“Honey, she has only a few moments left here, and we want some girl time. Even if I tried to explain it to you, you wouldn’t understand ’cause you’re all burly and rough and tough and strong and—”
“I get it,” said Hades. “I’ll go.”
“Thanks, love-bucket! I’ll make it up to you, I promise.”
Persephone stood absolutely still for the few moments it took the sound of Hades’ footsteps to recede, then she hurried to the entryway and stuck her head into the corridor to be certain. She whirled on Alcie.
“Not much time!” she whispered as she raced to the bowl of Borrower’s Bile.
Out of thin air, she created a small, blue glass vial and lowered it slowly into the ugly liquid. Once the vial was full, the yellow liquid turning the blue glass green, Persephone manufactured a glass stopper and corked the vial. Then she blew on it softly.
“Sealed tight until you need it,” she said, handing it to Alcie. “Now, here are the rules. One use only; Buster won’t know this tiny amount is missing, but I don’t want to take any chances. Don’t blame him for being a little snappish before; you wouldn’t believe the pressure he’s under. He probably would have thought of this himself if he hadn’t been on the spot. I’m just glad I did. All right, one use. Pour it into your drinking cup, but then make sure you wash it clean. Contact Pandora when you get to Baghdad; afterward, toss this vial into the air and clap three times and it will simply disintegrate. I’d tell you to heave it into the nearest river, but Zeus only knows what might happen if this stuff ever got into a water supply. Okay?”
“Got it,” Alcie said, then she inadvertently sucked her lips into her face.
“What?”
“Sorry. Nothing. I—I’m just worried about ending up in a wall or a lake or something.”
“Oh don’t!” Persephone cried. “Buster just said that to cover his own butt, on the off chance that something will go wrong and you’ll come back down here and be all grumpy because your forehead is stuck to a turtle or your foot is in a temple column or whatever they have in Persia. He’s never missed when it comes to sending someone back—no matter where it is. You’ll be fine!”
Persephone gave a big sigh and put on a frowny-face.
“I miss you already,” she said. “This has been the highlight of, maybe, the last three centuries for me.”
“Well,” Alcie began, “I’d like to say I’ll be back, but I don’t know.”
“Yeah, but now you get to decide.” Persephone smiled, patting Alcie’s pouch containing the box with her life-thread.
“Thank you,” Alcie said as Persephone gave her a tremendous hug. “Thank you for everything.”
“I’ll be watching you and Pandora and everyone,” Persephone said, her eyes moist. “Or at least I’ll try to—if my mother ever lets me out of her sight again.”
“You would really like Pandy,” Alcie said.
“I know!”
“Very well, Alcestis,” said Hades, entering the room. “Two dozen dove hearts packed to travel.”
“Oh, Buster, you’re a champ.”
“Thank you,” said Alcie, placing the cloth bundle in her carrying pouch.
“Are you ready?” asked Hades.
“Lemons,” Alcie said to herself, then she straightened. “I am.”
“Good luck to you, niece of Medusa. I hope”—and here, Hades lowered his head to stare hard, but kindly, at Alcie—“that someday you will walk in the Elysian Fields.”
Persephone began clapping in agreement behind her husband. As Alcie was forming the words “thank you” for the umpteenth time, Hades, Persephone, the bile bowl, and the walls began to fade into blackness. In the dimming scene, Alcie saw Hades turning his head to say something to his wife. Then the room was gone and Alcie was losing consciousness. But not before she heard a clear and distinct …
“I know!”
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Another Chat
“Helloooo? Known world to Pandy. Come in, Pandy.”
Pandy stared at the striped silk siding of the market stall. Then she stared at the rugs covering the dirt floor. She had no idea how she was going to explain her conversation with Alcie to Iole. Finally she looked up.
“Uh …”
“Let me repeat the question,” Iole said, a look of genuine concern on her face. “What did you mean when you said you were talking with Alcie?”
“Alcie’s voice was coming through the mouth of the—the—the grand …”
She trailed off.
