Aladdin started walking toward home.
After a while, the desert ended, and Aladdin was again in a cool, green garden.
He saw the place where he and Magrib had rested under the tree.
"That man!" he thought.
"I hope I never see him again!"
When Aladdin saw the city gate, he walked faster.
Soon he was through the bazaar and walking down the street of crooked houses.
He ran to his house, pushed the door open, and stepped inside.
Aladdin's mother dropped her spinning and raised her hands in the air.
"Praise be to God!" she cried. "You're alive!"
"Mother," Aladdin said and immediately fainted.
"My son!" Zeba grabbed a cup of water and went to her son, who had fallen on the floor.
She gently poured the water over Aladdin's head.
"Oh," he cried as he awoke.
"I have been sick with worry," she said.
"Where have you been all day and night?"
"I will tell you,"
answered Aladdin, wiping water from his eyes.
"I was led far from home.
I was sent underground, locked up, and then left to die.
I was cold and hungry.
And now I am being drowned!"
Zeba's eyes opened wide and she dropped her cup.
"What happened? Where is your uncle?"
"He is not my uncle," cried Aladdin.
"He is a liar and an evil magician.
I'm amazed that I am still alive!"
"But your uncle said―"
"He is not my uncle!
His kindness was false!
His promises were tricks.
He planned to kill me all along!"
Zeba turned pale, and Aladdin put his arms around her.
Then he told her everything about the long walk, the enchanted treasury, and the lamp.
He showed her the glass fruit and the lamp.
"Because of the glass fruit," he explained, "I could not hand the lamp to Magrib.
Then, in his anger, he buried me alive in the treasury and left."
Aladdin sank onto a cushion.
"I have eaten only a cookie and a fig since yesterday."
"Take this, Aladdin," said his mother.
She gave her son the last piece of bread in the house.
When he had finished eating, he went to sleep right where he sat.
Aladdin didn't awaken until noon the next day.
He sat up and stretched his arms over his head.
"I am hungry, Mother," he said.
"May I have something to eat?"
Zeba shook her head as she spun her wool.
"There is no more food in the house, my son, and no money.
But see, I have spun a little bit of yarn.
I will take it to the market and sell it.
Then I will buy some bread."
"Keep your yarn,"
Aladdin replied, rising from his cushion.
"I will take the brass lamp to the market and sell that."
He started to put the lamp back into his pocket.
"Wait, son," said Zeba.
"The lamp is very dirty.
If I polish it, it will bring a higher price."
She took a cloth and began rubbing the lamp.
In the next moment, smoke swirled overhead and music filled the room.
"What is happening?" screamed Zeba. "Help!"
"Your wish is my command," boomed a voice in the smoke.
The music stopped and the smoke cleared.
Another genie stood before them!