Ali Baba was a poor woodcutter who lived at the edge of a busy town. Each morning he led his three donkeys into the dry hills, where he cut fallen branches and tied them into bundles with rope. His brother Cassim lived quite differently. He had a broad house, a counting table, and heavy jars of oil lined against the wall. When the brothers met in the market, Cassim spoke only of measures and prices, while Ali Baba weighed figs carefully in his hand before buying just a few.
One noon, while Ali Baba was gathering wood near a great rock face, he heard the sound of many hoofbeats striking the ground together. He quickly drew his donkeys behind some thorn bushes and climbed high into the branches of an old tree. Soon, forty riders came over the rise. Each carried a saddlebag heavy enough to pull the leather straps low. They halted before the rock, and their captain raised his hand. “Open Sesame,” he commanded. At once, a seam appeared in the solid stone, and a dark mouth opened wide enough for them all to enter.
Ali Baba waited quietly until the riders came out again. The captain said, “Close Sesame,” and the rock became whole once more. When the hoofbeats had faded far away, Ali Baba climbed down, set one hand on the warm stone, and whispered, “Open Sesame.” The cave opened just as it had for the thieves. Inside, he found carpets folded in tall towers, chests …
6 chapters
