In the following story, all of the characters are totally fictive and the setting is real. For whomever it would be illegal, immoral or prohibited for any other reason whatsoever to read a story about love between two young men is kindly requested to refrain from continuing. A free picture album illustrating this story (pdf) is available upon request at marin.giustinian@laposte.net. Please remember to help Nifty stay online by sending your contribution. This being said, I hope you enjoy the tale.
RAINBOWS GALORE (part two)
by Marin Giustinian
Nowadays in Ullapool, Scotland
Ferguson came into the shed where Gael was refinishing a skiff.
"Gael, how are you doing with the job?"
"I'll finish sanding this evening and varnish the first coat tomorrow morning."
"So do you think you can spare me an hour or two around about 10:00? There's going to be some wind. We'll need an extra hand to help Glen raise the anchor and tow her up here."
"No problem, Sir."
"Fine. Carry on."
Gael whistled like a nightingale in love as he sanded even faster. He couldn't wait for tomorrow.
Ferguson called Glen, telling him that he and Gael would be at his boat around 10:30. Glen confirmed that he'd be aboard. He closed his phone and started whistling. Then he had an idea. He called Gael.
Gael saw Glen's call coming in.
"Hello Glen!"
"Hello Gael, I know we'll see each other on the boat tomorrow. Ferguson called."
"That's correct. I'm glad."
"Me too... Listen, I've got an idea. When Ferguson and I get things done at the boatyard, he said he could drive me back. I thought if you could meet me back in Ullapool, after work, we could go somewhere and make some music just the two of us like we did the other night. If you want we could even go out to eat somewhere. How does that sound?"
"That sounds great!"
"Good! See you tomorrow!"
"Yeah, tomorrow!"
The weather was gusty with clear skies. Gael stood beside Ferguson at the wheel of his launch as they pulled away from the ramp into the loch. They rounded the knoll, passed in front of the old tweed mill, as the boats moored off shore of Ullapool came into sight.
"You see the black boat to the right, with a single mast and a long bowsprit? That's Glen's hooker," shouted Ferguson, pointing a bit to starboard.
"Hooker? That's what we call a whore where I come from!"
"Yeah, I know. But that's the name of that kind of boat from Ireland. From Galway Bay to be exact. I told you he had, so to speak, salvaged her. From what I understand, she broke down and the guy who owned her was flat broke. Having to rid himself of her, he might near gave her to Glen for halfway nothing. Hooker or whore, both suit that boat. She drove the guy penniless. But Glen's always dreamt of having his boat, so be her a whore or a saint, she's now his and he's happy!" shouted Ferguson, laughing in the wind at his own logical conclusion.
Glen was standing on deck, his long blond, windblown hair, dancing in the wind. Gael felt a surge of admiration, staring at his fair-haired fiddler.
"Glen looks really happy and handsome on his... hooker! Ha!" exclaimed Gael.
Ferguson just winked at Gael. The wind was coming down from the loch. The hooker was facing the right direction for the tow upwind to the boatyard.
As they got nearer, Ferguson gave his orders, "Get in back and prepare the towline as I turn and come about to face the wind. You'll scramble aboard with the line and help Glen."
Ferguson came alongside. Gael handed Glen the line as Ferguson shouted, "Take the boy aboard. He'll handle the anchor, you man the tiller!"
Glen grabbed Gael's forearm and yanked him aboard. He ran up front, secured the towline and gave Ferguson a thumbs-up. Ferguson eased forward until the line was taut. He then cranked the windlass and when the anchor was off the bottom, he stood, waved his arms crossed over his head. Ferguson waited until Gael had the anchor on deck before pushing the throttle of the motor, they lurched a bit as the line strained, and underway they went.
"Good morning matey!" exclaimed Glen as Gael came aft to join him.
"Good morning to you too, Glen!"
They tapped each other on the shoulder and stood side by side smiling in the wind. Even if Glen had tidied up the boat some, she still looked terribly neglected.
"Ferguson told me that your new boat was called a hooker. I told him that for me a hooker's a prostitute, a street walking whore, poor lady!" joked Gael.
"You're right about both. I was thinking about renaming her Magdalene, in honour of the redeemed whore Jesus loved."
