PEG BOY (7 page)

Morning broke
to a sound of knocking on the door. The innkeeper announced that someone was
waiting for them. They dressed quickly and found Captain Alvarez seated in the
dining room, by an open window.

Introductions
were made over coffee as Captain Alvarez explained their duties. He took note
of the boy, happy that he was a health  and well built. Santiago looked as if
he was accustomed to work. After breakfast they followed Captain Alvarez to a
warehouse on the outskirts of the city. Men were busily loading wagons with a
cargo of cotton, llama fleece, coffee beans, fuel wood, and ingots of copper
and iron ore. Father and son helped with the fifteen remaining wagons to be
loaded that would travel to Callao, there to be transferred to the vessel that
awaited them for the journey that would eventually end in California. The men
were friendly and soon all were sweating, laughing, and swearing loudly as the
work progressed.

On the way to
Callao they sang songs that made Santiago blush, for he was not accustomed to
such language in the presence of his father. Don Emilio thought of raising an
objection but decided the boy needed to adjust to such talk as it would likely
occur throughout the coming months. These men were not about to change their
ways because of a boy, and it was time that Santiago learned about the world.
He could make his own decision of the degree to which he would participate.

By the end of
the long journey Santiago was covered with the dirt of the road and was barely
distinguishable from the other men. He had joined them in their ribald humor
once he saw that his father would not object. Like the others, Santiago called
to the many señoritas who walked the road and although his suggestive comments
were enjoyed by the other men, Santiago did not put heart in them, his eyes
seeking the faces and backsides of the handsome peasant boys. This interest was
not lost on the Captain. He had noted the boy’s wily smile and alluring eyes,
and had seen men and boys on the road who had returned Santiago’s gaze. It
promised to be a pleasant sailing!

A
lthough
Callao was no more than ten miles away, the journey took four hours. Because of
the heavy loads, the wagons moved slowly. Much of the road was downhill and speed
at which they moved had to be reduced and kept in check so that the momentum
would not cause any of the wagons to go out of control. The city could be seen
from several miles away as they began the descent and as they approached,
Santiago saw the masts of ships in the harbor. Even from the hills he could
smell the acrid scent of drying fish and rotting timbers of the waterfront.
Gulls were everywhere, scavenging the waste left by fishermen.

Santiago had
traveled most of the way with Captain Alvarez, who had suggested this so they
could get to know each other. He was a tall man by Spanish standards. His skin
was tanned and weather-beaten, with an olive complexion that made his dark eyes
seem particularly sensual. Santiago had liked the man immediately because he
had not ordered his men about but had asked them to do what needed to be done.
He gave each man respect and it was considered one of his admirable qualities.
There was a gentleness and kindness about him that attracted the boy.

Captain
Alvarez showed his concern by asking Santiago about his family and about his
likes and interests. He asked him what the boy intended to do about his future
and made Santiago feel important and worthy by giving him his ear. Santiago
could not take his eyes from Captain Alvarez’s hands and found them rugged and
graceful. He was attracted to the man’s chest and by the dark hairs that
exploded at the throat of the open blouse. In the middle of this patch of hair,
was a patch of almost-white that intrigued him. Although the Captain’s face was
angular and plain, the expressive eyes were so gentle that the boy thought him
handsome.

Captain
Alvarez threw his head back and laughed at some of Santiago’s questions
regarding the anticipated experiences.

“Do not look
so offended, Santi. I do not laugh at you. I laugh at how wonderful it is to
see a boy so filled with innocence and adventure.”

Santiago was
not sure he liked the shortened version of his name. Only Fidel had called him
that. But after the man had said it a number of times he grew accustomed to it.
By the time they arrived in Callao most of the crew was calling him by the name
as though its use had marked a new beginning.

It took two
days to load the cargo and tie it down as a precaution against high seas. Once
the work was completed the men were released for the remainder of the evening.
Most made their way to the town’s taverns and whorehouses. The ship’s deck was
crowded with passengers unable to afford the luxury of cabins or interior
quarters. The hardships of such a sailing was little compared to the hopes of
what they expected to realize when they arrived in the land of California

Santiago spent
his time on deck, fascinated by the many people who, like him, were embarking
on an experience of which they knew little but what they had been told. There,
he met a boy from Callao who explained that he always met the ships because so many
of the crew enjoyed the company of boys instead of women and with them, he made
a good wage selling himself. This was disclosed after the boys had spent some
time together. Without knowing that Santiago was a
maricon
, the boy
confided in him that he might be able to earn a few
pesos
on the
journey. He took Santiago aside and with a bottle of wine they shared that had
been payment for his services, he informed him that he had serviced the Captain
regularly whenever he was in port. Santiago was not surprised, as he had
suspected the man of that inclination.

