Date: Wed, 6 Jan 2016 05:13:56 +0000 From: tpickles Subject: Thai Pan - chapter 3 THAI PAN : A JUNGLE TALE My latest story for Nifty takes a quite different approach to my previous stories (for a list of which, please see the end of this chapter). This is a more timeless tale. You could regard it as more of a sexual fable or myth – with its roots deep in our collective history, culture and traditions as gay men and male tribes. The tale involves teenage boys and their discoveries with each other, and with a few men as mentors or guides. It is set deep in a jungle forest amidst myths, rituals, rites, taboos, initiation and elderhood. ....................... The ending of Chapter 2 ........................... As I danced around more, thrilled by the erotic experience of such naked outdoor pleasure, I felt the imminent rise of my Seed. With one hand I squeezed my buttocks whilst with the other I stroked my Gra-juu vigorously. My feet were planted wide on the ground and my body arched back as I reached the point of no return. A thick string of Seed-juice erupted from my enlarged cock-head, landing on my chest as a white rope of sticky fluid. Another burst followed, landing on my belly and running back into my light covering of pubic hair. As my body straightened up, a third and fourth jet were pumped out by the strong muscles around my anus; they landed on the ground before me and some leaked across my hand. My legs began to feel weak, and I sank down onto a convenient boulder at the edge of the clearing. I watched the juices trickle down my chest and abdomen. I licked some of the cum from my hand, tasting the sweet, salty texture. In front of me, I could see the globules of my Seed on the grass where the sun was already beginning to thin and evaporate the liquid. I felt deeply sated and relaxed. This was so natural; and so enjoyable. Twenty minutes later, I walked back to the river bank, my still swollen Gra-juu swinging before me. I walked back into the river and let the water clean my body again. Then I climbed out, picked up my clothes from where I'd undressed, and enjoyed the freedom of walking back to my hut naked. CHAPTER 3 The small village of huts felt peaceful amidst the gentle noises of the forest. I drew some water from the well and cooked some food using the rice and provisions that I'd found in the hut. There was plenty of fruit ready to be collected from around the village - bananas, mangos, coconuts, papaya, even water-melon a little further away. It looked like I was unlikely to starve. When my food was cooked, I sat down at a table on the verandah to enjoy it, looking out across the encampment and towards the clearing and the river. I wondered when Zee and PeeJay would return, as they had promised. I wondered whether anyone else was making a similar journey towards this jungle village. Given the number of huts that were ready, it seemed unlikely that I would be living here on my own. I thought back to all that Muni had said to me - and not said - but I still had no clear idea of the purpose of my journey, nor of how long I was expected to stay here. After my lunch, I lay down for some rest. The day was at its hottest. There were two hammocks hung beneath the hut and by climbing into one, I could swing gently and doze in the shade, whilst benefitting from the light breeze that passed through. My mind was filled with day-dreams - of Muni and Zee and PeeJay, of home and friends, of the adventure of my journey, and of my pleasuring by the river. It was almost two hours later that I awoke fully. The sun was already descending in the sky and the heat of the day was easing. I walked around the village, exploring it in more detail. At he hut nearest to the chicken coops and the pig pens, I found some bags of feed. I fetched water for their drinking troughs and placed food in the hoppers. I walked around the enclosures checking for any gaps where the animals might escape - or more likely, forest predators could enter for a free meal. I followed one of the tracks and discovered a series of rice paddy fields, and some other smaller fields that had been planted with vegetable crops. There was a collection of tools in a little shelter near-by, and I used these to dig up some root vegetables and to pull a couple of green vegetables. These I could use for my dinner. On the way back, I picked some fruit. With no means of keeping food cool, I could only collect sufficient food for one day's needs. Back at my hut, I placed this fresh food in a small meat-safe to keep the flies away. Then I set out again in a different direction. After a time, I thought I recognised this path as being the one that I had walked the previous night in the dark to approach the village. Sure enough, after a few minutes, I saw the barrier across the track with the small hut beside it. I stepped around the barrier, reluctant to go further into the 'outside' world so soon after I had left it. My hand reached for the door to the little hut. It opened inwards and as I looked inside, I could make out a table and chair within. On the table lay a couple of fresh coconuts and a bag containing some spicy sausages. I wondered who could have put them there. Then I realised that if other people were not allowed to pass the barrier, perhaps these were gifts that had been left for me. With a sense of gratitude, I picked up the coconuts and