A Tale of Four Queers
Chapter 10
Brian watched as each man said his goodbyes to Edna and Miguel and then walked through the security gates at the airport. Edna was truly a blessing and Miguel was always patient and kind. Not only did meeting them enhance their trip but by staying with them they were able to save on hotel and meal bills. John and Brian made a sizable donation to the late Mr. Galloway's church. On the other side of the gate, the boys were waiting for Brian.
Taking Edna's hand in his, Brian bowed slightly then kissed Edna's hand. "Miss Edna, my angel, I will miss you."
Blushing, Edna replied, "If I were a couple of decades younger." She smiled sweetly at Brian. Brian's eyes twinkled back with just a touch of mischief.
"And if I were only straight." Then Brian gave Edna a "Brian Kinney" kiss and sauntered through the security gate. He chuckled as Edna practically swooned into Miguel's waiting arms and laughed out loud as she began to fan herself.
"Miss Edna, you'll always have family in the States. Look us up if you ever visit!"
"I will. Have a good trip!" The boys waved as she and Miguel turned to leave.
"Brian Kinney, you are really an evil man. You purposely got Edna all hot and bothered but you turned down that Maria person. Why do you do those things?" Justin asked but he already knew the answer.
"Because, my dear young twink, I can. And if Edna Galloway had ever made me an offer I would have seriously considered it," Brian replied, meaning every word.
"You're not kidding, are you?"
"Nope. Justin, besides you, there are not many people I consider my equal. I don't mean to sound arrogant but most people annoy me or just plain piss me off. And you know, other than a select few, I have no use for women. But Edna Galloway is smart, perceptive, knows how to handle herself and knows how to get things done. She would definitely be my equal in all things. And that woman knows how to kiss."
"Brian she didn't, don't tell me she slipped you some tongue."
"A gentleman never kisses and tells."
"Slut!"
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The trip to Costa Rica was fairly quick and nothing marred their reservations. They landed on time at the Juan Santamaría International Airport and within the hour they were all checked in at the Travelers Lodge in Downtown San Jose. As primitive as some of the places were in Panama and Venezuela, Costa Rica was just the opposite.
This was a bustling country with a growing economy and tourists everywhere. Brian was impressed by the four star accommodations. Everything was clean, modern and enough people spoke English to put the boys at ease. Everyone was satisfied, everyone except Justin.
They checked in, settled into their large connecting suites and decided to walk around before lunch when they would plan out the itinerary. Justin was uncharacteristically quiet throughout the whole walk. When he started picking at his lunch instead of shoveling it into his mouth, Brian finally spoke up.
"Okay, what is it now? It can't be the hotel because this place is beautiful. That brief walk we took was fantastic; I can spend the next two weeks shopping. And you're not happy because..."
"Because of everything you said. This country is very modern, too modern. There's no way any of the churches Kinney and Patrick may have visited would still be standing. They were all probably torn down or paved over. This sucks."
Justin huffed and those lips that Brian loved to kiss and chew on were in full pout. If Justin wasn't so angry and if they weren't in a public restaurant, Brian would have taken Justin right then and there. Instead he swallowed the chuckle that threatened and tried to make Justin see reason.
"Justin, I stopped by the tourist office. There are many tours available most are into the rainforest, toward the volcanoes and to some of the smaller villages. We can take as many tours as you want and while we're walking around we can ask the guides and the locals if there are any of the missionary churches still standing. We were lucky in the other countries. I bet some survived here."
"Do you really think so? I hate to think we're wasting our time."
John spoke up this time. "Justin, from what little I've seen so far I can't imagine we'll be wasting our time here. I looked at the brochures Brian got; I'd really like to go on those tours. And if we don't find any churches, we just won't stay here as long as we planned. We'll just go to the next country on our list. Let's give it a try."
