Date: Sat, 8 May 1999 12:13:16 EDT From: Phaedrus57@aol.com Subject: Isle of Refuge--Part V--Young Friends, tt/bb, consensual Caveat: This is a story of love and adventure among a group of teenaged boys. It contains scenes of sexual activities between boys. If this offends you, do not read the story. Please go to some other site. If the laws of your country or locality say that it is illegal for you to read this type of story (i.e. that you are too young to have erotic thoughts or sexual questions and your innocent little mind shouldn't entertain such possibilities as are portrayed in this story), you should obey the law. If you read this story nevertheless, don't get caught! Hide your downloads and delete your history. For obvious reasons, the characters in this story do not practice safe sex. Remember that they are fictional products of my fevered imagination, but the dangers of unprotected sex are real. In this respect, I hope that readers will not follow their example. Enjoy the story, which will go on for many chapters. I hope that it will appeal to your minds and hearts. It isn't primarily a sex story, although it has its erotic moments. Comments are welcome and strongly requested. Flames will be ignored. E-mail me at phaedrus57@aol.com. This story is dedicated to the memory of my beloved foster son David, who died of AIDS in 1992, a week before his twenty-ninth birthday. I offer my apologies for my inordinate delay in posting this chapter. It has been a busy and somewhat distracting time for me. I hope to do better in the future. Isle of Refuge Chapter VI: The View from the Summit After the boys had visited the latrine, eaten breakfast, and bathed in the water, Richard called them all together at the edge of the pool. "There are some things we need to do," he said. "First we need to explore this island. We need to know how big it is and whether there are any other islands in sight nearby. We need to know more about the plants and animals here, especially the ones that might be sources of food. Second, we need to figure out a better way to catch fish. We can't just live on fruit; we need protein. Third, we need to design and build some kind of permanent shelter so that we'll be ready for storms when they come. "Today, I think most of us should climb to the top of the hill and see what we can from there. While we do that, we can see more plants and animals. Then we can decide where else we should explore." "Francois can't do any hill climbing, and I'd like to stay here with him," Mike said. "I need to make him some crutches, and I want to make a marker for Chris's grave. We had a really good woodshop program at my school, and I learned a lot about how to make things. Francois and I could do an inventory of the tools and materials we have and start to plan a shelter." Several of the boys smiled as they heard Mike propose such a useful way for him and Francois to spend the day alone together. The two of them couldn't seem to keep their hands off each other. "That sounds really good, Mike," Richard responded. "Tommy, what do you think is the best way to get up the hill from here?" "There's lots of open ledges on this side of the falls. If we follow them as far as we can,we can see the top of the hill and figure out the clearest way from there," Tommy said. "Sounds like a plan," Kevin said. "What do we need to take with us?" Richard said, "We should take some rope and one of the machetes from the Venture, and something to carry water in. Terry, Joey, and Angelo, can you find that stuff?" "Yeah!" the thirteen-year-olds said in chorus, and then giggled self-consciously. In a few minutes, they were ready. "You two behave while we're gone," Richard said to Mike and Francois, who grinned back at him. "Let's go! Tommy, you lead the way, but don't get too far ahead of us." Sometimes clambering up roots and footholds, sometimes wading through small pools made by the brook as it tumbled down the hillside, sometimes boosting or pulling each other up the steeper passages, the boys made their way to the top of the falls. It took them about an hour to reach that point. They then saw a small pond with wooded banks ending in a marshy area about 150 yards ahead of them, apparently the source of the brook. Beyond it, the wooded hillside sloped more gently toward a treeless summit that seemed to be about a half mile from where they stood. When they turned to look behind them, they saw an unbroken expanse of open sea stretching to a distant horizon. Looking down to the foot of the falls, they could see Mike's small, distant form moving about the campsite. Many birds, some quite large, were flying in the light, warm breeze, landing and taking off among the trees and on the waters of the pool. A few swarms of insects buzzed near the water's surface. Small rodents and lizards scuttled up and down the tree trunks and along the ground, unaware of the potential predators who had just arrived in their world. To the boys' relief, they saw no snakes. The waters of the pool were crystal clear as