Kandanga Falls - 5. Chapter 5

-- Chapter Five --

Morning came, grey and cool, with magpies carolling right outside, or perhaps they could have even been inside, given that the place that Jake and Danny called home was still missing several walls. The bird’s song ricocheted off the corrugations and made the tank ring like a bell.

With a groan, Jake rolled over, with his gaze settling upon Danny and Nate, wrapped up in each other’s arms and dreaming peacefully. Many men would see something wrong with their lover being in the arms of another, but Jake knew the history of these two – best friends since forever – and that was all there was to it. Nothing sexual had happened last night, and if it did happen at some point in the future, between either just the two of them, or even all three of them, it would only be something loving between consenting adults who were friends first, and lovers later.

Despite what some groups might say, there was never anything wrong with friendship and love.

As quietly as he could, Jake slid from the bed and padded across to the kitchen bench, still naked, where he lit the gas stove, then filled a kettle for some hot water. Just as he placed it on the stove, he heard a noise behind him and turned to see Nate emerging from their love nest. He was holding his shorts in one hand, but when he noticed that Jake was still naked, he dropped them by the doorway.

‘Sleep well?’ Jake asked him.

‘Actually, yeah I did,’ Nate replied. ‘Or at least until those bloody birds started up this morning.’

‘Yeah, I know. They seem to run to a clock that is permanently set two hours earlier than it should be!’

‘Still, I guess things could be worse though.’

‘Yeah, they could be. Anyhow, you want a coffee?’ Jake asked.

‘Love one. Thanks.’

With a nod, Jake reached into the cupboard and pulled out another two mugs and set them down beside his own.

‘Dreamboat will be awake soon,’ he said. Nate could only smile.

It seemed a somewhat surreal thing for Nate, to be standing in this strange place, completely naked, while talking to Jake, as if this was something everyone, everywhere did. He couldn’t remember the last time he saw any of his own family members at home in this state, and he was certain that if he ever had, then there would have been embarrassment all round. But here, in this setting, amongst these friends, it somehow seemed like a perfectly natural thing to do.

If it was possible for him to stay here, he was certain that he could have quickly gotten used to the carefree lifestyle that his friends had so easily adopted, but unfortunately that could not be. He was committed – for the next four years at least – after having signed up to join the army as a mechanical engineer, which he felt would be his ticket to a decent future. When he was finished there, with mechanical qualifications to back him up, maybe then he could look at coming back to a place like this, but that would be four years away yet, which right now, felt like it was half a lifetime away.

He was comfortable with his decision, but all the same, it still wasn’t going to be easy being away from family and friends for so long. He didn’t know when he might see them all again, so that was why it had been important for him to make this visit to see Danny and Jake.

The sound of the kettle whistling was enough to snap him back to the present and when he looked back at Jake, he could see him spooning coffee into the three mugs, then sugar, before pouring the boiling water in on top.

‘The cow’s on strike at the moment, so it’ll have to be powdered milk if you want it that way,’ Jake said.

‘It’s all good. Either way is fine, it’ll help kick-start the day,’ Nate replied.

As Jake pushed a steaming mug across the bench towards him, they heard a sound coming from the bedroom tank and turned to see Danny sliding out into the morning to greet them.

‘And how are my two favourite men this morning?’ Danny chirped, as he crossed the floor, still naked, going first to Nate and embracing him, then giving him a quick kiss, before giving Jake the same treatment, although remaining wrapped up in his lover’s arms once done.

Nate could only grin at his two friends.

‘What’s your problem?’ Danny demanded to know.

‘I was just thinking how so much can change in a year!’

‘Yeah. It sure can,’ replied Danny.

‘Alright, you pair, enough reminiscing, or whatever it is you’re doing. Who’s up for some breakfast?’ Jake interjected. ‘I’ll go check the henhouse for some bum-fruit.’

‘Some what?’ Nate said, laughing.

‘He means eggs. Surely you’ve heard that expression before?’ Danny responded, as Jake headed straight outside, still butt-naked and hot-footing it across the yard towards the end of the studio.

‘You pair take the cake, let me tell you! This isn’t exactly how I imagined things working out for the two of you . . . but I can see how happy you both are.’

‘Yeah, mate. We certainly are. We’re enjoying life here . . . and you could too, if you wanted to.’

