CHAPTER 33:  THE PREDICTION

	"And so it was when Koko the Gorilla, who had thrown mud into the 
holy lake, became sorely afraid.  For from the fouled milk of Mara arose 
the Makei.  Their faces were terrible to see.  Just enough mud had been 
cast into the lake that they could take the shapes of Ma'at, but not the 
substance.  And while they longed for pleasure, they were unable to 
experience it.  Grief and anger, however, were theirs and they plumbed 
them to the depths for only when they were sad or angry did they feel 
alive.
	"They cried out to Aiheu.  `Lord!  Why have you given us only 
pain?  Where is our beauty, our happiness?" 
	And Aiheu wept, for their suffering was dire.  And he said, 
"Though the cause does not lie in your own actions, you are polluted.  
Do not be filled with resentment, but rather be mindful of the hope I 
offer you.  Cleansing comes from within, in a clean heart and truthful 
witness.  You will be sorely tempted by the mud, but you are also full 
of my milk, and it will overcome all else if you let it.  Remember in 
your darkness that my light is with you, shining on the true path."

                  --  THE LEONINE STORY OF BEGINNINGS, VARIATION D-4-A

	When Ahadi's sons were old enough, they would come to Makedde who 
loved children of all kinds.  He would tell them stories from the simian 
past and the leonine past.  Rafiki loved to hear these as well, and he 
would get snacks for the cubs when they came.  Making these treats was 
no small task, for they were small strips of meat cured and dried with 
spices.  It was a sign of Rafiki's devotion to the children that he 
would scavenge the meat, for while mandrills were corban to the lions, 
the hyenas did not honor the Peace of Asumini and would gladly snack on 
mandrill!  However Rafiki soon forgot the danger when he saw the smiles 
on the cubs' faces when he held out the jerky from behind his back.  
"Are there any good little cubs here?"  The resultant tumult was 
deafening, but both Rafiki and Makedde loved every minute of it.
	Makedde would not have approved the extra tidbits that Rafiki 
handed out when his back was turned.  At times he wondered why the 
children always flocked to his younger brother whenever they came 
calling.  But of all the cubs, only Taka would get an occasional piece 
of rare Tiko root.  Rafiki would hold up the root and say, "Who do you 
love?"
	"You, Uncle Fiki!"
	"How much do you love me?"
	"More than life!"
	Laughing, Rafiki would drop the Tiko root and Taka would snap it 
up.  He never let it hit the ground once.  But after the prize was 
eaten, Taka would wait to nuzzle Rafiki and say, "I really do, honest."  
He knew to close his eyes quickly, for sure as the world Rafiki would 
kiss him on the face and whisper, "My precious little boy!"  These were 
the moments of unbridled joy by which Taka would later measure the 
depths of his pain.
	Rafiki was nearly crushed by the enormous number of things he had 
to learn.  Makedde was patient, but he knew that there was much his 
young brother needed to know to be confirmed as a shaman, and he pushed 
Rafiki as far as he safely thought he could.  And this urgency was not 
without just cause.  The struggle of Aiheuism and Pistism was heating up 
again, or so Wandani had said when he made the long trip to the baobab.  
Makoko did not have the years of acceptance that had made his father a 
fixture in the political landscape.  And even worse, he did not have the 
talent or the desire to dig up secrets on his enemies which he seemed to 
inherit simply by being Kinara's son.
	Scrying was Rafiki's favorite activity.  He would have been even 
more enthusiastic about it if Makedde did not impose such strict rules.  
The pursuit of the future and past can take one's mind off the present, 
and that is where all of Aiheu's creatures find their rightful work.  
Rafiki had a tendency to cling to his unfortunate mother, something that 
only served to deepen his hurt for he could see her but not touch her.  
Makedde was strict, but only as strict as he had to be, so there were 
times it was all right for Rafiki to contact his loved ones.
	Opening a window on the spirit realm was not without risk.  It had 
to be done carefully and only after certain precautions had been taken.  
The lesser Makei were by and large morose spirits in search of 
salvation, and were by their nature prone to try and better themselves.  
The greater Makei, however, were ruthless and would take any means to 
work mischief on the world of Ma'at.  They waited for someone to open a 
passageway they could go through.  For this reason, no shaman would scry 
without first invoking the chief Nisei.  Mano and Minshasa were of all 
the Nisei the most powerful, and their link to Aiheu was very strong.  
