SCENE:  SARABI'S NEWS


	Taka was devastated by his loss.  It was too much for him to 
accept completely, and he constantly watched for opportunities to 
get Sarabi alone.  Such chances were few, for Muffy fawned on her 
day and night, smitten with a love both deep and selfless.  And 
Sarabi was not the passive subject of his advances.  She nuzzled 
her mate for no obvious reason, played games of hide and go seek 
with passion at stake, and would lie against him with her head 
buried in the softness of his mane.  When the lionesses would talk 
as they gathered for the hunt, her every other word was Muffy this 
and Muffy that.  Their attraction was healthy and strong, and 
those who knew her said she would have the light in her eyes soon 
enough.
	Once Sarabi enjoyed Taka's company.  Now she tried to avoid 
him.  He had met her at the watering hole and begged her to come 
away with him.  Once he'd waited for her to come back from the 
kill and put his paw on her left shoulder in front of the other 
lionesses.  She was terrified that Muffy would overhear some of 
his remarks and try to satisfy the demands of honor.  Taka 
misunderstood her warnings as concern for "their relationship," 
and began to block out the evidence of her strong attraction to 
Muffy.  To him, she was trapped in a marriage she did not want, 
trying to protect her true love from the wrath of a jealous 
husband or outraged gods.
	Sarabi tried to disenchant him from that fantasy.  He only 
believed more strongly than ever in her love.  A brave, fragile 
thing of beauty that would try to turn his affections to another 
rather than have him killed by his own brother.  At first it was 
easy for Taka to cling to this story and make his rejection 
bearable.  In a way, it made her more beautiful and desirable to 
him, and he suffered greatly over it.
	Then one day her love for Muffy took tangible form inside 
her.  She came to him that morning, nuzzled him, and called him 
"father," and with tears of joy he kissed her and called her 
"mother."  Ahadi and Akase were the next to know, but then she 
went to tell Taka she was with child.  This was more of a duty she 
had to perform, and she took no joy in it.
	He stared silently at the ground for a moment, then looked 
at her.  "So you are with his child.  Where has the time gone."
	"I hope you are glad for me."
	"I could be glad for us."  He reached out with his left paw 
and touched her shoulder.
	"I wish you wouldn't do that."  She backed up.  "Muffy would 
use you for a throw rug.  Besides, I'm expecting.  Doesn't that 
mean anything to you?  Taka, it's over between us.  Can't you see 
that?"
	"Because your child is forming inside you?  Sassie, it could 
be our child.  I love you so much, and I would love your cubs so 
much.  I can't just give up on you.  No one has ever loved you the 
way I do.  I cannot blame Muffy for wanting you.  I couldn't blame 
any lion for wanting you.  But you loved me back.  I waited for 
you, I prayed for you, I was prepared to turn my back on family 
and friends for you, even the gods themselves."
	She was shocked.  "Don't you fear the gods?"
	"The gods?"  Taka uttered a short, mocking laugh.  "If there 
are any gods, they hate me.  They have let this curse eat away at 
me and done nothing to stop it."  His eyes bored into hers.  "You 
are my god now.  You and the child inside you.  I would worship 
you.  I would bring you sacrifices.  Sassie, look at me!"
	"Stop it!  I'm not going anywhere with you.  I love you like 
a brother-a spoiled little brother that has his good moments.  I 
thought I could also learn to love your breath on my cheek, but it 
will not happen.  Muffy is the first thing I think of when I wake 
up and the last thing I think of as I fall asleep.  When he 
touches me, I tremble.  You never made me feel that way."
	His jaw clenched.  "I don't want to hear this."
	"You NEED to hear this!  He and I are in love.  I pitied 
you, and wanted to make you happy.  But you are aggravating, 
dependent, selfish, and obnoxious, and those are some of your LESS 
irritating qualities.  If I'd married you, that would not have 
changed.  But thank the gods I narrowly escaped making the biggest 
mistake of my life."
	Taka took in a short gasp.  The dream was shattered forever.  
He gaped at her, unable to speak for several seconds.  "Well 
then," he said bitterly, "it seems I ran away at a very convenient 
time.  I hope you two will be happy together."  He started away.
	"Wait, Taka!  I don't know what made me say those awful 
things."
	"What awful things, Sarabi?"  He gave her a withering 
glance.  "I'm the one that loves you, you said.  Taka, when you 
grow up, I want to marry you, you said.  And that little crack 
about how I wouldn't survive the wedding night.  Well I almost 
didn't."  She backed away a step as he stalked towards her.  
"While his breath perfumed your dainty little cheek as you so 
delicately put it, I was planning my own death."
	She put a paw to her mouth, horrified.
	"You didn't know why I ran away, did you Sassie.  I ran away 
to blot you out forever.  I thought you were worth a little plunge 
off a cliff.  Now at least I know why I didn't."  He nodded to 
himself.  "Some higher power spared me so I could learn you 
weren't worth it."
	She cuffed him across the face.  "Get out!"
	He turned and walked off.  Taka often went out alone, and no 
one in the pride knew where.  He took a haunch from a zebra and 
headed off toward the elephant graveyard.
	Fabana the hyena was waiting for him.  She had a sense about 
these things.
	"Fay, it's good to see you again."
	"What is it this time, Scar?"
	"She has the light in her eyes.  His child."  He didn't have 
to fill in more details, for she heard from him regularly.
	The pups were older, and they recognized him.  "What'cha got 
today, Uncle Scar?"
	"Zebra.  Do you like that, Banzai?"
	"It's my favorite!"
	"Food is his favorite diet," Fabana said, as the pups began 
to tug over favorite scraps.  "There is good in you, Scar.  You 
are a true son of Roh'kash."
	"Roh'kash?"
	She looked surprised.  "Didn't your mother teach you about 
the Creator?"
	"Oh, you mean Aiheu."
	She smiled indulgently.  "Perhaps."
	"Tell me, Fay.  Why do the gods let a foolish curse uttered 
by a shaman slowly eat away everything I cared for?  I mean, 
doesn't Aiheu-or Roh'kash-whatever-have power over an evil spirit?  
I find my one path to possible fame and glory blocked by a little 
furball-and just you wait, it will be male, for it seems the gods 
have turned their back on me."
	"Don't say that in front of my pups," she said.  "It is 
wicked to speak ill of the gods, even if you are a heathen."
	"I'm sorry.  I didn't mean it.  It just feels that way 
sometimes."
	"Perhaps you should pray about it.  I think God hears all 
prayers, no matter the name."
	"And you think I haven't?  For about two moons, I was 
practically a shaman."  He raised an eyebrow.  "Tell me, Fay.  
This Roh'kash of yours.  Does he tell us to forgive our enemies, 
or does he give us power to conquer them?"
	"What a foolish question!  God is just.  He will smite those 
who harm his children.  You are made in his image, therefore if 
you would be just, you must destroy injustice."
	He smiled.  "So that is it."  He pondered the enormity of 
that statement.  "Poor fool that I am.  All this time God has 
stood ready to help me, but I have turned away his gifts one by 
one!  You must teach me more about Roh'kash--he could really be a 
friend of mine.  And in the meanwhile I must stop reacting and 
start acting.  Get me an audience with your leaders, my dear.  If 
God is on our side, who will dare oppose us?"