‘Oh, I’m sure I would, but for the next four years I’m spoken for.’

‘So, you have already signed up then?’

‘Yeah, I have. And I can’t get out of it,’ Nate replied, before taking a sip from the coffee mug.

‘I see.’

‘But even if I could, I’m not sure I would want to, to be honest. I mean as much as I know I would love it here with you guys, I need to find myself. I need to find a path forward that will set me up for the rest of my life. You guys know your path, you know exactly what you want out of life, but I’ve got no real idea . . . so until I can figure that out, I’m going to become a mechanical engineer. After that, maybe then I’ll have some idea about where I want to be.’

For a long while Danny just stared at his friend, then took a sip from the coffee mug that Jake had poured for him earlier. This was quite likely the longest speech he had ever heard Nate come up with, and he was rather surprised.

‘You can say something if you want to,’ Nate urged. ‘Tell me I’m a dickhead, or whatever. I can handle it.’

‘Mate, there’s not really anything I can say,’ Danny replied. ‘I’m just glad that you are thinking things through and chasing your own dreams,’ he added, as he moved around the kitchen bench and embraced Nate.

Just as he did so, a voice called out to them, ‘Hey, don’t start without me!’

They turned to find Jake standing in the open doorway, grinning at them, while holding a small metal billy can.

‘The girls had a busy day yesterday,’ he said, while holding up the can. ‘Nine eggs for us this morning. Lucky that we fixed up their pen and made it snake proof! So, what were you two up to?’

‘Oh, I was just telling my best bud here about the next four years of my life,’ Nate replied.

‘So, you’re joining up then?’

‘Yeah. It’s a done deal. Four years as a mechanical engineer, at the end of which I’ll be a qualified mechanic, so then I can go wherever a job beckons.’

‘Very cool,’ Jake said, as he set the billy down on the bench. ‘I’m happy for you. But just remember, there’ll always be room here for you if you ever need it.’

‘Thank you.’

* * *

Over breakfast of toast, fried eggs and tomato, along with more coffee, plans for the day were laid on the table, with a decent shower, a tour of the community and then some more work on the building being the initial priorities.

At least these were the plans.

Nate had been warned that things happened at a different pace around here, however, so it would remain to be seen whether some, or all, of these things actually happened.

What Nate was sure of though, was that he was looking forward to experiencing some more of what this little community had to offer, and meet some more of its inhabitants. He had seen so little of it so far, but he knew that the place had much more to offer, so he was keen to see it all.

After breakfast, the three of them – all still naked – headed for the studio, and in particular, the bathroom. It was time to clean themselves up for the day ahead. When they had quickly showered last night, it had been almost dark, so Nate hadn’t had a chance to really check out the place. The bathroom proved to be a bland concrete-floored room with a drain, and walls that were covered with corrugated iron. Around the top of the end wall were open window frames – the glass long since gone – while in one corner stood a tall metal stand, supporting what appeared to be a round object on its side, almost at ceiling height. It was wrapped in some kind of blanket of heavy fabric, although Nate could see silver insulation poking out from beneath the fabric in several places.

‘That’s our hot water system. An insulated beer keg,’ Danny proudly said, when Nate raised his eyebrows at him. ‘See the pipes coming through the wall? We fill up the pipes on the roof with water of a morning, then there is a garden timer attached to the main pipe, which goes off mid-afternoon. The water, which has been sitting in the sun all day, and is by that time quite hot, then drains down into our storage tank, and will still be hot enough for a shower, either at night, or the next morning.’

‘Amazing! Who the fuck dreamed up that idea?’

‘Oh, there are quite a few similar systems set up around here,’ Jake added. ‘Like we mentioned yesterday, some of the guys are pretty big on using the sun for a lot of things, electricity for instance. And if it takes off, we’ll never have to work again.’

‘Well, good luck with that,’ Nate offered.

‘We’ll see, city boy. We’ll see!’

‘City boy? You do remember where I’m from, don’t you?’ Nate replied with a laugh, just as Danny turned on the tap marked Hot.

‘There won’t be much hot water left this morning, so we’ll have to have it lukewarm today,’ said Danny.

He had kind of taken it for granted last night, but stepping forward, Nate stuck his hand under the stream of water, before quickly pulling in back.

‘Jesus! That’s actually hot!’

