The Wizard, the Gatekeeper, and the Watchman: a fairy tale of resources and decisions

摘要

Once upon a time there lived a Gatekeeper and a Wizard whose tale has been told by learned scribes in highly respected scrolls.1–3 The Wizard lived in a white castle and owned a powerful crystal ball that could tell him why people fell ill, and, when he had determined the cause, he would cure them with powerful magic potions. He had spent many years training to become such a clever Wizard and was highly revered by the people. At the entrance to his castle lived a Gatekeeper who would decide which of the many people who came with their illnesses should go on to see the Wizard. He too had great learning, but he had a less powerful crystal ball, less powerful potions, and he cured less serious conditions (so that not everybody who came to the Gatekeeper needed to see the Wizard). Over time many more people saw the Gatekeeper than the Wizard, but this balance was shown to be necessary for all concerned.1–3