“Why do you do
this,” he asked. “Is it because your family is poor, Fernando?”

Fernando
laughed. “No. My family is not poor. My father is well-to-do. He owns a
warehouse. It is because I love men, and it makes no sense to make love to them
without getting paid, if they are willing.”

Santiago sat
with Fernando as they dangled their legs between the balustrades of the upper
deck, watching the sailors leave the ship for their evening pleasures. Fernando
snickered.

“My father
learned that I was doing this and he forbade me from coming here, but I still
do. I could never get his permission to sail on a ship. He would know
immediately why I was doing it and would send his men to carry me off. Doing
this in this way gets me what I want and father thinks I am being a good boy.”

Santiago
whispered to his new friend, “Fernando, what if I do what you suggest and sleep
with the Captain. What if my father finds out? He would tear me apart. Should I
let the Captain do what he wishes? I am sure he has interest in me. I would not
mind making love to him if I knew father would not know of it.”

“You must
surely be careful. But Captain Alvarez is a cautious man and does not take
chances. Few of the crew knows that he likes boys, although some suspect it.
You must not let anyone know you are letting him have his way. If that happens,
you will quickly become the target of each man who fancies you.”

“I will be
careful and will not place myself in that position.”

Both boys were
feeling the effects of a near empty bottle of wine. Each sensed interest in the
other and Santiago was reluctant to let his new friend leave.

“Will you come
to see the ship set sail tomorrow? I would like to say good-bye to you,
Fernando.”

Fernando
looked at Santiago with a smile that had implications.

“I know a
place where we can say our good-byes tonight! Will you come?”

“Fernando...,
are you...”

“Santiago, I
am what I am. And I think I am like you. Will you come with me now?”

Santiago
followed Fernando off the ship to a deserted part of the wharf where they took
off their clothes and made love. Although it was wonderful, it fell short of
the sensations he had felt with Fidel. Yet he was able to give his new friend
pleasure as he felt the satisfaction of having Fernando climax in him. They
kissed and held each other for a long time, then Fernando rose to leave with a
promise that he would see Santiago set sail.

Santiago found
his way back to the ship. As he walked up the gangplank it creaked and it was
the only sound to beak the stillness beside the sound of lapping water against
the sides of the ship. Captain Alvarez was standing on the poop and had been
watching the boys for some time. When Santiago looked up, he motioned for the
boy to join him.

“You seem
lost, Santi. Has your friend left for the night?”

Captain
Alvarez saw Santiago look away with embarrassment when he realized he had been
discovered.

“He is a good
boy, Santi. You did well in choosing him for a friend. Fernando is wonderful to
be with, is he not?”

Once again
Santiago avoided the captain’s eyes.

“Do not be
ashamed. I understand you, Santiago. I know how you feel. We are brothers, in a
sense. I would like to make your journey a pleasant one for you and your
father. You could make it pleasant for me as well. We can be of use to each
other. But
only
if you are willing! You must not misunderstand what I am
saying. I would continue to like you even if you said no to me. I will not
force from you what you do not care to give. Do you understand what I am saying
to you, boy?”

Santiago
turned and faced the Captain.

“Yes, I know
what you are saying. I do want to be with you. I would enjoy being with you
when you wanted me. I want you!”

“Then we
understand each other. Good! All I ask is that you be careful that no one knows
what we are doing. Some will wonder. There is always talk of these things among
the crew, and there is always speculation about the captain and his cabin boy.”

“Am I to be
your cabin boy?”

This was a
favored position. The cabin boy dined on what the Captain was served – a better
diet than the one fed to the rest of the crew. The cabin boy also slept in his
own quarters, albeit extremely compact, next to the Captain’s. This meant more
comfort and warmer nights.

“I will tell
your father, and ask for his permission. Do you want this?”

“Oh yes,
Señor. I would like it very much.”  Santiago could not hide his excitement.

“Good, then
let us hope he will be agreeable. Now it has grown cold and the fire in my
cabin is lit. Come with me and we can share a bit of brandy to warm us.”

Santiago
followed. The room was small and compact, with charts everywhere. The bed was
set in an alcove built into the wall and it was curtained for privacy. Santiago
went to it and sat. He accepted the glass of brandy and their hands touched and
lingered. Captain Alvarez sat on a stool in front of him. Santiago felt the
warm liquid flow down his throat and spread throughout his body.