they flowed along the sandy bottom toward the lip of the falls. There were a few frogs and tiny, brightly colored fish. "Let's rest here for a few minutes and drink some water, then climb the rest of the way to the top," Richard said. Tommy had as usual moved out ahead of the others along the side of the pond. When he had reached the marshy area at the far end, he shouted excitedly, "Richard, look here!" Richard and the other boys walked to join Tommy, who pointed at an object hidden in the marsh grass. They saw what appeared to be a large nest built of dried straw and mud. Nearly filling it were three bluish eggs. They soon heard frantic sounds of protest from a large waterfowl that had just landed on the water nearby. "That must be the mother," Kevin speculated. "D'ya think we could eat the eggs if we cook 'em?" Angelo asked. "That would be like taking her babies away from the mother," Miguel said. "She'll just lay some more," Terry responded. "Let's leave them here for now, and check on our way back to see if she has laid any more. We don't have anything with us to cook them in," said Richard. "Eggs are a good source of protein, and we need that. Terry's right. If we take these, the mother will lay more." "Why don't we gather some fruit and have lunch now?" Kevin asked. "Good idea!" chorused Terry, Joey, and Angelo. The three of them along with Tommy and Miguel ran off to do so. Within a few minutes they returned, arms laden with mangoes, pineapples, coconuts, and breadfruit. The boys used the machete to cut up the fruit, and everyone ate greedily. The three thirteen-year-olds managed to cover each other with juice and seeds, giggling and hitting each other, and finally rolling on top of each other on the ground. When they finally lay breathless, their arms and legs entangled, Richard grinned down at them and said, "Okay, guys, now you'd better go in the water and get cleaned up!" Terry, Joey, and Angelo finally caught their breaths, regained their composure, and stood up facing Richard with their arms around each other's shoulders. Richard noticed that their penises were all erect. Terry looked at the ground and then directly at Richard. "We're all kinda horny. Do we have time for a quickie?" he asked. Joey and Angelo looked embarrassed but nodded in affirmation. "A what?" Richard asked, surprised and amused. "Ya know. We all take care of each other...like, at night. But when we, like, wrestle and play around, we get all excited and we really wanna do it...now," Terry tried to explain while Joey and Angelo looked at Richard solemnly. All three pulled each other closer. Richard smiled at them affectionately. "Okay," he said, "but don't take all afternoon and don't tire yourselves all out. We've got a long way to go yet!" "Thanks, Richard!" the three said in chorus, giggling self-consciously. Hand in hand, they walked a few yards along the shore of the pond to an invitingly soft patch of grass and lay down side by side. They grabbed each other's penises and began to stroke them. Soon Joey started to lick his way down Terry's chest and belly and took his penis in his mouth. As he did the same for Angelo, Terry fondled Joey's small, hairless testicles. Watching in fascination, Tommy threw his arms around Miguel and said, "Let me make you feel real good, bro'! Lay down and let me suck you!" "You sure you want to?" Miguel said, taken aback. "You don't hafta do that. I mean...you're kinda young for that stuff." "Dude, I'm horny too, and didn't I wake up this morning with your cum on my leg? I really, really wanna do it, 'cause you're so good to me and I love you so much," Tommy said, and kissed Miguel wetly on the cheek, hugging him passionately. He took Miguel's penis in his hand and began to stroke it. Miguel put his brown arms around Tommy's small, white body. "Okay, li'l bro! I love ya! Let's do it!" he whispered, and kissed Tommy. They lay down a few yards from the thirteen-year-olds, embracing and caressing each other. Kevin put his arms around Richard's neck and kissed him on the lips. "How about it, loverboy? Doesn't all this testosterone turn you on?" "Sure does, baby," Richard said softly, pulling Kevin close and feeling their erections grow against each other's bodies. Still embracing, they lay down at the foot of a palm tree, Kevin on top of Richard, and kissed deeply. Richard ran his hand slowly up and down Kevin's spine and then caressed his buttocks. Kevin sat upright astride Richard's hips and grasped both of their hard penises, rubbing them together. He bent over and began to lick and kiss Richard's chest, giving special attention to his erect nipples. His mouth found its way to his lover's navel and then down through his dark blond pubic hairs to his engorged penis. Kevin sucked Richard's penis as Richard moaned. As soon as Richard's hard, throbbing penis was thoroughly covered with his saliva, Kevin sat up again and moved until his anus was directly above it. He slowly sat down, pushing his body gently until Richard's tool was completely inside