Aladdin

From Part 4

“I have not heard of anything ever happening to men accused of loving another man, but I know that our society has said that such men should die. That is why I have kept my feelings a secret.”

“As have I,” nodded Ahmad. “Is now the time to tell?”

-1-

When the three men returned to Aladdin’s former chambers, Aladdin made it clear to the genie that he was free to travel as he desired. The genie reaffirmed his commitment to feeding the hungry, and he gave the lamp to Aladdin to hide. Aladdin planned to take the lamp to the tower and hide it there.

Once they reached the Palace, Ahmad determined the men would be brought before the Sultan after the evening meal. Ahmad did not want to talk to the men in front of the uncle and asked them to be brought to a sitting area in one of the many downstairs rooms of the Palace.

Aladdin went to visit his mother. She had been teaching the women of the palace the art of weaving a tapestry. Before the death of Aladdin’s father, she had been a master craftsman, but when they lost everything, she lost her tools and supplies.

Aladdin was happy to see his mother filled with joy once more, and he was fascinated with how she could weave a pattern and carry on a conversation with him. He was there but fifteen minutes when a servant brought him a request to meet Ahmad in his brother Anu’s chambers.

The servant led him to a model of the City that Anu had built.

“Aladdin, this is my brother, Anu. I think his plans will fit with ours perfectly.”

“Pleased to meet you,” said Aladdin.

“Likewise,” replied Anu. “My brother said you have an interesting idea for sheltering the homeless that works with my hopes to build a university.”

“A university?” Aladdin was surprised by such an ambitious cause. “That would be marvelous, and there is such a need.”

“I think so,” said Anu. The drawback so far has been water. My father is concerned that we would not have enough to expand the City out into the kingdom. He gave permission to dig a well on the eastern side of the kingdom about a half-mile from the current wall, but we have not had success. There is a lake to the northwest, and I have discussed building an elevated ditch to bring the water to our kingdom and the kingdom north of us, but it will take years to construct.”

“Perhaps they are not digging in the best spot,” suggested Aladdin. I know an elderly gentleman who used to help dig wells for the outlying farms. If he is still alive I can ask him to look.”

“I suppose that couldn’t hurt.”

“So these are your plans for the university? The wall is extended, no it’s a completely new wall, isn’t it.”

“Yes, and with modern building techniques, it will make us safer. It will require less material and be much stronger and taller. We can use it to house troops or possibly, shelter those in need. Also, I figured it would house shops. We would have more room for parks and areas to enjoy, such as pools. Plus, I’ve been working on a place for bathing and the removal of body waste. But it all requires water.”

“I’ll talk to the man about the well,” said Aladdin.

“And we will approach the Sultan about this again. This time, however, there will be three of us on your side.”

“Father is so stuck in his ways, Ahmad. He doesn’t see the need to change,” said Anu.

“I think he will see things differently after tonight,” Ahmad told his brother. “He is sitting in judgment of two men accused of being together intimately.”

Anu looked at his brother and then at Aladdin. “Brother, be careful.”

“Tell me, Anu, your words betray you. You are hiding something from me.”

“As you can tell that I have feelings hidden behind my words, I am able to tell that you have certain feelings that you have kept hidden. I love you, my brother, although we never speak of such things.”

“And I love you, my brother,” said Ahmad.

“But you love someone, not in a brotherly way, but in a way that binds two people together for a lifetime.”

“Perhaps,” Ahmad replied.

Anu smiled. “I will not tell anyone else, but I know that he is in this room with us now. And my concern is that you will tell Father, and it will not go over well. Plus, Ishmael will use it to his advantage.”

Aladdin knew that Ishmael was also Ahmad’s brother; born a month after Ahmad. Aladdin’s mother had spoken of the rivalry. Ishmael was to have been born first, but Ahmad came early and was thereby the heir to the throne. Now, Ishmael already had a son, and Ahmad would have none. If the Sultan knew of Ahmad’s love for another man, he could have him executed. He could even execute Ahmad’s mother as well as all the children she had given birth to.

“Will you consider what he says?” asked Aladdin.

“I will,” said Ahmad, “but after I consider all sides, I must do what’s best for the City and the Kingdom. We need to go now; I need to speak with Zeeshan and his friend.”

“I will see you at dinner, Anu.” Aladdin and Ahmad headed down to the room where Zeeshan and Achmar were being held. Ahmad entered first and asked the guards to wait outside the room.

“I will need to be blunt and will need you to answer honestly. I have only two hours to devise a plan,” Ahmad was quick and blunt with his questions.

The two men nodded in response.

“I know Zeeshan’s name; yours is… ?”

“I’m Achmar.”

It was obvious to both Aladdin and Ahmad that Achmar had been crying.

“First of all, Zeeshan; is the house you were in completely in your name?”