SCENE:  THE ULTIMATUM


	For a while, Taka stopped his self-pitying behavior.  
Ironically, it was not a welcome change, for Taka's helplessness 
was his one endearing quality to most of the lionesses.  With his 
secret new faith, he needed no pity, nor did he inspire it.  He 
swaggered about aggressively, the most devout believer in his own 
great destiny.
	Mufasa carried himself with a certain dignity.  He never 
begged nor pleaded, yet he got everything he wanted.  Perhaps that 
is what Sarabi liked in him.  Perhaps she liked a firm paw and a 
touch of mischief.
	Taka went to the cistern in Pride Rock where the rain would 
collect in pools.  He sought to satisfy at least one of his 
thirsts before the day was over.  The small fish seemed to taunt 
him, swimming about slowly as he looked down into the crystal 
recesses of the stone.  His steady lapping set up rings that 
spread across the surface, breaking up his reflection.  Still, he 
could see another tawny feature coming up beside him.  Even before 
he looked up, he knew his timing was excellent.
	"The water is fresh as a spring rain, Sarabi."
	"Taka, it's you."
	He looked up and smiled warmly.  "Aren't you looking 
beautiful today."
	"Well, uh, thank you."
	He looked back down and resumed drinking.  She joined him in 
a moment when it was obvious he was not about to leave.  From time 
to time he looked over at her, then he finally stopped drinking 
and wiped his muzzle with a large paw.  "I was just thinking about 
the old times.  You were always so protective of me.  It used to 
make Muffy so angry when you'd fawn over me.  I didn't know how 
fond he was of you.  If I had, I wouldn't have taken you for 
granted.  I would have been better to you."
	"Well that's in the past now."
	"Is it?"  He smiled disarmingly.  "I still make you feel 
uncomfortable.  I miss having you look in my eyes without feeling 
like something bad is going to happen.  You have beautiful eyes.  
God, how I miss them."  He cast his glance away.  "Now we almost 
never talk, and you'd always rather be someplace else doing 
anything else.  Sassie, I miss you.  You are my milk sister.  I'd 
just want to know that you still like me."
	"Of course I still like you.  If you'd behave yourself, I 
wouldn't be afraid to show it."
	"Afraid??"  Taka caught himself, laughed self-consciously, 
and said, "Why my dear Sassie, there is not a lion worthy of the 
name that could look at you and not feel his heart race a little.  
That's nothing to be afraid of.  It's just that your eyes are 
fresh flowers wet with morning dew.  When I see them, they make me 
happy.  I love the way you look, the way you smell, the way you 
move.  Who doesn't?"
	"You're very sweet, Taka," she said guardedly.  "But there 
are other lionesses in this Pride that are equally pretty.  You 
should meet one.  You should get to know her well.  I want you to 
be happy the way Muffy and I are happy.  I really do."
	"There are other lionesses," Taka said softly.  "Someone may 
think they are as pretty as you, but Sassie, not one of them has 
ever cried when I was hurt.  Not one of them ever showed me 
kindness.  Not one of them came to me in my dreams.  It was only 
you, always you.  Muffy has been a good brother and you have been 
a good friend.  But gods, every time he makes love to you, I want 
to die.  I just want to die!"  He bit his lip so hard that a small 
drop of blood stained his fur.
	"Taka!" she said firmly.  "Get a grip on yourself!  When you 
find yourself a lioness, we can be friends.  Friends, Taka, the 
way we were as cubs.  When you act like this, you frighten me.  I 
don't trust you.  If you want a lioness to love you, you have to 
love her and make her feel special.  Find someone that needs to 
feel special, and fill that need."
	"You just don't get it, do you?"  Taka stalked away.  "I 
can't get you out of my head.  Sassie, you're killing me from the 
inside."
	He settled into the shadow of a kopje to find respite from 
the sun, and he started to stretch out for a nap.  Then another 
lion passed by.  It was Ahadi.
	"Walk with me, son."
	Ahadi headed slowly, silently up the winding trail that led 
