The Michael Arram stories are now beginning to appear together at: http://www.iomfats.org/storyshelf/hosted/arram
This story contains graphic depictions of sex between young males. If the reading or possessing of such material as this is illegal in your place of residence please leave this site immediately and do not proceed further. If you are under the legal age to read this, please do not do so.
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A bang at the door woke the boys at six thirty: the entwined couples stirred. Justin farted catastrophically. It quickly swamped the lingering scent of sex in the room.
There, I fucking told you,' Nathan groaned. He threw off the covers and wrinkled his nose in distaste. Shall we shower in pairs?' he asked. He dragged Justin out naked into the corridor and along to the showers. Henry and Ed began kissing, until Henry broke off, dived under the duvet, and spent ten minutes sucking Ed off. When the others came back, Henry scampered off hand in hand with his Ed to take their turn, and took him in a standing fuck in the stall, which was not something he'd previously tried, and their relative heights meant that Ed had to adopt an odd position so as to try it.
They strolled back with towels over shoulders, grinning as they passed David coming out of his room in his boxers. He stood in awe at the bodies passing by; they gave him a kiss, and Henry rubbed his cock through his pants as they passed. David groaned, `What did I miss last night?'
They were demurely in blazers and ties in reception by seven thirty. The breakfast was as basic as the rooms, but they could at least eat as many croissants and rolls as they could stuff down themselves. No fuckin Cheerios', grumbled Justin, only fuckin millet.'
`OK little ones, listen up. In Rothenia it is election day and we must be in the country by the end of it, waiting for the results. If Maritz wins, life will get very interesting. If Bermann wins, we slink back to England, cos there'll be nothing else that we can do. I hope it's as simple as that, but you never know.'
Henry was at his post as the minibus pulled away. By the time they crossed the German frontier and were following the signs for Munster on the autobahn, Henry was convinced that there were cars following them. He mentioned this to Terry, who laughed and told him he was very clever. He called back to Justin and asked him if Henry was right, and Justin guffawed, giving accurate descriptions of three cars and their drivers.
`Justin's a natural, little Henry babe. He's quick on his feet and very observant. It's his criminal background. Yeah they're all my team. They're taking it in turns to tail us, five cars back, and five cars forward.'
They pulled off for an early lunch at Gottingen in a modern restaurant near the university. They were allowed no more than an hour, and the van was off again. It was a long and tedious journey. Rudi and David shared the MP3 player which Rudi had the sense to bring, and Justin dozed, something that he could do for long periods, like a squirrel, as Nathan said. Nathan and Ed talked off and on. They had fallen into quite a close friendship; they did have a lot in common. Meanwhile Terry piled on the miles through Saxony, crossing into the Czech Republic and heading up the valley of the Vltava till they saw the splendour of Prague beneath the Zhiskov radio mast. Henry's skills were tested to the limit as he got them to the rendezvous point next to the National Theatre.
You'll like this place, Henry' Terry said. He led them into a large art deco cafe overlooking the street and the river. He seated and ordered meals and drinks for them. Terry pointed out a picture of absinthe drinkers from the 1890s, Thass famous, that,' he said. He made them eat heartily saying ominously that he could not guarantee their next meal.
An English couple stopped off at their table and said hello. The man was charmed to see them as he was an Old Medwardinian, and he had recognised their ties and blazers. Terry hissed at Henry to give him a games teacher's name. He stood up and introduced himself as Mr Walker.
`It must be exeat week,' the stranger said.
`Er ... yeah,' Terry mumbled.
We're on our way to Rothenia, we're the Year 11 tennis team,' Henry butted in brightly, smiling. We're playing the High School at Modenehem, the Rothenian champions, tomorrow.'
We called it the fifth form when I was at Edward VI,' the man said with a smile. Are they good these Rothenians?'
`The fuckin best, mate,' said Justin into a suddenly frozen group.
The couple stared open-mouthed at Justin. Terry leaned close to the guy and whispered `Tourette's Syndrome.'
`Aah!' said the wife and explained it to her husband. He still looked taken aback as he wished them luck and moved on.
As soon as they were gone, Terry gave Justin a stinging crack behind the ear. `Plonker!'
