Pearls Read Online Free Page A

language. I learned several words in her tongue, and she learned some in mine. Soon we will be able to talk and share our thoughts. I find myself eager for that day to arrive.
Late in the evening as the sun hovered over the ocean, I dug a pit and built a fire inside. With Karwa’s help, I wrapped the fish we’d caught in banana leaves and laid them on the glowing coals. We covered the pit with sand and allowed the fish to cook. Karwa brought out cups made from the halved shells of coconuts and poured me some water from her canteen. We scraped the soft fleshy pulp from a coconut and laid our feast of fish and fruit out on banana leaf plates. Though crude in its simplicity, I do not remember a meal more delightful.
By the time we finished, the sky had grown dark, and I felt reluctant to trek back to my camp. I watched Karwa disappear into the hut to settle in for the night. Though she had accepted my presence all day, I did not think she would feel comfortable letting me bed down in her hut. I had to bank the fire in order to avoid attracting attention, but without it, the snakes, scorpions, and wildlife inhabiting the area made it dangerous to sleep out in the open.
I decided to make my bed just outside the doorway of the hut, leaning my back against the frame for support. Just as I settled into a comfortable position and closed my eyes, Karwa poked her head out the door and tugged at my sleeve. By the light of the moon, I could see the confusion in her face. She found my choice of a resting place unreasonable. Waving her hands, she beckoned me inside and pointed to a corner of the hut.
I followed her instructions and lay on a mat of woven palm leaves. She returned to her place on the other side, curled beneath her blanket, and soon her breathing took on the peaceful rhythms of sleep. I lay awake, staring at the roof of the hut and listening to her breathe. The magical sounds of the night beyond the crude walls of our shelter seemed to intensify the unfamiliar feelings inside me. The song of the cicadas accompanied the whisper of waves, lapping at the shore nearby. The leaves of the palms fluttered in the gentle ocean breeze. The night grew cool, and I wrapped my arms tight around myself for warmth as I drifted off to sleep.
When I awoke some hours later, the cold no longer afflicted me. I moved my arm and felt the blanket covering me. Curious, I turned my head and found her lying at my side, her head resting on her arm, her face angelic in repose. My heart swelled as I considered her concern for my comfort and her willingness to share her blanket. It would seem I have passed her scrutiny and earned her trust.

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    Isabel flipped through the pages of the dictionary to no avail. She tried another reference book, and still another, not finding the answers she needed. Pushing the books away, she rubbed her tired eyes. Why can’t I find definitions for these words?
    She stared at the list of indecipherable words and wondered if she’d missed some important clue. The translating had gone well for nearly two weeks, but suddenly she’d come to a standstill. Maybe a fresh pair of eyes will help.
    Isabel rose and carried her list to the reference librarian who’d been aiding her quest to translate the journal.
    “Adelina, will you look at this list and tell me if you recognize any of these words?” Isabel placed the paper on the desk in front of her friend.
    Adelina adjusted her glasses and bent to study Isabel’s neat handwriting. After several minutes she looked up with a puzzled frown. “These are not Spanish.”
    “Are you sure?”
    “They do not follow the Spanish patterns of spelling and pronunciation. I would guess they are from an Indian language.”
    “Of course!” Isabel hands flew up, and she gestured emphatically as she spoke. “Why didn’t I think of this sooner? He spent all his free time with Karwa, so it would not be unusual for him to learn and use words from her language. Thank you,