Date: Wed, 10 Jan 2001 09:59:12 -0500 From: Stuart James Subject: Secret Soldiers When his last relationship had broken up, Gerry had decided to leave England and go and work abroad. It was not that the break up had been particularly difficult. It hadn't. The relationship had lasted over a year, which was a long time for Gerry. It was rare for any one guy to hold his attention for more than a couple of months. Going abroad just seemed a good idea. With his computer skills he could work almost anywhere. He took a six-month contract in France and had then had a couple of short contracts in Germany and the Netherlands. Of the three nationalities he found that Dutch guys generally shared his views on sex. They enjoyed doing it, but did not make a big deal of it. So he had accepted a new contract in Leeuwarden in the north of the country. It was a strange contract. His initial interview had taken place at his apartment. A prim looking woman, probably in her thirties, but looking much older because of the way she dressed, had arrived with an attractive young man in his twenties. She did most of the questioning, none of which was testing his skills. She seemed mainly interested in his background and his political views. As the interview went on it became clear that they wanted someone for a government project that was obviously surrounded in some secrecy. He wondered whether it might be a military project as the guy had an army look about him, even though wearing a suit. Gerry had worked in England on 'secret government projects', all of which only needed to be secret to hide the incompetent way in which they were run. He doubted that Dutch government projects would be much different. But it did no harm answering the woman's questions, and it gave him a chance to have a good look at the guy. He even let him take his photograph for 'their security checks'. One had to be looking straight ahead, one in profile and one at three-quarter angle. He kept getting his face in the wrong place as he enjoyed having the guy adjust the position with his big hands. He doubted that he wanted the job, until he saw the rate they offered him. He was good at what he did and so was always well paid. They were offering him nearly twice his normal rate, and as the work would be at a somewhat remote location, they would even provide accommodation free of charge. So he accepted. While he was a naturally gregarious person, he would not mind some time away from the big cities with their distractions. He thought of it as being like going into retreat in a monastery for a few months to recharge his sexual batteries. The government had arranged to have his belongings - such as they were - moved to his new place, although he was still not exactly sure where that was. He was told he would be met at the station at Leeuwarden if he let them know which train he would arrive on. On his last free weekend, and before going into retreat, he decided to go to Amsterdam for what he always thought of as a 'slut' weekend. He would cruise the bars and darkrooms from late afternoon until early morning and do almost anything with almost anyone that caught his attention. The weekend had been fun, although slightly spoiled by the fact that one guy he picked up walked off with his backpack that held his change of clothes. He also took some cash that he must have picked from his pocket when his trousers were around his ankles and the guy was chewing his cock. Gerry laughed to himself as he thought that they must have a better class of thief in the Netherlands. He had taken all the cash from his pocket, but had left his passport and credit cards. So carrying nothing he went to Centraal station to get the early morning train to Leeuwarden. There were few people on the platform waiting for the train. By the time he walked down the platform to the last carriage he was alone and got the carriage to himself. He sat down by the door with his feet up, pretending to sleep. He heard the door open and hoped that whoever it was would go as far away as possible. He was tired after the weekend. The train lurched forward and it hit him like a cold shower. Literally. His shirt and his jeans where covered in some brown liquid that from the smell could only be coffee. He was soaked to the skin. The cup was in the hands of someone in Dutch soldiers' uniform, with his arms through the loops of a large holdall that was on his back. It only seemed to be a small cup, but he was drenched. It did not occur to Gerry to wonder what the man was doing with a cup of stone cold coffee. In all the films the culprit gets out a handkerchief or something and ineffectually tries to mop up the liquid. This guy did not. He just laughed. He said something in Dutch, and when Gerry looked puzzled he said in English "I am sorry, but the look on your face was very funny. Have you got any other clothes with you? You cannot wear those". Gerry looked at the guy. He was dressed in green army camouflage trousers carefully arranged over black combat boots, a green army T-shirt and camouflage jacket. His maroon beret was in a pocket on his left leg. Gerry was not particularly interested in uniforms of any of the other 'styles' gay men often went after. But he had to admit that the Dutch army uniform must have been designed for sex appeal. It was simple and well cut and showed a man off in the right way. The English equivalent did absolutely nothing for the wearer, and knowing the British, that was probably deliberate. He laughed to himself as he thought of some British general having a seizure when it was suggested to him that they get a sexy new uniform so that they could attract randy young men into the forces. But then maybe it was not the uniform. Perhaps he just found Dutch guys sexier. Gerry having been soaked by a cup of cold coffee, but being British just said "Oh don't worry, it does not matter." Of course it did matter, he was going to be picked up at the station at Leuwaarden for a new job, in filthy clothes. Having to wear jeans after his bag was stolen was bad enough, but filthy ones would not be an impressive start. The guy said that he had just picked up a new uniform and he could wear that while his clothes dried. He opened up his bag and got out cammo trousers, a green T-shirt, olive green underpants and thick olive green socks. He placed them in a pile on the seat opposite Gerry. As he got a pair of boots from his bag he said, "You might as well have the full set." They were all obviously new. He said, "I am just going for a piss while you change." Perhaps he thought all English were funny about being seen with their clothes off and was making it easier for him. Gerry would not have cared. But he was grateful for the gesture. When the guy came back, Gerry had got everything on apart from the boots. He was trying to decide how to thread the laces through the first few holes. The guy picked a boot up and threaded it for him. He did the other one while Gerry pulled the first boot on his foot. The guy showed him how to tie them in military fashion with the laces going right round the top of the boot once before being tied at the front. There was a drawstring around the bottom of the trousers that Gerry had just left flapping. The guy lifted his leg up and tied the string and arranged the trousers over his boot in the same manner as his own. He said, "You can't let the Dutch army down." When he was dressed to the soldier's satisfaction, the guy sat down opposite him. Gerry looked at him. He had a bigger build than Gerry, and Gerry was surprised that the mans change of clothes had fitted him so well. Perhaps army gear was of the 'one size fits all' type. The guy put his foot on the seat in the space between Gerry's knees. Gerry looked down at it somewhat surprised. The guy said, "You don't mind do you?" Gerry said he didn't, and the guy seemed to take this as an invitation to put his other boot on the seat alongside, and touching, Gerry's right knee. He sat there with his legs apart and knees up, and Gerry got a perfect view of a good shaped bulge in the guy's trousers. Gerry wondered if this was a 'come on'. Gerry didn't mind if it was. The soldier was a little older than the age range Gerry normally went for, although he always paid more attention to the tingle in his crotch than mere statistics when choosing a guy. Maybe it was simply because this could be the last time before his 'retreat', but the soldier certainly caused a tingle. The soldier said his name was Dirk, and they shook hands. The train had been going for about a quarter of an hour when Dirk asked Gerry what the time was. Gerry looked at his watch and said, "Just gone 5 o'clock." The guy took his feet down and leant across and took Gerry's arm. "Is that a Seiko?" he said moving closer to Gerry. In one fluid movement he snapped a handcuff over Gerry's wrist and snapped the other end to the seat. Gerry started to shout. Dirk said loudly, "Shut that fucking noise or I will break your fucking neck." Gerry stopped in mid shriek. It might have been the noise, but the train conductor came into the carriage. Dirk talked to the conductor in Dutch for some moments. He seemed perfectly relaxed. The conductor kept glancing at Gerry and the handcuff, and then the conductor