They would sweep away the dark spirits to let only the truth come 
through.  Rafiki was working on his guardian prayers when three visitors 
came to the baobab.
	"Rafiki, mix a poultice quick!"  Makedde rushed to the bleeding 
cub.  "Oh Master Taka, what have you done now!"
	Rafiki looked up.  His favorite cub was suffering.  "Oh gods!"
	Makedde held up his hand on one side of Taka's head, then the 
other.  "No sight on that side.  This is bad.  Very bad.  But perhaps I 
can fix it."
	Makedde got some moistened Alba from Rafiki and squeezed it on the 
ground.  The dust became mud, and he took this mud carefully in his 
hand.
	"These are badger marks," Makedde said.  "If I couldn't see it, I 
could sure smell it."  He shook his head.  "What on earth possessed you 
to play with the badgers?  You know they are dangerous."
	"It was a white badger," Taka said.  "I wanted to get a wish, like 
N'ga and Sufa."
	"Oh I see."  He frowned.  "You don't know the difference between a 
white lioness and a white badger!  So you wanted a wish, did you?"
	"It was my idea," Mufasa said.  "When we died, I wanted my brother 
to sit by me with the great kings of the past."
	The remark misted Rafiki's eyes.
	"Noble sentiment indeed," Makedde said, "but all living things are 
precious to Aiheu."
	Makedde packed Taka's damaged eye with herbal mud, then pressed it 
carefully back into its socket.  The eyeball had been lightly scratched 
but not punctured.  Makedde washed away some of the mud a little at a 
time, then he sealed the edges of the cut with Dwe'dwe resin.
	Rafiki brought a gourd of water for Taka to which Makedde added 
blood builders, pain killers and a disinfectant.  A little honey went in 
to sweeten the mix, but not by much.  "It won't taste good, but it will 
feel good."
	Taka found the mixture hardly bearable, but he was terribly 
thirsty after losing so much blood in the heat.  And it did feel good.
	Sarabi asked, "Will that eye work again?"
	"Rafiki," Makedde asked, "You heard the lady.  What will come of 
Taka?"
	Rafiki was nervous.  He was as afraid of the answer as Taka was.  
It was his first time to scry for another, so he looked into the water 
thoughtfully, trying to remember all his brother taught him.  A wind 
came out of the west and stirred the water.  It carried with it the odor 
of decay.  The ripples died down, and he gasped.  "Wait, something 
appears.  It tells me...."
	"What?" Sarabi asked impatiently.
	Rafiki stared into the water.  A chill swept over him as he 
suddenly felt his spirit being seized within his own body by a 
tremendous force.  "Makedde, help me!" he shouted, but no sound came 
out.  He tried to show his distress by gestures, or even by a look of 
horror.  He had no control of his own body, but apparently the spirit 
inside him did.
	A deep voice came from inside him.  "The road is long and hard.  
Those who smile to your face bare their teeth as you leave."  Rafiki 
felt himself leave the bowl and stoop in front of Taka.  He fought but 
was weak and helpless as a newborn.  Pointing an accusing finger, the 
spirit said, "Friends come from unlikely places, then abandon you in 
your hour of need.  He who is first to touch you shall beget your doom, 
and she who gives you love shall let it turn to hate."
	The prayer!  Rafiki had forgotten the prayer of protection.  
"Mano!" he cried out in spirit.  "Minshasa!  Help me!  Aiheu!  Oh gods!"
	"Rafiki!" Makedde shouted.  "Control it!  It's an evil spirit!"
	"Anger is your only salvation," the spirit muttered, gripping Taka 
by the fur of his cheek.  "Arm yourself with cruel hate.  Take what is 
yours, for it shall not be freely given."
	Taka broke away and tried to hide behind Sarabi and Mufasa, 
crouching low and trembling.  "No!  It's not so!  Tell me it's not so!"
	"Stop it!"  Makedde shook him violently.  "Stop it in the name of 
the gods!"
	Rafiki looked wild-eyed as if he'd seen a ghost.  He could move--
he could speak!  It took him a few moments to fully come to himself.  