Justin nodded, the pout lessened and a few morsels of his lunch made it into Justin's mouth. "Jus, Brian and John have a good point. And I really want to see the waterfall gardens and the butterfly farm." Bobby said as he slid the brochures over to the blond. Justin shuffled through the pamphlets and his face softened. His artist's eyes began to see whole new possibilities.
"Oh, oh, I know that look. After lunch I better have a chat with the concierge. I need to find the nearest art supply store and fast." This time Brian didn't hold back his laugh nor did anyone else including Justin.
After lunch and before the expedition to the art store, the boys decided it was time for a siesta. They returned to their rooms for a little B&J and J&B lovin'.
"Brian?"
"Mmm?"
"Oh yeah, oh god, so gooo, GOOD! Shit! Why'd you make me cum so quick?"
"Because you have more on your mind than me sucking your cock. I figured I'd make you cum, then you'll tell me what's running around that little blond brain of yours and then I'd fuck you into the mattress."
"Oh. Bri, what if we don't find anything?"
"Then we'll leave. You'll have filled several sketch pads. I'll take enough pictures of everything. Bobby will have seen his butterflies and rainforests and I'll have seen my volcanoes. We're here to have fun, okay?"
"Okay. Bri?"
"Mmm?"
"Is this where you fuck me into the mattress?"
"Mmm hmm. Roll over, little boy."
"Mmm hmm!"
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Over the next few days they took the tours to the volcanoes and the waterfalls. They visited the butterfly farm and toured San Jose. The highlight was the aerial tram ride through the rainforest. It was an interesting way to get up close and personal with some of the rainforest birds and animals. Brian took lots of pictures of the spectacular scenery.
In all their ventures they looked for churches that Patrick and Kinney had mentioned but all had vanished or been renovated into more modern buildings. Justin was getting depressed in spite of all the sketches he did of buildings and waterfalls and trees.
One afternoon as they were all beginning to think about leaving Costa Rica, Brian had a chat with a man he met in the bar. Everybody else was in their rooms taking a late afternoon nap. Brian was restless and had come down to the hotel bar for a drink, leaving Justin to get some well deserved rest. A man at the bar had struck up a conversation with Brian using the opportunity to improve his English and find out what brought Brian to Costa Rica. Having nothing better to do with his time Brian told the man of their adventures and his disappointment at what they had found or rather not found in Costa Rica so far.
The man made a suggestion that completely surprised Brian. He told Brian that San Jose was the modern capital of Costa Rica. Maybe the group would find better results if they went to the former capital Cartago. Brian had seen that city mentioned in some of the brochures they looked at, but it had not been mentioned by Kinney in his journals. He thanked his drinking companion and went to talk to the concierge.
The following morning Brian got them all up at the crack of dawn. They gathered their packs for the day and followed Brian down to the hotel restaurant for breakfast. He refused to tell them where they were going.
As they were finishing up breakfast a tall thin obviously gay man came swishing into the restaurant, and swishing was the only way to describe how he moved. He looked around the restaurant and headed for their table.
"Are you ze party of ze Kinneys?" he asked with a noticeable lisp. "I am ze chauffeur, Miguel." His eyes were obviously taking in the feast of lovely looking men that sat before him.
"Buenos dies, Miguel," Brian said standing and extending his hand. "I'm Brian Kinney."
"Ah, Senor Kinney, so fabuloso to meet you," Miguel said positively fawning over Brian's hand.
Brian pulled his hand away and introduced his partner, Justin, and his brother John and his partner Bobby. Miguel shook all their hands fawning over each and cooing about what a handsome lot they all were.
"I hired a car to take us to Cartago, the old capital of Costa Rica. We may find something interesting there," Brian explained.
"Shall we be started, senores?" Miguel asked slurring all his esses in what Justin was sure seemed to him a seductive manner.
"Who does he remind you of?" Justin asked as they followed Miguel out to the car.
"Emmett," John laughed.
"A little," Justin agreed, "but there's something else." He frowned trying to think of it.
