Francis

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

Part Five

It was a lovely summer's day for driving through the country and we made good time as Diane and I chatted the whole way. We soon came upon the outskirts of London and picked up the North Circular Road that took us right round to the turn off for Tilbury. It wasn't very long before we were in the docks and on the quayside, pulling up by the gangway of the Indus. There was the usual hustle and bustle of people moving up and down gangways and through the open ports along the side. Loaded men going aboard and empty handed ones coming down to take something else back aboard.

I told David that I would see to the paying of the drivers if he could see to getting our trunks on board. I got Eddie to take Diane's and my bags up to our cabin, which was to be the same one. With our bags inside, I turned to Diane. `I'll see to the fare if you would go and see if all is right with the dressing room.'

`Okay,' she said and left the cabin and I closed the door and quietly locked it. I turned and saw that Eddie had sat down on the lower bunk. I got my purse from my bag and counted out forty pounds before putting the purse back.

`Here is the fare, half each as agreed.'

`Thanks,' he said, taking the money and putting it into his shirt pocket.

`Now would you like a bonus again?' I said, with a smile on my face and a licking of the lips. The smile he gave showed that he did. I knelt down and pushed him backward on the bunk. I could see quite clearly that he was ready as I reached out and undid his flies and pulled out his erection. It was hot and hard. I looked up at him and saw his smile, so I smiled back at him.

`I hope you've not been using it too much and saved some for me,' I said.

`You bet! I've had this hard on ever since your telephone call.'

He gave out a groan as soon as my mouth closed over the fiery head of his rampant cock. I teased it first with my tongue before starting to work on him with my hand as well. He had been saving it up for it wasn't long before he began to shudder and shake as I sucked on him. He began bucking as he peaked and it swelled in my mouth as he started to come, shooting out in hard bursts, filling me as I sucked and swallowed. I kept on sucking till with a big sigh, his body relaxed under me and I was able to finish him off before letting go.

`You could sire many bullocks with this,' I said as I folded him back into his pants and did up his flies. I then stood up to let him get off the bunk.

`I wish I could get that bonus off all my passengers,' he said as he readjusted his clothing. I unlocked the door for him and asked if he would be available when we returned.

Sure thing Miss Francis,' he replied, giving me a grin, and thanks for the er, bonus.' With a last broad smile, he turned and I watched him walk cockily down the alleyway and out of sight. I licked my lips smiling, for I liked Eddie and his cock. Then a voice in my head said that yes, it was nice in the mouth, what would it be like having it the other way? Yes dammit I sighed, leaning against the door, but it's too soon after Donald. So, pushing those erotic possible thoughts from my mind, it's back to the routine, but before I started to unpack, I sat down and re-touched up my make-up. I had just finished this when Diane came back into the cabin.

Well they haven't nicked the light bulbs and the chairs are still there. Trunks are in but I thought we'd unpack them later. First things first,' she said, heaving her bag onto the bunk and taking out a bottle of gin. Glasses?' she asked.

`Coming up,' I said, going to the little cabinet and getting them out, also some tonic water which I was surprised to see still there. With a generous pouring, we clinked glasses.

`To a good and happy voyage, and may it be blessed with some nice hunks of men available on it.'

`Amen,' I said, sipping at my drink. It felt good to be back aboard and it seemed ages since I had left Donald waving at the gate of the vicarage.

That was good! I needed that,' she said, having downed her drink in one go. Another?' I hastily tilted my glass and finished mine, trying not to choke as I held out the glass for a refill. The gin washing away the aftertaste of Eddie.

We then wandered down and signed on the ship for the forth coming voyage which would begin in two days time. Then went and scrounged some food from the galley before going up to our dressing room to unpack our trunks.

With this finished, it was time for dinner. After a passable meal which Diane said wasn't a patch on what Flora had given us, and I had to agree on that. We went back to our cabin and Diane looked at the gin bottle. `Not enough here. Be back in a minute.' She came back ten minutes later with a full bottle and an armful of tonics. Then with full glasses, we sat on the lower bunk and talked. It was during a long pause that Diane asked if I ever played cards. I confessed that I only knew solitaire and odd games like that.

`As were drinking gin, how about gin rummy?' That was okay with me as long as she taught me how to play it. We were well into the bottle before we became bored with the game. She had won every time.

`Ever played strip poker? No course you haven't,' she slurred.

`How do you strip a poker?' I asked, which sent her off into gales of laughter, and then told me how it was played.

We were both pissed by the time we were naked, lying on her bunk, head to tail as it were as we faced each other with the cards between us. I think she started it by flicking my penis with a card. I then reached out and flicked a nipple with one of my cards. Then a little later, she did it again, and I repeated my action. Next it was having a card put under my half erect cock and resting on my balls.

`I've found a card holder,' she cried.

`I've got a better one,' I giggled as I stuck a card between the lips of her vagina. This sent us off into howls of laughter. It was when she tried to take her card back with her teeth that started it. Her nose brushing the tip of my penis made it rear up into a full blown erection, and then my nose went deep into her bush.

The cards got forgotten as she then took me into her mouth and opened her legs for me to lick inside her. Soon it was a full sixty nine between us and I tasted for the first time, a woman's juices and orgasmic release. Sweeter and less sticky than a man's I thought as I sucked and swallowed it. I came too, bursting fully into her sucking mouth. I believe we both fell asleep in this position, but sometime during the night, one of us had turned round so that when morning came, we awoke with our sweating bodies wrapped around each other.

It was to the sounds of groans and sucking noises that we became unstuck and I tumbled out of the bunk. I looked at Diane and thought that if I looked like that, I must be in a pretty awful mess. I was!

One look in the mirror almost made me throw up. Diane prodded me in the back and I felt, more than I saw, two aspirins in her hand. I took and swallowed these with flat tonic water, which did no good for my furry mouth. Then I groped round for my dressing gown which Diane had ready for me, and the pair of us staggered down the alleyway to the showers.

I felt a little better from the cold shower that I took, though it made a mess of my hair, and I walked back a bit steadier to the cabin. Diane dried and brushed my hair as best she could and then I did the same for her.

`If we do that again, let's leave out the gin,' Diane said, her voice a bit on the thick side.

`Amen to that,' I said, finishing off her hair as best I could. My gown was open as hers was, and she swung round in the chair to face me. Her hand went between my legs and hefted my small balls.

`You might be small in this department, but it's got a nice kick to it.'

`You're not so bad yourself,' I managed to grin without splitting the top of my head.

`Let's do it again sometime when we're sober,' she smiled up at me.

`Breakfast?' I queried

`Uggh! No thanks. I'll pass on that. Let's go and see if that queer, er, sorry Francis, if that hairdresser will take two early birds?'

`He's got a coffee pot up there,' I said, suddenly having a craving for a good strong cup.

`That's it then. Let's go.'

That is an advantage on a large passenger ship, that it possesses a hairdresser for the passengers, and sometimes does for the officers. We, as female members of the crew come in under this category. Though he is not officially open until we sail, I was sure that with a promise of a blow job, we would be able to get him to do our hair for us.

Fortunately he was in his little shop on the upper deck, and after banging on the door, he let us in. I think we drank all his coffee between us as he did our hair, and the bonus was that we didn't have to blow him.

Feeling three quarters human after coffee and a hair-do, we made our way to the dressing room and put on our faces. We sat next to each other as we made up, and the finished product made us both look ten times better than we really felt. Our eyes met and we smiled at each other. I gently eased the tip of my tongue out, red against the pink of my lipstick, and she on seeing it, licked her lips in a lascivious way and we both laughed.

I decided to change my clothes for one of my new outfits, so stripping down to the buff, I picked one out. Diane had groaned when I was naked, so I gave her a bump and a grind, making my small penis wave about. Then she gushed when she saw what I was going to wear, and looked through the clothes that I had put on my hangers.

Oh darling, how gorgeous,' she said, pulling one off the rail and holding it against herself. I must say you have a wonderful taste for these things,' doing the same again to another dress. `Did Donald buy these for you?'

`Not exactly. He let me have some money, so I spent it on these.'

Oh you've just got to let me wear this one night,' she almost screamed. It's fabulous!'

After I've worn it first,' I laughed, I don't ever want to wear second hand clothes again.'

Can I wear this one for my first solo?' she asked, holding up the black dress I had bought in Regent's Street. It is a torch number, remember?'

`Okay,' I said, giving in to her enthusiasm.

Because, a bad word to use at the start of a sentence I know, but, because we'd spent time at my place doing rehearsals, we had really nothing to do until we were actually at sea.

`I've got to go ashore for a little while. Clear up some business at the outfitters. What will you do?' I asked.

`Mooch around to see if there are any new faces that might be interesting later on, that sort of thing. When will you be back?'

`About one. Meet you in the dining saloon?'

`Okay,' she replied, and with that, I left the dressing room and made my way down to the lower decks where the gangways were situated. It's a tricky job negotiating a ribbed set of planking called the gangway whilst wearing high heels. But by being careful and holding firmly to the rail at every step, I made it safely to the quayside.

It really boosts the ego when you get the men to stop work and stare as you walk past, and even get the odd wolf whistle and lewd remark. Even better when you can counter the latter with a better reply and hear the laughter of the mates of the man you've just put down. I think I've already said this, but I did really feel like a million bucks just walking along the docks to the outfitting shop.

For a shop that has the monopoly in the docks by being the only outfitters there, it was rather small and dingy. Your eyes take time to adjust to the gloom after coming in from the bright sunlight. So I can be forgiven for not recognising the other customer in the shop as soon as I entered.

