Mystery and Mayhem At St Mark's
by
Joel
Some of the Characters Appearing or Mentioned: Mark Henry Foster The story-teller: Pennefather Organ Scholar 2001 Tristan (Tris) Price-Williams His well-proportioned boyfriend Francis [Toad] Foster Mark's younger brother Ivo Richie Carr Mark's cousin: chunky and cheeky with it Adam Benjamin Carr Ditto, as his twin Oliver Jensen A Musical undergraduate with allure Charles Fane-Stuart The 'Servant of the Chapel' Brinley (Harry) Potter An unbright boatie: Dead Bryce (Babyballs) McArdle A sullen Aussie rugger forward: Dead Bradley Wolstencroft A Detective Chief Inspector, a leatherman off duty [Brad] Dudley Woolpit A Detective Sergeant, a leatherman off duty [Whippet; Dude] Carl Bachmann A Detective Constable, a leatherman off duty [Carlo; Batman] Commander McKenzie Metropolitan Police: Fiona's father Fiona McKenzie A Mathematical undergraduate with presence Brian Bridges 'Bulgy-Boy': A padded busboy at the Club David Davies A good-looking student nurse, nursing a desire
- (Part Two) After the beginning of Term: Oct 2001
"The DCI sent me up to Scotland Yard to see his old boss Commander McKenzie." He looked at me, "You know his daughter, Fiona." I nodded. "Well, the DCI wondered if there was something extra for the first death there might be something extra for the second, too."
"You mean there might be a connection somewhere?" asked Ivo.
"I suppose because of the sleeping pills and the vitamin pills that had been tampered with?" said Adam.
"Yes, that's the basic idea, but it's a bit more earthy than that," the Sergeant said, "Going back to the second case we know from the medical evidence the covering gelatin would have dissolved in about fifteen to twenty minutes. The strychnine would then be released and would begin to work. Once that gets going it affects the nervous system and the victim would begin to stagger. In fact, would be likely to fall over, but here the victim ended up off the path, face down in a muddy ditch. Mr Wolstencroft wondered if he'd been assisted.
"We'd had a photographer there, of course, and we'd looked at the photos submitted. There were a lot of different footprints. The old chap and his dog who found him as well as Bryce's. There were also some from our lads and we were able to eliminate all the sets. But then, what we didn't know was that the photographer was using a new digital camera and he'd shot a lot more photos than submitted for the initial analysis. He had about a dozen more he'd taken along the path checking that his camera had automatic focussing. The DCI spotted these as they weren't in the first lot and I took them up to the lab boys in London. They came up with blown up versions."
He opened the document bag he had with him and drew out two ten by eight colour prints and held one of them up.
"What the lab boys noticed was that within the footprints which could be identified as Bryce's were others which followed closely and were obviously imprinted just after he'd made his set." He pointed at the imprint of a large trainer or running shoe. Within it was the clear image of another, smaller, shoe. "Bryce had size twelve feet. This imprint inside is size seven. It was made by a very common make of trainer and that's going to be difficult to track down as every kid of fifteen or sixteen with feet that size has them....."
".....So it's the little bloke again," said Ivo.
Sergeant Woolpit grinned. "Much the same as our conclusion. But why should a set of smaller prints follow so closely?"
"Because if Babyballs was being poisoned and staggering," said Tris, "He wouldn't know he was being followed."
"And when he got near the ditch," said Adam, "A push, and he lands face down, floundering."
"Didn't even flounder," said the Sergeant, shaking his head. "He fell head first into quite deep mud so his nose, mouth and air passages were clogged with wet earth. That's why I said it was more earthy!"
"Oh my God!" said Tris, "I feel sick!" He jumped up and went to the bathroom.
Adam got up and followed him. "I'll see he's OK," he said.
The Sergeant looked at Ivo and me as we sat and contemplated both an untimely end and a horrible death. Bryce had been twenty-four and was dead.
