Many soldiers didn't speak any French. But Simon asked their names anyway, he had the list with the numbers that were stamped with indelible ink on the clothes and underwear of each soldier. Manfred had the number 6291-1724, and Simon thought it was easy to remember - the first four digits, read backwards, were is birthday and the last four, two at the time, were his age and that of Manfred... of his Manfred.
Whilst in the laundry washing the clothes of that day, Manfred greeted him rapidly. "Today at lunch we will not meet, I am on sentinel duty. But we can meet after six, before dinner." he said.
"When will you be on leave?"
"In two days."
"Can't we go somewhere together?"
"Not out of the town, without a special permit."
"It doesn't matter, as long as I'm with you."
At evening, after they had dinner, Simon waited for Manfred, lying on his bed, dressed.
He came soon: "Tonight I couldn't bring you anything, I couldn't go out." he said sitting on the edge of the bed.
"You are here, that's enough." Simon answered raising his arms towards him.
The soldier lent forward and they embraced. Simon started to unbutton his shirt from the collar. He felt the young man shuddering, then felt his hands raising his sweater on his chest. He sat up to allow his friend to pull it out. Manfred kissed him and started to unbutton his shirt. They undressed each other little by little. They were enchanted with each other as their bodies became uncovered.
"How beautiful you are, Manfred." Simon murmured with emotion, lightly brushing the velvety skin of the soldier, unbuttoning and lowering his shorts, revealing his erect and quivering member, with its halo of thick blonde hairs.
Filled with desire, he weighted the young man testicles, cupping them with his hand, while with his other hand caressed his rod.
"Oh... Simon!"
"Tell me?" the boy answered, smiling at him.
"I desire you so much..." the soldier said with a warm but hoarse voice, pulling off his jersey briefs, caressing his buttocks and genitals, "I want you." he whispered.
"Yes... how do you want to take me?" the boy asked with emotion.
"As you like." Smiled Manfred.
Simon lay on his back and pulled his legs on his chest, offering himself to his man: "This way." he said shuddering in anticipation.
"Yes... this way...." the man echoed, caressing Simon's genitals, his belly, his chest. "God, how beautiful you are, Simon. And in a while you will be mine... Mine."
Simon felt the soldier's hands caressing his buttocks, kneading them lightly, then spreading them and the rod rested on his quivering and waiting hole.
Their eyes, like magnets, couldn't move away. "I want you, Simon."
"Take me..."
"Here I am..." Manfred said and Simon felt he was starting to push.
A light pressure, but little by little increasing, until he felt he was opening up, and felt the man's rod slipping inside him, slow, delicate, but at the same time strong and determined.
The soldier gave a strong shudder and half way in became still: "Oh, Simon... I'm near... cumming! It is... too beautiful... I am near.... cumming!"
"Doesn't matter, push."
"I wanted...to enjoy you... make happy ... but... god, I can't hold back... I'm too excited... if I move I'll come..."
"Push, put it all inside me."
"Oh, Simon..." the soldier moaned transfigured by the pleasure. He pushed, sinking inside the boy cumming with a long moan, trembling and shuddering from head to toe even after he unloaded himself. "Oh god, I didn't want to cumm so soon... forgive me, Love!" Manfred exclaimed with his hoarse voice, continuing to tremble.
"Say it again." Simon said, terribly moved.
"Forgive me..."
"No, the other word."
"Love!" Manfred said with a sweet smile.
"Say it again..."
"Love." the man repeated and bent to kiss him. Simon held him tight, and kissed him with passion, for a long time.
Then asked, almost in a whisper: "Do you really love me?"
"Yes, I love you Simon. Believe me, I love you."
"It is too beautiful... No, remain inside me. You love me, and I'm yours."
"I never felt what I'm feeling for you, for any other person. I love you, Simon. I really love you."
"And I am yours. Kiss me again."
