The monkey lives in the town’s temple answering questions in return for shelter, food and a luxurious lifestyle.

It answers questions like, “How do I get to heaven?” Or “How do I insult someone?” with quick descriptive replies.

After half a millennium of revealing secrets, the monkey cuts itself with a shard of glass from a wine glass.

The monkey starts bleeding liquid gold and scabs of amethyst. 

The king stares with shock, soon charging with a sword in hand. The King slashes the monkey’s hand. It pours gold and heals quickly into amethyst.  The word about the monkey spreads across the town. 

The citizens rush to the temple with knives and other sharp objects. They cut off the monkey’s limbs without acknowledging its pain as gold spills and covers the floors.

After a day, the monkey is all sentience and bones. 

A boy, in soiled clothes covered in dirt and coal, asks the question.

“Why? Why didn't you complain?”

The monkey answered: “This shows humans are always blinded by greed. They will do anything for wealth.”