Chapter 9

 The Great Upside-Down Pyramid in the Hamove Desert, a rather remarkable wonder of the world–for not only did the ancients have to build it without the use of modern technology, they presumably did so standing on their heads–was the next journey the old man took to return the small peg-like pen he had stolen. For reasons not his own, he felt impressed to travel straight by plane from Currina, in leui of the bus ride around the desert to Fatin and then by camel to the landmark. The small rickety plane he chartered had an even smaller pilot named, Hiro, who had very big dreams.

"It is a rather turbulent ride,"commented the old man as the plane repeatedly rose and fell.

"No extra charge, boss," said Hiro.


"How long have you been a pilot?"asked the old man.


"Too long, boss,"said Hiro,"But once I find the lost Golden City in the Hamove desert, I will be only one thing."


"And what is that?"


"Content. For I will have everything I want, and no longer just enough, boss."


"Perhaps you should start with a new plane."


Perhaps the plane was offended at this comment, for it's engine sputtered to a stop forcing Hiro to crash land into a sand dune.


"Where are we?"asked the old man as they got out of the plane and surveyed their circumstance.

"According to my map, nowhere, boss, and we are smack dab in the middle,"said Hiro.


He then proceeded to assess the plane's condition.


"Can you fix it?"asked the old man when Hiro came out from under the hood.


"Yes, boss. It's an easy fix, once we have the part for it."

"And where is the part?"


"In the airport garage, where we were supposed to land, boss. We shall have to walk the rest of the way, I'm afraid."


"What?"


"No extra charge, boss."


And so the two walked for miles across the endless Homave Desert under a blazing sun, conquering one mountain of sand only to find another until they were so parched from thirst and fatigue that they collapsed and tumbled down the other side of an enormous dune into a blinding sandstorm. 


After the sandstorm cleared, the small pilot with very big dreams shook the old man."Boss-wake up, we're here!"


"The Great Upside-Down Pyramid?"


"No-the Lost Golden City!" said Hiro running toward the sparkling oasis of towering buildings of gold.

"I'm rich! RICH!" he cried.


But the closer he came to the golden city, the more blurry it became until the towers of gold dissolved into sand dunes and Hiro fell to his knees sobbing.


"I have crossed this desert many times but I have  never seen a mirage of this magnitude," cried Hiro,"There is none quite like it."


Then the old man felt the now familiar urge to respond with whatever came out of his mouth, "There is one greater,"he said,"It is one that deceives and robs much of humanity of contentment."

"And what is that, boss?"


"The mirage of contentment from worldly wealth. For having everything one wants does not bring real contentment."


"But where then is true contentment?"


"Only in the Lord, for His name is Contentment."


"Perhaps you are right,"said Hiro,"let's continue on, for we are still missing the part to fix the plane."


"What kind of part is it?" asked the old man.

"It's a small peg-like pin that fits into the-"


And before he could finish the old man held out the pen he was to return and said,"Would this do?"


"Perhaps."


Then Hiro tried it and the engine cranked up,"It is just enough, boss," he said contentedly.


"No extra charge,"said the old man.

And the plane was fixed, the pen returned (the pen being swapped out with the real pin, of  course) and the old man went on his way.