A fisherman lived with his wife and children close to the sea. The fisherman promised himself that he would not throw his net into the sea more than four times every day Most of the time, he brought home enough fish to sell and also to cook some for dinner.
Early one morning, the fisherman threw his net into the water and very quickly his net became heavy. He used all his energy to pull it out. He was excited. But it was the dead body of a donkey. He threw his net back into the water. Again it became heavy. He thought, this time I must have lots of fish in my net. I shall sell some and we shall have some for dinner. All he found in the net was a bag full of garbage: "Oh no! he cried "What is happening? Are we to have no fish for dinner tonight?
He threw the net in for the third time. This time too he was not lucky. His net came out of the water full of shells and stones. I shall throw it in the water just once more, said the fisherman sadly. This time when he pulled up the net, he found a copper jar in it. The jar was tightly shut with a lid made of lead. There was a strange mark on the lid. It looked like the seal of a king. Well, he said, something is better than nothing. I shall sell this to a coppersmith. He will give me some money for it. I can then buy some food for my wife and children."
The fisherman was curious about the jar. He wondered what was inside it. He shook it, but there was no sound. Then he took off the lid and poof! Out came a lot of thick smoke. The smoke spread all over the sky and took the shape of a monstrous scary genie.
The fisherman crouched on the ground. He was like a frightened rabbit facing a fierce hunting dog. What had he done? The first thought he had was that he should run away as fast as his legs could carry him. Then the genie spoke like a huge clap of thunder, 'Oh king of all genies, I shall never disobey you again!"
The fisherman felt a bit better. He said. What are you talking about? I am not a king. How did you come out of this jar? Talk to me properly roared the genie, otherwise I shall not think twice I shall kill you and be on my way. 'Oh my!' said the fisherman. I have been so polite to you. Why must you of killing me?
I have been shut up in this jar for three hundred years, said the genie
Then you should be happy. I have let you out. Why do you want to kill me? said the fisherman. I was shut inside this jar by the king of all genies, because I had disobeyed his rules said the genie. I thought that if anyone freed me from this jar before a hundred years had passed, I would make him a very rich man. Nobody set me free. I still had hope that I would be freed in the next century, but no one set me free. Then the third century started. I thought that if I was free I would make the person who freed me a king. I would stay by his side and help him.
Then the genie screamed loudly and it seemed as if the whole earth shook, "No one came to free me in the third century. Then I promised that I would kill the person who freed me. So tell me, How do you want to die?
Please don't kill me great genie I have helped you, said the fisherman with folded hands. Don't waste my time, said the genie, 'quick, tell me how you want to die? Okay said the fisherman, but I don't believe you were ever in that small jar. Before I tell you how I want to die, can you show me how they put such a gigantic genie like you into this jar?
Slowly the genie changed from a huge genie into smoke. The smoke went into the jar. A voice came from the jar, 'Now do you believe me?
As quick as lightning, the fisherman took the lid and shut the jar. He screwed the lid on tightly. The genie tried as much as he could to make the fisherman open the jar. He promised him all the riches of the world. The fisherman didn't care about being rich any more All he wanted was to be safe from the wicked genie. He picked up the jar and threw it back into the water.
