#205 Lack of Foresight

by Paul Riter

The genie stood before me, looking haggard and more than a little frightened. “Now, what is your third wish, Master?”

I gawked at him, utterly confused. “THIRD?! What happened to the other two?” I had just found the lamp and rubbed it, then everything got blurry . . .

The genie nodded nervously. “You don’t remember because technically it never happened. As I explained before, I am duty-bound to grant any wish, no matter what the consequences may be. The enormous amount of energy required to fulfill your first demand unexpectedly caused a sequence of events that would have rapidly lead to the complete destruction of the universe.” The genie shuddered, apparently from the memory. “Fortunately, before reality shattered completely, you wished that you had never made your previous request. I then used my powers to “edit history” . . . and so we find ourselves at this strange juncture. You only have one wish left, so the important thing—”

I was impatient and interrupted him: “—is to make sure I don’t repeat that mistake. I understand perfectly. I was considering asking for control over all of time and space, but after what you just told me I’ll keep my request far more modest.” I looked the genie in the eye and commanded: “I WISH I WERE IMMORTAL!”

The ground shook, the sun vanished and I felt a terrible sense of deja vu.

“YOU *FOOL*!” shrieked the genie as the world fragmented into brightly colored shards. “THAT *WAS* YOUR FIRST WISH!”