"What do you think you're doing standing there gaping? Go on you fools, pick it up!" Capricorn ordered. The men hurriedly did as Capricorn bade them. They picked up all the coins and shoved them into bags, and cardboard boxes, and some of them, their pockets. If Capricorn saw, he didn't care. "Yes, very nice Silvertonge. Now, onto the next book."

"The next book? No, I want to go home, I'm tired, I'm hungry, and I'm not reading you another word." Mo insisted. Capricorn looked at him with indifference.

"Are you sure you're not reading another word? Well then, I'm sure your daughter would love to." Capricorn said threateningly. Mo's face started to go pale.

"Don't you dare hurt Meggie, or I really never read another word again." Mo said.

"Oh, I can think of ways that will make you want to read for me. Ways that I'm sure you would rather me not describe in front of little Meggie." Capricorn said. Mo paled even more.

"Alright," said Mo as he picked up the next book. This one was Tales from a Thousand and One Nights. Mo leafed through it looking for passages that contained gold. It wasn't all that hard. Mo found a passage in Aladdin and the Magical Lamp. Mo picked up where Aladdin was walking with his monkey to find the lamp. Meggie once again got lost in the sound of Mo's voice. This time not even Capricorn could resist getting pulled under the magical spell that was Mo's voice.

But this time the sound was not the clinking of coins. There was just one loud clunk. Meggie looked at the middle of the floor and saw a small golden oil lamp. Mo had read out a genie.

Capricorn looked at the lamp in disappointment. "What is this?" He demanded.

Mo sighed before replying. "It's a magical lamp. Inside is a genie who will give you three wishes when you rub the lamp." Capricorn sat up a bit, clearly interested.

"Any three wishes?" Capricorn asked, getting a greedy look in his eye. Mo nodded. "Basta, get me the lamp, but be careful not to rub it." Basta quickly picked it up and handed it to Capricorn. Capricorn held it gently, as if it were the most valuable thing in the world; which it probably was.

"That is enough for today Silvertounge. Take him and his daughter to their rooms." Capricorn said not taking his eyes off the lamp.

"What about me? You promised I could go back to our old world." Dustfinger said.

"Well Dustfinger, when Silvertounge and the book arrived I burned all the copies of the books. I had no intention of sending you back at all." Capricorn said. Dustfinger turned pale and looked at Capricorn with such contempt Meggie thought that Dustfinger might rush and kill Capricorn.

But this isn't what Dustfinger did. His head dropped so that his chin was on his chest, and he walked out slowly, as if he would never smile, or look up again. Meggie put her hand in Mo's and they were led away by Basta.

Mo regretted reading out the lamp for Capricorn. He wished he could do everything over again, starting when he picked up Inkheart. If he hadn't picked it up, this all never would have happened; and he wouldn't have lost Resa. He missed her terribly. He had all sorts of if's running through his head. If only I was a bit more careful. If only I hadn't have bought that book. If only I hadn't gone out that day, when I knew I was sick. But he couldn't go back; he couldn't change a thing.

Meggie wondered what was to become of them. At first Capricorn seemed nice, but today… Maybe it was an act, because he was afraid of his men. Yes that had to be it! Meggie was extremely tired, and she started to stumble on the steps. Mo always was there to catch her, and when he didn't, Basta did. Meggie was sort of afraid of Basta. He didn't look very strong, but he did look mean. She didn't want to say anything so she accepted his help without a word.

It didn't take long for them to reach the room. Mo was pushed in first, then Meggie. Basta slammed the door shut and locked it behind him. Mo picked Meggie up and carried her to a bed in a corner of the room. He sat with her on his lap, absently stroking her hair.

"Mo is something wrong?" Meggie asked, turning her head to look at him. She knew something was bothering him, and she wanted to know what. She hated to see Mo sad or upset. He was always happy, so it upset Meggie greatly when he was.

"No, Meggie." Mo tried to keep the sarcasm from his voice. Luckily Meggie was only a child and couldn't hear what little bit there was. Everything was wrong, but Mo couldn't tell her that. She thought they were just on some holiday, and would be going home any time now. He didn't want to tell her about her mother until the time was right; and the time just wasn't right.

Meggie sat curled up on Mo's lap until she went to sleep. When she did fall asleep, Mo laid her next to him on the bed. He would be sitting up all night keeping watch.