Quest for Algernon - The Banishment of Zorba

Chapter 3

Escape From The Valley

Years have passed since Algernon was first formed, almost eighty five to be exact. With

the love between Deyo and Neitha a child was born. A son. They named him Zorba Ekene

Chuckwu. Zorba meaning "one who is clever". Ekene roughly translated as "our first child"

and Chuckwu which, in the ancient language, is another word for deity.

Even after almost 100 years, Garan Supreme still had no knowledge of Algernon or the

magic Neitha used to create this world. Although she wanted to share the joyous news of her

firstborn with her father, she and Deyo decided it wouldn't be wise. In the worst case, Garan

would have Algernon destroyed and banish her for using her magics to create, what the elders

would most probably call, an abomination.

She knew she could play none the wiser and get away with it if he ever found out. After

all, her father never began her ascension to knowledge, as he should have - years ago. She

decided the only way she would tell him is if, by happenstance, he started her ascension to

knowledge and mentioned the rules to creating a world. In doing so, she would fear no

repercussion since she hadn't been officially taught yet.

The thought of losing all of what she has come to know as her life's breath, was

unbearable. So, they went on hiding Algernon and the love they had for one another from her

father and brother.

Their son Zorba took all-kind form at first. He had two feet, ten toes, two arms and legs,

ten fingers, a neck, torso, head and belly. Just like his mother and father, however, his flesh

was red, which was not a trait of either of his parents. They assumed it was because Deyo,

while a live being, was created by Neitha so this union was highly... unusual to say the least.

Yet and still they loved Zorba with all their might and they poured all the knowledge they

could into his being.

His father, Deyo, taught him all about Algernon and every living creature in it. His

Mother taught him the highest levels of contemplation. This ensured Zorba would have the

might and strength of the Medjai to protect him and the wisdom and power of his mother to

guide him throughout his life. They fed him leaves, vegetables, treefruits and nourished his

thirst with the waters of life from the Glistening Pool. They taught him the wonders of song

and dance, gave him the talent to string the harp with ease and made him master of the

ZenFlute.

He was quite the inquisitive child. Always asking, "mother why do we contemplate" or

"why is the sky the color of blue". Each question was met with an answer of reasoning and

truthfulness. "Father, if you are my father where is your father?" And, " Mother where is your

mother and father?" They knew it would be an instance of time before he finally asked about