SCENE:  INCOSI AKA INCOSI


	The smell of Taka lingered in the cave that was once his 
home.  As unpleasant as it had become to Simba, he could not leave 
Nala in the driving rain.  And so it was in the cave where Simba 
was born that he swore his love to Nala and made her his queen.  
Rafiki made it abundantly clear to Timon and Pumbaa that the cave 
was much too small for visitors.  "Don't worry, the rain will only 
make you fresh and clean."
	"The only thing getting fresh around here is Simba," Timon 
said with a withering attempt at humor.  He drooped in the rain.  
"Well, Pumbaa, let's go."
	But there would be no honeymoon just yet.  Attracted by the 
call of Simba's triumph, a procession of the few remaining 
inhabitants of the Pride Lands straggled in.  The Incosi of the 
Zebras came first to look upon the new King and bow deeply.  
"Khemoki, Your Majesty, by Aiheu's grace Incosi of the Zebra'ha.  
I stand ready to serve you."
	Pa'hal, Incosi of the Wildebeests, came next.  "I beg the 
gods that you do not hate our people."  He bowed till his forehead 
touched the ground.
	"Rise, uh.."  Zazu whispered something in Simba's ear.  
"Rise Pa'hal.  Have no fear of that."
	The leader of each tribe of antelopes came, as did Jebweel 
of the Giraffes and Boga Kwitu of the Elephants.  These were the 
Incosi, the leaders, who came with assurances they would not be 
struck down as prey as long as they spoke for their people.  It 
was Simba's duty to try and recognize all the wet creatures if he 
saw them again, but the lionesses were the ones who paid the most 
attention.
	The Lion King, by custom, must not interfere in the internal 
affairs of his peoples.  He only meddles in the affairs of other 
lions, and only when he feels he should.  But he did make his 
influence known in a powerful way when he had Uhuru the hyena 
brought before him.
	"You are the one we recognize as Incosi."
	With those words, Simba had imposed his will on the hyenas.  
In hyenas, the Incosi is referred to as the Roh'mach (great 
leader).  And since hyenas consider themselves somewhat 
independent of the order established by the King, and they 
considered the Roh'mach a sovereign in every sense, they were 
bound to be furious at this attempt to influence what they felt 
was their own affairs.  Though Shenzi may try to maintain her iron 
grip on the hyenas, she could not represent them any longer before 
the Lion King.  There would be great pressure to make Uhuru the 
recognized Roh'mach because the fortunes of the hyenas had dipped 
even lower than usual.
	Simba felt very successful in his dealing with the hyenas.  
Finally, by high moon, the last of the Incosi had paid their 
respect, and he was alone with Nala.  He sat worried by the 
entrance watching the rain, lost in thought.
	Nala nuzzled him and nibbled on his ear.  "What is it, dear?  
Are you timid?"
	"What?"  He looked at her.  "Oh."  He kissed her with his 
warm pink tongue.  "I'm King, Nala.  I used to look forward to 
this when I was a cub.  Now it frightens me.  There is so much to 
do, and I have had so little preparation."
	"You have friends," Nala purred.  "Friends that care about 
you."
	"I do, don't I."  He looked out over the barren landscape.  
"I can only do the best I can.  When I come face to face with 
Aiheu, he will know I tried."
	"You'll be a fine King.  Now why don't you get some sleep, 
husband?  I'll be here when you wake."
	"You'll be here when I wake?"  Simba looked into Nala's deep 
hazel eyes.  "You're the first thing I'll see when I open my 
eyes."  He nuzzled her passionately and touched her left shoulder 
with his paw.  "I will be King tomorrow.  Tonight I am a lion."


