6. Cape Town
"Agincourt" lay at anchor for quite some hours as we waited for a berth to become vacant at the busy wharves. Patience, not being one of Mr McAlister's virtues, caused him to become irritated at the delay and finally he took charge of one of the cutters and, with Mr Finch, Jim and I in tow, we were ferried ashore. According to Captain Neatby, we would have several hours before the task of supervising the transfer of the convicts to shore would arise.
We were rowed to one of the main jetties below the fort which overlooked Table Bay and, with McAlister in the lead, made our way to a seemingly dilapidated area near Three Anchor Bay, to the east of the fort. As we trooped along, I was astonished at the nature of the populace with its diverse physical and cultural characteristics and the sounds and smells were nothing which I had encountered in England.
McAlister and Finch obviously knew where they were going, having visited this place before and we were soon ensconced in a tavern where liquor and all manner of things were to be had. I was overwhelmed by my surroundings and didn't know what to look at first. Jim was similarly distracted.
As we settled down to have an ale I noticed that McAlister and Finch had already begun a review of the women who were lounging in an ante room and were earnestly engaged in a discussion of their relative charms. I looked at Jim whose face was turned in a different direction. He was staring intently at something and as followed the line of his gaze I was initially at a loss to see what had captured his attention. Puzzled, I considered the possibilities. The scene comprised of two swarthy, bronzed white men, one reasonably dressed female companion and a black servant who stood bare-chested in whitish cotton britches to one side of this small party.
Further examination suggested to me that Jim's attention was transfixed by the black man rather than any of the seated party.
"What's up?" I whispered into Jim's ear.
"Can't you see?" he replied.
"See what?" I asked.
Turning towards me Jim whispered: "Look at that black man. Look at what is hanging between his legs."
Gazing past Jim, I took a closer inspection and realised that Jim was captivated by the outline in the man's britches of a weapon of the most incredible size. It appeared to reach almost to the man's knees.
I laughed. "You've been on ship too long. And, in any event, something that big would kill you" I observed.
"Kill who?" asked Finch, catching the end of our discussion.
"Jim was considering the possibility of accommodating that black yonder," said I and Jim blushed.
"Was he indeed," replied Finch. "So you've developed a taste for it since we left Portsmouth, have you? And what about you my boy?" he enquired as he ruffled my hair playfully.
I put my hand on Mr McAlister's thigh and replied that I was more than accommodated fully by what I was offered at sea and that I was actually looking forward to the prospect of intimacy of a different nature.
Finch and McAlister laughed.
"Well, you shall both have your wishes." declared Finch. "This place can accommodate any tastes as you shall soon find out."
"Another ale first, I think" said McAlister and set about ordering another round.
As we drank a happy, buxom women approached our table and McAlister rose to greet her with great gusto. Mr Finch followed suit as Jim and I rose out of courtesy.
"Mary, my dear," said McAlister, "we are here only for a short while. We have to get back to our ship when she eventually berths but shall return this evening. Finch and I though we should arrange our entertainment now so that we might make the most of our time this evening. Let me introduce our companions. This is Christopher, a child in search of a child and this is Jim who apparently wants something more in the line of yonder black."
"Pleased to meet you," said Jim and I in unison, both of us blushing at the introduction made by McAlister.
"Boys, me establishment will make you most welcome, no matter what your requirements," said Mary. Turning to McAlister she suggested that perhaps we might have one of the larger rooms and a variety of entertainments for the evening. Come and we shall work out the details."
McAlister and Finch left with this large but pleasant lady to negotiate the arrangements while Jim and I finished our drinks.
When McAlister and Finch returned, our party left the establishment and made our way to the docks where the "Agincourt" was shortly to be tied up.
Once our ship was docked, the marines removed the convicts to the prison fortress for safekeeping and then returned to the ship where provisioning had already begun. The sun was setting behind the mountain as McAlister and Finch, with Jim and I in tow, headed for the bawdy house where unknown delight awaited us.
Mary greeted us upon our arrival and escorted us up the stairs and down a long passageway, finally stopping and throwing open the doors to a huge chamber, the likes of which I had never seen. Decorated with heavy drapes and large pictures of inferior quality, the rooms contained a number of couches, a large dining table and two huge four poster beds.