"Brother!  Oh gods, what happened to me??  I could not control myself.  
I was a stick, and some hand was swinging me!"
	Mufasa's jaw was slack with horror.  "Is this going to happen for 
sure?  Can't we stop it?"
	Rafiki was as weak as a newborn kitten.  He crawled behind Muffy 
and Sassie to look at the cringing Taka.  "Don't be afraid, my son.  
It's gone!  I didn't say those things!"  He stroked Taka and wept.  "Oh 
gods, that was not me speaking.  That was not me!  I love you.  I would 
never say such things.  You must love, always love, the way I love you.  
Forgive me.  Please forgive me!"
	"My brother did not know what he was saying," Makedde said.  " 
Smell the reek of death in the air?  If you forget to pray for 
protection, evil spirits come to speak, and they use a half-truth to 
work mischief.  When I can see you alone, Taka, I'll tell your future 
and I will do it right."
	Taka wept.  "Do they really hate me?"
	"No, Taka," Mufasa said.  "We all love you, even if you do get in 
trouble all the time."
	"But what if it's right?" Sarabi asked.  "I mean if its a half-
truth, doesn't that mean half of it is true?"
	"None of it's true," Mufasa said.  He touched Taka's shoulder with 
his paw.  "There--I'm the first one to touch you.  I'm your bestest 
friend in the world, so you don't have to worry any more."
	"And I'm the one that loves you most," Sarabi said.  "When we grow 
up, I'm going to marry you."
	Taka smiled.  "I can see you!  I can see you with both eyes!"  He 
nuzzled her.  "You would never hurt me, would you, Sassie?"
	"Never!  Not in a million years."
	After the cubs had left, Rafiki crawled to the wall of the baobab 
where he rested his head and wept.  "Poor little child!  Don't let them 
hurt him!  Please don't let them hurt him!  I would give him the blood 
of mercy!  I would die for him!"
	"Rafiki, are you all right?"
	"Who cares!  Is Taka all right??"
	"Do you think so?"
	"Brother, I'm afraid there is more than half truth to this."
	"I know," Makedde said.  "But sometimes it is from the telling 
that the prophesy comes true.  You did not pray for guidance first--you 
left yourself unprotected.  Evil spirits just wait for chances like 
this.  They speak their piece, filling innocent little heads with foul 
thoughts to stir up trouble.  Sometimes silence is the wisest prophesy 
of all."
	Rafiki hung his head.  "I am so ashamed.  Can't I undo it, 
brother?  Is there nothing I can do?"
	Makedde went back to the scrying pool.  He looked deeply into the 
water, praying first to Mano and Minshasa for protection.  Then there 
was a gentle breeze from the east and on the wind was wafted the 
comforting scent of wild honey.  The wind stirred the surface of the 
water, and after it had passed, the power of the holy pair had dispelled 
the shadows.
	Makedde stared like one in a trance.  "Rafiki, if you would hear 
the words of Aiheu, pay attention.  For a little truth is like a little 
branch that will not reach to the choice fruit."
	The young mandrill fell on his face.  "Speak, Lord."
	"A spirit has entered your world.  The evil which you have set 
free, you must also bind.  All the years of your life shall you toil to 
undo a careless moment.  Milk and mud join quickly, but do they separate 
quickly?  Your words have made the milk unfit to drink, yet I have not 
forsaken you.  For if milk and mud are my creations, I can appoint whom 
I please to separate them, and it will be done."
	Makedde gently helped Rafiki to his feet and helped him climb up a 
large branch to a fork near the top of the huge baobab.  Here, the 
branches had interwoven tightly, forming a kind of nook in which he sat 
down.
	Cupping his chin in his hand reflectively, Rafiki sat silently, 
feeling the great tree sway beneath him, listening to the wind whisper 
past his ears, and watched the sun track its way across the great dome 
of the sky.
	Some hours later, the twinkling stars emerged from their daytime 
hiding places to find him still there, unmoving.  The gentle breeze had 
turned cold with the passage of the sun, but the mandrill sat shivering, 
and made no move to go below.
	"I deserve it," he thought.  "I have destroyed the very thing I 
love!"  Aloud he whispered, "Oh God, what am I doing out here?"
	"I was about to ask you the same question."