the sausages and carried them back to the village. Back at my hut, all was as I remembered it; nothing seemed to have been disturbed. Walking around the outside of my own hut, I found a second shower at the rear. This was a simple affair with a shower head suspended from a projecting log and a raised area of large flat stones beneath to stand on. The stones sloped gently towards a run-off gulley. I stepped up beneath the shower and removed the shorts I'd worn since lunch to go exploring. There were no walls or curtains to provide any privacy but I wasn't bothered. I'd not seen anyone all day - and I'd already enjoyed the freedom of my own nudity by the river. I turned on the shower and stood beneath the firm jet of water letting the water play down my body. I released my bladder and watched the mix of water and piss flow strongly from the end of my cock; it was a very satisfying feeling! I used my hands to rub my chest, arms, belly, thighs, back, buttocks and feet. Then I stopped the water and stepped away in the sunlight; it would only take five minutes to dry my skin. I used a large knife to open one of the coconuts and sat on the steps drinking the sweet, milky-white juice. The prospect of fresh sausages and newly harvested vegetables made me hungry. I dressed in a loose-fitting t-shirt and some baggy shorts in part to keep any flying insects off my body before lighting a fire and commencing cooking. I ate and drank until I was satisfied, and then, as the light was fading from the sky, I climbed the steps to the hut's entrance and settled down for another night of deep sleep. oOo The next day began much as the previous one. I awoke with the morning light and lay on my bed beneath a thin cover listening to the sounds of the jungle: the birds calling in the trees; the gentle rustling of some animal grubbing in the dirt for food; the distant crowing of the hens; and beyond them all, the soft sound of the water in the river as it cascaded over the waterfalls. With nothing in particular to do, I relaxed on the bed wondering at the possibilities that the day might hold in store. Eventually, the need for a wash got me up and I stood beneath the shower in the bathroom as the spray brought me to full consciousness. There was plenty of food left over from last night for a good breakfast. As I ate and cleared up, I thought I should be more organised than the previous day. First I tidied the kichen area; then I folded and put away the clothes that had been washed and were now dry. Next I went out to the fields to select a few vegetables and herbs for that day's food. On the way back, I selected one of the chickens. Wringing it's neck was something I'd done many times before. Back beneath my hut, I plucked the chicken and removed it's head and entrails. The whole bird would need cooking. I chopped and boned the carcase and prepared a marinade using oils, chillies, peppers and other ingredients that were stocked in the kitchen area. I left the meat in a covered dish within the meat-safe to be cooked later. After a couple of hours work, I stripped to use the outdoor shower and rinse off the foods and fats that had gathered on my hands and arms whilst I worked. The simple pleasure of being naked outdoors, my hands roving across my own body, felt good. The natural response followed and my gra-juu was semi-erect and pushing forward when I turned off the water. I thought of yesterday and the pleaure I'd experienced in the river and the clearing. With nothing better to do, I pulled on a pair of shorts and walked through the trees down towards the river. As I approached, I slowed and then stopped. The noise of the water in the river was clear, but on top of that there were more noises of deliberate splashing. I moved forward carefully and quietly to see what was happening, keeping myself as hidden as possible behind the larger tree trunks. After a couple of minutes, I reached the edge of the clearing; to go any further would make me visible. I crept around the edge of the clearing, slowly getting closer to the riverbank, until a large boulder gave me cover. I crouched down behind the boulder and carefully looked around the side. The riverbank was the same as before; the water was pouring over the cascades to fill the large pool. What was different was that now there was someone swimming, diving and splashing in the pool itself. I tried to get a better view of the person but with just their head above the water it was difficult to distinguish any features. The person kept diving below the surface exposing a pair of legs that came together in a pair of light-colooured shorts. Unsure who this person might be - or how much risk he or she posed - I decided to stay hidden. I moved around the boulder until I had a good vantage point that was also screened by some bushes that I could carefully move aside to get a better view. I waited patiently until, a little while later, the person swam and waded towards the gravel beach. As the person slowly emerged, I could see that he was another boy, perhaps a year or two younger than me. His thin cotton t-shirt clung to his slender body. His equally thin shorts were almost transparent in the water, sticking to his thighs and revealing a pair or rounded buttocks. As he stood on the beach, he shook his head send a spray of water from his lengthy hair flying in all directions. As I was