by Sarah Earlene Shere, ©2024
(May 24, 2024) — The boy slid into the next room as the fast falling gate crashed down behind him. Kazim’s heart was racing from the perils he had just nearly escaped. Slowly he stood to his feet, taking in the beauty of his new surroundings. How different from the booby-trap laden cave this room was. The pale green walls and the pink blossoms of the trees filling this oasis washed peace over the lad.
Suddenly, he saw it, at the center of the room, atop a jade pedestal: the wonderful lamp he had heard stories of since his babyhood. Kazim softly approached, as if it was a rare butterfly about to take off. Slowly, he reached out and carefully removed the lamp from its stand. He sighed and smiled as he admired the golden object in his dark hands.
Just then, the gate behind Kazim raised open as a mesmerizing voice echoed around the room. “Well done, child. The boldness and faith of youthful innocence has surpassed each test and won their prize. Go in peace.”
Kazim hurried back to the entrance of the cave, no longer fearing the long, dark corridors through and past which he ran. Soon the aged sorcerer was helping him out, back into the light of day. But when the madman saw the glisten of gold in the hands of his apprentice, his eyes turned green with greed, and he violently took the lamp from the boy’s grasp, shouting, “You shan’t have it, nor even look at it! Wicked boy! You shan’t even be trusted to live with me any longer.”
Kazim instinctively covered his face with his arms as his master raised a dagger over his head. Just then, the ground beneath them trembled, and a voice from beneath shrieked, “Worthless mortals! Death and greed are your meat and drink. Here shall be your tomb!” Suddenly, the sand beneath the evil sorcerer opened up and swallowed him, along with the wonderful lamp.
Kazim sat there, in that place, all night. The entrance refused to open for him. Only briefly did he mourn for the only man he had known as a father figure. Anger began to fill his heart as he felt the pain of betrayal and then the loss of the wonderful lamp. His heart pounded and his blood boiled as he determined to never trust another soul and, one day, get the lamp back.
As he plotted, he rubbed his hands together, forgetting the last thing the old man had given him, an emerald jeweled ring. Suddenly, green smoke poured forth and materialized a magnificent genie. He bowed deeply to the boy and asked what he wished. A wicked gleam came into Kazim’s eyes. Yes, he was determined his luck would change.