Journey to Rai-Lay

By Michael Joseph

Journey to Rai-Lay is a sequel to Journey to Angkor. It follows Henry, whose brief affair with Piero causes the Sicilian to be sent off on his adventure. Separated from the man he thought he might love, blaming himself for it, and still under the thumb of his uncle, Henry spirals into a deep depression, seeking sex in the underbelly of London's docks, where more often than not he's beaten and abused. But it's while nursing a beer in a seedy docklands pub that Henry meets James Brooke.

Henry's chance meeting with Brooke launches him on a journey of discovery. A journey that has him learning the ropes as a sailor, and learning more about himself and what he really needs. Sometimes we find what we need in the most unlikely places.

Kindly note that Journey to Rai-Lay includes explicit descriptions of sex between men. This book is intended for adult audiences only. Readers may enjoy this book without having read the first one.

This second edition has been heavily revised to correct errors in the text and clarify some scenes.

Michael Joseph is the pen name of a Bangkok-based travel writer with more than 20 years experience traveling throughout Southeast Asia. Journey to Rai-Lay is his second fiction book.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Michael Joseph
• Release date: Jul 10, 2011
• ISBN: 9781465852687

Michael Joseph

Bangkok-based travel writer who occasionally makes a foray into fiction.

Book preview

Journey to Rai-Lay

By Michael Joseph

Second Electronic Edition

Copyright 2011 Michael Joseph

Electronic Edition, License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you're reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for you use only, then please go to one of the many on-line retailers that sell it and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Kindly note: This book is for adult audiences only. It contains graphic descriptions of sex between men, which may be considered offensive by some readers.

Although set against an historical background of real events, this is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are solely the product of the author's imagination and/or are used fictitiously, though reference may be made to actual historical events or existing locations. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

This book is a sequel, of sorts, to Journey to Angkor, which is also available in multiple ebook formats from several on-line retailers. For more information about the author and any more upcoming books, see MichaelJoseph.info.

Cover: Photograph of Railay peninsula Copyright 2006 by Michael Holland.

Forward

If you haven't read the first book in this series, Journey to Angkor, then here's a little synopsis to get you up to speed:

Piero, a promising young man from Sicily, travels to England to work for the world famous Professor Challenger. Henry, the Professor's handsome and rather dissolute nephew, seduces Piero. To avoid any hint of scandal, Challenger ships Piero off on an expedition to Southeast Asia, leaving a disconsolate Henry behind. Journey to Angkor followed the adventures of Piero. Now it's time to take up Henry's story.

Chapter One

Henry stared down into his beer.

In that one aspect, at least, he was being successful in blending in with the patrons of the Crown and Castle, many of whom were also quietly nursing their pints.

But nobody would mistake Henry for one of the other customers. Sure, he hadn't bathed properly in days, and his clothes hadn't been washed in weeks, but one had only to look closely to see that the clothes were tailored, and weren't some ill-fitting hand-me-downs that had been patched many times.

Henry couldn't say why he was here, or why he was trying to look inconspicuous. It didn't really seem to matter. Some men always seemed to know. Or maybe they didn't know, they just didn't care.

Henry couldn't help blaming himself for what had happened to Piero. He had tried to stand up to his uncle, who had sent Piero away to the other side of the world. But the man was as immovable as a mountain. Every time he tried to talk to his uncle about Piero, the professor changed the topic to finding a girl for Henry to marry. In his uncle's view, all of Henry's problems would be solved once he was married to a nice girl. He might have gone along with it in the past. Some of his friends already had, but the idea now repulsed him. Henry couldn't bring himself to live such a lie.

His uncle had also managed to cut Henry off from his friends. When he tried to call on any of them, they were out or otherwise engaged. Henry's frustration had driven him into a deep depression, and that, in a very round-about way, is what had bought him to the Crown and Castle that night. Cut off from his friends, from anyone that could give him some solace, Henry had decided that he needed to escape, to go in search of Piero. But the small stipend he received from his parents wasn't nearly enough to get him passage on a ship; it didn't even cover what it cost him to live once he had left his uncle's house.

With no money and no friends, Henry had a vague notion that he might find some idea of how to escape England to the Far East in the pubs of London's docks. At least that was what he told himself. He did manage to meet many sailors, but they were more interested in how Henry could help them. He seemed to attract a certain kind of man, hardy men in search of a warm hole to stick their cocks in after months at sea. They seemed to spot out-of-place Henry as soon as he entered a room, and most of the time they didn't even seem to care if Henry was interested. More often than not, Henry was man-handled into some alley where he was forced to his knees or bent over a barrel while a burly man roughly took his pleasure without caring whether or not Henry was enjoying it. When the men finished, Henry was lucky if they simply took their leave. More than once a man had gotten angry and hit Henry, either because he wasn't performing adequately, or just out of spite when they finished. He never tried to defend himself. Henry's self-esteem was so low that he felt like he deserved the beatings. So far Henry hadn't been seriously hurt. His nose wasn't as straight as it once had been, and his ribs were sore from where a man had kicked him after Henry used his mouth on the man last week.

There are easier ways to kill yourself.

Henry had been so deep in thought, he hadn't seen the man approach. He looked up to see the man standing across the table. He wasn't some common sailor. The man was around 30 years old and about Henry's height. He was thin but from what Henry could see the man was quite sturdy. His hair was a somewhat unruly black mass and he wore the long sideburns that were the fashion for men his age. But what held Henry's gaze when he met them were the man's piercing eyes, which were fixed firmly on Henry. Like Henry, the man clearly didn't belong in such a place, but unlike Henry he didn't try to hide it.

How did you... I... I mean, why do you say that?

