Book 6, The China Expedition
Chapter 95, Part 1
 Do we know where it was
going?”
“No. There was no destination ticket or papers on it. But maybe the conductor
knows. Or, maybe he has the ticket for it. One must buy a train ticket the same for a
casket as one does for a body.”
“That’s the answer, at least until we confirm it with the conductor,”
David added,
turned and looked up at Emanual again. “Emanual, what is the conductor’s
name?”
“Mr. Charles Bauer, sir,” Emanual said,.
“And the train master’s name is?”
“Mr. Carl Vander,” he said,.
“Good. Thanks again,” David said, as he turned back to Tom and Daniel and
continued. Emanual walked away from the table. The dining car was empty except for the
Delta Rhos and a single couple at the end of the car.
“We’ve got to get to those two guys, but I think the following. I think they,
whoever they are, were going to kill you Tom...”
Tom took a deep breath and acted stunned.
“Yes. I think they were going to kill you.” David stopped in mid-thought and
asked Tom if he traveled alone? Tom said, he did and David continued. “They were
not
only going to kill you and bloody you because they wanted everyone else to believe that
your bloody corpse was Daniel.”
Tom puffed his cheeks and scowled, while Daniel waited to hear his fate.
“They were even going as far as putting Danny’s clothes on
you.”
“Danny’s somewhat large than I am. What’s your waist size?” he
asked.
“Thirty-two,” Daniel said,.
“Oh,” Tom came back, sounding somber. “You’re the same as I
am. You looked
larger to me in my compartment—my new compartment.”
“He’s got a bigger horn, but then when you body is bloody and broken, who
thinks about minor size differences.”
Tom arched an eyebrow and rested his head, propping it on his elbow.
“Yeah?”
“David, I know you’re going to get to the point some time today,” Daniel said, and
raised his
hand for more coffee.
“So they stripped Daniel, apparently were caught off guard by two
things.”
“What two things?” Daniel asked, as Emanual filled all three cups.
“Well first of all, your magnificent horn....”
“What do you mean, horn?” Tom asked. “His cock?”
“Yes, precisely. You must admit....”
“Go on,” Tom insisted and glared at Daniel.
“It’s not my fault,” Daniel said, laughing. “I believe it to be magnificent.”
“Hmm,” Tom commented. He looked at David.
“Are you guys ready for this?” David asked, speaking as though he had gotten
an
A on a test and Tom and Daniel hadn’t done well.
“Yeah,” Daniel said, as he sank lower in his chair.
“Can’t wait,” Tom added.
“They were ready to kill you, put Danny’s clothes on you, throw you in the
extra
coffin, leave it here or take it off the train again somewhere along the line, but get
this,Danny.” Daniel Harmon, LaGrange, Illinois, blonde, wavy, fair, blue, 188,
6 feet, 1 inch.
He paused, looked seriously at Daniel, and saw and heard Daniel’s pledge code
ident. He wondered why the identification routine again. Maybe it's the Att.
“They were going to ship you to Morecry Mortuary in San Fran.”
“How do you know? And, what stopped them? You bursting into the
compartment?”
“No, sir. What stopped them was your belly.”
“My belly!” Daniel said, sounding unconvinced.
“Your brown belly,” David said, whispering.
Daniel’s mouth fell open. He was silent. He didn’t speak. Only stared at David.
David nodded.
“His brown belly?” Tom asked.
“I’ll explain it to you later,” David said, and patted Daniel’s
arm.”
“Holy shit,” Daniel said, “I get it now. It makes sense. They
couldn’t duplicated
my brown belly on Tom here.”
“You got it. That’s exactly right.”
“Qu’est-ce qui se passe?— What’s up?” Daniel
asked, in French.
“Oh, I understood that. You speak French?”
“Yeah,” Daniel said, and turned his attention back to David, who added,
“They
want you at Morecry Mortuary in San Fran, my young stud brother and they want you
bad. They probably want to take a measurement.” David giggled.
Daniel shook his head and was only slightly exasperated with David. “Leave my
horn out of this.”
“I don’t know,” David answered, using a serious tone of voice.
“We’ve got to
think about it.” He glanced at Tom, who hadn’t eaten eggs or ham.
“Anything sound out
of place to you?”
David noticed Tom looked up and behind them. Tom asked, “Why?” as David
turned and saw the train master and conductor standing over him, edging slowing toward
the table.
“Hey guys,” David said, as he looked up at them, “we’ve got to
talk.”
“You’ve got to answer my questions,” Tom repeated and tugged at
David’s sleeve.
“I will. I will.” He looked at Tom and asked, “What was your
question?”