“Very well,” Iole said, crossing her arms. “Commence at the beginning.”
Somehow, that shook Pandy out of her confusion.
“What beginning? You were there at the beginning,” she said, her voice raised. “You saw everything. The prince was poisoned and we got three blood scorpions in the box before Homer started yelling and you ran over to him. I was about to follow you when Alcie—Alcie’s voice—it was Alcie’s voice, Iole, by Athena it was! And it started coming out of the grand vizier’s mouth. She’s alive, Iole! She was telling me things that only she could know. She’s in the underworld.”
Pandy’s voice had become so loud and passionate that Mahfouza crept from the back room to see what was the matter.
“But she’s coming to join us. She said she was going to contact us again as soon as she got here. She said it over and over. It was her, Iole. And she said she’ll explain everything.”
Iole paused, her brow knitted into a black line.
“You’re fabricating this.”
“I am not fabricating this,” Pandy yelled. “Whatever that means, and I know it’s not good.”
Homer and Douban, carrying the sack, hurried in from the back as the shopkeeper quickly left his post at the front to see what the commotion was.
“I’m not saying you’re doing it deliberately,” said Iole. “I think the stress of this whole quest has finally gotten to you and—”
“And what? I’ve snapped? You think my lamp’s outta oil? Fire’s out in the oven? Chariot’s lost a wheel? I know what I saw!” Pandy cried.
“I think you’re tired,” Iole said.
“Girls,” said Mahfouza, reaching for both Pandy and Iole at once. “Girls, what is—?”
“Hey!”
The call came from somewhere nearby in the shop. Mahfouza gave a tiny shriek and dropped her arms.
“I leave you guys alone for a few weeks and already you’re fighting?”
Iole froze, Homer gasped, and everyone looked around the market stall, hunting for the source of Alcie’s unmistakable voice.
“Alcie?” said Pandy.
“Here.”
The old, mottled cat was rigid as stone, sitting stiff on her hind legs, her eyes now colored the same yellowish white as the eyes of the grand vizier.
“The cat?” Pandy asked.
“Is that what I’m comin’ through this time?” Alcie asked in return.
“She wouldn’t believe me, Alce,” Pandy said, pointing at Iole as she looked at the animal. Then she turned to Iole. “Alcie said her voice would come through the lowest form of life close by. Before it was the grand vizier, and now it’s a cat, so there.”
“And that’s why I am your real best friend,” said Alcie. “I would have believed you.”
Iole’s mouth hung open as she watched the cat’s mouth move in time with Alcie’s voice. The cat roughly jerked her head around the room.
“Hi, Homie!” said Alcie.
“Khaaaa,” choked Homer as he stumbled backward, practically falling on top of Douban.
“Inconceivable,” said Iole softly.
“Tangerines, I don’t have much time,” said Alcie. “Okay, I’m here, I think, but I don’t know where that is exactly, so you have to come and find me.”
“Why don’t I tell you where we are and you can come to us?” Pandy asked.
“I’m kinda stuck. Persephone said that Hades never misses when he sends someone back … but he … uh … missed. So you hav
e to come get me down.”
“Down?” asked Pandy.
“I’m in a tree. I knew I was gonna end up somewhere funky. But it’s dark—like, black—so I think I’m in a room or a cave or something. There’s one tiny light at the far end of this big space, but I can barely see around me.”
Mahfouza and the silver merchant both inched toward the cat.
“A dark room with a tree in it?” asked Mahfouza.
“Hey, I remember you! From that crazy circus, right?” said Alcie as the cat swiveled her head.
“Yes, you are right, Alcie,” Mahfouza replied. “But tell me more about the room now. Is there one tree or are there many?”
“Many,” said Alcie. “Lots. And there’s weird fruit on the trees. Shiny stuff. And it makes noise.”
Mahfouza turned to the silver merchant, who was staring incredulously at his cat.
“Are you thinking what I am thinking?” she asked him.
He turned uncomprehending eyes on her.