"Excellent!" exclaimed McAlister as we entered. "Let us dine on all the delights you have on offer, Mary my dear."
Mary laughed raucously and departed the room with an assurance that food and good company would shortly be with us.
No sooner had Mary left than the first of many surprises entered the room in the form of four young ladies scantily dressed and four young blacks wearing just very tight fitting britches. This company was usher into the room by a huge black man who carried with him an assortment of whips, canes and other gruesome looking implements. This overseer spoke quietly to McAlister as if seeking instructions.
Food and wine were delivered to the room as each of us was seated and attended to by the servants. We gorged ourselves with fine food and copious amounts of wine and, as we did so, we were gradually removed of our clothes. Our companions served us naked, all under the supervision of the ominous presence of the overseer of this tableau.
As we finished stuffing the last possible morsel of food into our mouths, McAlister took command and surveyed the way in which the eight servants had finished up being allocated. McAlister had the undivided attention of two of the women while Finch and I were being devoured by one of the men and one of the women at the same time. Jim was in the company of the remaining two men.
McAlister spoke to the overseer who translated his instructions and the three men and one woman who were attending to Jim and I were apparently instructed to leave us. They formed a line in front of us as Finch looked knowingly at McAlister.
"Jim, my boy," said McAlister, "you seem to have decided to enjoy the company of men this evening and so it shall be. It is time now for you to choose two of these fine young fellows - one for flogging and one for your bed. Which is it to be?"
"Flogging?" asked Jim. "Why?"
"Because it pleases Mr Finch and I to witness a flogging. Nothing drastic mind you but there is nothing quite so stimulating as watching and firm round backside being beaten. The girl will also be beaten, but do not fear Christopher, one of these (pointing to the two women on his lap) will attend to your virginity.
Jim was flabbergasted by the demand that he should choose one of the men to be beaten for no cause and it appeared to me that his decision was based upon a process of elimination. He pointed to the least attractive, and certainly the least well-endowed of the blacks and said "That one".
Without further ado, the overseer commanded the selected boy to drape himself over the back of one of the chairs and the girl to do the same. As they moved into position, McAlister shoved one of the girls off his lap and pointed at me and she immediately moved to my lap.
The overseer then brought the bundle of implements to McAlister who selected two - one a whippy cane and the other a fearsome looking whip.
As the women moved to attend to the rising organs of Mr McAlister, Mr Finch and I, the two remaining men moved to Jim and carried him to one of the couches where they began pleasuring him with their tongues.
I had no desire to watch the beatings and took my girl to another couch as McAlister and Finch moved onto the beds. I concentrated on the job in hand as the two unfortunates whom Jim has selected received alternate thrashings - the women with the cane and the man with the whip.
McAlister and Finch watched the beatings in fascination and with increasing ardor and finally the two victims were mercifully left alone as McAlister and Finch became immersed in their lovemaking. As I sought to acquit myself as expected, my arousal was heightened by the sight firstly of the man with Mr Finch impale him with his huge member and shortly thereafter by Jim gradually easing himself onto an organ which was almost the size of my fist. While Mr Finch let out a yelp as he was impaled, Jim was whimpering as the second of his company gradually helped him lower himself onto the man who was lying on his back below. I satisfied myself with the women below me and enjoyed the most intense orgasm of my young life.
Spent, I lay back exhausted and watched as Jim was skewered by the massive weapon that he had selected for himself.
McAlister offered to trade women with me but I protested that I was not capable of another round after such an intense encounter.
"Nonesense!" he declared and spoke quietly to the overseer. "I know precisely what you need my boy" said McAlister as the women I was with and the two beaten blacks descended on me.
I was pushed face down with my arms and legs held securely as the overseer approached carrying the small cane. Gently at first, he began to beat my backside and steadily increased both the power and the tempo until I was writhing on the bed, trying to escape the pain and trying also to find an outlet for my growing _s_e_x_ual needs. Then, without warning I felt a large weapon at my portal and let out a yelp as one of the blacks entered me.
McAlister laughed and pushed his woman towards me as he summoned mine to him. The man behind me put his arms around my chest and lifted me to him as he continued to pound into me. The approaching woman immediately dove towards my member and, taking it in her mouth, worked at bringing me to a second orgasm.
