THE  HAPPY  WANDERER – V
 

 PYRAMIDS, TEMPLES, and TOMBS

Original © 2006

Revised © 2008

BY:  GERRY YOUNG

[To Drew in Yorkshire, England, my LOVE and THANKS for all the hours he has spent working and re-working the grammar, punctuation, and points-of-view, particularly making me aware that once or twice or thrice again, I’ve gotten into some character’s head, other than Gerry’s, when I oughtn’t to have done so;  perhaps … SOMEDAY … I’ll learn.  Perhaps!]

CHAPTER  THREE

Ted began, “That’s the same guy that …”

“… heard everything in the Men’s Room,” Gerry finished.  They were both nodding their heads up and down in unison.

He spoke with eloquence, but Ted and Gerry heard not a word, enraptured with the being’s persona.  His movements in pointing out and demonstrating the aircraft’s safety features were as fluid as those of a devotee of Tai Chi’s beautiful morning exercises.

Gerry had never been so curiously drawn to another … particularly at first contact, and he supposed that neither had Ted.  First contact!  Hmmmmm they made the sound together, turning their heads, gazing at each other with frowned ponderance on their faces;  gazing, but not seeing, oblivious to one another for the first time in their four months together.  First contact?  No.  This was the second contact.  No matter.  This was the day of first contact.  The continuation of … something!

Slowly their attention was drawn back to his melodic voice.  Is there a male counter-part to the enchanting sirens of Ancient Greek mythology?  Surely, if so there be, they and all the other passengers were rapt in the company of this young god.

There was a softness about him, but in no way at all was he effeminate.  Shirley MacLaine and Jane Fonda would say that he was happily balanced, and neither afraid nor ashamed of showing his feminine side.

His eyes met theirs and remained fixed on them, as he continued his obligatory schpiel.  A broader smile crossed his pale pink lips, and a lingering wink was sent from him to Ted and Gerry.  More than just a few of the passengers turned to find the object/s of his attention.

“… and if you require any assistance at all, please do not hesitate to press the call-button above you, on the underside of the overhead storage compartments;  that’s what we’re here for … to make your trip a pleasant one.  And now, please remain seated until we reach cruising altitude – the Seat Belt Sign will then be turned off.”

Once again, he closed his eyes before graciously bowing to everyone.  He and the other Flight Attendants then dispersed to their separate and individual jump-seats.

As he walked down the aisle toward the rear of the cabin, he stopped at seat 28-B, reached out and shook, first, Gerry’s hand and then Ted’s.  “Good morning, again, gentlemen.”

“Good morning to you, Y’An,” they said, once again, together, as in one voice.

“This is a surprise – a very pleasant surprise, I must say,” Y’An replied to their greeting.  “But please excuse me;  I must go to my seat for only a few more moments until we reach cruising altitude.  I’d like to talk with you both for a while.”

As he excused himself, he continued back past the Galley and the Heads to his own jump-seat.

“I gotta strange feeling about him, Ted.  Why would he wanna talk with us?”

“Beats me.  I don’t think we have anything to worry about, though.  He certainly didn’t seem like a basher when we first met him.  And I don’t think he’s any threat to us.”

Gerry had to agree with Ted’s way of thinking.

The lights blinked again, the jets roared, and the sudden acceleration forced Ted and all the other passengers deeper into their seats.  His gripping of the arms of the seat was not so knuckle-whitening as it had been only a mere two hours before.  He expected the sensation of being pushed back this time.

The plane steeply climbed westward, away from Los Angeles and out over the Pacific.  Continuing its climb, it slowly banked to the right and was soon, once more, over land.

About fifteen minutes later, the Captain announced over the intercom, “Ladies and Gentlemen, if you’ll look out the windows, you’ll be able to see the Colorado River separating California and Arizona.  We’ve just reached our cruising altitude of 38,000 feet, the sky is clear, and we should not experience any turbulence for the next three hours or so.  Feel free to move about the cabin, but we do ask that when seated, you keep your Seat Belts fastened.  Enjoy your flight.” 

At that, there was an electronic “Ding” as the ‘Fasten Seat Belts’ sign was extinguished.

Almost immediately, the Flight Attendants began serving lunch.  Y’An stopped by again and explained to Gerry and Ted that as soon as everyone was settled after lunch, he’d have time to talk for a while. 

That strange … something ... about him, continued to pique their curiosity.  Ted motioned for Gerry to lean closer, and, shoulders touching, they talked just above a whisper.

“Honey?” Ted asked.

“Yeah, babe?”

“You know I love ya, don’tcha?”

“Yeah … sooooo …?  What’sa matter?”