nodded and left. Dirk explained their conversation. "I told him you were wanted by the British army authorities in Germany as a suspected IRA terrorist. I told him you were in army uniform as your clothes were being forensically tested. He wanted to know why only one person was taking you back and why by train. I told him that you were so dangerous that it was felt to be the safest way as your colleagues would not think you would be moved by train. I have asked him to lock the carriage doors so that no one else will be put at any possible risk. He agreed. He actually seemed pleased that there should be such a conspiracy on his train." Gerry said, "You can't be serious. No one would believe that." Dirk replied "With a little guy like him, in a little job like his, the big lie always works." Dirk sat back and replaced his boots. He got out a packet of Van Nelle tobacco and started rolling a cigarette. His predicament had only just began to dawn on Gerry and he said, with obvious tension in his voice "What are you going to do with me? Are you going to kill me?" Dirk finished rolling the cigarette and lit it. He gave it to Gerry who automatically took it, and started rolling another. "No I am not going to kill you. If you don't believe me, just think about it. The conductor saw us both, and if you are found floating in a canal or with a knife in your back, they would soon find me." What he said was logical. Gerry relaxed very slightly and said, "Then what are you going to do with me?" Dirk lit the second cigarette and drew on it. He looked Gerry in the eye and said quietly "I am going to rape you." Gerry looked rather startled and said "Why?" Dirk smiled and said "Because you look rather cute and maybe that is how I get my kicks." They smoked in silence for a moment and then Gerry said "But what is then to stop me telling the Police? You are going to kill me." Dirk replied "Lets say you do tell the Police, and let's say they believe you and lets say they can find the conductor, and that the conductor tells them what he actually saw. And he might conveniently forget as it would make him look pretty foolish and might get him into trouble with the Train Company. If they then find me, who do you think they will believe if I tell them you wanted it?" Gerry, knowing that the Police would soon found out he was gay, realised that it would be a waste of time going to the Police. At best he could only cause the guy some embarrassment. Gerry wondered whether he should tell the guy that he was perfectly willing to have sex with him. He had got a hard on from the view of his crotch and from the way his boot kept touching his leg. He did find him attractive, even though he was not his normal type. But the guy obviously wanted to rape him. Perhaps it was how he got his kicks. And well Gerry had never been raped before. So he said nothing. Dirk sat watching Gerry as he smoked his cigarette. Dirk moved his boot up and placed it over Gerry's crotch and pressed down. "I may not be going to kill you, but I will hurt you badly if you cause me too much trouble." He added, "I am going to undo the handcuff and cuff your hands behind your back. You have to decide whether in the short time your hands are free you can overpower me. If you can you may get away. If you can't I will have your nuts." Dirk finished his cigarette and ground it out under his boot. He got up and undid the handcuff from the seat, all the time watching Gerry. Gerry made it easy for him to secure his hands behind his back. He had no illusions as to who would win any fight. Dirk turned Gerry round. Moments later he could feel Dirk's semi-erect Penis placed in one of his hands that were cuffed behind his back. Dirk said, "Do not get any stupid ideas. Just feel what is going inside you." Gerry felt it with his fingers, drawing the uncut foreskin back and feeling the head. It was not a huge cock, but not one to be ashamed to own. Dirk moaned and sighed as Gerry fingered him. The cock became very stiff. Gerry managed to cup his balls in one hand while he massaged the cock. After a particularly loud groan, Dirk pulled his cock away. He turned Gerry back to face him and said, "No, the only place my spunk is going is up yours arse. But a good try to make me come in your hand." They both sat down again although it was difficult for Gerry with his hands fastened. Dirk did not put his cock away. He rolled another cigarette and lit it. Gerry could see that the guy must have been getting close to ejaculating. His cock was quite moist and almost dripping onto the seat between his legs. Dirk noticed it and stood up. He instructed Gerry to lick the excess off. Gerry thought a small rebellion here might help show how far Dirk was prepared to go without putting himself at too much risk. Gerry said, "Fuck off. Lick it yourself." Dirk grabbed Gerry around his windpipe with one hand and cut off his breathing. He then pulled his head to the waiting cock. Gerry opened his mouth and accepted the cock in it. Dirk said, "Don't let go, keep licking it." But he released the pressure on Gerry's throat. Gerry kept sucking and Dirk's cock came back to a throbbing rage. Dirk instructed Gerry to let go. He held the cigarette to Gerry's lips, and let him take a drag. When the cigarette joined the earlier one on the floor, Gerry was told to get up, and Dirk undid his trousers and pulled them and his pants down to his knees. He turned Gerry round and told him to bend over and brace his head against the back of the seat he had been sitting on. Gerry could see very little from that position. He could see Dirk's boots on the floor move alongside his own, and then he felt the pain as Dirk entered him. Gerry had assumed that Dirk would use a lubricant and probably a condom. He used neither, but entered using only the little precum and the saliva that remained on his dick as a lubricant. Gerry did not like the sensation. He was no stranger to fucking or being fucked. He enjoyed it both ways. But there was no fun in this. It was just painful. But Dirk, ignoring Gerry's protests, just pushed his dick home. Dirk said in Gerry's ear "You were holding back on me. With an elastic arse like that, you must have done this before. His hand went round to feel Gerry's cock. The pain meant that the erection that had seemed to be coming had quickly disappeared. It did not get bigger as Dirk played with it. Dirk withdrew his cock. Gerry turned round hoping that it was over. Dirk said, "I want you to enjoy this as well." He went to his holdall and got out a gas mask, that was probably part of his issued equipment. He then got out a little bottle that Gerry recognised from the slightly sickly smell to be Poppers. He took the top off. He tipped some of the liquid onto a small piece of cotton wool and put that inside the mask. Gerry tried to resist as Dirk put the gas mask over his head, and made it tight with the straps. The smell of Poppers was quite overpowering although he could smell the strong odour of rubber from the mask as well. He could see little enough through the eyepieces, and as the mask was over his ears, all sound was muffled, apart from his own breathing which was amplified in the confined space. The poppers were having their effect and he felt not entirely steady as Gerry turned him round and bent him over. The cock entered him again, and the hands felt for and found Gerry's now rock hard cock. Poppers and joints both gave Gerry an erection. Well pleased Dirk began to fuck Gerry. The pain was still there but it seemed to be at a distance from Gerry, which made it more bearable. The woozy sense of detachment was another effect that Poppers always had on him. Afterwards he could not really remember how long everything took. There was the pain as Dirk moved in and out up his arse. There was the pressure in his head. There was a wonderful feeling as Dirk massaged his cock. Dirk shot his load. Gerry could feel the throbbing inside him, and as Dirk went rigid he squeezed Gerry's cock quite viscously. When Dirk's breathing had calmed, he continued to massage Gerry's cock, leaving his own safely inside the dark hole. Gerry came in long hard spurts. Gerry rarely used Poppers as they made his erections so hard and his ejaculations more intense. He did not want to become dependent on chemicals for his thrills. Dirk removed his cock and the rape was over. He removed the gas mask from Gerry who took long breaths to try to clear his lungs and his head. He must have been swaying a little as Dirk gently sat him down in the seat Dirk had previously occupied. Like the good solider, he cleaned up the mess from the seat with a towel he got from his bag. He then wiped his cock carefully, before pulling up his pants and trousers. He turned his attention to Gerry and stood him up again. He first wiped his dick, being quite rough with the cock head, which made Gerry squirm. He was sensitive there. Finally he wiped his arse before dressing him again properly. They both sat down and looked at each other as Dirk rolled yet another cigarette. Between the puffs that Dirk gave him, he asked, "What happens now. Will you release me? People know that I am on this train and I am to be met. Dirk laughed and said, "You were met in Amsterdam. I paid the guy who stole