For hours the patterns changed as each of us sought any possible combination of companions. Even Mr Finch felt the cane across his buttocks as he was driven to an orgasm and. Although I am uncertain, I seem to recollect that Jim at some point had his way with me even as he was himself being rogered.
Finally our lust was sated and we bid Mary "good evening". McAlister looked after the financial arrangements and complimented our hostess upon the entertainment and soon had his arm around my shoulder as we made our way to our ship.
We retired as soon as we were on board. Robert and I quickly stripped and fell into bed. I thanked him for his hospitality and he asked what I had thought of the fact that I was no longer a virgin where women were concerned.
"To be honest," I said, "I think I have the same inclination as Jim and prefer a tight backside to some well worn track".
Robert laughed uproariously and kissed me gently. "I find a woman to be quite superior but I can understand your feelings. Moreover, where we are going, there are very few women at the best of times so I do appreciate your company."
Rather boldly, I asked Robert about the beatings and his overwhelming _s_e_x_ual appetite whenever someone was caned or flogged.
"It's one of my truly great passions" he said. "I find the sight of a nice firm backside being thrashed one of the most wonderful of sights a person can behold. I saw a lot of it at school and when I first joined the marines. It's about wielding power and having command of another human being's pain and suffering which stirs my loins. It is more intense if the victim is a pretty lad such as you or Jim and the others, or a handsome man or a beautiful woman. I've seen many a flogging or execution where I had no feelings whatsoever, but show me a pretty bottom and I become overwhelmed. Now let us get some rest, Chris. Tomorrow we will have to attend to those who have undoubtedly been detained this evening and I propose to buy you some new clothes because I enjoy your company."
I lay me head on his broad chest and snuggled up to him and fell asleep contented.
The following day brought new revelations. Having never been on shore leave before, I was surprised that trouble had arisen between some of the crew and the local population the previous evening. As it transpired, drunkenness, brawling and minor damage was a common feature of visiting sailors and there were a good few men and boys paraded before the Master-at-Arms that morning.
I was in a somber mood as a result of a massive headache caused no doubt by the previous evening's wine and debauchery. My head throbbed and my backside ached from its being beaten and penetrated (the latter being the principal cause of my discomfort). Mr McAlister was in a fine mood although somewhat annoyed at the fact that two of his most junior marines were among those who were to parade because of their misadventures the previous night. My only consolation was that Jim was in a similar, if not worse, condition as I.
I sat with my back against the main mast and allowed the sun to give me life and watched the parade of the miscreants. Details of the behaviour which had brought them to this sorry state were taken and each man and boy was permitted to give his account of events before a judgement was made. No punishments of a public nature were to be delivered whilst the "Agincourt" was in harbour which meant that the two or three men who had earned a flogging and the two boys whom, it was judged, deserved to be caned would not be punished until we had put to sea. All were confined to the ship for the duration of our stay. The two marines who had transgressed were not to be kept in suspense. They were escorted to Fort Wynyard where they were to await Mr McAlister's arrival.
As my head started to ease, Mr McAlister and I embarked upon the promised expedition and headed into the central part of the town. McAlister was most attentive and pleasant and soon had me outfitted in almost a crown's worth of new, but tight fitting, pants which, he instructed, I should only wear for his pleasure. As we departed, I was also treated to the finest orange drink imaginable in a very fine establishment. As I sipped the sweet liquid McAlister pondered my countenance.
Unnerved by this attention, I was moved to ask him what was wrong.
"Nothing" said he. "I was just considering how well you looked and how your body has been developing since we first met. Although it has been but a few short weeks, you have changed considerably - for the better, I might add."
I blushed at this compliment.
Quickly I finished my drink and we departed, I thought for the ship. But as we neared the harbour, McAlister strode off in the direction of the Fort and I dutifully followed.
We entered the Fort through the main gate and Mr McAlister introduced himself to the commander and then introduced me. I was then requested to leave the two men in conversation and waited outside the office as soldiers came and went. Finally, McAlister emerged accompanied by an officer and, although I was not requested to do so, I followed the two men across the compound to another building. As we entered, I was surprised to see the two young marines shackled and guarded by another soldier.
