African Adventure - 3. Chapter 3 - Over the Edge

The tent was up and we just sat together in the deep shade drinking the Cokes Joao had fetched from the bar. I looked Joao over. He was cute, he was skinnier than me but not that skinny, he was very black, he had nice hands and fingers with trimmed nails and for someone who had probably never owned any shoes other than plastic beach flip flops he had decent looking feet. White underneath with no calluses which he had probably rubbed down with a rough stone and neatly trimmed nails probably done freehand with a razor blade. But it was really the smile and the warmth behind the eyes that did it for me. I liked this guy and as much as he was bought and paid for I was happy to be with him.

"How old are you, Joao?" I asked.

"19, I will be 20 on 23 December."

That issue settled, “Where’s the aquarium Joao?”

He pointed in the direction.

“Let’s go.”

I grabbed my towel and followed Joao.

The Aquarium was located just outside the campsite next to the village itself. It stood on the edge of the beach and was novel in its design. There were a series of large tanks open to the sky. The sides were made of glass and stood six foot high and were strongly braced at intervals and at the corners, the sunlight being deemed an important part of the artificial eco-system they had tried to create. The walkways around these tanks were of large size precast concrete pavers and were shaded by a roof of grass thatching with the whole place ringed by a grass thatch fence.

At one end there was a small low building its use was easy to identify as the two doors had signs, one was the office and the other was a storeroom. Sally the English girl was outside with two female helpers tending to the water pipes when we arrived. She was glad I didn’t want a formal tour as they had a problem with the water recycling system which was driven by a solar pump. I was powerless to help but did offer to help if nothing more than muscle power was needed, not that I was Tarzan of course.

“Oh, we can manage ourselves thank you,” was her reply.

Sally looked to be in her mid twenties. Probably standing five ten she had short brown hair, a pretty face and nice firm body. Through her pierced earlobes were intricately carved flat studs about the size of little finger nails made from what I supposed to be a local hardwood. She wore a traditional colourful cotton skirt wrap-around, the chitenji, with a simple T-shirt bearing the political message ‘Real Men Don’t Hit Women,’ with the logo of a fist with a red circle and line through overlaid. Her nipples pressed out firmly through the material. Her hands were working hands and the nails were short and unpainted and she wore flip-flops and her toenails were also short and unpainted. She did not shave her legs.

A head popped out of the storeroom door.

“Sal, can’t find that box of spares you want,” in an Australian accent.

“OK, I’ll look myself just now.”

This was Annie. She was almost as tall as Sally, skinny with a more than pretty tanned face without make-up and her mousey coloured hair was swept back into a pony tail. She also wore a chitenji and a simple T-shirt which her little breasts did not fill out but it seemed to me the gentle and constant friction from the material made her ‘little puppy dogs noses’ stand out proudly. Nice. She was a looker and about my age I thought. In contrast to Sally her nails were manicured and painted. Also wearing slops her small feet with painted trimmed square nails on thin toes were attractive. She shaved her legs.

“Annie is a volunteer at the Aquarium,” Sally announced looking from me to Joao to Annie as if to pick up any human dynamic unfolding.

Sally suggested I have a quick look around to get the feel of the place. The best time to come was in the morning when she would love to show me around in some detail. There was an admission fee for ‘non residents’ which she waived for today. I liked that. The locals had free access while the tourists paid. Too often as tourism develops with hotels being built the locals apart from getting some menial work at the resort tend to get shut out.

On my way out I stopped to read the Aquarium notice board. Three notices drew my attention. The first was an appeal for financial sponsorship to help village girls get a high school education and the second was announcing short courses to be held separately for boys and girls as tour guides. I wondered if this was where Luka had learned the stuff he had cited to me chapter and verse on the bus trip from Blantyre.

The third one was more poignant and was positioned in the top right-hand corner of the notice board and admonished in bold letters in both English and I assumed the local language, ‘DON’T SELL YOUR BROTHERS & SISTERS.’ I was later to understand that while the use of boys for whatever purpose happened openly with the cover of their being ‘tour guides’ there was also a tourist demand for village girls. This would be organised through the boys and would take place discretely at night.