your bag, which, incidentally, I am keeping safely for you. I kicked the shit out of the little creep when I found out he had stolen your money. I only wanted to get your change of clothes away from you. I have your money for you as well." Gerry looked confused. Dirk said, "I thought you computer people were meant to be logical. Did it not strike you as odd that I tipped cold coffee over you? I did not want to scald you and anyway cold liquid feels far worse than hot. Did you not find it strange that I have clothes that fit you? My boots are over 2 sizes bigger than yours. This, you may say, is your initiation into your new contract. I am your new boss." Gerry said, "Why did you go to so much trouble to get my clothes away from me and get me dressed up like this?" Dirk said, "You will be the only civilian working at an army base full of Dutch soldiers. It will be easier for everyone if you dress the same as everyone else, and do what everyone else does. You will be part of the team. You will live with them, eat with them, train with them and play with them. The team does everything together. It leads to an efficient operation, where everyone supports everyone else. All your own stuff is in store. You will not need any of it until the contract is over. We will provide you with everything you will need." Gerry said, "What is to stop me telling the others what you have done to me here?" Dirk smiled and replied "Do tell them. You can compare experiences with the rest of the team. This one was particularly good, so it will increase my reputation. I have had all of them at least once, and most of them were raped the first time, just like you were. I pick my people carefully. They are not all queers, if that is what you are wondering. Most would be horrified if anyone suggested they were. But I have created a close team and they take having sex together just the same as eating together. It is part of the team spirit. Creating that close team spirit means that I have an excellent record for delivering what is needed. So my superiors give me a freer hand than many a commander. If they know anything of what goes on, they do not care. The job gets done well and nobody has complained. I promise you, Guys really hate leaving the team and going somewhere else. Some of them cry like babies" Dirk clearly felt he had to explain some more. "You get any group of guys living closely together and soon enough some sex always happens. Perhaps it is just wanking together or messing around in the showers. I just push it a bit further. Most are not very bright - or they wouldn't join the army - so they are easy to manipulate. You are intelligent and can probably understand what I mean. And so long as you can take any sense of shame out of what they do, they find they really enjoy it. We train guys like these to be tough. They like to fight and play roughhouse. All I have added is sex. I believe the English expression is 'the icing on the cake'. When they get weekend passes they tend to go in groups and shag every woman they can. They even pay for it. And when they get back they often realise that a shag with a tough mate can be at least as much fun as a shag with a pliant woman. Some guys don't like being shafted, so they make damn sure that they are the ones doing the shafting. Like any group of animals, a hierarchy develops. You will have to find your place in that hierarchy, although I think in all senses you will be at the bottom. But that is up to you. As long as you play your full part in the team, I do not mind if you become top dog. Just don't challenge me. I brought you in because I need your skills. It is a small risk for me, but my superiors gave me no choice. I would not have brought a civilian in if I could possibly have avoided it. But I picked someone who was not Dutch and who does not speak the language. I also carefully picked a gay who is quite happy to shag a whole bar in a single evening. I have minimised my risk by picking someone who I thought would fit in. But if you don't fit in you will be able to cause few problems, as no one would believe you even if you had a chance to tell them. If you don't......" Dirk let the comment trail off and lit another cigarette. "But please do not get any ideas about trying to cause me trouble with the team or with anyone else. You will soon learn that the team idolises me. I look after them. Look, I do not want to threaten you, but accidents do happen on army bases. Someone, particularly someone who does not have the proper training, could easily have an accident. What I want is to get the job done, and for you go away and get on with your life when your part is finished in a few months. Until then make the best you can of it. You may even enjoy it." Gerry considered what had been said. He had often wondered if some guys were gay, especially those into the heavier scenes like leather and S&M, because they found women too soft. Gerry knew what to do with a man, because he knew what he liked having done to him. With a woman, he would not have had a clue. How could he feel and understand what goes on in a woman's body? But maybe he was just rationalising the desires he did not choose and could do nothing about. He said "OK I will play your game as I do not want to have an accident. And you are right. It could be fun. Take the cuffs off. I will not cause any bother." Dirk said "Are you stupid or do you think I am stupid? With the handcuffs off, you might easily be able to get away on a busy station. If you are serious in what you say about co-operating, just play the captured prisoner for everyone to see." Gerry laughed inwardly. He had actually meant that he would cause no trouble. He had not even thought of trying to escape. Gerry said "I actually meant what I said, but I take your point. As you are so sure of yourself, I would however suggest that we make the whole thing ore interesting - more of a challenge if you like for us both.." He continued without waiting for an answer. "If I manage to escape from your base for more than 24 hours, you will release me from the contract. If that happens I will never tell the army authorities or the Police anything. I am aware that accidents can happen off military bases as well as on them. I will not even tell my friends. Most would not believe me, and the rest would be queuing up outside your gates trying to get in." Dirk looked long at Gerry. Finally he said "On one condition. You really try your hardest to follow the rules. You must agree to follow my informal rules as well as following army protocol such as calling the other officers and me 'Sir'. The team will show you what to do and what you need to know." Gerry agreed. Having got the agreement he wanted, Dirk said "You cannot escape you know. We are doing secret work. Security is our business. It is very tight, and I will make it even tighter around you." Before the train pulled into the station, Dirk uncuffed Gerry long enough for him to put on a camouflage jacket. Then he put the handcuffs back on, and zipped up his bag, which he put on his back. When the train stopped he led Gerry out of the train. Gerry kept his eyes to the floor rather than meet those of the curious onlookers. He looked the model prisoner. Dirk led him out of the station and over to a military truck. The driver and two soldiers came to attention and saluted as their commander came up. He handed the driver his bag, and told the other two to look after their 'new recruit'. The driver and Dirk got into the front while Gerry was hustled into the back. The cab was open to the truck so Gerry could hear the driver say something in Dutch. Dirk said, "Lets try to speak in English when he is around." The driver said "Sorry sir. I said did he give you any trouble." "A little" Dirk replied. "When I told him the conditions that he would be working under he said he did not want the job and tried to get off the train. We had, shall we say, a slight argument during which he managed to get my coffee over him. A sharp punch in stomach persuaded him to be more reasonable. But it is a good job I actually took the clothes for him. I left his old ones on the train. Some people were about to get on at one stop, so I handcuffed him in case he got any further ideas. I explained to them that he was a deserter who had let all his comrades down. No one would have minded if I then had to keep him in line with my fist. So no, he gave me no real trouble." Gerry was fascinated by the sheer fluency and plausibility of the lies. Yes he could easily manipulate his 'team'. "I don't think he will be any trouble now. At least no trouble that you cannot deal with. Just one thing, he said he would escape at the first chance. So it would be best if he were left alone as little as possible." Dirk looked straight into Gerry's eyes. "Especially at night." During the drive back, Gerry's handcuffs ere removed. They drove for over an hour out of Leeuwarden and through a number of small towns before they arrived at the base. It had a wire fence around it with razor wire in rows on the top, and signs in lots of languages telling people to keep out. It was surrounded on two sides by the trees of a wood. It seemed rather strange that you needed to put up signs to tell people that the razor