The Merchant and the Genie

Long ago, in a land of yellow sand dunes and palm groves, there lived a merchant named Hassan. Hassan was rich in gold, land, and friends, but the most important things to him were his wife and his three children. One day he had to ride far away to look after his business. He packed his saddlebag with dry bread and sweet dates, kissed his children on the forehead, and rode out into the desert. The sun burned, the wind whispered in the sand, and Hassan's horse trotted patiently over hot rocks for many days.

On the fourth day, the heat grew so harsh that Hassan turned off the road to find shade. He came upon a tall tree beside a clear spring. Gratefully he tied his horse to a branch, sat down on the moss, and took out his dates. He ate slowly and tossed the date stones in every direction, the way you do when you are resting and thinking of nothing in particular. When he was full he bowed his head and began his evening prayer. The water gurgled. The wind was cool. Hassan thought he would soon be home again.

In the middle of his prayer Hassan heard a crash as if the sky had split open. A whirl of dust rose up beside the spring, and out of the dust stepped a giant. It was a genie, white with age, as tall as three camels stacked together, with a flashing sword in his hand. 'Stand up,' roared the genie, 'I must kill you, for you have killed my son!' Hassan trembled. 'Dear sir, I have seen no son of yours. How could I have done such a terrible thing?' 'You tossed date stones,' said the genie heavily. 'One of them struck my son as he passed by unseen. He fell. And now I shall do the same to you.'

Hassan fell to his knees. 'I have a wife and three children waiting for me at home. Please, give me one year. Only one year, so I can put my affairs in order, say goodbye, and share what I own with those who need it. Then I swear by heaven that I will return to this very tree and this very spring, and you may do with me as you wish.' The genie tilted his head and thought. His eyes glowed. 'Do you swear it by heaven?' 'I swear.' The genie lowered his sword. 'Then we meet here in one year. Do not forget. A genie never forgets.' And in a cloud of dust he was gone.