Investigating the Moon

King Aaron gave an impossible mission that day. He asked Abunawas to go to the moon.

“Going to the moon?” asked Abunawas.

“Yes, Abu. I know you are a smart man. You must be able to go to the moon,” said the king.

“Okay, I’ll go there tomorrow evening, Your Majesty,” answered Abunawas quickly.

The king was surprised. He ever expected to get such certain answer. He asked, “Where will you go from?”

“From my house,” answered the smart man.

“All right, I’ll go there to see you go to the moon tomorrow evening,” said the king.

The next evening the king and his ministers went to Abunawas’ house. The full moon shone brightly that evening. Stars were scattered all over the sky.

When the king and his ministers arrived there, they could not find Abunawas at home. They just met his wife.

Where is your husband, Abunawas?” asked the king to Abunawas’ wife.

“He is just leaving for the moon. Your Majesty,” answered the woman. “He said that he would come back soon.”

The king and the ministers looked at each other. Then one of ministers asked, “How did he leave for the moon?”

“He climbed the palm tree over there.”

“How will he come back?” asked the king.

“He will come back through the palm tree also,” answered Abunawas’ wife.

“Where is the palm tree?”

“Over there,” replied her, pointing her forefinger to the palm tree in the yard.

The king saw a black figure getting down from the tree.

“Is that you, Abunawas?” asked the king.

“Yes, it’s me, Your Majesty, he answered.

“Where do you come from?”

“I’ve just investigated the moon.”

“Did you investigate the moon from the top of that palm tree?” asked the king.

“No,” Abunawas answered. When he reached the ground he said, “The tree is just a ladder through which I went to the moon.”

The king just smiled when he heard Abunawas’ answer.

“So you have really stepped on the moon and seen the things there?” asked the king.

“Yes, I have,” Abunawas answered shortly.

“What did you see there?”

“The land and mountains. There were no plants.”

“All right, if you really went there. Who are the witnesses? Who saw you going up to the moon, walking there, and coming back to the earth?” asked the king smiling.

Unpredictably Abunawas smiled hearing the question. I’ll give you not only three witnesses, but tens or even thousands of them,” said Abunawas surely.

“Who are they?” asked the king.

Abunawas pointed his finger to the sky.

“The stars were the answer, the king laughed. “Why didn’t you wait for us to witness your going to the moon?” the king asked.

“You are too late, Your Majesty. I can only go to the moon at certain time.”