Three days later, they again gathered in Arshad's office. From the faces of Gifar and Maksud, Arshad understood that they had learned news bordering on the truth about the creation of the world, no less.
Arshad even got scared to
ask them what had happened. Gifar spoke himself.
"I've found out who he
is."
"And who?" Arshad
said in a frightened voice, looking at one, then at the other.
Gifar paused theatrical and
said:
"He is Russian!"
There was silence. Maksud
and Gifar already knew about this news and were now waiting for Arshad's
reaction to it. Arshad was ready to hear anything, including a Lao or
Vietnamese, but to find out that he was Russian ...
The first few minutes he
stared at them blankly, then he just stared in front of him.
Then he laughed.
"Well, of course, how
could I not have guessed at once by the amount of alcohol he had drunk! Only
Russians can drink so much!" Arshad again laughed to tears in his eyes,
remembering Kai, as he lay unconscious with a bottle of brandy in his hand.
Gifar pointed to the
tablet.
"Here are some of his
photographs."
Arshad took the tablet
and sat down at the table, behind him stood Maksud and Gifar. Arshad ran his
finger across the monitor. The screen came to life, and from it, Kai in
military uniform was looking at Arshad. It was a standard photo from a personal
file, ordinary, official, scrolling further, Arshad saw Kai sitting on an
armored personnel carrier, with a submachine gun in his lap and with a scarf
around his neck. Apparently, the photographer accidentally photographed him,
since the main object of the photo was the passage of a convoy of armored
personnel carriers. Turning a little more, Arshad saw Kai walking along the
parade ground, in full dress, with orders on his chest. Again it was clear that
they did not take a photo of him, he just got into the frame. Arshad brought
the photo closer, the medals became more visible. And a few more shots, again
random ones, where he got into the frame.
"Is it all?"
Arshad raised his eyes to Gifar.
"Yes, it is. You don't
know the main thing. He not only serves in the army, but he also works for
special services, so all information about him is classified and there is
nothing. Here are just these random shots. He is not a private, he is an
officer. That's all I could find out about him.
Arshad automatically
flipped through Kai's photos on the tablet monitor.
"But why! Why, of all
nations, he turned out to be exactly Russian," finally exclaimed Arshad.
" I do not understand them at all. This is a dark forest! They don't
understand themselves. If he had been someone else, he would have jumped into
my bed," Arshad flipped through the photos again. "Now I don't even
have a chance."
"There are always
chances, you said he liked it ..."
"Yes, he liked it, and
then he lost his attraction. That's all because he is Russian. They are all
like that. I do not understand them. I do not understand him!"
"Arshad, have you
tried to talk to him about this?" Maksud smiled mysteriously again.
"Of course, you are used to not talking with those you like, but here is
another case. If this person is really important to you, talk to him frankly
about your relationship."
Arshad got up from his
chair and went to the window.
"Okay, you're right. I
want to talk to him. By the way, what's his name?"
"Kai."
"How? Kai ... But this
is not quite a Russian name."
"He was born in
"That's what I'm
talking about, that I don't understand them, Russians. I don't understand at
all!" Arshad turned to Maksud. "Bring him to the garden today, when I
smoke a hookah."
***
Kai lived a strangely calm
life these days. He did not want to think about what had happened and did not
want to think about what would be. He made the decision to just wait.
When Maksud said that
Arshad was waiting for him in the garden, Kai knew that the waiting time had
come to an end. He understood that he would find out his further destiny. It
didn't scare him. It was much scarier to live in obscurity. The realization
that now everything would be clarified filled him with inner joy and
tranquility.
He walked through the
beautiful fairy garden to the pavilion. Peacocks, smoothly shaking their magic
tails, parted in front of him. The rose bushes were fragrant. Palm trees gave
shade with their quaint crowns, and numerous fountains and ponds filled the air
with freshness.
Arshad, as always, was
reclining in the arbor and puffing on a hookah. He immediately noticed Kai and
kept his eyes on him as he walked.
"Sit down, why are you
standing?" Arshad pointed to the sofa opposite him.
Kai walked over to him and
sat down.
"Hello, Kai."
Kai raised his eyes to
Arshad. They looked at each other for a long time, Kai was the first to speak.
"You have found out
everything about me."
"I've learned exactly
as much as you can learn about a person working for the special services.
Therefore, I want to know more about you. Are you really Russian?"
"Yes."
"And your name?"
"So my father
decided."
"Why did you become a
military man, why did you go to war?"
Kai shrugged vaguely.
Arshad continued:
"Don't lie to me that
you like it. I saw your face when you looked at the dead bird. I saw your eyes.
Why are you in this war?"