	He turned to see Asumini behind him.  "What?"
	"Your dinner is ready."
	He shook his head.  "I don't think I could stomach anything right 
now."
	The night breeze ruffled her hair gently as she sat next to him 
and hugged him close.  "What's wrong?"
	"I ruined young Taka's life, today.  Gods, how could I have been 
so stupid?!"  He clutched his head in his hands.  "Am I really the one 
Minshasa chose to serve the King?  God rest his soul, but maybe your 
father's dreams were bigger than his hold on reality."  He raised his 
head and looked at her glumly.  "You always did like the forest better 
than the savanna anyway, didn't you?"
	Her forehead furrowed in confusion.  "What are you getting at?"
	"I'm talking about quitting."  He looked back at the dark skyline, 
avoiding her questioning gaze.  "I'd be better off foraging for a living 
than dabbling in things I have no talent for."
	"What?"  Asumini drew back in disbelief. "Metutu, you can't!  You 
are a wonderful healer, and a fine shaman."
	"Pfah.  I should have stuck with being a scribe.  When Mother 
died, I hurt so badly.  Gods, Asumini, I just wanted to DO something, to 
make a difference!"  he shook his head and laughed bitterly.  "Oh, I 
made a difference, all right!  In a matter of seconds I took everything 
Taka held dear and ripped it to shreds.  He would have been better off 
had I never shown my face here."
	Asumini moved around and looked him in the eyes.  "He would have 
been dead had you never shown your face here.  Along with his brother 
and mother.  You made a difference then, love.  You will do it again."
	"So I saved his life only to ruin it three moons later.  I've 
accomplished something indeed."  He reached out and broke a stem from a 
nearby branch, twisting it between his fingers slowly.  "Asumini, your 
father showed me his dream.  I was supposed to be the chief that would 
save mandrill society from itself.  I was SUPPOSED to be the voice of 
Aiheu to my people."  Angrily, he cast the twig away.  "I reward his 
trust by dragging you out in the middle of nowhere and playing God."
	Asumini sat silently for a moment, then rose.  She carefully made 
her way over to the branch and began to climb down, but paused.  
"Rafiki?"
	Rafiki half turned.  "Yes?"
	"I love you dearly, and will stay with you no matter what you 
decide.  But think on this.  If you had the choice to make all over 
again, if you could choose between becoming the great chief and leader 
of our people, or saving the life of that one little cub: which would it 
be?"  Without waiting for an answer, she turned and left.
	It was well into the night before he followed her.  He slept only 
lightly, and his dreams were fraught with nightmares, in which the scene 
with Taka was repeated over and over.  Finally he gave up, rising long 
before the sun made an appearance, and climbing quietly up to his perch 
where he had sat the previous night.  Crossing his legs, he gazed into 
the expectant eastern sky, looking like a stone sentinel set to guard 
over some priceless treasure.
	Feeling the tree shake, he looked about and saw Makedde ascending 
behind him.  "Good morning, brother."
	"Good morning, Rafiki.  Up early, I see."  Makedde froze in the 
midst of reaching for a handhold, shock widening his eyes as he stared 
at his brother.  "My God, what has happened to you?!"
	"What are you talking about?"
	"Go look at yourself!"
	Rafiki climbed down, grumbling irritably.  "Honestly.  I just 
haven't had much sleep, brother."  Reaching the naos of the baobab, he 
meandered over to the scrying bowl which still stood full of water.  
"From the look on your face, I'd have thought you had seen a monster."  
	Suddenly he caught sight of his reflection.  An old mandrill, 
wizened and white-haired with age, stared back at him.
	"Oh my gods, what has happened to me?"  Rafiki moaned, clutching 
at his cheeks with his fingers, feeling the irrefutable evidence of the 
lines etched within.  He turned to Makedde, who stood next to him, the 
horror in Rafiki's eyes reflected in his own.  "Brother?  What's wrong 
with me?"
	"It was the Makei."  Makedde sat down heavily.  "The spirit has 
drained much of your youth."
	"And left this empty husk behind," Rafiki added bitterly, staring 
at his withered hands.  "Why didn't it finish the job??  Why didn't it 
go ahead and kill me!"
