Three Wishes: Cairo (21 page)

A familiar muzzle had nestled just behind his ear. This shocking cold nose in the middle of a desert always jump-started his system.

Lick, lick, lick, “whine.”

Lick, lick, lick, “whine.”

“Bark!”

A cold nose sniffed at this face and then he heard more whining. Aladdin was alive and Darius was hungry.

As his swollen and weary eyes slowly opened, his nose quickly registered that death smelled a lot like dog breath. Aladdin took in his surroundings. First, he saw his hairy friend who was, as usual, wagging his tail. He then saw the concerned face of the Genie. Somehow he had survived. “What…” nothing but a weak croak hissed from his parched throat.

“Don't try to speak my son. You just started breathing normally again a few minutes ago. You should really find some water,” said the Genie. Their normal playful banter was not appropriate at this moment. Aladdin got slowly to his feet and made his way through the field of rocks that had just about killed him minutes before. He felt a little dizzy as he saw the amount of blood where he had previously been laying. He found the water pouch and after putting some in his hand for Darius, he greedily drank down the rest and soothed his parched throat.

In a much quieter tone than he had first attempted, he again tried to question the Genie.

“What happened,’ he said quietly.

“To be honest, I have no idea,” said the Genie. “I heard the confrontation and could see bits and pieces, but I was powerless do to anything to help until you rubbed the lamp.”

“But… you didn’t appear. I just figured that I’d again asked for something that wasn’t allowed. Thou shalt not avoid a good stoning… or something like that.”

The Genie only smiled weakly before speaking. “I can only save your life so many times, my son. I didn’t think it would be a good idea to appear in a blaze of smoke and fury to a crowd of angry rock-throwing townsfolk who already suspected you of black magic. I might have wasted a wish by saving you and then having to save us both. Besides, those rocks looked really painful. I thought it best to wait a bit while they cleared out. I could sense that you still had a spark of life that I could build upon. I also sensed that the crowd would leave you breathing, so I merely had to repair the rather substantial damage they caused. You should be able to proceed normally from here on out. I must apologize for again using a wish without your permission, but I saw few other options my friend.”

Aladdin laughed and cringed at the same time as the rawness in his throat grabbed when that much pressure traveled through it. “Genie, you have saved my life twice now. I owe you everything and yet you apologize for spending a wish? I think the time has come to honor my promise to you and give you the freedom you deserve.”

But the Genie was already shaking his head, “Aladdin, I have never doubted your word or your desire to grant me my freedom. But now is not the time. We are traveling to a place where I can find the answers I seek. But we are also dealing with many unknowns. You also seem to have a knack for people wanting to kill you. I don’t know exactly what will happen when I’m freed, but as a mortal, I will not be able to heal bones, reanimate an almost dead body or whatever other little treats your detractors have in store for you. I do appreciate the sentiment, but we’re not quite there yet.”

Suddenly, Aladdin's eyes fogged slightly and his smile disappeared.

“What is it?” asked the Genie.

“Did you see a girl walk by during the stoning?” he asked.

“I really had no clear view of anything, Aladdin. I heard the entire event, though I was powerless to do anything until you summoned me. I saw nothing. Why?”

“I don't really know. I was starting to fade in and out of consciousness, but I could have sworn that Enna walked by me and never even stopped. It was as if she didn't recognize me. How could that be?”

“Perhaps your proximity to death caused your mind to play tricks on you? Maybe you only saw what you were yearning to see?”

“If my mind was making up Enna, don't you think it might have made up an Enna that actually stopped and helped me? Or smiled? It just doesn’t make sense. Something has happened to Enna and she’s not come forward to save me in town or today. Something is very wrong. Part of the reason the townsfolk hunted me down in the first place was because they thought I murdered the Sultan and Katar as well as kidnapped the Princess.” He paused to catch his breath, steady his wits and swallow painfully. “But we both know I didn’t do it, so who did? If that was Enna who passed us, she is but a few hours ahead of us on the road to Cairo. There is more going on here than meets the eye.” Aladdin rose quickly to his feet and started to pack his things. “We should get moving!”

He knew that forcing his way into the woman’s conscious would be a battle. It was one of the reasons he chose Enna. His long range plan now included taking Ameerah’s body and enjoying the thrill as she helplessly watched herself walk off of a ledge or into a fire. Enna, from his limited exposure, seemed like a good subject to test his theories on. Of course he should have figured that this would be a struggle. He had an unexpected fight on his hands. Controlling this body was not as simple as controlling Katar or the other hosts he’d had. He hadn't been invited into this host, but had instead used brute force to take what he needed. There was a war for control of this body. Even with his entire magical arsenal, he could feel the struggle. He would lose ground and then gain it back in a literal tug of war between two stubborn foes battling for one human body. But he knew that he was strengthening muscles he would need in the future when he encountered his old foe. Besides, the struggle was invigorating.