The man smiled. Mind if I sit down? Although he was already seated in front of Henry before he finished asking the question. The man leaned across the table and again fixed his eyes on Henry.

The younger man was like a rabbit hypnotized by a snake, he couldn't move.

The man relaxed his face a little and leaned back. I know the look. I've seen it in a mirror. I've been where you are, probably sat in that very chair not two or three years ago. Thought I'd dug myself a hole I couldn't get out of, and it would just be easier to let the dirt fall back on me.

The words struck Henry hard. He looked back down into his beer. Henry felt he was too far down his own hole for anyone to reach him.

But the man persisted. Luckily, I came into some money before it was too late, and I decided to learn from my mistakes rather than dwell on them. He leaned forward again. You're not a seaman, I take it.

No sir, Henry answered. He was beginning to have some hope until the man asked that question. The man must be here looking for sailors.

The name is James. James Brooke. The man held out his hand.

Henry. He took Brooke's hand weakly. Henry assumed the conversation was near its end, since he wasn't a sailor.

But Brooke didn't move. Ever been to the East, Henry?

I was born in Rangoon. My parents sent me here for school.

Ah! Brooke exclaimed with a broad smile. A fellow exile. I was born in Benares.

Henry managed a weak smile, but kept his eyes downcast.

So, Henry, it doesn't seem to be going too well here for you. I'm planning my own escape, care to join me?

What? Henry didn't understand at all. Where?

Brooke chuckled and leaned back in his chair again. "The what is the Royalist, a small ship I've purchased. We've just returned from a sort of shake-down tour of the Mediterranean, and now fitting it out for a sail to the Far East, Singapore for a start. That's the where."

It was what Henry wanted, very much. But there was a problem. That's very interesting, Mr Brooke, but I don't have the money to pay passage to Singapore. I couldn't make it past Dover.

Brooke laughed. "Firstly, it's James, and I couldn't take you if you could pay. I've no room for passengers. If you sail with me, you have to work. That's one of the things I learned from past mistakes. There will be no gentlemen sailors on my ship."

The way Brooke emphasized gentlemen intrigued Henry. But I have no experience as a sailor. I'd be no use to you.

Brooke tilted his head, I think you under estimate yourself Henry. And I think you need this. Most of the work on a ship doesn't require any special skills. What's most important is that you do what you’re told, without question, because people's lives can depend on it. Can you do that, Henry?

Yes sir, err.... James. I think I can. Henry wasn't really sure he could, but he did realize he was being handed exactly the kind of opportunity he'd been looking for, and if he didn't take it he really would soon be buried in this hole he had dug for himself.

Wonderful! James exclaimed, and held out his had to seal the agreement. Henry managed to shake it with a bit more enthusiasm this time.

Well, what do we have here? Neither Henry nor James had seen the man approach their table. He was about James' age and height, but his face had smaller features and his brownish hair was cut close to his head.

Ah, Colin, just in time, James said to the man, who he had apparently been waiting for. I've found us another hand. I think young Henry here will make a fine sailor.

The new man looked Henry up and down quickly. "Yes, James, you would think that," he said this with a smile, but clearly didn't think Henry was sailor material.

James seemed to ignore his friend's comment. "Henry, may I introduce you to Mr Colin Hart, master of the Royalist."

The man held out his hand. Henry stood to take it. Master? he asked, looking at James.

It was Hart who answered. "Captain. James here is the owner of the ship and decides where she goes, but it's my job to manage the ship and her crew to get here there."

Hearing this, Henry's heart sank, and he sat back down with a bit of a thud. Hart obviously wouldn't want an inexperienced fool like Henry on his ship. James had apparently made an insincere offer he knew Hart would over-rule.

Hart took a chair. So, Henry, I take it you have no experience.

No sir, I don't, sorry.

Nobody has any experience when the start out, do they Colin? James pressed on, apparently still supporting Henry's cause.

True, James, Hart said, giving his friend an indulgent look. But I trust you've informed young Henry here that life on our little ship won't be easy. The seas will be rough, the work will be hard, and things will be rather cramped, since we've maximized space for cargo.

Yes sir, Henry answered, getting a little of his fight back and standing up for himself. James, er... Mr Brooke has explained all that, and I've promised to work hard, do what I'm told without question.

Hart gave Henry another appraising look. Henry hoped the captain was re-evaluating his first impression.

Well, James can be impulsive, but he's usually a good judge of men. At this, Hart gave a sidelong glance at his friend. So if he says you can do the job, I'll take his word for it. Hart held out his hand and Henry took it. Hart held on to Henry's hand and pulled him a little closer. But if you turn out to be a lay-about, I'll throw you overboard myself.

He said that with a glint in his eye, so Henry took it as a joke, but it still shocked him a little.

Oh, Colin, don't be so melodramatic, James exhorted.

Henry's benefactor ordered drinks as they discussed details. They were to sail from Portsmouth in two weeks' time, but Henry should plan to be on board at least a week before departure. James and the captain would be going down in a few days' time.

James gave Henry some useful advice about what clothes he would need and a few other things he should consider bringing. He even inquired if Henry needed any money.

Henry assured James that he had enough to get himself to Portsmouth. In truth, his current lifestyle had cost him very little. He spent nothing on clothes, or food for that matter. Thus he still had a bit of his stipend left, and that plus what he could get by selling off a few things should be more than enough to get him to the ship.

The two men starting discussing other things. Henry felt he should take his leave, but neither of the other men had dismissed him, which Henry thought they would have done if he wasn't to stay. James even asked for Henry's opinion once or twice, but he had no idea of what the men were talking about. They parted company late and Henry hurried back