Mal is one of so many born with a vivid imagination, but in a slightly deformed body. His spine never developed properly, leaving him with the deformity of a small hump. He was reared in a deeply religious society that imposed a strict regime, with its taboos and harsh beliefs forced on very young impressionable minds. The restrictions imposed on his young body brought its own problems in his dealing with a life filled with obstacles, especially when he would seek the solace of furtive love from others, a kind of love forbidden according to their scriptures. Mal's many adventures and...