A Stitch In Time - Chapter 4 - Plague free porn video

Mark next thought to cover himself, but the clothes he had might identify him as an outsider, though hundreds of years out of style. Instead he moved to the box which was thankfully waiting. Opening it he saw the note.

---What has happened? Why the double jump? Please explain.---

Knowing his time limit Mark grabbed the pen and wrote,

---Suspect another group from your future is trying to stop or interfere with me. Hoped to throw them off.---

Mark looked in the box. A simple shirt and trousers held up by rope, a knife, some coins. He placed the Carolingian clothes and his Roman cloak in the box, being sure to extract the emergency device. Taking his new belongings back away from the box, he watched it disappear in a spark as he prepared to don his new, old looking, clothes. He heard a sound, was about to turn,

"Hold it there. Don't move. John, go see what he has." Mark felt the presence of someone walking up behind him, John he presumed.

"Henry, he's naked."

"I know that I can see 'is cock from here. He have some coins?" Mark cursed his luck to be dropped in by random theives. Or maybe just desperate men who'd managed to survive the plague. John kick Mark's belongings and picked up the pouch of coins, waving it to Henry.

"Feels like a good bit."

"Bring it 'ere." Mark took the opportunity to turn enough to see them. He reached down for his trousers and was pulling them on when Henry looked up from the coin pouch. "Hey who said you can get dressed?" Mark now tried to work on their better nature.

"Take the coins. I'll wait here until you're gone. Just leave me my clothes?" Henry waved him off,

"Yer, yer. OK, get dressed. I'm not one for cocks anyway, tho John here may give you a go." Henry cackled, John seemed put out,

"I never, not with no man."

"No woman either I venture." Now John was pouting,

"Fuck you Henry."

"Ah, don't be cryin', we got enough here to eat and drink for a bit. Thanks mister, sorry 'bout this, but it's hard times."

Hard times, Mark thought? From what he knew, after the plague blew through, the market for able bodied men was great. Men with any skills could demand fair wages, but as always, for some stealing is easier. Mark dressed, then sat on the ground waiting for them to leave. Henry and John were soon on their way discussing how to spend their new found wealth. Mark was contemplating how he was going to eat or sleep in London with no money. At least he had clothes. Arriving at the gates naked might have raised a few questions.

Waiting off the side of the road to avoid any more desperate men, Mark was awake as the sun rose over the city. He waited until the sun was well above the horizon before he continued down the path towards the northern wall. Getting closer to the city he could see where it had begun to expand past the walls. Now much of these were empty, the plague taking a terrible toll on the crowded population. Passing grounds where the victims had been buried, then past the hospital, he arrived at Bishopsgate. The gate was open, the guard gave Mark a cursory look and seeing a healthy young man, waved him through. Walking a short way he made a right on Threadneedle observing the people now opening their shops. The population within the walls had been around 80,000 at the beginning of the century. Now that population had been halved.

Turning onto West Cheap he looked for someone who might hire a healthy man. Seeing a woman struggling to set up her baskets of goods he offered to help. She looked at him warily,

"Don't be stealing. I don't know you."

"I've just come to the city", Mark replied, "looking for work."

"Aye, you should find work around here."

"Honest work?" She nodded at Mark's question.

"Yes. Go on down to the sign of the pig. Old man Weathers lost his son. He may need help."

"Thank you goodwife."

"There was a day. Then the plague took my Tom. Like so many others."

"I'll be looking for a room to let. Once I earn funds. I was robbed on the way in." She tutted at that.

"So much work needs doing and they still steal from travellers. A shame. For a room you could check at the Goose & Swan or maybe Widow Canby has an open room."

"Thank you again." Mark continued down the dirty road, avoiding the night waste dumped into the street, the animals running free and what the animals left behind. The odors now were more striking than those of his previous stops. There wasn't the daily or even weekly bathing or running water of Rome and there were still many more people gathered together than 1,000 years earlier. As he located the sign of the pig he also saw a sign with hammer and anvil. Mark decided to try there first. He stepped into a work area to the clang of metal on metal, the hiss of steaming water, the grunt of a man sweating over his work.

