Date: Mon, 22 Apr 2002 10:36:19 -0500 From: Gary Subject: England Swings Chapter 6 England Swings By Gary_Q Gary_Q@hotmail.com The below story is a work of fiction, none of the events described happened, nor do any of the characters exist. This story contains erotic and/or sexually explicit behavior between consenting males, both adult and underage minors. If it is illegal for you to, or you find this sort of work offensive, don't download or read it! The author reserves all copyrights to this story, it my be printed, electronically recorded or reproduced ONLY for personal use. The reproduction or linking to this story by pay web sites is expressly forbidden. Chapter Six I felt very embarrassed and uncomfortable at first, still shy about being naked and now around a couple of adults, but quickly began to relax after Jock and his friend Wayne, jumped in the pool and everyone stated talking. Everyone else was acting just like they were at a pool party wearing loose fitting Boardies or something, and their nonchalant attitude about being nude was contagious. Anton and his brother hugged each other over and over, clearly thrilled to be together again. Jock had the same weird accent Anton did but not nearly as strong. I found out that Jock and his house-mate Wayne was not just going to college, were both about to graduate from medical school, as soon as he received conformation on the results of some exams they had just taken, they would both be able to hang M.D. after their names. My jaw dropped against my chest so hard I thought I had bent my braces when I found out the attended UCLA (University of California at Los Angles), and lived about 20 minutes from where I used to, we even went to some of the same beaches! Everyone just relaxed in the shallow end of the pool and talked for what had to be an hour or more. I enjoyed Eric leaning me against his chest, his arms wrapped around my waist as Jock, Wayne and I exchanged experiences from California, but was so thrilled to hear anything from home I hardly noticed his caressing hands. "I am hungry!" Moe proclaimed. Anton and Eric said they were too, and my stomach agreed with a loud growl before I could answer. After a little giggling, everyone just grabbed their clothes and backpacks as they got out of the pool. I followed walking next to Eric as we walked over to another door than the one we had entered though, which led to a stairway. I started to get nervous, knowing at any minute an adult would appear and nail us for being nude, but followed along. Jock opened the door at the top of the stairs and called out, something in French, the only thing I thought I understood was the name Clare. After a few seconds he walked into a large hallway and everyone followed. He handed his clothes and bag to Wayne and went to the end of the hall, where he locked a huge set of double wooden doors. "This is the Children's Wing," Anton told me. As we went into a spacious bedroom, complete with a gigantic bed, entertainment center and several chairs and a large couch, he continued, "It is cool, Jock locked us up." I thought about what he said for a couple of seconds. Wait, we're locked in? Fuck, where's the dungeon!?! Eric growled something in French at Anton as he put his arm around my bare waist and pulled me against him. "He meant to say Jock locked the door so no one can come in to bother us." "Relax, little bear, only my father and the gendarmes have a key to get into this wing. We can leave but no one can disturb us," Jock said as he walked toward us. Seeing my lost face he added, "Gandarmes are police, well. . . security. It was built so when my parents entertain none of their guests may disturb us. It is as secure as your White House." "Il est tellement merveilleusement mignon, un tr‚sor!" * 1 he told Eric as he wrapped his arms around us, pulling both our backs against his nude body. "Mon tr‚sor!" Eric snapped, then leaned over kissing my cheek. * 2 "Oui, mais moi esp‚rez que vous partagerez!" * 3 Jock replied, pulling the three of us into a hug. * 1 He is so wonderfully cute, a treasure! * 2 My treasure! * 3 Yes, but I hope you will share! "Not to fear and you are safe, I promise you a wonderful night," Jock said, ignoring Eric's dirty look as he rubbed my chest. "Come quickly, there is a fresh pie! And beaten cream!" Anton yelled from the hall. "Teach him English!" Jock snickered, poking Eric in the stomach. The 'Children's Wing', as Anton called it was indeed a wing of the mansion. It had four more bedrooms as huge and the one we had been in, a kitchenette almost as large as the kitchen at Dad's house in the states, and its own spa, complete with hot tub and a large shower stall, bigger than my entire bathroom at the embassy compound. At first I felt a little uncomfortable sitting around eating pie and whipped cream with my dick flopping openly in my lap, but as I looked at my pie, then Eric, well and everyone else's crotch I started to enjoy myself. I didn't even feel embarrassed as my little friend started stiffening, sort of looking around as it grew between my