CHAPTER 31:  THE KING AND I

	Metutu and Asumini were both helping Makedde, who was getting 
older, in his daily tasks.  Metutu had become a well-liked member of the 
leonine community, and had virtually all but assumed his brother's 
duties as healer, leaving Makedde free to concentrate on the mystical 
arts.
	Metutu slowly finished massaging the last of the paste into the 
cut on Avina's shoulder.  "There now," he said, leaning back to study 
his work with a satisfied air, "That wasn't so bad, was it?"
	Avina flexed the foreleg gingerly, then smiled as she put her full 
weight on it.  "Beautiful!  How did you do it?"
	"Easy, my dear!  The pain is still there; you just cannot feel it 
right now.  You must go home and rest."
	"Ah," she flipped a forepaw at him.  "I've hunted in worse shape 
before, and alone besides."
	"I'm well aware of that, my dear.  But just because you can do it 
doesn't mean you have to.  That hoof almost tore the muscle away.  If 
someone else had been there, you wouldn't have had to limp all the way 
back here yourself to get me."  He strode forward, clearly distressed.  
"Please, Avina, go home and take it easy for a while.  Humor a foolish 
old ape just this once."
	"You are not foolish, Tootles."  She grinned at him, knowing how 
much the nickname embarrassed him.  Purring, she rubbed her cheek 
against his.  "All right.  If it will make you feel better."
	He smiled at her.  "Absolutely."  He patted her unwounded shoulder 
gently and bade her good-bye.  He knelt to pick up his bowl he used as a 
pestle and grimaced as his knees popped stiffly.  A shadow fell over 
him, and he looked up to see Makedde standing beside him, frowning.
	"Brother?  What is wrong?"
	Makedde shook his head in admonition.  "Using crushed Bonewort 
like that is not exactly what I would have done, Metutu.  You would have 
done better to give her something else."
	"Really?  And what would an old monkey like you know about 
medicine?"
	Makedde grinned and grabbed Metutu's ears playfully, shaking his 
head.  "You impudent whelp!  I dare say you're going to be the best 
shaman the Pride Lands have ever seen."
	"You really think so?"  Metutu frowned and looked out over the 
savanna broodingly.  "I don't know if I really quite fit in, here."
	"What's the matter?  Don't you like it here?"
	"Of course!  I'm not talking about that."  Metutu waved his hand 
dismissingly.  "I mean, I just don't know how everyone will like me 
taking your place; you've been here so long.  Besides, the Council has 
to approve the appointment, anyway."
	Makedde spat.  "Who cares what the Council thinks!  The King is 
going to make that decision.  Don't believe everything the Council tells 
you, Metutu; Ahadi's word carries tremendous weight, however much they 
might not wish to admit it.  And he's been watching you carefully, 
brother.  Believe it."
	"Very carefully?"  Metutu moaned.  "What if I make a mistake?"
	Makedde looked solemn.  "Well, in that case, he'll probably just 
eat you."
	"What??"  Metutu looked at him in alarm, until he saw Makedde 
struggling not to laugh.  "You dirty...."
	A harsh yell broke in from outside, jarring them both.  "HELP!"  
Startled, they hurried over to an overhanging limb and looked down.  
Peering through the leaves, Metutu saw Yolanda sprinting hurriedly 
toward the baobab.
	The two descended quickly and met her at the bottom.  "Easy, my 
dear," Makedde said calmly.  "What is it?"
	"Please come quickly!"  She panted rapidly.  "Oh Gods, come quick!  
Akase is in trouble!"
	"What's wrong?"
	"She was complaining about her stomach hurting this morning when I 
left to go hunting.  When I got back, I found her lying on the ground, 
moaning.  She's bleeding, too."
	"Did she cut herself?"
	"No, it's from inside!  I don't know what to do!"  Yolanda's voice 
cracked and she bit her lip.  "You must save her!"
	Makedde and Metutu exchanged a look.  Without a word, Metutu 
headed for the baobab.  Seizing his staff, Makedde followed the lioness 
as she made off across the savanna.  Metutu clambered up the trunk 
frenziedly and hurried over to the niche where the two stored their 
medicines.  Quickly snatching up a few cure-alls and some painkiller, he 
descended the baobab.
