Pretending to be angry, Charles said to Simon: "And possibly, you feel a real male mow, having screwed me? If it were not for that bastard of a cousin, you would have seen what end you would have done... Two against one... Oh sure! Alone, you would have never succeeded..."
"Come on, Charles, you enjoyed it! You were the first to cumm!" Jeanpaul said pulling his leg.
"What does that matter... I... it is just because I was screwing you, that I cummed. And be sure, I'll make you pay for that!"
"How? Buggering me again?" the boy readily asked, teasing him. "To me it will be a piece of cake. But at least I am not ashamed to say I like it."
Charles made the gesture to give him a strong slap on the face, but instead ended giving him a tweak on his cheek: "You'll let me screw you any time I want it?" he gruffly asked.
"Oh yes! And then, unhappily, as he will go, I have to content myself with you, don't I?"
"To content yourself? Why, what do I miss? It seems to me that I have nothing to envy him, about my cock!"
"I really think you haven't." Simon conciliatory said. "And I liked how you fuck, really... even if I liked as much fucking you, I have to confess..."
"I noticed it, you turd! Anyway... you too screw nicely... even if I liked more how you took it..."
"Let's make peace?" Simon said offering him his hand.
Charles for a while looked at that hand stretched out, without moving. But then he slowly stretched his own, then squeezed Simon's hand strongly, very strongly. Simon answered with the same force and for a while both tried to squeeze harder than the other.
Then Charles burst laughing and said: "You wont even give me the satisfaction to believe I'm stronger than you?"
"Surely not. You and I are even.... both in squeezing hands and in fucking each other, aren't we?"
"You are a funny fellow, you are... First you rape me, then you say we are even. I didn't rape you, did I?"
"I didn't either... Let's make peace, then?"
"Bah... there has been far too much war in these parts, to start making war amongst us French boys... Peace let be... But with you, it is not over, understood?" he then said to his cousin.
"What do you want me to do, to be forgiven?" the boy asked trying to have a serious face, but his eyes slyly shone.
"Become the slave of this!" Charles said cupping his genitals in his hands and showing them to his cousin.
The boy prostrated himself at his feet and with a joking voice, said: "Oh, master cock, I am your devoted slave!"
All three laughed, and Simon started to dress. Charles looked at him for a while, then followed suit, followed by Jeanpaul.
When all three were dressed, Charles asked: "Are you really going right now?"
"Yes, I still have a long way to walk."
"Farewell, then. If you want I can accompany you for a stretch of road, you don't know the town, you could take the wrong direction."
"Thanks, but I have the map. Rather, can you tell me if there are still Germans around? I don't want to make bad encounters."
"Let me see on the map the road you think to follow." Charles said. They consulted the map. The boy showed him some areas: "Look, they could be here and here, but I'm not sure. You see, here is a nun's convent. They helped lot of French Hebrews or partisans to hide, when the Germans were here. This area can still be dangerous, I don't know. Before, they always patrolled it, possibly because they suspected something. I heard my father telling about it, because he often takes the provisions to the nuns. But he goes through this path, see, this one marked with a broken line. It climbs the hill, towards Saint Christopher chapel, then lowers towards the stream, which borders it here, then turns to this point where there is a ford. My father said it was rather safe. And now, Germans, prefer the asphalt roads, to flee faster, therefore this way has to be even safer than before."
Simon mentally took note of all the precious information the boy was giving him. Then they went out together from the old farmstead, said good bye, and parted. Simon, loaded with the two bags, left the town and went up the hill, satisfied.
When he arrived at the chapel, without meeting a living soul, he called Manfred from the tower ladder.
The man, who didn't see him arrive, peeped out smiling: "Simon! You are loaded. Wait, I'll came and help you." said, coming down the ladder nimbly. The boy put the two heavy bags on the floor and opened his arms. Manfred held him against his chest, they kissed.
"I love you Manfred." the boy said, "We can pass the night here, and tomorrow morning we resume our way, all right?"
"Yes, even if here there is not a decent place to sleep. But we will content ourselves."
"In the belfry, perhaps?"
"I don't know. We possibly will be less uncomfortable in the chapel, but if somebody comes, we risk not being able to see them in time. What about the sacristy?"
"Yes, in the sacristy it could be better. And anyway we can sleep in turn, for safety..."
"Yes, it could be good. One sleeps and the other is on watch. But how sad it is living in the fear of being caught."
"It is war, Manfred."
"You have to call me Andy, remember?"