“The Garden of the Jinn?” Mahfouza said. “Could that be it? She has described it perfectly according to the legends. But no one knows where it is!”
The merchant shook his head, trying to clear his mind of the fact that a strange girl was talking through his cat and focus on the new information regarding trees in a dark room.
“Yes,” he said at last. “She has described it well.”
“Pears,” said Alcie. “Wherever I am, Pandy, you have to get me outta this tree!”
“Don’t worry, Alcie,” Pandy said. “We’ll find you and we’ll get you down!”
Suddenly, there was a soft noise behind Alcie, a sound like wind chimes clinking together.
“Hear that?” said Alcie. “A wind just blew through here from nowhere and the branches around me are hitting each other and making that noise.”
“Young girl,” the merchant said, “please describe the fruit on your tree.”
“Oh, that’s easy ’cause I have some sticking out of my shoulder, which, by the way, is why I can’t get down. It’s … uh … well, I think they’re red and smallish and sparkly. They look like cherries.”
“Yes,” he said. “She is in the garden.”
“Okay,” Pandy cried. “We know where you are and we’re on our way! Sit tight!”
“I got no choice,” Alcie said. “All right then, I’m signing off. And this is the one and only time I can talk to you, so hurry! Bye, Iole! Bye, circus lady … bye, two men I don’t know. Bye, Homie!”
The cat jerked up on her hind legs as her eyes cleared. She gave one loud sigh as she shuddered, then fell back onto the pile of rugs on which she’d been lying—dead.
“Safie?” cried the merchant, dashing to his cat. “Safie!”
“I’m sorry, sir,” said Pandy. “That is exactly what happened to the grand vizier.”
The merchant cradled his lifeless pet in his arms.
“I want to be angry,” he said at last. “But I cannot. She was old and in pain and this was to be desired. I have witnessed a great deal here that I cannot explain, but I think Safie’s life was given in the cause of something much greater.”
“Much,” said Mahfouza, gently placing her hand on his arm. “But I fear that Alcie said farewell too quickly. We have no way to find her! All my life, I thought that the Garden of the Jinn was merely a legend.”
“What is this garden?” asked Pandy.
“The Garden of the Jinn, if you believe the legend, is the most enchanting place on earth,” Mahfouza answered. “It was created by the jinns, or genies, solely for their own recreation. It is said the fountains run with diamonds. And even though it is forever in darkness, the plants are eternally in bloom. But it is the trees that are truly incredible. It is also the place where the genies keep their vast treasure. No mortal man has seen it or knows where it is.”
“You have been away from Baghdad for many years, dear Mahfouza,” said the silver merchant. “The location has been known for some time. Only now fewer and fewer seek it out.”
“What?” Mahfouza said. “How did this happen?”
“As with each ruler before him, the genies told Prince Camaralzaman the location of the garden, as a gesture of goodwill and respect for his position. The genies simply assumed that, like his ancestors, he would never divulge its whereabouts. But the foolish dolt told the guests at a banquet one evening several years ago, after he had drunk too much sweet wine. The very next day, the garden was looted and gold was taken from the genies’ treasury. It didn’t make even the tiniest dent in the huge amount, but it is said that the thief was able to build several palaces before the jinns destroyed him as punishment. The genies knew instantly what had happened. They were angered at Camaralzaman’s stupidity, but instead of moving the garden, they protected it with deadly spells. At least that is what everyone believes. No one who has attempted to enter has ever returned.”
“I know every inch of this city,” Mahfouza said. “There is no room in any building I have ever seen that could hold such a place.”
“That is because the garden lies underground,” said the head of Douban from inside the cloth sack.
At the sound of this new voice, the silver merchant turned around just in time to see young Douban withdrawing his father’s head before he keeled over facefirst into a neatly stacked pile of silver-polishing rags.
