Aubrey (Axis Rising)

057:

*****057:

Murdock was slightly put out after he found out what we wanted, but he let us in because Kareem had already apprised him of the situation. He was a tall, mostly balding man, with a full upper lip, that perched outward in continual skepticism, as if the world and everything in it exasperated him to no end. So, maybe I misread his hesitancy to have us. He couldn't do anything about his lip, right?

But he didn't speak to us either, or wait for us to catch up with him as he high footed it along the huge tiled hallway, more reminiscent of a bank, or a university entrance. All marbled and wainscoting, carvings, and profusions of colored flowers and gold lamiae. I smelled curry somewhere deep in another part of the house.

We rounded three corners, feeling like we were possibly walking down the halls of a very spacious doctor's office or something. Oh, I forgot to mention, my kids never took their eyes off Murdock--- he was dressed only in flowing beige linen pants with a tie waist, and he had this very long, smooth, dark abdomen--- truly the smoothest skin I had ever seen. Pretty sure, if he stopped walking--- which his stride was long enough that running to keep up with him would have been an option if I wasn't busy looking at each and every painting we passed. If he stopped, Felicity would reach out and pet him. Those pants were so loose, they looked like they'd fall off any minute.

The gallery was on the main floor. He stopped outside the door, which wasn't even a real door, but some kind of arched entrance, carved and polished. His hand indicated we should proceed, but both kids stopped, still staring at him.

He stared at them back.

His black eyes were so black, almost no whites, and so intense, even I felt uncomfortable.

"Are you a black man?" Virgil asked abruptly.

Murdock only moved his eyes, he did not tilt his head, and he did not smile. "I am Nubian, South Sahara. I was born in Africa." When he finally tilted his bald head his eyes pierced Virgil and Felicity, who both shrank against my legs and Lissie reached for my hand. "Are you Latino?"

Virgil, normally unflustered, was speechless. I had a hand on him too, wondering why Murdock, who I had met numerous times and knew to be a very sensitive artsy fartsy soul, was acting like this to children.

"They are my children." I said lightly, catching his eye again as he cocked his body for best advantage. Not sure what was up with that.

"We're adopted." Virgil found his voice, and I felt him square his little shoulders. He'd faced enough intimidaters. He wasn't about to let this one get away with it.

Suddenly, Murdock let loose this gigantic white-toothed smile, so powerful and charismatic it sparkled like the ice at the North Pole. He squatted in front of us. "Your accent is Mexican, south of the border. But you've never been there, am I correct?"

Virgil digested this change in attitude, instantly deciding he didn't trust this guy, and not afraid to dismiss him. That was Virgil. Obviously, Murdock saw this, and realized his mistake, for he turned his attention to Felicity.

"Tell me your name child."

"Felicity." She buried her face in my jeans, and twisted her hair with the hand that wasn't clutching mine.

"And your daddy calls you Lissie?"

She shook her head. "Only Rafe calls me Lissie. Papa calls me Pollito."

Murdock reared back and laughed, our eyes met and held a little too long. "She speaks well for her age."

I nodded, swallowed against the slight annoyance his stalling and self-aggrandizement caused me. He was posturing---- for who? Me?