"Agador in 'The Birdcage'," Brian smirked.
"That's it," Justin agreed. "He was so beyond gay!"
"And so's this guy," Brian chuckled.
"Senores," Miguel said holding the door open for them.
"He slurs his esses like he's from Barthelona," Brian observed using the Castilian pronunciation of the city's name.
"I doubt he's from Barcelona," Justin whispered.
"Then he must have seen 'The Birdcage'," Brian laughed.
The trip to Cartago was made without incident. Miguel regaled them with stories of other people he had driven around his country. He was quite the storyteller. Brian could only wonder what he would tell his next passengers about them.
When they arrived in Cartago Miguel drove them to the central square. He pointed out the park which now surrounded the ruins of the first church in the area. He said it was a beautiful place to enjoy for an afternoon. The Basilica of Our Lady of the Angels was three blocks to the west. It was a very important religious shrine.
They thanked Miguel who agreed to meet them at a certain time, and they all decided to go to the Basilica and see what it contained. At the church they saw the shrine to the image of the Virgin Mary that was presented to a young girl back in the 1600's. It was interesting but there was no indication that Kinney and Patrick had been there.
Somewhat dejectedly they set out to find a place for lunch. After an acceptable meal they checked out the park built around the ruins of the old church. It turned out not to be totally old as they read on the plaque at the entrance to the park. The church had been rebuilt many times and then damaged by earthquakes. What they saw remaining in the park left them no hope of finding anything about Kinney.
Justin loved the overgrown ruins and wanted to draw. The others left him in the park and went in search of shopping or other interesting buildings.
As Justin sketched to his heart's content, he felt that someone was watching him. He looked up and around the area where he sat. On a bench not far away sat a young girl dressed all in white. She had to be a nun. Justin smiled at her and she smiled back. That done Justin went back to sketching.
"Excuse me," a voice said.
Justin looked up. "Hello," he said recognizing the nun he had spotted earlier.
"May I speak with you?" she asked.
"Sure," Justin said moving some of his materials out of the way so she could sit down. "My name's Justin."
"Hello, Justin. I am Anna."
"Not Sister something?"
"Not yet, but soon."
"I see. Is there something I can help you with?" Justin asked wondering why she had asked to speak to him.
"This is going to sound very strange…"
"Okay," Justin replied raising his eyebrows. "So go ahead."
"I have been at the Basilica studying some old books from this church."
"Yes?" Justin said suddenly interested.
"I was reading about the mid eighteen hundreds and there was mention of a young blond man who would sit and draw all the time. You made me think of him," she said with a smile.
"Do you know if they mentioned his name?"
"I think it was Patrick something…" she frowned trying to remember.
"Taylor?"
"That sounds right."
"Did it mention anyone else with him?"
"Yes, I think it said there was an older man who traveled with this man. They both were artists and worked in some local churches."
"Do you know what churches?"
"I think they have all been destroyed, at least the ones they listed."
"Oh," Justin said disappointed.
"You know about these people?"
"They are ancestors of my partner."
"I see…" she said slowly looking at Justin with surprise.
"I'm gay and my partner is Brian Kinney. The older man was his great, great, great grandfather John Aidan Brian Kinney. We're following their path through Central America."
"That's exciting. You … you seemed so like the description in the book when I saw you sitting here sketching. I hope you don't mind me interrupting you."
"Not at all," Justin said. "In fact I'm glad you did. My name is Justin Taylor … and I may be distantly related to Patrick, at least I'd like to think so."
"Oh my! That's amazing. It's like you and your partner are reliving the past lives."
"Yeah," Justin said with a big smile. "It does seem like that." He suddenly felt an even stronger tie to the past. He couldn't wait for Brian to return so he could tell him this piece of news.
"Anna, do you think I can see the old books? I'd like to photograph them. You can be there to make sure nothing happens to them. We've been here almost a week and this is the first time we came close to finding any evidence of their stay here."
