Summary

The look-alikes run through a long list of possible answers as to why the sultan finally wants the weapon built. Whatever the reason, the weapon will be fully funded by the income from the sultan's generous gifts of land and villages. Hoja admits they have included many falsehoods in their stories, treatises, and books; they shouldn't be surprised now if the sultan actually believes them. To the narrator's relief, they begin work as partners, but they are in constant danger from the sultan's enemies. During the first winter of the six years it will take to complete the weapon, they work at home. After they begin testing their fireworks outdoors, curiosity-seekers come to watch and one day at the end of summer the sultan himself shows up. This is only the second time the narrator comes before the sultan who doesn't quite remember him...