SCENE:  THE UNEASY TRUCE


	The air in the graveyard was quiet, filled only with the 
hiss and bubble of escaping methane as the hyenas, their once 
great numbers diminished in the terrible fight, straggled in 
slowly.  Banzai limped off, muttering angrily, his haunches scored 
with claw marks, Ed following behind, still giggling maniacally at 
his discomfort.  Exhausted, Shenzi made her way over to a quiet 
niche in the rock face and sat down.  Skulk wandered over, his 
ears perking up as Shenzi grumbled under her breath.
	"That sorry, no account, pandering IDIOT! Who does he think 
he is?!" She bared her teeth.
	Skulk cringed, terrified. He had never seen her in such a 
rage.  "Who?  Krull?"
	She uncoiled with the speed of a striking snake, cuffing him 
heavily across the jaw.  Yelping, Skulk jerked away.
	"Of course I mean Krull!  Who do you THINK I'm talking 
about?"  She clenched her jaw, the muscles flexing visibly.  "I 
spent my entire LIFE waiting to become Roh'mach.  And that 
imbecile of a king dares give it to a MALE?"
	Skulk nodded energetically.  "Of course.  You should have 
been chosen as Roh'mach.  You're the only logical choice.  You are 
far more cunning and powerful than Krull."
	"My name is Uhuru," a voice said.  The hyenas turned to see 
their new leader entering the graveyard.  He walked over to Skulk, 
getting dangerously close.  "You can just call me Roh'mach."
	Unable to contain himself, Skulk shoved his muzzle into 
Uhuru's face. "You heathen traitor!" he screamed.  "I ought to 
beat some respect into you!"
	"Is that a challenge?"
	"No, my dear Roh'mach.  I would never dream of challenging 
you."
	"So you're going to beat some respect into me?"  Uhuru 
glared at him.  "Either call me out now, or stow it."
	Skulk's jaw dropped.  So the lion stooge was daring him to 
fight!  The former Krull was gone, and this was indeed Uhuru, a 
force to contend with, the Roh'mach.  He drew back a step and spat 
angrily.  "Gah!  If I wanted to wet my jaws with a coward's blood, 
I'd go hunting!"
	Uhuru's eyes narrowed.  "I will choose not to take that as a 
challenge to my honor this time.  But you have stirred up 
sedition, and you eat last until you learn how to behave."
	Skulk looks to Shenzi.  "Do I have to put up with this?"
	"Apparently so.  He's clearly the unchallenged ruler, or 
hasn't anyone told you half a challenge is less than nothing."  
	Skulk gritted his teeth.  Without a word, he walked away 
stiffly, ignoring the occasional chuckles or snickers that sounded 
behind him.
	Shenzi waited until the ruckus had died down, then rose 
quietly. Glancing around quickly, she made sure no one was 
watching.  Seeing no spying eyes, she delved into the shadows.  
She passed under a hollowed out ribcage and made her way around 
the hissing geysers behind it to an isolated corner of the 
graveyard.  
	She smiled as she spotted Skulk sitting in front of an 
enormous skull, its surface yellowed with age.  Pacing slowly up 
to him, she sat down. "C'mon, Skulk. No need to sulk." She 
tittered slightly.
	His eyes glowed eerily in the greenish light that permeated 
the graveyard.  "Why do you put up with him?" he asked, hurt.  
"Why didn't you help me?"
	"I can't fight all your battles for you.  If you want 
something, you must take it."  She sighs in exasperation.  "Why 
can't you be a little more like a female?"  Getting up, she turned 
to leave, but looked back over her shoulder coyly.  "On the other 
hand, I do get excited when you get your fur up."  She paced by 
directly in front of him, swatting his nose with her tail 
playfully as she headed by.
	Skulk sat transfixed for a moment, unable to move.  Finally 
he leapt up and shook himself roughly.  He paused for a moment, 
then padded off in the direction she had taken, his eyes fixed on 
her lithe body.
	Skulk followed Shenzi to her private quarters that had once 
been Uzuri's corner.  There in the privacy of a cleft in the rock, 
Skulk brushed past her in the dim light and fondled her cheek with 
his paw.  Finding no resistance, he kissed her passionately.  
"Shenzi, I'm on fire."
	"On fire?"  She kisses him and rubs past him.  "Just a 
little flame, or a real bonfire?"
	"Oh gods, let me show you."  His breath was ragged and 
rapid, and she could almost hear his heart beating in the quiet of 
the cleft.  "Are you ready?"
	"I am ready.  Ready to be Roh'mach."  She took a swipe at 
him with her paw.  "I wanted you to know what you are NOT getting 
as long as that Uhuru is running the show.  Oh, but power makes me 
sexy-very sexy.  I'd take you to the corners of your wildest 
fantasies."
	"You should not lead me on like that," he said through 
clenched teeth.  "Maybe I won't find you very sexy when YOU'RE 
ready."
	"I doubt it."  She rubbed her cheek against his and nibbled 
his ear gently.  "You're heart is pounding.  You want to be next 
to me.  You want me."
	"Stop it, Shenzi!"  He crept into a corner and shuddered.  
"Don't lead me on like that-I can't stand it."
	"No one is leading you on.  It's very simple.  When Uhuru is 
history, we will come here and make love till your heart stops."
	"But how could we fight against the lion's Roh'mach?  We 
won't have anyone to answer to the King."
	"Who needs the King?  He doesn't let us on his hunting 
grounds anyhow.  Ever think of that?  What use is a Roh'mach that 
pals around with lions anyhow?"  She whispered, "When you know 
someone's weak spot, you can go in.  That's how you kill a 
gazelle.  You go for the weak spot.  So how do you get the lions 
to cooperate?"
	"Do they have a weak spot?"
	"Not to kill them, just to secure their cooperation."
	"Well-hmm-you know, they love their children as much as we 
do."
	"Yeah?  So?"
	"So if we could get a cub...."
	"They would kill you."
	"Sure, if a direct assault, but the occasion calls for 
subtility.  We could have them at our mercy."
	"Is this another of your theatrics here, or do you have a 
suggestion??"
	"You bet your sweet fangs I have a suggestion.  Let me 
whisper it in your ear when I have made you mine.  I will make you 
Roh'mach or die trying, but tonight is ours."
	"I don't take credit," Shenzi said.  "Just remember, the 
faster Uhuru is out of here, the sooner we take the vows."