legs. "These are nice, where did you get them?" Jock asked Anton and Moe, pointing at their necklaces. Eric snickered as Anton blushed. Anton answered something like, "Moe le possŠde mais il est pour moi." * 1 Moe owns it but it is for me. "Not everyone here speaks French, use your English," Jock admonished. "It is from my country," Moe injected. "A gift that binds our relationship." Anton blushed as he said it. Wayne reached over and lifted the front of Anton's neckless, kneading it is his fingers for a second. "That is a very impressive workmanship, and an extremely high grade of metal, high silver content. Would you mind taking it off, can I look at it more closely?" Moe and Anton both blushed as they exchanged repeated glances. After each of them flashed a couple of looks at Eric Moe giggled, then stood up as he removed his choker and walked behind Anton. He fidgeted for a second or so at the back of Anton's neck before the neckless fell free and he handed it to Wayne. I was watching closely, trying to figure out what was going on, as Wayne examined Anton's jewelry briefly then glanced at his roommate with a strange look. They both started laughing as Jock reached over to his little brother, tousling his hair. I felt Eric's hand slip between my legs as Jock snickered, "Go little brother!" I was still trying to figure out what was going on as Wayne handed the neckless back to Moe, who snapped it back around Anton's neck. When I glanced over at Eric he wiped a small amount of whipped cream onto his finger, cracked a wide smile and pulled his finger into his mouth with a sucking action. I felt my boyhood stiffen. I blushed when everyone else giggled quietly, knowing they also saw him, but followed him back into the bedroom. As I watched his nude, perfectly shaped boy butt swing with each step my shaft began to throb and all the built up pressure from yesterday rushed back into my groin and balls. "God I want you, I gotta have you now!" he exclaimed as he pulled me into a kiss. We explored each other's mouths for what had to be two or three minutes as he pulled me close to him by my waist, my hands probing his butt and between his legs. "Dude, yeah dude," I whispered as we broke our kiss. "Shit I'm gonna explode!" I felt my rock hard shaft throb so hard I thought I was going to break his fingers as his hand slipped between our bodies and he grabbed me. "Put your headgear on," he said as he led me by my dick to our clothes. "Go on, you'll love it," he added as he pushed his facebow into his mouth. The last thing I wanted to fuck with was my damn braces right now, but I followed his lead. He walked me over and guided me to lay on my back on the big bed. "Just relax," he told me as he climbed onto it next to me and pulled my arms up over my head. My mouth dropped open as he straddled me, his package dangling over my face and his legs pinning my arms. Without really knowing it I spread my legs as I watched him lower himself onto his elbows and lick the tip of my now more purple than red dick. My heart almost stopped as I felt him pull me into his mouth, his facebow sliding down my shaft and slamming into my ball sack. I groaned and began humping my hips as he began sliding his mouth up and down, the wonderfully exciting burning rushing through my groin. Without realizing it I found myself pulling my head and neck up, trying to catch the beautifully attractive set of balls and dick swinging just above me. I tried to get my arms free without success, my head and neck stretching up toward the treat as my hips humped harder. I had just caught one of his nuts in my mouth when a rush of hot lava flowed through my groin and out the end of my dick. I was blindly sucking on the little nut I had in my mouth as I felt three or four more loads shoot, then a shower of something warm splashed onto my chest, followed by several more loads. Eric collapsed on top of me, moaning as the warm liquid he had shot on my chest spread across me as his stomach landed on me. I felt his head roll to the side as my now almost soft tool slid out of his mouth. I rolled my head back only to have his other ball slip into my mouth. "God, you taste good!" he whimpered, his face laying on my thigh as he licked my nut sack. "But please don't chew!" he added before he sucked my nuts into his mouth. We lay motionless for a minute or so before he said, "You shot dude, you shot a huge load! You taste so good, too!" I just closed my eyes and tried to convince myself what had just happened really did. I let my neck, really my whole body, relax against the bed and started sucking on both of nuts. "Oh shit!" Eric mumbled, his mouth still full with my balls. We lay motionless for a couple minutes sucking on each others balls, his again rock hard boyhood pushing against my chin as I felt myself stiffening. I hadn't noticed the bed moving other than from Eric and my motions until I heard a long moan next to me. I rolled my eyes to the sound and could see enough of a boy's backside to recognize it as Anton's. I watched as a thin olive skinned arm appeared above