CHAPTER:  GRABBING AT THE WIND

	Kombi did not know he was a prince.  Indeed, he did not know his 
father's name.  And so to him The Big World was still a great mystery 
into which he would be thrust one day to eke out a living.
	Like most lions his age, he was looking around for a lioness that 
would come with him to share his existence and comfort him in his 
loneliness.  Vianga would not even speak to him, much less face the 
unknown by his side.  But somewhere there must be another, and he was 
determined to find her.
	Lately, Kombi had his eye on Wajanja, a lovely creature whose 
gentleness was a stark contrast to his own brashness.  It was precisely 
this contrast that had kept them apart.  Now the lioness cub that he had 
once held in contempt, and who had tattled on him often as a child 
became the object of his greatest desires.
	There lay the problem.  Some of the young lionesses were 
interested in him, but he could not return their affections.  He was 
attracted to someone who did not even like him, much less love him.
	Wajanja was the type that found deep meaning in everything and 
made remarks to her friends how Simba's love for Nala reminded her of 
Mano and Minshasa, casting them as romantic hero and heroine.  Wajanja 
loved to roll in the flowers, but was sad to see their fragile beauty 
crushed.  Her three hundred pound weight, rapier claws, and passion for 
hunting red meat on the hoof aside, she had a very gentle disposition 
when compared to Kombi.
	He would follow her at a discrete distance, watching her while his 
brother felt like a lonely widower after so much attention for so long.
	She noticed his attentions, and she made every effort to show she 
was spurning him, even going to the trouble to change paths once and 
take the long route to the watering hole.  As if that were not enough, 
she would talk with her friends in his hearing and insult his "infantile 
attempts" to woo her.
	Finally, one day, Kombi decided to force the issue.  He ran a few 
steps ahead of her, blocked her path and blurted out, "Wajanja, we need 
to talk."
	"Wrong.  You need to talk.  Why don't you find someone that wants 
to listen."
	"That's very cold, Jannie."
	"My friends call me that.  You can call me Wajanja.  Now repeat 
after me--`so long, Wajanja.'"  
	She tried to push past him, but he moved in front of her again.  
"You've never even given me a chance.  I have the right to just one fair 
chance, don't I?"
	"No.  Love is a privilege, not a right.  So is conversation."
	"Well, just grant me the right this once and I won't press the 
issue further, OK?"
	"You promise?"
	"I promise."
	"Very well.  You are not my type.  I want the quiet, sensitive 
type like Habu.  If he wasn't smitten with Lisani, I'd be all over him 
like green on leaves."  She sighed.  "I'd leave the pride for him.  I 
don't think Miss Priss would.  Love is wasted on the wrong people."
	"I know.  Deep down inside I am really sensitive and--uh--quiet.  
But I have to put on a brave front for the others.  See, I can even 
cry."  He tried to force tears to come, screwing up his face into all 
kinds of promising but unproductive expressions.  He turned and bit his 
paw.  Then he got tears all right, but ended up hopping around, holding 
his forepaw to his chest and licking it.  
	She laughed at him and said, "You never had a serious thought in 
your whole life!"  
	He looked at her, hurt.  "Oh really?  I've had lots of serious 
thoughts."  Turned his back to her and sat down.  
	"You wanted to talk.  Well, this is your chance.  Name one," she 
said derisively.  "Can you even name one?"
	"Well, for one, I have to leave the Pride someday, and I have 
nightmares about it.  I mean, I'll have Togo and all, but I'll never see 
my mother again and I'll never see you again, Jannie.  No matter how you 
feel about me, I love you and I'll miss you and hope you fall in love 
with someone who can love you back.  Sometimes I was dumb enough to 
think I might get you to notice me, or even like me a little.  I say 
dumb enough because love can make clever guys act so stupid.  Well, I 
hope you got a good laugh out of it--at least one of us will."
	"No, I wouldn't laugh at you."
	"Daria is crazy about me.  If I would say hello to her, she would 
melt like dirt in a good rain.  But I don't really care--you know--and 
it's sad that she wants what she can't have, and so do I.  Maybe Daria 
and I are more alike than I realized.  I mean, we both are grabbing at 
the wind, and we'll never catch it."
	She looked at him intently.  "You know, I believe that somewhere 
VERY DEEP DOWN INSIDE you really do have a thoughtful side."
	"Thanks--I guess."  He started away.  "Don't worry, I promised I 
wouldn't bother you again, and I won't."
	"Wait."  She came, nuzzled his sad face and said, "I'm sorry I 
laughed at you.  I hope I didn't hurt your feelings.  I'm not really a 
mean person."
	"Aw, no problem."  He nuzzled her back.  "Does this mean I can see 
you again?"
	"Why not.  Maybe tonight."
	"I'd like that.  Heck, I'd love that.  I feel like I can talk to 
you.  I could tell you things I wouldn't share with another living soul.  
But Wajanja, if you laugh at me or you tell anyone else what I say, I'll 
just die!"
	"I'd never do that!"  She looked into his sparkling eyes and 
smiled.  "I've misjudged you, Kombi.  You're really very sweet."
	He smiled back.  "Do you think so?"
	"No, but I'll still see you tonight."  She reached over and kissed 
his cheek.
	He walked away, a blissful, innocent smile on his face.  Togo met 
him behind the bushes.  "So, did you pull the old 'grabbing at the wind' 
story on her?"
	"Yep.  Works every time!"
	Togo nudged him and grinned.  "The Love Doctor strikes again."
	He rubbed his cheek where she kissed it.  "I wish you wouldn't put 
it that way.  I'm going to see if she'll come with me.  This is 
serious."  He looked off into the distance for a while, then rolled on 
his back in the grass.  Togo joined him.
	"So, Togo, have you narrowed down the field?"
	"Who, me?"  Togo had an embarrassed grin on his face.
	"Who is she?  Don't hold out on me now."
	"You'd laugh at me."
	"No I wouldn't."
	"Well, it's Lisani."
	"Miss Priss??"  Kombi giggled.
	"There you go laughing at me!"
	"I'm sorry," Kombi said.  "Really I am.  But you and Lisani?  You 
know she's stuck on Habu."
	"So is Wajanja.  But that doesn't stop you from trying.  I guess 
we're grabbing at the wind."  Togo took his paw and ruffled Kombi's 
mane.  "Hey, I hope you catch it, you dog."
	"What the heck.  Why don't you hit on Lisani?  I mean, maybe one 
of us will get lucky."
	"You don't `hit on' a girl like Lisani.  And I don't suggest 
trying it on Wajanja if you want her to marry you.  `Get lucky' indeed!"
	

