Date: Thu, 5 Jul 2012 12:07:27 +0200
From: Amy Redek <adultreading@gmail.com>
Subject: Francis. Part Twenty Eight.

    This story is for persons of eighteen years or over.  All comments,
good or bad, are welcome and all will be answered.

     Part Twenty Eight

     We stayed there two days, only seeing the odd despatch rider, and we
began to wonder what we were supposed to be doing there.

     `I think we'd better try and find some transport,' Wesson said on our
second day there. `We aren't getting any information just sitting here on
our butts. I'm going up to see the Colonel to say that us two are moving
out on the first available vehicle that comes along.'

     `As long as it's going north,' I called out to him. He came back about
an hour later.

     `Well he knows we are in intelligence and doesn't mind us pushing
off. There's a couple of trucks coming up the road shortly, so his radio
operator said, so we should be able to get a lift from them.' So we just
lay in the sun until we saw a jeep and two trucks come along the road from
the south. We got our gear together and waved down the jeep leading the
trucks. In it were two Colonels, one British, the other French, apart from
a driver and a radio man.

     `We're in intelligence Colonel and wonder if you can give us a lift up
to headquarters,' Wesson asked after saluting the two senior officers.

     `Certainly Major, but it'll have to be in one of the trucks if you
don't mind travelling with the men,' the British officer said.

     `Not at all sir, thank you very much,' and saluted before we trotted
back to the second truck and were helped aboard. We had to sit at the rear.

     `Where are you going sir?' a squaddie asked as the truck moved off.

      `Not the slightest idea. Where you're going?' Wesson countered.

     `Don't know either sir,' he grinned. `We were just told to get
aboard. This truck's all English and the other one's got Frenchies in it.'

     `Where did the trucks come from?'

     `Don't know sir, but it's a bone shaker. My arse is sore already and
we've only been in it half an hour.' And he wasn't in it much longer. We
were driving along at a steady speed and I looked at the dunes to our left
because to our right, the ground sloped down towards the Canal. The dust
being thrown up by the truck in front of us was all gritty and you could
feel it settling on your skin and getting inside your clothing. It was
because of this dust that we were lagging slightly behind the other one and
it saved some of our lives.

                                                           *

     All of a sudden there were two or three explosions and the sound of
machine gun fire. The front of our truck heaved up with the force of the
mine that had gone off underneath us.

     Metal, blood and pieces of men flew past me as I was blown out of the
back of the truck as it was blown over onto its side. I bounced on the side
of the road and rolled into the ditch that ran alongside it on the Canal
side.

     Dazed, I sat up, my head level with the road and I saw the carnage
that had just happened and was still going on. Our truck was on its side
with bodies thrown about all over the road. The Frenchies truck was also on
its side but burning fiercely and the road there was just a mass of
blood. The jeep too was on its side and I could see bodies lying beside it,
but my attention and thoughts were for Wesson, as I looked to see if I
could see him in amongst the tangle of bodies on the road.

     Some were moving, some were not. Machine gun bullets were being
sprayed along the length of our small convoy and then a few of our men were
starting to fire back towards the dunes on the opposite side of the road.

     Then I saw Wesson and he was moving. He was dragging himself to
shelter behind the overturned truck. Without a thought, I was up and
grabbed him under the armpits and dragged him off the road, bullets zinging
off the road's surface as I pulled him down into the ditch.

     `Ye Gods! What hit us?' he asked, giving his head a shake before he
groaned.

     `Have you been hit?' I asked anxiously, because there was an awful lot
of blood over his clothes.

     `In the leg,' he groaned, `and I think I've broken my ankle.' I ran my
hand down his leg until he moaned. I managed to tear the hole wider to see
that he'd taken a bullet through the fleshy part of his left thigh, also,
thank God, it had gone straight through.

     Then I could see that his foot was at a funny angle so he was right in
that also. I got a field dressing out of my pack and tore his trousers more
and got the dressing on his wound. There was nothing I could do for his
ankle though.

     `Wesson, there's more wounded men out there. I've got to get them in
and find a rifle. So I'm going to have to leave you here for a minute.'
Before he could protest, I was up out of the ditch and flew to the
overturned truck and found two wounded men, who I then dragged back to the
ditch and left them to treat each other as I found another two and a couple
of rifles. All the while, bullets kept ricocheting off the sides of the
truck and road as I kept darting back and forth.

     There were some rifles firing from our side of the road, not many, but
it was keeping some heads down on the other side. But it was that machine
gun that was keeping us pinned down. I then went along our ditch until I
was level with the jeep. I could see that the driver and radio operator
were dead, but both of the Colonels were wounded and just firing the odd
pistol shot at whoever was the enemy, who I still had no idea if it was
Egyptians or Israelis.

     As I sprinted for the jeep, the machine gun opened fire again, most of
the shots going wide or hitting the jeep as I slithered to a stop. There
wasn't time for any words as I grabbed the first Colonel and dragged him to
the ditch and went back for the other.

     The second one was the British Colonel as just as we rolled into the
ditch, one machine bullet clipped my shoulder knocking me over the
Colonel's legs. I glanced down and saw that the bullet had torn my
epaulette off and a small ragged part of the top of my shoulder.

     `Thanks,' the Colonel said, `but you've been hit.'

     `Not for the first time,' I muttered. `Is the radio still working?'

     `I don't know,' he answered, `but we need some support somehow. We're
getting murdered here.' So out I went again and quickly grabbed the dead
radio operator by his straps and dragged him back to the ditch.

     `I'll leave you to see if it's working sir. There's still more wounded
men out there.' With that, I worked my way back along the ditch and stopped
by the burning truck. The heat was fierce but I saw two men still moving
near it. So out I went and each time came under fire from that bloody
machine gun when they could see me through the smoke. That put off their
aim, because they were well wide of the mark.

     As I was getting the second man back, the truck then blew up, sending
both of us bowling over the road and well past the ditch. I found out later
that the back of my blouse was singed and some of the end of my pony tail.

     Then it was back to where Wesson was lying. He and another soldier
were on their stomachs, giving fire back across the road when I got to
them.

     `The two Colonels are wounded, but still alive. I only found two
French alive, but don't know if they'll live.'

     `There are still some of ours out there wounded and firing back. I'm
trying to stop the buggers from outflanking us.' He then took a quick sight
and fired his rifle. `See where that funny shaped dune is to the left of
those three shrubs. They got to come past that to get to the road before
they can cross to come alongside us,' he said as he took another shot at
the dune.

     `You keep their heads down for as long as you can. I'll go down that
way to try and stop them.' With that, I grabbed a rifle and worked my way
along the ditch until I judged that I'd gone past the point where they
would try and cross the road. A quick glance told me that I'd come further
than I thought, but I was in a better position to see behind the dune they
were using for cover.

     There were five of them preparing to gather to rush across and I
managed to shoot three of them before they realised that they were
themselves being outflanked. It was a good hundred yards and it was like
being on the range back home, shooting at a moving target and easily picked
off the last two men as they tried to make their way back.

                                                           *

     Now it was my turn. I scuttled across the road and made it safely to
the dune without being seen by those on that side of the road. I could see
Wesson and I gave a wave and got one back before I moved off. Crouching
low, I slithered through the soft sand of the dunes, getting slower and
slower as I came closer to the sound of the machine gun.

     Then I could see it. There were two men manning the gun and an officer
behind them, directing the fire. They were only ten yards away and that
meant I would only have one shot with the rifle, after that it would have
to be the pistol if I was to take all three out

     I sighted on the man firing the machine gun and killed him first. Then
I was up and running at the remaining two. I missed with my first pistol
shot, which gave the officer time to pull his gun from his holster and fire
at me.

     His first shot caught me high on my right side and made me stagger
which threw off his second shot. My shot didn't miss this time and he was
knocked over backwards, his second shot going up towards the sky. My chest
was on fire as I stumbled further on, letting fly with another two shots
which took out the loader of the machine gun.

     I fell into the dugout they had made for their machine gun nest. I
managed to turn it round to the side and get to fire off a couple of dozen
rounds at those firing at my friends before it jammed. I couldn't feed the
gun and fire it at the same time, so I now flopped down and used the
rifle. I was able to take out two more of the opposing force before they
retreated and fled to a carrier that I could now see parked further back
behind the dunes.

     I nearly passed out at the pain as I fired the rifle and then suddenly
felt too weak and light headed to continue as the rest of them scrambled
aboard the carrier, which roared off away into the desert. It took a great
effort to keep myself together before I shouted across the road, being
careful not to show myself.

     `Cease fire! Cease fire!' and then waved my rifle up in the air before
slumping down next to the jammed gun. A few minutes later, two soldiers
came slithering over the top of the dune and came down to me.

     `Well done sir! Well done,' said one of them. `You sure showed them
what.'

     `Hey! You've been wounded,' the other one said. I leaned my head back
against the side of the dugout.

      `I know, and it fucking hurts like hell.' The next minute, he was
ripping off my battle blouse and tearing my shirt away and applying a
dressing to my chest. Another fucking scar to add to the others I said to
myself as I passed out.

                                                          *

     When I came to, I found I was lying next to the British Colonel.

     `Well done Major, well done. Major Wesson here told me what you did.'
He waved his hand and I turned and saw that Wesson was lying down a few
feet away. `He saw all that you did, and the two soldiers confirmed
it. Taking out five flanking soldiers and then charging the machine gun,
killing the officer and the two manning the gun. They also reckon you
killed another two as they retreated. That was soldiering to the finest
degree. You certainly saved the rest of us that's for sure. You'll be glad
to know that the radio was still working and there's a relief force coming
down to get us.'

     `How many did we lose sir?' I asked weakly. He looked at me rather
bleakly before he spoke.

     `With you and Major Wesson joining us, we were forty nine. Now we've
five unwounded, sixteen wounded and thirty eight dead,' he said
bitterly. `I expected to patrol, not get ambushed.'

     There was nothing I could say to this, but just look towards Wesson to
let him know that I was still living and he raised his fist and shook it as
he grinned. I grinned back and then sighed and let myself slide back into a
welcome blackness that stopped the pain in my chest.

     I was still unconscious, as Wesson told me later, when four trucks
came and collected us. Two trucks of troops that instantly deployed to
protect us as we were loaded aboard the empty trucks. Dead in one and the
living and wounded in another.