the bed and reached around, cupping Anton's butt cheek and pulling it toward it. I was trying to figure out what he was doing when Eric let my sack drop out of his mouth. Instinctively I released his and he rolled off me, reaching over to cup my inner thigh. As he did my field of view widened and I saw the back of Anton's head, his face buried in Moe's crotch. I rolled slightly on my side and watched them hump each other in what I later found out was 69'ing, and didn't notice Eric moving until I felt is facebow push into my neck a he kissed it. "I wanta do that," I whispered as he snuggled against me, reaching around and pulling me against him by my chest. "Oh yeah," he softly replied, running fingers over my nipples. "Oh yeah." "Oh dude," I groaned. I grabbed his arm with both of mine, guiding it back to my nipple. "Wow, what if they. . ." I had to gasp as I felt his shaft push between my legs right at the crotch and press into my nut sack. I reached down with one hand and was about to grab his dick when Moe let out a loud groan from behind Anton. Almost instantly Anton's head stopped humping Moe and he began swallowing repeatedly, his hips arching toward Moe over and over again at an almost furious pace. An instant later his hips stopped moving and he began making grunting noises between swallows. "Wow," I whimpered. My dick throbbed as I felt Eric begin slowly sliding his shaft in and out between my legs, again bumping my sack with each stroke, still licking my neck with his tongue and facebow. I hardly noticed Anton roll over onto his back. "Ainsi, Eric joue toujours avec des ours de nounours!" Anton giggled. Moe leaned over Anton's hips and snickered before turning around on the bed and kissing Anton. * 1 So, Eric still plays with teddy bears! I'm not sure how long we lay there and didn't notice Jock come into view until he bent over Anton and Moe, tussling their hair. "Clare called, she is preparing us supper," he said. "She knew there was an American here so she made us wieners," he snickered, looking over at us. "You should have told her everyone just had some," Wayne snorted. "Peu Ours looks like he's still enjoying one," * 2 he added making everyone laugh as they looked at my crotch, Eric's tool still peeking out from under my nut sack. * 2 Little Bear "I want extra mayonnaise!" Anton giggled, "Like Eric is getting." Everyone laughed. "Come along, everyone wash and dress," Jock suggested. Eric and I both groaned but released each other and climbed off the bed. "Come, we will all use the large bath," Anton said, taking Moe's hand and walking into the hall. "You go first," I suggested as we entered the bathroom. "Not even," Eric replied as he took his headgear off and toward the hall. "Come on," he added gesturing into the stall. It took me a second to realize what he wanted, but quickly ripped my appliances off and followed him. The shower had multiple spray nozzles mounted in its walls and ceiling, making it feel like we were out side in the rain. As I started turning to soak my body I notice Moe and Anton, and Jock and Wayne washing each other. "Oh you are beautiful," Eric said as he began lathering my body. I almost shot another load as he washed my boyhood, spending what seemed forever kneading it in his fingers, but then washed his tight little body for him. When I got to his package I found myself stroking his again hard tool, my soapy hand wrapped around it. "Not now, Peu Ours, you can wank him after we eat," Wayne interrupted me, pulling my back against his wet skin. I was trying to figure out what he was talking about when I felt Eric's hand remove mine from his dick, pushing the wash cloth we had been sharing into it. "I though you didn't know how to wank?" Eric said as he was toweling me dry. I was trying to figure out what he meant and how to answer when the silence in the room became almost deafening. "You've never wanked?" Jock finally asked, I could feel everyone's eyes locked on me. "He made cum for the first time a few minutes ago," Eric replied, pulling me against him. "Well, I'm from California!!" I cried, realizing how stupid the comment was as I said it. "Yes, I wish I would have found you in California," Jock replied, pulling Eric and I against his stomach. "Not to fear Peu Ours, tonight we have something to celebrate." After we finished drying each other I started to put my dockers back on but noticed Eric climbing into a pair of rugby shorts and followed suite. Everyone was waiting for us by the doors leading into the wing. They were all wearing gym shorts, but only Eric and I were wearing half shirts. As we walked through what seemed like miles of hallways Jock told us he had informed Clare, who if found out was one of the maids, we would eat in the kitchen. I was again shocked when we entered the kitchen, it was a huge commercial facility, bigger than the school's kitchen back home. As we walked back toward the children's wing Jock tucked me under his arm pulling me next to him. He teased me a little about my size and thin build as he ran his fingers over my bare arm, and