	"Do not speak such nonsense!"  Makedde grabbed Rafiki by the 
shoulders roughly.  "Your body may be weakened, but your mind is 
untouched.  Use it!  Think, brother!"
	"I am."  Rafiki shook him off and snatched up an empty basket 
Makedde used to store dried herbs.  Picking up his digging stick, he 
chucked it inside, and reached for a small pouch of medicines.
	"What are you doing?"  Makedde said, watching him toss item after 
item into the basket.
	"Thinking."  Rafiki continued to pack the basket without looking 
up.  "I think it would be best if I left this place for good."
	Makedde looked alarmed.  "Brother, these are hasty thoughts, borne 
of the heart, and not the head.  Reconsider."
	Rafiki shook his head.  "This is for the best.  I will best serve 
the house of Ahadi by staying as far away from it as possible, now.  I 
have caused enough damage by my folly."  He picked up his medicine pouch 
and tossed it into the basket.  To his irritation, a small packet 
slipped out and landed with a slap on the ground.  Grumbling, he walked 
over and picked it up.
	The old, brittle covering of leaves fell away, and he found 
himself staring at a small remnant of Maraliscus.  The soft fronds 
tickled his palm as he ran them through his fingers gently.
	Makedde cocked his head curiously.  "What's that you've got 
there?"
	"Huh?  Oh, nothing.  Just some Maraliscus leaf."  He crammed it 
unceremoniously into the basket.  "Leftover herbs; you know."
	"Indeed I do."  Makedde frowned sternly.  "I know you are making a 
big mistake in going."
	"Brother, please!  You know this is for the best."
	"I know nothing of the sort.  What I DO know is that-"  he broke 
off, staring over Rafiki's shoulder.  Turning to look, the mandrill saw 
a questing paw appear at the edge of the baobab's lobby-like center.  
Small claws which had been only partway retracted now flicked out to 
their full extent, and a very weary looking lion cub hauled himself up 
into the tree.
	"Taka??  What are you doing here??"
	The little cub looked at him curiously.  "Uncle Fiki asked me to 
come back this morning so he could check my eye.  Is he still asleep?"
	Rafiki felt a thorn pierce his heart.  "No!  No, Taka.  It's me!"  
Rafiki walked over and knelt in front of the cub, holding his hand out.  
Taka sniffed it curiously, then looked up at him, bewildered.  "Uncle 
Fiki?!  What's wrong with your face?"
	Rafiki ran a hand over his features tremblingly, then forced a 
smile to his face.  "I'm just getting older.  Now, be a big boy and hold 
still while I look at the cut, okay?"
	"Okay."  Taka cocked his head obligingly, but squinted the other 
eye shut, anticipating pain.
	With the lightest of touches, Rafiki gently moved the fur away 
from the torn eye.  The mandrill nodded approvingly, seeing the clean 
area where Akase's careful tongue had done its job.  "Good.  No 
infection in the cut.  But I'm afraid my brother was right, it will 
leave a scar."  He clucked sympathetically.  "You poor child.  This 
should never have happened to one so young."
	Taka smiled up at him, his swollen eyelid making his grin 
lopsided, and all the more endearing.  "It's OK.  It doesn't hurt that 
bad."
	"Oh, now aren't we the big brave lion!"  Rafiki again forced a 
smile to his face.  He fought to hold his emotions in check, wondering 
how Taka couldn't see the turmoil inside.
	Taka peered over his shoulder at the half open basket.  "Ooh!  
Whatcha got?  Any jerky?"  Without waiting for an answer, he darted past 
Rafiki and was nosing in the basket before the mandrill could stop him.
	"Taka, no!  Please don't touch that."
	The cub looked at him slowly.  "All your stuff's in here, Rafiki.  
Are you going away?"
	Rafiki looked at his brother helplessly.  "Yes I am, Taka."
	Taka's jaw began to tremble, his eyes growing large and bright.  
"But you love me!  You can't go!"
	"Taka, I have to go.  It was my fault you heard that stupid 
prophecy.  I must leave before I cause you more pain."  He move towards 
the cub, intending to comfort him, but Taka drew back.
	"So you're not going to stay?  Even if I want you to?"  The tears 
began to roll down Taka's face in earnest.  "Is it happening already?  
