The Fire Sheep

The Oracles wandered off carrying the time incinerator, checking its vitals from moment to moment as they walked or shuffled along.

A sheep, with flames running constantly along its back, walked up and stood casually looking at the Sphinx.

You are on fire, said the Sphinx quietly, not speaking too loud so as to not disturb the slumbering Sheba.

I carry the flame, but I am not consumed.

Then this must be a flame unusual, what is the import and purpose of this wonder?

I keep the flame alive across the winter so that it may burst forth in the spring. This also remains the fire in your belly, fire in your eye, fire in the hole, keep the home fires burning, ready aim fire, catch a fire, fire and brimstone, and all things fire related are couched within my remit.

I can see that you are a most important sheep. What, pray tell the purpose of the machinery that is by side to you?

This is the fire hydrant which I am contacted to carry in case of unexpected conflagrations. You wouldn’t believe the number of time I’ve set something on fire by mistake. It is very character building.

The sheep continued, I used to live in a protected paddock around the back of the temple, but all that ground is now covered with bits of pillar and roof. As you are the action to make the temple fall, I would expect you to come and clear my paddock, sharpish.

I will come as soon as Sheba here, the Sphinx nodded at the slumbering Sheba, still trying to remain as motionless as possible so as not to awaken her, Wakes.

Good, said the Flaming Sheep, craning its neck to get a view of Sheba in the crook of the Sphinx’s paw, Don’t take too long. The sheep left with its hydrant and went round the back where the lumps are, leaving only a wisp of smoke and a heat shimmer on the airs.

After some hours Sheba awoke and stretched, Thank you, she said for protecting my sleep. I must go now and wash my hair in the spring. This will be beneficial to both my hair and the Silent Spring.

My pleasure, said the Sphinx, I also have tasks to complete.

Now the Sphinx came and built a small house for the Oracles from the carven stones that lay upon the earth. Then she cleared all the field of the Flaming Sheep and placed around it a wall of storied stones in a wall about the field for everyone’s to be safety of unexpected fires.

When Sheba had washed her hair and hung it upon the treetops to dry, she and the Sphinx left the clearing alone, together.