CHAPTER 13:  THE FACTS

	Metutu was excited about his new religion, but the very ones he 
wanted to discuss it with were the ones he could not tell.  Wandani had 
never discussed religion with him.  Telling his father was out of the 
question, and he was afraid of horrifying and saddening his mother.  So 
without a proper forum, his new ideas surfaced as moods.
	He had locked away inside him the secret plan to go with Busara to 
the open savanna, wade through the waves of grass, and there see a real 
lion.  He wanted to live the stories about the night sky, standing on 
Pride Rock and seeing for the very first time the sparkling canopy of 
stars.  He wanted to hear a real roar.
	He passed his mother.  "Hi, Mom!"  He gave her a big kiss.  "Isn't 
it great to be alive!"
	"Yes, it sure is."  She kissed him back.  "Did you learn anything 
interesting today?"
	"It was so neat!"
	Without further elaboration, Metutu climbed into his bunk and 
looked at the trunk of the tree.  A knot that had always reminded him of 
a rabbit's head stared back with unseeing eyes.
	"Well, Mr. Bun," he thought, "I'll ask him the next time I see 
him!  Yes, we'll think of SOME excuse for Mom and Dad.  We'll call it an 
extended field trip or something."
	It would not be easy.  But if Aiheu answered prayers, there would 
come an excuse to cement their ties and strengthen their new bond!  
"Aiheu, light of lights, creator of the universe, I'm the new one that 
met you this evening.  Find a way through love!"
	"I have some fresh fruit," Neema called up to him.
	"Not right now, Mom.  I'm not really hungry."
	"Did you eat at Busara's?"
	"Just a little."
	"You're a growing boy.  You need your nourishment."
	"OK, just a little."
	She climbed up with a couple of melon slices.  "Now you finish 
these, you hear?"  She looked him in the face and smiled.  "How are you 
feeling, fuzzy love?"
	"Fine, Mom," he said affectionately but distracted.
	"Want to talk about it?"
	He laughed.  "What part of `fine' do you want me to explain?"
	"You know what I mean!"
	As honestly as he dared, Metutu said, "Busara is a great teacher.  
As much as I love Dad, it's great to hear someone that can talk all day 
without mentioning Old Maloki ONCE."
	She looked about, then laughed softly.  "You really shouldn't say 
that," she intoned in a whisper.  "But I almost envy you."
	"Besides that, I like Busara and Kima."
	"And you already like Asumini?"
	"Of course.  A lot."
	Neema smiled and nodded.  "She is very likable.  Just the sort of 
doe that would make a fine wife and mother someday.  I think a curious 
sort like you would like an intellectual like her."
	"Well, uh, I guess so."
	"Just like your father likes politics and he got a politician for 
a wife.  My vote doesn't carry far beyond this tree, but he spends half 
his life here."
	"You know how to call the shots, Huh Mom?"
	"Don't underestimate me.  But I would never misuse that power.  If 
anything, I try to help your father and keep both of his feet on the 
ground when he starts going wild.  Choosing someone who really loves you 
and that you can trust is the key to happiness.  If I can venture an 
opinion...."
	"Sure, Mom."
	"I think the gods made you and Asumini as a matched set.  If I saw 
the two of you married, I could die without worries or regrets.  Makedde 
is married to his work, and Makoko will get by somehow.  He's durable.  
But Metutu, you have a loving heart.  Without love, you would die like a 
sprout in the dry season."
	"I can get along."
	"I don't mean it as an insult.  I think your heart is made to love 
and be loved.  It's God's gift to you.  If you turn your back on that 
gift, there will be consequences.  Whatever you do, and wherever you go, 
look for love to follow you.  When I am gone, and your father is off on 
some mad scheme, I know that Asumini will be holding your hand.  And 
when I look down and see that, it will make me so happy."
	Metutu kissed her.  "That's very nice, Mom.  But stick around for 
a while.  I don't want you leaving any time soon."
	"No sooner than I have to," she said, squeezing his hand.  "I'm 
still rather young.  Maybe I want to play with my grandchildren first."
