SCENE:  ONE LAST REQUEST


	It was the night before Mabatu's mantlement, a time most 
young lions would be spending with their mother, trying to say 
enough kind things to last a lifetime.  But Mabatu was unprepared, 
and every moment had to count.  That's why Isha stayed home from 
the hunt to spend time with Mabatu, talking about hunting, 
fighting, and other skills.
	His greatest hope was to drive off hyenas, for he expected 
to live on carrion if he was to live at all.  So he had to know 
their weaknesses, and how many of them could be safely dispersed. 
There was little hope he would blossom into a great hunter.  Isha 
above all should know this for her skills as a huntress were 
second only to Uzuri.  And because she had always loved Mabatu, 
she was desperate to do her best.
	"We must look at holds," she said.  "Here on the arm, you 
can restrict movement."  She mouthed his upper arm gently above 
the elbow.  "Here on the flank you can rip.  But the throat hold 
is one of prime importance...."  She put her arm over his back.  
"You strike them here and push with your weight."  Isha leaned on 
him.  "It's important to let your weight do the work.  Then you go 
for the throat and cut off his wind."  She gently opened her mouth 
and caressed Mabatu's strong throat.
	A moment later, she let go and looked up.  "Your heart is 
pounding.  Are you all right?"
	He stared at her.  His nostrils quivered as the warm tides 
of his breath came and went.  "Isha...."
	"I didn't mean to offend you.  I'm sorry."
	"Don't be sorry.  It is I who have offended you."
	"Nonsense," she said, nuzzling him.
	He nuzzled her back passionately, nibbling her ear.  He 
looked at her expression of surprise.  "Don't hate me.  You don't 
know how long I've waited to do that.  How very long."
	"We need to get back to hunting," she stammered, watching 
his trembling chin.  "We don't have much time."
	"We don't have much time," he replied.  "I must hunt now.  I 
may not have a chance, but I've stalked for a long time.  Now I 
must break my cover and rush to you."
	"Even though I'm old enough to be your mother?  I'm 
flattered.  Really I am.  But when you're older, you'll find 
someone more your own age.  Then you'll look back on this and 
laugh."
	"You know I'll never get much older.  I'm being sacrificed 
to help the others.  You know it."
	She is distraught.  "I wish you wouldn't say that."
	"But you don't deny it."
	"How can I?"
	"I love you, Isha.  I've always loved you.  Remember, I said 
when I grew up, I'd marry you.  You laughed then, but if you laugh 
now, I'll die.  While life holds my soul and body together, I will 
love you.  Even in death I will love you."
	"In death?"  She nuzzled him.  "Don't think of death.  You 
are alive."
	"How can I be alive?  I've never lived.  If I could only be 
close to you, just for tonight, I would have LIVED, Isha."
	She looked into his eyes, then pawed him.  He playfully 
batted at her.  She moved around him, looking for an opening.  "If 
you hunt big game, prepare to exert yourself."
	She pounced, locking her arms around his throat and 
wrestling him with great skill.  Laughing and panting, she nearly 
shoved him to the ground.  He flailed at her with his arms, but 
struck her so gently it would not have awakened a cub.  She pushed 
him over.
	Mabatu got up to have another go at it.  He tried to use his 
weight to push her over, but she outweighed him, and easily 
stepped aside.  She put her arm over his shoulder and began to 
lean in on him.  His legs began to buckle under the strain.  Then 
when it seemed she would pin him, she stood still.  He put his 
head under her arm and pushed her over into the grass and looked 
down at her.  "Gotcha!"
	She looked deep into his eyes.  Her jaw quivered.  "Now that 
you've caught me," she purred, "do what you will."
	"Oh gods!"  He began to nuzzle her passionately, nibbling 
her ears and pawing her cheek gently.  "Isha, beloved!"



ISHA:     	Night is here; in its perfumed shadows
          	Let us hold the moment till its gone,
          	Winding through the gentle, fleeting passage,
          	That separates the sunset from the dawn.

MABATU:   	Past has fled, future is uncertain
          	What remains is what I share with you
          	Feel my heart, it's yours in sweet surrender
          	Till the moonlight dies upon the morning dew.

BOTH:     	This is the moment of our warm embrace
          	To tell you I love you and look in your face
         	To treasure each moment till dawn gilds the skies
          	And fathom the mystery of love in your eyes


	In the silver moonlight, she whispered, "Come, my lover, 
where the night shall hide us away."  He kissed her and rose to 
his feet.  Isha followed, resting her head on his woefully thin 
mane and leaving it there as she walked alongside him into the 
shadows.