SCENE:  INVITATION TO THE DANCE


	The morning sun felt warm against Isha's fur as she sprawled 
in the cool grass.  Always an early riser, she took joy in the 
thought that the other lionesses would be stuck sunning themselves 
on the hard rocks; between the drought and last night's fire, 
there was precious little grass left to lie on at the moment.
	Rolling over, she saw her small son Habusu sitting up, 
peering intently at something out of her line of vision.  Leaning 
over, she nuzzled him.  "What are you doing,  Habu?"
	He glanced over his shoulder at her. "Look, mama, there's 
Togo and Kombi.  Can I go play with them, pleeease?"  He looked at 
her mournfully. Isha couldn't help but laugh.
	"All right, you little scamp!  Go ahead, but stay close to 
Uzuri; I don't want you all wandering off, now."
	He smiled broadly.  "I'll be good!"  He scampered over to 
the others.
	He was unexpectedly flattened by Togo.  "Hey, Habu!  Wanna 
play Mud Tag?" Togo asked.
	Habusu got up shakily. "Uhh, yeah, I guess."
	Kombi smiled menacingly.  "Good, then ... you're IT!"  With 
a brutal shove, he sent the poor cub sliding down the slope to 
land in a mud puddle.  Dragging himself out of the brackish water, 
Habusu's eyes brimmed over with tears as he listened to the two 
laughing.  Unable to bear it any longer, he turned and fled.
	His progress was tracked sharply by two sets of dark eyes.  
Shenzi and Losara stood behind a stand of dry grass, with Losara's 
pup Bashak lying next to her.  Looking at her friend impatiently, 
Losara shook her head.
	"Shenzi, what are we doing here?  What if we get caught?"
	"Hsshh! Here he comes."  Shenzi bared her teeth in a huge 
grin.  "Perfect."  She glanced down at the bored pup next to her, 
and her grin widened.  "Bashak, are you having fun?"
	"No ma'am."  Fidgeting, he nuzzled his mother.  "Mama, I'm 
bored," the pup said crossly.  Losara looked at him, and smiled 
gently.
	"Why don't you go play with the cub?  We won't be long."
	"Okay."  He trudged off.  There was no cub in sight, but he 
did spot a locust on the grass.  He patted at it with his paw and 
it jumped.  He followed it, and it jumped again.  He sprang up 
locust-like, laughing.
	A blur of tawny lightning tore through a gap in the bushes 
and slammed into him, knocking him over. Rolling to a stop, he 
caught his breath.
	"Cripes!  Why don't you look where you're goin!"  Bashak 
stared at the sodden mass before him.  "What happened to you?"
	Habusu looked at him miserably.  "Uh, nothing."  He blinked, 
confused.  "What are you, anyway?"
	"I'm a hyena, silly.  My name's Bashak."  He peered at 
Habusu worriedly.  "Uh, what about you?"
	Habusu's chest swelled proudly.  "I'm Habusu.  I'm a lion!"
	Bashak looked at him, eyes wide.  "Wow! I've never seen a 
lion up close before!"  But he looked at him again.  "They look 
much bigger from a distance."
	"That's cause I'm not full grown."
	"How big will you be when you're full grown?"
	"See that bush?"  Habusu smiled.  "Bigger than that."
	"No kidding!"  He thought a moment.  "Then you'll be as big 
as me!"  Grinning, Bashak leaped on Habusu, and the two rolled in 
the dust, shrieking with glee.  Habusu twisted lithely, bringing 
his greater weight to bear on the hyena pup, pinning him to the 
ground.
	The sound of footsteps padded up to the bush. Losara poked 
her head in, pushing aside twigs with her nose.  "Okay, Bashak, 
time to go..." she broke off, staring, her eyes narrowing at the 
sight of her child pinned under the paws of a lion cub.  Shenzi's 
head joined her.  "Well, well, well, what have we here?"
	Habusu shrank away, frightened by the looming females.  
"Look mama," Bashak said excitedly.  "This is my friend, Habusu. 
He's a lion!  Only he's not full grown yet."
	"I see that." Losara swallowed heavily.  Dredging up a smile 
that felt too big for her face, she looked at the youngsters 
pleasantly.  "Time to go home, now."
	Bashak's face fell.  "Aww, man," he whined.  "Do we have 
to?"
	"Yes, if you want to eat anything for lunch."  She cocked 
her head, as if thinking.  "If your friend's hungry, why don't you 
invite him?  When you get done eating lunch, you can show him 
around the elephant graveyard."
	"Really?!" Bashak turned excitedly. "Hey, Habusu, wanna?"
	The lion cub returned his friend's grin. "Yeah! That'd be 
cool!"
	Shenzi grinned.  "Well, what are we waiting for? Let's go 
get some lunch!"

