Francis

This story is for persons of eighteen years or over. All comments, good or bad, are welcome and all will be answered.

Part Twenty Seven

Two more aeroplanes were ordered, delivery to be made in the coming New Year and have the lion's head logo painted on the tail and Lyon Air emblazoned on both sides. Stephen was running about nonstop, checking the airfield's progress, interviewing pilots, hiring ground and technical crew. As he seemed to be doing a good job of it from his reports, I didn't interfere.

Then it was back into the fray of dealing with newspapers that gave us old news, trying to read into the minds of these imparters of news for clues as to what they might be withholding. This was beginning to bore me, as if it hadn't in the past, and found that I had so much going on outside of our office that I started to slide off from there to deal with my own problems. It got to such a point that I had to go and see Frobisher himself, to try and sort out something else.

`Alex,' I started off. He'd objected most strenuously in the past about my using his Christian name, but had now come to accept my use of it when we were speaking in private. We were, if all was said and done, on equal terms in our place in society. He was much older and experienced in life than I was.

He was Frobisher or sir when I was speaking with others in the room, or when he was giving out orders in respect of our jobs. But, I was, though unwilling, now a member of Her Majesties Armed Forces, unpaid, a card I was still withholding, and therefore under his jurisdiction. But this still didn't mean I couldn't use his Christian name when I wanted to.

`Alex. It's getting to the point where I can no longer function down at that desk in the bowels of this building. I...'

I know Francis,' he interrupted. I have taken steps to have you replaced at that desk.'

`What?' I exclaimed.

`Francis! For once, shut up and listen. I want you to take over the International desk. That, if you will note, is just one desk below this one. You have shown the perspicacity to evaluate not what only crosses your desk, but what has been outside of your field. You've shown that you can read what is not written, and that is a gift that not many people have.'

`Alex! You're spilling out more shit than a bull can ever produce,' I said.

`Don't push me too far Francis. I've let you call me by my given name, but only in private. What I've said is true. You could be become a good administrator, and that is why I want you to take over the International desk. You are right for that post!'

`Alex. I've got more outside going for me than you could ever offer me. I control millions of pounds. I own, I don't know how many companies that provide work for more people than I can count.'

`Precisely! And what provides that security that you can work and develop that security. Me, and this department. We are the department that provides that freedom for you to do as you want and when you want. We are a democracy and will strive to keep it such that people like you can build and succeed in what you believe in.' I got up from my chair and went and mixed myself a drink before returning to my seat, thinking all the while.

I'm sorry Alex, but I cannot accept what you are offering,' I said. Wesson was going to go ballistic when he hears of this, I thought. I'm what you would call a hands on operative. I couldn't do what you do! Send people out to possible death! I can go out and do that, but I don't think I could order anyone else to do whatever you have in mind. You have asked me to go out and kill or be killed. I've done that! But I don't think I'm in the mould to be able to ask the same of somebody else. Put me on the international desk if you want to, but don't ever put me in the position of telling people to go and kill, or be killed. That I'll never do.'

`Francis! This is a position of immense prestige and power.'

`I don't need it! I have my own power. I am my own person. That's all the power I need. I do what I want, when I want, and nobody can stop me from doing that, especially you.'

`Look Francis, let's change it a little. Look over the International desk. As an overseer. See what you think of it and give me your conclusions. Believe me, I'll listen to what you have to say about it.'

`What about Wesson?'

`He'll stay where he is of course.'

`That's where you are wrong. You put us together, come what may. The may happened and he came with me. So where I go, he goes, simple as that. You might control him in either a professional or military capacity, but I do it with love and understanding, which I think you are somewhat devoid of. So if push comes to shove, do your worst, and then we'll see who comes up trumps. Look! You're making me angry. Can I get another drink, this argument is making me thirsty?'

He waved his hand in acquiescence and asked if I would pour one for him. Now I knew he drank sherry and champagne, but a gin and tonic? Well, he asked for it, so it was a large one with very little tonic. I was chuffed at his expression at his first sip, but concealed my delight as I continued.

`Wesson is not as stupid as you might think. We are a team! So if I oversee as you call it, the International desk, he does too. We're both sick of the petty things we are asked to look at, and both would rather look at more important things.'

`Agreed.'

`And a bloody office with a window!'

Okay,' he laughed. An office with a window, done.'

So Wesson and I jumped a few rungs of the ladder, though I could have gone higher, but, well, that's what love can do to you. I didn't know at the time, but found out later that by accepting a greater role in Frobisher's plans, both Wesson and I were breveted from captain to major, but that was not announced until my birthday.

For this, Wesson had bought me a silver elasticated band for my ponytail when I was taking the role of Gervaise. Not only was it of silver, but also had small diamonds inset in the solid parts. It was a whole year before I noticed that each link had been inscribed on the inside spelling out my name. When I did finally notice this he laughed, and I made myself especially receptive to him in our subsequent loving by giving him a tour of the world. Not literally, but in the sexual context.

Lyons Field was complete and ready by mid December and that was when I decided that before I went to inspect the finished aerodrome, I would visit Diane to ask the question. Wesson didn't put up any objections, but gave me a big kiss and told me not to be away too long. God I loved that man for his love and understanding of me as I kissed him back and left before I broke down into tears.

I hired a car and went down to Dorset, and realized on the way down that I should have telephoned first, but this way would be a better surprise for her. It was too when she saw who it was getting out of the car, running down the path and kissing me in an unladylike fashion seeing I was dressed as Francis.

Oh Francis, it's lovely to see you come out of the blue like this,' she said, her eyes glowing and her face flushed after we had kissed. We got a strange look from the car driver, but he didn't say anything as he carried my bag into the house and collected his tip. It's so good to see you again so soon,' she said as we kissed again once the front door was shut with us on the inside of it.

`The same goes for me,' I laughed, enjoying the welcome I had received. I was ushered into the parlour to see Francis playing with his toys.

`Francis. Here's your Aunt Francis come to visit us. Come and say hello.' He got up and came over somewhat shyly and I went down onto my knees and took him into my arms and gave him a kiss.

My how you are growing,' I said, giving him a big hug. Four years old and getting to look as handsome as your father.' Giving a big wink and a smile to Diane as I said it. He gave me a shy smile back and as I stood up he took hold of my hand.

`Come see Lessie,' he mispronounced, tugging at my hand, and I dutifully let him lead me to where Leslie lay in her small crib not too far from the fire.

`This is your little sister then?' I asked of his shining eyes and he

nodded with a big smile. Diane had come over and I put my arm round her waist as we both looked down at the sleeping child.

She's beautiful,' I whispered, tears in my eyes as I looked down at my daughter and gave Diane a squeeze. As beautiful as you are.' I looked at Diane and saw that she too had tears in her eyes. The moment was that emotional that we couldn't help but go into each other's arms and kiss again.

`How long can you stay?' She asked me.

`A day or two, if you'll have me.'

`Which way do I take that remark?' She laughed.

`Both if you're willing,' I laughed with her.

`Done.'

`You will be,' and we both laughed again. So I helped her get dinner ready and saw to Francis being fed while she breast fed Leslie. The children were put down to sleep and we had our dinner before going to bed and making love which was more to her satisfaction than mine, after which, we lay back panting and somewhat sweaty from our exertions and we cuddled and held each other tight.

Diane,' I eventually said, breaking the silence. It's taken me a long time, too long in fact, to ask this of you. I was born and raised in the village as was my father. Little Francis wasn't born there, but I would like him to live and grow up there. Leslie too. I know we haven't lived together as man and wife, but I don't really want to deprive little Francis and Leslie of their heritage. Would you consider moving to the village and living in my house?' I put my finger to her lips to stop her speaking before I could finish what I had to say.

`I can't promise to be there all the time, but do my best to be there as often as I can. Whether I come down as Francis or Gervaise, I will do my best. I would also like you to spend some time up in London in my house. I know the major stumbling block is Wesson, but, well it's tearing me apart.

