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“God, your well has been restored!” he shouted excitedly.
The sand before him shifted like a living thing and spun upwards. Behzad’s husband threw up his arms to shield his eyes, but there was no need as the sand immediatly fell away to reveal the bright golden form of the Four Faced God. Turning its back on him the God surveyed his work. For the first time Behzad’s husband got a glimpse of the last of the Gods four faces. Though the long blonde hair covered much of it, he could still make out a horrible face full of anger and hate. He silently prayed the God would be satisfied and not unleash that terrible countenance.
He need not have worried, after a moment the Four Faced God turned back and its shining beautiful face beamed a smile of unimaginable pleasure upon him.
“You have done well my loyal one.”
“Thank you, my most benevolent a worthy God!”
“As I have promised your reward awaits you.” The God swept its bronze arm towards the base of the shrine and a huge slab of stone slid silently to one side revealing a dark opening. “In this place you will find the greatest treasures from the four corners of the earth. The gift, that your beloved Behzad is worthy of, resides within this collection and I will find it for you.
Behzad’s husband followed as the God entered the treasure room. He had no torch but the glow emitted by the God itself provided a measure of light. At first he could see nothing, but as his eyes got used to the light, details slowly emerged; strange animals, statues and gold – everywhere the glint of gold.¹
The God strode down the narrow corridor that wound its way through the treasure, oblivious to the wealth that surrounded them. Behzad’s husband could not believe his eyes! The shear amount of precious metal and jewels was overwhelming. Even a handful of this fortune would make him a king. No, the told himself, he was here for Bezhad! To find the gift, the gift of the God that would be worthy of the woman he loved.
The God stopped abruptly and he almost bumped into it in the tight space.
“Here we are,” it said, “the perfect gift for your precious Behzad!” The God turned and displayed the prize.
Behzads husband swallowed and tried to speak but at first nothing came out. He had expected something wonderful, something unique, a precious thing with amazing properties. Instead, held proudly in the hands of the Four Faced God was… a lamp. It wasn’t even a particularly nice lamp. He had seen much better, more ornately designed, even bejeweled lamps in practically every town he had ever visited. This was plain lamp with a pitted brass surface. No more than a hand across and dull to look upon.
Finally he found his voice. “Er… it is certainly a…a wonderful lamp, my most beautiful and kind God… but….ah do you really think this is the… um… proper gift for my Behzad?” He cringed involuntarily imagining the God confronting him with that horrible face hidden just out of sight.
“Do not be silly, little one,” smiled the God, “this is not a simple lamp. This is the lamp of ‘Samad the Wicked’ my powerful Djinn. Your Behzad need only read the inscription on the bottom of the lamp aloud and she will gain control of him. I have given him all the powers of the universe but he may only do as his master commands, at my discretion of course.”
Now Behzad’s husband was a man of the world and no stranger to tall tales of Genies. “Oh Powerful God, could this be true? My love may have any three wishes her heart desires?”
“Three? The number of wishes she may have depends on the wishes she makes, obedient one. If her wishes please me, she will have more. If not she may have but one.” The God smiled. “But surely a woman who has such a fine husband will only make the most wonderful wishes.”
“Oh thank you God. Thank you! You have made me so happy. I promise I will come back to your Well every year and give my respects to you.”
“Then I will await you each year at this time, loyal one. Now, you must go to your beautiful Behzad and give her the lamp. Go to the east and you will find the town of Damardan not more that a days walk from here. The people of this village will give you all you need to for your journey home.” As before the sand spun up from his feet and the God was gone.
Behzad’s Husband walk slowly back to his small camp clutching the lamp to his chest. He could hear his heart beating in his ears. The Gift! He had the Gift of the God. The greatest Gift in all the world, and he would be the one to give it to Behzad! No more would she look upon him with scorn or speak behind his back. She would have to love him now, who else could bring her a Gift such as this?”
At his camp he found water and traveling food. His things were packed and all was ready to leave. The God had thought of everything. He made his way to the town and sure enough the people there welcomed him with open arms and gave him all he needed for the long trip back to his home.
He could not wait to see Behzad and give her the Lamp!