 
SCENE:  MISSING


	Nala yawned luxuriously in the morning light.  Blinking her 
eyes rapidly, she stood up, extending her forelegs in front of 
her, shifted her weight to the rear and stretched.  She closed her 
eyes in ecstasy as she felt the muscles in her back and legs 
tingle as they loosened.
	Straightening up, she steped over to where Simba lay.  
Smiling to herself, she bent down and licked his nose. "Wake up, 
hon."
	He twitched his nose reflexively, but otherwise didn't 
react.  Her smile widening, Nala leaned over and nuzzled his face.  
Pursing her lips, she sent a gentle puff of air into his ear.  He 
twitched spasmodically, flipping a paw up to brush her away.  "Cut 
it out, Pumbaa," he chuckled sleepily.
	"Pumbaa, indeed!"  Nala sent her tongue sweeping in a broad 
stroke across his face.  She watched with amusement as his eyes 
shot open in surprise, relaxing as they focused on her.
	"Beloved," he whispered, and pawed her softly.  "What time 
is it?"
	"It's tree-tall."
	He let out with a tremendous yawn.  "Tree-tall, huh? Gods, I 
must have been tired to sleep this late."
	She laughed prettily. "Oh, I'm sorry," she said in mock 
contriteness. "Perhaps I shouldn't have kept you up so late."
	He grinned at her, but before he could reply, Isha bounded 
in the entrance, her eyes widened to the whites.
	"Forgive my intrusion, Incosi, but I can't find my son!  
Please help me!"  Isha was nearly incoherent.  "I let him go play 
with Uzuri's cubs' but they don't know where he went and he won't 
answer my calls!"
	"Calm down, Isha."  Nala padded over.  "Where did you see 
him last?"
	"I was lying in the grassy spot over by the north face.  He 
went off to play with Togo and Kombi.  I told him to stay near 
Uzuri but he didn't listen."  She struck the ground with her paw.  
"I should never have let him go!"
 	Uzuri trotted in, her cubs scampering along behind her to 
huddle at her feet.  "I can't find him, Isha.  I don't know where 
he went, but I found out why."  She turned to glare at the two 
cubs, who shrank back miserably.  "It seems Togo and Kombi were 
playing a little...rough." She patted Isha other lioness 
comfortingly.  "Don't worry, hon, he's probably just sulking 
somewhere."
	"That's just it; he always comes when I call him, no matter 
what mood he's in.  He's such a good boy..."  Wailing, she buried 
her head against Uzuri's shoulder, her cries muffled against the 
fur.
	Simba looked at Nala worriedly.  "Oh, boy.  I'm gonna go ask 
Rafiki if he can help.  Maybe he'll know where to look.  In the 
meanwhile, get some search parties organized."
	She nodded, and led the other lionesses outside. Simba 
trotted hurriedly down the slope of the Rock to the ground below.  
Breaking into a run, he sprinted toward a nearby acacia, his feet 
kicking up small plumes of ash that settled slowly back to the 
charred ground.  Nearing the tree, he shouted, "Rafiki!"
	Reaching the base, he peered up through the denuded branches 
to see the mandrill blinking sleepily.  "Rafiki?  Are you awake?"
	"Indeed I am. And not from your bellowing, my friend; I 
don't think I got a wink of sleep all night."  He eyed the 
branches of the tree reproachfully.  "Too many spines; I don't 
know how civilized folk can stand to live in these."  Casting his 
gaze down at Simba, Rafiki frowned.  "What is all the commotion 
about?"
	"Habusu is lost.  Can you do anything to help us?  We have 
to find him quickly, before something else does."
	Rafiki shuddered at the thought.  Wild Dogs come through 
from time to time.  "Aiheu forbid. I will try."  Gathering his 
staff, he clambered gingerly down to the ground. "Lead on, my 
friend.  I'll hurry as fast as I'm able."
	Simba thought for a split second, then crouched down.  
"Wait, I'll carry you; we'll make better time that way."
	"I would not insult your dignity like that," Rafiki said, 
clearly nervous.
	Simba snorted in amusement. "You didn't seem so concerned 