wire was designed to keep them out. Let alone in many languages. The razor wire would also help to keep Gerry in. The base did not seem large, but Gerry could see seven or eight buildings inside the wire. They stopped at the entrance barrier, and the truck was thoroughly checked by a young solider. They drove further in. By this time it was gone 8 o'clock. They stopped outside one building that looked very much like the rest. They got out. No one pushed or prodded Gerry. He jumped to the ground when his turn came. They went inside and the smell of food made it clear that this was a canteen. There were about 20 guys inside, sitting around a couple of large tables eating. They were all dressed in shorts and T-shirts or vests and muddy trainers. It was clear that they had been involved in some sort of physical exercise. Some were still sweating and had towels around their necks. As their commander walked in ahead of the group, the noise stopped, but Dirk indicated for them to carry on. Dirk led the party to the long hatch that separated the kitchen from the mess hall. He picked up a tray, and started helping himself to food. Gerry and the others followed his lead. Gerry cut off a couple of large chunks of bread off a French stick, and put some slices of ham and cheese onto his plate. He poured some coffee from a big coffee jug into a mug, picked up a knife and followed Dirk to another large table. The others who had met him at the station joined them. Little was said while they ate. When they had finished, Dirk got up. This prompted silence from everyone else. He looked at the faces around the room for a very long time before starting to speak. Gerry recalled at school being told that Hitler used to do that to cement his hold over his audience at the mass rallies. "I want to introduce to you Gerry Turner who will be joining us with our work. He is English and speaks no Dutch, so please help him. He is not a solider but he has skills that will be invaluable to us. To make it easier for us, he has said that he is happy to live as we do and not have any special quarters or privileges. Most people with his talents would have insisted on staying in a luxury hotel in town. But his background means that he knows how vital teamwork is to successfully completing difficult projects. I told him that, of course, he did not need to dress in uniform or to take part in training. But he insisted. I hope you are as impressed with his attitude as I am, and will make him a welcome member of our team." As Dirk sat down, the men in the room banged the table loudly with their hands or their mugs. Gerry was astounded to hear yet another version of what he had said and felt delivered as if it were the gospel truth. No doubt those who had been given the first version believed that Dirk was simply making it easier for Gerry by not telling everybody else that Gerry was an unwilling recruit. Their admiration for their chief's man management skills would grow some more. Gerry half rose to acknowledge the applause. He decided to speak. If Dirk could lie, so could he. "I have come here most unwillingly" he began. He paused and surveyed the slightly puzzled faces looking at him. He felt the solider next to him put his hand over his balls and squeeze very gently. His hold on Gerry was hidden by the table. "I was unwilling because I doubt that I can live up to the high praise your Captain gave me." The hand on his balls relaxed its grip a little. "But I am looking forward to working on this important project with you." He still had no real idea what the project was. "I want you to accept me as a true comrade, so I am looking forward to fully joining in everything with you." Gerry could not believe that people would believe such tosh, but it was clear from the faces around him that they did. "I know that in the short time I am here " - Gerry looked at Dirk on the word 'short' - "that I cannot hope to compete with you in the smartness and discipline you all display. It is a tribute to your Captain." No one seemed to see the irony in his comments about the group of sweaty men sitting around the canteen. "But with your help I will try not to let him or you down." The table thumping was resumed and the hand moved away. Gerry smiled at Dirk. One fluent liar to another. More iimportantly, Gerry had scored one point against Dirk. And he knew that Dirk knew it. A solider dressed in his regulation uniform, who had walked into the canteen during Dirk's little speech, came over to the table. Dirk said "This is my second in command who is in day to day charge of the project. It is time for you to start work." Gerry left with him and went to a building nearby. When they were sat down in a small office full of computer monitors and other hardware, the solider said to him "My name is lieutenant Brood. You can call me Paul when we are alone. But at other times please address me as 'Sir'." He paused for a moment and looked at Gerry. "Did he rape you?." Gerry nodded. "Where?" Gerry, who had true feeling for the English sense of humour, wanted to say 'up the arse' but said instead "on the train." Paul exhaled in a whistle. "On the train? He gets more and more outrageous. One day he will go too far and will end up in a military prison. You know after he raped me, I hoped that he would get caught. I am not so sure now. If he ends up in prison, he will soon become top dog, and enjoy the whole thing. Do you mind that he raped you?" Gerry decided to be honest. It might mean he gained one friend here. "I am gay, so the idea of being raped did not frighten me too much. In fact when he told me he was going to, it seemed quite exciting. But the way he did it just hurt. Yet it is not even the pain that I mind. It is his arrogance. He seems to think that he can say and do whatever he likes to anyone." Paul said, "I would not advise you to try to get back at him. People who do always lose out. Your little speech in the canteen clearly upset him. You should have seen his face. He will want retribution for that. Many times over. And the troops will do whatever he says." Paul poured them both a cup of coffee. "Tell me, what do you know about our project?" Gerry told him "Practically nothing. It involves computers and I supposedly have the skills needed. The rest is a blank." "OK" Paul began. "Warfare is about communication. It is now and it always has been. If Napoleon had known where Blucher really was at Waterloo, the world might all be speaking French now instead of English. The main difference between then and now is that communication must be very fast if no instant. Clever software has been written to do all sorts of things to try to make that possible. But the people who design it seem to think that everyone involved in the chain of communication will be sitting quietly in some office behind a screen and keyboard. That is an exaggeration but you know what I mean. Much robust and portable hardware has been designed. But, in reality, particularly in the army, the weakest communications are between a commander and a small group of ordinary soldiers. And the guy at the front line who needs to understand the orders and pass back relevant information is often some not very bright farm boy from Frieseland. He can't work his video machine effectively let alone a computer. The really vital link we are working on is between farm boy's hand and his hardware. Our job is to make the systems easy for the farm boy to work. The systems can be as complex as you like the other end. There can be well-trained specialists there. But our farm boy, who may be frightened and under fire, must have as little as possible to do, and for it to be as difficult as possible for him to be able to foul up the system. If we can do that, then in return for our software, the Dutch army can more easily get its hands on other country's goodies, perhaps even the Americans. They have their farm boys as well you know." Gerry had once had a contract terminated on the spot for telling an Internet Company manager that his site would never be used as it tried to be too clever. He remembered saying "Your designers are on an ego trip to come up with something cleverer then anybody else. But simple people will not use it. It won't work for them." He had quiet satisfaction when the firm ceased trading. He knew a great deal about designing the front end of systems that people liked to use. And when they liked to use it, they used it and used it well. He realised now why he had got the job. But he wondered whether the military was something in a different league. He said, "Surely the Americans have designed all this for their space projects." Paul replied "Not really. They faced some of the same problems, but the guys up in space were intelligent and highly trained. If we can come up with something really effective, we will be far ahead of anyone else." He pointed to a hand drawn cartoon on the wall of a solider with a box in his hand with two buttons on it. One marked ''Ja'' and the other 'Nee'. From the soldiers face it was clear he did not know which one he should press. Gerry was excited by the problem. "Who else is on the team?" Paul replied "The main software and hardware designers are down in Utrecht. We have secure links to them. Our job