Gael looked back at Glen with a funny look.
"You don't know the story? It's in the Bible."
"I know the name, but not the story," responded Gael looking puzzled.
"I'll tell it to you later."
Gael made a little inspection tour. He peeked into the cabin, then touched the sail furled on the boom and came back up to Glen.
"You've got quite a job ahead of you to redeem this hooker, Glen! I'd be proud to help you in my off hours, it you want."
"That's really kind of you! I'll be needing it. I don't know yet what has to be done. I'll make plans once I've hoisted her ashore and given her a thorough inspection."
"Is Ferguson giving you a good deal for the use of his yard?"
"Of course, he's a neighbour! He's one of us!" curtly reacted Glen.
Gael understood that Highlanders are like that.
In spite of the wind and no motor, they finished by slipping the boat into the lifting sling. The crane lifted her out of the water and drove her over to her berth on the far end of the yard. Once the job was done, Glen thanked Gael for his help and asked, "Are you still up for some music and a dinner this evening?"
"More than ever! I've got to get back on my job now. I'm off at 4:00 PM."
"I'm going to finish up with Ferguson and then get back to town. I'm working on a fishing boat. We can meet at the Macphail Centre. Just ask anybody and they'll show you where it is. It's a place for cultural activities. Our little trio -- now quartet, if you agree -- rehearses there. I reserved us a practice room. Also, I hope you like seafood. We've a table reserved for 7:00 PM at the Ferry Boat Inn."
"We'll split the bill."
"Not at all, man! You're my guest!"
Gael looked at his feet, a bit confused and bashful, then up at Glen, saying, "Thanks again, Glen! You've got a date!"
Glen replied, smiling ironically inside, "Yes... that's right, a date... See you there at 5:00 PM. Is that okay?"
"I'll be there."
Gael shaved, showered and dressed in his best before jumping on this bike, finding Glen in town.
The weather was better, no more wind. The winter evening was crispy clear. Gael was excited as he pulled up to the Centre.
"My! You're better looking than usual!" exclaimed Glen as he backed off and checked Gael from head to toe, his pale blue topaz eyes smiling.
"You're making me turn red again, Glen! Ease up!"
"But it's true! I'm flattered to have such a good looking bloke like you with me!" he said, teasingly touching Gael's cheek.
Shying away, he replied, "I'm proud to be with you too! But besides that, I want to know what you and Ferguson found concerning the condition of the boat?"
"The wood's okay. Sounds solid when you knock and resists the stab of my pocket knife. However, he said it's about time to redo the caulking below the waterline. Also, I decided to put two side keels under her. I don't want to be stuck having to stay in tide-free waters, like in some harbours, nor laying on her side when the tide's out. It'll help for her tacking upwind too. But I'm totally inexperienced in woodwork. Do you think it's a hard job to do?"
"No problem. I think I could handle that."
"You'd do that for me?"
"Sure, it's not that much work."
"That's really great of you, man! We'll talk about it later. Let's go in. Music's waiting!"
Once inside, they took off their wraps.
"Gael, could you give me a Concert C. I want to tune up with you."
"Here you go."
Glen tuned to perfectly match Gael's penny-whistle.
"Now we can really play it tight, nice and close, without any sour notes. What I liked the other night was the ballad you played. I'm too used to playing jigs where the rhythm counts more than the melody. Your whistle was like singing. Full of feeling. I liked that. Could you play me another ballad that I can blend in with?"
"Here's a tune I really like!"
Gael began, and the miracle happened once more. They went on from tune to tune, like that for nearly a half an hour.
"You're doing well, Glen. Now it's your turn! I want a jig! Otherwise we'll get moody..."
"I like getting moody with you, man! But if you want a jig..."
Glen struck a G and away they went. Once they had finished, they broke out laughing. Then Gael almost collapsed in a chair by the little table.
"Let's take a break. I had a big day... And, just for information... I'm still waiting for the story..." informed Gael as he shook the spit out of his whistle and rubbed his lips.
Glen put his fiddle on the table and drew up a chair beside Gael.
"What story?"
"The story of Mary Magdalene."
"You don't know the Bible at all?"