Finished I turned and waved to Sally who was giving the stern look of a school teacher absent only was the wagging finger. Yea I was part of this and no matter how one tried to rationalise it with ‘the individual’s right to make a living’ or the ‘as long as nobody gets hurt’ arguments it was still sick. But I was in up to my neck.

It was time for a swim and I had Joao arrange the hire of two sets of goggles and flippers for us.

At past three in the afternoon the dry beach sand was still to hot to walk on with my soft British feet so I followed the waters edge behind Joao. The water was crystal clear and delightfully cool. The only thing that prevented me from just running straight into the lake was that I had my money belt on. I would have to wait.

On the northern side of the campsite was a water course which emptied into the lake. With the annual rains long over the flow was reduced to an ankle deep trickle and we crossed without trouble. Across the river were the rocks. Effectively ‘the rocks’ is a place where a rocky outcrop runs into the lake and what soil there had once been had long since washed out into the lake.

I followed Joao and tried to mimic his rock hopping expertise. With slops on it was difficult enough but with slops off the rocks were too hot and too rough for my sensitive feet. I battled on after Joao and fifty metres on we arrived at a place were a wide flat sloping rock ran out into the lake. It was protected from general view by some fortuitously placed rocks on both sides.

Joao took off his T-shirt and threw it onto a tall rock which I learned was the ‘occupied’ sign to warn off other would-be private swimmers. Joao knew the deal and stripped and ran into the water. I dropped my towel, money belt and clothes and followed him in. Straight off the rock we went down to thigh deep and we wallowed and frolicked in the water like the kids were.

We splashed each other and tried to duck one another by pushing one another’s head under the water and were having lots of fun until we got hard. That was the game changer. I grabbed Joao and pulled him against me and kissed him. We ground our hips against each other. I came quickly and the sperm floated to the surface which we both swum away from, laughing. "You are too fast Charlie," he laughed. We grabbed the goggles and flippers and started to snorkel.

We moved away from the area which we had stirred up and immediately I was amazed at the multitude of small colourful fish. It was like swimming in an aquarium. With 800 recorded species in Lake Malawi it was going to take me some time to tick them off on my list. I was game, this was fun, and this was a hobby turned into something much more. This was a wonderful reality.

However, my fish watching was constantly being interrupted by my overriding need to do a little cock watching on the side. I would notice Joao swimming near me and just had to look. There it was in the cool water. The acorn on the shaft with some skin bunching up behind. I couldn’t get enough. It was the cutest sight I had ever seen.

Enough swimming we climbed out and I sat on my towel and he on his shorts and let the sun dry us. It was getting a little cooler now. The suns rays were no longer of that burning intensity. I needed to be careful as a great tan took time but sunburn was the near instant reward for stupidity.

“Let’s go.” I said and he nodded.

We dressed and started to make our way back to the campsite. Cooler now I as able to go barefoot over the rocks, just.

He heard it first. The sound of an outboard motor.

“Captain’s coming,” announced Joao.

We got to the beach and watched the approaching speed boat.

The semi-rigid inflatable was at least 20 foot with centre consol and twin 75HP Mariner outboard motors. The white man at the centre consol was, I assumed, he known as Captain was alone in the boat and he throttled back and let the boat ride up onto the beach under his own momentum. Matti, who had also come when he heard the boat approach, and Joao ran forward and pulled the boat a little further onto the beach before Matti tied it to the closest palm tree.

As Captain stepped off the boat he was greeted by Joao and responded by putting his arm around Joao’s shoulders and giving it a squeeze. Matti climbed in and passed the two cases of empty soft drink bottles to Joao.

Joao turned to me, “I’m coming,” and the two boys each with a case of bottles on their heads set off in the direction of the bar. Of course he wasn’t coming he was going. I have since assumed that its use is just an abbreviated form of ‘I’ll be coming back soon’ as it has evolved locally. One gets used to these things.