with my dignity that night you whacked me on the head, old  
friend."
	The mandrill shuffled his feet, embarrassed. "That was 
different."  Looking at the stretch of ground between himself and 
Pride Rock, he sighed resignedly.  "Bend down."  He meandered over 
to the lion and hesitantly climbed onto Simba's broad shoulders. 
He clutched a lock of mane tightly in one fist as the King stood 
up.
	"Ouch!" Simba hissed. "Easy."
	Rafiki loosed his grip, but only lightly. He felt the weight 
underneath him shift powerfully as the lion broke into a lope.  
The mandrill watched breathlessly as the wind whipped through his 
hair.  It was the fastest he'd ever travelled, and unable to help 
himself, he whooped aloud.
	Simba said, "I knew you'd like it."
	Rafiki laughed at him unsteadily. "Like it? I'm scared to 
death!"
	Khemoki, Incosi of the Zebra'ha, shook his head violently, 
trying to rid himself of the bothersome flies.
	Then he saw something that made him forget the flies.  Simba 
headed toward him at a dead run, an old mandrill on his back 
making the most horrible screeching noise.  "Oh my Lord!"  Khemoki 
cleared out of the way just in time.
	He headed to find his mare who was having a good roll in the 
dust, oblivious to the whole episode.
	"I say, Whinnyfred.  I just saw the most extraordinary 
thing!  Simba being ridden by that Rafiki chap!"
	"What?"
	"I tell you, Whinny old girl, this neighborhood is going 
down.  Down, I say, and I wouldn't be surprised what mischief that 
old ape will work next.  Not our sort, you know."
	"Oh Khemoki, you haven't been hitting the Throckberries, 
have you?"
	"Throckberries?  Don't be ridiculous.  Bosh, I tell you.  
Besides, it's too early in the day.  Whinny, there's something not 
quite right here.  I think that ape is taking over."
	"Him?"
	"And why not?  He dabbles in the uncivilized arts, you know.  
I think we have a situation developing, and by jove I plan to keep 
a close eye on it.  We don't want to end up on the losing side."
	Unaware of the commotion behind him, Rafiki glanced down to 
see the ground blurring by in a mix of greens and browns.  
Suddenly nauseous, he closed his eyes, feeling the enormous 
muscles underneath him rippling in regular rhythm.  Abruptly, 
their pace changed, and he opened his eyes to see a shallow trench 
approaching fast.  Simba gathered his muscles under himself and 
leapt.  Rafiki watched in horror as the world rotated lazily in 
front of him, sky and earth exchanging places as he sailed over 
Simba's head to come to rest nose to nose with the lion, a lock of 
mane still clutched tightly in either hand.
	Simba jerked wildly.  "Rafiki, what are you doing?!  I can't 
see!"
	The mandrill looked into the amber eyes inches away from his 
own and moaned.  "Mumsie was right," he thought.  "I should have 
stayed at home with my brothers instead of becoming a shaman."
	Simba flicked his head gracefully, sending the poor mandrill 
flying back over his head to plunk down solidly onto his back 
again.  Rafiki seized hold even tighter, despite Simba's protests, 
and held on for dear life, muttering a prayer of thanks as he saw 
the foot of Pride Rock  before them. Without slowing, Simba 
trotted up the slope to the promontory, finally stopping and 
allowing his passenger to dismount.
	Rafiki slid off his back and stumbled forward on his 
weakened legs.  "Thank you, Simba.  You honor me greatly."
	Simba shrugged.  "Maybe we can do it again sometime."  He 
looked in the cave.  "Isha?"  
	The lioness trotted out of the cave, looking hopeful, but 
her face fell when she saw no sign of her cub.
	"Isha, my poor dear," Rafiki said, hugging her neck.  "Do 
not fret.  We will find your child."
	Rafiki took his staff and scrying bowl, then sat cross-
legged on the ground.  The gourd on his staff was full of water, 
and he pulled the stopper, pouring its contents into the bowl.
