A MATTER OF SURVIVAL
BY SPARKLE731
Author's Note:
This was a hard story to write due to the subject material. I did extensive
research into the conditions in the Nazi concentration camps and the atrocities
the prisoners were subjected to. Although this story is a piece of fiction and
is intended to entertain the readers, I wanted to ensure that the background
surrounding this story was accurate since one of the main characters is a
prisoner at Auschwitz.
Please note that any anti-Semitic views expressed in this story are not the
views of the author but are those supported by historical fact. In this A/U
story, Michael David Starsky is the current day Starsky's father
and Karl Bruner is actually the current day Hutch's father. (He legally changed
his name after he immigrated to
~*~*~*~*~*~
Michael David Starsky stood in a
long line with his fellow countrymen waiting to receive his evening ration of
food. On his left arm he wore an armband with a yellow Star of David on it,
designating him as a Jew. The ghetto in
The Nazi occupation authorities claimed that
Jews were natural carriers of all types of diseases and that it was necessary
to isolate them from the Polish community. The ghetto was closed in with stone
walls and barbed wire defining the boundaries. Guards were strategically placed
at gateways and other boundary openings. Jews were not allowed to leave this
so-called "Jewish residential district" under the penalty of death.
Michael resented the restrictions.
He hated the feeling of not being able to move around freely. He hated being
held prisoner. But, he did well at hiding his anger at his situation. To object
to the rules would mean his death and he didn't want to die.
Life
in the ghetto was wretched. The entire area was filthy with poor sanitation and
extreme overcrowding. This ghetto, one of the largest in
Because
of his youth and good health, Michael was forced to work in a factory making
wooden shoes. With the aid of practically unpaid Jewish slave labor, ghetto
factories filled orders for the German war economy. The slight
wage he made was paid in substitute bank notes for use exclusively in the
ghetto. This ghetto "money" had no value outside of the gates.
As
he waited in line, Michael noticed the restlessness of those around him. For
days there had been rumors flying throughout the ghetto that the Germans were
planning to liquidate the ghettos and send the Jews to one of the work camps that were scattered
throughout
Better educated than
some of his peers, Michael had followed the rise of the tyrant that now ruled
When they were arrested, Michael and
the rest of his family had been forced to watch as his father, Nicolas, was
executed by the soldiers that had captured them. As additional punishment, his
youngest sister, Ruth, who was only eleven, had been viciously raped and
beaten. She was the first one to die after they were imprisoned at the ghetto. Michael
had also been brutally beaten since he was the oldest son in the family. Now,
he was the only one left from his immediate family to carry on the Starsky
name.
Receiving
his meager portion of rice and bread, Michael quickly ate his supper and then
made his way back to the tiny room he shared with fifteen other people. After
working for 12 hours in the dirty, airless confines of the shoe factory, he was
exhausted. When he returned to his abode, he made his way over to the corner
where he slept and crouched down, trying to ignore the crying of the babies,
the smell of the unwashed bodies, and the loud voices of the other occupants in
the room. Faced with the harsh reality of his daily existence, his former life
now seemed like nothing more than a pleasant dream.
Michael's
childhood had been a happy one. His father was one of the few Jews in the
Sarah,
a petite sixteen-year-old with freckles and a turned up nose, crawled over beside
him and huddled up against him for warmth. Michael raised his arm and let it
rest on her shoulders, pulling her closer to share his body temperature with
her. With winter coming on, it was always cold in their sleeping quarters. Blankets
were in short supply and the ones they did have were worn and threadbare. With
no family of his own, Michael had unofficially 'adopted' Sarah as his little
sister. He looked out for her and helped to protect her as much as he could
from the harsh life in the Ghetto. In a voice that was barely above a whisper,
Sarah said, "Do you think the stories are true? Will they come for us and
take us to the camps?"
"I
don't know." Michael told her, his sapphire eyes clouding uneasily at the
thought. "There's nothing we can do to stop them if they do."
"I'm
frightened."
"So
am I." Michael admitted. He leaned down and brushed his lips across the
top of her head. "Try not to worry, little one. Keep the faith. God can't
have forsaken us entirely."
"God…"
Sarah said in a bitter voice that sounded much too old for her tender years.
"There is no God in this place."
Michael
kept silent. Although he had been raised in a family where the teachings of the
Jewish faith were strictly followed, he had to admit that there were times that
he agreed with Sarah. There was no God in this place. Only pain, misery and
despair.
~*~*~*~*~*~
Michael
felt himself being pushed along with the crowd of people that surrounded him.
He fought to control the fear that he could feel trying to claw its way out of
his throat. Earlier that morning, he had been rudely awakened by the shouts of
unfamiliar voices. Moments later, the door to the room had slammed open and
several armed guards had rushed in, herding everyone into the hallway to join
the other inhabitants of the building. They had been forced outside where more
armed guards were shouting orders for everyone in the ghetto to start marching
through the gates into the streets of the city.
Like
cattle, they were herded through the city to the railroad tracks at the edge of
town. There, they were separated into smaller groups and forced into railroad cars, so many people were crammed into each boxcar that
there was no room to sit down. So they were forced to stand, pressed up against
one another with barely enough room to breathe. Several of the women in the car
screamed as the doors were slammed shut, leaving them in total darkness.
Pressed against the back wall, Michael tried to stay calm and not panic. It
appeared that the rumors had been true. They were being moved, in all
probability to one of the concentration camps somewhere in the north.
As
time passed with nothing happening, panic began to set in among the mass of
humanity. Some of them closer to the doors began banging on the metal, begging
to be let out, while others simply started crying or praying. Their screams and
pleas were ignored. Michael was thrown forward, almost losing his balance, as
the train suddenly started to move with a sharp jolt. He closed his eyes and
choked back the bile that rose in his throat as the swaying of the boxcar made
him feel nauseated. Combined with the stifling heat generated by so many bodies
crammed into such close quarters, he fought to keep his wits about him and to
remain conscious.
As
the journey continued towards their unknown location, other people in the car
were not so lucky. Some of the older and weaker ones collapsed and died. The
unbearable heat, the stale air, thirst and hunger, the swaying motion of the
train, lulled the others into a lethargic state. Held upright only by the
bodies surrounding him, Michael barely noticed the sweat that poured down his
face.
After
what seemed like hours, the train came to a grinding halt, jarring Michael back
into alertness. The doors finally opened to reveal a dozen armed guards
pointing their rifles into the boxcar. "DON'T MOVE!" someone yelled
in a heavily accented voice. When a young girl, disoriented and confused
disobeyed the order and started to climb down from the train, she was
immediately shot. Michael looked away, bitter tears stinging his eyes, when he
realized that the girl was Sarah. Panic set in among the other prisoners and five
more were ruthlessly shot before the others finally obeyed the command to stay where
they were.
