“No, nothing like that. I was wondering if you could do me a little favor.”
“Of course, Baba. What is it?”
“King Mabatu’s been really depressed lately.” Mabatu fidgeted uncomfortably as his mother’s hazel eyes regarded him closely.
“And?”
Mabatu scrubbed the ground with a paw uncomfortably. “Well, there’s no other way to say it but to say it. Mom, he’s struck on you. Here you are in the middle of--you know--and he’s going crazy every time he sees you. I can tell. Even though you loved Dad, don’t you think you could give him half a chance?”
She looked scandalized. “Baba, what EVER made you think of this??”
“He’s wanted to ask you out for a long time. This morning he asked me if I could put in the good word for him. He’s painfully shy, you know. Maybe you could help him. And besides, you’ve looked a little like a lost lamb since you’ve been here.”
“That’s very sweet of you. Really it is. But if he’s not going to ask me himself, I don’t feel right asking him. I’m fine--really I am--and I am old enough to take care of myself.” She kissed him.
Baba pawed her cheek. “Isha and I are so happy. We're living the way Aiheu intended, and it does make all the difference. Mom, just see him once. Once, Mom. That’s all I ask. Talk with him. Maybe hunt rabbits together. If you’ll just give it a try, whatever happens is OK by me. And I won’t pester you anymore. Is it a deal?”
“Baba, please!”
“Momma, please!”
“OK, Baba. It’s a deal IF you agree not to interfere anymore.”
“Sure! Thanks, Mom! You’ll be glad you did.”
CHAPTER: A FRIENDLY GAME
CHAPTER: THE NEXT DAY
CHAPTER: ALONE
CHAPTER: NO SWEETER REST
CHAPTER: A BLESSED EVENT
CHAPTER: OUR BODIES BECOME THE GRASS
CHAPTER: EPILOGUE
LEGAL NOTE:
“Of course, Baba. What is it?”
“King Mabatu’s been really depressed lately.” Mabatu fidgeted uncomfortably as his mother’s hazel eyes regarded him closely.
“And?”
Mabatu scrubbed the ground with a paw uncomfortably. “Well, there’s no other way to say it but to say it. Mom, he’s struck on you. Here you are in the middle of--you know--and he’s going crazy every time he sees you. I can tell. Even though you loved Dad, don’t you think you could give him half a chance?”
She looked scandalized. “Baba, what EVER made you think of this??”
“He’s wanted to ask you out for a long time. This morning he asked me if I could put in the good word for him. He’s painfully shy, you know. Maybe you could help him. And besides, you’ve looked a little like a lost lamb since you’ve been here.”
“That’s very sweet of you. Really it is. But if he’s not going to ask me himself, I don’t feel right asking him. I’m fine--really I am--and I am old enough to take care of myself.” She kissed him.
Baba pawed her cheek. “Isha and I are so happy. We're living the way Aiheu intended, and it does make all the difference. Mom, just see him once. Once, Mom. That’s all I ask. Talk with him. Maybe hunt rabbits together. If you’ll just give it a try, whatever happens is OK by me. And I won’t pester you anymore. Is it a deal?”
“Baba, please!”
“Momma, please!”
“OK, Baba. It’s a deal IF you agree not to interfere anymore.”
“Sure! Thanks, Mom! You’ll be glad you did.”
CHAPTER: A FRIENDLY GAME
At the appointed time that evening, Kako made her way to a secluded spot behind an outcropping of rock and sat down, waiting. Presently the pad of footfalls impressed itself on her hearing and she saw King Mabatu’s bulk part the grass and stop across from her. A moment of awkward silence passed. “Hello, Kako.”
“Mabatu.” She nodded and sat. “How have you been?”
“As well as can be expected.” He sighed and sat across from her. “And you?”
“Quite well.”
Mabatu sighed. “Tell me you didn't ask Baba to 'put in the good word' for you! What COULD you have been thinking!”
“But I never! I thought that YOU told HIM to...." She had to smile. "Why that little scheming furball!”
Mabatu chuckled. “His heart was in the right place." His smile vanished as quickly. "This must be hard on him. Oh, if I could only tell him the truth!”
"If," Kako said with a sigh. “You know we swore an oath. You must never tell him, and neither must I.”
“Yeah. So Kako, how’s the hunting coming along?”
“Very good; I’ve had to do a lot of relearning, but the patterns haven’t changed that much around here.”
“There’s much around here that hasn’t changed.”
“Mabatu, please...don’t make this any harder than it has to be.”
He sighed. “Kako, I know my limits old girl, but do you think the gods would mind if we got a LITTLE closer?” Mabatu lay down in the soft grass and beckoned with a paw. “Please? I don’t have anything catching.”
Trembling, Kako inched her way over to him and eased down next to him, daring to lay her head on the luxuriant softness of his mane. She inhaled his musky scent and trembled. “My darling Mabatu...”
He gingerly placed a foreleg around her and patted her softly on the shoulder. “Kako, it feels like old times. I never thought I’d see you again, and here you are close to me. I still love you. We have to pretend for the lad, but I never want you to be deceived, not for a moment.”
“You know how I feel, darling.”
He gave her another pat. “Still, I like to hear you say it. I don’t get many chances these days.”
She put her paw over his. “I live for you.” Her inner reserve broke and she burst into tears, embracing his comforting bulk. “Oh gods! What is there left to live for!”
“Shhh, my Nisei. There is plenty to live for. What did you do before you met me?”
“I wandered the barren plains with nothing but my name and a few aging kills to scavenge. I spent those days sure that there must be something better. I spent those days looking for you.”
“And now you’ve found me--again.” He managed a half-hearted smile. “We have our memories, and we have our children. No tears, old girl. I mean it! Our love lives on through them.”
She lifted a paw and caressed his cheek tenderly, tracing the wistful expression on his face. Gently she stroked the flowing curves of his cheek down to the broad mantle of auburn mane that covered his throat and chest, feeling the rumble of his purr. Absently she followed the flow of his mane, her paw making lazy circles as it moved across his chest and onto his upper belly.
Mabatu shifted uncomfortably. “I don’t think you should do that. Don’t start something that can only end one way.” He sighed. “If it was only my life to pay, nothing could stop me from making love to you! I would feel your lithe and tender body against mine one last time and die without regrets.” He shuddered again in the throes of passionate arousal. “Couldn’t we see this Rafiki Isha talks about? He has the ear of the gods, doesn’t he?”
“And what would that accomplish?”
“Maybe there is a way. If we gave up the kingdom and ran away together, the gods would have no reason to torment Baba.”
“You mean we’d become rogues?”
“Yes, if that’s the price of our love.” He reached out with a trembling paw and ran it down her chest and belly. “You are my kingdom, my treasure, my every need. I want you. I’ve waited for so long to crouch over your beautiful body and feel you shudder next to me! The border is right over there! Just beyond those trees! We could make love tonight!”
“And throw away everything we’ve worked for?? Territory? Safety?”
“Long, lonely nights! Empty days!”
“Our family?”
“Our separation!”
“Just like that??”
“Just like that, and never look back! Yes!” He rested his forearms on her chest, his throbbing heart pressed against hers. His lips brushed against her own as he spoke in a passionate whisper. “I’m on fire! I want you! I want both your body and your Ka. I want to fill myself with you. I can feel you tremble. You want me too--admit it!”
“Yes, I admit it!” she cried, more like a cry of remorse than passion. She wrapped her paws about him and rocked him gently back and forth. “Do you think the gods would accept it? Would they be content to let us steal a little happiness? Do you really think they would?”
“Don’t you?”
