CHAPTER:  THE TWINS

	All of the other lionesses plagued Sarafina for details.  The only 
thing she would say is, "She has a husband."
	Uzuri's condition was evident to Taka, and he watched her 
progressing pregnancy with dread.  He was afraid the lionesses would 
abandon him and leave him to feed all those hyenas himself.  And when it 
was only him and his wife, he knew chances were good to excellent that 
they would hunt lions.  
	Elanna was no less distraught, but for different reasons; she 
feared that Taka was being unfaithful.  This suspicion, never voiced 
aloud, still hovered between them like a Makei until the birth of 
Uzuri's cubs.  Elanna went to see Uzuri and Sarafina, and she cooed and 
fondled the cubs with undisguised delight.  They were not at all like 
her husband, something she secretly thanked Aiheu for as she kissed 
Uzuri on the cheek.  "I hope you've found your true love," she said 
discretely.  "I know I have."
	Uzuri, who was not entirely blind said, "Their father loves me the 
way Taka loves you--completely.  He will be pleased to know he has a 
son."
	"Two sons," Elanna said.
	"Togo and Kombi."
	"I wish you'd had a daughter.  It's going to be hard when their 
mantlement comes."
	Uzuri looked at her intently.  "Can I trust you?"
	Sarafina shook her head ever so slightly in disapproval, but Uzuri 
either did not see it or did not care.  "They have a future.  Not here, 
but they do have one.  But tell no one--it's our little secret."
	"Not even my husband?" Elanna said.
	"Especially not your husband," Uzuri said.  Then realizing how it 
might sound, she quickly added, "He'd give anything for a son.  I don't 
want to rub it in--you know how melancholy he gets.  And Lannie, this 
must be hard on you too.  I'm so sorry."
	Elanna nodded.  "As long as I have my Taka, I can get by."  She 
was on the verge of tears.  "I can understand how some people might 
dislike him.  I know there are a few that wish to harm him.  Love hasn't 
turned me into a complete fool.  But Uzuri, there are times when we are 
alone when he can be beautiful and gentle and witty and so full of love.  
Under all that fear and rage, there's a little cub that just wants to 
feel safe and loved.  And no matter what he ever does or ever becomes, 
my destiny is to love him and protect him from all the hate in the 
world.  They all think I'm crazy to feel that way about him.  You don't 
think I'm crazy, do you?"
	"No, hon."  She thought about Ugas, and for one moment she could 
understand what Lannie saw in him.  "How's Sarabi taking this?"
	Tears ran down Elanna's cheeks.  "We hardly speak anymore.  This 
little talk is more than I've heard from everyone else for the last 
moon.  Only Taka ever speaks to me anymore.  My own sister will turn her 
head to keep from looking in my eyes.  Oh gods, Uzuri, I'm all alone in 
the world!  What would I do if something happened to him??"
	"It's unfair," Uzuri said.  She patted the ground with her paw.  
"You're not that alone.  Come here, Lannie."
	Elanna laid by Uzuri quietly, with her side along the ridge of 
Uzuri's back while she nursed her cubs.  She felt her breath come and 
go, and felt the gentle tenor of the pulse in her neck.  She listened to 
the cubs feeding and to the soft sounds they uttered to each other and 
to their mother.  Her stress began to work itself out and in a few 
minutes, Elanna got up much improved and kissed Uzuri's cheek.  "I've 
been carrying on like a mad jackal.  Someday Aiheu will reward you for 
being my friend.  Can I come back sometimes?"
	"Any time you want."
	Elanna hurried back to her husband.  Full of peace and love, she 
snuggled alongside his warm body and nuzzled his dark mane.
	"My, you're in a good mood," Taka said, fondling her with a paw.  
"Your fit of depression seems to be lifting."
	"And it's not coming back, I think."  She nuzzled him again.  
"Uzuri's children are quite beautiful, aren't they?"
	"I have yet to find out," he said crossly.  "I couldn't even get 
near her today.  You'd think those lionesses had never seen a cub 
before.  I shall have to make a formal inspection in the morning."
	"Good.  That means I have you all to myself tonight."  She began 
to groom him lovingly and nuzzle him until at last he had to smile.


