THE BEST JEANNIE: CHAPTER FIVE
A/n: This is a quick note to say "thanks" first of all to those who reviewed or stuck with this story. I am sorry for not updating for a long time. I had writer's block in this story, and between that and working on my other stories that my muse is begging me to continue, I haven't been able to update as much as I like. I promise, though, to finish this one as soon as I can.
For those who came in late: Jeannie II is about to show her true colors, and as explained in the previous chapter, she met Tony nine months before she was supposed to, so that's why he doesn't know her. Anyway, on with the story….
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Tony and Jeannie the Second materialized in what looked to the astronaut like a bazaar. There were several people looming about, and many merchants arguing with or trying to entice customers to buy their wares. Jeannie's sister blinked so that the modern man was dressed in Arabian finery from the distant past.
"Thanks," Tony said as he looked down at his blue vest with a design on its left side; white long sleeved shirt; baggy pantlets; red sash around his middle, and the tall red hat on his head.
"Mustn't attract attention, darling," Jeannie II purred. Major Nelson saw that she had a long, sea green robe and a matching veil covering her face. His instincts told him that something had changed in the scant moments it had taken for them to get to the past. He didn't know what it was, but he knew he had to find Jeannie and get back to the future as soon as possible.
"If we could get going," he said, "I'd greatly appreciate it."
Jeannie's sister extended a restraining hand to his chest. "Don't lose your cool, Major baby," she told Tony. Tony stared at her; when had she gone from demure to practically arrogant?
"Ah, you are her sister, right?" he asked. "And you will take me to her, right?"
Jeannie II put on her most reassuring voice. "Of course, luv, of course," she told the astronaut. "I want to see my sister as much as you do." Without another word, Jeannie the Second blinked them to a harem, or at least Tony thought it looked like a harem.
Taking in the Persian rugs on the floor, the silk curtains done in many bright colors and the huge pillows strewn about, Tony thought, Roger would love this!
"What's this place?" he asked. Jeannie II came closer until she stood a mere three feet away from him. He saw that she had changed into a sea green harem outfit which, though similar to Jeannie's, had a long skirt rather than the pants she wore.
"A harem," she answered. Anticipating Major Nelson's next question, the malicious Jeannie said, "the girls are out in the gardens right now." An unbidden thought of Jeannie in her harem costume came to take root in Tony's mind. He saw her chest rise and fall with its ample cleavage, her blonde hair blowing in the wind.
I've got it bad, he thought. Aloud, he asked, "Whose harem is this?"
"Oh, an old sheik's harem," Jeannie II said dismissively. She didn't include the fact that the reason the girls were not waiting for their master was because he was out of town. It was the perfect place for her, and for her new pigeon. Of course, chatterboxes as the girls were, one could come running in all of a sudden and ruin her plans in the bargain if word got out. She blinked, and promptly turned all of the girls into beautiful, white birds who were locked in golden cages in the garden.
Although Tony saw her blink, he didn't know what had happened, but the feeling that all was not right was getting stronger by the second. Jeannie II's hips swayed back and forth as she crossed over to a cage with a thin, silk cover on it. She lifted the cover to reveal that there was no bird in it. When she turned around, fixing Tony with a predatory look, he knew he was in trouble.
The NASA officer started to back up; maybe, if he was quick enough, he could escape. He forced his voice to sound normal as he inquired, "So…where is she?"
Jeannie II laughed, saying, "Why, she's through here, darling." She blinked, and Tony found that he had a hoarse voice, and his arms folded in on themselves. He looked at himself and saw feathers; blue, beautiful feathers. He flapped his now winged arms excitedly. He tried to speak, but a cawing sound erupted from his mouth, or rather, beak.
"Oh, lost our voice, have we, Little Bird?" Jeannie's sister said. Major Nelson tried to fly away, but she blinked, and he promptly found himself in the previously vacant cage.
