the Thief of Forbidden Manuscripts

part 8

So Mr. Sarhan's story is true and he's right on every word?

Yes, Sami... He was right and we can take advantage of this loophole.

Let's go back now, Dad, to bring the old genie back here. The Avatar hands the paper to the pigeon to put it back in its place, then they leave and return to the beach where they find Hamush and his uncle Sarhan waiting, and then they all go to the secret cave.

"After seeing the huge snake's head, Hamush retreats a few steps and says, "Oh my God! What is this horrible thing?" His uncle Sarhan doesn't react and seems to have poor eyesight.

"Don't be afraid, Hamush, he's a friend and he'll let me cross with Mr. Sarhan," the boy says.

Sami approaches the old genie, grabs him by the hand and helps him advance to the entrance and that huge snake shrinks and becomes very small in size and innocent in appearance, they enter cautiously, then the boy says, "Don't forget not to reach out your hand or carry anything from the treasures and possessions of this cave, Mr. Sarhan, or you will lock us both up."

He replies: "No, I will not carry anything. I know very well the fate of those who steal from it, but how will we find the cup among all this gold and these shelves?"

"Sami," smiling, "that's too easy. The boy closes his eyes, grabs his cane and points it at it saying, "Speak."

Genie: Now what, boy?

Now it's going to tell us where it is by asking, and then in a strong voice, "Where are you, Cup of Bets?" Then he concentrates his hearing... Nothing...

The genie moved one of his ears as if he heard something before turning in the direction of the sound: "There is a faint, unintelligible sound coming from that direction," he said, pointing with his cane to the depths of the cave.

Are you sure, Mr. Sarhan?

I may look like an old genie, but I'm not deaf.

I meant no offense, sir.

It's okay, kid...

Well, then take me to that voice, Mr. Sarhan.

The boy raises his voice again and says, " Cup, keep talking and don't stop until we get to you."

After much effort and a long time, over thirty mountains of gold and treasure, they reach the cup, and the old genie exclaims in an unusually strong voice, "Look, it's it... It's it... The legendary Cup, the Cup of Everything..."

Sami looks at it and uses his wand to make it shut up and go back to the way it was. Then he grabs it and asks the genie, without moving his head or looking away from the cup, "Now what do we do, Mr. Sarhan?"

Give me that cup, Sami...

So said the genie, extending his hand.

He grabs it and brings it to his mouth, saying : "I want to pawn my ability to see tonight and pawn my permanent license to move and jump between worlds." Suddenly the cup turns orange as if it were a piece of embers and something like a fog comes out of the genie and enters the cup before everything calms down.

"Sami watches with great care and concentration, then says: "Now what, genie?" He smiles, "Now you have to drink what's in it." He responds with caution mixed with fear, "Are you sure?"

Yes, it's perfectly safe and on my responsibility. We've been doing this for thousands of years. Drink up, Sami.

He hands him the cup, the boy grabs it and brings it to his lips very carefully as if he wants to taste what's inside, and when the cup touches his lips, what's inside is released very quickly into the hollow of his mouth and forcefully.

" Sami, coughing and trying to get it out of his mouth, said, "What's that bad taste? It tastes like turnips. I don't like turnips."

Who likes turnips, Sami? "Now that you have all my powers, let's get out of here."

The boy puts the Cup of Bets back in its place and leaves with the old genie outside. The snake swells up again behind them and blocks the entrance of the cave. They meet Hamush and the Avatar, and they ask them both very eagerly, "What happened? Did it work?"

Yes, Dad, but I have to try it to be sure.

No time for that now, let's go back to your room first, hand the genie his refrigerator second, and we'll move to the dark world and try everything there.

Okay... OK.