wondering what he would do next, he sat down on the bank and pulled some bananas from a knapsack that I hadn't spotted before. These he ate as the sun began to dry him. Bananas finished, he lay down on the grass, just as I had done yesterday. And - like me - within a few minutes, his right hand found its way inside the waistband of his shorts to clutch his genitals. Now I definitely wasn't going to move! The sight of this unknown boy beginning to give pleasure to himself started to make me aroused as well. I had to adjust the constriction in my own shorts. It was not long before the boy sat up and looked around, as if checking to see whether he was being watched. I ducked down to stay out of sight. When next I looked, he'd pulled the damp t-shirt up and over his head, revealing a slender male body with two prominent brown nipples. As he stood up, I could see the prominent bulge contained within his shorts. He walked away from the river and into the clearing looking around for something. The semi-translucent shorts were clinging to his ass and this erotic sight made me even more excited. I felt my own hard erection. The boy approached a tree at the edge of the clearing, perhaps 15 metres away from me. He bent down to collect some moss and grass from the ground which he placed in a low fork in the tree's trunk. Then he stepped out of his shorts. I almost gasped out loud - which would certainly have stopped him from what he planned to do! His youthful adolescent body was slender, dark brown and smooth. His gra-juu was pointing out at right-angles to his body, long and slim. He held it in one hand. He stepped towards the tree and placed his gra-juu in the moss-covered fork in the trunk, then covered it with more moss and grass. As I watched, he pressed his body into the trunk and began to rhythmically move his hips in and out of the trunk. I realised he was using the fork to hold his cock as his body humped and fucked against the tree. He was facing the tree and unable to see around him. From my position, I could no longer see his chest or his cock, but instead I was able to stare intently at his hips, buttocks and the line of his ass. I'd been drawn to the sight of other boys' bums before but this was different. This boy had two perfectly rounded buttocks almost the same dark colour as the rest of his body. The more he humped into the tree, the more his body began to sweat with the energy and the excitement. I could see a line of moisture breaking out on his skin and then coalescing and running down his back - and into the crevice of his ass. The sight made me very aroused. I didn't want to reveal my voyeuristic presence, but I needed to release my own gra-juu from the confines of my shorts. Carefully, I pushed the waistband down until my hard length sprang up. I grabbed it with one hand and started to stroke myself. I looked across at the boy as he fucked the tree-trunk and his beautiful rounded ass presssed in and out. I wondered what it would be like to touch him there, to caress his buttocks, to stand naked next to him as he climaxed in pleasure. Now he was making a deep-throated noise. His movements had speeded up. He was thrusting ever harder against the tree. The sweat was running down his exposed back, ass and thighs. With a loud groan he obviously climaxed into the vice that was holding his gra-juu. His body shuddered and jerked a few times. Watching him in these throes of self-pleasure, my own jism started to jet from my cock, splattering my chest and covering my hand. I had to clamp my mouth shut to avoid making a noise. As I finished spurting, the boy was withdrawing his cock from the tree fork; it still looked long, slender and swollen. He bent to the ground - giving me a sight of his spread buttocks - and picked some more grass to wipe himself clean. Then, satisfied, he picked up his shorts and walked back to the river to rinse himself off in the water. I thought about disclosing myself, but I didn't want this boy to think he might have been secretly observed; and neither did I want him to see my state of arousal and I tried to push my own thickened cock back inside my shorts. As the boy began to swim and dive again, I carefully made my way back around the edge of the clearing until I was standing on the path, and then walked back up the incline through the trees to the huts. Would I see this boy again? What was he doing here, seemingly all alone? Might we become friends? And if we did, what might happen between us? I considered walking innocently back down to the river again to create an 'introduction' but somehow I didn't have the courage. Instead I took another shower to cool my ardour - using the indoor bathroom this time, in case anyone was watching me - and lay on my bed to rest, reviewing the events of the afternoon. oOo In the end, I didn't need to do anything - the cute boy walked into the encampment! I'd been dozing on my bed inside my hut for an hour or so enjoying my daydream when a voice brought me back to consciousness. "Hello! Anyone here?" I didn't move or respond whilst I got my bearings. This was the first human voice I'd heard since Zee and PeeJay left two days earlier. "Hello!" came the voice again, "Does anyone live here?" This time the voice was nearer. From the tone and pitch of the voice I guessed it must be the same boy. I stood from the bed and walked quietly to