to the promontory on Pride Rock.  Instead of going into the cave, 
he headed up the finger of stone and at its peak sat in regal 
silence.  Taka reached him shortly and sat next to his father.
	"Lay your head on my mane," Ahadi purred.
	Reluctantly, Taka did so.  "Why did you want to see me?"
	"I'm your father.  Do I need a reason?"
	Apparently he did not, for they sat together for a long 
while as the faint breeze stirred their manes together.  A few 
soft clouds sailed by on an azure sea, and borne up on silent 
wings, a fish eagle lofted by majestically, undisputed lord of the 
air.  For a few moments, two kings in their own right saw each 
other;  the eagle dipped his wing, and Ahadi waved his paw.  Taka 
began to relax as his tensions slowly ebbed away on the wind.  He 
could hear his father's steady pulse under the deep mantle of soft 
fur, and feel his sleek ribs rise and fall with the tides of his 
breath.  It was a safe and comfortable feeling that stirred 
sleeping memories from the shadows of his mind.
	"Once I said that you could tell me anything when you were 
good and ready."  Ahadi nuzzled Taka gently.  "I have grown weary 
of waiting, son.  You are troubled, trapped by your own feelings.  
You need to confide in me."
	"I'm fine.  Really I am."
	"It must be terrible to suffer as you have suffered for 
Sarabi."
	"But father, I'm not suffering for Sarabi."
	"You're not?"  Ahadi sighed.  "Muffy used to twitch his tail 
when he lied.  You always wrinkle your nose.  A father knows these 
things.  Now I ask you, do I sound angry?"
	"No, sir."
	"But I do sound worried, don't I?"
	"Yes, sir."
	"I am very worried.  Your mother and I want you to be happy.  
We also want Muffy to be happy.  It's getting harder to wish you 
both what you want, when all you want is what Muffy has."  Ahadi 
took his large paw and gave Taka a pat.  "He loves you, son.  He's 
your brother.  I'm happy for him, and I want you to be happy for 
him.  And what's more, I want him to be happy for you.  Do you 
know what I'm trying to say?"
	"I think so."
	"Son, I love you.  You were always so wise and sensitive.  
Whomever you marry will be fortunate.  She will treasure every 
moment with you, my son.  You think about romance and dream about 
it, but these are only shadows.  Step into the light.  Sarabi has 
talked with your mother and I, and we know all about what you've 
been up to."
	Taka stiffened.  "Oh my gods."
	"Don't worry.  She hasn't breathed a word to Muffy and 
neither shall we.  She didn't want to hurt you.  In fact, she's 
very sad about the whole situation, and she feels guilty about 
disappointing you.  Akase and I are both convinced you should find 
yourself another lioness as quickly as possible."
	"But I don't want another lioness.  She's all I ever wanted.  
She was my kingdom.  Muffy had one, but he had to take mine too."  
He began to cry.  "She loved me, Dad.  She said so."
	Ahadi sighed and touched his cheek with his tongue.  "It 
will be easier on you at your age if you have an outlet for all 
these strong, new feelings.  I understand how you want Sarabi, but 
son, you cannot have her.  Grieve for your loss--go have a good 
cry over it, then go on with your life.  Elanna has had her eye on 
you for quite a while.  If you would just open your eyes, you'd 
know that.  And you might want to talk with Rafiki and see what 
the spirits have to say--and don't tell me how he has it in for 
you, I don't want to hear it."  He turned to face Taka eye to eye.  
"I'm going to give you three moons-a whole season.  You have that 
long to become serious with someone else."
	"Or?"
	"If you don't, I'll have to do something to protect Muffy 
and Sassie from constant harassment.  You'll get a commoner's 
mantlement and I'll send you off into The Big World."
	"Father!"
	"I mean it, too.  It would hurt your mother and I, but we 
have others to think of besides ourselves.  Muffy is a good lion, 
and he will be your King someday.  He has a right to expect 
loyalty from his own brother.  If you can't give it, you must go 
out in The Big World, where you'll either be responsible or be 
carrion.  Taka, you're not a cub anymore."


