In a steel-built city, a wealthy woman, despite her riches and possessions, longs for a sphinx. Her desire leads her to send others on a quest to find one, but their search proves fruitless as they scour menageries, forests, and deserts. Eventually, they discover a sphinx in a desolate area, guarding a ruined temple. They capture her and bring her back to the city. The woman revels in her newfound possession, but the sphinx, with her enigmatic presence, gazes into the woman's eyes and poses a riddle. The woman, unable to solve it, succumbs to the challenge and dies. The sphinx returns to her silence, leaving her fate and intentions shrouded in mystery. The narrative explores themes of desire, the limits of human understanding, and the consequences of confronting the unknown.
By Lord Dunsany · First published 1926 · Genre: Fantasy, Literary Fiction, Allegory