	Neema climbed down and gathered up the rest of the fruit.  
"Kinara, dear?  Have you eaten?"
	He came around the tree.  "Oh, that looks good!  Is Metutu back 
yet?"
	She kept her voice down and motioned Kinara away to the privacy of 
the deep forest.
	"When you look that way, Neema, you're up to something."
	"Our little boy had come back a buck, and he needs someone to have 
the talk with him."
	"What do you mean?"
	"Asumini.  That's what I mean.  Just look at him.  He's so jumpy 
if you touched him he'd jump sky high.  Metutu needs to hear the facts 
from someone who knows, not from his young friends.  When I was his age, 
I thought I'd get pregnant if a boy kissed me."
	"Fine.  I'll have a talk with him sometime."
	"Sometime today."
	He returned to the tree but did not see Metutu around.  Acting on 
a hunch, he went to the creek where he found Metutu skipping rocks.  
"Why, he's still just a child!"  Kinara sighed.
	"Metutu?"
	"Yes sir?"
	"No calling me sir.  Today I'm not just your father, I'm also your 
friend.  And we need to talk heart to heart, OK?"
	He sat on bank by his son, their feet in the smooth, cool water.  
Putting his arm around Metutu's shoulder, he started out rather 
obliquely.  "Now then, you remember when your grandmother died?  We all 
grow old and die someday."
	"No fooling?"  Metutu covered his face.  "Even me?"
	"Now don't you poke fun.  Let's understand each other: I know all 
about Asumini."
	Of course Metutu thought Busara was keeping his lioness a secret.
	"You may find your friendship with her a little different than the 
ones you have with your other friends.  You may feel strange urges you 
don't understand.  You want to touch her, to kiss her, to be with her."
	Metutu is a bit taken aback.  "Well, I think she's really neat.  
I'd like to see more of her--to be able to touch her and feel her soft 
fur.  To look in her hazel eyes.  Sometimes I even wish I could lay my 
head on her side and go to sleep just listening to her breath."
	Kinara squeezed his shoulder.  "I know the feeling, son.  But you 
need to know where this is leading.  Encourage her and she'll be all 
over you like green on leaves.  Your mother and I felt that way, but we 
decided to respect each other and wait till after we were married before 
our level of intimacy spread that far.  Things can quickly get out of 
control."
	Metutu was aghast.  He suddenly realized where this was going.  
"Oh, you mean Busara's daughter!"  Starts to laugh.
	"Is there ANOTHER Asumini?"
	"What brought this on, dad?"
	"We've seen all the classic signs.  Restlessness, poor appetite, 
mood swings.  If that's not it, what is?"
	Metutu laughed.  "Let's see.  I started training with Busara.  
He's really neat.  I got to go in a cave for the first time.  I'm 
excited about life.  I'm going to be on the council someday.  No denying 
that Asumini is pretty, but really Dad...."
	"But what about this business with the touchy-feely stuff.  Like 
laying your head on her side and going to sleep?"
	"I was talking about a lioness!"  Metutu laughed uncontrollably.  
"Don't worry, dad--we respect each other's feelings and we'll wait till 
after we're married before our level of intimacy spreads that far.  We 
don't want things to get out of control."
	The little joke was lost on Kinara.  "A lioness??  She'll eat you 
in one bite!"
	"No, Dad.  She's dead."
	"Oh, that changes everything."  He began to nervously scratch his 
head.  "You want to cuddle with a DEAD lioness!"
	"Not a dead body!  A guardian spirit!  Her name's Asumini too."
	Kinara took in a deep breath, closed his eyes, and let it out 
slowly from the mouth.  "Thank the gods."  He looked at Metutu and 
smiled.  Metutu smiled back.  "I love you, son.  We can talk when we 
want to.  Just take me aside and say `Dad, I'd like to talk.'"
	"That's nice, Dad.  I love you too."  Metutu looked up with a wry 
grin.  "Did mother put you up to this?"
	"She sure did.  That obvious, huh?"