	A few minutes later, he caught up with Makedde.  Yolanda had 
checked her pace, mindful of Makedde's advanced age, but the delay 
obviously gnawed at her.   Metutu drew alongside of his brother, panting 
with the exertion.  "I brought the cure-all and a little Alba as well, 
along with..."
	Makedde glanced at the pharmacopoeia and nodded curtly.  "No need, 
brother; I'm sure you brought the right things."  His face was wan with 
concern.  "What worries me is that we may not have the right medicine 
here at all."
	"What's wrong with her?"  Metutu asked, knowing already.
	"It is what we feared.  Her body is rejecting the cubs."
	"Oh gods!"  Metutu looked away for a moment.  "Can we do 
anything?"
	Makedde sighed.  "I wish I knew.  I only hope it is something 
else, but I doubt it.  The signs are clear enough."
	The three continued on in silence until they reached the foot of 
Pride Rock, where they were met by Ahadi.  The two mandrills bowed 
before the massive lion.  "I touch your mane," Makedde said reverently.
	"I feel it."  Ahadi blew out a great gust of air.  "Aiheu bless 
you for coming, Makedde.  It's a long journey, and I know you are not 
young anymore."
	Makedde said, "My brother came with me.  Together we can beat this 
thing, eh?"  He reached out and patted Ahadi's shoulder.
	The lion's eyes closed and he slumped visibly.  Unwilling to trust 
his voice, he merely nodded.
	Yolanda padded over to them quickly.  "This way, Makedde."  As 
they followed her away, Metutu glanced back over his shoulder at Ahadi, 
then immediately regretted it.  He faced forward again, ashamed at the 
sight of the great king crying like a child.
	Akase lay on the floor of the cave, trying to stifle a moan and 
failing.  She shuddered as another wave of pain rippled through her 
abdomen, her midsection feeling as though it was being seized in the 
hands of a giant and being slowly twisted in two.  "Oh God, please help 
me," she groaned.  "Please."  A warm tongue bathed the side of her face 
as if in answer.  Blinking blearily, she opened an eye to see Yolanda 
standing over her.  "How's it feeling, hon?"
	Akase moaned again.  "Not much better."
	"Don't worry.  Makedde and Metutu are here to see you."
	Her eye opened wide.  "Praise Aiheu!  Bring them in!"
	"I already did."  Yolanda's worried visage was replaced by 
Makedde's worn and kindly one.  "And how are you today, my dear?"
	"Lousy."
	"I see."  He chuckled lightly, trying to put her at ease.  
Grunting with the exertion, he knelt slowly, laying his staff beside 
him.  Bending over her, he stroked her cheek with his hand.  "Rest easy, 
Akase.  All will be put right soon enough."  His smile faded away.  
"Courage, now."
	She nodded, closing her eyes.  She began breathing rapidly as 
Makedde began to run his sensitive hands gingerly down her ribs slowing 
as he neared her belly.  She growled involuntarily as he drew his hand 
across her abdomen.  Makedde was shocked; the flesh was burning hot to 
the touch and enormously swollen, more so than her state of pregnancy 
could account for.  As he reached her navel, she cried aloud and he 
jerked away, startled.  "Forgive me, Akase.  I do not mean to cause you 
pain."
	"I.....know, old friend," she gasped.
	Metutu was equally disturbed; Akase's flanks were matted with 
blood; enough that the lioness was dangerously weak.  He looked up at 
Makedde and shrugged helplessly.
	The mandrill nodded and turned back to Akase.  Selecting a couple 
of herbs, he tapped her on the nose gently.  "Now see here.  I want you 
to leave these under your tongue.  They are bitter, but they'll make you 
feel a little better.  Okay?"
	She nodded, opening her mouth.  Makedde slipped the herbs in place 
carefully, his dexterous fingers avoiding the enormous fangs easily.  
Rising, he patted her cheek.  "You rest easy now, while Metutu and I go 
talk."  Motioning to his brother, the old mandrill led him outside.
	Blinking in the bright sunlight, they nearly collided with Avina.  
The lioness sat in the entrance, staring into the depths of the cave 
miserably.  "It's my fault, isn't it?"
	"What?"
	"If I hadn't gone and gotten hurt, she wouldn't have been worried 
sick about me this morning.  That's what did it, isn't it?"