Finally,
they were allowed to disembark from the train. They were ordered to form two
lines, women and children in one line with the men and teenage boys in the
other line. One guard, who appeared to be in charge, barked the order for them
to start walking to the east. Blinking his eyes against the glare of the sun, Michael
saw a large fenced in compound in the distance. They had arrived at the camp.
With heavy steps, he followed the others towards his destiny.
As
he got closer, Michael saw that the camp was surrounded by double rows of barbed
wire fencing with signs clearly posted warning that the wire was electrified. As
the masses of new arrivals struggled through the main gate, Michael saw words
written in German above the gate that read "Arbeit
Macht Frei" (Work Means Freedom). As they entered the main gate, some sort
of selection process appeared to be going on. Most of the able bodied men and
boys were sent off in one direction, while the elderly, the women and the
children were sent off in the opposite direction. Michael had no idea where the
other prisoners were being taken or what their fate might be.
Michael
held his head high as he followed the other men through the camp into a large
wooden building where they were immediately stripped of any valuables they
might have had on them and then ordered to remove their clothes. Michael stood
proudly, unashamed of his nudity, as the men were then ordered to keep their
shoes in their hands and forced into an enormous room. There were several signs
on the wall, in various languages, that identified the room as a 'shower'.
Almost immediately, cold water began to fall on the prisoners. They had no
towel, no soap, nothing to bathe themselves properly. After a few minutes of
the icy blast, they were ordered to leave the room by another door and they
found themselves in a large open area between the buildings. They were ordered
to stand at attention, still naked. The only thing they could do was wait until the wind and the sun dried their bodies.
After
standing in the open for almost an hour, they were herded in groups of 100 or
more into another building where they were disinfected with a retched smelling
powder that stung Michael's eyes and nose. Then each of the prisoners was shorn
of all their body hair, their head, their armpits, their groins, arms, legs,
anywhere they had any hair. The whole process was deeply humiliating and some
of the older men objected strenuously to having their beards shaved only to be beaten
into submission for their act of rebellion.
Michael was given a striped prison uniform
that was too large for his slender frame. The yellow Star of David was sewn on
the back of his shirt. None of the men had received anything to eat since they
left the ghetto and everybody was hungry. Even their meager rations from the
ghetto would have been welcomed. After the last man was shaved, they were
marched across the camp to several large tents that were big enough to hold 300
prisoners. They finally received some watery soup and a cup of water. The
guards warned them not to try and leave the tent. There were no beds, just the
hard ground to rest on and it was very crowded inside the tent but Michael was
too exhausted to care. He slumped down to the ground and curled up into a fetal
position, closing his eyes and trying to sleep.
The
next morning, they were given a small bowl of watery gruel and another cup of
water. Then each man was given a tattoo on his left forearm. Michael's number
was B19544. The guards told them that they had no names anymore. They were just
numbers. The men spent one more night in the tent before they were finally
integrated into the rest of the population at the camp.
New
arrivals were immediately recognizable. They were still in fairly healthy
condition compared to the older inmates who resembled walking skeletons with
their eyes sunken deep in their skull and all hope gone from their dull, flat
expressions. Very few of the other prisoners talked and when they did, it was
in stilted, hurried whispers. Michael soon learned that he was in
~*~*~*~*~*~
Over
the next few months, Michael struggled to adjust to life in the camp. Even if
he had thought that life in the ghetto was harsh, it was nothing compared to
his life in the camp. At night, he was in a wood framed barrack that housed approximately
eight hundred men. Their 'beds' were bunks
of slatted wood three tiers high. Three to four prisoners shared each bunk, not
allowing them enough space to stretch out for a normal sleep.
His
day began at
After
being allowed a few brief minutes to use the latrine, the men were then taken
to another building for breakfast, which consisted of a thick slice of bread
and some 'coffee'. The bread would be the only solid food the prisoners would
receive all day. The coffee did not have much taste and contained no sugar or
milk. When Michael was first brought to the camp, each prisoner was issued his
own mess-tin. It was his responsibility to make sure he had the tin with him at
all times. No mess-tin, no food. Meals were a good time for the guards to have
some 'fun'. Sometimes they would throw the bread into mud before serving it,
other times they would deliberately push a prisoner while serving the coffee, knocking
it to the ground. The prisoner would receive nothing more and would risk
punishment for wasting food.
After
breakfast, the men were ushered outside in the huge courtyard and lined up in
rows of ten. All prisoners had to be present for roll call, including the ones
who had died during the night. The other prisoners had to carry the dead bodies
of their fellow inmates out into the compound to be counted along with the
living. During roll call, which could take hours, the prisoners had to stand at
attention. It was forbidden to move or talk during roll call. After roll call,
the bodies of the dead were sent to the crematories.
After
roll call, each prisoner had an assigned work detail. Most of the men, Michael
included, worked in the fields surrounding the camp. Their days were long,
stretching out from
Back
at the camp, the prisoners were once more lined up in rows of ten for the
evening roll call. It was during this roll call that the SS doled out
punishments or conducted public hangings as a warning to the other prisoners of
their fate if they stepped out of line. After roll call, the inmates are served
supper, a watery soup. After eating, they are returned to their barracks for
the evening. Exhausted from the hours of forced labor under grueling
conditions, each prisoner welcomed a few stolen hours of sleep.
This had become Michael's life. Like the other
prisoners in the camp, he had lost weight since his captivity and his face was
gaunt with his ribs showing through his tightly stretched skin. In spite of the
atrocious conditions in the camp, Michael had struggled to maintain some sense
of his own humanity. He often shared his own rations of food with a weaker
prisoner or came to the aide of a comrade in the fields who needed some help to
complete their task and avoid a beating from the guards. Michael knew that he
was running the risk of punishment himself if he was caught but he ignored the
danger. He refused to allow himself to lose hope.
~*~*~*~*~*~
As
Michael struggled to move the large rock from the ground at his feet, he
noticed one of the new guards nearby watching him closely. Like the rest of the
Arian Brotherhood, this man was tall and handsome with pale blue eyes and
neatly trimmed blond hair that shimmered like sunlight. He appeared to be close
to Michael's age and did not yet have the hard, unforgiving expression on his
face worn by most of the guards.
When
a man nearby stumbled and dropped his load of rocks, Michael immediately turned
to help him pick them up. The watchful guard yelled at Michael, in German, to
return to his own work assignment. When he complied without any further
prompting, the guard frowned slightly and continued to watch him carefully. Michael
had wisely decided to keep it to himself that he spoke fluent German, as well
as Yiddish, Polish and a bit of Romanian. It gave him the opportunity to know
what the guards were saying when they talked quietly among themselves.
