46-4
- The
Fisherman and the Genie:
The Sultaan Releases the Prince
The
next morning, the Sultaan hid his dagger in his robe and went to the
Palace of Tears. It was lit with innumerable wax candles and a sweet
fragrance was going around. As soon as he saw the Black Indian lay on the
bed he killed him immediately with his dagger. He dragged the corpse into
the courtyard of the castle and threw it into a well. After that he
himself lay down in the bed and waited there to carry out his plan with
the dagger in his hand.
The
magician arrived after a little while. She first went to her husband and
beat him. The Prince requested her to have pity on him but she didn't listen
to his requests. She covered him first with the coarse cloth of goat's
hair then the brocade and came to the Palace of Tears. She approached the
bed, where she thought the Black Indian was lying and said lamenting -
"My Sun, my life, Will you always be silent and will never speak to
me? Please speak to me at least once."
The
Sultaan copying the language of Indians, spoke in a grave voice -
"There is no strength or power but the God alone, the Almighty."
The magician did not expect any sound or voice from there, she gave a loud
cry - "Do I deceive myself? Or is it true that you are speaking to
me?" The Sultaan said - "O Wretch, Are you worthy to talk
to?" The Queen replied sadly - "Why do you talk to me like
this?" The Sultaan again said - "The cries of your husband to whom
you treat like a barbarian, do not let me sleep night and day. I should
have been cured long time ago and have recovered my speech, had you
disenchanted him before." The Queen said - "I will do the same whatever
you ask me to do. Do you want me to restore him to the same
condition in which he was?" "Yes, Do it quickly, so that I am no
more disturbed by his cries."
The
Queen immediately went out of the Palace of Tears, took a cup of water and
pronounced some words over it which caused it to boil. She then went to
that young man, threw it over him saying - "If the Creator has formed
you in this form in which you are now, do not change; but if you have
changed by my magic then you take your original form in which you were
before." She had scarcely spoken these words that the Prince rose
normally and became all right instantly. He thanked to God. The magician
asked him to go instantly from there and never return there. The young
King immediately left the place and went to a remote place to wait for the
execution of the remaining plan of the Sultaan.
Then
she immediately returned to the Palace of Tears and said to the man - "Dear, I have done
what you had told me to do." The Sultaan still copying the language of
Indians spoke - "You have done only half of the job. You must cut its
roots." "O My lovely Black Man, What do you mean by cutting the
roots." "O Wretched, Don't you understand by this? I mean you
bring back all the people, town, four islands which you have destroyed.
Every night fish pray to you and me. Go quickly and complete this, then I
will give you my hand and you will help me to rise."
The
Queen cried with joy - "If you will be all right by doing this, then
I will surely obey your orders." She came to the pond, took some
water from the pond and sprinkled it over the fish pronouncing some words.
The city was immediately restored. The fish became men and the whole city
and kingdom started hustling and bustling. The Sultaan's people got
astonished to see this scene. Now they were in the midst of a beautiful
town.
The
magician was very happy thinking that now she would see her man again. She
ran towards the Palace of Tears again and said to him - "I have done it, now give
me your hand." "Come near." As she went near the Sultaan,
he rose so suddenly that she did not have time to know who it was, and cut
her in two with his dagger. After killing the magician, he went to the
place where the Prince was waiting for him. He told him that he could now
rejoice as his enemy was killed. The Sultaan said - "You may live in
your own capital unless you like to go to mine where you will be as much
honored as if you were at home."
The
Prince said - "O Sultaan, Do you think that you are so near to your
capital?" "Yes, It is only 4-5 hours away." "I agree
with you, but it was then when my kingdom was enchanted, but since the
enchantment is gone, the things are changed. Now you will take at least a
year to reach your kingdom. But this will not hinder me to accompany
you. I will surely go with you." The Sultaan was surprised to know
that he was so far from his country. How it could happen? He said -
"It will be great pleasure for me to take you my kingdom and declare
you as my heir, as I am childless."
The
Prince prepared himself to accompany the Sultaan. It took him three weeks
to do that. At last the Sultaan and the Prince began their journey with
100 camels laden with an inestimable riches from the kingdom of the Prince,
followed by 50 horse-riders. They came to the Sultaan's capital. His people
welcomed their Sultaan. The Sultaan announced that he had adopted the King
of Black Isles who was willing to leave a great kingdom of his
own and live with him. The fisherman was given a lots of riches by which
he could spend his rest of his life happily.
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