SCENE:  THE ILLNESS


	A week had passed.  For Taka it was an awkward time, frought 
with frustration and embarrasment.  He began to talk to different 
lionesses, but he found discouragement at every corner.  Oddly 
enough, he avoided Elanna, despite what his father had said.  
Elanna was Sarabi's sister, and those sisters shared everything.
	He felt uncomfortable around his parents because of what he 
thought they had been discussing behind his back.  But while his 
mother acted perfectly normal, his father had acted really 
strange, not just with him but with everyone.  Taka began to 
wonder if Ahadi had other problems.  Indeed, some of the lionesses 
came to him wanting to know what was wrong with the King.
	Ahadi was cranky and prone to disagreement.  Akase made 
excuses for him, saying he was just "under the weather."  She 
urged him to see Rafiki, but he just dismissed her concerns as a 
lot of "foolish nonsense," and asked her to be a "good little 
thing."
	Taka was too preoccupied to really notice his father's 
health.  He had padded quietly into the small grassy patch by the 
southern face of Pride Rock when he saw Muffy lying on his back 
next to Sarabi.  They had not spotted him, so he froze and 
listened.
	"Little cub, are you in there?" Mufasa asked, running his 
paw gently down Sarabi's abdomen.  Her leg started kicking and she 
giggled.
	"Cut that out, you wicked lion!"
	"I'm your husband.  I can touch you anywhere I want."
	"Well I'm your wife, you know.  It works both ways."  She 
cuffed him lightly in the ribs.
	"Ow!  That hurt!"
	"I'll make it feel better."  She kissed him and began to 
fondle his mane with her paw.  "What did I ever do to deserve such 
happiness?"
	Taka's heart came into his mouth.  He ran from the meadow, 
plunging through the shrubs and breasting the tall savanna grass.  
The evil sun of midday scorched him with fire.  Everything was 
ugly.  All that was real was his hate.  Hate for the creature that 
his brother had evolved into.  Hate for Sarabi.  Hate for life 
itself.
	In his flight, he flushed out a rabbit.  With a couple of 
strides, he closed the distance, and he sprang on the hapless 
creature, pinning it to the ground with his large paws.
	In ice cold terror, the rabbit stared up into the red eyes 
of rage.  "Oh gods," it murmered.  "Oh gods.  Please let me go!  
Please!"
	"He thinks he's so cute, touching her there."  His eyes 
narrowed.  "I'll kill him.  So help me God, I'll kill him!"
	The rabbit trembled violently in the suffocating embrace of 
Taka's paws.  "I'm not much of a meal.  Oh gods, I'm going to die!  
Oh gods, oh gods!  Please don't hurt me!"
	"Do you know what I do to scum like that?  Dirty sneaking 
filth that steals what is rightfully mine?"  Taka moved his face 
to within an inch of the rabbit.  His breath, pregnant with lion 
scent, colored his every word.  "I wait for the right moment, then 
I rip them like a gazelle."
	Taka closed in.  The rabbit barely had time to shriek before 
it was stove clear through by lion fangs.  Taka raised his head, 
tossed the blood-drenched trophy up and let it fall lifeless into 
the grass.  "Like a gazelle!  I'll rip him open, so help me!"
	Meanwhile, things were quickly going from bad to worse with 
the King.  The next morning, Akase found Ahadi feverish.
	"Get them out of here!" he said.  "Get them out of here!"
	"Get what out of here?"
	"Just get them out of here!"  He staggered back against the 
wall of the cave and with his back covered, looked around in a 
panic.  "Akase!  Stand by me, quickly!  I'll protect you!"
	Akase took her paw and patted his face.  "Ahadi, darling!  
It's all right!  You're safe."
	"Safe?" he said, his eyes not focusing well.  "Where's 
Akase?  I have to drive hyenas off the Pride Lands."  Beads of 
sweat had matted his splendid mane.  "I'm so tired.  Hyenas-they 
always seem to know when I'm tired.  Let down your guard for one 
minute..."
	"Please lie down.  The hyenas are gone.  Mufasa chased them 
out."
	"Mufasa?  He's such a good boy.  Where is he?"
	Akase ran to the entrance of the cave.  "Zazu!  For God's 
sake, come quickly!"
	Zazu fluttered in.  "What's wrong, your majesty?"
	Ahadi looked up.  "We must rest here for a moment.  Got to 
get out of the sun-I'm so hot.  Taka, you go on without me."  
Ahadi turned to face Zazu, but looked right through him.  "What do 
they think they're doing?  Isha, your cubs are muddying the water 
hole again!"
	"Oh my Lord," Zazu whispered.  "I'll fetch Rafiki."
	Zazu headed out right away, as fast as his wings would carry 
him.  She lay next to Ahadi's burning skin and kissed his cheek.  
"I love you, darling.  Help is on the way.  Can you hear me, 
Ahadi?  Do you know who I am?"
	Ahadi began to pant quickly and shallowly, but he moved his 
large paw on top of Akase's.  "I think I'll take a nap, old girl.  
