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The Fisherman and the Genie
in Arabian Nights

Once upon a time, before dawn, while his family slept, a
fisherman put out to sea. Each morning he tossed his nets
into the sea, hoping for a good catch, but most days he was
disappointed.

Now this spring morning, like every other, he threw his nets
into the sea. As he pulled them in, he felt a tug in one of them,
and his heart lifted. "I've caught something!" he cried to the
setting moon, but when he caught sight of the net, his heart
sank. He could see he had caught only a dead camel, and the
weight of the creature had ripped a hole in his best net.

The fisherman was disappointed and threw the torn net onto
the sand. He flung another net into the sea. This time he felt
a tug, and his heart soared again. But when he pulled the
net to shore, he saw only a basket of garbage.

He looked up and shook his fist. "How is a poor man to care
for his family?" he cried. Once more he cast a net, and this
time he brought to shore only shells and seaweed.
By now the sun was rising, and the fisherman was tired and
discouraged. But he thought he would try once more. This
time when he pulled in his net, he found, instead of a fish,
a tarnished copper vase. The vase was very heavy. "It must
be filled with mud," he muttered, but when he looked
closely, he saw it was sealed with lead.

"There cannot be seaweed in a sealed vase," he thought.
"Perhaps there are coins." He shook it, but there was no
rattle. However, this fired his imagination. What else might
be in it? A secret treasure map? The last will of a wealthy
sultan? A tapestry?

64 Reader's Book