Sinbad meets with Farah, who believes that Kassim's curse is one of Zenobia's spells and unless Kassim is cured within seven moons, then Zenobia's son Rafi will become caliph instead. Sinbad, Farah and Sinbad's crew set off to find the old Greek alchemist named Melanthius, a hermit on the island of Casgar, who is said to know how to break curses, and Farah brings with her a baboon in a cage. Zenobia and Rafi follow in a boat propelled by the Minoton, a magical bronze automaton created by the sorceress with the appearance of a minotaur. During the voyage, the crew witness the baboon, who is calmed by Farah's presence, playing chess and are told the baboon is the cursed Kassim, Sinbad having being convinced of this by the baboon twice beating him at chess and by writing "I am Kassim" on the wall.