Tris and Adam came back into the room. Tris's face much paler. "I'm OK now," he said, "I just couldn't bear to think of it. He was in the same rooms I've got now. He should have got his degree and gone back to Australia. I thought of him lying there in the stinking mud...."
"...Why did you say stinking?" asked the Sergeant.
Tris thought for a moment. "I don't know why. But there is a funny smell that comes from the ditch where it runs parallel with the river. I noticed it last term when it was hot. I suppose I just remembered it."
"Where Bryce fell in there was mud contaminated with sewage or slurry from a broken pipe. The stuff he fell in was very smelly." He smiled. "Just checking. Anyway, we know you didn't run that way that day because you met up with...." He consulted a notebook which he had taken from his bag. "....Fiso Akabuli and Toby Barker. Right?"
Tris nodded slowly. "Yeah, I told you I'd met the first lad, Ugandan, I think, after I'd given up running with Brin. Toby was often around, too, he's on the next stair. They usually ran the other way - along the path the other side of the river from the boathouses. I would have been with them."
"Yes," said Sarge, "That's what they told us, too." He looked down at Tris's feet. "And your trainers are not size seven?"
Tris laughed and shook his head. "Ten and a half!"
"I can see that from here," said the Sergeant.
"I suppose we've all been eliminated from your enquiries," said Ivo slowly, "Or you wouldn't be here telling us things."
"Or, he may be doing a Hercule Poirot," I said, rather smugly, as I knew I hadn't done the dirty deeds, "All the suspects together and he drops the bombshell. But, Sarge, it can't be any of them - they've all got big feet - look at Adam's!"
The Sergeant laughed. "We eliminated you all within twenty-four hours, don't worry. We had a list as long as our arm of all the people who didn't like him. He seemed to be able to make himself heartily disliked in many ways." He held up the notebook. "It included most of the Rugger Club, the bar staff, the buttery staff, four members of the public he'd had arguments with and the ladies in the health food store who always got the manager out when they saw him approaching. Oh, and then there were three boathouses where he'd tried to gatecrash to use their ergometers. One of the smaller boaties ended up in the river and the others were even a bit wary of dealing with him."
"Does that bring you back to our Rowing Club?" asked Adam. "I've been thinking about that. I've seen him on the ergometer in there. Anyway, the cox of our main boat last year was Tilly Masters, she's at Ridley Hall now doing the ordination course. She was tiny."
"That's why sex-hound here was at the boathouse," said Ivo with a grin, "He didn't get anywhere with her. He almost joined the Christian Union to better his chances but she'd already got some lad in tow."
"Shut up, bro" said Adam, "She could be a material witness. She was always jogging along the river bank early in the morning with two lads from Pembroke."
"Kept her in your sights, eh?" said Ivo.
Adam sneered.
Sarge spoke while he was riffling through other papers he had in the bag. "We have had reports of sightings of a small person seen running along the Grantchester path wearing a plain grey sweatshirt with a hood pulled up and grey joggers. We got that from the chap whose dog found Bryce in the ditch. Saw the person two or three times and noticed him or her because his dog barked at them. He said he hasn't seen the person since as he won't walk along that path again. Not much help." He held up a bundle of papers.
"These are copies of the statements you all made, except, of course, for you, Mark," he said. "They all tally with independent others, you've all got big feet, but, although you generally ignored Bryce McArdle, none of you liked him."
"He was bad-tempered, a bully, homophobic, and not a very good sportsman," said Adam.
"I agree," said Ivo, "He was only tolerated in the team because he was like a bull- dozer in the scrum." He shook his head. "Tris told you of the confrontation he had with Charles Fane-Stuart and he called Drew Penry-Jones a pouf and chucked him in the fountain."
"Something he never reported," said Sarge.
"Against his principles," said Ivo. "He's a born-again Christian and, I guess, thinks all these trials and tribulations are punishments for evils he or others have done, imaginary or not. I heard him ranting away on the Market last term telling everyone he was as great a sinner as they were but was seeking atonement and everyone else should repent or expect punishment."