I didn't notice that Moe and Eric had drifted away, walking behind us, until Jock and I waited inside the double doors for them to catch up. Anton exchanged sly grins with the two of them as they entered the wing. I think everyone was as tired and full as I was, and quickly agreed to watch a movie Jock had brought from the states. Moe made a phone call as Eric and I strapped on our headgears, but was talking in an even stranger sounding language than the French I was getting used to not understanding and I paid little attention. As he rejoined us he nodded at Eric, who gave him a wide grin. After a couple of tries I gave up on finding out what they had going on and snuggled against Eric on the couch as the movie began. My eyelids started getting heavy quickly as I snuggled under Eric's arm, his free hand softly stroking my bare stomach. The next thing I knew I was laying with my head in Eric's lap and my lower legs and feet propped on something soft and warm. Eric was brushing my hair with one hand and cupping my chest under my half shirt with the other. I took me a few seconds to realize he was also stroking my inner thighs. As I opened my eyes and looked up at him I began to snap that he had grown a third hand or something. I started to look down at my legs when the side of my facebow pushed against his stiff boyhood. "Yum!" I muttered as I turned my head toward his groin, my facebow sliding on his shaft. "Oh God, your gonna make me cum," he whined. Without realizing it I pushed my lips out to press against the side of his hot shaft, still covered by his tight shorts. "And me as well," I heard Jock's voice ring, as Eric's third arm squeezed my leg. "And I hated braces when I wore them!" he added, scratching the fabric of my shorts between my legs. "You two make them fun!" I pulled my head back from Eric's tool far enough to look down toward my feet, Jock was on the other end of the couch cuddling my legs and feet in his lap. He gave me a warm smile and reached up, ever so softly poking me in my flat stomach. I leaned my head back to look up at Eric, only to have my facebow brush over his boyhood. As I did it throbbed so hard it pushed my head to the side slightly. "I wanta go do, well whatever Moe and Anton did I wanta do with you," I said, actually speaking for my burning hot groin. Eric ran his finger across the front of my facebow, then over my lower lip. "You really will? You really want to try it?" Instead of answering I pulled his finger between my lips and sucked it into my mouth. "Oh God," he groaned as I turned my head toward his crotch, pushing my facebow into his tool. I was waiting for him to say something when I felt my feet being lifted. "When do I get to be with you?" I heard Anton's voice, a bit more childish than usual. "Wayne and Moe are asleep, please?" Keeping Eric's finger in my mouth I looked down; Anton was sitting in Jock's lap, my feet draped over his lap. "What about Moe, you're his now aren't you?" Jock asked, fingering Anton's choker. "He don't care, he wants to be with you too. Please, you have been away for so long," "I think you two can entertain yourselves," Jock snickered toward us as he scooped Anton into his arms and stood up. "Yes, little brother, it has been a long time," he added as he carried the boy out of the room. "Don't hurt the couch, it's almost one hundred years old." Eric and I looked at each other for almost a minute. "Come on," I said as I sat up. When I got to the bed I turned around to be sure he was following, and he was already naked, his shoes, shirt and shorts marking a trail from the couch. I stripped almost as fast while he pulled the covers back. "I think we're going to be here awhile," he said as he pulled me against him. He guided me to lay on my side with my head below the pillows, and climbed next to me, his rock hard boyhood pointing at my mouth. "I love you," he said before running his tongue over the head of my shaft. Working on instinct I licked the drop of clear liquid off the tip of his dick, then pulled him into my mouth. I pulled back a little when I felt his lips seal around me and draw my full length into his mouth with a strong suction, his facebow again pushing into my nut sack. I groaned and sucked as hard as I could, pulling into me. I gagged a little when the tip of his tool pushed slightly down my throat, but he pulled back, his hips humping like mine had started to, before I could choke. My head started to spin as I not only felt Eric sucking me, but the wonderful feeling that vibrated into my teeth and from my lips out onto my face as my facebow vibrated up and down his delicious tool. Each time my facebow bounced against the head of his dick I felt my entire groin surge and my dick throb. Much quicker than I wanted I felt a wonderful burst of energy rush out of my nuts and into my crotch. I sucked harder on my friend as something hot and marvelous fired out the tip of my shaft, followed almost immediately by another load. "Oh, ahhhhhh," Eric groaned, somehow not losing his suction or missing a stroke. I had just sucked his