Manfred kissed him, and Simon brushed his nipples, and felt the member of the beautiful soldier darting inside his channel. Simon pushed forward his pelvis brushing it against his groin, and Manfred's member throbbed again. Then Manfred started to move inside him, back and forth, with extreme gentleness, again fully aroused.
"Oh, Simon... ..."
"I know, Love... I feel it..." the boy said happily, fully savouring the brushing of the strong and hot rod inside his channel, that he flexed rhythmically to increase the pleasure of the man that had conquered his heart. On instinct he put in action all he learned in his short but intense sexual life, and soon he saw the face of his Manfred becoming intense and luminous.
"Simon, Love... it is beautiful, isn't it?"
"Wonderful. You are strong, you are my man!"
"I adore you."
"I am yours."
"You are so beautiful, Simon, You are wonderful, and mine. All mine." the soldier murmured full of emotion, holding tight almost in a possession gesture Simon's member and manipulating it with sweet vigour, while he continued to piston inside him his shuddering virility with passionate thrusts.
The boy felt his orgasm seizing him almost suddenly and rocked under his lover's body, moaning and trembling, until he unloaded with long, very strong spurts. Manfred felt him, and the boy's enjoyment unchained his own. His pushes became more vigorous and fast and he too, while Simon was shuddering at the last spasms of pleasure, dove in him deeply and unloaded a second time inside his boy with an intense tremor. Then he relaxed on top of Simon's body, holding him tightly against himself and kissing him with strength.
Panting, they relaxed little by little, still shaken by darts of pleasure. Simon could feel the soldier heart strongly beating at the same rhythm of his own, and felt that their bodies had reached the perfect fusion that always lovers long for. Yes, they really belonged to each other, now. The joy that Simon felt was so strong that his eyes filled with tears.
Manfred saw and understood the reason for those wet eyes. He murmured: "It has really been wonderful, hasn't it, my Simon?"
"I never felt anything like that, till now. Thank you, my love. Thank you."
"Thanks to you, sweetheart. You are my happiness."
They were united, enjoying that sweet intimacy, when the first bell announcing the silence, rang. They unwillingly parted and Manfred dressed. It was difficult to part after what they experienced in each other's arms. They kissed a last time, Manfred left, in silence. Simon shut off the light, slipped under his blankets, enjoying the warmth that their bodies left there, and while the silence rang, he glided into sleep, his heart, his head, his body filled with his Manfred.
Simon oozed happiness. The boy, gentle by nature, was now particularly kind with all the soldiers, so that he soon became everyone's pet, and several soldiers started to give him small presents - objects they made, titbits, even some clothes.
Those who knew a little of French, tried to talk with him, and Simon was starting to understand some words of German. Everybody was also happy with his work, he carefully washed and ironed the linen and the uniforms, and also the captain praised him.
Manfred showed him his drawings, and also gave him some of them, and Simon kept them in his closet as a real treasure.
He was in the barracks for a good while, Manfred was on sentinel duty. The day was grey and a little cold. Simon was hanging the tenths of sheets in regular lines, merry and smiling as always, in the small courtyard behind the wardrobe.
"Hi, Simon!" a cheerful voice greeted him. He turned, it was Alfred. He greeted him with a smile. The soldier took away from his hands the basket with the last sheets and put it on the ground.
Simon looked at him with interrogative air, and asked him: "Hey, what are you doing?"
The soldier, as an answer, pulled the boy near him and started to unbutton Simon's trousers.
"Hey! What are you doing! Stop it!" the boy said in an alarmed tone, trying to escape him.
"You give ass to Manfred, I know! You now give also me, ya?" the soldier said holding him tightly by his arm and continuing to struggle with the boy's fly.
"No, please... no... stop, Alfred!" the boy moaned, wriggling, but the man continued.
"You make happy Alfred, und Alfred no say captain. If captain know, captain send away Simon and put Manfred prison. If you give ass me, Alfred keeps mouth shut." the man said in a low voice, lowering the boys trousers to his knees. Simon, at that menace, stopped struggling - he didn't want to lose his Manfred. The man smiled to the boy and said: "You give your little ass and Alfred mouth is shut." He lowered the boy's briefs, pulling out from his trousers an already hard and erect mace, made the boy turn, wet his anus with his spit and, seizing his hips, pushed inside him with three or four energetic strokes.
