The Sphinx at Dawn

1982 · Book · Madeleine L'Engle

Two short tales: In “Pakko’s Camel,” Yehoshuah, the poor son of a carpenter, befriends Pakko, the arrogant son of a rich merchant. Yehoshuah cares for of Pakko’s camel and shares with him the knowledge of the precious gifts he received from three wise men. But when Yehoshuah’s treasures are taken, he quickly learns that all gifts have a price. In “The Sphinx at Dawn,” Yehoshuah and his camel journey into the desert, where they come across the monstrous, hungry Sphinx. Intrigued and unafraid, Yehoshuah endeavors to answer the Sphinx’s riddles—and in doing so, he begins the real journey of a man with an incredible destiny. by Madeleine L'Engle