The Amir was sleeping as usual while his court was in full swing in the marketplace. Then, Jafar came running and said, “Sir, Mulla Nasruddin is here in Bukhara. I have talked to him just now.” Hearing this, the Amir woke up and exclaimed, “But the Khalifa of Baghdad wrote that he had beheaded Mulla. The Suleiman of Turkey told me that he had crucified him. The Shah of Iran sent a message that Mulla had been hanged, while the Khan of Kheeva had said that he had skinned Mulla alive. How can he escape four kings?” “None can catch Mulla. He is not a man but a shadow,” said Arsal Beg, the army commander. “He dared to enter Bukhara and you’re feeling helpless about catching him,” scolded the Amir. “Sir, he is coming here with a crowd of admirers,” warned the prime minister. Hearing this, the Amir and his men ran to the palace and shut the gates.
Chaos in the Court
