12 HOME AWAY FROM HOME

She tossed her hair and tried to tame the dense mess into a half-orderly arrangement and looked at her husband. He appeared confident and capable at the helm and a surge of appreciation for him washed through her. Reaching for his hand she leaned into him and found the closeness to him very comforting. The dark times only resolved them to stick it out together and with Ivan's discovery of Leo's true being the love they had rekindled in ways that became inclusive and unconditional. All in all, they were a model couple and life was a pleasure and now they were again a happy family; Leo was alive and with them and Ivan was the new member of the family.

Gábor tightened his arm around her shoulder and the warm sun felt pleasant. Her closeness filled him with a deep happiness and having found Leo alive, he realized the wonderful life he had. The heaviness he had felt about Leo's appearance had lifted and he understood that Leo was a unique being. He no longer saw him as an animal or a pet. It wasn't Leo that needed to change to suit his expectations. It was he that needed to learn to accept and love unconditionally. Helena rested her head on his shoulder. Her hair draped over his arm and he enjoyed the soft caress of it on his skin.

"I am in love with you, Gábor. I have never felt this way in my entire life and if we have more children, I don't care how they look as long as they are yours and mine. And come to think of it; as long as they are intelligent it wouldn't matter much whether they are human or alien."

"Lena even if we have no more children, you're still the woman I want to spend the rest of my life with. Any child or product of our love is welcome with me. I will accept you and any child without any conditions. I love you, Lena, and Leo is no longer alien to me. He is our product."

One hour before they arrived at their destination, they sighted the high peak of Mehetia and woke Ivan. He got up, taking the binoculars he scanned the horizon for traffic and then wanted to take the helm, but Helena insisted on keeping it, so Ivan just sat down and Gábor joined him.

"How was the rest?"

"I feel like I escaped the Gulag."

"That good, eh?" Gábor grinned and then turned serious.

"We need to find a place to go ashore and unload all the gear, then I'll go to Tahiti, talk with that frog and see what comes of it. If they arrest me, you will have to come here to deliver supplies until the frogs let me go. Leo needs you until he is okay again. When you are back, you can stay with Leo and you can bring more provisions, but you need to stay below the radar. If they find you, you can tell them that your ‘Platonic pet,’ and I mean Helena," he grinned again, this time at Helena, "and you are here for some quiet time, fishing. Under no circumstances may they connect Leo to the kid that went overboard. From now on, he is officially lost at sea. But why am I telling you all this? We talked about it in Canada." Ivan listened to Gábor's speech without moving a muscle, a slight grin was on his face and something stirred in his mind, but he didn't interrupt his friend. When Gábor finished, he commented.

"I don't know why you're telling me this again. Perhaps you started enjoying listening to yourself. Maybe you are bored being silent, or you are getting Alzheimer's. Either way, it is good to hear the plan again with a bit of variation caused by Leo's little adventure. Yes, I think your plan is good and I think we will have to find a cove or perhaps even a cave we can hide the boat in and stay out of sight. Helena, do you think you trust yourself enough to run this big place without me and Gábor for a leetle while?"

His pronunciation of "little while" made Helena laugh.

"With a bit of practice, I could run a country. And as far as that, ‘Platonic Pet’ remark of yours is concerned, Mr. Fabien, you'd better stay out of jail or your friend will take your ‘Fatherhood’ role. So far, he's done a very good job taking care of Leo, and he could qualify. I'm still young enough to be wanted. Do your best to stay with me, and don't tempt me to look for another father of my children," her repartee came with a wink at Ivan and a teasing look at Gábor. Ivan grinned from ear to ear and bowed to Helena. Gábor jokingly approved her choice, but still felt a stab of insecurity in him. He always wondered why a beautiful woman would be with a man thirteen years her senior. But then, Ivan was more than thirty years her senior, and if she regarded him to be a potential contender, he considered himself better qualified as long as he remained a free man.

But what if he did end up in jail? Would Helena be interested in Ivan? He was an enigmatic personality and Gábor knew Helena found that attractive. In case he ended up in prison, he was sure Ivan would take care of Helena emotionally as well as in any other way, and to his own surprise, he wouldn't begrudge him an intimate relationship with his wife, if he ended up in jail. He had full confidence in his friend to treat her lovingly and with respect, but as long as he was a free man, he preferred Helena to be his own mate. He was grateful to Helena for turning the tables on him and made a good point. Wanting her, he backpedalled.

"In that case, I feel younger already then and as free as the wind."