"Becoming a military
man is my father's choice. Everyone in our family was military."
"You are an obedient
son. It's good. Or am I wrong?"
"Arshad, why do you
need it? What do you want to know?"
Arshad took a drag on the
hookah.
"I want to understand
you. Our relationship. Perhaps I was wrong. I was in a hurry. But you ... I
don't understand you ... why you don't want ... you don't want anything,"
Arshad tried to find the answer on Kai's face. "Just don't say that you
were scared, I know that you stayed on the plane, allowing jumping off it to
everyone. Did they know your parachute was torn?"
"Not."
"Did you know?"
"I knew."
"Why did you do it for
them? Was there someone important to you?"
"Not. But this is what
is usually done ..."
"Russians,"
Arshad interrupted him, "that's what I told Maksud that I was not lucky
that you turned out to be Russian."
"If I were not
Russian, you would have been hacked to death at your coup," said Kai
angrily.
"Yes, you are right,
only a Russian can, instead of running to the helicopter, save the one who
dragged him across the desert for a horse. By the way, why did you help me?"
"You were alone. There
were many of them. In such a position, I would help everyone."
"And I thought, or
rather, hoped that I arouse you at least an ounce of sympathy."
Kai didn't answer. He
poured the wine into a glass and took a sip.
"Let's continue our
conversation," Arshad again took a drag on the hookah, then, looking at
Kai, said. "I like you, you understand in what sense I say this. But why
are you acting like that? What's wrong? Explain to me. I am ready not to force,
not to rush you. I know that you have not slept with a man," Kai lowered
his eyes. "I will be very gentle with you; I will not hurt you. Kai, look
at me. I can't understand you," Arshad straightened up on the pillows.
"Well, let's start with a simple explanation - am I unpleasant to you?
Don't you like me?"
"Not! What are you, it
is not so!"
Arshad looked at Kai's face
and smiled, seeing that Kai said it too quickly, too emotionally, which meant
he nevertheless liked him.
"Okay. Then what is
it?" Arshad slightly moved to the table, looking at Kai point-blank.
"You know; I never ask those whom I want about anything. I'm used to
taking what I want. For the first time, I try to understand, although a wave of
my hand is enough - and you will lie on that bed face down, butt up. Don't be
silent, explain to me why you are behaving this way with me?"
Kai understood that Arshad
was trying to give him a chance to say, although earlier he just took what he
wanted.
Kai slipped his hand under
the collar of his shirt and took out a cross on a chain hanging from his neck.
He showed it to Arshad.
"I am a believer,
baptized. According to the Orthodox faith, sodomy is a terrible sin. I will be
damned and go to hell. I just live according to the laws of my faith," Kai
put the cross back.
Arshad moved away from the
table and lay down on the pillows again. He waved his hand, pointing to the
burnt coals in the hookah. A servant ran up and fussed.
Kai and Arshad silently
watched as the servant changed coals and re-inflated the hookah. Then Arshad
dragged on again. It was seen that he was thinking. Kai did not bother him,
occasionally bringing a glass of wine to his lips.
So twenty minutes passed.
Finally, Arshad spoke:
"I have deep respect
for people who honor their faith. It doesn't matter if this belief contradicts
mine. For me, any believer is worthy of respect. I realized that you are not
hiding behind religion, you say what you have in your soul. That is why I have
pondered your words for so long. Now I understand you and your behavior,"
Arshad looked into Kai's eyes. "Listen to my decision: I do not want to
become the one who will send your soul to hell. I will not take such a sin upon
myself, my God will punish me for it. Therefore, I want to come to a reasonable
agreement with you in our relationship with you. I have already said that you
have nothing to fear, I will not become the culprit of getting you into hell.
It can be if only you make a decision for yourself to be with me. But if you
decide to be with another man, then you must be with me. I want you to swear on
your cross that you agree to such a treaty."
"Do you want me to
swear on the cross that I will sleep with you if I sleep with someone
else?!"
"I want you to swear
that you will fulfill our agreement," seeing Kai's indignant face, Arshad
continued. "Do not test my patience, it was very difficult for me to make
such a decision. I don't usually suffer from heightened virtue for my ... those
whom I want."
"You said that your
god would punish you if you did it."
"This will be done
with you by my guard in front of my eyes, and then I will continue."
Arshad was not joking. His
eyes turned black as night.
"I agree to our
contract with you. I will fulfill it," Kai took out the cross and kissed
it. " I swear."
Arshad exhaled and smiled.
"There was the risk, I
was ready to change my mind, but now you have sealed my words with your oath.
Remember this. Remember our contract."
Arshad leaned back on the
pillow and took a drag on the hookah.
