Giza, Egypt

I know what you’re thinking, and no, I did not interview the Great Sphinx. It’s just a statue! Real sphinxes are much smaller, similar in size to a large horse. They have the body of a lion and the head of a man, as well as an obsession with guarding things and riddles.

---

SKYE: Hello Mr. Sphinx. If I might ask, how long have you been sitting here in front of this ancient tomb?

SPHINX: Before I answer your question, you must answer mine. What walks on four legs in the morning, two in the—

SKYE: A man. Now, as I was saying…

SPHINX: Wait! I can see that you’d already heard that one, which is unsurprising of course, it is a classic. Allow me to give you a harder riddle. Thirty white horses on a—

SKYE: Teeth. I can see your penchant for thought puzzles is an accurate part of the legends at least.

SPHINX: Alright, alright, I’ll concede that you did get that one right, but I have one more that you’ll never guess. I am the beginning of the end and the end of time and—

SKYE: The letter E.

SPHINX: How?! How do you know the answers to all of my riddles before I even get a chance to deliver them? I am in shambles! Washed up! And to think, I was going to tear you limb from limb when you got one wrong. It was inevitable, so I thought. Oh, why me?

SKYE: Well, ignoring that tearing me limb from limb thing, all the riddles you mentioned are a bit old and cliche by today’s standards. Besides, you can find the answers to any of them with a simple Google search.

SPHINX: I… hadn’t thought of that. Are you saying that to stay ahead I need to come up with original content? Do you know how hard it is to be original these days? Nigh unto impossible I tell you! And if I’m being honest I’m not all that creative anyways, I just tell the riddles.

SKYE: Tough luck, buddy. That’s just how it is, and you’re going to have to accept it.

SPHINX: Fine. I’ll try being original. Mind if I test a few ideas on you really quickly?

SKYE: So long as you agree to not rip me limb from limb afterwards.

SPHINX: Deal. Are there any riddles out there about rivers? That seems like an appropriate topic considering the location.

SKYE: Done. At least twice.

SPHINX: Hmm, okay, how about smoke? That could be interesting.

SKYE: Definitely done. Got anything better?

SPHINX: …Star Wars?

SKYE: Three million, four hundred and twenty thousand Google results.

SPHINX: THAT’S IT, I GIVE UP! It’s clear that there’s no room for me in this line of work anymore. Maybe I should try giving out wise sayings instead. How about, “a penny saved is a penny earned.” Has a nice ring to it, but it doesn’t work so well in Egypt. Ooh, or, “fish and visitors stink after three days.” That’s a good one. No one can call me unoriginal now! Let’s see, how to go about rebranding…

---