They burst out in laughter and Leo woke up. Helena at the helm indicated to Gábor to see if Leo needed anything. It was a gentle prod to enforce his ‘Fatherhood’ role and to re-ensure him he was her primary choice as a man in her life. She really loved Gábor and the age difference meant nothing more to her than an assurance that older men in general are more dependable than younger ones and knew how to treat a woman with respect and not as a toy. They didn't need to prove their virility by having other women and neglecting the one they were with. Helena had far more interest in a free association with her husband and liberal as she was; she had no interest to seek other men for her, but was not shy to flirt. It kept her vibrant. The natural attraction between the genders didn't turn into a political issue for her. Ivan's attractive masculinity was interesting enough to see him as a potential lover if it wasn't for Gábor. Out of love, consideration, and respect for her mate and not desperate need for intimacy more than what she had with him, Ivan was a distant possibility only. He had no partner and as far as she could see, he was not looking for one, and to her and Gábor he was a very good friend and mentor to Leo. His recognition of their child's real being earned him a place in her heart that would allow him the privilege to be family and perhaps even an intimate partner if Gábor was gone from her life. But as it was, Gábor was all she desired, and she doubted she would find another man like him.

Having had enough experience to know the difference in men, she knew, in him she had found an incomparable diamond and lover. It didn't mean that Ivan was invisible. He had what it took to have women show interest in him and she wasn’t immune, but she had Gábor. He was a very good lover; playful, inventive, didn't tire easy, and he paid attention to her needs. He was always passionate even after several orgasms. He remained hard and awake after his climax and could continue for hours without ejaculating. Sometimes she had to ask for a break during their amorous activities. It seemed to her that he had to will his penis to relax, but whenever the mood struck her, she took full advantage of his extraordinary ability.

Once she had thought herself to be a nymphomaniac, and perhaps there were some elements in her, but she didn't crave sex all the time with the previous men that she had been with. However, Gábor seemed to have the power to ignite her more than any man ever had, and he wore her out at times, but it was always fun and satisfying and left her wanting for more. It was with him that she discovered that the squirting orgasm wasn't a myth, and the foreplay with him was maddeningly erotic. She was certain he could go on much longer and tried to keep up with him. He treated her the way she wanted to be treated, and when she'd had enough, he did not pressure her. His self-discipline was superb and during the hard times she got a taste of it. He was a man of extremes, she figured.

Occasionally she wondered if he was as satisfied as she was. Would he want sex more than she could give him? Did he think about having an additional partner when she was too pooped to continue? How would she react if he did have someone other than her alone to be satisfied? In her fantasies, she had imagined him with another woman while she watched. He had some very attractive clients, but he had never displayed any interest in them.

Always the professional, the reserved, honourable gentleman amused her. A bit more spark in him for an extra marital encounter just would make him more interesting. She felt she loved him enough to be okay with it, but she doubted he would go for that. His strong principles chained him and so her racy fantasies remained just that. Perhaps with time he’d loosen up, but she would want to witness it. But she vowed she would never restrict or limit his freedom and was sure to love him no less if he would love another alongside her. Someday she would breach the subject, but only when they had gotten over the hurdle that Leo's form presented.

In her view, marriage didn't give a spouse the right to curtail the partner's freedom, but a promise to support each other in pursuit of happiness. When she was a young girl, she saw birds in cages and always felt sorry for them being in captivity. Restricting freedom for any living being, in any form, for any reason, she thought, was cruelty. All living beings yearned to be free and she would never take that away from anything or anybody. There was far more enjoyment in observing and enjoying them when they were at their natural, unforced behaviour then being trapped and forced to endure captivity. She had always resonated synchronously in their enjoyment.

That attitude she had never lost and when they married, their vows expressed that sentiment. As long as he loved her, it wouldn't bother her if he did have an occasional affair. Perhaps she could even accept an additional partner for him if he would so desire and as long as she would be compatible. There was not a jealous bone in her, but did she have the desire to have another man? Looking into her heart, she saw no desire, and only in desperation had she thought about it once. Gábor was more than enough, but she liked flirting for fun nevertheless. It was never serious. She never felt imprisoned by him and felt no need to break out, but she didn't exclude the possibility of an occasional fling categorically, however, she doubted there was a candidate interesting enough as long as Gábor was near.

Looking back over her shoulder she watched him kneeling beside Leo, checking on his injuries. He had changed since Leo went overboard. He appeared to have had an insight of some proportions.

"How do you feel, son?" It was also the first time Helena heard him calling Leo "son" and a warm feeling washed over her.

"Betterr," Leo rumbled. His voice was stronger and his eyes were alert. "Wherre arre we?"

"Almost there, in Mehetia, your place for a while, all for the two of you. You will be re-playing Robinson Crusoe and perhaps you're gonna be a star someday. Your mother is the captain now and I have time to talk with you for a little while. Do you feel well enough to listen?"

