“Put it down. Put it down..., you do not need it. You need not be frightened of me. Now get your ass out of here. There are three others downstairs who will be up here soon. They may not see this as I do. I won’t be able to do anything to hold them off. I should have done this to the fucker a long time ago,” he said, putting his gun to McIntyre’s body and firing another shot.
Larson took the rope from Santiago and finished lowering Kim to safety. Larson retied the rope around Santiago’s shoulders and pushed him toward the edge of the roof.
“Hurry,” he said.
“But why are you doing this?” Santiago really wanted to know.
“Because I was also one of McIntyre’s boys a few years back. That was before he was chased out of Dublin. I followed him when I heard he had come here. That bastard did a real job on me and on many other boys as well. With six years separating us from the last time he had seen me, he never knew who I really was. I’ve wanted to do this for a long while and have just been waiting for the right time. Thanks for giving it to me! He won’t be bothering any more boys! Thanks, it took you to show me up. You did my job for me. I owe you this! And listen Santiago, I will be looking for you and if I see you or that other little shit any where near here, I’ll have the both of you turning so many customers that the last three months will seem like a vacation!”
“Thank you Señor. You will not see me again, I promise!”
He went over the edge and saw Kim waiting for him, hidden in the shadows.
“Take the carriage...,” Larson called down. “Get away from here quickly” He threw down four coins. “Buy clothing and hide for a few days. Now be gone with you!”
Santiago took the reins and drove the carriage out of the alley. Several men saw the carriage with the two near-naked boys and assumed the carriage was being stolen and made no attempt to stop them. When Santiago wondered where to go, he remembered Wexler. He looked at Kim and found him crying and smiling at the same time. The boy had never looked as happy. In a deserted alley off Montgomery Street they left the carriage and proceeded on foot, carefully staying as inconspicuous as possible.
“Where are we going? What will we do?” Kim asked.
“I know someone...,” Santiago tried reassuring him. “I think he will have dry clothing. He is a good man. We will be all right there.”
“But, Santiago, what will we do after?”
“First things first, little brother!”
With those words Kim began to cry and all the terror, depression, hate..., all the emotions that had been suppressed because they had become too overwhelming, broke into a catharsis of tears. Kim felt Santiago’s arms around his shoulders and he let himself be led. Deep within, Kim discovered a new kind of love that went beyond words. The emotion was so complex that it filled him with awe and all he could do was cling to the boy beside him to maintain the physical bond.
Wexler showed little surprise at the sight of the two boys at his back door. He was accustomed to having boys show up at odd times, looking for help, money, soup, or a place to sleep. What was strange about these two was that each looked as though they had been robbed and stripped. He led them inside once assured they were not being observed. Wexler told Santiago to pull the shades while he brought together food and clothes. After the boys had changed into dry clothing and were fed, he asked for an explanation.
As Santiago spoke Wexler inspected the little boy sitting nearby who quietly listened. Wexler had no doubt that there had been torture as evidenced by the boy’s blackened eyes and the many bruises and open sores. The child had been starved. McIntyre had gone too far and reached a new low in baseness. When he heard Santiago say McIntyre was dead, he could not refrain from clapping his hands partially from the joy of feeling retribution and of being relieved from the pressures and extortion that he had been made to suffer through his own sexual addictions. It took almost an hour for Santiago to explain what had happened during the past several months. He could see that this ordeal had left both boys scarred.
“I think before you make further plans of what you are to do, that you both should sleep. We can discuss all this later when you have clearer heads. In the meantime I have no doubt McIntyre’s men will be searching for you. I don’t think all this is will be reported to the authorities. They would have to act on it and the scandal would affect too many people in high positions. That would open us to the Alcade. But I see a form of justice here. I think when the story gets out, and it will, about what McIntyre was doing up there, there will be less of an inclination to pursue your capture.”
Wexler prepared his storeroom by putting several layers of blankets on the damp floor. He lit a lantern and hung it from the rafter. The boys settled themselves, each wrapped around the other and before Wexler had climbed the ladder to the kitchen, Santiago and Kim were peacefully asleep.
Kim was the first to awaken. He could not adjust to the luxurious feeling of being free and the thought that the boy who was lying beside him, his warm breath licking the nape of his neck, was the one who had rescued him from hell. He listened to Santiago’s deep breathing and again felt the hardness that was nestled between his buttocks. He moved himself against it. Santiago stirred at the sensation in his surging cock. Kim moved himself again and this time he heard his friend moan with pleasure. He held his legs tightly so that they embraced the cock and he slowly slid his thighs back and forth in a form of masturbation. Santiago picked up the rhythm and proceeded to kiss Kim about the shoulders and neck as he reached around and fondled the boy’s erection, a little thing compared to his own. With a deep devotion and a need to express the love they felt for each other, they made love in the only way they knew.
Afterward, they continued embracing for some time.
“I have been thinking,” Santiago said, cuddling the boy closer.
“About what?”
“Us!”
“What do you mean?”
“Well, what will you do now Kim?”
“I don’t know. I thought you were going to think of something.”