	"Nonsense."  Makedde patted her consolingly.  "You might as well 
blame yourself for the dry season, or making the wind shift while you're 
stalking.  You had nothing to do with this, Avina, it just happened."
	"Will she be okay?"
	Makedde sighed.  "I just don't know right now."  Excusing himself, 
he drew Metutu away.  The younger mandrill strained to hear his 
brother's voice.
	"It will be all I can do to keep her comfortable until the 
inevitable happens.  She will lose the children."
	Metutu shook his head violently.  "No!  There must be something-"
	"Hsst!  Keep your voice down!"  Makedde looked at him sadly.  
"Brother, as yet I have been unable to find a cure for her.  For years I 
have searched.  After they lost their first litter, Ahadi and Akase 
waited patiently while I searched, but at last I admitted defeat.  And I 
cannot blame them for trying; the drive of life is strong.  Who knew it 
would happen again?"  He covered his eyes with a trembling hand.  "And 
this time, it's worse."
	"How so?"
	"Akase has lost too much blood already, and she has begun to run a 
fever.  She will probably not survive."
	A deeper voice spoke from behind them.  "Then it is as I feared."
	The two spun to see Ahadi standing a few feet away.  "Sire," 
Makedde stammered, flustered.  "I simply meant...."
	Ahadi raised a paw to silence him.  "It has been a long time since 
we have had to mince words, you and I.  Let us not start now."  He 
sighed deeply, shuddering, and a single tear slowly tracked down from 
his eye to darken the fur on his cheek.  "I have sat here and watched as 
she grew weaker and weaker.  Even as you looked upon her she was 
slipping away."  Ahadi cleared his throat.  "All I would...."  He 
stopped, momentarily, then continued.  "All I would ask of you is that 
you make her last hours peaceful ones.  Will you do this for her?"
	Makedde swallowed and nodded slowly.  "Everything will be done.  
Come, my lord, let us go to her."
	Picking up the painkillers from Metutu's crude satchel, Makedde 
motioned to his brother to wait there.  Turning, he followed Ahadi as 
they paced slowly away.
	Entering the cool dimness of the cave, Makedde made his way slowly 
over to Akase, Ahadi alongside.  The king followed unwillingly, each 
step heavier than the last, until he felt he would sink through the rock 
floor.  Bending down, he nuzzled his mate.  "Akase?"
	"Hmm?"  The lioness opened her eyes and looked at them.  "Cnn I 
shpt vese out?"
	"Oh!"  Makedde nodded.  "Certainly."  He cupped a hand under her 
jaw as she daintily spat the leaves into his palm.  "Feeling better?"
	She nodded.  "A little.  It doesn't hurt as bad, but it still 
hurts.  Thank you for trying, though."  She fixed the mandrill with an 
uncomfortable gaze.  "What were you two whispering about out there?"
	Lion and mandrill looked at each other uncomfortably.  "My lady, 
I'm not quite sure how to say this..."
	Akase chuckled softly, wincing at the effort.  "Oh, Makedde.  I 
know that my life grows short.  I shall see Aiheu's face soon enough, no 
doubt."  She looked back along her side wistfully.  "I only wish I could 
have spent some time with my children..."  Her eyes glistened as she 
shook her head.
	"Oh gods!"  Ahadi bent low and laid his head alongside hers, 
weeping openly now, uncaring.  "Beloved, I'm so sorry.  It's my fault.  
I never should have touched you."
	Akase lifted her head to look at him.  "Nonsense.  How can you say 
that?  In the time I've spent with you, I've known the love of a dozen 
glorious lifetimes."  A tear tracked down her cheek.  "I just wish I 
could have borne this one litter.  I wanted to give you a son, my love.  
Oh, Ahadi, if anyone is to blame here, it's me.  You should have married 
another."  She bent and hid her face from him, shuddering.  "When I am 
gone, that is what you must do.  I will look down on you and bless your 
union."
	The lion reached out with his paw and stroked her face tenderly.  
"Now look who's talking nonsense.  There could never have been another.  
I could have lived without a son.  But you I cannot live without."  He 
blinked back tears.  "If I could have but one wish from Aiheu, it would 
be that we both go together."
	"Ahadi..."  Akase nuzzled him and kissed his cheek.  "You are too 
young to die just yet."
	"So are you."
	"Well, then, we need prayers, not tears."  She lay back down 
again, stroking his face with her forepaw.  "Go on, love.  I'll be all 
right for a little while longer."
