#anywhere

"I guess, listen, I'll get you to the Lodge, ok?"

He puts the lamp under his arm and reaches for his phone. "I'll figure out where we are, see if the car or the Lodge is closer...."

"Good plan... but neither of us is in great shape. Maybe wish for our health?"

"Oh." He puts the phone back and takes the lamp out of his armpit. "Yeah.... Uh, I wish we were both healthy and healed up."

"You have to rub it three times..." Nabuni says "That's the story. Rub 3 times and.. see what you get. "

"Oh! Right, right..... " He tucks her into the crook of his arm and then uses his hand to rub the lamp. "I wish we were both healthy and healed up."

"SILENCE, MISERABLE DOG! You will wait until I am truly manifested in my GLORY!" A billowing chimera erupts from the lamp.. and if Nabuni were a lit torch, he would be a wildfire. "No introductions? No respect???"

"WHoooaa.." Nabuni gulps.

"I am Mazu-Morkata! Of the Djinn of the 3rd Rank, son of the Universe... granter of wishes" it says "You will adress ME, and not the lamp, mortal. I am the power, the lamp the prison, Do not confuse the two again"

"JESUS!"

He almost drops the lamp; on the other hand, he does NOT come close to dropping Nab.

"YOU CALL ON HOLY NAMES? Are you TRYING to bind me, or merely the son of all ignorance??"

"You startled me!!" Adam straightens up and gestures with the lamp. "So.... you grant wishes? To the one who has the lamp?"

"YES, you shivering quivering bit of primordial flotsam given shape by a creator who clearly did not think things through, I must grant your wishes."

"He's cranky" Nabuni whispers

"I wish Nab and I were healthy and healed." He repeats.

"Done..." There's a burst of glamour

It swirls and whirls and ... Adam feels something slip wild and free and...

but the worst of his injuries heal.

He can see the slash marks on his flesh sealed to mere white scars.

He checks himself, then Nab.

The five foot four inch tall chimera looks to be healed. "Hey, not even a scar. Guess his wish power works easier on fellow chimera"

"Hey. You're big."

"I.. what?" She whirls around "I'm dressed like a real teenage girl and I didn't do that... " SHe feels "Horns, wings, tail, still there... how..."

Mazu-Morkata says "Bah! Do not blame me... MY power is supreme... that you decided health means tall.."

A snif from the Djinn "And.. something else..some other magic... mmm you are favored ? I do not see why" He looks at Adam "You seem but a speck in Destiny's grand design."

Adam seems clueless on that as well.

"Adam didn't wish me this size!" Nabuni says

"Didn't he? " Mazu-Morkata says "didn't He?"

"I said healthy and healed." Adam protests. "Nab, have you been sick or hurt or something all this time?"

"NO..>" Then she pauses "I mean... does mental health count?"

Adam looks at the Djinn for an answer.

"Do you wish to WISH for an answer from me?" Mazu-Morkata smirks

Nabuni looks at the Djin "Wow you're cheap. NO he's not going to waste a wish on that"

"Pffft." a sound of scorn.

"Then make your next wish, you flea on the world's backside" Mazu-Morkata snorts to Adam

Adam looks at the lamp.... then slowly up to the Djinn. And then slowly at Nab.

Nab says "If you use it, it should be done and those two can't get him.. and won't have reason to hunt us..." Nab says thinking about it. "Course you have to be careful. Don't say something like 'wish he'd shut up' or 'wish I had a drink'"

"I think.... I should take this to the Chief." Adam speaks as if he's a very far way away.

"Who is this Chief that you have surrendered your choice to?" Mazu-Morkata asks

He looks at Nab, and his expression is sorrowful.

Nabuni says "It's okay, Adam.. I FEEL .. I'm fine"

"Yeah." He looks up at Mazu-Morkata. "So do you have to tell us the rules, or do we guess? For wishes."

"I am, compelled by laws older than you know... Three wishes must I grant, and while I can play with the wording the real threat is your own mind.. your own desires..." Mazu-Morkata says "I cannot make you wish... but I listen keenly for the word. Because this is a land where Winter hungers.. I am allowed, as a self defense, to put a time limit on your wishes... If you take too long, I'll be free and you lose the other wishes. Fine by me though Id' rather you just wish already. No one else can use the lamp to wish... while you live"

"How long do I have to use these wishes?"

A sour face, clearly the genie didn't want to admit... "You have 24 hours to make your next wish"\

"And I can't give the wishes away, but if I made a wish on someone else's behalf? Like I did for Nab. That would work?"

"This is possible, of course." He says "Though with a will as weak as yours, I may laugh greatly at your misfortune.." A thoughtful look "And yet, the wish turned to your advantage, and hers. Interesting"

Adam looks at Nab again. "Yeah, I .... I should take this to the Chief." He sighs.