"He's harmless, though," said Tris. "I told him I'm gay and he's left me alone since then."
"But he did see you apparently being sucked off by Brin," said Adam, "He yelled a few things at the pair of you then. And we were seen apparently about to have an orgy with him. His shouting then was almost incoherent. I just think he's mad."
Sarge looked at me and then at Tris with a grin on his face. "If everyone who's gay hasn't been told to repent at some time, they haven't lived."
"Just a question, Sarge," said Ivo. "The inquest on Brin was told he had cocaine as well as that sleeping pill stuff in his system, then some coke was found in his room. Have you found anything about where he might have got it?"
The Sergeant shook his head. "The sleeping pills were Luminol and are not prescribed a lot. The bottle was clean, no finger-prints and no chemist's label. The batch was distributed to many chemists around the country, we do know that. The cocaine was a brand we know, as it were, it's London-based, cut very heavily, sells pretty cheaply in pubs and clubs around the Camden and Kentish Town area and also near Liverpool Street Station. We have no leads on that. One dealer was found dead a week after the Brin death but the Met don't think it was related. His death was black-on-black over money not forthcoming and the perpetrator was arrested the next day. But, a batch like it was found stashed in a holdall at Drummer Street Bus Station."
"Here? In Cambridge?" asked Adam.
"Yes, we think someone dumped it, or the intended recipient was disturbed and never retrieved it. There was a local football match that evening and there were lots of rather inebriated lads waiting for buses so a couple of fights broke out and the Force was called in. Probably saw the blue lights, dumped the bag and scarpered. It might be a red herring but we have come across small amounts of the same stuff in four other colleges."
"I don't think there's much, if any, amongst the hearties here," said Ivo, "Steroids perhaps, like Babyballs!"
"Yes," said Sarge, "Even his mother made a statement to that effect. She'd found he was going for injections at the age of fourteen but she was scared of him and his father was too busy making money to bother. A big rugby-playing son was an asset as far as he was concerned. The tissue analysis confirmed that. He was a long-term steroid abuser with all the known side-effects."
"You watch it," said Adam to Ivo, "You can't afford to have your balls any smaller than they are. We really would have to call you Peanuts then!"
"Peanuts! Peanuts!!," Ivo exclaimed on a rising note, "And you call yours wedding tackle? They'd have to send in the SAS to search for your winkle with a very large pin..."
"OK, you two," said Tris, "We are all perfectly aware that you are both as under- endowed as the College...."
Unfortunately for Tris, he was sitting on the settee between them. Sarge watched and laughed as they did their usual joint annihilation of the enemy. Tris was soon squawking as they held him and tickled and pinched him, undoing his shirt and jeans in the process. Luckily he was not going commando so his prize possessions were not put on display for any comparisons to be made.
"Sergeant," I said, "They're assaulting my friend. If they harm him he won't be able to dance on Saturday."
"Pax!" yelled Tris. The magic word worked.
"Thank you," said the Sergeant, nodding towards Ivo and Adam, "I look forward to Saturday and if you care to join the party no doubt you will get a dance, too."
I got up. "I think coffee or tea is in order. Please keep an eye on them while I'm out of the room, Sergeant, they do get rather boisterous at times." He laughed and sat back. Tea seemed to be the general order so I went out, put the kettle on and soon came back in with the teapot, milk, sugar and good-sized mugs, plus a packet of chocolate digestives. There was a discussion going on about rugby football. Sarge had played a lot while in the Army and had been in the Metropolitan Police College team when in training. Ivo was doing much of the talking with the Sergeant and I noticed Adam was looking very keenly at the very well- proportioned, tough-looking man. Tris had noticed too and nodded his head towards Adam and smiled. We knew who would be asking for the first, and probably the last, dance on Saturday.
Sergeant Woolpit said he'd better go but we could be very helpful if we kept eyes and ears open. Two deaths and they were now suspicious deaths. It was being kept quiet just in case anyone got suspicious themselves.