him. "Oh, baby, you feel sooo good! You're soooo tight!" Richard gasped. "I love you! I love you!" Kevin slid slowly up and down and Richard raised his hips in synchronization. He grasped Kevin's penis and began to stroke it in the same rhythm. The sound of simultaneous treble and tenor moans drew Richard's attention momentarily to Tommy and Miguel, now in sixty-nine position a few yards to his left, moving their mouths rapidly in and out on each other's penises. He saw Miguel's body go rigid just as Tommy's slender legs flew apart and came back together rapidly several times. Kevin's and Richard's hands and bodies moved faster. Suddenly Kevin whimpered and spasmed as semen spurted from his penis onto Richard's chest and belly. Richard felt Kevin's sphincter clench and was suddenly seized by his own intense orgasm. Time stopped. Both boys shouted in ecstasy. Kevin fell forward on top of Richard as they sought each other's lips, their penises softening. Richard held Kevin close and stroked his soft, smooth skin as his penis finally popped out of Kevin's anus. They felt each other's breaths on their necks. They shared the sensation of floating several inches above the ground. "Oh Richard, you make me feel so good!" Kevin whispered. "Me too, baby! Me too!" Richard sighed. Richard and Kevin were brought back to earth by the voices of the three thirteen year olds. "Whoa! That was awesome! Did you see what they did? We'll have to try that, Terry!" said Angelo in a stage whisper. "Yeah! I could take either one of ya!" Joey's treble voice chimed in. The three were standing, arms wrapped around each other, bodies smeared with drying semen, looking down at Richard and Kevin. "This gives a whole new meaning to the term 'role model'," Kevin whispered to Richard. Richard smiled at them affectionately. "It looks as if you guys had some fun, too! Why don't you clean each other up in the water and rest a few minutes. You've got enough sperm on you to make all the fish pregnant! We've got to climb the rest of this hill this afternoon." Giggling, Joey, Terry, and Angelo waded into the pond and began to splash and rub each other with the water. Kevin and Richard got up and followed them. Finally Tommy and Miguel disentangled themselves and joined the rest. Richard was surprised and bemused at how comfortable Joey, Terry, and Angelo now seemed with their own and each other's bodies after a few days of constant, intimate contact and nudity. They touched and rubbed each other everywhere with that peculiar combination of aggression and affection typical of early adolescent boys. They seemed to be anarchists by instinct, and had quickly adjusted to the fact that the normal rules and constraints of society did not apply here on the island. Their physical similarities and differences fascinated them, as did the sensations and pleasures they could produce in each other's bodies. They shared even the peculiar and sometimes unpleasant smells that boys find emanating from them during puberty. There were no secrets or taboos among them. Although they had developed a remarkably symbiotic relationship, they were quite different from each other in appearance, personality, and background. Their common characteristic, apart from age, was that their parents were all immigrants. The fact that their penises were all uncut reflected this shared heritage. Joey, the least physically mature of the three, had immigrated with his father from Russia when he was three. His father had then been eliminated by some of his former colleagues in the Russian "mafia" and Joey had been brought up by his childless aunt and uncle. They had taken him in out of obligation, not love, and frequently reminded him of his father's wayward life and their own great generosity in saving him from the streets or an orphanage. Sometimes their reminders were physical; they believed in corporal punishment. Joey's body was smooth and trim, except for the faint scars on his back and buttocks. His penis and testicles were pubescent and hairless. His complexion was light and his close-cropped hair was medium brown. He had large, dark eyes with long lashes set in a sharply chiseled face and his usually grave and forlorn expression was occasionally replaced by a brilliant and beautiful smile. Terry, the tallest and most physically mature of the three, had the smooth, golden skin, black curly hair, and African features which bespoke his Cape Verdean descent. His penis and testicles, surmounted by a small growth of black pubic hair, promised to grow to impressive proportions. He already had small amounts of hair on his armpits and calves. His shoulders had begun to broaden, giving his torso a nearly perfect V shape. His abdominal muscles defined a washboard belly, and his arms and legs were muscular as well. He had a ready, mischievous grin and sparkling dark eyes that frequently crinkled with laughter. His large, long-fingered hands were constantly touching someone, somewhere, usually Joey or Angelo. He was constantly cheerful, curious, active, and