The Inheritance Paradox
Twenty-Five (Eugene’s Story)
EUGENE AND MULLEN worked for most of the evening, giving the spiel and collecting signatures. Mullen ordered them each another beer from the brewery’s selection and Eugene gulped at it between groups of signers. As the evening grew late and the crowd got more drunk, he and Mullen decided to close up for the day. They had thirty-seven signers that evening.
“We’ve about got an entire company,” Mullen said. “Good work. I’m going home to bed.”
“Shall we set up at four tomorrow?” Eugene asked.
“Shame on you,” Mullen said. “I know you are new in the City of Brotherly Love, but we don’t suggest people work on the Lord’s Day. You’ll come to the Friends Meeting Hall, just a quarter mile south of us. Be there by nine-thirty. I’ll meet you there. After the meeting, we’ll go to my mother’s house, which is not far from there. We’ll have a good home-cooked meal and then you can stroll along the river coming back to your room. It will do you good to have a day of rest.”
An old preacher like you should know you have to go to church on Sunday.
“Oh, yes. Of course. I forgot what day it was. I’ll see you in the morning.”
Mullen left the tavern and Eugene stood to go to his room. Patience was immediately beside him with a hand held out. He fished in his purse for three pennies and she joined him on the trip to his room. “Tell me, is there anything you like I can do for you?” Eugene asked Patience as she began unfastening his buttons. She looked at him, rather puzzled, then rubbed her finger and thumb together in a universal gesture for money. “Ah. More money? Certainly.” He fished in his purse for some more but only found shillings and a few crowns rather than more pennies. He handed her a shilling and she took it, wide-eyed. She immediately stripped off all her clothes and helped him remove his. She knelt in front of him.
I didn’t think they did that here.
“I won’t object to seeing and touching,” Eugene said.
Patience was shapely with only a few scars from childhood diseases. It was clear she was familiar with being used for men’s pleasure, but the more she was paid, the more enthusiastic she became. Her increased activity served to excite Eugene more than the zipless fuck he’d had the night before.
You may want to slow down a little or it will all be over before you’ve shown her how to enjoy it.
“I definitely want her to enjoy this.”
She looked curiously at him, but he began caressing her and manipulating her hot spots. She’d apparently bathed recently because Eugene thought she smelled somewhat better than he did. He needed to see about a bath when he got back to his room Sunday night.
Patience was disconcerted with the way he was handling her, but soon accepted his caresses, even when he slid his hand between her legs. He found her much more prepared for entry than he had the night before.
“Signing thirty-seven today made me ready to celebrate tonight,” he said, trying to slow himself down a little. “That will make a nice payday on Monday.”
The words seemed to do as much to turn Patience on as his manipulations.
Keep talking. I can’t slow you down forever.
“They will raise two battalions of three hundred each. That will be enough to put companies of thirty to fifty on all the ships in the Continental Navy. It will be quite a force if it’s anything like the Marines of our day.”
He finally relented and slid his cock into Patience’s welcoming quim. She was much more enthusiastic in receiving him than the night before.
Probably not as polished as your Marines, but they appear to be tough fellows.
“They’ll be tested when they sail for Halifax in December. What a terrible time to go north!”
At that point Patience whined and bucked against him. Her climax proved too much for him to resist, and he released himself into her. It was much more satisfying than the night before.
Nor was Patience done for the night. Eugene settled back in his bed, expecting her to wipe herself, dress, and leave again. Instead, she stayed in bed with him and as soon as she could get him hard again, she offered herself again. This recurred about every two or three hours through the night.
When they woke before daylight in the morning, Patience slipped out of bed to dress. She bent over to step into her petticoat and Eugene was suddenly inspired to step up behind her. The surprise and his manipulation of her sex combined to bring them both to satisfying climaxes again.
She finished dressing and left. Eugene sank back on the bed.
That should do it.
“I hope so. I’d rather not stay here much longer than I have to.”
He washed himself in the cold water basin sitting on his table, paying attention to carefully bathing his genitals. He had no idea how many men she had during the week. Then he dressed and went to the main room of the tavern for coffee and cold mash.
Eugene could easily tolerate the Friends meeting, even though it lasted until noon. Then he accompanied Mullen, his mother, and two younger sisters to his home. Mrs. Mullen set about testing the roast chicken and parsnips. Eugene discovered she owned the Tun Tavern which was why Mullen ate there each evening. She stayed in the kitchen, letting the barman handle all the business in front. She had a brew master and hired four or five young women to carry food and to clean the tavern and guests’ rooms.