“Why does anyone want to kill me and ship Daniel to some damnable mortuary in
San Fran?”
“Well, actually, it’s a long story, but let’s put it this way. Daniel and I
have a job
to do. We’re going to San Fran then to Hong Kong, then China.” David
stopped talking.
“I don’t think these guys are the bad guys do you?”
Daniel looked up at the two older men and then at Tom, who looked more
frightened than dangerous. “Guess not.”
“And, now we believe we have discovered a group, small or large we don’t
know,
who doesn’t want us to complete our job.”
“Who are they?” Tom asked, pleadingly, with fright in his voice.
“They are evil, but we don’t know exactly who they are.”
“Well who are you then?” David and Tom stared at each other. Tom glanced
over
at Daniel and then stared at David again. “Who are you?”
“You wouldn’t believe me if I told you the whole story.”
“Oh wouldn’t we?” the train master asked.
“No you really wouldn’t,” David said, staring at David as he listened to
the
train master’s answer. I didn’t like the sound of that. He looked at
Daniel. “Have you
finished?” he asked, as he took out a twenty dollar bill and laid it on the table.
“Do I hear
guitars somewhere? Music?”
“Yes, they’re practicing for tonight. It will be a very romantic evening. Better
than
the Mardi Gras in New Orleans.”
“A Mardi Gras? On this train?” Daniel stood. David glanced at his continual
bulge. “Tell us more.”
“You didn’t know about the Mardi Gras? The party?” the conductor
asked.
“No,” David said. Daniel shook his head.
“Read your travel packet. It’s in there. “It’s a fun thing.” He
leaned against the table, glanced at Daniel then down at David’s crotch.
“Actually, I thought it had begun
last evening in Minot, South Dak when I first heard that Daniel was
missing.”
“Why?” David asked frowning, not understanding the train master’s
mistaken
impression.
“I thought that perhaps a pretty young lass or maybe more than one had spirited
Mr. Daniel....”
“Harmon,” David interjected. He sounded skeptical.
“Yes, Yes, Mr. Harmon,” the train master continued, into one of their
compartments for perhaps a few caresses....”
“And more,” Daniel added. It’s getting so I can’t even talk
about it without
becoming eager, aroused, big, and hard. He put his hands in his pockets and struggled
to make room in his slacks.
David glanced away from Daniel, who crossed his legs and leaned against their
dining table as Emanual bused the table. “Then the Mardi Gras is
tonight?”
“Yes, that gives the passengers about twenty-four hours to get sober before we
arrive at Spokane.”
“Is there another Mardi Gras after Spokane, say between Spokane and Seattle or
between Seattle and San Fran?”
The train master and conductor laughed and smiled at each other. “I think you’ll
find that one Mardi Gras is enough per trip to the coast. The company is fairly lenient,
within reason. Of course, our clientele is the best.”
“Yes, witness the near execution of Tom here and the abduction of Danny,”
David
added, sardonically.
“Yes, well, ahem,” the train master finalized. “How are you feeling,
Daniel? May
I call you by your first name?”
“Sure,” Daniel said. “Oh, I’m OK.”
“Well, you seem like a fine young man. You guys go back to your compartment
and read the travel packet, either in your compartment or back in the club car. We’re
not
supposed to have it, but some look on this train the way some look on a ship on the high
seas—the captain or train master, in this case, is in complete charge. Marry people,
provide some spirits.” He stopped and stared at the young men. The conductor smiled
knowingly.
“Oh I get it,” Daniel said, “and you don’t say anything about
anyone who is
carrying their own hooch?”
“Right!”
“Well, hooray for tonight,” Daniel said, walking past the conductor and the train
master. He grabbed David’s arm and pulled him along.
David turned toward Tom and asked, “Coming?”
“I hope so,” Tom said.
David thought he understood Tom’s meaning.
“Let’s go find out what the party is all about tonight,” David said,
following Daniel
closely. The three young men crossed through the two entrance halls into the next car
as David asked. “Did you know about the Mardi Gras, Tom?”
“Hell yes,” Tom said, “why do you think I took this
train.”
“Have you been in one of their Mardi Gras before?” David shouted over his
shoulder. They crossed two more entrance halls into the next pullman car.
“No, Dave. I didn’t lie to you yesterday.”
David stopped and turned toward Tom. He frowned.
“When I told you I had never been on this train before, that was the
truth.”
“I’m sorry, Tom,” David stuttered as Tom frowned and took a deep
breath.
“Sometimes it’s difficult to believe someone you don’t know, even when
it’s the truth. My
grandmother told me one time that people would believe a lie when the truth would suit
better.”
David listened to the words of Tom LaBorde and was upset. “Please, Tom,” he
said, “please accept my apology. I’m sorry. OK?”
