewhere on our own and leave the house... won't we, Donovan?"
"If you put it that way, Dorian, I guess I have no choice."
"That's right, Mum!"
Donovan was curled up on the back seat, desperately trying to stifle his laughter. When Dorian turned around to see what was going on, Donovan gave him a thumbs-up with one hand, covering his mouth with the other.
Once arrived, the boys went up to unpack in Donovan's room, change into fresh clothes, and dump their dirties in the laundry. Their mothers were chatting away in the kitchen when John came back from tennis with Marlene.
The family gathered around the lunch table, listening to the boys as they told them about their adventures and their plans about living together. John thought it was a good idea for Donovan to finish school with his cousin in Sheet Harbour.
"He'll be less tempted to get into trouble up there than here in Halifax. I'll call Mark so we can settle who pays what for him. You agree don't you, Kay?"
"I guess I have to, don't I?" she nodded, smiling.
The two boys jumped up and hugged. Marlene exclaimed, "Wow, don't they really look so terribly cute together!"
"Dad, we've got something special to show you. Big Daddy said we have to have it examined at the museum..."
They retired to John's study and showed him the stone.
"Interesting... very interesting indeed. Strange engravings. Maybe you've made an important discovery."
John took the stone and looked at it a little longer before stating, "Monday, call the museum and ask to speak with Helen Hanson. She's the curator of artefacts and the wife of a tennis friend of mine. Ask her for an appointment and see what she thinks about the stone."
That afternoon, they lazed around the house, spent a lot of time in their room, trying to decide what Donovan should take and not take to move in with Dorian. A lot of choices had to be made. Donovan made a choice of things he really held on to and piled up the rest such as old keepsake toys, consoles, manga collections, etc., in the middle of the room.
Donovan just stood there like a puzzled moron, staring at the pile. Dorian got off of his bed and came up and hugged him from behind
Turning around in Dorian's arms, Donovan uttered, "You see all that stuff, Dorian... Now that you're in my life, I feel it's like meaningless, useless weight. I don't know why I hoard it all. Look how stupid we can be trying to own things when in fact they're the ones who own us... I didn't realize until now how much I've changed in just one week. I'm sort of upset, but couldn't care less. In fact, I'm so much happier with you!"
Dorian kissed him in the nape of his neck and whispered, "And we'll keep on changing for simple things that way, all our lives. Love needs to be light for lovers to fly together."
"Tonight, do you want me to crawl into your bed or you, in mine."
"Why not one, then the other?"
That night they watched a film with Marlene and then went up to enjoy both beds. Sunday morning they slept in late. After lunch, they did research on the internet concerning the stone but found nothing they could really relate to. They also talked about Donovan's transfer to the Duncan MacMillan High School in Sheet Harbour. They tried to understand the formalities involved. Dorian also mentioned the Gay-Straight Alliance in the high school, saying they should join. Donovan looked at him, smiled and shrugged.
"We're gay after all, aren't we?" declared Dorian.
"Never thought about it... Water's wet, isn't it?"
"I see what you mean!"
Monday, they called and spoke with Mrs. Hanson, curator in charge of archeology. She asked them to send her a photo of the object in question. They sent it on the spot. She immediately called back and gave them an appointment for the following morning.
The result of the first examination of the stone was puzzling. The engraving didn't seem to be Native. It could be Norse, however... She suggested that for the time being, they say nothing about their discovery and continue their investigations. First of all they should contact the geological laboratory at the university. They could analyze a small fragment of the stone and pinpoint the area from where it came. If it's local, it could just be something somebody made and threw away. If not, then things become interesting. That's the best way to start understanding what they had found.
The stone proved to be from Iceland. They called Mrs. Hanson and told her the results of the analysis.
"Then it was brought here by the Vikings," she said, "also, giving the engraving a second thought, I guess that it could have been done by a Pict... Strange... I'm going to look up and send you the email address of the Pictish Art Society in Scotland. You can ask them if the engraving is actually Pictish, and how could it have landed here. Maybe they can give you the meaning of the symbols too. Give it a try and keep me posted. Don't forget to insist that it was engraved on an Icelandic stone and not in Scotland."
They received an answer from Scotland two days later. It set their imagination on fire and at the same time left them a bit embarassed as to how to share it.
That evening, at supper, John asked, "How's your research on the stone going?"
"We've followed up all the advice Mrs. Hanson gave us. The geology lab informed us that the stone came from Iceland... and this morning we got a reply from the Pictish Art Society in Scotland concerning the engraving. Mrs. Hanson thought it could be Pictish and she was right."
"And what did they have to say about the engraving?"
Marie and Marlene also carefully listened to Donovan's explanation.
"They affirm that the symbol is indeed Pictish. It was a symbol expressing the bonds between two males and could even be considered as a kind of homosexual love charm. They added that In the pre-Christian Pictish civilization, same-sex couples were not frowned upon. During the Viking invasions of Scotland, many Picts were captured and enslaved. Some were taken along on Viking expeditions to Iceland. This was revealed with the DNA survey in Iceland. From there, they certainly were on attempts to colonize Greenland and beyond. So, judging from these two elements of information combined, we can deduct that the stone we found belonged to two lovers, either both Pictish or Norse and Pictish, who were stranded or marooned on the island where we found it, and perhaps died there together..."
"Interesting..."
Then Kay spoke up.
"And now tell us, does the love charm work? Like on you two... for example?"
Donovan blushed, then looked at Dorian with the look that only lovers share. Dorian nodded, blushing also.
"Yes, it does, Mum, and it's doing a really great job."
"And is it working for you too, Dorian?" gently inquired John.
"Very much so..." he whispered.