     Then it was to a field hospital that we were taken to be operated on
and remove the bullet from my chest and see to Wesson's leg wound and put
his ankle into a splint. They didn't have the facilities to set it right
and put it in plaster, so it turned out that a plane arrived and used the
long road that ran alongside the canal as a runway. This plane then took
all of us wounded off to a proper hospital in Cyprus.

                                                           *

     It was about a week later that a cease fire was called for. The
Israelis drew back from their side of the Canal, and the Egyptians from the
other, to let the U.N. Forces come in to police the Canal. But it hadn't
stopped the Egyptians from closing the Canal by sinking several ships in it
and dumping a number of concrete blocks to add to the confusion. The latter
were a hazard for many years afterwards and only found when hit by a ship
or two.

     One example being the P. & O. liner, Himalaya as late as 1959,
damaging one of its twin propellers that caused it to limp all the way to
Australia before being able to dry dock.

     For reasons that I didn't believe, they kept me longer in the hospital
than Wesson. We both tried to argue the case, but we lost and he was flown
home before me. The cease fire was in force and the U.N. were there, and
all I could do was try and get better while reading about the aftermath of
our debacle there.

     There weren't any reports in the newspapers about our fighting
alongside the Canal, or of any casualties on either side. But I did get a
lovely letter from the French Colonel saying that he was glad that they had
stopped and picked us up, and thanked me for my part in saving the
convoy. I didn't realise how far he was to take this till later.

     It was two weeks after our little action that I was even able to sit
up and really start taking notice of what was going on around me. Wesson
had been gone for a week and now I found out that my name and title were
known by all those connected to the hospital.

     Not being modest, I knew I was very good looking and in that hospital,
I was like a candle to a horde of moths. The nurses seemed to come out of
the woodwork to see to my comfort. I seemed to get bed baths on a more than
frequent basis and it was surprising for the number of different nurses on
the night shifts that wanted to help and put me at ease by putting their
hands under the sheets and giving me an erection. Then they would ease the
problem by giving me a blow job, letting me know their names and that they
were always available if I needed anything more to make my stay more
welcome.

     If he hadn't been so painful in the chest area, I would have laughed
at these attempts to seduce me, but I just smiled and gave myself up to the
hot little mouths that took me in and the hands that induced the eventual
result. Then I would be told I was a model patient as they straightened the
bedcovers, and this was happening twice a night. Therefore it wasn't
surprising when the doctor on his rounds the next day said that he couldn't
understand why I wasn't regaining my strength.

     But after two weeks of these nurses flirting with me and some of them
taking the advantage, I was pleased when I was told I was to be shipped off
to England. In a way I was glad to go to get away from the nurses that were
expecting more than my little cock could give them, but more so to be going
home where Wesson would be anxiously waiting for me. To my delight he was
there, on the tarmac when we touched down. I was carried off in the
stretcher and he came swinging himself along on a crutch. I suppose it was
just as well that the bullet wound he'd got was on the same leg as the
broken ankle, otherwise he would have been immobile too.

     He had friends in such strange places, and that was why he knew where
and when I would be landing so that he could be there. He was even allowed
into the hospital that I was taken to, and had carte blanche to visit me
whenever he felt like it. But then, I suddenly found friends that I didn't
have before. Some of the wounded that I had dragged to safety came and
visited me as well as some that didn't suffer that trauma. All of them
echoed the words of the colonel that they were glad that I had been given a
lift that day.

     `Frobisher's mad at you for getting shot up. Well, me too if it comes
to that. We didn't do a damn thing that he wanted, and it was all over
before he could do anything about it. Ten bloody days and we caved in to
pressure from the U.N. It makes my blood boil and wonder if it's worth
doing any more fighting if our own government is going to give in like
that.

     We should have stayed there and taken the country back!' he was quite
het up about it all. I'm not going to repeat the words here that he said
about Anthony Eden who was now our Prime Minister. Though I didn't disagree
with him.

                                                           *

     Then a few days later came a surprise, Frobisher visited me! He wished
me well and hoped that I would soon be up and about. He then passed on the
plaudits for what one of his operatives had done to ensure the survival of
those on that particular patrol. Even though Wesson had already given him a
report of the incident, he wanted to hear my version of it. I gave him a
watered down report that he pooh poohed when I'd finished, sadly, or so it
seemed, to shake his head, but giving a wry smile as he did so.

     `That's not how the two colonels saw it, or Wesson for that
matter. Let me quote the official report of the action signed by both of
the Colonels involved.

     "On the 2nd of November, 1956, our small convoy of one jeep and two
trucks were en route to headquarters alongside the Suez Canal. A total of
two officers and forty five men of the British and French armies on holding
duties in the area. We were flagged down and requested to offer a lift to
two majors of a British contingent. This was agreed.

     Thirty minutes later, we ran into a well planned ambush, and within
seconds, both trucks and the jeep were destroyed by mines and machine
gunfire as well as rifle fire. Twenty eight men were killed at the outset
and many were wounded, including the authors of this report.

     Major Sir Gervaise Lyon, one of the officers that had joined the
convoy en route, showed exceptionally heroism under fire, by getting most
of the wounded away from the deadly fire that rained upon the convoy,
sustaining a wound himself.

     He then halted an attempt by the enemy to outflank a vulnerable and
almost indefensible position. Then single handedly, outflanked the enemy
himself and charged the enemy's machine gun nest.

     Outnumbered, he overcame and wiped out the enemy position, being
wounded for the second time, still putting what was left of the attacking
force to flight and holding the position until he was relieved. This was an
act of heroism very seldom witnessed even in wartime."

     This was then signed by both the British and French Colonels and
copies sent on to the Ministry of Defence.

     I didn't say anything because it was true, but I hadn't said that it
happened like that. I had tried to play down my part, not from modesty, but
because I didn't want to be in the limelight again, like I was with the
Americans in Korea.

     `We're all very proud of you Francis. The Prime Minister was delighted
that out of this debacle, you at least salvaged some of our pride. I
shouldn't be surprised if there wasn't another medal for you over this.' I
stammered my thanks, wishing that they would all go away and leave me
alone.

     Not Wesson! He was what I needed. To steady me and tell me what a fool
I had been to risk myself in what would appear to be a self seeking
glorification, which was the least thing I desired. Even though I
remonstrated with him about the report the Colonels had submitted, he stood
by what they had written.

     `We would have been wiped out if they had outflanked us. You know
that, and that's why you went in there. You did what you had to do, so
don't start saying anything different! Now let's hear no more about it and
get well. We want you back home, damn it, I want you back home.'

     But they kept me in hospital for another two weeks, because the bullet
had penetrated my right lung, they wanted to make quite sure that I would
be okay to release. Wesson, the darling, had constantly pressured for my
release finally telling them that I had enough money to buy a bloody
hospital let alone hire a twenty four hour private nursing routine.

     It was this that I think eventually persuaded them to let me out of
the hospital. So I was allowed out on the promise that I would hire a nurse
to look after me while I convalesced. I think all of the hospital nurses
would have volunteered for the job if they'd known that I would be going to
the Caribbean.

                                                           *

     Diane had come up to London and was staying at the house, much to the
delight of the Perkins. They looked after the children while she visited me
in the hospital, shocked at the sight of me when she first saw me. She
couldn't stop crying on that visit. I had to be a bit hard on her by saying
that if she was going to act like that every time she came, she shouldn't
bother. I apologised the next time she came, saying that it was unfair of
me to have acted that way, but she didn't cry this time.

     It was just a wheel chair stop at the house to assure Palmer and the
Perkins that I was still alive, collecting Diane and the children before
being driven to London airport and helped aboard one of my planes to take
me to the island. She was so excited to be coming with us and even little
Francis was now old enough to be excited and thrilled at going in his own
plane to his own island. He was quite proprietary already in what was
ours. Leslie didn't seem to care one way or the other.

     The irony of it struck me when the hired nurse tucked me into the bed
on the plane, that the excuse I had put forward about buying the island and
building the hotel, was for serving men to be able to recuperate from war
in such surroundings.

     Along with the nurse came Penny and Lou who still had work to do, even
if I was confined to bed. Wesson was a great comfort and did his best to
keep me occupied. He had been giving me the occasional blow job when we
were alone which I promised to repay threefold when I was able to do it to
him. I also gave him free range if he wanted to, to bang the nurse if he
felt up to it, or even become the meat in the sandwich of Penny and Lou.

     Whether he took this offer up, I don't know, and I didn't ask
either. Diane also went down on me in the plane when we were alone in our
bedroom, promising me that there would be more of them when we were on the
island.

     A big fuss was made of me on the plane and at the island when we
arrived there. I made them take me round to the shrine as soon as we
landed, and there, with assistance, placed the piece of lead that the
surgeons had removed from my lung. I gave thanks to these Chinese gods that
they had allowed me to live to be able to place the item that had nearly
caused my death before them as a token of my respect.

     The hotel itself was gaily decorated for Christmas, even finding a
tree from somewhere. The girls went and scouted out some presents for me to
give to Diane, the children and Wesson, in Nassau. I also had to send
Wesson to get some for the girls and the nurse. Wesson had the Tiger suite
and the girls, the Leopard. The nurse was found a room in one of the other
houses. I kept the Panther suite free because I was inviting Stephen,
Claire and Stephanie over for the Christmas as a thank you. It turned out
to be a lovely Christmas too.

     When I was able to move about, I made it a habit to get down to the
beach in the afternoons and get stripped off to let the sun help me recover
quicker. Diane wouldn't come down to the nudist beach, but stayed up by the
pool to keep an eye on the children.

     So with some assistance, I would go down with Wesson and the nurse,
the girls being already down there, stripped off and getting the sun. It
took a little persuasion to get the nurse to strip off also to enjoy this
sun, and as well as being efficient, she was even better to look at when
she was naked.

     This arrangement upset the girls for a bit, but when they saw I paid
them as much, or as little attention to them as I did the nurse, they got
used to the idea. It was Wesson who turned out to be the shy one amongst
us. Yes, he'd take his clothes off on the beach, but would cover himself if
the nurse came too close.

     I'm damn sure it was so that I couldn't see that he'd got a hard on
when those luscious tits and fanny came into view. I constantly got an
erection, but I don't think that the size of mine excited her very much.

     We had our New Year's Eve party in the lounge as the sun set. I
couldn't play my own favourite opener because I was here as Gervaise, but I
did manage to play a couple of pieces before letting the regular
entertainers take over, though we were able to coerce Diane to sing a few
songs for us. I struggled to stay up till midnight to see the New Year in,
tired as I was. I tired quite easily these days, but slowly getting
stronger, but still needed help to move about.

