Free Misplaced by SL Hulen Page B

computer screen.
    “ E v e n takin g i nt o a cco un t th e o the r d e r i v a t io n s o f A rabi c …”
    “Deri v ations?” “ Y es , onl y e v er y fourt h o r fift h wor d i s Arabic . Doe s i t mean what I think it does?”
    “ Are you asking me?”
    “Of course not, I’m asking the archi v es.”
    Elia s twirle d on e sid e o f hi s mustach e curiously , “ Archi v es?”
    “No t i n th e traditiona l sense ; thi s i s a n open-language archi v e community on the w eb. But there’s a twist.”
    “Robert, does she or does she not speak Arabic?” Too late, she realized how aggressi v e she sounded.
    “Sh e does . Bu t here’ s th e interestin g part . Khara’ s nati v e language predates Arabic—by more than a thousand y ears! As the Arabic language de v eloped, it incorporated existing words fro m other , olde r languages . Th e dialec t sh e use s whe n her guard is down is an early form of Coptic.”
    V ictori a an d Elia s exchange d glances ; Rober t too k a deep breath . “Wha t I’ m tryin g t o explain—an d pleas e tak e int o consideratio n tha t I’ m no t a historica l linguist—i s that , a s far a s I ca n tell , Khara’ s languag e ha s bee n extinc t fo r thousands of y ears.”
    No one spoke. The sounds of clinking dishes and laughter fro m th e kitche n seeme d a worl d a w ay . V ictori a decide d not t o m enti o n th e g o l d e n c u f f , o r d ivulg e Kh a ra ’ s ign o ran c e o f bathtubs or windows.
    He r uncl e stroke d hi s goate e an d studie d a self-portrai t o f an unsmilin g Frid a Kahl o o n th e w al l fo r wha t seeme d a n eternity, “The predicament of this poor girl—it’s not your area of expertise, mija . She ’ ll do better in the hands of the authorities. Surely you can see that now.”
    V ictoria asked Robert, “What if she’s intentionally trying to confus e us ? Mayb e she’ s livin g a pas t life. ” Sh e looke d from Rober t t o Elias . “I t wouldn’ t b e th e firs t tim e somethin g like that’s happened, you know.”
    “Which puts her in the realm of delusional—crazy, e v en,” Elia s adde d dr y ly . “ T el l her , Robert . P erhap s m y niec e will listen to you.”
    “But, Uncle, you ’ re completely missing the point. Isn’t the r e a l que s t io n h o w s h e c a m e t o kn o w thi s l a nguag e? ” Ro b e r t ros e fro m th e des k an d stoo d a t V ictoria’ s side .
    “I’ m afrai d I can’t be any more help, but I ’ ll tell you this; she’s quite convincing and astonishingly intelligent. I wouldn’t use the word ‘crazy’ to describe her.”
    Elia s checke d hi s w atc h an d shu t dow n th e computer. “Nothin g ca n b e don e a t thi s hour , a m I correct ? Promis e me you ’ l l pas s thi s t o someone—mor e quali f ied. ” H e suddenl y sounded w eary as he w alked a w ay, muttering.
    “ An d jus t wh o woul d b e qualifie d t o handl e a cas e like this?” she called after him.
    Ignoring Elias’s remark, Robert turned to her with smiling e y es . “ Y ou’ v e dragge d m e int o th e middl e o f you r mystery , and under false pretenses. When this escapade of yours is finished, you o w e me dinner.”
    “What happened to lunch?”
    H e presse d a car d int o he r palm , lacin g hi s finger s wit h hers, an d squeezed . H e pulle d he r clos e enoug h t o re v ea l trace s of cedar and musk from his cologne, which she devoured while struggling to keep a respectable distance.
    “I ha v e a confession to make when you ’ re ready to hear it. Call me, Ms. Barrón,” he whispered, releasing her hand, which w as now deliciously w arm and tingling.
    It w as definitely time to lea v e.
    W it h Robert’ s help , sh e poure d a silen t Khar a int o th e ca r an d fled . Th e unlit , unpa v e d street s seeme d t o ad d t o the mystery that accompanied Khara like a shadow.
    There had to be a sensible explanation for her using a dead language. But why would she? Concentration w as impossible.