Will you stay by me?"
	"Always, honey!  Always!"  She added in a whisper, "Gods, 
make them hurry.  I feel so helpless.  Help us."
	It seemed to take an eternity for Rafiki to reach the cave, 
though the did the best he could.  Rafiki arrived out of breath 
with a small pouch of powdered Chi'pim and his staff.  
	Rafiki took some water from the cistern, mixed the leaves in 
it, and gave Ahadi the broth to bring down his fever and bring him 
to himself.  After Ahadi drank it, he checked his eyes, even 
pulling up a little on his eyelids.  He stuck his thumb in the 
corner of his mouth and felt around.  Then he listened to his 
chest.  His face was grave.
	He took Akase to the back of the cave.  "Has he had trouble 
sleeping lately?"
	"Yes."
	"And the muscle stiffness?"
	"He told you about that?"
	"No.  I'm afraid not.  It's a symptom of Koh'suul."  He 
whispered, "When he comes to himself, take him across the savanna 
to the edge of the forest."
	"Where to?"
	"The most appropriate place.  The fever will subside, and 
he'll have a couple of hours of clear thinking.  But my dear, you 
must hurry.  He will not live to see the moon tonight."
	"Oh gods, no!"
	"Hsssh!"
	"You're a shaman," she whispered, but every bit as urgent as 
a scream.  "Can't you do something?  Anything?  I can't let death 
take him from me!  I just can't!"
	He looked in her eyes, pulling down the lid gently with his 
thumb.  "Don't worry, in his own way Aiheu has shown you mercy."  
He silently traced a circle around her right eye with his 
fingertips and touched her under the chin.  He wanted her to know 
she would soon look on the face of God and call Him by name.  
"Two, maybe three days alone.  Use that time to prepare yourself."
	"Oh."  She nodded, and warm tears trickled down her cheeks.  
"I understand.  Aiheu is merciful.  But if I could have only seen 
my grandchild first.  You must send my love to the child."
	He wiped away her tears.  "Say good bye to no one, not if 
you really love them.  You must not drink from the common watering 
hole or the stream till you have crossed the meadow.  You must not 
stop to relieve yourself until you have found the place.  I will 
have to purge this cave before it is safe."  He kissed her.  "Is 
there anything you want me to tell Mufasa?"
	"No, just say good bye for me."  She sighed.  "Poor Taka, I 
would not live long enough to say what is in my heart.  Promise me 
you will try and look after him.  He is so dependent.  Promise me 
you'll look after him."
	"I promise I will do what I can."
	"Whispering about me behind my back, old girl?"  It was 
Ahadi, much improved.
	"I was just telling Rafiki about the surprise.  You haven't 
felt well, and now that the medicine is helping you, you can take 
a little trip with me to see something special."
	"Yes, I am much improved.  I won't have to be dragged out, 
and that is a pleasant surprise.  Don't think I didn't know my 
time was up.  Death has been stalking me--now it rushes in for the 
kill."  He regarded her gently.  "He gave you the marks of Aiheu.  
I take it old girl that we are in this together?"
	"As always."  She nuzzled him gently.
	Ahadi said, "Rafiki, you must tell my son Taka that I made a 
mistake."
	"Sire?"
	"Once I killed a badger.  It was not male as I had said.  
She had pups."  He sighed.  "She attacked my son to only protect 
her own children.  I was trying to prove that I loved Taka, and I 
broke one of my own laws.  I cannot face Aiheu with this secret on 
my conscience."
	"I'll tell him."  A tear rolled down Rafiki's face.  "I'm 
sure you die forgiven.  I touch your mane."
	"I feel it.  And friend, tell him to keep looking.  He'll 
know what that means."
	"I will."  Rafiki took a small flint knife from his pouch.  
He approached Ahadi and took a few strands of his mane, cutting 
off a short lock, kissing it, and putting it in his pouch.  Then 
he placed the marks of Aiheu on Ahadi.  "It is time."
	Ahadi and Akase left the cave for the last time and climbed 
down the side of Pride Rock.  Without a word they took the most 
direct route away from the comfort of their dwelling and forded 
into the silent grass.
	With a heavy heart, Rafiki gathered dead grass from the 
savanna and made a pile of it in the middle of the cave.  He put 
ferns on top of it and a sprinkling of powdered Alba.  Then he 
took a clay pot, and emptied from it a few glowing coals on the 
tinder.
	The coals satisfied their great hunger, raising a cloud of 
smoke that quickly filled the cave with its bitter incense.  The 
smoke sought the heavens, but it found the ceiling of the cave and 
spread out gray fingers to feel for an opening.  At last it found 
the door, and began to rise free into the sapphire sky.
	"Fire!  Fire!"  It was Taka.  He rushed into the cave, 
