title: The Oracle: Ancient Delphi and the Science Behind Its Lost Secrets
author:  William J. Broad 
description: Enlightening and compelling . . . Drawing on everything from Plutarch to petroleum research, [Broad] decrypts a fascinating story. (<i>The Dallas Morning News</i>)<br /><br />An absorbing historical tale. (<i>Entertainment Weekly</i>)
zlib_text: 
  
  The Eleventh Labour
  
  
  
  P.S. Lurie
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
    
  
  Precursor
  
  
  
  The author has it on good authority that what follows is an accurate portrayal
  of recent events, despite pressure from a certain group who wish to remain
  anonymous. For their benefit, names and dates have been changed. A simple
  online search, however, would reveal that everything written here is very much
  possible.
  
  
  
  Should the Oracle of Delphi exist today, and should you wish to waste your one
  question concerning the contents of these pages, she would say something as
  decidedly unclear as the following:
  
  
  
  THESE EVENTS ARE TO BE TRUSTED NOT TO REMAIN ON THE SHELVES OF FICTION
  
  
  
  
  
    
  
  1
  
  
  
  He clutches the hilt of the kopis in one hand, the scruff of the piglet’s neck
  in the other and drags the curved blade across the creature’s throat. It
  squeals for a final time before giving into death. He is neither upset nor
  ashamed; the animal’s agony is of no concern to him. Considering the pointless
  violence he sees on the new