“Oh, I don’t know.  It’s that … Y’An guy.  It’s strange.  He’s strange, and something’s happening.  I don’t know what it is, but every time I look at him, I get a weird, tingly feeling all over.  And when he walks past, I can smell him!  He’s intoxicating!  At least I think it’s him.  And … uhhh … “

“What, Babe?” asked Gerry.  “What’re ya trying to say?”

“Promise you won’t get mad at me, Ger;  I just wanna be truthful with ya.”

Hearing that, Gerry said, “I think I know what you’re gonna say, so just go ahead an’ say it.”

“You think ya know what I’m gonna say, huh?”  There was surprise and a little fear in Ted’s voice.

“Yeah, I think so, Hon,” Gerry answered and waited;  nothing else was immediately forthcoming, so he continued.  “Okay … I’ll say it.  I think you’re trying to tell me that whenever he’s around, you’re gettin’ what I’m gettin’ – a hardon!  Right?”

Ted put his hand on Gerry’s thigh and squeezed.  “Yeah!  You, too?”

Gerry nodded in agreement as he put his hand on Ted’s leg and patted an It’s O.K.

A pretty little Flight Attendant whose name tag read ‘Diane,’ lowered the dining trays from the seats in front of them, handed them their lunches. Is THAT what it is? Gerry wondered.  She filled their drink orders – black coffee for Gerry and 7-Up for Ted.

After she turned to the people on the other side of the aisle, Ted continued.  “And something else, Ger …”

“I’m listening.”

“… I … uhhh … I’m uhhh …” he hemmed and hawed.

They nibbled at their food as they talked.

“Just say it, Luv.”  Gerry turned in his seat and Ted turned to face him.  Their hands touched, and together, lingered on the arm rest between the two seats.

Ted looked around to see if anyone was within hearing range;  then, just above a whisper, said, “I feel like … well … I feel like … like I HAVE to have sex with him.”  There!  He finally said it.  The dam had broken and the words poured forth.  “I know I promised you that I’d never want to have sex with another guy … with anyone else … but … but … but I just can’t help myself!”

He was about to rush on with something else, but Gerry put a finger over Ted’s lips as he shushed him.  “Shhhhhhh … I’ve got a confession, too, Babe.”  A questioning frown crossed Ted’s brow as Gerry continued.  “I’m feeling the same way.”

“Really???” Ted asked aloud, then gulped at his mistake.  Whispering again, he continued, “You mean you’re…”

“Yeah,” Gerry interrupted;  “I am, and I don’t understand it either.  But it’s good that we’re talking about it.  Good to get it out in the open.”

After the preceding several tense moments, Ted took a slow, deep breath and relaxed back into his seat.  Gerry, however, remained turned toward him and said, “Tell me … when Y’An walks by … what do you smell?”

Ted beathed in deeply, probably trying to recall the scent.  “Sorta like a mixture of cinnamon … musk … and cloves.  Yeah!  But very, very faint.  You???”

“Well … musk … yeah;  the musk … and … uhhh … the … the uhhh … the incense the Priests use in church … what is it?”  Gerry nervously scratched above his right eyebrow.

“Frankincense?”

“Yes!  Frankincense – that’s it!”  Gerry then took a slow, deep breath and relaxed back into his seat.  He thought for a couple moments, then quickly turned his head to Ted and said, “We’re both aware of a fragrance, an odor, when Y’An is near us, and even though they’re similar, they’re not the same.  I think we’re being stimulated by his pheromones;  and your reception is as unique to you as mine is to me.”

“What was that … uhhh … ‘pharaoh’ …?”

“ ‘PHER-o-mones,’ “ Gerry explained;  “… chemicals that a body gives off to sexually attract someone else.  Now we both agree that he exudes sex, but what it really is, I think, is his own body’s hormones.  I know I’m being clinical about this, but it does stand to reason, considering the commitments we’ve made to each other, Luv.”

Ted squeezed Gerry’s hands tightly and said, “Thanks for understanding, Lover Boy, but where did you learn all that from?”

“You remember I told you that I used to be a Surgical Technician?”  Ted nodded in the affirmative while Gerry went on.  “I learned about pheromones in training, and more about them in the AMA Journals and medical dictionaries.

“Wow!  You ain’t as dumb as you look, Sweetheart!” he teased.

Gerry glared at him as if in anger, balled up his fist, and then quickly but gently gave him a love-tap in his right shoulder.

“Ouch!  Stop that, you nasty ol’ beast!” Ted said in a high-pitched little girl’s voice.

Caught up in conversation while picking at their food, Ted and Gerry were not even aware that Diane was speaking to them.  She cleared her throat and said, “Excuse me, Sirs.”

Immediately, Ted looked up at her, turning beet-red from embarrassment.

