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With Sarabi and Elanna in the care of their Aunt Akase, Avina went blythly into the tall grass, blending her golden body into the gilt colors of the savanna. Sarabi would be fine playing with Taka, and Muffy would content himself with a few words from Elanna. And few words there would be, for while many thought Muffy would end up marrying Elanna, there was no magic the way there was between Taka and Sarabi.
Avina ghosted through the fields on quiet paws, seeing all and being seen by none. Her pride in her own skills was evident, and well she had reason to be proud.
A herd of Hartbeests did not even hear her approach, though they were rather uneasy, stopping from time to time in order to listen. Hartbeests had a feeling about such things that makes them very hard to stalk.
Ears down, tail down, and legs moving in perfect oneness with the rhythm of the earth mother, Avina kept her eyes on the herd and gradually, methodically closed the gap, stopping from time to time as a head looks up from grazing to glance about.
Chuckling inside, Avina knew that she would have a sure kill. There was a buck on the outside of the herd that she had picked out. He was old, and chances are he would be slower than the rest. She kept on concentrating, contemplating, and closing the gap until a rush was forced upon her.
A Hartbeest looked up and saw her. Without waiting for a reaction, Avina sprang out of hiding, sprinting with all the speed Aiheu gave her toward the old buck.
Indeed, he was slower than the others. The herd opened like a large blossom, but she ignored everything but her target. It was a very private matter staged in the middle of a large herd. Her strength flowed, her courage rose, and the buck was coming closer, closer, ever closer.
The hartbeest changed direction, but so did she. Avina cornered tightly and cleanly, and even managed to gain a little on her target. “You are mine! ”
With all her might, Avina sprang as she had sprung many times before. Up and forward she came, rising to loop her strong arm around his neck and pull him over.
But she missed. “Damn! ”
A strong hoof slammed her cheek. In an instant, her great strength left her. Tumbling out of control, she rolled to a stop. There, stunned and breathless, she writhed in agony, clutching at her face, and letting quickly go when it burned like fire. She tried to cry out, but her jaw hung open crookedly and all that came out was a dull, wordless shriek. Anger and disappointment quickly gave way to terror at her predicament. She desperately needed a friend. Someone, anyone. There was no one. As she lay on the ground, she wondered if she might die there alone.
“No, ” she insisted, summoning all her strength to pull her wounded body from the bonds of gravity and stand once more.
When she could struggle to her feet, she felt something drip from her chin. Blood and saliva were dripping profusely from her battered face, out of the corner of her mouth. She started to panic.
Gasping, she fought to think clearly through the muddled haze. “I have to get to Makedde, ” she thought. Unsure where she was, she lost valuable time trying to focus on the distant horizon and find the baobab tree. “Aiheu abamami—Lord, give me strength.”
She began her long march in the hot sun. Her useless jaw seared her with each step, and she fought to keep her eyes focused.
She tried once to feel with a paw to see what had happened. The tip of a shattered jaw had stuck through the skin. It was like a sharp dagger, covered with her lifeblood. “Oh Gods, ” she thought. “My face! My face--is gone! It’s gone! ” She wondered what she looked like, and what she would do if the pain did not lessen.
What would Shaka think when he saw her? He would still love her, for he was a good and gentle lion, but her beauty was gone forever. And most likely she would never hunt again. What a foolish waste! What a stupid thing to do! And that is if she even lived to see him again. All of her cleverness, all of her boasting and bragging was now a reproach to her. “What a fool I was! ” she thought. “What an idiot among fools! ” Now she would be a charity case, an example that parents would hold up to their daughters when they acted recklessly.
She staggered forward, trying to hold her head up. It was not easy. Her neck was strained, her panting dried out her throat, and her eye was running on the side where she had been kicked. “Keep going, girl, ” she thought. “I can’t stop. I have to find Rafiki. Please, gods, let him be home! ”
The sun tormented her. Flies were gathering in hosts to plague her, and she could not raise her paw to swat at them. In fact, she could barely raise her paw to step forward.
Her eyes began to go out of focus, and she could not compensate. The world was growing darker, and the image of distant trees began to sway and shimmer. “No, I can’t die! I have two children! I have to get home! I have to get home! ”
Blood had covered her chest, running down her legs. The smell of it entered the side of her nose she could still breathe through. Surely it had travelled other places by now.
There were footsteps in the grass around her.
“Who is there?” The words came out almost unrecognizable as speech so she painfully and slowly uttered. “Who...is...there??”
“Just us.”
It was a hyena voice. “Help me. I’m the wife of the Prince Consort.” The words burned like fire. “If you...get me to Rafiki...my husband will...reward you. Imagine...all you can eat! ”
“That’s what I’m imagining right now.”
“No! Don’t do this! In the name of God! ”
“Nothing personal, dearie, ” the voice said. As if at a signal, a hunting party came out of the grass and attacked her.
SCENE: BORDER PATROL
SCENE: GATHERING EVIDENCE
SCENE: HAMMER AND TONGS
SCENE: LIONESS FEVER
Rafiki awoke with stiffness in his lower back. At his age, he was frequently sore in the mornings and had to take an herbal preparation to get himself back in the thick of things. Because the medicine had to be fresh and moist to work, he had to make up individual doses as needed. That meant working while tired and sore. Still, Rafiki did not complain. For one thing he lived alone, with no one to complain to, and for another, he was a shaman and accepted what life brought him as gracefully as he could.
Soaking in a water-filled gourd, some bonewort would loosen the tightness in his spine. He carefully removed just enough to do the job. It was followed by Senophalix bark and roots from Psamnophis gelleri for pain. But the final ingredient was a powder made from Alba, a red flower. It did not grow nearby, and he had to trade to get it. The small cache of this drug was nearly exhausted, and he put in a little less than was his custom. He had requested some from the apes that lived in the forest near his baobab.
The other mandrills thought Rafiki a bit strange. They didn't understand his need for the flower, but they happily raised the fee to what they thought he could afford. For that reason, precious time that could be spent serving others was spent collecting large bundles of herbs and other notions for payment.
Mixing the ingredients into a paste with his bowl and antelope bone, he downed the bitter mixture with a frown, and quickly took some water and honey to purge his mouth. Perhaps the medicine did not work immediately. Yet he felt better at once, knowing that help was on the way.
While he waited for relief, he settled down for his morning prayers, which always began with thanksgiving, then ran through the name of every lion on the Pride Lands whether they were ill or well, and ended with a modest request to "Remember old Rafiki who trusts in you."
Breakfast was a simple affair. Mango was his favorite, followed shortly by ripe Kannabia australoafricanus, which he called by an equally unpronounceable Mandrill name. Honey was not easy to come by, since he'd grown old enough to make climbing a problem. Besides, even at the best of times, there was an element of luck involved. So he put only a few drops of honey on the fruit to season it, and ate his breakfast. Perhaps in the next life, there would be honey enough for his sweet tooth, which only grew stronger with age. He felt he would know sooner rather than later, a fact brought home by the silver hair that reflected in his scrying bowl.
Only after breakfast was over and he'd rubbed his teeth with the chewed end of an acacia twig did he start out on the day's business. Alba was waiting for him--the apes said it would be waiting for him in three days, and the time was up. They were robbers, but they were never late. One, two, three hard-won bundles of roots and leaves were sprinkled with water, wrapped in Rattasia leaves, and secured with long acacia thorn pins. The barter was gathered up with the care it deserved to ransom the modest stash of tiny red blossoms that waited for him in the forest.
He was about to leave when Mufasa came in. Muffy was a year and a half old, and the beginning of some ruff around his ears and neck showed that he was coming along on schedule.
“I had almost forgotten our appointment.” Rafiki put his bundles of herbs aside. “Trouble sleeping, I believe? Loss of appetite?”
“Yeah.”
“Difficulty concentrating.”
“And don’t forget depression. I’ve been down before, but now I’m really down for the count.”
“I see.” Rafiki put his ear to Muffy’s chest. “Breathe in. Good. Now let it out slowly.” He tapped Muffy’s chest a couple of times with his knuckles. “Once more.” The breathing seemed to agree with him. He felt the radial pulse alongside his neck and winked. “Soon enough, I’ll have to use the arm. This old mane will be in the way.” Mufasa smiled proudly. “So tell me, how is Taka?”
“Fine.”
“The cough all gone, I take it?”
“Yes, Rafiki. I made sure he took all his medicine. None of that hiding the herbs under his tongue and spitting them out when I’m not looking.”
“How did you manage that?”
“I rubbed his throat till he had to swallow.”
Rafiki laughed. “He’s just a big cub. And Sarabi?”
“Oh, she’s fine.”
Rafiki looked surprised. “Whoa there! Your pulse is jumping like a Springbok! ” The mandrill looked Muffy in the eyes. “If I didn’t know better, I’d think you had the fever.”
“The fever?”
“Lioness fever.” Rafiki rubbed his chin whiskers. “And you got it from Sarabi, I can tell. Does Taka know?”
“No, uh--I mean....”
Rafiki shook his finger at Mufasa. “Don’t hide from me behind those little lamb eyes. I know what I see.” He looked in Muffy’s eyes and sighed deeply. “You got it bad, son.”