`Ouch.'
There was a five mile queue at the Rothenian frontier. All cars were being checked, not just lorries, as was the usual case. It was late evening by the time green uniformed border police banged the side of the van and asked Terry for the group's passports. They gave them a cursory check and asked their destination. A labrador was sent in and sniffed round the van, getting quite interested in Justin, `Geroff, mutt!' he said uneasily. The dog lolloped off and they were sent on their way.
`Get us to Modenehem, Henry. It'll be about half an hour from the frontier. Christ, I'm knackered.'
Five minutes later, Justin announced, `New car following us, Terry.'
Terry went suddenly into a very controlled mode. `Giss a description, Justy.'
`Black BMW, three blokes wiv cropped hair, three cars back. Our cars are nowhere to be seen.'
`Let me know if they move to pass us, oh, and Rudi?'
`Yeah, Terry?'
Keep your head down. Henry, feel inside my jacket under my left armpit, and pull out what you find there.' Henry pulled out a pistol which he held gingerly. Now, put it in between my legs.' Henry complied, feeling very nervous. `Next Henry, in my left jacket pocket is my mobile. Pull it out and get the directory up. Got it? OK you'll see a number against the name Antonin. Ring it and when it's answered -- as I hope to God it will be -- say the word "Renovatio".'
`That's all?'
`Get to it.'
Henry did. The tones were quickly followed by a male voice saying `Prosim?'
`Renovatio,' Henry said trying not to let his voice shake.
There was a breathless pause, followed by a suppressed exclamation and the line went dead.
Lads,' Terry announced, I'm sorry to say that life is about to get exciting. They've taken out our escort somehow, but we're not quite as defenceless as they might think. Justy, shout out when they move to come alongside us, which they will do in about five minutes I would guess. Then all of you get down on the floor, and don't you fucking dare look up.'
It was only three minutes later that Justin yelled. Terry shouted, `Now on the floor boys, I'm hitting the pedal. The van surged forward into the traffic, careering round a Hungarian cattle truck and gaining speed up the fast line. Terry was looking intently in the wing mirrors.
Fuck, we'll never lose em.' Henry, keep your head down. Cat's out of the bag now. I `spect they'll have cars up ahead to block us. So we get off this road damn quick.'
The motorway chase went on for four more minutes. At the intersection before Modenehem Terry pulled off an almost suicidal turn through the traffic on the outer lanes and roared down the ramp, screeching round the roundabout and on to a road heading east signposted for Medeln. They were on a two lane country road now, `You know where we're going Terry?' shouted Justin from the back.
`Hope so, sneak a peek and tell us if they're still with us.'
Justin knelt up, and as he did the back window burst in with a crack. Justin dived, glass in his hair, Yeah, still wiv us,' he said coolly. They seem to be getting fed up wiv us too.'
Bastards,' hissed Terry, firing at a busload of kids.'
With one very dangerous kid,' responded Rudi. Terry, if they're gonna catch up with us, it's me they want, and I'd rather they got me than have the blood of my friends on my head too. Pull over.'
`Sir, no! You're not just a man, you're Rothenia's future, and it's us that are expendable.'
A faint crack reached them as another shot was taken at the bus. It seemed to miss. The road wound about and Terry was able to make the van a difficult target. But they came at last to a straight stretch and two quick shots took out a rear tyre. The van swayed and Terry had no choice. He swerved on to a farm track, burst a gate into flinders and pulled up. Out, out!' he yelled throwing open the side doors. The lads ran into the woods. Down!' They huddled behind him, and Ed threw himself down over Henry, hugging him to him. Terry took a bead on the path. A movement down the track drew a shot from him.
Ha!' he said, that'll slow em down a bit. They want you alive, sir. They're not firing to kill ...' A volley of shots ripped through the leaves above them, .. or possibly they are.'
Terry,' said Ed, we should head deeper into the woods and try and hide Rudi.'
`No. Our best hope is to stay here. And will you stop bobbing up and trying to see what's goin' on Justy!'
`What do you know that we don't?' asked Nathan.
