Marcus and Doug had been collecting and studying water and soil samples based in a remote village in the Democratic Republic of the Congo for three weeks, and were more than ready to leave for home. The two men wearily stacked boxes and carefully stowed samples into special, environmentally controlled containers. Both men's shirts were nearly soaked through with sweat, which was not unusual. However, whereas Doug's shirt revealed the chiseled contours of his athletic physique and enhanced his rugged good looks, Marcus looked more like an angry, overweight cat who had lost a wrestling match with a soggy paper bag. He frequently tugged at his shirt, pulling at the uncomfortable creases that would inevitably lead to chafing.
Despite his discomfort and lack of self-confidence, Marcus had visibly shed several pounds over the duration of this trip, and was admittedly starting to feel better in these conditions. The prospect of returning home was almost a disappointment. Almost.
Their flight was scheduled to leave first thing the next morning, so they planned to leave for the airport this evening after one last outing. They had become friends with many of the families in the village, and they were planning a farewell celebration as well as sharing some of their traditions.
After packing most of their equipment, their guide, Mahamadou, greeted them with a broad grin.
"Good morning, gentlemen! Today we will walk the trail of manhood. Our young men walk this trail and endure several trials as a symbol of entering adulthood. We would like you to follow this trail as a symbol of your place as men in our tribe. You do not have to perform all of the trials, but you must walk the trail barefoot."
Marcus threw a questioning glance at Doug. Doug's wife was the head of the organization and therefore the expedition. However, since she was back in the states, this left Doug as the defacto decision-maker. He shrugged and began kicking off his shoes. "Let's do it. What do you say, Marco?"
He hated when Doug called him 'Marco' as if they were close friends. It didn't help that he sounded like one of those trainers at the gym always trying to motivate and show off at the same time with their casual cockiness. They had grown closer, for sure, but Marcus did not feel they had progressed to the point of foolish nicknames. He also wasn't keen on the idea of walking God-knows how far through the jungle barefoot. But he trusted that Mahamadou knew their limits by now and wouldn't ask them to do anything too dangerous or uncomfortable.. Plus, his competitive side wouldn't let him sit out knowing Doug was participating.
"Yeah, I was just thinking that I wasn't sweating enough and that my feet had far too much skin on them. Where do I sign up?" Marcus was known for his bitching, so he felt obligated to complain as creatively as possible whenever the opportunity arose, regardless of his actual feelings.
Doug chuckled. "Aw come on, it'll be worth it. No pain no gain, right?" Marcus groaned. Doug was playing his role as well. "And who knows, you just might find your manhood at the other end of the trail."
The shoe Marcus threw rebounded off the wall and landed with a harmless thud on the dirt floor. Doug didn't even flinch. "See you out there, sport." He said with his best condescending-big-brother routine as he stepped outside. Marcus removed his other shoe and followed, already stepping gingerly along the well-packed paths of the village as Mahamadou led them away from the primitive shelter that had been their home for the last three weeks.
He led them to a trail that disappeared into thick vegetation, then stopped. "From here you must go on your own. The trail is well marked, and about ten miles long. I will wait for you at the river crossing."
"Wait. Ten miles?" Marcus asked incredulously. "I've never walked barefoot more than to the can and back to bed, and you want me to walk ten miles? Through the jungle?"
Mahamadou and Doug smiled the same smile. "Don't worry." Mahamadou reassured him. "If I don't see you in four hours, we will come looking for you." He gave Marcus no opportunity to protest, and walked away while Marcus continued to grumble to himself.
"C'mon, Marcus, the men are moving!" Doug called out as he started down the trail.
"Okay, Douglas." Marcus mocked with a quiet dopey voice as he picked his way down the trail. The villagers all shared a giggle hearing Marcus bellow, 'FUCK!' less than a minute after disappearing into the jungle.
* * * * *
After over three hours of sticks, stones, insects, snakes, and God knows what else, Marcus was near his wits end. He was panting and soaked in sweat. He spent at least as much time pulling his pants up as he did complaining. He hadn't planned on losing so much weight on this trip, and now most of his clothes didn't fit well. "It's a good thing." Doug kept reassuring him. Marcus was ready to feed Doug to the next snake.
But there were no more snakes. The trail intersected a wide, lazy river, and Mahamadou was waiting for them on the other side wearing a grin as broad as the brim of his safari hat.
"Congratulations! You are almost there. To become a man, you must offer your seed to the Earth Mother, shed your clothing, and swim across the river." Mahamadou instructed from the opposite bank.