`Gervaise!' said a voice that I recognised, and I had to blink a few times before I could see his features take form in the subdued light.

`Clement! How wonderful to see you,' I said gaily, the day brightening up even more.

My! How wonderful you look,' he exclaimed, taking my hands and holding them out wide. You look like a million dollars!'

`That was my thoughts exactly as I walked over here,' I laughed with him.

`May I?' he asked, his face coming towards mine, his lips, I could see, were asking for a kiss.

`Certainly sir,' I replied, accepting the pressure of his lips on mine as we kissed.

`Is this what you want sir?' the man behind the counter coughed. Whenever, in later years, I saw Richard Wattis on the screen, I thought of this man behind the counter serving Clement. Rather tall, with a thin face and wearing spectacles. It might actually have been him before he went into acting, though I rather doubt that.

I saw the man holding up some epaulettes.

Yes. Two sets and the same on my jackets,' Clement said as he passed over a parcel, and they'll be ready by five?'

`Certainly sir,' was the answer, and he noted down Clement's name and turned towards me with a lift of the eyebrows.

`Morning.'

I can remember that one word to this day, because it was said in exactly the same way, tone and manner as Richard Wattis spoke it to Ingrid Bergman in "The Inn of the Sixth Happiness" when she first went into the travel agents to ask about the fare to China.

`I've come to settle the account of one Francis Lyon who purchased some attire from you about four months ago,' I said with a straight face.

`Certainly miss,' he replied, turning away to get a ledger from the back. I gave Clement a swift kick because I could see him out of the corner of my eye, smirking.

Ah, yes. Here we are. It's only a small amount, most of it has already been taken from the wages.' He read out the amount, which I cannot remember how much it was, counted the money out from my purse and collected my change. So the account is fully paid, and am I to close it?'

`Certainly. Thank you very much.'

`You're welcome,' came the reply to my back as I turned to leave. Clement held the door open for me and I stepped back out into the sunlight. He took my arm as we left, so we walked arm in arm back to the ship. We talked of general things on the short way back. The usual thing, nice leave, etc, just small talk until we were up at the top of the gangway.

Would you like a drink before lunch, in my cabin?' he asked. I don't know if I showed alarm in my eyes, but he quickly added. Not to make love darling. Too many people moving about and you never know who might suddenly burst in,' he finished with a laugh. I smiled at that and accepted, telling him that I was due to meet Diane at one in the dining saloon.

`Time for two drinks then,' he said looking at his watch. I followed him up the companionways to the upper deck, and he ushered me along to his cabin. He opened the door for me to go in, and he followed, closing it behind him.

`What will you have? Gin and tonic if I remember right?'

Yes please. A small one if you don't mind,' my thoughts on last night and how I felt this morning. This is not the same cabin is it? It seems bigger.'

You're right,' he said, handing me my drink as I sat down in a chair. It's not the same cabin, and, yes, it is bigger, and why do you think that is?' I could see that his eyes were shining.

`You've been promoted,' was the first thing that popped into my head.

`Second Officer of the Indus!' he said proudly.

Second?' I could only repeat. But you were only the Third Officer for half a trip. How?' He leaned back against his desk and sipped from his glass.

`There's a saying that it's not what you know, but who you know. But that isn't strictly true in this case, but part of it. To hold any officer's rank, you have to pass the exams for the position above the one that you are taking. I passed, and now hold a mate's certificate.'

`But still, it was quick,' I exclaimed

`Ah! That's where the who you know bit comes into it.'

`Oh, Daddy?'

`And friends of course.'

Well I must say that I'm very pleased for you,' I said, raising my glass and drinking. He took the empty glass for a refill and poured himself another on. And,' I said, emphasising the word, taking the fresh drink from him, `as well as the cabin, the bunk is bigger.'

All the better to tumble you in Gervaise,' he said, pulling his chair closer to mine and taking my hand. You will share it with me some nights, won't you?' he asked, a pleading look in his eyes. `I have a different watch now. Four to eight.'

I might,' going coy on him, if I'm touched in the right places.' He laughed as he tossed off the last of his drink.

`I'll touch you whenever and wherever you want me to.'

It's more to the point as with what and where you will touch me,' I laughed, giving him my empty glass and accepting his hand to rise from my chair. He stopped us by the door and took me in his arms and kissed me, holding me so close that I could feel his hardness inside his trousers. We broke apart and I patted his crotch. Save it for when we can,' I said, as we left his cabin to go and meet Diane for lunch.

We met her on the way down and so the three of us had lunch together. Diane and Clement had met on the previous voyage so there was no need of introductions.

`Where's the third member of your group?' Clement asked. Diane and both looked at each other.

No idea,' Diane said. Haven't seen hide nor hair of him since yesterday afternoon, have you?' she asked of me. Catching me with a mouthful of food, all I could do was shake my head in the negative. `Bad pennies always turn up,' Diane added somewhat derisively. I saw Clement's eyebrows lift up at this observation, but he didn't comment. I felt disinclined to comment either, because she had known him longer than I had.

Well ladies, that was, I must say, a most pleasant meal in the most delightful company,' Clement said gallantly as we finished our coffee, and it is most unfortunate that my watch keeping schedules clash with yours. So it will only be in port that I can hope to have the pleasure of dining with two such exquisite ladies again.' I seethed at the way Diane simpered to his flattery, but I liked the way he did it, and then forgave her because Clement, I found, could be a real charmer when he wanted to. We parted company at the door to the saloon because his quarters were up, and ours were down.

`He's a dish,' Diane stated as we made our way to our cabin.

That you can forget,' I said, somewhat too sharply. She gripped my arm and moved in close. He's not, is he?' I nodded, not really knowing, but I didn't want Diane as competition, just in case. Oh dear,' she sighed, and he is quite handsome in his own way.' That remark gave me a little glow inside. We eventually arrived at our quarters well forward in the ship, I think about the equivalent of E deck, but I'm not too sure on that. I flopped into the chair, the only one we had in the cabin, and she subsided down onto her bunk.

`Are you sure about that officer?' Diane asked.

`Well, you can never be sure about anything. But considering that we were an item as it were, three times last trip, and he wants more on this one, what more can I say?'

No!' Diane breathed out, sitting up on the bunk, eager and agog, tell me, tell me!'

Well,' I began, sounding like an officer now with my speech, getting up and starting to undress, for we were going to have a nap after that nice lunch. He knew who I was from the very moment I joined the Strathmuir. No. I got that wrong. He knew me before I had joined it, that's right. I won't go into details because I don't know them all myself. But his father, at his instigation, pulled some strings to get me on that boat, and,' I paused for the effect, `it was him that got us transferred onto this ship in Melbourne!'

`No!' Diane exclaimed.

`Yes!' I answered in the best Gilbert and Sullivan tradition that I could do, breathing out the word slowly instead of speaking it.

How delightful,' Diane clapped as I finished undressing myself and hanging my clothes up. Then I swung myself up onto the top bunk. What happened then? I know we came on here, but tell me what happened next?' With the small space now free from me, she began to undress.

`Well he knew I was a boy, a pretty one at that, and then he saw me in a dress at my audition. It was a guess I suppose on his part that I had the same er, inclinations as it were, that he had. He chatted me up and found that I, er, did, and we took it from there.'

You sly little madam,' Diane smirked as she hung up her dress, and to think I never caught on. Well I never.' With that, she got into her bunk and we slept away the afternoon. After a few hours we woke up and got dressed again and basically potted about till dinner time. We didn't go down early because it was usually a rush at the beginning of the meal for those who wanted to eat before going ashore. We left it as late as possible before we dined. Then it was back to the cabin and for the second time that day got undressed and into our bunks.

We hadn't been in but a few minutes before there was a pounding on our cabin door.

`Wait a minute,' shouted Diane, getting up and switching on the light and hastily donning her robe. Myself, all I could do was make sure the covers were up to my chin as she then opened the door to be confronted by, what I assumed to be the Master-at-Arms. That's the ship's policeman.

`Yes?' stammered Diane, clutching her robe close to her.

`This gentleman appears to be a member of your, er, entertaining whatever.' I could see from my bunk, looking over the shoulder of the Master-at-Arms, that it was David. What a mess he looked. His jacket was torn, his shirt absolutely filthy and looked paralytically drunk.

`From what we could get out of him was that you would know which is his cabin.'

Yes sir, we do. Francis,' she wailed, help!'

`Close the door a moment, I'm undressed,' I called out.

`Just a minute,' Diane stammered again and closed the door on them, because there were two seamen out there also, propping David up. I swung off the bunk and quickly put my robe on and then opened the door.

Sorry about this,' I said holding the top of my robe together as if to hide what I hadn't really got there. Oh David,' I cried as if it was my first sight of him. Oh sir, thank you,' I said in the fashion of Uriah Heap. I couldn't wash my hands together because I was holding the top of my robe closed, but if you've read Dickens, you'll know what I mean. You don't know what this means to us. We thought we'd lost him. I must apologise on behalf of this poor wretch. The news we had was that bad. We've tried to console him on his loss, but I think his sorrows must have been greater than we thought.' I was beginning to believe what I was saying myself, for tears started to run down my cheeks. `It was hard enough for us,' and I gave a little sob.

She was like a mother to us too. He almost went out of his mind with grief. We left him asleep, but it must have been just too much. I...we thank you for bringing him back safe. If your two men can follow me and drag, er, help him along...er, this way.' I led them further down the alleyway and opened his cabin door. I indicated inside and the two sailors carried him in and bundled him onto the lower bunk. We shall be able to look after him now, thank you.'