It wasn't long after he'd gone and we were still talking about it all when there was a bang on the door. It was Charles. He looked rather concerned but when he saw we were all laughing he looked very pleased about something.
"Darlings," he said in his usual manner, "I saw that so-butch nice policeman come along and then he was here so long I expected to see at least sweet Adam with gyves upon his wrists and my hunky Ivo with a ball and chain and as for precious Tristan..."
"...A large truncheon stuck up his....." began Adam.
Charles raised his hands. "....There is no need for indelicacies. The poor boy looks pale as it is and such treatment would no doubt increase his feeling of sickness....."
"Charles!" said Ivo with mock sternness, "Have you been listening at the door?"
"No, of course not," he said archly, "But the window there is ajar and I was admiring the border of autumnal plants..."
"So you heard it all?" I asked, "Anything to add?"
"I noticed I was not mentioned. My feet are an elegant size eight. And I do not possess any trainers." He shook his head and the mane flowed. "In any case I was safely in my bed when both tragedies occurred...."
"Any witnesses?" asked Adam intent on getting his own back.
"Dearest one," said Charles, "As you were asleep and snoring beside me in your dreams you are quite aware there were no witnesses. Anyway, I have good news to impart."
Adam was trying to work that one out. I laughed. "What's the good news after that bad news for Adam?"
"My dears, a momentous discovery. I thought the crypt might be opened for a small fee to selected members of the public as a tourist attraction of a superior kind. I and that little fiend were sorting through the collected detritus of the centuries when naughty young Knott opened an old wooden chest and inside was a very old leather box.. You would never guess but there they were!" His hands were flapped up and down as though conducting a celestial orchestra. "Glorious ones, we had chanced upon some of the missing records of the Servants of the Chapel. No wonder that old fraud Dr Smart never dared refer to them. Salacious gossip. Nefarious deeds. Unspeakable acts. Unfortunately much written in unreadable scholarly hand. Dear Dr Henson has arranged for me to spend a week with an erudite don at Durham who has particular expertise in deciphering such ancient writings and I shall come back equipped with skills sublime and information unheard for centuries."
"Anything to impart? You must have been able to read something or you wouldn't be so pleased," said Adam.
"Adorable Adam you sound a mite piqued," said Charles, sitting down next to him. "Your discovery in that small room is yours to record in whatever journal to which you wish to submit. All I counsel is that you put off that day until you have safely earned that degree you so richly deserve. There are persons who would not be pleased." He held up a finger. "My spies tell me," He placed the finger over his lips, "there are proposals being mooted to break the Pennefather Trust. It would be costly so to do but those behind it are determined and would not bother if the College was ruined financially defending such an action. Take my advice. Lie low and wait."
"I fully intend to do that. I have revised certain opinions," said Adam. "The person I think you are referring to may be a brilliant historian but I think he's a shit!"
"Well, well!" exclaimed Ivo, "There's a turn up for the book. Little bro is seeing the light!"
"Fuck you, Dickhead!" said Adam, "You know full well that kick in the balls hasn't had any effect on him. He's been after two of the First Years already and we think he's scared one almost into giving him what he wants. She's that nice Irish girl and Letty thinks she's terrified if she doesn't comply she'll be out. She won't say anything so they can't make a complaint."
"Can nothing be done?" I asked, "A discreet hint in the student rag?"
"You have to be very careful," said Tris, "Law of libel is very strict.
He gets upset and the editor's up for the chop plus anything else to cover damages. Case a few years ago when someone in the national press thought they had sniffed a scandal among the dons and the paper had to pay up handsomely."
Ivo laughed. "It's been said that dons can only be sacked for indecency and Masters of Colleges for gross indecency, and that's with a hundred and forty-four boys, so fucking a young lady doesn't come under either." He turned to Adam. "You offer him your bum and I'll take a photograph."
