Followed by the Ruler, the Chief Minister rose into the air.
"We'll go to Mecca and pray on the Prophet's tomb. Perhaps he'll help us remember the magic word." But Mecca was a long way away and the sun was setting. Tired and hungry, the two storks landed amongst the ruins of an old temple. As they looked around them, seeking food and water, a sudden long-drawn out screech made them jump in fright. Who on earth was living in such a lonely place? Sasha plucked up courage.
"Let's go and find out!" he said, and off they went through the crumbled buildings.
From a dark corner a pair of big yellow eyes glowed and the mournful cry of some strange creature echoed louder than before. It was a huge owl.
"Thank goodness," it said, "I've been waiting for years. The spell is sure now to be broken!" Sasha and Mansor stared at each other in amazement on hearing the owl talk.
"Who are you?" they asked it.
"I'm Naja, the King of India's daughter. Many years ago, an evil wizard called Kashenor wanted me to marry his son Mizrah, so that he could seize my father's kingdom. One day, disguised as a slave, Kashenor gave me a cool drink in the garden. That turned me into an owl. Kashenor said I'd remain a horrible bird till the day someone came, wanting to marry me. That's why I've been sentenced to making my home in these ruins." "So you're one of Kashenor's victims too!" exclaimed the Ruler, and he went on to tell the owl his own story.
"What shall we do now?" they asked themselves.
"There's hope yet," replied the owl. "For now and again, Kashenor meets the other wizards in one of the ruined halls. While they're banqueting, they boast of what they've done. If Kashenor should brag of what he did to you, then he might repeat the magic word you've forgotten!" "Goodness, yes!" agreed the storks. "Let's go to the hall." But the owl sat where she was.
"Before we go," she said, "one of you must promise to marry me. Otherwise I'll remain a bird forever!" "Very well! I promise I'll marry you, but only if I manage to hear the magic word and break the spell," said the Ruler. So the owl led the storks along a narrow passage beneath the temple, to a hall.
"This is their meeting place. We can spy on them from this hole." The three birds took turns at keeping watch. Then one evening, the murmur of voices announced the arrival of the wizards. As they ate and toasted each other's health, Kashenor rose to his feet. "Guess how I succeeded in placing my son on the Ruler's throne?" he said, and when the wicked wizard said the word MUTABOR, the two storks thrilled with delight.
"Mutabor! Mutabor!" they repeated. "That's the magic word!" Outside in the open air, the storks bowed three times to the east and said the magic word. Instantly they became men again, and the owl magically turned into a beautiful young lady. The three hugged each other with joy!
"I will keep my promise," he assured her, "and when I am on my throne, I shall marry you." The Ruler's next task was to depose Mizrah. Stealing the wizards' camels, they rode all night, and dawn found them at the city gates. "The Ruler is alive!" cried the first people to see them. As they rode through the streets, the citizens pressed round, cheering wildly.
"Sasha has come back! Mizrah has lied to us!" The wizard's nasty plan had failed. With a handful of followers, Mizrah had succeeded in seizing the throne, certain that Sasha would never be seen again. But when he heard the news, the wizard's son tried to escape. However, he was captured and thrown into prison. Kashenor too was put in chains, and the citizens themselves pronounced the sentence, when they learned what he and his son had done.
"Death! Put them to death!" shouted the Ruler's subjects. And so the wizard was executed. Mizrah, instead, was forced to sniff the black powder that had caused all the trouble and speak the magic word MUTABOR. He instantly turned into a stork and was sent to live in a cage at the top of the highest turret.
And in the end, this whole affair, brought much happiness to the palace, for Naja turned out to be the perfect wife of Sasha's dreams.
