CHAPTER 4:  THE TIME TO ACT

	The leopardess was not Metutu's only problem, nor was she his 
worst, for she had a sense of honor and fairness.  As the favorite 
target of the troop's bullies, he was subject to almost daily 
harassment.  And eventually the time had to come when matters would come 
to a head.  Wandani could not be the permanent solution to the problem, 
and threatening Duma with telling Kinara would be trumped.
	That day, Duma, with triumph in his wicked leer said, "Yeah, tell 
his daddy.  The little baby can't take care of himself.  Go tell his 
daddy before he starts crying."
	"I'm no baby!" Metutu said.
	Duma knew he was already winning.  "Don't cry, baby!  Your daddy 
would punish me if I made you cry.  We all know he wouldn't let his ugly 
little babykins get hurt!"
	"I'll tell you who's ugly!"  Metutu said as tears streamed down 
his poor, plain face.  "I hate you!  I hate you!"
	"I'm telling if you hit him!" Wandani shouted at Duma.
	"But you can't!"  Metutu protested.  Metutu took him by the 
shoulders and shook him.  "I'm not a baby.  I have to fight my own 
battles, and you aren't going to tell my Dad, understand?  Promise me."
	"But I can't!"
	"You have to!  If you're really my friend and not just a servant, 
promise me!"
	The tone of that remark stung Wandani who really loved Metutu.  
"If you're really my friend, please don't do it.  He's bigger than you.  
He'll chew you up and spit you out!  Please?"
	"You better listen to your friend," Duma taunted.  "If your face 
got much uglier, you'd have to wear a basket over it."
	Metutu looked at his friend right in the eyes.  "I have to do 
this, my Rafiki Wandani.  Don't make it harder on me than it already is.  
The moment you run to get dad, I'll fight him."
	Tears began to stream down Wandani's cheeks.  "All right.  Do your 
best."
	In fear, but with defiance in his eyes, Metutu pulled up his fists 
and told Duma, "Just the two of us.  Leave him out of it."
	"Anything you say."  Duma saw his hands up protecting his face.  
He made a quick feint at his chin and when Metutu brought his hands 
together, Duma's other fist hit him squarely in the stomach.  Metutu 
doubled over with pain.  He quickly straightened up and tried a few weak 
swings at Duma, but he paid for them with repeated blows to the face and 
stomach that battered him to the limits of his endurance, and as he lost 
control were more like events happening to another person standing on 
the same spot.  He was about to pass out.  Finally Metutu crumpled to 
his knees.  "I give up."
	"It's not that easy," Duma said.  "You started this, and you're 
going to finish it!"
	Wandani pushed Metutu on the ground and fell over him.
	Duma kicked Wandani in the side and struck him in the back.  When 
Duma tried to lift him off, he put his arms around Metutu in a tight 
clinch and gritted his teeth. 
	"Leave him alone!" Wandani cried.  "Go away!"
	"I'm going to finish this!"  Duma viciously kicked Wandani in the 
ribs.
	"You've hurt him enough!  Go away, or I'll fight you myself!  I 
may not win, but I'll mark you!"  Wandani sprang up like a rabid animal 
and grabbed Duma by the fur on his neck, startling him.  His fingernails 
pierced the skin and brought blood.  "I swear, I'll mark you for life 
even if you kill me for it!  You can't get me off that fast!  I'll mark 
you!"
	Duma saw the fun was over, he shoved Wandani away and made a 
forced laugh to his friends.  "You just name the time and place, short 
stuff!  Hey fellows, let's get out of here before the baby starts crying 
again!"

CHAPTER 5:  PLACING THE BLAME

	When everything was still, Wandani got to his feet.  He pulled 
Metutu upright, not an easy job for Metutu was nearly battered 
senseless, bleeding from the nose and horribly bruised.  "Oh Metutu, why 
won't you listen to me?"