Mufasa glanced away. “There must be a cure for it. I won’t betray my own brother. You must have something for falling out of love.”
“I don’t even have anything for falling IN love. But tell me, does Sarabi love YOU?”
“Well she’s my friend. Of course she loves me.”
“You know what I mean. I mean lion fever. Has she ever given you those little hints? You know, the feeling that you’re being stalked, and any minute she may decide to charge?”
“No. I—well she—no. No. She’s so struck on my brother. Oh Rafiki, sometimes I get the feeling I wish I were an only child. I love Taka, really I do, but Sassie is on my mind all the time. I can’t be weak, not with my brother’s girl. Are you sure there’s nothing I can do?”
“Maybe a nice swim in the cold spring.” He popped Muffy on the flank. “There’s nothing wrong with you that your own conscience and a little time can’t fix. But keep your eyes open. You must also be fair to Sarabi. What she wants is important too. And I think you are selling yourself short that way.” He smiled toothily and added in a whisper, “If you can’t give both of them what they want, choose the girl. What she don’t got, you don’t need! ”
SCENE: A SIGN OF POWER
Avina ghosted through the fields on quiet paws, seeing all and being seen by none. Her pride in her own skills was evident, and well she had reason to be proud.
A herd of Hartbeests did not even hear her approach, though they were rather uneasy, stopping from time to time in order to listen. Hartbeests had a feeling about such things that makes them very hard to stalk.
Ears down, tail down, and legs moving in perfect oneness with the rhythm of the earth mother, Avina kept her eyes on the herd and gradually, methodically closed the gap, stopping from time to time as a head looks up from grazing to glance about.
Chuckling inside, Avina knew that she would have a sure kill. There was a buck on the outside of the herd that she had picked out. He was old, and chances are he would be slower than the rest. She kept on concentrating, contemplating, and closing the gap until a rush was forced upon her.
A Hartbeest looked up and saw her. Without waiting for a reaction, Avina sprang out of hiding, sprinting with all the speed Aiheu gave her toward the old buck.
Indeed, he was slower than the others. The herd opened like a large blossom, but she ignored everything but her target. It was a very private matter staged in the middle of a large herd. Her strength flowed, her courage rose, and the buck was coming closer, closer, ever closer.
The hartbeest changed direction, but so did she. Avina cornered tightly and cleanly, and even managed to gain a little on her target. “You are mine! ”
With all her might, Avina sprang as she had sprung many times before. Up and forward she came, rising to loop her strong arm around his neck and pull him over.
But she missed. “Damn! ”
A strong hoof slammed her cheek. In an instant, her great strength left her. Tumbling out of control, she rolled to a stop. There, stunned and breathless, she writhed in agony, clutching at her face, and letting quickly go when it burned like fire. She tried to cry out, but her jaw hung open crookedly and all that came out was a dull, wordless shriek. Anger and disappointment quickly gave way to terror at her predicament. She desperately needed a friend. Someone, anyone. There was no one. As she lay on the ground, she wondered if she might die there alone.
“No, ” she insisted, summoning all her strength to pull her wounded body from the bonds of gravity and stand once more.
When she could struggle to her feet, she felt something drip from her chin. Blood and saliva were dripping profusely from her battered face, out of the corner of her mouth. She started to panic.
Gasping, she fought to think clearly through the muddled haze. “I have to get to Makedde, ” she thought. Unsure where she was, she lost valuable time trying to focus on the distant horizon and find the baobab tree. “Aiheu abamami—Lord, give me strength.”
She began her long march in the hot sun. Her useless jaw seared her with each step, and she fought to keep her eyes focused.
She tried once to feel with a paw to see what had happened. The tip of a shattered jaw had stuck through the skin. It was like a sharp dagger, covered with her lifeblood. “Oh Gods, ” she thought. “My face! My face--is gone! It’s gone! ” She wondered what she looked like, and what she would do if the pain did not lessen.
What would Shaka think when he saw her? He would still love her, for he was a good and gentle lion, but her beauty was gone forever. And most likely she would never hunt again. What a foolish waste! What a stupid thing to do! And that is if she even lived to see him again. All of her cleverness, all of her boasting and bragging was now a reproach to her. “What a fool I was! ” she thought. “What an idiot among fools! ” Now she would be a charity case, an example that parents would hold up to their daughters when they acted recklessly.
She staggered forward, trying to hold her head up. It was not easy. Her neck was strained, her panting dried out her throat, and her eye was running on the side where she had been kicked. “Keep going, girl, ” she thought. “I can’t stop. I have to find Rafiki. Please, gods, let him be home! ”
The sun tormented her. Flies were gathering in hosts to plague her, and she could not raise her paw to swat at them. In fact, she could barely raise her paw to step forward.
Her eyes began to go out of focus, and she could not compensate. The world was growing darker, and the image of distant trees began to sway and shimmer. “No, I can’t die! I have two children! I have to get home! I have to get home! ”
Blood had covered her chest, running down her legs. The smell of it entered the side of her nose she could still breathe through. Surely it had travelled other places by now.
There were footsteps in the grass around her.
“Who is there?” The words came out almost unrecognizable as speech so she painfully and slowly uttered. “Who...is...there??”
“Just us.”
It was a hyena voice. “Help me. I’m the wife of the Prince Consort.” The words burned like fire. “If you...get me to Rafiki...my husband will...reward you. Imagine...all you can eat! ”
“That’s what I’m imagining right now.”
“No! Don’t do this! In the name of God! ”
“Nothing personal, dearie, ” the voice said. As if at a signal, a hunting party came out of the grass and attacked her.
SCENE: BORDER PATROL
It was Shaka’s turn to do border patrol, a job he didn’t like thought he didn’t really hate it either. It did take away time he could be spending with his family. He would have been playing with Sarabi and Elanna, but instead he was defending the Pride Lands against enemies that rarely ever show up.
He amused himself by remembering the long passages of the Leonid Saga he had memorized as a youth from his father. Shaka was good at reciting verse, and he was a living encyclopedia of lore and ceremonial prose. He sang to himself Sarabi’s favorite song.
“Thanks, ” Shaka said. “I’ll get on it.”
He was looking for a little excitement anyhow. Chuckling to himself about the impression he’d make on the hyenas, he loped across the savanna and plunged through the reeds. “Let them hunt on the Pride Lands, eh? Not as long as I’m on the job.” His easy but massive lope made up the distance rather quickly.
At last he spotted them, eating quickly as if they knew it was a matter of urgency.
He roared at the hyenas. They growled, but withdrew from the carcass and stood back a few yards.
“My Gods, it’s a lioness! ” He didn’t recognize her until he got close enough to turn what remained of the face with his paw. The final look of horror still hung on her shattered face.
“Avina, ” he whispered quietly. Her torn body lay open under the barren sky, and flies buzzed around. “Avina! ” Shaka looked up to the sky, drew in a deep breath and shrieked, “Avina!!! Oh God, Noooooo!!! ”
His grief and rage were competing like two rabbits trying to enter the same hole at the same time. For the vital moment, rage won out. His eyes red with hate fixed on his target. “Dirty stinking murderers!!! I’ll kill you!!! ”
He took out after the hyenas at full tilt. For a lion, his onslaught was something terrible to behold. But he was built for power, not for speed, and was unable to catch up with the lighter-built hyenas the way a lioness might have. Instead, he kept up with them.
The scavengers flew across the savanna swiftly as evening swallows. They put on one final spurt and with great relief crossed the border into the elephant graveyard where their grounds began.
They stopped for a moment to look back—a foolish mistake. Shaka kept coming. He ran over the invisible line that delineated his authority. He half-ran, half-stumbled down the slope and into the dusty realm of the dead. Finally, one of the hyenas stumbled over a pile of bones and headed to a terrifying stop.
Shaka was on top of him very quickly, bearing the hyena’s small body down with crushing weight. “You killed my wife! You ripped out my heart, and I will rip out yours! I give you a moment to pray to your god.”
Before he knew what was happening, Shaka was surrounded by hyenas on all sides. They seemed to materialize from the dust and emerge from the skulls and caves.
“Let him go! ” said Amarakh, the ruling Roh’mach. “You are trespassing on our lands. You are holding one of my people.”
“He’s a murderer! ” Shaka narrowed his eyes at her. “He killed my wife in cold blood, and he was on my land! She had two cubs, Amarakh. Two cubs that won’t have a mother coming home tonight! She was alive when they ripped her! Alive! ”
“I will investigate it. I know him. He’s a trouble maker anyhow, and you can be sure I will punish him if he’s guilty.”
“IF??” Shaka looked down at the trapped hyena. “I saw him over her body. Zazu saw the kill. You tell her. TELL HER, VERMIN! ”
The trapped hyena squeeled in fear. “Somebody help me! ”
“You can’t extract a confession to a murder by death threats.” Amarakh glared back. “This is my land, and I give you my word we will investigate within the customs of our law. But you must let him go. Leave—now! ”
“I do not believe you.”
“You are not in a position to negotiate, ” Amarakh said. “Leave at once. I will see your brother the King tonight. We will talk.”
