The sheik had been right all along. But how did he know? What magic had he performed?
Damascus, 17th Century
The sheik was gone for a very long time. The family members wailed in agony, fanning the hot faces of their children. The faces of the two boys were turning white as the snake venom pumped through their veins.
Finally, the sheik reappeared. He was sweating and his hands were shaking. Wiping his forehead, he steadied himself and drew himself up to his full height before addressing the anxious family members.
“Do not ask me any questions about where I went. I will not tell you anything. But about your children, the one who is lying over here to my left — he will live. The other one will not survive.” The sheik hung his head. “I am so sorry and I wish there was something else I could do for you.”
“Preposterous!” the family cried. “If you indeed saved the life of one of the boys, why can the other one not be helped as well? Go back to where you came from and do it all over again! Please, you must change this!”
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