coughing and wheezing at the smoke.  "Is anyone in here?"
	"You must leave," Rafiki said.
	"You foolish ape!  What do you think you are doing??  Have 
you lost your mind??  When Mom and Dad see this, they will cuff 
you senseless!"
	"They will never see this," Rafiki said.  "It was the 
Koh'suul.  Flee.  You are in great danger here."
	"Koh'suul?"  Taka's eyes widened.  "But that's fatal.  You 
mean Dad is dying?  Does Mom know?"
	"Akase has gone with him."
	"Hffff!"  He stiffened up.  "She was well.  I saw her this 
morning.  She was well!  What do you mean she has gone with him?  
Without telling me??  She'll catch it too!  Where is she??"
	"You cannot see her.  It would be death to you.  I'm sorry, 
but she had it when I got here.  Death had already placed his mark 
on her."
	"But I must see her!"  He pounced on Rafiki and held him to 
the floor of the cave with his paws.  "Tell me where she is or 
I'll crush the life out of you!"
	"Your mother made me promise to care for you.  If you must 
kill me, you must. "
	Taka looked confused, sad, and finally released Rafiki.  He 
turned and sat facing the wall.  "Sassie doesn't love me.  My 
brother doesn't love me.  The gods don't love me.  All I had left 
was here.  Now I'm alone.  They are killing me one small piece at 
a time.  This time they killed my heart."  He trembled.  "I walk, 
I speak, yet I am dead inside.  Dead."
	"There must be something I can do," Rafiki said, getting up.
	"Haven't you done enough?"
	"That's not fair, Taka.  When I was young, my mother died of 
Beh'to.  Before the end, she was banging her head on a tree, 
trying to force the headache out.  I watched her die in the most 
dire agony.  That's when I knew I must be a shaman.  I would never 
have to feel so helpless again."
	"Then why not help them?"
	"As my knowledge grew, every answer raised new questions.  I 
cannot heal every wound.  So more important than my herbs and 
spells is knowing something to say to comfort the Ka when these 
bodies of Ma'at crumble."
	"Then say something comforting to me."
	He stroked Taka's mane.  "I think about the prophesy.  I 
think about it a lot.  Oh, I knew where I wanted to be and what I 
wanted to do in a year, in five years, in ten.  Now I am committed 
to fight this thing.  All my hopes and dreams have been turned 
upside down.  In this way we are alike, my friend.  Our childhood 
dreams are over.  The morning has come and we awake to face 
reality in the light of the sun.  Let us find something real in 
the sunlight, something that pleases us, and hold on to it.  All 
else is vanity."
	"You are a foolish ape," Taka said.  "But even a fool may 
say the right thing at times."
	With that, Taka stalked quietly away to some secret place to 
be alone.  His absences had become more and more frequent as his 
life fell apart.  The loss of his father was a terrible blow, but 
after the death of Akase he was never the same again.  Mother she 
was, friend, and ally.  It would be fair to say she was his 
conscience, his goodness, his faith in the gods.  All of these 
things and more.
	Hours passed with no sign of him.  Mufasa and Sarabi in the 
midst of their deep grief gave him some thought and tried to find 
his private world of brooding depression and nuzzle him.  They 
could not find him, but Yolanda would later say that a one eyed 
hyena and her brood was sitting next to him near the elephant 
graveyard as he wept like a baby.  No one believed her story-it 
was too improbable.  She must have seen poor Ahadi.  Even though 
Yolanda said it was a dark maned lion she saw.
	Later that evening as Mufasa was asking Rafiki's help in 
finding Taka, Zazu came flying back.
	"News?  Have you found my brother?"
	Zazu said, "Your father...."  His head bowed and he sighed 
deeply.  "Have courage, Your Majesty."
	Rafiki came and put his arms around Muffy and whispered, 
"It's time."
	Mufasa climbed slowly up the precipice of Pride Rock and 
when he reached the tip, paused for a moment.  Then he lifted up 
his head and roared.  It was a sad and terrible roar that rent the 
evening sky, and the lionesses joined in.  The King was dead.  
Long live the King.
	In the silence after the unearthly shout, Mufasa could hear 
his father's voice speaking to him from the past.  "It is always 
wonderful to be needed, especially when you always do your best to 
meet those needs.  Someday you will know that feeling when I am 
gone."  Muffy sighed.  "It doesn't feel very wonderful, Dad.  I 
wish you were here right now.  There's so much I want to tell 
you."
	Sarabi drew up alongside and sat by him, resting her head 
against his mane.  "Let it out, Muffy.  Quit trying to hold it 
in."
	Mufasa's chin trembled.  He tried to hold his composure, but 
tears welled up in his eyes.  "They're gone, Sassie.  They're 
gone!"  He leaned against her and sobbed.


