human
I think I have it, he said.
gpt
Let's see. Arabic reads from right to left, instead of the way we write. That makes this number ... hmmmm ... a heart, a dot, and two sevens backward with one squiggle in the upper line. The heart is a five, the dot a zero, and backward sevens with one squiggle are twos. So the number is 5022. Right?
human
That's the way I remember it, Scotty said.
gpt
So that's the number. _Enshallah._
human
Now you speak Arabic? You must say _a'eraf shwayet 'arabi_.
gpt
What does that mean?
human
It mean 'I know some Arabic'
gpt
There 5022.
human
How do you know, Hassan? I thought you couldn't read.
gpt
No can read words. Read numbers plenty good. Could not take people to places if could not read numbers.
human
Hey, this is a barbershop, and it's closed for the night.
gpt
This is the number on the letter.
human
You let me see, please?
gpt
Sure, Hassan.
human
But how can that be? Rick asked.
gpt
Arabic goes backward from English.
human
Maybe so with words, Hassan said.
gpt
But numbers not so. This number is 2205. You want to go?
human
I learn something new every day. Okay, Hassan. You're the dragoman.
gpt
Here is 2205,
human
No one home,
gpt
Funny. A house this size must have servants. There should be a light somewhere. Maybe around back?
human
I doubt it, but we can take a look.
gpt
Something wrong, I think.
human
What do you mean?
gpt
Why they stop? Not so strange for car come to house like this.
human
Can you ask them what's up?
gpt
Will try.