“Well I...if only we could....” She burst into tears and shoved him away with her paws. “We can’t! We can’t take the chance!”
“He sighed and kissed her again, this time gently. “Is that what you really want?”
She sobbed, “Does it matter what I really want? What I can’t have, I must learn to live without!” She touched him with her tongue. “Baba’s a lion with a wife and cubs that love him! I’d never gamble with his future, and neither would you. Not when you have control of your passions. Not when you’ve thought about what he means to us--both of us.”
He slid off her chest and rolled on his back, taking in a deep breath and letting it out in a sigh. “Yes, I love him too. I owe him my kingdom and my life. I have let my feelings run away with my common sense, old girl.”
“Then you understand.”
“I understand.” He looked at her intently. “Perhaps for the last time in this world, let me say that I love you with my life, my heart, my very soul. Never forget that, my blessed Nisei!”
“Lover, in my dreams tonight I will feel your breath on my cheek!” She wiped her eyes and sniffed. “I will tell our son that we were bound too tightly to our past to build a new love. That’s not really a lie when you come to think about it.”
“You can’t build a new love till you lose the old one.” He reached over and very gently kissed the tip of her muzzle. “God bless you, Kako.”
She struggled to her feet, looking back with a silver tear catching the moonlight on her cheek. “God bless you too.” And then she turned and stalked away into the shadows.
When she was gone, he rolled on his back and looked at the stars with a sigh. “Aiheu, I wish I were dead!”
“Mabatu.” She nodded and sat. “How have you been?”
“As well as can be expected.” He sighed and sat across from her. “And you?”
“Quite well.”
Mabatu sighed. “Tell me you didn't ask Baba to 'put in the good word' for you! What COULD you have been thinking!”
“But I never! I thought that YOU told HIM to...." She had to smile. "Why that little scheming furball!”
Mabatu chuckled. “His heart was in the right place." His smile vanished as quickly. "This must be hard on him. Oh, if I could only tell him the truth!”
"If," Kako said with a sigh. “You know we swore an oath. You must never tell him, and neither must I.”
“Yeah. So Kako, how’s the hunting coming along?”
“Very good; I’ve had to do a lot of relearning, but the patterns haven’t changed that much around here.”
“There’s much around here that hasn’t changed.”
“Mabatu, please...don’t make this any harder than it has to be.”
He sighed. “Kako, I know my limits old girl, but do you think the gods would mind if we got a LITTLE closer?” Mabatu lay down in the soft grass and beckoned with a paw. “Please? I don’t have anything catching.”
Trembling, Kako inched her way over to him and eased down next to him, daring to lay her head on the luxuriant softness of his mane. She inhaled his musky scent and trembled. “My darling Mabatu...”
He gingerly placed a foreleg around her and patted her softly on the shoulder. “Kako, it feels like old times. I never thought I’d see you again, and here you are close to me. I still love you. We have to pretend for the lad, but I never want you to be deceived, not for a moment.”
“You know how I feel, darling.”
He gave her another pat. “Still, I like to hear you say it. I don’t get many chances these days.”
She put her paw over his. “I live for you.” Her inner reserve broke and she burst into tears, embracing his comforting bulk. “Oh gods! What is there left to live for!”
“Shhh, my Nisei. There is plenty to live for. What did you do before you met me?”
“I wandered the barren plains with nothing but my name and a few aging kills to scavenge. I spent those days sure that there must be something better. I spent those days looking for you.”
“And now you’ve found me--again.” He managed a half-hearted smile. “We have our memories, and we have our children. No tears, old girl. I mean it! Our love lives on through them.”
She lifted a paw and caressed his cheek tenderly, tracing the wistful expression on his face. Gently she stroked the flowing curves of his cheek down to the broad mantle of auburn mane that covered his throat and chest, feeling the rumble of his purr. Absently she followed the flow of his mane, her paw making lazy circles as it moved across his chest and onto his upper belly.
Mabatu shifted uncomfortably. “I don’t think you should do that. Don’t start something that can only end one way.” He sighed. “If it was only my life to pay, nothing could stop me from making love to you! I would feel your lithe and tender body against mine one last time and die without regrets.” He shuddered again in the throes of passionate arousal. “Couldn’t we see this Rafiki Isha talks about? He has the ear of the gods, doesn’t he?”
“And what would that accomplish?”
“Maybe there is a way. If we gave up the kingdom and ran away together, the gods would have no reason to torment Baba.”
“You mean we’d become rogues?”
“Yes, if that’s the price of our love.” He reached out with a trembling paw and ran it down her chest and belly. “You are my kingdom, my treasure, my every need. I want you. I’ve waited for so long to crouch over your beautiful body and feel you shudder next to me! The border is right over there! Just beyond those trees! We could make love tonight!”
“And throw away everything we’ve worked for?? Territory? Safety?”
“Long, lonely nights! Empty days!”
“Our family?”
“Our separation!”
“Just like that??”
“Just like that, and never look back! Yes!” He rested his forearms on her chest, his throbbing heart pressed against hers. His lips brushed against her own as he spoke in a passionate whisper. “I’m on fire! I want you! I want both your body and your Ka. I want to fill myself with you. I can feel you tremble. You want me too--admit it!”
“Yes, I admit it!” she cried, more like a cry of remorse than passion. She wrapped her paws about him and rocked him gently back and forth. “Do you think the gods would accept it? Would they be content to let us steal a little happiness? Do you really think they would?”
“Don’t you?”
“Well I...if only we could....” She burst into tears and shoved him away with her paws. “We can’t! We can’t take the chance!”
“He sighed and kissed her again, this time gently. “Is that what you really want?”
She sobbed, “Does it matter what I really want? What I can’t have, I must learn to live without!” She touched him with her tongue. “Baba’s a lion with a wife and cubs that love him! I’d never gamble with his future, and neither would you. Not when you have control of your passions. Not when you’ve thought about what he means to us--both of us.”
He slid off her chest and rolled on his back, taking in a deep breath and letting it out in a sigh. “Yes, I love him too. I owe him my kingdom and my life. I have let my feelings run away with my common sense, old girl.”
“Then you understand.”
“I understand.” He looked at her intently. “Perhaps for the last time in this world, let me say that I love you with my life, my heart, my very soul. Never forget that, my blessed Nisei!”
“Lover, in my dreams tonight I will feel your breath on my cheek!” She wiped her eyes and sniffed. “I will tell our son that we were bound too tightly to our past to build a new love. That’s not really a lie when you come to think about it.”
“You can’t build a new love till you lose the old one.” He reached over and very gently kissed the tip of her muzzle. “God bless you, Kako.”
She struggled to her feet, looking back with a silver tear catching the moonlight on her cheek. “God bless you too.” And then she turned and stalked away into the shadows.
When she was gone, he rolled on his back and looked at the stars with a sigh. “Aiheu, I wish I were dead!”
CHAPTER: THE NEXT DAY
Baba was anxious to hear news of his matchmaking game, but his mother's polite smile prepared him for disappointment. “It was interesting,” she said. “Things just didn’t work out. I felt guilty, like I was about to cheat on my husband, and he felt like he was sneaking out on his wife. In the end, we just sat and talked politely. He’s a good friend, and I’m glad I got to know him better, but neither one of us had nerve to go make love."
King Mabatu passed by. “Hello Baba. Good morning, Kako.”
“Good morning to you too,” she said. “I trust you slept well?”
“Yes, thank you.” He glanced at her longingly and trembled. “I enjoyed our little chat last night.”
“So did I,” she said, following the curves of his mane and the build of his shoulders with her eyes. She had to look away. Baba did not know what to look for, or he would have seen much that morning.