"I can't... Andy is someone I don't know. On the contrary, Manfred is my man."
"I love the way you say 'my man'!"
"How do I say it?"
"With pride."
"Sure, I'm proud to be your boy, really proud."
"And to think that we are presumed to be enemies, you and I."
"You and me? No way, it could never be possible. I, before being French, am your boy."
"Yes with me it's the same. Even if such a declaration could send me to a court-martial. But it really is so for me too."
"Manfred, will you start to sleep? I will watch."
"I'm not yet sleepy. It is a beautiful night. Let's go out for a while..."
They set the bags in a corner and, holding hands, went on the meadow in front of the chapel. Sky was clear and filled with stars. They sat leaning against the building's wall, side by side. Simon leaned his head on Manfred shoulder, and the young man circled his shoulders with his arm.
"I'm sorry you have lost your drawings copybook." Simon said thoughtfully caressing the hand that his lover put on his thigh.
"I had to leave all that could make me recognizable as a German, you know... But then, I can do other drawings..."
"Did you do oil painting, in Germany?"
"No, mainly watercolour, at times distemper. But I like watercolour very much. I can express better what I feel, with the colour veiling that watercolour allows."
"I just saw your pencil drawings - they were so beautiful... I would like to see your watercolours."
"If we are lucky... my first watercolour will be your portrait. I'm thinking about it for a long time, I know how I would like to paint it."
"How?"
"Naked, half lying on a meadow, looking at me and smiling."
"Naked, looking at you? Then you will have to paint me with my thing up, if I look at you, naked." the boy joked smiling.
"Eh, I really think so!" the young man answered with a smile, lightly squeezing Simon to himself, tenderly.
"Why don't you kiss me?" Simon asked turning his face towards his man.
Their eyes met. Manfred put his lips to those of the boy, brushed them, his tongue lightly underlined them. Simon put out his tongue and met that of his lover, and the two tongues played, at times light, at times passionate. Until their mouths sealed in an intimate and deep kiss.
"Manfred?"
"Yes, Love?"
"Why, each time somebody makes me understand he desires me, I have sex with him, while you make love just with me? And yet I really love you very much."
"Because you and I are different. And because you probably are sexually hotter than me. You are a Latin, I am a German."
"But you really are not upset knowing that I... that I am this way?"
"No, really, because I know you really love me. And because I love you as you are. Because you told me that with the others it is just sex, nothing more."
"You are too good. Possibly more than I deserve."
"Why do you say that? Nobody ever is too good. And you... you would deserve much more than I can give you."
"You give me all that really counts in life. You give me your love."
"You like also to take, isn't it?" suddenly Manfred asked him.
"Not as much as being taken."
"Why don't you take me?"
"No, you don't like it, and I don't need it."
"But from you, I would willingly been taken."
"I don't need it, I told you. It is not for that I go with others. I like too much being yours. I feel more of a man when I feel you inside me, than when I take another."
"You are becoming more and more a man, and I like you more and more. You really are so beautiful."
"Never as much as you are. You have wide shoulders, narrow hips, you are the perfect prototype of a male. I am more... homogeneous."
"That's not true, also your body is beautiful, to a painter, besides a lover. I love your body."
"Do you love more my body or my soul?"
"It is thanks to your body that I can reach your soul, know it, communicate with it, love it. The body is an expression of the soul. It is not possible to say what I love more. I love Simon, body and soul. Love doesn't know these distinctions. My body desires your because my soul desires to meld with yours."
"Now also?" Simon asked him lightly caressing his fly and feeling its palpitating turgidity.
"Yes, also now, sure." the young man answered sweetly.
"Then, take me." the boy whispered pressing himself against his lover's body, quivering with desire.
"Yes, Love." Manfred said, starting to undress him.
Simon, naked, went astride the naked young man's lap, facing him, and lowered gliding on his legs folded with the knees up, slightly spread, until he felt the firm member pushing between his buttocks. He leaned his hands back, near his lover's feet, and slowly lowered more, making his lover's rod penetrate him.
"How good it is, Manfred, feeling you again inside me." Simon sighed when his small and firm arse strongly pressed against his lover's groin.
The young man bent to the boy's chest to suckle his nipples, while he caressed his flat belly and the palpitating genitals. Then Simon, levering on his hands and feet, started to move up and down, making his back slip against the strong thighs of the young man, as on a rail.
"Do you like it, Love?" Simon panted continuing that sweet gymnastic, full of passion.