“You are right, ” he said. “You are absolutely right. I am NOT in a position to negotiate.” Shaka looked up at the sky. “Aiheu abamami! ” he cried in his deep grief. Then he quickly dropped his head and bit with tremendous force, snapping the hyena’s neck and almost severing his head. The body twitched spasmotically before collapsing with eyes staring sightlessly into space. A deep gasp whispered through the assembled throng. Then with bitter rage, the crowd closed in on Shaka.
He amused himself by remembering the long passages of the Leonid Saga he had memorized as a youth from his father. Shaka was good at reciting verse, and he was a living encyclopedia of lore and ceremonial prose. He sang to himself Sarabi’s favorite song.
“Hello there! ” shouted Zazu. “Sorry to interrupt Your Highness, but there are hyenas on the eastern meadow! They’ve killed something.”
“Moko Greatmane was a great cat,
And a great big cat was he,
He climbed up over the mountain pass
to see what he could see,
As the cat climbed up, all the rain climbed down
and the wind was blowing fast....”
“Thanks, ” Shaka said. “I’ll get on it.”
He was looking for a little excitement anyhow. Chuckling to himself about the impression he’d make on the hyenas, he loped across the savanna and plunged through the reeds. “Let them hunt on the Pride Lands, eh? Not as long as I’m on the job.” His easy but massive lope made up the distance rather quickly.
At last he spotted them, eating quickly as if they knew it was a matter of urgency.
He roared at the hyenas. They growled, but withdrew from the carcass and stood back a few yards.
“My Gods, it’s a lioness! ” He didn’t recognize her until he got close enough to turn what remained of the face with his paw. The final look of horror still hung on her shattered face.
“Avina, ” he whispered quietly. Her torn body lay open under the barren sky, and flies buzzed around. “Avina! ” Shaka looked up to the sky, drew in a deep breath and shrieked, “Avina!!! Oh God, Noooooo!!! ”
His grief and rage were competing like two rabbits trying to enter the same hole at the same time. For the vital moment, rage won out. His eyes red with hate fixed on his target. “Dirty stinking murderers!!! I’ll kill you!!! ”
He took out after the hyenas at full tilt. For a lion, his onslaught was something terrible to behold. But he was built for power, not for speed, and was unable to catch up with the lighter-built hyenas the way a lioness might have. Instead, he kept up with them.
The scavengers flew across the savanna swiftly as evening swallows. They put on one final spurt and with great relief crossed the border into the elephant graveyard where their grounds began.
They stopped for a moment to look back—a foolish mistake. Shaka kept coming. He ran over the invisible line that delineated his authority. He half-ran, half-stumbled down the slope and into the dusty realm of the dead. Finally, one of the hyenas stumbled over a pile of bones and headed to a terrifying stop.
Shaka was on top of him very quickly, bearing the hyena’s small body down with crushing weight. “You killed my wife! You ripped out my heart, and I will rip out yours! I give you a moment to pray to your god.”
Before he knew what was happening, Shaka was surrounded by hyenas on all sides. They seemed to materialize from the dust and emerge from the skulls and caves.
“Let him go! ” said Amarakh, the ruling Roh’mach. “You are trespassing on our lands. You are holding one of my people.”
“He’s a murderer! ” Shaka narrowed his eyes at her. “He killed my wife in cold blood, and he was on my land! She had two cubs, Amarakh. Two cubs that won’t have a mother coming home tonight! She was alive when they ripped her! Alive! ”
“I will investigate it. I know him. He’s a trouble maker anyhow, and you can be sure I will punish him if he’s guilty.”
“IF??” Shaka looked down at the trapped hyena. “I saw him over her body. Zazu saw the kill. You tell her. TELL HER, VERMIN! ”
The trapped hyena squeeled in fear. “Somebody help me! ”
“You can’t extract a confession to a murder by death threats.” Amarakh glared back. “This is my land, and I give you my word we will investigate within the customs of our law. But you must let him go. Leave—now! ”
“I do not believe you.”
“You are not in a position to negotiate, ” Amarakh said. “Leave at once. I will see your brother the King tonight. We will talk.”
“You are right, ” he said. “You are absolutely right. I am NOT in a position to negotiate.” Shaka looked up at the sky. “Aiheu abamami! ” he cried in his deep grief. Then he quickly dropped his head and bit with tremendous force, snapping the hyena’s neck and almost severing his head. The body twitched spasmotically before collapsing with eyes staring sightlessly into space. A deep gasp whispered through the assembled throng. Then with bitter rage, the crowd closed in on Shaka.
SCENE: GATHERING EVIDENCE
Sarabi and Elanna were playing with Mufasa and Taka. But eventually they began to wonder when their mom and dad were coming back. Ahadi began to wonder too, for it was getting late in the day. “Did they dump the kids on us and take a vacation?” Akase was only joking, but she was genuinely worried.
Zazu came in for his report. “Sire, Khemoki of the Zebra’ha is certain that....”
“Wait on that. I need to know where Shaka and Avina are. Have you seen them?”
“Well, Sire, Shaka went to chase off some hyenas. They’d made a kill in the eastern meadow, and I sent him off right away.”
“How long ago?”
“Oh, about two hours ago. Maybe three.”
“Two or three hours??”
“Well, Sire, I could be wrong.”
“Where is Avina??”
“I don’t know. She was going to go hunting in the eastern meadow and....” Zazu stopped. “Oh my lord! That’s where the kill was, and....”
“You must show me the place.” Ahadi shouted, “Sarafina, Uzuri, Isha!! Come quickly!! ”
Fearing what he might find, Zazu led the four of them out into the eastern meadow and straight to the place where he saw the carcass. Even from the air, he could recognize the golden color of the pelt. He dropped to the ground and shuddered.
Ahadi stalked up to the body—what was left of it—and glanced at the face. “Oh God, Avina!! ” He turned away and wretched in the grass. A few awful moments went by where not a word was said. Then trying to regain his composure, Ahadi let Uzuri take a look at the body. Uzuri trembled, but she was still able to make her observations. “Her face was....” She shuddered. “There is a kick wound. From a large hoofed animal, no doubt. But there is a trail of blood leading back that way. She wandered here.”
Uzuri followed the trail for some distance, noting with horror the hyena tracks. “The hyenas got to her while she was still alive. Dear God, the evil scum ate her alive! ”
She trotted back to the body, then followed the tracks away toward the elephant graveyard. “It’s Shaka—I can still scent him. He chased them this way.”
The party of lions headed down the weak but definite trail until they reached the boundaries of the elephant graveyard. Waiting for them there was a large group of hyenas, and in front was Amarakh.
The lions came in as a group, showing fangs, and daring anyone to bother them. Ahadi demanded, “Where is Shaka?”
“What is left of him is removed to the place of the dead.” Amarakh scowled. “He took the law into his own teeth and killed one of ours on our own land without a trial. We offered to hold an inquest, a fair trial by the law of our people. But he turned us down and killed a male whose wife is pregnant.”
“So you murdered him! ”
“We EXECUTED him. We couldn’t wait for him to kill others. He was too dangerous to place under arrest.”
“There is no doubt he was dangerous after his wife was ripped alive. We have seen the evidence.”
“We had not, Sire. We could not be sure, and we could not wait to be sure.”
“Here is the dead male’s wife, ” Amarakh said, motioning for Fabana to be brought forward. One of her eyes had been clawed out and healed with a brutal scar. She cowered before the mighty King.
“If you would have revenge, ” Amarakh said, “let all the people see that you fight honorably with her, one on one. Let them see that you have given her the FAIR chance to defend the honor of her family.”
The quaking hyena female stammered, “Mercy! Have mercy! I am with child! ”
Ahadi looked at her with some pity. “Now you know what it feels like to lose someone you love. The Roh’mach is courting death to toy with my sympathies like this, but she has won this round. You will not be harmed.”
But Ahadi looked sternly at Amarakh. “Because your people have killed my brother, and because his wife was basely murdered, you are Corban. No more shall you scavenge on the Pride Lands. Not until the last of the group that killed Avina is dead.”
“But my Lord, we will all starve! ”
“Perhaps a few hungry nights will motivate you to enforce your own laws, Amarakh. Besides, this is not such a bad spot to scavenge. You never know when an elephant might want to die.”
She held up her head and stared back. “You mock me because you are powerful, and I am but a hyena. But the gods know I must be fair to my people. Grief has blinded you, impaired your judgement and robbed you of your wisdom.”
Ahadi and the lionesses left. Someone had to break the news to Sarabi and Elanna. Ahadi knew that Sarabi and Elanna belonged with him, and he knew he was the one that must speak the awful words. “Aiheu abamami, ” he stammered. “Please God, give me strength.”
Zazu came in for his report. “Sire, Khemoki of the Zebra’ha is certain that....”
“Wait on that. I need to know where Shaka and Avina are. Have you seen them?”
“Well, Sire, Shaka went to chase off some hyenas. They’d made a kill in the eastern meadow, and I sent him off right away.”
“How long ago?”
“Oh, about two hours ago. Maybe three.”
“Two or three hours??”
“Well, Sire, I could be wrong.”
“Where is Avina??”
