Part twenty-one: The Acolyte and the Fairy Boy.

Well my first thoughts are 'Wow.' And they are likely my first words too. I was hoping for this but sometimes hope is not enough.

Spencer looks so totally fuckable that my warnings of not pouncing are making a mockery of how I'm feeling. Damnit he looks fine. That hair of his which was dirty and probably had a myriad of creatures crawling through it is now shiny and clean. It's pulled back and tied in a pony tail – which shows me exactly how much it's grown – a small black ribbon hangs from it. He's got on a pair of black trousers, the sort which fasten at the side, on his hip. He's got on a white shirt done up with tiny white buttons; the shirt has no collar and he has no neck tie, but he does have suspenders on to hold up his fine, oh so damned fine trousers, which seem to be fitting in all of the right places in a way only a god could wear them. Over the top he has on a heavy black jacket which is strangely short and fitted and comes to just bellow his hips. He's got on a pair of heavy lace up boots and one of those flat topped wide brimmed hats in his hand. He's looking at me and grinning broadly.

Sam is wearing similar things to Spencer but his hat is already on his head. His shirt is done up tight to his neck and there's a small silver necklace hanging down over the pale pinkish coloured fabric of his shirt. He is looking at his hands and running his fingers over what look to be tattoos of some kind and as he turns to me I can see that he seems to be wearing a line of eye liner under his eyes. Both eyes. He seems to have grown it back again. At least for now. He's frowning at me and holding out his hands for me to see. My grin stays on my face as I glance between the two of them. Such fine young men to be travelling with! Oh so very wondrous! If the rest of this journey turns bad at least I have this memory.

I have a quick look down to see what I'm wearing. A heavy jacket almost the same as Spencer's but a bit longer. There is a double row of silver coloured buttons. My shirt is white the same as Spencer's is but I have something tied around my neck. A thick almost choking bit of black cloth which is edged in very fine silvery coloured thread. My trousers seems to be much the same as Spencer's which I judge is why he's looking at me with that lust in his eyes. I have a hat on my head and a bag in my hands. I also seem to have a knife on the belt I have around my waist. My own belt I see, but the words on the buckle have changed. I run my fingers over those words and keep the smile on my face. Not even the words "The One" will take that smile off my face.

Nothing much will.

Yet.

It's after I've given the other two a good once over that I notice that the chattering and splashing from the beach has stopped. I look over and see that everyone is standing watching us.

'Don't talk. Don't say a fucking word.' I mutter between my teeth. I reach out to clasp Spencer and Sam by their hands then decide that it might not be the best move to make. It's then that I realise that my arm and shoulder are fixed. Stay calm…concentrate; I know that I've been fixed up for a reason and I don't much like that idea at all. One person is striding towards us. A big man. He's got to be about six five and very big around his middle. His stomach is pressing against his shirt trying to escape. He walks in silence and we stand unmoving in equal silence. I can hear the birds. I can hear the sea and I can hear my heart thumping in my chest. I have no fucking idea what's going to happen. No idea at all.

When the bloke with an over red and sweaty face finally reaches us he falls to his knees, in what I thought at first was going to be a heart attack, and he starts to kiss my damned boots! The word fuck shouts out in my head. This seems to be getting worse and yet more interesting. He then moves back slightly and stands with his face looking at his own boots.

'Thank you. Thank you my lord for joining us. We have been awaiting your arrival. I hope that this appearance of frivolity has not offended you.'

'It's not offended me.' I say back in slow careful words avoiding the use of the words fuck, sod, bastard and shit. I draw in a deep breath and wonder what the hell they've been waiting for and what I've got in the bag which I've slung over my shoulder.

'You are too gracious my lord. We are honoured that you brought with you your young acolyte and the fairy boy.' His eyes drift to Sam when he says that and Sam, wonders of wonders keeps his mouth shut and his expression blank. Spencer I see if biting down on his bottom lip.

'I thought that they would like the experience.'

The man looks up but seems to avoid eye contact. 'If you would like to follow me my lord. The meeting place is but a short walk over towards the rocks. We have found it more satisfying when the blood doesn't seep away into the sand.'

'Indeed.' I mutter and place my fingers lightly on the hilt of the knife I am carrying. I want to ask what fucking blood? Whose blood? When? Why? How? But I don't. I give Spencer a small nod and give my Fairy Boy a raised eyebrow which he returns and then we walk down the beach towards an out cropping of grey rocks.

