* * * *
We were back inside the bottle a short while later. We told Genie what we saw.
“Hmm,” he hummed, strumming his meaty index finger on his chin. “If Heshen is indeed trapped here, then either my brother can’t get him back to his own time or won’t. And if he wants to get back to his own time so badly, enough to use his last wish to help bring that about, perhaps he’s not so happy in this time. So—”
“Maybe, if we wash his back, he’ll wash ours,” I said with a snap of my fingers.
Genie’s head went to a confused slant. “People do bathe in this time, Paul.”
I shook my head. “I meant, if he helps us, we help him.”
“Ah,” said Genie. “Yes, perhaps.” He blinked. “Your back is now clean, Paul. One less thing to worry about.”
I started to explain further when Luke wisely held up his hand
