The Sphinx opened her gigantic mouth and yawned so hugely that the sand flew about her as though a whirlwind had hit it.
“Since the year 1000,” said she. “I always see the same; I see people who have riches and joy, forcing their starving slaves to drudge. At first the slaves were driven with whips which the overseer used to beat them with when they became tired from the heat of the sun. Often these slaves were kept at work with chains on their feet so that they should not run away. Later the whips disappeared, the masters bragged of their kindness, saying, ‘In these progressive times, no man is a slave.’ But secretly they concealed a dreadful whip, Hunger, and this drove the people to slavery as surely as the whip they had used previously. I see people pass here, rich strangers who visit this country out of curiosity, and see the poor Arabs, who work as muleteers and drag heavy stones, and are barely kept alive with a few dates and a little corn, just like their ancestors thousands of years ago.”
The Sphinx became silent, gazing gloomily at the desert. Then she spoke again, “For thousands of years there were gorgeously dressed, jeweled priests here, who belonged in the same class as the rich people. They preached to the people, threatening them with the anger of the gods if they became dissatisfied with their fate. Today these priests are dressed in black, but they also lie and stand by the rich ones, they also worship a God who was a bad mechanic. [[32]]It has always been the same, for thousands of years.” And again the Sphinx yawned.
“Can’t you also see into the future, wise Beast?” bashfully questioned the Sparrow.
“Yes, I can also see that. Listen to my words, little bird. A day will come when all slaves will arise in a dreadful struggle against their oppressors. After long bloody battles they will conquer and then there will be a new world, where everything belongs to all the people and all people are free. Even today the earth trembles in happy expectation, and in the quiet night I feel its trembling. For thousands of years I have not spoken to any being, I will only speak again when the day of freedom dawns. Then my voice will join in the jubilations of the freed people.”
The Sparrow flew out of the desert where he could find nothing to eat, back to the green stream, and enjoyed many pleasant days there.
One day he was sitting on a stone on the bank of the stream, when he heard familiar voices, “Tweet! Tweet!”
He looked up and saw three Swallows who flew slowly toward him.
“Are you here already?” the Sparrow asked in surprise.
“Certainly, certainly,” twittered the Swallows. “At home rough winds are blowing, the frost is in the meadows at night, winter is coming.”