`I'll not report this then miss, seeing the reason behind this. But please make it quite clear to him in the morning that we don't take too kindly to this kind of behaviour as a rule. So, er, I'll bid you two ladies goodnight then.' He gave us a salute and we shut the door. As the sound of his boots receded down the alleyway, I burst out laughing. Diane joined in and we held each till it subsided.

I wouldn't have believed it,' she cried, wiping away her tears. You nearly had me crying as well.' She went off again into one of her howling, laughing jags. It took quite a few minutes for her to calm down. In the meantime, I'd straightened him out on the bunk and looked down at the pathetic state of the man. He stank of booze and urine, because it was obvious he had pissed himself somewhere on his journey back to the ship.

It almost looked as if he'd been rolled out of a car, judging by the state he was in. But I couldn't leave him lying there in that state, so I started to strip him. Diane joined me, and we soon had his clothes off which we dumped in the corner by the porthole. I soaked a towel and washed him down, cleaning his limp prick and thighs from the stale urine.

`Diane. Go and get your reddest lipstick we have in the cabin.'

`What for?'

`You'll see when you come back.' She shot out of the cabin and was back in a few moments, handing me a short tube.

`It's the reddest I've got.'

`Fine,' I said, twisting the bottom of the tube to bring the lipstick up. I smeared it over my lips, heavily.

`You're not going to do what I think you're going to do?' I nearly laughed at the way she said these words. Each one coming out of her mouth as if they were single, punctuated words instead of a sentence.

`You can bet your sweet life I am. It's an insurance policy.' With that, I smoothed out his pubic hairs as best I could, and then with my mouth open as wide as I could get it, got his limp cock inside so that I could close it as close to the base as possible. Then I mashed my lips round the base of his cock, leaving a very vivid red line the whole way round it.

For Diane's sake, I made a spitting sound afterwards. Then I planted two big lipstick kisses at the tops of his thighs. I also used the lipstick to write on his chest, "Little boys shouldn't play with big girls", and drew an arrow down to the ring round his cock.

`We should really drag him out into the alleyway and let everybody see, but, I think this will have to do,' I sighed, but we made a point of leaving his cabin door open and the light on. Diane giggled all the way back to our cabin.

God! How can you wear this stuff,' I exclaimed, as I scrubbed the lipstick off my lips, it tastes awful!'

`I know. I only use that one on odd occasions. For effect, if you know what I mean.'

`I wonder if it will have the same effect on David in the morning. Especially if his roommate and others see it first,' I grinned.

Oh you are wonderful and fun to be with,' Diane said, flinging her arms round me. I didn't know what to do when I opened the door, and the way you handled that big brute of a man! You had him eating out of your hand at the end.'

Our gowns had become loose, and I could feel her pubic hairs brushing my stomach as she held me. The hold became a kiss and I knew that she could feel my pecker start to rise at this contact. She held the kiss for a little while as our eyes locked and then moved her body in a slightly provocative way. I wasn't sure what way to go from there. My cock was up, pressing against her stomach, and I knew she was aware of it, but made no move to back off. If she was to do so, the thought ran through my mind, so be it. I wouldn't presume to pursue it further, but she didn't.

We were still holding each other close, our gowns wide open. Feeling her breasts against my chest, her stomach feeling my erection. I didn't want to break the contact, my eyes looking into hers, trying to read the thoughts that were behind them. The waiting, the touching of our bodies seemed to go on forever. I could feel her heart beat, even through the flesh of her breast. It rippled like a sound wave through water, and then like a sonar, rebound on itself. My heart was beating through my penis, and it seemed to me as though it was making a steady beat against her stomach like a drummer would do to his drum.

Her eyes started to waver, and then they closed and her lips met mine again in a gentle kiss. `Tonight we are sober,' she breathed into me, and her hands eased the robe off my shoulders to fall unheeded to the deck. Hers followed.

With our bodies still touching, we slowly bent and slid sideways onto the lower bunk. It was a hungry kiss that she gave me and I was more than willing to follow suit. It was me that was lying with my back to the bed, so that she was actually controlling events. She squirmed upon me, mashing my erection between us as we kissed, her back was arching up to push her pelvic bone down onto me and was almost riding me before she suddenly broke away and swivelled round.

Her hunger for gratification was greater than mine I think. Her stomach slid down my chest, her pubic hair scoring it as her legs opened towards my face, the lips of her vulva wide open as I felt her hot mouth engulf my erection.

I pulled on her thighs until she lay flat on my body, her breasts against my stomach. I could then reach to her inner parts with my tongue. I felt her quiver as I poked it directly into her vagina. Then by pulling her tighter to my face, was able to use my teeth on the little red button that I had seen protruding from within the inner folds. I found that sucking on this made her move, and when I used my teeth, she positively jumped. There is a time limit on how long one can nibble on a clitoris before one has to release it for the sake of taking another intake of air. So the longer you can hold your breath, the more you can, or I should say, quicker, bring her to an orgasm. With the nibbling of teeth and the darting of the tongue, Diane came twice to my one.

We sucked and nibbled on each other for quite some time before we stopped and she swung herself round and lay alongside me.

For a girl, you're one hell of a fella. For a fella, you're one hell of a girl. I don't know which one I like best. So far as I am concerned Francis,' she sang the next part softly, Stay as sweet as you are, don't let a thing, ever change you.'

That made me cry.

I may be man, or boy in the physical sense, but I was a girl at heart, and always would be; I know, or I'm pretty sure I've said this already once before, but it's true. Diane wiped my tears away with her fingers.

Tell me,' she asked softly, what are you really?'

`I don't know. I don't know if you would understand it either. I like being with you, and I like being with Donald. Or, if you pushed me, any man or woman. Tell me, when a man is inside you, I mean, but being somewhat on the crude side, fucking you, how do you feel? Do you like it? Is it great, or what?'

`Yes I do. I like it when a man is inside me.'

`Well that's what I like too.'

`Okay. What's the difference between putting it into a man and putting it into a woman?'

`Tightness, with a man, and not so wet as with a woman, if you know what I mean.'

`Is that the only difference?'

`No. You can suck on me and I can put myself into you, but it cannot be reciprocated. I can suck on you but you cannot put yourself into me. That's the difference, that a man can do both to another man. I love Donald and he loves me. That's true love the way I see it, twisted as it may seem to others.'

`Well it's not a logical argument. It's not the accepted way.'

`Diane. I love you as I can. I love Donald as I can. I like having sex with you. I like having sex with Donald, or Clement. I like sucking you. I like sucking a rampant cock, and I also like to have that rampant cock sliding up into me too. There, now I have said it. Don't hate me for it, because that's how I feel.'

`Francis. I love you for the person you are. You've proved that you can swing both ways, but I only like a man in my bed. If I can't find the right man on this trip, then I can always fall back on you.'

`Literally or figuratively?' I grinned.

We're not going down that path, or should I say, you're not travelling up my path that way, she said laughing.

I wouldn't dream of asking you to,' I said as I ran my hand across her breasts. You got too many lovely things to distract me with.'

Thank you,' she said as she pulled my head down to kiss me. Now I think it's time you climbed up into your little bunk in the sky and dream of, well, have nice dreams anyway. The passengers arrive tomorrow and let's hope that piss head down the way is fit for work.' I laughed and gave her a final hug and kiss before working my way across her body and out of the bunk and onto the deck. Then with a jump and a heave, caught the overhead pipe and swung myself up into my own bunk.

`'night,' came her voice from down below.

`'night yourself,' I answered, and settled down to sleep.

I'm sure that sex, in whatever form, was good for me, for I woke up full of the joys of spring as I swung down from my bunk and pulled the covers off Diane.

Sailing day! Up and at em,' I cried.

Bastard,' she mumbled, rousing herself up onto an elbow. What's a girl have to do to be allowed to sleep properly?'

Give her lover a good kiss for a start,' giving her just that. Now get up if you want breakfast, or would that be coffee only?' I added as an afterthought. I found my dressing gown and put it on but then stopped to watch her rise fully as I did like to see her breasts swing as she brought her legs over the side of the bed and straighten her back.

I'm off to the shower then,' I said grabbing my towel and toilet bag. See you there if you can make it.'

I actually felt like singing when I was in the shower stall with the water cascading all down my body as I soaped it. That talk with Diane the night before seemed to release me from my anxieties as to what I really was, and what I wanted out of life. If I was to prefer a man's love to that of a woman's and be called a homosexual, so be it. That didn't mean I couldn't have sex with a woman and enjoy that too. Enjoy life and take what comes, I giggled to myself.

`Is that you singing Francis?' I heard Diane call out, and didn't realise that I had been.

`Of course. I'm singing like a lark because I feel as happy as one.'

`Glad someone is,' I heard a strange female voice comment, but then heard no more because Diane turned on her shower full blast.

I had just finished putting on my make-up when Diane came in from the showers. I then moved out of the seat so that she could sit down to do hers. This then gave me the space to get dressed. We had to work as a team in this respect as there just wasn't enough room for both of us to do either at the same time.

I sat on the edge of her bunk and rolled on my stockings and attached them to the suspender belt. I still got a thrill out of this part of getting dressed and I wondered how long it would take before the eroticism of it wore off. Straightening the belt and looking down to see that the stockings were on smooth still caused me to at least get half an erection. I had also now learnt how to clip up my padded bra from behind rather than that other awkward way.

Now in regard to my panties, whether I wore them or not, depended on the dress I would be wearing. If it were a short skirt and I would be doing some dancing, then the panties were on. But as I would be acting the part of a hostess this day in a fairly long dress, no panties. I didn't like wearing them at the best of times as they were somewhat cramping to what little tackle I did have.