"Can't," said Tris, "That's incitement or entrapment, take your pick. Anyway, knowing Adam he wouldn't worry and then he'd sell it over the Internet to make a bit of money."
"Traitor," said Adam, "But's that's true. My bum would make me a mint!"
"Boys, boys!" said Charles, "Let's not get frivolous. This is a very serious matter and merits very serious concern. I am so worried I wish to be diverted. Get your glad rags on for seven o'clock and we will all go to the Garden House for dinner. My treat. Mother has been more than generous again though I am afraid someone did mention to her next American clients that Scottish baronial is all the rage. Tristan, dear, pop up and see if young Oliver is there. I must not forget him though he is moping over something at the moment."
"I'll go," said Adam, getting up. He was at the door before any more was said.
Of course, the evening was a riot. Charles had managed to decipher a long poorly written Latin description which he brought along. It was an account of how one of the dons in 1530 had managed to seduce every new student by pretending that his dick - mentula - was the rope from St Benedict's robe and that the holy outflowings from it would preserve them from illness and especially the plague. The scribe had used the word 'simulacrum' which could mean an emanation of some kind, or some holy phantom, or even Holy Ghost. We all giggled as we guessed the scribe meant 'spunk'. Each lad had been blindfolded - oculos alicui obligare - and had been told to kiss the rope's end or it's knot - nodus - which could also mean knob! He had only been found out as one of the lads - puer adolescens - had older brothers - fratris major natu - who had taught him to suck them off at nightfall - combibo sub noctem - so this lad had guessed and had sucked the tutor dry - exsorbeo - and then complained he was as bitter as herbs - gustus rutae - where his brothers had been as sweet as honey - gustus mulsum. All ended happily as the lad taught all his fellow students so that the tutor and he had their way with all and sundry from the next stage, up the rear - a tergo - so nothing was sacred or safe from a stiff prick - praeterea sanctum nihil est neque ab inguine tutum. But, all were happy and the Servant of the Chapel prospered as he knew all the secrets of the hidden lusts - inclusas eius libidines.
Of course, we asked Charles if he knew of all the hidden lusts at present and as he'd had the best part of a bottle of wine he confided that in his first year the two who then occupied Ivo and Adam's rooms were not really brothers, but supplemented their incomes from grants by running almost a male brothel and he was disturbed on numerous occasions by students from other colleges wanting to know where the action was. He archly denied that he was no more than the Madame letting the clientele in and he said it all fizzled out when one of the duo got the clap. He then announced that he had been asked to stage another extravaganza and had chosen Boadicea, or Boudicca, as she should be known. He looked at me.
"Your little excursions into possible diversions has provided me with ideas for the most agreeable tableau. There will be a first rehearsal tomorrow evening at eight. I will require the use of your delightful room as I require a piano introduction and I am sure you will be a willing confederate." He pointed at Tristan. "You dearest one with the lovely Toby and that delicious hunk Louie to partner you...." He wagged his finger and nodded. "....You will be perfect as you are all tall, muscular and blond." Tris visibly preened himself. Charles smiled. "You will be truly angelic Anglo-Saxons - non Angli, sed angeli - as dear Pope Gregory said. We shall have to use some blue colouring to create the verisimilitude of woad-painted warriors." Oh yes, Toby Barker was the boatie Tristan had run with sometimes last year and had a formidable physique and Louie was the Maths student I had found so helpful - a bright boatie, to boot.
"Then you...," he pointed at Ivo and Adam, "...will be captured Roman legionnaires who will have to act as my noble steeds drawing my chariot as other Romans have not only stolen my hand-maiden but my horses as well. Mother has a friend who is very big in leather and has promised to help." I looked at Tris and grinned, he did, too. We knew people who were very big in leather, too! "There will have to be a little camouflage I am sure." Ivo and Adam exchanged bemused looks. "You, my blue-eyed beauty," he pointed at Oliver, "You will be my charioteer. A few touches of the whip on the flanks of my fine stallions should elicit a few twitches of those fine rumps and a round of applause from the assembly." Ivo and Adam's bemused looks turned to grins. A touch of the whip? He looked from one to another of us seated round the table a smile played on his lips. "I have other ideas which I will impart in all good time." He looked at me and gave a more than salacious wink. What that signified I didn't know. "The performance is scheduled for Thursday the eighth of November. There will be a final rehearsal on the seventh, the day I return from Durham. Your diaries will be free for both dates I am sure."