I want the children, I want you and I want Wesson. All for different reasons that you know. I want to be with you, to please you. I want Wesson to be with me, to please me. I want to be with the children, to please them.

That's the torment I've been going through these last few weeks, if not years and not realized it. I have enough love in me for all of you and don't want to give up the love that you both have for me. I promise I will spend more time with you and the children whether I be dressed as Francis or Gervaise if you were to move into the village.

Just say the word and we could have you there before Christmas. I know Flora would love to have you there now being Lady Lyon. You are after all the real Lady of the Manor.'

`What did Wesson say to this?'

`Wesson loves me and has agreed to whatever we decide here.'

`Even to giving up half of you to me?'

`It takes a man in love to be able to stand up to his boss and say that he is in love with another man. Wesson did that. He loves me that much he is willing to settle for half.'

`I saw the way he took to little Francis the day he was here, playing with him as a father should.' She didn't know how much that stung me. Me that wanted to provide Wesson with a child to be a father of. The Gods must have been laughing that this was being denied me to be got with child by Wesson.

`Would he accept the role of being an uncle to your children even though he takes you as a surrogate wife as it were.'

He has said he would,' I lied. He just wants me to be happy. The fact that it's making you unhappy hurts him as much as it does me. He would also like us to be a happy family.'

`Would it work? With you being both Francis and Gervaise?'

`I don't see why not. When I'm Gervaise, I would be spending the nights with you as we are now. As Francis, it would be with him. But that still gives us the rest of the day for me to be whichever you want. It will work. I promise it will work.'

Oh Francis,' she said as she rolled over onto me and kissed me, and I could feel her tears dropping onto my face before she kissed me. Let's try.'

Just the act of her rolling over on me roused me up and so we consummated the agreement of her moving into my home in the village. I didn't have nightmares anymore after this. I stayed one more day and night to talk over all that we had to do in the short space of time before Christmas.

It was a tearful, but happy parting as we kissed goodbye for me to go to the village to give Flora the news that Lady Lyon, husband of Gervaise was moving in.

She was overjoyed when I told her and positively gurgled with excitement, matching my own at having won Diane over to doing this. Then she told me of her news that she was about to become a grandmother. Beatrice was expecting her first child in February, but would still be able to help somewhat in getting the house ready in a week for Diane's arrival. I was pleased for her and Beatrice who definitely showed the signs of pregnancy when I saw her. I gave her a big hug and cried with her at the news. I made her sit down and tell me how she felt and all that.

She was a bubbling cauldron both at the prospect of her own forth coming child and of the two children of Diane's that would soon be there. She confided in me that if her child was a girl, Allen wanted her named Penny. To this I strongly objected.

`You can't have her called Penny Farthing,' I told her. Then I related the joke of the girl called the town bicycle. So named because all the men saddled her for a good ride. She laughed at this and vowed that she wouldn't have the child christened as Penny. Such was her respect for me that she would like to name the child, whichever the sex, to be christened with one of my parents names, Peter or Linda. This made me cry and I kissed and hugged her and said that she could do so with all my blessings and thanked her for the thought.

With Beatrice being in her seventh month of pregnancy, I asked Flora to get another girl to stand in as housemaid and not let Beatrice try to do too much. Flora agreed to this and said she would find another girl of the village to do this. So leaving Flora to see to the house etc, and after seeing that all was ready with the airfield, I went back to London, driven by Allen, after congratulating him on his success of being a father. Though I did berate him about wishing to call a daughter Penny. He saw the point when I told him the joke and accepted that it was to be either Peter or Linda as Beatrice wished.

Wesson was pleased, I think when I told him that he was to be known as Uncle Wesson whenever he went to the village in future. Then I took him to bed and asked him to try and make Diane an aunt. Just being away two days from him showed at how much we missed each other. Our love making was fierce and frantic as we coupled without him getting me pregnant.

I wasn't sure how Penny and Lou took the news, but then, it wasn't really any of their concern, though I did make them see to all that needed to be done in respect of the removal of Diane and children and effects from Dorset to the village.

So on the Tuesday before Christmas, Allen came up to London and took the four of us back to the village. We got there before the arrival of Diane and the children, and for her sake, I went down as Gervaise. Peter, the vicar, had agreed to let Penny and Lou have one of his rooms to stay in the vicarage. I didn't dare say a word to the girls about his cross dressing as it might have caused problems. Wesson was going to have my old room with the two children having the middle one and the first one for Diane and Gervaise.

Wesson had accepted the fact that he would have to sleep alone at night, but I had promised him that he could have me sometime during the days of the holiday season. At least it was some compensation by me not being absent for the whole of Christmas as had been planned.

Allen had gone down with the Rolls to bring Diane and the children back to the village with the van following at its own pace. What a welcome she got indeed. Most of the village turned out to see her entry, remembering her when she performed with Francis in the village hall, and now was the wife of Sir Gervaise! Somehow they dragged out flags from unknown places to wave as the Rolls slowly made its way down the lane.

Diane really looked the lady she was as she stepped out of the car and came into my arms and kissed me. The crowd round the gate clapped and cheered at this and I think it made her very happy, and we stood arm in arm as we waved at them before we went inside.

`What a welcome,' she said as we went into the parlour, her eyes shining with delight.

`Darling, they all remember you and I think they are very pleased that you have come back to them,' I said, giving her a kiss before letting Flora and Beatrice make their curtsey's to her.

They gushed out their welcomes and it pained me, but was in keeping with his character that Wesson kept himself in the background till she saw him and went over and gave him a kiss on the cheek. This made him blush and me very pleased at the gesture. Then she was introduced to Penny and Lou and complimented them on their dresses and how well they had looked after Gervaise, giving them a wink which made them giggle.

Flora then cooed over the children and immediately won the heart of little Francis with some fresh baked cookies, as they are called now. Beatrice took over Leslie and the four of them trooped upstairs to show Francis his new room, leaving the five of us in a sudden state of silent embarrassment.

Oh come on,' Diane said in a somewhat shaky voice, infusing a little laugh into it. We all know what's going on here. It's a farce that's worthy of any London stage. Please let's be and act normal when we are all alone together.'

`What a delightful oxymoron,' I said, unable to stop myself from clapping my hands. It was Lou who bit.

`A what moron?' she asked, and we all laughed.

Ask Penny later,' I said, she'll explain. Now I see Peter coming over, so remember that I am Gervaise here at this time. You girls will be sleeping over in the vicarage, so please don't corrupt him.' He came in and introductions were made and he said that he would be delighted to dine with us during our stay over the Christmas period. Mind you, he got his oar in by saying that he would also expect to see all of us at church for all of the services. He seemed quite chuffed to escort both of them across the lane to show them their room, leaving Diane, Wesson and myself alone.

`This is the awkward bit that I've been dreading to talk about,' I said to break the silence that had descended upon us. Diane had sat down in the easy chair and I beckoned Wesson to sit down beside me on the settee.

`I thank you Diane for coming to live here and I will act and treat you as the lady you now are. You are now the Lady of the Manor and will be treated as such by all and sundry. When I am Gervaise as I am now, we will sleep in the first bedroom and Wesson will sleep in my old room.

But if I am here as Francis, being Wesson's girl friend, I will be sleeping in his room. I know I'm being blunt, but that's the only way I can see how I can carry on this farce as you call it Diane.' I think my face was as red as Wesson's when I made this statement.

`I love you both dearly and it's the love I have for the children that's forcing me to carry it on this far. I don't want to lose either of you so please, for my sake, and that of the children, let's make this work.'

`A ménage a trois,' Diane said, a little bitterly.

No Diane,' I cried. It is and yet it isn't, in the true sense of the word. I'm the piggy in the middle, not you!'

`No, that's me,' Wesson butted in.

`Shut up,' Diane and I said together, and then we started to laugh, and when we finished I had to put it bluntly to both of them.