	Metutu said, "Don't be mad at me Rafiki Wandani."  He put his arms 
around him to hold upright, but he was also clearly hugging him as the 
tears ran down Wandani's cheeks.  "You can't fight all my battles.  I'm 
sorry if I hurt your feelings.  You still my Rafiki?"
	"Always."  Wandani held Metutu upright and let him lean on him all 
the way home.
	"Do you think Dad will notice?"
	"On a new moon night under a bush with his eyes closed he would 
notice."
	Kinara was already fit to be tied.  He was angry over Old Maloki, 
the neighboring chieftain.  "You would think he was trading us Tiko Root 
at those rates!  Five bundles of Bonewort, and for this wilted Mitobi 
stalk!  Just look at it--it looks like it sat out in the sun!"  The 
chief looked around.  "Son?  Oh my gods!  Have you two been fighting??"
	"Not each other," Metutu said.  "Wandani's my friend."
	His mother was openly horrified and rushed to embrace her son and 
kiss him.  His father was angry, but maintained a certain gentle outward 
charm that kept the rank and file of mandrills guessing.
	"Now tell me who did this to you.  It's all right.  I'm not angry.  
Well, I am, but not at you."
	"I can't tell.  I'm not a baby.  I promised I wouldn't go telling.  
If I tell, everyone will think I'm a baby."
	"You promised that?"  Kinara smiled--a genuine smile--and he 
gently stroked Metutu's cheek with his fingertips.  "A little boy went 
out to play, and he came back a buck."
	Metutu's battered face broke out in a warm smile.
	"Who won?"
	Metutu's smile dropped.  "He pounded me into the ground.  If 
Wandani hadn't covered me, I'd still be lying there."
	Kinara gave him a hug.  "You won anyhow.  You conquered yourself, 
and that is no small thing."
	"Wandani helped a lot.  He fought like a honey badger.  See, he's 
cut up pretty bad."
	"I can see.  And don't think he won't get his reward."  Kinara 
took Wandani away a distance, leaving Metutu with his mother.
	Kinara said in a low voice, "Who hurt my son?"
	"He made me promise I wouldn't tell."
	Without showing anger, but only concern, he said, "I promise YOU 
something, Wandani.  If you don't tell me who did this, your father will 
not get his promotion on the council.  I expect a priest to have a 
family that respects the law above rash promises."  Kinara looked at the 
scratched, bruised face of Wandani and saw the tears start.  He knelt 
and hugged the child.  "I won't tell him you told.  He will never have 
to find out.  But how can we protect him if you won't be open with me?  
Hmm?  You can see that I want to do MY share protecting him too."
	Shamed, Wandani bowed his head and cried.  "It was Duma."
	"Duma," the Chief said slowly.  "Nyongo's son.  Always thinks he's 
so much better than the rest of them, but he strikes a harmless child."  
He ruffled Wandani's hair affectionately.  "I will see that Metutu is 
safe in the future, and you too, you little squirt."  Kinara faced him 
and smiled warmly.  "Friends?"
	"Friends."
	Kinara kissed him on the forehead.  "You were always my fourth 
son, you know?  If your dad says anything about you fighting, tell him 
that I called you a great hero.  Now run on home."
	The Chief came back to his son.  "Metutu, I'm proud of you.  You 
know, bravery is one of the marks of a true chief.  Even if you don't 
tell me who this bully is, I know one thing about him.  He thinks he has 
you licked, but he's not half the buck you are.  Don't you cower down 
when you pass him.  Show him you are confident.  When you pass him, look 
him in the eye.  If you cower down, he'll will know he's won and he'll 
do it again.  The next best thing to being stronger is to be strong 
enough that you're not worth the effort."
	"Do you really think he'll leave me alone now?"
	"I'm sure of it."
	Metutu did not have to wait long to find out.  The next day, he 
had to run an errand for his father.  No servant could do it this time--
Kinara insisted that he do it in person.  Wandani went with him for 
moral support, and even to make good on his threat, but Metutu was still 
vulnerable and frightened.