"Never went to church. My folks aren't believers..." replied Gael, stroking his whistle, looking deep into Glen's eyes.
"Well, here goes..."
Glen resumed the story of how Jesus befriended the woman who had the bad reputation of being a harlot.
"He loved everybody and didn't care if she was righteous or not. He befriended her little brother too. Jesus didn't care. He loved both of them, with all his heart, his soul -- and his body, I'm sure."
"I can see why he ended up bad then. People don't like people who love without obeying their rules, loving a whore and her brother!"
Glen laughed and carried on telling about how Jesus brought her brother back from the dead because he loved him and finished his story by saying that at the end, everybody had abandoned Jesus, hanging on the cross, everybody except Mary, his mother, Mary Magdalene, and his beloved John.
"Beloved John?"
"Listen, I'm going to borrow a New Testament from the church for you. You read it. There's the whole story in it four times."
"So now tell me how did you get the boat? Ferguson told me you more or less salvaged it."
"Well, I did save her. Let's wait until we're in the restaurant... What about some more music before we go?"
Gael replied, "Always!"
They alternated playing alone and then together. It was like a conversation between their hearts. A lot of wordless feelings flowed between them as their souls drifted closer and closer on the notes of their music.
They came to a kind of conclusion and Gael said, "My lips can't take any more! I seem to play a lot deeper when I'm making music with you!"
"My fingers and arm are spent too!" exclaimed Glen.
"That was a great, Glen! A wonderful moment. Thanks!"
"I thank you too, Gael. It's just the beginning, I hope."
The Ferry Boat Inn was only 800 feet away. Gael walked his bike as they went.
"What's nice here in Ullapool, is that everything's close by. What's bad here in Ullapool is that the place is too small!" joked Glen.
"You live nearby?"
"Three streets up."
The chill hit them as they hastened their step. Their table was just in front of the fireplace. It felt good to warm their hands and backsides before sitting. Gael was helplessly smiling inside as he realised he was on his first dinner date.
"Do you like craft ale, Gael?"
"I don't know. Your choice is mine!"
Glen ordered two pints of Fuar, a local ale brewed on the loch. They both decided on fish and chips with mashed green peas. Once the first pint was down, conversation became easier.
"Did you leave a weeping girlfriend back in Edinburgh, Gael? Or maybe a whole procession of them? I'm sure a good looking guy like you had them lining up! Look at how Sally fell for you from the start!"
"I'm free as a lark, Glen, and intend to stay that way. Yes, girls have always been attracted to me, but..."
"But what? Come on..."
"But can't you see... I'm bashful. In fact I'm scared of girls. Listen. You're my friend so I'm going to confess something I usually don't mention!"
Gael took a deep swallow of his ale and then stuttered, "I'm a virgin! There!"
"Well, I'll be damned! I'd never have guessed. I think that's really -- how can I put it? That's really 'refined' of you, mate. All of us guys up here fuck before we're fifteen... or at least we brag that we do. I know I did, both brag and fuck -- but now, I'd give anything to be a virgin again. You've never had sex and for me, I'm sick of it! Opposites attract, but the result's the same! No women in view."
"I guess you're right. Poor girls! Ha!"
"Yeah! It's a pity, all those poor little lassies out there, hot for our bodies and here we sit like saints. I'm going to have some dessert. You aren't going to let me indulge alone, are you?"
"Of course not, Glen! Friends share, don't they?"
"That's right, mate!"
After the pie was gone, two glasses, full to the brim of rare old whisky, were set on the table. Glenn said, "It takes a lot of time for whisky to mellow and get stronger at the same time! They say that a whisky must be patient in order to go straight to the heart, without messing you up."
"I guess patience is the key to a lot of things..." commented Gael, struck by the thought.
Glen then told Gael about how he acquired the boat and answering Gael's question, he confessed he didn't know what he was going to do with her.
"Time will tell. I'm not in a hurry! Listen, I want to make some more music with you, mate! Let's make a date for our next get together. We can have Luke and Randy come over to work with us too after our duos, just the both of us. What do you think?"
"Sounds great to me!"
They settled on a date and as Glen went to pay, Gael looked out the window to see northern lights dancing in the sky.
When Glen came out, he gasped, "That's a sight that makes me weep!"