Listless and somewhat detached from the rest of the world, Kako went through the motions of her morning routine, taking a long cool drink from the stream, grooming her face and neck with a paw, and settling down for a nap with the Pride Sisters. Only her eyes rarely closed, and during a brief bout with sleep, she twitched and moaned a great deal, waking with a start and crying, “I can't!”
Mabatu fared little better. Baba saw him perched on a kopje, watching the goings on of the savanna with a sullen, withdrawn air. He climbed up and sat next to his father. “What’s wrong, Dad? Are you feeling sick?
“No, son. I was just thinking.”
“About what?”
“About you. How much I loved you, and how much I’d give up for you. You do love me too, don’t you?”
“For shame!” Baba buried his head in the old king’s mane and purred affectionately. “Of course I love you! I owe you my very life!”
Mabatu leaned on him. “Son, those words carry a bitter irony you can’t understand now. But someday you will.”
“What does that mean?”
Mabatu pawed his shoulder. “You have a son now. Bringing him into the world was one of life’s sweetest pleasures, but raising him is one of life’s hardest responsibilities. Look around at these faces. On the surface, they appear to be looking in every direction. But deep down inside they are all looking to me for protection and guidance. And someday they will all be looking to you. You see, son, there’s only one difference between you and a rogue lion.”
“What’s that?”
“A rogue lion has nothing to lose. Always remember that.” He laughed bitterly. “Listen to the old lion going on. I’m rambling and not making any sense.”
“I think you make lots of sense,” Baba said. “I never knew my real father, but I don’t feel so bad about it now.” He rested his head on Mabatu. “What did I do to deserve all this?”
The king purred. “You made an old lion feel much better. That is enough.”
That evening, Kako tried to lose herself in the hunt. But she does not concentrate well. One of her daughters said, “How do you stand it? I mean, you’re in your season--you and him together alone!”
“This is one subject not to mention in front of Baba or Isha. Is that understood?”
“Sure, Mom. But you were taking a big risk last night being alone with Dad. It’s clear to all of us that you still love him.”
“I kept my head about me. Nothing happened.”
“Oh? Really? You weren’t even tempted for a moment?”
“My son lives, doesn’t he? My love for your father is strong, but my mother love is even stronger. God bless him, Baba was trying to fix me up with a date. He doesn’t know, and he must never know why your Dad and I are not together.”
“I think it’s a shame to give up so much and not be able to tell him.”
“I think it would be a worse shame to have him feel guilty.”
“True, true," the others said.
Kako sounded in control and very rational, but she could barely concentrate on the task at hand and she was very forgetful. Umande watched her in anguish as she strove to act normal with the turmoil she felt inside.
Kako taught them Uzuri’s crescent formation, and they decided to use it. She took up her old post on the left point, but gave the pre-arranged signals with her ears that guided the others unfailingly through the steps of the predatory ballet.
Wildebeests had congregated on the meadow near the termite mounds. The splashing of water in the creek was a perfect cover for the delicate leonine tread that brought the huntresses ever closer.
Most of the young calves were in the center of the herd protected by a wall of formidable adults. But one young mother let her inexperience show, and she was at the rim of the herd with her calf. “Aiheu abamami,” Kako silently mouthed. “Aiheu provides.”
Her ears flicked forward. At once, several lionesses plunged from the surrounding grass. The Wildebeests cried out in alarm, taking flight. The central column of huntresses drove the well-ordered herd into two bodies that fled in opposite directions. Shennanii tore into the right company, grabbing hold of a large bull by the shoulder, climbing on his back and slowing him just enough for others to seize his flanks, stomach and lower back. He fell into their deadly embrace as Shennanii closed on his throat.
Kako strode swiftly after the screaming calf, cutting it off from the rest of the herd. She bounded ever closer and readied herself to aim a blow at its shoulder that would make it hers. Then out of the corner of her eye she saw the cow approaching, horns lowered.
Umande heard a lioness scream. Galvanized, she broke off her pursuit of a calf and searched frantically for the source. Lying in the grass trembling was a golden body smeared with its own red blood. Trembling, she drew close.
“Momma!! Oh gods!!”
Wide-eyed, Kako reached for her with her one good arm. “Mandy, go get Mabatu! Quick!”
“Momma!!”
“Go, honey tree! Run! Get Mabatu!”
Umande, sobbing, ran screaming past her pride sisters. “Kako’s dying!! Get Mabatu!!”
“Which one??”
“Both of them!”
Umande and Shennanii rushed back to the Pride Kopje and saw Mabatu and Baba going over some star lore and laughing, blissfully unaware of the tragedy unfolding near the termite mounds.
“Come quick!” Mandy shouted. “It’s Kako! Hurry!”
Mabatu and Baba tore across the grassland. The peaceful stars were beginning to come out, and a hush was settling across the land. Crickets serenaded the newborn moon and a distant hyena was heard serenading his lady love. With maddening consistency, the flow of life did not pause even for a minute as Kako lay gasping in a pool of her own blood.
Mabatu drew near and shuddered. She started to say something to him, but she looked over and saw Baba. "Be strong. Remember the promise."
“Even now?”
“Even now.”
"You were a good friend to me."
"So long, my king.”
"Yes, my friend. So long."
Baba drew near. Tears streamed down his cheeks. “Oh Momma!”
“My little boy! Oh, but you’re not little anymore, my handsome lion. Be good to Isha.”
Isha fell to the ground and wailed in anguish. Habusu and Lisani huddled next to her and sobbed.
“Don’t die! Please don’t die!” Baba lay his head against her side like a helpless cub. “Oh gods, I can't lose you, I just can't! Get up, Momma! I’ll take you to the shaman! Get up, Momma! Please!"
Mabatu touches his mane softly with a paw. "Nothing can stop it now. Don't spoil her last moments with you."
Baba looked into his mother's eyes. "I love you, Mom! You hear me? I love you."
She managed a weak smile. "You have no idea how much I love you," she said. Her eyes looked over at Mabatu, then closed.
The lionesses sat about stunned. Mabatu got up stiffly and nudged his Prince. "Baba, you lead the roar. She was your mother. I have to go patrol the border now."
"Right now?"
"Yes. I'm sorry." He stroked Baba’s mane. “I remember when my mother died. I know what you’re feeling my son.”
King Mabatu passed by. “Hello Baba. Good morning, Kako.”
“Good morning to you too,” she said. “I trust you slept well?”
“Yes, thank you.” He glanced at her longingly and trembled. “I enjoyed our little chat last night.”
“So did I,” she said, following the curves of his mane and the build of his shoulders with her eyes. She had to look away. Baba did not know what to look for, or he would have seen much that morning.
Listless and somewhat detached from the rest of the world, Kako went through the motions of her morning routine, taking a long cool drink from the stream, grooming her face and neck with a paw, and settling down for a nap with the Pride Sisters. Only her eyes rarely closed, and during a brief bout with sleep, she twitched and moaned a great deal, waking with a start and crying, “I can't!”
Mabatu fared little better. Baba saw him perched on a kopje, watching the goings on of the savanna with a sullen, withdrawn air. He climbed up and sat next to his father. “What’s wrong, Dad? Are you feeling sick?
“No, son. I was just thinking.”
“About what?”
“About you. How much I loved you, and how much I’d give up for you. You do love me too, don’t you?”
“For shame!” Baba buried his head in the old king’s mane and purred affectionately. “Of course I love you! I owe you my very life!”
Mabatu leaned on him. “Son, those words carry a bitter irony you can’t understand now. But someday you will.”
“What does that mean?”