‘Yep. Works a treat, don’t you think? All we have to do now is mix it with cold water from this other tap, so that the temperature is just right, and so we don’t use all the hot stuff too soon, then jump under the shower,’ Danny said, as he turned the water back on and began adjusting taps. ‘So, what do you say? You want to join us?’

At the same time, Jake tossed Nate a bar of yellow soap – something else that was made on the farm it seemed – and placed an arm around Nate’s shoulder, before letting his hand slide down his back until it was resting in the small of his back.

‘We all need to clean up,’ Jake said quietly. ‘No pressure, just friends helping each other out. Okay?’

‘Okay,’ Nate answered, as he stepped forward and under the stream of tepid water. With Danny and Jake on either side of him, the three friends thoroughly wet themselves down, before each began using the soap and building up a generous lather on themselves at first, and then all over each other.

Sandwiched between his two friends, and with hands soon roaming all over each other, it wasn’t surprising that all three were soon sporting boners. There may not have been anything overtly sexual about what they were doing just now, it was simply three guys helping each other out, but it was quickly becoming apparent that a climax to this scene was building.

Danny was the first to weaken, as he allowed his hand to slide down Nate’s abdomen, before his fingers sought out and then fastened themselves around his friend’s manhood, for the very first time in their lives.

With questioning expressions the two best friends looked at each other; one silently asking what was happening – but not necessarily protesting – while the other was questioning whether he should continue.

The barely discernible nod that Danny received was all the response he needed, and so he leaned in towards Nate and gently kissed him, while his hand worked back and forth on the teen’s steel rod.

Initially, Jake held back as he watched what was happening with some amusement, but before long he slipped behind Nate and reached around his body, gently rubbing his abdomen and tweaking his nipples. He didn’t want to frighten their friend with any kind of aggressive moves, but he did want to reassure Nate that he could enjoy an experience such as this, without taking it too seriously.

When Jake laid his body against his friend, with his hard-on pressed between them, rubbing against the small of Nate’s back, Nate turned his head and looked back into Jake’s eyes, obviously wary about what he thought might be coming.

‘You can relax,’ Jake whispered. ‘We’re not going there,’ then gently nuzzled the boy’s ear with his lips, sending shivers through Nate, who threw his head back and moaned.

Thanks to Danny’s ministrations, Nate sensed that he was quickly reaching the point of no return. He soon found himself thrusting into Danny’s hand with some force, while Danny was also wanking himself in time to his movements on Nate.

The room was filled with the slapping sounds of flesh on flesh and the quiet moans of the participants, and with intensity building these sounds were only growing louder. It was Nate who was the first to feel the pressure building, with his moans and grunts becoming louder and more animated.

When he said, ‘G-g-gonna cum,’ Danny made sure his friend’s cock was pointed directly at his own body, and only just in time too, as Nate quickly erupted, splattering his seed across Danny’s abdomen, with strands of the precious, creamy liquid clinging to his smooth skin.

That was all it took for Danny to fall over the edge, as his cock then erupted, splattering cum across Nate’s cock, and landing in his friend’s pubes, before slowly dripping down his thighs.

Nate’s eye’s went wide as he looked down at the sight of him and his best friend, each plastered with cum. Fuck! This was wild! Who would have thought he would ever actually do this? Ever! Fuck!

He felt Jake’s arms wrap around him, before one hand slipped down into his sticky pubes, then began squeezing his still hard cock. As Nate watched, one final drop of cum was squeezed from him, which Jake managed to scoop up on the end of one finger, then slowly bring it to his lips, before opening his mouth and licking it from his finger.

Nate was conflicted. Of course, he knew what went on in the lives of his friends, and he was certainly curious about it, even wanted to experience it, but . . . but had he done the right thing in allowing this to happen?

Was that what he really wanted? Or was this just his wanting to satisfy an itch?

Nate needed to think. He needed to breathe. So he slipped out from between his friends and turned back to face them. Suddenly, it was Danny who looked concerned. Now it was Danny’s turn to wonder whether they had overstepped the mark.

‘Are you okay, mate?’ Nate heard himself being asked, as he stared at his friends, looking from one to the other. It was Jake’s voice. Gentle, and filled with concern.

‘I . . . I’m not sure,’ Nate answered honestly. ‘I . . . I’ve never done anything like that.’