With me ready, I got out of the way and let Diane get dressed herself and it pleased me to watch her do so, especially the way she shrugged her breasts into her bra. But she could still get dressed far quicker that I could. When she was ready, we made our way down to the dining saloon for our breakfast. There, as well as everywhere in the ship, people were hurrying about doing small tasks that had to be finished before the passengers started arriving.

We quickly finished our meal as stewards were waiting to clear things away and make the place ready for lunch. Up to the Purser's office we went and were just in time, because the first of the passengers had just started to come aboard.

There were two gangways for them to come aboard. Those for decks D, E and F, boarded near the stern, the others where we were stationed, roughly half way between the middle and the bow. Our job as hostesses was to give directions or answer questions from the arrivals. Most of the last were inane or downright stupid. Is the Captain aboard? When's lunch? Are we sailing today? When's the bar open?

We were constantly bombarded by these kinds of questions and it was a relief to hear the tannoy announce that all visitors were to proceed ashore immediately as the ship was about to sail. This answered one of the stupid questions asked.

This had the immediate effect of almost clearing the inner decks as people rushed to the ship's rail to watch our departure. At least three quarters of the passengers were leaving England for the last time to emigrate to Australia, so this was their last chance to wave farewell to friends and relatives that lined the quay. So there was lots of crying amid the shouting, the noise of tugs blaring out their own messages to be topped by the blasts from our own klaxon up on the funnel.

Diane and I were kept quite busy, what with children getting separated from their parents in the crush, one elderly lady falling over the step that led out onto the boat deck. One woman even asked us to get the ship to return to the dock because she had left her glasses in the taxi. We sent her down to the Purser's office with that one. Then when the ship was out in the river and began to move under her own power, the passengers started coming back inside again, also with the same questions. Could we see to this, to that, whatever?

It was pleasing to eventually hear the gong sounding to announce that the dining saloon was now open for lunch. This cleared as much of the deck as did the departure. Well it was the turn of those down below to handle them.

As we were officially recognised as hostesses, we could, like officers, buy drinks from any of the bars. This was to where Diane and I turned to, the bar in the main lounge where we would be performing, though not for this evening. We didn't have to do a show for the first night out, as it was traditionally the Captain's cocktail party, where we, and off duty officers had to mingle with the passengers. Most of whom wanted to be introduced to the Captain. Captain sir, this is Mr and Mrs Nobody from Nowhere etc, and they would shake hands and get a free drink.

But that was for later in the evening, all I wanted then was a large gin and tonic. The advantage for me was being made up and dressed as a woman and being a hostess, nobody ever queried my age, so it was easy getting a drink. But to save problems with the Purser, Diane signed all our drink chits, and at the end, when she would have to settle the bar bill, I would give her my half in cash.

What a relief it was to be able to sit down on a bar stool and take the weight off my feet. I can commiserate with women I see, sitting down in a restaurant and slip off their shoes. I wondered how long I would be able to stand about in my high heeled shoes. It would be at the very least, four hours at the party, and this thought made me groan.

The drink was most welcome, and we even had a second one before making our way down below to grab a bite to eat. Then, taking a chance and not really caring, knocked off and went to our cabin where we took off our dresses and spent the afternoon dozing on our bunks in our underwear.

All too soon it was getting on for six o'clock, the time for the cocktail party to start. We got up and put on fresh make-up, put on our cocktail dresses and went up to do our evening chore. I looked for, but didn't see Clement there, but then remembered he was on watch till eight.

But surprise, surprise, our David had surfaced. He must have spent the whole day in bed, because he certainly looked refreshed and nothing like the wreck we'd seen the night before. When, in the course of our moving amongst the passengers, we met, but he made no reference to where or what he'd been doing. I didn't either, and we never did find out exactly what the outcome was of the lipstick episode. I later caught part of a conversation between the Assistant Purser, who shared his cabin, and another member of the Purser's staff, saying he found David flat out on his bunk covered in lipstick, but I missed the last part as they burst out laughing.

On board a passenger liner as big as the Indus, we carried too many passengers to be fed at one go, so all meals were divided into two sittings. Dinner being served at six o'clock and eight, so the first half of the cocktail party was for the second sitting diners. They got to meet the Captain from six that evening, and as they drifted away for their dinner, the first diners started to arrive. At ten o'clock prompt, the Captain disappeared and it was left to us and the junior officers to stay till the gritty end, which was well past midnight.

It was a weary duo that wended their way to the cabin below decks. Both of us had a nightcap as, with much bumping about, got undressed and hung up our clothes. I held Diane for our goodnight kiss, but it lingered long enough for me to slowly ease her down onto her lower bunk. Our lips stayed glued together as I lay down with her, my erection pressing hard against her thigh. Our bodies moved to reverse positions and with my fingers holding her wide open, delved deep into her with my tongue while she played havoc down at my end.

By the time we were to reach Sydney, we had gone to bed enough times for her to have taught me all there was to know about bringing a woman to an orgasm in a very short time. Sometimes she could have as many as three in one session, whilst I could only ever manage one. But for me, this was but a substitute for the real thing. The phallus was my totem, and I got some of my share on the trip south.

There was one really good looking wine waiter who served in the main lounge, and judging by the way that he fitted into his trousers, looked as though he might have a good weapon hidden away. I always got a smile from him whenever he caught my eye.

One evening I was standing at the bar during a break, and he came and stood next to me to give an order for one of the tables. There wasn't much room where we were standing, so his body was half turned towards me. On the pretence of making room for somebody on the other side, moved in closer so that my thigh rubbed against his crotch.

The reaction was immediate. I could feel him get hard and he had an embarrassed look on his face as he could see that I knew what was happening to him. He started to stammer out an apology, but I forestalled him.

Don't be embarrassed,' I said, my eyes looking at him over the rim of my glass. A girl likes to know when she is appreciated, especially in this fashion,' and I moved my hip slightly again. It was Mae West wasn't it that said, "Is that a gun in your pocket, or are you just pleased to see me?"' He gave a guilty smile and I deliberately ran my tongue across my lips to tease him. Maybe we could do something about it later?' His smile brightened, but then his drinks order was placed on his tray, so he had to leave me to go and serve them. I finished my drink and went back to the stage for our last session of the night.

After the show, in the dressing room, David was soon out of there and Diane asked if I was ready to go.

`You go down. I'll follow in a little while.'

`Why? Have you got something going then?'

`I hope so.'

`Who? Who? Tell me!' Diane asked eagerly. When I described him, she knew who I meant.

`When you go out, ask him if he could bring a drink in to me. If I'm right, he'll bring it in double quick.'

Okay,' she said, see you later and then you can tell me all about it,' and she left me alone in the dressing room. A few minutes later, I was playing with the mascara brush on my eyelashes when there was a knock on the door, and he came in, when I called out, with my drink on his tray.

`Er, the other lady, Diane, said that you wanted a drink brought in?'

Yes please. Will you close the door and put it there.' I indicated a place near me, and he put it down. I turned round in my chair to face him and pointedly looked at his crotch. I see you still have a problem down there, and maybe I can help you out with it,' I said, standing up and moved towards him, and he moved back until his was up against the door.

I couldn't read the expression on his face as he felt my hands undoing the buttons of his trousers, but he gave a smile as my hand reached inside and took hold of him. He was as hard as a rock and even though he wasn't wearing any underpants, I still had difficulty in getting him out. It was hot, big and heavy and throbbed as I felt the silky skin move over the solid flesh beneath as I moved my hand on it.

Then with my hand still moving up and down on it, knelt down and took that swollen head into my mouth. I heard the hiss of his intake of breath as my lips fully closed round him. Then I moved my head back and forth, squeezing and sucking him with my mouth while my hand gripped him tighter as that too moved, but in the opposite direction.

It didn't take long before I could feel him start to tremble and the pulse rate of his penis increased as it started to swell even bigger. His hands came up to hold my head steady as he started to come, and it began shooting out. I was now learning how to let it slide down my throat without swallowing. He had quite a lot to give, and it was thrilling to have a cock as large as this in my mouth again, pumping out its essence for me to drink and savour.

His hands dropped down to his sides, and I finished off sucking to lick him clean before giving it a last kiss before standing up and stepping back. It had visibly drooped, but it was still a powerful tool he had there. He was smiling as he put it away and began doing up his buttons as I resumed my chair.

`Has that helped?' I asked, smiling at him.

`That was wonderful Miss Francis.'

`Have you got a chit for me to sign?' I asked.

`I didn't bring one. This one's on the house.'

`One gin and tonic for a blow job like that?' I queried in a slightly sarcastic tone with one eyebrow raised.

Oh no, no,' he was quick to stammer out, I didn't mean it like that. All your drinks are on the house as far as I'm concerned, for the rest of the voyage.'

That's very kind of you. Maybe then,' I paused a little, maybe then we could do this again some time.' I finished with a smile.

`I sure hope so Miss Francis. Er, I think I'd better be getting back now. Thanks again,' he said as he collected his tray and backed out of the door.

`You're welcome,' I said as it closed behind him. I looked at myself in the mirror and smiled and licked my lips. He did taste rather nice.

Diane was sitting up in her bunk when I breezed into the cabin. I barely had the door shut before she was asking for a blow by blow account of what I had done to him. I told her while I undressed and hung up my clothes, and when naked, sat on the edge of her bunk and asked her if she wanted a taste of him too, as I stuck out my tongue.

Nooo,' she wailed, shrinking back. I'd rather have it firsthand thank you.'

`Does that mean I don't get a goodnight kiss then?' I pouted.

`Did you wash your face?'

`Yes.'