"Ah, good boy, you." the man said starting to fuck him with vigour.
Simon endured that strong mount in silence, hoping just that the man would give vent rapidly to his yen, and leave him in peace. He could feel the massive flesh rod rocking inside him with fast and strong rhythm, tightly wrapped in his soft and hot channel, and yet the boy was not aroused. After a while Alfred emitted low groans and started to hammer inside him with violence until, almost raising the boy's body off the ground, he pressed the boy's ass against his groin and unloaded inside him, murmuring at his ear something in German, his voice hoarse from his pleasure. Then he let Simon go.
While Simon, his head lowered, tidied himself, the man gave him a friendly slap on his back: "You good boy. You give little ass to Alfred und Alfred no tell captain, eh? Und you no tell Manfred, understood?" the man said. Simon was silent. "Understood?" the man asked again. Simon nodded - how could he tell his Manfred, anyway? Alfred caressed his buttocks: "Ass good, ya. Alfred enjoyed good." and went away. Simon picked up the basked and sadly resumed hanging the last sheets. Alfred would come again to take him. And he could only submit, so as not to lose his lover.
When he again saw his Manfred and made love with him, he said nothing, but while he made his lover take him, he felt like he was born again, purified by the beautiful soldier's love. He gave himself to Manfred with sheer passion, happy to see his man enjoying him.
Afterwards, Manfred said him with his usual gentleness: "Today you seemed hotter than ever. You have been great. I love you."
"You will never leave me?" the boy asked, recalling Alfred and afraid that one day Manfred could came to know of it.
"No, sure. You know it." Manfred answered, caressing him.
"Anything could happen?" Simon insisted looking at him with imploring eyes.
Manfred caressed him again with tenderness and whispered: "Sure, anything could happen. You are everything, to me."
Simon adapted to Alfred's attentions. The man didn't go to look for him so often, about once a week. He fucked the boy hurriedly, strongly, sated himself and went away. When they were with the others, Alfred treated him as always.
One morning there came to the wardrobe room Otto, a thirty-four years old soldier, a friend of Alfred. He spoke French less than Alfred, but after he gave his dirty laundry to the boy and took the clean ones, he said with a quiet smile: "You, say Alfred, kind. Also Otto want you kind. You come with Otto after lunch, right?"
"I don't understand..." Simon said, afraid he understood all too clearly.
The soldier cupped his hand on his fly and said with a cunning smile: "You make enjoy this, no? So tells Alfred. You come after lunch with Otto, no?"
"Where?" the boy asked with desperate resignation.
"Otto know place good, you come with Otto. Und Otto no say captain little Simon und Manfred. Good, no?"
"As you like." the boy said with a tired expression.
After lunch Otto gave Simon a nod inviting the boy to follow him. He took him in the storeroom, behind a heap of cases.
Simon was about opening his trousers, but Otto pushed him on his knees and, opening his fly, showed his member in front of the boy's face: "You open mouth." he excitedly said seizing with both hands the boy's head and guiding it to his half erect pole.
It was not long and thick like that of Alfred, and it was slightly bending to the side. Otto slipped it between his parted lips. Simon closed his eyes and, while the man was pushing it to his throat, Simon felt the acrid smell of the man's genitals. Otto, keeping the boy's head still, started to fuck his mouth with a rapid going and coming. "Suck, move tongue!" the man commanded. Simon obeyed. "So, good." the man satisfied said, continuing to piston in his mouth.
Simon thought he had to make the man cumm fast, the faster he cummed, the sooner he could be free. He sucked with all his skill, caressing and kneading his heavy ball sack, working the rod with his tongue, to give the maximum enjoyment to the man. And in a short while the soldier vibrated like a violin string and sprout strong jets directly inside the boy's throat. Simon swallowed all the warm cream of the man with big gulps.
