Author's Note: Forgot to write a disclaimer...well, I don't really need a disclaimer for this, do I? But the obedient idea is Gail Carson Levine's.

I didn't get ANY reviews, so I thought that no one liked my story or read it. Sorta sucks being a newbie.

Well, here goes.

I did not want to go inside the chamber, no matter how rich I might become. Besides, once I handed Uncle the lamp, he'd probably run off and abandon me. Then I'd be rich in the middle of the desert. I'd much rather be poor in the streets of Bombay.

However, the curse had other thoughts. I grabbed onto a rock to restrain myself from reaching out and touching the stone. This was my chance to break the curse! I could feel my face turning red. My muscles threatened to burst, and my blood was rushing faster and faster-

Uncle was growing impatient. "Come on, you nitwit! Go and touch the stone!" He gesticulated violently, and clenched his fists.

All right. I could withstand one command for a few minutes, but two was another story. My right hand-the one with the jasper ring- was shaking. Then my left hand betrayed me, and picked the fingers of my right hand off the rock. My right hand remained loyal, but it was no match for the curse. I tried to pull it back, but then my left hand pushed my other hand forward, and it rested on the stone for a moment.

Then the jasper stone slid aside onto the sand, so quietly and quickly I almost didn't notice it. A set of stairs appeared through the tunnel, leading into darkness.

Uncle grinned, and then pushed me down. Shiva squawked in annoyance. "Hah! All power shall now belong to me!" he shouted, lifting his arms into the air. "Now, my obedient one, go down into the tunnel and retrieve the lamp!" At my look of amazement, he said, eyeing me evilly, "Yes, I know. I am a magician. Why did I choose you, of all people? Now go!"

I knew that there was no use trying to fight him. I climbed down the stairs. AS I entered the darkness, I could hear Uncle laughing- more of a croaking wheeze, in my opinion.

The stairs were of stone, and had moss growing on them- not a thing you would expect in the desert. Water dripped from above of me, but I stuck my tongue out, trying to catch the drops. It had a pure, pristine taste. I couldn't help being startled at first. This place was obviously magic, anything was possible.

The stairs spiraled for what seemed like forever. As I got further, I noticed that not only moss overlapped the stone, but flowers, and even miniature fruit trees. The little oranges growing on them looked so perfect and round, but I didn't know if I could trust the spirit of this place. Eventually, amidst what seemed to be a downhill garden, except the small path for walking, the stairs came to an abrupt stop, but the flowers and trees didn't. They continued on, now a real beautiful garden. How was I supposed to walk through all this?

The only other thing apart from flora that seemed to be there, was magnificent Persian rug with exquisite gold designs and shiny tassels, right in front of me. It was too beautiful to step on, so I gently stroked it with my hand.

Instantly, I jumped back in alarm. It flew up gracefully, did a few spiraling turns, and then hovered a foot from the ground, as if expecting me to step upon it. It was a flying rug.