! ! Delphi, C.430 Bce

She saw them coming, that rainy day; popped her head out of the cave, saw them trudging sandalled up the hillside; being an oracle, she knew all the answers; but had to guess the questions, or wait to see what stupidity or conceit framed their speech; upmarket bunch, this lot; not the usual money market slickers whom it was a pleasure to turn away.. Chaerophon addressed her: was there any man who was wiser than Socrates? She sighed inwardly; always their leading questions gave them away.. tell them what they want to hear.. she did the smoke thing, but the rain spoiled the trick; a theatrical pause always gives better value, a certain weight.. no, she said at length, no man is wiser than Socrates.. swiftly satisfied, they turned away; did not hear her add, ‘but his wife is wiser…’ typical men… but she chuckled to herself ironically, remembering what her father said when she told him she wanted to be an oracle when she grew up: ‘Men think they know… but women think they know better…’ Dad spoke truer than he knew - in her case. She gathered her robe around her; checked the time; caves are OK, have a certain drama; but temples, she thought, are friendlier..