A Superior Slave (Ganymede Quartet Book 0.5) (3 page)

“
I’m
going to miss you,” Frankie told him. “Of all the big boys, you’re the best at reading to us and doing voices. I don’t know who’s going to read to us
now
.”

“Someone will want to do it,” Martin assured him, giving him a squeeze. “It’s fun, after all.”

“They won’t be as good as you, though.” Frankie seemed quite confident of this.

“They might be. Lots of boys are good at reading aloud.”

Frankie gave him a sidelong, dubious glance, doubting this very much. “It won’t be the same,” he insisted, and Martin didn’t argue with him on this point. It
wouldn’t
be the same.

“If I ask,” Frankie began, a hint of bargaining in his tone, “do you think they’ll tell me where you go? If I ask nicely?”

Martin shook his head. “You probably shouldn’t ask. I’ll go somewhere good, though, Frankie. I’ll have a good master, I’m sure of it.”

Frankie leaned heavily on Martin’s side and put his spindly little arm around the back of Martin’s waist. They were quiet for awhile, not having much more they needed to say.

Finally, Martin bent his head and said, “I think it’s near time, Frankie. Let’s say goodbye for real, all right?”

Frankie’s eyes welled with tears, but he gave a hard sniff and set his jaw and slid down from the bale to stand at Martin’s side. Martin knelt down and held his arms open, and Frankie threw himself into the embrace. His little body was hot and trembling, and he tightened his arms around Martin’s neck and clung.

“I love you, Frankie, and I’m going to miss you a lot.”

Frankie’s whisper was so hoarse it was almost inaudible. “I love you, too. I don’t want you to go.”

“You know I have to. Let’s both be strong, all right?” Martin rubbed Frankie’s back and tousled his hair. “It was lucky we got to know each other so well. Let’s remember all the fun we had and try not to be sad.”

The boys in the ring were sliding down out of the saddles.

“It’s your turn.” Martin quickly kissed Frankie on both cheeks and a last time on his forehead, smoothed his hair back from his face, squeezed his shoulders, and steered him toward the riding ring. “Go show Bonnie who’s boss.”

Frankie went to join his cohort, his back very straight, and there was a terrible empty pain in Martin’s chest as he watched him go. Frankie turned back for just a moment, hesitant, as if he doubted Martin would still be there, and gave Martin an unsteady smile before quickly turning away again. He would be all right in the end, Martin thought. As Frankie stepped into the ring, Martin turned and left the barn.

The sun seemed too bright, searingly bright, stinging Martin’s eyes. He did not know if he could bear to say goodbyes to any of the other little boys. They’d all been warned that the older boys simply might not have time for them, and that would have to be his excuse. After Frankie, he felt quite sure it would hurt his heart too much to look at their faces.

He made his way back to the dormitory. Their beds had already been assigned to the new crop of companions-in-training, so he went to the common room to wait until it was time to go to the station. Leo and Sandy were there already and beckoned him to their couch, and the three of them petted and soothed one another, Martin sprawled across his friends’ laps.

“You seem sad,” Sandy said, trailing languid fingers through the open neck of Martin’s shirt.

“I said goodbye to Frankie,” Martin told him. “The goodbyes are just going to get harder, I think.” And then he remembered who he was with, and the duration of their bond, and felt ashamed of his insensitivity.

But his friends didn’t seem to take offense. Leo said, “Most of us will end up in the city, don’t you think? We might have chances to see one another again.”

“We might,” Sandy echoed, his attempt to be optimistic seeming very valiant. He reached inside Martin’s shirt and brushed his fingertips over a nipple, grinning when Martin squirmed. “Do you want me to do it again?”

“Do what you want,” Martin suggested, arching his back a little by way of encouragement.

Any other day, they wouldn’t have been bold enough to kiss and caress in the common room, but today was different. They no longer belonged here, rogue elements with nowhere to be, and it seemed like the regular rules should no longer apply. Leo bent to kiss Martin, holding him where he wanted him with a hand twisted in his hair, and Sandy was ready to claim Martin’s mouth when Leo broke away gasping.

