Chapter One
I had just turned 18 and was half way through college. So far I had led a very sheltered life. My parents had wrapped me in cotton wool. I was there lovely blond blue eyed boy and they were determined that no harm should come to me. College was so different from secondary school. It was a lot more relaxed and of course the students were a lot older. I was a shy boy and was still to find my sexual feet as it were. Girls seemed like strange creatures to me but I liked them very much. They seemed to want to mother me when I was around them. As for members of my own sex? I liked them too. So this is where all my confusion began. Constantly I would ask myself. 'Am I gay?' I really didn't know the answer to that one. I knew I liked both boys and girls so I guess that made me bisexual. So it was decided then, that's what I am. I thought to myself, this situation can't be too bad. I can have the best of both worlds. Having made up my mind I felt a lot happier in myself.
So here I was in digs at college, happy but terribly hard up for cash. I just had to get some kind of job. I didn't want to sponge off my parents forever that's for sure. So while in the local news agents I got hold of one of those free papers that are full of adverts. That night I took it home and started scouring the jobs vacant ads. At first nothing really appealed until I saw a very small classified ad at the very bottom of the page.
It read.
Young man wanted for sporting event.
Applicants must be strong and very fit.
Good remuneration for the right person.
Please contact:
The advert went on to give a mobile phone number.
I was not particularly sporting but I did like to keep myself fit. I belonged to a small weight lifting club. I had joined the club in a vain attempt to try and build up my physique. I was always conscious of my lean body and try as I did to put on muscle it never happened. There was not an ounce of fat on me but I believed pound for pound I was quite strong for my size. Also when at secondary school I did a lot of running. I was very proud of the two half marathons that I had run.
The next day I rang the number. The guy on the other end of the line sounded very friendly and after listening to my qualifications asked me to meet him at his house later that day. The man's house was just a short motorbike ride away from my college digs. When I got there I was amazed to see how big the house was. It stood in its own grounds surrounded by large woodlands. I didn't have any idea how many acres it stood in but I was guessing quite a lot. Wow, I thought. These people must be loaded!
The house had a long sweeping driveway leading up to a heavy oak door set in a very grand looking porch. The door had one of those old fashioned brass bell pulls. I reached up and gave it a yank.
I could hear bells chiming away deep inside the house. Then I heard the door lock being snapped open. When it opened and a very tall smartly dressed man stood before me. I suppose he was in his early forties. He gave me a broad grin and ushered me inside.
"Hello young man, it is very nice to meet you, have you come about the job?" He held out his hand for me to shake it.
I took his hand and shook it. He had a grip like a vice. "Y..y..yes." I stammered
"Come through to the lounge and tell me all about yourself." He held out his arm and pointed the way.
The man's lounge was breath taking. It had beautiful oak panelling all around the walls and there were animal head trophies adorning them. I could see this man was probably a very keen hunter and I was in no doubt about his wealth.
He pointed to a Chesterfield sofa and asked me to take a seat, which I did.
The man sat opposite me. "Now first and foremost, what is your name?"
"My name is Brian Jones." I replied in a faltering voice.
The man smiled. "Well, it is very nice to meet you Brian. You don't mind if I call you Brian do you? I am the sort of person who does not stand on formality."
I looked at him nervously. "No not at all, in fact it I am very comfortable with that."
He smiled again. "Oh please don't be nervous of me. I don't bite I can assure you. My name is Marc Austen. I am a retired CEO of a very large company."
Marc went on to tell me how he had loved hunting in Africa and other parts of the world but as species became more and more extinct he had to draw a line under it all. Now hunting was just a distant memory to him.
He clasped his hands over his knees and leaned back.
"Now, you must be curious to know what that little job I have advertised is all about?"
I raised an eyebrow. "Yes, you have me intrigued, is it something to do with sports centres or something?"
He chuckled. "No nothing like that. It is more to do with the thing I love most of all and that of course is hunting."
I shook my head. "I am sorry you have lost me. I know nothing about hunting."
Marc's gaze was penetrating, it burned into me.
"I must say you are a handsome lad and just by looking at you I feel sure you will meet the needs of my colleagues and me." His smile broadened.
His comment flattered me. "Well thanks Mr Austen but what exactly does the job curtail?"
He leaned back in his chair. "Please, no formalities for the moment. Call me Marc."
I nodded "Yes OK Marc."
He went on. "Now let me ask you a few questions. If any of them bother you or you feel uncomfortable at all let me know and I will stop the interview at once and you are free to leave. Is that alright with you Brian?"
I was becoming even more intrigued about the job. "Yes, fine with me."
"Firstly, may I ask how much you need the money?"
I was surprised by the directness of that question. "Well...I...err....Well I am pretty hard up right now that's for sure. The advert said good remuneration!"
Marc smiled again. "Yes I think for someone who is short of a shilling or two this little job would certainly help them along."
I was warming to the man. "May I ask what it pays?"
He raised an eyebrow and chuckled. "I will come to that in a moment young man. Let me probe you a little more to start with. I don't want you running out on me just yet."
I smiled back. "Yes OK Marc, fire away."
