The sun was well into setting mode, expansively cloaking the late July evening sky in fiery reds and oranges, as a lone figure rode the dark crashing surf into the shore. Wiping out, he emerged from the ocean and grabbing hold of his board made his way up the beach to where a towel and T-shirt lay.
A little way further up another solitary figure was sat. Mesmerised by the sun's descent, he held a somewhat battered guitar balanced precariously on his crossed legged lap and was quietly strumming random chords, stopping every now and again to scribble something in the notebook that lay open in front of him.
The surfer paid little attention to him as he quickly unzipped his wet suit to the waist and started to rub the towel over his sandy blond hair and well toned torso.
Pulling on his T-shirt, he picked up his board and made to leave.
He couldn't help but smile as he walked past the guitar player, his mouth curling up into a wry grin as he heard what the other man was softly singing.
'...the answer, my friend, is blowing in the wind, the answer is blowing in the wind...'
Daniel shook his head. Another Dylan wannabe. It seemed that San Francisco in the summer of '69 was full of them.
The young man smiled shyly up at him as he passed. Daniel giving him a brief up-nod before continuing up to where he had parked.
As the sun disappeared so the clouds formed and Daniel was just finishing strapping his board onto the roof of his trusty old VW van when the first drops of rain fell.
Bending down briefly to retrieve his keys from their hiding place tucked in the exhaust, he opened the sliding side door, shrugged off the remainder of his suit and pulled on a pair of faded blue jeans.
Shutting the door with a bang he got into the driver's seat and starting the engine coaxed the ageing vehicle into gear.
The rain was coming in as if from nowhere, big, fat globulars of the stuff sliding down the windscreen. The blackened sky suggesting that this was more than just a passing shower.
Fleetingly he wondered if the kid from the beach had managed to get to shelter but his question was soon answered as he rounded a narrow bend and caught sight of said 'kid' walking, head bowed, along the road. He must have come up the other path, Daniel mused and taking pity on him, eased off of the gas. Drawing alongside him, he leant over and, winding down the passenger's window, called out to him.
'Hey man, need a ride?'
The kid turned and Daniel could see that he was not really a kid at all. In fact Daniel would have put him at nearer his own age. 21. 22 at most. Right now though he looked more like a drowned rat. His blue tie-dyed T-shirt was soaked and his purple cotton flares were plastered almost transparent against his legs.
Raising a hand, he swept his bedraggled collar length black hair back out of his eyes. 'Wouldn't mind...That's if it's no trouble,' he added.
'Nah, no trouble. Hop in.' Popping open the door, Daniel left the engine humming whilst the drowned rat unslung his guitar and climbed in.
'I'm Daniel by the way.'
'Darren.' The young man smiled shyly again, his smile involuntarily lighting up his whole face.
'So where are you heading Darren? Berkeley?'
'That obvious eh?'
'Lucky guess that's all. So Berkeley it is then.'
Pumping the gas pedal slightly Daniel shifted gears and started off for the university campus.
'What are you studying?' He asked conversationally.
'Education and psychology.'
'Impressive.'
'You're not a student then.' Darren enquired, running his fingers through his slowly drying hair.
'Here.' Daniel reached over and retrieved his towel, handing it to Darren. 'No I'm not a student. Dropped out after 10th grade. I work at a record store down near the beach. It pays my rent and leaves me plenty of free time to catch the waves - you know?'
'Sure.'
Daniel's eyes flicked over to his passenger again and he couldn't help but notice just how crystal clear blue his eyes were.
In an effort to focus his thoughts elsewhere he chose to state the obvious.
With a movement of his fingers he indicated the guitar that Darren was sat holding between his legs. 'You play then?'
'Yeah, taught myself. '
'Dylan?'
'Amongst other things. Hey Dylan's cool man. He has so much to say, speaks for the people.'
Daniel chuckled. 'I guess so.'
Turning onto the main freeway, they were passed by a convoy of three army trucks ferrying soldiers back up to the base.
Both men fell silent and watched as it over took them and sped away, the blank faces of its occupants staring back at them.
Its presence rudely pushed to the front the one subject they had deliberately been avoiding.
After a few minutes of uncomfortable silence Darren cleared his throat and acknowledged the elephant.
'So...have you?'
'No, not yet. Just been lucky I guess. You?'
'Thought I was safe, what with still being in school an' all but now the deferments have been lifted I have until the end of this semester and then I'm fair game.'
'Would you?'
'No!' came the emphatic reply.
'Kinda thought not.' Daniel replied once more turning his head to take in the man sitting beside him.