	Ahadi glanced at Makedde, who nodded silently.  "Very well.  Rest 
easy, beloved."  Kissing her cheek, he followed the mandrill out of the 
cave.
	Metutu watched as the two of them emerged quietly and walked a 
short distance away, muttering softly.  Embarrassed, he realized the two 
were deep in their prayers and turned away hurriedly.  He moved away 
until he was out of earshot and sat down, taking a deep breath of air 
and letting it out slowly.  The late afternoon breeze blew his hair 
gently about his neck and shoulders, cooling, but not comforting him.  
He picked up his mortar stick and idly began to trace aimless circles in 
the dirt as he looked out across the savanna, seeing in the distance his 
beautiful baobab home.  Glancing down, he stared silently at what his 
roaming hands had unconsciously drawn in the dirt.  An inward drawing 
spiral with lines radiating from it.  He recognized it well; it was one 
of the first icons Busara had taught him in his apprenticeship; the 
maishamazingo, the great Circle of Life.
	The vein in the center of Metutu's forehead began to throb in time 
with his heartbeat.  Leaping to his feet, he seized the handful of sand 
and dirt and cast it away angrily, obliterating the icon.  "No!  It's 
not right!  It's not Akase's fault!  Why?"  Realizing the other 
lionesses were staring at him, he stalked away, making his way along a 
steep, winding path that led to a granite shelf that jutted out away 
from the Rock.  Sitting on his haunches, he clasped his knees to his 
chest.  Huddled up, he stared out at the open plain.  As his eyes roved 
about aimlessly, out of long habit he absently began identifying the 
various plants he saw and cataloging their various uses.
	Suddenly, he sat up straighter, and looked about with renewed 
interest.  Carefully noting the flora around, he wracked his brain, 
trying to think of some way he might be able to resolve Akase's 
predicament.  After several minutes thought, he slumped to the ground, 
shaking his head in despair.
	"Oh, Aiheu.  All the knowledge you have blessed me with, and yet I 
still do not know enough to save one lioness."  Metutu raised his head 
to look up at the sky beseechingly.  "I may yet be unworthy as a  
healer, but  I ask only this: help me to bring some joy into their 
lives.  Please."  He lowered his head to his chest, his eyes stinging 
with tears.  Abruptly, he heard the featherlight tread of leonine 
footsteps behind him and felt the weight of a furry chin resting lightly 
on his shoulder.
	Irritated at the intrusion, he spoke without turning.  "Avina, 
please leave me alone."
	"Hmpf.  That's some way to treat family.  I thought I taught you 
better than that."
	Metutu's eyes shot open wide and he whirled about.  Before him 
stood the form of a beautiful lioness whom he immediately recognized.  
"Asumini!"
	The lioness smiled, her eyes sparkling with amusement.  "No hug 
for your old Auntie?  Or are you getting too old for that?"
	In response, Metutu leaned forward and wrapped his arms around 
tightly, burying his face in the soft fur of her neck.  "Oh gods, I'm so 
depressed!  And how I've missed you!"
	"I know."  She smiled again, a faint silvery light playing about 
her form, like a ring of frost around the moon.  "But I heard you 
talking nonsense, so I had to come see you."
	"I am unworthy."  He sat back and looked at her morosely.  "Akase 
lies dying, and I can do nothing.  All the long hours I spent learning 
herb lore at Busara's side, and I've come up empty when I am most 
needed.  I am useless."  He turned away and looked at the ground.
	"Pfahh!  Have you not listened to one word I've said to you?  Use 
your head, you young twit!"  She batted him lightly with her tail.  
"There is great virtue in Maraliscus when mixed with Heartleaf."
	"What?!"  He snapped his head around to look at her, but saw only 
empty air.  He looked about, confused, while his mind began working 
furiously.
	"Maraliscus will kill by itself," he muttered.  "It suppresses 
breathing.  But the Heartleaf opens the lungs and...."  His eyes widened 
and he shouted with glee.  "Yes!  It stimulates breathing.  They balance 
each other out!  That just might do it!"  Snatching up his things, he 
took a step towards the path leading down to the ground, but stopped 
after a few strides.
	"But the nearest concentration of Maraliscus is half a moon's 
journey away."  He slumped to the ground.  "Oh gods!  To be so close!"  