"Yes," said Leo with his peculiar, resonating voice.

"Good. When we arrive there, we will look around for a suitable place where you are safe and can remain hidden, but also with access to the island’s interior. Most of the shore is steep and volcanic. There is a good chance we'll find a cave or a cove with protection from storms where we can hide the boat inside. The island is about two kilometers in diameter and is more or less a circle; a cone that is about four to five hundred meters high, which means the terrain will be steep. You should have no problem to move about, but Ivan is an old man. Take it easy with him." He grinned at Ivan who had joined them, sitting a bit aside like a silent guardian over both, but he listened attentively.

At Gábor's "old man" remark he mimicked a senile person, shaking his head and hands as if he had Parkinson's disease, and moaned sickly, which made Leo smile. His eyes closed a little and a content expression sat on his face. Leo knew Ivan was anything but weak. Gábor continued.

"I'm sure there is water to be found that is potable and plenty of fruits, but you will have to get your protein from the sea. If you hunt anything else, like birds, they soon will be extinct and you would create an environmental problem. Stick with fish and Ivan can get you other meat from Tahiti. We will come and be with you as soon as we can, but for now, I must go to the Gendarmerie to answer their questions about you and the man who fell into the water with you. They may want to keep me for a while because they think I killed him, so Lena and Ivan will be the only ones you will see for a time if they hold me."

He looked questioningly at Leo. "Did I explain to you well enough? Is there something you want to know?"

Leo looked from Gábor to Ivan then Helena and back at his father and growled: "Nan alive."

"What?" Gábor was sure he misunderstood, but Ivan and Helena looked shocked at Leo. "What do you mean? How do you know? Tell us. This may change a lot," Ivan said and Helena threw a glance to Gábor, hope flashed in her eyes. Gábor had just begun to understand Leo and thought he did not hear correctly, what he said. In the past two weeks, he came to the realization that Leo was as intelligent as any adult was, but had difficulty expressing himself with words. Leo was not an animal, as he had feared.

"It has to wait," Helena said. "We are there. Ivan, could you take the helm please?" Gábor had a hard time not questioning Leo more about this new revelation, but they had to get to the island and look for a place to land. Changing places, Ivan took the helm from Helena and directed the small vessel parallel to the shoreline outside of the surf.

During Gábor's narrative, they reached the eastern side of the island; its steep walls were almost straight up and down into the water with a very narrow rock strewn, sandy beach that would not allow a boat to land. It was too steep and rough. Watching the water in front of them for rocks and coral there was none yet. The waves broke on the steep shore, seagulls and other seabirds screeched and a roar and hiss were the sounds they heard. If one would listen to them without seeing them, they would aid meditation, but in sight and vicinity, it sounded and looked threatening, representing danger. Apprehensively they moved along the shore at a safe distance, looking for a possible landing area. Approaching the southwestern side, they spotted a possibility. Ivan lifted the binoculars to his eyes and scanned the area.

"No boats, no life, hmm, I think we could check it out. Secure loose items. It will not be easy to land if there is surf," ordered Ivan and slowly approached the beach. The waves became smaller and the boat glided forward with Ivan's skilled manoeuvring. It was not as bad as they feared. When they were about ten meters from shore, Gábor dropped the Fortress aluminum anchor, it touched bottom at the twelve meters marking, and he handed the rode to Helena. "Pay out the scope as we go, please. I'll go to the bow and take a line ashore to make fast."

He talks as if he is a seasoned sailor, thought Helena to herself, and liked it. She eased the line out as the boat rode the swells and closed in on the beach.

The visibility was fantastic, and she saw fish, shells, pebbles and sand among some rocks, as deep as ten meters, and noticed the relatively steep underwater contour as the seabed rose. The surf was only moderate and when they were about five meters from the beach, the water was only about a meter in depth and a sandy shelf extended to the beach. Gábor slid into the water, touched bottom with his feet, a line in his hand, and began to wade towards the shore, buffeted by small breakers. Several coconut trees fringed the beach and some large boulders and rocks littered the shore. Gábor selected a tree trunk and tied the line to it.

"Take up the slack, Helena." She already pulled the line in and secured it, and Gábor admired her astuteness. Helena would make a great first mate.

"Let's look around, guys." All slid over the side and joined Gábor.

"Welcome to Sir Leo's Island," said Gábor grandiosely and made an inviting gesture with his hands. Helena smiled broadly and Ivan made an oriental thank you move with his hands. Leo just looked around and with his head lifted, sniffed the air. "I like it," he purred.

"Well, now that we are tied up and nobody is around, I would like to hear what Leo has to tell us about this man he went for a dive with," began Ivan and both the other adults agreed strongly.

"So what's the story, Leo?