A witch once came before a king bearing three books.

“Sire,” she said, “I have here three books of prophecies. I will sell them all to you for ten thousand gold pieces.”

“Ten thousand gold pieces for three books?” said the king. “Good mother, have you taken leave of your senses?”

“Let a brazier of fire be brought,” said the witch.

A brazier of fire was brought, and the witch proceeded to burn one of the books to ashes.

“Sire,” she said, “I have here two books of prophecies. I will sell them both to you for ten thousand gold pieces.”

“Good mother,” said the king, “I will hardly pay for two books what I would not pay for three.”

The witch proceeded to burn the second book to ashes.

“Sire,” she said, “I have here a book of prophecies. I will sell it to you for ten thousand gold pieces.”

The king bought the witch's book.

Thereafter it was always consulted in moments of national emergency and, to the end of the kingdom, an answer was always found there.

Indeed, this is a true story.

What price the future?