"Yes... wait..." the young man murmured and bent on the boy's groin, until his lips could seize the swollen glans of his young lover.
"Oh, Manfred... oohh how beautiful..." Simon panted strongly quivering and accelerating his passionate springing up and down.
Manfred teased his nipples with both hands. Simon trembled prey of a strong, and yet increasing, pleasure. The combined action of the young man's member inside him, of the lips and tongue of the other on his stiff pole, of Manfred's fingers on his nipples gave him such strong sensations as to make him vibrate like a musical instrument.
"God, that's beautiful... ooohh... I'm all yours..." the boy yelled at full voice.
Simon accelerated his rhythm, prey of an intense pleasure and of a deep emotion. Until both, almost at unison, unable to control any more their pleasure, unloaded one inside the other in a long, passionate quiver.
Simon let himself go on his lover's lap, circled his neck with his arms pulling himself against him and they kissed.
"I adore you, Manfred." Simon sighed.
"Yes, I too adore you, my beautiful little male! I love the joy with which you give yourself to me, with which you enjoy me and make me enjoy."
"I would like to never part from you, to be always like now."
"Even if our bodies have to part, I'm always inside you and you inside me, now. We really are just but one thing, you and I."
"Yes, it's true. I too feel it."
They tenderly caressed, continuing to exchange words filled with sweetness. They parted, dressed again and Manfred lay, his head on the boy's lap.
"Sleep so, Love. I will watch over you." the boy said, caressing his face slightly bristly for the unshaved beard.
Manfred slowly glided into sleep, serene and relaxed. Simon was looking at him and feeling the love for his companion like something tangible, concrete, and was feeling happy. The night air was sweet, as sweet was the body of his lover abandoned near him. He admired his face, relaxed in the sleep, faintly lighted by the moon light, framed by the dark blond hair, and his soft lips that, if he was not afraid to awaken him, he would have kissed with sheer pleasure.
Simon remained still, even when he felt the need to change his position, not to disturb the sleep of the man he loved. Time was passing slowly, but agreeably, because Simon was fancying their life together when they would be in Switzerland. He didn't have any idea about what they could do, what work they could find, but he was not worried. After all they had been through, just the fact to be still alive and still together, was almost a miracle. Why, amongst more than a hundred men who left the barracks, well armed, just they two were still alive? Wasn't this a sign of fate? Was it possible that fate loved those who were able to love?
Manfred woke up at dawn's first lights: "It is starting to be clear... why didn't you call me to give you the change?"
"I slept in town, I was not sleepy." the boy said standing up and stretching his legs, heavy for the long inactivity. Manfred stretched. "Did you have a good sleep?"
"Yes. Don't you want to sleep a while, now?"
"No, I think it will be better to go. I'll fetch out bags, we look at the map and then go."
They took the path that Charles pointed out to Simon. Along the way, about three hours later, they met three farmers, two women and a man, going in the opposite direction, their working tools on their shoulders. The man looked at Manfred with particular care, but when they met answered Simon's greeting.
"Excuse me, are we right for the Franciscan Sisters Convent?" Simon asked with a smile.
"Yes... you are not locals, right?" the man asked continuing to study Manfred.
"No, I am from the north, he instead is a Swiss, he is going back home and I'm accompanying him." Simon answered trying to speak with a normal tone, but with an inner tension.
"Ah. I would have said he was a German." the man said still studying Manfred.
"I am from German speaking Switzerland, in fact." Manfred said with a smile.
"And how comes you are in France, now?" the man still diffident asked.
"My brother remained with the partisans, he translates for them the radio messages of the German Army." Manfred said self-assured, "I on the contrary am going back home because we were informed that our mother is seriously ill."
"I see... my brother in law lives in Switzerland. In Losone, you know where it is, don't you?" the man said studying Manfred reaction.
"He comes from another Canton..." Simon said worried, but Manfred interrupted him.
"Losone? My cousin works in Ascona, very close. What is your brother in law's name? Who knows, perhaps..."
"He is an Italian Swiss, his name is Luraghi."
"Lorenzo?" Manfred asked widening his eyes.
"No, Alberto."
"Ah no, then I never met him. I met a Lorenzo Luraghi in Ascona... I don't know... My cousin is Wilhelm Erni..."
"No, I never went down there." the man quietly said, then added: "But it could be dangerous for you going around in these times, in this region. You really seem a German."
"That's why the partisan command charged me to accompany him." Simon readily answered.