affectionate. He was usually the instigator of the sexual games to which the three were increasingly addicted. Angelo was the youngest child of a large Italian family. His older brothers were involved in the petty criminality so pervasive in Chelsea, the bleak and impoverished city on the outskirts of Boston where the family lived. His father had been in and out of prison for much of Angelo's life, while his mother played the role of martyred wife and mother to the hilt. A sensitive and affectionate boy, Angelo was the closest to his mother of all her sons. He was the "good boy" who stayed out of trouble and did well in school. He was talented at drawing and painting, interests that drew ridicule from his brothers. They had abused Angelo sexually since he was seven, but his mother seemed oblivious to their cruelty and Angelo's suffering. As a result, Angelo was often anxious and depressed, both because of their abuse and because, at some level, he enjoyed it. Before he joined the Venture's company, he had always felt lonely and vulnerable. He was slender and wiry, and had an olive complexion and wavy black hair. His dark eyes often sparkled now, but they were still sometimes deep and sad. He had a few wisps of black pubic hair at the base of his flat, smooth, muscular belly, a slender penis, and a smooth dark brown scrotum. The musculature of his thin, smooth arms and legs was still undefined, but his quickness and agility had won him some athletic success. He was the fastest runner and quickest climber of all the boys on the island. Soon the boys had finished their ablutions and were lying in the grass to dry off in the warm midday sun. Richard said, "Let's go, guys. We still have a lot of climbing to do." Tommy took the lead as usual, trying to find the best route around the thick underbrush. In a few places, Terry and Miguel used the machete to cut a path. As the boys climbed toward the hilltop, the trees and bushes began to thin and they were able to walk on open ledges. Tommy was approaching a clump of vegetation when Richard saw him suddenly begin to fall and struggle to regain his balance. "HE-E-E-LP!" Tommy screamed in a panicky voice, as he disappeared from view. Miguel ran frantically toward the place where Tommy had last been seen, followed by all the others. They found themselves at the opening of a cave that descended almost vertically into the hillside, its entrance concealed by bushes. About twenty feet below them, they could just make out Tommy's small white form. It did not move. Tears started in Miguel's eyes. "Tommy, you shoulda stayed back with me!" he said, almost sobbing. Then he called down into the cave, "Tommy! TOMMY! Please say something!" "We'll hafta lower somebody down there with the rope to get Tommy back up," Kevin said. "I'll go! I'll go!" Miguel pleaded. "Can you calm down and think clearly?" Richard asked, putting his arm around Miguel's shoulders. "I...I guess so," Miguel said, fighting to control his anxiety. "Okay. Take some deep breaths," Richard said, hugging Miguel reassuringly while Kevin rubbed his back. Miguel gradually regained his composure. Terry had been carrying the fifty-foot length of rope that the boys had brought with them. With the help of the others, he fashioned a simple harness for Miguel. They secured one end of the line to the largest tree near the cave's mouth. They all held tightly as Miguel picked his way down the damp rock along the cave's side. Miguel dreaded what he might find when he reached the bottom, but his love for Tommy impelled him to make a supreme effort at self-control. As he approached Tommy's still body, the wall of the cave became less steep, shelving to the level floor on which Tommy lay face down. When he was about five feet from Tommy, Miguel thought he saw a movement in the dim light. He heard the younger boy moan, "Ooohhh!" "It's okay, li'l bro! I'm here. Don't try to move!" Miguel said. By this time, Miguel was at Tommy's side. He kissed the back of Tommy's neck. "Miguel? Wh...Wh...Where am I? Wh...Wh...What happened?" Tommy asked in a small, weak voice. "You fell down this, like, cave. Do ya think you're okay? Don't try to move 'til I can check you for broken bones," Miguel said. "Can you wiggle your toes?" Seeing Tommy's toes move, Miguel moved his hand along his back and down his legs. Except for a multitude of bruises and abrasions, everything felt normal. "Can ya turn over?" Miguel asked. "Here, I'll help ya!" Miguel helped Tommy turn onto his back, and conducted a thorough check of Tommy's ribs and arms. He turned his face up toward the cave's mouth and shouted, "He's okay!" Applause and cheers echoed downward from those above. Richard called down, "If Tommy can hold onto you, we can pull you both up at once." Miguel turned back to Tommy. "Whadaya think, li'l bro?" Tommy grinned. "Yeah, I can do it, but you'll hafta hold onto me, too!" Miguel said, "Kewl!" He hesitated, and his expression grew very serious. "Tommy, I was so scared! You're, like, the most important person in the