Amalaric's tales of enslavement, which I am currently exploring as part of a running series on his art have an eminent, vintage forerunner in Etienne's story called 'Sailor Beware'.
Like Amalaric in 'Marrakech', Etienne finds fertile ground for this yarn in the arid deserts of the Middle East. A US warship docks in the port of Salalal on a courtesy call and Cal and Jake get a liberty pass to explore the town and get a break from the ship's routine. In the course of getting wasted, they wander into the 'Yanqui Bar' which Etienne describes as 'notorious'. It's an expression that's fallen out of of use these days along with dock-side taverns.
I remember many years ago seeing three US Sailors in full dress whites on a similar mission to enjoy the historic town where I lived. They were tall, handsome and full of smiles and I was forever smitten with the species. I didn't have the good fortune to see them stripping off their tops, as Jake does here to show off his muscles, but I don't blame Ahmed, the bar tender, for falling for the drunken antics of these two buddies. He spikes their drinks in order to detain them.
You'll notice Ahmed is a bit of a hunk himself (like many barmen) and he dresses to please.
Once the boys are out for the count, Ahmed checks out their erotic credentials by relieving them of them of their shoes (feet and sweaty socks were a major fetish for Etienne) and naturally he also opens up their pants to see what's on offer there. Then he ties them up. Jake is hog-tied and gagged on the floor when he comes to and sees Ahmed in the process of tying up his blond buddy, Cal.
The arching hog-tie pose given to Jake is a bit of a favourite for this artist. It shows off the vulnerable torso splendidly but it doesn't quite work in terms of perspective (in fact photographs of this position often appear oddly out of kilter or 'hovering' too). By contrast, Cal's sprawling figure is a little gem!
Ahmed bundles his captives into the cellar and chains them up so he can ceremonially rip off the rest of their uniforms by candlelight, leaving them wearing only their socks, dog-tags and crumpled caps. This is an arousing process of course, but Ahmed has already decided to sell Jake and Cal into slavery so he resists temptation in the hope of securing the 'virgin premium' for unspoiled goods.
I like the assumption that these sailors are innocent virgins, under the parental protection of the US Navy. It must be the white uniforms that plant that idea!
In Amalaric's universe, all men ear-marked for slavery are automatically given an introductory flogging to 'mark their cards' as it were and let them know who's the boss. Ahmed does the same, partly out of frustration. He chains them together to draw their hips forward into complimentary, alluring arched positions. This adds a new dimension of discomfort to the sting of the lash and makes it a truly shared experience. He completes their humiliation by emptying his bladder over them.
Oscar Wilde said, 'I can resist anything except temptation' and unsurprisingly, Ahmed's venting of all this energy on the two Sailors' naked bodies simply intensifies his lust. He chooses cute, blond Cal to be the recipient of his generous endowment. The figure of Jake in the background makes a nice contribution to the scene. He is spared Cal's fate but has to watch as his (virgin?) buddy is given a demanding master class. To his own chagrin he finds himself aroused by it as well.
Notice Cal's giant feet and the phallic-shaped socks lying on the floor
Ahmed's impetuous invasion gives him a new dilemma, he has to leave the boys alone and wait for them to heal if he's to get the best price for them. But he also knows the Navy will be actively looking for the two men who are now absent without leave. He organises a private auction where the two men find there is no shortage of interest in them. Chained to raised auction blocks, the pre-sale 'viewing' proves almost as bad as the humiliating sell-off itself. The two men look deliciously youthful here.
Ahmed turns out to be something of a pro in the Slave Selling world, not only has he got fully equipped storage cellars and auction rooms, he also offers a MOSLA-like delivery service. Cal and Jake find themselves tethered behind a horse and led across the desert (naked of course) on the way to their new homes. They can count themselves lucky to be still together, most of Amalaric's men never see their friends or family again after the hammer goes down. You'll notice that their dog tags, symbolising their membership of the US Navy, have now gone.
This image is a dead ringer for Chirenon's 'New Life for Air Force Boys' and it's better in some ways as the two Sailors find they have to contend with troublesome restraints as well as the desert heat and feet-scouring sand.
Ahmed's after-sales service even extends to loosening the boys up in readiness for their new master. The jewel encrusted dildos he's been given to use, suggest they will have a relatively elevated status in the days to come.
This drawing is one of Jake's 'best bits' in this story, despite some dubious upper body detail. Cal's spread-suspension is another of Etienne's signature images. Note the phallic architecture
Jake and Cal meet their new lord and master who turns out to have a fetish interest in 'fem' accessories like pearls and chiffon pants (the earrings would have caused comment in the 1960's but scarcely register these days). The two boys look great in their fetters with Jake gaining attention by presenting himself in a military manner. Their manliness is enhanced by the Sheik's lower, almost passive position, he's relying on something else to impress them! The simplicity of this image, cementing without undue erotic distractions the notion that they are now his helpless slaves, makes for a surprisingly powerful scene.
The Sheik loses no time in putting his new toys to use and once again it's Cal who is the 'pathfinder' but Jake's honeymoon respite is not destined to last and if this is to be his first experience he's going to remember it for a long time!
Etienne's skilful depiction of men's feet is showcased in this image, I'm not a slave to this fetish but I often think his feet look more enticing than the real thing!
Cal and Jake soon learn that their life is not to be the idleness of a male harem. They are put to work ploughing the fields, possibly a less than fulfilling occupation in this arid part of the world where the adverse soil conditions only give the overseer more excuses to whip them. You'll notice that Jake's harness is a fairly unforgiving arrangement too. Cal gets off more lightly.
This image lifts the story briefly out of the realms of a pure sexual slavery fantasy, adding a dimension of harsh reality to the buddies plight which might otherwise seem like a gay man's dream. It has the added benefit of maintaining their fitness too. It's an element that features in some of Amalaric's stories too, notably Rob in 'Hunting Jarheads' but his days of pointless toil and unfair punishments are rarely lightened by sexual fulfilment of any sort.
However, there is much sexual service to be demanded of these two men and Jake gets a chance to shine and look immensely cute here. You can tell that the Sheik is impressed with his efforts. A noose provides a slightly sinister tether between his bobbing head and poor Cal's cock.
Cal's splendid suspension pose isn't a perfect complement to the scene below but the technical integration is perfect. It's the notable forerunner of similar, memorable images by Ulf and Zamok.
As the days pass the boys grow resigned to their fate and begin to enjoy it to some degree, no doubt realising that an enthusiastic performance brings perverse rewards. Here Etienne is simply treading the hoary, gay conversion route as an excuse for maltreatment. To coin a phrase: 'You like it, really don't you?' After 4 years of servitude, the boys escape and shack up together in the US.
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It's quite startling to see how much this vintage story resembles those of Amalaric. Except that is for the prevalence of sex and the slightly pantomime world of fancy dress and racist stereotyping that jars today. However the underlying erotic predicament is just as engaging as Amalaric's harsher readings. Etienne drawings are sometimes erratic in quality but he sustains a good standard in this piece which contains, as I have pointed out, some outstanding scenes and details.
More Etienne articles featured in this blog