	And yet his old worries about what being beaten up were worse than 
the pain itself.  Now fighting was not an unknown terror, but an 
unpleasant memory.  He was not as afraid as he used to be, and he 
determined that he would control his fear and face Duma.  Maybe he would 
smile and say, "Good morning."  Yes, that felt safe enough.  Of course, 
there was the chance that Duma would say, "It's a good morning, but not 
for you."  That was a chance he had to take.
	Duma was not waiting for him by the Acacia tree.  He was not in 
his usual place next to the basket weaver.  In fact, for a while Metutu 
was certain he had left the village.  
	"It's late enough.  I thought he'd be up by now."
	Then by the path leading to the Council Rock, Duma appeared.
	Metutu faced him directly.  "Good morning, Duma."
	Duma bit his lip.  His face, on closer inspection, was badly 
swollen and bruised.  "Yeah.  Good morning."  He came over, but not to 
push him.  "Look, Metutu.  I'm, like, really sorry I hit you and Wandani 
here.  You're not a baby and you're not ugly.  I just said those things 
because of the other guys."
	"That's fine.  I forgive you."
	"Are you all right?"
	"Still a little sore."  Metutu looked more closely at Duma.  "I 
know I never hit you that hard.  Who lit into you?  Did Wandani do all 
that??"
	"Don't worry about it."
	"I don't know who messed you up, but I didn't tell.  Honest."
	"I said don't worry about it, all right??"  He dropped his stern 
tone.  "I'm sorry I hit you.  It will never happen again."
	"That's nice.  Well, good bye."
	 Metutu breathed a sigh of relief and went on.  Still in the back 
of his mind was a nagging doubt.  Somehow, some way, a witness must have 
told his dad.  But to have a boy beaten like that?  Surely that was not 
in the village law?  Then it occurred to him that his father sent him on 
that errand just to hear Duma's apology.  Somehow his Dad knew he'd be 
there cut and bleeding.  He knew because he had caused it.
	Metutu still loved his father, and he understood that Kinara loved 
him too.  But he didn't know if he was proud of his Dad or ashamed of 
him.



CHAPTER 6:  SHIFTING THE BURDEN

	As soon as Asumini heard about Metutu's fight, she came to see 
him.  Metutu cringed, expecting another upbraiding over the leopardess.  
Instead, she was kind and sympathetic.
	Metutu was thankful to have her back.  "It was worth getting 
beaten up if it means you like me again.  I missed you."
	"I never stopped liking you," Asumini said.  "You just need to 
learn a little humility.  How do you think I would have felt hearing 
your screams?  Watching you die?"  She caressed his swollen cheek with 
her hand.
	"Yeah,"  Metutu looked down, contritely, but he glanced up out of 
the corner of his eyes and smiled a little.  "Thanks again.  You were 
very brave."
	Asumini smiled.  "I don't know where it came from.  Every time I 
think about how close she was to my hand, I wonder if I had it to do 
over again...."
	"Oh, yeah.  I know how you feel."  Metutu's smile fell.
	"I was just kidding--but don't put me to the test."
	"Since you're here, I'd like to go skip rocks.  Wanna come with 
me?"
	"I can't right now.  Later, all right?"
	"Sure."  He rubbed his cheek again.  "You sure you're not mad at 
me?"
	"Sure I'm sure."  She leaned forward and kissed his cheek.  
"There, now it will be all better."
	Metutu looked at Asumini, open-mouthed with embarrassment.  "Maybe 
tomorrow?"
	"We'll see."
	Early the next day, Metutu came to her cave.  He caught a rare 
glimpse of her parents inside.  Busara and Kima were the subjects of a 
lot of nasty rumors, including one about blood sacrifices under the full 
moon.  Still, their daughter was so gentle and kind.  How could there be 
any substance behind those stories?
	"Asumini?  Can you come out?"
	She skipped to him, but saw him holding the smooth stone.  In her 
hand was a grass whiskbroom.  "Oh, the creek.  I forgot."
