Nickelback

nickelback

For two days after our abduction at the hands of the natives, we searched in vain for Pasqual. Our rations were low and our inspiration lower still, and I found myself unable to get the bizarre ritual of two days prior out of my head. I felt ashamed to think of such things, especially considering the horror with which Hembry, Watters, and Raleigh look back upon what happened. They have mentioned on more than one occasion that the best way to react to any similar situation would be extreme violence.

Finally, yesterday, we achieved some hope in our search. We were deep within the Eaglerigh section of the jungle when we came upon a young native man of roughly nineteen years of age. As I laid eyes upon his smooth, firm skin, I immediately thought back to a few weeks ago.

I turned my head away as Hembry gave the boy a description of Pasqual. The boy nodded his head in recognition. We followed him deeper into the brush.

We hiked for what felt like miles deeper into the thick green of the jungle. I hiked behind our guide, and finally had to remove my shirt, therefore leaving myself open for attack from the multitude of mosquitos, and wrap my shirt backwards around my waist in order to hide my growing interest. The others began to openly wonder if we were being fooled again, but within yet one more mile, the boy had led us to his campgrounds.

Their village was extravagant compared to what we were accustomed to at that point. The huts were extended into homes of two to three rooms apiece, and the center of the village was razed and cultivated into an extraordinarily memorable shrine to their leader. It came as only a minimal surprise that their leader of the moment happened to be Pasqual.

He showed us no recognition as the young man introduced us, and I couldn't help but feel awkward as the focus of my desire ran up to be at his side. I turned my head away, again hoping that the others wouldn't notice my disappointment. Pasqual stood in front of his throne and addressed us.

He welcomed us casually to his lair, still making no mention of his knowledge of us, then he walked among us eagerly, as if he was almost trying to intimidate us.

He stopped dramatically before me.

"There are simple rules to follow, if you want to live amongst us. Property is to be respected at all times, no matter whose property it may be. If said property is mine," his glance turned from my face to the young man, "then it is not only to be respected, but considered holy ground." He welcomed us again and then pointed us towards our huts.

The first night we all sat together trying to decide what exactly we should do. We considered trying to remove him from this place, but in time we agreed that he was happy here, and it was not within our rights to try and take him away from his happiness.

My thoughts, however, were elsewhere. Over the next few days in which we stayed in the village, the boy and I spent more and more time together. We often would sit in the village center discussing the politics of his community. His English was passable, thanks to Pasqual, and he helped me to learn more of the village dialect. Soon we were able to hold rather extensive conversations. On occasion, we would take long walks out beyond the village, even though this was strictly forbidden by Pasqual's verbal insistence.

Watters, Hembry, and Raleigh came to my hut to talk to me one night. They all tried to be polite about the matter, but it didn't take long for Raleigh to crumble and become blunt. He accused me of the most vile of crimes, and called me the lowest of names. His abuse lasted longer than I would have preferred, but finally the others grabbed him by his arms (which were flailing threateningly about my head) and escorted him out of my hut.

I sat alone for a while, thinking. I knew, of course, that to a certain extent they were right. Nothing positive could ever come out of my pursuit of the boy on the whole. But I could not concern myself with the overall picture. I knew what I wanted, and I knew I couldn't rightfully leave the village without knowing fully if I was in the right or not.

I decided there was no time to waste. I went looking for the boy. I found him not far from my own hut. He was sitting by the fire in the center of the village. I spoke to him briefly, yet gently, and soon he followed me back to my hut. We sat opposite each other for some time, and eventually he had the courage to offer his lips to mine. I met them, and the rest of the night
was as blissful as I could have never imagined. Afterwards, our sleep was deeper than I had experienced in weeks.

I was awoken by a sound outside of my hut. I tried to wake the boy, hoping to hide him before they came in, but I was too late. Pasqual and Raleigh entered my hut before I could react…