	"Isha, do you have anything that he might have touched or 
played with in the past day or so?  An old bone, perhaps?"
	"No, he doesn't play with toys very much; he likes to pounce 
and wrestle more than anything else."
	Rafiki frowned. "Hmm. That will make it more difficult; I 
don't think I'll be able to find him without something."
	Isha said, "How about some dead grass?  I made him a soft 
place to sleep."
	He paused, stroking the flowing white hair which grew from 
his chin.  "Yes.  Yes indeed."
	She brought a small mouthful of dry grass, but he only took 
a few strands.  She watched closely as he dropped the grass into 
the bowl, where it floated about in a small circle.  Isha and 
Simba peered over his shoulder with interest as Rafiki made a 
short prayer asking the gods for guidance and protection.  Bending 
over the bowl, Rafiki stirred it slightly with a finger, studying 
intently the patterns the ripples made as they bounced off the 
grass in the bowl and rebounded to the sides. Abruptly, he hunched 
over, mouth agape.  "Makpelah the Circle.  He lives."
	Simba sighed with relief as Isha sank to the ground.  "Aiheu 
be praised," she whispered.  "Where is he?"
	Rafiki scratched his head. "I don't know; the signs are so 
confused and mixed up.  All my knowledge tells me that he's alive, 
yet...I see a skull also.  Very strange."
	Isha's eyes widened in horror. "Oh, no."
	"The child Habusu lives yet, I tell you.  The rest I don't 
know." He looked at the bowl, pondering.  "Let me try again."
	He bent over the bowl, stirring the water gently.  He leaned 
over it, his wizened face only inches from the water's surface.  
"This is interesting...."
	"Hey, your Majesty!" called a shrill voice.  Startled, 
Rafiki jumped, sending the bowl and its contents flying.  Simba 
looked down to see Shenzi at the foot of Pride Rock.  "I would 
most HUMBLY request an audience with you." 
	Simba walked to the edge of the promontory.  "I am occupied 
just now.  Send the Roh'mach to see me later.  I will talk with 
him."
	Simba turned his back, intent on rejoining the others, when 
Shenzi called after him.  "Ah, such a warm and caring king you 
are, to abandon one of your own out in the wilderness."
	He jerked his head around. "What??"
	"Our new Roh'mach speaks of cooperation and understanding," 
she sneered.  "And yet when we offer our services, you spurn us!"
	His eyes bored into hers.  "What are you talking about?" he 
asked.  "What services?"
	"Why, our help in finding your lost cub."
	Simba's jaw dropped in disbelief.
	Nala rushed up beside him, eyes burning with rage.  "Who 
told you??  How did you know that??"
	Shenzi tittered.  "Oh, I keep my ear to the ground, dearie.  
Word travels fast when the King's disturbed."
	"A little too fast," Nala retorted.
	"I didn't come here to be insulted, Your Majesty."  Shenzi 
looked at Nala balefully.  "We offered our help, and you responded 
with thinly veiled accusations."  She sighed, pained.  "I just 
hope the dear doesn't suffer to much when the wild dogs find him. 
They DO love to tear their prey to pieces while it's still alive."
	"Enough," Simba grated.  "All right, Shenzi.  In the spirit 
of cooperation, we would gratefully accept any help you offer."
	"Of course, in the spirit of cooperation," she said, 
frowning.  "I would HATE to think of what would happen to the poor 
dear if we WEREN'T on good terms with each other, wouldn't you?"
	Simba stood silently as he digested her words.  To think 
that the life of their cub depended on the goodwill of that 
creature standing below...  Simba closed his eyes as a shudder 
traveled slowly down his spine.  Then he met her gaze directly.
	"Yes," he said deliberately. "It would be a great 
tragedy...for both of us."
	Shenzi looked awfully smug in the face of his open threat.  
The life of the cub hung in the balance, and unlike Simba, she had 
nothing to lose, and everything to gain.


