Chapter 12

“I should be going and leave you in peace,”Luke said after lunch as he looked out of the living room window.

“No way,”Craig piped up.“The snow plough hasn’t been by yet.You wouldn’t even get as far as the bottom of the lane.”

“But I can’t impose,it’s—”

“Rubbish.Tell him he’s welcome to stay,Uncle Andy.”

“Well,uh—”Andy wanted to agree with Craig,but didn’t feel comfortable about voicing his wishes.

“Good,you’re staying until tomorrow,at least,”Craig rubbed his hands together gleefully.

“You sure?”Luke asked Andy.

“I don’t mind.”Not liking being put on the spot,Andy stood up.“I best go see to the pigs.”

****

“I really ought to go,”Luke said to Craig once Andy had left.“It’s obvious he doesn’t want me here.”

“It’s how Uncle Andy is.He likes you,I can tell.”

“Huh?”

“It’s just his way.Look,if you really want to get in his good books,you should go out and offer him a hand with the pigs.”

“I tried this morning,but—”

“That was this morning.He’s always a bit off after he’s had one of his nightmares.”

“Oh.Does he get them often?”

“No,not really.Just you coming was a shock.Uncle Andy doesn’t socialise much.”

This didn’t encourage Luke to want to stay.

“You gotta understand that Uncle Andy went through a lot in the army.I don’t know all of it,he doesn’t like talking about it.When he came back,he was different.A lot quieter.That’s when he took over the pigs from his uncle,‘cause this farm is in the middle of nowhere and not many people come out to visit.”

“Oh.”Luke felt sorry for Andy,for what he must have gone through.

“Just go out there and offer a hand,and don’t take‘no’for an answer.He does like you;honest.”Craig shot a look at the sideboard,a gesture Luke didn’t understand.

Luke squeezed himself into a pair of Craig’s Wellington boots.They were tight and pinched histoes,but this was better than Andy’s Wellies that were way too big.Leaving the warmth of the kitchen,Luke immediately began to shiver,so he picked up his pace and headed for the low,squat pig barns.

Luke soon spotted Andy leaning against a metal fence halfway down one of the long aisles.

As Craig had predicted,Andy turned down Luke’s initial offer of help.However,Luke persisted.

“I’m about to bring the boar to service her.You can watch if you want.”Andy turned away to look at the large black and white pig eating contentedly at her trough.

“Well,it’s hardly new to me,”Luke joked,but immediately regretted doing so.

Andy merely grunted.

Luke scrabbled around for something non-controversial to say.“I’ve never seen pigs that areblack and white.The ones I’ve seen were,well,uh,pink.”He winced at his lame attempt to get Andy talking.

“Most people think that.”Leaning forward,Andy opened a gate to admit what Luke assumed was the boar.“These are British Saddlebacks.A true Saddleback has to have an unbroken collar of white round their neck extending down to the front legs.”

“I see.”Luke was genuinely fascinated as he watched the two pigs mate,all the while Andy telling him more about the breed and how it came into being.

“Saddlebacks are quite hardy,so they can be outside much of the time,but of course the snow—”

“Yeah.Is that why you chose this breed?”

“Partly,but also because the sows are docile and long lived.They’re good mothers,produce plenty of milk.Their meat is good,too.”

“I know,that bacon I had was really tasty.”

Andy smiled.It made Luke glad he’d broken his diet.

Luke was treated to a lecture about how bacon should be cured,finally concluding with,“It’snothing like the mass-produced rubbish you buy in the supermarkets.”

“Uh,no.”

The subject then moved towards Luke and his career.Unlike the night before,when Craig was asking the questions,Luke felt comfortable talking about what he did.

“…Though I won’t be able to stay in the industry for much longer.”

“Why?”

“I’m getting too old.Where twinks are concerned,the public wants young,fresh,barely-legal looking men.It’s harder and harder for me to keep my weight down.Then there’s the increased body hair,the filling out of my face.”

Andy shook his head.“You look just fine to me.”Obviously embarrassed at his words,he foundsomething fascinating to stare at in the pen.

Wondering if he should,Luke put an arm along Andy’s broad back and gave him a half hug.“Thanks.That means a lot.”

Andy’s body stiffened,but Luke didn’t remove his arm.

“But making porn films,it’s not something I want to do for much longer.Yeah,the pay is good,but,it’s not fulfilling,it doesn’t…oh,I don’t know.”

“Not much job satisfaction?”

“Yeah,something like that.”Luke nodded.Though Andy’s summary didn’t cover his feelings exactly,it was the closest anyone had come to describing his increasing lack of interest in performing in the adult movie industry.

“Do you enjoy this?”Luke gestured to the long rows of pigpens,the occupants of which,to Luke’s untrained eye,looked content.Certainly the noises they were making indicated contentment.

“They’re easier to deal with than people.”

Andy seemed to close down after that,Luke finding it increasingly difficult to get the big manto talk.Eventually he said he’d leave Andy to it and despondently exited the barn.As he retraced his steps across the snow-covered yard,he thought again about leaving.Would the snowplough have gone through?Could he manage if it hadn’t?

Entering the kitchen with its warm and strangely comforting smells,Luke paused to struggle out of Craig’s Wellingtons.Lassie climbed out of her basket near the Aga,her tail wagging excitedly.“Hey,girl,”Luke said,scratching behind her ears.“At least you’re pleased tosee me.”

“What happened?”Craig asked,coming into the room.

“Oh,uh.”Luke was surprised by his entrance.“Nothing really.Listen,I think I ought to see if I can get back home.The car,I don’t know how much they charge,but—”

“You can’t,”Craig said,looking worried.“The snowplough hasn’t been and—”

“I’m sure if I take it slowly I’ll get through all right.”Luke finally managed to pull off the Wellies and stood up.“I’ve enjoyed meeting you,but it’s time I was heading back.”He turned away and made for the staircase.He hadn’t reached the top before he heard the kitchen door bang closed.

****

Running across the yard in an old pair of slippers,Craig went flying when he stepped on a patchof ice.Instinctively thrusting out his arms,he managed to break his fall,but his left palm struck something hard and jagged.

“Fuck,”he said,seeing the scraped flesh beginning to weep blood.“Uncle Andy!Uncle Andy!”

“What’s—”Andy emerged from the barn and saw Craig still on all fours.He moved quickly toward him and helped him stand.“What are you doing out in those?”He looked down at Craig’s slippers that were already sodden.

“It’s Luke.He said he’s going to leave.”

“I see.What have you done to your hand?”

“It’s nothing.But Luke,he’s—”

“Let’s have a look.”Andy took hold of Craig’s hand.

“Uncle Andy,you can’t let him go.”

“Can’t stop him,he’s a grown man.This will need cleaning up.What on earth made you come haring out here?”