"Hello sir. I've just come to town. I am in need of work." The man, a burly, sweaty, greasy man, stood up from his anvil.

"Are ye now?"

"Yes. I was robbed last night outside the walls, I'm rather desperate." He pointed with a large hammer past Mark's shoulder.

"Weathers could use help."

"So I've been told. However my skills are fixing tools, metal items, wagons and such." Now the man looked at Mark curiously.

"You don't look all that strong."

"I haven't worked the metal like you but I can fix about anything."

"Hmm, might be helpful to have someone handle all that light work so I can do what I do here. I can't pay all that much."

"Just enough to eat and sleep."

"I'll give you a try. At the end of the day I'll give you enough to eat. For now you can sleep in the back of the shop."

"Thank you, Mr.?"

"Call me William. Most around here call me William Smith."

"Thank you William. I go by Mark." William showed Mark where to leave his bag and gave him some work to do. The work was similar to what Mark had done in Rome, though often more basic. At midday he noticed a young woman bringing a plate to William, who called him over.

"Mark, you've worked hard today, share some of my meal." Mark welcomed the break and quickly joined William at a large table. William didn't miss Mark observing the woman. "My daughter Pippa. Her mum, my dear Katherine died of the plague. Life is difficult now as you know." Mark saw that Pippa was observing him too. He tried not to stare, but his past few years had his body ready to react to any possibility. "She's a lovely lass, unmarked by disease. A fine catch for a healthy young man who would work hard to provide."

"Oh I, I'm sorry. I didn't mean."

"It's lonely for everyone these days. So many have lost their families and loved ones." He let it go there. Staring into space, remembering. Mark continued working for William, earning enough to eat his dinner at a local pub, while sharing lunch with William and Pippa. She seemed shy at first but was soon asking about his past. Mark told them his prepared story, up to the decision to try his luck in London and his unfortunate robbery just outside the city. At night he made himself as comfortable as possible in the cubby hole he fixed up at the back of the shop.

It was during his second week that Mark decided he needed a good cleaning. He retrieved some buckets around the shop and filled them from a well. Setting them on the embers of William's fire he heated them as well as he could, both for comfort and to lessen his chance to catch anything. Carrying the buckets to the open back section of the shop near his sleeping spot he stripped down and stood in the waning moonlight to bathe. Lifting a bucket he let it pour slowly over his head and down his sooty body. Turning to pick up a cloth he saw her.

Pippa stood in the gloom of the shop and stared at Mark's body. His wet skin, muscles showing at arms and chest, then down, his sturdy legs, and hanging a bit, the first man's cock Pippa had seen. She took a tentative step towards him. Mark made no move to cover himself. His body glistening in the pale light. Pippa looked up at him, then down curious. She'd heard many things while out with the older women washing clothes or in the market. They laughed and told of big ones and tiny ones. Pippa was also curious about the strange feelings traveling through her body. She moved closer, now only a few feet away, also partially in the light. Mark looked at her, letting her determine what would happen next. Her body was mostly covered in a long dress. Plain cloth, loose, functional. As her father had said, she was pretty, unmarked by the pox or other diseases that could inflict people of the time. He tried to guess her age, then decided it was better not to. Different times. This was also a time where the population needed to recover from a deadly disease. Pippa was now standing in front of Mark.

She reached out, "May I?"

"If you want." Mark knew his cock was beginning to rise. Pippa's eyes widened.

"Is that because of?"

"Because you're here. And very pretty." Pippa's hand made contact, lifting it from below, letting it rest in her hand. It continued to grow. Now thick and stiff, Pippa wrapped her hand around the hard cock. She moved her hand up and down its length. She moaned slightly,

"It's hard, but the skin is soft and moves. Is this alright?"