Over
the next few days, he noticed the new guard watching him almost constantly. The
man's gaze made him nervous and uneasy but he tried to ignore it. Finally, the
guard approached Michael one afternoon and said; "You speak German, do you
not?" his question was asked in poorly spoken Polish with a heavy accent.
"Yes."
Michael admitted, knowing that to lie could mean certain death.
The
guard smiled and immediately reverted to his native tongue. "How fluent
are you in the language?"
"Fluent enough." Michael replied, wondering what the guard why the
guard was asking.
"What
other languages do you speak?"
"Polish,
Yiddish and some Romanian."
"I
could use a man like you to translate for me. Would you be interested?"
Michael
hesitated. He did not trust this man any more than he trusted any of the
guards. He shrugged his thin shoulders with disinterest. The man stepped
forward and cupped Michael's chin in his hand, looking at his features closely.
The expression in those pale blue eyes was unreadable and his scrutiny made Michael
vaguely uneasy.
"How
old are you?"
"I
turned twenty last month." Michael said cautiously, trying to keep from
appearing too nervous and apprehensive under the guard's intense gaze.
"How
long have you been in the camp?"
"Almost
three months."
"That
explains why you are in better shape than most of your friends." The guard
said. He nodded slightly as if he had made up his mind about something.
"You'll do nicely. When we return to the camp, you will come with me to my
quarters. We need to clean you up if you are going to work for me."
"What
if I don't want to work for you?" Michael asked defiantly. Michael had
never liked being told what to do and he resented this German's arrogant
attitude. He knew he was treading on dangerous ground by talking back to one of
the SS guards but there was a part of him that no longer cared. He would rather
die while he was still a man and not one of the hopeless souls that made up the
general population of the camp.
"You
have no choice." The guard said with an indulgent smile "Or have you
forgotten that I can have you killed anytime I choose like the animal you
are?"
"I
haven't forgotten anything." Michael said, still defiant. "Including
the fact that I am still a man despite your attempts to take away my
humanity." To his amazement, the guard threw back his head and laughed
heartily at his remarks.
"I
can see that your spirit hasn't been broken." He said smugly. "I'm
going to enjoy seeing what I can do to remedy that." His voice turned cold
and unfriendly. "Get back to work before I decide to teach you some
manners."
Michael
lowered his eyes and returned to the task at hand. His mind was a jumble of
disorganized thoughts and concerns. What
did this guard really want from him? Why did this guard make him so uneasy when
the others did not? With no easy answers to his questions, he continued
working, carefully avoiding looking at the guard in question. When his day in
the field ended, he joined the other men and marched back to the camp, lining
up just inside the gate for the nightly roll call.
After
roll call was over, he wasn't surprised when the guard he had spoken to earlier
suddenly appeared before him and grabbed his arm. "This one belongs to
me." He told one of the other guards as he pulled Michael away from the
other men and began walking across the compound with him. Michael had to step
up his pace to keep up with the big blond's longer stride. Without a word, he
led Michael to the newer brick barracks at the far end of the compound that
housed the guards and other camp personnel.
~*~*~*~*~*~
Once
they reached his private room, the guard locked the door securely behind him
and turned to stare at Michael. "There's a pan of water on the stand over
there. Wash yourself. You stink."
Michael
found the pan of cold water sitting on a stand in the corner of the room.
Sitting beside it was a towel, a washcloth and a small bar of soap. Slowly, Michael
began to strip off his hated uniform, letting the rags fall to the floor at his
feet. He could feel the guard's eyes on his back, watching him, as he bathed
himself for the first time in months. He began to feel more human as he rinsed
away the accumulated grime and dirt from his captivity. Even though the water
was cold, being able to wash himself was a luxury he had been denied for too
long.
"Turn
around." The guard ordered brusquely "I want to take a look at
you."
Taking
a deep breathe, Michael did as he was ordered. He tried not to blush
self-consciously as the other man's eyes swept over his emancipated body,
seeming to linger a bit longer than was necessary on Michael's flaccid
genitals. "Are all of your people cut?" he asked curiously.
"Yes."
Michael said somberly. For Jews, the Bris, or ritual circumcision on the eighth
day of his life is a time honored tradition that symbolizes the entrance of a
male child into the traditional covenant with God. The ceremony had two parts:
the actual circumcision and the naming of the child. The naming of the child is
the most emotional part of many Bris ceremonies. Depending on the traditions
represented, the child is either named after a living or a deceased relative. A
child may have one or more names in accordance with the parents' wishes.
The
guard raised his head to look into Michael's smoldering dark blue eyes.
"What is your name?"
"Michael.
Michael David Starsky."
"My
name is Karl. Karl Bruner. You are to refer to me as Herr Bruner and I will
call you Michael." He smiled thinly as he sat down on the edge of the thin
bed. "Would you like to be called by your name again instead of a
number?"
"Yes."
"Very
well. You will find a clean uniform in the closet. Put it on."
Michael
crossed the room to the tiny wardrobe and opened the door. Inside he found a
fairly new striped uniform with the Star of Michael pinned to the left sleeve.
Pinned below the star was a pale Blue B. At his questioning look, Karl smiled
and said, "The W lets the other guards know that you belong to me. You
will still be subject to their orders but you will be turned over to me for
punishment if you need it." He leaned back against the headboard of the
bed, folding his arms across his chest, as he continued to explain the new
rules to Michael. "You will stay here in my quarters with me at night and
stay by my side during the day. You will act as my official interpreter with
the other prisoners who do not speak or understand German. In return for your
services to me, you will be given better living conditions and better food that
the other prisoners. Displease me and you will be sent to the gas chamber.
Understood?"
"Yes."
Michael said quietly. There was really no other acceptable answer, not if he
wanted to continue to live. Michael had made a solemn vow on his father's name
that he would do whatever it took to survive this place, even if it meant submitting
to the whims of his new overseer.
"Good.
At night, you will sleep on the floor beside my bed. You will not speak unless
you are spoken to and you will obey all of my orders without question."
His speech was interrupted by a light tap on the door. He shoved himself to his
feet and crossed the room to open it, speaking to someone in the hallway
briefly. He accepted a tray of food and closed the door, locking it securely
and pocketing the key. He carried the tray of food over to the thin single bed and
sat down, balancing the tray on his lap. Without a word, he began to eat.
Michael
stood at attention, his mouth watering at the aroma of the food that drifted
through the air. He waited patiently without speaking until Karl had finished
his share. Finally, the blond sat the tray down on the floor beside the bed and
waved his hand disinterestedly. "You can eat now."