He leaned back against the rock face, stretching his arms out for 
support.  His left hand closed over something soft and velvety, and he 
jerked it away involuntarily, looking down.
	Next to where he sat lay a neat clump of Maraliscus plants, 
carefully sitting upon a swatch of Heartleaf.
	Metutu closed his hands reverently over the priceless herbs and 
lifted them to his face, inhaling the faint scent of wild honey that 
clung to the plants.  Uttered a silent prayer to Aiheu, he struggled to 
his feet and carefully picked his way down the slope to the cave 
entrance, where he saw Makedde talking quietly to Yolanda.
	Without preamble, he simply showed Makedde the herbs and explained 
what he intended to try.
	"Absolutely not!  Metutu, I realize you are knowledgeable about 
herb lore, but this is not the time to experiment.  Akase is already 
very weak; any abrupt change could push her over the edge."
	"Brother.  Please, listen to me.  This is the only chance we have.  
I know I'm right."
	Makedde looked at him for a long moment, then nodded slowly.  
"Very well.  I shall tell Ahadi.  Whatever you intend to do, do it 
quickly;  Akase's time is very short."
	Metutu grabbed his things and hurried inside the cave, where Akase 
lay unmoving, bathed in a coating of sweat that matted her fur.  "My 
Lady?"
	Slowly, the queen opened her eyes to look at him.  "Metutu?"  she 
said muzzily, the painkiller blurring her voice.
	"Yes.  I have something here for you."  Filling one of his small 
bowls with water from a gourd, Metutu shredded a piece of Heartleaf into 
it.  As he picked up the Maraliscus, he realized with some alarm that he 
did not know just what the correct dosage might be.  He thought quickly 
for a moment, carefully gauging Akase's weight, along with the fact of 
her pregnancy thrown in.  Taking hold of a corner of the soft leaf, he 
closed his eyes.  "Aiheu, guide my hand."
	He tore a small piece off and ground it up carefully, adding it to 
the mixture in the bowl.  The concoction immediately turned an ugly 
greenish yellow color, and began to give off a strong acrid odor.
	He picked the mixture up and held it out to her gently.  "Here.  
You must drink this."
	She sniffed it warily and recoiled.  "Gods!  What is it?"
	"It may help you."
	"May?"  She looked at him peculiarly.  "Don't you know?"
	"No," he admitted.  "I don't."  He pulled the bowl back slowly.  
"It's not without risk, but it's the only thing I know that may save you 
and your cubs."
	Akase's eyes opened fully and she stared at him fixedly.  "The 
cubs also?  I could have my cubs?"
	"Possibly-"
	"Then let me have it."
	"My lady, what if-"
	"What if, indeed."  She smiled, and reached up with a paw to 
stroke his agonized face gently.  "Metutu, should I die, I will smile 
down on you from the stars above, for I will know that you did your best 
by me and my children."
	Metutu clasped her paw in his hands and nodded wordlessly.  Moving 
behind her, he lifted her head, grunting with the effort, until she 
could reach the bowl.  She sniffed again, wrinkling her nose with 
distaste, and looked him in the eyes.
	"Aiheu abamami," she whispered, and drank.
	Metutu emerged from the cave mouth a few minutes later and sat 
down wearily.  Makedde wandered over to him and sat next to him, holding 
his brother close as they fought the chill of the approaching night.  
"Well?"
	"We wait and see."  He looked about for the king, seeing him 
sitting some distance away at the point of the promontory with another 
lion.  "Have you told him?"
	"Yes."
	"What did he say?"
	"He said he trusted in you and Aiheu, and that was enough for 
him."
	Metutu looked at Ahadi, unable to speak.
	The king sat silently, watching the ebony blanket of night draw 
itself over his Pride Lands, the kings of the past taking their places 
in the vault of heaven one by one.  But tonight he could draw no comfort 
from their presence.  His thoughts lay inside the cave, with Akase.
	Shaka, his brother, lay next to him quietly.  "Ahadi?"
	"Hmm?"
	"You awake?"
	"Of course," he said, offended.
	Shaka's ears drooped.  "Sorry."
	Ahadi sighed and nuzzled his brother.  "No, I'm sorry.  I'm just 
nervous."