“Yes, it is enchanted and dangerous,” said the head. “Prince Camaralzaman, being ultimately a coward, never dared to enter, but he allowed me free use of the garden because he knew I would never offend the jinns and take advantage of its treasures. It is beautiful, but now it has been almost completely abandoned by the genies, who cannot bear the thought of humans in their sacred place. There is only one genie left, by the name of Giondar. His crime was so terrible in the eyes of his master that he was condemned as punishment to live in a small lamp at the far end of the garden. But it is also said that he learned how to escape.”
Although Pandy was curious as to what the terrible crime was, it was clear to everyone that the head of the Physician was now truly dying. His eyes were open only slightly and a brownish crust was starting to form on the lids. His lips were blue and his tongue sounded thick in his mouth. Pandy’s heart went out to his son. “The entrance lies but a short distance on the outskirts of town, very close to my old palace and gardens. I don’t think I have strength enough to show you, but I can tell you the way. However, there are precautions you must take before you enter.”
The silver merchant opened his eyes and sat up slowly. Peering over the pile of polishing rags he stared at the talking head, forcing himself not to faint again.
“Walk away from the river until you come to the edge of town,” said Douban’s head. “Then walk another one hundred meters until you come to the ruins of an old palace. You shall know it by the crumbling fountain in the center of a dilapidated courtyard flanked by two tall palms.”
“I know this place,” Mahfouza said quietly. “I used to play there as a child with my family. But mother always warned us to leave before dark.”
“Each evening,” the head continued, “as twilight rests on the desert, spirits will emerge from the unseen palace and soon the courtyard will be in full celebration. You will see musicians playing and servants rushing to and fro. There will be eating, drinking, and dancing. You will be asked to join in but you must refuse, for if you give in to temptation, you will join the spirits forever and there will be no saving you. When the sun is almost set, the final rays will illuminate a bronze ring set into a slab midway between the two palms. This is the location the genies chose for the entrance to their realm. Lift the slab away and you will see stairs descending downward. Follow them. You must pass the gatekeeper and then the dreadful corridor; however, only one of you may enter at a time. The rest must remain behind. You will come to three rooms: the first will contain jars full of copper coins and several black stones lying about. The second will contain jars full of silver and many more black stones. The third room wi
ll have hundreds of jars overflowing with gold, rivaled in number only by the black stones. Touch none of the treasure. Not one coin. Keep your mind focused only on getting through the rooms. You will then come to the garden itself and you will be able to find your friend—but only if you do exactly as I say.”
“Got it,” Pandy said. “Let’s go!”
Douban placed his father’s head gently back in the sack as Mahfouza walked to the silver merchant and bowed low. Then, with a promise to return and give him a full explanation of all the events he’d just witnessed and perhaps a new cat (if he wished), she raced to catch up with Pandy and the others as they headed toward the entrance of the shop.
Realizing they didn’t know exactly which way to turn, Pandy, Iole, Homer, and Douban turned back and waited until Mahfouza came rushing out of the shop.
“You must follow this street,” she said. “I can take you only part of the way but then I must leave you. I must get to my home and my family.”
“Of course,” Pandy agreed. “We’ll get Alcie and be there as fast as we can.”
Then they turned in the direction Mahfouza had pointed and, with only the slightest gasp from Iole, they all froze. Douban and Mahfouza had no idea who the enormous blue-robed woman blocking their way actually was, but they could tell from the look on Pandy’s face that she was no friend.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
We Meet Again
“Well, well,” Hera said, her eyes narrow but bright, her mouth set in a fierce fake grin. “You know I was just thinking, being so far from familiar faces and places, how much fun it would be to run into someone I know—and here you are! How thrilling to see you, Pandora. Quite a way from home but looking well. And I see you’ve made some new friends.”
Hera leaned in as if sharing a sacred truth.
“But they can’t ever replace the ones we lose, am I correct?”
Mahfouza shrieked, then quickly covered her mouth.
“Oh,” said Hera, turning and reading her thoughts. “Do you like my earrings? They slosh a little, but they’re a tremendous help. As if I need to tell you—you live in these parts, right? So you know all about the power I now have!”
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