                                                           *

      So with it being the start of 1957, the nurse and Wesson helped me up
to bed one afternoon, Diane staying down by the pool. I asked Wesson to
stay with me and the nurse left us alone.

     `I didn't really say thank you for all that you've done for me over
these last few weeks. Nor did I give you a decent Christmas present. Well
I'd like to give a New Years one instead. Help me out of bed.'

     `You don't have to give me anything,' he said, but got me sitting up
on the edge of the bed.

     `Now take your clothes off and sit on that chair.' I pointed at the
hard back one at the desk.

     `Why...?' he started to ask and then understood and grinned at me as
he quickly took his clothes off. It was awkward getting the trousers off
because his foot was still in a cast, but it didn't take long for him to be
naked and dragging the chair closer to the bed. His body had already
responded to the invitation and his cock was a hard piece of flesh jutting
out in front of him. I was already naked and as he sat down, his erection
pointing skyward, I got up from the bed and went to him and with him
steadying me, straddled his knees.

     `This is a present that both of us are going to enjoy,' and I slowly
bent my knees and felt the tip of his cock touch my lower body and I gave a
little shiver. Then with it ready in position, he put one hand on my hip
and the other at my neck. Both my hands held his neck as I slowly lowered
myself, relaxing and felt his blood engorged head force itself inside me,
and we both gave out a sigh as I went lower, his thick length moving up
into me as I sank lower till I was sitting on his thighs, his cock buried
deep inside me.

     `My God I love you Wesson. This is what I have missed most of all.'

     `Me too,' his voice choked as his other hand came down to my waist. I
leaned in and kissed him, getting a perfect response from him. Then we just
sat there, looking at each other and I could feel his pulsating heat
throbbing inside me in time to our heartbeats. He would give out a groan as
I flexed my inside muscle and I would groan too as he twitched his own
muscle. I then slowly began to move on him, slowly at first until I could
move as fast as I could under the circumstances. He gave out another groan,
louder than before as he gripped my waist to stop me moving so that he
could do the bucking underneath me.

     Finally, with shuddering heaves, he came, eyes closed, head thrown
back, his hips gave their final thrusts and then he sighed and relaxed in
the chair.

     `Darling,' I said, when he opened his eyes at last. `Did you enjoy
it?'

     `Yesss,' he breathed out with another long sigh.

     `So did I, and it was at this point that the nurse walked in with some
fresh dressings.

                                                           *

     It wasn't until she got quite close to us did she realise what we were
doing.

     `Oh, excuse me,' she stammered, her face going a bright red, `I...I'll
come back in ten minutes,' and she fled the room.

     `Oh fuck!` I said, `Help me off please, but I'm afraid you'll have to
wash yourself.' He helped me to stand up, feeling him slide out of me and I
gave a whimper as his prick fell free. I staggered to the bed while he
hobbled off to the bathroom. Then a few minutes later came back and wiped
me with a wet flannel before helping me back into bed.

     When she returned, Wesson was up and dressed, and she saw to my
dressings while I sipped at a drink, but her attitude was now to be more
aloof than before and did her job without saying a word. When she'd
finished, I took hold of her hand.

     `Carol,' for that was her name. `Carol,' I said softly, `Greater love
hath no man that he lay down his life for another. That's how it is when
you face death, bullets flying around you, any one of which can kill
you. We have both done this, and faced death to protect the other. That
creates a certain bond between two men, but in my case it turned to
love. That's all I'm going to say on the subject and hope that your
professionalism will stop you from speaking out of what have seen here this
morning.'

     `You need have no fear on that score Sir Gervaise. I see and hear many
things in my job, but what you have just said, makes sense. You have just
given me another insight to human nature, one that tells me that love
transcends all the rules.' I patted her hand as I released it, and she went
off with the soiled dressings.

     `That was sweetly said,' Wesson said rather cynically. `Do you believe
it?'

     `I have to. One man has already laid down his life for me. I would do
the same for you, wouldn't you for me? No. Don't answer that. Now let's
hobble out onto the veranda and get comfortable before Diane comes up.' I
gathered up a wisp of material that I used as a sarong. It being the only
piece of clothing I could put on by myself without straining the stitches
in my chest. It was only a few minutes later that she came through the
French windows with the children. I was surprised to see Carol following
her.

     `The manager, Mr. Pascall would like a word with you,' she said and I
saw him hovering just inside the room. I waved him forward as Wendy came
out of the sitting room French window to lay the table for our afternoon
tea.

     `Sorry to disturb you Sir Gervaise, but I've had a frantic message
from your man Sam. It appears that there are quite a few newspaper
reporters trying to get to the island. They tried to hire Mr. Stephen, but
he refused. They tried to get the two boats but Sam stopped them, and is
advising the other boat owners not to carrying them out here.'

     `But why?' Wesson asked before I could.

     `It appears that your exploits in Egypt have somehow appeared in a
French newspaper and they want the full story. Mr. Stephen is getting some
copies and will be out here very shortly with them.'

     `Thank you very much for telling us Mr. Pascall. If any reporters do
get to the island, have the guards refuse them landing permission. Just
tell them that I'm not available for comment.' He gave a little bow and
left, and Carol gave us a little half smile and followed him.

     `Well, what do think of that bit of news?' Wesson said through a
mouthful of sandwich.

     `It's very worrying,' I replied, pushing my sandwich around on the
plate before forcing myself to eat. We would just have to wait for Stephen
to arrive to see what had been said, and then plan accordingly. So we
continued with our tea and had finished when we heard it before we saw the
seaplane arrive.

     I asked Wesson to order a fresh pot of tea so that Stephen could have
a cup when he arrived. Ten minutes later, I had a newspaper thrust in my
hand, already turned to the page that had caused reporters to be almost on
the doorstop. I thanked him and waved a hand at the tea pot for him to help
himself whilst I read the article. It appeared that somebody within the
French military had leaked a copy of the French Colonel's report, and here
it was now plastered in print. It was the French Government's following
comment that staggered me.

     `This'll upset Frobisher,' I told them. Stephen looked puzzled but
Wesson grinned.

     `Translate for us,' Wesson asked. I read it out in English, and he
said, `That's almost word for word what Frobisher said,' he commented.

     `Yes, but he didn't know this last part, I quote, "This heroic act of
a man who saved the lives of six Frenchmen. This man who once saved the
life of the President and was awarded the Legion of Honour, should
therefore be honoured once again. When he has recovered from the horrific
wounds," their words, not mine. "When recovered," I continued, "is to be
awarded the Medaille Militaire."

     `The Military Medal,' Wesson said. `You've already got one.'

     `Not a French one,' I said, feeling a warm glow start inside me.

     `I see what you mean about it upsetting Frobisher. Not only him but
also the British government, heh, heh,' he laughed.

     What he said was true, because it was in the English papers the next
day. It was quite embarrassing the headlines they used.

     "Denied British Hero Acclaimed By the French." "British Hero Snubbed."
And more in that vein. They too printed the same document, but I couldn't
read it. Wesson was delighted to regale the girls and nurse Carol with his
eye witness account to back up the report.

     I squirmed in my chair in the lounge as he told them. What was worse,
was that he was also telling all the other guests who crowded round to
listen. I must have shaken every hand that was there that night. There were
many apologies that, if they could have paid for the drinks, they would
have bought me many.

     I was glad when the evening was over to get away from them and seek
the shelter of my own room. Carol saw to my dressings before she tucked me
into bed with Diane hovering about as she did so. Then with the nurse gone,
she got into bed and quickly roused me and relieved me with her mouth.

     It was a few more days before I could really support myself on my arms
and elbows and then got myself into Wesson's suite for him to really use
his organ how I liked it. It was utter bliss to have him slide up into and
fuck me again. They were long, slow sliding movements that were pleasing as
he moved in and out of me, giving me a great satisfaction, the culmination
being that he too was pleased when he finally came.

     Over the next month, we three made pigs of ourselves with our love
making. When we weren't sucking, we were fucking each other. My wound was
healing and his cast finally came off, though he used a walking stick for
quite a while afterwards. But neither wound, cast or walking stick stopped
Wesson and I from getting the most pleasure that our bodies would allow
from each other. It was intense because we both could have died there in
Egypt, and this was one way of telling ourselves that we were still alive.

     We still went down to the beach every afternoon, to strip off and go
into the sea. Since the revelation of Wesson's and my relationship, Carol
the nurse, was at first loathe to come into the water with me like she had
done before she had known, but eventually did so. The salt water was good
for me, and she would check it daily as the waters washed over us.

     I still couldn't stop getting a hard on when her big tits brushed
against me as she saw to my wound and told her quite frankly, that if
Wesson and Diane hadn't been there, she would have been in great danger
from me.

     I think she was somewhat relieved when Wesson's cast came off and he
could come into the water to take care of me. But as it was, she still had
to see two erections when we came out and could see her naked body
stretched out on the sand.

     Both Penny and Lou had been amused by our antics and the chagrin of
Carol of not being able to score with either of us, but kept out of the way
and they didn't try anything on with her. They came down to the beach every
day with us stripped off to sun bathe and swim in the nude. I'm pretty sure
that they managed to score with a least one of the female guests of the
hotel while we were there. The afternoons were their time off, because,
even when I was confined to my bed, the many businesses still had to be
looked after.

     Like at Christmas. I got a mountain of mail and cards, wishing me well
from lots of people I didn't even know.  Each of these were sent a short
note giving them my thanks, written by Lou and Penny of course.

     Once a week, all our mail was sent by Palmer to the airport and then
delivered, finally by Stephen, so they had a lot of work to do every
morning to keep up with things at home. But the afternoons and evenings
were theirs to do as they wished.

                                                           *

     So January went into February. Wesson's leg wound was healed and he
began walking okay on his now, unbroken ankle. My shoulder wound had healed
very early, and I could now move about and breathe properly since the
stitches had been removed from my chest.

     As mail came out every Saturday, it was the 2nd that we found an
engraved invitation to a formal dinner at the French Embassy for March the
14th. It gave my full name and title etc, and it named my guest that would
accompany me

     `Major James Wesson?' I said incredulously to Wesson. `Is that your
name, James?' I asked of him.

     `Yes,' he said tersely.

     `After all these years, and I never knew your Christian name.'

     `I can't ever recall being called that. I've always been called
Wesson. From early childhood and throughout my army career that is all I've
ever been called.'