	Shaka said nothing, but moved a little closer to his brother, 
sharing the heat of their bodies.  Thus the four brothers comforted each 
other as they began the long wait for the dawn.
	In the depths of the cave, Akase lay quiescent as the medicine did 
its strange work within her.  Time had become meaningless, and so it was 
with some surprise that she opened her eyes to the gray light of dawn 
seeping into the cave.  Raising her head gingerly, she tried to sit up, 
but only made it halfway before collapsing back, panting heavily.  Gods 
she was tired!  Her stomach rumbled noisily, and she wondered if there 
was any leftover zebra lying about.
	Her eyes flew open and she peered at her abdomen with renewed 
interest.  The pain she felt was not the sharp stabs of agony from 
yesterday, but the mild pangs of hunger.  And that other sensation she 
felt...she froze as she felt a soft kick from one of the unborn cubs 
inside her.
	"Oh, God!"  she exclaimed with delight.  "Ahadi!"
	Outside, the king's eyes flew open as he heard her call.  Leaping 
to his feet, he inadvertently smacked Shaka in the nose with a hind leg.
	"Ouch!"  Rudely awakened, the lion rubbed his wounded nose, eyes 
watering as he watched his brother sprint towards the cavern mouth.  
Ahadi burst inside, trotting quickly over to Akase and nuzzling her 
lovingly.  "Beloved!  Thank God you're all right!"
	"Oh, pfft on me.  Listen!"  She laid a forepaw over the back of 
his neck and drew his head close to her, pressing his ear to her belly.  
Her eyes sparkled in delight as she watched his face light up.  "I can 
feel them!  I can feel them, Akase!"  She laughed, the sound filling the 
air like sweet music as she kissed his cheek.  "Thank Aiheu."
	"Aiheu, and a certain mandrill we know."  He grinned widely.  
"Metutu!  Makedde!  Come in here immediately!"
	The two brothers stumbled in sleepily, rubbing their eyes.  The 
sight of the radiant Akase and Ahadi immediately aroused them, though.  
Metutu bowed low before Ahadi.  "Your Majesty."
	Ahadi nuzzled him so suddenly and hard, it rolled Metutu over.  
"Metutu, I owe you more than I can repay."   He kissed the mandrill with 
his warm, moist tongue.  "Bless you!  You have saved my wife and 
children.  If there is anything you desire, name it."
	"Your Highness, I heal out of love.  Love brought me here, and 
love taught me the secret.  I want your friendship."
	"You already had that.  Surely, there must be something else?"
	"Well..."  Metutu looked at Makedde shyly, who nodded.  "Your 
Highness, my brother grows old, and will soon be replaced by a new 
shaman.  If you love me, let me remain here.  Tell my brother that you 
have captured my heart.  If I had to leave, I would have no more heart."
	Ahadi looked at him for a long moment.  "This is what you would 
have of me?"
	"Y-Yes.  If it is too much trouble, I'll understand."
	"Metutu, let me tell you something."  Ahadi leaned close, until 
his face loomed in front of Metutu's.  "Should your Council of Elders 
dare to appoint anyone else but you as my shaman when Makedde is 
relieved, I shall be displeased.  Very displeased.  Understand?"
	"I understand."  Metutu kissed his mane.  "I love you, Ahadi."
	Ahadi smiled.  "Yes, I can see it in your face.  And that face is 
anything but plain to me, my little striped friend.  There is another 
way I will show my gratitude.  From this day on, you shall not be called 
Metutu but Rafiki, for you are my true friend."


CHAPTER 32:  TWIN SONS

	As Akase's time to bear cubs came close, Rafiki watched with 
special interest.  No male mandrill had ever witnessed a birth before, 
and he was more than a little curious.  But far more than that, he felt 
a kinship to these lives that he had already saved once.
	As it was, Akase had already shown great affection for Rafiki, and 
had asked him to place his ear against her side to listen to the cubs 
moving about.  Now how many mandrills had ever done that before!
	"And when will we be hearing good news from the shaman?"
	Rafiki smiled wryly.  "Akase, let's say no new arrivals are on the 
way yet, but not from lack of wishful thinking."
	Akase patted him affectionately with her paw.  "Surely the gods 
will give you fine cubs.  I want to be there when their eyes open."
	Rafiki tried to hide his amusement.  "They are born with their 
eyes open.  Of course they don't see too well for the first few days."
