Chapter 4: The Lamp That Shouldn't Be Warm
The way back to the village seemed shorter.
Maybe it was Lin Yuan's backpack getting heavier, or maybe his mind had been preoccupied ever since he'd dug up the queer brass lamp.
Every few minutes he reached behind him to see that it was still there.
Not because he thought someone would take it, Because it didn't feel real.
He went into the cave expecting nothing more than a good story for himself. Instead he'd come out with something that appeared to have been buried for centuries.
Whether it was worth it or not...Don't know.
The sun was already starting to go down behind the mountains by the time Lin Yuan reached the guesthouse. Outside the old woman was watering flowers.
There you are." She put down the watering can. "I was beginning to think we'd have to get my husband out to rescue you."
The old man, sharpening a sickle close by, looked up. "I wasn't.
His wife scowled. You were certain. That one had to be sharpened, and I was sharpening it. "You improved it three times. "I like sharp things."
Lin Yuan laughed. "I made it back safe."
The old woman folded her arms. "And?...Find your treasure?"
Lin Yuan took the pack off his shoulders and unzipped it. I have found...this.
He opened the towel carefully. The brass lamp lay quiet in his hands. It wasn't shiny. There were no gems set in it. It was a dull brownish green, besmirched with years of dirt.
The old couple bent down. "Hmmm . . ."
The old man adjusted his spectacles. "Looks ancient," he said. You think it is worth?" Lin Yuan said.
The old man rubbed his chin. I think so... He inverted the lamp. "...it's certainly older than me."
His wife slapped his shoulder. "Everything is older than you. No, it is not. And me?" "...I choose not to answer."
Lin Yuan laughed.
The old woman looked again at the lamp. "Never seen one like that. "It was buried? "Absolutely." Lin Yuan said
The old man carefully took it back. "Well, if it really is an antique…" He shrugged. "...you should have someone look at it that knows about these things."
Lin Yuan gave a nod. "I was thinking that too."
He didn't expect millions. If it made enough to pay for the trip... He'd think it was worth it already.
Lin Yuan carried the lamp into his room that night. In the yellow light of the bedside lamp he laid it down gently on the desk.
When the layers of mud had been stripped off it looked surprisingly elegant.
The handle curved exquisitely to the rear. The body was wrapped with intricate patterns, many of them worn smooth with age. Some symbols looked like flowers. Some looked like stars.
He stepped forward. "They don't look Chinese…"
He wasn't some expert. Not a chance. But he had seen so many documentaries, he had a general idea of ancient design.
This was… different.
Lin Yuan accepted it. The warmth was back at once.
His brow furrowed. "...Still warm."
It was impossible. It had been buried for centuries under cold stone, It ought to have been freezing. Maybe... Metal held heat differently?
He didn't know. He put it on the wooden desk, curious, and then ignored it for nearly half an hour while he took a shower.
When he came back…He felt it again. Still hot. Not hot Not embarrassing.
Just Warm…Comfortable.
As if someone had just been holding it moments before. A funny feeling crept up the back of his neck. Lin Yuan looked at the lamp.
Then he laughed softly. "Congrats. Now you've been watching too many mystery movies."
He grabbed a damp cloth. If I want anyone to tell this..." He mumbled. ...I should probably clean it up first."
The cloth blackened almost immediately. The tough dirt gradually disappeared, layer by layer. The brass beneath was beautiful in its reflection of the light despite its age. The more of the surface was exposed, the more the engravings became clear.
Lines: Circles. Symbols unlike anything he had ever seen. They looked...symmetrical, in a strange way. Almost deliberately. Lin Yuan washed warily around the spout.
Nothing. He wiped the handle. Nothing still. At last...He scrubbed the lamp's bulbous body with both hands. His fingers brushed accidentally against the smooth brass. Once. Twice. Thrice
"....There" .He sat back, pleased. "Much better.
Silence. The room was exactly the same.
Lin Yuan smiled silently. "Imagine if a genie really popped out."
He shook his head. "I have officially spent too much time on the internet."
