by A. J. Marcus
He blew the dust off a flute he hadn’t touched since he put it on the shelf. It was one he’d bought in college. It was a simple wooden one, bigger around and longer than most of the others. When he put his lips to the mouthplate, the taste of dust and years lined his lips. Before even blowing a single note, Adrian reached for the rag on his music stand. The microfiber cloth had gotten squished down behind the sheet music there, but moments after reaching for it, he’d managed to wipe the flute clean and brought it back to his lips.
The deep first note filled the room. This was the sound he’d been searching for. With a slow deliberation, Adrian coaxed each tone out as he descended to the lowest pitch. He remembered why he’d put the instrument aside. It wasn’t right for most music he played, but it would be right for Cara’s songs. He stared at the flute for a moment. Did I buy this knowing that someday I’d need its deep, solemn tones? Has it been sitting here on the shelf, waiting for Ed and his elephants to come into my life and unleash the music it has within it? He ran his fingers through another scale on the flute. As he did, he began matching the vibrations that Cara had sung to Ciro to the tones of the notes. At the lower end, it would be reaching a bit, but it would work. Since he couldn’t afford a bass flute at the moment, this instrument was what he’d need to bring the elephant’s song to human ears.
The songs Cara had poured into him came rushing back out. They flowed effortlessly through him into the flute. As he got each one the way he wanted it, he jotted them down on blank staff paper. Lost in the music, he didn’t even notice the busy city outside his window drifting off to sleep until he got the last note down. Looking up, he realized a good number of the lights from neighboring apartment buildings had been turned out. In the distance, the classic Dallas skyline Ed had so admired was still there, but the lesser lights had gone out.
Adrian glanced at the clock. Three thirty. “Damn,” he muttered. He hastily stashed the flute in his padded travel bag. For a moment, he was tempted to grab his satyr costume and rush back to the Ren faire to share his new music with Ed. But it was too late. He didn’t want to risk waking Eddy, and he wasn’t sure if the elephants would be grumpy if woken up before dawn. Instead, he hung the towel back in the bathroom, set his alarm, and crawled into bed for about three hours of sleep.
The music permeated his dreams. The tune rolled through as he leaned against Cara again. Ed stood before him, also leaning on the elephant. But the elephant trainer wasn’t wearing any clothes. He leaned there with his manliness out there for all the world to see, but there was no one there but the two of them and the elephant. Adrian brought the flute to his lips and began to play.
Cara matched his tune perfectly. In the dream, he could hear nuances to her song he couldn’t in real life. The lows were deeper and more meaningful, while the highs sent him soaring. As the two played their interspecies duet, Ed stood there smiling at them. It was a smile that made Adrian weak in the knees. He wanted to stop playing and reach out for the man, but he couldn’t; he had to keep playing. The music wanted out more strongly than he wanted to touch Ed.
Adrian locked his eyes on Ed’s. The expressive brown orbs were his anchor as the music floated the three of them away. With each note, the music moved them higher into the clear blue sky. As Cara continued to sing, weaving in and out of his melodies, embellishing by adding turns and trills, they traveled farther away from the ground, even as he and Ed continued to lean against the elephant’s leg.
Then Ed’s fingers found Adrian’s stomach. The caress told him without looking that he was as naked as Ed was, but he didn’t care. Ed and Cara were there. He was making music. Nothing could harm him, even if he was naked and flying through the sky. Cara’s continued song vibrating through him reinforced his safety.
Continuing his tune, Adrian glanced down at Ed and the stout erection pointing his way. For a second, he wanted to stop playing his flute and play with the other man, but Cara’s song overwhelmed him and his flute remained at his lips.
Up and down Adrian’s torso Ed ran his hands, but somehow never managed to interfere with his flute playing. The strong, rough hands felt good on him, just like they had a couple of nights earlier. The stirring within him grew, and the song changed. The music took on a life of its own, pouring out of him faster as the other man’s hands worked his body. They still soared through the air, held aloft by musical power, but from what Adrian could tell, nothing mattered to Ed but him. He’d never been the sole focus of someone before. It strengthened him. His tempo grew faster, as did their flight.