Jeannie II made some cooing noises as she said, "You see, Major baby, I said I'd return you to her. I never said 'when', or 'how', now did I?" Tony cawed his anger. Jeannie II laughed softly.
"Much as I would love to leave you completely sounding that way, I suppose I can't talk to you properly if I don't do something about you, now, can I?" she asked, blinking.
Tony still had a bird-sounding voice, but it had traces of human in it, too. "Cchhange me back!" he shouted. "Dddooo it now!"
"Yes," Jeannie II agreed, "yes, I will. But, we do have business to discuss before I change you."
"Wwhhatt businesss? (caw)" Tony asked, fearing what the all powerful genie would demand from him.
"Easy, Tony baby," Jeannie the Second told him, thrusting a finger through the cage, her expression daring him to nip it. Tony held his tongue and beak from doing anything.
She took her finger out, saying, "It's really very simple, Major. You will agree to be mine until I tire of you, and in exchange, I'll let you see my sister."
"Yyouurrs?" Major Nelson echoed. "Yyoouu mean, (caw!) you want me to marry you?"
Jeannie II rolled her eyes, saying, "Oh, puhl-ease! I don't need a husband! That's something my square sister would like! I mean, that you would be more like a…Cabana boy, or a plaything. That's it! A plaything for my amusement. And, after a short period, if you continue to please me, I'll keep my end of the bargain!"
"Fffoorr how long?" Tony asked, his clouding brain struggling to come up with an escape plan. He concentrated on trying to find Jeannie, or maybe, Jeannie II's Master. Someone had to know about Jeannie the Second, and about the man or woman she served. But first things first: he had to find out how long Jeannie's sibling planned to keep him, and, more importantly, what being her "plaything" would entail.
"I'll keep you for…" Jeannie II said, thinking, "oh, shall we say, thirty years? Then, when you're wrinkly and old, I'll return you to my sister. You would be just her speed then."
"But what about yourrr (caw) Masterrr?" Tony asked, fishing for any information he could find on the person.
"He's old, and tired," Jeannie the Second said. "He could kick the bucket any day now. That would free me for you and you for me." She stared at him.
"So," she asked, "what do you say?"
The NASA officer/bird said, "Lookkss like I have no choice." Jeannie II clapped her hands.
"Mmm…scrumptious!" she cried. She blinked and Major Nelson was out of the birdcage. He touched his Arabian clothes and arms. Clearing his throat, he breathed a sigh of relief when he noticed his completely human voice was back again.
"Now, then, where to go first," Jeannie the Second mused. "Brazil…Tokyo…"
Tony tried using his most charming voice. "I'm ready whenever you are,' he told her, "but I need a little time to get my affairs in order."
Jeannie's sister thought a moment, but then told herself not to worry that the handsome Major was up to something. After all, they had a bargain and what could he do against her magic?
"How long do you need?" she asked. Tony shrugged.
"Oh, maybe about two weeks," he answered. When Jeannie II looked like she would protest, he added, "I need time to quit my job, sell the house, say 'good bye' to everyone and everything."
"Ahh, good show," Jeannie's sister said. She blinked Major Nelson back to his home in the future, her voice echoing in his ears. "Remember, only 14 days of freedom. Then, you're all mine!" She growled and then her presence totally disappeared.
When Tony was satisfied she was gone, he dialed his private extension for NASA.
On the third ring, Major George Ripkin's baritone said, "Hello…? Oh, Tony! What can I do for you?"
"Well, I was wondering if you could program ERIC for me this weekend," Tony requested. He knew George had owed him a dozen favors for a long time. After all, Major Nelson had saved the fellow astronaut from an impending capsule mishap, and Tony had covered for him whenever George was out of town several times at the base.
"Well, I don't know…" George was saying. "General Peterson really doesn't like…"
"He wouldn't have to know," Tony said. "And this would clear the slate between us."