`Look Diane, we fell in love in the navy, but you knew of my inclinations then, and yet we came to love each other in spite of that. Wesson found out that I was not a woman, but still fell in love with me as I did with him. Things then went on a pace to which we had no control over to put us in this situation. This was the only solution that I could come up with in the circumstances. To put it crudely, I still want to make love to you, but I also want Wesson to make love to me. Do you want me to be more explicit?'

No,' Diane said. So I have you at night, and Wesson has you during the day, sex wise?'

`Precisely.'

`And when you are Francis...?'

`Being crude again, we do it the other way round. Wesson?'

`Aw Francis, you're putting me on the spot again. You know my feelings and I said that I would go the way you wanted. I admire Diane enormously for taking you on, given the circumstances. We both love you, in our own way, and God help me, I will still love you whichever way you want to go.'

`Amen to that,' said Diane softly as she took my hand and kissed it. To my surprise, Wesson took my other hand and kissed it and also took Diane's hand and kissed hers.

We are both fools to love this person,' he said looking at Diane, but I'm a happy fool to have done so.' I could see tears in his eyes, but there were more in Diane's, because they began to spill out as she hoarsely whispered, `I too am a fool, and am glad that I am,' as she slid off the chair and went into Wesson's arms and cried. I then started to cry as they hugged each other as they professed to each other their love for me and would do as I asked.

Now that would be a ménage a trois,' I said through my tears, if you two went to bed together with me.' That was said as a joke, but that is exactly what happened later.

Dinner was great fun that night, Flora and Beatrice fussing around the six of us as we ate and praised her cooking. The children had been fed and put to bed before we started our meal. I'd never seen Peter so happy as he talked and flirted with both the girls and declined our coffee and brandy saying that he would only be too pleased to see to the girls over at the vicarage.

I too was pleased that they and him left early to leave Diane and Wesson and myself alone. We drank our coffee and brandy and I think that both Diane and I had just that little bit too much to drink. We talked of the old days at sea when there was us two and Ralph, and how we would sometimes get to play cards and how we would finish up. We curled up with laughter, leaving Wesson looking a bit bewildered at our merriment.

We could still do the same I said, leaving out the card game, still laughing, and Diane said, giving a sideways look at Wesson, said that it sounded like a good idea. Then we went off into laughter again at the smutty talk we exchanged about the size of the tackle of Wesson. So we plied him with a few extra drinks before we dragged him upstairs to the first bedroom.

Before we actually moved in, I'd had a large double bed delivered to replace the single one that the room had previously contained. It was to this room that we fell into, still laughing as to what we were going to do.

I sat Wesson down on the bed and took my clothes off till I was naked before him and Diane. Diane then took her clothes off as I undressed Wesson. He couldn't keep his eyes off Diane as her clothes came off and didn't seem to object as I took his off at the same time.

It was only when he was completely naked as we were before he realised that something was going down that he hadn't been aware of. I don't think he was even aware that he had an erection at seeing Diane standing naked before him. I was already erect, knowing the figure that Diane had and what was going to follow. He seemed to come out of his state of shock when I took his erection into my mouth and started to suck on him.

`Francis!' he cried, but that's all he was allowed to say as Diane pushed him flat on the bed and stuck a tit in his mouth as she climbed over me and onto his stomach. His natural reaction was to suck on the nipple that had been put into his mouth as I continued to suck on him. Then as she pulled herself free from his mouth, she slid down and I released him for her to slide right down and take my place to suck on him. I moved up and then presented my erection for Wesson to suck as he was being sucked. His eyes were glassy, but he took me in and sucked quite vigorously.

Then I felt Diane move and start to come up the bed so I pulled myself out of his mouth so that we could both lie alongside Wesson. We kissed his cheeks as one hand gently worked on his shaft and another hand cradled and fondled his balls. He must have thought he was in heaven having this kind of attention. Then we changed up a gear.

We manoeuvred him on the bed so that Diane was underneath and I helped put him inside her so that he could fuck her as I massaged his balls. I had a pang of jealousy as he heaved and humped her until they both cried out as they came, panting and sweating over each other. Then when he pulled out of Diane, and lay on his back, I took him into my mouth to suck out the last of his juices as well as getting a taste of Diane at the same time. Diane watched with wide eyes as I did this and I managed to give her a wink as I licked and sucked on him.

Then she took over sucking him as I went down between her legs to suck and lick her out. It didn't take long for her to start begging for me to enter her. So I moved up the bed and did just that, getting my rocks off. Sated, we lay down close to each other, touching, stroking and whispering sweet things to each other.

`And how do you two do it,' Diane asked dreamily after having I don't know how many orgasms between us.

`Much the same,' I said, still using my hand on Wesson feeling it coming up hard again. I fumbled with the bedside drawer, getting it open and finding the condoms that I'd put there earlier. I got a packet and ripped it open and put the rubber sheath on his cock as Diane watched.

`Then we do it like this,' letting go of him and went up onto my knees. Now he wouldn't do this in front of the girls on the beach, but here, it didn't seem to bother him to get up on his knees behind me. Diane, wide eyed, watched, laying alongside us, watched as Wesson pushed himself into me and begin to fuck me.

What surprised me was that as Wesson was pushing himself in and out of me, Diane moved and took me into her mouth and sucked so that when Wesson came inside me, she took what I sent out at the same time. Fucked and sucked was my idea of heaven as I took one and gave another.

So we were a ménage a trois after all.

It was some years later that I found out that Diane and Wesson had already had sex together before that night. It was when we had visited her after Korea, me being severely wounded. I'd been downstairs feeling rather tired when they put little Francis to bed.

Diane then virtually blackmailed Wesson into showing her what it was he had that I kept wanting. Then on seeing it, wanted him to show her how he used it. She quickly stripped off and went onto her knees for him to enter her from behind, doing exactly the same thing to her as I did on the Indus. While using her front passage, used her juices to lubricate the back passage and then to suddenly leave one orifice to plunge into the other.

She stifled a scream at his entry, but took his length and let him fuck her the way that I had. Then after coming, he pulled out and went and washed himself while she got dressed. He'd almost told me in the car on the way home that night, but changed his words and just said that he had to give her love to me when we next made love. That was nearly two and a half years earlier.

Then for appearances sake this night, I had to kick Wesson out of bed to go to my old room, so that if Beatrice was early, he'd better be in his bed alone. Happy, but a bit disgruntled, he left and it was just Diane and I alone in the bed for the rest of the night. It was strange again to awake with a soft body next to mine in the morning, but it didn't stop me from being aroused and taking her again before we got up for our shower.

The girls came over to us to have breakfast and Beatrice introduced us to Shirley who would be taking on the more onerous duties due to Beatrice's pregnancy, and she saw to our breakfast. Little Francis was spoiled rotten by the girls and Diane herself saw to the feeding of Leslie.

Peter, funny as he may be, brought some flowers in while we were eating. He explained to me that every time Francis came, she put flowers on the graves in the churchyard. I thanked him and said that I would do the same. So wrapped up against the cold after breakfast, I was left alone to visit the graves of my past beloved people.

With that done, I returned to the house to watch the others have the fun of decorating the parlour and tree that Peter had got for us. Diane was made to sit on my lap to watch the antics as they managed to glue little Francis up with the decorations.

It was a lovely Christmas, the best I'd ever had. With so many people that I loved, it couldn't have been better. Presents opened and the place littered with wrapping paper to cries of delight as each present was revealed. Even Flora and Beatrice came down after they'd opened theirs at home. The house was as full as I'd never seen it before. After church, it was the dinner and we nearly all had to sleep after such a wonderful meal, before the evening service.

We also had a great time up at the pub on Boxing Day. But time moved on and we had to pack up to leave. It was really heartbreaking with us all saying our goodbyes to everyone. Wesson got a lovely smacking kiss from Diane which pleased everybody, except me. Though I got one just as good, if not better as we left the village.

Allen drove us back to London, and Palmer and the Perkins' were very glad to see us, disappointed that we weren't there for Christmas, but happy that we would be there for the New Year. This we celebrated, all of us in the big lounge downstairs to see in 1954.