SCENE:  FAR AND AWAY


	For a while, Kako had the hope that her son could one day be 
King of Pride Rock.
	But things had turned against them, and so with none of the 
pomp and celebration associated with a royal presentation, a very 
private ceremony took place in the quiet of the east meadow.  
There, surrounded by a profusion of flowers, Kako reenacted the 
sorrow of most lionesses who have sons.  It was supposed to be 
positive, a launching out on a great adventure.  As such, Kako was 
strong, and smiled warmly.  "Where has my little cub gone?  All I 
see is this lion."
	"I'll always be your son," Baba replied, and nuzzled her.
	"Remember me," she said.  "When you are a great king, do not 
forget that I gave you milk."
	"When you are gone to be with your fathers, pray for me."  
The words almost stuck in his throat.  He knew he would not see 
her again until they had both gone to be with Aiheu.
	"I will pray for you," she said, her tail going limp.  "Oh 
gods, my son, my little son!"
	"Don't cry, mother."  He kissed away her tears.  "You must 
be strong for me.  I will carry this moment with me for the rest 
of my life."
	"I'm sorry."  She sniffed and smiled.  "Besides, we will 
meet again among the stars, and nothing will separate us."  She 
put her paw on his cheek.  "May the Lord Aiheu smile upon you.  
May the grass be soft beneath you.  May the great kings enfold 
you.  May you find love and safety wherever you go."
	"I'll be safe," he said.  "The gods are with me."
	Isha came.  She looked at the small male and tears started 
rolling down her cheeks.  It did not go unnoticed by Kako.
	Mabatu went to her, kissed away her tears, and whispered, 
"I'll come back for you.  If Aiheu lets me live, I'll make a place 
for us.  Will you wait for me?"
	"I will.  I swear."
	"I will always love you.  If I die, look in the stars.  I 
will be watching over you."
	Mabatu nuzzled Kako.  He wanted to remember the feel of her 
fur, the smell, the sound of her breath.  He looked in her eyes.  
"Mother."
	"My son."  She kissed him one last time.
	Without another word, he turned and walked north.  He did 
not look back, for it would have been wrong to do so.  He went to 
the edge of the trees, then through the shaded trail of the bongo 
to the hidden meadow where many lions go to die.  There was a 
quiet skull staring sightlessly from the meadow grass, all that 
was left of old Maloki.  He did not stop to regard it, but he did 
look at the far side of the meadow.  That was the border of the 
Pride Lands.  He regarded it with a little nostalgia.  He'd never 
left the Pride Lands before and now he stood at the edge of The 
Big World.  He took in a deep, cleansing breath and let it out 
slowly.  Then he walked into the trees and let their shade close 
over him like a curtain.


SCENE:  FACING UP


	Shimbekh watched Mabatu's mantlement from the shadows.  It 
was a thorn in her heart.  "Because of me, he will die.  I cannot 
see it, but he is so unprepared, so young."
	She walked back toward Pride Rock to take shelter from the 
sun and to talk with Makhpil.  Along the way, she tried to think 
of one thing that made her different from a murderess.  Is it 
enough that she had been ordered to lie, even if it was the 
Roh'mach herself that so ordered?
	Makhpil was waiting for her.  How wonderful it must be to 
see things before they happen!  With great sadness and envy, 
Shimbekh asked Makhpil what the future held.
	"I see you standing by the river gorge," Makhpil said.  She 
kissed Shimbekh.  "You will experience joy."
	Joy was something Shimbekh knew little about, especially in 
recent days.  But somehow she knew that Makhpil spoke the truth.  
It was like a small echo of her once great powers.
	Shimbekh hurried out of the cave.  Usually the lionesses 
were never directly addressed by hyenas.  That's why Uzuri was 
shocked when the Shimbekh spoke to her.  Shimbekh told Uzuri that 
sticking by Pride Rock was not her idea, nor was it the idea of 
the Gods.  It was Shenzi's desire, as are most things done 
nowadays.  The same is true of Mabatu.  He must be found and 
brought home before death could take him.
	Uzuri was indignant and a little mistrustful.  "This talk 
could get you killed, unless it is some kind of trick."
	"Yeah, a trick."  Seer laughs bitterly.  "Your blood would 
turn to dust if you knew half the tricks that had been pulled on 
you.  My powers are gone.  Because I lied, the truth has fled from 
me, and there is only one future I can see--my own."  Shimbekh 
stalked off quietly.
	Shimbekh walked to the edge of the gorge where Taka had once 
killed Mufasa.  "I confessed my guilt.  Just once more let me see 
the truth with my own eyes."  She closed her eyes tightly and took 
in a deep breath, then let it out slowly.  A smile crossed her 
face.  "Yes, Lord.  Thank you.  Memu kofasa, Muti!  Roh'kash ne 
nabu!"  She crouched down on her haunches and sprang over the 
edge.  For several seconds she fell freely, then she struck the 
wall of the gorge, was sent bloody and broken through the 
boulders, and finally rolled to a stop.