is solely concerned with turning the information they want to send into something easy for the solider to use and to reply to. We design our end, and then we use the troops here to test it. We then refine it and so on. If we could come up with a box with one button, we will have succeeded." Gerry knew he was joking. "Why all the elaborate secrecy?" Paul said "When you have a secret it is quite easy to keep it from your enemies. But your friends are different." Gerry wondered whether the British were included in the 'friends' they wanted to keep their work secret from. Paul explained that apart from the two of them, there were four others to help with the software and two more who could make almost any electronic box or gadget. Gerry familiarised himself with what the project had done so far, mainly by talking to the team members. Most of the documentation was in Dutch, which must really have helped make the project secure! At lunchtime, he and Paul went to the canteen. They were the only two in there. Paul said most of the others he had seen that morning were out testing a new mobile phone with digital display that they had created. Those on guard duty and so on ate in shifts. Paul said, "Has the Captain told you what you can expect here?" Gerry said "not really." Paul said, "They are really a great bunch of men. The best I have ever worked with. Which might say something in favour of the Captains unorthodox methods. But they will be testing you the whole time. They will want to be sure you are really part of the team. And they will be tying to find out where you fit in. You will be raped again, maybe often. Theree are always some bullies and some of the men find it the only way to show their superiority. The captain encourages them. He will enjoy watching what happens to you, particularly after the episode in the canteen this morning. That is why he has put you in the position you are. He likes to see how people react to situations he forces them into. And then he likes to manipulate them." They worked through the afternoon until about 6. Two big blond haired soldiers arrived. They looked like the arch typical farm boys that he was designing for. Paul said, "This is your escort back to the barracks. See you tomorrow." While the two did not actually march Gerry away, they stayed close either side. Like good dogs they had been told to fetch and so they fetched. When he entered the building they took him by the arms. They quickly stripped him, actually cutting off his T-shirt and underwear with knives. They took him into a white tiled washing area. There were about 20 guys standing there waiting for him. All naked. Heavy manacles were attached over his wrists with about 2 feet of chain in between. They weighed his arms down. Similar manacles were put around his ankles. He was pushed to the ground. He looked up at the bodies around him. All had good muscles. They had trained hard. Some were really heavily muscled. They were mainly tall. He liked that about the Dutch. They were a tall race. They all had short hair or shaved heads. His cock started to rise. You never found a bunch like this in a sauna or a darkroom. He was beginning to enjoy this. They stood around him in a circle, all holding their cocks, most of which were hard. At the signal from a guy on his left, who he later found out was the corporal, they all started jacking off. He looked at the different ways they held their cocks. Some also played with their balls. Two guys had such big cocks, they could do it two handed. It was fascinating to watch, and Gerry would have liked a chance to take some of them in his mouth. Within a minute a guy in front of him shot his load. He aimed his spunk at Gerry and hit him well on the chest. It was clear that that was what they were all going to do. One by one the spunk hit him. One guy, who had already shot offered to help another who was rubbing his dick very quickly. He said "let me do what that tart did" and he got on the floor and started licking the guys balls from between his legs. He gave a moan and added more white fluid to Gerry's body. By the time they had all shot, Gerry was well covered. There was some on his face, chest, back, legs - everywhere. But Gerry never flinched or tried to duck the shots. The last one to shoot was subject to a great deal of derision and flushed badly. Gerry did nothing to remove the spunk. He had a feeling that he was expected to sit there and take this. When the troop had finished, someone picked up a stopwatch and said he had two minutes to come. If he did they would wash him off. Otherwise he would have to lick the spunk off his own body. The thought of that made Gerry shudder. He grabbed his hard cock and massaged it, which made his manacles rattle. The whole scene had excited him, and his cock was throbbing before he started. He concentrated his attention on what must have been the biggest dick in the room that was now at half-mast. He needed to concentrate on something as the guys were taunting him and trying to put him off. He beat the two-minute deadline, but only just. The guys cheered. They all moved in a little closer and started pissing on him. This was what they had meant by washing him down. He sat there as the warm fingers of piss hit him. Gerry had never been into the 'heavy' scenes but his cock would not go down. He wondered if it was being accepted by all this masculinity that he liked. "What the hell" he thought "just enjoy it." When they were all finished. The corporal said "I think you should thank you to us for getting the spunk off you." Gerry started to say thank you, but was stopped. "No say thank you individually." It became clear that he was to thank each cock in turn. He went round the circle on his knees, taking each cock in his mouth in turn. He tried to take the length of each cock in his mouth until his lips reached the owners body. He nearly gagged on the big ones, as they were so large, but swallowing cock was not completely new to him. He really did swallow the guy with the biggest cock, but that was pure pleasure. The guy said "wow that felt good. You must do it again when it is hard." He only now noticed that all the guys had shaved their pubic hair, whereas he left his long like the hair on his head. When he had completed the circle, they half carried him to the communal showers, still manacled. They all helped to wash him and to wash each other. No one washed himself or his own cock. While still in the water stream, a guy came near him carrying an old- fashioned cut-throat razor. Two others grabbed his arms and the guy got down on his knees and took hold of Gerry's cock. For a moment Gerry held his breath. He was petrified. But all the soldier did was shave away his pubic hair. "The captain says it is more hygienic." Gerry did not mind. If he were stuck here, he would do what was necessary to be accepted as a full part of the group. It would be easier for him that way, and might help provide an opportunity for him to escape. When he had finished, the guy closed the razor. Gerry said "What about this" pointing to his head. He was pushed to the ground, and the guys cheered and counted each stroke as his hair came off. Gerry thought that a bit of hair was small price to pay for acceptance if that then gave him an opportunity to wipe the smug smile off the captains face. While still on the ground he noticed that some guys had a tattoo on their right buttock. Some of them had tattoos anyway, but the one on the right buttock was the same on each guy that had one. It was a colourful copy of the unit badge about 4 inches in diameter with the Dutch red white and blue tricolour and an orange flag above it. One guy saw him looking and said, "You have to earn this. It took me over a year before the captain agreed that I could have one." He was clearly very proud of his badge. Gerry had to admire Dirk. He really had got the team lock stock cock and barrel. They all got out of the shower and, at last, the manacles were removed. Everyone dried themselves and got dressed. He had to get help in getting his cammo trousers and boots right. They went off to the canteen to eat. Gerry sat at one of the big tables with his meal. He had problems getting any food into his mouth as everyone wanted to talk to him and ask him questions. They clearly were accepting him. There was what Gerry thought of as a boy at the table that he had noticed earlier in the circle. He thought 'boy' as he could only be about 17 or 18. He had a good body although it was still developing. He said very little, but listened intently to everything that anyone said, and laughed at everyone's jokes, even the unfunny ones. Gerry smiled at him and he smiled back, before embarrassment made the boy look away. After they had cleared the meal away a number stayed at the table to play cards. The boy did not play, but kept getting everyone fresh bottles of beer when their last one was empty. They played poker. Gerry joined in. With his mathematical mind, he played well and won a little, although others played much better. The rules explained to him meant that large sums could not be bet. But some hands caused great excitement when two or more players felt they had unbeatable hands. The first time it happened, there was