	"Well she was really acting kind of odd."
	"When I tell her, she's going to flip."  Kinara rubbed the top of 
Metutu's hair.  "I had a different name picked out for you.  Metutu was 
a mistake.  I was going to name you Mawata, after your grandfather.  
Let's be honest, son.  You may not have Makoko's looks, but the beauty 
from inside is so great that it doesn't matter.  Don't you dare tell 
anyone I said this, but of my three sons, I have always loved you the 
most."
	"Oh dad!"
	"Let me finish.  You inspire love in people, and someday some 
female is going to latch on to you.  You need to know about these things 
so when Asumini, or whomever it is, throws you off balance you'll know 
what to do.  There's no need to rely on rumors, not as long as I'm 
around."
	Kinara talked with Metutu in the quiet of the forest about the 
renewal of life, and about love.  It was one of the few times Metutu had 
ever seen Kinara as gentle or as shy, and years later he would look back 
on that talk and smile.


CHAPTER 14:  ALL THAT GLITTERS IS NOT GOLD

	Metutu headed to Busara's cave, feeling a little upset and longing 
for some inner peace.
	Kima came out to greet him affectionately.  "Come in, my son!  
Look Busara, it's Metutu!"
	Busara came out and threw his arms around him like an old friend.  
Already Metutu felt his anger melting away like wax in the hot sun.  "I 
was just thinking about you, and here you are!  Have some fresh grapes 
with us and let's talk."
	"About what?"
	"I can sense that you were upset with someone.  Not us, I hope?"
	"Certainly not!"
	"Your father again?"
	Metutu took some grapes, blessed them, and began to eat them a 
couple at a time.  "I don't mean it wrong, but I really hate politics.  
I love my dad, but I can't stand what he does for a living."
	"Hfff!  Can it be that you have lost your faith in politics?"  
Busara offered him some cold water which Metutu gratefully accepted.  
"So what is it this time?  Old Maloki again?"
	"Isn't it always?"  Metutu scratched his head.  "I mean, why don't 
those two just try to get along?  I don't believe Maloki is half as evil 
as my father says he is."
	"Well you knew they were like that.  There's something else, isn't 
there?"
	"Yeah."  Metutu put his head in his hands and sulked.  "Dad tells 
Chidu one thing, then turns right around and tells Bugweto exactly the 
opposite.  So I asked him about it, and he told me that God is the 
source of all truth, and that when he wants something done, he can 
change the truth."  He looked pained.  "I let it drop, but any way you 
look at it, he just plain lied.  I remember my mom always telling me not 
to lie, but I can't remember my dad saying anything except that I should 
not lie to HIM.  I never know when to believe him anymore!"
	"I see."  Busara put his hand on Metutu's shoulder.  "This 
disturbs you.  But there is more to it than that.  Much more."
	Metutu felt he had said too much already.  He quietly took a 
couple of grapes and chewed them very slowly.
	Busara smiled understandingly.  "You are worried that one day you 
will take his place, and that lies will not bother you.  That the means 
will be justified by the end.  It makes you feel dirty somehow just 
thinking about it."
	Metutu met his glance intently.  "Is lying part of being chief?  
Can't I be honest and still do the right thing?  Do you really think God 
changes the truth?"
	Busara sighed deeply.  "Lies are fruits that are ripe and 
beautiful on the outside but have a worm inside!  The same is true of 
someone that cannot be trusted.  I trust God with my life and the life 
of my family.  I know that his words to me will endure forever 
incorruptible and perfect.  Now if you'll pardon me for a moment of 
honesty, I think you'd make a terrible chief."
	Metutu looked down.  "I see.  Then what am I fit for?"
	Busara gently raised Metutu's chin to look him in the eyes.  "Last 
night I had a vision of you bowing before Mano and Minshasa.  Mano 
kissed you and said, `Arise, my true son.  Your father was chief of a 
small village, but if you are faithful you will rule in splendor and 
might with the great kings in the sky.'"
	"Me??  Are sure it wasn't just a dream?"
