Re: Chapter 3: Origins
Frank can't tell for sure, but from behind, it seems as if Baccho/Terrel let out a smirk at his comment.
The enigmatic man continues walking, still not looking back to see if the boys are following him. He steps off the paved road onto a dirt sidewalk that leads to one of the silos that has a particularly lovely flower arrangement in its window box. It is also the only silo that has any plants in the ground, albeit only a very young fig tree, barely as tall as a man. He politely raps on the door.
In the window, the curtain covering the window flutters, then after a few seconds the front door cracks open. Frank and Tobias see the silhouette of a woman peer out at them, but she doesn't open the door enough for them to get a good look. They feel her gaze, even though they can't see her eyes.
It's alright, Syke, they are friends., says Baccho/Terrel. The words he uses are not English, or even any language known by polyglot Toby, yet both he and Frank understand what is said. If Bacco/Terrel knows they can understand him, he gives no indication of it.
The woman opens the door and steps out into the light. She breathes in and smiles, clearly enjoying the feeling of being outside. In the light, she is much older than she first seemed, easily in her 70's or 80's. That is, if she were human: it's immediately apparent to the boys that she is not. Her ears come to points at the top, like those of an elf, and the lines in her face, which at first appear to be wrinkles of old age, are deep and sharp, like the bark of a tree. Her hair, seeming scraggly at first, is long and turns into twigs at the tips. She is dressed very plainly, in patterned linens that would go unnoticed on the island.
Baccho/Terrel continues, very slowly, and with clear enunciation. Syke, these are friends of mine. They would like to chat with you if you have time?
The woman nods and smiles congenially, clearly taking a few seconds for full comprehension to set in. Baccho/Terrel does a slight bow and fans his hand out to Tobias and Frank, as if presenting the woman to them. You gentleman are free to do as you like. If you don't like what you hear, you know how to get out the gate. I won't try to stop you. Otherwise, I'll be at my helicopter.
With that, he abruptly turns and heads back towards the helipad, not waiting for either of the men to interrupt.