Traveller Manifesto

Constantinople – 11th Century

“You aren’t fucking serious?” exclaimed McFee, aghast. “Why the hell didn’t you tell me earlier?”

“I thought you’d know,” stammered Professor Taylor who was always disarmed by the soldiers’ curses. “I’m quite innocent when it comes to such matters. After all, it is the Emperor.”

“So, the penny dropped for you today, at the Hippodrome?” confirmed McFee. “Bloody hell! Was it as obvious to everyone else as it was to you? I feel like a right idiot!”

The academic only shrugged.

“I had no idea, to be honest,” sighed McFee, plainly mystified. “He certainly seemed to be friendly.”

“Perhaps no wife was a giveaway?” suggested Professor Taylor with a touch of humour. “Maybe you could, you know, compromise? It will certainly help our research.”

McFee looked at the Professor, aghast. “So, a sly suck of his cock, or lube up my arse? Is that what you’re saying? Take one for the fucking team?” exclaimed the soldier sharply. He then realised the academic was having a rare joke at his expense. McFee screwed up his face. “Well, this clinches it, doesn’t it? I can’t stay and let old Basil keep playing with my knee. What if his hand slides higher? Oh Jesus, Poxon and Parker will know by now. Oh God, they’ll never let me hear the fucking end of it.”

“Don’t forget the trainers,” added Professor Taylor with the beginnings of a smile. “Imagine what Chuck will say.”

McFee stood still, aghast at the thought. Their Special Forces trainers would be tougher on him than his teammates. “Okay, they’ve been waiting for our confirm,” he exclaimed, all serious and about business. He was doing his best to rinse a few disturbing images from his fevered imaginings. “Do you have all you need?”

Professor Taylor nodded sadly. “I could spend months here, even years, but I suppose I can’t drag this out forever. I’ve catalogued all I can and sent mountains of data. This has been an enormously successful mission, despite the knee-grabbing.”

McFee looked to the academic with a stern stare and an angry blush, but was forced to accept that the joke was on him, so he nodded and gave a reluctant smile as he scratched his head in frustration. “What a way to go. Oh bloody hell! Okay, I’ll make the call.”