"I don't see why not but I would have to ask my Mother Superior and I'm afraid she may not be as tolerant of strangers as I am," Anna said the words and looked down at the ground.
"You mean, tolerant of homosexual strangers," Justin clarified.
"Yes. Forgive me. I have lived in the modern world and I believe that God loves all of us but still there is intolerance. I don't know how to resolve this conflict in me."
"Don't. Not now. Become what you must become. Learn everything you can to make you the best nun you can possibly be. Then when the time is right and no one has power over you, you tell them all to go fuck themselves. Sorry. Sometimes change starts with just one person."
"You are very wise, Justin Taylor. And I think I may have a solution. Before I came out here to commune with nature, I was going to our archives to study more of the old books and Bibles. Do you have one of those digital cameras, the small ones?"
"Yes, I do."
"Good. Then show me how to use it. I will go and photograph all the pages that have mentioned your Kinney and Patrick. I will meet you here in two hours."
Justin took out Brian's small camera. As he gave his lesson in digital camera 101 to Anna, he silently thanked Brian for making him carry it. Being a very smart woman, Anna quickly mastered how to focus, take the picture and delete it if it was not clear. The camera was small enough to fit in the palm of her hand and was easily hidden under her robes. Justin thanked her and watched the vision in white float away back toward the convent. He checked his watch, noting the time, then packed up his sketch book and hurried to find his group. Justin couldn't wait to tell them what happened.
"You fucking did what with my camera?!" Brian was practically screaming at Justin but since they were sitting at an outdoor café, Brian was trying not to draw too much attention. Not familiar with the wrath of Kinney, poor Miguel was quaking in his sandals.
"Brian, calm down. She's a nun or will be soon. It was the only way. I'll meet her in a couple of hours and I'll get your camera back. I promise." Brian was letting curses fly under his breath as Miguel crossed himself and said a silent prayer that Senor Taylor was right about the nun. John and Bobby buried their heads in their menus until the waiter came to take their orders. They ate a leisurely meal. John, Bobby and Justin were cracking up with laughter as Miguel regaled them about his conquests or lack of them.
The combination of Agador/Emmett was hysterical. Even Brian's anger was beginning to subside. Justin's watch began to beep and he got up.
"It's almost time. You guys stay here. In half an hour, order me some ice cream. I'll be back by then, I promise."
"Senor Taylor, would joo like for me to guide your way?" Miguel asked hopefully and unwittingly incurring a Brian Kinney death glare.
"No thank you Emm, I mean Miguel. It's better I go alone." Justin gave Brian a discreet peck to his cheek then scurried off back to the Basilica.
By the time Justin returned to the bench, Anna was there waiting for him.
"Were you waiting long?" Justin asked.
"No, I just arrived a few moments ago. I photographed everything I could; I think you'll be pleased."
"Anna, even if it was one sentence that mentioned them, I'd be happy."
"Then you'll be ecstatic when you see how many pages there were. And I have a surprise for you."
"A surprise?"
"Yes. But you'll need to go to the bank."
"The bank?"
"Yes, and take this letter with you. Show it to the bank manager, it will explain everything. Make sure you have proper ID with you."
"I don't understand."
"You will after you get to the bank. Now, I must leave you. Thank you for letting me share this with you and for your wise words. I will live by them always. Maybe one person can make a difference. Goodbye, Justin Taylor. I wish you well on your journey."
"Anna, wait. Here take one of Brian's business cards." Justin wrote his name and address and email addy on the back. "You must let me know when you become a full-fledged nun. Are you allowed to keep in touch? You're not going to be one of those nuns who can't talk, are you?" Anna laughed.
"No, heaven forbid. I'll keep in touch, I promise. Now go, hurry before the bank closes for the day, you have only an hour. Go."
"Thank you, Anna. Thank you so much!" Anna laughed again as Justin ran out towards the café.