SCENE:  ISHA'S CUBS


	When Isha's time had come, she had three cubs.  Her son was 
named Habusu, and her two daughters were named Jona and Minshasa.
	Some of the lionesses filed by to see them, more out of 
curiosity than of joy.  Importantly, Kako was not among them.  
	Clearly, while Isha was not a social outcast, there were few 
doubts who the father of the cubs was, and the circumstances of 
their conception.  There was tension and a feeling of disapproval 
in the pride mates who stopped by to see the cubs, sniff them, 
touch them, then say something pleasant, only to go outside and 
gossip.  And with Isha's excellent hearing, there was no doubt she 
heard many hurtful things before the day was over.
	Public attitudes were rather jaded.  "She will be a devoted 
mother," one said; "She has SUCH a way with KIDS."
	After the embarrasment of a presentation Isha would have 
just as soon skipped, the hunt mistress arrived.
	Uzuri's love for Isha was absolute and unconditional.  In 
her eyes, there could be no taint to spoil the beauty of 
childbirth.  She looked at each cub, sniffed them gently, and 
touched them with her tongue.  "Habusu looks like Mabatu when he 
was that age-very handsome.  Sometimes I worry about Baba; where 
he is, what he's doing, and if he's missing you.  You must pray 
for him."
	"I do."  Isha nuzzles her.  "I love you, Uzuri."
	"Why?  What did I do."
	"Nothing-and everything.  Just because you're you."  As 
Uzuri left, Isha brought the cubs to her warm belly and guided 
them to her milk.   She rubbed over them with her paw tenderly as 
they nursed.  "I don't care what the others think.  You are my 
children, and you are wonderful.  You are Mabatu's children.  Our 
children."  She half closed her eyes.  "My little Mabatu.  
Wherever you are, I hope you know how beautiful they are."
	Taka himself came by.  "Look at the little angels," he 
cooed.  "Aren't they beautiful!"
	"Mabatu's children," she said.  "That's what you came to 
find out, wasn't it?"
	"Mabatu," he said softly.  "I will go to my death grieving 
for him.  He was my son, and always will be."
	"Then why did you let him go?"
	"I don't have to tell you, but I will.  You alone deserve to 
know."  He sighed.  "The seer told me he would meet an evil fate 
if he stayed here.  I love Mabatu.  I loved him enough to give him 
a small chance over no chance at all."
	There was a truthful ring to his voice.  Isha looked at the 
sadness that clouded his face as he recalled his friend.
	He looked at the male cub.  "What is his name?"
	"Habusu."
	"Habusu, you are son of my son.  You will be my heir, and 
the one true King.  I am not a seer, but I predict that you will 
not be hated as I am hated.  You have brought some measure of 
peace to my heart.  That is not an easy thing to do."
	"You honor me."  She looked a little worried.  "Please don't 
tell the hyenas just yet."
	When he asked why, she said, "If their seer is so good, let 
her come tell you."
	He chuckled, amused.  "Yes.  Let her.  But aren't you a 
little curious what the future holds for him?"
	"Yes.  That's why I plan to be there when it happens.  We 
all have to suffer thorns and bruises, and we all have to die, but 
isn't it really better not knowing how and when?"
	Taka looked at her strangely.  "Why Isha, you're a 
philosopher."
	"All mothers are philosophers."
	Watching him leave, Isha thought back on her sister, Beesa. 
She had once been a philosopher.  Fortunately, she had only had 
one cub to worry about feeding, a daughter named Lisani.  Adopted 
by Isha upon Beesa's death, the lioness cared for her niece as if 
she was one of her own; like Uzuri, she made no distinctions where 
children were concerned.  Perhaps someday Lisani would grow to 
love Habusu.  Perhaps Aiheu in his mercy will provide some future 
for them all.  Then again, Isha kept her mind almost solely on the 
present.  It was her way of keeping her sanity.