Otto slipped out from the boy's mouth, and put it back in his trousers. Simon stood up, brushing away the dust from his trousers knees. Otto said, satisfied: "Yes, you good. Like woman, yes. When Manfred again sentinel, Otto comes, yes? You make enjoy friend Otto."
Simon went to thoroughly rinse his mouth with fresh water, to put from his mouth the rather tart taste. Then he went back to the wardrobe room. He wished that these two soldiers didn't spread the rumour - he didn't want to become everybody's prostitute, in the barrack. When he met Alfred he told him. The man laughed and said: "No, but my friend Kurt... I tell just to my friend Kurt. He and then stop, is good?"
"I'll rather not..." the boy wailed.
"Just my friend Kurt. He kind. Und he my good comrade. You do just also Kurt, then Alfred und Otto. Then stop, my word. Good?"
"All right. But then really nobody else, please."
"Yes, you no prostitute, you good boy. Then stop, good?"
That evening, when Simon was again with Manfred, as soon as they undressed, the boy wanted to suck his lover. He never felt the young man's taste and now he wanted to taste it, almost to forget Otto's. He made Manfred lie on his mattress, crouched between his legs and started to lick, to suck with passion - how different it was! He loved that man, and his member. He liked feeling it shudder inside his mouth, it was not a strangers body like that of Otto.
Manfred was shuddering: "Oh, Simon... how good... you drive me crazy, so... I didn't dare ask you..."
"Why, Love? If you desired it, you only had to ask me."
"I didn't know if you liked that..."
"For you I would do anything, you know it. Anything! Because I love you, you know it." the boy said with passion.
"Then, turn round, I too want to do it to you." the young man murmured excited, pulling to him the boy's pelvis.
They united in a passionate sixty-nine, sucking each other, and Simon could forget Otto and the others. They made love, for a long time, sucking on each other in a ring of pleasure. And when finally Manfred let go his load of cream, Simon tasted it, savoured it - it was sweet; it was the taste of his man. The boy was intoxicated and freed himself of his sperm between his Manfred's lips, and the soldier drank all greedily.
"It's so fine, Simon." Manfred sighed turning round on the bed and embracing him. He kissed him and said, happy: "I love you so much. And now... now I also know your taste."
"And I yours. I like it."
"You taste manly, you are my male. Your body is becoming more and more adult and beautiful. When the war will be over, will you come to live with me?"
"It would be great... but will ever this war have an end?"
"Well, it will end, for sure. Then, will you come to live with me?"
"Yes, you and I, alone, and always together."
"I love you so much."
"Me too, Manfred. Hold me strongly. I need to feel I am yours."
Before, it never had been a burden for him to have several men with which to have sex, on the contrary... But now it was different. Now, only Manfred existed for him. Having to satisfy others was hard for him. Even if he repeated to himself that it was just sex, just a physical thing, without any meaning, he would have preferred not to undergo these services. Above all he was bothered at being forced to do it.
When Manfred was again on sentinel duty, on the night shift, during supper Kurt whispered to Simon: "After, I can find you in wardrobe, right?"
Simon looked at the others at their table asking himself if they overheard, understood, but beside Alfred who winked at him, the others seemed not to have heard. So he lightly nodded yes. Kurt smiled and, he too, winked at him. But Simon didn't want Kurt to take him in the bed that witnessed his love for Manfred. He asked himself where he could take Kurt. Perhaps in the storeroom. Or better in the laundry. Alfred at times took him amongst the hanging sheets like the first time, at times behind the tall basins, on all fours. Otto instead always took him in the storeroom, but a couple of time he made Simon give him head in the cellar, near the hot water boilers.
When Kurt arrived, Simon was still considering where to take him. The soldier greeted him then said: "Says Alfred that I and you can do that things. Is true?" he asked almost embarrassed.
"Yes it is true. But where?" the boy asked.
"I... I like you. You very beautiful boy. You made me think to boy I had in Dresden."