	"I want to be their Auntie, if you'll have me."
	"Have you?  I'd like to see you try and squirm out of it!"
	Uzuri came in.  The hunt mistress looked at Rafiki and laughed.
	"What's so funny, madam?"
	"I don't mean anything wrong by it," she said, giggling.  "It's 
just you're so cute when you walk on your back legs like that."
	"That's not very polite," Akase said with a frown.
	"Oh, that's very polite coming from Uzuri," Rafiki said with a 
warm smile.  "Yesterday it was these colored stripes on my face.  Before 
that, it was these colored stripes on my....other end."
	He saluted her and walked on by.  Then Rafiki wheeled about and 
saw Uzuri staring at his buttocks with a broad smile.  "You're just 
jealous."
	Rafiki went on his way with a happy hum.  Uzuri used to laugh at 
his appearance, but there was a good natured friendliness about her that 
warmed his heart.  He wanted a witty come back line, but she was so 
beautiful and possessed a silky smooth manner that surrounded her like a 
turtle shell and deflected even the most determined attack.
	Due to the difficult nature of Akase's pregnancy, Rafiki had to 
stay near Pride Rock day and night.  The extra time around lions had 
been very instructive.  For one thing, they stopped acting like they had 
company and just acted like themselves.  Mothers began to groom their 
cubs.  Itches began being scratched, regardless of their location.  But 
much more than this, talk became more loose and free.  Rafiki learned 
more in those days about what lionesses think than he had in the whole 
rest of his time in the Pride Lands.  He also discovered a joy that 
would rarely be his--napping wherever and whenever he liked.  He had a 
lot of time to kill for the first time since he was very young.  The 
lionesses would drop to the ground in groups, enjoying the contact.  
This posed a bit of a problem for Rafiki since he was a mandrill.  But 
Uzuri quickly solved it.  When she lay down and saw Rafiki's searching 
face, she would pat the ground next to her and flick her muzzle back.  
And gratefully he would come and snuggle next to her.  In those special 
moments, there was no need for humor in their relationship.  And 
sometimes Rafiki discovered that if he lay very still and pretended to 
be asleep, Uzuri would touch his cheek with her warm, moist tongue and 
purr.  He would fight very hard not to break out in a revealing smile 
and stay very still.
	Long days passed which turned into long nights.  Though Akase was 
getting restless, she was not allowed to hunt, and had to suffer through 
the performance of her "royal duty," avoiding any possibility of 
endangering the already perilous pregnancy.
	Rafiki was even more restless.  While Akase was brought food from 
the hunt, he looked at the delicacies he was offered and almost 
wretched.  He would smile and eat a little meat, but afterward had to 
step away and find fresh grass, then take a little Tiko Root to keep it 
down.  He would easily use up a week's worth of work at each meal as the 
precious herb was downed, but without it the meat would come right back 
up.  The strong minty fragrance began to linger around him, coming out 
in his perspiration and every breath he exhaled.  Then one day Uzuri 
came back from the hunt bearing a cluster of wild grapes as large as a 
melon.  "Do you eat these?"
	Rafiki seized the prize greedily.  "Yes!  Thank you!"  He ate the 
whole cluster in one setting, then sat back with his stomach full to 
capacity for the first time in several days.  The sensation made him a 
little sleepy, and he looked forward to another nap beside Uzuri.
	"It's time!" Akase shouted.  "Hurry!"
	Rafiki's sleepiness vanished.  He ran into the cave to where Akase 
lay, bathed in sweat and panting.  While he offered her a gourd full of 
water, Uzuri took up her position as midwife.
	"Are you all right?" Rafiki asked?
	"I'm being slowly twisted in half.  Otherwise, I'm fine."
	Uzuri nuzzled Akase.  "How are the contractions coming?"
	"Strong.  Fast."  Akase stared at no one in particular and panted.  
"Oh gods," she said.  "Here they come!"  Her water broke, and Akase 
gnashed her teeth.  Her breath came deep and fast.
	"I see a nose," Uzuri said excitedly.  She watched closely to see 
who was first born.  "Here he comes!"
	Rafiki watched in horror.  Despite all he heard about birth being 
a beautiful thing and a miracle, he saw that it was also very gory in 
some respects.  He quickly grabbed another sprig of Tiko Root and bit 
down.
