Hatim’s adventure with the monstrous animal had exhausted him, so when he saw a fortified town his happiness knew no bounds. On entering it, he saw that the town was abandoned. Although shops were full of commodities, houses too had curtains yet no human could be seen. Deathly silence filled the town. Hatim walked further and reached the royal mansion, where the king stood alone. The king said to him, “It’s your misfortune to visit our town, stranger, for the fear of the monstrous animal residing in the nearby jungle has made my people leave this town. I stand here alone to guard it!” Then the king described the monstrous animal to Hatim. Hatim said to the king, “Relax, for I have killed that monster!” And taking its fangs out from his pocket, he showed the proof to the king. Soon the news spread like wildfire and people came back. The ghostly town got back its life.
The Ghostly Town