There was no more discussion. We had all been invited, no commanded, to be in one of the famous or infamous revue items. This would be my first exposure to the Clarissa, aka Boudicca this time. And I would be the musical assistant! But the wink?
On Saturday Tris, Oliver and I went off to the Club. No sooner had we arrived and met up with Carlo and Dave in their usual booth than Adam came breezing in.
"Couldn't let you lot have all the fun," he said. "Ivo's gone to a party with 'Tory and Letty's gone up to London for the weekend."
I was feeling flush so I bought all a round of scotches. No wonder Brad usually waved twenty-pound notes! But, neither he nor Whippet were there. A new chap brought the drinks. I turned to Carlo and Dave. "Where's Bulgy-boy tonight?"
"Addenbrooke's," said Dave, "Bit of bother last night, eh, Whippet?"
"Yep, I'd better tell you because you can't be too careful."
"What's that?" asked Tris.
Carl looked around at us and we all bent forward as he began the story.
"Last night late, well this morning early really, Brian, that's Bulgy, was just leaving, everyone else had gone. A couple of guys were in the doorway over the road and they grabbed him. One kicked him in the balls, but that had no effect because he was always padded up and wore a cup but he fell over and cracked his head on the pavement. That knocked him out and the pair started giving him a kicking anyway but he was unconscious so they got their dicks out and started pissing on him. Just then Whippet came out of the club - he'd been discussing things with Shawn one of the owners - he saw what was happening, got on his mobile to his team, got out his digital camera and took some flash photos of the pair. They were dazzled so he banged his cuffs on them, one to the other, gave a couple of rabbit chops and they went down, too.
"Shouldn't tell you this, but those two may not be in the baby-making stakes in future because he put his boots in to quieten them down and left on his bike just as our lot turned up. Brian was taken off and he's OK, just a bit concussed so they're keeping him in until Monday. The pair are in custody now. They complained they were mugged but were shown photos of them pissing on Brian and when searched had a bloke's wallet they'd nicked when they'd mugged him earlier. Tried to say Brian had solicited them but we found their car then. They'd done over a little store earlier as well and that had a stack of ciggies in it. They're singing like canaries now and they're up before the Bench first thing Monday morning. Brad and Whippet are visiting a couple of their pals tonight and that should turn up some interesting stuff, too."
"Were you in the team?" asked Tris.
Carlo grinned. "How d'you think I know all this? After I'd checked Brian with the paramedics I helped the pair into the squad car. No marks but they've both got sore kidneys as well. Couldn't hold their balls or rub their backs as they were properly cuffed up then. You should have heard them moaning. They're convinced it was another set of pond-life that got them first. They thought at least three had attacked them." He laughed, "It was only Whippet, but you know how he's built!"
"Only from a covered exterior," said Adam. "Good for him. Gave the nasty buggers a taste of their own medicine."
"Well, we've had our eye on them for some time," said Carl, "And from what they were saying about the ones they thought might have bashed then we've got evidence enough for a little raid this evening."
"And Brian's OK?" Tris asked.
"Yes," said Dave, "I saw him this afternoon just before I came off duty. A bit bruised but he's more upset about getting the piss out of his new jacket he was wearing. I took it to the cleaners for him and they said it would be OK. But he'll be out Monday and Shawn says he can have time off if he wants and to come back when he feels like it."
"Do you get much anti-gay trouble?" I asked Carl.