Tom smiled, as David turned and continued following Daniel. He was out of
sight. “It’s not important. We should trust each other, at least until I get off in
San
Rafael.”
David nodded and looked forward to the party. He pondered whether or
not costumes would be important, saw Palak, the Palaqua, all the magnificent Chiqua
warriors in colorful costumes and pictured his luggage, trying to recall what he had
brought that would make a serious costume. David, with Tom directly behind him, walked
into their compartment car just as Daniel entered their compartment. He quickened his
step, anxious to read the travel pamphlet.
He burst into the compartment, didn’t see Daniel and realized he was in the
shower room on the commode. “Where is the blasted travel packet?” he
shouted.
“On the corner table,” Daniel shouted back.
David moved a few books, magazines and picked up the brown travel packet.
Gold trim. Hmm. He read quickly. “Hey Daniel. They want everyone to
wear costumes.
What are you going to wear?”
“My birthday suit,” Daniel said.
“Of course,” David said, as he looked at Tom. “I could have
guessed.” David set
the packet down and sat in a chair. He noticed the bed had been made and stored
and once again two green velvet bench seats faced each other next to the
compartment’s
windows. He stood and walked to the seat that faced the rear of the train, sat,
deciding to ride backwards. David glanced over at Tom and motioned for him to come to
the windows. “Sit down,” he said. “Why are you so
quiet?”
“I’m waiting for you to tell me who you and Daniel and the rest of you
are?” Tom
LaBorde said. He smiled at David and waited.
David was surprised, but using his quick wit, he asked, “How much time do you
have?”
“Just t’il lunch,” he smiled.
Tom decided to put his shoes back on, smiled at David, and still shook his head.
He raised his leg up and placed his shoe on the edge of the plush green velvet bench seat.
“Really, Dave,” he said.
“Really, what?” David said. “You don’t believe
me?”
“Who would believe that story?” Tom asked, tying a large bow in his shoelace.
David watched him and noticed the clothes he wore. Not at all anywhere comparable to
the Att material. I know his sweater is Afghan and soft but nothing like this Att stuff. He
rubbed his arm and felt the fall of his sweater covering his belly. He looked at
the bulk
of Tom’s heavy wool slacks and agreed with himself the slacks did nothing for him.
He
might as well be wearing burlap, thick burlap at that, and it shows nothing to the young
ladies. Does nothing for him.
He rubbed his stocking feet and watched Tom tie his other shoelace. “Well it’s
true. It happened in Peru and now we’re on our way to China.”
“Uh-huh,” Tom answered, as he edged forward and made movements like he
was
going to stand up. “You guys, you and Daniel here and your other fraternity brothers,
what did you say, Delta Rho?”
“Yeah,” David said, propping his head with his elbow on the bottom ledge of
the
window and smiling at Tom.
“You tell me about how you find this lost jungle civilization, run around naked
with all those handsome warriors and pretty ladies, beautiful feathered headdresses and
costumes, and really, Dave, this sounds like one big blowoff to me. No offense of course,
but a waste of my time.” He stood and stretched, raising his arms high toward the
ceiling.
“He’s not even affected. No hard on,” David noticed. He
shrugged.
“Although I appreciate you taking the time to entertain me.” He stuck out his
hand
and they shook hands. He walked to the corner table and shook hands with
Daniel.
“So you don’t believe our story?” Daniel asked not looking up from his
book.
Tom giggled and shook his head, while putting his hands in his pockets. “It’s
food
for a fantasy,” he said.
David and Daniel looked at each other. “What does that mean?” David asked
using
pwo.
Tom smoothed out his sweater and didn’t notice Daniel’s reply. “I think
he means
he’ll use the story to excite himself.”
“No kidding?” David said, as he scanned Tom’s attire and approved only
the
shoes—real leather, white bucks.
“What part of the story excites you?” Daniel asked, spreading his legs an
rubbing
the inside of his thigh.
“Oh, the parts where you guys battle the Pondu when all the warriors and soldiers
fight naked or wear only those scanty briefs, beads and feathers. Well, everyone is naked or practically naked. I like your description of the Temple of the Five Young Gods. I would like to stay
in a place like that, the description of the beautiful women, the part about the Palanquin,
I think, it is majestic, and of course, Daniel’s encounter with the beautiful young
Chiqua lady....”
“Ok,” David said, standing up and walking close to Tom. “What part
doesn’t
interest you?”
“Oh all of it’s interesting. It’s just that I don’t believe you guys
were there. There
isn’t a place called the Palaqua. I never heard of it....”
“What’s your major?” Daniel asked, opening and closing his legs slowly
in a
nervous manner.