     `James is Scottish, and Wesson is...?'

     `Irish.'

     `No wonder you're a good fighter and lover with that mixture of blood
in your veins,' I said with a smile. `There's a hand written bit at the end
asking for us to be in full uniform.'

     `That means that's because they're going to give you that French medal
before the dinner.' I then told Penny to send an acceptance note to the
Embassy.

     `So let's make the most of the sunshine and luxury because we will
have to be home before that date.' With that being in our minds, the time
simply flew by. Carol was now a confirmed nudist and thought nothing of
stripping off on the beach and lying down between us on the sand, and even
frolicking in the water naked. I was now able to get the sun on the body
where the dressings had covered my skin, and I finished up with a lovely
golden tan all over.

     Then it was time to depart, and enough time had passed for the
reporters to be no longer waiting for me. Goodbyes and thanks were said and
it wasn't long before we were on our plane bound for England. It had been a
tiring day, so, declining dinner, slept most of the journey to be awoken an
hour before landing.

     If I'd had been in better health, I think I would have been sitting in
the co-pilot's seat for the landing. It was as smooth a landing as you
could wish for, and I think with more practise myself, could emulate the
expertise of these regular pilots.

     Allen had been waiting at the airport, and he whisked Diane and the
children off back to the village. A car, as usual, was waiting for us and
took us off to London where Palmer and the Perkins, forewarned, were
waiting to greet us. It was enthusiastic and most welcome, and it was also
grand to be back in our own rooms again. I let the girls and Wesson tell
all what happened during our convalescence and this took care of our first
morning back. The afternoon was taken up with our correspondence in
relation to all our enterprises, and many messages came via the telephone,
welcoming us back.

     An early dinner was served and we all went to bed rather early, and it
was a relief to be undressed and in bed. I smiled at Wesson as he got into
bed beside me and held me in his arms, kissing me and saying sweet nothings
in my ear. It wasn't long, feeling his hardness against my thigh before I
rolled over and presented myself to him. Back, between my legs, he slowly
entered me and with his consideration and care, slowly and gently fucked
me. Giving me immense pleasure of having him inside me in our own bed,
feeling his hardness again, soothing and quelling the fire within me. Then,
when he was all cleaned up, he moved down and took me into his mouth and
released the pressure from my balls as he sucked and fondled me.

                                                           *

     We spent the rest of the week and weekend in bed and didn't go into
the office till the following Monday.

     It was near lunchtime when we went, me dressed as Gervaise and
Frobisher was most solicitous when we entered his office, getting us seated
and even going and getting us both a drink from the sideboard.

     `You don't know how pleased I am to see you both sitting here again. I
think that your defence of that small convoy Francis, and the sound
trouncing you gave them, saved many more lives while our troops were
there. Because of their defeat in that action, they didn't mount any more
ambushes, but left us alone. Then, as you know, the U.N. people moved in
and took over. Your action was our face saver as we ignominiously took our
leave of the Canal, which I fear, we will never have control of again.' He
stopped for a moment to pour himself a sherry, and with a slight raise of
his glass towards us, took a sip before continuing.

     `We have tried to keep a low profile as far as the press is concerned,
but they have somehow learnt that you are soon going to the French Embassy,
and will be decorated on behalf of the French Government. So to appease
them, you both have been invited to a lunch at Downing Street next week and
then to give a press conference afterwards. All I ask is that you keep this
department out of it. You were purely observers caught up in a minor
action. Can I rely on you to keep to that story line?'

     We agreed to that and then came the rider. `You will both be dressed
in uniform for the luncheon and the conference afterwards. With the French
trying to upstage us, you Francis will receive a bar to your Military
Medal, and you Wesson, will receive a bar to your D.S.O.'

     `But I was wounded at the very outset sir! I didn't have any part in
what Francis achieved,' Wesson protested.

     `This is politics Wesson. You'll be there and accept what you are
given,' he answered.

     `Yes sir,' Wesson replied.

     `Now how about me taking you both to lunch?' Frobisher said. I didn't
know the Foreign Office boasted a private executive dining room, but that
was where we were taken for lunch. I'd never seen so many top officials all
in one place at the same time. I think that if I hadn't gone to the office
dressed as Gervaise, we wouldn't have got the invite. This became apparent
with an off remark from Frobisher as we dined.

     `You know Francis, or I should say, Sir Gervaise, that between us, I
think I rather like seeing you gad about in a dress. It brings a bit of
colour into our otherwise drab surroundings.' On looking round at the many
grey and black suits, I could see what he meant. I smiled and thanked him
and promised that after these fixed engagements, I would revert back to my
normal mode of attire.

     So on the designated day, Wesson and I dolled ourselves up in our
uniforms and I was quite proud of the wings that sat above my four medal
ribbon, the Korean medal being given out to me automatically for having
seen service in that theatre. Below these I put the Legion of Honour and
the honorary Congressional Medal of Honour.

     Wesson was like a Christmas tree by comparison. He had two full bars
of ribbons because of his service during the last war. There weren't many
theatres of war that he didn't sometime participate in, hence the profusion
of medals. When dressed and studying our appearance in front of a large
mirror, I couldn't help but laugh.

     `Do you know,' I said to Wesson when I managed to stop laughing. `I
joined the Merchant Navy to avoid having to do National Service. Now look
at me! Twenty six years old and I am a major in the Army with several
decorations and about to receive another one. Isn't life strange? I would
have gone in at eighteen as a private, and probably still been a private
when demobbed two years later, or dead, buried somewhere in Korea.'

      `But then you wouldn't have met me,' Wesson said.

     `Are you sorry we did?' I asked.

     `No you sweet thing,' he said, turning me round and hugging me. `I've
never been happier,' and then we kissed, and it must have looked strange to
see two soldiers kissing in an embrace if anyone had seen us who didn't
know. Neither had I been happier as I kissed him back and gave him a
squeeze down below as I felt him getting hard.

                                                           *

     We duly presented ourselves at Downing Street and were ushered into a
very formal lounge to be greeted by the Prime Minister and others of the
cabinet, as well as some of the wives. Also present was Frobisher along
with other senior officials, the most senior being Earl Mountbatten, head
of the N.A.T.O. forces in the Mediterranean.

     When everybody was present and had a drink, his aide called for
everyone's attention and then read out the citations, and the Earl then
pinned the medals to our chests. There was much clapping of hands as it was
done and then we all went into lunch in the large dining room. We were made
to sit either side of the Earl to give him our version of what had happened
for us to merit the awards. I tried, as usual, to play down my role, but I
couldn't stop Wesson or reach far enough under the table to kick him. He
told a better story, which I think was the Irish coming out in him.

    As for the Earl, I think he was one of the sweetest men I had ever met,
notwithstanding that he was related to our Queen.

     When lunch was over, I think I shook everybody's hand before we took
our leave to give our attention to the press interview that had been
promised. I was somewhat tongue-tied during the whole session, just saying
that it just seemed to be the right thing to do to protect my friends.

     Wesson took over most of the interviews because he was the observer
for the whole episode, and I inwardly cringed as he relived the ambush and
I was glad when the session was over.

     Then we left, and I resisted Wesson's suggestion that we finish off
the afternoon at the Army and Navy's Officers club. It would have been
showing off, and that was the last thing I wanted to do, so it was back
home and we had our celebration in private, inspecting and servicing the
privates that we kept private.

     Not before long, we were dressed again for the function at the French
Embassy. Here there was much Gallic kissing of cheeks and the atmosphere
less formal that that of the British reception. The citation was more
flowery and embarrassing to me than I thought it would be, and even the
Ambassador had tears in his eyes as he pinned the Medaille Mitilitare next
to the Legion of Honour already on my breast.

     After the obligatory kiss on each cheek, he led the applause before we
went into dinner. I had to commiserate with them of the decline of their
Foreign Legion at the fall of Dien Bien Phu a few years earlier. If I had
been there with them, I was told, it wouldn't have happened. Christ, I was
being elevated into a super being if they thought that I would be able to
pull that chestnut out of the fire.

     Thank God I was English! If I'd been French, I might have even been
blamed for losing Indo-China, as that appeared to have been their
attitude. I made a mental note to tell Frobisher that he was not to ever
get Wesson or me into any debacle that involved the French in the
future. It was with quite a lot of relief when we were finally able to make
our departure from the Embassy, and giggled and chuckled at their overblown
importance of themselves.

     `I hereby endow you with the Grand Sword of Wesson,' he intoned in an
atrocious parody of a French accent as he stuck his cock up my arse that
night in bed.

     `I am grateful to receive such an award sir,' I gasped as he thrust
himself vigorously into me. `Just wait till I give you the Spear of the
Lion,' gasping again at his powerful movements as he fucked me. `Then
you'll know that you too have been well and truly fucked!'

     `That'll be the day,' he laughed as he ploughed even deeper into me
till he came in great heaving thrusts, making me cry out in both pain and
pleasure.

     I gave him the Spear of the Lion later, but it was not as strong as
the Sword of Wesson and didn't give him cause to cry out. With our love
again consummated, we slept in each other's arms. It was about this time
that we became dinosaurs of the British Army from the pure fact that
nothing for many years involved the forces of Her Britannic Majesty in any
reasonable actions throughout the world.

                                                           *

     Life settled down again to an almost humdrum existence. Office with
Wesson reading through papers and notes from our agents throughout the
world. Lots of small things were happening, but not big enough to affect us
in our little world.

     The odd party to try and liven things up, as well as visits to the
theatre. Though I always welcomed the weekend when we could stay in bed
longer and play with each other, of this, I never got tired of. I stopped
doing my parachute jumps, but kept up with our shooting practice and my
flying.

     Late summer, I took one of the planes and flew us down to the airport
closest to the chateau and we spent a lovely week there. It was now
basically an hotel and the guests there were delighted to meet the owner,
but respected the fact that it was a holiday too. I did enjoy doing the
little cabaret I put on one night, going through one of my old routines,
and was told by more than one guest that I should take up the stage as a
profession. Little did they know.

     With Marcel, we went and visited other wine growers and added another
couple of wineries to our list of producers to market their produce in
England. We now had a fleet of trucks doing regular runs collecting cases
for our warehouse to which we added cheese to promote the cheese and wine
parties that seemed to have sprouted up in our own country. Then we made a
courtesy call on Frobisher's opposite number in Paris before returning
home.

