* * *
"Who," asked Director, "would want to torture an enigmatic?" He wore a faint smile easily.
"Someone irritated by the enigma, someone powerful."
"It will behoove the enigmatic to maintain his silence about his riddle, except to offer clues."
"In the face of torture?" Friend frowned.
"Who knows? Perhaps someone present at the torture will guess. If someone can guess, you know, it means he has the ability to understand."
"Always?"
"Always."
"Is it better for such a person to guess, or to be told?"
"In my experience it's best to let him guess, and then confirm with him, privately, if he hits the mark."
"How many times has your mark been hit?"
"Once, to speak of."
"That's all?"
Director shrugged. "Funny thing was, he was talking about himself. He guessed his own riddle."
"And he told you."
"Yes. And I confirmed."
"You knew it was his riddle?"
"Yes."
"And it was the same as yours."
"That's what I confirmed."
Friend swallowed. "What's my riddle."
"I'd rather not say."
"You think you know?"
"Yes. But you're not close enough to guessing it yourself yet."
"Is it the same as yours?"
"Yes."
"If I guess it will you tell me?"
"Oh, I think you'll know. But, yes I will. And now we should go. We both have things to do."
"First give me a clue."
"Alright. What sows with no hope of reaping?"
"An altruist."
Director sighed. "Come. Let's be off. We have some ways to go."
THE END
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Nick Pappas, pappasnick.typepad.com
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