Hatim sat beneath the enchanted tree, next to the bloody lake, mesmerised by the beauty of the head that hung from the topmost branch. He forgot that he was thirsty, hungry and tired. He sat there staring at the trunkless head. At the stroke of midnight, the desert changed from a ghostly scene to festivity. The angelic head acquired a beautiful body, adorned with finest silk and jewellery. There was music, dance and food. Everyone appeared happy. As the first ray of the sun fell on the earth, everyone jumped into the lake, and one by one the heads started taking their places on the tree. In desperation, Hatim too jumped into the lake wanting to catch the beautiful lady who had enchanted him. The bottom of the lake was nothing but a barren land, like a trap without walls or doors and no way to escape. There was nothing Hatim could do, but pray!
The Trap