"Our seed?" Doug asked. Marcus mimed a wanking motion and Mahamadou nodded in reply. Doug shook his head, quickly losing his enthusiasm for this venture. "What about our clothes?"
"You have outgrown them!" Mahamadou replied enthusiastically. "Those are the clothes of boys. You will leave boyish things behind and be dressed as men!"
"Good thing mine don't fit anyway." Marcus said to Doug, sarcastically as he released his grip on his oversized pants. The sweat-laden clothing slid freely to the dirt, revealing equally sweat-stained tighty-whiteys (that were no longer quite so tight). Doug cringed.
"Woah there, champ! You're not really going to do this, are you?" Now it was Doug's turn to be incredulous.
"Why not? Polish the nob, have a swim... Sounds like a nice way to relax after three hours of barefoot hiking through the fucking jungle."
"I'm not really surprised that you'd jerk off in the middle of the woods, but you know what kinds of pathogens are in these waters; you've tested them!"
Marcus shrugged and turned away. "At this point I'll take my chances. Now shut up and let me do this."
"Seriously? What would your wife say?" Doug did not relent.
Marcus sighed loudly, stroking his prick that poked out from beneath his still sizable belly. "Kinda trying not to think about her over here. If I'm being honest," Marcus grinned, "I'm trying to think about yours."
Doug's wife was the head of the foundation that sponsored their trip, and a knockout. She earned everything she has - her position and her body - and was equally proud of both. Just into her forties, she maintains a rigorous workout schedule. When she's not dressed formally, she's in her activewear, on her way to or from the gym or other physical activity. Just under six feet tall with firm breasts and full hips that are accentuated by her slender frame. Marcus was remembering her ass in those form-fitting spandex and the keyhole they formed between her thighs when he came on the jungle floor. He exhaled and shuddered as several quick convulsions threw thick drops between his toes.
"You've got to be fucking kidding me." Doug looked away in disgust as Marcus marched to the riverbank with his half-erect cock swinging back and forth. He was a little under average sized; not proud, but not ashamed either. Not that any of that mattered at this point. He just wanted to get in the water. And there was the added bonus of out-manning Doug.
"Step aside, boy, this river is for men only." Marcus chided as he passed Doug and glided into the river, pale ass cheeks the last thing to slip beneath the surface. As he floated out from the bank he sighed again. "God damn that feels good."
On the other side, Mahamadou continued to grin. "Mister Marcus, I would not float for too long. The river is the final test. If the goddess is not satisfied, she will take your sex."
"My what now?" Marcus perked up.
"Your penis." Mahamadou doubled over with laughter. "The fishes will nibble it off." He made biting motions with his hands.
"Oh hell no!" Marcus spat as he began furiously breast stroking toward the opposite shore amidst laughter bellowing from both banks. "Fuck you, Douglas, I don't see you putting your manhood on the line." he tried to shout back, but his focus was on reaching the other shore as quickly as possible without swallowing any water or getting any in his nose or eyes.
In the end, Mahamadou ferried Doug across. They had never been expected to perform the river ritual, but when Marcus accepted the challenge with such vigor, Mahamadou had been laughing too hard to stop him. Other than the pathogens and parasites, the river was relatively safe. The fish were mostly a superstition.
Both men received traditional, ceremonial dress and a feast in their honor. The story of Marcus' bravery evolved over the course of the night to everyone's amusement. The evening came to an end when they loaded up a truck and drove several hours to the nearest airport.
* * * * *
They arrived late the next day, thoroughly exhausted. The flight was over fourteen hours, and only slightly more comfortable than their previous three weeks had been. By the time they arrived, all either of them wanted was a sizable meal, a shower, and a clean bed. But their wives were waiting for them at the airport.
Sherry, Doug's wife and their boss, was all business. She granted her husband a peck on the cheek before asking about the work. Doug reassured her that their reports were forthcoming, and that they had properly collected and transported samples from all of the planned locations, following protocol. He even managed to compliment Marcus on his work and his companionship, to which Marcus responded with a wave and a strained smile.
"Looks like you lost some weight, too, Marcus. Good for you. Keep it up." Sherry encouraged with her least condescending condescension, to which he grimaced a 'thank you.'
Marcus' wife, Helen, on the other hand, wrapped him in a great bear hug and gushed about how much she missed him. He was perplexed, but not ungrateful. "Maybe that's cause I've been gone long enough for you to forget how much of an asshole I am." He'd joked.