The spirit in this one was strong. He had the strength to control her for awhile but really had no desire to keep this new body for long. He had almost lost control when their eyes gazed upon the young man who'd been tortured for the entire world to see. He had heard her screams as loudly as if she were actually standing beside him and yelling into his ear. It was not a pleasant situation. She had almost regained control before he expended additional resources and pushed her back down. She had certainly not been happy to leave the young man dying by the road and had fought fiercely to regain her control and return to him. He had been tempted to leave this vessel and enter the dying young man, but he feared that he’d enter a dead body and be forced to wait until another suitable host could arrive.

Alchemy felt a small amount of pity for the creature whose body he shared. She was obviously suffering great anguish at the death of whomever they had passed. But there was another, more disconcerting aroma that wafted from this setting. Something both strange and familiar had permeated the surroundings near the dead young man. But his ongoing struggle with his unaccommodating host and his allegiance to The Plan meant no detours for feelings and silly human emotions.

He only needed this current vessel to reach Cairo and then he would discard it as quickly as a snake would shed its skin. The knowledge he had gained had been immeasurable. Now that he knew that he could force his way into an unwilling host, he had the answer to the questions he had sought when he’d appropriated her body. His thoughts returned to how delightful it might be to enter Ameerah, make her body do unspeakable things and then have his voice be the last thing she heard before her death.

He was closing in on Cairo and closing in on the final pillars of The Plan.

Aladdin stared in reverence at the sight that was Cairo. They had followed the water on their journey. From the awesome Mediterranean to the marvel that was the Nile, they were finally seeing why Egypt was the crown jewel of all the land. Even this desert seemed more formidable than anything Aladdin had ever seen. Aladdin had heard tales of the Great Pyramid and the lion who guarded it, but his eyes told him that even his wildest dreams had fallen short when imagining the scene that he now witnessed.

He had seen the huge lion starting as just a small shape in the distance, but as he grew nearer to it, his breath actually caught in his throat. The reality of the structure before him was like nothing he’d ever seen or even imagined. It easily stood fifteen men high, guarding the immense pyramids that rose up behind it. This brightly painted lion was immense and intimidating. He eyes also quickly found the Great Pyramid, as it towered above everything. It was so large that he simply couldn't comprehend the height. Is it possible that it reached almost one hundred men high? Aladdin couldn’t fathom how long it would take to create this monument. It had taken him weeks to build a simple structure in the woods. "I think they have their own Genie," he muttered under his breath to no one in particular.

But after his initial impression had worn off, Aladdin returned to the task at hand. He was worried about Enna. No matter how he ran the last day over in his mind he couldn't find an adequate explanation as to why she had simply passed him on the road and left him suffering and dying. He tried to convince himself that it simply wasn't her, but though his body was suffering when she passed him, his mind was still clear as it clung to any possible escape scenario. He could still picture her face plain as day staring at him blankly as he lay dying. That single look haunted him. He worried that she was in grave danger.

Twilight was approaching and they needed food, fresh water and a place to sleep for the night. Plus, Aladdin wanted a quiet and sparsely populated area so that he could free the Genie and they could make their plans.

As dusk fell, Aladdin found a fresh well and filled his water pouch. He also checked for visitors before letting Darius drink his fill. All through his sloppy drinking, that tail, which had to be made of some sort of supernatural material, pounded Aladdin's leg mercilessly. They purchased some vegetables and scraps of meat from the Eastern Market’s few remaining stand owners. Soon, the three traveling companions were sitting safely under roof in an abandoned shed, and the Genie watched as the young man and his dog tore through the food in less than a few minutes. They were tired and determined to have a plan when they started out in the morning.

Aladdin was still chewing and swallowing his final bites of food when he spoke to the Genie. “You aren't saying much.”

“There is little to say. Part of me wants answers to questions that started before you were born, while another part of me fears what those answers may be. I have always felt that if Ameerah were still alive, she would be searching for me until she took her dying breath. But what if that breath has already come and gone? What if she assumed that I was dead and married another? I could hardly blame her nor could I expect her loyalty to me to last a lifetime without my presence in her life. Am I better off not knowing those answers and maintaining that faint glimmer of hope?" Then he added one last thought. "What about her age? By now she's become a very old woman or worse; one that is simply clinging to life for no better reason than her heart has not yet stopped beating. I don't know if I could bear to see her in that condition.”

“No matter what her current state, she is still your love. You will see her as you always did. Time doesn't erase love or loyalty… in fact, it intensifies those feelings.”

“But what if that love and loyalty have faded over time?” the Genie looked down.

“My friend, you should know the answers to all of those questions no matter what they are,” smiled Aladdin. “I have spent a great deal of time with you this past week and I can safely say that your character and honor inspire the kind of loyalty that makes it quite easy for one to admire. You did not become the legend I heard about as a child because you were so easily forgotten. You inspired those who never even met you. I can't imagine Ameerah not searching for you no matter how long or what the cost. And don't forget the most important part of this: she angered a very powerful wizard who may still seek his revenge. Ameerah could be in danger and having a genie by her side would certainly balance the odds.”