"Now let's talk about
the first clause of the agreement, according to which you've left me a chance
to hear from you - yes," Kai averted his eyes. "Well, why are you
embarrassed? Let me take care of you, maybe you want to yourself?"
Arshad smiled slyly, Kai
drank his wine nervously. Arshad continued:
"I know your faith
well. I will kiss you, even if they are between men, they are not a mortal sin,
well, let's just say it is a sin, but you and I have many such minor sins. So
let’s sin a little?" Arshad waved his hand. "Come to me. Kai, don't
try my patience. Do you hear? We have a contract. You gave me a chance yourself
to gallant you. How am I supposed to do this? At a distance, or what?"
Kai understood that it was
better not to anger Arshad, and so now a miracle happened. Arshad would not
touch him if he did not agree to this himself or there was no other man in his
life, but Kai did not even think about such things. All this for him was from
the realm of the unreal. Therefore, after thinking, he got up and, uncertainly
walking around the table, walked over to Arshad.
He watched the guy's move,
and then abruptly grabbed the floor of the brocade robe and pulled on himself.
Kai lost his balance from surprise and fell directly into the arms of Arshad,
who was waiting for this. Arshad immediately fell to his lips with a long kiss.
At first, Kai jerked, and then decided not to, and relaxed, allowing himself to
be kissed.
Arshad felt this change in
him and instead of a greedy kiss, he slowly began to enjoy it, knowing that now
he was his.
Arshad kissed now eagerly
and passionately, now tenderly, but so skillfully. Kai felt that no one had
ever kissed him like that in his life. He didn't even know that it was possible
to kiss like that and that it could be so good when men kiss you ... - further
Kai was afraid to voice this thought in his head. And then there were no more
thoughts, only lips giving him this pleasure.
He woke up from the loss of
those sweet lips, opened his eyes, and saw the dark, bottomless eyes of Arshad.
"I want wine,"
Kai whispered.
Arshad's lips stretched out
in such a bewitching and forged smile. He stretched out his hand, took a glass
of wine, drank, and, lifting Kai's head, pressed the guy's lips to his. Kai
parted his lips and felt the taste of wine, which poured into him, penetrated
and intoxicated.
"Do you want more?"
Arshad breathed into his lips.
"Yes."
Arshad again drank wine and
again fell to Kai's lips. How long the kiss lasted now, Kai did not remember.
He did not remember himself, did not remember where he was and who, but he
clearly understood that these were the lips of Arshad on his lips, and this was
his embrace, in which he was now.
Once again waking up from
strange oblivion, Kai met the eyes of Arshad, looking down at him.
"There are enough
kisses for today," Arshad smiled slyly again. "Let's take a break.
But I can show you another pleasure," seeing the lack of understanding in
Kai's eyes, Arshad continued. "Did you smoke that?" he pointed to the
hookah.
Kai nodded his head in the
affirmative.
"Lie down,"
Arshad took a pillow and put it on his lap.
Kai did not argue, rested
his head on the pillow, fully stretched out on the couch. Arshad reached for
the hookah.
"I will now breathe in
the smoke, and you open your lips, I will breathe it into you. Breathe it in
and hold your breath."
"So what is
next?" Kai felt Arshad's hand stroking his curls, tangling in them with
his fingers and plunging into them.
"You will see."
Arshad sucked in the hookah
smoke and bent down to Kai's lips, he did as Arshad said, and then the world
spun into a motley merry-go-round. He felt like a butterfly fluttering over a
flowering meadow. He flew, it was easy and good for him. Nothing darkened his
consciousness. Around him flashed color pictures of beautiful fields, rivers,
and fragrant gardens ...
Arshad continued to play
with his curls, winding them around his fingers, then releasing them, watching
the elastic curl slip, leaving the feeling of black silk. He saw that now Kai
was well. He felt good too, probably for the first time in all these years. It
was good with the man who was now lying on his lap - so handsome, young and so
rebellious, unbroken, strong. Arshad admired and delighted him.
He heard footsteps and
raised his eyes, Maksud and Gifar entered the arbor, who did not hide their
joyful smiles, seeing this idealistic picture.
"Have you
agreed"- Maksud smiled sincerely, seeing now the face of Arshad.
"Yes. We’ve made a
contract."
"Even a contract? Is
everything so serious?"
"Yes, it is very
serious," seeing that his friends listen to him with attention, Arshad
continued. " Kai is a believer, for him, relations with a man is a sin. I
respect his faith and will not become the culprit of his fall. Only if he changes his mind himself or if he has relations
with another man - then he is mine."