perhaps only 25 Guilders in the pot when it got down to two players. One said, "A shag says my hand is better." The other said "OK if I win I shag you, and if you win you shag me." With that he showed his cards and promptly lost. Gerry was not sure when the bet would be paid. Another time a player said, "You are bluffing. If you have the third queen I will suck your cock." "And swallow my spunk?" came the reply. "And swallow your spunk." The guy had not been bluffing. At 10 they all headed off for bed many, including Gerry, a little drunk. Gerry did not know where he was to sleep. He was shown to a small room with two single beds in. There was no one else in there, although he learned that all of the troops were paired up for mutual support. While he was undressing, a solider everyone called 'Fritz' came in. I am first on the rotor to guard you," he said. He began to strip and was soon laying naked on one of the beds fingering his cock. Gerry finished stripping and did the same. Fritz (it transpired that his father was German and the nickname was the full extent of someone's imagination) was one of the guys with one of the bigger cocks. "Piet said it was good when you swallowed his cock. Can you do mine?" Gerry got off the bed and onto his knees. Fritz got off the bed and pushed his cock to Gerry's waiting mouth. It was not hard. Gerry took it to the back of his throat and swallowed the head. Fritz moaned a little and Gerry could feel the cock swelling in his throat. Fritz face fucked Gerry for some minutes until Gerry drew away. Fritz said, "I wanted to come in there." Gerry said "not tonight. I am tired. I need some sleep." He got into bed. Fritz got in the single bed with him. He clearly intended to guard him closely. In the dark, Gerry found the other guys mouth and started to kiss him. Fritz did not respond to the probing tongue at first. "Perhaps these guys don't kiss", thought Gerry. But then Fritz began to take an active part. They went to sleep with their bodies entangled. Gerry was under no illusion that there was any passion in their embrace. But there was no embarrassment. They were comrades together in a single bed. Gerry heard Fritz get up in the night for a piss. Gerry felt his own cock. He felt randy as he often did in the night. When Fritz came back, Gerry said, "You still want that blow job?" Fritz got hold of his dick as if in answer. Gerry took the large and now hard cock in his mouth. He massaged it with his tongue and with his teeth. Fritz squirmed around in pleasure. Gerry knew that Fritz was about to shoot when Fritz took hold of his head and tried to push the cock further in. Gerry obliged by swallowing the cock. Fritz soon shot down Gerry's throat. He removed his cock. Fritz said, "Did you enjoy that?" He seemed a little cold and Gerry remembered what Dirk had said about 'taking away the guilt'. He replied "Did you enjoy it? That's more important. If you didn't I am sorry." Fritz replied "Of course I liked it. Never been sucked like that by a guy before. When I tell the other guys, they will all want to try." They got back into bed. They were woken at 6. They were all going for a run through the woods. Gerry was given the appropriate clothes, including a pair of very tight shorts. They got dressed and set out. Gerry was not unfit but he had problems keeping going. Some guys gave him encouragement and some were just abusive. He told one guy who was massively built but all of it muscle to 'fuck off'. But they stayed together and ran as a group. It was the group time that mattered not any individual performance. It also helped to ensure that Gerry did not try to escape. In sight of the camp they stopped running. The big guy came up and grabbed him. He pinned him against a tree. "I don't like being told to fuck off. And definitely not by someone who made our time the worst we have done." As he said this, he grabbed Gerry by the balls. Gerry tried to break free, but had little effect. The guy pulled Gerry's shorts down and turned him round. He was to be raped again. There was to be no prelude. Gerry felt the hard cock enter him. He might have been a big guy, but his cock was not so big. The guy grunted each time he thrust his cock inwards. Gerry did not resist, but felt no excitement. He just let the guy shag him. He had had some like that in the darkrooms. After he shot his load, he pulled away. As a final demonstration of power, Gerry was made to lick his cock clean. He was one of Dirk's bullies. They headed back into the base. The two of them went straight to breakfast to join the others. People looked up when they entered but no one said anything, although they all must have known what had happened. Everyone then went to the showers. Gerry wondered if he would be manacled again. He was not. Last night had been a one-off. In the showers, the guys paired up with their roommates and helped each other wash. Gerry joined up with Fritz and what he guessed must be his usual roommate. Some of the guys got hard dicks, and played with them or with their partners. However, only one pair seemed to be serious about it. He then realised that one of them was the one that had lost the bet last night and was getting ready to swallow spunk and dick. The others watched and cheered him on. After he had swallowed the spunk he let go of the other guy's dick and raised his hands like a champion boxer. Gerry wondered how many of the guys actually enjoyed these games, or were they just doing what they thought was expected. The guys clearly liked each other, and being part of the team was all they knew or, he supposed, wanted. Gerry dressed in his army gear and went to work. He became quite fascinated by the project, although he felt that the current direction the team was taking was a blind alley. They were trying to simplify everything in the wrong way. Gerry wrote a small program to show his thinking and demonstrated it for Paul. He explained to Paul that he thought that it was not the complexity of the data that needed to be simplified, but the quantity given in any one time. He said "Look if we break the information down into small pieces and then get 'farm boy' to respond to each and every piece he would not be overwhelmed. It might almost become a game to them with a reward each time." His example dealt with breakfast. The display came up "Are you hungry, press Yes or No." "Would you like a hot meal press Yes or No." "Would you like eggs and bacon, press yes or no." And so it went on. It was a simple example, but Paul seemed impressed. They and two of the other four worked on army examples for the rest of the day, and the idea seemed to have potential. When he returned to the barracks, he found some of the guys naked in the washroom area. He stripped and joined them. Some did a bit of mock wrestling as they waited for everyone to arrive. Then it was jack off time again. This proved to be a daily ritual, although done differently on different days. Today they had to see who could shoot furthest up the tiled wall. The one who shot lowest was made to lie on the floor in front of the wall, and everyone pissed the spunk down onto him. Then it was off to the showers. The guy who had been against the wall was held by two others while one by one three other guys fucked him. Punishment was clearly a large part of the team spirit. He was lucky, soap was used as a lubricant. But by the third one he was obviously getting sore and pleaded for no more. Another guy shoved his cock in his mouth and told him to suck on that. He must have bitten the guys cock, as it was pulled out quickly and they began to wrestle. Everyone watched, many fingering their cocks. The guy who bit the cock ended up pinning the other on the floor of the shower, and began to jack off in his face. The guy had lost the fight so accepted the punishment with a big grin on his face. That night another soldier, who spoke poor English was Gerry's guard. It became clear that he expected to shag Gerry. He had a nice body and beautiful eyes. But he did not want to kiss, which Gerry liked to do. It was all rather mechanical, although at least he used some grease to oil the mechanism. When he had shot inside Gerry, he turned over and Gerry realised that it was his 'turn'. Although not particularly excited by the prospect, he did 'his duty'. They slept in separate beds. The days went by. The work progressed well. But Gerry was always looking for an opportunity to escape. It was not really that he wanted to go. He was enjoying his time 'in the army'. But he did not like the idea of not being able to beat Dirk at his own game. The games in the showers continued, which Gerry enjoyed once he had felt he could make the first move in messing around with the ones he particularly fancied. He fucked one or two, and was in great demand for cock sucking. Fritz had obviously put the word out. While he was never left entirely alone, they seemed to watch him less. He was being accepted, and that he liked. He began to understand the warm feeling of comradeship when accepted by a large group of men. He had never experienced it before. But then as a gay man he had never really sought it out. He had never imagined that the army could be so much fun. He had a different guy in his room every night, and