‘I’m sorry . . . we shouldn’t have . . .’ Danny began to say, only to be cut off by Nate quickly stepping forward and placing a hand on Danny’s cheek.

‘It’s okay. It just caught me by surprise, that’s all.’

‘Are you sure? Judging by the look on your face I thought for a minute you were going to flip out on us.’

Nate gave a little laugh. ‘For a second there, I thought I was going to as well,’ he replied. ‘But then I came to my senses.’

‘So . . . what? We’re cool?’ Jake asked.

‘We’re cool,’ Nate replied. ‘It was fun. But maybe we better finish cleaning ourselves up, don’t you think?’

‘Yeah. We’re building again today, remember? We better not smell like cum, or it’ll be too great a distraction for the others,’ Jake replied.

* * *

Once more the men and boys appeared from out of nowhere; the workers who had helped the previous day, along with a few more. Faces and names were a blur, just as they had been yesterday, but at least today there was some semblance of familiarity.

Finn and Fergus were first to appear, followed by Phoenix and his brother, Joaquin. The other boy that Nate had seen the previous evening, the one with dark hair and pale skin who had led Phoenix off into the shadows, was also there. Introduced as Ethan, in the daylight he appeared slightly older than Nate had first thought him to be, maybe fifteen or sixteen. With his curly, dark hair and just a hint of hair on his top lip, while dressed in baggy shorts and a tank top that was too large for him, the boy was quite a sight. He exuded a kind of sexuality that Nate had seen before, back in his home town, and he instinctively knew that this would be one to watch. Even though he had only just met these boys, he found himself hoping that Phoenix wouldn’t be the one to be hurt here, because he already seemed to have taken to the boy.

As the morning wore on; with a cohesive, although somewhat inexperienced, team working under a clear and hot summer sky, bare to the waist, with bodies dripping sweat, it was proving to be a character-building experience for all. A few older heads offering some tricks of the trade ensured that everything that was done, was done properly, and by the time they broke for lunch the green tarpaulin was folded neatly and sitting upon the carcass of its blue companion, and the roof framing was ready for the iron to be added.

Progress had also been made with the remaining wall cavities, with only a couple of spaces now needing to be filled. Over sandwiches, someone came up with the idea of using a series of old timber doors for one space, to give a patchwork effect, while only one door would be the one to open, offering an element of fun to the build. They even said they had a couple of doors available, which they were happy to donate, so once they had all finished eating they set off, with three healthy teen lads in tow, to help bring them back for Jake and Danny to use.

The remainder of the day seemed to pass in no time at all, with time seemingly irrelevant. Nobody worried about checking watches; in fact, Nate was about the only person there even wearing one. In places like this, time moved at speed all of its own, and was measured not by seconds and minutes, but by moments that would long be remembered. Especially by Nate Buchanan.

By late in the afternoon, there was little left to do; just small finishing touches that needed to be done inside were left, while outside all that was required was the rendering of the tanks and perhaps the splashing about of some paint. Jake and Danny’s humpy was almost a home, and Nate would carry with him always a feeling of pride at having been there to help them do just that.

When Fergus reappeared, after having wandered off again earlier, Finn told the crew that it was time for him to be fed, so man and beast soon set off for their own home. Nate watched with envy at how the pair of them seemed to have such a bond, especially given the stories he had heard about dingoes over the years. Others soon followed, and as he looked around the motley crew of hippie workers he could see that there was a bond between all of them, unlike anything he had seen before in his relatively short life so far. These people were all here for one another, sharing whatever they had, helping wherever they were needed. There was something in that he realised.

When it was just the three of them left once more, the creek pulled at them again, with its promises of cool relief. Naked once again in the fading light, there was a new intimacy to their relationship now, with few boundaries to their roughhousing and touch. Limits were being tested and reset. When Nate’s splashing and wrestling with Danny paused — his hands on his friend’s shoulders, cold breath being shared — he found himself searching for Danny’s mouth without even thinking. The kiss wasn’t planned, but it also wasn’t nothing. It was thanks for a lifetime of friendship. It was tender, for the true feelings each held for the other. It was recognition that this friendship was forever, no matter the distance they may soon find between them.

