Arabian Nights Page #10

anything to feed that fear

while Abraschild fed his cruel humour.

That wasn't you...

that was the darkness inside you.

Is it still there?

Look into my eyes...

who do you see, Scheherazade?

Me...

Iooking at you, my love.

Sire, your brother's army

is camped outside the city.

Soon, my love.

It's too low.

- I'm hot. - One of my stories will help.

No, the only danger you face

now is from my brother...

you won't be able to tell him one

of your tales to save yourself...

he'll have cut your throat.

This isn't the time, Scheherazade.

It's the perfect time. It's the

incredible story of three brothers

who fought each other

like you and Schahzenan.

It happened long ago in far Yemen...

before recorded time.

The land was ruled by old Sultan Billah...

and he had three sons:

Princes Ahmed, Hussain and Ali...

Prince Hussain was the

best swordsman in Yemen...

Ahmed, on the other hand,

was a master bowman.

Prince Ali had extraordinary

strength in his hands.

Oh, they're at it again!

It's just youthful exuberance,

my love, they'll grow out of it.

You've been saying that

for the last ten years...

Ah! Look! No my prize hibiscus!

Not the palms...not the palms!

You vandals!

- What was the fight about this

time? - Princess Fatima loves me.

- No, she loves me. - No, she loves me.

- She said so! - Rubbish!

You could lose ten pounds of

- surplus fat if someone cut your head off!

- Every time you look into the mirror,

- you take a bow! - Oh yeah!

What's going to happen when I die?

You'll tear the country apart!

See what you boys have done...

all this talk of dying...

your making your father ill.

We didn't mean anything Mother...

Father's not really dying, is he?

But when I am dying, l

will have to name my heir.

You should do it now, Father.

Don't forget, I'm the eldest.

And don't you forget that I have

the final say, according to law.

- Who do you favour, Father? - l

have three blockheads for sons,

how can I favour anyone?

Let it be proclaimed throughout Yemen...

I'm sending my sons on a quest...

whoever brings back the greatest

wonder in the world will be my heir.

How long have we got?

One year. You all must leave

together and return together.

Wrap up warm, boys. And don't get lost.

Yes Mother.

And so the brothers went

forth into the unknown...

to find the greatest wonder in the world.

We should meet back here on the same day

next year, and travel home together.

And may the best man win!

- What are you smiling at? -

Well, I'm obviously the best man.

The only thing you're best

at is shovelling camel dung.

They had no maps to guide them...

they were going to countries

where traveller's said,

"There be DRAGONS!"

Losers!

Ali found himself in a fabled

land... the Bronze City of Zirog.

It's all gone now...

the bronze rusted and the

fountains all dried up...

ah, but then, but then...

it was a wonder to behold.

So, my brothers and I are searching the

world for wondrous objects for my father.

Ah, I have something wondrous.

I have seen a telescope

before, Master Schaca.

Not like this. Put it to your eye...

you only have to ask, and you'll

see anything you wish to see.

I'd like to see the Princess Fatima of Yemen.

That's Fatimah

You're right, Master Shaca, it's a wonder.

Can I buy it?

It's not mine to sell. I'm

delivering it to Hari ben Karim.

But would he sell it?

Ask him.

The telescope's not for sale. As you

can see, I have no need of the money...

but I might give it to you as a gift.

And what could I give you in return?

Entertainment. Schaca tells

me you're a master fighter.

Would you fight my champions

for the telescope?

Gladly.

The telescope's mine...

- I've killed you champions.

- What makes you think they're dead?

- This time, knives.

- Knives? That's cheating.

That's cheating...

Fair game, Master Schaca.

As Ali made his way back to "The Traveller's

Rest" with his magical telescope,

Ahmed was heading North...

I am Prince Ahmed of Yemen.

I've learned you have a rare fruit...

a holy green apple that is

said to cure all illnesses...

I'd like to buy it.

It is not for sale.

Is there something I can

give you in exchange for it?

Perhaps...you have a special skill?

With the bow.

Then you will undergo a test to see if

you are fit to own the apple of life.

I'm impressed, Ahmed.

I have one more test...

and the apple of life is yours.

It's a risk.

The prize is worth it.

Not for the boy.

Then you lose,

and go away empty-handed.

I lose.

No, you win.

What?

You win by losing...you weren't

prepared to win at any cost.

The apple of life is yours.

The Holy Seer gave Ahmed the apple and

some words of advice before he left,

Hussain was riding towards

the fabulous city of Petra.

That Petra disappeared under the sand,

but then, she was the jewel of the East...

Hussain discovered the most

amazing thing about Petra...

it was two cities, not one...

The second city lay under the first.

Underground Petra survived many

years after the other one...

but that too, is gone...

swallowed by the sand.

Is this the only carpet you have to sell?

Fifty pieces of gold.

You must be mad!

Have you gold enough to pay for it?

If I want it.

You'll want it. Follow me.

Why are you out there trying to sell

this one old carpet when you've got

hundreds like these?

Because it's a Flying Carpet...

it can take you anywhere.

I may be a stranger in

Petra, but I'm no child.

There is no such thing as a Flying Carpet.

But there are thousands,

and this is one of them.

Rise, carpet, Rise!

Down!

Down!

Come to rest!

All you have to do is tell

it where you wish to go.

Fifty in gold you say? It's worth

every penny. I'll pay cash.

What's this?

We're going to rob and kill

you. It's nothing personal...

I can't sell a magic carpet

for a paltry fifty in gold,

it wouldn't be good for business.

Kill him!

Stop thief!

Come on!

Take me to the "Traveller's Rest"!

We've done well...a magic apple, a

flying carpet, and a wondrous telescope.

Tell me, have you actually

tested this yet, Ali?

Of course I've tested it! Just

tell it what you want to see.

I'd like to see our father,

Sultan Billah, please.

It's Father!

He's dying. We have to be there.

The brothers learned a

simple but abiding truth...

men united were better than men divided.

It'll take us a week to get home.

No, I have a better way!

They arrived in time to save their

father with Ahmed's Apple of Life.

United now, and for the

rest of their lives...

...they ruled in peace and harmony.

What advice did the Holy Seer give Ahmed

when he handed him the magic apple?

He said the world was an inferno

full of darkness and evil

and there were only two

ways of dealing with it...

the first was easy and wrong...

to accept it and become part of it...

the second way was harder and right...

you fight it and recognize those

who aren't evil and help them endure.

You've taken the second way...

you've helped me...and saved

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