overall he had a good time. He taught some of the more willing guy's tricks that were new to them. His own body felt better from the training he did with the troop. But although his performance was improving he still held the team back on their daily runs. He did not see Dirk to talk to very often. When he did, Dirk usually began the conversation with "Still here?" or "Not gone yet?" Wiping that smile off Dirk's face became more and more important to Gerry. He began to carefully observe everything around him to see whether he could devise a plan to escape. One Saturday night in the canteen, Dirk stood up after everyone had eaten. He announced the names of two of the soldiers he had decided to promote to be first class members of the team. There was great cheering. Two guys, who looked really pleased by the captain's announcement, were descended on by the rest of the troop and were quickly naked. They were chained, arse upwards over a table. Beers were handed round. Gerry realised that 'being promoted' meant that they were to get their badge tattoos. Gerry had never actually seen a tattoo being done. He was fascinated as the outline was stencilled on to their right buttocks. And then the pattern inked in. They took about an hour each. The chained guys were fed beer while the work was being done. When they were finished, everyone looked at them. This also seemed to be an excuse for people to touch and rub them and generally make the two squirm. The final part of the ceremony was for anyone who wanted to, to line up and shag them. The ones Gerry had found were bullies lined up. Soldiers who seemed reluctant were taunted by the bullies and some joined the queues just to stop the taunts. Gerry did not join either queue, although he was subject to the same abuse. He might be the only gay man present, but he saw no fun in shagging in such a way. The act would be quite cold. When the queues were exhausted, the guys were unchained although made to remain naked for the rest of the festivities. Gerry did not drink much, although nearly everyone else seemed to be getting drunk. He wondered whether that would give him a chance to escape. It didn't. Some were not that drunk. They went back to the barracks. The boy, who he had not seen drinking, came in. He said, "I have been told to stay here tonight." He seemed embarrassed. They stripped and sat on the beds opposite each other. Gerry had bought some beers back with him. He had a vague notion about getting his 'guard' into a drunken sleep. He gave a beer to the boy. He knew he would not try to escape on his watch. The troop would make his life hell if he did. Dirk would not have had such qualms. But then Gerry only wanted to get at Dirk. He did not want to be like him. The boy, whose name was Jan, looked at Gerry and said that he had been told to shag him. "Do you want to?" said Gerry. He did not normally go for 'boys', but he was very attracted to this one. He had a body between man and boy and its shape was very appealing to him. "Not really" replied Jan. "Then lets not" said Gerry. The boy looked at him. "Will you tell them in the morning that I didn't......" Gerry did not answer the question. "Have you ever fucked a guy before?" The boy looked at bit miserable and said no but added, "I have been fucked, so I know how to do it." Gerry realised that while what he had said was technically accurate, the reality was probably a lie. Gerry felt sorry for the boy. "Would you like me to teach you? If you don't do it, you know the guys will make it tough for you." Jan said "I want to fuck like everyone else, but I am scared I will get it wrong. They tell me that I do everything wrong." Gerry went and sat next to Jan and put his arm round him. "Let me show you what I like to do. If you don't like anything I do, just say and we will do something else. We can stop as soon as you say." The boy kept looking at his feet. Gerry started playing with Jan's nipple with the hand that was round his shoulder. He started delicately playing with his stomach with the other hand. His hand moved to Jan's crotch. Jan's breathing increased. "Just do what I am doing" Gerry said quietly in his ear. Jan started exploring Gerry's body with his hands. He was a little clumsy, but it felt good to Gerry. Gerry groaned as Jan's hand reached his cock. Jan looked directly at him to see if everything was alright, and Gerry took the opportunity to kiss Jan. They kissed lightly and then deeply, and rolled onto the bed. Gerry wondered if it was the first kiss Jan had ever had with a man. Indeed he wondered if it were the first proper kiss he had ever had. They explored each other with their hands and mouths. Jan's touch got better as his confidence increased. Gerry could feel that Jan's cock was getting very wet. He broke from a kiss and said quietly "Do you want to fuck me now?" Jan said he did and tried to move away. He obviously expected Gerry to bend over for him as he had been made to bend over by the others. Gerry said "Kneel between my knees." Jan did and Gerry sat up so that he could lubricate his solid cock with some grease. Jan moaned at the touch, but did not try to stop him. Gerry then put his legs over the boy's shoulders. He did not need to say anymore, Jan entered him as if he had been doing it for years. It felt better to Gerry than any other fuck he had had since his last partner and he had first got together. It did not take Jan long to come. Gerry held the boy in his arms while he recovered his breathing. He then moved to a position between Jan's legs and lifted the boy's legs over his shoulders. Jan did not resist. He entered him and then pushed down to kiss him. It was a long slow fuck that both clearly enjoyed. Both were doing what their real natures required. They slept in short bursts interspersed with more kissing and touching. Jan fucked Gerry again. In the showers in the morning Gerry was asked how the boy had been. Gerry said "I think I need something for my arse. It is so sore. He just kept at me." The boy looked pleased and mouthed a silent 'Thank you'." Gerry escaped that evening with Jan's help. He felt like a heel, but his desire to wipe the smile off Dirk's face overcame his reluctance to use Jan. He knew Jan would suffer at the hands of the troop, but rationalised that it was another part of his education. Anyway he owed it to him for what he had taught him the night before. When he went to lunch, he found Jan eating alone. He naturally joined him. While they ate he said, "Do you know what I am doing here?" Jan said "Of course. You are working on the communications project." "Not entirely" said Gerry. "That is the public part of my job. Headquarters have also given me a secret part. They feel that some people are not taking security too seriously and they want me to show up any problems. Were you told I was trying to escape?" Jan nodded. Gerry laughed. The Captain knows of my secret task and is trying to make it as hard as possible for me to fake an escape. He does not want his team shown up. He is very proud of you all. And rightly so. But you know the project is more important. We must all make it as secure as possible. If I can get off the base I can show the Captain where the problems are. And it will also allow him to test his plans for recapturing me." Gerry said that, as he wanted to find out if such plans existed. Jan might be easily persuadable, but he was not stupid. "The captain said you were not to be told of those plans. How do you know about them?" Gerry smiled benignly. "The Captain told me. He did not tell me the details and you must not tell me the details. It would not be a good test if I knew them. But I know he has laid detailed plans, which he has had you training on." The last part was a guess, but proved to be a good guess. Gerry went in for the kill. "If I can get away, I will give the troop 24 hours to recapture me. That will be a good test. If they can't I will just come back. Either way there will be hell to pay, and no doubt I will suffer in the showers. But the project will be more secure. And even if I do suffer at the hands of the other guys, I will not tell headquarters. I promise. I only want to do this for the Captain and for the team. Will you help me?" Gerry held his breath. Jan nodded. "What should I do." Gerry's plan was simple. He always believed that simplicity was best. After dinner that evening, Jan left the mess hall. He went to the front gate. He told the two guards on duty that the Captain wanted his car as he was going into small town 10 kilometres away. Personal vehicles were kept in a separate area outside the main compound but in view of the guardhouse. Jan had done this before for the Captain and had a set of keys. It was that that gave Gerry the idea. Gerry had told Jan to chat for a few minutes with the guards, which he did. He then went and got the car. Standard procedure meant that the car was searched inside and in the boot when it was brought in. After the search, Jan drove the BMW in and turned it round pointing at the guardhouse, supposedly for the captain to drive out. Jan undid the boot lock from the inside and stayed with the car. He was not nervous. The captain would be pleased with him, and like the other guys or a group of puppy dogs, he