The sand before him shifted like a living thing and spun upwards. Behzad’s husband threw up his arms to shield his eyes, but there was no need as the sand immediatly fell away to reveal the bright golden form of the Four Faced God. Turning its back on him the God surveyed his work. For the first time Behzad’s husband got a glimpse of the last of the Gods four faces. Though the long blonde hair covered much of it, he could still make out a horrible face full of anger and hate. He silently prayed the God would be satisfied and not unleash that terrible countenance.
He need not have worried, after a moment the Four Faced God turned back and its shining beautiful face beamed a smile of unimaginable pleasure upon him.
“You have done well my loyal one.”
“Thank you, my most benevolent a worthy God!”
“As I have promised your reward awaits you.” The God swept its bronze arm towards the base of the shrine and a huge slab of stone slid silently to one side revealing a dark opening. “In this place you will find the greatest treasures from the four corners of the earth. The gift, that your beloved Behzad is worthy of, resides within this collection and I will find it for you.
Behzad’s husband followed as the God entered the treasure room. He had no torch but the glow emitted by the God itself provided a measure of light. At first he could see nothing, but as his eyes got used to the light, details slowly emerged; strange animals, statues and gold – everywhere the glint of gold.¹
The God strode down the narrow corridor that wound its way through the treasure, oblivious to the wealth that surrounded them. Behzad’s husband could not believe his eyes! The shear amount of precious metal and jewels was overwhelming. Even a handful of this fortune would make him a king. No, the told himself, he was here for Bezhad! To find the gift, the gift of the God that would be worthy of the woman he loved.
The God stopped abruptly and he almost bumped into it in the tight space.
“Here we are,” it said, “the perfect gift for your precious Behzad!” The God turned and displayed the prize.
Behzads husband swallowed and tried to speak but at first nothing came out. He had expected something wonderful, something unique, a precious thing with amazing properties. Instead, held proudly in the hands of the Four Faced God was… a lamp. It wasn’t even a particularly nice lamp. He had seen much better, more ornately designed, even bejeweled lamps in practically every town he had ever visited. This was plain lamp with a pitted brass surface. No more than a hand across and dull to look upon.
Finally he found his voice. “Er… it is certainly a…a wonderful lamp, my most beautiful and kind God… but….ah do you really think this is the… um… proper gift for my Behzad?” He cringed involuntarily imagining the God confronting him with that horrible face hidden just out of sight.
“Do not be silly, little one,” smiled the God, “this is not a simple lamp. This is the lamp of ‘Samad the Wicked’ my powerful Djinn. Your Behzad need only read the inscription on the bottom of the lamp aloud and she will gain control of him. I have given him all the powers of the universe but he may only do as his master commands, at my discretion of course.”
Now Behzad’s husband was a man of the world and no stranger to tall tales of Genies. “Oh Powerful God, could this be true? My love may have any three wishes her heart desires?”
“Three? The number of wishes she may have depends on the wishes she makes, obedient one. If her wishes please me, she will have more. If not she may have but one.” The God smiled. “But surely a woman who has such a fine husband will only make the most wonderful wishes.”
“Oh thank you God. Thank you! You have made me so happy. I promise I will come back to your Well every year and give my respects to you.”
“Then I will await you each year at this time, loyal one. Now, you must go to your beautiful Behzad and give her the lamp. Go to the east and you will find the town of Damardan not more that a days walk from here. The people of this village will give you all you need to for your journey home.” As before the sand spun up from his feet and the God was gone.
Behzad’s Husband walk slowly back to his small camp clutching the lamp to his chest. He could hear his heart beating in his ears. The Gift! He had the Gift of the God. The greatest Gift in all the world, and he would be the one to give it to Behzad! No more would she look upon him with scorn or speak behind his back. She would have to love him now, who else could bring her a Gift such as this?”
At his camp he found water and traveling food. His things were packed and all was ready to leave. The God had thought of everything. He made his way to the town and sure enough the people there welcomed him with open arms and gave him all he needed for the long trip back to his home.
He could not wait to see Behzad and give her the Lamp!
¹Quote: Howard Carter – November 1922 upon the opening of the magnificent tomb of King Tutankhamun