Our New Year started off with us moving into our new office, with a window, next to that of the International desk. It was more of a partition than a regular office. I had to laugh at us being given an office with a window. Not one but three big glass windows that separated us from the long room that held the desks of most countries of the world. Down the left hand side were the desks of the U.S.A., Germany, France, Italy and others. On the right hand side was U.S.S.R., China, Japan and other Asian countries.

Down the middle ran those of Africa, South America, the Caribbean and others. They all sifted through the intelligence gleaned from their agents and passed what was worthwhile up to us, which we read and then passed on to the main desk, which in turn, was prioritised to pass onto Frobisher. It was amazing at how much information we gathered on all the countries of the world just to maintain our own security.

It was the 6th of January when hordes of technicians and the like descended onto the airfield to test all and everything to see if it was fit to operate. So I went back down to the village, but this time as Francis. Even the two flight controllers were checked to see if they were up to standard as well. It was not to be a twenty four hour station as it would close down at night, so the number of control room staff was adequate. Knowing that it would pass inspection, I'd already purchased a trainer and the pilot instructor was on hand to give lessons, though the plane wouldn't arrive until it was officially opened.

I stayed for two nights as Aunt Francis, but still spending those nights in bed with Diane. Flora was a dream, Diane told me. She had organised everything so that all Diane had to do was look after the children. Breakfast, lunch and dinner was cooked for her, the house cleaned, and with me there, it was heaven. But I had to take myself back off to London with the promise that I would be back in a matter of days for the official opening of the airport.

It was another week before we got our certificate and the authority to open and have it operational. So Monday the 18th was set for the opening ceremony, and I was surprised at the number of people who came to see it. We'd strung a ribbon across by the car park and that was full of people, mostly the villagers and a lot of the construction crew. They came because they knew that there was a hangar full of food and drink for the party.

I'd made arrangements for our two jets to be there as well as the trainer, and they circled the field and buzzed us as I cut the ribbon and officially opened Lyons Field. Then they came in to land as the spectators applauded and coasted up to the hangar as we all approached it for the party. There were several large tables set up covered in food and drink, which everybody soon tucked into.

The party, supplied by Dave from the pub, was of a minimal cost compared to the whole project. This had cost me nearly four million pounds, the money coming over from my off shore accounts, and I did a special deal with the treasury to get a good exchange rate for the dollars that I brought in. As I was using all the money buying British materials and employing British labour, they couldn't do much else but help me in this. It was another way of laundering my dollars that were stashed over there. Plus the fact I was also able to claim tax relief against my other British enterprises.

Lou had been staggered at how much I was getting from my shares in the company building the refinery in Kuwait. The cost of building the refinery had been put at two hundred million dollars and would take four, not three years to complete.

Because Prince Hassan knew I was a major shareholder in the company, he made sure that every six months we would be paid one eighth of the total sum. I then received a cheque of just over a quarter of a million dollars every six months as my part of the shares. It was also some of this money that funded the building of the airfield. Now our planes could stay here between flights and get their service without having to pay the high fees of the other airports.

Beatrice had her baby on the 1st of February, so I went down to the village at the weekend as Francis. That way I could coo over the baby whereas Gervaise couldn't. The baby was promptly named Linda, much to my delight. Diane and I had a great time in bed while I stayed there, but it was still nice to get back to London and have Wesson's hardness again.

We now had a regular slot at London airport for our trips to Nassau and yet some passengers could board here instead of travelling to London, though we would still go there to collect the others heading for the Bahamas. It was surprising at how many people paid that double fare just to be able to sleep in a bed while crossing the Atlantic. By May, we would have four planes making the crossing and having a spare crew at either end to cut down on the turn round time. When all four came into operation, we found that we were actually starting to make money on the venture, when I had only intended it to be an extension of the island's holiday prospects.

Within four months of opening the flying school, we had to buy another plane and hire another instructor. We also had rented out space for nearly twenty private aircraft and by the end of six months were taking in more money than was going out.

People would come from miles around just to watch the planes land and take off. Then they would go round Harold's garden centre and buy plants and vegetables, so he was quite a happy man too. His wife Mavis ran the shop while he and his two growing children saw to the planting and watering of all the plants he had to keep replacing to meet the sales demand. So while he was making money, so was I being the second half of the project.

We had also, to build a club house for the aero club that formed there. I wouldn't have a bar put there, complying with the regulations, because I'd rather the revenue from drinks went to Dave in the pub where a lot of them finished up after flying.

Clement's had finished all the conversions of the houses in our road in London and were all now occupied, bringing in more revenue to the coffers. So they started on the other Government contracts as well as starting to put up the first of my office blocks in the city.

Wesson and I, dressed as Gervaise, went down to see Diane one weekend, and had a gay old time romping about in bed as a threesome, but Wesson would wear a condom when having intercourse with either me or Diane. It would really have become too complicated if she'd gotten pregnant by him. We also made the Saturday night session last right round till the break of dawn.

A huge truck came over from France loaded with our new wine bearing the new label and that was when I went into the wine importing business as well. Though I lost nearly a quarter of the consignment in bribes to the French embassy and the like, I still saved quite a bit on customs duties on that one load. A warehouse was rented and soon it was taking in wine from all over France for distribution in England. This eventually led us to building our own warehouse for storage and a fleet of trucks to fetch and carry and then deliver to outlets through the Kingdom.

Lou could no longer work from our house as it was getting far too big for her, so offices had to be found for her to run the extra staff needed to keep up with our continued expansion. We were into the year of 1954 when Wesson said we had to call a halt for a while.

You're doing too much,' he said to me one evening as I lay soaking in the bath. You're going to kill yourself with all this work you're taking on. You spend all day with me at the office, and then spend half the night seeing to all the other businesses and trying to deal with all those problems that crop up.' I took a sip of my gin and tonic and had to admit that he was right. It was now September and I was feeling very, very tired.

Even my love life was beginning to suffer. I was neglecting Wesson, being too tired at night other than to give him a kiss before falling asleep. My need for him was just as great, but even he was feeling the strain and it was becoming more of a wham bam, thank you ma-am than a satisfactory love session. I lay there in the hot water, feeling that the tiredness was taking longer than usual to leave my body and thought over all that we'd been doing during the year.

Stephen had done a magnificent job with the airfield and organising the airline, in spite of still flying the seaplane out of Nassau. Must give him a raise, I mentally noted.

Marcel had done a fine job with the new vines and the end product was good, if not better than he had predicted. The wines being produced were making money. He too needed a raise. The chateau was being occupied on an almost regular basis through our letting agency. They too deserved a bonus.

The work force of Clement's had more than trebled and that was making money, but their pay was bonus related anyway, so they were quite happy.

Harold Stacey and family were doing very well from the market garden as were those people from the village that were working there and on the airfield.

Lyon Island Hotel was making money, now being fully booked the whole year round. Money was also coming in from my shares of the refinery construction as well as from KuOil. The only place I was not getting any money from was the British Government, read that as Frobisher. So fuck him, we we're going to have a holiday.

`How about the island, Wesson?' I said, giving him a tired smile.

`Three weeks at least,' he said.

`Agreed. Now get in this bath with me and tell me all over again of how much you love me.' He grinned and quickly stripped off his clothes and got into the water with me. He then told me how much he did love me and demonstrated it by taking me there in the bath. It was nice to sit on his lap with his erection tight up inside me as we held each other and rocked back and forth in a slow fuck, kissing and stroking each other till he came while jerking me off at the same time. With his cock throbbing and pulsating inside me I leaned my head on his shoulder and whispered that I loved him more than life itself and I think he heard me, for his arms tightened about me, squeezing me ever closer to him.

`I'd better tell the girls to start packing,' I said as I continued to sit on him.

`Do they have to come too?' he asked.

`They need the holiday as much as we do, but they're not getting any of this,' I said as I squeezed my sphincter muscle about his cock.

