Held captive inside the city walls, the people of Thebes picked at pigeon bones for lunch. A guy named Eddy arrived at the city gate, but an enigma blocked his path. It said: “I have four legs in the morning, two legs at noon, and three legs in the evening. Who am I?”

“You are the sphinx,” said Eddy.

The enigma unfurled blackened claws and advanced a step, ready for blood. But then Eddy’s answer sunk in. Not the one it had been listening for, but . . .

The enigma scratched its head and searched Eddy’s eyes. The orbs gleamed in twisted daylight, a pair of curved mirrors. Two more thoughts and a pitched reflection.

Behind the city walls, a sunken-cheeked Theban flinched at the shriek of a novel agony.

© Thad Fowler. All rights reserved.