Then the demon released the merchant and departed. The merchant turned to the three old men and thanked them, and they congratulated him on his deliverance and bade him good-bye. Then they separated, and each of them went on his way. The merchant himself went back home to his family, his wife, and his children, and he lived with them until the day he died. (Pg 577)
But this story is not as strange or as amazing as the story of the gambler.
Dinarzad asked, “Please, sister, what is the story of the gambler?” Shahrazad said:…
[The Story of the Gambler and a Young Woman]
I heard, O happy king, that there once was a gambler, who had never lost any of his gambles. He would travel the streets, making silly bets with passer-byes along the way, such as being able to guess the number of fingers they’re holding up or what they had for dinner last night. He was able to do this after making a deal with a demon; the power to read minds. However, if he were to tell anyone of his ability, he would lose his ability and his voice.
After winning a fair share of gambles, he would return to his house and count his winnings. One day, during his trite routine, a young woman approaches him and asks him for directions. The beauty of this women enchanted him to the point where he offers to bring her to her location. After arriving at her destination, the gambler, unwilling to separate from her, asks her to make a bet. Unsure of his motive, the young woman asks “What does this bet consist of?” The gambler says, “If I am able to guess correctly every thought you have for the next year, you will have to marry me.” The young woman, extremely skeptical, but in complete disbelief that he will be able to complete such a feat, decides to accept his bet.
Every day for the next few months, the gambler and the young woman meet at the same location. The gambler manages to correctly guess every animal, color, food, and any other thought she had that day. They meet every day, and the young woman begins to slowly enjoy the time she spends with him. However, on the very last day of the bet, the gambler fails to show up…
But morning overtook Shahrazad, and she lapsed into silence. Then her sister Dinarzad said, “Sister, what a lovely story!” Shahrazad replied, “Tomorrow night I shall tell you something even lovelier, stranger, and more wonderful if I live, the Almighty God willing.”
Fantastic set-up–and, of course, I want to know the ending!
But morning overtook Shahrazad, and she lapsed into silence. Then her sister Dinarzad said, “Sister, what a lovely story!” Shahrazad replied, “Tomorrow night I shall tell you something even lovelier, stranger, and more wonderful if I live, the Almighty God willing.”
The following night, Dinarzad said to her sister Shahrazad, “Please, sister, if you are not sleepy, finish the story of the gambler.” Shahrazad replied, “With the greatest pleasure”:
I heard, O King, that the demon who granted the gambler his ability to read any mind like a scroll unfurled at will grew tired of waiting for his price. The gambler had been too cunning and too careful until it seemed as though the demon would not retrieve the gambler’s voice to add to his expansive collection before the deep, silky timbre wore rough and shallow with age.
While the young woman waited for the gambler, the demon was springing a trap. With a whisper here and nudge there, the demon stoked the rage in the heart of a merchant who had lost many a bet with the gambler and run deep into his savings, much to his and his wife’s chagrin. The merchant went to the house of the gambler, who was smoothing down his hair and checking his teeth in anticipation of the day’s meeting, and knocked on his door. When the gambler answered, the merchant asked him a simple question, one he had asked many a time: “What am I thinking?” The gambler, anxious to not keep the young woman waiting and eager to seal their engagement, was quick to reply, “I can read minds.”
With that, the demon slipped his hand around the gambler’s throat, severing his ability and his voice with one sliding finger.
Suddenly, the gambler awoke from a deep slumber. What a horrible dream he had! Realizing the mistake he had made in oversleeping, he tossed his blanket to the side and sprung out of bed. He was late for the last day of the bet with the beautiful woman he had become so fond of.
He made his way to the meeting location, with gifts and an engagement ring in hand. The gambler beamed at the thought of his future with the woman. His ability would make known her every wish, every thought, and bring to her all of the riches she could ever want.
As he approached the location, he saw his beauty anxiously awaiting his arrival. “I cannot tell you how sorry I am for being late. I overslept, and had a terrible dream. However, I’m ready to make you my wife, right after I reveal one final thought of yours.”
“Alright,” said the woman. Playfully, she explained: “Since you have, for the past year, guessed every one of my thoughts correctly, this last one will be simple. Once you answer my question truthfully, you can make me your wife.” The gambler was confident, and smiled, readier than ever.
“Tell me, gambler, how many children I want to bear,” she said.
When he attempted to read her mind, to divulge the answer, he realized he could not…
But morning overtook Shahrazad, and she lapsed into silence. Then her sister Dinarzad said, “Sister, what a lovely story!” Shahrazad replied, “Tomorrow night I shall tell you something even lovelier, stranger, and more wonderful if I live, the Almighty God willing.”