You are standing on
a vast sandy plain that extends in all directions. In front of you is
a Sphinx on a stone pedestal. The Sphinx has huge claws and a smug
smile on its face. It is looking directly at you.
You can not go East.
You can not go West. You can not go South.
North is the Sphinx.
You approach the
Sphinx.
"None shall
pass," says the Sphinx.
"Hang on,"
you say. "I thought you were supposed to ask me a riddle and let
me pass?"
The Sphinx sighs.
"No one ever gets my riddles and I've got indigestion from the
last traveller. Go away."
"That's not
fair," you say. "Ask me the riddle and let me pass."
"What's brown
and sticky," the Sphinx says.
"A stick,"
you reply.
"Wrong, it's
toffee," the Sphinx says.
"How was I
supposed to know that?" you say.
"You weren't.
Come closer and let me eat you."
You are carrying:
a ball of wool
a bar of soap
a bar of chocolate
three cherries
a cloak
You use the ball of
wool on the Sphinx. Nothing happens.
You use the bar of
soap on the Sphinx. Nothing happens.
You use the bar of
chocolate on the Sphinx. The Sphinx reaches out to take the chocolate
but you pull back at the last moment.
"If I give you
this bar of chocolate, will you let me pass?"
"What sort is
it?"
"Hotel Chocolat
82% Ecuador single estate."
"Give it to me
and you can pass."
You hand the
chocolate to the Sphinx.
You go North.
The Sphinx speaks
without looking up from the chocolate. "On your way back, bring
us some antacid, will you? This is going to wreak havoc with my
digestion."