He stood and walked toward the kitchenette. "I must have ramen for saying something so stupid."
Just as he neared the stove… the lights flickered. One, two. The room suddenly went eerily quiet. The refrigerator had stopped humming too.
"Power outage?" Lin Yuan glanced up.
Then… The lamp flickered a dim, glowing hue. A slender plume of light-blue smoke puffed from the spout. Lin Yuan stalled.
"What?"
A wave of smoke poured into the room. Not fire, not steam. But something flowing up-unnaturally so, dancing as if invisible hands were pushing it along the ceiling.
It got cold. The curtains rustled against the glass even though the window was shut. Lin Yuan involuntarily took a step back.
The smoke ballooned out, reaching all the way up to the ceiling.
His pulse raced.
"This…" He stammered. "must be a chemical reaction." Suddenly, the smoke congealed. A pair of shining eyes appeared within it. Lin Yuan's breath hitched.
Slowly, the smoke began to form into shape. Tall and burly, clad in robes that were out of any modern era. His wrists encircled with golden bands, a waterfall of silver hair fell down his back.
His legs were nothing but churning smoke down to the floor.
Complete silence. The man opened his eyes, a placid look of ancient calm shining from their depths. He looked straight at Lin Yuan.
Then… without thinking twice… He bowed his head.
"My master."
His voice rang, oddly as though many were speaking at once.
"I have greetings for you after long ages of slumber."
Lin Yuan just stared. "… The figure remained bowed "I have been awaiting the touch of my master for ages uncounted." Lin Yuan blinked. Once. Then twice.
His eyes went from the window, to the door, to the lamp. To the floating figure again.
"No."
The figure titled his head upward, "My master?"
Lin Yuan's body slashed and erupted in laughter, loud and out of control. He was laughing so hard that he had to grip the back of a chair to keep from collapsing.
"This…" he wiped the tears from his eyes "…is the craziest dream I have ever had."
The ancient figure blinked at him, looking genuinely perplexed, "My master…"
Lin Yuan pointed at the figure with one still shaking finger, . "A genie? Seriously? Out of a lamp? What is this? Did my brain decide to combine every fairy tale into one hallucination?"
The figure looked completely impassive, "I am indeed a genie."
Lin Yuan nodded eagerly, "Right! Of course you are. And I'm sure I'm still dreaming because I climbed a mountain all day long."
The genie blinked. He had served kings, emperors, conquerors, sorcerers… every single master had been characterized by greed, shock, disbelief, or fear. …Never this.
Lin Yuan reached for the small kitchenette without giving the ancient being a second glance, pouring water into a pot, "So, if you are really a genie…" he opened a pack of instant noodles "….
You can go and fulfil somebody else's wish, I'm tired."
"My master… I may only serve my rightful owner."
Lin Yuan heaved an exaggerated sigh, "Persistent hallucinations now."
The genie straightened "Please state your first wish."
Lin Yuan pinched the bridge of his nose, turning around with a wry smile, "Alright then. You want a wish?"
The genie nodded respectfully.
Lin Yuan spread his arms wide. "Then make me…" he grinned " ….the master of the earth." The genie closed his eyes, placed one hand over his chest.
"As you command…" A blinding flash of golden light erupted from the figure.
The room shook. The lamp vibrated furiously on the table. Far beyond the stars… for a fleeting second… something ancient awakened. Then… everything fell silent.
The light died.
The Genie bowed his head.
"It is done."
Lin Yuan stared for several seconds, waiting for something to happen.
The walls of the small apartment remained the same, the wallpaper was still peeing, the instant noodles were still waiting on the stove, "Yup," he said with a sigh, " I am definitely still dreaming." He switched off the stove, scooped the noodles onto his bed, and yawned. "I'm going to get some sleep, perhaps tomorrow my dreams will make more sense."
The genie watched silently as his new master climbed into bed, offering no other comment.
Within minutes Lin Yuan was asleep. The Genie remained stood at the lamp, watching him, patiently waiting. Neither one noticed that at the very moment the wish was granted… the Earth… gained a new master.