***

When they arrived at the address Farik had provided, Shimon was astonished to see a huge, palatial mansion.

“I’ll knock, Master.” Shimon said hurriedly. “I think it would look impressive if he came out with his family and saw you surrounded by all your glorious merchandise.”

“Yes, it would make for a pretty portrait, wouldn’t it?” Ali replied. “I’ll do just that.”

Shimon knocked on the door and Farik answered immediately.

“Whose home is this?” Those were the first words out of Shimon’s mouth. “It’s gorgeous!”

“Whose home? Mine, of course!”

“W-what?” Shimon spluttered. “B-but….”

“Why do you look so shocked, Shimon? What, you thought I was a lowly beggar?”

“B-but you’re a thief!” Shimon then quickly added, “Like me!”

“So? I may have money, but that doesn’t mean I’m not a crook.”

“This makes no sense!” Shimon cried. “You have so much money as it is! You can just pay Ali the amount you promised, there’s no reason to steal anything!”

“Too late to change the plan, isn’t it?” Farik grinned. “You’ve already arrived with the merchandise, right? Ali’s dead, isn’t he?”

“Ali’s here, standing with his merchandise a little further up the pathway.”

“What?” You didn’t kill him with the dagger I gave you? What is going on here? You came with him?”

“Yes, I did. I didn’t have the heart to kill a man who was so excited to be receiving reward for his hard labor, perhaps for the first time in his entire life.”

“You soft-hearted fool…” Farik whispered, his eyes narrowing. “Now you’ve complicated everything, haven’t you?”

“No, not really, Farik. It turns out you’re really a wealthy man, after all. Why don’t you just go inside your beautiful house and retrieve payment for Ali’s wares. You can still sell them for a huge profit, much more than what you’re paying for them.”

“I’m not paying for anything, dog!” Farik barked, his charming smile a thing of the past. His face contorted into a mask of rage. “I may have money, but I wanted Ali’s carpets for free and then I wanted to sell them for exorbitant prices. That’s still my desire and nothing’s going to change that.”

“I may be a crook myself and I’ve done a lot of terrible things in my life, Farik, but you truly are the lowest of the low.”

“Ha! You’re preaching to me, Jew?” Farik’s fingers curled into balled fists. “You were prepared to murder an innocent man. Now you’re playing saint, deciding to spare his life and then lecturing me about my life? You’re just as rotten as I am.”

“Maybe so, but I’m no longer part of this plan. Goodbye, Farik.”

“You’re just going to walk away?”

Shimon did not answer. He turned and began walking down the road toward Ali.

“What’s happening?” Ali was still smiling in anticipation, totally oblivious to the events unfolding around him. “Is he coming out with the money?”

“No, he’s not.” Shimon took a deep breath. “Master, we have to leave immediately.”

“What’s going on?” Ali’s smile melted into an anxious frown.

“Your suspicions were right all along. Achmed doesn’t exist. The man you spoke to is a fraudster named Farik. He never planned on paying you for anything. He was going to steal your carpets and sell them himself.”

“I don’t believe this.”

“Here.” Shimon withdrew the dagger tucked into his side. “Remember this? Farik gave me this dagger. He wanted me to kill you before we came here. I was supposed to deliver the goods alone, and then we would split the profits.”

“I don’t know what to say…”

“You don’t have to say anything. Turn the mules around and go home.”

“And you?”

“I’m assuming I’m fired, right? I’m not someone you want working for you. I’m going to go on my own way, stumbling through my wretched life, bringing misery to people.”

“No, Shimon. You are a good man. You chose not to kill me. You are helping me now.”

Shimon blinked twice. It had been many years since anyone had said anything nice about him.

Suddenly, the sound of dogs barking filled the air.

To be continued…

(Originally featured in Mishpacha Jr., Issue 809)