	"He's a male!  Oh, look at him!"  Akase cleaned off the tissues 
and fluids with the excitement of a child opening a birthday present.  
"He's so beautiful!"  Actually, he looked to Rafiki like a drowned rat.
	Another nose came out, shortly followed by the rest of a cub.  
"Another male!  Twin sons!"
	Akase smiled.  "Twin sons!"  Various other things came out, 
leaving quite a mess on the cave floor.
	"He's not breathing!"  Uzuri prodded and licked the second cub.  
"Oh no, he's dead!"
	"The will of Aiheu," Akase said quietly.  "At least I have a son.  
That's more than I ever thought I'd have."
	Rafiki was seized by a thought.  Later he would say it could have 
been a vision.  Queasiness was forgotten.  He quickly grabbed the wet, 
dead cub from Uzuri and put him on the floor.  With his hands together, 
he pumped the small chest a couple of times, then putting his mouth over 
the cub's tiny muzzle, blew into it until the chest rose.  He let the 
air run out, then repeated it.
	"What are you doing??"  Uzuri stared.  "He's dead.  Let him rest 
in peace!"
	"Bear with me."  Rafiki blew several more breaths into the cub, 
and then when he was about to give up, the cub grimaced, coughed, and 
took in a deep gasp.
	"Oh my gods!" Uzuri shouted.  "He raised the dead!"
	"What happened?" Akase asked.  "Did I hear what I thought I 
heard?"
	"He's alive!"
	Swimming in a sea of elation, Rafiki held the little cub close to 
his heart.  "Thank you, Aiheu!  Thank you!"  He kissed him and whirled 
about, holding his wet body to his face.  "Oh, you precious little 
thing!  God bless you!  Live forever!"
	"He must nurse," Akase reminded him.  "If you're finished, my 
friend...."
	"Oh yes."  He put the undersized cub next to his brother and 
watched the two of them draw life from their mother.  He bent down and 
kissed Akase, then he went to Uzuri, hugged her and kissed her cheek.
	"We have a custom," Akase said softly.  "You have saved his life 
twice now.  You are his uncle now, and he is your nephew."
	"I like that custom."
	He looked down at the cub.  "What is his name?"
	"I call him Taka.  And his brother is Mufasa.  I had thought of 
those names for a long time."
	"Taka," he said.  "My little Taka."
	Then in the middle of his haze of joy, he remembered hugging and 
kissing Uzuri.  He looked back over at her.  A blush of embarrassment 
made the colors of his face all the brighter.  She stared back at him, 
rubbing her cheek with a paw.
	Quietly, he gathered up his staff, his empty water gourd, bowed to 
the queen and headed out.
	He dared not look around, but could hear behind him the padding of 
lioness feet.  As he headed at long last toward his baobab, he tried to 
be casual about it.  Still the feet followed him.  He cringed inside.
	"Oh Rafiki?"
	He stopped still but didn't look around.  "Yes, Uzuri?"
	She came up beside him and sat down directly in his path.  "Am I 
mistaken, or did you kiss me in the cave?"
	"I think it was on the cheek, actually."  He made a feeble attempt 
at laughter.  "I was just so happy for little Taka.  You know, the cub I 
saved?"
	"So that was it?  You were so happy for little Taka?"  Betraying 
no emotions, she drew closer.  "Did you enjoy it?"
	"I'm not sure.  Should I have?"
	She cracked a grin.  "Why don't you try again, and this time pay 
attention."
	He smiled an embarrassed grin and came forward.  "Like this?"  He 
put his arms around her neck, rubbing his hands along her side and 
nestling his cheek to her shoulder.  "Uzuri, I enjoyed every moment of 
our time together.  You are a very special lady, and very dear to my 
heart."
	She touched him with her tongue.  "You must teach me how to 
breathe into a cub.  Where did you ever learn that?"
	"You know, I didn't learn that," he said, still holding tightly to 
Uzuri.  "It just came to me."
	"That's amazing."  She touched him with her tongue again.  "You 
may let go now."
	"Oh."  He gave her another pat and let his arms slip down.  "I got 
a little carried away."
	"That's all right.  But wash off before you hug me again."
	"Oh."  Blood and humors had matted his hair and made him smell 
like a newborn cub.  "Ycch!  Good heavens!"  He left straightway for the 
creek.

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