Answers Found

Henry and Olivia studied the petroglyphs carved into a rock wall at the rear of the temple with fascination and confusion. The rock art was extensive and elaborate, displaying entire scenes of mythical and mundane creatures. Olivia was particularly drawn to the carved illustration of what appeared to be a manticore standing over the prostrate body of a man. The beast snarled down at the cowering figure, with its scorpion tail poised to strike. The artist’s skill was such that she could almost feel the menace of the beast, as well as its victim’s fear.

They had gone through every inch of the temple’s hidden rooms, studying stone tablets and the images on the walls. While the pictures were impressive, they provided nothing in the way of answers, and the tablets were utterly incomprehensible. Henry hadn’t expected the temple to give up its secrets easily, particularly in light of the sphinx’s words about the obscure script that was used. However, he wanted all the information available before he decided on which questions to pose. He and Olivia had risked much to ensure the sphinx’s assistance and he didn’t want to waste the opportunity provided.

Finally, after determining that there was nothing more to learn from the carved images, Henry and Olivia returned to the front of the temple and the waiting sphinx.

“Are you ready to ask your questions?” The sphinx managed to sound both bored and mildly amused.

“I have seen a phoenix, and I have now seen a sphinx. If the two of you exist, then clearly there are other creatures of myth and legend in the world. Although I felt certain of that before, meeting you has removed all doubt. If they exist, where are they?” Henry asked.

“They are all over the world, some concealed in pockets of land where man won’t look and others hidden in plain sight,” the sphinx replied.

“That doesn’t really answer the question.” Olivia lounged back against the couple’s packs, drinking from her canteen.

“Actually, it does. The question was vague, as was the answer. If you want a better answer, you must ask a better question.” The sphinx oozed an almost predatory smugness.

The temple was silent for several minutes as Henry mentally debated what question to ask next. He had already wasted one. He didn’t want to waste the others. “What must I do to find them?” He finally asked.

“Two things are required before you can find what you seek, knowledge and wisdom. You have proven that you possess knowledge. Can you prove that you have wisdom?” The sphinx casually picked at its teeth with an unsheathed claw.

Henry closed his eyes and leaned his head back against the wall of the temple as he pondered these words, feeling that there was a hidden meaning within them. Finally, he looked at the sphinx, forehead crinkled with uncertainty, and asked the question that he should have asked long before. “Should I find them?”

The sphinx subtly shifted as it looked down into Henry’s upturned face, its body seeming to relax. It smiled, not the smirk that had graced its face up until now, but a true smile. The aura of menace that had cloaked it faded and was replaced by a sense of great age and calm wisdom. Olivia was awed by the transformation she was seeing. The creature before her no longer filled her with fear, but a sense of wonderment and reverence.

“That is the question a wise man asks,” the sphinx said, almost kindly. “It is not enough to know that you can do something...you must also know if you should do it. Those that you seek have hidden from the world for many years, with good reason. Many of them are dangerous, but man is the most dangerous creature of all. However, you have proven here your worthiness to bear the knowledge that I hold through your perseverance and bravery, your knowledge and your wisdom. There is a mountain in India, called Mount Meru. There you will find a sage, and he will guide you to what you seek.” The sphinx rose and padded toward the back of the temple. It stopped, then looked back toward the couple. “The two of you have shown considerable faith and trust in one another. Such faith and trust are a source of great strength and of great joy. Continue to rely on that, and you may find things more wondrous than you have ever imagined.” Having imparted this last piece of advice, the sphinx disappeared into the shadows of the temple.

Henry and Olivia followed the sphinx’s instructions and traveled to India, finding the creatures they sought and experiencing extraordinary adventures. Through it all, they never forgot the sphinx’s parting counsel. In the end, they discovered that it was right. Together, they did find things more wonderful than anything they’d ever conceived. But...that is another story.