SCENE:  FAR FROM HOME


	Losara lay with her head upon her paws, watching Habusu and 
Bashak chase each other back and forth among the bones and rocks 
in the graveyard. The two were apparently blessed with an 
inexhaustible supply of energy, and Losara had already had to 
discourage them from the fun game of trying to see who could hang 
from her tail by their teeth the longest.  Chuckling despite 
herself, she dodged as Bashak shot past at a dead run, yelling, 
"Nyah nyah, you can't catch me!"
	Habusu followed hot on his heels, but balked when he saw the 
hyena pup vanish into the dark recesses of an enormous skull.  
Peering warily into the interior, he saw nothing but darkness.  He 
thought for a moment, then leaped upwards.
	Giggles resounded from inside the bleached elephant skull as 
Habusu clambered his way up the front of it, grinning.  He made 
his way slowly along the chipped tusk, feet splayed and claws 
extended slightly to keep his balance.  Nestling up to the face of 
the skull, he leaned his head towards it and pressed an ear up to 
the surface. "Come out, come out, wherever you are!"
	More giggles came forth from the interior.  "No way!  You 
have to come in and get me!"
	His grin widened.  'Gotcha,' he thought.  He peered upwards, 
gauging the distance.  Crouching down, he leapt, his claws 
flicking out to latch onto the rim of an eye socket.  With great 
effort, he hauled himself up.  He had his forelegs braced and was 
preparing to pull himself in when a face loomed in front of him. 
Bashak grinned toothily, and yelled "BOO!"
	Startled, Habusu lost his grip and slid down the face of the 
skull to land in a heap of bone splinters.  "Ow!"
	Bashak stopped laughing and peered down worriedly. "Hey, 
Habu, you okay?"
	The cub sat up and shook his head, examining a bloody 
scratch on his leg.  "Yeah, I'm okay."
	Losara appeared from behind the back of the skull, an 
annoyed look on her face.  "What in the world are you two doing 
now?"  She saw Habusu shaking his injured leg and trotted over. 
"What did you do?"
	"I slipped and fell, that's all.  It's just a scratch, see?"  
He showed her the injured limb proudly.  "It doesn't hurt."
	She frowned down at him sternly.  "You be careful, now."
	"Yes ma'am." Habusu breathed a silent sigh of relief as 
Losara returned to where she had been lying.  He had been terribly 
afraid that she would make him go home.  Home...
	He grimaced as he thought about his mother.  He had gone off 
without telling her where he was going again.  His bottom tingled 
with remembered pain as he thought about what had happened that 
time.  Hearing a rustling noise, he looked over to see Bashak 
emerging from the mouth of the skull.
	The hyena pup glanced at him, abashed.  "Sorry; I didn't 
mean to scare you like that, man."
	"You didn't scare me!" Habusu said indignantly.  "I just,  
uh, lost my balance."
	Bashak laughed at him. "With feet like that, I'm not 
surprised!"
	"Oh yeah? Well you don't have the best looking feet 
yourself."  Suddenly, his eyes widened as he stared at Bashak's 
furry paws.
	The pup looked down.  "What?  What is it?"
	Habusu stared in horror at the shadow the pup cast straight 
down.  It was almost highsun.
	"Oh, man, Mom's gonna KILL me," he groaned.  "I gotta get 
home."
	Bashak's face drooped. "Really?"
	"Yeah.  I'll see you later, okay?"
	Habusu turned to leave, but bumped into the strong arm of a 
large male hyena blocking the path.  "And just where do you think 
you're going?"  Skulk scowled down at the annoying little furball 
before him.  Shenzi crept up beside him, grinning malevolently.
	Habusu cringed.  "Uh, I was just heading home, sir.  My 
mother's gonna be awful mad if I don't get home soon."  He moved 
to circle around Skulk, but a paw slapped him brutally away.  He 
went sliding across the dirt to crash into Bashak, sending both of 
them tumbling.  Rasing a paw to his face in shock, Habusu started 
to cry.
	"SHUT UP! I'm tired of listening to your whiny little 
voice."  Skulk glared at him, fangs bared as he turned to Kh'tel, 
one of his attending guards.  "Mount watch on this little furball.  
Don't let him out of your sight.  If he tries to run, stop him, 
but don't kill him...yet.  If Shenzi's right, he may yet be of 
some use to us."
	The guard nodded energetically.  "Boy, Shenzi's really 
smart, eh, Skulk?"  He giggled insanely.  "I bet she tells you ALL 
of her secrets, doesn't she?"
	Skulk merely stood silently and stared at him until his 
laughter died away to nervous silence.  "I'll send some others to 
help you guard him.  For now, keep an eye on him."  He leaned 
towards the other hyena until their noses were only inches apart.  
"I will hold you personally responsible for anything that happens 
to him.  Do you understand?"
	Kh'tel swallowed audibly.  "Y-Yes, sir."
	Nodding, he looked back at Habusu and Bashak, who were both 
bawling at the top of their lungs.  "Losara," he growled, "make 
yourself useful and get those two brats to SHUT UP!"  Skulk looked 
at Shenzi.  "Everything's working according to plan."