Eugene inquired about getting a bath at the Tavern and she said to just tell Melville, the barman, and he’d have water drawn for him. It seemed odd to Mrs. Mullen that he hadn’t asked for a bath on Saturday like most men did. There were three others staying at the inn, though, so perhaps they’d occupied all the servers.
Mrs. Mullen seemed either oblivious to the other services her barmaids performed, or she simply didn’t care, leaving them under the supervision of Melville.
Mullen walked out along the river with Eugene and lit a pipe. He was several years younger than Eugene. Eugene was suspicious that he might still be in his teens.
“Are you going to volunteer?” he asked Mullen.
“Nicholas says I need to be older before men will recognize me as an officer. I’ll join next summer after I turn nineteen.”
“It seems strange to be present for the founding of the Marines. They have such an honorable and fierce reputation,” Eugene mused.
Those Marines don’t exist yet!
“Nearly every nation has Marines that have the characteristics you mention. Nicholas is determined to instill that level of devotion in the Continental Marines as well,” Mullen said.
“I’m uh… sure he will succeed.”
Following Mullen’s advice, Eugene continued his walk for a mile along the river, noting the number of ships currently in port. Many looked all but abandoned as there were so many risks to trading down the Delaware during the British occupation.
When he returned to the tavern, he inquired about a bath and was told hot and cold water would be sent up for him. There was a tub in a corner of the privy room where it could drain toward the river.
Eventually, a knock came at Eugene’s door. A young woman was there to guide him to the bath.
“I’m Miracle. I’ll be happy to help you with your bath. Let me help you out of your clothes.”
“Uh… Thank you. How much will I pay for your services?” Eugene asked as she removed his coat and started on his waistcoat. He was not prepared to have her list out an entire menu of services, beginning with assisting him in the bath to bathing with him to various sex acts.
“And for just a crown, you may dock your ship in any port of my body for the entire night,” she said proudly. “And I enjoy meself while you’re docking.”
That’s a bargain. Why not fertilize another?
“I’ll definitely enjoy myself for the night then,” Eugene said as she stripped off his undergarments and he stepped into the bath. “Please join me, Miracle.”
She was naked in an instant and splashing in the tub with him. She made sure he was well lathered and cleaned, as he did with her. She was willing to enjoy herself while he enjoyed her. So, he determined to enjoy some things Galahad had warned him against with Patience. Miracle was freshly bathed and as clean as Eugene could get her when he rinsed the soap out of her nether hair.
They shared the towel, gathered their clothes, and ran naked across the hallway as the tub drained out to the cesspit. They tumbled into Eugene’s tiny bed. He was pleased to note that while they’d been bathing, the linens on the bed had been changed.
Eugene’s oral tastes surprised Miracle, but she accepted them enthusiastically. She even joined in kissing with her mouth open and receptive. At one point, she took his sex in her mouth to get him good and hard again. She had said any port was available and was determined to show him. He declined the use of her bottom, however, moving to make every deposit that night in her vagina.
This one has great possibilities.
“I’ll look forward to later,” Eugene said in the morning.
“I’ll be more than available. You are an extraordinary gentleman and lover. Is there anything at all I can do for you today?” she asked.
“I need to go to the State House and copy my enlistments. Can you tell me how I can get my clothing laundered?”
“I would be delighted to take care of it for you. Six pence. I’ll have your things fresh for you when you return tonight.”
“Excellent, Miracle. Of course, not my coat or waistcoat, but my breeches, shirt, stockings, and underthings.”
“Oh, let me help you into your fresh clothes. I’ll help you out of them later.”
When Mullen and Eugene returned to the Tavern that afternoon, there was already a line waiting to sign up. The line seemed to die down more quickly, however, and by eight in the evening, the two men were able to eat their dinner.
Throughout the evening, Eugene kept an eye out for Patience, not sure how he would politely turn her away so he could spend more time with Miracle. She never appeared, though. When Mullen finally bade him goodnight and left, Eugene went to his room alone.
As soon as he opened the door, though, he saw Miracle, wearing only her chemise. She greeted him with a kiss that left no doubts about her intentions.
“I’ve laundered and pressed all your clothes. They will be fresh for you tomorrow and I’ll take care of these you are wearing today.”
“That is lovely, Miracle. I don’t think I’ll need laundry service every day, but I’ll accept the offer for clean clothes again tomorrow.”
“I’ve cleaned up other things for your use, as well. And as long as you are purchasing my services, there will be no other man trespassing on your lawn,” she said.