At his desk, George considered. If this would take care of the favors he owed Tony, and if the General or Doctor Bellows didn't find out anything, he supposed letting Tony use the computer after he programmed it was the least he could do.
"Okay," George agreed, "but I can only let you have it for an hour. Shall we say, Monday at 1100 hours? The top brass have a meeting then."
"Great," Tony said, hanging up. He was glad he'd thought of an idea to outwit his opponent. He would use the greatest thinking machine in the world to find out about sheiks from 2000 years ago. He knew he could discover more about Jeannie II's Master, or about Hadji. Once he found out about them, he could find a way to reach them after she blinked him back to the past.
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(In the past…)
The guards turned over baskets, looking for the infidel, Mahrouf. They knew that if they didn't return with him, the Grand Vizier, Jaffey, would have them whipped. One guard, a big, olive skinned man with a very short beard, rode up to the Captain.
"There is no trace," he reported. The Captain took out his scimitar and without a moment's hesitation, sliced the hapless soldier across his stomach. As the guard clutched his middle and fell off of his horse, the Captain eyed the other troops. They blanched under his scrutiny, praying that Allah would let them remain alive.
"Is there any one else who wishes to report?" the Captain asked.
"We'll find him," another guard said quickly.
"You had better," the Captain ordered. He rode away on his horse.
A short distance away, Jeannie asked her new Master, "What else do you require, Master?"
Mahrouf thought a moment, and realized he had a debt to pay to his friend, Ali. He wanted to do right by the man who had saved him from certain death, and Jeannie was the solution he needed. If he could have enough money and possessions legitimately to buy his way free and also repay Ali, doing that would soothe his conscience immensely.
But what should I ask for first? Mahrouf thought. The choices are so infinite.
Jeannie waited patiently, wondering what her new Master would want. If she were fortunate, he would want palaces and silks; maybe even a trip somewhere fabulous in the world. Not like Anthony, she thought. He never wanted anything! She remembered a time when she had tried to use magic to even blink up a small thing like breakfast for him. He had gotten angry when she did it because he had already had something to eat that morning.
Excuse me for not reading your thoughts! She mentally told Tony even though she knew he couldn't hear her. Angrily, she mentally concluded, No one is perfect. The least he could have done was try to thank me.
A tear went down her face. Mahrouf saw her crying. Although he had enough problems since he doubted the guards would be far away, he couldn't stand to see any woman cry. He decided to reverse his earlier decision to not get involved as he looked on in sympathy.
"Jeannie," he said, "do you wish to talk about what is making you cry?"
Jeannie straightened up, saying, "No, Master." She wiped her eyes, adding, "I-I will be well."
"If you wish some time alone…" Mahrouf started saying. Jeannie shook her head, allowing herself a small smile.
"No, but thank you," she replied, grateful that at least Mahrouf was willing to listen.
She blinked up a handkerchief and dabbed her eyes with it. When she made it dematerialize a moment later, Mahrouf heard her ask almost hesitantly, "Have you ever been in love?"
Mahrouf laughed disbelievingly, answering, "Me? No! Who would love a man with a baboon's face like me?"
Jeannie peered at her new Master. He was dark complexioned, like most in the hotter climate they were in. Although he didn't have any discernable features, he wasn't a man who would make women run away in fear or anything. He also had a good heart, and that alone would mean the world to many women, she decided. Mahrouf just needed confidence.
"You are not ugly, Master," she chided. "You just need the right clothing, and a trim, and you need to fatten up just a little."
Mahrouf chuckled softly. "Is that all, my little genie?" he asked, still not convinced.
Jeannie studied him again. His face, at least, didn't have pock marks on it, nor abrasions of any kind. It also had no wrinkles, nor did it have the permanent scowl of an unhappy man on it. Mahrouf's lips were full and good for kissing. His dark eyes contained warmth in them that rivaled her former Master's (when he wasn't angry with her, of course). His torso was muscular enough even if it was skinny and unlike a baboon, Mahrouf only had a smattering of hair on his chest.