"That feels great." She pulled down on the skin, the foreskin pulling back to show the head, shiny in the moonlight. She squatted and looked closely as she moved her hand up and back feeling it throb and twitch. She looked up at him, with green eyes, light hair framing her face.

"I've heard that a man will cum in great gushes from this." Mark took her hand and lifted Pippa to a standing position, his cock straining between them.

"Many different things happen when a man and a woman touch each other in different ways."

"Will you touch me?"

"If you want. What about your father?"

"He goes to the Swan most nights for a couple pints. Meets other men for business. And I think he likes one of the serving ladies there. He misses my mum, but life goes on."

Mark, still wet from his attempted bath led Pippa out into the full light. The back yard blocked off from the nearby properties. He let her stand alongside him, her right hand again stroking his cock. Remmebering his bath he said,

"Be careful, you'll get wet." She looked up at Mark with one raised eyebrow.

"Would you care to see me naked too?"

"I, wouldn't mind at all." Letting go of Mark's cock for a moment Pippa untied the back of her dress and let it slip from her shoulders. She then removed her undergarments and stood in the moonlight waiting for Mark's approval. Mark looked at the young woman, no doubt now, Pippa was a young woman. Large breasts, topped by thick nipples, strong limbed from the hard work everyone did, soft light hair between her legs. If his cock had softened at all when she stopped stroking it, he was now harder than ever. "Perfect. You're quite beautiful." Pippa moved back next to Mark, letting her skin touch his. She again took his cock in hand,

"I'd like to see it gush."

"Just keep doing that." Pippa held her left hand around Mark while her right continued working on his cock. He let one of his hands sit at her hip, not wanting to distract her from what she was doing. As she stroked and stroked, he could feel it rising. "Soon Pippa, soon, oh." She gasped slightly as the cock jumped in her hand, then spurts of fluid burst forth outward, then down to the ground. She kept stroking, surprised to see another, then another, then finally drops falling to the ground and some coating her hand where she held him.

"It does. Gush. And all that can go inside?"

"Yes, it does." Now Pippa stood facing Mark, his cock hanging between them. She looked up at him. He took a chance and lifted a breast in his hand. She sighed, then closed her eyes when he leaned down to kiss her, his thumb pressing and circling the nipple. She was moaning into his mouth, his other hand now cupping her ass, then moving up her back, holding her to him. When they broke the kiss, she gasped,

"I have so much to learn. Teach me?" Mark responded by pulling her gently forward and kissing her deeply again. Then he led her to sit beside him on his bed. She seemed nervous so Mark limited himself to kissing her, moving around from her lips to her neck and down to the heavy breast he held in his hand. Lifting it to his lips he gently bit and sucked at her nipple, then sensing Pippa relaxing he let his free hand roam her ripe body as she moaned from his efforts. As his hand caressed her thigh, then up across her stomach he let her breast drop and met her face to face, his tongue searching and finding hers as his hand works its way between her legs, finding the sparse hair, then her mound and the cleft between her lips. She gasped as he pressed a finger between her lips sliding his hand along her moist slit. Her hands gripped his tightly around the neck as he found her clit and circle it, pinching and probing, her body was shivering, she moaned and sighed into Mark's mouth as he let his fingers tease and pleasure Pippa. She let out a loud, "OH! and Mark circled her opening, then up to run along the sides of her clit, then her body shaking, holding him tight as she tensed, another "OOh, ooohhh, oooooooo!" as she came, her body clenching then releasing, then collapsing onto Mark. "Is that what it feels like?"

"Different, but yes."

"I want that too."

"Another night. Your father may be home soon." She looked down, saw Mark's cock hard again. "Yes, that's because of you."

"Can I do something for you?"

"Better you go." He watched her dress. She was oddly now shy again, covering herself. Mark sat unconcerned that his cock stood out. By now the bath water would be cool and would help calm him. With a brief kiss Pippa was off. Upstairs to her quarters. Mark looked down at his hard cock, shrugged and went back outside to finish washing.