SCENE:  THE LIGHT IN HER EYES


	"Then Herod told them `Go to Bethlehem and search for the 
child.  And when you find him, come back and tell me so that I may 
go and worship him as well."

                          -- MATTHEW 2, VERSES 7-8

	As weeks passed, Sarabi began to show evidence of the life 
inside her.  The other lionesses would coddle her and hang on her, 
suggesting male and female names.  Among the most favored choices 
was "Shanni" for a female and "Simba" for a male.  Simba was 
Ajenti's idea, and it was an instant favorite.  Never once did 
Taka wonder if it would be a male.  He felt it was his destiny to 
fight an uphill battle until he gasped out his last breath.  It 
would be male just to spite him.
	Seeing the "light in her eyes" made him ill.  It was the 
mark of Muffy's passion-his brother's final insult.  He would look 
away when she passed to avoid seeing her in that condition.  Once 
he sought to drown his sorrows in a night of loveless passion, but 
he was soundly rejected, even when he offered to take the vow.  
Once he was caught staring at Isha who was known to sun herself on 
the rocks in the most liquid poses of feminine beauty.  His jaw 
trembled and his tail lashed from side to side as he dared to make 
love to her with his eyes.  Yolanda, who was suspicious of Taka 
anyhow, caught him and threatened to go tell Isha.  "She would 
break your lustful little carcass into tiny pieces."
	"She will understand.  You've been jealous since we broke 
up."
	"What??"
	"Night before last when you excused yourself from the hunt."
	"I was sick!"
	"You were love sick.  Oh baby, the things you did weren't in 
the talk my father gave me.  Which one did you like best--naughty 
bunnies or the wildebeest's revenge?"
	Her eyes grew wide.  "You dirty little liar!"
	"No worse than a dirty little snitch.  Just try me and see 
if I won't."
	The Isha incident was never referred to again.  Indeed, Taka 
was wont to behave himself in public.  And with Sarabi's child 
coming closer to the sunlight every day, he stepped up his 
nocturnal dealings with the hyenas and took a whole new interest 
in the royal family.
	Everyone experienced mixed joy and sadness when the big day 
came.  The male cub was named Simba and his small sister was named 
Shanni.  Shanni was weak and tiny, and she never even tasted her 
mother's milk before she went to join the gods.  Simba was strong 
and handsome, and he had enough strength for two cubs.  His large 
paws and well formed features were admired by the relatives and 
close friends that caught first sight of him.
	Taka came in his turn to look at the child.  "He looks so 
much like his father," he said.  Something Mufasa mistakenly took 
as a compliment.  "You will live an interesting life."
	Though he had no doubt all along the cub would be male and 
an heir to the throne, seeing Simba with his own eyes was the 
final cement on his resolve.  The cub was innocent, unaware of the 
resentment in his Uncle's heart.  And he was expendable.
	Oddly enough, it was on this day that Taka first noticed how 
much Elanna was like her sister Sarabi.  Only Elanna did not avoid 
him.  In fact, she would speak to him without even being spoken 
to.  She came to him smiling and asked, "Isn't he a dream?  I just 
know you're going to spoil your little nephew."
	"Of course."  He looked in her eyes and half smiled.  "But 
it's a shame he didn't have his mother's eyes.  Shaka's daughters 
all had beautiful eyes."
	She smiled shyly.  "Well Ahadi's sons aren't so bad looking 
either."
	"Hmph!"   He straightened a little and began to groom his 
mane.  When she left, he watched her till she disappeared in the 
tall grass.
	Ahadi's name brought back a stinging pain that finally 
overtook his good mood.  And a little shame began to creep into 
the darkness of his heart as the wondered what Ahadi and Akase 
would think of his plans.  Simba was the grandson they did not 
live to see.  No doubt they would have loved him.  For a moment, 
but only for a moment, he reflected on the small cub gilded with 
the glory of sunrise who wanted to divide the kingdom with his 
brother.  "No, Muffy," Taka said under his breath.  "Dad was 
right.  There can only be one King in this land."  The mood 
brought mist to his eyes.  "Father, if only you had chosen me.  
Damn Rafiki!  Damn the nurse that gave him milk!  Someday I will 
kill him, but not all at once.  I'll destroy him a little bit at a 
time the way he destroyed me."
	The words of hate hardened his heart.  He drew away to the 
lair of the hyenas to bring news of Simba's birth and to plan his 
death.



SCENE:  ONE DAY TOO LONG

	
	"Mufasa's death was a terrible tragedy; but to lose Simba who had 
barely begun to live....  For me, it is a deep, personal loss. And 
so it is with a heavy heart that I assume the throne. Yet, out of 
the ashes of this tragedy, we shall rise to greet the dawning of a 
new era in which lion and hyena come together, in a great and 
glorious future."

