our magnificent and benevolent Caliph …”

“Oh, sorry,” interrupted Donna. “I didn’t mean to be rude. But you know Great River –”

“Everyone knows about the unhappy place, and I have special reasons to hate the Evil Vizier,” sighed the woman. She touched her eyes with an embroidered silk handkerchief, permitting clouds of perfume to float around her. Donna sneezed. “Come, my dear, sit on the carpet, and let’s go to the palace.”

Donna sat on the carpet, with Gilbert attaching himself as usual to her hair. Everyone else climbed on. Since no one tied herself to the carpet, Donna did not want to question their mode of traveling, but this was even worse than riding the flying animals. Nothing stood between her and a horrible fall, and...

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