CHAPTER:  THE INSPECTION

	The next morning, Sarafina came in to see Uzuri.  "Here he comes," 
was all she said or needed to say.  Uzuri felt her stomach tighten up 
with fear as the long-dreaded confrontation approached.
	Taka entered her cave.  "Good morning, hunt mistress."
	"Good morning, sire."
	Taka approached the twin cubs and looked at them.  He smiled and 
touched each of them with his tongue.  "You are blessed, Uzuri.  Twin 
sons."
	Uzuri nodded as Taka sat down, his tail flicking back and forth.  
	"I was young and fresh like them once," he said.  "Before I was 
marked, and life took it's toll on me, there were people that thought I 
was cute.  Remember, Uzuri?"
	"You were a cute cub.  I remember."
	He fondled her sons with his paw.  One of them reached up and 
swatted at him and Taka had to laugh.  "Look at them.  They are too 
young to know I'm ugly.  When I kiss them, they don't want to slink away 
and rub it off in the grass."
	"You don't look that bad.  People are just afraid.  Afraid of you 
and afraid of the hyenas.  Maybe you have this unique kind of thing with 
them.  Maybe they like you.  But they don't like us.  They make it 
painfully clear that all we're good for is hunting.  Don't take my word 
for it--just ask them."
	"It's too late to change that now."  He sighed and his shoulders 
sagged.  "I will never live to see them gone, just as I will never live 
to be forgiven for bringing them here.  I don't think they like me any 
more than they like you, but they bow and scrape before me, seeking 
favors.  They'll kill me when they get the chance.  Every time I pass 
one of them, I wonder, `will it be you?'  And every night the same dream 
reminds me that each day may be my last."
	"Oh gods, how awful!"
	He examined her face carefully.  "So you're not amused by my 
plight?"  He purred.  "You have a kind heart, just like your mother 
had."  He put his paw on hers and gave her a gentle pat.
	Uzuri was surprised.  She met his glance directly, and the 
kindness in his eyes was genuine.  While he was in such a good mood, she 
sought her heart's desire.
	"Sire, when you were born you weren't breathing.  I saw Rafiki 
breathe life into you with his own mouth."  She put her other paw on 
his.  "Can't you find it in your heart to forgive him?  It would mean a 
lot to me.  Please?"
	He heaved a sigh.  "Of all else, I could forgive him.  But for 
trapping me in this life of pain, I cannot."  He winced at the thought.  
"And what's worse, I am too much of a coward to undo it.  If I could 
just go to sleep one night and never wake up...."  He sighed as a tear 
rolled down his cheek, then kissed the cubs once more.   "I do tend to 
run on like a fool, don't I?"  He rose and turned.  His shoulders 
slumped under the weight of the world as he trudged away.  
	Sarafina hovered protectively near Uzuri and her cubs.  "Phew, 
thank the gods that's over."
	Uzuri looked at Sarafina and sighed.  "Will things ever be well 
again?  There's some kind of curse on this place--I can feel it."
	"That's why you wanted Rafiki back, isn't it?"
	"One small reason, Sis.  One reason among many."
	"You're rather fond of him, aren't you."
	"Aren't we all."
	"But you especially."
	Uzuri looked at her from half-lidded eyes.  "Where's this 
leading?"
	"Nowhere."
	Uzuri purred.  "There's so much goodness and kindness in his 
heart.  Of all the people I've ever known, he's the most like Aiheu.  He 
loves everyone."
	"That may be.  But he adores you."
	"Come on, Fini!"
	"You can `come on Fini' till Pride Rock crumbles to dust.  I'm 
telling you that monkey thinks the sun rises and sets just for you."
	"So he adores me!  What's wrong with that?"
	Sarafina smiled sweetly.  "If he wasn't a mandrill, I'd say he's 
sweet on you."
	"Fini, you should be ashamed of yourself!"  She laughed.  "He's 
just very demonstrative."  A troubled look came across her face.  
"That's just part of being an ape," she said as if she were trying to 
convince herself.  "Ask anyone."
	Later that day as Taka rested on the tip of the promontory 
watching the wide savanna below he saw the ungainly approach of Gopa the 
stork.  Gopa landed a great flapping of wings and bowed.  "I have your 
daily report, Sire."
	Taka looked down at Uzuri, who lay sunning herself on a rock below 
with her cubs nursing peacefully.  Tameka lay beside her, clearly with 
the light in her eyes.  "Gopa, where are all these new children coming 
from?  I have cubs practically running out of my ears!"
	Gopa bent down and almost whispered, "Who do you THINK brought all 
those cubs?  The stork?  Well it certainly wasn't me."
	Taka looked at him askance.  "What the devil are you talking 
about?"
	"Forget it," Gopa sighed.