We walk in silence side by side with this bloke who didn't introduce himself to us. I wonder if I'm meant to know who the hell he is. If it's not polite for him to introduce himself? Should I have asked? Who gives a fuck? I'm more concerned right now about this blood and whose it's going to be, cos if it's my blood or the blood of Spence or Sam then there is going to be a battle on my hands. And I'm armed. I want to let out a snort of laughter but manage to keep it down. I can hear the pattering of feet behind me. Distant enough for it not to feel like they're going to jump us, but close enough for me to hear that there is still no chatter going on. There is the occasional noise from what I think is likely a child, but that's all. It's strange and though they seem to have accepted our sudden appearance it feels a very long way from friendly. Looking back at where the black line had been and the forest beyond is now just cliff face. No escape back that way just as I had thought.

'We are nearly there' The big bloke informs me.

'We have come a long way.' I say and the man stops and turns to face but still avoids eye contact.

'I am so sorry. Please forgive my ignorance. Is there anything you need?'

'I will admit that I am feeling slightly hungry.' I say. I am being so very careful. Every word uttered I consider before saying. Every sentence carefully mapped out in my head first.

'Ah then you will be pleased to know that they have cooked up a supper for you my lord. Nothing fancy I fear. We are not fancy people. I hope that it will satisfy you.'

'I am sure it will be fine.' I tell him and the look on his face changes from a sickly hero worship kind of look to one of fear.

'I will have the women beaten if it does not suit you or your….' He doesn't finish.

'Good.' I tell him and then indicate that we should keep walking. They are afraid of me. This is a good start I think. I don't know how Spencer and Sam are going to react but I just hope that they'll play along too.

-o-o-o-

Acolyte. I don't know what I'm an acolyte of but I can play along for now. My best bet is to just stay silent. I don't want my accent or word formation to alarm them or cause a problem. Also there is the matter that no one but this one person has addressed us so far and he's not talking to me. Yes, keeping silent is possibly the best thing to do. I've noted the way Sam is dressed and tattooed and has a smear of eyeliner under his eyes and without asking and lacking a mirror I'm unable to tell if I am too, but I don't have tattoos and so I am rather hoping that I am lacking eye makeup too. Sam looks decidedly uncomfortable about all of this and I'm rather glad that I wasn't the Fairy Boy. Being the acolyte is something I can deal with a lot better. What I'm unsure of is what sort of Fairy they think Sam is and how this is going to play out.

We are directed to something which seems to have been prepared a long time ago. There is a small circle of coloured tents. One or two man tents in different striped colours. Red and green, and blue and yellow and so on; I count fifteen of them in all perched up here on the rocks. The people who were already here have been tending a fire and there is a strong smell of cooking. My stomach rumbles in anticipation, but my mind is telling me not to eat anything that these strange people offer me. Then again it would likely be to our detriment if I didn't follow what Floyd does. I have no idea if he knows what's going on here, but by that look on his face I think he has no more idea than I do.

They silently show us where to sit. I am next to Floyd, on his right hand side, but Sam has been shown a place to sit on the other side of the fire which is blazing and crackling and letting off a small amount of smoke.

'He can sit to my left.' Floyd tells them as Sam slowly starts to follow the tall fat guy. Sam stops and turns back to look at Floyd. Still he has stayed silent. The big guy looks like he wants to say something; to correct Floyd on his error, but he doesn't. He gives Floyd a nod and walks back to where the two of us are seated. 'I like to keep an eye on him.' Floyd says and I'm sure he does. Sam is looking good and if I didn't know better I'd be eyeing him up. Still the place where he is shown to sit is further away from Floyd than I am and I can see this bothers Floyd as much as it's bothering Sam who is now sitting crossed legged and inspecting his fingernails. Two women now arrive with bowls and platters in their hands. A bowl is handed to Floyd and he nods a Thank you but doesn't speak. They hand me a wedge of bread made from roughly milled flour and Sam gets nothing. Floyd looks between the two of us and the women put on worried faces.

'We assumed that the Fairy Boy wouldn't eat.' One of them says in a startled high pitched terrified voice.

'You assumed correctly.' Floyd tells them. 'I'll have some bread though if that's not too much trouble.'

'My lord, not too much trouble at all.' And the bread is snatched from my hands and taken to Floyd.

'My acolyte will need food though.' And I see Floyd's fingers move with caution over the hilt of his knife. They jump back startled and give a deep strange curtsy.

'My lord please forgive us.'