McAlister was escorted past them into another room without so much as a word. Not knowing what to do, I stopped in my tracks until McAlister beckoned me to follow.
The inner room was spartan and had only one small window set high up towards the ceiling. My eyes immediately went to a frame set in one corner, the purpose of which was immediately obvious. McAlister appeared to take this instrument for granted and was deep in conversation with the soldier who had accompanied him. On a table near the door resided a whip of the type I had seen used the previous evening and as I looked at it I tried to fathom its origin. As it turned out, the whip was made from the body of some prehistoric beast which roamed the inland grasslands and which, from the description which McAlister later gave me, apparently had a massive bulk, a single horn and the thickest of hides.
The whip was about four feet in length, black and apparently of considerable weight. I shuddered at its sight and averted my gaze since I did not share McAlister's fascination with implements of pain. The contraption in the corner appeared to have two possible means of containing the body of a man - either tied upright or bent across a piece of timber which was of a suitable height for that purpose. Intuition told me that I knew in which position McAlister would require the two men to be secured.
As if on cue, the first of the men was brought into the room. To my surprise, Mr Finch also walked in to witness the punishment.
The offender was perhaps three, possibly four, years older than I, well tanned and very handsome although not as handsome as McAlister in my view. His curly hair framed an attractive face with eyes which were now wide with fear. McAlister instructed the marine to move to the frame and to lower his trousers. This done, the man's left foot was secured to one leg of the frame with a leather strap. Securing his right foot was not possible with the man's trousers about his ankles and they were therefore removed. McAlister was clearly enjoying supervising the restraining of the young man and watched intently as the process was undertaken. Finally the victim was bent over the cross bar and his wrists secured to the sides of the frame in such a manner as to make his buttocks as tight as possible.
Sweat poured down the man's back as he waited, immobilised for the punishment to begin.
The South African soldier picked up the instrument and asked McAlister how many strokes were to be given.
"Six each" said McAlister to my surprise. Although I understood that the marine's offence had not been very significant, six strokes seemed an unusually light punishment. The victim also apparently thought this was the case as well and visibly relaxed as he heard the instruction.
"Commence," instructed McAlister and the soldier applied the first stroke.
The "crack" as the whip struck the marine's backside echoed through the room and a moment later the marine let out an awful howl. I was startled, firstly by the sounds and then by the sight of the most livid weal which quickly appeared on the marine's posterior. I suddenly realised that this weapon (called a sjambok) was, in expert hand, far more terrible than a cane.
The second lash caused the marine to buck and, try as he might, he could not withhold another fearful cry.
By the sixth stroke, the marine was bucking in an attempt to ease the pain and sobbing continuously. Although the skin on the marine's buttocks was not broken, the six parallel lines corrugations on his backside we already a dark purple and it was quite evident that here was one marine who would not be sitting down for quite a while.
McAlister and Finch went over to the marine to inspect the damage as the soldier unfastened the straps which held the marine in position. Shaking, the marine recovered his trousers and waited to be dismissed.
As the first marine left, the second entered and from the dampness around his groin and down his leg it was readily apparent that he had emptied his bladder as the sounds from the punishment had echoed outside the room. McAlister looked at the young man with disgust and quickly told him to remove his trousers and move into position.
The marine obeyed and was soon strapped down and the South African soldier proceeded to duplicate the previous punishment. The young victim was left crying and bucking as the last of the six strokes were applied. As the soldier moved to unstrap the hapless young man, Mr McAlister indicated that he was not finished and put out his hand to take the whip.
"Mr West," said McAlister to the young victim, "I expect you to be a man and show self control. You are a marine, boy and are meant to be made of sterner stuff."
With that McAlister delivered two additional strokes to the man's backside which, although not as powerful as the ones which the soldier had delivered, nonetheless caused the marine to make the most piteous cries. The marine was then released and dismissed. Both marines would join the ship later in the day after having spent some time at the Fort while the pain subsided to a point where they could at least walk in an almost normal manner.
McAlister could not give expression to his obvious _s_e_x_ual excitement in the circumstances and from his expression and from the obvious bulge in Mr Finch's trousers, I anticipated a torrid time once McAlister had me back on board and suspected that Jim would have a similar fate.