Mabatu pawed his shoulder. “You have a son now. Bringing him into the world was one of life’s sweetest pleasures, but raising him is one of life’s hardest responsibilities. Look around at these faces. On the surface, they appear to be looking in every direction. But deep down inside they are all looking to me for protection and guidance. And someday they will all be looking to you. You see, son, there’s only one difference between you and a rogue lion.”
“What’s that?”
“A rogue lion has nothing to lose. Always remember that.” He laughed bitterly. “Listen to the old lion going on. I’m rambling and not making any sense.”
“I think you make lots of sense,” Baba said. “I never knew my real father, but I don’t feel so bad about it now.” He rested his head on Mabatu. “What did I do to deserve all this?”
The king purred. “You made an old lion feel much better. That is enough.”
That evening, Kako tried to lose herself in the hunt. But she does not concentrate well. One of her daughters said, “How do you stand it? I mean, you’re in your season--you and him together alone!”
“This is one subject not to mention in front of Baba or Isha. Is that understood?”
“Sure, Mom. But you were taking a big risk last night being alone with Dad. It’s clear to all of us that you still love him.”
“I kept my head about me. Nothing happened.”
“Oh? Really? You weren’t even tempted for a moment?”
“My son lives, doesn’t he? My love for your father is strong, but my mother love is even stronger. God bless him, Baba was trying to fix me up with a date. He doesn’t know, and he must never know why your Dad and I are not together.”
“I think it’s a shame to give up so much and not be able to tell him.”
“I think it would be a worse shame to have him feel guilty.”
“True, true," the others said.
Kako sounded in control and very rational, but she could barely concentrate on the task at hand and she was very forgetful. Umande watched her in anguish as she strove to act normal with the turmoil she felt inside.
Kako taught them Uzuri’s crescent formation, and they decided to use it. She took up her old post on the left point, but gave the pre-arranged signals with her ears that guided the others unfailingly through the steps of the predatory ballet.
Wildebeests had congregated on the meadow near the termite mounds. The splashing of water in the creek was a perfect cover for the delicate leonine tread that brought the huntresses ever closer.
Most of the young calves were in the center of the herd protected by a wall of formidable adults. But one young mother let her inexperience show, and she was at the rim of the herd with her calf. “Aiheu abamami,” Kako silently mouthed. “Aiheu provides.”
Her ears flicked forward. At once, several lionesses plunged from the surrounding grass. The Wildebeests cried out in alarm, taking flight. The central column of huntresses drove the well-ordered herd into two bodies that fled in opposite directions. Shennanii tore into the right company, grabbing hold of a large bull by the shoulder, climbing on his back and slowing him just enough for others to seize his flanks, stomach and lower back. He fell into their deadly embrace as Shennanii closed on his throat.
Kako strode swiftly after the screaming calf, cutting it off from the rest of the herd. She bounded ever closer and readied herself to aim a blow at its shoulder that would make it hers. Then out of the corner of her eye she saw the cow approaching, horns lowered.
Umande heard a lioness scream. Galvanized, she broke off her pursuit of a calf and searched frantically for the source. Lying in the grass trembling was a golden body smeared with its own red blood. Trembling, she drew close.
“Momma!! Oh gods!!”
Wide-eyed, Kako reached for her with her one good arm. “Mandy, go get Mabatu! Quick!”
“Momma!!”
“Go, honey tree! Run! Get Mabatu!”
Umande, sobbing, ran screaming past her pride sisters. “Kako’s dying!! Get Mabatu!!”
“Which one??”
“Both of them!”
Umande and Shennanii rushed back to the Pride Kopje and saw Mabatu and Baba going over some star lore and laughing, blissfully unaware of the tragedy unfolding near the termite mounds.
“Come quick!” Mandy shouted. “It’s Kako! Hurry!”
Mabatu and Baba tore across the grassland. The peaceful stars were beginning to come out, and a hush was settling across the land. Crickets serenaded the newborn moon and a distant hyena was heard serenading his lady love. With maddening consistency, the flow of life did not pause even for a minute as Kako lay gasping in a pool of her own blood.
Mabatu drew near and shuddered. She started to say something to him, but she looked over and saw Baba. "Be strong. Remember the promise."
“Even now?”
“Even now.”
"You were a good friend to me."
"So long, my king.”
"Yes, my friend. So long."
Baba drew near. Tears streamed down his cheeks. “Oh Momma!”
“My little boy! Oh, but you’re not little anymore, my handsome lion. Be good to Isha.”
Isha fell to the ground and wailed in anguish. Habusu and Lisani huddled next to her and sobbed.
“Don’t die! Please don’t die!” Baba lay his head against her side like a helpless cub. “Oh gods, I can't lose you, I just can't! Get up, Momma! I’ll take you to the shaman! Get up, Momma! Please!"
Mabatu touches his mane softly with a paw. "Nothing can stop it now. Don't spoil her last moments with you."
Baba looked into his mother's eyes. "I love you, Mom! You hear me? I love you."
She managed a weak smile. "You have no idea how much I love you," she said. Her eyes looked over at Mabatu, then closed.
The lionesses sat about stunned. Mabatu got up stiffly and nudged his Prince. "Baba, you lead the roar. She was your mother. I have to go patrol the border now."
"Right now?"
"Yes. I'm sorry." He stroked Baba’s mane. “I remember when my mother died. I know what you’re feeling my son.”
CHAPTER: ALONE
Mabatu left the group and headed off into the trees. He rounded the other side of a small kopje and collapsed.
With his cheek pressed to the earth, he reached out with his forelegs and extended his claws, digging them deeply into the grass and pulling back to plow furrows in the grass. "Kako!! God, why didn't you take me instead?? Why, why??"
His stomach knotted, and tears flooded his eyes. "I must stay in control," he stammered. He raised his head up and pulled up into a crouch, then tried to stand. He bit his lip to keep from crying, but couldn't. "I'm in control. I can do this!"
He raised up on his forepaws, then crumbled to the earth, rolling on his side and curling into a ball of misery, sobbing. "I must stay in control," he hissed through clenched teeth. "I must!"
For many moments he lay there and shuddered, too weak to move. Then with a supreme effort, Mabatu actually struggled to his feet. He turned about and started to head back home. His legs trembled so badly he could hardly control them, and his joints were weak. "I can't let Baba find out," he said. “He must never know.”
His stomach hurt, and tears streamed down his cheeks. He took a couple of steps, then collapsed again and lay helplessly as his body was wracked with powerful sobs that with passing minutes died down to a soft, plaintive utterance like the cries of an infant cub separated from its mother.
"Why, Aiheu?" he whimpered. "Why did you take her from me? Didn't you think I could be trusted?" He rolled on his back. "I was weak for a moment, but I overcame it! I could have withstood temptation!” He covered his eyes with his paws. “Help me! You have to help me! If you still love me, give me strength to go on!"
Just then, Umande breasted the wall of grass and shrubs. She smelled the fresh earth and saw the look on his face. "Oh Dad!" She wept and nuzzled him. "Daddy, I love you so much! So much!"
He pawed her face and kissed her. “My little Mandy! You don’t remember your Mom too well, but honey tree, she loved you with her whole heart! She used to call you Mimo.”
“I remember. Just this morning she called me Mimo, right before we went....” She broke down and wept. “This morning she was so alive! So warm and alive!”
“I know!” Mabatu rubbed his head against her cheek, but then he started. “Are you alone??"
"Yes. I was not followed." She came and laid her head in his soft mane and pawing him desperately. "I couldn't stand it anymore. How can I call Mother my friend?? She was so much more than that! She has to be mourned properly--we can't let her Ka slip away like that."