Don't you want to be friends anymore?"  He buried his face in his paws, 
sobbing.  "It's my fault, isn't it?  I made you look old.  I didn't 
mean, it, Uncle Fiki, I SWEAR!"  Taka collapsed to the floor of the 
baobab, crying hoarsely.  "I won't ask you to tell the future again!  
I'm SORRY!"
	"Oh gods, what am I doing?"  Rafiki  went to the shaking cub and 
held him close, stroking his soft fur.  "I didn't think you'd want me 
around after that.  Yes, I want to be friends!  Oh Taka, you know how 
much I love you!"
	Taka looked up at him, sniffling, both eyes now equally reddened.  
"R-Really?  You really do love me?"
	"More than life!  Just like you love me!"  Rafiki reached up and 
drew a hand down his seamed features.  "This is a mark of my love for 
you.  Never forget that.  If I hadn't fought the evil spirit so hard, 
I'd still be young.  But I did--I fought it tooth and claw!  I'd fight a 
whole pride of evil spirits for my precious little boy!"
	The little cub peered into his eyes searchingly for a moment 
longer, then nodded.  Reaching up with a forepaw, he drew it down 
Rafiki's face lightly, feeling the wrinkles give under his gentle paws.  
"It's not so bad," he said at length.  "You look better than I do, 
anyway."
	Unable to speak, Rafiki clutched Taka to his chest, rocking him 
back and forth as he stroked his dark fur.  
	Makedde paced quietly over and emptied the basket onto the floor.  
Bending down, he picked up Rafiki's medicine pouch and hung it up on the 
bole of the tree again.  Satisfied, he picked up the basket and tossed 
it into a corner.  "You shouldn't need this anymore."


CHAPTER 34:  MODUS OPERANDI

	Of all the animals in the Pride Lands, only the lions surpassed 
the hyenas in their perception of time.  The clan watched eagerly as 
Sister Moon grew pregnant again.  This was her sixth litter since the 
birth of Mufasa and Taka, and they looked forward eagerly to the 
migrating herds that would soon begin passing through the Pride Lands.  
	One day the scouts returned with a report of Hartebeest grazing 
only a few minutes away!  The hunters chuckled as they sortied forth to 
the hunt; Great Roh'kash smiled upon them today indeed.  Only a few 
hours later, at highsun, the lookouts spotted the hunting party 
returning as fast as their legs could carry them.  Bolting into the 
graveyard proper, they were quick to mingle with the large group and 
lose themselves.
	Several guards crowded around curiously.  "What happened?"
	"Hsssh!  Nothing!"
	"What is that smell?"  One of the lookouts sniffed warily, then 
recoiled.  "My gods, have you been eating lion?"
	"None of your business!"
	One of the hyenas, Jalkort, had been a little slower than the 
rest.  He skidded down the hill at the entrance to the graveyard and 
stumbled over a pile of bones.  Right behind him came Shaka, the Prince 
Consort.
	"Cripes, you HAVE been eating lion!  We're all going to die!"
	In moments, Shaka was on top of him.  Jalkort's ribs creaked as 
the huge lion rested his weight on the small body.  "You killed my wife!  
You ripped out my heart, and I will rip out yours!  I give you a moment 
to pray to your god."
	Hyenas quickly crowded around, some indignant, all curious.  One 
of them was Amarakh, the ruling Roh'mach.
	"You are trespassing on our lands!" she said.  "You are holding 
one of my people!"
	"He's a murderer!"  Shaka glared at her, his eyes burning with 
terrible fury.  "He killed my wife in cold blood, and he was on my land!  
She had two cubs, Amarakh.  Two cubs that won't have a mother coming 
home tonight!  She was alive when they ripped her!  Alive!"
	She looked at the trembling hyena trapped under the large 
forepaws.  It was a face she knew all too well.  "I will investigate it.  
I know him.  He's a trouble maker anyhow, and you can be sure I will 
punish him if he's guilty."
	"IF??"  Shaka glared down at his prisoner.  "I saw him over her 
body.  Zazu saw the kill."  He drew very close to the anguished face.  
"You tell her!"  he bellowed at Jalkort, the force of his voice 
flattening the hyena's ears back against his head.  "TELL HER, VERMIN!"