world to me. I don't know what I'd do if something really bad happened to you." Tommy's eyes filled with tears. "Ya really mean that, Miguel? No one ever said anything like that to me before, an' you're really my hero, an' you came down here to rescue me. I know you won't let anything really bad happen to me! I just love you sooo much!" Miguel felt tears starting in his own eyes. He stood up and extended his hand down toward Tommy. "Here, lemme help ya," he said. When Tommy was on his feet, Miguel bent down slightly and said, "Put your arms around my neck and wrap your legs around my waist." Tommy eagerly did as Miguel said, and Miguel held Tommy's bottom. They kissed each other quickly, and Miguel called up, "Okay! We're ready." The five boys at the mouth of the cave grunted and strained as they hauled Miguel and Tommy upward. Because of Tommy's additional weight, the rope harness scratched and burned Miguel's underarms, but he felt nothing but the warmth of Tommy's body and the beating of his heart. He had never known such joy. When Miguel and Tommy had almost reached the cave's opening, Richard and Kevin reached down to lift Tommy up onto the ground. Terry, Joey, and Angelo pulled Miguel the rest of the way up and helped him find his footing. Despite the rope burns and abrasions visible on his sides and back, he was smiling contentedly. As soon as Tommy was firmly encircled in Richard's arms, he started to cry. "I'm sorry, Richard. I didn't mean to fall in. I always cause you so much trouble!" Richard held Tommy tightly and stroked his back, being careful to avoid the cuts and bruises he could see there. Richard said, "What's important is that you're okay. I love you, so you don't cause me trouble. You're really important to me, and I hate to see you hurt. How do you feel?" "My head hurts a little and my back kinda stings, but I feel pretty good," Tommy replied. "Do you feel like climbing the rest of the way to the top?" Richard asked. Tommy grinned, his tears forgotten. "After all this, I gotta see the view! I wouldn't miss it for anything!" Turning to Miguel, Richard said, "How about you, hero of the day? You did a great job down there. Do those rope burns hurt?" "Naw! I feel fine," Miguel replied, grinning at the compliment. "Would you take some water from the canteen and clean out those cuts on Tommy's back, and stay real close to him the rest of the way to make sure he doesn't fall into any more holes?" Richard asked. Looking as if he would burst with pride and delight, Miguel said, "Sure! C'mere, Tommy! I'm gonna kiss those cuts and make 'em all better!" While the other boys watched and rested, Miguel tended Tommy's wounds. In a few minutes, they started up the slope again. Terry now led the way, and Miguel held Tommy's hand tightly. They emerged onto the summit, which was covered only by grass and some low bushes. No doubt high winds swept across it at times, but now at mid-afternoon there was only a light breeze beneath the cloudless sky. Bird circled lazily overhead. The sea stretched to the horizon on every hand. No other islands were visible. To the east, the hillside fell steeply to meet the water. To the north, the hill sloped gradually to a flat, swampy area extending perhaps two miles from where they stood and fringed by a nearly unbroken beach. To the west, the direction whence they had come, they could see the pond and the edge of the waterfall, and then the outer edge of the reef. The pool, the campsite, and most of the lagoon were hidden from view. The southern slope was gradual, but then fell off more steeply so that could not see where the land met the sea. There was no sign of human habitation. The boys could hear only the calls of the birds and the slight rustle of the leaves in the soft wind. "Well, now we know we're alone," Kevin said, "and we're lucky we landed in the right place." Sobered by their shared recognition of their situation and awed by the empty expanse of the sea all around them, the boys were quiet. They instinctively drew closer together for comfort and security, finding reassurance in each other's warmth. "I wonder if boats ever pass here. How likely is anyone to come and rescue us?" Richard mused. "Do we wanna be rescued? What've we got to go back to?" Tommy asked. After a few moments' thought, several voices answered, "Pizza! TV! Video games! Music! My skateboard!" Richard was struck by the fact that no one said "Mom and Dad" or "girls". The ties binding these boys to civilization and society were not very strong, Richard thought. Their bonds to each other already seemed more powerful. Survival and even a good measure of happiness were possible for them on the island, at least in the short run. But what about the long run? And would rescue be in any way a matter of their choice? "You've asked a big question, little man," Richard said, "and we'll need to talk about it a lot more back at the campsite." Kevin said, "We should start back now, so that we'll be there before it gets dark." Chapter 7: At the Campsite...coming soon!