The next day Mark noticed that Pippa added a bit more to his lunch plate. William seemed oblivious to the looks Mark and Pippa now gave each other, however, at the end of the day William asked Mark to join him at the pub. Mark followed William's lead and was introduced to many of the other local tradesmen. When they settled at a table William ordered ale and beef stew for both of them.

"Thank you William, most kind." Mark was assuming this wasn't coming out of his wages.

"No worry young Mark, with your help I've been able to increase the business I take in. You've earned a little something extra." When the serving woman brought out their food and drink William pulled her to his lap. "And how is my Anabel?" She slapped his hand down but laughed,

"I'm well as always Will, now keep yer hands to yerself down here." 'Down here' caught Mark's attention. Perhaps Pippa was correct about her father. William whispered something to Anabel. "Hmm." Now she glanced as Mark. Then, "I suppose. Now eat up."

They finished their meal, and had started a second ale when William invited over a couple more men. They greeted Mark, then William suggested,

"Mark, I have personal business to discuss here. Why not go speak to Magge over by the bar. I'm sure a young healthy man has needs?" William raised an eyebrow. He looked back at Magge, then nodded to the table. As he left he heard William, "He's a hardworking lad, but I've seen him eyeing my Pippa." Another voice replied,

"Could you blame him? She a fine looking lass who could use a husband." Now Mark was too far away to hear the conversation. He wondered if William was possibly hoping to make a match with another successful tradesman? That thought went away as he was approached by the serving girl William had pointed to.

"Hello, and who might you be?"

"Um, my name is, uh Mark."

"Shy?" Mark's gaze was drawn to the cleavage between her pushed up tits. He caught himself and looked at her, trying to remember her name. He noted that she wasn't unattractive, but had not avoided all the issues that Pippa had skirted. "I'm Magge. Interested in some company?" Mark, now two ales in and having been left in a certain state the night before, nodded his head,

"Hello Magge. Where?" She took his hand and led him down a hall behind the bar. She reached back and felt along his trousers,

"Ooh nice." Opening the third door she ushered Mark into a small room. She turned to him, "So, what would you like?" She was again stroking him through his pants. She was opening his pants, then lowering them, carefully looking over the hard cock facing her. "William promised you were clean. I don't fuck anyone who comes in here, but sometimes, the extra money helps."

"We can do whatever you like." She laughed. Mark looked at her concerned.

"What I like to do is sew dresses. What I'm here for is something else. You want me to suck you, or fuck you?" Mark thought, for humanity.

"Then let's see how you fuck." He sat on the bed, removed his shoes, then kicked off his pants. Magge pulled up her skirts and straddled Mark, letting his cock enter her. Her movements told him that she'd done this a time or two. Magge cooed and assured him that he was making her feel oh so good. She was rocking on his cock, her hips moving and lifting working his cock. There was no passion here, but there was pleasure. Magge's cunt expertly worked Mark's cock until he pulled her tight to him and sent his pent up cum inside her pussy. He held her in place a bit longer before letting her roll off him. She looked at him,

"Not bad for a shy boy, but if you got me pregnant, I know where to find you." Mark thought to himself that she isn't the first to say that. He asked her to stay a bit,

"So they don't think I was too fast." She found that hysterical then replied,

"OK, but I only got paid for one fuck. Tell you what boy, buy me an ale and I'll walk out of here like you wore me right out." They laughed together. As he lay there Mark contemplated on how tough life was for the regular people trying to survive. After a bit they got themselves together and walked out. Mark ordered two more ales, Magge caught the attention of William's table and made a show of wiping her brow. William called Mark back to the table. He and his friends slapped Mark on the back and nudged him with elbows. Kidding him about his now supposed prowess. Mark leaned close to William,

"Thank you." William just clapped him on the arm. After more ale and many laughs, Mark leaned on William as they stumbled back to William's shop. Mark fell into his bed dreading the morning.

