The area behind the stable got surprisingly crowded that evening. Aladdin brought his best friends Kalim and Mustafa as well as Almanzor, Achmed brought his older brother Haroun, and Haroun brought his friend Alim. Three fifteen-year-olds, two twelve-year olds, an eight-year-old, and a six year-old. Had any half-aware adult been there to see them, they would have been curious. But the South Well was active only when caravans were coming and going, and none came or went on the new moon even in summer time.
When all had assembled, Aladdin pulled out the lamp once more for everyone to see. Even in the fading light, it was clearly not like any lamp they had seen.
“What does it do?” asked Achmed.
“It summons a genie,” said Aladdin.
“A real, magic genie?” said Achmed.
“He said he was, but I didn’t have time to find out.”
“Well … let’s find out.”
“Wait! I found the lamp. It’s my genie!” said Almanzor.
“Shuddup! You’re too young!” said Aladdin without thinking, and regretted his words instantly.
There was an uproar. Aladdin could see this would turn into shouting, then pushing, then shoving, then grabbing the lamp and running off, so he said, “Sorry … All right … You’re right. But be really careful.”
Almanzor took the lamp and rubbed it. There were gasps all around as the genie came out, looked around for a second at the crowd, then saw Almanzor had the lamp. He bowed to him and said, “Greetings, new master, Almanzor.”
Almanzor did not mince words.
“You’re really a genie?”
“I am.”
“I get three wishes?”
“You get wishes.”
“I wish for a bag of gold.”
The genie made an odd motion that partly concealed his hand, and in a moment there was a fist-sized leather bag in it. There were looks of amazement all around, but before anyone else could say a thing, Almanzor said,
“Bigger.”
There were even bigger looks of shock as the leather bag grew from the size of Almanzor’s fist to the size of the genie’s fist.
“Bigger.”
No change this time. The genie’s look soured and he said, “You may want to try out what you have already. Gold is heavy.”
He tossed the bag to Almanzor. Having no idea how heavy the bag would be, the boy missed the catch. The leather bag fell to the ground and out spilled a few gold coins.
Bedlam followed immediately as ten hands hit the dirt and started grabbing coins.
Almanzor wailed, “They’re mine!” but the other boys paid no attention. The genie laughed for a moment, then vanished. Almanzor looked at Aladdin.
Aladdin made a choice. He held out his hand for the lamp and said, “Get the bag.”
Almanzor trusted his brother. He gave him the lamp, then dove into the circle to see if he could get the bag and its remaining coins under his control.
There were grunts and groans and whisper-shouts of “That’s mine!”
“Shaddup Out There!”
It was a night watchman. The boys became instantly quiet and within ten seconds all the coins had found owners. The boys scattered into the night. Almanzor had a quarter-full bag of gold and Aladdin had the lamp.