FOREWORD BY THE AUTHORS:

	After the stylistic experiment of "The Leonid Saga," it was 
comforting to return to something tried and true.  But would be unfair 
to say "The Promise" was not experimental.  All of the Chronicles 
stories have been like exploring new worlds.  Even my most devoted fans-
-and some of them are very wonderful--could not enjoy reading these 
stories any more than Dave and I enjoyed writing them.  I recall with 
misty eyes the joys and suffering of certain favorite characters.  Once 
in "Under the Acacias" I strove to capture in one short paragraph the 
way I felt about Uzuri before finishing the main Chronicles series.  It 
was my way of thanking her for all the wondrous experiences she had 
given me.  The sky outside was soft and purple, and the stars were 
winking into splendor one by one.  I sat at the keyboard and typed the 
one short paragraph:
	"Inside the cave, Rafiki sat bent over with age.  In his lap was 
Uzuri's head.  She was too old and sick to pretend anymore, and when 
Rafiki put his hand down to stroke her cheek, she took his fingertips in 
her mouth and gave them a gentle squeeze between her teeth.  Tears 
welled up in Rafiki's eyes."
	I wept.  Her charm was a two-edged sword that cut both ways.  One 
moment I was Makaka circling her warm, soft neck with my arms and 
listening to her soft breath.  Then I was witnessing an intimate and 
tender moment of grief.  When Uzuri died, I knelt, put my arm around 
Rafiki and hugged him.  "Look at her," I said.  "Isn't she beautiful."  
Only he didn't hear me or see me.  That's when it really started to 
hurt, for we had switched roles.  I was the imaginary character, the 
shadow without form or substance.  
	Writing another story always seems to help.  Depressed, I turned 
my eyes to The Leonid Saga, and then to The Promise.  I hope my simple 
therapy makes you feel better too.

 					--  John Burkitt
					    Nashville, Tennessee  1997

	Everyone who takes the time to read or write fiction of any sort 
has favorite moments that they enjoy, things that take on a new meaning 
and characters that stand apart from the rest of the text.
	How do they do this?  It goes beyond the magic an author weaves 
into his or her work and into the characters themselves.  Like us, each 
of them has their hopes and dreams.  And all to often, like us, those 
are disrupted by forces beyond our control and smashed to lie in pieces 
at our feet.
	It is those who pick up the pieces and keep on going regardless 
that earn our admiration.  Those that endure the pain because they know 
that pain is as much a part of life as pleasure, and that pain cannot 
last forever...but love always endures.
	Those like Mabatu and Isha.

					--  David Morris
					    Wilmington, North Carolina   1997


ACKNOWLEDGMENTS:

To Trey McElveen who read and re-read the rough copy with a kindly but 
critical eye.  To Mirco Zacher who suggested the idea of covering 
Mabatu's pride in a fanfic.  To all our fans whose kind letters 
encouraged us to take the time to do this.  And last but not least to 
every Disney employee that worked on The Lion King and felt, even for a 
moment, that it was more than just a job.  You hear that, Andreas Deja?

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