First light, the forge was already warming when William shook Mark,

"Wake up. The work won't wait." Mark groaned and opened an eye. William's rough face wasn't what he was hoping to see. He got up and releived himself behind the house. Coming back in he dressed and joined William in the workshop. William chuckled at Mark's appearance. Mark shook his head, winced,

"I couldn't do that too often."

"Everyone can use a night out. Get a drink on, get yer cock wet. It's good for..." William stopped when he saw Pippa holding a mug of ale and a hunk of bread. She looked at the two of them saying,

"You were out late, I thought a little something." They thanked her, Mark noticing that she was looking suspiciously at him.

It was a long day. After dinner William called it an early night and went up to bed. Mark was laying back in his bed thankful for the dark and quiet. He was just dozing when he heard her voice,

"Did you?"

"Did I what, Pippa?"

"Have another woman?" Mark sat up, patted the bed next to him. Pippa sat down keeping space between them. Mark took a breath.

"Yes. At the pub. She was...provided for me."

"Papa. He's trying to drive you from me." She was more perceptive than he'd given her credit for.

"Pippa, can you blame him? You're his daughter. You're beautiful. You could make a good marriage."

"And the woman at the pub?"

"Just a woman who was earning extra money. And I'm a man."

"I thought you liked me." Mark felt bad for Pippa. He put his arm around her. She didn't move away.

"I do like you. I didn't know you felt so strongly too. And there's your father."

"Leave him to me. Now do what you did the other night and I'll forgive you." Mark really needed to get some sleep, but who was he to deny Pippa.

"I really need some sleep, but there is something I can do. Sit back here." Mark could smell Pippa next to him, fresh, clean. "You bathed today?"

"I saw you bathing, middle of the week, and thought it something you'd like." He looked up at Pippa from the floor beside his bed.

"It may be odd, but bathing regularly is a good thing. Especially if your man would do this." Mark reached under Pippa's gown and removed her underclothes, then pulling her to the edge of the bed he separated her legs and began kissing his way up her thigh. When he reached the soft downy hair he worked his way down her slit, light kissed, pulling lightly at her lips with his.

"Oh my god Mark, no one ever mentioned...."

"SShh.." With his tongue he separated her lips tracing lines up and down, finding her wet, he probed at her tight opening. She gasped when his tongue entered her, flicking around just inside, then kissing her up, and up, to find her engorged bud, waiting. Mark sucked at her clit, let his tongue circle and tease her, then down, pulling at her lips, his tongue dancing and covering her. Above him, Pippa gasped with each touch, holding tight to the bed, then a hand in Mark's hair, her hips lifting, begging for...

"More, oh god Mark, oooh, ooooo, oh god, bloody hell, I'm, oooooooh." She came thrusting her hips, holding Mark to her, fucking his tongue, then finally falling back, spent. "Mark, what was that? No's one has even talked about anything like that."

"Maybe not here, but where I come from, women who bathe regularly get to enjoy that."

"Wh-what can I do for you."

"Let me sleep, tonight. Please." Pippa seemed disappointed but gathered herself, saw Mark back onto his bed, then kissed him good night. In the morning Mark felt himself again. Over the next couple of days Mark noticed that Pippa smelled of fresh flowers as she served their midday meal. He also noticed that she was sure to make contact with him as she put down the plates or served food.

Friday after work William announced that he was having a night out. Visiting the pub server, both Mark and Pippa thought separately.

"I trust Pippa will be safe with you staying in the shop?"

"Of course. I will defend her against any intruders." Pippa had carried plates to the small kitchen area in back.

"I'm not sure it's the intruders I'm concerned about." Mark just looked at William. "Please young man, I see the way she looks at you. She's a woman now. And I heard the noises from downstairs the other night."

"I'm sorry if I've..." William waved him off.

"Yer a good lad. Just be honest with her." Mark nodded.