	"A dream?"  Busara patted his cheek.  "Son, your whole life to 
this point has been a dream.  Now it is time you awoke."
	"What would Aiheu have of me?  What must I do?"
	"You have just taken the first step.  Always ask what Aiheu would 
have of you.  Make it your morning and evening prayer, your first 
thought on waking and your last as you fall asleep.  Next, you must go 
on a vision quest and open your heart to the Creator.  When a cub cries 
to his mother, he is fed.  When you cry to God, he will not leave you 
empty.  Guidance will follow."
	"You want me to be a shaman?"
	"What I want is not important.  I pay little heed to what I want, 
yet everything I truly wanted is here for me.  It is a simple trade.  
You worry about what Aiheu wants, and he will worry about what you want.  
I tell you son, once the staff of a chief is in your hands, it is so 
hard to let go of it.  You'll spend the rest of your life in regret, but 
you'll cling to it as a vine clings to a tree.  I tell you a higher 
purpose awaits you, one that will never bring you to shame."
	"If I am not the next chief, who will free our people?"
	"Someday the people must free themselves.  And if Aiheu wills it, 
so shall it be.  You can run from God, but you cannot hide."
	"But what can I offer him?  I don't feel like a child of Mano.  I 
want to do this, but I'm frightened."
	Busara laughed.  "And you're the only one?  Maybe the world is 
vast, and on it you are just a tiny spot.  But is it not better to be a 
bright spot among the stars than a dark spot on the ground?"
	Metutu sighed.  "You always say the right thing.  I'll do it."


CHAPTER 15:  AT ODDS

	"When Koko had managed to reach in the basket unobserved and 
remove a totem, he felt very clever.  Now he had power from the gods!  
Such mischief he might work against all his enemies who laughed at him!  
And he stole away chuckling to himself.  But the gods soon stopped him 
and demanded the return of their property.  And they condemned him to 
death, but being fair-minded allowed him to choose the method of his 
execution.  Without hesitation, Koko said, `Old age.'
	"The answer impressed the gods, and they knew no ordinary ape 
could have stolen a totem.  So they let Koko go on his way and keep the 
totem, but only to use for good.  They warned him that the day he cast a 
spell of harm he would surely die, and not of old age!  For that reason, 
Koko became a great healer--the first shaman.  And though he worked no 
harm, his enemies ceased to laugh at him, so his days were long and 
happy in the earth."

                        -- "LITTLE BROTHER CHAKO", SECTION 7B

	The Council of Elders was upset.  The rivalry between Kinara and 
Maloki who lived just across the creek had always been a source of 
controversy, but it was usually handled on a personal basis and rarely 
involved the entire council.
	Chango and Bugweto had been to the creek for water.  Everyone knew 
how much Maloki had been charging for water rights, for he had claimed 
to own the creek right up to the opposite bank.  But when some of his 
people were pulling fruits from the breadfruit tree that hung out over 
the water, that was too much.
	"It is rooted on our bank!  It is our tree!" Kinara charged.  
"This is an outrage!"
	Azima, Maloki's son, was equally adamant.  "We only pull fruit 
that hangs out over the water.  There is no way you could pick that 
fruit without trespassing!"
	"We are not trespassing when we pay rent!" Bugweto shouted.
	"The rent is for water.  For water!  You may pick all the fruit 
that hangs over land.  That is legal.  That is fair before the gods!  
Must I remind you that we had an honorable agreement?"
	"At your rental fees, there are no honorable agreements," Kinara 
said, his arms crossed.  "However, we have with us an unimpeachable 
voice where the law is concerned."  He nodded at Busara.  "Everyone 
knows that his word is impartial and honest.  So, what say you, Scribe?"
	Busara looked thoughtful.   He walked between Kinara and Azima who 
were standing dangerously close.  "Once there were two brothers.  They 
both fought long and hard over a great prize for five days and nights.  
They did not eat or sleep.  Finally on the fifth day, they both 
collapsed exhausted.  And while they were asleep, a stranger came in and 
stole the prize."