Michael
hurried to the tray and sat down on the floor. Karl had left him a bowl of rich
soup with chunks of meat floating in the broth, a slice of thick break with
butter, and a glass of milk. Michael began to eat greedily, trying not to
reveal just how hungry he really was after all those months of barely being
given enough food to stay alive.
"Don't
eat so fast." Karl warned him "Or it will all come right back up.
After your stomach gets used to food again, you can have more choices but for
now you need to stick to the bread and the soup. When you are finished, put the
tray over by the door and go to bed."
~*~*~*~*~*~
Over
the next two weeks, Michael began to slowly adjust to the sudden changes in his
life. His life in the camp had definitely improved since the young SS officer
had taken a sudden interest in his welfare. His days still began at four in the
morning, but now he was able to enjoy a leisurely breakfast before joining Herr
Bruner the fields overseeing the other men as they worked. Some days, he
accompanied his new companion to other parts of the compound, even the woman's
side of the camp, where he acted as an interpreter for the SS officer and the
inmates who didn't speak or understand German. He knew that his new status as
an unofficial aide to the young officer made his fellow inmates both envious
and jealous of him. There were a few that openly resented him and called him
derogatory names to his face. The names hurt. Just like his peers all Michael
was doing was trying his best to survive. He knew he was lucky to be in the
position he found himself in but he felt guilty because of the suffering the
other prisoners still had to endure.
As
he slowly regained some of the weight he had lost, his face filled out, losing
the gaunt, skeletal look and redefining his rugged, handsome features. Bruner
also allowed him to grow his hair back out so that the soft sable curls clung
tightly to his head and the soft brown fur decorated his torso. Sometimes, Michael
thought he caught Bruner looking at him intently with a speculative expression
on his face. The looks made him uneasy but he wasn't quite sure why. Bruner
made relatively few demands of him other then keeping his mouth shut about some
of the things he saw and heard throughout the camp. Some of the other guards
had their own 'personal' slaves chosen from among the inmates and Michael knew
that the majority of them were treated far worse than he was. Most of them were
still treated with no more compassion or kindness then their peers in the
barracks. Michael knew that he was the lucky one to have been chosen by a guard
who seemed to have a sense of honor when it came to the treatment of the
prisoners.
Six
weeks after the sudden change in his circumstances, Michael had just eaten his
supper and was getting ready for bed when Bruner startled him by saying,
"Tell me something, Michael…a good looking young man like you…have you
ever been with another man?"
"No…"
Michael said quickly, lowering his head to hide the sudden flash of fear in his
eyes. He knew what Bruner was referring to. Michael had not lied, he had never
been with another man but that didn't mean he hadn't thought about it the past.
It was his most closely guarded secret, a forbidden desire that he had never
acted on.
He
stiffened as he felt Bruner reach out and run his fingers through the short
dark curls on Michael's head. "I could teach you many things, Michael…if
you'll let me."
"I
can't stop you if that's what you want me for." Michael said flatly,
trying to quiet the frantic pounding of his heart. He couldn't be sure if it
was from fear or a wild anticipation, maybe a bit of both.
"I
want you…I won't lie about that. I don't want to have to force you into
anything but I will if I have no choice." Bruner told him with certain
coldness in his voice as he looked down at the man on the floor beside his bed.
"I can make it very, very good for you or I can make it very, very bad. It's
all up to you." Without waiting for Michael to answer, he barked,
"Stand up and take off your clothes. I want to see your body."
Slowly,
Michael rose to his feet and began to do as he was ordered. He unbuttoned his
shirt and let it slide over his shoulders to fall in a heap on the floor behind
him. He focused his gaze on a spot on the wall above Bruner's head and stared
at it to avoid looking into those crystal blue eyes. He could feel Bruner's
hungry eyes sweeping over his lean muscular build even as he hooked his fingers
in the waistband of his pants and pulled them down over his hips. Kicking them
aside, he stood rigidly at attention with his hands locked behind his back and
hoped that Bruner was enjoying the view.
Karl
leaned back against the headboard of his bed and looked at the man standing
before him. The handsome face of his companion was set in stone, those sapphire
eyes stormy and defiant. The big blond hid a tiny smile. This was a man who
would never be broken, not entirely. He would never bow to any man without a
fight. He would continue struggling to survive with his dying breath.
Michael
Starsky didn't have the classic good looks and refined features of Karl Bruner.
His nose was slightly crooked, his chin a bit too sharp, and his neck too short.
But his features blended together to make an interesting contrast. His best
features were his sapphire blue eyes fringed with thick dark lashes that any
woman would have killed for and a lush full mouth that turned up into a crooked
smile when he was pleased.
His
body was compact and muscular with well defined abs and pecs. Tiny brown
nipples nestled in the soft fur that covered his torso, hair that tapered to a
thin line that ran down his stomach to his groin. A thick heavy cock hung
between those muscular thighs, a cock that was impressive in size even when it
was flaccid. The legs were short and slightly bowed but well muscled and
strong. Karl felt a stirring in his own groin at the sight of that naked body
standing before him. He longed to touch the man, to make him his own, but he
wanted Michael to be a willing participant. He didn't want to take him by
force. If that meant going slow and taking his time to introduce Michael to the
pleasures of loving another man then Karl was prepared to do that.
He
shifted around so that he could swing his long legs over the side of the bed.
"Come here." He ordered "Stand in front of me. I want to touch
you."
Michael
stiffly moved so that he was standing in front of the SS officer. He tried to
still the wild beating of his heart as he waited for that first touch of
another man's hand on his body. He was mildly surprised when Bruner reached out
to rub the palm of his right hand over his chest first instead of grabbing his
cock. He jerked involuntarily as those long fingers brushed over a nipple, the
tiny nub of flesh hardening almost immediately. He had never thought of his
nipples as being particularly sensitive but beneath this man's touch, they
suddenly became a highly receptive erogenous zone.
Karl
leaned forward and Michael suddenly felt a warm wet tongue swiping across his
chest, stopping to latch onto the nipple those fingers had been touching just
moments before. Involuntarily, Michael moaned softly and leaned into the touch.
The sensation was overwhelming, sending a charge of electricity straight to his
groin.
"You
like that?" Karl asked with a soft chuckle as he continued to suckle at
the nipple.
"Yes…"
Michael admitted breathlessly. He reached out and grabbed Bruner's shoulders to
balance himself on suddenly weak knees. He closed his
eyes and gave himself over to the unfamiliar sensations surging through his
body.
"Sit
here beside me." Karl ordered, scooting over to make room for his
potential new lover. Michael sank on the bed beside him, feeling vaguely
self-conscious since he was naked while Bruner was still fully clothed. Karl
smiled and brushed his fingers across Michael's cheek. In a soft, quiet voice,
he said "Don't be afraid of me, Michael. I'm not going to hurt you and I'm
not going to force you into doing anything you don't want to do. Do you trust
me?"
