0
The magic slave departed and Afrasiyab ordered the sorcerers of Muqarnas's family to perform his last rites and search for the murderers. After disposing of Muqarnas's corpse, they too started searching for the tricksters.
Meanwhile, the magic slave brought Afrasiyab's note to the Flashing Wilderness and gave it to Mahtab Moon-Maker. He read Afrasiyab's note in which the emperor had written
'O Mahtab, Amar and four other tricksters have entered your forest after killing Muqarnas. Arrest them and do not be neglectful.'
The magic slave departed after delivering the message.
Mahtab Moon-Maker conjured a house by magic in the middle of the forest and decorated it most lavishly with no convenience or luxury left wanting. A golden bed was laid out and a luxurious carpet spread on the floor. After deputing a few magicians on guard duty outside the house, Mahtab Moon-Maker cut the shape of the moon out of paper and pasted that paper moon on the door of his house. He recited a spell and it became bright and luminous like the full moon. Afterwards, Mahtab Moon-Maker sat drinking wine inside the house.
Suddenly, it occurred to Mahtab that he would have difficulty identifying the tricksters because they always struck in disguise. He decided to create a spell by which the tricksters would be recognized no matter what disguise they wore. Mahtab Moon-Maker cut out the shapes of sparrows from paper and recited a spell that made them come alive. They flew away and perched on the ledge of the roof. Mahtab implanted them with magic so that whenever Amar or any other trickster entered the house, one of the sparrows would fly to the ground, call out his name and burn up. After making these arrangements Mahtab Moon-Maker settled down, his mind finally at peace.
In the meanwhile, Amar Ayyar and the other tricksters crossed the desolation where Muqarnas lived and entered the Flashing Wilderness. From far away Amar Ayyar beheld a house in the middle of the forest lit up by a bright object that resembled the real moon, except it appeared even brighter and more luminous. He saw magicians sitting outside the door, fires burning under cauldrons and food being cooked. The magicians chanted and played tambourines in Sameri's honor. Regarding this sight, Amar said to himself, These strumpets' sons are enjoying themselves. I must kill them and clean the forest of their vile presence.
Amar disguised himself as a sorcerer and headed toward them. When he arrived at the house he praised the chanting of the magicians. They asked his name and where he lived. Amar answered, 'I am called Nay-Navaz the Flutist and I reside on Mount Calmuck.' The magicians invited him to join their company and sing for them. The false sorcerer sat down and started singing in a captivating voice, which reached Mahtab Moon-Maker's ears and made him restless. He stuck his head out of the door of his room and asked the magicians to bring the man inside. The magicians led Amar indoors.
The moment Amar set foot inside the house a sparrow flew down from the ledge, called out 'AMAR COMES!' and burned up.
When Amar heard the sparrow announce his name, he immediately put on his cape of invisibility. When Mahtab saw the singer disappear, he said to the magicians, 'He was not a singer but Amar Ayyar. He hid himself when the sparrow revealed his identity. Go back to your duties now and stay very alert.'
The magicians marvelled at these events. They went outside to confer and decided that they would now arrest any stranger who arrived there.
Amar Ayyar learned all the particulars of their arrangements and while the sorcerers returned to their duties, he went deep into the wilderness and blew his trickster's whistle. Trickster Burq the Frank heard his whistle and presented himself.
Burq said, 'What is the matter, O master!' Amar said to him, 'Dear boy, it is my wish that you disguise yourself as me, and head for that house where the magicians are gathered and magic sparrows announce people's names. The magicians will arrest you thinking that you are Amar, and feel satisfied on that account. Then I will arrive, perform my trickery and secure your release.'
Burq said, 'Very well.' He immediately disguised himself as Amar and headed for Mahtab's house.
As the false Amar approached the magicians, they set upon him the moment they saw him. As he was being taken prisoner, the noise reached Mahtab Moon-Maker. He asked the magicians whom they had captured. They replied, 'It is up to you to identify him now. We are certain for our part that it is Amar Ayyar.' Mahtab Moon-Maker said, 'Bring him here so that I may identify him.' The magicians brought the false Amar forward. When he set foot inside, the magic sparrow flew down from the ledge, called out, 'BURQ COMES!' and was burned up.
Mahtab Moon-Maker said to him, 'Tell me O trickster if your name is Burq.' The false Amar answered, 'No, my name is Amar.' Mahtab Moon-Maker said, 'My magic sparrow does not lie.' The false Amar replied, 'If my name was Burq why would I have called trouble down on my head by claiming I was Amar? Do I not know that Hoshruba is full of Amar's enemies? However, if you do not wish to believe me I am not in the least troubled.' Mahtab Moon-Maker said to himself, He must be speaking the truth because if a criminal like him had a chance to hide his identity he would have certainly availed himself of it, and not invited trouble by making a false claim. Mahtab Moon-Maker asked the false Amar, 'I believe you, O Amar, but why did you not conceal your identity from me? Why didn't you claim you were Burq?' The false Amar replied, 'My claim would have been futile. You could have easily discovered the truth as you have recourse to all kinds of magic.' Mahtab Moon-Maker said, 'You speak true but since the magic sparrow announced you as Burq, is it possible that you are known by that name, too?' The false Amar answered, 'My real name is indeed Burq, but everyone calls me Amar.' Mahtab Moon-Maker said, 'Didn't I tell you that my magic does not lie! Now I know that both you and my magic were right. However, I must put you through another test and see if your face corresponds to the portrait the emperor sent to help me identify Amar.'
Mahtab Moon-Maker took out a portrait of Amar Ayyar from the chest. When he saw not the least difference between it and the prisoner's face, Mahtab felt certain that it was the real Amar. He tied him up in a corner of the room and felt most pleased with himself.