He waves a hand to dismiss them and then looks over at Sam. 'Move closer boy.' He tells him and again the shocked scared looks on the faces of these people show me that this isn't the normal thing to do. Floyd pulls a hunk off his bread and passes it to Sam. 'With much caution I am trusting you.' He tells him. I cant see the expression on Sam's face from where I am sitting but I am distracted by that when a young woman kneels before me and lightly touches my boots with her finger tips.

'I am so sorry for any mistakes we are making. We are simply following the guidelines from the Old Book.' She passes up a lump of bread for me. As rough and dull in colour as the one taken from me; it's grey and dense and not made with their best flour I am sure of it. The smell of the food Floyd is eating with his finger tips is making my stomach rumble horribly and I'm sure that this young woman can hear that. She's stayed on her knees in front of me expecting me to say something or do something to allow her to leave again but I don't know what I'm meant to do or say!

'Go woman. We need to converse and not have some silly female listening in.' Floyd snaps and she bounces back out of the way quicker than a flea. Everyone moves back. They are watching us closely though. 'Boys,' Floyd then says. 'I think it best you two stay as silent as you have been. Sam I'm not sure what they think you are but I need you to play along with it. As soon as we can we'll be out of here. Just let me do the talking. They're scared shitless of us. I don't think we are in danger. Not yet anyway.'

I nod and look down at my bit of bread and Sam lets out a miserable sounding sigh.

'Hold yourself together Fairy Boy.' Floyd hisses over at Sam who's started looking more and more miserable. 'And I might advise you not to rub at your eyes, in case you were thinking to, you'll smudge your makeup.'

Sam's head snaps around to look at Floyd. 'What makeup? What the hell have I got on my face?'

'Hush. Stay silent. Just a touch of eyeliner is all. Now go back to keeping your mouth shut. I don't want to have to explain you any more than I need.' And he goes back to eating what smells wonderfully like chilli.

I nibble at my bread and Sam just keeps his in his hand and turns it over and over just looking down at it. My hunk of bread tastes quite revolting, but I think what Floyd has in his bowl is somewhat more tasty judging by the way he's devouring it. Occasionally he dips in his bread and sucks off some juice and all his attention is on that food and this is worrying me a bit. Is it drugged in some way? What exactly is it he's eating with so much delight? I want to ask him, but he's told us to stay silent and so I do as instructed. For now I do anyway. Let him take the lead and hope he knows what he's doing.

-o-o-o-

Fairy Boy indeed. Fucking fairy boy. Wonderful. And all I get is this tiny bit of shit to eat and I'm suddenly not hungry at all. I watch dad out of the corner of my eye and then look down at my hands again. The tattoos are patterns; swirling circles and shit and they don't even start to remind me of anything. I pull off my jacket to see it they are going up my arms as well, but they don't. They seem to stop at my wrists which is good I suppose. Maybe good? I don't really know. I'm just thankful that they're not all over my bloody face as well. The sleeves of my shirt are baggy with deep cuffs with little pink buttons on them. Why pink? Why did I have to have a fucking pink shirt when everyone else is in white? The only other colour in this place is on the tents. Even the bread stuff is the colour of shit and I'm not going to eat it. I put it down in front of me and give my fingernails and good inspection. They had been ragged and broken back in the jungle but now they're long and sharp and a bit pointy. Dad might well have a knife at his belt, but I think I have weapons just as good here attached to the end of my fingers. I scratch lightly with them over the back of my hand to see if this ink crap will come off, but it doesn't. Of course it bloody well doesn't. I then let my mind go inside myself and I attempt to locate the things which have been living inside me causing trouble when they feel like it, but they seem to either be sleeping or maybe even be gone? That would be a minor miracle but it's worth thinking about. Something to feel moderately happy about maybe? As I sit here in my miserable funk someone comes along and removes the bit of bread I put down. I don't get anyone kneeling at my damned feet. They just take it, or rather snatch it out of the way and throw it onto the fire. Fine. I didn't want it anyway. Fuckers. I try now to give dad a small blast of thought, but there's nothing there. Just static. Either he's closed down or there's something here preventing communication in that form. I give up when it starts to give me a headache and I'm about to rub at my eyes when I remember I have sodding eyeliner on so my fingers go to my temples and rub away there. I'd rather rub away at something else but dad gave strict instructions to keep my hands away from there and so I place my hands in my lap and give myself just a tiny feel and then put my hands on my knees. Temptation being just a bit to great right now. Masturbation is a great stress reliever, well for me it is anyway.