                                                           *

     Birthdays came and went as well as Christmas. This I spent with Diane
and the children and had a lovely time before being back with Wesson for
the New Year. It was in April of 1958 that I had call to fly down to the
chateau again, and this time I went alone.

     There had been some cases of blight on the vines and Marcel wanted to
talk over about the cleaning up of this pestilence which meant destroying
some of those vines affected. At the same time, I managed to procure some
more land for him to cultivate and extend our wine growing capacity.

     With all this sorted out, I was driven to the airport where my single
engine plane had been refuelled for my return to my home airfield. It was
late morning when I took off having filed my flight plan.

     Two hours later I crossed over Cherbourg for the cross channel section
of my flight when I ran into trouble. I didn't see what happened, it was so
quick. One minute I'm flying in clear air and sunshine when the cockpit
shattered and I was covered in blood and feathers. The engine stalled, and
I went into a dive. I'd been hit by a flock of birds. The mass of them had
wrecked the Perspex canopy and bent the prop as well as blocking the engine
and its air intake. I couldn't see a thing what with the howling wind, my
head hurting and my eyes full of blood and gore. I was flying a blind dead
aircraft and knew I was heading for the sea. I frantically groped and found
my radio handset and triggered it.

     `Mayday! Mayday! Going down north of Cherbourg. Water! Going down
north of Cherbourg. Mayday! Mayday!' That was all I had time for. My eyes
and head were hurting real bad now and through a red mist, by turning my
head sideways, could see that I was very close to the water and pulled with
all my strength to try and get the plane up level when we hit. That was the
last thing I remember until I woke up in hospital.

                                                           *

     My whole body ached and I couldn't see a thing. I started to panic and
tried to move and I had just got a hand to my head and found that it was
covered in bandages before my wrist was grasped and I heard a voice
speaking in French to lie still as my hand was pushed back down to the
bed. I still tried to fight that hand but it was much stronger than mine
was and another hand came onto me to stop me thrashing about.

     `I'm blind!' I called out in panic, trying to fight a second pair of
hands that now held me down, `I'm blind,' I sobbed.

     `No you're not,' came a man's voice as a hand gently held my
head. `The bandages are to protect them, that's all. We managed to save
your sight and you are very lucky to still be alive.'

     `What happened?' I asked, his soft voice calming me down.

     `You were in a plane crash. We had to do two operations on you, and
were all very glad that you've pulled through.'

     `Two operations?'

     `Yes. One to remove the glass from your eye and the other to repair
your face.'

      `How long have I been here?' What he had said hadn't quite
registered.

     `A week. It was touch and go at the beginning, but you managed to pull
through.' He then gave out a chuckle. `You gave us quite a shock at
first. Covered in blood and feathers as well as soaking wet, and wearing
woman's clothing. It wasn't until you were stripped for surgery that we
found you were a man, strangely dressed as a woman.' Oh my God! My mind
began whirling and I began to get a massive headache as my mind took in the
import of his previous words.

     Repair my face!

     I wanted to scream! I started to struggle again, but the hands holding
me were still as firm as when they first grasped me. I had to take many
deep breaths before I could speak.

     `It was a joke,' I managed to get out. `My sister and I would change
clothes to confuse our friends. You know, play a trick on them. As
identical twins, we would often do this and really they couldn't tell the
difference. It was a great game.' My mind was racing ahead of my speech,
wondering how to get out of this. Then I took a deep breath knowing there
was only one way out for me.

     `Where is my sister? Is she here too? She was dressed in my clothes
and must be in a bad way too.' There was a sudden silence in the room. I
couldn't see how many people were there with me, but I could hear some
hurried whispering before the room became silent again. The hand was taken
from my head and I felt it take hold of mine and gently squeeze it.

     `You were the only one taken from the sea,' the voice said
quietly. `Nobody else was found.' I forced myself to start shaking my head
from side to side which hurt me and I gave out a sob for I knew now that I
was losing Francis.

     Not that I had a sister to lose, it was my life! My way of living that
was being forced away from me with them knowing that I was a man, I was
losing myself.

     My dresses, my singing and dancing and all the little things that I
had known and cherished whilst being a woman were being taken from me. I
gave out a scream and I cried. Oh how I cried. The placating words I could
hear did not help as I cried for the loss of myself. They mistook my
anguish as being for a lost sister, when I was really crying for myself.

     Such were my cries that a moment later a needle was pushed into my arm
and I went off into the blackness of despair.

                                                           *

      When I came round again, I felt a hand holding mine and as I stirred,
I heard his voice.

     `Francis, oh Francis, I'm glad you're alive,' came Wesson's whispered
voice.

     `This is Gervaise under these bandages,' I said, my voice sounding as
thick as my tongue felt, having to say this because I didn't know who else
was in the room. `I lost her! I killed her in the crash,' I sobbed, the
bandages hiding my tears.

     `Francis,' and I could hear the sobs in his voice. `There's only me
here.'

     `Oh Wesson,' I cried, really crying now. `I couldn't help it. They
found out that I'm Gervaise when I was taken into surgery. I'm sorry, so
very sorry.'

     `Francis or Gervaise, it doesn't matter to me. You're alive and that's
what counts darling. I'm here for you. I'll always be here for you.'

     `Wesson. I love you, please forgive me.'

     `There's nothing to forgive you for. You're alive and that's what
counts.'

     `But I've lost Francis! I've lost our reason for being together,' I
cried, my whole body starting to shake with the turmoil of emotions that
coursed through my body.

     `We will still be together Francis,' he said, his own voice shaking
with emotion. `You survived the crash, now just get well and we'll survive
whatever happens later. Just you get better. I couldn't bear to lose you.'
I felt his tears burn as they landed on the hand of mine that he held. I
lifted it and stroked his hair as he bowed his head.

     `With you here, I'll get better, I promise you,' I said in a whisper
as I felt myself drifting away again. When I woke again and started to
move, a voice, female this time, asked if I wanted a drink. I croaked out
that I did as I found I had a raging thirst. After the drink, which was
through a straw pushed between my lips, I asked if my friend was still
here.

     `He hasn't left since he found you were here. He's outside. I'll bring
him in now that you are awake.' I heard the rustle of her uniform, from
that I assumed she was a nurse, as she got up and went out of the room. A
few moments later, Wesson came in and sat down next to me, his hand taking
mine.

     `It's me, I'm back again,' I heard Wesson say.

     `Are we alone?' I asked.

     `Yes.'

     `Oh darling, I'm sorry,' I said as I started to cry again beneath the
bandages.

     `Francis, Francis,' he said as he squeezed my hand. `It's done. That's
all there is to it. We'll survive together if you will only snap out of
this self pity and get better. Francis, as we knew her might be gone, but
we still will have each other, that I promise you.' I gave his hand a
squeeze back. `That's better. Now do you want to hear all that happened to
you?'

     `What do you mean?'

     `I found the people who found you and they told me the story. They
witnessed the crash and everything.' I suddenly found my hand squeezing his
very tightly. `It was a young couple out on their boat and saw your plane
flying overhead. Suddenly, there was a flock of birds that seemed to fly
straight into you. They heard the engine cut out and begin to dive towards
the sea. Then they saw that you must have been fighting the controls,
because you came out of the dive and almost levelled out, but the wing tip
caught the water and you went into a cartwheel, losing one wing before
spinning to lose the other and then the tail fin.

     They had their engine going as the fuselage landed in a huge spray of
water. They were half a mile away and took twenty minutes to get to where
the plane crashed. They launched a dinghy and found you floating in the
water and managed to get you aboard. Then, before they could get back to
their boat, a coastguard cutter arrived on the scene in answer to your
Mayday. They took over and brought you into Cherbourg where an ambulance
was waiting to bring you to this hospital.

     They were surprised to find you dressed as a woman, which you have
since explained, and then operated to remove a lot of the canopy from your
head. The second operation was to save your sight, which I've been assured,
was a success. You were on the danger list for several days, but then you
started to pull through.'

     `Thank you Wesson,' I whispered, `but how did you know where to look
for me?'

     `That was Frobisher's doing. The French coastguard saw your call sign
on the tail fin before it sank and contacted our Air Ministry to report the
crash. When they checked and found out it was from Lyon Field, the man
doing the checking knew of the connection between the name and that of
Frobisher's department. So he rang him, who straight away put out a news
blanket on the crash, quoting that it was in the interest of national
security for the news to be suppressed for the time being. He then
contacted the airfield and spoke to the controller who was very worried at
you being overdue. Frobisher laid down the law to him that not one word was
to be said. The whole fact of your crash has not been mentioned in the
press at all, that is, he didn't want anything said or written until he
knew all of the facts. Was it an accident or sabotage.'

     `Sabotage? Who would do that?' I asked feebly.

     `Francis. We've made enemies over the years. Who knows what hit list
we're on? That's what Frobisher was thinking of in putting out a news
embargo on your crash. Then we found out where you had been taken to, here,
and I came out straight away. And I was on tenterhooks for nearly a week,
waiting for a straight answer from the doctor here. But thank God, it
turned out alright.'

     `So what happens now?' I croaked out.

     `Well that is what is going to be a bit difficult. A woman took off
for the flight, but it was a man that was rescued.' I mulled this over and
could only come up with one answer.

     `You'll have to say that after the flight plan had been filed, my
brother suddenly turned up at the airfield. Rather than cause any problems
by returning to change the paperwork, we took off together, and that's how
there came to be two of us in the plane.'

     `Yesss...' He drawled out. `It should work. Well, who's going to argue
the fact?'

     `So let that be the story, and let Frobisher know that's what is to be
reported. Two of us took off and Francis was lost at sea because of the
crash. I'm sorry Wesson, but that's the best I can come up with.'

     `Don't you worry about it darling, it'll all turn out right in the
end. All we've got to do is see that you get well again, as soon as
possible.' I gave his hand another squeeze, wishing that I could see his
face, but I'd been told that the bandages would stay for another week at
least. Though they were changed daily, care was taken that my eyes were not
subjected to light.

     `Oh Wesson,' I said as he made to leave. `Find the people of the yacht
that found me and give them my deepest thanks, and find out what they would
desire most for their boat, and get it for them. Will you do that?

     `Of course Francis. I'll do that, and I'll be back to see you again
tomorrow.'

                                                           *

     My name now became to be known to the hospital, and not only being a
knighted Englishman, but also a holder of the Legion of honour and not so
long ago, a recipient of the Medaille Militaire. The medical treatment
didn't alter, but the subservience did, and that annoyed me.