They exchanged just some more chat, then bid goodbye and each resumed his way.
When out of earshot, Simon said: "I really was scared... how could you know about these places? I never heard their name, before... And that idea that there lives your cousin?"
"Just luck. Before, looking at the map, I noticed Ascona and Losone, but out of the corner of my eye, I read Ascott and London! A stroke of good luck. But now I know that in Losone lives a certain Alberto Luraghi, married to a French woman. I think I will study the Swiss map, to better know the main towns and also the names of some villages in a couple of areas. I think it could be useful..."
"And the idea your brother helps the partisans?"
"Well, that Froebel who is dead, he really was with the partisans, and a German Swiss, what could be useful to partisans, besides shooting a rifle?"
"I really was scared... but it seems that he swallowed it."
"I feel a little like if I passed a test, even if he was just a farmer. I don't know if in front of more expert or more shrewd people, I would manage so well." Manfred hesitantly smiled.
They stopped near a stream to eat, and Manfred started to study their road map, memorizing the Cantons names, the main cities and rivers, then the names of smaller towns and villages around Zurich, and then around Locarno, towards Ascona. Then they resumed their walk. Simon, who always had an exceptional memory, along the way made him repeat them.
At evening, they looked for a good point to spend the night. Towards the low valley there were some farms and from the lights and the smoke of the chimneypots it was evident they were inhabited. It wan not the case to ask for hospitality. Weather was fine, they could also sleep in the open, they had just to find a good spot, from where they could see if somebody was approaching. What they mainly feared where the partisans groups who could be in that area. From what Charles said, it was unlike they could meet Germans. But also about that they could not be sure. And particularly Manfred was running risks to be eventually recognized by his compatriots as a German, in fact he would for sure be considered a deserter, as he abandoned also his dog-tags.
They found a place having the characteristics they were looking for, they sat to eat. Then Manfred wanted that Simon slept. He made him promise he would wake him up for the change, then lay down, his head on his man's lap, and fell asleep.
Manfred woke him up some hours later, kissing him.
"What a nice awakening..." Simon murmured pleased.
"Did you sleep enough?" Manfred solicitous asked.
"Yes, I feel energetic, enough to make love with you."
"Really?" Manfred asked with a pleased smile and slipping his hand under the trouser's slackened belt, to gently feel him: "Mmhhh, it really seems so..."
"But you, do you feel strong enough to take me?" Simon asked with a jokingly worried expression.
"Even if I weren't, you can give me that strength."
"How... so?" Simon asked opening Manfred fly and his cotton underpants button and rummaging inside them with his face until he could put his lips on the hardening rod.
"Oh yes... right so..." Manfred panted starting to undress his lover.
They made love with the usual passion and desire. Then happy, they took a position so that Manfred could sleep.
On the next day they resumed their journey. By mid morning the sky rapidly covered with clouds and around noon, started to rain cat and dogs. Not having a shelter, and being already completely soaked, they decided to continue with their march, even because the Franciscan Sisters convent had to be close by. They saw it almost at the last moment, as they toured the side of the hill. They approached slipping on the wet grass and reached its' door. They pulled the rope and rung the bell. In a while an elderly sister, thin and small, came to open. As she saw the two youths dripping wet, she made them enter immediately.
"Oh, poor things, aren't you soaked! How comes you are in these parts with this weather?"
"We will ask, if possible, hospitality for one night. We are going to Switzerland, and..." Simon said.
The sister looked at Manfred, then at Simon, and said: "Just wait a moment here, I go to call the Mother Superior." and she solicitous disappeared through a small door that she closed at her back.
After a while she was back with a middle age sister, tall and lean.
"Welcome. Oh, poor boys, aren't you soaked! Even if you had a change in your bags, it will be wet like the clothes you wear. And we have no men's clothing for you... You risk to catch something. Come in the kitchen, you can sit near the cookers."
She guided them through some corridors, they crossed a cloister, then in to the wide kitchen where the three sisters busying around the cookers.
"Sister Marie Claire, bring two chairs for our guests, please. And you, young men, it will be better if you pull off at least your shirts. Or rather, if you are not too ashamed... come here, I can give you for the moment two of out big aprons, so that you can pull of also your trousers... and the rest, so that they will dry faster." she said with a decided air.
She took them in a small room, gave them two of the wide, white aprons like those that were used by the sisters who were cooking, and left them alone. Simon and Manfred, following the Mother's advise, pulled off everything and slipped on the aprons.