I stood there just looking at Captain. A tall man, at least six foot two inches, lean and wiry, with no obvious body fat. His brown hair was long and pulled back into a short pony tail. His beard was full and bushy. Chest hair spilled out the top of his T-shirt and the legs that extended out of his not even half thigh length shorts were of athlete definition. His feet were bare. His movements were indeed lithe and rhythmic and when he fixed his deep green eyes on me they burned right into my soul.

“Hi.”

“Hi, nice boat,” I replied and immediately felt ridiculous for saying it.

He nodded and slowly cast his eyes over me. It was that stun-gun sensation James had spoken about. I felt dizzy.

“Nice too,” he said with a soft smile.

“You going in?”

I nodded a little too vigorously I thought afterwards.

“They call me Captain around here,” and he offered me his hand.

“I’m Charlie from the UK,” I responded.

“Good, welcome to Hippo Bay.”

“Thank you.”

“I see you have linked up with Joao. Be kind to him he is a nice guy, OK?”

I had no response to that so I just nodded.

“Good,” and with that he gave me a soft flat hand pat on the shoulder which lingered a delightful fraction longer than it needed to.

We walked on in silence then “Charlie are you limping?”

“Afraid so, I must have stood on a torn back there.”

“I’ll take a look when we get inside.”

I nodded.

Nico, the dive instructor was in the bar with his current course of two guys and a girl. Sally and Annie from the Aquarium had joined them and it seemed they were working up an end of course head of steam.

Captain greeted them all and after a brief chat drew Sally away and indicated to me to sit on his left.

“Let me see your foot.”

I lifted my foot and he rested it on his thigh.

“Where’s it?” as he and Sally, who sat on the armrest of the next chair studied the underside of my foot.

“Under the big toe.”

“OK, there’s the bugger,” and he turned to take the sewing needle Sally passed to him.

He turned to the waiter, “bring a small glass of ice please.” He placed the needle on the edge of the table with a half inch extending over the edge and using the matches produced from her bag Sally applied a flame to the end. When the match died the tip was glowing red hot.

We were waiting for the ice.

“Nice toes don’t you think Sally?”

“Hmmm…” was the reply.

“Nicest feet I’ve seen on a Brit for years.”

Here I was with a man I had met ten minutes before who was holding my bare foot, about to stick a red hot needle into it and telling me I had nice toes. In any other circumstances I would have told him to go to hell, but this was different.

The ice arrived and the waiter stood where he too could see, “OK now here’s what’s going to happen. Don’t move your foot; just apply that Brit stiff upper lip stuff. I’ll apply ice to numb the area and then …” he trailed off busy now with holding the ice to the spot.

“I’m quite good at this, you won’t even feel it going in,” he winked at Sally and she pursed her lips to prevent a smile.

It took naïve little me a while to read the innuendo.

I felt the odd tiny prick then touches with no prick. He was watching my reaction.

“There… its out. Did you feel anything?”

“No, not really.”

“Damn, it was supposed to be good for you too.”

Sally could not suppress the smile this time. She took the needle and departed to join Annie and the others at the bar. I thought I noticed her shaking her head.

He stuck his finger out towards me and there on the tip was the piece of thorn. I looked at it then he flicked it away.

“You ready for a drink now Charlie?” he let my foot go.

“A beer please.”

He turned to Joao, “Joao please fetch Charlie a beer and a Coke for you and me.” Joao nodded and departed.

“So Charlie what brings you to Hippo Bay?”

So I explained about my gap year and my visit to Zimbabwe and my tropical fish hobby. He was a good listener and a good watcher. I tried to keep the conversation flow going as I wanted to stay there just to be with this man.

Nico the dive master joined us, or should I say Captain, for a chat and he said as the course was finished he wanted to take the course to one of the outer islands for a dive. The would leave after lunch the next day sleep over, spend the next day diving then another sleep over then back by lunchtime the following day.

“You’re shagging her aren’t you Nico?” Captain asked.

“A man must eat Captain, a man must eat,” and with a smile Nico rejoined the party at the bar.

I bought a round of drinks.

