"Yes. If things meet their appointed course, all of us will die. The land is sick. The water is gone. And there is worsea"madness and despair. I don't want to die, Elanna. I don't want my family to die. And I feel I don't want you to die, either."

Elanna was silent for a moment. "How will I get out of here?"

"We have arranged that. Follow us and we will take you to him."

She nodded. "You're right." She began to cry. "I thought we had no friends, but you are good, Bot'la. I can see G.o.d's mercy in you, so I know now there must be a G.o.d."

Bot'la winced as if a sharp thorn had been driven through his heart, but he quickly hid it. He led her out of the cave and down the side with utmost silence and care. And by skirting the cistern and euphorbias, they made it away from Pride Rock and into the tall gra.s.s.

She was unaware that Rafiki was long gone to search for Simba. All she knew is that some kind souls are cloaked in different hides. Somewhere, somehow, they will sit with the great kings of the past.

She was not worried when her small body guard of two became four. But she didn't know whether to feel flattered or frightened when two more joined ranks and suddenly there were six. She didn't have that many friends, much less Taka.

Behind the south kopje, four more hyenas fell in line. It was then her heart sank. She was headed away from the baobab, and not to hide her from her husband's watchful eyes. They had turned toward the desolate lands, the appropriate place where poor Ahadi and Akase went to meet their G.o.d together. Now she would die without family or friends.

"Forgive me, Aiheu. Forgive me that I have loved him, but o G.o.ds, how I loved him. Bless my poor husband and comfort him in his hour of grief."

One of the hyenas went "Hssssh! At least try to die with dignity."

"My dignity before the G.o.ds is intact. Worry about your owna"you bring ten hunters to kill one lioness."

"Silence! " Bot'la commanded. He added with some regret. "I don't enjoy this. We're just trying to save ourselves and our families. You can understand that."

Then back at Pride Rock there was a tremendous shout. Bot'la looked back. There was a fire at the rock. Lions roared, and hyenas screamed with rage and pain.

"The war is on! " He looked at Elanna and thought for a moment. Finally Bot'la said, "This is our land now. Get out."

Elanna hurried away from the hyenas. The guard headed back to Pride Rock to fight the last battle. "Death or glory, lads! Out with the lions! "

SCENE: IT'S HAPPENING AGAIN

At the climax of the battle for Pride Rock, Taka was struck such a blow from Simba that he tumbled from the lower promontory. He fell injured at the base, but still alive.

Waiting for him were Shenzi, Banzai and Ed. They looked very displeased. Taka tried to move, but one of his legs was broken and his ribs were cracked.

"Ahh, my friends."

"Friends?" Shenzi sneered. "I thought he said we were the enemy! "

"Yeah, that's what I heard, " Banzai said. "Ed?"

Ed laughed.

Taka trembled. "No. Le-Le-Let me explain. No. You don't understand. No! I didn't mean for... No, No! Look, I'm sorry I called you... No! No! " They closed in on him.

"Oh G.o.ds! Oh my G.o.ds, it's the dream! Wake me, Elanna! It's happening again! "

"Wake me, Elanna! " sneered Shenzi. "It's happening again! " Scar was frozen, unable to resist. She closed her powerful jaws on his throat and crushed his windpipe. He struggled for only a second, then shuddered and fell limp, nearly crushing her underneath.

"What thea"

Shenzi let go in astonishment. She nipped his nose, but his face did not move.

"You scared him to death, " Banzai said. "Imagine that."

"Weird. But let's make sure." With one ma.s.sive pull at the stomach, she revealed all of Taka's inner secrets. "He's not goin' NOWHERE." How like a wildebeest he seemed under that hide.

"Look, " Banzai said. "His teeth and ambition are bared! "

Shenzi said, "Hey, almost as ugly on the inside as he is on the outside." She got a wicked little grin. "You know how they would say there was a frightened little cub deep down inside? If we move some of this stuff around, we might find it."

"Are you saying he had the light in his eyes?"

Shenzi broke out in a full horse laugh. "Oh G.o.ds, now THAT'S a good one! Scar, pregnant! "

Suddenly Sarabi burst in on their fun. "Get out! "

"Say what??" Shenzi bared her teeth at her.

"Get out, now! "

Shenzi said, "Let me get this straight. Do you think you could beat the three of us? We've already killed one lion."

"I'd I kill at least one of you." She glanced around. "Which one will it be?"

The hyenas looked at each other nervously. "I think we'd better go, " Banzai said. "This isn't fun anymore."

"Yeah. Who cares, " Shenzi said. "Let her have him. He's probably spoiled meat."

They turned and trotted off.

A few drops of rain fell on the dry and smoking plain. These first gifts of healing moisture were followed by others, many thousands, more than the stars of a cool autumn night. The cleansing shower soothed the burning gra.s.s, washing ashes into the soil and bringing new life to the dying stream and watering hole.

Upon the spur of Pride Rock, Simba looked into the face of G.o.d and felt the cleansing gift soaking his fur. He drew in a deep breath and roared. His warm voice echoed off the kopjes and stones. It reached across the freshened plains to the mighty forests. The lionesses took up the call and spread the message of hope. Mufasa's anointed was Kinga"long live the King! Only Sarabi was silent. She looked at the humbled remains of her first love, sleeping peacefully for the first time.

"Why did you kill m.u.f.fy? You loved me once. You loved me, but then you took away my whole life." She stroked his mane. "Now I look at you and I still feel pity. d.a.m.n you! Even in death you can hurt me! "

Out of the rain came Fabana. She sat next to Sarabi and howled. "My son, my son! Sarabi, did you kill my son?"

"It was Shenzi."

Fabana bowed her head and moaned. "Oh G.o.ds, that girl has been nothing but grief to me. She's just like her father--worse." She pawed at Taka's blood-spattered mane. "Taka was the only one that really loved me. And he really loved me, you know, whatever else he might have done. He loved me." She kissed him and sobbed out, "Memu kofasa, Taka. Roh'kash ne nabu. Roh'kash ne nabu! "

FABANA: Short was the respite and long was the road

Meager the rations and heavy the load

Many and bitter the trials you have pa.s.sed,

Rest, my beloved, and find peace at last.

Reach for my heart, it's not very far,

We are together wherever you are;

When I remember how you loved me so,

Love will reveal it, and somehow you'll know.

SARABI: Although we suffered a lifetime of pain,

Thoughts of the good times will always remain;

Gone from my life, you're not gone from my heart,

Death has no power to keep us apart.

Reach for my heart, it's not very far,

We are together wherever you are;

When you remember how I loved you so,

Love will reveal it, and somehow I'll know.

Sarabi took her paw and drew Fabana next to her and the two of them wept by the body.