“At times, he didn’t understand the meaning of the Koran’s words. But he said he liked the enhancing sounds the Arabic words made as they rolled off his tongue. He said they comforted him, eased his heart. “They’ll comfort you to. Mariam jo,” he said. “You can summon then in your time of your need, and they won’t fail you. God’s words will never betray you, my girl.”