“I have!”
“Does it have anything to do with me, Santiago? Will we stay together?”
“Is that what you want?”
“Yes very much. Do you?”
“I suppose I would not mind having a little brother. But you know what we just did is not something that brothers are supposed to do together.”
“Oh...? Michael and I did it all the time!”
Santiago laughed. “To be honest, my brother and I did also. Kim, how would you like to go far away from here?”
“To where?”
“Peru!”
“Peru...? You are going back home? Where will you get the money to buy passage?”
“I have something that is worth a great deal of money. My Mr. Bolen is holding it for me. It is a gold nugget as large as my two thumbs. We could use that.”
“When will we do this?”
“As soon as I can speak to Vincent and have him get it for me. We must be careful not to be seen by the wrong people. I will try to find him after dark. We will wait here until then.”
Kim became so filled with excitement and expectation that he could hardly be contained, no longer able to lie still he found that he needed to get to use the latrine just to move.
“Then let us go back upstairs. I don’t know what time it is. Perhaps it is late enough for Wexler to be closed.”
It was just after five o’clock when they climbed the stairs to the kitchen and waited in a corner where they could not be seen by anyone in the restaurant. Wexler came in for loaves of bread.
“Ah..., the two desperadoes are awake and ready for food no doubt. Word of the killing is all over town. They found the carriage. A few of McIntyre’s men were here to eat this afternoon and were talking. Some of them were not saddened by his demise. But that does not place you in better graces. You struck out against one of their kind and therefore must be punished. They would have my head if they knew I was hiding you.
That’s why you must get away quickly. Stay hidden. It would be better if you remained in the cellar until I close. Then we can think of what to do.”
“But I know what to do,” Santiago said. “I have given it much thought. It will require help from you, I think.”
Wexler looked thoughtfully, wondering how much deeper he would embroil himself in the matter. It was hard for him to draw a line at helping a pretty boy who asked. “I will do what I can, but for now we must put that off until I close. Stay below. Take some food with you. Help yourself to whatever you want in those pots.”
“But I have to piss,” Kim complained.
“Do not go to the outhouse. You may be seen. Here, take this. Leave it outside the door when you finish.”
Wexler handed the boy a tin pail. Each used it. Wexler returned to the front of the restaurant and the boys went to the cellar with food and cold tea.
When they were finished talking, Wexler agreed to make contact with Vincent that night. He would go to Belle’s and ask to speak to the boy. Wexler thought the plan that Santiago had offered a good one. If the boy did have the wealth he claimed, booking passage could be done in a day’s time, assuming a ship would be found. Wexler knew the news of the boy’s exploits would travel widely, and many captains would be reluctant to carry them. Still, enough money would accomplish the necessary convincing.
Belle knew immediately that something was amiss. Wexler had asked to see Vincent without asking to buy him. Wexler never used Belle’s services. Boys came to him in trade or food and clothing, and sometimes he gave them money. She ushered Wexler into her office and closed the door.
“All right Wexler, tell me what this is all about? And let me tell you that I have my own idea. But let me hear what you have to say, first.”
Wexler had known Belle for as long as she had been in town. He knew her for the hard business woman that she was, but also knew her to be fair and kind in spite of her business in the flesh-market. She did not mistreat the boys. Wexler suspected her sentiments about McIntyre were probably the same as those of most who had dealt with him.
“You’ve heard about McIntyre?”
“Who hasn’t!” Belle said, making no judgment of her opinion.
“You heard how it happened?”
Belle went to the sideboard and poured two whiskeys.
“Wexler, are you here as the official town-crier? Or are you here to tell me something I don’t know! Now something in all this has to do with one of my boys?”
“Belle, I have to know how you feel about it.”
Belle leaned into the ottoman and crossed one leg over the other.
“The bastard’s time was up! Play with fire and you get burned. McIntyre got burned. Goddammit I knew that Peruvian boy was a passionate little fucker when I saw him! They say he was really protecting the twin? What do you know about it?”
Wexler sensed he could tell her the truth. Perhaps if there were others to share his secret, they could lessen his burden. He told her everything.
“So..., you’re the one who put them up! Well for Christ’s sake Wexler I didn’t think you had the balls. Congratulations! I know your neck is on the block if they find out. I’ll do what I can. Tell me why you want to see Vincent. What has he got to do with all this?”
Wexler sipped his whiskey, feeling better about his decision. He could see that Belle was on his side.
“Santiago tells me that one of Vincent’s gentleman friends is holding a large gold nugget for him. He hoped Vincent could get it back. I know it’s Bolen and that he was hurt recently. It might be difficult for Vincent to see him.”
“He already has,” she said. “Wait here.”
Belle returned with Vincent.
“Wexler has something to tell you. It’s important that what he says stays with you, understand?”
Vincent nodded.
“Good. Then light yourself a pipe and sit down.”
Vincent helped himself to Belle’s hashish and listened as Wexler related recent event.