"My god, how funny you are, Manfred!" Simon exclaimed bursting in laughter.
"Because you don't see yourself!" Manfred cheerfully retorted.
They went back to the kitchen, their wet clothes in their hands.
The Mother looked at them and smiled: "We can't really say you are elegant, anyway... give me, we will hang them to dry. So, you are trying to reach Switzerland, right?" the Mother said pouring wine in two glasses and offering them to the guests.
"Yes, Mother, he is Swiss and I accompany him..."
"Ah... a Swiss... Yes, he can also pass for a German Swiss... But you don't need to hide from us. We helped so many Hebrews, I can't see why we cannot now help also a German soldier. Whoever is hounded, in danger, will always find refuge, shelter and aid, at our place. For Our Lord, there is no Hebrew or German, but just his children. For sure you, young man, has written on your face you are a German, it will not be easy. There is still so much way to go, and the situation is terribly fluid in these days. You cannot know who is a friend and who an enemy..."
"Mother... it is true, I am a German soldier. Or better... I was..."
"And you decided you had enough of this war."
"Yes, Mother. All my comrades are dead, just I survived in this absurd war."
"All the wars are absurd, my boy, not just this one. Because they come with the thirst for power; because they push the brother to kill his brother. And you, my boy, what from are you escaping? You are French... were you compromised with the Germans, perhaps?"
"I... I was with the partisans, at a certain point. But... I simply met Manfred and decided to go with him to Switzerland. I don't think that... I mean, to me Manfred is before all a man, and I like him. When I was hungry he feed me, when I didn't have a job, he found me one, and a shelter. And now to me he is more than a brother. I am a foundling, Manfred became all my family."
"I see, boys, very well. Is evident that you love each other... it's evident from your eyes." the sister quietly said.
Simon blushed, thinking he went too far with his words, or possibly with his too passionate tone.
The sister smiled and said: "It is not to me to judge your relationship. Our Lord, He... He reads your hearts, before your deeds. And if He protected you so far... I will do all in my power to help you."
They stopped in the convent for the night. The Mother gave them a room on the guest quarters. All the rooms were free, and they were astounded that the Mother didn't put them in two different rooms, even if she clearly understood the nature of their relationship. They slept in each other's arms, even if they didn't make love, for an instinctive sense of reserve towards the place sheltering them.
The day after, they could wear their dried clothes. The Mother gave them a large breakfast.
Then she said: "Listen, if you continue by foot, it will take you several more days, especially as you have to avoid the most easy and frequented roads. I have an idea... You are so young, and if you carefully shave, if that isn't a problem for you... I think to go to the town to ask the Canon to lend us once again his car... You two can wear our habit and veil, you could so pass for two sisters. You will stay on the back seat, with me, and Sister Marie Blanche can drive and Sister Marie Catherine sit at her side. We will take you near the border. In less than one day, you can be in Switzerland. The only problem could be to cross the border, we can't help you with that, but we know a good point. What do you think?"
"You run a risk, to transport a deserted German - both the partisans and the Germans could be mad with you, if they discover me."
"We run thousand times this risk when we helped the Hebrews. To now, Our Lord always helped us. And anyway, both the partisans and the Germans are a little less diffident towards us poor sisters. We have now just to find the right size habits for you two. You, boy, must have the size of Sister Marie Justine, and you, young man, of Sister Marie Helene... Wait for me here."
"She seems a resolute woman, self-confident." Manfred said with an admiring tone.
"We are really lucky. Let's hope everything goes smoothly."
The Mother came back with a basket containing, nicely folded, religious habits.
"Be patient, my boys, but you have to let me and Sister Marie Noelle dress you. I don' think you will be able to wear in the proper way our habits. First of all shave carefully, and take care not to cut yourselves. Then take off everything but your underwear, and we two will dress you. Then it will be better if, for safety, you learn to move more like a sister... Come on, here you have warm water and soap. Do you have your razor?"
"Yes, Mother..." Manfred said.
They very carefully shaved, rinsed and dried. Then pulled off their clothes. Then the two sisters started to put on the habits. When all was over, the two lovers looked at each other - the transformation was prodigious, they really seemed two sisters! And in some ways, the forehead and side bands and the veils made more gentle Manfred's face, so that it also lessened the impression to see a German face.
"Well, it seems to me that you are perfect. Please choose also a sister's name, in case we have to call you in front of strangers. I'll go in town together with Sister Marie Blanche, with our bicycles, to fetch the car."