She decided then and there that what her current Master needed was a woman in his life, someone to tell him how special he was. Of course, where could she find one? It wasn't as though she could go to the market and just pick one, and he probably wouldn't take too kindly to her blinking up a woman for him.
The magic girl put her finger to her chin, tapping it. Perhaps her mother, who knew practically everyone in the village Jeannie had grown up in, could suggest someone.
Before she could mull over this problem any more, a girl in dull brown robes ran past, a purple robed merchant hot on her heels.
"Quickly!" she said in a high, sing song voice which was slightly lower than Jeannie's but no less musical.
"Stop, thief!" the man said, running closer to where she was.
"You have to help me!" the girl tried again. "He's after me!" Mahrouf saw that she had deep, black eyes and although her robes hid her figure, he guessed that she had a nice one beneath them.
"Jeannie," he ordered. "Hide us!" Jeannie blinked, and there was a stand with melons and assorted fruits on it in front of the trio. The merchant ran past and, after looking to the left and to the right, shook his head in disgust. He lifted a fist in the air, swearing in perfect Arabic. When the man left to go back to his tent, Jeannie blinked away the group's hiding place.
"It is all right now," Mahrouf told the girl. She breathed a sigh of relief.
"Thank you," she said. "I am very grateful for your help." Jeannie looked at the girl. She would have to see what the newcomer looked like of course, but from the way her Master was looking at the girl she had to admit that this could be the woman he needed.
"What is your name?" Mahrouf asked, never taking his eyes off of her. The girl considered for a moment's pause before speaking.
"I am Yatilla," she said, "from the Northern Province." She removed her hood and Jeannie saw that she had a band with a stone across it. The stone was a deep blue one, its size denoting that she must be a person of some importance. The magic girl didn't say anything, however. Her Master didn't seem to notice. He was staring at her beautiful, oval face.
"How do you come to be so far from your home?" Mahrouf asked as she put back on her hood and they walked through the less densely populated alleys.
"I…decided to see the world," the girl said. Jeannie didn't say anything, but she followed the pair as they walked and talked.
Mahrouf gestured to his thin chest as he introduced himself and his genie. The girl nodded, her eyes taking in the sights, but also darting back and forth lest any guards or other people were following.
As they walked through the streets, a pair of eyes followed them. The owner didn't follow the trio but instead walked outside the town. A few yards from the entrance to the town, the mysterious stranger approached a man on a camel. The man had a regal, haughty bearing. He was an older man, at least forty or fifty. His dark, fathomless eyes held evil incarnate in their depths. He peeled back the hood on his richly adorned robes, revealing closely cropped hair in a face with some wrinkles around the mouth and etched into his forehead.
The Captain of the Guard and the troops were behind the man. "Speak," the man commanded in a deep voice laced with the deceptive sweetness of a human serpent.
"I spotted dem. De man is on de street near the Fruit Merchant's tent," the stranger said. "Dere are two oders wid him. One had a blue gem on a sash in de middle of her forehead. Looked expenseeve. De oder woman was fair."
The Captain withdrew a sword, shouting, "We will deal with him!" The short haired man's sharp instructions stopped him.
"No!" he snapped. The Captain re-sheathed his weapon.
"I have a better idea," the man said. He threw a sack of gold coins to the informant. The man bit one and, satisfied that it was real, withdrew into obscurity once more.
"It seems that our thief has more to answer for than just stealing camels and silks. He has taken the Princess as well," said the older man. The Captain and the other guards nodded in unison as they saw where their leader's mind was going.
The evil man on the camel smirked.
"Tell me, Captain," he asked in a calculating tone, "do you think the Sultan would pay handsomely for the return of his missing daughter?"
The guards laughed as their commanding officer said enthusiastically, "Yes, Effendi."
"Then, by all means, we should bring her home," the man with the evil eyes replied. The guards rode back into the town, ready to extend their "invitation".