"Did you have a boyfriend?" Simon asked astounded - the others always talked about women, it was the first time somebody admitted to prefer his own gender.
"Yes, his name Damian. I very loved him. He eighteen. But he now sailor."
"Do you miss him?" Simon asked.
"Not know if he alive, if he good health... You very beautiful. Alfred know I love boys and... Alfred says you Manfred boy. But you kind also with him and perhaps with me. True?"
"Alfred says that if I am not available to you, he will report us to the captain, and I don't want to lose Manfred." Simon said.
"Then you prefer not do with me. I understand. I not want pressure you, also if I like you."
"Thank you Kurt. But if Alfred knows that, he will report us, therefore... where can we go?"
"No, I not want, that way..." the soldier said, shaking several times his head.
"It doesn't make much difference, at his point. And you, at least, are honest. With you I could even do it. Where can we go?"
"You real accept do it with me?" the man asked, scrutinising him almost as if he wanted to read inside his head.
"But yes... where?"
"I... I think... you come with me?"
"Yes."
He followed the soldier. Kurt was in charge of the officers' mess. He took the boy to the cellar, and with a key he opened the larder of the officers' mess. Vintage wines, Parma hams, all sort of good things, a smell to raise the dead. Kurt locked the door.
The soldier spread on the floor some empty sacks: "Here, here is safe. But really you want?"
"Yes." the boy sincerely answered.
Kurt embraced him, kissed him, caressing him between his legs: "You sweet, Simon. Kurt desire Simon..."
This time Simon was getting aroused - that man's gentleness was touching him. He caressed at his tour the soldier, in an intimate way: "Undress me, Kurt, and undress yourself."
The man smiled grateful and started to undress the boy, caressing and kissing him all over his body. The boy abandoned himself - it was not Manfred, sure, but it was al least agreeable. This man's body was not beautiful like Manfred's, was somewhat stocky, but was not bad.
"What did you do with your boy? Tell me, how did he make you enjoy? I want to do the same."
"He... Damian sucked me, then I took him." the man murmured, visibly excited.
Simon knelt in front of him and started to lick and suck his turgid, firm member, while the man caressed his hair and his back: "Oh Simon, you very good, you like my Damian... oooh, ya... good..." the man moaned. After a while he pulled up the boy and kissed him in his mouth, caressing his genitals. "Kurt can take Simon, now?" he asked in a whisper.
Simon turned offering himself to the man. Kurt didn't take him at once, but first brushed for a while the tip of his member between the boy's buttocks, teasing his hole. Meanwhile he caressed, excited, the boy's chest and genitals. Then he started to penetrate him, slowly, almost afraid to hurt him. Simon felt him entering, slipping inside. The man's member was thinner but longer than that of Manfred. The man moved it skilfully, evidently careful to give pleasure also to the boy.
"Oh, Simon, is good do this with you, very good." the man panted, prey of a strong pleasure, "I paid once nice boy, but no so good. You special. Manfred lucky."
Simon was feeling a stronger and stronger pleasure, and when the man named Manfred, he felt guilty. He liked Kurt. Not as much as Manfred, sure. It was different, sure, but he liked him. It was not love as he felt for Manfred, it was just pleasure, but the pleasure was not just physical, and that made the boy feel guilty. With Alfred and Otto there was not even pleasure, it was easier to stand them. But Kurt was gentle, passionate, was not fucking him, was making love to him. The man was taking him with incredible gentleness, even if he moved inside him with no less virility than Alfred, with no less passion than Otto.
When Kurt came inside him, kissing his neck, also the boy moaning emptied himself into the warm and sweet hand of the soldier, with strong jets. They remained still for some instants, while Kurt caressed his chest and belly. Then they parted.
While they were dressing, Kurt saw the thoughtful expression of Simon: "What have you boy? what think?"
"I feel guilty in front of Manfred. With Alfred and Otto I didn't enjoy, but I did with you, I liked you."
"I understand... you love Manfred, true?"
"Yes, I love him. And he loves me."
