Chapter 11: A Drawing

   Both the soldier and Murdock noticed the child's weird behaviour. Wanting to know what was the cause of it, Murdock didn't hesitate. He put his hand on the child's shoulder, squeezed it comfortingly and lowered his body to be on the same eye level as the kit in front of him. He knew that he couldn't spook the child with his attitude.

 

 

   ''Lil' one, can you tell me what's it? Are you afraid? D' ya maybe know this person or someone like 'im?'' He waited patiently for the answer. The child looked at him with eyes full of confusion and fear, but nodded.

 

 

   The soldier jumped in and asked without thinking about his actions. ''Come on, tell us! Every help will be rewarded and appreciated!'' But this over enthusiastic approach made the child step backwards and stumble on a rock.

 

 

   It fell on its buttocks, and although it didn't hurt, it was shocked by the unexpected. Soldier, finally understanding how his actions have affected the child, came near to help, but the child got up fast and hid behind Locker who was some distance away from them. ''Little one...''

 

 

   He was speechless. The child was now cautious toward him and wouldn't open up easily. He and his silly mouth.  But what he didn't expect was for the child to ask Locker for something. Apparently, it asked for some paper and coal.

 

 

   Locker had no qualms about preparing something like that, he could already guess the reason for the request. It wasn't easy to communicate with a mute child, but it was somehow able to transfer its intentions to him without a hitch. ''Don't worry kit, we've got it all. Now, do you want coal or do you want a proper pencil?''

 

 

   This question left the child dumbfounded, as it didn't expect something like that. Nevertheless, it just showed one finger, signalling that it needs coal. ''All right then. I guess it's easier to draw if you're using something you're familiar with, isn't it?'' The child nodded fervently, glad that Locker could understand it with no problem.

 

 

   After it got some materials, the child went to the carriage and leaned on a seat while kneeling so it could draw better. Murdock chided the soldier for his reckless behaviour and explained to him that the child didn't have an easy life before joining his troupe. It was obviously bad enough for him to run away with some basic stuff like clothes, a meagre amount of money and some food. Couldn't he have more tact?

 

 

   They all waited in silence while the child drew something on his paper. After a short talk that the soldier and Murdock exchanged passed, the child got up and handed over the paper to the soldier. Soldier looked at the drawing and was amazed by the amount of details the child put in the drawing. High-arching nose, hollow cheeks, square jaw, thin lips. Where eyes were supposed to be, there were just two frantic filled out circles, and the hair was black and slick.

 

 

   The child drew the priest. It was a drawing that would have been beautiful if the atmosphere and the irregular lines didn't make it haunting.

 

 

    Murdock already guessed who the suspect in the child's mind would be. He sighed and looked at the picture closely. A replica of the priest, excluding the eyes. They did say that the eyes were akin to the soul, but for the child to see this when looking at the priest, no wonder he was so scared and ran away.

 

 

   ''Lil' one, is the priest tha' bad? I did say he smells, bu' this...'' Murdock didn't get to finish his sentence because he was shocked by the child's reaction. His eyes clouded and he started shaking, but he wasn't afraid. It was pure anger. The child threw the coal it still held to the ground and jumped up the carriage.

 

 

   ''It seems I stepp'd on a mine there. Is it not that, Locker?''

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   Locker didn't respond to the question, already too busy trying to coax the child and far away from Murdock. ''Well, I'll be damn'd. M' friend's now a fussy pops.''

 

 

   Murdock chuckled and after convincing the soldier that he now has what he needs, shooed him away and ordered the people in the troupe to pack and get back on the carriage, for they were entering the town, and if they didn't hurry, they were going to sleep outside for tonight. Dreaming of beds and a warm meal, everyone hurried, and just half an hour later, they were inside the walls.

 

 

   He left the soldier with some unanswered questions. How did the priest change his hair colour if he was the perpetrator? Why was the child so sure it was him? And how is he to arrest the priest without any evidence? None of those mattered to the merchant, so he didn't answer and just left.

 

 

   Army was a pain in the ass, as usual. Too many questions, and a great deal of nothing out of it all.

 

 

   That evening, after finding a dozen empty rooms, some single, some double in an inn that was, honestly, a little shabby, they ate and chatted about the possible spoils they could get. At the same time, in a room on the second floor of the inn, Locker and the child were sitting at a table.

 

 

   Locker was patiently explaining, once again, that Murdock didn't mean anything bad and that he would surely apologise. Locker would make him apologise. The child just nodded, it also knew that. Locker was relieved, and just when he was about to get up, the child grabbed him by the edge of his vest. It wanted him to bring more paper and coal, and a knife.

 

 

   Locker nodded and did just that. Though, he didn't let the child sharpen the coal.

 

 

   The child drew again, but this time, Locker saw the process. Subtle lines indicating the face showed swiftly on the paper, outlining the look of the person being drawn. Long hair, high forehead, thick brows and upturned eyes with cat-like irises. The man held a lily in his hand.

 

 

   After adding some finishing touches, the child gave the drawing to Locker. He looked at the drawing of a man completely unfamiliar to him and asked, ''Is this me?'' The child quickly denied and just pointed to the lily on the drawing.

 

 

   Locker was silent for a while.

 

 

 

   ''Are you sure?''