the window, careful not to reveal myself. I watched as the boy - now dressed again in his dry t-shirt and shorts - walked between two huts and looked around. He was definitely younger than me, shorter and slimmer. He was very cute looking. Even if I'd not seen him nude, that rounded ass above his legs would have attracted my attention. He stood there, innocent-like, wondering what to do next. I moved to the door and opened it quietly before stepping out onto the verandah above him. "Yes, I'm here," I replied, "Hi there." He turned to look up at me. "Oh hi. I thought this place must be deserted. I'm sorry to disturb you." "You're not disturbing me. You look hot. Would you like a drink?" I asked. When he answered affirmatively, I added, "Come on up and I'll get us some water." He mounted the wooden steps looking around him as he came forward. "Come and sit down whilst I fetch the water." I pointed to a couple of seats on the verandah and retreated inside to run some cooler water. When I returned, he was sitting on the edge of one of the seats. "Hi," I said again, pouring some water and passing it to him. "My name's Nattawut - although one of the wise men from my village gave me a new name recently - Pan." "Oh," replied the cute boy, drinking half the water. "My name is Win. I'm very happy to meet you Nattawut - Pan." He stopped for a moment and looked around. "But if this is your village, I don't see anyone else. Where is everyone?" "No, at the moment, I'm living here all alone. Actually I've only been here for two days. I was sent on a journey from my home village. When I got here, two young men met me and said this was where I was meant to be. And now you're the first person I've actually met in this area." He looked at me somewhat blankly, so I started to tell him more of my story, whilst filling his glass with more water. He listened attentively. "Wow, that's quite a story," he said, when I'd finished telling it. "So you don't know why you've been sent here or what is expected of you." I nodded in agreeement. "So tell me something about you, Win. Do you live near here? Are there other villages near-by? I've not seen any sign of people around here until you showed up just now." "No, I'm not from around here," he replied in a rather sad tone of voice. "I've been wandering in the forest for a week. I've been eating fruits and whatever else I can find, and sleeping in caves and under big trees for shelter." I looked at him questioningly, not wanting to pry into his story, and trusting that he would probably tell me more when he was ready. I didn't have long to wait. "I live in quite a large village. My parents went off to the city to find some work and earn some money. They left me with my uncle. At first, that was fun and different. He let me do mostly what I wanted. But in the past few months, as I've been growing up, he's treated me more harshly. He doesn't seem to like having me around and sleeping under his roof. He shouts at me. And a few times, he's hit me even when I haven't done anything. It's like he doesn't want to be responsible for me anymore. I haven't seen my parents for more than two years and I don't know where they are or how to find them. The last time my uncle kicked me, I fell down the steps and hurt myself." He pointed to some bruising on his left leg and arm. "I ran off into the jungle to get away from him. When darkness came, I wasn't sure where I was, so I found somewhere to sleep. I was quite scared that night. Then next morning, I was hungry so I went looking for food. I followed a few tracks and after I'd found something to eat and drink I realised I was quite lost. I tried shouting and whistling but no-one answered my calls. So I kept on walking thinking that the paths must lead to another village and someone would show me how to get home again. But I didn't see anyone for the first two days. Then the next day there were some older hunters but I didn't trust them, so I hid. And since then I've just kept walking. Yesterday, I came to a big river. I decided to follow it, thinking that there might be some fishing villages. I didn't find anyone. This morning, I followed the river again. After a few hours, I came to a big deep pool in the river over there," and he pointed, "so I stopped for swim. Then I followed this path away from the river and I found this village - and you." He stopped and looked at me. "Well, you sound quite lost, Win. I'm sorry, but I don't know where your village is either. But I have plenty of food here and you are welcome to eat with me. This morning I killed and prepared a chicken which I was going to cook this evening. There is more than enough for two of us. There are also vegetables, rice and fruit. And if you want to sleep here tonight, there are plenty of huts and bedrooms as you can see. There is only me here. And I'm not an 'old hunter' - you can trust me." "Oh thank you. I do trust you, Pan. I'm so hungry, I would love to help you cook your chicken and share it with you. But I don't like sleeping on my own. It has been too lonely on my own this week. Could I sleep in your hut please? I just need a piece of floor and a blanket." "You are welcome to stay and eat. And of course you can sleep in this hut. There's no need to sleep on the floor: there are beds and mattresses. Why don't you take a shower in the bathroom whilst I start preparing some