“Miracle, come to bed with me and let us enjoy each other.”
Eugene continued to use Miracle the rest of the week, but as if on some kind of schedule, she did not show up for his bath on Saturday night. It was Penelope who carried the water and stripped down with him to make sure Eugene was completely clean. She was as pleasant as Miracle if not quite as enthusiastic.
“I’m surprised Miracle is not here. Did I offend her?” Eugene asked as he nonetheless enjoyed caressing Penelope in the warm water.
Probably wore the poor girl out. Look at it as an opportunity.
“Of course, you can request her, but we girls try to share the bounty when a man is able to spend as you are. My menu is the same as Miracle’s,” Penelope said.
“Excellent. I suppose that is why Patience hasn’t been back,” Eugene said.
Penelope surprised him by spitting over the side of the tub.
“Don’t think about that filthy spy,” she said. “Ran off last Sunday with her Loyalist boyfriend. Probably stole all the secrets of the new Marines.”
Oh shit!
Eugene blanched.
“Did we share secrets?”
“No doubt. It makes no difference. Whatever this new force does, it will still be a surprise to the British. If we’d caught her in the act, we’d have beat her to death. Adeline saw her Sunday morning, swinging up onto a horse with that boy and heading north along the river. I’m sure they’re to New York by now.”
“What kind of spy can a mute girl be? She can’t speak and I’m sure she can’t write,” Eugene said.
“Oh, she can speak. She just chose to stay quiet so people would trust her more.”
You should warn Nicholas.
“I’ll make sure the officers know.”
“You can do to me anything you’d do to Patience. I understand if you want to punish her. You can beat me. Please don’t cut me or break anything,” Penelope said meekly.
“My dear girl, I want to fuck you. Repeatedly. I also want you to enjoy it as much as you possibly can,” Eugene laughed. “There will be no talk of beatings.”
“Miracle said you were insatiable!”
Wells might have had something to do with that. He wanted to be sure you never missed an opportunity like this.
“It’s a good opportunity,” Eugene said.
After church on Sunday, Eugene joined the Mullen family for dinner again and was surprised to find they were eating roast beef. There had been only one meal served at the Tavern that included beef—or oxtails—in the ten days Eugene had been in town. He supposed it was harder to get beef than mutton and pork they had nearly every day.
“Mullen, did you know there was a spy at the Tavern the night we started enrolling Marines?” Eugene asked.
Mullen looked around as they walked near the river.
“Yea. She took off on Sunday last. Rode double with her man to the Trenton ferry. Nicholas lost her there—or his men did, I should say. You never know here. Loyalties are divided. If the Brits captured Philadelphia, it’s us who’d be running. We’ve got people on the other side of the river who are as likely to escape to us at any moment. We have to assume everything we say in public is taken straight to the Redcoats,” Mullen said.
“I hope she got nothing more than that we were establishing a Marine Corps.”
Except she heard about Halifax.
“With luck, we’ll never know,” Mullen said. “Look. There’s one of the two new ships almost ready to commission. She might have had that information, as well.”
Eugene returned to his room, resolved not to engage in any more conversation about anything he was working on. Penelope was waiting for him and what he wanted from her didn’t require any speech.
On 28 November, the bell at the top of the State House rang. Eugene had not yet left for the Tavern, so he joined the crowd on the steps to see what would be announced. John Hancock, the president of the congress, came out to address the crowd. With him were other members of the congress and Samuel Nicholas.
“It is our honor today to introduce the first commandant of the Continental Marines, Captain Samuel Nicholas. Beside us to our right are the 190 sturdy seamen who have enlisted in the service. Captain Nicholas has also appointed four lieutenants and in the next two weeks, will prepare our companies for boarding and sailing against the British one week later. Recruiting will continue in the absence of the main contingent. It is not too late to volunteer!” Hancock said. “Captain Nicholas.”
Nicholas had a resplendent uniform on, unlike the basic street clothes of his Marine contingent. They all had muskets shouldered, but no uniform to speak of. Eugene hoped they’d look a little sharper when they sailed. Nicholas raised his voice.
“Congress authorized the formation of the Continental Marines just three weeks ago,” Nicholas told the crowd. “In that time, we have come together in companies and are ready take the war to the British. I’m mindful that we do not yet have uniforms. But the few men you see before you today are proud to claim the name of the Continental Marines! Company, attention!”
The group snapped to attention with their muskets on their shoulders. Voices, presumably of sergeants, barked orders within the ranks. The men turned about face and marched off to the training ground.