The Genie smiled. “You raise many good points, my son. Forgive this shadow of doubt I've made you privy to. I certainly intend that we all shall find the answers we're searching for now that we’re here.”

Dawn broke in Cairo.

Morning in any city is a harsh return to reality. Night has a way of blurring the truth and selectively highlighting only the most important and lavish elements of a city while the lesser buildings and people are relegated to darkness. But when the sun returns, the rest of the city is once again viewable by all. The morning was for all of the people who didn't attend parties and didn't have the social standing to
be seen
when the lights went down. All that remained of the evening illusion were the smoldering wicks of the oil lamps that had run dry before dawn.

This was the time for the markets to be set up, streets to be cleaned, oil lamps to be filled and for food to be prepared for the next evening's activities. In daylight, even the towering lion and the huge pyramids, didn't seem quite as fantastic.

And amidst the convoluted workings of this typical day in Cairo, two figures made their way through the streets.

Familiar faces greeted the two men, who made a slow but direct journey to the north side of town.

“How has she been sleeping?” said the shorter of the two. His gait was not smooth but irregular, due to his favoring of a right leg that had obviously seen its share of damage over the years.

“She's frustrated, but I think she's faced facts,” said the taller and thinner one.

“And what facts might those be?”

“That her two bodyguards are old men,” he laughed.

Both men chuckled at the inside joke.

“We might be old, but I certainly wouldn't mess with us.”

“Our dinner last night
messed
with us. Hell, even damp weather
messes
with us. Last night, I couldn't fall asleep because a fly in my room was messing with me. I finally drifted off to sleep, well aware that this same fly was sitting on my head. ON MY HEAD! Let’s just say that he wasn’t exactly intimidated by my air of danger.” That brought another laugh between the two.

“Rorgue, I never thought it would happen to us. We should have seen the writing on the wall. Our conversations provided all of the clues we ever needed.”

“How so?” muttered Rorgue.

“When we started out, all we talked about was wine, women and song. Each conversation was about a party, a fight or some other animal driven instinct that one of us felt at the time.”

“I like animal instincts,” said Rorgue, as his eyes glazed and mind obviously drifted to times and places that neither would ever have been able to discuss in proper company.

“Then, without conscious decision, the conversations changed. Soon, we were talking about tools and chores and gardens. Why did we let that happen?” Atiene shook his head disgustingly.

“Simple,” said Rorgue. “It’s because our bodies won't let us do the fun things anymore.” Again, they both chuckled.

“Now, it seems our talk centers on aches, pains, and upset stomachs. I swear, when one of us starts in with the complaining, my mind wanders back to days, and I actually wish I would have been impaled and killed on the battlefield.” Atiene smiled.

“But what would she do then?” Rorgue looked at his friend of over forty years.

“She would be alone in her quest.”

“I doubt she's ever really needed us. I've seen her fight and she hasn't lost a step over the years. I love her, respect her, but most importantly, I still fear her as much as I ever did. I’ve been in more battles than I care to count, yet her eyes can scare me even if I’ve done nothing wrong.”

“On that we both agree. But I fear that the time is running out for us. I keep thinking that our next journey together could very well be our last. These adventures hold less and less reward, as the trail for a man we both barely remember grows colder and colder. Khayri was like a brother to both of us, but if he somehow was still alive and fighting to get back to us, I think we'd have heard something by now.” Atiene looked pensive. He had now spoken aloud something that obviously they'd both been thinking for quite some time. At some point, the incredible loyalty they felt for their friend had turned to loyalty and respect for Ameerah. She still organized parties to search for signs of someone that she probably had trouble even picturing in her mind.

“If he only could know that she's never given up and never will, I think he'd be proud of the leader she's become. I know that I've had doubts about these search parties. And that usually lasts right up until the time I walk through her door and see that fire still burning in her eyes. The moment I see her, I am again twenty-four years old and full of the same piss and vinegar that has kept me alive for probably much longer than I should have been!”

They both shared a laugh as they felt that small spark of adrenaline coursing through their ever-hardening arteries.

“Who are we kidding?” added Atiene. "As long as that girl still sees fit to call our names at the top of her list, we'll drag these sorry forms to her aid for as long as we still draw breath. And if the situation calls for it, we'll make her proud that she did.”

With those inspirational words, Rorgue's back straightened, his stride improved and his pace increased. “Then let’s go down fighting, with our heads held high, with the smell of blood and heat in the air; not with the stale smell of our own homes and the cold of old age in our bones.” This warrior's eyes practically glowed with anticipation. Without one word from the girl, they were already warming up.

“We’ll make anyone who would dare mess with us, pay a dear and final price for the privilege.” Atiene looked ten years younger as he stared at his lifelong friend. “We'll never let her down and we'll climb that mountain together!”

“But first, let's get some breakfast and sit down. My leg is killing me.” Rorgue rubbed the site of a previous injury to his leg.

“I hear you, and I'm starving. I didn't sleep too well last night. Damn!”

Rorgue put his arm around his friend and they headed for breakfast.