food. I found some spare clean clothes in one of the cupboards and maybe there will be something that will fit you. Then come down to the kitchen area when you are ready and we can eat." That said, Win jumped up eagerly and I showed him the bathroom, the clothes cupboard and the various bedrooms. Much though I wanted to suggest he use the open-air shower, where I could watch him from the kitchen area, I realised that the younger boy probably wanted his privacy after a week of being lost. He would need to feel safe. I left him to get cleaned and changed and descended to start making a fire and cooking some dinner. oOo The dinner was delicious. As I predicted, there was plenty of food since I cooked the whole chicken. Win was ravenous and refilled his bowl several times. We talked of life in his village and in mine. We shared some stories of our schooling and our families. By the end of the meal, we were on the way to becoming good friends. He still treated me with a great deal of respect, deferring to me and asking permission before doing anything. He obviously thought that he was my guest and that this was somehow 'my' village - even though I realised I had no more right to be staying there than he did. When it came to bed time, I wondered what would happen. We had cleared up the meal and climbed back up to the hut where I'd lit the lantern for some light. "I want to take a shower before sleeping," I said, "Feel free to choose any bedroom, Win." He looked at me questioningly. "Would it be OK if I shared your room, please Pan? I really don't want to be on my own for another night. I'll be very quiet, I promise; you won't even know I'm there." Several thoughts flashed through my mind - mostly centred around the notion of absolutely knowing he was there, and of him not being so quiet. "That's fine with me, Win," I replied, "It's a big bed and I'm sure we're both used to sharing with friends from time to time at home." I turned away and closed the bathroom door. I undressed and took a shower. When I'd dried myself, I put my clothes outside to get cleaned in the morning. I considered finding some more shorts, but as I quite often slept naked or in briefs, I decided that Win could probably cope with a naked boy in the bed. In the living room I extinguished the lantern before walking into the darkened bedroom. I could just make out the shape of Win lying on the far side of the bed. I pulled back the blanket and slid in, conscious of my own exposure. In the darkness, I couldn't know whether Win had been watching me or not. He certainly didn't react in any way. We lay some distance apart in the bed. It wasn't long before I heard the slow breathing of his sleep; he must have been tired after his week of wanderings and rough sleeping. It took me somewhat longer to fall asleep. oOo In the morning I awoke to the sensation of movement in the large bed. I opened my eyes and remembered the presence of Win in the same bed. He was sitting on the other side of the bed preparing to get up. I looked at his slim back and the top of his buttocks; it would appear that he too had slept in the nude. He turned to look at me. "I'm sorry if I woke you," he said, "The bed is very comfortable but I am used to getting up when it gets light outside." I reassured him that everything was fine. "I will go for a shower then," he added. As he stood up and turned towards the door I could see the whole of his youthful body - and I couldn't miss the long, thin erection rising from his crotch. He noticed me looking: "Sorry to offend you like this, Pan. This happens to me every morning now. It will go soon when I stand under cold water." I lay in the bed and tried to smile back at him. "Don't worry about it, Win. It's entirely natural for most boys of our age. Look!" I folded the blanket back to reveal my own morning hard-on. His eyes moved to stare at my rigid cock for several moments before he jerked them away again. "Oh, you are big - almost a man, I think - and so strong." And he hurried away to the bathroom. His evident interest in my manhood did not go unnoticed. I got out of bed. Since we had both revealed our bodies, there didn't seem much point in covering myself. I went out onto the verandah and descended the steps to the outdoor shower. I turned the tap and began to soap and rinse myself under the spray. I heard one of the bedroom windows above me being opened. I pretended not to notice and continued to turn around under the shower. At one point I sneaked a look at the window through half-open eyes. Win was looking out and staring at me; I could only see his chest and head, but he didn't appear to have got dressed yet. I closed my eyes again and continued to exhibit myself in front of his gaze. Later, as we ate some breakfast together at the table beneath the hut, now both dressed, neither of us made any reference to our respective voyeuristic behaviour. It was sufficient to know that I definitely liked the look of his body, and he seemed to be interested in mine. In the absence of anywhere else for Win to go, it seemed likely that he would stay here a little longer. As we were finishing our meal, I heard footsteps approaching along the path from the entrance to the compound. I looked up and saw Zee approaching. I stood up and welcomed him, fetching some water and a bowl so that he could share the remains of our meal. "Hello Zee - you