When I look back round to dad I see that his bowl has gone and he's rubbing at his messy fingers with a white bit of cloth. I don't know if it was given to him or if he had it in his bag. I didn't see anyone come take his bowl but then I didn't see him go a rummaging in his bag either. My mind was someplace else for a while there.

Now someone is kneeling in front of dad again and talking to him.

'It is nearly time my lord. Do you wish to freshen up first?'

He gives the man a nod and jumps to his feet. 'Yes. Freshening up would be good.' He looks over at Spencer who also stands and then at me, but something tells me that I should stay right where I am. 'Get up and come with me boy.' Dad says to me with a frown drifting quickly over his face. 'Now.' He snaps. I don't know if he's really pissed off with me or if this is all for show and I'm not going to risk it and so I stand and pick up my jacket and wipe at my arse of my trousers with my hand to remove any bits which might have got stuck there. The big guy gives dad a funny look again. I'm sure that he's not following the rules that he should be, but they don't say anything and lead the three of us towards a slightly bigger sized tent in the delightful colour of mud brown and dark green. The bloke pulls open the front flaps of the tent and dad goes in first then me and Spencer follows behind. Once inside with the flaps back down we have a quick look around. There is a bucket in the corner, probably to piss in and there's a small table with a bowl of water and that's about it. Dad sits down and puts his bag on his lap. 'Take a piss if you need. Take a shit if you need. But get it over with quickly. I don't know how much time we have and I don't like the way things are going here. We might have to make a run for it.'

But neither of us feel like emptying any parts of ourselves right now. Spencer prods the water with his finger and shrugs and then sits down in front of dad. I sit next to him and we watch as he slowly empties his bag.

'A big pebble.' Dad says. 'Now what the fuck do I need that for? Tobacco…my lighter, another knife.' This one is smaller than the eight inch or so one he has on his belt. 'A bit of bone…interesting.' He passes the bone to Spencer to look at.

'Human rib bone?' he asks.

'Looks like it.' Dad says and takes it back again. 'Looks like teeth marks in it too.' He puts it back in his bag. 'Look boys, this really doesn't look good. Sam I need you especially to take care. Spencer just stay by me and keep quiet and follow my lead. If my lead seems to be taking us into further shit just trust me. I need you to trust me. Sam put your jacket back on and show me that chain you have around your neck.'

I Pull the chain off over my head and pass it to him. There is a small medallion on it and it's this that dad is inspecting.

'I don't like this.' Dad announces and plops the thing back in my hand, 'but keep it on for now.'

We wait a further five minutes or so and then dad gets to his feet and swings the bag over his shoulder. 'Well something is going to happen. Let's go see what it is.' And he's opening up the tent flaps and we walk out into a circle of people looking at us with curiosity. They are lined up male, female and not quite touching each other. There are no children around now which is in some manners good and then again not so good. Dad glances around the circle of people until he sees the big guy and that's where his eyes settle. He scratches at his ear and nods towards him. It's all the guy needs and he's walking quickly over to us.

'Thank you for your hospitality.' Dad says. I don't know if I've ever heard him say so many words in such a polite manner and with no foul language before. 'I need to be sure that you know exactly what will happen next.'

'We are ready my lord.'

'I know. I am sure you are, but times change you see and already we have seen that some of the words from the book are maybe not followed quite as tightly and so I'd like to make sure that you have everything prepared as I would like it and that there are no more surprises or mistakes and so please if you don't mind, you will tell me of the arrangements which have been made.' His voice sounds hard and uncompromising. I hear the man take a deep breath and he takes a step back.

'It is not customary to do so my lord, but if that is your wish.' He's looking nervous. Very nervous.

'It is my wish. Now get on with it. You are wasting my time.'

'The sacrifice is ready. She has been cleansed according to the traditional ways. I will escort you to the cleaving stone where you will deflower her and then give her blood to the gods. We will then balance the act by taking the Fairy Boy and spilling his blood over that of our cleansed one. You will devour the parts necessary and will leave. Your acolyte will stay with us until the twentieth day after which we shall bleed him and use his blood on the crops to bring us luck for the following seasons.'

'Ah.' Dad says. 'I think we need to make some amendments to the plan because you see that is not going to work well for me. So if we could have a meeting about this first?'

There is silence. Total and absolute. And yeah, amendments would be good, cos I'm not going to be fucked then killed because a load of loons think it will be good for their fucking crops! I see that Spencer too is probably thinking the same thing.

'But that is the way it is always done my lord. I don't see how there can be a change.'

'A little less of the blood.' Dad says. 'A little more of me telling you that it's not going to happen like that. Does that make sense to you?'