"I understand. Perhaps I wrong to take you. But I desired you much and... You forgive Kurt?"
"You are sweet, Kurt. If I didn't have Manfred, I would like you very much. I like you very much. But I love Manfred."
"I... I happy made love with you. But I not do again if you feel bad. I respect your sentiment."
"Anyway... I have to do it with Alfred and Otto. Why not with you? At least, you are kind and good hearted."
Things were turning bad for the German army. The retreat started. At first they were just talking about strategic withdrawal, but soon it was evident to everybody that it was a real retreat. Partisans were becoming more and more daring and dangerous. Also the soldiers of the barrack where Simon worked, had to abandon the old school to start the retreat. They all were busy loading the war material and the provisions on the trucks and to destroy all they could not bring with them.
Manfred told Simon: "Hard days, dangerous days are facing us. It will be possibly better if you remain here, with your people."
"No! I don't want to part from you! You are my people, at this point. I don't want them. I come with you."
"I too would like not to lose you, but... You know that partisans are merciless with French people who were on our side. You risk lot more than us soldiers, if it happens we fall in the partisans' hands. I don't want they hurt you."
"I don't want to leave you. Moreover, you are more than one hundred, well armed. What can the Partisans do to you? All will be fine, you'll see. I want to come with you."
"I don't know if the captain will allow you..."
"I'll go to talk with him." the boy resolute said, "You come to interpret for us."
When they were in front of the captain, Simon said: "Captain, I served you with devotedness."
"Yes it is true, you have been a perfect dependant. Do you want a prize, now? Money?"
"No, captain. I want to come with you."
"You are a civilian, and moreover French."
"Captain, here in town everybody knows I worked for you. If I remain here, as soon as your last car leaves the quarter, they will kill me. Take me with you, I beg you. I can still be useful, I think, anyway not a burden. I will eat very little, I will not bother you. Please..."
"My men were happy of your work. You could... help the cook, and so free a soldier from that duty... I will think about that, I will give you an answer."
"If you don't want me with you, it is better you kill me, like things you cannot bring with you. It will be less bad that being killed by the partisans." Simon insisted with determined voice. Manfred, tense, translated. Then said something in German to the captain. The man answered nodding and said something.
"The captain says that it is all right. For the moment you can come with us." Manfred said, visibly relieved.
"Thank you captain. I will not be a burden, I swear." Simon said smiling happy.
They left the town. Simon got on the truck where also Manfred, Alfred, Kurt and Otto were. The long convoy left the town at dawn. The streets were desert, the window closed. The locals, from behind the shutters, spied with joy and relief the convoy going away. But the enemy was still strong, could still come back soon, and with prudence nobody showed his sentiments.
The retreat was slow and long. Partisans attacked, hitting fast, rapidly disappearing, provoking damages not serious but continuous to the convoy. While the German column was crossing at mid speed a garrisoned bridge, there was a terrible bellow and the bridge blew up. Three trucks and a jeep blew up with the bridge, and the column was cut in two. The captain's jeep and the truck with Simon had already crossed. The captain was furious. He asked who controlled the bridge before crossing it. The responsible group turned out to be one of those who blew up with the bridge. The captain sent via radio to the part of the convoy that was still on the other side, to follow the river towards the valley to find next bridge or a ford to unite again with the column head. They would follow the other bank until their reunion. The group who could cross the river before the explosion was composed of about forty-five men, about twenty died on the bridge, and about thirty-five were in the group who had still to cross.
As the captain feared, the partisans attacked again and again the convoy on the other bank, and the captain, powerless, saw the column diminish little by little. Then, during the night, from the other bank came the noise of several explosions, then bursts of machine-gun fire. All lasted about three hours. Then, the silence. Next morning, at down, a thick black smoke was rising from the remainders of the column on the other bank, and no movement was seen. The captain looked for long time with his binocular. In that point the river was too swift to try to cross it without a watercraft. After exploring up and down with his binocular the other bank, not seeing any sign of life, the captain gave order to resume the march.