“Make yourself
comfortable, boy.” Captain Alvarez locked the door and disrobed. Santiago stood
and pulled off his shirt. In the pale light of the lantern the Captain saw the
satin luster of the boy’s skin. He saw the brown nipples already hard, and he
eyed the flat stomach as it contracted when the man reached to touch the erect
penis. Captain Alvarez fell to his knees and adored the boy before him,
caressing and kissing Santiago’s hips and thighs, touching his navel with his
tongue, letting it continue to explore the places offered to him. Santiago’s
eyes blazed with desire, fired by the passion of his first experience with a
man, sensing the power he had over the adult who begged for him.

When their
passion abated they stayed clasped together and remained so until a late hour
when they heard the sound of men returning from the town.

“You had
better get back to your bunk, Santi. No need to distress your father. Although
I expect he will be little aware if you have been there or not. No need to take
chances now. Be cautious that no one sees you leaving my quarters. Tomorrow you
will bring your things here, with your father’s permission.”

Santiago stretched
and kissed Alvarez on the lips and let his hand stray to the still-hard cock.
He smiled coyly.

“I will be
good to this,” he said, cradling the penis in his hand.

“And I will be
a good cabin boy and will take my job seriously!” Santiago laughed.

Don Emilio
approved of Captain Alvarez’s offer.

“The work is
such,” Captain Alvarez explained, “that he will be free to work with you for
most of the day. I will need him to maintain order in my quarters. He will be
away from the other men and their rough ways.”

Don Emilio was
grateful and expressed his thanks.

“You are kind
to think of the boy. I would prefer that he be kept from the others. They seem
to have a bad influence with their language and manners. You have my
appreciation.”

“On the
contrary my friend! You have
my
appreciation for your willingness to let
me use your boy!”

Captain
Alvarez smiled and filled glasses with wine. They drank to Santiago’s health
and success.

With cargo in
the hold and sails set, they took the tide out of Callao on the 3rd of January.
The journey was to last approximately two months, perhaps longer if the winds
blew them off course. The
Torrid Zone
was known for its baffling and
often contrary winds. Ships had been blown out to sea almost as far as the
Pacific Islands.

Though the
purpose of the ship was to transport trade goods, the Captain would not ignore
the many ports along the route in which hundreds were near-hysterical to book
passage to the gold fields. His revenue could be significantly increased. All
the ship’s living quarters had been filled in Callao. Now only the deck was
available and it began to overflow with people, most of whom were Peruvians. In
each port they registered more passengers. In Manta and Ecuador they took on
bananas, coffee, and cacao along with human cargo. They docked in Buenaventura,
a seaport of some importance in Colombia. There, more fortune-seekers boarded
along with the bales of cotton that had lined the docks like walls of snow. The
last port of call before sailing to deeper waters and on to San Francisco was
Panama, where some of the earlier cargo was unloaded and was replaced with
grain and sugarcane.

It was in the
port of Panama that Captain Alvarez pointed out a marvelous ship to Santiago.
This new vessel was powered by a wheel turned by steam. It needed no sail and
could move under its own power. The ship was called
The California
. It
too was due to sail to San Francisco. Much ceremony and attention was accorded
the vessel and its crew by the town’s people and dignitaries, and was a wildly
commemorative event.

At sea each
day passed with little trouble. The weather held and the ship kept on course.
Santiago spent many hours on deck feeling the sun on his skin, loving the wind
as it blew through his hair. He fed the birds that seemed ever nearby the
ship’s side, keeping pace with its speed. In the evening he liked to sit on the
high cross-arm. Santiago had learned to climb the masts and hold securely to
the ropes high above the deck. He sat, watching the sun as it disappeared below
the horizon each evening, blazing the sky and clouds with shades of colors he
had never seen. At night Santiago watched the fish trace wakes of
phosphorescence, a ghostly marker of their presence. Each evening when the wind
seemed too cold to enjoy the solitude any longer, he would climb down and go to
Captain Alvarez’s arms. His sleep was always peaceful except for being awakened
to the sound of Fidel’s name on his lips – his eyes wet from the longing for
him.

Captain
Alvarez was careful not to show his new protégé too much attention during the
daylight hours. But in the quiet of the night there was nothing the man was not
willing to do for the boy. Although Santiago had his own tiny room beside the
Captain’s quarters with a door connecting, Santiago slept with him each night.
The main door was bolted for privacy.