The Tale of the Merchant and the Genie

So, Scheherazade began her story: Once upon a time there was a wealthy merchant who traveled on horseback across the country. One day, as he made his way across the land, he sat down under a tree to get some relief from the midday sun. He made his lunch of some dry bread and a scant handful of dry dates. When he had finished his meal, he threw away the date pits. This was his usual routine.

Now, he stood refreshed and ready to get back on his horse. Suddenly, he found his way blocked by a genie!

This genie was of a remarkable height and wearing a frightening scowl. He had drawn a sword and said, “You must die since you have killed my son!”

“I did not kill your son,” the merchant insisted.

“Yes, you did. When you ate your dates and threw away the pits,” replied the genie, “one of the stones struck my son through the heart as he was walking by, and he died immediately.”

“Oh no!” cried the merchant. “It was an accident. I had no idea your son was walking by.”

“Nevertheless, your ill-thrown pit killed him. You must die,” stormed the genie.

“If I must die,” begged the merchant, “please let me travel back to my home and say good-bye to my children and wife.”

The genie agreed. He told the merchant that he had a week to say his goodbyes. And with that, the genie vanished.

The merchant returned home and bid his wife and children good-bye. On the last day of his life, he went to the great mosque and prayed. Afterward, he sat outside the mosque and began to weep.

Just then, two sheiks came across the tearful merchant. One sheik traveled with a gazelle and the other with two large dogs. “What has happened?” the sheiks asked. “Why do you weep?”

The merchant told them his tale. The two sheiks offered to stay with him so he would not have to face his death alone. The merchant agreed, and the two sheiks sat down with the gazelle and two dogs beside them.

Seemingly out of nowhere, the genie appeared, his sword drawn, ready to kill the merchant.

“Wait, wait!” shouted the first sheik. “If I tell you the story of myself and this gazelle, and you like it, will you give me half of this merchant's blood?”

“Why not?” said the genie. “I agree to this plan.”