But let me remind you, King Aladdin, came Nylon’s words again. He may be a powerful weapon, but he would be an even more powerful ally.
I saw the wisdom of her words. I could keep the djinn for myself and deprive him of his freedom and of his rightful place as ruler. Or I could do the right thing.
How do I free him? I asked.
Destroy the lamp.
I had tied the lamp securely to my sash, as was my habit. Now, I untied it and held it before me. Lamprey nodded solemnly, apparently accepting his fate, unaware of my intentions. Instead, I set the lamp on the flagstone floor before me and drew my sword. I didn’t know how else to destroy a magical lamp, but I thought this was as good a way as any.
The Thief of Baghdad suddenly stepped forward. “King Aladdin, but what are you doing? You will destroy it.”
“Exactly.”
As Sinbad reached out and pulled the confused thief back, I swung my scimitar down as hard as I could. The blade struck the lamp and there was a great flash of light. I half expected the scimitar to shatter in my hands but it didn’t. Instead, the lamp was gone and Lamprey took a great breath.
The breath of freedom, no doubt.
Next, he raised his hands toward the heavens and two dazzling lightning bolts shot forth from them. The lightning rebounded off the ceiling and zig-zagged crazily through the room, and where there had once been pocked-marked holes in the walls, where the demon statues had stood, there were now beautiful stone columns. And from the depths of the castle, there erupted a chorus of shouts. Shortly, men and women appeared in the throne room, all dressed in tattered clothing and blinking hard. They were an odd mix of djinn and mortal.
Lamprey turned to me and bowed grandly. I couldn’t help but notice that he was floating several feet above the floor. “I am indebted to you, King Aladdin. But of my own free will. I will never forget this act of kindness, and you will always have a friend in Djinnland.”
I felt Nylon squeeze my finger tenderly, and I felt a swell of emotions.
The little dragons buzzed playfully around the new king of Djinnland, erupting fire. Lamprey laughed heartily at his little friends, as more and more servants appeared in the throne room. Most looked worn-down and wasted, but upon seeing Ifrit Iften, their faces lifted with hope, and soon there was much dancing and celebrating in the great hall.
Amid the celebration, Jewel took my hand. “You did good, my husband.”
“I did the right thing,” I said.
“Not always an easy choice, but it’s one of the reasons why I love you.”
I squeezed her hand as a familiar face appeared in the dancing crowd. It was Faddy, my one-time personal djinn of considerably lesser power. He was magically juggling balls of fire, as the other servants and slaves and prisoners cleared a path for him. I watched in amazement as Faddy performed a merry routine as a magical horned instrument trumped loudly in the air next to him.
Faddy spied me and nodded briefly, before snatching one of his fireballs hurling it back into the air. He twirled once as Lamprey laughed heartily.
Nylon sensed my surprise. “Yes, my King. Your personal ifrit, El Fadl, was once the court jester until he was banned from the castle by Prince Zeyn.”
“Banned why?”
“Well, rumor has it that he accidentally lit the Prince’s toes on fire.”
I laughed and shook my head. I always knew there was something peculiar about my ifrit. He continued to juggle and dance, and things went on like this for some time to come.
* * *
It was later when Lamprey pulled Sinbad and me aside.
We were in his private quarters, which, in a single wave of his hand, he had returned to its previous state, no doubt the state it had been millennia ago. Gone were the darker images and sculptures left behind by Prince Zeyn, to be replaced by fabulous works of art and beauty.
“There are many human captives that need to go home,” said Lamprey solemnly. “Unfortunately, Prince Zeyn had a taste for human flesh, in more ways than one.”
I shuddered at the thought. Surely the prince deserved the fire of Hades, where I hoped he’d stay.
Lamprey continued, “But I have a proposition for you.” Now he looked at Sinbad. “I’ve received word that there lies a ship in one of our harbors, a ship from the mortal realm. A ship that needs a captain.”
“I’m interested,” said Sinbad. “But how did it end up here?”