Gifar and Maksud fell into
a sludge from this, realizing that Arshad was ready to wait, and not to take by
force what he so wanted.
Seeing their surprise,
Arshad continued:
"This is not the
version of a boy who cries theatrically for a couple of days and then consoles
himself with a bank account."
"You have become
wiser. I am proud that we have such a ruler," the eunuch bowed.
"The Almighty has sent
me a test, I think I've made the right decision."
"I don’t understand,
but why? After all, you like him," Gifar still could not believe the essence
of what was said.
"That's exactly why.
If I take what I want, he will hate me. Then I will lose him forever and ever.
I do not want it. I want to be with him. Let it take time. I will be patient.
Patience is a test and a gift. If a test of my patience is sent to me from
above, then I will be rewarded for this ... someday," the Sheikh thought,
continuing to caress these silky curls.
"You have a
business," the eunuch interrupted his thoughts.
"Yes," the Sheikh
began to get up, gently lifting Kai, and then put him back. He bent over him,
kissed him on the lips, then stood up. "Now he won't come to himself soon,
you will take care of him," he looked at Maksud.
"Don't worry, my
master."
They went towards the
palace, leaving Kai asleep in the arbor.
When he woke up from a
dream, although it was not even a dream, but a transition to another reality,
he realized that he was lying in the arbor in this Garden of Eden. Turning his
head, Kai saw a peacock walking slowly along the path and fluffing its tail.
Birds chirped over him. The incredibly beautiful butterfly sat on a glass of
wine, and then flew up."
His soul was peaceful,
calm, and quiet. By this contract, he
removed the tension and uncertainty in his fate. Even so, even if not
everything was clear to the end, the main thing between him and Arshad had now
been clarified. Life had acquired at least some stability, it was not so bad in
his position. He understood that. Now he did not want to think about what had
allowed Arshad, maybe in that distant world of his it caused condemnation, but
here, when his life had no value, everything was completely different.
Kai smiled, feeling that
his lips were swollen from kisses which were so sweet, delightful ...
The day passed quietly.
There were also kisses, it was felt that Arshad was enjoying what he had wanted
for so long. In the evening he sent him to bed, saying that in the morning they
would go for a horse ride.
***
The next day brought with
it even more pleasant surprises. First, they rode on horseback through the desert,
overtaking the wind and each other.
Returning, Arshad drove up
very close and, grabbing Kai by the silk belt, pulled him towards himself.
Their lips met. He tore a long kiss from his beautiful lips, feeling his
breath, either by a jump or by this kiss.
Kai was embarrassed,
whispered that they were not alone. But then he saw that for Arshad, all the
people around him did not matter.
Getting off the horses, Kai
again fell into his arms when the Sheikh, jumping off first, was next to his
horse. Kai did not expect this, staggered, and Arshad's strong arms hugged him,
and his lips made him forget about everything again.
Unsaddling the horse and
leading it to the stall, Kai was pinned down there by Arshad, and they kissed
for a long time, listening to the tired horse crunching with pleasure with
fresh hay at their feet. Arshad pressed him against the wall of the stall,
grabbing the bars of the grate on both sides of his head with his hands and
putting his knee between his legs. Kai tried to remember only one thing, that
one should not touch the Sheikh. He held his hands down, grabbing the wall and
the hem of his robe, and gasped at those demanding lips.
***
After breakfast, Arshad,
taking him by the waist, led him to his office, telling Maksud and Gifar to follow
them.
Kai was in Arshad's office
for the first time. It was a large room, again in an oriental force, with
carpets, stucco, gold candelabra, and magnificent mosaics. At the same time,
there was modern expensive furniture for offices: a table with a huge armchair,
a conference table and a sofa with armchairs against the wall. Everything was
equipped with modern office equipment.
"You probably need to
call, say that you are alive," said Arshad, watching as Kai is interested
in examining his office.
Kai didn't even immediately
grasp the meaning of what was said. He looked at Arshad in surprise.
"Here is the
phone," he pointed to the table. "Only, please, speak on the
speakerphone and in English, and you have only one call," he took Kai by
the shoulders and led him to the phone on the table.
Gifar and Maksud also had
no less surprised faces.
"Well, tell them that
I'll let you go soon, let them not worry."
Hearing this, Kai was
completely at a loss, leaning on the table. Then he forced himself to
concentrate. He dialed the number. The signal passed, he spoke in English.
"How do you do, Pyotr
Ivanovich. This is Kai."
At first, there was silence
in the receiver, then Russian swearing, and only then a voice in English
answered him.
"Alive! And we kept
thinking ... so much time has passed since the disappearance of the plane.
Likely alive? Is everything intact?"
