"Can I wish you back to normal?" Fred asked. "No, Master. Wishes that
affect my
own status are not allowed." "Is there no way, then, to release you?" "I
do not
know, Master. That the lamp was empty when I found it suggests that it
might be
possible." "Then I had better make at most two wishes. I don't want you and
the lamp to disappear before I can find a way to set you free." "That is
up to you,
Master. I may not express an opinion. But I ought to warn you to be very
careful with your wishes, since I am
compelled to be very literal. If you say: 'I wish I could get rid of this
nasty cold',
then that will happen and you will have used up a wish." "Would you please
drop that
'Master' nonsense and just call me 'Fred'." "I am afraid that is not
permitted, Master. It would
imply that we were equals and therefore would count as modifying my own
status."
Fred thought of how he might use his two wishes. Perhaps first to kill the dragon and then to transport himself and Astra to some powerful mage who might be able to free her from the lamp? Then there was Velus; he really ought to restore him to human form. Or should he be more ambitious, and wish for world peace and an end to poverty? Could even the power of the lamp achieve things like that, though? Or, and though Fred was a noble man he was not immune to temptation, should he wish for wealth and a long life for himself? Or even that Astra should be his slave, wife or mistress when/if she was free of the lamp?
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11/4/2000 9:51:22 AM
Extending Enabled
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