`Okay then,' so we had our kiss and then I swung myself up onto my bunk.

`Do you know your balls really swing about when you do that trick?'

`Shut up and go to sleep.' Then I lay back and let my mind go back over the pleasure I gave and got from that big cock. I also wondered if it would hurt me having that thick one come inside me. I jerked myself off at these thoughts, not caring if Diane could feel the bunk moving about, and I came into the tissues I had handy, and then went off to sleep.

I didn't bother going ashore at Port Said and there was also some delay about our passage through the Canal. It is divided into two with some lakes in the middle and they have a convoy system for this transit to and from the Red Sea. One going south in the upper half and one going north in the lower half. The lakes in the middle are a holding place till the other section is clear of ships.

Well one ship broke down and it had to be towed out to the lakes, this meant a delay for our convoy and put us behind schedule for our arrival in Aden. We should have got there before breakfast, but even making up some of the lost time, we didn't get there till the afternoon. This meant that we wouldn't leave till the early hours of the morning. Which was good for us as we then didn't have to give a show for that evening, what with half the passengers ashore, it was a night off for us.

I didn't go ashore, so it was no surprise for me to bump into Clement up in the lounge bar. It was after eight and he had come off watch, looking for me, knowing that there wouldn't be a show that night. We had a drink together and then he suggested we went out on deck and look at the lights of Aden. This port doesn't have a deep water harbour, so any ship of our size has to anchor off shore. A floating dock, which is rather like a large wooden platform, is tied up alongside the gangway, for boats to come and tie up to so that it can ferry the passengers to and from the shore.

Clement and I stood at the ship's rail and watched the lights of these ferry boats bob about on the water as they plied their regular service between the ship and the shore. The lights of Aden were disappointing as the place is no bigger than a village really, surrounded by sand on three sides. But we hadn't really come out on deck to look at the lights of the shore. In a dark corner of the rail where the lifeboat's davits are inboard was where we stopped. He turned me round and took me into his arms and kissed me. We stood there for some time, exchanging kisses, with him stroking my face in between each lovely contact of our lips.

I didn't need any urging when we broke apart and he took my arm to lead me to his cabin. We kissed again once we were inside with only the bunk light to see by. It was with a feverish haste that I pulled the clothes off Clement and all I needed to do was drop my dress. With him naked and me in just my underwear, minus panties, I held him tight, squashing what I needed between us.

Oh Gervaise,' he breathed in my ear, I've been waiting a long time for you to be here like this.'

Me too,' I panted, a fierce burning pain had taken a hold of my insides and it needed extinguishing, and I can't wait any longer. Now please Clement, now!'

`The bunk?'

`No here, over the desk,' I gasped. I turned round and swept the middle of it clear and leaned over it, my legs wide apart. The cream was warm as it touched me, and then he was between my legs. I sighed as the head of his cock entered me, stretching my opening that relaxed as he pushed in with the rest of his shaft following and filling me.

`Oh Gervaise,' I heard him say as his thighs came up against the cheeks of my bum. My body felt on fire and the cool desktop soothed my upper half for a few minutes, and it was his cock that I needed to quell the inferno in my lower half. He held my hips firm as his moved back and forward, driving his shaft deep into me with every forward thrust. I helped him to even greater depths by ramming back to meet him. Then his tempo moved up a gear and with heavy grunts and much straining, I felt him swell up and burst inside me as he ground his pelvis hard up against me. The head of his cock was beating hard inside me as with every heavy throb, a gout of come hit my hot insides. I came too, shooting my load out under his desk, and as he finished heaving into me, I put my hand down below to use it to finish myself off, squeezing out the last.

He was sweating and breathing heavily as he pulled out and reeled over to the washbasin to clean himself, while I still lay across the desk, panting the same way he was. I stayed there, getting my breath back, not having the strength to lift myself up. Clement brought over a wet cloth and gently wiped me clean, and throwing the cloth towards the basin, helped me off the desk. He handed me a towel to wipe the sweat off my chest and helped me to the bunk onto which I gratefully climbed and laid myself flat.

I then moved over to allow him to lie down beside me, our bodies still hot from the exertions of the past few minutes. In spite of our joint heat, it didn't stop us from holding and kissing each other some more. He flicked off the light and we lay there in the gloom of the cabin, the only illumination being what was coming in through the porthole from one of the deck lamps. We lay there for some time before I stirred, knowing that I couldn't stay the night and would have to get down to my cabin before the decks became too deserted.

I rolled over on top of Clement and gave him a last kiss before getting off the bunk. He propped himself up on one elbow to watch me get dressed. One of the studs of the suspender belt had popped, so I pulled up the stocking top to fix it, and found that I was getting another erection as I did so, because I knew that he was there watching me. I picked up my dress from the floor and slipped it over my head and gave my bum a wiggle as I settled it over my hips.

I briefly turned on the light over the basin so that I could check that my make-up wasn't smeared all over my face. Satisfied that I could pass inspection, turned off the light and went back over to the bunk, putting my shoes on. There we kissed again as we said goodnight to each other before I slipped out of his cabin and made my way down below.

It was still earlier than I would normally have got to my cabin after a show, and it was empty of Diane. Where she was I had no idea, so I got undressed and went for a shower before getting up into my bunk, slightly sore behind, but deeply satisfied inside.

Up there, I continued my letter for Donald, which I planned to post when we reached Bombay. I also had got a picture postcard of the Indus that I promised Dave Drew of the pub that I would send to him. The card was already written, but I had a few more lines to add to Donald's letter, though there wasn't much to write about, life on the ship being basically the same, day in and day out.

The exciting things for me were exactly the bits I couldn't tell Donald about, which didn't leave much for me to say. I suppose I must have chewed on the end of that pen for nearly an hour before Diane came in, looking as though she'd found sixpence, but had lost a pound.

`Didn't get your end away then, metaphorically speaking?' I asked laconically.

No,' she cried despondently. I had the bloody thing in my hand when his wife came round the corner. I could have cried! The thing was throbbing there, and I was about to drop my knickers when he saw her. Talk about a flasher! One minute it was there, then in a flash, it was gone. Zipped back up inside his pants. I could have cried.'

I had put away my letter whilst she was talking, and now I swung down onto the deck and fixed us both a drink. She sipped at, still talking while I unzipped the back of her dress for her, and sat down and waited to hear more. I took a few sips of mine as she poured out her tale of woe as she undressed. When naked, she sat next to me on the edge of the bunk with her drink in her hand, and I could see the tears in her eyes.

`He was so gorgeous looking that I should have realised that he would have a wife somewhere. A man looking like that wouldn't be able to stay single for very long. I was so looking forward to us doing it together.' As the tears started to roll down her face, I moved closer and put my arm round her shoulders.

`Well it's like fishing I suppose. Some you catch, but most of them get away.'

`But it was this big!' she wailed, spilling some of her gin and laying her head on my shoulder, her hands so wide apart that she must have been talking about a whale, like all fishermen's stories of the one that got away. I managed to put my glass down and then stroked her facing, wiping away the tears.

`There are many more fish in the sea,' I said, giving her a kiss that was interrupted by a hiccup from her.

Oh, excuse me,' she said, holding a hand up to her mouth before knocking back the rest of her drink. He did spend quite a bit on drinks and then he missed out. But then, so did I,' she wailed, going off again. I held her as her head slipped to my chest as she cried, and the shifting of her weight leaning against me, slowly tipped us over onto our sides. I had to swing my legs up onto the bunk because the angle of how I was lying was really hurting my back.

`Oh Francis, I was so ready for him. I'm still so hot and wet down there that it hurts. Will you help me?' The last was spoken softly, and with her tits brushing my chest, my body had already started to respond.

`It would help for you to close your eyes and pretend that it is him holding you tight right now? Ready to give you what you both wanted?'

`Please Francis, would you?' she asked, closing her eyes.

`I'd do anything for you Diane, but I don't think I am anywhere near as big as him.'

That doesn't matter,' she said, still speaking softly, tears still seeping from below the closed lids, but now with a small smile on her face. It's not the size that counts, it's what you do with it that matters.'

We kissed as I moved on top of her, and her legs parted to let my knees drop down in between them. So without much effort I was able to move up and let my erection follow the trail of wetness on the insides of her thighs to the source. As I entered, her legs rose up to allow me to penetrate even further into her body. At the limit, with my thighs tight up against hers, her legs then came across my back and I was then locked into her.

It wasn't a matter of me fucking her, but more a case of her fucking me. Caught between her thighs, I was just a means to an end. She bucked and jerked her hips faster than I'd known any man do. My rod was going in and out, and my arse was going faster than a fiddler's elbow, as the saying goes. I could feel the muscles of her vagina squeezing me for all they were worth as she bucked her way to an orgasm, grinding up at me as she came in shuddering spasms. The fact that I came too was of little consequence, because I think a dildo would have brought about the same result, that being for her to get her rocks off.

I enjoyed it mind, even if I was only a surrogate partner to this act. Her breasts were all wet and slippery when she came, and it was nice to feel them slide so easily between our bodies. The nipples as hard as pellets, softly scratching my chest as she heaved about, and as she slowed down, I could then feel her juices seep out into my groin

I felt Diane take a deep breath and let it out with a big sigh as her legs began to relax and then fall to the bed, her arms too went down to her side, and then incredibly, she began to softly snore. There was me still on top and inside her and she had bloody well fallen asleep. I couldn't help but chuckle as I saw the funny side of it. She must have had quite a skin full, but I had realised that earlier. I gave her a kiss on the nose and gently lifted myself up and my pecker slid out of her with a little sucking sound. I covered her with a sheet and then washed my groin before swinging myself up into my own bunk to get some sleep myself.