Ed lowered his mouth to Adrian’s stomach. The touch of the soft lips sent shivers across him, but he didn’t miss a note. The tune changed again, higher now, more electric. Cara’s song changed too, matching Adrian’s, moving far beyond what the real Cara could do in the way of normal sounds. Ed kissed his way up and down Adrian’s stomach and chest. He suckled on the large nipples nestled in blond hair, and the music matched each movement, changing with the growing pressure. When his fingers closed around Adrian’s cock, the flutist finally missed a note, but kept up with the tune Cara maintained.
When Ed’s mouth encircled the head of Adrian’s dick, it was almost more than the flutist could bear. A long, shrill note came out of the flute, carving a path of desire through the blue sky. Cara gave a loud trumpet to match. Again, as when he’d pleasured Ed, Adrian knew he wasn’t going to last long, dream or no dream.
As much as he wanted to lower the flute from his lips and return the pleasure Ed was providing him, he couldn’t. Something kept him playing, although now the melody was as ragged and gasping as his breath. Never in his life had he even thought about playing while getting a blow job, let alone from a man as hot as Ed.
Shrill notes merged with the elephant’s trumpets as the orgasm racked his body. Ed never lifted his mouth, until Adrian was ready to scream from the sensation. Then Ed slipped Adrian’s still-hard cock from his mouth. Cum dripped down onto Ed’s smooth chin as he looked up into Adrian’s eyes and smiled. The elephant trainer straightened up so he stood shoulder to shoulder with the flutist, something that wasn’t possible in real life. Ed was slightly shorter that Adrian. His strong hands closed around Adrian’s, finally silencing the flute. Cara let the tune die too, and the three of them floated down to earth.
Ed’s kiss sent shivers through Adrian. His heart nearly burst as they embraced. There was so much he wanted to tell Ed, so much he needed to share.
The kiss ended, and Ed smiled that smile that took Adrian’s breath away. “You play beautifully. Together, you and Cara are like two… two….”
“Angels?”
Ed shook his head. “Like a satyr and a nymph, playing that seductive music of yours.” He pulled Adrian’s face back to his for another long kiss. In the distance, a buzzer rang, the discordant noise shattering the peaceful music they’d made.
Adrian frowned as Ed stepped back. “Where are you going?” “It’s time,” Ed replied as he and Cara turned to move away.
“Time? Time for what?” The buzzing grew louder, until it shattered the dream.
Across the room from Adrian’s bed, his alarm clock screamed at him to wake up.
Chapter 18
It was all Ed could do not to show his nervousness. He knew the elephants would pick it up, and that would make for a rough day of rides. Right after opening cannon, Margaret, from the office, came by to let him know that Bob had gotten hold of two of the local television stations and they’d be sending crews out at some point during the day. He’d informed her that Sonny and Clive would check about for security guards for them.
He didn’t even realize he’d missed lunch with Adrian until the flutist showed up about two and dragged him away after Bryan assured him everything would be fine until he got back.
Adrian looked tired.
“What’s the matter?” Ed asked as they stood in line for a quick bite to eat. “You look exhausted.”
The flutist perked up. “Up late working on music, which I�
��ve got to play for you and Cara after closing cannon.”
“Me and Cara?”
They took their food from the serving wench and headed for a table where Ed could see the elephant ride.
Adrian smiled. “Yeah. After I finally went to sleep, I had this dream that I was playing the music I wrote last night for you and Cara. It was incredible.”
“The music or the dream?”
“Both. We were both naked, and the three of us were flying through the air.”
Being with Adrian relaxed Ed for the first time since the cannon fired. “You know, it’s not a good idea to be naked around elephants.”
Adrian frowned. “Tell me why. Then I’ll finish the dream.”
Ed grinned wickedly. “They laugh at the size of our trunks.”