Mark had just gotten his water buckets ready and had stripped down for his bath when Pippa walked through the shop. She again admired his form then removed her dress so that she was also naked. Mark dumped one bucket over his head when Pippa suggested,

"I'd wash you, if you don't mind." Mark smiled,

"I don't mind at all." Pippa picked up the chunk of rough soap and a rag. She rubbed the soap into his back scrubbing him clean then rinsing him down. Mark felt her hands on his shoulders, then across his back, down then holding his ass, cleaning, rinsing, his legs, then coming around to the front, she washed his face and arms. Pippa spent a good long time letting her hands rub Mark's chest and stomach, then down his legs and up. Kneeling now, she rubbed the soapy rag around his cock, underneath then cupping his balls. She rinsed the rag, cleaned him of soap, then feeling his cock hard, she let her hand feel his length. She looked up at him,

"I have heard that whores do this. You wouldn't think me a whore?" She let her tongue touch the tip of his cock, then around his foreskin. With just the tip in her mouth she looked up with green eyes, "Hmm?" Mark's knees weakened a bit as she hummed on his cock.

"No, you could never be a whore. What a man and woman do together is ok." She popped him out of her mouth for a moment,

"Good. This is because of what you did. And since we've both bathed today." Then Pippa licked the length of Mark's cock, holding his balls as she licked around and back up. She slid her hand down exposing his head which she sucked into her mouth tasting the first drops of precum. She looked at his cock watching another drop forming at the tip. She let her tongue touch and gather the fluid, smiling at Mark as she did. Then Pippa put more of his cock in her mouth, sucking as she bobbed her head, stroking what she still held in her hand. Mark could feel himself getting close. He warned Pippa. She looked at him gently stroking. "Is it safe to eat?"

"Yes, if you want, oh, I'm going to....." Pippa moved to take him in her mouth when the first spurt hit her. Caught by surprise she opened her mouth getting some of the next spurt in her mouth, the third hitting her chin. The remaining landing on her full breasts. When there was just a bit dribbling out she put his cock back in her mouth and sucked him dry, licking around his cock. Mark looked at her, now covered in his cum. He offered Pippa a clean rag. She giggled as she cleaned herself.

"Was that ok? Like a whore would?"

"No. More like a proper and innocent young lady learning to enjoy sex with a man." Satisfied with that answer, Pippa stood and moved to kiss Mark. She stopped,

"Oh sorry." Mark brought her to him and kissed her, tongue probing, hands caressing.

"It's fine." He lifted Pippa and carried her to his bed. Pippa lay back as Mark again got between her legs his tongue lashing her sweet pussy, driving her to another orgasm. This one with no need to try being quiet. When she came down, he looked at her laying on the bed, arms abover her head, large breasts flattening on her chest, her prominent nipples pointing towards him, her pussy flush and wet. Mark knelt between Pippa's legs, his cock ready. She looked at it, hard, throbbing,

"Mark, I'd fuck you if you will."

"Are you sure?" She nodded her head, shifted a bit to allow him easier access and asked,

"Be gentle?" Mark leaned forward and kissed her, distracting her a little as he positioned his cock at her entrance, sliding his cock along her slit, lubricating himself, then pushing into Pippa. She gasped, tensed. Mark kissed her harder on the mouth, then paused. Pippa's mouth fell open in an "oooow, oohhh" as Mark pushed past, taking her virginity, then slowly deeper into Pippa. "That hurt, but slow, it's, ungh." Mark held himself deep inside Pippa then slowly withdrew until only his head was inside. Then pushing forward and repeating until she said, "good, go ahead." Mark began rocking himself slowly into Pippa, her pussy incredibly tight on him as she was stretched for the first time. The grip her pussy had on him felt even tighter as he thickened. She felt him throbbing, then sighed as Mark's cum filled what space there was. Mark held himself inside feeling his cum spurting into Pippa. He kissed her and lay forward feeling her tits between them, her pussy still holding on as he softened and fell from him. Mark sat back. Pippa sat up and looked down to see Mark's cum escaping her pussy. She was happy. Now a woman. She'd been with a man. A strong healthy man for her first time.