`You're enough for any man,' he smiled, making it pulse within me. I gave him a long loving kiss to show my appreciation of him.

I told Frobisher that we were going to take a holiday and then the girls, which gave cause for squeals of delight from them. Lou got on the phone to the Lyons Field and spoke to the controller.

`This is Louise Hepworth, yes, hi. Lady Francis wants an aircraft ready for the 16th for Nassau. Can you clear this and let Nassau know that the pride will be travelling to the island. Ring me back to confirm time of departure. No. We'll board in London. Thank you very much.'

It was strange to hear her use Stephen's jargon about us, calling us the pride, but then, I thought, I do really think she is proud to be able to say that.

It was later confirmed and the plane would be at London airport on the 16th for an 8 a.m. take off slot. That would land us there about 11o'clock in the morning, Bahamas time, which would be just right for lunch on the island. I left all the details to her and Penny, telling the others where we would be and that only to call if it was a dire emergency. As is the case, with so many little things to be cleared up before we left, we didn't finish till about two in the morning, so we only had a couple of hours sleep before getting up again for the waiting car to take us to the airport.

Naomi greeted us in the executive lounge and she saw that our baggage was put aboard before escorting us out to our plane. There, over the tannoy, we were welcomed aboard by Adrian Lockheart, our pilot who went through his spiel before takeoff.

This was as smooth as the first time and we were soon up above the clouds and had breakfast. Then, because of only a few hours sleep, we went to our bedrooms to sleep away half of the flight. Well, nearly half of the flight. This being the first day of our holiday, I played with Wesson and soon had him rampant enough to give me a good fuck, which I thoroughly enjoyed.

Then it was sleep for the next four hours but declined lunch as we would rather wait and eat at the hotel, I told Naomi. The girls, too, looked more refreshed than I'd seen them over the past few weeks. Or was it because they had done what Wesson and I had before going to sleep. The last section of the flight was taken up by dictating to Penny about things that we would have to bring up with Sam in Nassau, and only just finished when we began our descent.

Sam was waiting on the tarmac with passport control who just waved us through, and Stephen, huge smiles in his sun tanned face, to welcome us. Sam took care of the luggage to see that it went aboard one of the boats as we climbed into the small seaplane. It was nice to be in the heat there and hear him speak over the radio to the island.

`Lion cub calling the lair. Lion cub calling the lair.'

`This is the lair. Go ahead lion cub,' came crackling back.

`Inbound with the pride aboard. ETA in ten minutes.'

`Roger lion cub. All prepared. Over and out.'

My hand closed over the feather that had somehow worked its way out of my pillow on the plane, as my small gift for the shrine when we landed. This was done after being welcomed by Victor and Violet, and having Wendy fuss around with our small bags that we had carried with us. I gave my offering to the shrine and thanked the Gods that we were once again safe on our island. It's strange how another country's culture and beliefs can rub off on you so that you somehow come to believe in them too. Then we went up to our rooms and after a good shower and a change of clothes, we went down to lunch and found it was still as good as the first time. I complimented Victor and told him to pass them on to the chef.

The girls wanted us to join them at the beach, but I declined, not knowing how many of the hotels guests would be down there. I was content enough, having had loungers brought up, to stretch out on our balcony alongside Wesson and let the sun work its magic up there. It was private enough for me to be able lay there naked and not be seen, getting Wesson to do the same. It was just perfect to lie there, occasionally reaching out to touch his hand to tell myself that it was real and I wasn't dreaming.

It was late afternoon when I roused myself and saw that he'd put his sun hat over his penis so that it wouldn't get sun burnt. His body was already going red and then I saw that mine was too. I slid off my sun bed and gently lifted the hat off him and took his flaccid cock in my mouth, getting it all in for a few minutes until he started to become aroused. Then as it got larger, it started to push itself out until all I had was the throbbing head left for my tongue to tease.

You hussy,' he murmured, still lying there with his eyes closed. Do you know what I should do now?'

`No,' I mumbled round my mouthful of flesh.

`I should really take you inside and put what you've got in your mouth somewhere else.'

`Is that a threat or a promise,' I said, still with my mouth full.

Both,' he said, pushing my head away but taking a handful of my hair. Now come with me,' he said, getting off of his lounger and dragging me through the open French windows into the cool interior of the room. I staggered along, half bent so that he wouldn't pull the hair out by the roots. He flung me on the bed and pulled me up onto my knees so that I was perched on the edge of the bed.

`This is what you get when you tease a man,' and the head of his erection pushed at the entrance to my rear and he pushed forward. I relaxed myself and let him come right inside me, filling me with that gorgeous pulsating organ.

I love it when you're rough,' I gasped as he buried himself deep inside, and then wiggled my bum so that he too gasped. Now, you lovely hunk of a man, give me a good fucking,' I said as I braced myself for his onslaught which began immediately. Oh it was so terrific to have him reaming me, his thighs smacking against mine as he plunged in and out of me till he finally came with a series of groans and jerks of his hips. I came too, sending my seed out in short spurts to his thrusting.

Then he pulled me off the bed, keeping one hand on my lower back so that I couldn't stand upright and with him still inside me, started to walk me towards the bathroom making me waddle like a duck. That was another new sensation for me to feel him move inside me as we made our way across the room. We actually were able to get into the shower and have the water turned on before he pulled out of me to wash himself.

That was great,' I said when I could straighten up, turning round to kiss him. We'll have to do it like that again,' hugging him as the water cascaded over us. `Was it as good for you as it was for me?' I asked, spitting out the water that kept streaming down my face because I had to keep looking up at him.

`Every time with you is good for me,' he laughed as he poured shampoo over my head. That shut me up as the lather foamed up and covered my face and shoulders. When I cleared my eyes of the soap, I spent the next few minutes carefully washing him, gently massaging his balls at the same time. Then I let him wash me until we were both sparkling clean and ready for the towels.

I think Wesson got a kick out of watching me dress. He would quite often sit on the edge of the bed as I first put on the suspender belt and then pulled on my stockings. I still got a kick out of doing it and even more when he was watching me as I smooth the nylons up my legs before fixing the tops to the belt.

Next would be the padded bra and that would be it before the make-up and dress. But as I was going to wear a figure hugging slim dress, I put on my thong to smooth down my front.

We knew the girls were back because we could hear them make an awful lot of noise, laughing and giggling in their room. I was doing my make-up when there was a knock at the interconnecting door. Wesson shouted for them to enter and it was Penny, her face quite red from the sun.

`Would you like me to do your hair?' she asked.

`Yes please,' said Wesson, putting on a falsetto voice.

I was talking to the beautiful one,' she said to him, not to the beast.' Wesson laughed and smacked her bum as he went past to start getting his clothes out of the wardrobe. I smiled into the mirror at Penny who grinned back and picked up the hair dryer and started to see to my tangled strands.

`How was the beach?' I asked. She made a face at me.

`Nearly all old men that I think were over sexed. You could see each cock start to rise up as we went past them. I don't think their wives were very pleased, or girl friends if it comes to that. Lou upset one of these girls when she started to chat me up. Lou told her to fuck off as I was her piece of meat.' I had to laugh at her choice of words, but maybe that's how lesbians talked of their partners, I didn't know to be able to comment on that.

With my hair done, I finished doing my make-up and she helped me into the slinky dress I had chosen to wear that night. Then with just a little jewellery and wearing my high heels, she said I looked like a million dollars and that made me glow inside.

Wesson looked great in his new dinner suit and I slipped my arm through his and told him how handsome he looked which pleased him as well. Penny went back through to her room and collected Lou and the four of us went down to the bar for cocktails before dinner.

It was the same pianist sitting there as we entered the lounge area and he beckoned me over and stood and invited me to sit down. So I did and played my favourite piece there, "Clare de Lune", and got a lovely round of applause when I'd finished the piece. I gave up the seat and went and sat with the others and drank my gin cocktail and we watched the sun go down and I'd never felt ever so happy.