Michael
trembled as he looked into those ice blue eyes. He could not readily identify
the emotions running through him but he knew that he trusted this man for some
unknown reason. Not trusting his voice to speak, he simply nodded his head. Karl
smiled and leaned closer, taking that lush mouth that had fascinated him from
the beginning in a gentle kiss. Michael melted into the kiss, leaning against Karl
as the other man wrapped his arms around that slender waist and pulled him
close. When Karl ran his tongue over Michael's bottom lip, the brunet opened
his lips willingly, sucking on the tongue that slipped into his mouth. When
they finally came up for air, Michael was panting breathlessly, his cock
suddenly as hard as a rock.
"Pleasure
yourself." Karl whispered hoarsely into a curl covered ear. "I want
to watch."
Michael
reached down and took his cock in his hand, hissing through his teeth as he
began to stroke himself firmly. With his other hand, he fondled the heavy fur
covered sack between his legs as he brought himself closer and closer to the
edge. He ran his thumb over the heavily weeping slit in the head of his
erection, rubbing the pre-cum over the hard, throbbing shaft. His hips began to
buck involuntarily as he felt his balls tightening up as that familiar tingling
started deep inside of him. Throwing his head back with a growl, he cried out
as his body exploded, splattering his stomach with his own seed. He collapsed
on the bed, his head spinning from the intensity of his orgasm. He felt the
mattress shift as Bruner stood up. A few minutes later, he felt the wetness of
a cloth that gently wiped him clean. He opened his eyes, smiling faintly as Karl
Bruner finished washing him and then stretched out on the mattress beside him.
"I
want you to sleep here beside me tonight." Karl said, gathering the
smaller man into his arms and covering them both with the blanket. Within
minutes, they both drifted into a deep slumber.
~*~*~*~*~*~
Michael
was surprised to see the sunlight streaming through the window when he opened
his eyes the next morning. Karl was still sleeping beside him, his long arms
wrapped about him possessively. As if sensing that he was awake, Karl opened
his eyes and smiled at him. "We're staying in today." He told him
"Today I want you all to myself."
"Won't
you get in trouble?" Michael asked, overstepping his boundaries by
speaking without permission. But he figured that that the things he had allowed
the night before gave him some rights.
"No.
I have more influence here than you think." Karl said evasively. "How
do you think I managed to lay claim to you so easily?" Karl didn't
elaborate. He didn't like to elaborate on the fact that he had been given
special privileges because of his father's military rank and years of service
to the cause. It wasn't something he was particularly proud of.
"Why
did you choose me? It's not just because I can speak German."
"No.
I wanted you from the minute I saw you. Even out there in the fields with the
other prisoners, there was something about you that stood out."
"Even
if I am a Jew?"
"That
is unfortunate…an accident of birth." Karl said "But as long as you
are with me, you will be safe from the gas chambers. You must admit that things
are better for you now than they were before I found you."
"Perhaps…but
I'm still your prisoner. That hasn't changed."
"No.
It hasn't. Does that bother you?"
"Wouldn't
it bother you if you were in my position?"
"I
suppose it would but then I don't have to worry about that happening, do
I?"
"Why
do you hate my people so much? Why do you wish to exterminate my race?"
"I
don't hate your people. But to my people you are and always will be an inferior
race. Your religious beliefs are too different from ours…that makes you
dangerous."
"How?
Is it wrong to believe something different or is it wrong to be
different?"
"I'm
not exactly the right person to answer that question. My sexual preferences
would make me as much of an outcast as you if it were to be discovered that I prefer
men to women." Karl had struggled for years with his own sexuality,
knowing that his sexual orientation would brand him as an 'undesirable' if it
became common knowledge. His own father didn't know about his sexual urges.
"So
what you're really saying is that you are willing to kill my people just
because the mighty Fuhrer decided that we don't deserve to live?" Michael
said, distracting Karl from his dark thoughts.
"It's
the law. I have no control over what the law decides is best for the
nation."
Their
conversation was interrupted by the arrival of their breakfast trays. Karl rose
gracefully to his feet and brought the food back to the bed. The two men ate
their meal in silence, each of them lost in their own thoughts. When they were
finished eating, Karl sat the trays aside and stretched back out on the bed
beside Michael. He reached out and caressed a bare hip, running his hand down
the outside of the brunet's thigh. He leaned in for a long, lingering kiss,
exploring the inside of Michael's mouth as their tongues playfully teased each
other. Karl didn't seem to be in any hurry to remove his own clothing,
preferring instead to spend his time enjoying the naked body lying beside him
in the bed.
"Can
I touch you?" Karl whispered, looking deeply into his companion's eyes.
"Can I make you feel good?"
Michael
nodded slightly and closed his eyes, embarrassed at how much he wanted to feel
this man's touch. He sighed in contentment as he felt that big hand slide
between his legs, the fingers trailing up the inside of his right thigh. His
cock twitched with interest and began to rise to the occasion. His heart was
pounding with excitement and he found himself overwhelmed with desire. He had
never felt this way before about anyone, man or woman. His whole body seemed to
be sensitized to touch, his skin tingling with excitement and anticipation. Michael
arched his back and thrust his hips forward but, despite his best efforts, Karl's
nimble fingers avoided the place that wanted to be touched the most. Michael
moaned in frustration, squirming around on the bed, his cock was as hard as
granite and throbbing almost painfully, begging for attention. .
His
eyes flew open and a yelp of surprise escaped his lips as he felt a warm, wet
tongue licking the underside of the steel shaft. Michael's body trembled as his
gaze focused on the blond head nestled between his legs. No
one had ever done this to him before, not even the local whore that his father
had paid to teach him the joys of sex on his thirteenth birthday. He
whimpered softly as his hips began to buck under the onslaught of that talented
tongue and mouth. He shivered as Karl nuzzled his balls, and then sucked one of
the tender orbs inside.
"Agggghhhh…"
he cried out, reaching down to grab those locks of blond silk and pull him
closer. His entire system felt as if it were on overload and ready to explode
at any second. "Please, please, please…" Michael chanted
breathlessly, not even sure what it was exactly that he was begging for from Bruner.
That
devilish tongue was licking the thick vein on the underside of the shaft again,
trailing a path of wetness up to the crown. The tongue swirled around the ridge
beneath the crown, pausing to pay special attention to the tiny scar at the
back. Long, sturdy fingers wrapped around the base of the shaft and squeezed.
For a moment, Michael was confused at Bruner's actions but soon realized why he
had done it when his cock was suddenly swallowed in the sweet vacuum of that
hot, wet mouth. If Karl hadn't been holding his cock so tightly, he would have
lost it right then and came.