"You're right, you know." Mabatu looked about and kissed Mandy gently. "Let's do it right. Baba will think I'm proclaiming the border if we’re careful."
Mabatu and Umande got up and climbed to the top of the rock. They waited for Baba's roar of grief, and they picked that moment to answer. "I love you, Mother!" Mandy cried.
"Beloved, my heart is dead!" Mabatu shouted. Tears coursed down his cheeks and he drew in a deep breath, releasing it in a loud, long roar. Umande raised her nose to the sky and joined him. The foundations of heaven were shaken, and the sound of their pain echoed off the distant hills in a hundred eerie permutations.
When the sound finally died down, Mabatu kissed Umande. "Well, Mandy, let's go mark the boundaries. I think I'll need someone to lean on."
"Are you sure you can make it?"
"I have to make it. She died with such courage, surely I can find the strength to pee on a shrub." His voice had renewed strength, but a tear still managed to escape and roll down his cheek. "Honey Tree, I've made some sacrifices for my children, but they were paid back many times over. You are such a comfort to me. I love you."
"I love you too, Dad."
With his cheek pressed to the earth, he reached out with his forelegs and extended his claws, digging them deeply into the grass and pulling back to plow furrows in the grass. "Kako!! God, why didn't you take me instead?? Why, why??"
His stomach knotted, and tears flooded his eyes. "I must stay in control," he stammered. He raised his head up and pulled up into a crouch, then tried to stand. He bit his lip to keep from crying, but couldn't. "I'm in control. I can do this!"
He raised up on his forepaws, then crumbled to the earth, rolling on his side and curling into a ball of misery, sobbing. "I must stay in control," he hissed through clenched teeth. "I must!"
For many moments he lay there and shuddered, too weak to move. Then with a supreme effort, Mabatu actually struggled to his feet. He turned about and started to head back home. His legs trembled so badly he could hardly control them, and his joints were weak. "I can't let Baba find out," he said. “He must never know.”
His stomach hurt, and tears streamed down his cheeks. He took a couple of steps, then collapsed again and lay helplessly as his body was wracked with powerful sobs that with passing minutes died down to a soft, plaintive utterance like the cries of an infant cub separated from its mother.
"Why, Aiheu?" he whimpered. "Why did you take her from me? Didn't you think I could be trusted?" He rolled on his back. "I was weak for a moment, but I overcame it! I could have withstood temptation!” He covered his eyes with his paws. “Help me! You have to help me! If you still love me, give me strength to go on!"
Just then, Umande breasted the wall of grass and shrubs. She smelled the fresh earth and saw the look on his face. "Oh Dad!" She wept and nuzzled him. "Daddy, I love you so much! So much!"
He pawed her face and kissed her. “My little Mandy! You don’t remember your Mom too well, but honey tree, she loved you with her whole heart! She used to call you Mimo.”
“I remember. Just this morning she called me Mimo, right before we went....” She broke down and wept. “This morning she was so alive! So warm and alive!”
“I know!” Mabatu rubbed his head against her cheek, but then he started. “Are you alone??"
"Yes. I was not followed." She came and laid her head in his soft mane and pawing him desperately. "I couldn't stand it anymore. How can I call Mother my friend?? She was so much more than that! She has to be mourned properly--we can't let her Ka slip away like that."
"You're right, you know." Mabatu looked about and kissed Mandy gently. "Let's do it right. Baba will think I'm proclaiming the border if we’re careful."
Mabatu and Umande got up and climbed to the top of the rock. They waited for Baba's roar of grief, and they picked that moment to answer. "I love you, Mother!" Mandy cried.
"Beloved, my heart is dead!" Mabatu shouted. Tears coursed down his cheeks and he drew in a deep breath, releasing it in a loud, long roar. Umande raised her nose to the sky and joined him. The foundations of heaven were shaken, and the sound of their pain echoed off the distant hills in a hundred eerie permutations.
When the sound finally died down, Mabatu kissed Umande. "Well, Mandy, let's go mark the boundaries. I think I'll need someone to lean on."
"Are you sure you can make it?"
"I have to make it. She died with such courage, surely I can find the strength to pee on a shrub." His voice had renewed strength, but a tear still managed to escape and roll down his cheek. "Honey Tree, I've made some sacrifices for my children, but they were paid back many times over. You are such a comfort to me. I love you."
"I love you too, Dad."
CHAPTER: NO SWEETER REST
Baba remembered that his new father would sleep in a certain place, but about one moon after his mother died, he noticed that Mabatu made a mysterious pilgrimage. He would reappear in his usual place each morning, but apparently did not spend the night in that spot. This intrigued Baba and one night he determined to follow his father.
Quietly tailing him, Baba watched as King Mabatu walked, ears drooped and tail hanging limply. The King crossed the broad meadow, the creek, and beyond to the termite mounds and the place where Kako died. By her bleached bones--or what was left of them--Mabatu fell on his face and rolled on his back. “Kako!” he sobbed. “Kako! My little Kako!”
Baba, against his better judgment, walked to Mabatu and touched him with his paw.
The old king jerked around. “What are you doing here??”
Tearfully, Baba stroked his mane with a paw. “You don’t have to hide it from me anymore.”
“Hide what??” Mabatu asked fearfully.
“You loved her, didn’t you?”
Mabatu sighed. “Yes, I loved her. Her ties to your father were stronger than death itself. And I loved her stronger than death itself. She knew that--she asked me to be strong for your sake. The poor Nisei, always looking after us, even at the boundaries of death itself!” He pawed Baba’s mane. “Ask me no more about it, Baba. Not if you love me.”
“As you wish, father. But tell me: you come here every night, don’t you.”
“Yes. And when I die, I want to die here. It’s a beautiful spot to meet Aiheu in. Yes, a beautiful spot for anything. Kako and I were apart in life, but we will be together in death.”
Baba wept. “If I have to drag you here myself, you will rest here.”
Mabatu nuzzled him tenderly, then lay in the grass and said, “Son, you have a wife whose fur is warm and soft. Leave me with the dead and go treasure the living while they may be found. I’ll be OK, I promise.”
Quietly tailing him, Baba watched as King Mabatu walked, ears drooped and tail hanging limply. The King crossed the broad meadow, the creek, and beyond to the termite mounds and the place where Kako died. By her bleached bones--or what was left of them--Mabatu fell on his face and rolled on his back. “Kako!” he sobbed. “Kako! My little Kako!”
Baba, against his better judgment, walked to Mabatu and touched him with his paw.
The old king jerked around. “What are you doing here??”
Tearfully, Baba stroked his mane with a paw. “You don’t have to hide it from me anymore.”
“Hide what??” Mabatu asked fearfully.
“You loved her, didn’t you?”
Mabatu sighed. “Yes, I loved her. Her ties to your father were stronger than death itself. And I loved her stronger than death itself. She knew that--she asked me to be strong for your sake. The poor Nisei, always looking after us, even at the boundaries of death itself!” He pawed Baba’s mane. “Ask me no more about it, Baba. Not if you love me.”
“As you wish, father. But tell me: you come here every night, don’t you.”
“Yes. And when I die, I want to die here. It’s a beautiful spot to meet Aiheu in. Yes, a beautiful spot for anything. Kako and I were apart in life, but we will be together in death.”
Baba wept. “If I have to drag you here myself, you will rest here.”
Mabatu nuzzled him tenderly, then lay in the grass and said, “Son, you have a wife whose fur is warm and soft. Leave me with the dead and go treasure the living while they may be found. I’ll be OK, I promise.”
CHAPTER: A BLESSED EVENT
Isha responded to Baba’s love by kindling new life within her. Baba had never witnessed pregnancy before, and he spent many days in anxious pacing as the evidence of his new family began to show.
“This waiting is killing me!” he said after two moons.
“What do you think it’s doing to me??” Isha asked. Then she laid on her side and motioned for him to come over. “Lay your head against me here. Now listen very carefully.”
Baba settled against her belly, straining to hear the sounds of new life. “Hey!”
“Did you hear anything?”
“No, but something moved!”
“Not something. Someone. Your child.”
Baba raised his head, a look of such beauty in his eyes that Isha had to reach out with a paw and stroke him. “Life is a miracle,” he murmured. “My beautiful Isha! I love you so!”
Isha did not follow Kako’s lead and hunt when she was having contractions. But she did hunt right up to her due date, taking a position as beater and leaving the main kill to the unburdened. Even that made Baba nearly split his hide. Mabatu had to reassure him that Isha knew what she was doing.
One day, Isha excused herself from the hunt. Worriedly, Baba asked her, “Are you all right?”
“It’s time,” she said.
“Time for what?”
“Time for Habu’s mantlement,” she said pointedly. “I’m having contractions!”
“Oh.”
When the full realization hit him, he nearly went into histrionics. “Where are the midwives?? Don’t you think Rafiki should be here?? They’re out on the hunt at a time like this??”
“Just relax and it will all be over soon,” Isha said. She could tell it was going to be a difficult delivery, and she wished that Rafiki could have been there to give Baba something for the pain.
“What are we going to do?”
Isha grimaced and breathed deeply. Trying to remain calm, she said, “Bring Mabatu here. My midwives will be midhusbands.”
“But I don’t know what to do??”
“I’ll talk you through it, Honey Tree. Just relax.”
Her water broke, and labor began in earnest. Throughout the stressful process, several cries of discomfort broke the stillness of the night, but Isha tried hard to ignore them. She brought out one, two, and finally three cubs.
“Remove the sacs,” she told Mabatu. “You can do it.”
He reached out with his paw, claws extended.
“No, use your teeth.”
“My teeth??”
“Hurry or they’ll suffocate!”
Grimacing with disgust, Mabatu pulled the membranous sac from each cub. “Eew!”
“Now Baba, you help lick them clean. Hurry, Baba! You wanted to help, didn’t you?”
Baba parted his lips and managed to part his tightly clenched teeth. He touched the first cub with his tongue and licked toward the face. After the initial shock, he relaxed and began to groom more vigorously. Mabatu took one of the others and began to groom. “It’s not SO bad.”
“Of course not,” Isha said, taking the third one and grooming quickly but lovingly. “Do you realize these are your children, Baba? And your grandchildren, Mabatu?”
“Yeah!” Baba said. “My children! Look how small and fragile they are! Look at those tiny paws and that little pink nose!”
Isha smiled proudly. “Two sons and a daughter. The sons will be N’ga and Sufa. But I’m unsure about the daughter.”
Habu came up. He regarded the small bundle of fur and said, “I’d like to name her Jona.”
A pained look came to Isha’s face. “Why that name, my son?”
“Because she was my friend. She was very special to me.”
Isha put her paw on his. “She was very special to me too. That’s why no more of my cubs must ever have that name. I already have two Mabatus to keep track of, honey tree. Let’s think of something else.”
Habu said, “Maybe we could call her Penda?”
“Rafiki’s little girl.” Isha thought for a moment, then smiled. “Yes, that is a good name. It means ‘beloved,’ and she will be.” She looked around at the three generations of males and nodded. “You were there when I needed you. I don’t know what I would have done without your help.”
“This waiting is killing me!” he said after two moons.
“What do you think it’s doing to me??” Isha asked. Then she laid on her side and motioned for him to come over. “Lay your head against me here. Now listen very carefully.”
Baba settled against her belly, straining to hear the sounds of new life. “Hey!”
“Did you hear anything?”
“No, but something moved!”
“Not something. Someone. Your child.”
Baba raised his head, a look of such beauty in his eyes that Isha had to reach out with a paw and stroke him. “Life is a miracle,” he murmured. “My beautiful Isha! I love you so!”
Isha did not follow Kako’s lead and hunt when she was having contractions. But she did hunt right up to her due date, taking a position as beater and leaving the main kill to the unburdened. Even that made Baba nearly split his hide. Mabatu had to reassure him that Isha knew what she was doing.
One day, Isha excused herself from the hunt. Worriedly, Baba asked her, “Are you all right?”
“It’s time,” she said.
“Time for what?”
“Time for Habu’s mantlement,” she said pointedly. “I’m having contractions!”
“Oh.”
When the full realization hit him, he nearly went into histrionics. “Where are the midwives?? Don’t you think Rafiki should be here?? They’re out on the hunt at a time like this??”
“Just relax and it will all be over soon,” Isha said. She could tell it was going to be a difficult delivery, and she wished that Rafiki could have been there to give Baba something for the pain.
“What are we going to do?”
Isha grimaced and breathed deeply. Trying to remain calm, she said, “Bring Mabatu here. My midwives will be midhusbands.”
“But I don’t know what to do??”
“I’ll talk you through it, Honey Tree. Just relax.”
Her water broke, and labor began in earnest. Throughout the stressful process, several cries of discomfort broke the stillness of the night, but Isha tried hard to ignore them. She brought out one, two, and finally three cubs.
“Remove the sacs,” she told Mabatu. “You can do it.”
He reached out with his paw, claws extended.
“No, use your teeth.”
“My teeth??”
“Hurry or they’ll suffocate!”
Grimacing with disgust, Mabatu pulled the membranous sac from each cub. “Eew!”
“Now Baba, you help lick them clean. Hurry, Baba! You wanted to help, didn’t you?”
Baba parted his lips and managed to part his tightly clenched teeth. He touched the first cub with his tongue and licked toward the face. After the initial shock, he relaxed and began to groom more vigorously. Mabatu took one of the others and began to groom. “It’s not SO bad.”
“Of course not,” Isha said, taking the third one and grooming quickly but lovingly. “Do you realize these are your children, Baba? And your grandchildren, Mabatu?”
“Yeah!” Baba said. “My children! Look how small and fragile they are! Look at those tiny paws and that little pink nose!”
Isha smiled proudly. “Two sons and a daughter. The sons will be N’ga and Sufa. But I’m unsure about the daughter.”
Habu came up. He regarded the small bundle of fur and said, “I’d like to name her Jona.”
A pained look came to Isha’s face. “Why that name, my son?”
“Because she was my friend. She was very special to me.”
Isha put her paw on his. “She was very special to me too. That’s why no more of my cubs must ever have that name. I already have two Mabatus to keep track of, honey tree. Let’s think of something else.”
Habu said, “Maybe we could call her Penda?”
“Rafiki’s little girl.” Isha thought for a moment, then smiled. “Yes, that is a good name. It means ‘beloved,’ and she will be.” She looked around at the three generations of males and nodded. “You were there when I needed you. I don’t know what I would have done without your help.”
CHAPTER: OUR BODIES BECOME THE GRASS
Lisani grew into quite a beautiful lioness. Isha looked at her appraisingly one day and said, “Beesa would be so proud of you. I know I am.” Habu noticed as well, and while his cubhood devotion remained undimmed, it took on an additional richness of depth and meaning as he longed to bond with her and raise a family.
Miss Priss was an apt pupil, quick to master hunting skills and put them into practice. She was rather young when she made her first kill and was doubly proud when Isha put the blood on her cheek. All she had to wait for was Habu’s mantlement.
Habusu enjoyed something that was a rare privilege for Ahadi’s line. He had a grandfather. King Mabatu doted on him as much as he did Isha’s newer cubs.
King Mabatu had lost his wife, but it would be unfair to say his last years were dark. Far from it, he would roll on his back and sweep his paw at Aiheu, thanking him for the love that was the comfort of his old age.
Still he never forgot Kako, and a day never passed that he didn’t express his grief in his own special way. The day of Habusu’s mantlement, when he watched Habu pledge to Lissie, Mabatu could almost feel Kako’s presence next to him. It was a peaceful feeling, and after the ceremony, he sought her out.
King Mabatu slinked quietly to the Termite Mounds. He stood where the green grass swayed and flowers nodded in the breeze. On that spot Kako had gone to be with Aiheu. Mabatu stroked a tender spike of purple flowers. “From one beauty to another,” he murmured gently. “My little Nisei.” Finding comfort in the soft grass that sprang from her body, he spoke to her.
“You know, Habusu is an old married lion now. Yes, he’s taken the big step, and you should see what a good couple they make, Miss Priss and Habu. When I see them together, I remember the wonderful times we had together. Oh girl, what times they were! I’m just sorry you’re not here to see this. You would be so proud.” He closed his eyes and pillowed his head in the soft grass. Taking in a deep breath, he tasted the fragrance of the flowers. “See you in my dreams, honey tree.”
Miss Priss was an apt pupil, quick to master hunting skills and put them into practice. She was rather young when she made her first kill and was doubly proud when Isha put the blood on her cheek. All she had to wait for was Habu’s mantlement.
Habusu enjoyed something that was a rare privilege for Ahadi’s line. He had a grandfather. King Mabatu doted on him as much as he did Isha’s newer cubs.
King Mabatu had lost his wife, but it would be unfair to say his last years were dark. Far from it, he would roll on his back and sweep his paw at Aiheu, thanking him for the love that was the comfort of his old age.
Still he never forgot Kako, and a day never passed that he didn’t express his grief in his own special way. The day of Habusu’s mantlement, when he watched Habu pledge to Lissie, Mabatu could almost feel Kako’s presence next to him. It was a peaceful feeling, and after the ceremony, he sought her out.
King Mabatu slinked quietly to the Termite Mounds. He stood where the green grass swayed and flowers nodded in the breeze. On that spot Kako had gone to be with Aiheu. Mabatu stroked a tender spike of purple flowers. “From one beauty to another,” he murmured gently. “My little Nisei.” Finding comfort in the soft grass that sprang from her body, he spoke to her.
“You know, Habusu is an old married lion now. Yes, he’s taken the big step, and you should see what a good couple they make, Miss Priss and Habu. When I see them together, I remember the wonderful times we had together. Oh girl, what times they were! I’m just sorry you’re not here to see this. You would be so proud.” He closed his eyes and pillowed his head in the soft grass. Taking in a deep breath, he tasted the fragrance of the flowers. “See you in my dreams, honey tree.”
CHAPTER: EPILOGUE
Old King Mabatu had not walked the border for many days. He left the job to his capable son and grandson, and while he was not worried about safety the inactivity was a blow to his self esteem.
For a week or so, Mabatu said, “Tomorrow I will mark, but today I’m just not well. But don’t worry about me.” Then as he declined rapidly, he stopped the pretense and began to speak of Kako more in the present tense than in the past. “She will be young and fresh. What will she think of this broken-down old lion coming to meet her!”
Makaka and Anasa were taking turns monitoring his care. At first, Mabatu chafed saying, “I don’t trust these female doctors!” After a couple of days, however, he would rest his large head in the shelter of Anasa’s arms and whimper as he would not dare in front of the males. “Honey Tree, do you have anything that will help this pain? It’s all I can do just to go on from minute to minute.” She would kiss him and treat him with herbs, and before a week was out, he would be disappointed to see Makaka coming. “What have you done with my honey tree??”
Then one day Mabatu was restless. He could barely move, but he spoke incessantly about going to the termite mounds. “This is not a good place to die,” he insisted. “I need a change of scenery.”
He was so insistent that Makaka was afraid he would hurt himself in his struggles. He knew what was happening, for Baba had told him about his final wishes long ago. “Eat this. It will give you what you need.”
Old King Mabatu chewed the strip of jerky slowly, careful to swallow all of it. Despite the strong spicy flavor of the meat, he could taste the medication in it. “I hope you know what you’re doing,” Mabatu said slowly. “This stuff tastes awful.”
“It will loosen up your joints,” Makaka said.
“That’s what I need. Even now, I can see Mano standing over there.” He looked around at an empty place on the meadow. “See, the white lion does not cast a shadow. Or maybe you do not see. Mano appears to whom he will.”
While he laid still and let the drug take effect, his daughters came one by one and filed past him, kissing him and saying, “Pray for me, Daddy.” Baba and Isha kissed him, and their cubs came and rubbed on his face. Mabatu looked about at the crowd and heaved a sigh, then he smiled gratefully. “You made my life worthwhile. I thank you all.”
With a look of supreme effort, King Mabatu struggled to his feet. Isha and Umande pushed him fully upright and leaned against his sides as he took to his last trail.
Away across the long meadow, they walked under the hot sun toward the distant termite mounds. Another lion might not have endured the long trek, but Mabatu had one last thing to accomplish, and he would not die until he had done it.
He dragged himself the last final steps to the termite mounds and found the spot where he had slept so many nights. There he collapsed and sighed deeply. “This is a good place to die. Maybe a flower will grow here, and both of us will come back as one beautiful blossom.”
Mabatu wanted to tell Baba that he really WAS his father but didn’t dare say it directly. “When I am gone, talk with my daughter. She will tell you things that I would say if only I could. But son, if Aiheu allows, my Ka will remain here a moment after I’m dead. If you have anything to say to me, speak then.”
Baba put his paw over the King’s. “Is it about Mom?”
“I cannot say. But know this--I loved your mother very much, and I love you with all my heart.”
He rolled on his side and his eyelids began to droop. “Prepare me for my death. The darkness is settling in.”
Baba reached out with his paw and drew a circle around his father’s eye and touched him under the chin. As tears started, he asked him, “Are you my father?”
Mabatu smiled weakly. “I love you.” He took in a deep breath, shuddered, and released it in a prolonged sigh. His mouth hung open and urine trickled out behind him in a small puddle.
Umande came to him. “Your real father is dead.”
Mabatu answered, "I knew. Somehow, I always knew." He looked at the body, pained. “Why couldn’t he tell me?”
“He promised to keep silent for your sake. When my father was very young, he was separated from his sister.” Umande sighed, looking at her dead father and stroking his mane with her paw. “Dad and his brother grew up and eventually ruled the Pride Lands together.
“Then one day a rogue lioness came in wanting refuge. Her name was Kako, and eventually she and my father fell in love and pledged to each other. Between them, they raised many cubs. Most of them were female and lived, but the two males they had were born dead. Then your mother became pregnant with you. She left your father soon afterwards.”
But if they were so much in love, why did Mom leave him?”
“To save your life.” Umande pawed him. “Your father wanted to know why none of his sons lived. So he asked a shaman for help and found out to his horror that Kako was his own sister.”
Baba gasped. “Oh my gods!”
“The shaman said if Kako would forsake my father and if they would hide the truth from you, that you would be spared. Few parents have ever shown such love to their child as you have been shown.” Tears filled her eyes. “Do you remember the day I tried to make love to you?”
“How could I forget?”
“I found out that evening that I was your sister.” She touched his mane with her paw. “His pain had become mine. I’ve never loved another lion but you, and I never will.” She wept softly and bowed her head in shame.
“Oh honey tree!” He kissed away his tears. “I’m so sorry!”
“Don’t be sorry,” she said. “For some odd reason, I feel much better now. No more vows of silence, but I hope you won’t breathe a word about--you know--US--to Isha? She looks like the jealous type.”
Baba nodded. He stroked Mabatu’s mane with his paw. “I was going to say it made no difference if you were my real father or not. But you know, Dad, I don’t think I’ve ever been as proud of being your son as I am right now. I love you.”
THE END: THE PROMISE
For a week or so, Mabatu said, “Tomorrow I will mark, but today I’m just not well. But don’t worry about me.” Then as he declined rapidly, he stopped the pretense and began to speak of Kako more in the present tense than in the past. “She will be young and fresh. What will she think of this broken-down old lion coming to meet her!”
Makaka and Anasa were taking turns monitoring his care. At first, Mabatu chafed saying, “I don’t trust these female doctors!” After a couple of days, however, he would rest his large head in the shelter of Anasa’s arms and whimper as he would not dare in front of the males. “Honey Tree, do you have anything that will help this pain? It’s all I can do just to go on from minute to minute.” She would kiss him and treat him with herbs, and before a week was out, he would be disappointed to see Makaka coming. “What have you done with my honey tree??”
Then one day Mabatu was restless. He could barely move, but he spoke incessantly about going to the termite mounds. “This is not a good place to die,” he insisted. “I need a change of scenery.”
He was so insistent that Makaka was afraid he would hurt himself in his struggles. He knew what was happening, for Baba had told him about his final wishes long ago. “Eat this. It will give you what you need.”
Old King Mabatu chewed the strip of jerky slowly, careful to swallow all of it. Despite the strong spicy flavor of the meat, he could taste the medication in it. “I hope you know what you’re doing,” Mabatu said slowly. “This stuff tastes awful.”
“It will loosen up your joints,” Makaka said.
“That’s what I need. Even now, I can see Mano standing over there.” He looked around at an empty place on the meadow. “See, the white lion does not cast a shadow. Or maybe you do not see. Mano appears to whom he will.”
While he laid still and let the drug take effect, his daughters came one by one and filed past him, kissing him and saying, “Pray for me, Daddy.” Baba and Isha kissed him, and their cubs came and rubbed on his face. Mabatu looked about at the crowd and heaved a sigh, then he smiled gratefully. “You made my life worthwhile. I thank you all.”
With a look of supreme effort, King Mabatu struggled to his feet. Isha and Umande pushed him fully upright and leaned against his sides as he took to his last trail.
Away across the long meadow, they walked under the hot sun toward the distant termite mounds. Another lion might not have endured the long trek, but Mabatu had one last thing to accomplish, and he would not die until he had done it.
He dragged himself the last final steps to the termite mounds and found the spot where he had slept so many nights. There he collapsed and sighed deeply. “This is a good place to die. Maybe a flower will grow here, and both of us will come back as one beautiful blossom.”
Mabatu wanted to tell Baba that he really WAS his father but didn’t dare say it directly. “When I am gone, talk with my daughter. She will tell you things that I would say if only I could. But son, if Aiheu allows, my Ka will remain here a moment after I’m dead. If you have anything to say to me, speak then.”
Baba put his paw over the King’s. “Is it about Mom?”
“I cannot say. But know this--I loved your mother very much, and I love you with all my heart.”
He rolled on his side and his eyelids began to droop. “Prepare me for my death. The darkness is settling in.”
Baba reached out with his paw and drew a circle around his father’s eye and touched him under the chin. As tears started, he asked him, “Are you my father?”
Mabatu smiled weakly. “I love you.” He took in a deep breath, shuddered, and released it in a prolonged sigh. His mouth hung open and urine trickled out behind him in a small puddle.
Umande came to him. “Your real father is dead.”
Mabatu answered, "I knew. Somehow, I always knew." He looked at the body, pained. “Why couldn’t he tell me?”
“He promised to keep silent for your sake. When my father was very young, he was separated from his sister.” Umande sighed, looking at her dead father and stroking his mane with her paw. “Dad and his brother grew up and eventually ruled the Pride Lands together.
“Then one day a rogue lioness came in wanting refuge. Her name was Kako, and eventually she and my father fell in love and pledged to each other. Between them, they raised many cubs. Most of them were female and lived, but the two males they had were born dead. Then your mother became pregnant with you. She left your father soon afterwards.”
But if they were so much in love, why did Mom leave him?”
“To save your life.” Umande pawed him. “Your father wanted to know why none of his sons lived. So he asked a shaman for help and found out to his horror that Kako was his own sister.”
Baba gasped. “Oh my gods!”
“The shaman said if Kako would forsake my father and if they would hide the truth from you, that you would be spared. Few parents have ever shown such love to their child as you have been shown.” Tears filled her eyes. “Do you remember the day I tried to make love to you?”
“How could I forget?”
“I found out that evening that I was your sister.” She touched his mane with her paw. “His pain had become mine. I’ve never loved another lion but you, and I never will.” She wept softly and bowed her head in shame.
“Oh honey tree!” He kissed away his tears. “I’m so sorry!”
“Don’t be sorry,” she said. “For some odd reason, I feel much better now. No more vows of silence, but I hope you won’t breathe a word about--you know--US--to Isha? She looks like the jealous type.”
Baba nodded. He stroked Mabatu’s mane with his paw. “I was going to say it made no difference if you were my real father or not. But you know, Dad, I don’t think I’ve ever been as proud of being your son as I am right now. I love you.”
THE END: THE PROMISE
LEGAL NOTE:
This original copyrighted work is based on Walt Disney's feature film, "The Lion King." Elements taken directly from “The Lion King” are the property of The Walt Disney Company. "The Promise" is distributed free of charge excepting reasonable distribution costs. Quoting passages from our work, writing original pieces based on our work, or using characters we created is fine as long as you secure prior approval. That begins by sending either of us a copy of the work. Our e-mail addresses are:
David A. Morris:damorris@wilmington.net
John H. Burkitt: john.burkitt@nashville.com
Your comments on our work, pro and con, are always welcome. We have been asked about our legal note. This is our official response: “The copyright is maintained solely to prevent patently vulgar or lewd misuse of our characters. Most any work, including parodies would be fine as long as it meets certain reasonably broad standards of decency. We reserve the right as copyright holders to define and change those standards. None of these standards is meant to force the applicant to be consistent with the literary style or plot of the original work.”
The character Isha is the property of Brian Tiemann. Used with permission.
This story is a fictional work, but we don’t claim that any resemblance to any characters living or dead is purely coincidental. With love and respect, we acknowledge the debt we owe to those who taught us how to laugh and cry. Without acting as clear models for any one character, many great souls, some non-human, have been woven deeply into the fabric of our lives only to end up in “The Promise.”
David A. Morris:damorris@wilmington.net
John H. Burkitt: john.burkitt@nashville.com
Your comments on our work, pro and con, are always welcome. We have been asked about our legal note. This is our official response: “The copyright is maintained solely to prevent patently vulgar or lewd misuse of our characters. Most any work, including parodies would be fine as long as it meets certain reasonably broad standards of decency. We reserve the right as copyright holders to define and change those standards. None of these standards is meant to force the applicant to be consistent with the literary style or plot of the original work.”
The character Isha is the property of Brian Tiemann. Used with permission.
This story is a fictional work, but we don’t claim that any resemblance to any characters living or dead is purely coincidental. With love and respect, we acknowledge the debt we owe to those who taught us how to laugh and cry. Without acting as clear models for any one character, many great souls, some non-human, have been woven deeply into the fabric of our lives only to end up in “The Promise.”