SHENZI:	He thinks he runs the clan, but he can't run an errand
		He has the looks, but doesn't have a clue,
		And even worse than that, we've nabbed a lion brat,
		Uhuru never even knew!

SKULK:	I think I see your point, his nature's far too trusting
		A `kick me' sign is plastered on his back,
		He doesn't seem the sort we need to hold the fort,
		It's time we gave our friend the sack.

BOTH:		He's wishy-washy, golly-goshy, just a lion's puppet,
		An elevated, overrated fool;
		The kind of lame excuse without a single use,
		That simply isn't fit to rule!

KH'TEL:	What's a puppet?

SKULK:	It's someone with wood for brains.

KH'TEL:	This is treason!

SKULK:	You bet your whiskers!  Now where have I heard that line before?

SHENZI:	It was a brilliant plan, forgive me if I chuckle,
		But I enjoy a laugh at his expense;
		If they want Junior back, Uhuru's gonna pack,
		It's really making perfect sense!

SKULK:	I want to see his face, the moment that you tell him,
		I bet'cha that his eyes are gonna cross!
		Uhuru's gonna find, he's really in a bind,
		We're gonna show him who's the boss!

ALL 3:	He's wishy-washy, golly-goshy, just a lion's puppet,
		An elevated, overrated fool;
		The kind of lame excuse without a single use,
		That simply isn't fit to rule!


	Wheeling about, Shenzi and Skulk stalked away.
	Losara glared after them as she trotted over to the 
children.  "Shh," she whispered, holding them to her with a paw.  
Habusu buried his face against her chest and continued to cry 
hoarsely.  "I w-want my MOTHER!"
	"I know, hon.  Shh, it'll be all right."  She licked away 
his tears.  "You're just going to spend the night with your auntie 
Losara, that's all."
	Bashak looked up at her, sniffling.  "Mama, Skulk's not 
gonna hurt Habu, is he?"
	Losara kissed him gently on the forehead.  "No, Bashak.  He 
won't hurt your friend."  She raised her head to stare after the 
departed hyena, her jaw firmly clenched.  "Not as long as I'm 
alive."

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