Michael's
eyes rolled back in his head and a deep groan was pulled from his throat as he
gave himself over to the sensations swirling around him. Michael knew he was
lost. Lost in the magic of this man's touch, the power of his kiss, the
incredible pleasure he was bestowing on him. And it was pleasure beyond his
wildest dreams. It no longer mattered that it was a man between his legs
pleasuring him instead of a woman.
As
Karl began sucking harder and combining the actions of his mouth with a steady,
firm stroke of his hand, Michael screamed as he felt his balls tightening up
and drawing in closer to his body. Then he was falling over the edge, filling
that warm, wet mouth with his seed. Karl continued to suck, pulling everything Michael
had to give from his body until he was drained. Then the big blond licked him
clean. Exhausted and sated, Michael drifted into a lethargic slumber induced by
post climatic bliss.
When
Michael opened his eyes, Bruner was standing by the window gazing outside, the
rays of sunshine surrounding him and highlighting the gold in his hair. He had
finally removed his own clothes and stood there looking like a Nordic God in
all his splendor. His left hand was stroking the massive cock that hung proudly
between his legs, not enough to bring him over the edge but just enough to keep
the fire kindled. Unobserved, Michael let his hungry gaze examine the long,
sleek lines of that lithe body with its smooth, almost hairless chest, and the
long legs that seemed to go on forever. Everything was in perfect proportion
with the man's size and just as beautiful as his classic features. As if he had
sensed that Michael's gaze, he turned his head and smiled fondly.
"Did
you enjoy that?" he asked softly
"Yes,
very much." Michael admitted without any shame or hesitation. "I've
never had anyone do that to me before."
"That
is only a taste of the things I can show you…the pleasure I can give you."
Karl took a step closer to the bed and stood there, his cock jutting out
proudly. "Will you give yourself to me willingly? Will you let me show you
how good it can be between us?"
"Yes…"
Michael said shyly, examining the thick hard cock bobbing in front of his eyes.
The tip of his tongue darted out to lick his lips nervously as he wondered what
that velvet steel shaft would taste like. He had a vague idea of how two men
made love to one another. While the thought itself was arousing, the idea of
allowing the SS officer to shove that monster cock up his ass was equally
terrifying. It would rip him apart. He did not see how it could even be done.
As
if he had read his mind, Bruner whispered, "Go ahead…touch it. Taste it. I
want you to."
Michael
reached out and tentatively ran his fingers along the smooth, yet hard, shaft
of the other man's cock. The two men were both well endowed, although Bruner's
cock was longer and a bit thicker than Michael. He was also uncut, a fact that
fascinated the young Jew. He let his fingers gently slid back the foreskin to
expose the smooth head with the tiny slit in the middle. Karl moaned softly as Michael
gently ran the pad of his thumb over the slit, spreading the hint of moisture
that was gathered there over the crown. It felt strange to be handling another
man's cock, yet it wasn't an unpleasant experience.
Michael
let his fingers close around the shaft, experimenting with different strokes
and rhythms until he found the one that Bruner seemed to like the best. He felt
the shaft grow even harder and thicker beneath his fingers. Leaning closer, he
let his tongue dart out to taste the other man for the first time. The scent of
musk and arousal was strong and Michael felt his own cock stiffening in
response. He felt long, slender fingers tangling in his thick soft curls,
pulling him closer and encouraging him to take the head of the cock into his
mouth. Closing his eyes Michael took a deep breath and sucked in the crown.
Bruner
roared his approval, his body trembling with the effort it took to keep from
driving the shaft deep into that warm, wet cavern. He knew that this was all
new territory to the young Jew and he didn't want to do anything to discourage
him from exploring the possibilities. Karl's greatest virtue was his patience. He
felt a strange connection to this Jew, almost a kinship that troubled him
deeply. He'd had many sexual partners in his lifetime, both male and female,
but none had broken through his cold, arrogant exterior the way this man had.
He knew the other guards often used the Jews for their own pleasure but the thought
of another man touching this one made Karl's blood boil with rage. A part of
him screamed that he needed to stop this madness while he still could, while
another part of him demanded that he continue and brand this man as his for all
eternity.
Unable
to hold back any longer, Karl began to thrust his hips, driving his cock in and
out of the willing mouth before him. He kept his fingers tangled in those dark
curls to keep Michael from pulling away until Karl satisfied his need for
completion. With a sudden roar and a powerful thrust of his hips, he poured his
seed down the smaller man's throat. His own inexperience made Michael gag and
choke, instinctively trying to pull away so he could breathe. Finally, Karl
regained his senses and gently pulled out his softening cock. Sitting on the
edge of the bed, he gently gathered Michael in his arms, rubbing his back
soothingly as he coughed and tried to regain his breathe.
"It's
all right, little one." He whispered into those chocolate colored curls.
"I'm sorry. I got a little carried away. It won't happen again."
"S'kay"
Michael said when he could speak again. "I just didn't expect there to be
so much, so quickly."
"You'll
get better. All it takes is some practice."
"It
tastes stronger than I thought it would. Tart and thick."
"You
mean slimy, don't you?" Karl said with a chuckle. He remembered the first
time he had tasted another man's semen. He had been fourteen and scared to
death. "You get used to it."
The
two men stretched out together on the bed, wrapped in each other's arms. They
cuddled close, relaxing and enjoying the afterglow. Karl was pleased with how
responsive Michael was turning out to be. There was a childlike innocence to
the young Jew that was both refreshing and charming. Like many of his countrymen,
Karl had been raised surrounded by the propaganda spread by the SS, that his
race was the superior race and that Jews, the disabled and other selected
minorities should be eliminated for the good of mankind. They were not
necessarily beliefs that Karl claimed as his own. Now
those ingrained beliefs were being badly shaken by his budding relationship
with one Jew in particular. If Michael David Starsky was an example of his
race, then maybe the fatherland was wrong in their views of what was best for
~*~*~*~*~*~
Michael
lay on the bed and watched as Karl paced the floor restlessly. He had been on
edge for several days, his mood fueled by the persistent rumors that allied
forces were preparing to invade
"I
don't know how much longer I can keep you safe." Karl said, glancing
worriedly at his lover. "The Fuhrer has decreed that all the Jews should
be killed before the allied troops come. I have to find a way to get you out of
here…to somewhere safe. I won't let them send you to the gas chambers."
"They'll
kill you too if you try to help me escape." Michael said trying to
unsuccessfully argue with the big blond. "It's not worth the risk."
