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The moment that rose-like creature stepped inside, a magic sparrow flew down from the ledge and cried, 'AMAR COMES!' and burned up. Mahtab Moon-Maker said to himself, I have captured Amar once already. I also verified his face with his portrait and that, too, confirmed it. This magic sparrow must be lying. While Mahtab Moon-Maker was engrossed in these thoughts, the false damsel said, 'It was for this reason that I did not wish to accompany you. Now I shall leave. I told you that magical devices will be the death of me.'
Smitten with her beauty, Mahtab Moon-Maker replied, 'O darling, the tricksters keep attacking, and I made these magic sparrows for my protection to alert me of their presence.' She replied, 'I cannot bear it. This magic sparrow just called me a trickster. Now I suppose you ought to avoid me because I am a trickster and could kill you!'
As she headed out, Mahtab Moon-Maker stopped her by holding her in his embrace and, after much flattery and praise, persuaded her to return. As she stepped inside another magic sparrow flew down from the ledge, cried, 'AMAR COMES!' and burned up. That false beauty asked Mahtab Moon-Maker, 'Now tell me, who did the magic sparrow alert you against?' Mahtab Moon-Maker replied, 'It seems that some fault has occurred in my magic. And since it also frightens you, I shall eliminate it altogether.'
Mahtab Moon-Maker recited an incantation and struck his hands together, which caused all the sparrows to fall to the ground and burn up. Mahtab Moon-Maker said, 'Now you may settle down here in comfort.' The false damsel sat down on the golden couch and noticed Burq lying tied up in a corner. Their eyes met and Burq realized it was Amar Ayyar in disguise.
In the meanwhile, Mahtab Moon-Maker sent for food and said to the false damsel, 'You are hungry. Eat something. Thereafter we will seek pleasure from each other and rest.' The mouth of that rosebud opened to say, 'I haven't had a sip of wine in many days. My senses are in disarray. Now I feel neither hunger nor thirst. I long only for wine. Before you lay this sumptuous feast for us, give me a cup of wine.' Mahtab Moon-Maker immediately brought a tray of wine. He put it before her and said, 'Here! Drink to your heart's content.' This rose-like false creature filled a goblet with roseate wine and offered it to Mahtab Moon-Maker, who said, 'You haven't had wine for some time. I would that you have a sip first.' She answered, 'I will have it in my turn. This cup is for you.'
While they were having this exchange, Afrasiyab remembered he had not heard from Mahtab Moon-Maker since he sent the note. Wondering why he had not captured Amar Ayyar yet, Afrasiyab decided to look into the Book of Sameri to see what passed with him. He learned that Amar sat beside Mahtab Moon-Maker disguised as a woman and was about to kill him.
The emperor recited a spell and a magic slave sprang up from the ground. Afrasiyab said, 'Rush to Mahtab Moon-Maker and tell him that the woman sitting beside him is Amar Ayyar, and the one lying tied up in a corner is Burq the Frank. Tell him to arrest both of them and bring them here.' The magic slave left immediately with the emperor's message.
The false damsel had filled her mouth with drug powder and also mixed it in the wine she gave to Mahtab Moon-Maker. The sorcerer had not yet taken a sip when the ground trembled and the false damsel reckoned that some calamity had arrived. The next instant the magic slave dispatched by Afrasiyab sprang up from the ground. With a frightened cry, the false damsel threw herself into Mahtab Moon-Maker's arms, and he said to her, 'Don't be afraid!' She pressed her cheek against Mahtab's and blew the powdered drug from her mouth into the sorcerer's nostrils. He sneezed and fell unconscious.
The magic slave cried, 'O MAHTAB, THIS IS AMAR AYYAR. THE EMPEROR HAS ORDERED YOU TO ARREST HIM.' But by then Mahtab Moon-Maker lay comatose and deaf to his cries. The magic slave stepped forward to deliver the emperor's message into Mahtab Moon-Maker's ears. Seeing him approach, the false damsel threw the Net of Ilyas and caught him. Then leaving him in a corner tangled in the net, she released Burq and killed Mahtab Moon-Maker. A commotion of thunderous noise broke out and darkness fell over everything.
When the magicians appointed by Mahtab Moon-Maker rushed into his room, Amar and Burq beheaded them with dagger blows. A blaze arose, killing many a sorcerer. The few who survived were too terrified to set foot indoors and ran away to escape the calamity that had struck inside.
After some time, when things returned to normal, Amar released the magic slave from the net and said to him, 'Go tell that clown Afrasiyab that I shall soon behead him by the grace of my majesty and glory.'
The magic slave took off immediately. Amar looted all the goods and riches of Mahtab Moon-Maker and stuffed them into his zambil. Then Amar and Burq headed for the forest.
Burq said, 'Tell me O master, what your plan is.' Amar answered, 'I will go my way dear boy and you should go yours, but do come to me in my hour of need.' Burq made a salute and went leaping and bounding in one direction while Amar Ayyar took another.