A flower child, a child of God, the newspapers would have called him but Darren's view was not uncommon. More and more young men were resisting the draft, either fleeing the country or just openly defying their induction notices. Some had even gone to the extremes of publicly burning their draft cards.
'You?' Darren's question broke into his thoughts.
'Honest answer? I don't know. Guess I'll worry about it if it happens. I mean there's no saying I'll get called.'
No, but with minimal education and no rich parents to help him wangle out of it, the odds were not really in his favour.
In an attempt to lighten the heavy atmosphere which had descended, Daniel leant forward and after fiddling around for a few seconds with the ever temperamental knob of the radio, the van was filled with the distinct strains of Grace Slick.
Soon both he and Darren were howling along in a deliberately raucous rendition of 'White Rabbit'.
'Feed your heeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaadd.' They warbled and burst into fits of laughter just as Daniel swung the van up the long driveway leading up to the main campus.
Following Darren's directions he drove 'round to one side, stopping in front of a group of buildings that obviously served as Halls of Residences.
'What's going down there?' Daniel asked, indicating a gathering of about a dozen students who were milling around on the pathways in front of the buildings, handing out handbills to their fellow students as they passed by.
'They're protestors man, there's going to be a big peace rally here tomorrow. They're getting things ready.'
'Oh.'
Darren started to get out of the van but stopped and turned back to Daniel.
'Look Daniel why don't you come? It's very important that we get all the support we can.'
'I don't know.'
'Fuck it Dan this affects you too. How long do you think your luck is gonna last? This war is wrong and people have got to be made to see that.' Darren's voice rose with obvious passion as he spoke and then dropped to a soft plea. 'Please?'
Daniel looked over at the group then back to Darren's earnest eyes. He wavered. What was he getting himself into?
'Ok then.'
Darren smiled. 'Cool, I'll see you tomorrow then. Meet me back here at 2 o'clock.'
Reaching in he grabbed his guitar and slinging it by the strap over his shoulder ran off to join the group of students, who greeted him warmly, with back slaps and kisses, indicating that they were clearly good friends of his.
Daniel watched him go, for some unfathomable reason strangely captivated by this guy who spoke with such feeling and obviously cared very deeply about what was going on around him.
Shaking his head as if he still had water lodged in his ears, he turned the van around and made his way back through the campus and onto the freeway once more.
~Chapter Two - '...and I feel to be cog in something turning...'~
As soon as the shop where he worked shut at one, Daniel made his way back out to the university.
He instantly spotted Darren, leaning up against a wall near to where Daniel had dropped him off the previous day. Today he was dressed in blue denim flares, a dark purple T-shirt and a brightly coloured patchwork waistcoat that came down to hang just below his hips. Daniel had to smile at the alluring picture it presented. Darren wasn't merely a flower child, he was a whole garden of fragrant blooms.
Waving, Dan walked towards him.
'Hi there.' Darren's face broke into a welcoming grin.
'Hi.'
'Wasn't sure you would come.'
'Well here I am.'
'So you are, come on, I'll introduce you to the others.'
Peeling himself off of the wall Darren lead Daniel over to where five other students were idly standing around chatting, waiting for the rally to begin.
Upon Darren's arrival they all turned and greeted him in much the same manner as Daniel had observed before.
'Hey everyone, this is Daniel. Daniel, this is Josh, Matt, Brad, Lisa and Sarah.'
Daniel smiled and nodded at Darren's friends, returning their willing, if a little suspicious acknowledgements.
They were all dressed much as Darren was, a veritable rainbow of colours, the girls in long flowing dresses and the men without exception with hair down below their collars.
Daniel would hardly had classed himself as conservative in his dress but his hair whilst floppy on top was short at the back and his clothing consisted of the standard young persons' dress of faded jeans and plain T-shirt.
Gradually they all relaxed in each other's company, helped greatly by Darren's explanation of how he knew Daniel. The words 'surf' and 'record store' going a long way to convincing Darren's friends that he wasn't entirely a 'straight'.
At Brad's prompting they started to follow the steady stream of people who were beginning to drift over to a large expanse of open ground on the other side of the campus.
By the time a young guy with a megaphone fought his way up to stand on the top steps of what Daniel assumed must have been one of the main faculty buildings, the crowd was easily three hundred strong with more people still joining them, pressing ever forward. Inevitably it wasn't long before Darren and Daniel got separated from the others.
The speaker was both powerful and articulate, denouncing the upcoming draft lottery, how it was wrong, how your birthday would now determine who would be called and who wouldn't, how if you drew a high number you would be safe.