We were well out to sea the next morning for the next leg across to Bombay when Diane woke up with a hangover and wouldn't get up for breakfast, but gladly accepted the coffee I brought after I had eaten.

`I feel a mess,' she said, gulping down the coffee with a couple of aspirins. I didn't want to make any comment on that score. She finally managed to get out of bed and get to the showers, and came back definitely looking better.

`Thanks Francis,' she said as she started to get dressed.

`For coffee?'

`No. For last night. I think I was in a bit of a state.'

`I didn't notice,' trying to be diplomatic I answered.

`You mean I look like that all the time?' he voice rising.

`No, no. You looked perfectly fine when you came in. It's just that I didn't notice anything different about you until you passed out on the bed.' She didn't seem to want to pursue it further, so I kept quiet.

It was a little while before we went up to the lounge where Diane sat it out and let David and myself run through a few of our duets that we would be doing over the next few shows. We always did more than what was required for the next show, it was better to have something else to fall back on if anything went wrong at any time. Then, finished, we sat down at one of the tables nearest to our dressing room and I signalled my favourite waiter and got him to bring us some drinks. David had refused and disappeared. Our drinks were served and Diane signed the chit and took a healthy slug of hers before making a comment. `That drinks chit had only one gin and tonic on it, but we got two.'

I hope so,' I said grinning, one blow job provides many gin and tonics.'

`Of course! I'd forgotten,' Diane laughed. She definitely looked brighter with that half drink inside her than she did first thing.

`Have you also forgotten that you've also got to host a small party this afternoon?' I said somewhat maliciously.

Oh God yes,' she groaned, dropping her head into her hands. Let's have another one now then. I'm going to need it. Make it a double please.' I laughed and gave the order.

When finished, we went down to the galley and managed to get one of the stewards to sneak us out a plate of food, which we ate in the baker's shop. I'm not joking when I call it the baker's shop. Those guys work during the night making hundreds of loaves of bread and at least a thousand rolls. That's not counting all the other side products that come out from a bakery. But it was deserted when we got our food and you don't get disturbed in there at that time of the day.

After this we went back to our cabin and Diane got changed for her party assignment. I changed also, but I was only going up to watch and have a stroll around the decks. It was, I knew, to be a private children's party of about twenty five kids, so the playroom was being used instead of one of the dining saloons. When the door opened and I heard the noise, I felt sorry for Diane, but was glad it was her turn and not mine.

`Good luck,' I said, and walked away with no set purpose in mind and finished up at the rail overlooking the swimming pool. It wasn't big as swimming pools go because you have rather limited space on a ship, but it's big enough for people to splash about in. Air inflated balls were not recommended, because the wind had a habit of catching them and then all you could see would be a brightly coloured object floating astern in our wake. The shop must have made a fortune in selling these.

I was standing there, watching the games being played in the pool, when I became conscious of a man stopping and standing quite close to me at the rail. I would have said he was in his early thirties, quite good looking and fit, and very well dressed, even if they were only casual clothes. Then I noticed that another man was also leaning on the rail quite close to him on the other side. This man seemed to be very interested in the activities of the people in the pool.

Hello,' the man closest to me said in a very pleasant tone of voice, though I did detect a slight accent. It's nice to see people having fun, is it not?' I agreed with him. `Why do you not join them?' he asked.

`I can't. I'm a member of the crew.'

Oh yes of course,' he seemed to snap his fingers. You are one of the singing group in the evening shows, and a very good one I must say.'

`Thank you,' I replied, trying to place his accent. It definitely wasn't French or German, Italian maybe. His English was very good, and I said something to that effect.

`Very perceptive. I'm impressed. Not many people have been able to detect it.'

`My aunt was a very good teacher,' I boasted.

`Then she should be congratulated. Yes, I'm Italian by birth, but I spend so much time travelling about Europe and the world, that I sometimes wonder where I really belong. But I am forgetting my English manners. As we haven't been introduced and nobody here to aid us in this, I shall have to present myself. The name is Carlo Leopardi, at your service.'

`Francis Lyon,' I said, offering my hand, palm down. He took it in his and raised it to his lips and brushed it with the gentlest of kisses.

`Enchanted. The leopard meets the lion.'

`Not quite. My name is spelt with a "Y" and not an "I"',' I said with a laugh.

`Semantics! The pronunciation is the same; mine has the letter "I" after leopard. Two beast of the jungle with only an "I" between us. We have a saying in Italy, that when the Leopard lies down with the Lion, all in the jungle should beware!'

`Are you trying to chat me up with that line?' I asked, turning towards him.

`Yes,' he answered candidly, and with a most beautiful smile. I couldn't help but laugh, and he noticed that it was with humour and not derision for he laughed with me, and I liked him for that.

`Well I'm not in the position to be chatted up,' I said, hiding my smile, but I think it was my eyes that gave me away, for he continued.

`What is an entertainer for? To entertain. What is a hostess for? To be affable, to, er, entertain?'

`Don't patronise me!' I snapped at him, my eyes starting to blaze like a true lion.

Whoa, hold on please, hold on. I apologise. Most humbly, but I didn't mean to demean you. Quite to the contrary I assure you. I think that my English teacher didn't do such as good a job as I thought. Please! Accept my apologies once more,' he took my hand and kissed it again. Let me make amends by buying you a drink.' Instincts told me to refuse, but his smile was getting to me and I started to get that warm little glow inside my stomach.

`Only one. I have a show to give this evening.'

`One will give me time to show you that my intentions are honourable. Two, well, I'm not really a drinking man.'

`Let's stick to one for today, okay? I said, my smile back on my face, not realising that I had unintentionally opened the door for further drinks. He offered me his arm, and we went up a deck and through to the lounge. We sat at the bar and I saw this other fellow who was by us at the poolside, also had come in and sat down on the other stool beside Carlo Leopardi.

`What's with that man? I think he's following us,' I whispered to Carlo.

Who?' he asked turning round. Him?'

`Yes,' I whispered fiercely.

I know. He's a pain in the arse,' he said with a smile. Vito!' and then followed a torrent of Italian, but the gist of it sounded like, `Fuck off'. The man slid off the stool and went and sat at a table, out of earshot.

`You know him! You called him Vito, and something else which I didn't understand.'

`Yes, that's his name Vito.'

`But...but...' A drink was placed before me without being asked what I wanted. The barman knew what I drank. Carlo asked for a whiskey, and then turned to me.

`He is er, he just sees that when I am talking to a pretty young lady, that I'm not disturbed.'

`I don't understand,' I said, sipping at my drink. His arrived and he too, sipped his before he tried to enlighten me.

`It's difficult to explain really because I don't understand it much myself. My family is not exactly poor, nor exactly rich. I have many business connections throughout the world and, not to put too fine a point on it, I may have made a few enemies because of my business. So Vito is with me to see that I'm not disturbed by outside distractions.'

`A bodyguard!' I breathed. I was that green in those days.

`Well some people would call him that. I call him Vito.'

`Don't laugh at me,' I said.

`I'm not laughing at you at all,' he replied.

`Your eyes are telling me that you are. Please don't do that. It's not nice.'

`I apologise. I didn't realise that you were so perceptive. I see that I must not only guard my words and my manners, but shield my eyes from you too.'

I'm sorry,' I said, I shouldn't be so rude.'

`Look! Let's have some kind of truce here. We can't talk properly if we are going to keep apologising to each other. Let's start again. Carlo Leopardi, at your service,' he gave a little bow from his seat.

`Francis Lyon,' I answered as I offered my hand again, and again he kissed it.

`Great! Barman! Same again please.'

`But I said only one drink.'

`This is a new meeting, so this is now the first drink,' he said with a laugh, and I couldn't but help to laugh with him. He was a very easy man to talk to and the time just flew by. It was the barman who caught my eye and pointed at his watch. I nodded my thanks and told Carlo that it was time for me to leave, as I still had to eat, and get changed for the evening's show. I went below to the cabin and found Diane almost comatose on her bunk.

I've come to hate fucking kids,' she moaned, as soon as I got inside the door. The little bastards just wouldn't behave. Even those that had their parents there. Look at my feet! The toes must be flat the number of times they've been trodden on.' I saw that she'd already had a drink, so I passed on pouring out any more.

Come on then,' I said, getting undressed, a shower will make you feel better. Then dinner before the show.' She gave a groan and heaved herself off the bunk and after undressing, went with me to the showers. I just used the minimal of make-up, because we would be doing it again up top, so with us both done and dressed, we went down to our early dinner before going up to dress for the show and then do our final makeover of our faces.

We started off to a nice round of applause and the first half of the show went very well. During the break, just before I returned to the stage, I noticed Vito, and knew that Carlo must be close by. I couldn't spot him, but if Vito was there, then Carlos was.

When I did return to the stage, I asked David if I could switch my solo, and as he knew the music, agreed. So I sang my song for Carlo, thinking that he might appreciate it. It was "La Paloma". I chose that because it was the only one I knew that I could sing in Italian. My knowledge of that language was very sparse indeed, but it's easy to learn the words for any song in any language. It went down very well with the passengers and I hoped that Carlo was still out there and appreciated it as well.

It was two days later before I bumped into him again, or rather it was the reverse. We'd just finished a spell of rehearsal and it always surprised me that we always had quite a few passengers who would spend the afternoon in the lounge watching us. I think it was a measure of our success that by the end of the voyage, we would have nearly as many people watching us rehearse as watched the evening shows. They would clap, and also laugh with us when we made any gaffes. Sometimes the best jokes would come out at this time, like somebody out front would shout out a comment, and I was beginning to get very good at coming up with a suitable riposte. So when we broke off, it was not unusual for somebody to be there to buy us a drink. I had just sat down when a man slid onto the stool next to me.