are very welcome - it is good to see you again." I turned to Win: "This is Zee, one of the two young men I told you about yesterday who showed me to this little village." I turned back to him: "And this is Win. He arrived here yesterday and I gave him hospitality. He has had an argument with his uncle and left his village more than a week ago. He has been wandering in the forest ever since, until he found the river yesterday." Zee gave Win a little bow of acknowledgement and greeting. "I see that your future role has already begun, Pan. This is much earlier than we expected when you arrived just a few days ago. You are very blessed by your teacher, Muni." I looked at his questioningly, not understanding what he meant. "What role? What blessing? Please tell me what you mean." Zee took a long drink of water before answering. "Do you remember some of the things that Muni told you about your journey? That there would be a special purpose for you? That this would make you a true man? And do you remember about the Ritual of the Seed that you shared with him - and how the Seed was an important part of sharing and growing in wisdom." I nodded. "I recall some of what he said - but it didn't make much sense to me." "Your purpose is to grow in wisdom until you too become a leader, an elder of men and of boys. This is what happens to boys as they journey into the forest. It is what I hope will happen to PeeJay and I. But Muni saw that you have been marked out for many years already. You are becoming a leader - a leader of lost boys. That is why he gave you a new name - Pan - the leader of lost boys. And now the first lost boy has come to you in the form of Win. If he chooses to stay here with you, your task is to take care of him and help him to grow from a boy into a man. He will learn from you and your example; and as you show him by your example, you will gain in wisdom and knowledge from him. You in your turn will grow into a wise elder of boys and men, knowing the ways to live in harmony in this world. This is your calling. We know there are other boys wandering in this jungle. They have left their villages for many different reasons; or they have no family; or they have been abandoned by those who previously took care of them. When the time is right, some of these boys will find their way here. Some will choose to stay for a time, until they are ready to go back into the world. They will look to you, Pan, to be their leader and mentor." I stared at him as he spoke. I didn't know what to say. I felt shocked. "But ... but ... why me?" I eventually blurted. Zen sat silent, not responding to my question. After a few moments he looked towards Win. He, in turn, looked at me. "What he says feels right, Nattawut," - he used my old family name in friendship - "Even though I have only been here for less than a day, I can feel that this is a special place - and you are a special boy." He paused before continuing, "Already, I trust you. There is something about you that gives me confidence that you will always do the right things by me. I can feel your interest and your goodness. You make me want to stay here and live longer in this village before I am ready to find my way back home. I sense that you will help me to grow up and become a stronger man - someone who can face up to my uncle and make things better in my own village." "I don't know what to say." "There is nothing for you to say," Zee responded. "And there is nothing for you to do. Both PeeJay and I have been aware of something about you. We were told to get this place ready for your arrival. There are other men and women who live some way away who have been expecting your arrival. You are not likely to see them, but they know of your presence here. They wish you well. They respect the wisdom that will grow in you and make you an elder. They will support you by bringing gifts and leaving them at the entrance. They want the lost boys to be looked after and mentored as they grow up. Muni saw that you were ready to step into this role. There are no textbooks telling you what to do. You will know through your own instinct and intuition. Whenever you are in doubt, just listen to the wisdom that is already growing and developing within you." "And I will help you, Pan, in whatever way I can." added Win, now reverting to my newly-given name, "I want to stay here with you - if you will allow me." "Of course you can stay here," I looked at him, "I don't want to be alone, and there is plenty of space - and enough food for many people. Although I do not own this land or these huts, you are welcome to stay as long as you want." I leaned across to Win and gave him a hug. He acknowledged my offer by holding my body firmly to him. Zen began again: "Other lost boys will probably find their way here in time. As you say, this compound is large enough for many people. Part of your role will be to organise the life here so that everyone is cared for and everyone contributes to the life of this village. The young men like PeeJay and I - and there are others too - have grown up in similar villages as we too seek to grow into elders. You may receive visits from time-to-time, from us and from our elders such as Muni. We are here to guide you when necessary. We will ensure that this special place is kept safe for everyone who is here." I nodded, beginning to realise the gravity of