“I don’t know. She was going to go hunting in the eastern meadow and....” Zazu stopped. “Oh my lord! That’s where the kill was, and....”
“You must show me the place.” Ahadi shouted, “Sarafina, Uzuri, Isha!! Come quickly!! ”
Fearing what he might find, Zazu led the four of them out into the eastern meadow and straight to the place where he saw the carcass. Even from the air, he could recognize the golden color of the pelt. He dropped to the ground and shuddered.
Ahadi stalked up to the body—what was left of it—and glanced at the face. “Oh God, Avina!! ” He turned away and wretched in the grass. A few awful moments went by where not a word was said. Then trying to regain his composure, Ahadi let Uzuri take a look at the body. Uzuri trembled, but she was still able to make her observations. “Her face was....” She shuddered. “There is a kick wound. From a large hoofed animal, no doubt. But there is a trail of blood leading back that way. She wandered here.”
Uzuri followed the trail for some distance, noting with horror the hyena tracks. “The hyenas got to her while she was still alive. Dear God, the evil scum ate her alive! ”
She trotted back to the body, then followed the tracks away toward the elephant graveyard. “It’s Shaka—I can still scent him. He chased them this way.”
The party of lions headed down the weak but definite trail until they reached the boundaries of the elephant graveyard. Waiting for them there was a large group of hyenas, and in front was Amarakh.
The lions came in as a group, showing fangs, and daring anyone to bother them. Ahadi demanded, “Where is Shaka?”
“What is left of him is removed to the place of the dead.” Amarakh scowled. “He took the law into his own teeth and killed one of ours on our own land without a trial. We offered to hold an inquest, a fair trial by the law of our people. But he turned us down and killed a male whose wife is pregnant.”
“So you murdered him! ”
“We EXECUTED him. We couldn’t wait for him to kill others. He was too dangerous to place under arrest.”
“There is no doubt he was dangerous after his wife was ripped alive. We have seen the evidence.”
“We had not, Sire. We could not be sure, and we could not wait to be sure.”
“Here is the dead male’s wife, ” Amarakh said, motioning for Fabana to be brought forward. One of her eyes had been clawed out and healed with a brutal scar. She cowered before the mighty King.
“If you would have revenge, ” Amarakh said, “let all the people see that you fight honorably with her, one on one. Let them see that you have given her the FAIR chance to defend the honor of her family.”
The quaking hyena female stammered, “Mercy! Have mercy! I am with child! ”
Ahadi looked at her with some pity. “Now you know what it feels like to lose someone you love. The Roh’mach is courting death to toy with my sympathies like this, but she has won this round. You will not be harmed.”
But Ahadi looked sternly at Amarakh. “Because your people have killed my brother, and because his wife was basely murdered, you are Corban. No more shall you scavenge on the Pride Lands. Not until the last of the group that killed Avina is dead.”
“But my Lord, we will all starve! ”
“Perhaps a few hungry nights will motivate you to enforce your own laws, Amarakh. Besides, this is not such a bad spot to scavenge. You never know when an elephant might want to die.”
She held up her head and stared back. “You mock me because you are powerful, and I am but a hyena. But the gods know I must be fair to my people. Grief has blinded you, impaired your judgement and robbed you of your wisdom.”
Ahadi and the lionesses left. Someone had to break the news to Sarabi and Elanna. Ahadi knew that Sarabi and Elanna belonged with him, and he knew he was the one that must speak the awful words. “Aiheu abamami, ” he stammered. “Please God, give me strength.”
SCENE: HAMMER AND TONGS
Muffy and Taka are six moons older. Their cubhood spots were long gone, and they had grown in size and agility. It was time for them to learn some important lessons about defending a kingdom.
In their cubhood games, they had built up a repertoire of reflexes and moves that would serve them well as adults. But there were moves reserved for serious combat, moves they would need to defend the Pride Lands from intruders and rivals. Though Ahadi tried to put some fun into learning, this was no game.
Ahadi knew too well that a lion should know his strengths and his weaknesses. With Mufasa, Ahadi saw strength and endurance. For this reason, Mufasa easily mastered the forward thrust his father taught him, coming up on his hind legs and pushing out and in with his massive forepaws. Taka was small but quick, and his father taught him the haunch seize first off, instructing him to dip low to bite the back leg and throw his opponent over. But of course there were defenses against these attacks, and they had to learn them too. A lion with only one strategy will never be king for very long.
Yolanda, who was quite a powerful lioness, helped Ahadi with his demonstrations. It looked much more violent in actual practice than it had in teaching. Mufasa and Taka watched spellbound and horrified as Yolanda and Ahadi went at it hammer and tongs. They didn’t growl or roar, but even in their dignity the raw power of aggressive fighting was all too clear. Of course, Ahadi and Yolanda were careful not to really hurt each other. They retracted their claws and did not bite down hard, but they used a great deal of strength, and the smell of sweat was on the air.
Sarabi ambled over by Mufasa, trying to look casual. “Be careful with him Muffy, ” she whispered. “You know you’re stronger. You don’t have to prove anything by hurting him.”
“Don’t worry, Sassie. He’s my brother.”
“Then you’ll try not to make him look too bad?”
He smiled. “You really like him, don’t you?”
“Yes.” She gave him a quick tongue touch to the cheek. “Thank you, Muffy. You’re a real sweetheart.”
“Not to mention a real hunk, ” Elanna said, flirting.
Winded, Ahadi and Yolanda finally stopped. Ahadi pushed his mane out of his eyes and said, “Of course (pant), you realize (pant) that there would have (pant) been a winner (pant) and a loser if this (pant) had been real.”
Yolanda nuzzled him. “Incosi (pant), I touch your mane.”
“I (pant) feel it.” Ahadi took in a deep breath and let it out slowly. “OK, my sons. You try it.”
The two brothers stood up and faced each other. Taka took a deep breath and began circling Mufasa slowly. His head bobbed, weaving an irregular pattern as he looked for an opening.
Mufasa lowered his forequarters and shifted around, keeping the bulk of his body facing Taka. The speed with which Taka could dart in and grab a haunch was frightening, and he dared not expose his vulnerable back legs.
Taka frowned. “Fine then, ” he thought. He resumed circling, pacing himself, his breath going in and out rhythmically. Then he took a short, quick breath.
Muffy read the signs correctly and jumped back just in time. Taka pounced on empty grassland, his paws scrabbling for purchase.
Ahadi nodded gravely but said nothing.
Looking around, Taka saw Muffy smiling at him tauntingly. Baring his teeth angry, he began flailing at his brother wildly. Startled, Muffy methodically countered one blow after another, blocking Taka’s sweeps with his forepaws. With a guttural moan, Taka felt panic set in as he realized he was probably going to lose--again. He glanced at Sarabi, trying to read her expression.
That moment was all Muffy needed. He cuffed Taka hard enough to tip him off balance. Before Taka could draw in another breath, Muffy’s heavy weight was bearing down on his chest, pinning him to the ground. “Say uncle! ”
“No! ” he gasped, fighting for air as he struggled futilely. Muffy was too strong for him.
Taka struggled hard, but Muffy was too strong for him.
“Say uncle! ”
“No! ”
Taka could not bear to be humiliated like this, not in front of Sarabi! He saw Muffy’s leg within reach of his jaws.
“Say uncle! ”
“I--said--NO! ” His teeth buried themselves in Muffy’s leg. As Mufasa jumped up, bellowing in pain, Taka darted out from under him and came out swinging with all of his might. A forepaw struck Mufasa under the chin, making his teeth click together painfully.
“Cut it out, Taka! ” Mufasa backed away, his forehead furrowed in anger. “Don’t make me get rough with you.”
“Give me your best shot, ” Taka whispers arrogantly. “I know you’re being careful with me. After all, you’re a real sweetheart.”
“And you’re a real fool.” His eyes narrowed. He closed with Taka, grappling. Taka swung at his legs, trying to hook them out from under, but Muffy blocked the move quickly. Circling again, Taka slid in and tried at another angle, only to meet the same result. Fear crept in as he felt his strength waning. In desperation, he cheated again, going for a leg hold with teeth bared.
“No! ” Mufasa struck at him claws-out with all his might. Taka went sprawling to the ground. “Try that again and I’ll knock your fool head off! ”
Taka wobbled to his feet, took a couple of unsteady steps, and sat down again. He rubbed his face with a paw.
Sarabi wanted to rush over and comfort him, but she knew better. It would make a bad situation worse.
Muffy saw the look on Sarabi’s face and thought about the promise. He looked at Taka and saw the dazed expression on his face. “Taka, are you OK?”
“I’ll live.” He rose unsteadily and shook his head.
Ahadi sniffed of the cut on Muffy's leg. He looked over at Taka and frowned. “Some wrestling match.”
“He cheated, ” Elanna said. “I saw him do it twice.”
Ignoring them, Taka paced away slowly, wincing at the throbbing in his cheek where Mufasa's powerful forepaw had struck him. He whacked at small stones with his powerful paw, muttering words his mother did not teach him under his breath.
Wending his way around the face of Pride Rock, he lay down in his favorite resting place, on a ledge under a jutting overhang of granite which shaded him nicely. With some trepidation, he raised a paw to his face and touched it gingerly. Bringing his forepaw before him, he was relieved to find no trace of blood.