     `Doctor,' I said, when I was made aware that they now knew who I
was. `I cannot fault the treatment that you have given me as a patient in
this hospital, but I must protest at being treated as though I was
royalty. I can't see them, but I'm damn sure the nurses curtsey before
speaking to me. Their attitude has changed and I don't like it.'

     `That, Sir Gervaise, I'm afraid I have no control over. You are a
cause celebre, and I'm having a difficult time as it is to keep them in
line from all attending you at the same time. But judging from the movement
of your bandages, you are smiling, so you are fully aware that there's
nothing I can do about it. Now, all being well, we'll have those bandages
off in a couple of day's time. Till then, suffer fools gladly,' he said as
he patted my hand as he departed. As he left, Wesson came in.

     `I just heard the good news Francis. They'll be taking the bandages
off in a couple of days.'

     `Also that I'll have some facial scars,' I said bitterly. `I once
looked pretty and I'm sure that I'm going to look ugly and that you won't
want to look at me.'

     `Don't you dare say such a thing,' he roared as I felt him stand
up. `Whatever scars you bear will be nothing as to what's inside you. You
have been, and always will be, beautiful to me. So let's not hear anything
more about this. I will be glad to look upon your face again instead of
these bandages.' I could only weep behind the mask and hoped that I hadn't
really destroyed my looks.

     It was with a lot of trepidation that I sat up in bed as the doctor,
attended by a nurse began to unreel the wraps from around my head. The
light, as they started to come away, hurt my eyes, so I knew I could see,
but had to keep them closed as they finished the uncovering of my
face. Then, when they had finished, I felt them move back to watch me. I
slowly unpeeled my eyes, squinting at the light that hurt my eyes even
though the shades had been drawn.

     `A grand job,' the doctor said as he touched my cheeks in a couple of
places. `I can feel quite proud at what I've done.'

     `It's my face,' I said, squinting and seeing him for the first
time. It was a round, fleshy and smiling face that looked at me, and I
liked it.

     `It's almost Prussian,' he said as I felt his finger run down my
cheek. I didn't get the connection until I was handed a mirror. I felt the
tears come to my eyes when they were fully open and could see what had
become of my beauty. There was a jagged scar at my left temple and one by
my left eye, but the one that drew my eye was the one that ran down just
below that eye to the side of my mouth.

     That was what made me cry. My beautiful face had been destroyed, and I
now had this sabre looking scar down one side of my face. Then the Prussian
remark he'd made, I understood. I looked at my reflection in the mirror and
watched as the tears flowed down my cheeks and I heard the doctor usher the
nurses out of the room to cover my embarrassment.

     `Look!' I cried. `Just look at me! They've even shaved my head.'

     `Gervaise!' the doctor said harshly, pulling the mirror down so that I
had to look at him. His face was angry and suffused with blood. `Gervaise!
When you came here, you were at death's door and looked a damn sight worse
then than you do now. We saved your life and did the best job we could,
seeing as you were a wreck. The other doctors and nurses spent a lot of
time fighting to save your life, let alone your looks. Be grateful that
they succeeded. A scar or two is nothing compared to what you might have
lost.'

     As he said, I might have lost Wesson, Diane, little Francis, Leslie
and all the others. My head went down and I cried and the doctor patted my
shoulder.

     `Be glad that you're alive,' he said, `that you're alive and can pick
up the threads and begin again.' He didn't know how true he had spoken.

     `Please accept my apologies doctor, humbly,' I said. `What you've just
said has made me ashamed of myself, I'm sorry if I've said anything out of
turn.'

     `Apology accepted. Just remember that many people fought with you and
will be glad that you survived. That is the most important thing, and the
next important thing that you can give them in return, is to be happy that
you are alive. The rest, well, I'll leave that up to you, but let me say
that I'm glad that we saved your life.'

     `Doctor,' and I couldn't stop the tears that came from eyes, `Thank
you. I thank you and the team for what you've done. Believe me when I say
that I'll never forget you all.' He gave a sniff as he shook my hand and
left me to the tender care of the nurse who also had tears in her eyes.

     `Wesson!' I almost shouted out when I saw him without bandaged eyes,
`you are a sight for sore eyes, and that is literal,' and I held out my
hands for him to take. There were tears in his eyes too as he grasped my
hands in his.

     `It's good to see you too,' he said, hiding his real emotion from the
nurse who was still there, but his grip on my hands was enough. I just
hoped that it was real love I saw as he looked at my scarred face and not
one of sympathy.

     `This scarred face is not putting you off of me?' I asked
apprehensively.

     `You know that's not what I see most of,' he laughed, and that
bolstered me up no end and I joined in the laughter at the joke that the
nurse didn't comprehend.

     `At least that's not scarred. Well I hope not,' as I continued
laughing with him. `They haven't given me a mirror to look at that!' We
hugged as our laughter increased at the last remark. At a wave of my hand,
the nurse left the room and my laughter died with her departure.

     `Wesson,' getting serious. `Do I look as bad to you as I see myself?
Be truthful now.'

     `You look a fucking mess, but you're alive and I love the fact that
you are. I don't care how you look, you're mine, and that's how it's going
to stay. The bruises will go and I'm sure you'll look like a proper warrior
that, but for the grace of God, should be in the halls of
Valhalla. Darling, I don't mind how you look, it's what's inside you that
makes people love you. Your heart, your generosity, your love for
others. This is what has drawn everybody to love you, except that it is me
that holds you at night and will continue to do so for as long as we both
shall live.'

     `Christ! You know you've just married me with those words,' I choked
out. His head came down onto the bedspread, and though his words were
muffled, I clearly heard what he went on to say.

     `Even from that first day in the gym. When I first kissed you. When we
first made love. I wanted you to love me as I loved you. When I heard that
your plane was lost, I cried. How I cried, and now you are back and my
prayers have been answered. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. It's not
just your face or body that I love. It's the heart that's inside that I
love. As long as that heart is beating, I'll love all that surrounds it.'

     I then started to cry as I held his head in my lap at this declaration
of his love. It was several minutes before we were able to compose
ourselves.

     `Wesson,' I said, pulling his head up towards me. `tell me the truth.'
He raised his hands up and gently held both sides of my bruised face and
gently kissed me on the mouth. Then he really pressed his lips to mine and
turned it into a very passionate one.

     `If we weren't in a hospital,' he said breathlessly, `I'd climb into
bed with you right now. Then I would show you how much I love you.' I clung
to him and snuffled into his shoulder. `Now get well, so we can take you
home.' We clung to each other for quite awhile before we broke apart.

     `Tell me,' I said we had finally composed ourselves again, `what about
the couple who found me? Did you get to see them?'

     `Yes. They were mighty glad that you survived and didn't want anything
for their part, but I found out what they wanted. It's on its way as we
speak. An echo sounder for their boat. It cropped up in a conversation, and
that is what is being sent to them.'

     `Excellent,' I said. `I would also like a couple of cases of wine to
be sent to the coastguard cutter that brought me in and a few more for the
hospital here.'

     `I anticipated you there, and they have already been sent for.'

     `You are a dear Wesson,' I said taking his hand and kissing it. `I
suppose you better break the news to Frobisher.'

     `He already knows, why else do you think I'm here?'

     `No, I mean about Francis. With this,' and I waved a hand towards my
face, `I can't go on being Francis any more. We can't have both been in the
accident and got identical scars as well. That would be too much for people
to swallow. No. It will have to be announced that Francis died in the
accident and the body not recovered.'

     I felt the tears begin to run down my cheeks as I said this. I just
let them flow as my thoughts ranged over all that I was going to miss in my
not being two people any more. Wesson pulled out a handkerchief and gently
dabbed at my face and then my eyes. `I'm going to miss her,' I sniffed.

     `Damn it, I'm going to miss her too,' he growled, his eyes I could see
were holding tears and he too sniffed to hold them back. He stayed talking
for a while longer before giving me a kiss on the cheek.

     `I'll go to London and tell Frobisher. I'd rather talk to him face to
face than over the phone. Besides, you'll need some clothes for when you
leave here. I'll see you in a couple of days.' It was a long two days
without seeing him. After nearly two weeks having my eyes bandaged and then
seeing Wesson for one day only, left me desolate.

                                                           *

     The doctor examined me twice a day and the nurses were so kind and
caring that I didn't have the heart to pour out my real feelings over how I
looked. My body was almost black and blue from the seat belt restraints
that had bitten deeply into my flesh at the time of impact. Fortunately, no
bones were broken otherwise I might not have been able to get myself out of
the wreck before it sank. I avoided the mirror in the bathroom when I was
able to get of bed for the toilet and trusted the doctor when he said that
my face was healing nicely.

     `I think we picked out half of the windscreen of that plane from your
head and face. It's a miracle that you didn't lose your sight is all I can
say.' The nurse then would redress the wounds and said that the bruising
was fading fast and it wouldn't be long before they would let me leave the
hospital.

     Then Wesson returned with copies of some London newspapers that he
dropped on the bed before sitting down next to me.

     `Well Frobisher released the news and it made the front pages. The
whole village is in mourning and Flora was inconsolable I've been told.'

     `Oh dear. I didn't think about them back there. Oh what have I done?'
I wailed. Wesson took my hand and squeezed it.

     `Francis,' he said softly. `It had to happen sometime. Maybe this was
the best way. Somehow, news did leak out because there were quite a few
cards for you at home.'

     `How did they take the news at home?' I asked.

     `Well Palmer was concerned about you, but, well knowing the situation,
it was okay, but the Perkins took it very hard. Diane went nearly frantic
when I spoke to her on the phone, but calmed down when I explained what we
had done. She sends her love and if it weren't for the baby, she'd have
come over too. She wants you to see her as soon as we get you back to
England. I spoke to the doctor before coming in, and he says that you could
leave in the next few days, providing you have the dressings looked at
every day.'

     `That can be done if we get a nurse lined up.'

     `Already in hand,' Wesson grinned. `We can't wait to get you home.' We
talked for another hour before he left to let me read the news of my
death. Not many people read their own obituaries and the one in the
Telegraph was most flattering in listing my achievements. The picture they
used was of my boarding the ship at Aden after the attempted assassination
of Prince Hassan, the one where I was covered in blood.

