CHAPTER 64:  I'M HOME!

	Makhpil looked on in horror as a living wave of hyenas crashed 
upon Simba, burying him under an assault of snapping jaws and ripping 
claws.  The lion struck out, scattering them in a bellow of fury as he 
methodically began to annihilate any and every opponent that seperated 
him from Taka, who stood across from them at the base of the promontory, 
exhorting the hyenas to fight on.  "Show no mercy!" Taka cried lustily.
	"Oh gods," she moaned as she saw a hyena tossed aside like a pup, 
shrieking horribly from the ragged wound in his side.  She recognized 
him well; he had come to her only last week to ask advice on where to 
dig a den for his mate.
	A terrific struggle ensued across from her, several hyena voices 
crying out in shock and fear.  Several went tumbling and rolling as Ber 
shouldered them aside, snapping savagely as he fought his way through 
the throng.  Behind him came Krull and Fabana, the two guarding Ber's 
flanks as he bludgeoned his way through the mass of his fellows, 
snarling defiantly.  Ber paused, seeing the mass of hyenas attacking 
Simba, and raised his voice.
	"To the King!"  he bellowed, turning lion heads as well as hyenas 
toward him.  "God and Roh'mach!!"
	An uproar joined him as the members of the hidden resistance 
group, plagued and tormented for years rose up with a shout and joined 
him.  "God and Roh'mach!"  Pandemonium reigned as hyena turned upon 
hyena, guards looking in surprise as companions they had known for years 
began to attack them bitterly.
	Makhpil felt her blood boil at the remembered injustices under the 
reign of Shenzi and Taka.  "God and Roh'mach!" she cried, turning upon a 
burly guard who was harrying Simba's flank.  Her fangs sank deep into 
his hide, and blood sprayed into her face in a hot flood.  Crying out, 
he whipped around, locking eyes with her.  "You!"
	"So Skulk, how do you do against an enemy who able to fight back, 
eh?!"  Makhpil bared her teeth at him.  "Not so easy as it was with 
Belvalen, eh?"
	"You WITCH!"  he cried, lunging at her.  She sidestepped neatly, 
dodging his attack with inches to spare.  He rose and flailed again, but 
she went under this time, tearing out a hunk of hair that made him wail 
with pain.  He stumbled back, stunned, a smear of blood reddening his 
chest like a blossom.  She started forward to finish him, but she 
stopped as the wave of pain and hurt hit her mind like an openhanded 
swat to the face, a soundless cry of agony that came from the spirit and 
not the flesh.
	"Why did you want to hurt me?" he thought.  "I liked you."
	His mind lay open to her suddenly, and she saw the hidden desire 
under the cruel exterior, a desperate wish for companionship that 
reached deep inside him to his core, a desolate lonliness that cried out 
for help.  And in her, he had seen the possibility of a way out.
	A way out now closed to him.
	She shuddered visibly and closed her mind, turning away so she 
would not have to look upon his face.  Leaving him standing there, she 
trotted away towards the spire of Pride Rock.
	Amarakh snarled viciously under the assault of a crowd of 
Shenzists.  Every time she tried to fight her way out, someone would 
attack her flanks, tearing at her horribly.  Makhpil pushed through to 
her and took up a position behind her.  Between the two of them, they 
could defend the small turf they occupied for the moment.  Amarakh 
groaned, feeling her strength draining from a dozen wounds as she looked 
upon the terrible battleground before them.  Hyenas, friend and foe 
alike lay srewn about, the bodies locked eternally in combat.  A cry of 
despair reached her as she saw the pitiful remnants of her Omlakh 
supporters being decimated by the sheer brute force of Shenzi's guards.
	Abruptly, the fighting hesitated, Shenzists and Omlakhs alike 
suddenly distracted.  Amarakh pointed, her breath catching in her 
throat.  "Great Roh'kash!"  she breathed.  "Look!"
	Makhpil looked and saw Simba and Taka engaged in a mortal struggle 
on the western crag.  And hovering around them was the false Roh'kash, 
now unmasked.  Melmokh was shielding Taka from the main brunt of the 
blows Simba tried to rain on him.
	Then burning with unearthly brilliance stood a mandrill holding a 
locket on a string.  The light came from the locket.  Beside him was a 
brilliant white lion, the largest she'd ever seen.  Why didn't the 
others see this?
	The spectre Melmokh obviously did.  Lightning came from the 
heavens, setting the grass aflame.  And Melmokh burned with a fierce 
rage himself, a living red firebrand so like the one in Fabana's 
nightmares.
	Rafiki took the locket at the end of its thong and spun it around 
his head.  The halo formed by the circling light seemed to slow down.  
The white lion crouched, his eyes bright with righteous indignation.  
Rafiki released the locket.  Mano sprang, his bright shilouette merging 
with the fire from the locket.  For one moment, Melmokh looked away from 
his work, and shrieked.  The white lion struck Melmokh, and a blinding 
flash of light erupted from the impact, followed by a psychic blast that 
stunned her with its fury.  Pain!  Horrible pain!  Their struggle sent 
out shock waves in the ether that drove jagged spikes through her 
consciousness.  Makhpil shrieked rolled around in agony before at last 
she mercifully fainted.
	Several moments passed in a sleep without dreams.  Finally she 
woke to the soft caress of rain in her face.  She felt something furry 
push her cheek.  The white lion was there, and he nuzzled her again.  
"Wake up, daughter."
	"Are you all right?"
	Mano smiled.  "I've been worse.  I've been better too."
	"Is Simba OK?  Did we win?"
	"We won.  Simba had a few cuts, but he's fine.  Ber took a lot 
more punishment, but I healed him of his pain as well."
	"How about Amarakh?"
	Mano's smile faded and he shook his head.  "She has passed beyond 
pain."
	It took a moment for his words to register, then Makhpil's 
features crumpled in grief.  "Oh God, no!"
	Running to Amarakh's still warm body, she started to paw the face.  
"No!  Roh'mach!  No, not in the moment of victory!"  She looked up.  
"Can't you bring her back?  You healed Ber--surely you can make her live 
again, can't you?"
	"I will live forever."  Light coalesced next to Mano, and the true 
Roh'mach herself emergerd, her featured composed and serene.  "Don't 
worry about me, child.  I've seen victory, and my heart is at peace.  
But take care of my husband--he's so helpless without me."
	"Anything you say, Amarakh.  I swear I'll take care of him."
	"Indeed she will," Mano said, nuzzling Amarakh.  "So will I."


