Page 5 of The Silent
“I need you to go to Bangkok,”Maxsaid.
“What?”
“Bangkok,” Max repeated. “Thailand.”
“I know where Bangkok is.” Leo pushed open his own bedroom door and walked to the closet. “I’m just not sure why I need to gothere.”
“I’ve cleared it with both Malachi and Damien. The scribe house isexpectingyou.”
Leo pulled open his closet door. The first thing he checked was his weapons cabinet. Locked, as expected. One couldn’t be too careful. “Matti?” He bent down but didn’t see anything under hisclothes.
“What are youdoing?”
“They broke a lamp. There are probably shards. I haven’t seen any blood, but you can’t be toocertain.”
“What are you talkingabout?”
“The children, of course. What’s inBangkok?”
“What do you think? The usual. You’ll meet your contact at theairport.”
“I still don’t understand—” Leo walked backed to the hall. “Geron? Matti?” He heard giggling from Ava and Malachi’s room. “I know it was an accident, but I need to check your feet. I don’t understand why I need to go to Bangkok, Max. There’s an active scribe house there, and as far as I know they have an excellent reputation. Why is Damieninvolved?”
“Just get there. I have to go.” Max chuckled a little. “And good luck with thelittleones.”
Another crash came fromdownstairs.
Leo shoved his phone in his pocket. “You have got to bekiddingme.”
* * *
Matti giggledas she watched Leo’s feet walk away from her. She loved her uncles, especially Leo. He was like a giant bear with yellow hair and beautiful drawings all over his skin. His drawings were different than her baba’s. When she looked closely, she could see little animals playing in Leo’s writing, which made histalesmmuchmorefun.
Her uncles played with her every day, even when they were very tired from hunting. Leo never got impatient like her mama or baba, but sometimes he didn’t understand her games. She crouched in the closet and turned to the black cat who watched her with gold eyes as brilliant asherown.
Matti pointed at him. “You’re not akitty.”
The cat opened its mouth and spoke clearly. “You are very perceptive, small singer. And very magical to have seen me. Your parents and your unclesdonot.”
“My name isMatti.”
“I know your name. You should be careful not to offer it sofreely.”
Matti narrowed her eyes. This creature didn’t sound like it wanted to play with her.Howrude.
“Do you want to know my name?” the catasked.
“Wecanplay.”
“Yes, I’ve seen your play.” The cat hissed words that Matti had never heard before. Special words like Mama and Baba warned her about. At his words, the shoes in the closet began to tap their toes, dancing in the low light from her parents’bedroom.
Matti clapped for the dancing shoes. This was a fun game! It was much better than making the flowers dance when she sang their colors. She imagined making all the shoes in the house dance. Her mama’s and her baba’s. All her uncles’ big boots. She could make them dance down the stairs and into the street. Or up onto the roof where Baba grew hisvegetables!
Matti opened her mouth to say the cat’s words but felt Baba’s magic holding her back. She growled infrustration.
“Soon, small singer,” the cat said. “You are still growing into your power. One day I think you will make all of themdance.”
Matti played with her toes and watched the cat that was not a cat. “I liketosing.”