`Wonderful Francis. I liked that last comment you fired back at that moron. Right between the eyes. It was wonderful.'

`Thank you,' I said, looking over his shoulder to see the shadow drift to a stool further down the bar. Carlo lifted his hand with the forefinger upright and two drinks were there in front of us before he had time to lower his hand. It's wonderful how some people seem to manage that without any apparent effort. Lift a finger and drinks suddenly appear; raise a hand and get instant service and only have to pause at a kerb before an empty taxi stops immediately. Do they have a certain aura, or glow that people who provide a service simply home in on? I don't think there are many people who have this quality, but Carlo certainly had it. Even I got caught up in it. Later, he would only have to look at me in a certain way and I would be there, and yet it didn't feel in any way to being subservient. He just had this quiet charm and impeccable manners that just drew people to him like moths to a candle.

Retrospectively, I think modelled myself on him. Calm, polite and assured. Giving out the impression that you know exactly what you are doing and the confidence in your decisions.

I'm having drinks and canapés in my suite in,' he looked at his watch, in about an hour's time. I would be most honoured if you would join me?'

Thank you. I would like that,' I replied, sipping my drink. But I wouldn't be able to stay long. The evening show you know.'

Of course, and I would also like to thank you, for your solo the other night. It was a charming gesture.' He drained his glass and placed it on the bar. In an hour then? Here, for me to escort you?'

`Delighted. In an hour then,' and I offered my hand which he duly brushed with his lips before leaving the bar with his shadow not far behind. I waited till he'd left the lounge before gulping down my drink and rushing off down below to my cabin.

Diane, who had left the lounge before me, was on her bunk reading a magazine as I propelled myself through the door. She shot up as though scalded, `Where's the fire?' I laughed as I came to a stop.

`I've been invited to a cocktail party by one of the most handsomest men on the ship. I met him a couple of days ago on the deck, and now I'm to be a guest of his!'

`What about tonight's show?'

He knows that! I'll still be there. It's only a small party before they go for dinner. Horse's doovers an' all that,' I said, using her vernacular. God! I must stink like a barn,' I said, getting undressed and putting on my dressing gown. `A good shower to start will help,' and with that, I was out and down the alleyway to the female showers.

After powdering myself and using a few dabs only of perfume, I carefully made myself up before dressing in the sexiest dress I owned.

You're looking for trouble dressed like that,' Diane predicted with a frown on her face. What's going to happen when he finds out what's under that lot? He'll either have a heart attack or kill you for leading him on.'

`It's a first date! Besides, I'm not leading him on.''

`Darling, believe me. The way you are looking now, not only will men kill for you, but ladies will be standing in line to scratch your eyes out.'

`That good huh?' I said, preening myself up.

Francis, be careful,' Diane said in a low voice, taking hold of my hand quite tight. You're starting to play with fire.'

I'm on fire myself,' I replied with a show of bravado, but couldn't help but notice the twinge I got inside from her words. Wish me luck,' I said, giving her a quick peck on the cheek. `See you in the dressing room before the show,' and I was gone.

He was waiting for me at the bar when I arrived there, but I held up a hand to stop the barman from getting me a drink.

Enchanting,' Carlo said as he slid off the stool and kissed my hand. Shall we go?' he asked, offering me his arm. I took it and floated out of the lounge with him and along to his stateroom.

When we stopped outside the door to his suite, I felt a tingle run up and down my spine, and then the door was opened by Vito and we went in. A suite is really two cabins made up into one, half being a bedroom and the other half as a sitting room. I was led to a settee where I sat down and looked around the suite. The tingle became a butterfly in my stomach as I recognised the suite. I took a glass off the tray being offered by Vito and Carlos took the other glass.

`You recognise the room?' Carlo asked me.

`I...I think so,' I replied hesitantly, one butterfly was now two or maybe three flying around inside me.

`This suite is, er, almost permanently booked by my father on behalf of the family. When one of us are not using it, he, er, let's people who have done him a service in the past, or to impress people who might be able to help in the future, use it for a voyage.'

Er, what about the ...' The door opened to interrupt me, and Vito came in wheeling a trolley with four large platters of hor's d'oeuvres on it, as well as two fresh drinks. He placed it by the coffee table, which was in front of the settee, and then withdrew, shutting the door behind him. Carlo picked up a small plate from underneath and gestured to the food, Shall I?'

`Please,' I said in a small voice. He put some items onto the plate and passed it to me with a small fork. He then put some onto another and then he sat down beside me.

`Where are the other guests?' I asked.

`Guests? You are my guest Francis. Do we need others?'

I let this pass and took a small piece from my plate to eat. In spite of my trepidations, I ate it and found that it was absolutely delicious, so much so, I took another piece. He smiled and put his plate down and turned to me.

Francis,' he began, his arm going onto the back of the settee behind my head. From the rear, no pun intended, when I first saw you standing at the rail, beautiful though that sight was, with the slight breeze lifting the hem of your dress up so tantalisingly, I knew that you would also be beautiful to behold from the front, and I was right. My first impulse was to kiss you there and then, but I could see that I would first have to win your trust. I hope that is what I am doing now. All of us have things to hide, and there are some things that are best kept hidden.' His hand took away my plate and placed it on the table, and then took my hand in his. `I want to kiss and make love to you.'

`But you can't,' I blurted out.

`Why? Did you not want to kiss me?'

`Yes, but...but there are certain things...things you should know...' He put his finger to my lips to stop me speaking further.

`When Vito brought in the trolley, he interrupted you?'

`Yes,' I answered in a small voice, because I had a premonition as to what was coming next.

`You were going to ask about the Count d'Eider?'

`Yes,' it coming out as a whisper.

So my dear Francis, there are many things I do know,' he leaned in closer to me and I could smell the light aftershave he used, and I think you have understood why I would like to kiss you. May I kiss you now?'

`Yes please,' I said in an almost childlike way, and he did so. Pulling me my shoulders round, gently, so that my body turned and I was lying across his lap as he bent his head for our lips to meet. They were so soft that they seemed to melt against mine as we kissed. His lips were slightly parted so mine did the same for them to fit together, and I felt the tip of his tongue seek and find mine.

I could feel his erection beneath my back and I began to get one because of his kissing. His free hand stroked my leg, pulling up my dress to reveal my naked thigh above the stocking. His hand kept stroking me till it eventually moved high enough to cup my balls. I wasn't wearing panties as usual. Then he took hold of my erection and began to rub it gently.

Carlo,' I gasped, breaking our mouth contact, I can't take much more of that without making a mess.'

He released me and putting his arm under my legs, his other arm already being under my shoulders, lifted me up into his arms and stood up from the settee. I would have deemed it impossible to be lifted up like that from his sitting position, but he appeared to do it with ease. He carried me to the bedroom door and gave it a kick that was immediately opened by Vito and we changed rooms.

With the door kicked shut, Carlo laid me on the bed and quickly got undressed and I gave a little gasp when he turned round and I saw the size of his tool. It looked like a bludgeon in comparison to what I had seen or handled before, swinging ponderously between his thighs. He smiled at the fright that must have showed on my face.

`Don't be frightened my dear,' he said as he knelt on the bed and helped me up so that he could take off my dress.

It's big,' I whispered. I don't know if I will be able to manage it.'

`Try it for size,' he said, kneeling upright before my face and I watched it sway before my eyes. I gave my lips a lick and moving into a more comfortable position, took it in my hand that seemed so small by comparison. I couldn't even get my fingers to meet as I grasped it. It felt as heavy as it looked, and my mouth had gone all dry. I think my eyes must have shown my fear as I looked up from the swollen head of his cock, half exposed from under the stretched foreskin, to his face.

`I'll be gentle Francis, I promise,' he said with a smile on his face. Collecting saliva in my mouth, I eventually opened up and took him in. The beads of love juice that had sparkled on the end tasted so sweet as I took it in. At least I was able to get my lips to make a seal around the base of his head, but it was difficult to use my tongue. But at least I was able to give him a little bit of head.

After a few minutes, he eased me off and told me to roll over. I did as I was told and while lying on my stomach, I watched him get some cream and rub it over the head of his cock, and with some more, much more, on his finger, came back over to the bed. I raised myself up onto my knees and watched his creamed tool waving in front of my face as he liberally smeared my rear.

I gave out a scream as the head of him was pushed into me. I'm sure he'd split or torn me as he pushed it in, stretching me as I'd never been stretched before, or since. The pain eased to a throb as it passed the muscle and pushed further into me, the shaft following and filling me completely. I think the cream had an analgesic compound in it, because the pain quickly went till all I could feel was this gigantic throbbing inside that seemed to vibrate the whole of my insides.

Then with his hands on my hips he began the slow and steady progress of fucking me, and what a glorious fuck it was. With his steady in and out rhythm, he touched parts in me that no other man had touched before. I drooled at the sensations that flowed from deep within me and seemed to ooze out from every pore as he started to drive me wild. I even began to start pushing back, begging for him to go deeper and deeper.

I came myself copiously as he fucked me. With Carlo's cock reaming me, every forward thrust made my own cock jerk, till it eventually, jerked itself off. My load shot out in steady bursts every time his thick thighs reached my bum. I came and came and came, till all was gone, leaving a string of sperm hanging from the end of my poor sized cock to the mess on the bed, it wavering with every movement of my body.