CHAPTER 65:  HE LIVES IN YOU

		"The sated appetite spurns honey, but to a ravenous appetite 
	even the bitter is sweet."  

                                   -- PROVERBS 27, 7


	The confirmation of Uhuru as Roh'mach and her subsequent exile 
seemed that it must be Shenzi's ultimate humiliation.  She had been born 
a chosen one, but what she had been chosen by, no one was quite sure.
	Still, inside her she carried both the memories and the legacy of 
her relationship with Melmokh.  She was already beginning to show the 
"light in her eyes," as Fabana delicately put it.  Still Skulk, ever the 
na‹ve one, did not know that his "bak'ret" had long lost her maidenhood 
to another.
	Utterly disgraced, Shenzi followed Skulk meekly into the darkness 
of the savanna, hearing the soft calls of her brothers and their few 
compainions in the dark.
	Tired and footsore, the hyenas traveled well into the next day, 
stopping only to rest at high sun, whe it was too hot to travel any 
more.  They scattered under the spreading limbs of an acacia that 
provided welcome shade, panting fitfully in the intense heat.
	Shenzi pillowed her head against Skulk's flanks, looking at him 
through slitted eyes as he napped fitfully.  How, after all she had been 
through, could he still want her!  If only she were free to accept his 
frequent offers to pledge!  Surely the real Roh'kash would not consider 
her marriage binding.  After all, it was entered into under false 
pretennces.  All she knew is that she regretted her decision, and wanted 
something more substantial and wholesome.  Lies and empty promises had 
followed her literally from the moment of her birth.  Though she was no 
nisei herself, she still felt stifled by the wanton exploitation of her 
femininity.  She didn't know what to believe anymore, or who she could 
trust--all except for her faithful okash and Skulk.  Good old Skulk.
	Fabana came and nudged her.  She tossed her muzzle to the side and 
stared at her.
	Getting the hint, Shenzi stood up quietly and followed Fabana a 
short distance.  Fay made sure no one overheard them.
	"Shenzi, you must tell me plainly.  Are they Melmokh's?"
	"What?  Oh."  Shenzi looked down at her growing figure.  "Yeah.  
That's all we need right now is more mouths to feed."
	"That's not the issue," Fabana said sternly.  "This thing you had 
sex with--I won't even call it a ban'ret--is the creature that killed 
your father."
	"You mean the lion??"
	"No.  Your father was guiltless.  Melmokh arranged for Jal to slip 
when he was running from the lion.  It was premeditated murder.  This 
THING was responsible for the killing of Avina and for most of our 
troubles.  It feeds off of misery, so it stirs up misery to survive.  
What's worse, it took you away from the real God, and Missy, you're in 
need of some serious prayer."
	"Are you calling me a heathen??"
	"No.  I'm calling you the okash of something unholy.  What grows 
within you is the spawn of your okhim's murderer!  He has stolen your 
okhim, and now he has stolen your bak'rethood.  Skulk is no La'kresh, 
but he's faithful.  He would make a good husband, but how do you think 
he will feel when you bring something into the world born only to house 
Melmokh's spirit?  Did you really think a normal pup would come of this 
union??"
	"Well I...."  She hung her head.
	"It would be Melmokh itself.  It wants a physical body.  It has 
used your worship and your loyalty.  Now it has used your body.  USED, I 
say.  It can feel no love."
	Shenzi shuddered.  "And it's inside me, Muti!"  She drew close to 
Fabana and rubbed against her.  "Oh Muti!  What can I do??  What's Skulk 
going to say when he finds out I'm...."
	"The pup--if you can call it that--must die.  It's not one of us.  
And Skulk does not have to find out."