“So you see...,” Wexler said hopefully, “We need to find some way of getting at the gold. They’re at my place and need to get out of town. The little one..., he’s not well. I wish he could be seen by a doctor. They were using him pretty badly. Santiago says that Mr. Bolen has gold that belongs to him and he wanted to see if you could get it.”
Vincent took a long draw of the pipe and inhaled deeply, holding the smoke until he could feel it permeate his entire body. He exhaled, smiling broadly.
“I have it!”
“What?” Belle looked at him in disbelief. “You said nothing of this to me!”
“I got it this afternoon. Yesterday when I saw Bolen I had stopped near McIntyre’s peghouse and saw Santiago and the boy on the roof. I spoke to them. Santiago said he was fearful of what was happening to Kim and asked if I could get Bolen to do anything. But I guess he decided to take things into his own hands. Anyway, when I saw Bolen I mentioned the nugget and that it would probably be better if I had it. Belle..., I was going to tell you about it and ask for you keep it safe..., honest!”
Belle walked across the room and pulled the cord that summoned her maid.
“It seems that things have fallen nicely into place. There’s only one thing to do. Get the boys and bring them here. They’ll be safe.”
The maid entered and Belle instructed her to get her wrap and have the carriage made ready.
“You stay here,” she said to Vincent. “Go get the nugget now. I’ll put it away.”
Vincent stood and reached into his pants, digging at his crotch.
“Here it is,” he said, laughing. “I kept it with my precious.”
Belle slapped the boy on the shoulder and began to laugh with him. Wexler looked longingly at where Vincent had removed the rock and joined the laughter. Belle took it and went to the safe she kept hidden from view, behind a seven foot Chinese screen.
“You have the night off,” she told Vincent. “Stay here until I get back. Wexler, come with me. We’re going for the boys.”
They left by the rear entrance and came into the street from the alley to see the crowds that were beginning to arrive for the business of gambling, drinking, and whoring. Wexler drove the carriage with Belle sitting beside him. They pulled into the alley behind the restaurant and Wexler called out to the boys as he unlocked the door.
“It’s me, boys. I brought Belle. Come out.”
She saw the two boys move from the shadows and could not believe that the taller of the two was the same boy she had seen the night they met. Santiago’s incredible sensuality was still present but it had become blurred by the abuse of opium, too little sleep, and too much sex. Both boys were suffering withdrawals as their bodies shook with tremors, their eyes reflecting the coldness that comes with living only for shandoo. Then she took note of the little one and recalled how pretty he had been, not near death as he appeared now. Belle kneeled and looked into his eyes.
“My God, what have they done to you! Mercy to heaven..., to think that I sold you to that bastard! Forgive me?”
She picked up Kim and held him in her arms. She could feel his bones. Belle began to cry.
“You’re coming with me,” she said after regaining her composure. “You’re safe now!”
CHAPTER TWENTY ONE
McIntire was killed on July 2nd. On July 4th the harbor began to fill with ships arriving
to celebrate the American holiday. Belle knew the town would be bustling and that on the following day many ships would be leaving. She thought this the best time to secure passage for the boys.
Doctor Spencer had been called to examine Kim and Santiago. He found the older boy to be suffering from drug withdrawal and gave him a small amount of opium to balance his sickness. Kim was feverish, a result of excessive drug use and starvation. The boy also had an infection resulting from the use of dirty syringes. There were no broken bones but his sides were badly bruised from beatings suffered at the hands of McIntyre and customers
. Dr. Spencer wrapped him tightly for support. Kim suffered deliriums for two days. His fever finally broke, leaving him utterly depleted and weak but obviously in better health than when he had escaped.
Belle spoke to Santiago and felt uneasy about his plans to return to Peru. He amazed her with the story he told of his adventures since he had arrived in San Francisco with his father. As he spoke, she watched the gentle boy and found it difficult to imagine him reacting with the degree of violence he claimed to have used on those who had caused him injury. She had no doubt, however, that he was capable of caring for himself. He had proven his ability.
Santiago was adamant about taking Kim with him. It was obvious that he cared deeply for the boy. She knew Kim had no one else, save a father who had long since disappeared. It seemed a good turn for him to have found Santiago and so she resolved to protect them and get them safely boarded.
She placed the nugget that Vincent had given her, in the safe. The rock weighed almost twenty-five ounces and was valued at approximately $400[2]. Having had the gold assessed by a jeweler she knew, Belle added an additional $200 to the price, assuming the man had likely undervalued it by that much. Belle decided to keep the rock and give the boys the money in cash.
Belle called the boys to her. Since his arrival Santiago had spent all his waking hours with Kim, talking to him when he was awake and sitting by his side while he slept. As Dr. Spencer had examined Santiago, he told him that McIntyre and two of his men had been killed and that the operation had been taken over by one of McIntyre’s subordinates. He said that most who learned of McIntyre’s fate, thought justice had been done. The killer was assumed to have been a street-boy he had picked up. The story had been spread by one of McIntyre’s underlings, a man called Larson who had taken control. In any case life went on and business did not suffer. Little was to be done, given the dead man’s notoriety. Too many well known people would be exposed if the incident were made a topic of public conversation and curiosity.
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