what was expected of me. "And one more thing you should know, Pan," continued Zen. "There will only be boys living here. They will vary in age - some younger than you and some older - but all will be 'lost', each in their own way. You, Pan, are their leader, and they will each recognise this. But - and this is important - only boys who are able to create Seed are allowed to live here and be led by you. You remember the Ritual of the Seed that you undertook with Muni?" I looked at Zen and nodded, conscious that Win was looking questioningly at me. "I do." "Every new lost boy who arrives must undertake the Ritual of the Seed. As you are beginning to be aware, the Seed is our source of creation; the rituals bring forth new creation; they are the origin of wisedom. As their leader, Pan, you will teach others the Ritual of the Seed. Since Win has been the first boy to arrive, you must teach him first. I emphasise again, only those who boys who undertake the Ritual of the Seed are allowed to stay here in this place. There are more Rituals to learn and perform. When you are ready, we will return to share these rituals with you; perhaps Muni will come and teach you those Rituals that we ourselves do not yet know." He paused, and we held each other's gaze. "Do you understand me, Pan?" "Yes, Zee, I do. Whilst I cannot know what is going to happen nor how I will undertake this role, I am willing to accept the trust that Muni and you have put in me." "That is good. And now, since Win has already arrived, and we don't know when others may follow him, I have some instructions for you." I looked at him expectantly. "You have already found the river. Next to the river is a large round clearing in the forest, covered in grass, and surrounded by tall trees." I nodded. "This is the most special place. It is the place of Ritual. When Muni shared with you the first ritual, the Ritual of the Seed, he used a small vessel. Later he put a lid on this vessel and told you to take good care of it. The first thing you must do, this morning, is take that vessel to the clearing - on your own, without Win - and choose a place to dig a small hole. Then empty the vessel into the hole and replace the earth and grass. This seals the circle of ritual, blesses it, and creates a source of shared wisdom here on this land. Then you must clean the vessel and keep it very safe. Do you understand?" I nodded, aware that Win sitting next to me had no idea what we were talking about. "Next, you and Win have some jobs to do today that will keep you both busy. First, you must clear a small circle in the large clearing and place some stones around it to form a firepit. Then you must gather a large pile of timber and store this near the firepit for burning. In the future, after other boys have arrived, you will be able to organise them to gather firewood, but today you must do it yourselves. Second - and this will take longer - you must build a small platform in the clearing some metres away from the firepit. It should be this high," and he indicated something less than half-a-metre. "You can use stones and logs to build it. It must be stable. Later you will probably need to make the platform bigger. The platform is where the Rituals take place. For now it must be large enough for three or four people to stand on it. Just downstream from the bathing place in the river, you will find some planks of wood that have been washed up. Use these planks to form a level surface on the platform. Make sure it is solid. These tasks will probably take you all day to accomplish, so you should start when I have left. Do you have any questions?" I could see that Win had plenty of questions but that he realised this conversation was intended for me. "No. I understand what you are asking." "Good. You have done well, Pan. PeeJay and I will return this evening, just as it is getting dark. We will meet you both in the clearing. If Win still wishes to stay here with you, you will undertake the Ritual of the Seed with him. If he completes the Ritual and shares his Seed, you can allow him to stay. Just like you, he will have questions, but the true leader is one who shows by example rather than telling someone the answers. I hope you understand me." Again, I nodded. "Then it is time for me to go. You have much to do today. You can expect us again this evening. Thank you for your hospitality this morning." And with that, Zee stood up, bowed, and walked away from the compound. I could see that Win was full of questions, but he already had the insight to know not to ask too much at this stage. He was already trusting me. "Come on then," I smiled, "It seems we have lots to do today. Let's get ready." .............. to be continued soon in Chapter 4 of 'Thai Pan' ............. YOU MAY ENJOY MY OTHER WRITINGS 'BOY: The Mentoring of a Gay Teenager' http://www.nifty.org/nifty/gay/adult-youth/boy-series/ http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0177EX1XY for the Kindle version Search your local Amazon / Kindle website by the title. TOBY: The Secret Journal of a Gay Teen http://www.nifty.org/nifty/gay/adult-youth/toby/ THAI PAN: A Jungle Tale http://www.nifty.org/nifty/gay/adult-youth/thai-pan/ And please support Nifty to keep publishing all these stories! http://donate.nifty.org/. (c) Tom Pickles, 2016 I love reading your reactions to my writings tpickles2@gmail.com.