                                 -- TAKA'S ELEGY

	Over the next three months, Simba grew from a small mite 
that slept most of the day to a joyful, exuberant toddler.  He had 
his moments that could try the patience of a tree, but his heart 
was good, and his charm didn't invite love-it practically demanded 
it.  Nala also fell under his spell, following him everywhere like 
a puppy.
	Then suddenly, as a tree is struck by lightning, Scar came 
wild-eyed with horrible news of a stampede in the gorge.  Simba 
was in trouble.
	Trouble indeed!  Taka nearly wretched as he described the 
small battered body that lay in the dust.  Those eyes so full of 
innocence and love for all Aiheu's creation staring lifeless at 
the sky with the final look of horror fixed in them forever!  Taka 
spoke all the earmarks of genuine grief-no one suspected him of 
harboring ill will toward the golden child of his brother.  Often 
Simba was seen sleeping under the protection of his Uncle's 
watchful gaze.  It was at those moments that even the most 
skeptical lionesses looked at Taka with some tolerance.
	Nala huddled by Sarafina, sobbing.  Sarabi tried to think 
one minute ahead, even one second, but she could see no future, 
even her next meal.  She contemplated curling up and sleeping, 
never to wake up again.  Yet things were not so simple in real 
life as they are in wishful thinking.
	Rafiki came running up Pride Rock.  He saw the hyenas and 
did not know what to make of it.  Going into the cave, he says, 
"Mufasa, I heard the cry.  Who is dead?  Old Maloki?"
	"No.  Not old Maloki."
	"Taka?"  Rafiki looks around.  "Where is your brother?"
	"My brother is dead.  So is Simba.  There was a stampede in 
the gorge."
	"Oh my gods!"  The shock made him weak in the knees.  
"Aiheu, I have lived one day too long!"  The old mandrill could 
barely stumble out of the cave.  He saw Sarabi, her head hung low 
and her ears fallen flat.  "Sassie, is it true?  Tell me it isn't 
true!"
	She turned to look at him, her jaw trembling.  "Rafiki, how 
good of you to come."
	He fell to his knees, put his arms around her neck and wept 
on her shoulder.  "My precious little girl.  Oh, my heart breaks-
it breaks, yet I do not die!"
	Sarabi turned and touched his cheek with her tongue.  "You 
are an ape, and yet you are also a lion.  You must say prayers for 
me, old friend.  My heart lies in the gorge, yet the sun goes on 
rising and setting.  I wish I had been there to greet Aiheu with 
them."
	"You are needed here, so you remain.  I do not understand, I 
only acknowledge."
	"Pray for me."
	"Indeed I will, Sassie."  He kissed her.  "Morning and 
evening, and night."  He placed his hand on her brow.  "Oh gods, 
let your hearts be moved.  Take pity on her in her time of loss.  
Open your arms of love and feed her with the blood of mercy...."
	"Rafiki," said a hyena.  "The King wants a word with you-
right now."
	The mandrill looked up in shock.  He tried to pull himself 
together.  "Did you say the King?"  He took up his staff and tried 
to stand as straight as he could, but it was a little harder just 
then.  He was escorted into what was now Scar's cave and faced 
Taka and his guards.
	"It is a sad duty I ask you to perform," Taka said.  "You 
once said my road would be long and hard.  Now I am King, but I 
cannot enjoy it.  It is an obligation I must fulfill, and I seek 
divine guidance to carry out the job wisely and well.  Give me 
your blessing."
	Rafiki stood closer to Taka.  He did not know, of course, 
that his brother's blood was on his paws.  But when he looked into 
Taka's eyes, he saw no sadness.  He saw only the glint of triumph 
there, and it made him feel ill.  "This blessing I bestow.  May 
the gods in the heavens give you what you richly deserve.  May you 
find as much inner peace as you are entitled to.  May you receive 
mercy in the measure you bestow it, no less and no more."
	"I'll choose to take that as a compliment," Taka said, 
patting Rafiki's cheek gently, then giving him a blow that sent 
him into the wall.  "You twisted little ape.  It was your words 
that brought us to this.  I hate you.  Your painted face sickens 
me."  Taka nodded, and the two hyena guards stood on either side 
of Rafiki.  "You are corban.  For the rest of your life you will 
remain within two hundred strides of your tree except with an 
escort of hyenas to take you to the watering hole, and only when I 
am not there.  For the next time we meet, you will surely die.  
Krull, take charge."
	Taka shoved the staff back at Rafiki.  Then the mandrill 
took his staff and picked himself up.  As he left Pride Rock for 
what seemed to be the last time, he cast a longing glance at 
Sarabi.  "Perhaps you will say a prayer for me too?"
	The lionesses watched his exit.  It was the final injury on 
top of all griefs.  Only Elanna who could see no evil in Taka 
thought there must be a good reason for his confinement.  She went 
into his cave humbling herself, laying on her back and reaching 
out.  "I touch your mane."
	"I feel it.  Rise up, my dear."
	"Your heart is dear to me, even when it is broken."
	"And you have come to comfort me?"  Taka was genuinely 
moved.  He saw in her trusting eyes the love that once Sarabi had 
born for her.  Risking all, he reached out and touched her 
shoulder.  She purred deeply.  "Tonight my brother lies dead by 
his son.  The day we first make love must be a happy memory.  
Return in three days, and I will pledge myself to you."
	"Incosi aka Incosi," she said.  "Great King."  Then she 
mouthed the word, "Beloved."
	Coming from a lioness, the phrase was liquid light, a thing 
of beauty.  The hyenas that surrounded him were too full of 
flattery and manners.  All fear and ambition, no real substance.  
Even those who were genuinely grateful could only excite the 
smallest fleeting pleasure.  Only one hyena did he actually love, 
though he did love her enough to tolerate the rest.


ELANNA: 	Why can't they see the one I see when others look at him?
          		His inner light is shining bright; why do they find it dim?

TAKA:     	I've seen that face through all my days, but now I see it new,
          		And all my dreams of hope and love begin to look like you.

CHOIR:    	There's a renaissance of love here, a respite from an age of fearful darkness
          		Calling to the hopeless to enter the light.

     		There's a wakening of spirits, a call to overcome the bonds of sadness
          		Shining with a fervor ecstatic and bright.

TAKA:     	Far over the hills coming in warm crimson splendor
          		The sun is preparing now to rise for us, to comfort us
          		And shine on our newborn love!

CHOIR:   	 There's a renaissance of hope here, a  respite from an age of hopelessness
          		Wiping clean the bitterness borne of our tears.

     		There's a wakening of spirits, a freedom from the bonds of loneliness
          		To comfort us and soothe away all of our fears.

ELANNA:   	Come let the sun rise up with its gold joyful splendor
          		And light the golden face of my beloved one, to warm our hearts
          		And shine on our newborn love!


	Back in his baobab tree, Rafiki was thrust none too gently 
and warned by the overly enthusiastic guards that his life hung in 
the balance.  He was too sad to be frightened of death, but he 
clung to life from some impulse Aiheu had breathed into his 
forefathers.
	Rafiki looked at the picture of Simba.  "Poor child.  
Innocent and now dead because of me."  Sadly, he took his hand and 
wiped over the painting, smearing the mark of his anointing.  
"Somehow, some way, I will undo this evil.  I swear I will never 
stop trying till death takes me."

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