We had lobster for dinner, our very own home grown ones if you could call them that. The few that we had brought over to the island and placed under the jetty, were multiplying quite fast and would soon have to be culled because, nice as lobster is, you can have too much of a good thing, except, well you know what! We didn't stay downstairs after dinner. Our first day there and we were all tired, so it was an early night.

It was a glorious three weeks, eating drinking, sleeping, sun bathing and leisurely sex ironed out the kinks in my body. The haggard look disappeared and my face and body turned a delicious golden brown. Wesson lost that pasty pallor and browned nicely, looking nearly as good as me.

Our tiredness melted away enough for me to sing a few songs each evening for the other guests entertainment as well as my own. There had been a few calls, but Penny and Lou fielded them, not disturbing me, letting me get as much rest as I could. They also dealt with Sam, getting the answers to my questions that I had formulated before we'd even arrived.

But then it was soon October and time for us to leave. Ten other guests were leaving, four of them American, so they left straight after breakfast to catch the twelve o'clock flight to New York. The other six would be flying with us to London, but wanted to spend some time in Nassau, so they too left not long after the others. Sam came out on the boat as I'd invited him to lunch so that we could talk about things on the way back. We said our goodbyes to the staff and clumsily made ourselves comfortable in the boat for the run to Nassau. Penny and Lou made notes as Sam and I talked and pretty well covered everything by the time we reached the harbour.

Stephen was there to meet us, disappointed that we hadn't used the plane. He'd wanted us to visit his home and meet Claire and Stephanie again, but time was now against us, so I promised that next time out, we would stop and see them. We stopped for a drink in the lounge so that Stephen and I could talk about the airline and agreed to little things he wanted to do.

A car then took us to the airport and we soon boarded our plane. It was a new crew, well new to me, and they'd already been told that it was the boss flying with them. Sandra was the name of the stewardess and she settled us in along with those others from the hotel who were already seated. I heard that our planes were the best way to travel, the seats being more comfortable and lots more leg room than the other British airlines. The other plus was the service, it being almost personal with there not being that many people aboard.

As soon as the aircraft was up and on its scheduled route, the Captain came into the cabin and introduced himself to me, Darren Winterbottom. We spoke of a few things before he wished us a pleasant flight before making his way back to the flight deck. It was nice to see him stop and have a few words with the other passengers as well.

After some drinks and canapés, I told Sandra that we would stay in our bedrooms till London and only to wake us an hour before landing. I got Penny and Lou to come too so that for the next hour or so, we went over the notes they'd made with Sam and Stephen, giving answers to some of the little problems posed. Then I ushered them out so that I was finally alone with Wesson.

About time you got rid of them,' he yawned. I'm ready for that bed.'

`To sleep?' I asked with a coy smile.

`Well that too,' he laughed. So it was quickly off with the clothes and we snuggled down to listen to the drone of the engines.

Are you that sleepy?' I asked. It's only nine o'clock.'

`That's local time. In London it's two in the morning, besides, I have a little problem that needs taking care of.' I put my hand round his firm thigh and found the little problem he spoke of. It was bigger than he'd said, but I liked handling big problems like that as I slid down and took him into my mouth. He let me do this for a few minutes before telling me to move over.

I thought he wanted to fuck, but I was wrong. He swivelled us round so that he could do the same to me. So we kissed and sucked each other till we both came at the same time, rolling the sperm around in the mouth before swallowing it. Next licking up the residue and washing the whole thing with our tongues. Then it was time to cuddle up and go to sleep.

We were woken up by the intercom buzzer. `One hour to landing Lady Francis,' Sandra said.

`Thank you. Put the coffee on please, we'll be out in fifteen minutes.' So a quick shower and then the make-up before dressing. The other two were already in the main cabin when we arrived and the lights were on. Coffee was given to us straight away and was told that we had already started our descent for London airport. It was just getting light as the plane settled down smoothly, it was still a couple of days before the clocks went back, and then it would be dark at that time in the morning. A car was waiting for us, and we were soon getting out back at home.

Palmer had breakfast ready in the large downstairs dining room for the four of us, which we tucked into with relish. Being able to sleep in a bed on the flight does wonders for jet lag, as you don't feel it. So with breakfast over, Wesson and I went to work while the girls had more than enough to do on their own jobs.

We'd only been at our desks for an hour before Wesson made a comment from what he was reading. `It seems your friend Nasser is stirring things up a bit in Egypt, here,' and he passed it across to me. I read it and then went down to the Egyptian desk.

`Has there been much of this coming through?' I asked of the man running the desk.

Odd bits. Nothing concrete, but there's definitely something going on. I can see you've had a nice holiday,' he said, then spoilt it by smirking. Is the colour the same all over?'

Every nook and cranny, sweetheart,' I said, giving his face a pat. If you'd been a good boy, I might have let you see.' The guy at the next desk laughed as the man's face before me went red.

`I'm going to see Frobisher,' I told Wesson when I got back to my desk.

`Why not do some more checking first and then write him a report.'

`It's quicker this way. If he wants a report afterwards, well I'll do one.' I went to his office and knocked and waited till he called out for me to enter.

`Hello Francis. A good holiday I trust? I must say you do look much better for the rest.'

`Yes, it was very good. I haven't had time yet to check things out completely, but I think there's going to be trouble in Egypt.'

`That's good Francis, very good indeed! Back two hours and you've picked up the trouble spot already. You really should take over that desk. It took them two weeks to spot what you noticed in two hours. But you're a week too late. The order has already gone out and our troops are pulling out of Egypt. After all these years,' he seemed to muse the last part as he sadly shook his head.

`You mean after all that business with Denbigh to get more troops out there, we're now pulling out? It's insane! This looks as if Nasser's going to take over the Presidency and that will eventually mean the loss of the Canal.'

`I'm afraid you're right Francis. But we only advise and try to educate those in power. The final decision rests with them it galls me to say. We just serve those who sit and wait, and wait, until it's too bloody late to do anything. But you don't wait for anything, do you? You see something and go for it. You've done well over the past year or so according to what I read and hear. Why don't you come out from under that frock and declare yourself? If you won't take a higher position here, why not stand for Parliament? I'm sure I could swing a safe seat for you.'

`You crafty old bugger! You would like that, wouldn't you? Another Denbigh to be blackmailed into putting forward what you want done in the House.' At least he had the decency to grin

`Not that exactly. I wouldn't stoop to blackmail you.'

`Bollocks! You tolerate me as I am because you know I do any damn job you give me and succeed in doing it. You're a devious man and could come at me from any direction. I just don't like being fucked when I don't know whose behind me. So you can forget that idea of me going into politics. Christ, they tell more lies than I do and not even try to look as though they are being sincere.'

`What does Wesson think about all this?'

`Don't start by bringing him into this. He's his own man and will do whatever he wants to do.'

`Or what you want him to do.' I knew what would be coming next, and I didn't want it to go any further than it had done already.

I think we've said enough,' I said getting up from my chair. I came in here in all good faith, doing my job, and finish up getting all twisted inside over matters that don't concern you.' I held up my hand to stop him from speaking.

`I know that you are going to say that all that happens here is your concern. That I agree with you on that score, but you have to draw the line somewhere, and I say it is here when it comes to my private life.' With that, I walked out of his office, slamming the door behind me to emphasis my attitude.

`What did he say?' as I slammed myself down at my desk.

`You don't want to know,' I said bitterly. I tried reading what was in front of me, but I read and didn't take in a single word. After trying to make sense of the paper. I threw it to one side in disgust at myself.

`Do you love me Wesson?'

`What's brought this on?' he said, putting down what he had been reading.

`Just answer the question? Do you love me? Is it what you want? Do I walk all over you? Do I make you do anything you don't want to do?' I screwed up the paper in front of me and threw it to one side. I could feel the tears starting to well up in my eyes. I turned my head so that he couldn't see them.

