The Formidable Desert

There was once a man who found himself alone in the middle of a hot, dry, and formidable desert. He wandered for days looking for water and food. 

Eventually he came across a piece of paper half buried in the sand. On one side were the words Instruction Manual and on the back were many long paragraphs of text. But the text on the back was so small and obscure he could not muster the will to read it. And the pangs of hunger were so great that he ripped the paper into small pieces and ate them. This kept him alive a little longer, but when the hunger pains became unbearable, he even took to eating sand. 

Glinting in the Light of the Sun

Suddenly, through the distant heat haze, he noticed a building, like a mirage glinting in the light of the bright sun. It stood on its own, breaking the view of the horizon, in the middle of the desert. 

Upon inspection, he found that this building had an endless supply of food and water. It even had an unlimited power supply, and multiple floors complete with all the entertainment, exercise, and education facilities imaginable. Everything was exquisite. 

The man set about gorging himself and indulging in the tasty delights and on the wealth of provisions he continued to discover. It seemed that the pleasure would never end.

He Began to Weaken

Then one day he fell sick. He consulted the available information to try and cure himself. But there was no cure to be found. He began to weaken, then wither. He grew frail and thin. He was nearing death. 

Yet even in this state, with his life nearing its end, he still failed to seek answers to the obvious questions concerning the unique building he was so fortunate to have found. Who built it? Why was it there? What was its purpose? 

The Basement

In a desperate quest for help he came across a trapdoor leading to a basement. The room was large and unfurnished, except for a table in the middle. On this table a message had been inscribed, etched firmly into the wooden tabletop. It read: 

“We hope you enjoy this home, and that you have a long, healthy, and satisfying life. We offer only this advice: There are many dangers in this building, too many to list. You will find the Instruction Manual to be an essential companion. Make sure you read it, understand it, and follow it; it will save your life!”