THE CITY OF BRASS

As they walked, they found a door that led to a saloon. There was a couch on which a girl was lying. She looked so lively that Moosaa said, “Peace be with you, O damsel.” But Taalib said, “She is dead. Her corpse has been embalmed with exceeding art.” There were two warrior statues on the steps to where this lady lay. The first had a steel mace, and the second held a sword. On one of the steps lay a golden tablet on which was written, “Whoever enters our city, let him take all the treasure he can, but do not touch anything which is on my body. It is the covering of my shame and the outfit for the last journey.” Moosaa wept reading this, then asked his people to fetch the camels and load them with treasures, vases, and jewels. Taalib asked him, “Shall we leave what is on this damsel’s body?” Moosaa said, “Didn’t you read what this lady has said on the tablet.” Taalib asked, “Should we leave all this here just because it is written on a tablet? What will she do of these ornaments?” So he mounted the steps of the couch, but as he reached for the woman, the mace bearer struck him on his back, and the other struck him with the sword, and he dropped down dead. Moosaa said, “Greed kills the man.”

Pre-register to be notified when the Kickstarter is launched.