"A bit, but it's mostly this sort preying on the language school students. You know, the youngsters who come over for a few weeks usually during vacation times. They're vulnerable and generally a bit naive. Then there are the ordinary foreign students. Quite a few muggings. They tend to leave the ordinary students alone - big, hairy and prone to violent responses if provoked, eh, Adam?"
"I may be big and I may be hairy in the right places but the only violence I perpetrate is on the field, eh, Tris?"
"Too true, you've got lovely hairy legs and you've got a bush like a hearth-brush! And you did tackle that wing quite solidly this afternoon. That was when you weren't just standing around scratching your bollocks."
Adam laughed. "You wouldn't know. You were bloody eyeing up their scrum half, especially after his shorts were torn and his bum was hanging out. I saw you go in for a tackle!" He turned to me. "You want to watch him, he'd have had that lad except he had those cycle short pants on instead of a jockstrap...."
"....I trust him," I said, interrupting the diatribe, "And it's time I had a dance." We were well into our second drink by now and I was looking at Tris. The beat of the music from the DJ's corner was getting to me. I felt incredibly horny and I wanted to be close to him. I grabbed him, we took off our shirts and we were on the floor, colliding with each other as we tried to co-ordinate our movements with the beat. We were dancing really close amongst the others when I tapped Tris on the back. "Don't look now!"
Of course he did, I did and everyone else did, too. A beautifully toned glistening torso had been revealed. Adam had taken his shirt off, too. He was partnered by an equally toned glistening torso on a second lad - Oliver. They danced together as if they'd been doing it for ever. Carlo and Dave joined and the six of us circled the floor smiling at each other and having the most wonderful time.
"What's the betting....." began Tris, whispering in my ear.
"...No bets," I replied, "Adam and Oliver"
"Alpha and Omega," said Tris.
I kissed his ear and we continued dancing for the rest of the evening, stopping only for quick slurps at ever-refilling glasses. We left at midnight. The other four still on the floor.
Sunday morning there was a knock on my door. Tris went to it and beckoned the grinning pair in. We had breakfast prepared and Tris enquired whose idea it was for the oiled torsos.
Adam almost blushed. "My idea really," he confessed, "True I had an itchy bollock so I bought some baby oil at Sainsbury's when I was stocking up on grub. Thought it might help."
"You mean to say, my Aunt Sophie used to anoint your little nuts when you were an infant?" I enquired.
Adam laughed. "Mum always rubbed it in whenever we had a bruise or an itch. I don't know if I had it rubbed in there when I was a baby but I remembered having it on my leg at Infants' School and it was soothing."
"I went to check what time we had to be in Chapel today as it's a visiting preacher and there he was trying to put the stuff on his back," said Oliver.
"So you'd planned to go to the Club, eh?" asked Tris. Adam just nodded. "And the pair of you anointed each other and that nonchalant entry of his was already arranged?"
Both nodded and grinned.
"And did you anoint his itchy balls?" I asked.
Oliver produced that sweet smile. "No, but I held them and felt them last night....."
".....Stop it, Oliver, that's ours," said Adam.
"No," said Oliver, leaning over and kissing him on the cheek. "It's for all of us. We talked for ages when we got back. Adam slept with me last night..."
"....Ivo had 'Tory in our rooms," He looked across at me. "I was going to ask you if I could doss down on your settee...."
"We slept together and I know I love Adam." The smile broadened. "I don't care if Adam doesn't love me or if he needs to go with someone else, I'll be there..."
Adam was nodding and then suddenly burst into tears. Oliver looked startled, but Tris slipped round the table and hugged him.
"Adam, we all love you," said Tris, "But I think you're not sure which way you might be. You know what it's like for both, don't you, and you don't know which way your feelings need to settle. Just follow your instincts. Oliver's just told you how he feels. Both Marky and I know what a loving person you are and what a powerful lover you are. You've got feelings for Whippet, too, haven't you?" Adam sniffed and nodded. "And it wouldn't take much for you to got to bed with either Marky or me again?"