	The trapped hyena squealed, "Somebody help me!"  He looked into 
the crowd.  His eyes met Fabana's and fixed pleadingly on her.  Her 
mouth silently formed the words, "Husband!  Why??"
	Amarakh stared right into Shaka's eyes, trying to appear as 
fearless as she could.  "You can't extract a confession to a murder by 
death threats."  She looked around at the hyena faces and saw agreement 
in their eyes.  It emboldened her.  "This is my land, and I give you my 
word we will investigate within the customs of our law.  But you must 
let him go.  Leave--now!"
	Shaka spat.  "I do not believe you."
	"You are not in a position to negotiate," Amarakh said.  "Leave at 
once.  I will see your brother the King tonight.  We will talk."
	Tears began to roll down Shaka's cheeks.  "You are right," he 
said.  He stared at her, his eyes as empty as the summer sky.  "You are 
absolutely right.  I am NOT in a position to negotiate!"  Looking 
heavenward, the lion took a deep breath.  "Aiheu abamami!!"  He swung 
down and taking the hyena's throat in his jaws bit down and twisted, 
nearly severing the head.  Blood shot out and spattered some of the 
onlookers and the body twitched in spasms before collapsing in a final 
sightless stare.
	Fabana shrieked and ran around in little circles.  "Oh gods!  Oh 
gods!"
	Hyenas looked at other hyenas.  The rage swept from body to body 
like a grass fire.  And as if by an unseen signal they all descended on 
Shaka and tore him apart.
	When she could restore order, there was very little left of Shaka.  
Amarakh looked at the remains and a fear sank into her like a dagger of 
ice.  "Roh'kash will soon test our mettle," she said.  "The Lion King 
Ahadi will no doubt wish to avenge his brother's death.  Well, we shall 
meet fang with fang, and claw with claw."  She raised her head high.  
"Oh, Chosen Ones!  Guard your children now!"  Turning to her mate, she 
nuzzled his shoulder.  "Set out double watch, my love.  I'm expecting 
company."
	Tension built as the time passed.  Then finally about three hours 
had elapsed when one of the guards called out, "Lions approaching at 
post number eight!"
	Ahadi appeared at the rim of the depression.  Beside him were 
Sarafina, Uzuri, Isha and Zazu.
	The four lions reached the boundary of the elephant graveyard.  
Waiting for them was a large war party with Amarakh.  "Steady lads.  Be 
ready to die for Roh'kash and Roh'mach!"
	The lions came in a tightly knit group, with fangs bared.  Ahadi 
came right up to Amarakh.  "Where is Shaka??"
	"What is left of him is removed to the place of the dead."  
Amarakh struggled to show defiance.  "He took the law into his own teeth 
and killed one of ours on our own land without a trial.  We offered to 
hold an inquest, a fair trial by the law of our people.  But he turned 
us down and killed a male whose wife is pregnant."
	Ahadi's eyes hardened into stone.  "So you murdered him!"
	"We EXECUTED him.  We couldn't wait for him to kill others.  He 
was too dangerous to place under arrest."
	"There is no doubt he was dangerous after his wife was ripped 
alive by YOUR PEOPLE!"  Ahadi unleashed a terrible roar.  Uzuri and Isha 
joined him, igniting terror in the hyena guard.  "We have seen the 
evidence."
	"We had not, Sire.  We could not be sure, and we could not wait to 
be sure."  She had Fabana brought forward.  "Here is the dead male's 
wife.  If you would have revenge, let all the people see that you fight 
honorably with her one on one.  Let them see that you have given her the 
FAIR chance to defend the honor of her family."
	The quaking female stammered, "Mercy!  Have mercy!  I am with 
child!"
	Ahadi looked at her with some pity.  "Now you know what it feels 
like to lose someone you love.  The Roh'mach is courting death to toy 
with my sympathies like this, but she has won this round.  You will not 
be harmed."
	But Ahadi looked sternly at Amarakh.  "Because your people have 
killed my brother, and because his wife was basely murdered, you are 
banned.  No more shall you scavenge on the Pride Lands.  Not until the 
last of the group that killed Avina is dead."
	"But my Lord, we will all starve!"
	"Perhaps a few hungry nights will motivate you to enforce your own 
laws, Amarakh.  Besides, this is not such a bad spot to scavenge.  You 
never know when an elephant might want to die."