"Taka?"
He glanced over to see Sarabi gracefully make her way onto the ledge with him. He smiled listlessly. "Hey, Sassie."
She padded up to him, glaring. "Don't 'Hey, Sassie, ' me. What did you think you were doing?! "
His smile vanished quickly. "What are you talking about?"
"Were you trying to kill yourself? Let me see your face." She started to examine the swollen cheek under his scarred left eye, but he jerked away.
"Don't worry about me. I would've won that stupid fight if he hadn't cheated."
Her eyebrows lifted. "He cheated? Taka, you bit his leg! I'm surprised he didn't knock your fool head off! "
He narrowed his eyes, glaring at her. "Yes, I appreciate the support, Sarabi." He added mockingly, "Oh, Muffy, take it easy on him, he's not strong like you are." He spat. "I don't want him to LET me win, I want to BEAT him! Just once, I'd like to be better at something! "
“But you are better at something, ” she said. "I don't want to see you get hurt, that's all." Her voice wavered as she fought back tears. "I'm sorry if my love is getting in the way of that tiff with your brother." She turned and headed away.
Taka froze. "Sassie, wait! " He watched as her form continued away down the path. "Oh, God, it's happening! " he cried.
He ran after her, got out ahead and blocked her path. Sarabi stopped, startled.
“I’m sorry! Please, I’m sorry! ” He began to beg, pleading desperately. Falling on his back, he pawed at her. “I love you! Please don’t leave me, Sassie! ”
She saw the sheer terror in his eyes, and felt the hair on the back of her neck stand up. She forgot her anger.
“I had to try and win, ” he stammered. “If I lost all the time, you might not love me anymore. I’m a loser, Sassie. Not that I don’t try.”
“Is your head full of dead grass?” Sarabi took her paw and held up Taka’s chin so that he looked her in the eyes. “I love you because you’re sweet and clever and very cute. That won’t change because Muffy beats you at wrestling.” She kissed him with her warm tongue and nuzzled him. “I am a little disappointed that you cheated, though. I’ve always thought you were above that.”
“Oh.” He didn’t know whether he liked that remark, but he loved her. Kissing her cheek, he said, “I’ll love you till the day I die. Longer, even. They will see two stars side by side and know it is us.” Without shame, his eyes filled with tears. “My love must be stronger than fate itself if it’s to survive. My body may be weak, but Sassie, my heart is strong.”
"Taka, it’s that prophesy again. I can tell it. When will you learn to trust me?” She stroked his face with a paw.
"I believe your goodness is so strong that you can beat this thing, but you heard the rest. ‘He who is first to touch you shall beget your doom.'" He looked down. "Muffy was the first one to touch me. He's going to kill me, Sassie."
“That’s foolish. He loves you! ”
"You knew he was too strong for me. We're gonna get in a fight one day, and he's going to lose his cool and kill me." He turned his gaze to the vast savanna which stretched before them.
Sarabi was horrified. "Stop talking like that, you're scaring me! " Moving close to him, she nuzzled his head gently. "Taka, maybe your head IS full of dead grass. Muffy loves you. He needs you. He’s your brother. Rafiki was wrong--even Makedde said so."
Taka half smiled. “Yeah, he did, didn’t he! You really think we can beat this thing? The three of us?"
She kissed his cheek gently. "Of course." She rose, switching her tail. "You stay here and rest, Taka. I'll be back in a minute."
"Okay." He lay his head on his forepaws slowly and shut his eyes.
Sarabi hurried down the path to where it joined the promontory at the front of Pride Rock. Padding across its smooth surface, she entered the cool recesses of the main cave. As her eyes adjusted, she saw Mufasa sitting nearby, licking his wound gingerly.
"Muffy, I must talk to you."
"Sure." He smiled at her.
"It's about Taka."
His face fell. "Hey, I tried to go easy on him, but when he bit me, I saw red.”
“I know, and I’m not upset with you.”
She sighed. “It’s that prophesy again.”
“You two had another fight?”
“No. Well, yes, but that’s beside the point.” She sighed again. “Don’t be upset, Muffy, but you know that business about the one that touched him first bringing about his doom?”
“Yes. But....” Mufasa’s eyes broadened. “Oh gods, don’t tell me he thinks I’m going to whack him??”
She looked at him closely. "You wouldn’t, would you? Promise?"
"For gods’ sake! " He blinked at her, surprised. “Of course I promise! He’s my brother! ” He shook his head. “What AM I going to do with him, Sassie?”
"Tell him. He needs to hear it from you more than anyone else."
Nodding, he started away.
Poor Mufasa wanted to ask his parents for help, but the whole thing embarrased him too badly. He resigned himself to handling Taka “the usual way, ” which meant humoring his moods, no matter how ridiculous they are, and being careful to remind him that he’s loved.
He finally got his chance later that day.
Taka was resting on the end of the promontory. It was his favorite place to sulk when he felt like the whole world was out to get him. The scale of the view helped put his problems into perspective in the great pagent of life.
“Taka?”
“What?” Taka didn’t bother to turn around.
“I just saw Sassie.”
Taka turned around that time. “What did she say??”
“Not much.” Muffy tried to keep his tail from twitching. Apparently he was successful. “She was upset. She looked a little depressed, so I asked her what was up.”
“Oh gods, here it comes.” Taka drooped.
“She was watching us fight, and she thought about the prophesy. You know, the part about the first one that touched you would begat your doom.”
“Oh?” Taka gave him his undivided attention. “And what did you tell her?”
Mufasa smiled, but a tear rolled down his cheek. “I told her you’re my brother. I’m sorry I hit you so hard. You bit me, and I went crazy. You know we both love you, Sassie and I. She worries about you. In fact, she's always telling me how she’s going to marry you when you get older." Mufasa swallowed a sudden lump in his throat. "You don’t know how lucky you are, Taka. I got the kingdom, but you got Sassie."
Taka smiled at him, a real smile, now. "Yeah, I guess I am. She's really beautiful, isn't she?"
Unable to reply, Mufasa merely nodded.
Taka looked at him closely. “Why Muffy, you’re jealous….”
“Come off it.”
“No, you really are.” Taka smiled an amused smile. “Gods! You’re jealous of me! And all this time….” He rose briskly, stretched his legs, and came running over to Muffy. He nuzzled him and put his forearm around Mufasa’s shoulder. “You must think I’m crazy.”
“No. Well, not much.”
“Sometimes I feel crazy. Dad always has it all together. He always knows the score.” A tear ran down Taka’s face. “Help me fight this thing, Muffy. If the three of us work hard, we can beat the prophesy. We can. You’re good inside; so is Sassie. We’ve got to be good to beat it.”
Muffy swallowed hard, then said, “Don’t worry. We’ll be really good.”
In their cubhood games, they had built up a repertoire of reflexes and moves that would serve them well as adults. But there were moves reserved for serious combat, moves they would need to defend the Pride Lands from intruders and rivals. Though Ahadi tried to put some fun into learning, this was no game.
Ahadi knew too well that a lion should know his strengths and his weaknesses. With Mufasa, Ahadi saw strength and endurance. For this reason, Mufasa easily mastered the forward thrust his father taught him, coming up on his hind legs and pushing out and in with his massive forepaws. Taka was small but quick, and his father taught him the haunch seize first off, instructing him to dip low to bite the back leg and throw his opponent over. But of course there were defenses against these attacks, and they had to learn them too. A lion with only one strategy will never be king for very long.
Yolanda, who was quite a powerful lioness, helped Ahadi with his demonstrations. It looked much more violent in actual practice than it had in teaching. Mufasa and Taka watched spellbound and horrified as Yolanda and Ahadi went at it hammer and tongs. They didn’t growl or roar, but even in their dignity the raw power of aggressive fighting was all too clear. Of course, Ahadi and Yolanda were careful not to really hurt each other. They retracted their claws and did not bite down hard, but they used a great deal of strength, and the smell of sweat was on the air.
Sarabi ambled over by Mufasa, trying to look casual. “Be careful with him Muffy, ” she whispered. “You know you’re stronger. You don’t have to prove anything by hurting him.”
“Don’t worry, Sassie. He’s my brother.”
“Then you’ll try not to make him look too bad?”
He smiled. “You really like him, don’t you?”
“Yes.” She gave him a quick tongue touch to the cheek. “Thank you, Muffy. You’re a real sweetheart.”
“Not to mention a real hunk, ” Elanna said, flirting.
Winded, Ahadi and Yolanda finally stopped. Ahadi pushed his mane out of his eyes and said, “Of course (pant), you realize (pant) that there would have (pant) been a winner (pant) and a loser if this (pant) had been real.”
Yolanda nuzzled him. “Incosi (pant), I touch your mane.”
“I (pant) feel it.” Ahadi took in a deep breath and let it out slowly. “OK, my sons. You try it.”
The two brothers stood up and faced each other. Taka took a deep breath and began circling Mufasa slowly. His head bobbed, weaving an irregular pattern as he looked for an opening.
Mufasa lowered his forequarters and shifted around, keeping the bulk of his body facing Taka. The speed with which Taka could dart in and grab a haunch was frightening, and he dared not expose his vulnerable back legs.
