In a small town not far from here, there lived a girl called Curiosity. The town that she lived in was in a valley, with one road in and one road out. When she had grown, and her mind began to suit her given name, she asked her mother, ‘What is in the next valley?’
Her mother told her that in the next valley was another town in which another mother and daughter lived. The girl said, ‘When I am come of age, may I go there?’ and her mother said that she could if she so wished it.
And then the girl asked, ‘What is beyond all the valleys?’
Her mother told her that, beyond all the valleys are the lakes and mountains. The girl said, ‘When I am come of age, may I go there?’ and her mother said that she could if she so wished it.
And then the girl asked, ‘What is beyond the lakes and mountains?’
Her mother told her that, beyond the lakes and mountains was the sea. The girl said, ‘When I am come of age, may I go there?’ and her mother said that she could if she so wished it.
And then the girl asked, ‘What is beyond the sea?’
Her mother told her that, beyond the sea are many lands where girls are asking their mothers these same questions.
And then the girl thought hard and asked, ‘What is beyond the world?’
Her mother told her that beyond the world were the planets that flew around the sun like unto moths around a flame. The girl said, ‘When I am come of age, may I go there?’ and her mother said that she could if she so wished it.
And then the girl asked, ‘What is beyond the planets?’
Her mother told her that beyond the planets were all the stars in the sky with their planets. The girl said, ‘When I am come of age, may I go there?’ and her mother said that she could if she so wished it.
And then the girl asked, ‘Who shall I go with?’
Her mother told her that she may go with whomsoever that she may find in life to be her partner. The girl said, ‘When I am come of age, can I chose a partner?’ and her mother said that she could if she so wished it.
And then the girl asked, ‘May I go to the stars with my partner now?’
Her mother told her that she may go when she came of age.
The Guardians of the Cave 