CHAPTER: DOUBLE TROUBLE

	When Togo and Kombi were first born, they slept most of the time, 
and they moved around very little.  But by the age of three moons they 
never stopped moving, and everywhere they moved trouble followed close 
behind.
	It must be understood that Uzuri was a strict mother.  Around her, 
the twins were as good as gold--even better.  She used to brag about how 
well-behaved they were to the other lionesses.  Most of the time they 
would listen patiently and nod.  There were a few times, however, when 
their patience ran thin.  Times when someone else's cub would misbehave 
and Uzuri would look at the mother with a superior attitude and say, 
"Togo and Kombi would never do a thing like that."  
	The love Uzuri felt from her pride sisters was well-earned.  No 
one would dare compromise her happiness by telling her what they thought 
of Togo and Kombi.  At least not aloud.
	One day, an outraged Isha was chasing them when Sarafina 
innocently stepped in the way.  Togo and Kombi hid behind her trembling 
and Isha barely stopped in time to avoid crashing into the three of 
them.
	"What's wrong here??" Fini demanded.  "Isha, remember your low 
boiling point!"
	"Where is the mother of those--PERSONS??"
	"I'm her sister.  I'll handle it."
	"Well, you asked for it.  These two little hellions...."  She bent 
close to Sarafina's ear and while Togo and Kombi huddled behind her for 
protection they strained to hear what she was saying.
	"You're kidding!"
	"No, I'm not!  I caught them in the act!"
	"I'll take care of them, Isha.  It won't happen again."
	"Well it had BETTER not!"
	"I'm sorry," Togo said, sniffling.  "We'll be good from now on."
	"I'll give them a good talking to," Sarafina said.
	"I sure hope so.  That mother of theirs ought to cuff them more 
often."
	Kombi began to bawl.  "We were just funning!  I'm sorry, Isha."
	"Well, OK I guess," she said, somewhat mollified.  Isha could not 
stand to see cubs cry, even Togo and Kombi.
	When Isha walked off, her dignity defended, Sarafina glared at the 
twins.  "What am I going to do with you two??"
	Togo and Kombi pleaded with all their charm and hound-dog 
expressions of remorse for her not to tell Mom.
	Sarafina softened a little.  "Kombi, don't you understand that a 
joke isn't funny when people get hurt?  I like a good joke as much as 
anyone, but when you love someone you should respect them and try to 
think about how THEY are going to feel when they find a fully-grown....  
Well, you know what I mean."
	"I'm sorry," Kombi said, tears coming to his eyes.
	"And you, Togo.  I know you probably didn't start this, but you 
went along with it.  That's almost as bad.  You love Isha, don't you?"
	"Yes ma'am."  Togo was the shy one and he looked like he wanted to 
crawl under a rock.
	"Do you think what you did was the best way to show it?"
	"No ma'am."  He began to wail and huddled up tight against her.  
"She's really mad at me, isn't she?"
	"Yes, but she'll get over it.  Look, we'll forget it this time.  
But you have been warned."
	For the rest of the day at least, Togo and Kombi were as good as 
two Nisei, but whenever Kombi had to pass Isha, he'd look at her 
suspiciously and change direction.  By contrast, when Isha awoke from 
her mid-sun nap, she felt something warm and soft snuggled against her, 
and she fondled Togo with her paw.  Kombi, sitting off a discrete 
distance, watched uncomfortably.  Isha jerked her head ever so slightly 
and grunted.  Then Kombi stirred himself and gamboled over, a relieved 
smile on his face.  He rubbed his small back and tail under her chin and 
over her strong neck.  "I really am sorry.  Please don't stay mad at 
me."
	"I really should, you know."  She nuzzled Kombi and kissed his 
cheek.  "I hope you learned your lesson."
	Uzuri also stirred from her nap.  "Fini, where are the boys?"
	"Oh, around and about."
	"That's not good enough.  Nothing must happen to them, Fini.  Not 
just for my sake, but for their father's sake."
	She stretched and yawned, then quickly began to search Pride Rock 
for her children.  They were not in the small cave where they liked to 
play.  They were not by the cistern.  Still, there were several places 
left where they MIGHT be.  Oh if only Zazu were on the job, they would 
be properly supervised.  Zazu loved children though he often had an odd 
way of showing it.  Gopa didn't really give half a minnow for the 
children.  "Smelly, noisy things," he would croak with irritation.  
"They really should be hidden away till they're old enough to behave 
themselves."
	And then Sarafina had an odd thought.  She knew Togo almost better 
than he knew himself, and she led Uzuri to Isha's rock.  And there, 
snuggled to her side, were Togo and Kombi.
	Uzuri breathed a relieved sigh.  "Look at them, Fini.  Isn't that 
sweet!  They're just a pair of little angels!"
	Sarafina quickly bit her tongue to keep from laughing.  "They're a 
pair, all right."

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