Lamprey smiled. “It is, of course, a magical ship. A flying ship.”
Sinbad gasped. “The Flying Dutchman?”
“But of course. It’s crewed by ghosts, but it is in need of a captain.” He studied Sinbad. “Are you interested?”
The sailor bowed deeply. “Would be my honor, my liege.”
Lamprey nodded. “I have but one request: that you return the mortals to their homes. I will, of course, fill the holds with gold and jewels, with the hope that you will give a little to each of them. I just ask that you keep an eye on that scamp of a thief.”
I said we would, and the next day, after a restful night’s sleep in the arms of my pregnant beloved, I found myself boarding a majestic Dutch man-of-war, tethered to a dock and floating high above the calm water.
When the human captives had all boarded, aided by the ghostly crew, Lamprey advised Sinbad to fly the ship toward the sun, which was, in fact, the portal to the mortal realm. It would lead to the bridge between worlds and to home.
My silver ring warmed. Sylvie Siren had something on her mind. What is it? I asked silently.
You do plan to honor our alliance? To come to the Sirens’ aid when we need it?
Of course. Anytime. I was paying only peripheral attention, being distracted by the marvelous ship.
That’s good, because that time is now. I just received the news. The Siren stronghold is under siege by a horrible menace only you can hope to abate.
Suddenly I was paying full attention. “Now?”
“Of course not,” Jewel responded gently. “Go quietly below-decks with your concubine.” Because in my amazement I had spoken aloud.
“Dear, there’s something you should know,” I said, glancing at the silver ring.
She looked at me, catching on. “The Sirens?”
I nodded.
“Well, one destination is as good as another. Tell Sinbad where to guide the ship.” That readily she accepted it. Maybe she preferred more adventure to a dull season at home.
We’ll be there, I told Sylvie.
Thank you.
Once the marvelous vessel was untethered, it quickly rose up into the sky. As Sinbad turned the great wheel, frowning until he got a feel for the enchanted ship, Duban pulled out his lyre and struck up a merry tune. I gave them that carefree moment as I pondered what to say about our abrupt change in plans. They deserved at least a brief reprieve.
And so I took Jewel’s hand and we joined the merriment, dancing together as the flying ship sailed off into the setting sun.
The End
Return to the Table of Contents
ALADDIN
and the
Flying Dutchman
The Aladdin Series #3
ALADDIN AND THE FLYING DUTCHMAN
Copyright © 2012 by J.R. Rain and Piers Anthony
All rights reserved.
Acknowledgments
A special thank you to Rudy Reyes and Sandy Johnston.
Aladdin and the Flying Dutchman
Chapter One
We sailed high above Djinnland.
From up here, I had a new appreciation for this magical landscape, which was far more beautiful than I had realized. Perhaps the removal of the cancer, Prince Zeyn, had something to do with it. Indeed, the land almost seemed to grow more beautiful, more colorful, more alive as we continued to traverse over it.
Sinbad the Sailor was, apparently, a master of all vessels, even magical ones. Granted, he had a ghostly crew to aid him, but he surely seemed comfortable behind the great wheel as he sailed us toward t
he ball of light in the sky. The ball of light was, of course, the portal into the mortal realms.
The ship itself seemed impervious to the density of Djinnland, or perhaps it just magically made adjustments to it. Either way, we moved swiftly through clouds and past flocks of tiny, fire-breathing dragons.
As the wind hit our faces and the music played on, with my beautiful—and pregnant—wife Jewel cradled in my arms, I got another frantic message from Sylvie the Siren, the sexy sea nymph who was currently in the form of a ring around my index finger.
My lord, we must hurry...my sisters cannot hold the beast back for long.
Her words, as usual, appeared directly in my thoughts, as if spoken just inside my inner ear. Truly, she was a magical creature.
The beast? I asked, framing my question as a thought. I was well accustomed to such communication by now. What manner of beast?
Sire, it is unlike anything we’ve ever seen before.