Taka frowned. “Fine then, ” he thought. He resumed circling, pacing himself, his breath going in and out rhythmically. Then he took a short, quick breath.
Muffy read the signs correctly and jumped back just in time. Taka pounced on empty grassland, his paws scrabbling for purchase.
Ahadi nodded gravely but said nothing.
Looking around, Taka saw Muffy smiling at him tauntingly. Baring his teeth angry, he began flailing at his brother wildly. Startled, Muffy methodically countered one blow after another, blocking Taka’s sweeps with his forepaws. With a guttural moan, Taka felt panic set in as he realized he was probably going to lose--again. He glanced at Sarabi, trying to read her expression.
That moment was all Muffy needed. He cuffed Taka hard enough to tip him off balance. Before Taka could draw in another breath, Muffy’s heavy weight was bearing down on his chest, pinning him to the ground. “Say uncle! ”
“No! ” he gasped, fighting for air as he struggled futilely. Muffy was too strong for him.
Taka struggled hard, but Muffy was too strong for him.
“Say uncle! ”
“No! ”
Taka could not bear to be humiliated like this, not in front of Sarabi! He saw Muffy’s leg within reach of his jaws.
“Say uncle! ”
“I--said--NO! ” His teeth buried themselves in Muffy’s leg. As Mufasa jumped up, bellowing in pain, Taka darted out from under him and came out swinging with all of his might. A forepaw struck Mufasa under the chin, making his teeth click together painfully.
“Cut it out, Taka! ” Mufasa backed away, his forehead furrowed in anger. “Don’t make me get rough with you.”
“Give me your best shot, ” Taka whispers arrogantly. “I know you’re being careful with me. After all, you’re a real sweetheart.”
“And you’re a real fool.” His eyes narrowed. He closed with Taka, grappling. Taka swung at his legs, trying to hook them out from under, but Muffy blocked the move quickly. Circling again, Taka slid in and tried at another angle, only to meet the same result. Fear crept in as he felt his strength waning. In desperation, he cheated again, going for a leg hold with teeth bared.
“No! ” Mufasa struck at him claws-out with all his might. Taka went sprawling to the ground. “Try that again and I’ll knock your fool head off! ”
Taka wobbled to his feet, took a couple of unsteady steps, and sat down again. He rubbed his face with a paw.
Sarabi wanted to rush over and comfort him, but she knew better. It would make a bad situation worse.
Muffy saw the look on Sarabi’s face and thought about the promise. He looked at Taka and saw the dazed expression on his face. “Taka, are you OK?”
“I’ll live.” He rose unsteadily and shook his head.
Ahadi sniffed of the cut on Muffy's leg. He looked over at Taka and frowned. “Some wrestling match.”
“He cheated, ” Elanna said. “I saw him do it twice.”
Ignoring them, Taka paced away slowly, wincing at the throbbing in his cheek where Mufasa's powerful forepaw had struck him. He whacked at small stones with his powerful paw, muttering words his mother did not teach him under his breath.
Wending his way around the face of Pride Rock, he lay down in his favorite resting place, on a ledge under a jutting overhang of granite which shaded him nicely. With some trepidation, he raised a paw to his face and touched it gingerly. Bringing his forepaw before him, he was relieved to find no trace of blood.
"Taka?"
He glanced over to see Sarabi gracefully make her way onto the ledge with him. He smiled listlessly. "Hey, Sassie."
She padded up to him, glaring. "Don't 'Hey, Sassie, ' me. What did you think you were doing?! "
His smile vanished quickly. "What are you talking about?"
"Were you trying to kill yourself? Let me see your face." She started to examine the swollen cheek under his scarred left eye, but he jerked away.
"Don't worry about me. I would've won that stupid fight if he hadn't cheated."
Her eyebrows lifted. "He cheated? Taka, you bit his leg! I'm surprised he didn't knock your fool head off! "
He narrowed his eyes, glaring at her. "Yes, I appreciate the support, Sarabi." He added mockingly, "Oh, Muffy, take it easy on him, he's not strong like you are." He spat. "I don't want him to LET me win, I want to BEAT him! Just once, I'd like to be better at something! "
“But you are better at something, ” she said. "I don't want to see you get hurt, that's all." Her voice wavered as she fought back tears. "I'm sorry if my love is getting in the way of that tiff with your brother." She turned and headed away.
Taka froze. "Sassie, wait! " He watched as her form continued away down the path. "Oh, God, it's happening! " he cried.
He ran after her, got out ahead and blocked her path. Sarabi stopped, startled.
“I’m sorry! Please, I’m sorry! ” He began to beg, pleading desperately. Falling on his back, he pawed at her. “I love you! Please don’t leave me, Sassie! ”
She saw the sheer terror in his eyes, and felt the hair on the back of her neck stand up. She forgot her anger.
“I had to try and win, ” he stammered. “If I lost all the time, you might not love me anymore. I’m a loser, Sassie. Not that I don’t try.”
“Is your head full of dead grass?” Sarabi took her paw and held up Taka’s chin so that he looked her in the eyes. “I love you because you’re sweet and clever and very cute. That won’t change because Muffy beats you at wrestling.” She kissed him with her warm tongue and nuzzled him. “I am a little disappointed that you cheated, though. I’ve always thought you were above that.”
“Oh.” He didn’t know whether he liked that remark, but he loved her. Kissing her cheek, he said, “I’ll love you till the day I die. Longer, even. They will see two stars side by side and know it is us.” Without shame, his eyes filled with tears. “My love must be stronger than fate itself if it’s to survive. My body may be weak, but Sassie, my heart is strong.”
"Taka, it’s that prophesy again. I can tell it. When will you learn to trust me?” She stroked his face with a paw.
"I believe your goodness is so strong that you can beat this thing, but you heard the rest. ‘He who is first to touch you shall beget your doom.'" He looked down. "Muffy was the first one to touch me. He's going to kill me, Sassie."
“That’s foolish. He loves you! ”
"You knew he was too strong for me. We're gonna get in a fight one day, and he's going to lose his cool and kill me." He turned his gaze to the vast savanna which stretched before them.
Sarabi was horrified. "Stop talking like that, you're scaring me! " Moving close to him, she nuzzled his head gently. "Taka, maybe your head IS full of dead grass. Muffy loves you. He needs you. He’s your brother. Rafiki was wrong--even Makedde said so."
Taka half smiled. “Yeah, he did, didn’t he! You really think we can beat this thing? The three of us?"
She kissed his cheek gently. "Of course." She rose, switching her tail. "You stay here and rest, Taka. I'll be back in a minute."
"Okay." He lay his head on his forepaws slowly and shut his eyes.
Sarabi hurried down the path to where it joined the promontory at the front of Pride Rock. Padding across its smooth surface, she entered the cool recesses of the main cave. As her eyes adjusted, she saw Mufasa sitting nearby, licking his wound gingerly.
"Muffy, I must talk to you."
"Sure." He smiled at her.
"It's about Taka."
His face fell. "Hey, I tried to go easy on him, but when he bit me, I saw red.”
“I know, and I’m not upset with you.”
She sighed. “It’s that prophesy again.”
“You two had another fight?”
“No. Well, yes, but that’s beside the point.” She sighed again. “Don’t be upset, Muffy, but you know that business about the one that touched him first bringing about his doom?”
“Yes. But....” Mufasa’s eyes broadened. “Oh gods, don’t tell me he thinks I’m going to whack him??”
She looked at him closely. "You wouldn’t, would you? Promise?"
"For gods’ sake! " He blinked at her, surprised. “Of course I promise! He’s my brother! ” He shook his head. “What AM I going to do with him, Sassie?”
"Tell him. He needs to hear it from you more than anyone else."
Nodding, he started away.
Poor Mufasa wanted to ask his parents for help, but the whole thing embarrased him too badly. He resigned himself to handling Taka “the usual way, ” which meant humoring his moods, no matter how ridiculous they are, and being careful to remind him that he’s loved.
He finally got his chance later that day.
Taka was resting on the end of the promontory. It was his favorite place to sulk when he felt like the whole world was out to get him. The scale of the view helped put his problems into perspective in the great pagent of life.
“Taka?”
“What?” Taka didn’t bother to turn around.
“I just saw Sassie.”
Taka turned around that time. “What did she say??”
“Not much.” Muffy tried to keep his tail from twitching. Apparently he was successful. “She was upset. She looked a little depressed, so I asked her what was up.”
“Oh gods, here it comes.” Taka drooped.
“She was watching us fight, and she thought about the prophesy. You know, the part about the first one that touched you would begat your doom.”
“Oh?” Taka gave him his undivided attention. “And what did you tell her?”
Mufasa smiled, but a tear rolled down his cheek. “I told her you’re my brother. I’m sorry I hit you so hard. You bit me, and I went crazy. You know we both love you, Sassie and I. She worries about you. In fact, she's always telling me how she’s going to marry you when you get older." Mufasa swallowed a sudden lump in his throat. "You don’t know how lucky you are, Taka. I got the kingdom, but you got Sassie."