`Well I don't know what's brought this on, but yes, I do love you. You went up to see Frobisher and now you come back with all these questions. What did he say?'

`What he said was between him and me! Just answer my questions. Do you love me?'

I've already said that I do,' he said, coming over and squatting down next to me and taking my hand. And I'll say it again. I love you Francis. I've loved you from the first time I laid eyes on you. You know, when Frobisher told me to take you downstairs and kick the shit out of you.' I leaned my head onto his shoulder.

`I don't take you for granted, do I? I don't make you do anything you don't want to, do I?' The tears had started to slowly roll down my cheeks.

Darling I like you the way you are. Every day is exciting. I must admit that you sometimes take me by surprise, but that's the charm, the reason I love you. You're so unpredictable, except when you're trying to beat me on the mats.' I had to laugh a little at that. Then I know exactly what you're going to do.'

That was enough to bring my blood to boiling point. Is that what you think?' I shouted, standing up. Let's go down to the gym now. Right this minute! We'll see if you can read my mind!' I stormed out of the office and I could hear him start to follow me. I had to find a pair of shorts to wear because I didn't have a jock strap or knickers with me. So in just an oversize pair of shorts and a bra, I faced a half naked Wesson on the mats.

It was a ferocious battle. I was venting all my anger against Frobisher by really battling Wesson. I had the better of it for the first half, my attacks being so fast, I had him on the defensive, but as our battle wore on, he began to get the better of me. I think it was frustration and anger that gave him the edge over me from that point on. I slowly gave ground and was finally taken down and held, not just by his strength, but my own exhaustion.

Covered in sweat and lying under his heavy weight, I conceded victory to him. The smell of him then began to drive me wild and I began to squirm beneath him. The movements were so sexual that he was soon aroused, and I could feel it through the wisps of clothing that we wore.

`You do love me Wesson, don't you,' I gasped, looking up into his face just a few inches above mine.

`Love you, you little fool? I worship the ground you walk on,' he panted, and then gave me a savage kiss there on the mats.

`Then take me into the showers and fuck me,' I breathed out after that long and heavy kiss. He was quickly up off me, pulling me to my feet and almost dragging me to the showers.

His cock was harder than I'd ever felt it before. He was a magnificent specimen of a man that I'd never seen in any sculpture of the classical heroes. If only I could have caught that stance and posture on film, or had been able to capture it in a painting, it would have had a revolutionary effect on the whole of the art world.

I even went weak at the knees as he held out his hand to take me under the spray and there I turned and bent over, submitting myself to him. He had conquered me and was now entitled to the spoils of his victory. God, how I revelled in his forceful entry into me and how he worked and proved his mastery over me as he took me that day in the showers. After I'd washed him carefully, I went down onto my knees in the most submissive of positions and took him into my mouth and sucked him while telling him between sucks, how much I loved and worshipped him. I think I embarrassed him, because he roughly pulled me up, kissing me passionately to stop me saying so much.

Up yours, was my thought for Frobisher as I dried Wesson, he loves me for what I am, not how you see me. We didn't go back to the office, but went straight home and there, made love again in the softness of our bed. We went back to work the next day, but I couldn't get into it and was easily distracted. I even took to going down to the shooting gallery and writing Frobisher's name on the head silhouette before blasting away at it with a pistol. I got to the stage where I could put a bullet in the head of the target nine shots out of ten at fifty yards.

Then out at the firing range, shooting at moving targets I was imagining that it was Frobisher. I was beginning to pick off the target at walking and running speed at nearly half a mile with my .303. Wesson was amazed at how good I was getting, but I couldn't tell him the secret of my success.

My birthday came and went as did Christmas. I spent a few days with Diane and the two children, but was glad to get back to Wesson for the New Year's celebrations.

It was only our first day back at the office of 1955 when I told Wesson that I couldn't stand that office any longer.

`This place is starting to drive me crazy. We don't seem to do anything anymore. We just sit on our backsides reading crap from other people that doesn't amount to a can of beans. Even if we do see something, nobody does a damn thing about it. I need to be doing something worthwhile,' I moaned to him.

`You've got all those businesses to look after and run,' he pointed out.

`No I haven't! They've become so good, they run them bloody selves. I just sit here and watch the money roll in.'

`Well that's not a bad occupation,' Wesson commented upon dryly.

`Not to me it isn't. The fun is finding something and then getting it off the ground and see it grow. Once it's fully grown, that's it! Fun's over. The island hotel is a case in point. Look at the fun we had getting that started. Now it's just a place to go to for a holiday.'

`Well, wasn't that the intention?'

`Yes it was. But the fun was to start it. To fight the opposition to it.'

`There wasn't much of that considering the money you had to float about at the time.'

`That's beside the point. What about the airfield? I didn't tell you about the visit I had from some foreign gentlemen. From Italy, offering to protect me. They soon backed off when they saw my Leopardi brooch. Now that was an exciting encounter, and in spite of them and all the other little problems, my planes can now land and fly from there.'

`Yeh. You've got the planes, but you can't fly them.'

That's it Wesson! I'll learn to fly the damn things,' I said excitedly. It was only the fact that our office was like a goldfish bowl that restrained me from jumping up and kissing him. We've got a training pilot and the planes there to learn on. That's what I'm going to do.' I was so excited about the prospect that I could no longer sit at that desk, I had to start the ball rolling at once. I jumped up and told Wesson that I was going home at once, he could cover for both of us, and I stroked his neck before leaving him with a surprised expression on his face.

The girls were just as surprised at me arriving home alone and so early, but were doubtful as to the wisdom of me learning how to fly. Nonetheless, they set to work, phoning the airfield to set up a training programme for me and also to find out all the information I would need to become a qualified pilot. It's surprising how much can be done in such a short time when a title and other names are dropped. A whole wadge of papers and books were delivered by courier within a couple of hours.

Palmer fixed me a light lunch, and when the stuff arrived from the Air Ministry, the girls and myself started to read through all the rules and regulations. We were still reading these when Wesson came home, and after a peck on the lips, he sat down and leafed through some of the papers strewn across the table.

`So, you're still going through with it?' Wesson asked.

`Of course,' I said brightly, waving my hand at all the papers and books strewn across the table.

`As Francis or Sir Gervaise?' That brought me up short as I hadn't thought of that aspect of who to be. I was thinking as Francis and didn't even consider that of my fake brother.

`I...I hadn't thought of that. So what? I'll do it as Francis. Take the course and pass and get my licence, and then Gervaise can take his exam and get his licence. Simple! I do all the learning and he gets a free ride.'

Not according to this he won't,' said Wesson waving a booklet at me. It appears that each pilot has to fill in his, or her log book of flying hours, and get them signed. Who are you going to get to falsify one of those books? Answer me that?' This I could do off the cuff, but I muttered something about having to think about that. So after dinner, in bed, I mulled this problem over and somehow didn't even think about sex before falling asleep.

I'm not going to mention the joke of where the puzzled mathematician fell asleep while masturbating and woke up in the morning with the solution on his chest. His solution was still in my balls, while mine was in my head. There was no other way round it but to do the practical side of it twice, but I could show that Gervaise was very bright and had picked up a lot of the theoretical side from Francis.

So it eventually boiled down to me going to the village as Francis for one week, and as Gervaise the next. Allen would come up to London on the Monday morning and I would stay with Diane for the week. Then Friday, he would drive me back to London. This pleased Diane, but upset Wesson. This would sort out the practical side of it and get both log books filled in with the correct flying time, when it came round to it.

The amazing thing was it worked! As there were quite a few people who were prepared to pay the fees for lessons, we had two trainers at the airfield, and I managed to work it that Francis had one and Gervaise the other. I had to be careful and show some restraint of not knowing too much when I went as Gervaise, following Francis, but I got by with it.

I found it exciting and exhilarating as I progressed with my learning. Doing the pre flight checks and then being able to take it up myself and do a few circuits of the field and then landing, with the instructor of course. Then finally came the day for my first solo flight. I didn't pee my pants, but I was not far off doing that. It was wonderful to soar around the sky on your own and have that heart up in the throat sensation of my first solo landing without crashing the aircraft.