Although I didn’t approve of the mischief caused by the Sirens and their ways—namely, luring sailors and ships to their ultimate demise—I did like Sylvie the Siren, who had proven to be a valuable friend and ally.
Mischief, perhaps, said Sylvie, picking up on my thoughts, which I had not bothered to shield. But we are also guardians of something of great importance.
And what is that?
It is a relic, my lord. Obtained from a merchant’s ship long ago. We recognized it immediately for what it was and have been guarding it ever since. Perhaps too zealously.
And this relic is why you and your kind lure ships and men to their untimely death?
Partly, my lord. We also love to sing. We cannot help if our voices are accursed.
I knew something of their accursed voices. In fact, I had heard Sylvie herself sing, and it was a haunting sound that I would not soon forget, perhaps never. A part of me always longed to hear it again. But to do so, I knew, meant to forever fall under its spell. I was the rare mortal who was able to break the spell, and that was with the help of my stepson, Duban, a powerful young wizard who preferred to play the flute and lyre.
Fine, I thought. And what is this relic?
The Key to Hades, sire.
I grunted. I’d heard about the key, of course, which supposedly unlocked the Gates of Hades, thus giving the owner dominion over not only all demons of hell, but all manner of foul beings locked away for all eternity, as well. The key could literally unleash hell on earth.
And what do you know of this key, Queen Nylon? I asked, addressing the other magical ring on my hand. Yes, two magical rings and two beautiful nymphs. A man should be so cursed.
We are well aware of the key, sire, and the role the Sirens have played in protecting it. In the wrong hands, the world as we know it would cease to exist.
Below, an undulating hillside swept as far as the eye could see, dotted with plump cow-like creatures and stunted trees that blossomed golden leaves that reflected the sun brightly. Or whatever passed for a sun in this world.
Very well, I said. I shall do my best. I am but one man.
With a magical ship, said Queen Nylon. Captained by none other than Sinbad the Sailor.
“You look concerned, my love?” said Jewel, running her long fingers through my hair the way she did, sending a shivery thrill through me.
I caught her up to date with my conversation with Sylvie and Queen Nylon.
“And this monster is seeking the key to Hell?”
“That I do not know,” I said.
“There’s never a dull moment with Aladdin of the Lamp.” Jewel rubbed her growing belly. “Here’s hoping our little one grows up to be a scholar.”
“Or a baker,” I said, grinning.
I next informed Sinbad of our change in plans. The handsome man, who stood at the helm of the magical ship like a natural, took the news in stride. Indeed, he was an adventurer through and through.
“I have dealt with my share of sea monsters, my friend. Tell the Sirens to fear not, for Sinbad and Aladdin are on their way.”
“Or rather,” I said good-naturedly, “Aladdin and Sinbad.”
“As you wish, sire,” he said giving me a mock bow.
Truth was, had my own wife not found the roguish sailor so damn intriguing, I might have let my jealousy go. But, for now, it remained just below the surface, gnawing at me.
Soon a line of rocky crags appeared on the horizon. I pointed to a gap in the rock wall, directly beneath the sun. The ship seemed to be gaining speed. Our hair and clothing whipped about. Then we plunged through the gap, and found ourselves sailing safely over the arching, crumbling bridge that connected the two worlds. And just as we reached the midway point over the bridge—no doubt the point that magically separated the two worlds—the ship lurched slightly, adjusting to the lesser gravitational force of the mortal realms. A magical ship, indeed!
Sinbad nodded to our fellow shipmates, those we had saved from Prince Zeyn’s dungeons. They were a merry group, reveling in their freedom, dancing and playing music with my gifted stepson, Duban.
“And what do we do with them, my lord? We can’t very well offer them freedom one moment and then thrust them into a dangerous situation the next.”
I pondered. According to Sylvie, the Sirens did not have much time. Landing and releasing the freed prisoners would take time. As I thought about it, I saw something curious hanging just below the railing of the ship. Small dhows. Life rafts. Even more curious, they appeared to magically hover along the ship’s hull, with no straps or ropes. In fact, there was nothing holding them in place. I pointed them out.