Glen grabbed Gael by the arm and they rushed to the shore's edge just as the wavering stream of light slowly split and shivered, mirroring on the waters.
"Angel wings in the sky! I swear, it looks just like that!" exclaimed Gael.
"That's our night angel calling! One day I'll go beyond the Arctic circle and see the sky full of midwinter light. There's something sacred about it. It makes me warm and horny inside"
"Can I go up there with you, Glen?"
"Of course you can!"
There was an awkward moment as they stood under the glow floating overhead, looking into each other's eyes.
Taking Glen's hand, Gael said, with a tinge of emotion in his voice, "I guess I'll get on my way! I had a wonderful time with you, Glen! Thank you so much!"
"Likewise, Gael."
Then they hugged. They held on to each other just a little bit longer. Each felt the other hardening up as they clung together in full contact. Glen's crotch instinctively nudged Gael's. Gael blushed and nudged back, saying, "So I guess we'll see each other on the boatyard real soon!"
"Yeah, real soon!" replied Glen, stepping back.
Gael jumped on his bike, and in a blink, vanished into the dark. Glen watched him disappear, then headed home. All kinds of contradictions were colliding in his head, but his heart was warmer than it had been in years.
"Must be the alcohol..." muttered Glen to himself as he trudged up the deserted street, suddenly feeling empty, somewhere deep inside.
Gael hastened through the night. His mind was phosphorescent, like the clear winter sky overhead. He spoke to himself, loud and clear, "Now I know why I'm shy of girls... I'm gay! And I don't care! I'm me and I'm in love with Glen! I finally have a friend, a real one. We'll take our time, just like good whisky. With time, he'll mellow and love me too! I'll simply be there for him and, like Sally said, let it happen. Our souls recognise each other. It's a fact like water's wet. Our souls are mating. With time, our flesh shall join our souls and rejoice! Of that I'm sure. Our music told me so. The night angel above came to show me I'm right! Wow!"
Glen showed up on the yard more and more. He and Gael always found a moment to chat. His renovation plans were to restore the boat as if she were new. She was a traditional fishing boat, used to facing the assaults of the Atlantic as it bashed straight into Galway Bay.
He planned to put in a new heavy-duty motor and fuel tank. Also he wanted the latest batteries for running lights and anchorage. He needed power to charge his smartphone too. Things seemed to work without any major problems. The first thing Glen did was clean the bottom. With the help of some other friends, the hull was entirely scrapped. Gael inspected the wood and studied with him how to install the side keels. The boat was extremely sturdy and sound but she direly needed to be re-caulked, sanded and repainted. They installed the two side keels bolting them to the interior frames. The deck was redone, the rudder and hardware made new again.
As the weeks went by, Glen installed the new motor. Gael refinished the tender. He made it look brand new. The new sails arrived from Galway. The shrouds were replaced with stainless cables and the interior of the boat, bilge, and cockpit, all were totally cleansed and repainted, eliminating all traces of grease, oil and stench. Beneath the two hatches in the cockpit floor, there was ample storage for water, coal and kindling, fenders, survival gear, etc.
Other than at work, Glen and Gael met several times a week to play music and share their weekly dinner. The group held two concerts, one before Christmas and another in February. Each time, Glen and Gael's duos brought the house down.
Glen invited Gael to share Christmas lunch in his family. He even received a pair of gloves as a gift. Gael brought a big box of Belgian chocolates for everybody to share too. Gael made a great impression on Mr. and Mrs. Gow. New Year's in the pub was a blast too. Gael stayed sober and made it back to this room all right. Glen was totally out of it!
The work kept Gael busy. Other than Glen's companionship, he enjoyed internet and the books he took out from the local library. They were good after-work company too.
After the brief holiday break, Glen and Gael installed an overhead window hatch. Finally there was daylight in the cabin. A new stove was put in. The old hand-pump and copper sink were restored, polished to a fiery gleam and connected to the new fresh-water tank.
Magdalene was finding once more her stunning, virgin beauty of old. Glen registered her with the authorities in Ullapool. By the end of March, she was finally ready to float again.
"I'm having Ferguson hoist her, and put her in the water tomorrow. I'll anchor her here until I tune the motor and by next week her wood should be nice and tight again. I'm counting on you to help me take her down to Ullapool."
