"Halls of Tuat," the young man trembled, spouting an oath. However, what he did next caught Jeannie by surprise.
"My brothers and sisters, I have failed you," the young man cried, falling to his hands and knees in tears. "Forgive your unworthy older sibling!"
"Oh?" Jeannie asked, an eyebrow raised. "You admit that you fail others by stealing?"
"By stealing poorly, like everything else I do," the youth spat out bitterly. "Now my family will starve..."
Jeannie pondered over the man's reaction, becoming more frustrated with each sob. She had been so sure she had caught someone evil, in tribute to her fallen master, but this wasn't what she expected. The pathetic creature before her was not evil, just desperate...or was he? After all, he might just be lying to get out of a bad situation. She began to wonder if she really was cursed, unable to answer her master's final wishes...
Jeannie smiled as an idea popped into her head. Curses! That was the answer. She didn't want to have to follow this man around forever to find out if he was truly good or evil, it would become quite boring, but she could leave behind a gift that would do the job for her.
"What is your name, boy?" Jeannie asked with an ominous smile.
"Khamrud," the young man answered, his chest heaving.
"Well, Khamrud," Jeannie started, "whatever your story may be, you have stolen from a djinn; you don't think you're going to get off scot-free, do you?" Khamrud looked up as the blood drained from his tanned face.
"But I am not without mercy," Jeannie continued proudly. "Therefore I will give you an opportunity to prove your worth." Hope began to dawn in Khamrud's eyes, but was dashed with Jeannie's next sentence.
"I leave you with a curse. Whenever you do something evil, such as lie or steal, you will grow an aspect of a random animal, a fitting punishment for giving in to bestial instincts. But don't worry, if you do three truly good deeds, you might have a chance at reversing it...maybe!" Jeannie grinned at her own intelligence, then snapped her fingers.
The desert oasis swam before Khamrud's eyes, and in less than an instant, he was back in the busy street, Jeannie nowhere in sight. He looked around, still terrified, and shivering, ran off.
From around a corner, Jeannie watched the young man leave, then carefully followed him at a distance.
"Let's see what you are truly like, human named Khamrud!" Jeannie chuckled to herself.