Taka smiled at him, a real smile, now. "Yeah, I guess I am. She's really beautiful, isn't she?"
Unable to reply, Mufasa merely nodded.
Taka looked at him closely. “Why Muffy, you’re jealous….”
“Come off it.”
“No, you really are.” Taka smiled an amused smile. “Gods! You’re jealous of me! And all this time….” He rose briskly, stretched his legs, and came running over to Muffy. He nuzzled him and put his forearm around Mufasa’s shoulder. “You must think I’m crazy.”
“No. Well, not much.”
“Sometimes I feel crazy. Dad always has it all together. He always knows the score.” A tear ran down Taka’s face. “Help me fight this thing, Muffy. If the three of us work hard, we can beat the prophesy. We can. You’re good inside; so is Sassie. We’ve got to be good to beat it.”
Muffy swallowed hard, then said, “Don’t worry. We’ll be really good.”
SCENE: LIONESS FEVER
“.... And it was that Aiheu the Beautiful, having made the World of Ma'at (soil) gave it to his spirit children for a dwelling place. And they praised him, for the land was very comely. But in the first days, which were called the Days of Ka (spirit), some were not as happy as Aiheu had wished.
"What has this land to do with us?" they asked. "The sun does not warm us. The waters do not cleanse us. The wind does not cool us. How can this be our home when the grass does not stir beneath our feet?"
“So Aiheu took ma'at (soil) and mixed it with maja (water) that it may be shaped. And for those ka that desired to know pleasure, he clave them to bodies which he formed from the mud, breathing into their nostrils the breath of life, that so long as they should draw breath, they should be part of the World of Ma'at, and that the sun would warm them, the water would cleanse them, and the wind would cool them. These and many other pleasures he gave them for a birthright, but he also gave them a warning. For pain is the brother of pleasure, and those who are of ma'at must accept pain with the pleasure.”
---- THE LEONINE STORY OF BEGINNINGS, Variation D-4-A
Rafiki awoke with stiffness in his lower back. At his age, he was frequently sore in the mornings and had to take an herbal preparation to get himself back in the thick of things. Because the medicine had to be fresh and moist to work, he had to make up individual doses as needed. That meant working while tired and sore. Still, Rafiki did not complain. For one thing he lived alone, with no one to complain to, and for another, he was a shaman and accepted what life brought him as gracefully as he could.
Soaking in a water-filled gourd, some bonewort would loosen the tightness in his spine. He carefully removed just enough to do the job. It was followed by Senophalix bark and roots from Psamnophis gelleri for pain. But the final ingredient was a powder made from Alba, a red flower. It did not grow nearby, and he had to trade to get it. The small cache of this drug was nearly exhausted, and he put in a little less than was his custom. He had requested some from the apes that lived in the forest near his baobab.
The other mandrills thought Rafiki a bit strange. They didn't understand his need for the flower, but they happily raised the fee to what they thought he could afford. For that reason, precious time that could be spent serving others was spent collecting large bundles of herbs and other notions for payment.
Mixing the ingredients into a paste with his bowl and antelope bone, he downed the bitter mixture with a frown, and quickly took some water and honey to purge his mouth. Perhaps the medicine did not work immediately. Yet he felt better at once, knowing that help was on the way.
While he waited for relief, he settled down for his morning prayers, which always began with thanksgiving, then ran through the name of every lion on the Pride Lands whether they were ill or well, and ended with a modest request to "Remember old Rafiki who trusts in you."
Breakfast was a simple affair. Mango was his favorite, followed shortly by ripe Kannabia australoafricanus, which he called by an equally unpronounceable Mandrill name. Honey was not easy to come by, since he'd grown old enough to make climbing a problem. Besides, even at the best of times, there was an element of luck involved. So he put only a few drops of honey on the fruit to season it, and ate his breakfast. Perhaps in the next life, there would be honey enough for his sweet tooth, which only grew stronger with age. He felt he would know sooner rather than later, a fact brought home by the silver hair that reflected in his scrying bowl.
Only after breakfast was over and he'd rubbed his teeth with the chewed end of an acacia twig did he start out on the day's business. Alba was waiting for him--the apes said it would be waiting for him in three days, and the time was up. They were robbers, but they were never late. One, two, three hard-won bundles of roots and leaves were sprinkled with water, wrapped in Rattasia leaves, and secured with long acacia thorn pins. The barter was gathered up with the care it deserved to ransom the modest stash of tiny red blossoms that waited for him in the forest.
He was about to leave when Mufasa came in. Muffy was a year and a half old, and the beginning of some ruff around his ears and neck showed that he was coming along on schedule.
“I had almost forgotten our appointment.” Rafiki put his bundles of herbs aside. “Trouble sleeping, I believe? Loss of appetite?”
“Yeah.”
“Difficulty concentrating.”
“And don’t forget depression. I’ve been down before, but now I’m really down for the count.”
“I see.” Rafiki put his ear to Muffy’s chest. “Breathe in. Good. Now let it out slowly.” He tapped Muffy’s chest a couple of times with his knuckles. “Once more.” The breathing seemed to agree with him. He felt the radial pulse alongside his neck and winked. “Soon enough, I’ll have to use the arm. This old mane will be in the way.” Mufasa smiled proudly. “So tell me, how is Taka?”
“Fine.”
“The cough all gone, I take it?”
“Yes, Rafiki. I made sure he took all his medicine. None of that hiding the herbs under his tongue and spitting them out when I’m not looking.”
“How did you manage that?”
“I rubbed his throat till he had to swallow.”
Rafiki laughed. “He’s just a big cub. And Sarabi?”
“Oh, she’s fine.”
Rafiki looked surprised. “Whoa there! Your pulse is jumping like a Springbok! ” The mandrill looked Muffy in the eyes. “If I didn’t know better, I’d think you had the fever.”
“The fever?”
“Lioness fever.” Rafiki rubbed his chin whiskers. “And you got it from Sarabi, I can tell. Does Taka know?”
“No, uh--I mean....”
Rafiki shook his finger at Mufasa. “Don’t hide from me behind those little lamb eyes. I know what I see.” He looked in Muffy’s eyes and sighed deeply. “You got it bad, son.”
Mufasa glanced away. “There must be a cure for it. I won’t betray my own brother. You must have something for falling out of love.”
“I don’t even have anything for falling IN love. But tell me, does Sarabi love YOU?”
“Well she’s my friend. Of course she loves me.”
“You know what I mean. I mean lion fever. Has she ever given you those little hints? You know, the feeling that you’re being stalked, and any minute she may decide to charge?”
“No. I—well she—no. No. She’s so struck on my brother. Oh Rafiki, sometimes I get the feeling I wish I were an only child. I love Taka, really I do, but Sassie is on my mind all the time. I can’t be weak, not with my brother’s girl. Are you sure there’s nothing I can do?”
“Maybe a nice swim in the cold spring.” He popped Muffy on the flank. “There’s nothing wrong with you that your own conscience and a little time can’t fix. But keep your eyes open. You must also be fair to Sarabi. What she wants is important too. And I think you are selling yourself short that way.” He smiled toothily and added in a whisper, “If you can’t give both of them what they want, choose the girl. What she don’t got, you don’t need! ”
SCENE: A SIGN OF POWER
Six moons had passed since Muffy’s chat with Rafiki. He and Taka had grown in strength and size. This miracle was made all the more evident by its speed. There was no difference from day to day, but a clear, sharp memory of passing under a low branch was no insurance against a bump on the head. The brothers, the sons of the King, were attracting the attention of the others with their strong, comely appearance.
Mufasa's pride was all out of proportion to the straggly pioneering hairs that made his head and throat look somewhat shaggier than the rest of his body. But that was matched by the pride of his parents Ahadi and Akase. Ahadi insisted that he was equally proud of Taka, and Taka wanted desperately to believe it.
Taka had a dark mane, something most lionesses consider very attractive. Often his mother Akase told him that happiness was more important than power, and if he had to choose one, go with happiness. Taka saw the sense in this. He was often unhappy, but he believed in his mother and in her love. And to a degree, he believed Sarabi loved him though they were more prone to more arguments than talks in recent days.
The Mantlement Ceremony is all that Ahadi and Akase seemed to talk about--all everyone seemed to talk about. That first trace of mane is for many male cubs a sign that they are about to venture out into The Big World, and brings as many fears as it does hopes. It is the wakening of their interest in lionesses as more than playmates. For Mufasa, it was a step closer to the kingship--the Prince was growing up. No one expected the brother of Mufasa to go out into The Big World, and he, like Mufasa, would be honored by all subjects in the Pride Lands as Prince Consort.
And yet there was no doubt that everyone of every species would be staring at the future King. Taka's Mantlement was the last big step that the public would take interest in, and he had to endure it in the huge shadow of his brother.
Immersed in this thought, Taka sat alone on the point of Pride Rock and looked down on the wide savanna below, now occupied by a few wildebeests, but soon alive with bowing and scraping subjects looking on their King-to-be. And that what's-his-name brother of his--the one with the scar. Only recently had the other lions begun to talk to him without staring at the eye. He'd long passed the stage where those who were dying to know more about it could ask, "How are you feeling?" or "Can I help?" Now it was as healed as it would ever be, and they had gotten used to it. But along with the familiarity came the rumors--mostly true--about how he was marked, and the nickname Scar. Oddly enough, no one blamed Mufasa in the least for what had happened to Taka's eye. Instead they wondered who would be stupid enough to go into a badger's hole in the first place. Everyone knew how badgers act--that is, everyone with common sense.
