LISTEN and you shall hear this that happened in my youth: Know that there were two brothers of us, Napan and myself. Coming from a long line of mystics, when we reached the age of adolescence, our Father called us to his side and said,

“My sons, now is the time to prepare yourselves for your future. You, being my sons and the grandsons of my father, will take training tomorrow with Johan, the wizard of the desert; but with Kimbaw has his domicile in our village.”

Johan and Kimbaw were much respected in the village; the former more than the latter, as he performed many mighty and mysterious acts. Kimbaw, a white-bearded man, had gone his way in a quieter fashion, helping this man or that where he was ill, or restoring a daughter to a weeping mother.

“It is my desire, continued my father, that you both apprentice yourselves to the same man; but that is for you, my sons, to decide.”

“I, Father, will go to Johan, my brother Napan decided,” and you, my brother, may come also if you wish; but my mind is made up, and whether or not you come, I go.”

There was an aura about the wizard of the desert that I found strangely repellent, while I was drawn to the white-bearded Kimbaw. It was a hard struggle, however, as I wished to accompany my brother, who was my elder and the leader in all our childish escapades; but I couldn’t somehow bring myself to go to Johan.

The next day we separated, my brother and I, he journeying to the desert, I taking my residence with the white-bearded Kimbaw. Neither of us would be allowed to return home until we had reached the estate of manhood, if that was then our desire.

Years passed. In my study I had seemingly made little progress, while my brother could perform various miracles. He could plant a seed of pomegranate, and in the count of three it would be a tree in full fruitage. I had spent the years in quiet meditation with my master, listening, as he said, to the voice of