It wasn't all flying though. There was an awful lot of other things to learn. Rules and regulations, navigation, radio procedures, mechanics and lots more such as calculating fuel amounts in respect of the weight being carried etc. Most of this I did at home. Creating problems on paper and then working them out. For the mechanical side, I spent a lot of my time at the airfield when a plane was being serviced or overhauled.

It had been remarked that as we were both learning to fly, why didn't we come down together. The stock answer was that somebody had to stay in the office in London. Also it amazed people that we both looked exactly the same in our facial features. It appears that not many people have seen identical twins before.

It was a great day, well two actually, when we passed our tests and were granted our licences. This was around May when we got these. Then we finished up with just the one instructor to take us through the paces for night flying. As I owned the field, the control room didn't mind the extra hours, as they were getting well paid for it anyway.

So come September, we both were qualified for night flying as well. But this was only for the small single engine monoplanes, so now I got delivered, a twin prop to learn on.

This was a far better plane to fly. Heavier, but more controllable and much more to learn, such as flying with only one engine etc. You could keep this one up in the air, but with the single engine, if that packed up you had to glide and find a place to land damn quick. So 1955 was really an exciting year for me in mastering these two types of aircraft. 1956 saw me start to learn on my own jets.

Frobisher had moaned a few times about the amount of time I was away from the desk, but I just ignored him, and carried on with my flying lessons. Wesson kept me up scratch on what was going on around the world and none of it really affected us.

Our sex life was slightly intensified over the weekends with me being away during the middle of the week. I missed not having him in bed with me while I was down at the village, but we made up for it over the weekend period. I quite often would catch one of my planes at London airport and sit up in the cockpit to fly to Lyons Field, and back again. So I learned an awful lot from them before I even started getting the lessons on flying a jet.

In July, I qualified as a jet pilot, but I was restricted to my airfield only. I had to go to another school for the intensive training, such as learning about overseas airports and all their landing patterns. A lot of this was done in special training cockpits that simulated different airports and more importantly, what to do when things went wrong with the plane you were flying. I must admit, I crashed a few times in this machine, but you learnt by these mistakes.

One bonus about all this was that it cut down on my drinking habits. At my village home, I would only have one glass of wine with my dinner, but if I knew I was not flying the next day, I would occasionally go to the pub with Diane and have a gin and tonic. I also occasionally had dinner with Harold and his family in the old farmhouse, but only when I was Francis, Gervaise kept himself somewhat aloof.

The market garden was a huge success and Harold had had to get a truck where before it was just a small van to take the produce to the Trowbridge Wednesday market. The car park was always full on Saturdays and Sundays he told me, forcing a lot of people to use the airfield's parking space. So we got the whole lot enlarged to cater for the increase of customer volume.

Flora was also delighted that one of us was always there during the week and really fussed around like an old hen. As Gervaise, I would sometimes have the vicar over for dinner and then play a game of chess afterwards. I did toy with the idea of having a dalliance with him as I'm sure he would have done, but I thought it might complicate things even more than they were now. He might have been shocked at first, but I still think he was like me. As Francis, I wouldn't be alone with him at any time.

It was during this month that the Suez Canal was nationalised and I then asked Harold if he had any shipping shares left by his uncle. He said that he had, so I advised him to get rid of them and put the money into oil shares. I could see that there was going to be trouble with the Canal, and I was right. With the barring of Israeli ships from using the Canal, I knew that this could only lead to a confrontation. In the middle of October, Frobisher called Wesson and myself to his office.

`Well from intelligence that we gathered, it looks like the Israelis are going to cause trouble with the Suez Canal. Some of our troops are being put on alert along with the French. If we do go in, I want you both to go as well to gather what local intelligence you can and liaise with both armies. So as of now, no gallivanting about Francis, I want you both to be ready for instant departure if this happens.' I was excited at this prospect of some action, but Wesson wasn't too happy about the idea.

`I'm getting too old for this kind of thing now,' he said.

Nonsense,' I replied. You're only too old when you can't get a hard on.'

I don't think I'll ever be too old for that,' he laughed. I only have to look at you to get hard and want to take you there and then.' I gave him a hug and we went to bed to prove it.

It was Monday afternoon on the 29th when Frobisher sent for us again.

The Israelis have invaded the Gaza strip,' he said without any preamble. British and French troops are ready to move in to protect the Canal. So get your gear together and report in. If you have anything special for me,' he addressed Wesson, `use the blue code, otherwise the green code for general intelligence. Okay, good luck and try to stay out of any fighting.'

So we went straight home and changed into our uniforms while a car was ordered to take us to where we had to report. Our bags were already packed with changes of linen and our combat jump kit to change into once we knew we were actually going. We knew that we would be parachuting in during the hours of darkness, and would be issued with weapons at the time of departure.

We slept in officers' quarters that night and the following day sat in the briefing session the next day because we would be going that night. After an early dinner, we changed into our gear and repacked what we were taking with us and joined the mass of men to collect our chutes and guns. I counted ten aircraft out on the apron and that meant about four hundred of us going in on this wave. I didn't know if, or how many would be taking off from other stations around the country.

So we boarded our plane that held about forty men in rows down either side of the fuselage, and knew that we would be refuelling in France and Cyprus before being dropped somewhere along the Canal. You don't really get a chance to sleep when you have to sit up in a noisy aircraft, but did get an hour at least when we landed at some aerodrome in France for refuelling.

Dawn was breaking when we took off for the next leg to Cyprus and landed there during the afternoon. That was when we were all able to get some sleep as we wouldn't be leaving till after nightfall.

Then we reboarded for the final leg and it was only a couple of hours before we were told we were approaching our drop zone. So everybody stood and each man checked the man in front to see that he was properly strapped to his chute as the order was given to hook up. Even over the noise of the engines, you could hear the snapping of the hooks to the cable that would pull the chute from your pack. There was a slight banking of the plane before it settled and the doors at the rear of the plane were opened and the sound of the wind could be heard.

I was near the end of my queue and the butterflies started up in my stomach as I watched the red light go out and the green come on. My hand was on the shoulder of the man in front and Wesson's was on mine as we began our shuffle towards the open door.

The man in front suddenly disappeared and I too then fell out into the black empty space. I twisted my head just in time to see my chute being pulled out of my pack and see the faint red sparks from the plane's engines before my chute exploded into a white canopy above me and then the only noise was of the passing wind.

I think I too passed wind at the sudden jolt of my harness around my stomach and groin. I could just see a few pale canopies drifting down below me though not that of Wesson who still higher up than I was. I released my pack to drop below me, attached to my left leg to warn me when we hit the ground.

Well I hoped it would be the ground and not the actual Canal itself as I'd rather stay dry for the night than soaking wet. There was plenty of starlight, but no lights showed below us to show how far up we had jumped.

The first inkling of the upcoming ground was see the first chute of the only three I could see, suddenly veer off at an angle and start to fold as the second started to do the same. This was it coming and then the weight came off my leg and I quickly bent my knees to take the sudden shock of hitting the ground. It wasn't that hard but enough to make you gasp as you hit and went into the roll.

I was quickly up and pulling on the cords to gather in the chute before unbuckling myself and then retrieving my pack and was just putting this on when I heard Wesson's voice calling to me. I went over in the direction his voice came from and found that he too had landed safely and was just putting his own pack on.

All this bloody sand and I hit a fucking rock,' he groaned as he straightened up. Right in the fucking kidneys as I rolled. I'm going to have a lovely bruise there.'

`Well at least we're dry,' I said.

`I don't know which would have been better. Where are the others?'

`Over to our right,' I said, and we moved off to join up with the others to march towards the road that ran parallel to the Canal. I think it can be said that we had made a perfect drop, because we were at the road within fifteen minutes and there we dug in for the night, or what was left of it.

To be continued.