Zanzibar had travelled much in the realms of man...

Zanzibar had travelled much in the realms of man...
So much he had seen...
So much he had learned...

One day, he was travelling toward a tall wooded mountain
A crystal waterfall cascaded down one side
Fresh forest scents enchanted him...

Suddenly Zanzibar heard a whispered voice
It seemed to be coming from a clump of dark rocks

As Zanzibar cautiously peered around the rocks
He was startled to see an old man
A hermit
Muttering to no one in particular

Zanzibar quietly greeted the hermit ~ for fear of startling him

However, the old man seemed not surprised to see him

Greetings! O starry Magician of the Diamond Light!

It was Zanzibar who was startled

Would you like to see a light within the darkness

The old hermit seemed to be speaking as if continuing a conversation with a friend

Indeed I would declared Zanzibar
He knew not what else to say
He still had the diamond and the velvet in his pocket
Perhaps the diamond could do with a new source of energy

Take this steep path behind the rocks
Follow it down into the mountain
Follow it down into the depths of the mountain
And there you will see...

Ever curious
Zanzibar followed the path
Which became a track
Which became a tunnel

The old hermit followed for a while offering encouragement
And then disappeared

Zanzibar found no light
The darkness wrapped warm around him
But there was no light

The diamond...
He took it out of his pocket
Unwrapped the velvet
And cradled the whole in his hands

A mystical light grew around Zanzibar
Emanating from his very soul

Still cradling the diamond in his hands
Zanzibar walked forth
Down down down
Into the depths of the mountain

Finally Zanzibar entered a rugged chamber
Rugged with angular rocks and chipped stone
Rugged and almost totally blackened

And then, he saw it
A flame
Floating whimsically around the chamber

He smiled
He had found the light of all freedom

He chased it
But its blue incandescence
Always danced mischievously ahead of him
He tried to snatch it with his hand
But the palm of his hand burnt with pain
In desperation
He tried to throw his cape over the flame
His cape turned quickly into singed blackened threads

And then
He sat down and watched the flame
Dancing
Spiralling
Becoming small then large
Dancing and spiralling again

Zanzibar left the remnants of his cape there on the ground

And walked away
With a humble smile
~