“Domingo,” Captain Martin said as if to warn him away from the topic.
Their steady and familiar voices were doing much to settle me.I focused on their closeness and how solid and real they were.
“What?I don’t think burying this is the right idea.”Domingo stroked a hand over my arm.“What did you see, Rooster?You appeared awfully frightened.”
“Aye, I was.I am.I’m sorry if I frightened you.”
The captain looked at Domingo over my shoulder.I was facing Dinesh and Domingo was behind me on the bed.
“Simon’s been having nightmares,” Dinesh said.
“Terrible nightmares,” I said, squirming on the mattress, feeling spunk ooze out of me.Which normally would remind me of the pleasant activities we’d enjoyed, but now only made me uncomfortable.
“I’ll get a cloth,” Domingo said, moving off the bed and going over to the washbasin.
“Thank you,” I said.
“I’m sorry, Rooster.We were having a good time, weren’t we?”Dinesh said.
“Yes, for fuck’s sake.Of course we were.I’d recently finished in your hand, with Domingo’s prick in my arse.I was in heaven.And then, in another instant, I was in hell.”I buried myself in Dinesh’s arms, closing my eyes and resting my forehead against his strong chest.
“Do you mind if I clean you up?”Domingo asked.
“Please,” I said.
So gently, as if I were a babe, he applied the wet cloth to my tender bits, and wiped away the remnants of his and Dinesh’s release.
“Thank you.”
“Of course,” he said, kissing me on the shoulder.
He went to move away, but I reached behind me and grabbed his wrist.
“Don’t go.”
“Stay for a bit, will you?”Dinesh suggested.“You’re not simply a quick fuck, you know.You’re our friend, Domingo.”
“I…thank you.”He settled into the bed again, snugging up behind me and putting an arm over me.He stroked the captain’s arm with his fingers.“Tell me about Simon’s dream…”
“Perhaps Simon should tell you.”
“Stop calling me Simon, for fuck’s sake.You’re only making this all seem so bloody serious.”
“Fine,” Dinesh said with a smile.“Rooster.Tell Domingo about the dream.”
“Nightmare.”
“Nightmare.”
I explained the visions to Domingo as best I could.
He might as well know, especially to understand why I’d reacted the way I had.
Domingo made the sign of the cross over his chest, which didn’t exactly soothe me.
“Sorry.The gesture is a reflex.Mostly.”
“I was fine in Talamanca.I had no dreams or nightmares at all.”Then I remembered the tentacle.And the spiders.