CHAPTER:  PARTING IS SUCH SWEET SORROW

	Togo and Kombi were showing changes in their maturing bodies.  
They lost that long-legged look that once made them appear awkward.  
Their manes were filling out nicely, their chests were broadening, and 
one day out of the sheer will to make a grand noise, they both let out 
with a roar that would have made Ugas quite proud.  
	Uzuri would look at them appraisingly, and some of the time she 
was proud of the fine lions they were becoming.  Other times she would 
mourn the loss of their cubhood and the approach of their commoner's 
mantlement.  She would eventually have to tell Simba that they were sons 
of a King and entitled to a royal mantlement hosted by their father.  
And doing so, she would also be saying her farewell to her old life and 
old home.  Uzuri loved Ugas and longed to be by his side, but his words 
came back to haunt her.  It would never be easy to leave old friends and 
old haunts and start again.  But if Togo and Kombi could do it, she 
could too.  When she was depressed, she would close her eyes and look 
inward at her dream--Ugas by her side as Togo and Kombi stood on Pride 
Kopje and surveyed their kingdom.
	She had not discussed this with her sons yet.  She could not risk 
either of them making an indiscreet remark.  Uzuri had planned out what 
she would say and how--she did not want her departure to be spoiled by 
misunderstandings or hard feelings.  
	And so knowing nothing of their mother's plans, Togo and Kombi 
spent much of their time fawning on Simba, trying to ply him with 
favors.  Simba was utterly surprised when they stopped calling him "big 
guy" and started calling him "Sir."  Kombi brought him a hare Uzuri had 
caught for him to eat, and Togo even dragged part of a gazelle for him 
clear up Pride Rock so he could wake up to a surprise breakfast.
	Privately, Nala asked Simba if there was a way to let them remain.  
"They're trying so hard to please you.  There's is no hate in them--they 
will not turn on you the way your Uncle did."
	"That's not the problem," Simba replied.  "I'd trust them with my 
life, if it came to that.  They're afraid of their destiny, Nala.  I 
don't blame them, for I know the ways of the `big world,' and they have 
reason to fear it."  He sighed and glumly ate the haunch.
	Later that same day, Togo and Kombi offered to help him with the 
border patrol.  "You have no brother to help you," Togo explained in 
what sounded like a prepared statement.  "Without a Prince Consort, you 
have to go around doing everything for yourself and have so little time 
to spend with Nala."  Togo looked over at Kombi who subtly nodded 
approval and he continued; "We insist on taking the Western Plain."
	"But that's very hot and dry," Simba said.  "And it can be very 
dangerous."
	"We don't mind, Sir," Kombi said, bowing with respect.  "Danger is 
our life."
	"And what would you like in return?"
	Kombi looked shocked and scandalized.  "Sire, we're just trying to 
be nice."  He looked casual, but his tail twitched nervously.  "Since 
you asked, I wish we could go on being friends forever."
	Simba sighed deeply.  "I know you do."  His heart was not into 
having them become rogue lions, bachelors on the open fields having to 
support themselves with marginal hunting skills, being driven from pride 
land to pride land by a succession of males.  Despite their routine 
truancy, Simba had grown to love them, and he saw in them some of the 
basic goodness that was in their mother.
	Uzuri would be the real problem.  Next to Sarabi and Nala, Simba 
loved Uzuri the most, and he would steal glances of her private grief 
that weighed on him like an injury.  And despite himself, Simba had 
grown extremely fond of Togo.
	The brothers watched him carefully to see how he would react.  
Simba scratched his mane uneasily and said, "You want the Western Plain, 
eh?"
	"Yes sir."
	"Fine.  We'll start there in the morning."  Simba rose and 
stretched.
	Togo glanced at Kombi quickly, his eyes widening.  "S-Sir?"
	"You heard me."  Simba looked them up and down.  "I'm glad to see 
you taking on some responsibility.  However, a responsible lion also 
knows his limits, and I'm afraid you aren't yet up to the challenge."
	Kombi looked indignant.  "What do you mean?!"
	"Your heart is in the right place, but you're too soft to go out 
there."
	Togo sucked in his stomach self-consciously.  "We can hack it, 
sir."
	Simba shook his head.  "No."
	"We can take care of ourselves!"  Kombi grated.  "I'll beat up any 
lion who dares challenge our border!"
	"Really?"  Simba looked at him.  "Knock me down."
	"What?"
	"You heard me.  Knock me down."  Simba looked at him.  "Or can't 
you even handle that?"
	Togo flicked his eyes to Kombi, who was staring balefully at the 
king.  "Kombi, give it up."
	"Yeah?!  Watch and learn, Togo!"  Kombi gathered himself and leapt 
towards Simba, intending to tackle the other lion full force.  Simba 
sidestepped neatly and wrapped his forepaws around Kombi, seizing him in 
mid-air and wrenching him around to bring him crashing to earth, Simba's 
weight holding him fast.  Kombi gasped for breath, humiliation in his 
eyes as he looked up at the sad face above him.
	"Had this been a real fight, your mother would be mourning your 
death."  Simba nuzzled him gently.  "I'm sorry, Kombi.  You and Togo 
have one month left to you in which to do something."
	"What are we gonna do?"  Kombi said in a small voice.
	"I'll not cast you out unprepared, son."  Simba laid a paw gently 
on his head.  "We'll patrol the Western plain tomorrow...together.  Each 
morning, we'll go out on patrol.  Talk with your Mother; she knows a lot 
about the lay of the land.  When we get back, I'll show you how to 
fight."


