The Alchemist | Page 9

thieves.
"Take these," said the old man, holding out a white stone and a black stone that had been embedded at
the center of the breastplate. "They are called Urim and Thummim. The black signifies 'yes,' and the white
'no.' When you are unable to read the omens, they will help you to do so. Always ask an objective
question.
"But, if you can, try to make your own decisions. The treasure is at the Pyramids; that you already knew.
But I had to insist on the payment of six sheep because I helped you to make your decision."
The boy put the stones in his pouch. From then on, he would make his own decisions.
"Don't forget that everything you deal with is only one thing and nothing else. And don't forget the
language of omens. And, above all, don't forget to follow your destiny through to its conclusion.
"But before I go, I want to tell you a little story.
"A certain shopkeeper sent his son to learn about the secret of happiness from the wisest man in the
world. The lad wandered through the desert for forty days, and finally came upon a beautiful castle, high
atop a mountain. It was there that the wise man lived.
"Rather than finding a saintly man, though, our hero, on entering the main room of the castle, saw a hive
of activity: tradesmen came and went, people were conversing in the corners, a small orchestra was
playing soft music, and there was a table covered with platters of the most delicious food in that part of
the world. The wise man conversed with everyone, and the boy had to wait for two hours before it was
his turn to be given the man's attention.
"The wise man listened attentively to the boy's explanation of why he had come, but told him that he
didn't have time just then to explain the secret of happiness. He suggested that the boy look around the
palace and return in two hours.
" 'Meanwhile, I want to ask you to do something,' said the wise man, handing the boy a teaspoon that
held two drops of oil. 'As you wander around, carry this spoon with you without allowing the oil to spill.'
"The boy began climbing and descending the many stairways of the palace, keeping his eyes fixed on the
spoon. After two hours, he returned to the room where the wise man was.
" 'Well,' asked the wise man, 'did you see the Persian tapestries that are hanging in my dining hall? Did
you see the garden that it took the master gardener ten years to create? Did you notice the beautiful
parchments in my library?'
"The boy was embarrassed, and confessed that he had observed nothing. His only concern had been not

to spill the oil that the wise man had entrusted to him.
" 'Then go back and observe the marvels of my world,' said the wise man. 'You cannot trust a man if you
don't know his house.'
"Relieved, the boy picked up the spoon and returned to his exploration of the palace, this time observing
all of the works of art on the ceilings and the walls. He saw the gardens, the mountains all around him, the
beauty of the flowers, and the taste with which everything had been selected. Upon returning to the wise
man, he related in detail everything he had seen.
" 'But where are the drops of oil I entrusted to you?' asked the wise man.
"Looking down at the spoon he held, the boy saw that the oil was gone.
" 'Well, there is only one piece of advice I can give you,' said the wisest of wise men. 'The secret of
happiness is to see all the marvels of the world, and never to forget the drops of oil on the spoon.' "
The shepherd said nothing. He had understood the story the old king had told him. A shepherd may like
to travel, but he should never forget about his sheep.
The old man looked at the boy and, with his hands held together, made several strange gestures over the
boy's head. Then, taking his sheep, he walked away.
*
At the highest point in Tarifa there is an old fort, built by the Moors. From atop its walls, one can catch a
glimpse of Africa. Melchizedek, the king of Salem, sat on the wall of the fort that afternoon, and felt the
levanter blowing in his face. The sheep fidgeted nearby, uneasy with their new owner and excited by so
much change. All they wanted was food and water.
Melchizedek watched a small ship that was plowing its way out of the port. He would never again see
the boy, just as he had never seen Abraham again after having charged him his one-tenth fee. That was
his work.
The gods should not have desires, because they don't have destinies. But