"To
me it is!" Karl growled "I'm in love with you, Michael…I won't let
them hurt you!" He stopped and stared at his lover, appearing to be just
as shocked by the words he had just spoken as Michael was. In the past few
weeks, they had continued to explore their newfound relationship but neither
one of them had ever voiced their true feelings for one another. No words of
love or affection had ever passed between them.
"You
can't love me. I'm nothing but a Jew. You love what we share when we're in this
bed together, nothing more." Michael said firmly. Saying the words aloud
cut deeply even thought Michael believed them to be true. His own emotions were
more closely guarded but in his heart, Michael knew that he had fallen in love
with the tall blond whose beliefs were radically different from his own. But,
he was realistic enough to know that a love like theirs had no future, not in
the world outside the gates of this camp.
Michael
watched as the big blond lost his rigid control and sank to his knees beside
the bed, reaching out to clasp at Michael's hands almost desperately. "I
do love you. You must believe that. I saved you from a certain death when I
rescued you from the life led by the other prisoners. You owe me for
that."
"Yes,
I owe you my life…but I am still a Jew. My place is with my people, even if it
means that I must die for what I am. My destiny is God's will, not my
own."
"NO!"
Karl snapped "I WON"T LET YOU MAKE THAT CHOICE!"
"The
choice is not mine to make. It never has been."
"I
swear I will find a way to save you from the fate of the others."
"Come
to bed and let me love you." Michael whispered with a soft smile. "We
may not have much time left together. I want to make the most of it."
"Will
you let me take you? Make you mine, once and for all?" Karl asked almost
shyly. This was the one thing they had not done. Michael had allowed other
liberties with his body but not that one. If their time together was coming to
an end, Karl wanted that final intimacy to remember him by.
Michael
was quiet for several long minutes. He was still afraid of that one particular
act of submission but he could see in his lover's eyes how much it meant to the
Karl. Finally, he nodded slightly without speaking, giving his consent and
bowing to Bruner's desires.
Karl
smiled happily and turned to fumble though a nightstand that stood beside the
bed. He pulled out a jar filled with lard and put it on the pillow within easy reach. "Lay on your stomach." He ordered the
brunet. He waited until Michael did as he was instructed, then crawled onto the
bed beside him. Leaning down to nuzzle the side of the smaller man's neck, he
whispered, "Don't be afraid, my love. I'm not going to hurt you. Just
relax and let me love you."
Michael
snorted into the pillow beneath his head. That was easy for him to say. Bruner
wasn't tensed up like a virgin on her wedding night. The idea suddenly struck Michael
as funny and he giggled. That was exactly what he was right now. A virgin. He
felt those strong sure fingers rubbing the muscles of his shoulders and back,
expertly working out the kinks. Then those hands were moving lower, caressing
the firm cheeks of his ass and his heavily muscled thighs. He felt those same
hands pushing his legs wider apart, giving Bruner access to his hidden center,
the most vulnerable part of his anatomy.
He
jumped, startled, when he felt a long wet tongue lapping at the puckered
opening between his legs. He had not been expecting that. It was not an
unpleasant feeling. In fact, it was strangely erotic and exciting. As Karl
continued to tease the opening, Michael began to squirm on the bed as his body
responded, his cock growing painfully hard between his belly and the mattress.
"You
taste so good, baby." Karl murmured softly, planting a kiss on one firm
ass cheek. "I want you so bad. I'm going to touch you now with my finger."
Michael
felt the blunt tip of finger probing against his anus, circling the opening and
stimulating the nerve endings until Michael instinctively pushed back against
the touch. He hissed sharply as he felt the finger breech the opening, pushing
past the resistant outer ring of muscle. It didn't hurt exactly; it just felt
uncomfortable and strange. Karl pushed again, his finger sinking deeper into
the tight, hot channel until it was completely buried. He paused to give Michael's
body a minute to adjust to the invasion.
Slowly,
he began to move his finger in and out of the hidden opening. He glanced at Michael's
face trying to judge his reactions only to find those sapphire eyes tightly
closed. But, his breathing was deep and even so Karl decided to continue with
caution. He would not underestimate the value of the gift he was being given,
the level of trust that Michael was showing by allowing him to do this when he
still had some reservations.
When
Michael whimpered softly and rubbed his ass back against Karl's hand, he slowly
added a second finger to the first. He carefully worked at stretching out the
muscle, preparing his partner as best he could for the final joining. He met
with some resistance when he added a third finger. He felt the muscles clamp
down tightly, trying to bar his way. With his free hand, he reached out and
gently took hold of the semi-erect cock, stroking it gently. As the cock
hardened, he felt the body beneath him relax and the inner muscles eased up
their grip. He continued playing with Michael's ass until the brunet began
whimpering, his hands clutching frantically at the sheets, as his hips began
thrusting trying to ease the throb in his aching cock.
Smiling
faintly, Karl positioned himself between the wide spread legs and carefully
grabbed his own aching cock in his hand. He pressed the head against the tiny
opening and pushed forward, hissing sharply as the head slipped past the outer
muscle only to be grasped in a vise-like grip by the inner muscles as they
clamped down viciously. Both men moaned from the pain they were experiencing at
the moment. "Jesus babe…ease up." Karl
whispered, frantically reaching for the dusky cock and pumping fiercely. They
both breathed a heavy sigh of relief as the muscles finally released their hold
and allowed Karl's cock to sink in a bit deeper. "How you doing,
baby?" he whispered in a curl covered ear.
"It
hurts…" Michael admitted in a weak, shaky voice, gritting his teeth
against the sharp burning pain deep inside his ass. He had expected some pain,
but nothing to this degree. His anus felt as if it had a tree jammed up it.
"I
know it does, little one…just hold on for a few
minutes. It'll get better. I promise." Karl reassured him. Slowly, inch by
inch, he continued to bury his cock in the hot, tight virgin channel of his
lover. They both breathed easier when his balls finally slapped against Michael's
ass. They both paused to regroup but Karl soon felt the instinctive urge to
start thrusting.
Michael
groaned at the first few thrusts of Karl's hips, still unaccustomed to the
invasion of his body by another man's cock. Then the big blond changed his
angle slightly and Michael screamed in surprise as a jolt of unbelievable
pleasure ripped though his system. He tried to pull away from the over
stimulation of his prostate but Bruner had anticipated his reaction and grabbed
his hips, holding him firmly in place. Michael began to babble with pleasure as
Karl continued thrusting, his cock hitting the hidden gland with every stroke. Michael's
roar of pleasure echoed in the room as his cock exploded, spewing semen all
over the bed beneath him. The strong muscle contractions in his ass pulled Karl
over the edge with him and his own scream of pleasure echoed as he filled his
lover's body with his offering. Panting and exhausted, he collapsed on top of
the broad, muscular back beneath him.