Gael looked at his feet and shrugged, uttering a simple, "Sure. No problem."
"What's wrong, Gael?"
Gael blankly stated, "I said no problem, Glen... I'm just sort of sad the work on your boat's over. My contract ends next week. I'll miss it... and I'll miss you... I'll have to leave here and I don't know where I'll go."
Glen suddenly became upset, worried. It dawned on him that a big change was looming ahead. He began speaking fast, pacing around like a wildcat in a cage.
"Gael! You can't leave! You've got to stay on! We'll find a way. I can't let you go like that. We've done so much together already! We'll go sailing a lot! I swear, Magdalene is yours too! We can find some work, I promise! I don't even think I can handle the boat by myself. You are my first mate! That is, if you accept the job. That's the least I can do for all you've done for me."
"Really?"
"I mean it, Gael. We are now double partners! Partners in music and partners before the mast! You have become really important to me, man! More than a brother."
"How can you know? You don't have a brother!" quipped back Gael, faking a laugh.
"Now I do!"
Suddenly beaming, Gael exclaimed, "That's wild! So now I do too!..."
They grabbed each other, and held on tight, breathing together.
"Glen, I don't know what's going to happen, but I'm your man! I trust you."
Three days later, they lifted anchor, and cruised to Ullapool.
As the music they made melded into vibrant harmony, so did their souls, converging. Soon their bodies would converge too, celebrating with lust, that union. A hint of spring floated in the air. The length of daylight overcame that of the night. The time was ripe for them to feel that love was henceforth their destiny.
Magdalene hummed her way, riding the descending tide. They zigzagged, turned, sped and stopped, testing the motor as well as their skill. Their reborn boat became alive once more.
"Take the tiller, Gael. See how it feels in your hand. You too shall pilot Magdalene!"
Gael seized the rounded shaft, gripping it well and smiled, exclaiming, "The vibrations make it feel alive. It makes me feel sort of..."
He stalled, blushed and said nothing more.
"It makes you feel horny! Am I right? If you jack it some, maybe we'll speed up."
Gael looked at him as if he were crazy, but he laughed and jacked the tiller tip a little. Glen suddenly pushed the throttle forward, giving the boat a lurch.
"Clown! Don't try to trick me! For a split second, I believed you! Here! Take that!"
Gael grabbed Glen's crotch and squeezed a very stiff cock. Glen yelped and retaliated and there they stood, cupping each other's crotch, laughing like mad.
"Enjoying being the tiller-man?" joked Glen as they came back down from their antics.
"Loving it!"
"See the red buoy just to starboard? The one without a boat attached is ours. I'll handle the tiller. Could you get the boat hook and snatch it as I ease in. We'll tie up and have a beer!"
Once they had arrived to destination and securely moored Magdalene to her chain, Glen popped the bottle tap on their beers and leaned back on the gunwale.
"Let's make some serious plans now. Tuesday morning, I'm taking the car to go get your stuff. As we agreed, you move into the guest room until you find a place of your own."
"I really thank your Mom for the hospitality. She seemed glad to have me in."
"You made the impression of an angel on her!"
"Yeah, but your Dad just grunted."
"Don't worry about him. He's always grumpy... and we won't be that much in the house -- just for sleeping and dinner every now and then."
Glen hesitated, thought and spoke up again.
"So, as I was saying? Yes, that's it. In the evening we rehearse and Tuesday, we can take Magdalene on her first shakedown under sail. That'll give us a few days to make the adjustments and then we'll go on a cruise to the islands and up the shore for a few days. All we have to do is load some wood for the stove, fill the water and fuel tanks, buy food and beer. We'll camp in the cabin. I'll find us something soft to sleep on and take with us the covers off your bed and mine. That should do. How does that sound?"
"Whatever you say sounds great! But I count on you to teach me the ropes."
"We'll teach each other a lot of things, I'm sure!"
"Me too."
End of part two out of three.
A free picture album illustrating this story (pdf) is available upon request at marin.giustinian@laposte.net. Please remember to help Nifty stay online by sending your contribution. This being said, I hope you enjoy the tale.