The museum loomed overhead,a massive structure indicating many displays, but Phoenix had to wonder if they wasted time because it seemed unlikely any of the exhibits would reveal the location of the tiger shifters in the jungle. At the same time, he had no better idea other than wandering around aimlessly in the jungles hoping to find out if the Malaysian legends were true.
“Get back on,” Nadirah ordered, pocketing her phone and straddling the moped.
“Why?” he asked as he climbed on behind her. “Is your friend not able to help us get in?”
“Khalid is going to meet us at the service door in the back.”
It took them only a few minutes to get around the building and park by a dumpster.
A portly man in overalls waited with his foot wedged in a door to keep it open.
He spoke rapidly at Nadirah in their mother tongue, and she replied in kind.
“Let’s go.” She stepped inside, and Phoenix followed, offering a nod and “Thanks” to the fellow.
“Wel. Come,” was the heavily accented reply. Khalid then launched into more chatter as they entered the building andheaded up a utilitarian hall to another door, which opened onto the museum’s atrium, an eerily empty space with only some of the lights illuminated.
The custodian pointed to an archway and said something Phoenix couldn’t understand.
Nadirah translated. “I asked Khalid if we had anything about the harimau on exhibit, and he says there is a piece on public display that might be of interest.”
“Hope it’s a good one.” Hard to not sound disappointed.
“We will soon see. Khalid also mentioned there’s more items that might be related to the tiger shifters in one of the storage rooms.”
“Why would the museum hide them?”
“Lack of space?” She shrugged. “The museum is constantly shifting its displays, and it could be they haven’t been catalogued or authenticated yet. While we go see the work Khalid suggested, he’s going to retrieve the storage room keys.”
Phoenix bit his tongue, lest he blurt out,Why even bother?A painting didn’t sound as if it would be helpful. Still, he had nothing else. Maybe he’d spot something in the image.
Khalid strode in one direction, Nadirah in another. He followed the latter and, by the lack of hesitation in her stride, assumed she knew exactly where to go.
They passed through a series of rooms of which he only got quick glimpses. He stuck close to Nadirah rather than pause because being in a strange museum after dark proved to be a little spookier than expected. There was something eerie about walking amongst exhibits that emanated an old vibe and smell that had his nose twitching. The hair on his nape also prickled, making him wary, despite hearing and scenting no one. It should be noted, Phoenix would never admit his uneasiness, not when Nadirah seemed nonplussed. Instead, he became hypervigilant.
They entered an area where the walls held artwork of varying sizes and not just traditional type paintings. Behind glass, there were scrolls with faded drawings. Etchings on wood. Beautiful and intricate displays that drew the eye.
Nadirah pointed out a hanging fabric mural. “There’s the batik Khalid said to check out.”
“What’s batik mean?” he asked.
“It’s an artform that’s been around for a long time. It involves applying wax to a fabric before dying it. Then you remove the wax to see the vibrant images left behind.”
Stepping closer to the mural led to Phoenix’s jaw dropping. Not because of the jungle meticulously rendered with the big green fronds and brilliantly hued flowers, but because of the striped faces peeking at random through the foliage.
Tiger visages with human eyes. For those that didn’t know, tigers possessed vertical pupils—many animals did—whereas humans had round ones. Interesting fact, though: when he shifted, his eyes remained the same shape. Only the hue of them changed from a hazel brown to amber.
“Who made this?” he asked.
“The placard says unknown. It was recovered from a temple discovered in a southern jungle.”
“Did they find anything else?”
“Nothing that would likely interest. Some pottery. Beads.
“Can I go to this temple?” he asked.
She shook her head. “No. According to Khalid, given its disrepair, it’s considered too dangerous for the public.”