Adrian rolled his eyes dramatically. “Anyway…. In my dream, I couldn’t stop playing the flute, even when you started playing with me.”
Ed swallowed a chunk of steak. “How was I playing with you?”
“At first, just running your hands over my chest, then you started playing with other things.” Behind Adrian, Ed watched a woman stand up in a hurry and grab her child by the arm and haul her away. He resisted the urge to laugh and continued to listen to the dream. “So while I’m playing, the tune changes and you start blowing me.”
“With Cara there?”
“Yeah, with Cara there. I can’t stop playing the flute, and when I cum I play this long high note, and Cara trumpets like she did the other day with Ciro. Then you take the flute out of my hands, and we go back to earth right in time for the alarm to go off.”
“So has that been a fantasy of yours?”
“What, floating through the air with you and Cara?”
Ed shook his head as he chewed a french fry. “Nope, the getting a blow job while playing.”
Adrian looked thoughtful. “You know, until that dream, I’d never even imagined it. I’m too reciprocal with sex to really enjoy just getting serviced.”
“You mean you never did glory holes and things like that, just to get a blow job?”
“Nope.”
Ed shrugged. “Might be the difference between big city and small town upbringing.” Then he got his wicked look again. “But from what I remember about the other night, you don’t mind just servicing.”
A soft chuckle escaped Adrian, and he nearly choked on his pita. “If the other night hadn’t ended so abruptly for me, I wouldn’t have minded you returning the favor.”
Ed handed him a napkin so he could dab a bit of sauce that ran into his goatee. “So does the dream count to make us equal, or do I need to be prepared to show you my technique in real life?”
Holding the napkin just inches from his mouth, Adrian smiled. “I think I want to experience your style in real life. But I should warn you, the dream will be a lot to live up to.”
Down the lane, several people, one of whom was toting a large camera, approached the elephant ride. Ed jumped up. “The news crew is here. I need to get down there.” He caught Adrian’s hand for a second and squeezed. “See you after cannon.”
“You bet. Like I said, I’ve got music for you and Cara.”
He couldn’t resist. Ed brought Adrian’s hand up to his lips, then let go and ran down the lane to his booth.
Ed stopped his run before the news crew noticed him, slowed to a walk, ran his hands over his hair, and brushed at his tunic. There were two men and a woman who looked like they were together. The woman, tall, athletic, and African American, held the microphone. While one of the men looked through a notebook, the other, the largest of the three, settled the camera on his shoulder.
“Hi, can I help you?” Ed asked the woman as he approached.
“Are you with the elephant ride?” she asked.
Ed nodded. “Ed Costa, I run the ride and own the elephants. The office said you might be by today.”
“Tandy Waters, local news out of Dallas. So you know why we’re here.”
“Yeah, you’re here to see how we operate and that the animals are all well taken care of.”
Tandy pursed her lips and frowned. “Essentially, yes. We’re officially doing an exposé on the animals at Scarborough Renaissance Festival. How they’re treated and their working conditions. We’ve already talked to the petting zoo guy and the falconer. Now let me tell you, I’m not real comfortable around animals. Those birds and that llama scared me.”
Ed’s heart sank. Why did the news station send someone who was afraid of animals to do the piece? This has all the makings of a major disaster. “So do you want to just observe from out here or go behind-the scenes?”
“It’s an exposé, Mr. Costa. We need to go behind-the-scenes. So what I’d prefer to do is interview you out here, then send Stan, my cameraman, back with you. Sorry, but I don’t need to get too close to anything as large as an elephant. We got a little footage of the baby over there by the tree. He sure is a cute little guy, but still bigger than I’m comfortable with.”
“Tandy, if we’re going to visit the jousters and still get this done for the evening news, we need to get a move on,” the man with the clipboard said.
Tandy sighed. “Okay, Tom, is Stan ready?” The cameraman nodded.
“Where do you want me?” Ed asked, wishing for a moment that he had time to go check himself in a mirror before the cameras rolled, but he didn’t want to irritate either Tom or Tandy with the request.