liked his master's praise. Gerry excused himself to go to the canteen toilet. He walked boldly, hoping he was not being watched. Instead of going through the toilet door, he went though the one next to it and into the kitchen. The kitchen was empty. The cooks were playing poker with the rest of the troop. Gerry ducked down behind the open hatchway and crawled to the back door. It was not locked, and he went out. He hid in the shadows. Jan saw him and nodded. Jan started the engine and put the headlights on full. They shone right into the guardhouse, making it difficult for them to see. Gerry raced to the car and got in the boot pulling it shut behind him. In the darkness this did not seem such a good idea as it had when he conceived his plan. He felt the car move away and learnt what a suitcase must feel like. The car stopped at the gate. He could hear Jan speaking in Dutch. He had been told to say that the Captain had changed his mind and he was putting the car away again. The crunch came. Procedures, Gerry had observed, meant the car should be checked again. Gerry was banking on the fact that they would not bother. They had checked the car on the way in. It had remained in their sight, and was only going back to the car pound. Gerry later found out that they checked the inside again but they left the boot alone. Jan drove slowly towards the car pound, but instead of going in drove straight on. Gerry had told him not to race away when the barrier was up. In his current delicate position he was glad he had. Jan had been told only to accelerate away if it was clear that someone had seen something wrong. Gerry had reasoned that even if the guards saw Jan drive away they would assume they had misunderstood what was happening. Perhaps Jan was going into town for the Captain. There was no reason for them to think there was anything wrong. Gerry felt his disappearance from the canteen would be what would cause the chase to begin. A few minutes later the boot catch opened. Gerry got out and went round to the driver's door and opened it. He had no desire to make it any worse for Jan so he said "Thanks. I will take it from here. You walk back to base and report to the captain. Tell him everything that happened as obviously I could not tell him the details of my escape in advance." Gerry could see in the glow given by the interior light that Jan looked troubled. Jan said "No, that would spoil the test. You said that the story was that you were a foreign agent who had persuaded me to help you get off the base with some secrets, either by bribing me or by holding my parent's hostage or something similar. In either case, I would not just go back. If the test is to be real it must mean that the troops would have to find me as well as you." Jan was taking his role very seriously. Gerry knew his time was short and could not argue. "Ok" he said "but we have lost some time, let's hurry." He got into the other side of the car, and Jan drove off at speed. Gerry looked at his watch. He needed to know when the 24 hours were up. It was 8.05. He had until 8.00 tomorrow to stay free in order to really shaft Dirk in the only way that would truly hurt him. Gerry told Jan to drive into the small town nearest to the base. He realised that they could not drive much further and that they could not keep the car. The police would be alerted to look out for it on the sparsely populated roads. They left the car in a car park near the centre, and went off on foot. Gerry's plan had been to go the station and get the first train or bus anywhere. He hoped they could not find him in the time it took him to find a bus or train. The delay and the fact that he had Jan with him meant he had to change plans. He thought for a moment, and then came up with what he felt was a perfect solution. At 7.50 the next evening, he telephoned the base and quickly got through to the captain. He said "I make it you have 10 minutes in which to pick me up." He did not hang up, he wanted to hear just how angry Dirk was. "Where are you?" he shouted down the line, although he could not really have expected a reply. Gerry gave him the address. They arrived in a car at 8.04. Gerry and Jan heard the noise of the car as it screeched to a halt. They went outside. "I make it that you are 4 minutes late. But what is 4 minutes among comrades" he said cheerfully. The two 'spies' did not seem to be very popular with their 'comrades' who did not speak to them. But then perhaps that had been the Captain's orders. He would not want anyone finding out the truth before he did. Gerry was sure that he could then devise a good lie. They got into the car and were driven back to the base. Gerry and Jan were taken to Dirk's office. Gerry went in while Jan waited outside. Gerry stood in front of the desk trying to stand at ease like a good solider. But to a professional - and Dirk, for everything else, was a real professional soldier- he probably looked very sloppy. Dirk did his silent watching routine again. Eventually he said quietly "I know basically how you did it, but how did you get Jan to help you?" Gerry said, "I only did what you do. I told a big lie and he believed me. It probably helped that we had been fucking around the night before." Dirk said, "I will kill the little shit." Gerry had clearly scored a number of points for Dirk to publicly reveal his anger. Gerry had not only escaped, but he had undermined one of his loyal troops, and he had disappeared in the Captains car. And he had come back to taunt him having stayed free for 24 hours. But he still wanted more. Gerry said, "I guess you can do that, in which case I go and find another job. But if you call Jan in and thank him for helping me implement your plan" - he emphasised the your - "to test security here, I will stay and complete the project. You were right. I do enjoy it here." Dirk looked at him again, realising that either way he was a loser. He wanted to save some face. "And that is your only price for finishing the project?" Gerry was not about to let him save face. "Well as you will no longer need to worry about my escaping " he paused and added so as to rub salt into the wound "I have already done that." Dirk gave him a venomous look. "As I will not want to escape again, Jan can become my permanent room mate and buddy. I need the exercise." Gerry tried to keep the smirk off his face. But he did not try very hard. Others might think that the laugh Dirk gave was him gracefully giving in. Gerry guessed that while the laugh signalled that he was conceding this game, he would continue the fight another day. He was sure that the rest of the troop would be given careful instructions by Dirk on what to do to Jan and him. But even Dirk could not go too far as in his public lie they would be heroes not villains. He guessed they might be raped and be the main victims in the showers. But he felt sure they would both be able to handle it. He really had begun to enjoy being part of this machismo team. And being a full part of the team meant taking your punishment in good part. He thought he would enjoy the punishment as well, until such time as they turned on someone else. "Same room. Two queers together, eh?" said Dirk. If it was meant as a barb, it did not hurt, not least because it was completely accurate. "Where did you hide all this time. We checked all the buses that left and there were no trains that left in the time you had available. We searched every gay bar, club and sauna in town. And then every straight bar and hotel in case you were trying to be clever. I had a lot of people looking for you." Gerry had not finished scoring points. "Oh, I think we were quite clever" he said emphasising the 'we'. "We only did what all your soldiers do when they have some leave. We went to a prostitute." He stopped, letting the realisation dawn. "And did what?" Dirk asked. "What would two queers do? We paid each of the girls who used the room for their shift 500 guilders to have the time off. They were happy, and we just sat behind the curtain playing cards. It is a good job we played for match sticks, they were all far too good for us." Dirk called Jan in and said, "I have just been hearing about the excellent job you did. You have my gratitude. Thanks to you the project is now much safer." Jan flushed with pride. Gerry would never tell him the truth and Dirk certainly would not. 'Checking the security' would become the official story, and Gerry knew the Captain would even find a way to use this rare defeat to increase his hold over his men. Gerry might be able to win a game or two, but Dirk would win in the end. But Dirk and Gerry would always know the truth. It would be a secret between the two of them, which Gerry was sure would nag at Dirk every time he saw him. It somehow made the victory much sweeter. But Gerry could not resist taking one more point. "Sir, I would not ask for myself, but do you not think that Jan here deserves to be promoted to first class for his efforts?" Dirk blinked and said in a monotone "You will both have your badges." As a delighted Jan led the way out of the office, Gerry heard him add, "It is about the only way I have left to ensure that you both get the shafting you deserve." Dirk had recovered already. Gerry had to admire him.