Martin enjoyed kissing both Leo and Sandy, but even more he liked watching them together. They were the only real lovers of their group, devoted to one another for most of their short lives, and they had a tender, passionate regard for one another that made Martin ache for a lover of his own. Maybe there would be another slave in his new household who would care for him, someone who would appreciate every loving thing Martin had learned in company with all the clever, beautiful boys of his cohort.

The other boys drifted in singly and in pairs and observed what was happening with interest, then made similar arrangements for themselves. By the time all twenty-three companions had settled in the common room, necking in pairs and little groups, the atmosphere was charged and thick with the smell of wet, aroused boy. No one had yet dared unbutton his trousers, however, when Mr. Elliott swept in and clapped his hands loudly.

“Boys! Boys! We leave for the train in
five minutes
! Put yourselves in order, please!”

Immediately, boys broke apart and began buttoning their shirts and retying their hair, red-faced.

“Use the toilet if you need,” Mr. Jacob reminded them. “It’s forty minutes to the station and we won’t be stopping along the way.”

Their minders herded them toward the wagons, and the boys working in the garden near the barn where the wagons were kept all put down their hoes and spades and came to say goodbye and offer encouragement. It was heartening to see how much goodwill the rest of the boys in the House had for companions. Martin was hugged and had his cheek kissed by boys he wasn’t sure he’d ever seen before and then climbed up into the wagon in good spirits.

While they settled in the wagons, a minder for the twelves—or, rather, the thirteens now—hustled up with a set of pretty blond twins, Conrad and Gideon, who would serve as decoration at the auction. They would stand at either side of the showroom doors handing out Ganymede favors, blue ribbons and miniature silver chalices, to all potential bidders.

Conrad and Gideon were certainly attractive enough to make companion, but they’d be training as footmen. People liked having matched sets of footmen, so identical twins were nearly always trained as such. A handsome matched pair could easily bring in as much as any two quality companions.

The twins were gregarious, cheerful boys, well-known to the older boys simply because they were very visible about the farm and so notable for their likeness. Mr. Jacob seated them at the front of the wagon where he could keep an eye on them and gave the driver the go-ahead to depart.

Martin’s chest felt tight as they passed through the farm’s gate. Chances were good he’d never see the farm again. He’d known his whole life that he’d be going to New York City to be sold, and that he’d probably even live there, and the idea had always excited him. However, the farm was all he knew. It seemed as though everything familiar was being taken from him at once.

The day was bright and hot, and they all squinted in the sun as they sat swaying in the open wagons, the mood subdued and voices kept low. Mr. Jacob left his seat and came to sit beside Martin.

“Are you excited, Martin? We have such high hopes for you.” He patted Martins’ knee and gave it a squeeze.

Martin swallowed, suddenly nervous. “Y-yes, Mr. J. I
am
excited. I’m a little scared, though, too,” he admitted.

“Now, really, Martin, what do you have to be scared about?” Mr. Jacob smiled and put his arm around Martin’s back. “You’re a very special boy. We know you’ll find a good place.” He lowered his voice and said, “It’s the Standard boys who should be worried! Lazy Lloyd and poor, befuddled Rex! The Standard boys are the ones in competition with the stock at other Houses. Choice and Superior boys from Ganymede have
no
competition.” Mr. Jacob always sounded so sure of himself when he touted the superiority of his charges, but surely the boys at other Houses had
some
merits.

At the station, the auction-bound train was waiting for them on a siding. Cars for Orpheus and Perseus, Houses whose farms were further north, already held a full complement of young passengers. The Ganymede car was painted the familiar azure blue that marked all things that belonged to the House, GANYMEDE and the silhouette of a chalice painted in cream and outlined in black. The black-and-red car of House Apollo was coupled to it, and Apollo boys were already boarding. The Ganymede boys were all very interested in seeing their counterparts from competing Houses, but they were hurried onto their car without much opportunity to look around. Mr. Jacob and Mr. Elliott enlisted Winston, Lloyd, Rex and Philip—all Standard boys—to load the wicker hampers with their lunches and auction clothes while the rest of the boys found their seats.