“Have you finished with your lunch?  Or would you like for me to come back later for the trays?”

Ted quickly looked away and out the window to his left.

“Oh … oh, yes, Diane, I’m sorry;  yes, I’m finished, thank you,” Gerry answered, then turned and asked, “Ted?  You finished?”

Without turning back, Ted gave a little dismissive wave as he replied, “Yeah, yeah;  I’m finished, too.” 

Gerry then handed Ted’s tray to Diane – it had hardly been touched.  As she put it back into the dinner-cart, Ted turned and, in a much deeper voice, asked, “Could I have another 7-Up, please?”

“And another cup of coffee, if you don’t mind?” Gerry added.

““Of course, Sirs.  Right away.”  With a smile, she winked at Ted (he blushed) and went back to the galley. 

When she was out of ear-shot, Gerry teased, “I think she likes you.”

“I don’t think that’s why she winked.  I think it’s ‘cause of the nellie voice I used.”

Gerry chuckled.

Returning, Diane announced, “Here you are, Sirs.”  She handed them their beverages, and then, pointing to the two overhead movie screens which had just lowered automatically from the center ceiling, she asked, “Are either of you interested in watching the ‘never-before-seen’ movie, ‘It’s A Wonderful Life’?”

“You gotta be joking!” Shaking their heads, they both answered, once again in unison, then Gerry continued, “That’s the most watched holiday movie ever!”

“All right, then,” she laughed.  “Just ring …” she pointed to the overhead button, “… if there’s anything you need.”  They nodded as she walked toward the front of the cabin.

The cabin lights dimmed;  most of the individual reading lights were extinguished;  nearly all the window shades had been lowered, thereby blocking sunlight from entering;  and the cabin became aglow with the opening scenes of the movie.

“Not going to be watching the movie, Mr. Young and Mr. Young?” asked a soft but slightly familiar voice from the aisle. 

Stirrings immediately arose within the two crotches as both Ted and Gerry inhaled deeply of Y’An’s faint but stimulating ectohormonal influence.  Ted’s right hand and Gerry’s left, joined together, and their heads slowly turned to Y’An.  They both had smiles on their faces.

“No,” Gerry answered;  “both of us have seen it too many times, already.”

“In that case, my friends, would you care to join me in the Crew’s Lounge?  All the other Attendants are up front, and we’ll have the facilities to ourselves.”

Gerry turned back to Ted, they looked into each other’s eyes silently asking the question, nodded in agreement, and Gerry turned back and said, “We’d love to.”  They retrieved their beverages and returned the dining trays to their upright positions.

Y’An led the way, and Ted and Gerry followed.  Followed, that is, as well with their eyes feasting on his tightly uniformed butt, as with their feet – past the rear galley, past the doors to the six tiny restrooms, and through the center rear portal which looked no different than any of the other six doors.

Inside the small (but not tiny) room were two cots, one on either side of the room.  At the back of the lounge was a semi-circular banquette-style booth with table for four.

Y’An extended his hands toward the banquette, offering them seats, and asked, “I notice you’ve brought your glass and your cup.  May I freshen your drinks, or would you care, perhaps, for a cocktail, some wine, a beer, something non-alcoholic?”  They both shook their heads.

“No, thanks.  I’m fine,” said Ted.

“Me, too, but thanks anyway,” added Gerry.

Ted slid around to the back of the banquette, and Gerry sat to his left, while Y’An sat to his right.  “Ahhh, this is much more comfortable than those coach seats, Y’An.  Thanks for the invite,” said Ted.

“That is, indeed, my sincerest pleasure.”  Then he looked at Gerry and asked, “You are …?”

“Gerry.”

“Ahhh, yes;  and you must be … Theodore!”

“That’s right, Y’An, but please … call me 'Ted',” he answered, insinuating his nick-name.

“But if I may be so bold … may I ask a personal question?” Gerry asked.

Ted shot his lover a look of surprise!

“But, of course, Gerry.  Please …  ask!  I am an open book to either of you.”

“Thank you.  I’m curious … the spelling and pronunciation of your first name, I can’t figure it out – the Captain pronounced it as the British ‘Ian’, but on your name-tag, it’s spelled as if it were Chinese;  and of course, your surname is Danish, is it not?”

“Yes, it is Danish, though I claim to be half-Scandinavian, instead.  My father is Danish, but his ancestors are a smorgasbord of Danish, Swedish, Norwegian, Finnish, and Icelandic bloods.

“Very interesting,” Gerry and Ted both commented.  “And the name ‘Y’An’?” Ted then asked.

