Chapter 8 – Ryan's Story – The escape plan
The prison camp was comfortable enough. Eight bunks to each barrack holding a total of sixteen men. The barracks were separated according to county so naturally Ryan was housed in one with all Americans. Each of the barracks had a stove for heating, not very efficient during the winter months but it helped. Showers were had in a separate building which most of the time didn't have hot water.
Ryan was depressed beyond belief. On their way to their objective his whole troop had been ambushed and he lost ten good men under his command. He felt personally responsible for this although intel hadn't warned him about enemy troop movements in the area, he hadn't known they were heading into a trap. Thinking of Tommy and his son made his depression worse and all he wanted to do now was get back to them.
He volunteered to join escape gangs, these were set up by the escape committee and would draw out various plans to escape the camp. The escape committee was run by senior officers and it would be them alone that would approve an escape plan. Ryan tried several escape attempts but all of them failed. The last one was the worst, six men died in the attempt and Ryan nearly lost his life.
He'd had plenty of time to think about his brief time with Tommy. How could he forget his big blue eyes and that cute button nose that sat exquisitely above those succulent plump lips? Or his soft silky blond hair that needed constantly to be brushed from his face. He would always get aroused when thinking of him in this way and there wasn't much opportunity for relief when you're incarcerated with several hundred men.
He remembered that first night they had made love. He couldn't sleep, couldn't get Tommy off his mind. It drove him crazy and he ended up walking the streets till the early hours to clear his head. The vision of Tommy's face after that first kiss was vivid, the wanton look of desire was too much for him and he did something that night he never thought would ever happen. It was better than he had ever imagined, more intense, infinitely better than any woman including his wife.
Ryan had always known he was attracted to other men ever since he and his cousins would mess around in his father's barn. To them it was just experimenting but he knew he wanted, no needed something more.
It scared him when Tommy used the word
Love.
He hadn't considered the consequences when he seduced him. He didn't really know what he was expecting but hearing "
I love you
" sent his mind in a spin. It didn't occur to him that Tommy might feel that way yet looking back it was exactly how he felt. For two days he tried to forget him, put him out of his mind. But when he got his orders he just had so see him one more time before he was shipped out to France. He's glad he did. He now knew for sure that he is hopelessly in love with Tommy.
One night he was sitting at the back of his barracks smoking, the full moon providing more than enough illumination to light the whole area. Tonight would not have been a good one for an escape. Ryan's thoughts turned to Tommy and the wonderful night they had spent together before he was shipped out to France. Even though he was among hundreds of men he felt so alone.
"You shouldn't be out here," a voice said from his left, thick with German accent.
Ryan didn't bother looking up. "So shoot me then."
The guard laughed, "Perhaps I should just put you in solitary."
He knew it was Hans and Shultz on their rounds. Hans was a youngish man, probably in his late thirties and much too out of shape to serve on the front line. He was quite jolly but could be ruthless when he needed. Shultz was a cute nineteen year old soldier, far too cute to have been enlisted Ryan thought. It bothered him that he looked so much like Tommy in his build and looks.
It wasn't permitted to be outside after dark but he knew when Hans and Shultz were on their rounds they didn't mind as long as you didn't push your luck.
"What so you could have your wicked way with me?" Ryan joked.
Shultz's face dropped but Hans laughed. "As handsome as you are, I still prefer my wife," he joked. "Just don't stay out too long."
Ryan watched as they walked away. Shultz kept looking back.
Ryan finished his cigarette and stood but instead of heading back into the barracks he made his way into the shower block. This time of night it was quiet and he needed desperately to relieve himself. He knew Hans wouldn't be round this way again for at least an hour.
Inside he settled under one of the showers. The moonlight and occasional search light illuminating the otherwise dark and damp interior. He dropped his trousers and briefs and stroked his hardening cock. He put his head back against the wall and closed his eyes. Images of Tommy danced in his mind, of them kissing, sucking each other and Ryan fucking him. He longed to be in his arms once more but the war seemed to be dragging on forever.
As Ryan was approaching his climax he was startled by a noise. He opened his eyes and saw two british soldiers watching him.
"What the fuck?" Ryan whispered trying to pull up his trousers.
"No, please don't stop on our account," the older of the two said.
Ryan knew of him, a British Commander by the name of Arthur Babbage. He was on the escape committee with Ryan. He knew him to be in his early forties with balding hair and a fairly handsome if not rugged face. The soft moonlight seemed to take years off him however. The other soldier he didn't know but he looked young, around nineteen Ryan guessed. Tall, slim, lanky with a hook nose but with large puppy dog eyes that made him look cute.
"I'm not going to jerk off in front of you guys," Ryan protested.
"Why not? We came in here for the same reason," Arthur replied.
Ryan noticed that the young soldier was staring at his crotch.
"I'm not queer," Ryan said.
"Really?" Arthur moved closer. "So who's Tommy?"
"What? How do you know him?"
"You was calling his name as you was
jerking
off as you yanks put it."
Ryan didn't know what to say, he felt his face redden, it looked like he'd been outed. This could end very badly.
Arthur laughed at seeing Ryan's embarrassment. "Don't worry, we're on the same team," he said. Then to Ryan's amazement he turned and grabbed the younger man's crotch.
The young soldier groaned and pushed his groin out more. Ryan could clearly see the obscene bulge in his trousers.