Terry listened carefully. `That,' he said. They strained to hear. There was a sudden drone in the air, getting louder, deeper and angrier. Soon it was a roaring and the branches and leaves around them thrashed. A big green helicopter moved slowly over the treetops above them. There was a thunder of heavy machine guns and the black BMW down the track exploded into flames, the heat and concussion buffeting their faces. Two other helicopters were settling into a field, and troops in battledress were pouring out. The boys stood up, overwhelmed. Terry holstered his gun, with a grin on his face.
`You OK, sir? Lads?'
Henry started breathing again, `Fine Terry ... by the way, I just ain't Matt Damon material, I've decided.' Ed grabbed and hugged his shoulder. He could feel Ed's heart pounding, and he was shaking.
A party of a dozen helmeted soldiers with machine guns led by an officer in a flak jacket and peaked cap were coming up the track. They stopped and the officer came forward. His eyes searched the group, fixing on Rudi. He snapped to attention, clicked his heels in the Germanic way and saluted crisply. `Welcome home to Rothenia, Your Majesty,' he said.
Rudi came forward very coolly and shook the officer's hand, and asked in Rothenian, `Your name, soldier?'
Major Antonin of the Presidential Guard, sir.' He turned back to his men. The salute!' he ordered. The squad came to rigid attention and presented arms. Rudi smiled and asked the major to put his men at ease.
`Have you secured the gangsters?'
`Yes, sir. What would you like done with them?'
`Keep them in custody for now. I need to get to Modenehem, have you some inconspicuous form of transport available? I'm afraid our van will no longer serve.'
The major smiled and saluted again, `As the king commands,' he snapped.
`Not yet, major, and depending on the people, maybe not ever. But I thank you and your men in the name of the house of Elphberg. By the way, how the hell did you know where we were and that we were in danger?'
The major succeeded in looking boyish. `A company of troops is just coming up now, sir. You and your friends can ride back in one of the trucks. And the reason that we knew was that the president put the Guards depot in Modenehem on alert three days ago. Mr O'Brien was given authority to call us out as a last resort and the General Staff has been tracking your van with GPS by means of the signal from Mr O'Brien's mobile phone since it crossed the frontier.'
Henry had been following the conversation intently, and he laughed when the significance of his phone call was explained.
Rudi turned to Terry, `You might have told me about your fail-safe, Terry.'
`I hoped it wouldn't be necessary. Could I advise you, sir, that we must keep you under cover till at least tomorrow.'
Henry noticed how Rudi suddenly was no longer a teenage schoolboy, but very much now in control of events. Terry was no longer telling him what to do, and was offering advice very deferentially. He looked at his friend, and realised that he was not what he had been. Rudi was a king returned to his kingdom, and he expected to be treated as such. Even experienced and grown men, like Major Antonin and Terry were bending to his will.
Henry remembered something and tugged at Terry's arm, `What about Jenna, Terry?' he asked urgently. Terry slapped his head and took his mobile back off Henry. He rang Jenna's number and paced up and down till he got a reply. He talked a while and smiled at Henry.
`Still at the frontier, little Henry babe. It looks like we were spotted by RSDP sympathisers in the border police. They let us through, but pulled our escort over. Jenna said they were stopping any car with British or Americans inside. She's dead frustrated, poor babe. They must have teams looking for Rudi at every major entry point and airport. That was our only luck. If there had been a bigger team at this frontier we might have been boxed in and pulled off the road a lot earlier.'
Three army trucks roared up at that point and a company of infantry marshalled in the road. Major Antonin escorted Rudi back down the lane. As he reached the troops an order was shouted, and with a crash the soldiers presented arms and the officers saluted. Rudi smiled and the major paced behind him as he inspected the guardsmen and exchanged a few words with the soldiers, some of them forgetting discipline and smiling, even though they were an elite unit. It looked very odd indeed to see a boy in English school uniform taking the salute from a line of full grown men in battledress. At the end of the line, a lieutenant removed his cap and quite unselfconsciously went down on his right knee, took Rudi's hand and kissed it. Rudi put his hand on the young man's head and said a few Rothenian words to him. The young officer stood again beaming with pride.
Henry whispered to Ed, `He's just said a lord's blessing to his vassal ... the officer must be from a noble family.'