Martin had seen hundreds of trains pass by on the tracks that ran alongside the Ganymede fields, but neither he nor any of the other boys had ever had occasion to ride one. The paint on the outside of their car appeared fresh, but the inside was well-worn, like most things at Ganymede. Martin had seen pictures of train cars with plush upholstered chairs for passengers, but this was not so fancy as that; the Ganymede car had two rows of utilitarian bench seats with a center aisle, and these quickly filled up with pairs of boys.

As it happened, everyone sat with his bed partner, but Martin hadn’t had a partner these last two years, so he was left to sit alone in a seat near the front. He’d thought to go squeeze in with Georgie, but just a glance in Georgie’s direction earned him a venomous glare from Noah, who clung possessively to Georgie’s arm, sticking to his side like a limpet.

Mr. Jacob and Mr. Elliott, along with the twins, were the last to board. Mr. Jacob directed the twins to sit in the front row opposite the car door. Mr. Elliott sat down on the other front row bench and turned to look back over the boys, his expression stern. Mr. Jacob stood in the aisle and clapped his hands.

“Boys! Boys, take your seats. Settle yourselves, please! There’s absolutely no need for you to be moving about. We’ll be underway in a matter of minutes.” He waited until they had quieted sufficiently before sitting down next to Mr. Elliott. They spoke in low voices, their heads inclined together. Martin wished that one of them would come sit with him, and he could certainly
ask
for that, but he wanted someone to notice that he was feeling left out.

He was being silly. Sighing, Martin turned around and faced front, then let his head tilt against the window, staring out unseeing at the rail yard. There was a strong jerk, metal groaned, and the car shuddered beneath them as the train began to slowly roll forward. Some of the boys gave a nervous, excited cheer, but Martin did not join in.

It was discovered that the car windows could be opened, and soon nearly every window stood open, the crosswinds stirring the boys’ hair and whipping their long tails into each other’s faces. The rumble of metal wheels on metal track had already been quite loud, but now it was a roar, and there was a strong smell of coal smoke.

“Keep your hands inside the car!” Mr. Elliott snapped. “Shut those windows!” There was some negotiation, and it was decided that four windows could remain open for ventilation, but heads and limbs were to remain inside the compartment at all times.

Once they were well clear of the depot, Mr. Jacob stood again. “Boys! Attention, please! I want to lay out the rules for our journey today.” He waited for quiet, his frown suggesting that his patience was finite. Gradually, the hubbub in the car quieted and Mr. Jacob had their attention.

“We know this is an emotional time for you, and you’ll want to say your goodbyes, but understand that we expect you to have gotten your fill of certain activities last night.” He paused while boys snickered and nudged one another. “Note, please: you are
forbidden
from engaging in intercourse from this point forward. You need to be
scrupulously
clean for the sale tomorrow. We don’t need any prospective master examining you and coming away with a mess.” There were more snickers, uncomfortable this time. No one would want to disgust or offend a prospective master!

“You may use your hands and mouths as you see fit until we get to the city—
within reason
. Keep your voices down—I’m talking to
you
, Mitch!—and don’t wear yourselves out.”

“What about when we reach the auction hall, Mr. J?” asked Ben.

“We won’t be needlessly strict,” Mr. Jacob said. “We’ll allow kissing
on the lips
tonight and before the sale, but nothing else, no other contact of any sort until your new master takes ownership and starts telling you what he wants you to do. Believe me, they’ll keep you busy. They’ve been anticipating this day just as much as you have.”

“We have a long ride ahead of us. We’ll have our lunch around 1 o’clock,” Mr. Elliott said, glancing at his pocket watch. “I’ll ask again: does anyone have any questions about the auction?” He looked out over the compartment and then shrugged. “Very well then. If you think of anything, I encourage you to ask.” He then turned to the twins. “Face forward and be good,” he said. “Let the big boys have some privacy.”

Evidently, Mr. Jacob did not trust the twins to obey Mr. Elliott; he dosed them from a bottle of laudanum to put them to sleep and patted their heads. He then sat down next to Mr. Elliott, effectively leaving the older boys to their own devices.

All around the car, conversations broke out, low voices chattering and negotiating favors. Martin turned around to look at his friends, but everyone he was especially close to was engaged with his seatmate in some intimate way, whether mere conversation or a more physical encounter, and he didn’t want to intrude.