	"Yeah."  He shifted his weight from foot to foot.  "Can you get 
away for a moment?  I mean, I was hoping we could beat our old record."
	"I'm sorry, but I have chores to do."
	"But Asumini, you promised!  I can have one of the servants come 
over and sweep the cave.  They don't mind."
	"I'd rather do what dad told me to."
	"I won't tell if you don't."
	She frowned.  "That's being sneaky.  I thought you were better 
than that, but then how could you be with a politician as a father?  
You're growing up to be just like him."
	"And just what did you mean by THAT?"
	"My dad said Kinara is a leopard at heart, and he didn't mean it 
nice!"
	The reference to the leopard made Metutu rankle.
	"Well that's a fine how-do-you-do!  I come over to throw rocks 
with you, and you insult my Dad!  Well I hear that your Dad is a 
sorcerer.  Tema says he kills goats on nights of the full moon!"
	"That's a mean thing to say!  He's good and gentle and always 
trying to help sick creatures get well!  He's never killed anyone in his 
whole life!  You're an ugly little monster, Metutu!  Go home!"
	Metutu stormed off.  Soon from behind him she called, "I didn't 
mean it!  Oh gods, please come back!"  There was an edge of desperation 
in her voice.
	He wanted to forgive her, but there was also a voice inside him 
that was indignant.  It temporarily had the upper hand.  "She'll be 
sorry she called my dad a leopard!  She called me an ugly little 
monster!"  That was what hurt worst of all, for he knew that by mandrill 
standards he WAS ugly.  "Maybe I won't come back tomorrow either.  She 
can get ALL of her stupid old chores done!"
	Metutu went home.  He climbed to the crotch of the tree where he 
often slept.  There was a knot there that looked like a rabbit looking 
back at it.  "What about it, Bun?  Girls!"
	His dad looked up at him in the fork of the tree.  "Whew, a storm 
must be blowing in--I just saw a cold, dark cloud go by."
	"A thunderhead is more like it."
	"Uh huh.  So, do you want to talk about it?"
	Metutu turned his face to look down at Kinara.  "Dad, why can't 
more females be like Mom?"
	"They are like Mom.  That's the problem."
	"But she doesn't go trying to make you mad all the time.  Does 
she?"
	"No, because I learned the great secret of dealing with her."
	Metutu climbed down.  "Really?  What is it?"
	Kinara looked all around, then whispered into Metutu's ear.  "Give 
them what they want.  They have you where they want you, and the sooner 
you realize that and play along, the better off you are."
	"But she didn't want anything."
	"Asumini, I take it?"
	"Yeah."  Metutu scratched behind his ear nervously.  "Do you know 
what she said?  She said I was growing up to be just like you."
	"Gods forbid!"  Kinara gasped and put his hands to his face.  
"Call the shamans!  This is very serious!"
	Metutu fought back the smile and tried to concentrate on his 
anger.  "She said her dad called you a no-count politician with the 
heart of a leopard, and she didn't mean it as a compliment."
	"A leopard!"  Kinara laughed aloud.  "I've been called worse and 
by more dangerous opponents!  I guess I could see how Busara might think 
it though--being wealthy has dulled his claws.  He surrounds himself 
with comforts and he has all the ambitions of a gopher.  He even lives 
in a hole like one!"  Kinara laughed at his joke, then bucked out his 
front teeth and wiggled his fingers in front of his ears.  "That 
Kinara's a no-good politician with the heart of a leopard!" he said in a 
falsetto voice.  "Bet he's out hunting antelopes tonight!"
	Metutu couldn't control himself anymore and he began to laugh.  
Kinara put his arm around his shoulder and gave him a pat.  "Next time 
you see her, apologize like crazy."
	"For what?"
	"Whatever you did that made Asumini spout off like that.  And 
don't do it again.  She has other talents you're too young to appreciate 
now, but you might want them later."

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