`I think at last I see how desperately this country wants its king back. It's so formal a land and its rituals only work when there's a king to orchestrate them. Rudi, Will and Oskar know what they're doing.'
The army truck had them outside the Tarlenheim house in the small cathedral city of Modenehem in fifteen minutes. The major himself rode in the back with them, and stood at the salute as Rudi and the rest jumped down with their bags. He thumped the back of the cab and the truck growled off down the road. They were alone again.
OK guys, I see we're expected.' The front door of the big town house burst open and Fritz tore across the courtyard. He hurled himself at Justin, giving him a huge hug and a double kiss on the cheeks. Justin laughed and hugged the boy back. Oskar and Will followed the young prince out and stopped in front of Rudi. Oskar bowed from the waist and when Fritz had let go of Justin he knelt before Rudi as the officer had, kissed his hand and received the same blessing. Oskar had tears in his eyes as he said, To think, sir, that an Elphberg would be coming home to his kingdom in my lifetime. Welcome to our house. But get in fast. We don't want you seen by too many people.'
As the double doors closed behind them, Fritzy grabbed Henry and hugged him, `It's great, Henry. It's like being in the spy movies. And Oskar ... wow, he's like some revolutionary leader: Oskar the Red! The RSDP had people watching us till Oskar talked to the police commandant who had his men pick them up. The Social Democrats are strong here in Husbrau, but the Tarlenheims count for much more in this city.'
Henry looked over Fritzy: he had grown since he had last seen him, and was quite equal in height to Henry now. He had filled out in his shoulders and there was more than just down on his upper lip. The boyish prettiness was still there but was fast turning into something more manly. This was going to be a very handsome prince, all the signs said. `And Natasha?'
Fritz looked lofty, `I have moved on, I found her a little immature for my taste.'
`So that's two girls that have dumped you.'
For the first time since Henry had known him, Fritz looked annoyed, and annoyed at him. Oops, Henry said to himself, I'm not good at reading heterosexuals. Fritz gave him a quirky look, `I wish I had a friend who knew about girls ... there are too many gays in my life.'
`I'm sorry, Fritzy. I'm an idiot. I should remember what being fourteen is like.'
In the meantime the others had moved into one of the reception rooms. Fritzy took Henry's hand and squeezed it, by which he knew he was forgiven. Then he led them into a room which had been transformed into some sort of command centre. Computers were running, and several channels were playing on muted TV monitors. There were people with earpiece mikes working on the terminals, and a meeting was going on around the table. But everybody had stood when Rudi had entered the room. There was a burst of applause and a lot of smiling. He went round being introduced to people, and receiving the short jerky bow which Rothenians gave to kings and princes.
There was not much room for a party of English schoolboys, and after they had briefly looked around, Terry took them all, apart from Rudi, out again into the hall, Fritz came with them.
Upstairs is less crowded, if you want.' said Fritz, and they followed him up the balustraded stairs. Henry introduced David to Fritz. Nice to meet you, David,' he said, and added regretfully, `another gay I suppose.'
David smiled and admitted it. They filed into the upstairs drawing room, with a line of tall windows overlooking the street. Henry looked out and noticed the RSDP posters on the streetlamps and telegraph poles outside the front courtyard. But there were others, with the Elphberg lion, red on gold, and a crown. There seemed more of them. Other than that Modenehem seemed to be going about its daily business. The evening angelus was ringing, concluding vespers in the cathedral. A jet airliner was passing overhead.
Terry threw himself on a sofa, `That's me job done lads. I've delivered me royal package, and you're safe too. Nathan, ring Matt and Andy and tell them job's done and everybody's OK. And when you describe what happened at the frontier, will you sorta play down the drama. Don't want them worried do we?'
Nathan looked incredulous, `We were shot at for God's sake!'
They sat around, still in school uniform. `What we gonna do now then, Terry?' Justin asked.
`Don't be disappointed, Justy. I doubt the action is over yet, but my responsibility for it is, thankfully. I'm juss glad I got you all here safely. But there's big events goin' on here boys, and you'll be glad you wuz here for it. Take in the grandstand view. History's bein' made and we wuz part of it for a while.'