                                                           *

     It was on the 12th May that I was released from the hospital. Wesson
helped me get dressed and it was nearly an hour later, after saying goodbye
and thanks to the hospital staff before we were in a car to take us to the
airport where one of our planes was waiting for us. It was only forty
minutes flying and we landed at London airport where another car was
waiting to take us home. Palmer and the Perkins were waiting on the steps
to greet me.

     `Welcome Sir Gervaise, welcome home,' said Palmer, shaking my
hand. `We are so pleased that you are safe.'

     `Oh you poor dear, sir,' said Mrs Perkins as she dropped a curtsey,
looking at the bandages around my head.

     `We're glad you are safe sir, but also devastated at the loss of your
sister. Please accept our condolences for she was a wonderful woman,' Mr
Perkins said, and Mrs Perkins, tears running down her face nodded at her
husband's words.

     `Thank you all very much. It's a sad loss for all of us. Especially to
you four as you spent more time with her than I did,' I said as I went up
the steps and into the house. Penny and Lou were waiting upstairs in our
sitting room. They both jumped up as we walked in and came rushing over to
hug me.

     `Oh it's so good to see you,' they both cried out, their arms around
me.

     `You don't know how glad I am to see you two too,' a bit overwhelmed
at their greeting.

     `Don't I get a greeting,' Wesson asked from behind me.

     `Welcome home to you too,' Lou said over my shoulder, not letting go
of me. Neither did Penny as she said hello to him as well.

     `Okay, I get the message,' he growled.

     `You didn't crash a plane and come out alive, but welcome home,' Lou
said, disengaging herself from me and went and gave him a hug and a kiss on
the cheek.

     `We're glad you're back,' Penny said, finally letting me go. `It's
been a madhouse here. The phone hasn't stopped ringing since the news broke
and there's absolutely heaps and heaps of mail. Most are letters of
condolence. We haven't reached the bottom of the pile in a week before more
arrives.'

     `What's that?' I asked, pointing to two sacks by the table.

     `Today's post. See what I mean? Wesson can now help us to read
them. It's going to take weeks to reply to them all,' Lou said.

     `But how are you?' Penny asked, her eyes giving my bandaged head a
closer scrutiny.

     `A bit light headed at the moment,' I replied.

     `They cut off her hair,' Wesson said.

     `Oh no! Your crowning glory,' said Penny in dismay.

     `It'll grow back, in time,' I said, giving her a wan smile.

     `Oh Francis, I'm so sorry,' said Lou.

     `Gervaise. Francis is dead. Remember that. It has to be Gervaise from
now on,' I said sadly.

     `I'm going to miss her,' said Penny, just as sadly.

     `Godammit! So am I,' I said fiercely. `When you see what's underneath
these coverings, you'll understand why,' I added bitterly, as I turned from
them and went into the bedroom. I sat down on the bed and cried at what I
had lost. Even more so when I looked at the wardrobe that held all my
beautiful dresses that I could no longer go out in. I didn't hear Wesson
come into the room, but I felt the bed move as he sat down and he took me
into his arms and let me cry on his shoulder.

     `You can still wear them at home,' he said softly with an insight that
I didn't know he possessed. `In fact I will insist on it. You can then sing
for me in the evenings and maybe have a dance or two with me. Then I will
slowly pull you into the bedroom, to undress you before taking you into
this bed where we can make beautiful love.' I kissed him very hard,
ignoring the odd pain in my face as I pressed mine against his.

     There was a knock at the door and Penny called out that the nurse had
arrived. Wesson went and let her in and left her alone with me for the
dressings to be changed. She was quick and efficient as she cleaned my face
and head and put fresh ones on me.

     `The surgeon did a good job sir, and you're healing nicely. I'll be in
at ten tomorrow morning,' she said.

     `Thank you nurse...?'

     `Canning. Ruth Canning.'

     `Thank you Ruth. See you tomorrow.'

     Next morning, just as we were finishing breakfast, Palmer announced
that there were about fifteen members of the press outside, wanting an
interview, and wanted to know what to say to them.

     `You'll have to talk to them sometime,' Wesson said.

     `You're right. Invite them into the downstairs drawing room,' I said
to Palmer, `and tell them I'll be down in a few minutes. Offer them tea or
coffee if you would, please.' Palmer left and I glanced at the clock and
saw that it was just after nine.

     `I'll see them at half past and then you can break it up when the
nurse arrives, okay,' I said to Wesson, so he went downstairs to tell them
that I was just getting dressed and could give them half an hour.

     I dressed carefully into a suit and then went down to meet them. I
told them how the accident happened and that I was desolate at the loss of
my sister who had joined me in the plane just before takeoff. That was why
there was some confusion at the time I was picked up. They didn't know that
there had been two of us in the aircraft. They asked about business
arrangements, and I said that all would continue as usual as I knew as much
as anybody about what that entailed.

     Yes, there would be a memorial service in the village in a few weeks
time when I was fit enough to attend. Then Wesson announced that the nurse
had arrived and said that the meeting should break up. I posed for a few
photographs and they thanked me for giving the interview, and then left.

     Diane phoned nearly every day and I kept assuring her that I was okay,
but I rather she didn't see me until I was better, it would be for the best
I told her, putting her off from coming to London.

     The nurse, after a few days, started to leave off the bandages and I
just had a couple of dressings on my face. My hair had already started to
grow again and covered most of my head scars. Another few days and the
nurse said that she didn't need to call upon me anymore. I thanked her and
insisted that she accept the envelope that I pressed into her hand as she
left for the last time.

     Now the girls had their first good look at the long scar that ran down
my cheek, and as the doctor had said, it looked like a duelling scar and
the girls agreed that it made me look rather dashing and not in the least
distracting. The angry redness had gone on both of the scars, but I still
bewailed the loss of my good looks in spite of what they said.

                                                           *

     The 3rd of June it was decided upon for the memorial service to be
held in the church of the village. The girls had seen to the arrangements
and that refreshments would be in the village hall after the service. The
four of us went down the day before to be greeted by a tearful Flora and
Beatrice at the house, and we got caught up in the mood, so it was a rather
sombre dinner that night. Diane was as bad as they were, even though she
knew the truth. Little Francis had cried though Leslie was still too young
to understand.

     Next morning, the church was packed and many more stood outside as we
made our way into the church and sat in the usual pew at the front. Peter
Blake, the vicar, gave a very moving eulogy that even got me crying along
with almost everybody else there, none more so than Penny and Lou.

     It was one big sham, but only five of us on the front pew knew the
truth and we couldn't tell them. I couldn't stop the tears as everybody
outside shook my hand and told me how wonderful I had been. Then Peter took
me down the side of the church and showed me a headstone that had been
erected opposite the graves of my parents and aunts. Paid for by all the
villagers, without exception, he added. It was surrounded by thousands of
flowers and it was difficult to read the inscription through my tears, so
Wesson read out the words.

     "Erected to the loving memory of Francis Gervaise Lyon, born on 5th
November, 1931 and was tragically lost at sea on the 10th April, 1958,
Requiescant in Pace." It gives me the shivers,' he said quietly.

     `What do you think it does to me?' I answered in a whisper, `Come,
let's get the rest of this farce over with,' I said, wiping my face with my
handkerchief. So we left the churchyard and led the procession up to the
village hall and the refreshments. Many people kept stopping me on the way
to shake my hand and offer their condolences, even people I'd never seen
before. Dave, the publican met me outside the hall and said his piece
before we went inside to eat and drink.

     It was with some relief when I was able to say a few words to
everybody there, thanking them for attending, and assured them that I
wouldn't stop carrying on the good works that Francis had instigated for
the future and happiness of the village.

     Dinner wasn't as bad as the night before, at least we managed to have
a few laughs during the meal. Flora and Beatrice left after serving dessert
as usual, leaving the five of us alone together, using Diane's unconscious
oxymoron.

     `I wish as many people would be able to say about me what they said
about you today Francis,' Lou said pensively as we sat in front of the
fire. She was sitting next to Penny with Wesson in the middle on the sofa,
while I was in the armchair with Diane sitting on the floor between my
legs.

     `It was very moving,' I said, looking through the drink in my glass at
the flickering flames. `I just couldn't stop the tears.'

     `Neither could I,' said Penny, starting to sniff again. `So many
wonderful people saying such wonderful things.' We sat and talked for quite
some time over what the future might bring in our new status till it was
time for bed.

      Diane, with much perspicacity, told me to go to bed with Wesson that
night. We lay there talking for a long time over all what had been said
that day. Then we made love to each other in our own way and didn't get to
sleep till it was nearly dawn.

     The next morning, after breakfast, I went and spoke to Harold to say
that things were to be run the same way and that he just had a new partner
instead. I also assured the airfield people that nothing would change there
either. Then it was back to London, after kissing Diane and the children
goodbye, being driven by Allen in the Rolls, which gave us comfort for the
long ride.

                                                   *

     I was glad to get back home, away from the inquisitive eyes, still
very self conscious about the scars on my face. The one on my forehead was
not that noticeable now because the eye was drawn to, what we now referred
to, as my duelling scar.

     `I think you would make a very good pirate king in the Pirates of
Penzance,' Wesson said when we were alone again. `Or Rupert whatsisname in
the Prisoner of Zenda.'

     `Rupert of Hentzau,' I said abstractedly.

     `Or Katisha in the Mikado. And she'll very well pass for forty three
in the dusk with the light behind her,' he sang the last part badly. I
threw a cushion at him as I laughed.

     `You're mixing up your Gilbert and Sullivan.'

     `It's good to hear you laugh again Francis,' he said as he caught the
cushion. `Let me also hear you sing tonight. Say, "Poor Wandering One"?' I
threw another cushion at him.

     `I'd have to be castrated to get that high.'

     `That could be arranged,' he grinned wickedly, making the motions of
sharpening a knife.

     `You beast,' I cried, and not having another cushion to throw, threw
myself at him instead. We both laughed as we went rolling off the settee
onto the floor until I finished up lying beneath him.

     `Francis, Gervaise or whatever you want to be called,' his face just a
few inches above mine, `I love you,' and he kissed me. I responded hungrily
to his kisses and I felt him get hard as he lay on my stomach.

     `Do you want to take me now, or after the show?' I asked breathlessly
between kisses.

     `Dammit woman, I want you all the time. Dress or suit, it doesn't
matter to me.'

     `Then get off me you lout and let's see to that pressing urgency I can
feel.' I rolled him off and had his fly open in a trice and his erection
out, hot and throbbing in my hand. I took him in my mouth and sucked on him
till he came, cleaning him up again as I normally did. `Now,' I said as I
came up off him to see his smiling face. `Which dress shall I put on for
this Command Performance?'