“Aye, my liege,” said Sinbad. “Magical dhows. This could be our answer.”
With no time to spare, I gathered the others together and warned them of the imminent danger. All those who wanted to escape now with their lives, were free to do so on the magical dhows. All those who wished to stay and fight were more than welcome to do so.
I was more than pleased when many of the men chose to fight. I did not fault the others. Perhaps most surprising was that the Thief of Baghdad chose to stay. I secretly wondered what the famed rascal was angling at.
At any rate, the others we collected in the magical dhows, along with their share of the treasure in the hold. Shortly, the smaller vessels pealed away from the ship’s hull, and sped quickly to the land far below. I wished them well.
Soon, the rolling land turned to choppy swells, and when we were many leagues out to sea, the magical dhows returned to us, empty, and reattached themselves to the hull.
Shortly, my talented stepson, Duban, came to my side at the ship’s railing. His dark hair was mussed and his chubby cheeks were red, no doubt, from the wind. “We are in grave danger, father.”
“And when are we not?” I asked, chuckling.
“She is very powerful.”
“The great beast?”
“No, father. She who controls the great beast.”
“And who is that?”
Duban shook his head grimly, his brown eyes reflecting the blue sea and skies beyond. “Her magic is too great for me to penetrate.”
Too great for Duban? A lad who had been prophesied to be the next great wizard? My lightheartedness abated in an instant. What manner of creature awaited us?
The seas turned choppy again, and I soon saw the reason why: a great creature churned the water, a creature unlike anything I had ever seen. It was the size of a small land mass, with many great tentacles that seemed to reach everywhere at once. Never had I seen anything like it before.
At the ship’s wheel, Sinbad stared in amazement. Indeed, all of us stared in amazement. No doubt those who had decided to stay and fight were now regretting their decision.
Hell, I was regretting my decision.
Cursing under my breath, I next saw a merchant’s ship not too far away, rocking on the churning sea. A lone figure stood on the deck, calmly watching the horrific scene.
Sinbad soon joined me at the railing. “It is as I feared,” he said. “T
he only other creature that could foreseeably threaten the Siren stronghold.”
“What is it?” I asked, staring down at the monstrosity that appeared to be part octopus, part squid, all nightmare.
“A kraken. The greatest of all monsters, on sea or on land. We are in for a rough time of it, my liege.”
Queen Nylon’s words appeared urgently in my thoughts: My lord, a kraken can only be commanded to attack. Normally they are peaceful creatures who exist in the deepest oceans. Unless they are called forth to do evil.
I nodded and looked again at the figure standing calmly on the merchant ship. Was this the person responsible for the attack?
Sylvie’s words next appeared: My lord, my sisters are dying. Please, we must hurry!
Indeed, I could see the other Sirens now, circling the great creature, looking minuscule in comparison. Great tentacles splashed down, no doubt killing the Sirens in an instant.
I gripped the ship’s railing. We had to do something.
But what?
Chapter Two
As I stood there with my mind locking up, as it sometimes does when I’m under tension, I suffered a frustratingly irrelevant recent memory. I tried to banish it, as it was only interfering with the present issue.
No, let it flow, Nylon thought.
But we can’t afford to waste time on foolishness, I protested.
Trust me. I have a notion how men’s foolish minds work. There may be something here.
She was kind to put it that way. But since I had nothing better to offer at the moment, I indulged her. I let the memory flow. Fortunately it was a brief one. It concerned our exploration of the Flying Dutchman’s hold while the ship was at bay in Djinnland. It seemed that while the main hold was filled with gold, at least until the crewmen left, there was a smaller hold that retained some of the original cargo. Jewel had explored it, and discovered what appeared to be a bottle of perfume. She had brought it to me. “May I take this?” she inquired in a tone that suggested that I could give only one answer.