CHAPTER 65A:  THE PILGRIMEGE

	Fabana took Skulk aside and told him she was taking her daughter 
on a short trip--a pilgrimege.  "Do not be sad.  We will be gone six 
days, and when we return, I feel certain Shenzi will pledge to you."
	"You mean it?"
	"I don't say what I don't mean.  You know that."  She nuzzled him.  
"You will bring my daughter the things she's been missing in her life.  
I know we haven't always seen eye-to-eye...."  She smiled, self-
consciously, turning her good side to face him.  "Still, I will be glad 
to have you as my son."
	Skulk smiled sheepishly.  "Things are going to be better.  We're 
going to find us a good territory, one where our pups can grow and play.  
No more of this scrabbling in the badlands.  And you'll see, things can 
only get better from here.  I promise I'll be the best husband I can be 
for your Shenzi."
	They arranged to meet at Elephant Kopje in six days.  Skulk would 
remain in charge, even without Fabana to keep Banzai and Ed in line.  
They knew better than to cross him, and he warned them again just to 
make sure.
	Fabana chatted with Shenzi as they headed off into the south.  She 
described her dream of a white lioness who told her of the fruits that 
grew by Redrock Kopje.  "They taste bitter, but they will end your 
bitterness.  They bring death but they will save your life."
	"Good," Shenzi said defiantly.  "That will rid me of the last of 
Melmokh."  She tried to be brave about it, but slowly her face fell, her 
ears and tail fell limp and she trudged along like the dying.  Tears 
began to run down her cheeks.  
	"I was looking forward to being a mother.  I thought I could find 
happiness and be normal like everyone else."
	"What is inside you is no bringer of happiness.  Look forward to 
being with Skulk.  His children will bring you happiness.  And so will 
he, I warrant."
	They only walked about a day and a night to find Redrock Kopje.  
After gaining the goal so easily, Shenzi asked her okash, "Why did you 
say we'd be gone for six whole days?"
	"You'll find out.  I was warned that we must not rush things."
	The plants grew next to a watering hole at the base of the kopje.  
It was not a very safe location.  Surely others came to drink besides 
the antelopes and zebras that fled before them.  Ones not so likely to 
flee.
	Fabana came with bated breath to the water, then looked around 
carefully, sniffing and listening to the best of her ability.  After 
many moments passed, she called Shenzi to join her and she searched for 
the berries.
	The fruits were dark green with light stripes.  The bush they grew 
on was covered with thorns, and just the look--and smell--of it was 
enough to panic someone made of less stern stuff.  But Shenzi was 
determined to change her life for the better and strike a blow at the 
evil creature that violated her.
	"You must eat five--no more, no less."
	Shenzi forced down one.  She nearly vomited.  "Ooh, these are 
bitter!"
	"You will forget the bitterness soon enough."
	Another went down, her face tightening with disgust.  Then three 
more.  Gasping, she wanted to wash them down with water, but Fabana 
cautioned her against it.
	"We must do exactly as we are told.  Now then, Missy, I will find 
you a stick."
	"Why?"
	"Something to chew on.  You'll need it, honey tree.  If you don't 
want to bite clear through your tongue."
	"Oh??"  Shenzi settled down to rest by the water.  "Muti, I'm 
afraid."
	"I know.  So am I."
	Fabana pulled over a large stick.  Then she began to groom Shenzi 
who smiled to feel the closeness of her muti again.  
	"I used to be so certain about things," Shenzi said.  "My birth 
was the dawn of a new era.  I was going to be the mate of Roh'khim.  I 
used to know where I'd be a moon from now, a year from now, eight 
years....  Now it's all upside down.  And frankly, I don't have a clue 
where I'm going to be five minutes from now."
	"Welcome to real life."
	Shenzi sighed.  "Why was I born?"
	"For the best possible reason.  Jal and I loved each other, and we 
wanted pups.  Before Melmokh came into our lives, that was our plan.  
You were conceived out of our love for each other.  No one can take that 
away from you, Missy."
	She shuddered as the toxin began to work.  "Tell me about my okhim 
again."
	"You would have loved him.  He was looking so forward to being 
there to see you born.  He was funny and sweet and as loyal to me as the 