“Yes;  you see … on my Certificate of Birth, my first name is shown as ‘J-a-n’;  in the Scandinavian languages, the ‘J-A’ is pronounced ‘yah’ and with the ‘n’, it becomes ‘Yahn’.  I know this seems complicated, but with my father being the Danish Ambassador to Nepal, the Nepali could more easily pronounce my name if I spelled it ‘Y-apostrophe-a-n’.”

“I see,” replied Gerry, who then cleared his throat.  “And what about your mother … if I may ask?”

“Ahhh, yes.  My dearly departed mother … she was Yevistani.”

“Yevistani?” both Ted and Gerry questioned, drawing their chins back and frowning.  Then Gerry added, “I’ve never heard of that.”

“Few people have,” Y’An responded.  “Like Vatican City which is entirely surrounded by the city of Rome;  and San Marino which is surrounded by Italy;  Liechtenstein – surrounded by Switzerland and Austria;  and Andorra which is on the border between France and Spain, Yevistan is a fifty-two square mile microstate/principality on the border between Nepal and Sikkim, and not so very far from Lhasa, Thibet.

“Oh, I’m sorry,” Gerry interjected.  “We should have offered our condolences for the loss of your dear mother.”

“That’s all right, Gerry … Ted.  I never knew her – she died soon after giving birth to me.  At the time, our medical facilities were quite meager.  I understand it was a difficult birth for her – and she was only nineteen at the time.”  He held up his hands silencing their forthcoming remarks.  “That’s all right – what I never knew, I don’t miss.  My father, though, has given me the world.

“When I was very small, he hired a tutor for me, teaching me the heritage my mother would have taught me.  He even had me circumcised according to the local traditions of Yevistan, though he, himself, was never circumcised.  It was my mother’s wish just before she entered Shamballah.”

“Shamballah?” they again asked in unison.

“Long story.  Perhaps, if Lady Destiny is kind to us, I shall be able to share what little I know about it with you.  It would be my great pleasure.”

Ted and Gerry smiled at each other, and it appeared that there was some silent communication between them.

Ted then asked, “Just out of curiosity, Y’An … what nationality are you?”

“You’ve heard of dual-citizenship?”

They both nodded.

“Well … I have TRIPLE-citizenship.  I’m Danish by my father, Nepali by naturalization, and Yevi by my mother’s blood.”

“Wow!” was all that Ted had to say while Gerry only smiled.  But then Ted added, “One of a kind.”

“Yes.  But enough about me.  I must do at least a quick ‘walk-about’ through the cabin soon, to check on the passengers.”  He checked the watch on his left wrist.  “But … uhhh … tell me about yourselves, please.  After what I heard earlier today in LAX … in the Men’s
Room! … I take it that you are not just 'brothers,' but I would venture to say that you are a ‘team’, a ‘couple’, ‘partners’, even … ‘lovers’ if I dare to ask?”  He gazed at them with that I’ve got your number look.

They looked at each other, smiled, joined hands once again, and Ted leaned into Gerry and tenderly kissed him on the lips.  “Yes, we are, Y’An – all the above,” answered Ted.

Questions were asked;  answers given.  Answers regarding how they met, how long they’d been together, the Commitment Ceremony in Joshua Tree, and the legal change of Ted’ last name, at which point, Y’An looked ever-so-pleasantly shocked – as if a lightbulb had suddenly been turned on, inside his head. 

When  questioned about his expression, he only replied, “That’s a wonderful idea.” 

Y’An slid out of the banquette, stood up and said, “I must do my ‘walk-about’.  But first, if I may, I’d like to do a group hug, if that would be all right?”

They smiled and nodded;  he extended his arms toward both, inviting them to join him in the center of the small room.

They slid out of the banquette and walked the couple of steps toward him, and then each man had an arm around each of the other two men.  Y’An said to them, “I am so happy for you.  May I give you a small gift of myself?”

Ted and Gerry looked at each other, smiled, and breathed deeply, knowing that they were both consciously inhaling more of Y’An’s sexy little pheromones.  They looked back at him and smiled.

Y’An put his right hand on the back of Gerry’s head, and his left hand on the back of Ted’s head, and slowly, with his own, gently brought the three sets of lips together.  After a tender moment, Y’An’s hot, moist tongue left the confines of his own mouth, and teased at the entrances of their mouths.  Tongues joined tongues, passions were building, cocks were beginning to strain within the confines of clothing, hands were sliding down backs to grab the clothed, tight flexing buttock cheeks … and then Y’An backed away.

“I simply must do my ‘walk-about’ now.  But I might have another gift for you.”

They looked at him with inaudible questions scored across their faces.

“Are either of you a member of TMHC?”

“TMHC?  What’s that?” queried Ted.

“The Mile High Club,” replied Y’An, with a mischievous grin.

To be continued...

<><><> 

Comments welcome, please drop the author a note: 

Posted: 05/23/08