“So what else can you tell me Charlie?”

So again I tried to make conversation and prattled on about my plans for the year and the hope that I would get some work somewhere otherwise I would run out of money long before the year was up.

He listened, I spoke.

We had another drink, he another coke, me another beer.

At one point he excused himself and went off to the bar to settle the matter of the cold drinks and called Joao and Matti over. Before they left for the boat with the cases of drinks Captain had a chat with Joao I could see then both looking in my direction from time to time so I assumed I was figuring in that conversation. A pat on the back dispatched the boys and Captain returned to me at the table.

“How you doing, Charlie?” asked Captain, turning and giving me the once over again.

“I’m good.”

“You OK with all that beer?”

“Of course. Why?"

“Well I don’t what you to wake up on the boat tomorrow morning having been fucked silly and blame it all on the booze.”

I melted.

So much for all the things I’d rehearsed to say if he came on to me.

“I’d like that,” I stammered.

“You’d like what? That after being fucked silly you can blame it on the beer?” he laughed. His smile was the broadest it had been. He was teasing me.

“OK, jokes aside Charlie, the offer is genuine and it stands for the fifteen minutes until I leave. So if you are game get Joao to get your backpack to the boat by then.”

“And what about Joao?”

“What about him?”

“Well I’ve…” my voice trailed off.

“You have two choices as I see it. You give him what you agreed and come with me or you stay with him?”

“Can’t I bring him?”

“Charlie this is about you and me.”

“I know but…”

“OK, for you he can come but he stays with Matti, OK?”

“Great. I’ll get ready then.”

I found Joao with Matti sitting on the veranda steps.

“Joao, get my tent and backpack we are going with Captain.”

Joao gave his best wide smile, patted Matti on the shoulder and they were off at the double.

I returned to ‘my’ Captain and as I approached he stood and downed the last of his Coke. I did the same with my beer. Captain gestured to the steps and I led the way.

“You are really one hell of a package Charlie.”

“In what way?”

“Well I mean look at you. Handsome man, good body, nice hands, nice feet and as Joao tells me a very nice little cut cock as well.”

“Joao is not so big himself,” I countered.

“Charlie that was meant to be a compliment,” he laughed.

“Oh…”

“Yes, to me cocks are like women’s breasts. Any more than a cubic mouthful is a waste.”

I nodded. Not that I was able to comment on either you understand.

He put his arm lightly across my shoulders as we walked and gently drew me in against him. Instinctively I put my arm around his waist.

We got to the boat before the boys and stood together looking out across the lake under the glorious full moon. Against the dark backdrop of the island the boat with a few lights looked magnificent. I lent my head against his chest, smelt him and felt his warmth. Turning me slowly he pulled me against his chest. He ran a hand through my hair and tilted my head back and planted a gentle and lingering kiss on the forehead. I closed my eyes.

“You smell nice Charlie.”

I hugged him tightly to me.

“Let’s make tonight special.” he whispered.

“Yes please, lets.”

The boys arrived with my backpack and I slowly released Captain. To hell with what they thought. If my Captain didn’t care then neither did I.

Captain climbed in and sat on the centre console and gestured for me to sit behind him like one would on a motor cycle. The boys pushed us off with Joao jumping on and Matti staying behind. The electric start motors purred into life and Captain reversed slowly out into the deeper water. Then with a roar of the engines he made an about turn and opened up the throttles. I hung on for dear life.

I stood behind Captain with legs astride the second console seat and held on to him with both arms wrapped around his shoulders. Riding fast over the water my body bumped into his back with every bow bounce. I was deliriously happy and hard too.

Captain turned and shouted something.

“What?” I couldn’t hear him and pushed my ear closer to his mouth.

“Be … careful … you … don’t … stab … me … with … that … thing,” he shouted.

I roared with laughter and ground my groin into his back. Captain responded theatrically by violently arching his back and throwing his head back with a pained expression on his face. Man, I was having fun.

If I was to lose my cherry that night and Captain was to take it I was determined to make it a night to remember for me and, if I could, for him too.