     `Darling, you'll look beautiful in whatever you wear. Now go and get
dressed, and I mean the word, in whatever takes your fancy. Then as I eat
supper, you can serenade me,' he laughed as I rolled off him and went into
the bedroom. I gaily sorted through my dresses and then got out my
underwear and I didn't even stop for a bath. It was a pleasure to pull the
silk stockings on again, attaching them to my suspender belt, getting an
erection as I smoothed them up my legs. Next came the bra and then sat down
at the dressing table to do my make-up.

     Then I started to cry as I looked upon my ravaged features reflected
in the mirror. My first time that I was trying to put make-up on since the
accident, and here I was, crying. I finally dried my tears and delved
deeper into a drawer and pulled out some stage make-up. With that, I was
able to reduce the scar in its intensity, and was quite pleased at the end
product when I had finished.

     Being somewhat buoyed up by what I'd been able to do with the make-up,
put my dress on and then my high heels before presenting myself to Wesson
in the sitting room.

     `My word,' he breathed out as he stood up. `You look wonderful,' he
said as he came forward to take my hands. `By God you do,' as he took me
into his arms and kissed me. `Supper's already here if you want to eat.'

     `Later. Let me sing a few songs first,' I said going over to the
piano. `A few songs and then I'll eat, but you can fix me a drink please.'
I got carried away and sang quite a few before I stopped to eat. Then I
sang some more and also did a dance before it was time to call it a day.

     `That was wonderful,' Wesson said as he came and sat down beside me
and gave me a kiss on the cheek. `You haven't lost your touch, and this,'
his fingers gently ran down the scar,' wasn't noticeable a bit. Your poise
and charm overcomes everything.'

     `Thank you Wesson,' I said softly, stroking the fingers that had
stayed on my face. `Now take me to bed and make love to me.'

     `With pleasure,' he said, bending down and scooping me up in his arms
to take me into the bedroom. There, he laid me down on the bed and I had
the pleasure of seeing his pleasure as he slowly took every bit of clothing
off me before kissing me and stripping off himself. Then he kissed me all
over, taking some time over my small erection before returning to kiss me
on the mouth.  Then it was my turn to kiss him before rolling over to offer
myself to his rampant cock. What a man! He really reamed me before he
creamed me. He was magnificent and when he finally strained and jerked
inside me, I knew I had been well and truly fucked.

     Francis or Gervaise, Gervaise or Francis. It didn't matter to Wesson,
or me. They were one and the same person, but Francis was dead, and that's
where the story of Francis should finish.

                                                      * * *



                                             AFTERWORD



     Francis wanted to finish the story of her life at this point, but I
protested. There was still so much more to her life. Though it wasn't as
Francis, it was still her life though using her middle name of
Gervaise. Even now, I still think of Francis as he wished to be known, as a
woman, so please forgive me for continuing to refer to Francis or Gervaise
in that gender.

     They, Gervaise and Wesson, returned to London because there still were
the many businesses to be run. Diane came up when the will of Francis was
read out. It was only a formality because everything she owned was left to
her brother Gervaise.

     It was only there in London that she could let her hair down so to
speak, to keep Francis alive in the privacy of their rooms. To dress as she
wished so that she could sing and dance for Wesson. Only there could she
put on the sexy underwear and put on make-up as she had done for many years
now. Then she felt like a woman again, to play at seducing Wesson to take
her to bed and make love to her as one.

     Of course Gervaise couldn't return to work for Frobisher anymore, so
it was only Wesson who regularly went to the office, but that was only for
another year. Frobisher eventually, and reluctantly, finally accepted
Wesson's resignation so that he could become the Managing Director of
G.F.L. Holdings, both the London and Bahamas branches.

     The way that all of Francis's various enterprises had developed had
been through one or both of the named companies, so there wasn't any
problems there in the respect of the death of Francis.

     Everything automatically went to Gervaise. All her shares which
included those of Kuoil and Transline. Of the latter, it was decided that
they be sold. Out of courtesy, the other two major shareholders were
approached first and told that Gervaise was going to sell her shares,
giving them six months to buy her shares or part thereof before they went
on the market.

     That threw them into a panic, because if the one and a quarter million
shares were suddenly put on the market, it would have a disastrous effect
on the value of all their shares. In the end, a compromise was reached
where they would buy half of the shares at a ten percent discount over one
year if Gervaise would only release the rest over a staggered period of two
years. It made sense because all being put on the market at once would have
ruined the company, so that was what was agreed.

     This money was then put into a fund that was called the Francis Lyon
Trust Fund. This was created because the farm that lay on the other side of
the lane of the village, the same side as the airfield, became vacant when
the farmer died. His widow called upon Gervaise for help and a deal was
struck. She sold him the farm in exchange for a certain sum of money and
the vacant house in Moonfleet, where she moved to spend the remainder of
her years in the house that Diane had once lived in.

                                                           *

     Gervaise then, using his title and connections to approach the
Ministry of Agriculture with a plan for the land. Basically, it was
blackmail. If they didn't agree to his proposals, it would never ever again
be used for agriculture, simple as that. As the plans were fairly simple,
it was agreed that the land could be developed as Gervaise wished.

     So the Francis Lyon Memorial Hospital came into being, along with a
nursing home and a school. The latter also having its own playing
fields. Houses also had to be built for the doctors and nurses and then
some more for the teaching staff. Down at the far end of this farm, which
backed onto the hangars of the airfield, were about fifteen acres split
roughly between woodland and grass land.

     As to the intentions for this, Sir Gervaise asked to meet with the Boy
Scout Association and that of the Girl Guides and offered this land as
summer camps for both associations. If they would form a committee to plan
the camp, Gervaise would fund the construction of barracks or huts and let
them use it for the education of the boy scouts, cubs and girl guides in
the countryside and its wildlife.

     This offer was immediately accepted and it wasn't long before, on a
still night that you could hear camp fire songs and see the twinkling of a
large camp fire in the summer evenings. The tuck shop, supplied and run by
the new shop keeper of the village, made a steady profit from this
enterprise, as did others in various other aspects.

                                                           *

     The hospital was a Godsend as well as the nursing home, and the school
was soon full of children from all the three villages of the small road
that came off the Trowbridge road. All this was paid for out of the trust
fund that Gervaise had set up. Not only that, but also any pupil that
showed promise, was funded to attend university as long as it was either in
medicine, nursing or ancillary studies or teaching. The one proviso to this
was that they spent at least one year at the village hospital, nursing home
or school during their training or probationary period.

     It took some years for the effect of this to became apparent and it
was a high percentage of children that passed through this school that
became nurses, doctors, vets and teachers due to the foresight of
Gervaise. Many people tried to buy homes in the village to give their
children a future, but Gervaise would not sell one house or cottage. They
were for the village people only.

     As the children grew up and got married, they were allowed to take
over the house or cottage of those who had passed on. The village was for
the villagers and that's how it stayed. Eventually, Gervaise bought the
other two farms on the other side of the village, but kept them as
farms. Therefore, no new constructions or building of homes came into being
and the village was kept as a country village, and this was, when polled,
what the whole populace of the village wanted. To be kept as a small
community with Sir Gervaise as their lord and champion. But this was not
all.

     Across the Atlantic in the Bahamas, because of the success of Lyon
Island, some prime beach land was offered for sale to Gervaise to build a
similar resort so that at least Nassau could benefit a bit more from the
trade that the island was bringing in. So another hotel was built on the
main island and another followed a few years later at Freeport. The airline
doubled in size and was a major competitor then to British Overseas Airways
Corporation.

     Back in London, Clements was now a sign that was seen on many a
construction site, or refurbishment of run down dwellings. Where a housing
estate was demolished for the purpose of building new apartments, Clements
invariably got the contract because they put in extras, like a crèche or
a doctors surgery and small ancillary shops to serve those who would live
there. That some of these shops would decline because of the huge
supermarkets that sprung up later, was not the fault of the designers at
the time.

                                                           *

     The consumption of wine by the English drinking public boosted the
wine trade and made the importing an important part of the growth of Lyon
Enterprises, though this wasn't the name they traded under. The chateau in
France was never empty of paying guests, especially when the wine produced
from its own vineyards were freely dispensed to all who stayed there.

     The small office that once rented out the houses where Francis lived,
and other properties, had to diverse. The selling of holidays increased and
it wasn't long before they became a serious rival to Thomas Cook and Sons.

     All this came to result in 1978 of Sir Gervaise being made a Lord. For
his achievements, not only in battle, but also in the field of
industry. The promoting of country life, the advancement of setting
children onto the path of medicine and education. There was more in this
vein, but it was enough to satisfy Francis in what she had set out to
do. So Francis, or rather Sir Gervaise became Lord Lyon and the village
really celebrated when he took the name to his title.

     A large kitchen was built into the school so Flora could become the
domestics teacher and this she was happy to be able to pass on her country
cooking skills to the children. She passed away in 1980 at the age of
eighty and had kept at the school right up until she died. Palmer too died
that year and that really hurt Gervaise to lose such a valued man
servant. His extensive record collection was left to the school. It was not
long after this that Penny and Lou reluctantly asked to be able to leave
and set up a more permanent home for just the two of them, to be able to
run a home, a refuge for single and married abused women.

     Gervaise felt that all the people she loved, except Wesson and Diane
were deserting her. He was her rock to keep her together until Leslie came
into the firm. She had passed her university exams, getting straight A's in
Economics and Business Studies and had worked for two firms previously to
gain experience. She then came and took over the positions of both Penny
and Lou. Little Francis, now a grown man, had studied business and
corporate law and came in as the lawyer to support Leslie.

     Between them for the next ten years, they effectively ran the whole
show as their father and mother and Wesson spent six months of the year on
the island. Gervaise had no desire to expand any further, and so left it to
the children to control what was in fact their inheritance.

                                                     *

     I had the pleasure of meeting Wesson when I was invited to write the
story of Francis, but sadly, it was only for a year before he died of a
heart attack. It was a sad day for Gervaise when he was buried in the
village, next to Donald, and the heart went out of Gervaise with his
passing. Francis, as Gervaise, retired from the business and spent the next
two years living with Diane, full time in the village. But she wasn't
strong enough to replace Wesson and Francis just pined away and died almost
to the day, two years after Wesson. She was buried next to her parents and
the two men that she had loved all her life.



                                                 The End



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