Jake stood waist-deep in the water and watched, something in his eyes knowing and soft. He came closer to his two favourite boys, lifting two hands and placing one on the shoulders of each. There was nothing complicated about what was happening, it was only love, and it was a love that the three of them could share equally. There was no jealousy, no rivalry, and as he moved his hand to Nate’s jawline and settled it there, Nate turned to him and smiled.

‘You okay?’ Jake asked.

Nate answered honestly. ‘Yeah, I’m okay.’

‘Okay is good enough then,’ Jake replied, before testing the waters with a kiss.

* * *

That night, after food and talk and the fast-spinning day finally began to slow, there was no need to ask where Nate would bunk down this time. When the time came the three of them retired to the raft upon which they had shed their inhibitions. This time any spaces between them were banished, as kisses found places to land, hands found places to touch.

Once more the quiet sounds of hot breath and skin on skin seemed to be magnified within the still-hot corrugated walls of the tank, as the three friends explored new boundaries. The only words spoken came from Jake; ‘No one goes where they don’t want to go.’

From there, they went only where Nate let them, until at some point, deep in the night, their satisfied bodies stilled, and their heartbeats slowed to an old, familiar rhythm.

Nate fell asleep with his face resting upon the curve of Danny’s collarbone, while Jake’s arm reached over him from behind, his fingers nestled in the pubic hair of their visitor and Jake’s firmness remaining cradled between the cheeks of Nate’s buttocks.

Sleep came easily to all three, with the first stirrings only coming as darkness began to be replaced by light and the magpies once again chorused in the new day.

Danny blinked as morning came to him, soon finding an empty space beside him. Jake’s breath made a quiet whisper in the dark of the tank, but Nate was gone. Panic nipped at him, his thoughts racing. What the fuck have we done? What did we just break?

Quickly he slid from their nest and pulled on shorts, finding their space empty, before stepping outside into the dawn.

He found Nate sitting on a stump just outside the front of their home, elbows on knees, chin resting on his knuckles, looking east down the valley. The sky was coming alive and looked almost unnatural, a smear of orange and mad pink, as if someone had wiped paint off their hands and across the horizon. Mist hung in the air around clumps of dark trees and slowly rose from the paddock of long summer grass. The whole scene was like a dream. Nate glanced at his friend when he sensed movement beside him, then shuffled sideways, making room.

‘I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything as beautiful as this,’ Nate remarked.

‘Yeah, it’s pretty special,’ Danny replied. ‘You’re up early. You okay . . . after last night, I mean? I hope we didn’t go too far?’

Nate found the truth tumbling out of his mouth before his head could think about it. ‘Yeah. I think so. A little confused, though. Or maybe a lot . . . I’m not too sure.’

‘I’m sorry,’ Danny murmured. ‘We shouldn’t have . . .’

‘What? No!’ Nate’s tone was almost fierce. ‘Don’t beat yourself up. I enjoyed it. It was incredible. It’s just that I don’t know how I feel about it all yet. I mean, meeting Skye . . . then with you guys . . . it’s been . . .’

‘It’s been what?’ urged Danny.

Nate huffed out a laugh. ‘It’s been quite a ride. Not even a week, mate. But it’s been a whole . . . awakening, I guess.’

Danny’s mouth twitched. He was trying not to smile and failing. ‘We are not great at doing things by halves.’

‘That’s quite the understatement.’

‘Look . . .’ Danny began, as he brushed his hand back through his hair. ‘It’s like Jake said, there’s no pressure. Nobody ever does anything here they don’t want to, so if what we did was something you want, then that’s fine with us. If it’s not, then that’s fine too. We love you, man. And we respect you. And having you here before you ship out – or before you go and do whatever you’ve gotta do – that’s enough for us. And if you ever want to come back, this place will be exactly where you left it, except maybe even more crazy . . . if that’s even possible.’

‘I know,’ Nate said as he leaned in, while Danny leaned too, and they hugged in a way that seemed to cement their friendship even further, instead of tearing anything down.

When Jake padded out moments later, hair smashed on one side, he sensed what was unfolding in one glance. There was no need to add any words to the scene, so instead he leaned over and kissed Danny’s temple, then ruffled Nate’s hair, like they were seventeen again.

Nate looked up and smiled. ‘Thank you,’ he said.

‘No thanks needed,’ Jake replied. ‘You know how we both feel about you.’

To be continued . . .