Adam was really weeping now. He flung his arms round Tris. "I love you Tris more than I dare say and the same for Mark. I look at both of you and I want to tell you..." He shook his head, his eyes shedding tears. "I look at Whippet and imagine what it would be like to have those arms round me and feel that body against mine,...." He sniffed heavily. "....and last night with Oliver I wanted him so badly I couldn't help it we just lay here and I......." He burst into loud sobs.
Oliver dropped to his knees and clasped Adam round his waist. "You gave me yourself. It flooded all over me. I was so happy. I didn't even have to touch you, then you took mine. I've never had that done to me. Your beautiful mouth. I lay there and gave you all mine as well. We lay and kissed and I tasted me on your lips and tongue and I felt those lovely balls where all yours came from. I love you Adam...."
It was my turn. I went round and wiped his tears with my handkerchief.
I bent down and kissed him full on the lips. His mouth opened and our tongues touched. It was an electric moment. Tris reached down and unzipped his jeans and undid his shirt buttons. Oliver found his erect penis peeping out above the waistband of his pants. As Oliver sucked, Tris kissed and licked his nipple and I caressed his tongue with mine. Oliver gasped as Adam came. Four boys kissed and shared Adam's seed.
"I'm not sure," said Adam when he surfaced. "I want to get married. I would love to have a family but when I see you and Whippet and Carlo and Dave and some of those other lads I want to have that sort of love as well."
"There's love and there's fucking as you well know," said Tris.
Adam looked at Tris. "You know what happened between us in Italy was love. Real love." Tris nodded. "...And I've loved Oliver from the very first day I saw him at school, but until last night I had never touched him. I ached to hold him from that day until last night. That dance then was the most wonderful....." He stopped and he looked starry-eyed.
Oliver kissed his cheek. "I've loved you Adam from that first day when you came into the room where all us young-'uns were. You smiled. I melted. I wanted you to be my big brother. I didn't know about love then. I told Tris and Mark about all the times I wanked with my friends. What I didn't tell them was I thought of you every time, wishing you could be standing by me." He kissed him again. "I used to watch you when you showered with us. I tossed myself off in bed every night wishing you were beside me..... ......You know I love you."
"I do, Oliver," said Adam, shaking his head. "I have to sort myself out, though. I don't want it to be just getting my rocks off. I don't know. I'm so confused. Please, I really need help. Don't tell Ivo, he'll only tease me."
Tris stroked his head. "Adam, my love, I don't think Ivo will tease you or say anything. He's your brother and I'm sure he's read the signals. Mark and I knew last night. He must have seen how you've been looking at Oliver and he must have known it wasn't just altruism on your part taking all those youngsters for runs."
Adam smiled. "I did like taking those kids for their cross-country, but I also wanted to be with Oliver. Yes, I think Ivo knows and he'll understand. He's been inquisitive, hasn't he Marky?" I nodded. "And he told me that Tris had opened his eyes and his mind to what love between two males could be. No, I'm not afraid of what Ivo might say, it's me. I'm the one who's a bit more than confused."
We left it there. We knew Adam needed support. How could we give it? He definitely didn't know which way to go. Tris then told him straight that he wasn't to keep Oliver dangling, as it were. If he was bi then he must declare it. He wanted to have kids. How would that equate with his feelings for Oliver? That morning in Chapel the visiting preacher took his text from 1 John 3, 18: 'Let us not love in word, neither in tongue, but in deed and in trust'. He said that love was the mainspring of any relationship - there was a difference between agape - the holy love between two people and eros - the sexual love. People had the choice but the most important thing in any relationship was being friends and knowing that the relationship was stable through the commitment to the other, the important elements were the deed of love and the trust involved..
I looked over the rail of the organ loft. Tris in the choir stalls, in his surplice and robes looked up and smiled. My two basses, Adam and Oliver sat side by side, also surpliced, and I saw two hands slip together and that clasp was the beginning of what I knew would be a life-long friendship, if not a relationship.
To be Continued: