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."
	Sarabi nuzzled him.  "There are times your own mother 
couldn't love you," she said.  "This is not one of them.  Forget 
the prophesy--I liked you better the way you were, when you 
trusted me."
	"I trust you now," Taka said, beginning to groom his mane 
again.  "I don't think you'd ever WANT to hate me.  But things can 
happen--bad things."
	"Like what?"
	"I don't know what kind of things, but you know.  I mean, 
maybe I'll do something really stupid and you wouldn't love me 
anymore."
	"What are you saying?"
	"I'm coming of age, the time when a lion goes out into The 
Big World to make his fortune.  Other than food and water, I have 
one need.  Love, Sassie.  Right now, Mom and Dad still love me.  
Maybe not as much as Muffy, but they do.  And you love me, don't 
you?"
	"Yes!  How many times do I have to tell you??"
	"Once," Taka said quietly.  He put his left paw on her 
shoulder.  He could feel her tremble.  "It's time we stated our 
intentions.  I want you."
	"We are not of age," Sarabi said.  "Not in their eyes at 
least.  It is corban.  They would never agree to this."
	"Then don't ask them to," Taka said.  "If you will always 
love me, pledge to me.  I won't ask more until you come to me of 
your own free will.  But we'll go away together.  We'll leave 
tonight at high moon."
	"I'm honored, really," Sarabi said.  "But how are you so 
sure you will want me as your lioness?  I mean we're friends, but 
do you really know what you want?"
	He put his left paw on her shoulder once more and let it 
fondle her strong, shapely form.  "Our love could move Heaven and 
Earth," he whispered seductively.  "It would spread like ripples 
in a pond, growing, spreading, deepening.  You know I want you.  
When you look at me, when you touch me, I want you.  Sarabi, look 
at me.  You know I want you."
	She felt his eyes meet hers.  It was what lionesses call 
`The Look'.  "I believe you."  She tore herself away from The Look 
and glanced down at the ground.  "You will be Prince Consort.  It 
is foolish to go away when you are wanted here.  It is safe here--
out there in The Big World it is so uncertain.  We have to think 
about our children."
	"There is only one certainty I want," Taka said with barely 
suppressed passion.  "Before the gods, before the stars, before 
the assembled host I swear to give you my protection, my love, and 
my comfort forever."  He looked at her pleadingly, like a small 
cub who's afraid of the dark.  "Come on, Sarabi.  Say it."
	She started to hold her paw out to touch his.  It trembled.  
She put it down.  In the intensity of the moment she could not 
speak.
	A painful moment passed.  Taka's face changed visibly--it 
was like watching him die.  "I understand," he said.  "You are 
only a small lioness in a big world.  How could you hope to fight 
destiny?"  His ears laid back dejectedly and his tail hung limply.  
"It would be better for all of us if I left.  I want to be 
remembered with some kindness-maybe a little regret for what might 
have been.  And it might have been fine, Sassie."
	Sarabi felt her eyes mist up.  He trotted off into the bush 
without another word.


            Deep in the heart is a land of shadows,
            Its a place of sighs and tears
            That's where the lost dreams and hopes forsaken
            Tend to end up through the years.

            Oh, but they don't go down easy, no, they do not meekly go,
            To that graveyard for high expectations where the
                broken dreams lie low!
            They cry for attention and they seek intervention
                till they shake your very soul.
            You may try to bury what your heart can't carry,
                but it won't stay in the hole.

            Heavy the heart of the disappointed,
            Long the empty path of night;
            That is the fate of the broken-hearted,
            When the darkness steals the light.

            Oh, but they don't go down easy, no, they do not meekly go,
            To that graveyard for high expectations where the 
                broken dreams lie low!
            They cry for attention and they seek intervention
                till they shake your very soul.
            You may try to bury what your heart can't carry,
                but it won't stay in the hole!


	Sarabi watched him draw further and further away until he 
was a small speck of tawny among the brush.  Panic seized her, and 
she found her tongue.  "Taka!  Wait!  I'll do it!"  Apparently he 
did not hear any voices but those in his head.  "Taka!"
	Though his essence still hung in the air, he was gone.  
Tears began to roll down her cheeks.  "May the gods be with you."



SCENE:  FRIENDS IN UNLIKELY PLACES


	Taka was leaving the Pride Lands without even the 
traditional blessing.  He had never learned to hunt, secure that 
he would always have a home.  Now he left for the river valley.  
He took a small comfort knowing where he was going he would need 
no hunting skills, and no place to rest his head.  Perhaps with 
the kings of old among the stars he could look down and see his 
beloved across the vault of heaven.  Would she marry?  Would she 
have beautiful cubs whose smiles warm the very heart of Aiheu?  
Would she remember his love through the years?
	Finally he stood on the brink of the river valley.  On the 
threshold of death, his life blood coursed through his veins and 
his heart beat like a hammer.  Not far from where he stood was a 
sheer drop-off, the kind of place where a lion could fall and fall 
without suffering on the craggy slopes, and then just stop.  Just 
stop--what a thought.  Would it hurt?  Would it have time to hurt?  
Would it make a difference how he landed?  He would know very 
soon.
	"Lord Aiheu, creator of the universe, I stand far from the 
rest, alone for I am dying.  Forgive the many hurts I have caused.  
The night is coming when the breath you gave me will return to the 
heavens."  He dropped his formal prayers, and cried, "Gods, help 
me!  I'm afraid.  Let it be quick.  Aiheu abamami!"  His legs 
tensed for the final spring into oblivion.
	Just when he was about to plunge to his death, he heard the 
death cry of a gazelle, and turned.  He could see a lone hyena 
panting, pulling the hide off a fresh kill.  Through his deep 
grief, he felt hunger.  Even if he chose to die, he must not die 
hungry.  "Aiheu provides."
	Glad to experience one last pleasure before he died, he ran 
to the kill, baring his teeth.  The hyena, a female, backed back.  
He glared at her, the first hyena he'd ever seen close up.  
Something about her took him by surprise.  Down one side of her 
face were horrible scars, and the eye was missing.  He stared at 
the horrible wound, stunned by the thought that in this way she 
was just like him, only she was blind on one side.  And somehow he 
noticed how she was staring at his eye.  For several quiet 
moments, they stood there and looked at each other.
	"I have young, my lord," she said at last.  "Have pity on 
poor Fabana.  When you are gone, we must go on living."
	"Indeed," he said.  "There is enough for all.  I am...."  he 
hesitated to say it aloud.  "I would rather not die hungry."
	"What happened to yours?  Your old man do that?"
	"What?"
	"Your eye.  You lions think we are crude," she said.  "Not 
good enough for the Pride Lands.  But we don't drive off our sons 
into the cruelty of the unknown.  We love them.  Tell me, 
stranger, have you ever heard of a hyena jumping to his death?"
	"No, I don't think I have."  He quickly changed the topic.  
"You say you're a mother.  Where are your cubs?  They must eat 
too.  I won't hurt them.  I'm only a danger to myself these days."
	"I can tell."  She called softly behind her.  "Shenzi.  
Banzai.  Edward.  It's all right.  Come on out."
	Three pups came out of the brush and stared at the lion.  
Taka had never seen young hyenas before.  The small female looked 
as their mother must have once.
	"My name is Taka," he said quietly.  "Don't be afraid."  He 
lay his large bulk down like a huge sphinx.  When he looked less 
threatening, the pups came over and cautiously sniffed of him.  
"So this one is Edward.  What does it mean?"
	"It is the name of a man.  He saved me when I was a pup.  My 
parents were killed in a brush fire.  Feel along my neck."
	Taka carefully ran his large paw along her throat.  He felt 
a gap where there was no fur.
	"The collar," she said.  "I was tied to a tree with a rope.  
That's something like a vine, but stronger."
	"Then he was cruel to you?"
	"No, but his dog was.  One day name calling was not enough, 
and the whelp did this to me."  She turned her scar to face Taka.  
"I killed him.  That's why the man drove me away.  But I do not 
forget that he saved my life, so I named my first born Edward."
	"You have saved my life.  I'm not sure I could work up the 
nerve a second time."  He looked at her pleadingly.  "Please do 
not drive me away."
	"Your troubles aren't not so bad," she said.  "Many lions 
come through this just fine.  Someday you will find security and 
love."
	"But I already had, or I thought I did.  You don't know how 
I have suffered."
	"When you have eaten, tell me."
	Taka attacked the carcass with desperation, but after the 
first few bites took the edge off his hunger, his wisdom took 
over.  He stopped while there were still some choice portions and 
insisted that Fabana finish it.
	"My father, Ahadi-you've heard about him, haven't you?"
	"He's the Lion King, isn't he?"
	"Yes."
	"That makes you the Prince then?"  She gasped.
	"No, Prince Consort."
	"Oh, that explains a lot."  She shook her head.  "I didn't 
think a prince would want to kill himself.  I take it you don't 
get along with your brother?"
	"Actually I like my brother.  He's not very clever, but his 
heart is in the right place."
	She clucked her tongue.  "Then that leaves one possibility.  
You have a girl.  I bet she's stiffed you for the Prince, hasn't 
she?"
	"No."  He had quickly denied it, but it didn't seem that 
impossible.  "This isn't just any lioness and it isn't just 
another girl problem."
	"That's what they all say."
	"Yes, but there's a curse behind this.  Evil spirits.  
Makedde was treating me for this eye problem when his brother 
Rafiki tried to tell my future."
	"Rafiki!"  She stopped eating.  "Lord, honey, you just got 
to tell me all about this.  Evil spirits you say?  A curse?"
	For well on an hour or more he poured out his heart to her, 
and as he did, he watched her nod her head gravely once in a 
while.  It made him cry to tell it, but they were tears of 
healing, and he felt much better.
	Out of lion manners, he waited to hear her story.  But she 
would not talk of herself much.  One thing she would say-Jalkort, 
the father of her cubs was dead, killed unjustly for the murder of 
the Princess Avina.  "He ate after she had died, but of all the 
foolish things he's done, he did not murder your Aunt.  Someday I 
must face the King and plead his case."
	"Though he is already dead?  What will you accomplish?"
	"He was my husband."
	"You are a romantic," Taka said, kissing her cheek.  "If I 
was in trouble, I wouldn't mind having you on my side.  Perhaps I 
can arrange a meeting."
	Fabana felt compassion for Taka and taught him all of the 
pass phrases and signs that would let him pass safely through her 
lands.  But most importantly, she gave him some advice that would 
change his path forever.  "I know the mandrill of which you speak.  
He told my fortune too.  He said that I would meet friends in 
unexpected places, but they would turn on me in my hour of need.  
You have not turned on me.  My advice is to forget the prophesy--
it is a piece of nonsense that has cost you dearly.  Apologize to 
your lover.  Kiss your mother.  Make your father proud of you.  
And remember old Fabana.  If you do become King someday, teach 
your children that we all have a heart and soul under our 
different hides."  She pulled her pups close to her.  "Lift the 
ban for their sakes."



SCENE:  THE CONFRONTATION


	Sarabi was in tears when Mufasa found her.  He nuzzled her 
affectionately and turned to face her when she looked away.  
"Sassie, tell me about it."
	"It's Taka.  He's gone."
	"What do you mean by gone?"
	"Gone.  He's left the Pride Lands.  He begged me to come 
with him, and I thought about it.  Now I wish I had.  He's out 
there alone, Muffy!  He's kind and gentle, but he doesn't know a 
thing about life in The Big World."
	It came as a complete surprise to Mufasa, though he believed 
her at once.  "Did he say where he was going?"
	"No.  He just left."
	"Sassie, don't cry.  I know how much you love him.  We all 
love him.  Maybe when he cools off, he'll come home."
	"Do you think so?  Do you really think so?"
	"Yes.  But it may be a long while.  He's a proud lion."
	She looked down.  "What will I do?  I always thought it 
would be Taka and I--just the two of us and our cubs.  What's left 
for me?  I will grow old alone and unloved like poor Barata."
	Mufasa felt a lump gathering in his throat.  "Sassie, I'm 
going to tell you something, and it's going to sound awful under 
the circumstances."  He looked her in the eyes.  "I didn't want to 
get in my brother's way.  But things have changed, and I have to 
say this or I'll burst."
	"Is it what I think it is?"
	"Probably."  He nuzzled her gently.  "Oh gods, Sassie, I 
feel like such a wretch!  Like the lowest thing that ever crawled 
out from under a stone.  But I love you.  I've always loved you.  
There were times I would have given anything if you loved me 
instead of Taka.  But I don't want to lose my brother or hurt him 
in any way.  All my life I've felt like I was being torn in two 
directions.  I can't bear to lose both of you.  Don't hate me for 
being truthful."
	"I don't."  She nuzzled him.  "I've always known how you 
felt.  You can't hide a thing like that."
	"Maybe you don't love me the way I love you.  At least you 
like me, don't you?  I mean, I'll make sure you always have what 
you need.  I'll take care of you.  If you'll be my mate, I'll do 
anything for you--anything."
	"Even forgive Taka?"
	"You make it sound so hard.  He's my brother.  I want him to 
come home."
	"I need time to think about it," Sarabi said.
	Mufasa nodded. "Of course."
	Excusing herself, Sarabi rose and padded away slowly. She 
wandered through the tall grass of the savanna alone with her 
thoughts.  Everything had been simple once.  Love had been a cub 
once, but now it was a lioness.  A lioness who chooses as she 
wills the lion to desire and the lion to pity.
	Now she was acutely aware that her love for Taka was a 
beautiful sisterly love, but one that did not need or even want to 
be expressed in passion.  On the other hand, Muffy stirred 
feelings in her that were new and a little frightening, but very 
wonderful.  Ever since Rafiki had whispered his advice to her, 
Sarabi said nothing to Mufasa but observed him carefully.  She was 
flattered, honored, and even a little sad to think how he yearned 
for her but said nothing.  Now he was gentle and kind, and he came 
to her with honest longing.  She could hardly resist.  She hardly 
wanted to.  She desired him as she had never needed Taka, and it 
filled her with shame.  Shame that if anyone had worked to earn 
her love, it had been Taka.  Shame that her love could not be 
earned.  Shame to think how she would destroy him when he found 
out.
	Pity for Taka filled her.  She strained to tell the 
difference between pity and love.  Was there really such a gulf, 
that her heart so quick to cry at his bumps and scrapes could not 
beat in time with his?  Is it really so different to be with one 
lion or the other?  Can she not learn to love when her wild heart 
is tamed with vows?  Can she feel the heat his ardor and not be 
warmed?
	She tried to think of Taka coming to her in the shadows, 
flush with the expectations of his wedding night.  She heard his 
quiet voice with an edge of passion asking, "Are you ready, 
beloved?  Are you ready?"  She imagined herself looking into his 
eyes the way they looked the last time he saw her, deep and 
longing.  "I am ready."  Her heart raced, but it was fear, not 
desire.  "No, I'm not ready!" she said aloud.  "I don't want him!  
Not that way!  Oh gods, he would know!"  She collapsed in the 
grass, sobbing.  "Aiheu help me, I love them both, but I don't 
want to marry Taka-I'd almost rather die!"  She opened her eyes, 
seeing the savanna through a blurred film of tears. She blinked as 
a shadow passed overhead. Looking up, she saw Ahadi's majordomo 
gliding by.
	She hunched over, praying he wouldn't see her down here, 
crying like a hungry cub. With relief, she saw him heading away 
towards the river. She felt lucky; his sharp eyesight rarely 
missed anything on the ground.
	She started to head back home, but paused, thinking. His 
sharp eyesight rarely missed anything, even Taka!  He could find 
Taka!  Galvanized into action, she burst from her hiding place and 
sprinted after him, trying to keep him in sight.  "Zazu!  Wait!"
        High above her, the hornbill sped toward the river, the 
wind whistling past his ears dulling any sounds that might have 
reached him.  Gliding down to a smooth landing, he paced over to 
the river's edge, eager to begin his noontime ritual.  In a quiet 
spot in the shade of the reeds, he took in a deep breath, 
stretched his wings, and dipped one foot in the water.  "Sheesh!"  
He pulled out his leg quickly.  "Perfect."
	He backed up a few steps, took a flying leap, and after a 
few powerful strokes of his wings, folded and dropped like a stone 
into the cold water.
	"Ooo-hoo-HOOO!"  He splashed about until he got used to the 
frigid tide.  It felt good in the oppressive heat.  Singing, he 
splashed about, soaking himself from his primaries clear through 
to the down.

		"Mai-sie, Mai-sie,
		Your eyes are driving me cra-zy,
		Pluck a dai-sy,
		Ask it if I am true.

		"You'll pull off the fragrant petals,
		And watch as each one settles,
		I love you so, and off we'll go,
		To a paradise made for two."

	A goose with her goslings watched with harmless amusement.  
One of the goslings swam over and had to stare a little more 
closely.
	"What'cha doing?"
	"Who?  What?"  Zazu shook off his head and looked at the 
youth.  "Oh, I'm just tidying up."
	"I thought you were in trouble."
	"Hardly."  Zazu laughed.
	The small ball of feathers looked back unblinking.
	"Was there something else?"
	"Gee, that's a big beak.  What are you?"
	"I'm a hornbill."
	"I like hornbills."
	"Thank you."  He smiled.  "Best run along or you'll get 
splashed.  Hornbills do a lot of that"
	Pushing along the bottom with his feet and flapping his 
wings, Zazu made it back to the bank with a great deal of effort.  
He fanned his wings to shake off diamond droplets, and began to 
use his beak with surprising finesse to preen his feathers.  The 
show was over, and the gosling went back to its mother to fish for 
prawns.
	It was nearly time to gather the mid-day news for Ahadi.  In 
return for his services, Zazu lived a safe life.  He could pick 
the choicest fruits from the trees where predators made their 
stealthy living, for he was corban--off limits--to all who would 
enjoy a well-fed hornbill.
	When he was nearly dry enough to take off, a lioness came 
out of the bush.  "Zazu!  Thank heavens you're still here."
	"Sarabi!  Good morning."
	"It's NOT a good morning," she said with distress.  "When 
you make your rounds, tell me if you see Taka.  He's run off, and 
I'm worried about him."
	"Run off, you say?  That whining little imp?  I didn't think 
he had the nerve."  He rubbed his eyes.  "I wouldn't worry about 
him.  He'll come back when he's had a taste of the bush."
	"Zazu!  I know you don't like him, but you do like me, don't 
you?"
	"Of course I do.  I value your friendship highly."
	"And you like Mufasa, don't you?"  She didn't even wait for 
an answer.  "Listen, it's important for Muffy and I to know where 
he is.  Besides, that would be some real news for the King.  Akase 
is going crazy worrying about him."
	"I'll get right on it."
	Zazu spread his wings and in a moment he was up beyond the 
tops of the trees, headed off to make his rounds.
	"Good luck!"



SCENE:  THE MANTLEMENT CEREMONY


	The next morning, the green plain of the Pride Lands was 
covered by zebras, antelopes, elephants, giraffes, and many other 
peoples who pushed and shoved for the best position.  Zazu, the 
King's majordomo, strutted about nervously.  He had never spoken 
before such a huge audience before.  King Ahadi looked drained, 
though he kept up appearances.  Queen Akase had a difficult time 
sitting still beside her husband.  She stared into space.
	Sarabi and Elanna were wards of the queen, and were invited 
to sit with the royal family.  It was especially a comfort for 
Sarabi to be next to Akase and smell the familiar smell of her 
milk mother.
	"Zazu," Sarabi asked quietly, "Have you seen Taka?"
	"I'm sorry.  I've put out word all over, but I'm afraid he's 
long gone."
	"Oh."  She bowed her head.
	"Even Gopa the stork hasn't seen him, and nothing escapes 
Gopa.  But I can fly out past the boundary if you wish.  After the 
ceremony of course."
	"It won't be necessary."
	Akase motioned her over and nuzzled her affectionately.  
"You are such a comfort to me.  You were his milk sister, and how 
many times as I nursed you I thought of you as my own little girl, 
as if I had carried you."
	"I felt it," Sarabi said, resting her head on Akase's 
shoulder.  "Tell me the truth--should I have gone with Taka?"
	Akase purred.  "No, my child.  It is sad enough to lose a 
son without losing a daughter.  And I feel you will be my daughter 
before the day is out."
	Mufasa got the nod from his father, and started out toward 
the end of the spur to meet the crowd.  But first he paused by 
Sarabi and smiled to see how gentle she looked leaning on Akase.  
"My last cubhood thought will be of you," he said.  "And the first 
thought as a lion will be of you.  Sassie, would you rest your 
head on me some time?"  She looked deep into his eyes and her chin 
trembled.  "Muffy," she purred, "My beloved."
	Mufasa walked to the end of the promontory.  A brief, dim 
memory came back to him.  "Old Makedde," he thought.  "Was I so 
small that he could hold me up?"  He smiled, and looked over the 
crowd.  It was good to be back where it had all started.
	Zazu shouted, "Long live Prince Mufasa, son of King Ahadi!"
	The crowd bowed and scraped.  Zebras whinnied, elephants 
trumpeted, and antelopes stomped their hooves.  It only stopped 
when Zazu spread his wings.
	The King met his son at the tip of Pride Rock.  "Let all 
within the sound of my voice know that my son is coming fast on 
the path of his forefathers.  Look, he bears the sign."
	Akase took Ahadi's place.  "Look down o gods and bless my 
son who is now a lion."  She shuddered visibly.  "And bless my son 
Taka, wherever he is.  Hear a mother's prayer and have mercy on 
him."
	A hush fell over the sward.  The zebras looked at one 
another and the elephants shook their head.  Akase stood on the 
tip of the Pride Rock with a certain dignity, but a deep sadness 
that bowed her head and stooped her shoulders.  They waited for 
her to say something, anything.  One of the zebra mares nuzzled 
her foal.  The leopards bowed their heads and Bhetu the bat-eared 
fox howled mournfully.  Ahadi came out and kissed his mate, 
leading her back to a sanctuary of private grief.  Zazu dismissed 
the crowd with a quick blessing, and they stalked quietly away, 
aware that something very bad had happened.
	Mufasa left the peak, and headed back to the cave where he 
had spent his cubhood.  "So I am a lion now."
	"You are my lion now," Sarabi answered.  She came from the 
deep shadows to meet him.  He gathered his nerve and put his paw 
paw on her left shoulder.  She answered with a deep purr.  It 
could only mean one thing.
	Mufasa said "Before the gods, before the stars, before the 
assembled host I swear to give you my protection, my life, and my 
comfort forever."
	She trembled and nuzzled him affectionately.  "Till the last 
beat of my heart, to the last breath I sigh, our lives are one, so 
help me gods."
	"Bless you, Sassie.  I'll love you forever."
	"Let us go someplace alone," Sarabi whispered.
	"Right now?" Mufasa whispered back.  "Are you sure you want 
this?"
	"Yes."  She kissed him.  "Once Taka needed me, but now he 
needs something I can't give him.  I hope he finds it."  She 
nuzzled him and added, "Let me be selfish, Muffy.  Let me think of 
myself for once.  Give me what I need.  Love me.  Let me feel your 
breath on my cheek."
	"Sassie," he whispered passionately.  "To love you for a 
moment and then die, I would have no regrets."
	Mufasa nodded at his parents and Ahadi winked back.  "Have 
fun, kids.  There's a nice walk to the mirror pool in the cleft of 
the rock.  You could watch the fish swim."
	When Mufasa led his timid new wife out of the cave, Ahadi 
whispered to Akase, "Thank the Gods.  Sarabi is a good lioness, 
and she has made the right decision.  Taka is a good boy, and 
clever, but he is so immature.  Besides, it's just like Rafiki 
says--Muffy really loves her."
	"Did he tell you that too?  He's a meddlesome old ape, but 
he has a heart from the gods."  She shook her head.  "I hate to 
agree with you, husband, but you are right about Taka."  She 
sighed.  "Do you ever think we'll see him again?
	"Probably not while we're alive, old girl.  He's proud, that 
one.  Proud and stubborn."
	"Then go after him," Akase said.
	"Go after him?  Where?  This is no antelope hunt.  His 
tracks cover every square paw of the Pride Lands.  I'm not a god, 
you know."
	"You don't have to tell me that," she said in a feeble 
attempt at humor.  "But if you don't look for him, I will."
	"Akase!  You must be careful!  I can't have you leaving the 
Pride Lands.  I've already lost a son-must I lose his mother as 
well?"
	"Then come with me."
	"I'm not sure it will do any good.  But we owe him that much 
at least."
	Just then, Zazu came excitedly into the cave.  "Good news, 
everyone!  You'll never guess!"  He bowed deeply.  "Your 
Majesties, Taka is coming back!  I've spotted him in the brush and 
he's headed this way!"
	"That is good news for us," Ahadi said.  "I only hope it 
will be good news for him."

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