Daniel heard a number of 'right on man's and 'you tell them brother's coming from those around him. More than once the guy had to hold up his hands for silence before he could continue.
Just then a movement out of the corner of his eye caught Daniel's attention. Turning his head towards the edge of the crowd he saw what had caused the disturbance. There, all fully kitted, up in riot gear, stood a rank of around fifty National Guardsmen.
A quick glance around showed him that no one else seemed to have noticed their appearance, everyone's concentration was still firmly focused on the young guy who had now moved on to condemn what he called 'the senseless waste of life and slaughter' of the war in general. He was exhorting his fellow students to resist the draft, to destroy their cards.
'Darren?' Daniel lightly touched his arm to get his attention.
'Mmm, what?'
Cocking his head, Daniel indicated the increasing authoritarian presence.
'Shit!' Darren muttered under his breath.
Gradually others were noticing the unwanted intruders and the mood of the crowd began to shift. Peace turned to anger and aggression. People started to push and jostle in an attempt to distance themselves from the guards.
Daniel was swept forward by the crush, blindly searching around for Darren who only moments before had been standing by his side.
'Daniel!' Darren lunged forward and grabbed a hold of his arm. 'We've got to get out of here. Come on.' Taking a firm hold of his hand, Darren began to drag him towards the outer edges.
The crowd was emitting outright hostility now and the ominous dull thud of batons on riot shields began to ring out.
A strange hissing sound, foreign to Daniel's ears, was heard, followed by screams from some of the people around him.
To Darren the sound was nothing new and without letting go of his grip on Daniel, he used his free hand to pull his T-shirt up to cover his mouth and nose, instructing Dan to do the same.
'What?' Dan shouted back as the cries of panic and confusion increased.
'I said.' Darren put his lips up close to Daniel's ear. 'Use your top to cover your mouth and nose.'
Daniel had no idea what Darren was on about but imitated his movements never-the-less.
The once peaceful rally had now degenerated into outright chaos, some protestors deciding to fight back with bottles and stones and whatever other implements they could find, and both men were panting hard from a mixture of fear and exertion as they eventually reached the relative safety of the fringes. Without giving Dan time to collect his thoughts Darren broke into an open run, as everyone scattered in a vain attempt to find an escape from the guardsmen, who were now intent on breaking up the gathering with as many blows of their batons and as much tear gas as they could muster.
Finally Darren slowed up and Daniel joined him in doubling over and noisily drawing deep lungfuls of air into his lungs.
'Fuck!' was Darren's first comment as soon as he was able to speak again.
Standing up straight again Daniel looked around him as people continued to run past. 'What about your friends?' He asked.
'We'll go find them in a bit. It's ok, I know where they'll be.' He stood up and looked at Dan. 'You alright?' He asked with concern.
'Yeah, I'm fine, I think. What happened back there?' Daniel had heard of such occurrences happening before but to have actually been right in the middle of one scared him more than he was willing to admit, even to himself.
'Fucking pigs, fucking authorities.' Darren's voice dripped with anger. 'Come on,' He motioned to Daniel with his head, 'You ok to drive?'
'Sure. Where are we going?'
'Panhandle. It's where Josh and the rest will have gone. It's where everyone always gathers after shit like this.'
Dan nodded. This was all so new to him, sure he knew what was going on in the city but for the main part it had passed him by. He was content to go to work, have a few beers with his friends and catch his beloved surf. Yet today he had seen government soldiers attack what were, for the most, peaceful protestors and his head spun.
~Chapter Three - '...well maybe it's just the time of year...'~
Once they were safely in his van and Darren had guided him 'round the back of the campus to avoid any further trouble, Daniel switched the radio on.
Almost instantly he regretted doing so as Darren practically dove through the windscreen in indignation and anger. A newscaster was reporting the events of that afternoon as 'acts of self-defence on the part of the national guard against a hostile and volatile crowd intent on destroying property and maiming those who stood in their way'.
'Bullshit, bullshit, bullshit.' Darren repeated over and over, his voice climbing an octave with each outburst.
'Hey man, chill.' Daniel put a friendly hand on Darren's arm in an effort to try and calm him.
'You were there Dan,' Darren eyes burned with a fierce intensity. 'You saw what those bastards did.'
'Yes I did.' Dan replied sadly.
Darren caught his tone and was instantly contrite at his behaviour. 'Oh, look, I'm sorry. That must have all been a big shock for you.'
