Someone had to be told. But who? The logical person was Alex, as head of a king’s security force. Logan made a beeline through the city to the palace.
At the gate a young blond-haired private was on duty. He recognized Logan at once. Logan had a vague recollection that he was one of the straight guards. Could he be trusted? The queen and the count doubtless had spies everywhere, probably even in the American embassy. He made a mental note to mention that to Constantine, then smiled at the sentry. “Hello. I need to see Captain Borodenko. As quickly as possible.”
The guard smiled an ingratiating smile. “I’m afraid he isn’t here, Mr. Bockwein. He’s out at the island for the day.”
“The island? Count Schlutow’s island?”
“No, sir. He and some of the men are out at Guardsman’s Island. You don’t know it?
Logan stared blankly; this was the first he’d heard of the place. “No, I’m afraid—”
“It’s about a half mile out in the sea, just opposite the mouth of the river. We go there for rest and recreation sometime.”
“I see. How can I get out there? It’s important that I see Captain Borodenko as quickly as possible.”
“Well, since you’re his friend… I can arrange for someone to take you out in one of the launches. If you’ll just be patient for a few moments while I make the arrangements… ”
“Yes, of course.”
The guard communicated with someone inside. There was a hushed conversation. Ten minutes later Logan was on his way to another dock on the river, accompanied by a guard private. There was a small fleet of launches waiting. The private gestured him into one, started the motor, and they were off.
* * *
The Black Sea was glassy smooth that day. The launch made quick time; the island came into view almost as soon as they left shore.
Logan didn’t think he had seen this guardsman before. His name was Rodriguez. “You’re new, aren’t you?”
“Yes, sir. I’ve only been with the guards a few weeks. I’ve been in training.”
Logan looked him up and down. He was young, fit, with a broad chest. His hair was brown and wavy and his eyes were deep blue. “You’ll fit in nicely.”
“I already have, sir.” The twinkle in his eye told Logan everything he needed to know.
“Somehow I knew it.” He changed topic. “Guardsmen’s Island is new to me.”
“You’ll like it. It’s where we go to play.”
“More so than the courtyard at the barracks?”
Rodriguez smiled but said no more. Logan turned to watch the island as they approached. He could see a dozen or so men on the beach. Something very quickly dawned on him. “Good lord, everyone’s nude.”
“You really are an American, aren’t you?”
“I’m not shocked, just surprised. I had no idea.”
“I didn’t think you were the shockable kind, sir.”
“Trust me, I’m not.”
Rodriguez slowed the launch and tethered it to the dock. Logan let his gaze take in the men, beautiful men, lazing nude on the sand. Most of them were naked; a few were in the briefest bikinis imaginable. Four of them were playing volleyball, exactly like the nudists in the stag films he used to sneak to when he was a boy—except that these players were so much sexier. A few feet up the beach there were thick shrubs, and some of them were moving, rustling. It wasn’t hard to guess what was going on among them.
Alex was lying on the sand, quite naked; this was the first time Logan had seen him undressed, and his body was even better than he’d imagined. As the launch pulled in, he got to his feet and walked to the dock. “Logan. What on earth brings you out here?”
Logan gave him a quick hug. “I hadn’t even heard about this place before. What have I been missing?”
Alex laughed. “This is our haven for rest and recreation. We don’t normally permit anyone else to visit here. Not even beautiful American men. But the palace called and said this was urgent. What brings you out here?”
“We have to talk, Alex. I had a… well, let’s just say I have news. Can we talk somewhere private?”
“You’re serious? You’re not just here for… ?” He gestured at a group of naked men.
“Deadly serious, I’m afraid.”
“Then let’s walk down the beach away. No one will hear us.”
After they had gone a few feet a young guard came running out of the bushes, stark naked and sporting an enormous hardon. He smiled self-consciously and ran off to join the others. A moment later a second guy came out of the same shrubs, likewise naked, likewise erect. Logan couldn’t resist. “No wonder you come out here.”
Alex chuckled. “King Raymond XXVII, the one they called Raymond the Mad, willed this island to the guards, I think because it was too small to be of any real use to anyone. It’s been our playground for a hundred years. There used to be nude beaches on the mainland, but the church put a stop to that, so… ” He spread his hands in a gesture to show that the rest of the story was obvious.
By now they were a good way down the shore, out of earshot of everyone else.
Alex turned to face Logan. He was grinning like a mischievous schoolboy. “So, how was your lunch with the queen and the churchman?”
“You knew about that?” Logan couldn’t hide his astonishment.
“We’re responsible for the king’s security. We know who his enemies are and what they’re up to, at least to the best of our ability.”
“I didn’t know I was one of the king’s enemies.”
“Don’t be absurd, Logan. You know who I mean.”
Logan looked around and lowered his voice. “Alex, they mean to kill him.”
He shrugged. “What else is new? I’m surprised you care. He looks like something the cat had in the alley, remember?”
“For God’s sake, I don’t want to see him dead. It’s just that I—Well, I find myself feeling protective of him now. Knowing that they plan to—”
“He said you kept looking into his eyes. And they are very nice eyes. My Raymond… But seriously, there’s not much they can do. We’re keeping a very close watch on him. After what they did to the last king… ” His eyes momentarily got a sad, faraway look. He quickly snapped out of it. “Besides, there’s not much they can do in the short term. Raymond’s leaving for Paris tomorrow.”
“Paris? What on earth for?”
“It’s tradition. And not just here. New kings go out and present themselves to the world.
“Well… I guess he’ll be safe there. If you keep him out of the sex clubs, that is.”
“Don’t you worry about that. He may not even know that there is such a thing.”
“Good. Preserving his innocence… well, it’s probably worth doing, that’s all.”
“Is this the worldly American talking?”
Logan laughed. “Has… has a Bulvanian king ever really been assassinated? Before your Raymond, that is.”
“Raymond XXXIV was killed by anarchists. They used an exploding cuckoo clock. But that was in 1914. It happened on the same day the Austrian archduke was assassinated, the event that started World War I. So no one noticed about Raymond except us here in Bulvania.”
“And exactly how mad is Theodora? Has there ever been a ruling queen here? I mean, in a country so heavy on tradition… ”
“There’s a legend of a Queen Raymonda in the Middle Ages. She murdered her husband and took power. It’s only a legend, but it seems to be what drives this queen today.”
Logan told him about the sperm bank plan. “So she’s at least crazy enough to think the Privy Council will fall for it.”
“They don’t have to believe it.” Alex’s mood turned more serious. “As long as they think it will give them a plausible pretext… We’re going to have to do what we can to get Raymond firmly established on the throne as quickly as possible. Having him recognized by the French will help. So would America. If you and your father can somehow get the U.S. government to engage Raymond formally… You’ve already presented your credentials to him. That constitutes recognition. But if you can get your government to do something more… ”
“I’ll talk it over with dad and see what we can come up with. A treaty for exploitation of the tin lode might be the ticket. I know dad will put that on the fastest track he can.”
“Good. Broach the subject with him. Can we trust him to be as discreet as possible?”
“You don’t get to be a success in corporate America if you can’t keep a secret, Alex.”
“Excellent. We’ll be counting on you. I knew you’d like Raymond when you got to know him.”
“Don’t get carried away. I like him, yes. And I sure don’t want to see him dead. But that’s as far as it goes. Understand?”
“Perfectly.” He said it with a twinkle in his eye. “But remember, patience is a virtue. He may turn out to be the kind of man you like yet. It’s still early in the game.”