“We can take today to celebrate,” Mullen told Eugene. “We’ll resume recruiting tomorrow. There are sure to be some new fellows ready to enlist after seeing this crew marching through town.”
“They’ll sail in a week?” Eugene asked, surprised they didn’t need more training time.
“Yes. The new ships are ready to launch.”
“For Halifax?”
“Oh, God no! Nicholas had a message yesterday that 3,000 Hessian troops had landed there overnight. The Marines will sail south instead. Their mission is to capture materiel and clear the sea of British ships. Have a good holiday, Eugene. I’ll see you tomorrow afternoon.”
Mullen was off in the general direction the Marines had marched, along with much of the crowd.
Might as well capture the new girl, Adeline, for some afternoon fun.
“I don’t even know if the girls are in the Tavern at this time of day.”
No better way to find out.
Eugene found Adeline in his room, fluffing his bedding and providing fresh water for his basin.
“Oh! I had no idea you were here this afternoon, Mr. Eugene. Do you want me?”
“Yes, Adeline. I may need to leave soon, and I want to take a memory of you with me,” Eugene said.
“Well, let me have some of your manliness to take with me, then,” she giggled.
She began at once removing her clothing and Eugene followed suit. He bent her over the bed and stood behind her, wasting no time planting his flag in her fertile soil. He didn’t pay as much attention to whether she was truly reaching a pleasurable peak, but she was very good at convincing him, whether she arrived or not.
The coupling was soon done and Adeline dressed and left. Eugene dressed more slowly and prepared to go to dinner.
She’s caught. It’s time to go.
“I’ll have dinner first. All three girls will be there. I need to package some money for them.”
I suppose. You know none of them will remember you a minute longer than the money they have in their hands.
“Well, at least there’s a chance my children will be provided for.”
Eugene gathered the rest of his things and packed them in his satchel and went down to dinner. He managed to get each of the girls aside for a minute and give them a packet of coins wrapped in a scrap of a shirt he cut up. Then he went out the door and walked along the waterfront for the last time. When they were certain they were out of sight, he disappeared.
“Crabs? You came back disease free but infested with parasites. I can kill the bugs, but I’m sure you are ready for a good hot shower. Take your time.”
Eugene was detached from the chair in the LBT and went to the shower. In fact, the shower here in the Laboratory Between Times was much better than the one in his little caretaker’s apartment. He cleansed himself thoroughly and shaved. When he’d dressed in his twentieth century clothes, he selected the quill from his bag and put it in his pocket. Then he rejoined Wells to debrief. He sat in the chair while the head device was clamped on and his ‘data was downloaded,’ whatever that meant.
“Four women impregnated in one trip of only eighteen days!” Wells said happily.
“They were prostitutes!” Eugene said. “Are you sure they didn’t have methods of ending pregnancies? And even if they carry them full term, my children will grow up with mothers who sold their bodies to me.”
“All of whom will be pleased to find their condition and the money you left them. They will be able to find husbands,” Wells interjected.
“And one was a spy! A traitor. No doubt the landing of the 3,000 Hessians in Halifax just before the Marines were set to invade was because of information she passed along from me!”
Eugene was released from the restrictions of the chair and stood to pace around the LBT.
“I paid for sex. I gave away a military secret. And every time the opportunity arose to fuck, I found myself ready and willing. What have you done to me?”
“Well, I enhanced your libido a little. I don’t want you to waste your time on a trip like this,” Wells said.
I told you he messed around with your testosterone.
“Now about the spy. Technically, you were the traitor. She was a loyalist and a patriot. I greatly doubt that yours was the only information she took back to the British. Possibly not even the most valuable. You were really rather unimportant in the greater scheme of things. Still, you did get to participate in the founding of the Marines.”
“It would have been terrible if the Marines and Navy sailed north instead of south,” Eugene said.
“News traveled faster than we realize in those days.”
“I may need another shower. I still feel filthy.”
“Eugene, listen to me. You were not chosen for this job because of your high moral standards. Falling in love with your conquests is not only not a requirement, but I also doubt it is even healthy for you. I can purge your body of parasites. I can’t purge your mind. Go home. Readjust yourself. Forget about the American Revolution and the delightful whores you balled.”
“You’re a bastard,” Eugene said.
Which is what the job requires.
“I can’t continue this much longer. I’ve asked Lynn to marry me, and I won’t travel again if she says yes.”
“That’s still an if. I plan to get as much use out of you as I can before then.”
You know, he really is a bastard.
Please feel free to send comments to the author at devon@devonlayne.com.