CHAPTER:  A STRANGER WALKS

	For the longest time, Ugas' pride managed to hold together the 
fragile deception that kept their sovereignty intact.  The lionesses 
doubled border patrols after reports from several revealed a rogue male 
had been observing the pride carefully.
	Then one evening when Adhama said in her deepest voice, "This land 
is mine!" a distinctly male voice answered her from the bushes.
	"Nice try!  Now all you need is a mane!"
	The worst had happened.  Through long observation, the stranger 
had learned the patterns of the watch, and he easily slipped through 
where there were no sentries.
	"The king will make you pay for this!"
	"Are you the king?"  He laughed.  "What's the problem, Sis?  Am I 
that ugly?"
	The lion stepped out into the moonlight.  Indeed, he was anything 
but ugly, but she did not like his attitude one bit.
	"He will be back soon," she said.  "Then you'll pay!"
	"Fine."  The stranger sat down and began to groom a forepaw.  
"I'll wait for him right here."
	For several minutes that felt like several hours, Adhama stared at 
him icily.  There was no sign of nervousness in his manner.  He knew 
that he had won.
	She bowed her head.  "What good is it pretending.  He's dead."
	"Good.  That saves me the trouble of killing him.  In the 
meantime, I'm hungry.  What do you have?"
	"A little bit of wildebeest.  Not much."
	"Not much?"  He uttered a short, ugly laugh.  "It's an acquired 
taste, lady.  When you've eaten `not much' as long as I have, you never 
turn it down."  He frowned at her.  "Well, do I have to draw you a 
diagram??"
	Adhama's heart sank.  She rose and led him to the larder, watching 
in despair as their rations for the next two days disappeared in a 
matter of minutes.
	"Is there any more?"
	"No.  There is no more."
	"Too bad."  He burped.  "I was still hungry."  Licking off his 
paws, he said, "I'm Ambia.  King Ambia now.  You're really lucky, you 
know.  I almost went east, but instead I headed west, and here I am."
	"Well hooray and hallelujah."
	He looked at her with half closed eyes and scowled.  "You must be 
the one that peed on the shrubs.  The urine was very sour."

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