Then he came inside me! With his pelvic bone grinding tight up to my rear, his balls banging against my arse. I felt his cock head swell each time he fired off his rounds, felt them pepper my insides. God, it was wonderful. I cried out with pleasure, then cried out when he suddenly withdrew. It was a cry of loss. The sudden emptiness was painful, but not only of the body, it also seemed to be of the heart.

I heard him in the adjoining bathroom, obviously washing himself, and I called out his name. It came out as a croak, or it sounded like that to me. He must have heard me squeak, because he came back into the bedroom. He was drying himself with a towel and it was still big, even at half size there, hanging between his legs.

`Yes my dear?' he asked with a smile.

`I'm in a bit of a mess here. I came all over the bed. Can I use your shower?'

`Of course my sweet,' and he helped me up from the bed and it was all I could do to stand up. He undid my bra and unclipped my stockings and helped me roll them down, and I lifted each foot whilst holding his head as he took them off me.

`Don't forget the belt,' he called out as I made my unsteady way to the bathroom. I unclipped it and let it fall to the carpet as I went in and got into his shower. I had to be careful to keep my hair out of the stream of water because I didn't see a hair dryer anywhere. I washed my face and then the front clean of my sticky ejaculation, but I couldn't bear to touch my rear end.

Carlo,' I whimpered as I came out of the bathroom, I hurt.' He was already dressed, but he quickly came over to me.

You poor dear, come here,' and he beckoned me to the bed. Don't fret now. Let me take this towel and bend over.'

`No. Not again,' I pleaded.

`Don't be silly, I'm only going to use this cream.' Then I felt the cold soothing balm being smeared up the crack of my arse. It was almost instant in its effect of reducing the burning since my shower, and having the member of Carlo stretch me. That cream was a Godsend and after its application could at least stand upright. He'd picked up my things and had them ready for me. He started to offer them to me, but I waved them away.

`I'll put them on later. If you would just help me on with my dress please, I'd be most grateful.' This he did and then I stuffed my under things into my handbag.

Let's go into the other room,' he said, opening the door and I meekly followed him. Vito got up from his chair and silently went through into the bedroom and closed the door. Carlo sat down on the settee and held out his hand to me. Come here darling, you'll be more comfortable sitting here,' and he sat me down in his lap and held me as you would a small child.

`I'm sorry if I hurt you, my sweet. I seem to forget that I'm, er, slightly bigger than a lot of men.'

It's not so bad now,' I said, moving slightly to adjust my position and cuddling in a little closer to his body and his arm that held me there. That cream has helped,' I continued, `but it's not your fault. I wanted it. It...it was that I was not quite prepared for...for such a big man.' I gave him a wan smile.

`Here, you've hardly eaten a thing. Try this,' and he put a small covered biscuit into my mouth. He slowly fed me as if I was a child sitting there on his lap, but he did let me hold my own glass to drink. I put the glass down and stroked his cheek.

`Though it hurt at first, I loved it. I've never had one so good.'

`You too were wonderful my little Queen of the Seas,' he said, giving me a kiss on the forehead.

`How do you know to call me that, and about the Count?

It was him that told me,' he said with a little laugh. I met him in Paris, just before I went to London to catch the ship. He told me of this wonderful girl/boy called the Queen of the Seas, and how much pleasure he/she had given him. He even told me your name.'

`That wasn't very nice of him,' I remonstrated.

`Please...don't take him to task. He only told me out of loyalty.'

`Explain that, and also I think you said something about having this suite permanently booked, and yet he was in it on the trip home.'

`Well the Count and my father, at odd times, used to help each other out in business before the war. When the Germans invaded France, there were er, certain assets that had to be got out of Paris before they entered the city. At the request of my father, the Count got these er, assets out of Paris and out of France. As the Germans overran the country, the Count couldn't return, or he would have been shot, so he went with them to Australia, where he looked after them throughout the war. With it all settled now, the war I mean, the Count was able to return to France, and father made this suite and other cabins available to him and his party to return home.'

`What were these er, assets?'

That my dear, is something I cannot tell you, except to say that they were, and still are, very important to my family,' he said, tilting my head back to kiss me on the lips. I'm on my way out there to see that all is well.' He saw that my glass was empty, and called out to Vito for some more drinks. Vito came in and saw to the replenishment of our glasses and silently left the room again.

`Doesn't he ever speak?' I whispered to Carlo.

`Of course he does when asked a direct question,' he laughed.

`Where does he sleep?'

`In here. He has a camp bed somewhere, which he sets up at night for sleeping on.'

`Isn't it uncomfortable, I mean him always being around you, not the camp bed thing?'

`No, not really. I'm used to it.'

`Even when you, er, and someone like me are in the other room, er, doing...?'

No,' he laughed again. I even let him watch sometimes, and has even joined in a couple of times.'

Oh, I wouldn't like that,' I said, and to change that subject, asked, Does he get paid a lot for looking after you?'

`You mean like a pay check every week?'

`Yes.'

`No. He doesn't receive any money. He doesn't need it. He has his food, clothes and lodgings and anything he wants, he only has to ask.'

`Then why does he do it if he doesn't get anything out of it?'

`Oh but he does. Let me explain.' He took a deep draught of his drink and I did the same and snuggled up closer in his lap, the ache in my bum forgotten.

When he was twelve, he came, don't interrupt me now,' he said, closing my mouth as I was about to speak. He came to work in our family business. Doing odd jobs and running errands, so to speak. Then when he reached twenty, he was offered the job of looking after me. This he accepted.' He held up a finger to forestall me.

I know what you are going to ask and I will tell you. When he has been with me for fifteen years and reaches the age of thirty five, and is still alive,' those last few words made me shudder, he retires. He is given a house and a small vineyard and has the choice of any marriageable girl of the village he has chosen, and a pension for life, which is enough for him to live and raise a family on. He still has the vineyard to earn whatever he can make out of it. Then he will sire several sons, and in time, he will send them to work for my family. If he has any daughters, they will eventually grow up and marry like their mother.'

`It's almost feudal! He can pick any girl from a village and she has to marry him?' I asked incredulously.

Pick!' he laughed. They will positively throw themselves at him. It means security for them, less of a burden on their family and she can even help them out financially. Believe me, it works.'

`What is it your family do?' I then asked.

`We're in the er, olive oil business. Now I think it was time for you to be on your way,' he said, giving my back a little rub, and he helped me up from his lap, and when standing, kissed me. His lips were still soft on mine for a while and I almost lost myself again in his embrace. He broke off the kiss and handed me my bag and escorted me to the door. Before he opened it, he pulled a small tube from his pocket and put it in my bag.

`Put some of this on before the show and some more before you go to bed. It will help,' he smiled.

Can I...can we...,' I came over all shy, can we again sometime?' I finally got out.

`Yes my darling, soon,' and with a last peck, I left to go to the lounge and the dressing room.

Diane was already there, doing her make-up when I got in and leaned back against the closed door. `My God, you look a wreck,' she said.

`I feel like one, the wreck of the Hesperus.'

`Well? What was it like? Were many people there and you look as if you had a good time?'

`A good time was had by one and all. I was the one had by one and he was the all. It was just the two of us.'

`Give me the gory details then,' she asked, sitting on the edge of her chair.

`By God he was big! I think I screamed when he pushed it into me, and my arse is so sore I don't know if I can sit down yet. I think you'd be the same too it was so big.'

`Well you won't be doing that again with him then,' she said, fussing around and making up some padding for me to sit down on.

Oh but I will,' I said dreamily, a small smile on my face. It was gorgeous even though it did hurt. I've never felt so truly fucked before in my life,' making my way to the chair and gingerly lowered myself down onto it. `He even gave me some cream to use. It helped earlier, and I think I'd better put some on now.' I got up again and peeled off my dress and Diane went and leaned against the door as I got the tube of cream out of my bag and smeared some round my bum.

`We should really get this door lock repaired,' Diane said, as I finished with the cream and started to put on my underwear, adding a pair of panties this time. With the lower half clothed and my bra fixed, she came off from the door and brushed my hair for me.

That's better,' she said, putting the brush down, you'll look fine when you've done your face.' Which I had then, just started to do, and inside ten minutes, I looked my same radiant self again.

David came in then and sat down to check himself out in his mirror after saying his good evenings to us. He lightly touched up his own make-up and asked if we were nearly ready, as Diane and I were getting into our dresses.

David?' He looked up at me as I smoothed down my dress, Can we do a little change to tonight's programme. I can't really do the dance routines tonight. I think I've strained a muscle.' I heard Diane smother a snort of laughter behind me. I was barely able to keep a straight face as I waited for his answer. Since Cynthia had her accident, he'd kept back a series of routines if ever one of us ever had a similar problem, like now.

`Not serious I hope?' he asked, a look of concern on his face which was a rare sight indeed.

`No. I had a bit of stiffness there a little while ago and it seems it pulled a muscle. It should be all right tomorrow.' I had an even greater strain not to laugh as Diane was behind me, turning her laugh into a coughing fit.

`Yes we can do that. We can do the stand by script that we've already rehearsed. You okay with that Diane?'

`Yes,' she managed to blurt out, still hiding her face behind me.

Okay,' he said, rising and going to the door, come on now, we're due on.' With that, we followed him out and did our show for that evening.

I'm glad that I'd asked to cut out my dance routines, because by the time we'd finished, I could barely walk straight. Giving the bar a miss, I went straight down to the cabin with Diane.

She helped me undress and not without some difficulty, helped me up onto my bunk where I lay down on my front most gratefully. Diane, bless her, put some cream on me and gently rubbed it in, and it really did soothe me and I was soon asleep.

To be continued.