	"What are you saying?" Azima said.
	"When the tree is ripe, remove all the fruit into one large pile.  
Then divide it equally between our villages."
	"Fine and good," Kinara said.  "But I will do it personally.  
Azima is a cheat like his father."
	"I??  I'M a cheat??"
	"Please, distinguished opponents...."  Busara put a hand on each 
of the two mandrills.  "I have an answer.  One of you will divide the 
pile into two groups, and the other can take his group first.  That way, 
no one would dare cheat."
	"But why would I give him anything?" Kinara said.  The others 
nodded and murmured.  "Why should I even honor his claim?"
	Busara took Kinara out of hearing range, took a deep breath and 
let it out slowly.  "Maloki likes nothing better than to make you 
angry," he whispered, glaring at Azima.  "If you are generous and give 
him fully half, you will take away his excuse to curse you behind your 
back.  He will be miserable."
	Kinara thought a moment, stroked his chin whiskers moodily, then 
smiled.  "I like that.  And next time he accuses me of being greedy, I 
shall remind him!"
	Kinara came back.  With a kindly smile, he patted Azima on the 
back.  "My boy, you are right.  We will give you half of the fruit as my 
friend has suggested.  By all means.  Maybe even more.  Why not take it 
all?  We don't need the extra fruit."
	Azima began to look uncomfortable.  "Is there something wrong with 
it?"
	"No, not at all!  It's wonderful.  I hope you enjoy it.  Why not 
take some home with you?"
	Azima began to scratch his head.  "Now wait a minute here!  What 
did Busara tell you just now?"
	"He told me that it is more blessed to give than to take."
	Azima looked around at the others.  He began to tremble as he met 
each pair of eyes, looking for some hint.  "Like hell he did!" he 
shouted, throwing up his hands.  "You're all a bunch of scheming, lousy 
good-for-nothings!  Do you think I'm stupid??  Keep the fruit!  I hope 
you DO eat it!  By the gods, I hope whatever you planned falls back on 
you threefold!"
	Azima stormed out.  For several moments, there was not a word, not 
a sound.  Then when he was out of hearing range, Kinara began to 
chuckle, then he burst out in laughter, putting his arm around Busara's 
shoulder.  "You no-account scheming little devil you!  I didn't know you 
had it in you!"
	Busara smiled, but his heart was not in it.
	After the meeting, Kinara took Busara aside.  "I'd like to show my 
appreciation, old friend.  I want you to be my chief advisor.  You know 
that is second in power only to me, and I offer it because you are as  
shrewd as you are honest."
	Busara looked uncomfortable.  "Thank you, my chief, but perhaps 
I'm not as shrewd as you think--or as much as I should be."
	Kinara smiled, but laid his hand on Busara's shoulder a bit 
firmly.  "Save your double speaking for them.  When I want a good 
riddle, I'll ask you as Chief Scribe.  Right now I need one word.  It 
sounds exactly like `yes'."
	"I'm sorry, my friend.  I'm not the type you need."
	"Oh?"
	"With all due respect, you want to win at all costs.  It has 
become your fruit and your water.  What you desire most becomes your 
god, but when you die, earthly powers will desert you.  Only love can 
bear your soul to the Blessed Realm."
	"Are you calling me irreligious?"
	"No, old friend.  I'm calling you precious and one of a kind.  A 
child of the gods.  I want something for you greater than this world has 
to offer.  Go home tonight and kiss your wife.  Speak to your son 
Makedde.  Make peace with the boy and realize how much he still loves 
you.  These are more important than all the breadfruit in the world."
	Kinara looks at him undecided.  But he recognized the kindness in 
Busara's voice and patted him on the back.  "You're beginning to sound 
just like my mother.  I'm a big boy now, and I can look out for myself.  
As for my son Makedde, I pray for him every night."
	When Busara saluted him and went back toward his cave, Kinara 
leaned over to one of his lackey guards nearby.  "Take Uwezo and follow 
him.  See what he's up to."

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