'Just a bit.' In fact Dan was still reeling from what he had seen, the unfolding scene on constant replay in his head.
Darren smiled and put his hand over Daniel's which Dan belatedly realised had remained on Darren's arm.
'It'll be fine, but first we've got to find the others and make sure they are alright.'
Darren removed his hand as if he too had suddenly realised what he had been doing. 'I'm sorry Daniel.'
'What for?' Daniel asked not quite sure what exactly Darren was apologising for. For his explosion at the radio, for the prolonged contact of their hands?
'For dragging you into all this, if it wasn't for me you would never have got involved.'
'Hey look don't worry.' Daniel reassured him. Yes he was still shaken up but today had made him realise one thing. 'Darren, I'm 21, male and without a deferment. I'm already involved in this whether I like it or not.'
Parking up Daniel got out and retrieving two blankets from the back of the van, handed one to Darren, following him as they made their way into the park.
The atmosphere was strangely hushed. Groups of people sat around make shift campfires, talking, a few playing guitars or listening to music from the radio.
Darren led Daniel over towards a large tree were a group of about eight young people were sitting.
The instant the two men were spotted, the girl that Darren had earlier introduced as Lisa came rushing to them.
'Darren, you ok? We wondered what had happened to you.'
'Yeah I'm fine.' Darren replied hugging the girl tightly. 'You?'
'Yeah. Brad's got a split lip and Sarah's bruised all her shoulder but other than that we're all alright.'
Lisa put her arm through Darren's and drew them into the group.
Daniel sat down on the hard ground beside Darren, wrapping his blanket around his shoulders as the sun slowly began to set.
Leaning up against the tree he watched as Darren carried on an animated discussion with Josh and Matt, displaying the same passion and intensity that he had when talking to him yesterday.
Someone passed him a bottle of wine from which he took a grateful swig, feeling the alcohol go straight to his head and reminding Dan that he hadn't eaten since lunchtime.
A sickly, sweet smell filled the air but when the proffered joint reached Daniel he politely declined and let it continue its way round the circle. Smiling as Darren took a good long toke, barely pausing in his conversation to do so.
Pulling the blanket tighter, Daniel closed his eyes, letting the exhaustion of the last few hours wash over him. The chatter from the group passed him by. No seemed to notice his silence or so he thought.
'Hey Dan, you ok there man? You've gone awfully quiet on us.' Darren shuffled round so that he was facing Daniel.
'Yeah, I just...' Daniel opened his eyes and started to reply but was interrupted by Lisa coming over to where they were sat.
'Darren, Darren honey, let me paint your face for you sweetheart.' The slight wobble as she sat down suggested that she had been partaking in both the alcohol and the dope.
Indulgently Darren submitted to her request. Daniel watching fascinated in the flickering light as she proceeded to decorate each of Darren's cheeks with delicate blue flowers.
'Daniel?' She turned to him giggling
Dan shrugged, why not, this day couldn't possibly get any weirder.
'Here, allow me.' Darren took the tub and brush from her.
Lisa simply smiled and turned her attention towards the various discussions that were still, albeit a little more dozily, taking place.
Setting the tub down, Darren took the brush and moving so that he was kneeling directly in front of Daniel, gently cupped his chin in his hand.
Dan felt his heart speed up at the touch, the pressure of Darren's hand, the damp yet soft feel of the paint as Darren applied it to his cheek, the intimacy of the moment.
Darren's reddened eyes met his and a long, unspoken look passed between them. Very slowly Daniel nodded, both had to be sure that they were reading this right.
Laying down the brush Darren released his hold on Daniel's face and stood up. Daniel did likewise then, hopefully unobserved by the rest of the group, they slipped away, walking to a less populated part of the park, exchanging neither speech nor touch.
When they were far enough away from the main body of people for it to be unlikely they would be disturbed, they sat back down and for a few moments just looked at each other, both a little unsure of what to say next.
'So...' Darren was the first to break the silence.
'So...' Daniel cradled Darren's chin in his hands, mirroring his action from earlier.
'I am right aren't I?' Darren stumbled, 'You do...you know...want this...want me... I mean you're not going to turn 'round and thump me or something?'
'Darren.' Daniel cut off any further ramblings by closing the last few inches between them and pressing his lips to Darren's. He felt Darren's gentle breath as he sighed and then parted his lips under Dan's. Taking the invitation, Daniel slipped his tongue into Darren's mouth, delighting in the feel of this unexplored territory.
Shrugging off his blanket Daniel wrapped his arms around Darren and slowly eased him back.