Pippa lay, legs entangled with Mark's. She felt loved and protected. Maybe she would tell Papa that she'd found the man for her. Mark could become more skilled, become one of the leading tradesmen. Now she was dreaming. A fine house. Children. She sighed when Mark caressed her leg, across the side of her butt, up over her hip. She wished his cock would get hard again, but he'd said twice was usually his limit. Maybe later, if they had time.

They must have dozed off, or more like slept. Light was creeping into the area behind Mark's sleeping area. Pippa stirred and noticed that Mark's cock was rigid. What a pleasant surprise. When Pippa moved Mark rolled fully onto his back. She straddled him, kissing him until he was awake. Mark looked up. He saw green eyes looking hopefully at him. He saw large breasts swinging above him. He felt a wet pussy sliding along his straining cock.

"Pippa, yes PLEASE!" She broke into a grin, reached back and let his cock enter her. She slid backwards until she felt Mark filling her. She lay forward on him, breasts crushed between them, his cock inside.

"Oh Mark, let's stay like this all day."

"As much as I'd like to there is work to do." She sat up and look at him pouting. He reached up with both hands and held her tits, squeezing, pulling at her nipples, leaning up to suck at them. Pippa began moving on Mark, he moved his hands to her ass, holding on as she moved up and back, her tight pussy milking his cock. Her skin was smooth, her hands on his chest teasing his own nipples, her pussy moving, moving, he waited as long as he could, but oh how good it felt, his cum rushing along then spurting into Pippa. And she kept moving, wanting more, she kept moving, tight on his cock. He softened, but she kept moving, he stiffened slightly, she kept moving, moving, Mark couldn't remember doing this but he was hard again, he flipped them over and began thrusting up into Pippa, long hard thrusts, grunting with each plunge, Pippa head back, mouth open, eyes wide open, feeling it coming on, then taking over her body. Her back arching, trying to get closer to Mark. He felt he could go on and on. His cock throbbed and strained, stretching her young pussy as he drove into her, then after she'd cum a second time, he gave her what more he had.

"There's so much of you, inside me." They were happy, satisfied and would continue in this way for months.

Somewhere in that time the inevitable happened. Pippa was pregnant and Mark would have to do the right thing. In some ways he wasn't necessarily the right person for this mission. He grew attachments, when his best tact may have been to engage with a larger number of women. He was contemplating how to spend his remaining year and a half more, productively, without crushing Pippa. If he left one day for another part of the country she'd be left with her father. Young, still attractive, but with child, she could still secure a satisfactory marriage with the shortage of likley candidates.

The moral and immoral decisions were weighing on Mark when he wandered into the Swan & Goose for a pint and a meat pie. He was enjoing his meal when approached by someone from behind.

"Don't move. Don't make a sound. We're armed and it's not knives and pitchforks." Mark knew immediately he was in trouble. These weren't middle English accents. Or even 23rd century English. More of an eastern European. "Come with us and you won't be hurt." Mark dared turn his head. The man opened his cloak to show Mark a decidedly modern pistol. They'd found him.

Outside, he was herded onto a wagon. Two of the men got in back with him, one jumped up to drive. Mark asked,

"Who are you. Where are you from?"

"All in due time, Mark Severns. First, we need to make a little trip." They rode out through the Moorgate up through fields and into the countryside north of London. After about an hour they pulled off to the side of the road. The leader of the group spoke for the first time since they'd left the city.

"First we travel. Then we talk."

"Where are we going?"

"You'll see. Most interesting." The two assistants pushed Mark to a spot in the grass, then they all gathered around. One pulled out a device that looked like the one Gerry had had. The next thing he knew they were on a dark road. With another waiting wagon. The man looked at Mark.

"I am Alexandru, welcome to 1477. We'll be visiting the castle of the recently departed Vlad Dracul."

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