Refugee

Chapter Three - Graham.

You would think aid workers in war-ravaged countries would be of a certain type. That they’d have compassion or a vocation for helping people. Assumptions like that are speculative. Graham is the living proof it is not necessarily true.

A bit overweight and not being tall gave him a rounded appearance, definitely no rock star or super model, but he was well liked and amiable. 

Graham had worked all over the world with UNHCR, from Africa to South America, and now Syria. At forty-five, he'd seen refugee camps by the dozen. The desolation, the poverty and the need, all blew over him like the wind across the desert.

Each camp he saw these days as just another opportunity. An occasion for him to indulge his predilection for young boys, and sometimes even to profit from that vice. He knew how to operate in perfect safety. Safety that is, for himself. 

Graham had contacts, he knew who was who in the organisation. You don't work for nearly twenty years without getting to know your bosses, and co-workers. He had a tight circle of acquaintances who were of the same pre-disposition as himself, that is to say, they had an eye for boys.

Amar and Graham knew each other. They made a sort of contract just a couple of months after Amar arrived. Graham's relationship with Amar was strictly business. He liked his boys younger. Helping Graham was beneficial for Amar, very beneficial.

It was Graham who got Amar the tent, designated it for unaccompanied minors, males only. This he easily justified given the customs of the country they were in. There was a similar tent for girls. Graham put Amar in charge, appointed him monitor. He became responsible for overseeing those in the tent.

Amar received the blankets, sleeping bags, winter clothes, even extra food from Graham. In return, Amar took certain of the younger boys either to Graham personally or to someone he knew. For things to run smoothly of course, Amar, Mohmmad, or Nizar, the three older boys, had to first test the new arrivals.

It was a horrible reality of life in the camp. For Amar it was part of the contract, Mohmmad seemed to particularly enjoy it and said once it was akin to breaking in wild horses. Nazir on the other hand just saw to it that things ran smoothly.

Sometimes the young boys who ended up in the camp had experience. It wasn't uncommon for boys to be used for sex. You might think in a Muslim country homosexuality was forbidden, but you have to understand the culture. Boys who were without facial hair were deemed not to have reached sexual maturity. In a country where sex with a woman was strictly after marriage, young unmarried men, and even older and sometimes married men, sought out boys for sex.

*****

Amar stopped when he caught sight of Graham walking across the camp. He quickened his pace pulling Samir along with him. Graham looked like he might be busy, as he was striding down the avenue between the tents with purpose.

Nevertheless, he stopped when he saw Amar approaching. He waited for him to draw close. A smile crossed his face when he saw the young boy with him, that smile Amar took note of.

"So who have you got here, Amar?" Graham asked.

"He's new, just arrived yesterday."

Graham's eyes were fixed on Samir as he asked him, "What are you called?"

Amar quickly told Graham, "He doesn't speak."

"Hmm, the silent type."

Amar watched Graham's reactions. He knew the man had eyes for the boy, that much was obvious; but was the boy too old?

There was a silence between them. Samir glanced at Graham, but only when he wasn’t looking; a feeling of dread came over him.

Amar had seen all this before and Graham’s desire was as clear as daylight. He decided to push his chance. Moving closer to Graham he spoke very quietly in his ear. "He's a virgin," Amar whispered, "Well if you discount last night."