length into my throat when a blast of warm liquid filled my mouth. He mumbled something as he shot another load, filling my mouth so full I could feel my cheeks bug out like a Chipmunk. I guess instinctively I swallowed a couple of times before noticing how magnificent his sweet and salty seed tasted, I just sucked harder trying for more. "No dude, I'm done, please before I die," Eric whispered, cupping the back of my head in his hand. "God, I thought you had sucked my nuts out the end of my dick!" he added as I reluctantly let his soft boyhood slip out of my mouth. I pushed my face into his groin, his shrunken tool sliding down my cheek until I found his nut sack. "No, no I gotta have some more, that was totally awesome," I all but begged. Without realizing it I pulled his sack into my mouth and began sucking on the two wonderful nuts inside it. "Please Brian, later, please? God, and you have never done it before? God you're hot!" he answered, gently pulling my head back. I enjoyed the taste of his package for a few seconds before I let him slip out of my mouth. I leaned my head against his lower stomach and closed my eyes, trying to believe what we had just done was possible, or if I had died and gone to heaven. "Good morning love birds!" Jock's voice awoke me, his hand stroking my forehead. I blinked a few times trying to clear the fog of sleep so my eyes would focus before I leaned back from the warm, tight chest I was leaning against. As my eyes began to work I realized I was snuggled against Eric, our bodies pushed against each other skin-tight. I felt more than heard Eric groan before Jock continued. "My parents have asked we join them for breakfast, I am sorry but we must." I rolled my eyes up at him as Eric groaned and squeezed my butt cheek, but then kissed the top of my head and let go of me. "Well, we gotta, I guess," he grunted. Jock kissed each of us as we climbed out of bed. Moe and Anton were already in the shower. They both giggled as we joined them, pointing at or matching erections. I started to cover myself with my hands, but before I could Eric pulled my back against his stomach, spreading the water hitting my chest with one hand and grasping my boyhood with the other. It throbbed so hard I was pushed back even harder against his rock hard tool as it pressed into the small of my back. I closed my eyes as his fingers explored me, sliding so delightfully over my slick, wet skin. Suddenly I felt another set of hands, then another caressing my body. When I opened my eyes both Anton and Moe were washing Eric and I. "Come, hurry," Jock snapped from outside the shower. "Father is waiting." Begrudgingly everyone rinsed off and climbed out. Elaine had struck again, and I found a pair of clean gym shorts and muscle shirt in my backpack when we finished showering. Also to my surprise was a pair of Boardies and another tee-shirt. I started to feel very, very out of place as we entered a formal dining room. "Good morning boys!" a man announced. He was an older image of Jock and Anton, wearing a white shirt and dress slacks. A fairly pretty lady sat next to him. He quickly rose from a huge dining table and kissed Jock, then Anton, Moe, Wayne and Eric on the cheek, which they returned. Jock and Anton rushed to kiss the lady as he continued, "I am Charles D'Frank," extending his hand to me. "Ah, hi sir!" I almost whimpered. "Ah, I'm sorry I'm Brian!" I added, tentatively reaching toward his hand. "Ah, are you the Ambassador?" I asked before I realized what I had said. Good work, you TOTALLY fucked that up! I told myself. "Ah, well I'm Brian Richardson sir." "Yes, I am an Ambassador, but not in my home. I am the parent of my sons here, please relax and call me Charles." One of the two maids in the room served me a glass of orange juice as he introduced his wife. "You are Doctor Richardson's son?" he asked. After I said I was I blushed as he told me how impressed he was with Dad, and on and on. As we sat down to a huge breakfast he and Jock talked a little about school and his trip. "What are your plans today? Are each of you staying again tonight?" he asked. Jock announced he and Wayne wanted to go shopping, and check out London, saying he was going to take us with him. "Will you and Brian be staying tonight?" the Ambassador asked Eric.. "Well, we have to ask our parents," Eric thankfully responded for both of us. "We must call them quickly, before Father leaves," Anton declared, flashing a sly grin at Eric and I. Magically a maid appeared with a cordless phone and Eric dialed it. "They're in meetings, no one is there, I cant even find Mrs. Smyth!" he grumbled after a couple of calls. "Whatever, we don't have to be home until six o'clock!" We were walking back to the childrens' wing when he whispered to me, "You're suppose to have a security escort if you go to town, what you want to do? You can get one if you call." "Fuck them, I'm not in prison! Well if I am I escaped for today anyway, I don't need no God Damn GUARD!" I snapped. We walked a few steps before I pulled him against me by the waist. "I'm