"Don't worry, Pyotr
Ivanovich, I'm safe and sound. There was
no way to inform about myself earlier."
"I understand ...
and now I understand everything," the colonel guessed, if Kai spoke
English, it meant that everything was not so simple.
"I have to return
soon, I don't know for sure, but I will. You will inform the center about
it."
"Yes, immediately. We
will wait for your return."
"How is the aircraft commander?
Did his mate and everyone else survive?"
"Yes, everyone is
alive. Our people found them, they were all picked up. The commander has a very
serious wound, but he will live. Those two are feeling better, they are already
on the mend," the colonel thought, and then said very seriously. "You
are great. I'm proud of you. Come back!"
"Thank you, Pyotr
Ivanovich."
Kai hung up.
"Hero, then, "
Arshad also looked at him very seriously, then waved towards the door.
"Go."
Kai realized that he could
go. He left the office and, still not believing in what was happening, went
towards the library.
"Will you let him
go?" Gifar sat down at the table.
"In what status can I
leave him here? A boy for comfort? Unfortunately, he is not suitable for this
role. I have nothing to offer him besides me. I want to remain his
friend."
"You are becoming very
wise, our ruler," Gifar bowed politely.
Then they moved on to the
pressing issues of government in their country.
***
Kai was enthusiastically
reading the next work of Arab philosophers when he felt hot hands on his
shoulders and the burning heat of breath on his cheek.
Arshad bent over him,
hugging him from behind, and began, slowly, covering his cheek, cheekbones,
chin with light kisses, and then his ear, at the end biting his lobe. Kai
groaned, clenching his hands on the table.
Arshad threw back his head
and, raising his chin, fell to his lips.
"What are you
reading?" through kisses, he asked.
"Philosophical views
of Al-Farabi."
"Is it so
interesting?" Arshad had already regained his breath and, going around the
table, sat down in another chair. "What will you say? Share your
opinion."
At first, Kai's thoughts
were still confused, but gradually his mind gained clarity, and his voice - an
even presentation. The Sheikh was a very educated and well-read person, and
therefore it was interesting for them to talk to each other about such
exclusive topics as the philosophical treatises of Al-Farabi of nine hundred
years and the influence of the works of Plato on his philosophy. So gradually
they found each other in conversation.
***
In the evening, Maksud,
having dressed Kai in incredible clothes for its luxury and beauty, brought him
to a huge hall, where Arshad was reclining on ottomans. They settled down
comfortably next to them, a light supper was brought to them, which they had to
eat reclining, and a show unfolded in front of them.
Acrobats and equilibrists
performed. Then there were circus acts with animals. Later, when the snacks
were replaced by sweets and the lights in the hall became more subdued, dancers
came to the center of the hall. These were girls and boys who replaced each
other. They danced in translucent dresses to oriental music. Their dances were
erotic and frank.
Arshad beckoned Kai to
him and he, feeling a kick from Maksud, moved to the Sheikh. Rather, he again
found himself in his arms and, having settled comfortably, reclined with his
back on his chest, allowing himself to be hugged. So they watched the
performance. Kai sipped wine, the Sheikh - a hookah and regularly pressed close
to his lips.
Arshad watched Kai through
half-closed eyes how he looked at the dancers. When the girls danced, the
Sheikh saw that Kai's eyes were looking at them, but it was rather an admiring
look, as children look at outlandish animals in a zoo. When half-naked youths
came out, Kai usually averted his eyes and was distracted, looking at his
surroundings.
"Do you like girls who
dance?" finally asked Arshad.
"Yes! They are like
that, well, you will not see such girls on the street. I didn't even think that
there are such, and there are so many. They are all incredible!"
"And young men, look
at their bodies, they are also perfect."
"I've seen enough of
these bodies in the barracks," Kai muttered.
Arshad burst into laughter,
and then, seeing the frowning Kai began to kiss him until he forgot everything
and melted in his arms.
From these embraces, Maksud
took him and carefully led him to bed. Arshad remained to continue the fun, but
already in the night apartments with those whom he had chosen in the dance.
Now, this was how their
time passed. In the morning - a horse ride, or rather, a frantic race, then
breakfast, then Arshad minded his own business and found Kai in the library,
where they could talk, discuss, argue for hours, then an evening performance,
which Kai mentally called for himself "folk amateur performance". But
the most important thing in this pastime was the constant kissing of Arshad. He
always did this, finding moments, drew Kai to himself and did not let him come
to his senses, and then, smiling, he pulled back and continued to ride, walk,
talk as if nothing had happened. But Kai for a long time then restored his
breathing and calmed the heart leaping out of his chest.
No comments:
Post a Comment