Misplaced (110 page)

“I can’t be exact, but you
’
re pretty
close.”

A
triumphan
t
loo
k
cam
e
o
v
e
r
he
r
face
.
“
I
a
m
convinced
;
this
is the path
w
e must take.”

V
ictoria’
s
hea
d
sun
k
t
o
he
r
chest
.
N
o
goo
d
woul
d
come
fro
m
arguin
g
no
w
tha
t
he
r
imperia
l
highnes
s
ha
d
spoken
.
When
this
doesn’t
work
out,
she
thought,
there
’
ll
be
enough
time
to
do
it
the right
w
ay.

“Look
,
let’
s
d
o
som
e
research
,
an
d
i
f
you
’
r
e
stil
l
convinced—”

A
lo
w
moa
n
escape
d
Ben’
s
lips
,
an
d
V
ictori
a
expecte
d
to
se
e
Nando
r
reappear
.
Be
n
snatche
d
u
p
handful
s
o
f
eart
h
and
sprinkle
d
himsel
f
an
d
Khar
a
wit
h
it
.
“
T
ak
e
m
y
hand,
”
he
instructe
d
Khara
,
wh
o
di
d
s
o
withou
t
hesitation
.
W
ithi
n
a
fe
w
second
s
thei
r
breathin
g
ha
d
synchronize
d
and
,
wit
h
hi
s
fre
e
hand
,
Be
n
unconsciousl
y
scratche
d
line
s
her
e
an
d
there
i
n
th
e
re
d
dirt
.
The
y
forme
d
a
pyramid
.
The
n
h
e
close
d
his
e
y
e
s
an
d
spoke
.
“Th
e
cours
e
o
f
you
r
lif
e
i
s
no
t
a
n
eas
y
one.
Happiness
will
shine
brightly,
but
far
too
briefly.
There
will
be
many
cloudy
days.
In
you
I
see
the
clear,
unfettered
brain
of
a
scientist.
There
is
an
androgynous
essence
about
you.
Bra
v
ery
and
strength
will
see
you
through
your
bad
times.
A
w
arrio
r
’s
spirit
resides
within
your
heart.”
When
he
opened
his
e
y
es,
he
looked apologetic.

“That’
s
enough,
”
V
ictori
a
tol
d
him
.
“Sh
e
cam
e
her
e
fo
r
guidance,
not
to
ha
v
e
her
future
demolished.”
Rising,
she
took
Khara’s arm in an attempt
to pull her to her feet.

“
I
mus
t
know,
”
Khar
a
sai
d
stubbornl
y
a
s
sh
e
resisted
V
ictoria’s efforts,
“e
v
erything.”

Ben’
s
voic
e
retaine
d
it
s
spell-lik
e
quality
.
“Th
e
enormit
y
of
po
w
er
you
will
wield
is
beyond
words—but
it
will
not
last.
E
v
erything
you
build,
all
your
accomplishments,
will
crumble
an
d
fad
e
a
w
ay
.
Y
ou
r
lif
e
wil
l
b
e
a
s
th
e
snowflak
e
falling
before
the
freeze.”
He
took
Khara’s
delicate
hand
bet
w
een
his,
hi
s
voic
e
gentl
e
an
d
resonan
t
wit
h
truth
.
“
Y
o
u
wil
l
mel
t
into
nothingnes
s
an
d
b
e
forgotten
.
But,
”
h
e
continued
,
pointin
g
a
bon
y
finge
r
a
t
th
e
sky
,
“th
e
consequence
s
o
f
you
r
lif
e
wil
l
be
like a ripple in the
w
ater and last for thousands of
y
ears.”

“Stop it!”
V
ictoria cried.

Khara’
s
expressio
n
tol
d
V
ictori
a
tha
t
sh
e
ha
d
belie
v
e
d
e
v
ery
word. “I am in your debt.”

Be
n
patte
d
he
r
hand
.
“Sometime
s
th
e
spirit
s
pla
y
wicked
games at our expense.”

“S
o
e
v
erythin
g
you’
v
e
sai
d
coul
d
b
e
complet
e
bullshit,”
V
ictoria challenged.

H
e
turne
d
hi
s
attentio
n
t
o
th
e
f
ir
e
an
d
Oli
v
er
,
wh
o
w
a
s
w
atching intently. “Could be,” he admitted
absently.

“Come
on,
Khara.
W
e’
v
e
had
enough
of
his
hocus
pocus.”
She did not mo
v
e. “Khara, Oli
v
e
r
’s
w
aiting.”

Tha
t
worked
.
A
s
the
y
bega
n
t
o
w
al
k
a
w
ay
,
Be
n
ra
n
up
behind
them.
“There
is
something
else.
Maybe
it’s
important,
maybe not.”

V
ictoria groaned. “Ignore him.”

Khara turned. “
T
ell me.”

Y
ou know the solar eclipse is in three days.”

V
ictori
a
trie
d
t
o
recal
l
ho
w
lon
g
i
t
ha
d
bee
n
sinc
e
she
’
d
w
atched
the
news
or
read
a
paper.
Days?
Probably
closer
to
a
w
eek
.
An
d
the
n
i
t
w
a
s
onl
y
t
o
hea
r
Dr
.
Shenoud
a
decimat
e
their
plans to return to Egypt. “What about it?”