sorry," I added. He wrapped his arm around my shoulder and pulled me against him even tighter. "Yes, a little bear," Jock snickered, gently slapping the back of my head. An hour or so later we were off to the mall in one of the French Embassy's cars. We walked the mall for probably an hour or so while Jock and Wayne shopped and bought a few clothes. We had stopped at what I called a Food Court for a drink, and sat down to a table, when Eric turned white, then ashen as his eyes zoomed in on something. "Oh fuck, we are dead, sooooo dead," he whined, cupping my leg under the table. "Hi boys, I'm so surprised to see you here!" his mother's voice rang into my ear. Jennifer's bright red face and almost evil smirk, standing next to her mom, told me that we were in trouble. "Where is your escort, Brian, I didn't know you had called for one. I think you are suppose to be at the French Embassy?" she more snapped than asked. My stomach sank into my colon as I tried to figure out how to answer. "Excuse me Madam, I am Jock D'Frank," Jock announced as he stood up and stepped in front of her. "This is my escort Wayne Adams," he continued, his and Wayne's muscles both budging. "And your are, ma'am?" "Ah, Jock, this is my mom," Eric whimpered. "I'm Helen Roland," his mom added. "It is a pleasure to meet both of you. You must be new M'sieur. Adams, I thought I knew everyone at your embassy. But, welcome to the U.K." The three of them stared at each other for a few seconds before Eric's mom excused herself, saying they were going to get something to drink Jennifer followed to a nearby table, glancing back at us and quietly giggling. "We're toast," Eric groaned. When Jock told him not to worry and bragged they had pulled their little charade off Eric looked at him for a second before asking, "Is that why mom I talking to her purse? She's weird, but not that weird! She works for the company, she's the station chief, and she's talking to the embassy, probably Brian's dad, we're dead meat!" Jock paled as white as Eric. After a few seconds he said something to Wayne in French that made both Wayne and Anton's face drop. Moe rolled his head back and said something in his even stranger sounding language. We all sat motionless, waiting for the world to end for the next five minutes or so. I shuttered when Eric's mom stood up and walked back to our table. She calmly moved behind Eric, bent over and cupped his hand as she gave him a light kiss on the neck. "We have to go, you guys have fun and be careful," she said. She reached over and pushed a piece of paper into my hand saying, "Call your dad when you get a chance, no rush or anything." I could see everyone trying to take a breath, just like is was trying to, as she straightened up. "Oh, congratulations, Doctor Adams, Doctor D'Frank, both your test scores were impressive." The entire mall seemed to get so quiet you could have heard an Ant fart in the parking lot as she walked away. "Wow, I got 50 pounds!" Eric proclaimed, finally breaking the silence. I looked at the paper he was holding up, then at the one she had slipped into my hand, an identical leaf that looked a little like a dollar bill, but had the picture of some old lady on it. "You too!" he hooted. "That's money, fool!" he exclaimed, "like 50 dollars!" I blushed bright red as everyone laughed at me. "But, what about getting busted? What happened?" I asked. "How did she know about us, how so quickly?" Wayne added. Everyone stared at Wayne for a couple of seconds as this time he blushed. "She's CIA," Jock said in a low voice. Wayne swallowed as if he was forcing a tennis ball down his throat. We were walking away from the table ten minutes or so later before I remembered the invitation to stay again at Anton's house. Eric looked at me like I was crazy when I brought it up, suggesting maybe we could still find her in the mall. "Hey, they can only kill us once, I'll ask her for you!" I told him. At first he adamantly refused, saying we were already in enough trouble. "We could play Pirates tonight," Anton suggested. Moe and he both developed wide grins as they looked at each other. Eric looked back at me, developing an even wider silver grin. "Come on, let's find her!" he exclaimed, grabbing my hand and starting down the mall. We had walked for several minutes, scanning the crowd and shops when I felt what felt like a rope push into the front of my leg. I stopped short as I looked down and saw a small child on one end of the strap, a lady holding the other end of the leash almost identical to the one Smyth had kept her younger son on. I stared wide eyed as two more kids, both wearing strange looking shoulder harnesses and leashed to a second lady cut in front of us. "Those things are weird!" I whispered to Eric. I turned to watch as the little kids walked on, tethered to their mothers, and didn't pay any attention as I saw Eric and Anton exchange grins out of the corner of my eye. "You find your mother and we will catch you soon," Anton announced as he and Moe split away from us, going into a nearby store. To be continued. . .