'We need the blood of the cleansed one. We need the blood of the Fairy Boy! Why else would you bring them with you? Why else would we have been waiting so long for your arrival?'

'No clue mate, but you're not going to slaughter my buddies here. You understand me? You want me to kill your sacrifice then sure I'll go for that part of the plan, but the bit where you want my boys is just not going happen. We arrive as three and we leave as three. I'm sure that must be written down somewhere and how long have you been waiting for us anyway?'

The big guy is looking flustered but he's not over with arguing yet. 'This is the only way! It has to been done like this or the gods will pour acid on us and deform our offspring. The gods will curse us again if we don't do this. We have been waiting for you for nine generations my lord.'

'Nine? Out here on the beach for nine generations? No wonder you don't know what you're meant to be doing anymore. The ways have changed. It's not going to happen. If you don't like what I say then move away and let us go. If you are happy for the blood to be spilt in a more symbolic manner then we can carry on. You are not going to have my boys.'

Again silence.

'I will have to talk to the other elders about this. I have no authority to change things.'

Dad steps forwards towards the man and leans in to talk directly into his ear. 'Then get the authority to change things, because you're not and I'm not going to carry on with this stupidity until you have.' And he steps back again.

'You will still sacrifice the cleansed one?'

'I said I would. Go sort things out. Quickly. You are not the only people I have to see. I need to travel onwards as soon as I can. Go, get out of here. Leave me and my boys in peace damn you!' And he's shouting at them and some of the women are crying and some of the men are white faced and in shock and some are red faced and angry. Dad turns his back on them and looks at me and Spencer. 'And when I say run…you fucking run…away from the damned beach…get up over those rocks and make like the hounds of hell are snapping at your butts, cos I think they actually are.'

'You know what's going on?' Spencer talks in hushed tones with wide eyes.

'Yes, I know what's going on and we might be able to compromise and we might have to run, but I'm not going to let them hurt either of you. I erm, well I might have to kill someone. But remember that this stuff is not real as we see it. Remember that. This is just part of the test as the land mine was and the thing which bit Spencer. It's going to be fine as long as we keep our heads. I mean that literally Sam.' Now he's looking at Spencer. 'I have no intention of leaving you here with them. No worries. OK boys? All set? Follow my lead. Keep quite. Don't run unless I'm shouting at you to run and keep off the beach and go up the rocks. Sam get rid of the fucking necklace. Keep it in a pocket or something.' Now he turns around to face the people. 'Stand behind me.' He mutters.

-o-o-o-

The birds are circling again and crying out at us. The sea seems to have lost its sound but I can still smell that strong salty smell. Floyd looks unhappy about all of this. Things seem to have gone from pretty bad to even worse in hardly any time at all and all we can do now is wait and hope that the compromise of no killing is accepted. How long we stand and wait I don't know. It's hard to tell and the sun is unfamiliar and too big there in the sky. It's not possible to use it as a guide to how long time has passed, but it's time enough for Floyd to quickly turn to me. I see how his usual pale skin seems almost transparent. There is sweat running down the side of his face and his breaths are shallow. One of his hands rests on his stomach. 'I've been poisoned.' His voice is trembling slightly. 'We will have to run and I may fall back behind you, but just keep going.'

'The food?'

He shrugs. 'Does it matter how? Just keep running. Don't mind what happens to me.'

'I cant leave you.' My own voice seems to have a slight panicked tone to it.

'No, you will. If it comes to it you will leave me. Understand this, I've not gone through all this shit to lose you now. Do you both understand? When I give the signal you will go.'

'Dad?'

'No! Sam you will leave with Spencer. No arguments on this. I'll be OK.' But I can see he is far from OK. He's swaying slightly and he seems to be having trouble keeping his eyes open. I want to go to him and hold him. I want to tell him I will never leave him. I want to smell that wonderful smell he always has drifting from him. I want, no need to be at his side to protect him from whatever is going to happen because I'm sure he'll be unable to protect himself. I don't want this to be the end. This cannot be the end…not here on some strange rock in some strange world with a sun which I cant tell the time from. It's not meant to end like this. But I know I cant go to him. He needs to look strong to these people and not have his acolyte holding him up and tasting his skin between his lips…however much that acolyte may want to be doing that. 'It's OK Babes. It's not the end. I can at least promise you that.' And a bead of sweat runs down to his chin and drips off landing on the toe of his boots.

'We are here.' A voice suddenly booms and Floyd slowly turns around.