“Political Science,” Tom said, and walked toward the compartment
door.
“Well there you have it,” David said, closing the distance between Tom and
himself. “We’re telling you true stories about ancient history, both physical
and
spiritual, and you, a Poly Sci major, a person who knows not the first thing about an
expedition or a dig says that the Palaqua doesn’t exist.” He walked up to Tom,
who smiled
as David got closer.
Tom winked at Daniel as David continued his gentle upbraiding, He enjoyed
listening. Tom opened the door and moved toward the hallway. He turned and cut off
David. “What time does that Mardi Gras thing start?”
“About nine tonight,” Daniel said, laughing at Tom and David. “But the
question
is, when will it end?”
“See you!” David said, shutting the door firmly. He turned toward Daniel.
“Hey,
we’ve got to take that food pill. He walked to his suitcase, picked up the leather pill
case,
unzipped it and took out two gray pills. He zipped the case and threw it down among his
underwear and socks, then closed the lid of his suitcase again. He walked to the table,
poured water into a glass and handed Daniel a pill. Daniel threw it into his mouth and
drank the water. David took his pill, poured water into a glass and asked Daniel.
“Have
you tasted these pills before swallowing them?”
“No why?” Daniel scooted his chair backward toward the wall and closer to the
small corner table. “What do they taste like?”
David swallowed the pill and drank all the water in the glass. He set it on the table
and looked at Daniel. “Something like saltwater taffy.”
“Never had any taffy,” Daniel said, returning his glance to the book on ancient
Chinese legends.
David picked up the large book about ancient civilizations and walked to the bench
seats, sat, untied his shoes and pushed them off with his feet. He took a pillow and
placed it behind his back, settled back into the seat and began to flip through the pages.
He stared at some of the plates, wished the representations were in color, and began to
read.
The train whistle that had been part of David's dream, blasted louder. David jumped and rubbed his eyes as he looked down at his wristwatch and turned toward Daniel. “Say, Danny, are
you still reading?”
“I slept a little, but I woke up a few minutes ago. You slept a long time. Dave, listen to this.”
“Wait, wait. Are we going to have dinner tonight? It’s almost five
o’clock.”
“I thought maybe we’d go to the club car,” Daniel said,
“it’s just next door.”
“You want to?”
“Yeah, don’t you?”
“It doesn’t matter,” David said, standing and stretching. He rubbed his
genitals,
put his hands in his pockets and approached the table. “I was thinking about what we
were
going to wear tonight as costumes.”
“Why don’t we go to the club car and bullshit for a while, then we’ll
decide what
we’re going to wear tonight. OK?”
“Yeah, OK,” David said. “Are you ready, now?”
“Sure,” Daniel said, and stood.
“I see that stuff is really keeping us vital,” David said, motioning with his head
at
Daniel’s crotch. He fingered his fly.
“I think it means were in good health,” Daniel said, as he stepped close to
David and pushed him gently toward the door. “What do you think those pills are
for?”
David nodded and opened the door. “I know, but sometimes it itches and it feels
like I should be doing something with it. But I know all of this has a purpose. It has to have a purpose to take me and well, all of the Delta Rhos, far away from Delong University and Indiana.”
“Yeah, I know what you mean,” Daniel said, following David into the
passageway.
The Delta Rhos stepped through the noisy entrances to their own car and then the neighboring club car bouncing along over the steel floor as they crossed over, opened the club car door, and stepped onto soft, thick carpeting. The interior became quiet as the door shut out the sounds of the Santa Fe Chief speeding toward Los Angeles.
They looked around and saw several men in business suits, women dressed
smartly with small cutesy hats that accentuated their short hairdos.
Daniel pointed to a
small table held in place by two large lounge chairs.
David agreed and he followed Daniel
to the table. David felt the elctrical surge from his scrotum up to his armpits and again enjoyed the stares of the women and the glances of the men. He
thought he knew what the men looked at on he and Daniel—their chests, buttocks and legs and had no doubts about where the women’s gazes landed—on their faces, their eyes, their flys, their butts and their eyes again. David returned the women’s gazes with smiles and wondered if they were single or married. He knew Daniel had not missed the pretty faces, thin bodies that wore long summer coats with fox fur pieces draped around their necks, around their shoulders, on their laps, on the floor, or over an arm. He stared at their faces, hands, arms, and necks, some still a glistening ivory tones, a color that would remain until the tanning season began, in America. Others sported enchanting and varied skin colors, fresh from the French Riviera, satin colors, designed to turn the heads of any man.
Ivy Walls, Book 6, Chapter 95, Part 2
Continue Reading -- Chapter 95, Part 3
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