"And... are you both happy being, so to speak, under the spell?"
They simply nodded, beaming and blushing even more.
"That's rather new for us in the family, but... but, very well! Who are we to go against the gods... So, as my father said about me and your dad, Dorian, "Let'em be!" If you're happy and at peace with yourselves, then that's fine with us too."
Marlene broke the solemnity of the moment, exclaiming, "Aren't you two loons going to kiss now?"
"Mind your own business!" quipped back Donovan, laughing, and then added, "I'm glad you love us the way we are... You're wonderful."
Dorian dried a tear with his napkin and went back eating.
Nothing more was said.
Of course, Kay immediately called Marie after dinner to tell her how their sons were a bit more than simple cousins, and that they were very clear about it, etc. John asked to talk to his brother, and that was it.
Two days later, Dorian called to say that Donovan's parent were driving them up to Sheet Harbour the following Sunday, with Donovan's belongings. Marie then asked her son if they wanted to keep the two single beds in his room or would they prefer they exchange them with the big bed in the guest room.
"The big bed, Mum. Thank you!"
"Your father and I thought it would be more appropriate like that."
"So do we!"
They finished their senior year together in Sheet Harbour with flying colours. They became quite active in the GSA section along with the other students and teachers.
They kept the stone in a little treasure box by their bed. After school started, they ordered and received a tiny electric drill with which they engraved the Pictish symbol on some of their pebbles the had collected on the islands. They inlaid the etching with gold foil, pierced the pebble, and threaded it with a cord, thus making pendant necklaces. They were happy with the result and began selling them through the GSA network.
Christmas and Easter flew by. Donovan and Darion looked even better every day. When in Little Harbour, they always went down to the lobster shed, checked on their canoe and camping gear.
As graduation was nearing, they called Big Daddy.
Grandma answered, "Hello".
"Grandma, it's Dorian and Donovan on the line. How are you?"
"Why are you calling us? Something's wrong? You in trouble?"
"No, we're fine. We're calling about your waterfront shack. Donovan and I would like to fix it up and come to Little Harbour and live in it."
"It's not fit for humans!"
"I said, FIX IT UP..."
"Listen, you talk with Big Daddy about that," she exclaimed before calling out, "Callum, you've got to talk some sense into our grandsons' feeble minds. They're on the phone."
"Hello, which one are you?"
"Dorian, Donovan's listening."
"What's going on?"
"Nothing to worry about. It's just that now we're soon out of school and we want to live together. We were wondering if you could let us fix up the waterfront shack to live in since you don't use it anymore..."
"Give me a second to wrap my mind around all that..."
"It's not that much of a..."
"I said give me second!"
"Yes, sir..."
"You mean you two want to come to live down here, next to us?"
"Yes, we're making money selling our pebble necklaces and that way we can beach-comb during the summer with the canoe and make our necklaces in the winter. Instead of taking the canoe away with us somewhere, we'd like to come to the canoe..."
"And what about college?"
"Did you go to college?"
After a moment of silence, Big Daddy replied, "I think you've got a point there! Of course you can come... but it would take a hell of a lot of work to make the place livable... lots of work and even more money, and I'm not paying..."
"We're not afraid of the work and we can fix it up little by little, as the cash comes in..."
"Hold on... I think I've got a better idea."
The boys looked at each other and waited.
"Listen, I'm going to tell your Moms and Dads to invest in having the shack fixed up and they can even say it's your graduation and Christmas presents all together. What do you think about that?"
"You can even say it's all of our birthday presents too! That would be too wonderful, Big Daddy!"
"Give me some time to talk them into it. I don't think it'll be too hard... I know they've got the money... But I don't know how I'm going to explain all that to Grandma without her fussing like a wet setting hen, worrying about you two... but that's my problem. We love you!"
"We love you too, Big Daddy! You're the greatest..."
"Listen to me now... You'll be inheriting the shack, but that's all you'll get when I'm dead! Is that clear?"
"Yes, Sir."
"And while we're talking about dying, if I'm gone before Grandma, you'll have to handle her by yourselves... and that's a lot of work!"
"We've got time to work all that out... What's important for us is to be close to you both, have our own roof, and live out of the city."
"We've said enough. Hang up now. Goodbye."
The renovation crew turned the shack into a perfect little cottage in five weeks time. The boys spent the summer pebble hunting in the islands, splitting wood for their stove, passing their driver's license, and surveying the work on the shack. Grandma was all excited having them both, all for her... She even knitted big throw covers for their bed.
One evening before the boys moved in to their new home, Big Daddy called them down from their room upstairs.
"Boys! Listen to me. I'm tired of you asking me to borrow my car all the time... and spending my gas."
Dorian and Dovovan looked a bit worried.
Big Dadday went on saying, "See that little used compact out there? Well, I bought it for you two. Here's the keys... and don't wreck it! The insurance is paid up for the next twelve months, but after that, you're paying for it... as well as for the gas from now on!"
Big Daddy's grandsons jumped on him, each struggling to give him a hug. They all three fell on the floor as Grandma appeared in the living room door.
"What's going on in here?" she shouted, standing with her hands on her hips, flabbergasted, as she witnessed her three menfolk laughing like mad, rolling together on the floor.
Postface
After the big house warming party, Donovan and Dorian met the first chills of autumn, enjoying the warmth of their little home. They made necklaces galore during the winter and sold them nearly as soon as they were finished. Their business began to really bloom with the wildflowers as spring slipped into summer.
Like endless tides, flowing in the dawn, their love soared always lighter as the years glided by, especially on nights of the full moon.
The End
A free picture album illustrating this story (pdf) is available upon request at maringiustinian@gmail.com