“Yes. My father gave it to me. My uncle contested it, but the court ruled that it is mine, and he had to pay a fee.”

“Did you invite him into the house?”

“No.”

“And there were no servants who might have?”

“No.”

Ahmad took a deep breath. “I will tell my father that your uncle broke into your home. If he contests it, I will stop the proceedings and ask for verification of ownership from the court. If he tries to bring up anything else, I’ll object to it as not relevant and a distraction. Hopefully, the Sultan will see it as such at this point.”

“He’s going to bring it up.”

“Hush, Achmar. My uncle is cold and calculating, but he’s going to be careful.”

“But he hates you, Zeeshan. That’s why we’ve been so careful.”

Aladdin spoke up, but in a quiet voice, he said. “It’s difficult when your love is forbidden. Listen to Prince Ahmad. He will guide you wisely.”

“But they're going to execute us.” Achmar’s eyes filled with tears.

“No matter what,” Aladdin said. “That will not happen.”

“Aladdin,” said Ahmad, “do not tell them things that we cannot guarantee. I will do my best to free them. Now, I must go and think before dinner. I will send in food for you.” Ahmad got up and left the room.

Turning to the two men, Aladdin advised them. “Do not lie, but do not admit your love for one another. And please do not admit to having sex with one another. I don’t care if someone was close enough to see your dick moving in and out of his ass. Say nothing; just don’t lie.”

The men nodded, and Aladdin left the room. He went to his room and found no one there; he checked on Ahmad, who was at his desk. “I’m going down to eat in a moment.”

“I’ll see you at the proceedings. I’m going to eat with my mother; I’m concerned about being seen with you for dinner after Anu’s statement.”

“I hate that.”

“I know. I need to talk to the Genie anyway, and I want you to concentrate. Can we meet after everything, in the tower?”

“I would not miss it.”

Aladdin returned to his chambers and called the genie. He requested that Anu’s team find an artesian well in the place they were digging, but to wait for an entire day. He also asked the genie if he would be able to rescue Zeeshan and Achmar just before their execution and replace them with artificial bodies. The genie indicated that such a feat was easy for him. Relieve that nothing fatal would happen to the two men, Aladdin thanked the genie and went to eat his dinner.

-2-

The meeting to determine whether Zeeshan’s home had been violated by his Uncle Kishore was held in the grand hall of the Palace. Many neighbors had come to view the events, and just as many guards were in place to keep them under control. Everyone in the viewing gallery was warned that to speak out meant being pulled out. Aladdin sat in the second row and was joined by the genie.

Ahmad stood on the right side of a large chair; a guard stood on the left. A horn was sounded, and the Sultan arrived and sat in the chair. Three men entered the room under heavy guard and were made to sit on a bench. Achmar was closest to the center, and the uncle sat between them.

“Who brings a complaint?” asked the Sultan.

“I do, Honorable Sultan,” announce Ahmad.

The Sultan seemed surprised.

“The man Kishore entered the home of Zeeshan this afternoon. He makes the claim that the house is his. Zeeshan says the house is his.”

“That’s not what this is about,” shouted Kishore. “They were fornicating upstairs.”

The Sultan banged his staff against the floor. “You have not been permitted to speak.”

“Honorable Sultan, the man Kishore claims to have witnessed a crime while in the commission of a crime. Justice claims deflection.”

“However, honorable Prince,” said the Sultan. “If the house is his, then his is not a crime.”

“The courts have ruled that the house belongs to Zeeshan,” continued Ahmad. “Zeeshan, stand, please. Explain to our most Honored Sultan why the house is yours.”

“My father left me the house when he died. Zeeshan tried to take the house from me, but the courts ruled that it is my house.”

“When was this?” asked the Sultan.

“Almost two years ago, Honored One.”

The Sultan turned to Kishore. “Do you deny that the house was affirmed to be Zeeshan’s by my courts?”

“I do not deny it.”

“Then you entered a house which was not yours,” announced Ahmad. “The charge of breaking and entering into a residence is hereby formally charged. Honorable Sultan, do you wish to send this down to the court, or handle the sentence yourself?”

“What is the usual sentence for this crime?” asked the Sultan.

“Ten years in prison,” replied Ahmad.

“Ten years!” announced Zeeshan. “I do not want my uncle to spend ten years in prison because of his foolishness.”

“But he was willing to let you die to get the house,” said the Sultan.

“And what about the fornication of your own son, my dear Sultan?” asked Mephisto as he stepped from behind the accused. “He’s been engaged in intercourse with that street rat, Aladdin.”

Ahmad turned to look at Aladdin with a look of fear on his face.

A murmur went through the crowd.

Next installment

Ahmad shares his dreams for the City with his father, the Sultan.  Aladdin and Ahmad spend their last night together in the tower room.