Breaking their kiss Darren smiled up at him in the half light. 'Hello.' He said as if seeing Daniel for the first time.
Daniel returned the smile and moved a hand to caress Darren's cheek, running his fingertips over the painted flowers. 'Hello yourself.'
They both laughed and Daniel rested his forehead against Darren's. For a while they just lay there basking in this new found revelation. Then Darren grew bold and Dan felt inquisitive fingers at the hem of his shirt. Again Darren hesitated so Daniel started an exploration of his own, his hands sneaking up under Darren's waistcoat and shirt to gently rub his back.
Daniel felt Darren shiver at his touch and temporarily removed his hands to enable him to pull his blanket over them both.
Drawing Darren to him, Daniel placed a light kiss on his lips only to have Darren return the embrace and deepen the kiss.
Hands began to roam freely now, the cover of the blanket providing them with some semblance of privacy. Darren's hands pushed up Dan's shirt as he moved his mouth to his neck, placing a trail of kisses over his racing pulse, his collarbone, before reclaiming his lips.
Drawing back Daniel grinned at the dark-haired beauty beneath him and playfully teased his tongue over Darren's cheeks, tracing the outline of the flowers with the tip. Hot breath ghosted his own cheek as Darren's hands went to his butt and pulled him tight against him, allowing Daniel to feel exactly what effect all their activity was having on him.
'I think...' Darren whispered hoarsely, '...that perhaps we should...'
Embarrassed Daniel stopped what he was doing, if the truth be told his own trousers were beginning to get a bit tight.
'It's not that...' Darren began but Daniel silenced him with a soft kiss.
'Me too.'
Shifting slightly Daniel moved so that he was cradling Darren in his arms. 'But we have all the time in the world.'
Giggling Darren began to sing.
Smiling Daniel closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep with Darren's sweet voice as a lullaby.
Yes, they had all the time in the world.
~Chapter Four - '...I'm going to try an' get my soul free...'~
The salty sea air whipped around Daniel's face as he ran down to the water's edge. He had dropped Darren back to his dorm earlier that morning and immediately crashed out himself.
Now it was late afternoon and he was back doing what he loved.
Wading out until he was waist deep, he floated his board and scrambled aboard, laying flat on his stomach so that he could scull out further to where the bigger waves were breaking.
His mind went back to the events of the previous night. He never dreamt that things would turn out the way they did. Yes, he had been attracted to Darren but was so unsure of how to convey this to him. One false move and he would probably have received a black eye for his troubles.
He had only ever kissed one guy before and it had scared him so much. Not that it was a guy as such but it had been a clumsy, necessarily furtive, hasty meeting of lips. A quick fumbling with no love involved.
Last night with Darren was different. They had both still been hesitant but it had been tender, it had been as Daniel had always imagined it should be.
Bringing himself up to a crouching position he got his balance and waited for the roller that was rapidly heading his way. When it hit he let out a whoop and began to skilfully ride the wave, using his body to turn the board this way and that to get the maximum enjoyment out of the ride.
Wiping out as he neared the shore Daniel went crashing over, the water coming up to greet him as he splashed in.
Surfacing he hollered with the exhilaration and shook his head madly, sweeping one hand over his face to wipe the water from his eyes and push back his hair.
Righting his board, he clambered onto it once more and paddled out again.
This was what life was all about. The spray on his face, the breeze in his hair, the pounding surf, the freedom of the water, out in the open. Just him and the elements.
Daniel smiled.
Darren ran his fingers over his lips, trying to conjure up the feel and taste of Dan upon them. So soft, so delicate yet so different from kissing a woman.
He had been pleasantly shocked when he realised that the look in Daniel's eyes as he had held his face mirrored his own emotions. Darren had taken to him immediately from when he first stopped to offer him a ride but to then discover that he was open to the possibility of something more than friendship. It was more than he had dared hope.
Sighing he turned his attention back to the half-finished assignment in front of him. Much as he loved his studies he couldn't help but feel that by graduating he was signing his own death warrant, perhaps quite literally.
There was no way that he was going to go and fight. He knew his parents would be horrified if they knew he was thinking like that. His older brother had already gone and done his 'bit'. Had come back in one piece and promptly fallen into a heavy drinking habit that Darren knew had resulted in his sister-in-law walking into more than one door.
But his family were six hundred miles away and he was here. And here was where it was all happening. Here people were standing up and saying no, enough was enough. Darren knew that the tide of popular opinion was turning against the government and the warmongers. His generation was different from the one before.
His generation was going to change the world and Darren intended to be there as they did.