"Hey, Taka! " said Mufasa, sitting alongside. "Thinking about the big day tomorrow?"
"Yeah, sure."
"Well, you don't look too happy about it."
"I'm just fine, " Taka said firmly. "I can't help the way I look."
"Yeah, right." Mufasa hopped up lithely and sat on the other side of Taka to look him in the eyes. "What's your problem? I mean, it's your big day too. Everyone who's anyone will be there to look at your new mane. Besides, the babes dig it! I mean, without a mane you're just another kitten."
"You must think I'm really stupid, " Taka said. "Who's going to care about me? Half of them don't even know who I am. I'm just that kid with the funny-looking eye."
"You help protect the Pride Lands, " Mufasa said. "That's important. And hey, if something happened to me, you'd have to be King." He made a sweeping gesture with his paw over the empty savanna. "They all know that. And they know they better treat you with respect, or they'll have to answer to me."
Taka stared at Mufasa right in the eyes, something that made his brother feel uncomfortable. Mufasa could almost feel Taka looking right through him, examining his bones and sinews. He was looking for something he could remember from long ago, from days when friendship could be taken for granted in the innocence of early cubhood. "Would you miss me if I died?"
"Of course I would, " Mufasa said, a little irritated. "What kind of stupid question is that?"
"Don't call me stupid! I hate it when people call me that! "
"I didn't call you stupid, " Mufasa said, backing back. "What is your problem, anyway? Go ahead and sulk--that's all you ever do now. But you watch yourself tomorrow. You're the son of the King, and you act like it. I don't want you spoiling my Mantlement, understand?"
"I understand clearly. I won't spoil YOUR Mantlement, brother."
On that word, Taka left the point of the rock and headed down quietly.
Sarabi was lying half-asleep in the shade of an acacia tree when Taka walked by. Her keen senses were stirred by the light tread in the grass. She looked up quickly, then relaxed her ears. "Oh, it's only you, Taka."
"Only me?"
She frowned. "Not another one of those moods again. Get a little fuzz on your neck and you lions take yourself soooo seriously." She took a half-hearted swat at him. "Tell me, Taka, will you be like that when I get you alone? Smile if you think wicked thoughts."
"Don't be ridiculous."
"Smile if you think I'm sexy."
He looked away. "Cut it out, will you?"
In a sultry half-purr, she added, "Smile if you think you'll live through the honeymoon."
He broke into an embarrassed grin which he tried to hide behind a paw.
"Optimistic little devil, aren't you?" She nuzzled him affectionately. "I like that much better. I hate it when we fight."
"So do I, " Taka said. "I should let you have your way more often."
Sarabi's eyes narrowed to slits. "I don't want to have my way more often. I mean we should agree to disagree. Don't patronize me."
"I didn't mean it that way."
"Then how did you mean it? I'm not stupid you know."
"I know." Taka licked his paw and tried to groom what there was of his mane. It was a nervous habit. "Sassie, let's never fight again. I was thinking about the prophesy. I've been thinking about it a lot lately."
"I don't believe in it, " Sarabi said firmly. “I thought we had that settled.”
"Still, you can't blame me for worrying. I mean we never used to fight before that stupid thing with the badger." He licked his paw again and began to nervously rub at the other side of his neck.
"Please don't do that, " Sarabi said.
"Don't do what? Oh...." Taka put down his paw. "Do you think you'll always love me? I mean, Makedde said sometimes we make our own destinies. If we work hard, we can change them."
Mufasa's pride was all out of proportion to the straggly pioneering hairs that made his head and throat look somewhat shaggier than the rest of his body. But that was matched by the pride of his parents Ahadi and Akase. Ahadi insisted that he was equally proud of Taka, and Taka wanted desperately to believe it.
Taka had a dark mane, something most lionesses consider very attractive. Often his mother Akase told him that happiness was more important than power, and if he had to choose one, go with happiness. Taka saw the sense in this. He was often unhappy, but he believed in his mother and in her love. And to a degree, he believed Sarabi loved him though they were more prone to more arguments than talks in recent days.
The Mantlement Ceremony is all that Ahadi and Akase seemed to talk about--all everyone seemed to talk about. That first trace of mane is for many male cubs a sign that they are about to venture out into The Big World, and brings as many fears as it does hopes. It is the wakening of their interest in lionesses as more than playmates. For Mufasa, it was a step closer to the kingship--the Prince was growing up. No one expected the brother of Mufasa to go out into The Big World, and he, like Mufasa, would be honored by all subjects in the Pride Lands as Prince Consort.
And yet there was no doubt that everyone of every species would be staring at the future King. Taka's Mantlement was the last big step that the public would take interest in, and he had to endure it in the huge shadow of his brother.
Immersed in this thought, Taka sat alone on the point of Pride Rock and looked down on the wide savanna below, now occupied by a few wildebeests, but soon alive with bowing and scraping subjects looking on their King-to-be. And that what's-his-name brother of his--the one with the scar. Only recently had the other lions begun to talk to him without staring at the eye. He'd long passed the stage where those who were dying to know more about it could ask, "How are you feeling?" or "Can I help?" Now it was as healed as it would ever be, and they had gotten used to it. But along with the familiarity came the rumors--mostly true--about how he was marked, and the nickname Scar. Oddly enough, no one blamed Mufasa in the least for what had happened to Taka's eye. Instead they wondered who would be stupid enough to go into a badger's hole in the first place. Everyone knew how badgers act--that is, everyone with common sense.
"Hey, Taka! " said Mufasa, sitting alongside. "Thinking about the big day tomorrow?"
"Yeah, sure."
"Well, you don't look too happy about it."
"I'm just fine, " Taka said firmly. "I can't help the way I look."
"Yeah, right." Mufasa hopped up lithely and sat on the other side of Taka to look him in the eyes. "What's your problem? I mean, it's your big day too. Everyone who's anyone will be there to look at your new mane. Besides, the babes dig it! I mean, without a mane you're just another kitten."
"You must think I'm really stupid, " Taka said. "Who's going to care about me? Half of them don't even know who I am. I'm just that kid with the funny-looking eye."
"You help protect the Pride Lands, " Mufasa said. "That's important. And hey, if something happened to me, you'd have to be King." He made a sweeping gesture with his paw over the empty savanna. "They all know that. And they know they better treat you with respect, or they'll have to answer to me."
Taka stared at Mufasa right in the eyes, something that made his brother feel uncomfortable. Mufasa could almost feel Taka looking right through him, examining his bones and sinews. He was looking for something he could remember from long ago, from days when friendship could be taken for granted in the innocence of early cubhood. "Would you miss me if I died?"
"Of course I would, " Mufasa said, a little irritated. "What kind of stupid question is that?"
"Don't call me stupid! I hate it when people call me that! "
"I didn't call you stupid, " Mufasa said, backing back. "What is your problem, anyway? Go ahead and sulk--that's all you ever do now. But you watch yourself tomorrow. You're the son of the King, and you act like it. I don't want you spoiling my Mantlement, understand?"
"I understand clearly. I won't spoil YOUR Mantlement, brother."
On that word, Taka left the point of the rock and headed down quietly.
Sarabi was lying half-asleep in the shade of an acacia tree when Taka walked by. Her keen senses were stirred by the light tread in the grass. She looked up quickly, then relaxed her ears. "Oh, it's only you, Taka."
"Only me?"
She frowned. "Not another one of those moods again. Get a little fuzz on your neck and you lions take yourself soooo seriously." She took a half-hearted swat at him. "Tell me, Taka, will you be like that when I get you alone? Smile if you think wicked thoughts."
"Don't be ridiculous."
"Smile if you think I'm sexy."
He looked away. "Cut it out, will you?"
In a sultry half-purr, she added, "Smile if you think you'll live through the honeymoon."
He broke into an embarrassed grin which he tried to hide behind a paw.
"Optimistic little devil, aren't you?" She nuzzled him affectionately. "I like that much better. I hate it when we fight."
"So do I, " Taka said. "I should let you have your way more often."
Sarabi's eyes narrowed to slits. "I don't want to have my way more often. I mean we should agree to disagree. Don't patronize me."
"I didn't mean it that way."
"Then how did you mean it? I'm not stupid you know."
"I know." Taka licked his paw and tried to groom what there was of his mane. It was a nervous habit. "Sassie, let's never fight again. I was thinking about the prophesy. I've been thinking about it a lot lately."
"I don't believe in it, " Sarabi said firmly. “I thought we had that settled.”
"Still, you can't blame me for worrying. I mean we never used to fight before that stupid thing with the badger." He licked his paw again and began to nervously rub at the other side of his neck.
"Please don't do that, " Sarabi said.
"Don't do what? Oh...." Taka put down his paw. "Do you think you'll always love me? I mean, Makedde said sometimes we make our own destinies. If we work hard, we can change them."