sunrise is to the morning.  The moon we spent together was the greatest 
of my life."
	"Only one moon?" she said, tight-lipped with the odd sensations in 
her stomach and abdomen.
	"Yes, my sweet daughter."
	"I'm not a sweet daughter.  I'm surprised you followed me to this 
hell hole after what I did to you."
	"Who said I followed you?"  She smiled.  "Ed needed someone to 
look after him.
	"Oh!"
	"What's wrong?"
	"Oh!!"  Her eyes widened.  "I'm having contractions!"
	"Already?"
	"Oh gods!!"  She rolled over on her side and her back legs began 
to twitch.  "Muti, I'm scared!  Are you sure she said five?"
	"Honey tree, that's what she said!"
	Shenzi panted heavily.  The fur on her sides was moist with 
perspiration and she groaned.  Fabana got the stick and put it between 
Shenzi's jaws.  Those powerful jaws could snap a small bone like a twig 
and grind the marrow from even the largest tibia.  They notched the wood 
as she began to gnaw desperately.
	"Honey, you have to push.  Bear down."
	"But I...oh gods!  Oh gods!!  I'm being torn in half!!"
	"Shenzi!"  Fabana started to the water to see if it was cool.
	"Muti!  Don't leave me!"
	"I'm here, Honey!"
	For several minutes, she experienced one contraction after another 
with no apparent effect.  Then she began to bleed.
	"It's happening," Fabana said.
	"Is this what giving birth feels like?"
	"No.  This is unnatural.  It's not what Roh'kash intended."
	She shrieked a stifled cry, biting on the stick so hard it 
cracked.  Fay nearly went crazy, kissing her daughter and stammering 
prayers to Roh'kash.  Then when it seemed she could take no more, 
Shenzi's water broke and moments later a single pup was expelled with a 
great deal of blood.
	Shenzi rested a moment, then through sheer willpower she struggled 
to her feet and wobbled unsteadily to the water to wash off.  Shenzi 
lingered in the water a moment, eyes closed as she relished the cool 
flow over her body.  Reluctantly, she paced slowly out of the water and 
walked carefully towards the red stain on the sand, her eyes swimming as 
she took in the tiny form lying motionless on the ground.  The pup had 
broken free from the afterbirth, small but well formed.  Shenzi's skin 
crawled as she saw it stir.  "Muti!" she cried.  "Look!"
	Fabana gasped in horror as the pup's head lifted waveringly, 
seeking them out with blind eyes.  "I'll get you," it silently but 
clearly mouthed.  "I'll kill you!"
	It trembled, crumpled over, and collapsed lifelessly into the 
dust.
	Though afraid to touch it after this supernatural curse, Fabana 
dug a hole and pushed it and the afterbirth into it, covering it too 
deeply for most scavengers to dig up.  After all, they did not want to 
attract any danger while they had to remain there.
	For the next night and day, Shenzi drifted in and out of 
consciousness as the toxin circulated through her body.  Sometimes she 
would have chills, and her okash would snuggle next to her, patting her 
with a paw and speaking words of encouragement and love.  
	Finally by the fourth day Shenzi could walk slowly but properly, 
and Fabana insisted that they must leave Redrock Kopje to find the 
others.
	Shenzi was horribly weak and wobbly.  Vultures, seeing her 
unsteady gait, begin to circle.  But Fabana glared at the birds from 
time to time and they kept a safe distance.
	Fay insisted that Skulk must know nothing of the abortion, so she 
kept Shenzi walking for long periods of time, resting only when 
necessary.  "You are weak, but you must seem strong."  And little by 
little over the two day trip, Shenzi got her strength back.
	When they rejoined the others by Elephant Kopje, Shenzi gracefully 
hid her remaining weakness.
	"You must have had bad hunting," Skulk said.
	"No," Shenzi quickly replied.  "We fasted."
	Skulk glanced at Fabana.  "Both of you?"
	"Just her," Fabana said.
	"I did it for you," Shenzi told Skulk, rubbing down his side.  "In 
a few days there will be a full moon.  They say pledging under a full 
moon means love will last forever."
	"At last?  After all this time?"  He nuzzled her passionately.  
"You promise?"
	"I promise."
	Skulk pawed her gently.  "I love you Shenzi."
	She smiled.  Surely he would not be as skilled in pleasuring as 
was the Makei.  But his love filled a hole deep inside of her, something 
the Makei never would or could try to address.  "I love you too.  You'll 
never just know how much."

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