they turned to see luke standing next to the bookcase , a cell phone in his hand . i would not want to upset her . but i was distracted by shadows in the mouth of the cave . i rubbed a finger beneath my nose , trying not to laugh . `` i thought i was going to take you home . '' eventually , they would fail to do so . with one foot on the step , she turned . it 's a word from one of the old languages of my mother 's people . '' 