"Uncle! Come back!" Aladdin screamed.
"Don't leave me!"
Again and again, Aladdin called out for help.
But of course Magrib did not answer.
The magician had left.
"I'm trapped," Aladdin said, alone and frightened.
"It's so dark and cold."
But then Aladdin felt a bit of hope.
"I'll go back to the garden," he thought, "and sit on the grass under a tree.
Maybe then I'll be able to think of a way to escape."
Aladdin went down the steps and into the golden chamber.
But it had changed.
Now the chamber was filled only with shadows.
He ran to the garden door and stood in front of it.
"My name is Aladdin!
I command you to open!" the boy shouted.
But the door did not move.
Aladdin said the words again. Nothing happened.
"The magic words do not work," said Aladdin.
He walked back through the chamber, climbed back up the steps, and sat down.
"I did everything Uncle told me to do.
I found the lamp and brought it back."
Aladdin shook his head.
"I would have given the lamp to Uncle."
He sighed. "Why didn't he help me up the last step?"
Aladdin took a glass apple from his pocket.
"I wish I could trade this for a real apple.
I'm so hungry."
Many hours went by, and he couldn't do anything but think.
"Magrib is not my uncle at all," Aladdin finally decided.
"He is a liar—an evil magician.
And I think he left me here to die."
A tear rolled down the boy's cheek.
When he raised his hand to wipe it away, he saw the ring on his finger.
He laughed a sad, little laugh.
"My uncle—Magrib put this ring on my finger.
He said it would protect me from danger and fear.
Well, I am in danger right now!
And I am very afraid!
So that was a lie too.
This ring is useless!"
Angry now, Aladdin decided to throw the ring away, but it was tight on his finger.
So he began to pull and twist the ring.
He couldn't get it off, but a cloud of bright smoke appeared.
Within seconds, the smoke disappeared, and a funny, little man stood there!
He wore wide pants and a cap with tiny bells hanging along the edge.
His skin was the color of dried apricots.
"The genie of the ring has come!" squeaked the fellow.
The bells on his cap jingled.
"The one who wears the ring is my master!
Ask me for anything and I will do it.
I am your slave!"
Aladdin had never seen a genie before.
He thought a genie would be tall and have big muscles.
This genie was smaller than Aladdin, and he was skinny.
Aladdin jumped to his feet, laughing with surprise and joy.
"I can ask for anything?
Then get me out of here!"
"Your wish is my command!" said the genie.
Suddenly the light became so bright that Aladdin had to shut his eyes!
But then slowly he opened one eye, and then he opened the other.
He looked to the left, and he looked to the right.
He opened his eyes wider and looked up into the bright, blue sky.
"I'm free!" he shouted.