“Right where you are is fine,” Stan said after looking up at the cloudless blue sky. He moved around Ed and Tandy so the ride was behind them. Patrons stopped to look.
“Okay, let’s try and get this done in one take,” Tom said. He gestured to Stan, who nodded. “Rolling.”
“This is Tandy Waters reporting. We’re at Scarborough Renaissance Festival with Mr. Ed Costa, the man who runs the popular elephant and camel ride here at the faire. Mr. Costa, how long have you been running the elephant ride here?”
“I’ve been running it for five years. Before that I worked it with my father, and that’s going on seventeen years now.”
“And are these the same elephants you’ve had the whole time?”
“No, Tandy,” Ed replied. “We’ve had several elephants over the course of the years. Gwen and Cara have both been with us seven years. I don’t believe in overworking my animals. Neither did my father. When one gets too old to work comfortably, we retire her. That’s actually why Cara and her baby are here. Normally, I’d keep a mother with a baby less than a year old at home, but our third female was diagnosed with arthritis, and I decided it was time to retire her. There weren’t any other elephants that had been socialized enough on the market, so I opted to bring Cara and little Ciro. It’s good for the baby, since he’ll get used to lots of people being around from an early age. I believe animals in captivity should be as socialized as possible. It makes their lives more comfortable and easy.”
When he stopped, Ed wondered if he’d gone on too long. He’d never been interviewed for television before and wanted to make it sound like a great place for the elephants.
“You sound like you care about your animals, Mr. Costa,” Tandy said.
Ed nodded. “They are part of my family. I treat them as well as I do my own son.”
Tandy turned and looked around the corral. “I don’t see any chains around. Don’t most places use chains to hold their elephants down and keep them under control?”
“I’ve trained my elephants well enough that we don’t use chains on them. I respect them. They respect me. We work on a basis of mutual trust. You’ll also notice that we just use a simple wooden cane to guide the elephants along as they walk. Traditionally, folks used wooden clubs with big spikes in them to get the elephant’s attention. Working through respect and rewards, we get a much better response and have a better bond with the animals.”
“So what do you say about accusations that you’re being cruel to these animals?” Tandy continued.
Ed shrugged. “I invite anyone who t
hinks we’re being cruel to these animals to come down and see for themselves. I can’t speak for all the elephant acts out there, but our elephants are happy, healthy animals that enjoy the opportunity to work with people. In the wild, elephants are extremely social animals. We make sure ours have plenty of interaction, both with humans and other elephants.”
“Cut,” Tom said. “I think we have enough talking. Why don’t you take Stan into the enclosure and show him around a bit. Tandy and I will wait here.”
Ed glanced at Stan and his bulky camera. “I think we should take you through the gate, as opposed to through the fence.”
Stan nodded. “Sounds good.”
“So what kind of shots would you like to get?” Ed led the man to the gate near the wall.
“A little footage of one of your guys leading an elephant around with the cane, and maybe some close-ups of the baby would be nice.”
“We can do that.”
They got just inside the gate, and Ed motioned for Stan to stop. Ahead of them, Bryan was just leading Gwen away from the loading stand with a howdah full of passengers.
“If we stand right here, they will pass close by us.” He looked over at his brother and motioned for him to use the cane. Luckily, it was a common motion since, when they were working elephants at home, they often didn’t have the opportunity to speak to each other, and hand gestures got the point across. Bryan nodded and hooked the cane around the tip of Gwen’s trunk so Stan could get a good picture.
Once Gwen had strolled leisurely past them, Stan nodded. “That was good. Now the baby?”
Under the large tree on the far side of the corral, Cara stood with Ciro at her side. The little guy was just about to begin nursing. Cara still had her howdah on, since it was too awkward to take them off when an elephant took a break. Ed led Stan straight across the enclosure and stopped about ten feet from the mother elephant.
“Is this close enough?” he asked. “I’m not honestly sure how she’ll react to the camera.”