The Genie of Sutton Place by George Selden Read Free Book Online Page A

Master of Magic himself.”
    â€œI could see. But why did the Wizard lock you up in the rug?”
    â€œI offended him, master. I fell in love—with one of the women from Al-Hazred’s harem. A mortal failing in one created to be immortal. As punishment the Wizard confined me to the frightful carpet.”
    â€œBut I let you out—”
    â€œYou did, my master.” Abdullah could bring his hands together in an obeisance and bow his head, and still be dignified and noble. “May your beard be blessed!” He could also glance up with that smile and add, “When you have a beard. What service may I perform for you?”
    â€œAs a matter of fact,” I explained, “I do have a little problem. Sam.”
    The Genie stroked Sam’s head. There was a chuckle riding inside his voice. “I take it that this is Sam.”
    â€œYes. He’s my dog, Sam. My Aunt Lucy wants me to get rid of him.”
    Abdullah stroked his chin with his thumb and forefinger, and then matter-of-factly announced, “I will turn Aunt Lucy into a fly and summon a toad from the nearest garden to appear and eat the fly.”
    â€œOh, for gosh sake,” I said, “don’t do that! She’s my father’s only sister. And she means well—only she doesn’t know how. But I don’t want to have to get rid of Sam.”
    Abdullah paced up and down. I could see he was thinking of different solutions. Finally he stopped and said, “Oh, master, this is difficult. If it were only to move a mountain or build a palace, I could perform the task as easily as the dove constructs her simple nest. But how can Sam both go and stay?” He brooded a minute more. “I must observe the situation. Let me come to you again.”
    I got a bit nervous at hearing that, after being so sure at first. Maybe this Genie wouldn’t work out after all. “Can you find your way around New York? I live way over in Sutton Place—”
    â€œNew York, master—?”
    â€œThe city where we are. Look—” There was a window in the Al-Hazred room, but the shade was drawn. I lifted it for him a crack. Far off you could see the buildings of Central Park South, and beyond that the Empire State Building. I love New York when it’s lit up at night.
    â€œOh, master,” Abdullah murmured. “’Tis bigger even than Baghdad and the pinnacled cities of the Farthest East. But yes, my little master Timothy, give me a single night—to prowl and explore—and I shall be able to find my way—even in this most magnificent of cities.”
    â€œWell—all right then. If you’re sure.” I gave him the address. “Now, can you get us out of here without waking anyone up?”
    â€œCome, master. And Sam.” Abdullah put his hand on my shoulder and steered me out of the tapestry room. What a whopping hand, too! I don’t know if it was that he was so big, or the genie magic in it, but I felt my shoulder tingling.
    We didn’t meet any guards till we got to the front door of the museum. One was tipped back in his chair, asleep, against the latch. I think he heard us in his sleep, because he began to mumble something and his hands made little jerky motions; but Abdullah just rested his fingertips on the guard’s forehead and whispered softly, “Peace, mortal. And dream of thy delight.”
    That really turned me on! I mean, somebody else would have said only, “Stay asleep,” or “Conk out, man.” But not Abdullah. I love a person who knows his words, and, believe me, there’s nobody who knows how to talk the way a genie does.
    â€œI guess they locked the door—” I began.
    But Abdullah reached out his hand toward the lock and kind of chanted, “Thou mighty bolts—apart! I know thy tightened secret art.” I got another look at that genie smile of his as the bolts slowly separated and the door swung