Finally,
he rolled to one side, gently pulling his softening cock out of his lover's
body. As soon as he caught his breath, he would get some water and clean them
both up but for now, he was too spent to move. He glanced at Michael. He looked
just as wasted, his eyes were closed and he was still panting heavily through
his open mouth. Stealing a quick kiss, Karl said quietly, "Are you okay?
Was it good for you?"
Slowly
those sapphire eyes fluttered open and Michael smiled sweetly. "It was
great. I've never felt anything like that before. I've never come so hard in my
life."
"Good.
I wanted it to be good for you." Karl said in a deeply satisfied voice.
"I know it hurt but that can't be helped the first few times."
"I
forgot how bad it hurt once you actually started fucking me." Michael said
crudely.
"That's
because I found the magic spot that made you fly." Karl said with a
chuckle. He leaned up on his forearm and looked deeply into his lover's eyes.
"I can't wait to feel you inside of me like that."
"Right
now I'm too wasted to do anything but sleep."
"We
have plenty of time later for you to return the favor. Sleep for now, little
one. I'll be right here beside you."
~*~*~*~*~
"Michael!
Wake up!" Karl's insistent voice pulled the brunet out of a deep slumber.
He blinked his eyes and looked at his lover questioningly.
"What
is it? What's wrong?"
"We
just received word…the invasion has begun. I have to get you out of here while
there's still time. The other guards are rounding up Jews and gassing them as
we speak." Instantly wide awake and aware of the danger facing him, Michael
bounced to his feet and started to reach for his clothes. "No,
not those." Karl said sharply, thrusting a bundle of clothes at
him. "Put these on."
Without
stopping to question the order, Michael quickly pulled on the uniform of an SS
officer. When he had finished, Karl put the hat on Michael's head, pulling it
down to conceal the dark unruly curls. He pulled a small gun from his jacket
and held it out to his lover. "Do you know how to use this?" he
asked. When Michael nodded and accepted the weapon, Karl said grimly,
"What we're doing is very dangerous. If we are caught, they will kill us
both on the spot. Promise me that if I get hurt or we're stopped that you'll
leave me behind and save yourself."
"NO!"
Michael said just as firmly. "If we go, we go together…if you die, then I
die." The two men locked eyes, a silent understanding passing between them
in a stubborn battle of wills. Finally, Karl nodded solemnly. They would face
their destiny together.
"We
must hurry while it is still dark. The chaos outside will work to our advantage
and cover our escape." He grabbed his lover's hand and pulled him towards
the door. He eased it open just far enough to peer into the hallway and make
sure that it was safe for them to leave the room together. He picked up a
securely bound bundle from the floor and tucked it under his arm.
They
slipped into the hall and made their way out of the building. Outside, guards
were yelling orders and shoving groups of prisoners towards the large stone
building near the back of the compound. In the confusion, it was simpler than Karl
had expected to make their way unchallenged to the front gates. Once they were
outside the compound, they began to run, disappearing into the woods that
surrounded the area. They ran until they were both out of breath, finally
collapsing to the ground beside a small stream.
"I
think we're safe for now." Karl said with a smile. He began pulling the
extra provisions he had brought with him out of his pockets. He had a canteen
of water, some dried fruit and meat, and bullets for both guns. Untying the
wrapped bundle he had been carrying under his arm, he handed Michael another
change of clothes as well as one for himself. "We need to get out of these
uniforms. We won't get far dressed like this." He explained. Both men
changed into a pair of dark pants, work shirts and threadbare jackets. The
change of clothing made them look like a couple of peasants from the area. This
time it was Hutch's hair that needed to be concealed by the cap pulled down on
his head.
The
two men made their way through the woods following the stream and carefully
avoiding getting too close to any signs of civilization. They had no idea who
could be trusted and who couldn't. It was safer to stay to themselves and avoid
being seen. When they stopped to rest for the evening, Michael looked at the
man sitting beside him and found himself wondering about the drastic changes
that had occurred in his life in the past three years. Now, he was once more
facing an uncertain future with no family to speak of.
"Where
is your family?" Michael asked, suddenly realizing that he knew very
little about the man that he had allowed to become his lover.
"My
father is in
"Where's
your mother?"
"She
died when I was young. I've been pretty much on my own since then. What about
your family?"
"They're
all dead. My father was killed when we tried to escape from
"So
you are alone?"
"I
have you." Michael said with a tender smile.
"I
have a friend in
"What
about you? I don't want to go without you."
"You
must go and I must stay here." Karl said with a trace of sadness in his
voice. "You must have known that what we have could never last. The world
will not accept the way we feel about each other."
"There
must be a way." Michael said, a catch in his voice as he thought about
facing whatever lay ahead without his lover by his side. "If you come with
me to
"I
will not hide the way I feel about you. I will die to protect you but I will
not lie about our love."
"So
why do you insist on sending me away?"
"Because
it is the only way to make sure that you are safe. You are still a Jew and your
life is still in danger as long as you stay here!" Karl argued. "I
won't allow you to live the rest of your life looking over your shoulder for
the Gestapo. What I do for you, I am doing out of love. You must believe that."
"It
doesn't feel like it. It feels like you're trying to get rid of me." Michael
said in a deeply hurt voice.
"Never." Karl said, wrapping his arms around the smaller
man's waist and pulling him close. "If there were a way for us to be
together without fear, I would never let you leave my side. But there isn't.
This is the best thing for both of us."
"How
long before we reach
"That
depends. If we have to walk, it could take a few weeks. If I can find us a
ride, maybe a few days."
Michael
turned away so his lover wouldn't see the tears that flooded his eyes at the
short time they had left to share their love.
~*~*~*~*~*~
Michael
stared out the window at the busy street below. In less than four hours, he
would board a ship that would take him to
As
if drawn by his thoughts, a pair of strong arms circled his waist and a set of
warm lips nuzzled the side of his neck from behind. "Soon you will be gone
and I will be alone." Karl said sadly. "I'm going to miss you, Michael."
"You
could still come with me." Michael said wistfully, already knowing what
the answer would be.
"You
know I can't. But I am staying here in
"Promise
that you won't forget me." Michael whispered, leaning back into his lover.
"I
could never forget you, my love. Someday we will be together…in the next life
perhaps."
"That's
too far away. I'll die of loneliness before then."
"I
have something for you…so you will always remember the love we shared." He
reached for Michael's left hand and slipped a thick golden band on his pinkie
finger. "It was my mothers. Now I want you to have it."
"I'll
never take it off." Michael promised faithfully. "And if I ever have
a son, I will pass it on to him so that our love can continue from generation
to generation."
"I'm
going to hold you to that, my love." Karl said with a chuckle "Now
come back to bed so we can make one last memory before you leave me."
THE
END