	She held up her head and stared back.  "You mock me because you 
are powerful, and I am but a hyena.  But the gods know I must be fair to 
my people.  Grief has blinded you, impaired your judgment and robbed you 
of your wisdom."
	Ahadi and the lionesses left.  Someone had to break the news to 
Sarabi and Elanna.  Ahadi knew that Sarabi and Elanna belonged with him, 
and he knew he was the one that must speak the awful words.  "Aiheu 
abamami," he stammered.  "Please God, give me strength."
	Amarakh stood silently, watching them go.  All the efforts of 
generations of hyenas before her had left with them, she realized.  
Gnashing her teeth in frustration, she paced away towards her waiting 
mate.
	"This calls for immediate action.  This ban of Ahadi's means death 
for us all if we don't find a way to placate him--fast."
	"But how?  You heard him.  All the guilty ones must die before 
he'll release the ban."
	"That's just it.  Ahadi has no target for his anger.  If we were 
to give him one..." she looked silently at him.
	"It's a little late for that, don't you think?" he snorted 
contemptuously.  "What are you going to do, smell their breath for lion  
leavings?  He was a big buffoon-there was enough to go around for all."
	"You overstep yourself," Amarakh said dangerously.
	"Well, what do YOU suggest?  Perhaps we should just ask them, eh?"
	Amarakh sat quietly, a smile tickling the corners of her mouth.  
"No, WE will not ask them.  But Shimbekh will."
	"The seer?"
	"Is there another Shimbekh?"  She cuffed him lightly.  "Of course, 
the seer. She is the most gifted in many generations.  She will sort out 
the truth if anyone can."  Amarakh gazed off into the distance, where 
Pride Rock could be seen shimmering in the heat.
	"And when we have found the guilty one, we will have justice.  The 
leader will be brought alive to the Lion King for judgment."  She rose 
and stalked off.
	In the great open courtyard at the entrance to the graveyard, the 
entire clan stood assembled, waiting nervously.  All were lined up.  One 
by one, they were asked one question: "Did you lead the attack?"  As 
each was cleared, their cheeks were marked with a bloody pawprint from 
the leavings of Shaka.
	At the far end of the line, one hyena looked on as the number of 
suspects began to narrow down.  He could not pass the test, and he did 
not want to die helplessly as Jalkort did.  Gur'mekh sneaked away 
temporarily, and with all the courage he could muster bit himself--hard-
-on the inside of the thigh.  He gritted his teeth and tried to blink 
back tears.  Taking his paw to the blood, he marked his cheek and then 
with agonizing effort put dust on the wound to stop the flow of blood a 
little.  It would not do to be hemorrhaging if the deception was to 
work.
	Trying to hide his limp, Gur'mekh tried to blend in to the other 
hyenas.  He realized to his horror that he had marked the wrong cheek, 
but it was too late.  He must try and go unnoticed.
	"Hey Gur'mekh, you're leg is bleeding!  How did you do that??"
	"Hsssh, Korg!  Not so loud!"
	Korg shook his head sympathetically.  "You should have that looked 
at."
	"I will later."
	"But it's serious."  He bent his head to examine the wound closer.
	"I'm serious.  Drop this conversation!"
	Korg sniffed of his cheek, a gesture that prompted Gur'mekh to 
slap him with a paw.  "STOP!"
	Heads turned.  Now Gur'mekh was the subject of scrutiny by dozens 
of hyenas.  He began to tremble.
	"It's yours!  It's your blood!"  Korg shouted, "Roh'mach, it was 
him!"
	Gur'mekh panicked.  He tried to run, but his leg was cramping.  He 
was quickly overtaken and stopped by bared teeth on all sides.  Pushing 
through the crowd was Shimbekh.  He tried not to look in her eyes.
	Shimbekh finally secured a straight-on stare into his eyes.  "Did 
you lead the attack?"
	Gur'mekh squirmed.  "She was dying anyhow!  In the name of the 
gods, there is no way she could have lived!"  He fought frantically with 
teeth and paws, but was grabbed roughly by the throat and choked into 
submission.
	Amarakh glared down at him.  "You've been a thorn in my side long 
enough.  This time you went too far, and you will pay for it."

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