SCENE:  THORNS AND BRUISES


	When Isha's cubs were old enough to stray away from Mom, 
they found that there were other cubs with other mothers.  But 
while other cubs were free to make friends at will, there were 
strange difficulties for Isha's children as they sought to be 
accepted by the parents.
	Usually, there was polite avoidance.  Gobiso came out and 
said, "My mother told me I couldn't play with you."
	Therefore Isha's children grew up thinking all cubs pretty 
much stayed only with their mother.  It was a fiction that helped 
keep the hurt of rejection from stinging so badly.
	But Uzuri was always there to see them, chatting amiably 
with Isha and doting over little Lisani.  Miss Liss, as she was 
known, often was called Miss Priss by the others because she was 
so proper and erudite.  Habusu was so polite and gentle, he and 
Miss Priss got along fine.  They were not only cousins but milk 
brother and sister.  Uzuri always made Habusu feel welcome and 
loved.  While his sisters liked to play together, Habusu would 
fawn on Uzuri like a second mother, and followed Lisani around 
like a puppy.  
	But eventually Habusu wanted another male to play with.  He 
turned to Uzuri's twin sons Togo and Kombi.  Here it was Isha's 
turn to be apprehensive, for Togo and Kombi had a reputation for 
mischief.  Everyone knew that except, loyally, their mother.
	Still, despite all the difficulties he faced, Habusu was 
loved unconditionally by his mother, Uzuri, and a few special 
friends.  Even the King and his Queen loved him.
	His first experience with death came when he was two months 
old.  His sister Minshasa, always frail, began to develop symptoms 
of Dol Sani, a condition that would have been survivable if she 
had not been malnourished.  Helplessly, Isha watched her decline.  
Finally after a week of suffering, Minshasa died peacefully in her 
sleep.
	After the death of the first, public sympathy begins to 
turn, though stubborn Tameka said, "Yes, it's too bad.  But she 
asked for it."
	One moon later, when pneumonia claimed Jona, it was Tameka 
who was upbraided.  The outpouring of sympathy and grief was 
spontaneous and heartfelt as they saw how Isha suffered.  If 
anything, grief made her already beautiful features almost 
godlike.  Her son that was left she treasured, and her care of him 
was seen by all as a sign that something wonderful had escaped 
their attention all along.
	Finally, he became weak in turn.  Taka began to panic.  He 
felt some evil curse had come to take what little he owned and 
smash it.  Some lionesses helped Isha smuggle herbs from Rafiki to 
build his blood and heal his infection.  Even Taka let Isha eat 
from the King's share to enrich her milk.
	Still, though, Habusu had few friends to play with.  Though 
he was polite and soft-spoken, there was the black mark that Taka 
and Elanna spent time with him.  It was hard on Isha to know what 
to say or do on this matter, for she did not like Taka any more 
than Uzuri or Sarafina did.  
	Uzuri's older kids Togo and Kombi played with Habusu, for 
their mother's friendship with Isha would allow no prejudice to 
turn her head.  With Habusu's sisters dead, this contact with them 
and with Miss Priss became much more important.
	From an early age, the older Togo and Kombi were rough with 
Habusu, but he put up with it.  He picked up bad habits that had 
to be patiently broken one by one with Isha's firm but gentle 
parenting.  The only thing that jeopardized their friendship was 
the awful time Togo and Kombi told Habusu that he was born out of 
wedlock.  
	Habusu did not know what wedlock was.  That's when they told 
him his father was a mere youth that skipped out on their mother.  
"Ask anyone."
	Habusu cried.  Isha took him aside and explained to him in 
gentle terms what had happened.  That she loved his father, 
married him, and that he promised he would be coming back for them 
someday.  That he would love his son, and tend to him.  She did 
not know if Mabatu was alive or dead, but she did not express this 
to Habusu.
	That night she watched the skies for his star.  She wondered 
if she had seen him or not.
	She could not reach Rafiki to ask his help, and in her 
desperation, she went to see Makhpil.
	"Please be truthful with me.  Please.  I know we have been 
enemies in the past, but the gods have given you this talent for a 
reason.  Please use it for good.  Do not lie to me."
	"Lies cost me my best friend," Makhpil said.  "She was my 
only friend.  I will not lie as she did."
	"I will be your friend," Isha says.
	Skeptical but willing, Makhpil looked into Isha's eyes. 
"Yes, there is truth in you.  Goodness that I did not expect to 
see.  Your friendship honors me."
	Makhpil did not get a scrying bowl.  She merely closed her 
eyes and let out a mild, high-pitched whine.  "It comes to me.  
Yes, your husband is alive.  But how he fares, I do not know."
	In her hope and joy, Isha fondled Makhpil with a paw.  
"Perhaps he will come back to me.  Perhaps he will claim what is 
his."

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