SCENE: INCOSI AKA INCOSI.

The smell of Taka lingered in the cave that was once his home. As unpleasant as it had become to Simba, he could not leave Nala in the driving rain. And so it was in the cave where Simba was born that he swore his love to Nala and made her his queen. Rafiki made it abundantly clear to Timon and Pumbaa that the cave was much too small for visitors. "Don't worry, the rain will only make you fresh and clean."

"The only thing getting fresh around here is Simba, " Timon said with a withering attempt at humor. He drooped in the rain. "Well, Pumbaa, let's go."

But there would be no honeymoon just yet. Attracted by the call of Simba's triumph, a procession of the few remaining inhabitants of the Pride Lands straggled in. The Incosi of the Zebras came first to look upon the new King and bow deeply. "Khemoki, Your Majesty, by Aiheu's grace Incosi of the Zebra'ha. I stand ready to serve you."

Pa'hal, Incosi of the Wildebeests, came next. "I beg the G.o.ds that you do not hate our people." He bowed till his forehead touched the ground.

"Rise, uha." Zazu whispered something in Simba's ear. "Rise Pa'hal. Have no fear of that."

The leader of each tribe of antelopes came, as did Jebweel of the Giraffes and Boga Kwitu of the Elephants. These were the Incosi, the leaders, who came with a.s.surances they would not be struck down as prey as long as they spoke for their people. It was Simba's duty to try and recognize all the wet creatures if he saw them again, but the lionesses were the ones who paid the most attention.

The Lion King, by custom, must not interfere in the internal affairs of his peoples. He only meddles in the affairs of other lions, and only when he feels he should. But he did make his influence known in a powerful way when he had Uhuru the hyena brought before him.

"You are the one we recognize as Incosi."

With those words, Simba had imposed his will on the hyenas. In hyenas, the Incosi is referred to as the Roh'mach (great leader). And since hyenas consider themselves somewhat independent of the order established by the King, and they considered the Roh'mach a sovereign in every sense, they were bound to be furious at this attempt to influence what they felt was their own affairs. Though Shenzi may try to maintain her iron grip on the hyenas, she could not represent them any longer before the Lion King. There would be great pressure to make Uhuru the recognized Roh'mach because the fortunes of the hyenas had dipped even lower than usual.

Simba felt very successful in his dealing with the hyenas. Finally, by high moon, the last of the Incosi had paid their respect, and he was alone with Nala. He sat worried by the entrance watching the rain, lost in thought.

Nala nuzzled him and nibbled on his ear. "What is it, dear? Are you timid?"

"What?" He looked at her. "Oh." He kissed her with his warm pink tongue. "I'm King, Nala. I used to look forward to this when I was a cub. Now it frightens me. There is so much to do, and I have had so little preparation."

"You have friends, " Nala purred. "Friends that care about you."

"I do, don't I." He looked out over the barren landscape. "I can only do the best I can. When I come face to face with Aiheu, he will know I tried."

"You'll be a fine King. Now why don't you get some sleep, husband? I'll be here when you wake."

"You'll be here when I wake?" Simba looked into Nala's deep hazel eyes. "You're the first thing I'll see when I open my eyes." He nuzzled her pa.s.sionately and touched her left shoulder with his paw. "I will be King tomorrow. Tonight I am a lion."

SCENE: THE UNEASY TRUCE.

The air in the graveyard was quiet, filled only with the hiss and bubble of escaping methane as the hyenas, their once great numbers diminished in the terrible fight, straggled in slowly. Banzai limped off, muttering angrily, his haunches scored with claw marks, Ed following behind, still giggling maniacally at his discomfort. Exhausted, Shenzi made her way over to a quiet niche in the rock face and sat down. Skulk wandered over, his ears perking up as Shenzi grumbled under her breath.

"That sorry, no account, pandering IDIOT! Who does he think he is?! " She bared her teeth.

Skulk cringed, terrified. He had never seen her in such a rage. "Who? Krull?"

She uncoiled with the speed of a striking snake, cuffing him heavily across the jaw. Yelping, Skulk jerked away.

"Of course I mean Krull! Who do you THINK I'm talking about?" She clenched her jaw, the muscles flexing visibly. "I spent my entire LIFE waiting to become Roh'mach. And that imbecile of a king dares give it to a MALE?"

Skulk nodded energetically. "Of course. You should have been chosen as Roh'mach. You're the only logical choice. You are far more cunning and powerful than Krull."

"My name is Uhuru, " a voice said. The hyenas turned to see their new leader entering the graveyard. He walked over to Skulk, getting dangerously close. "You can just call me Roh'mach."

Unable to contain himself, Skulk shoved his muzzle into Uhuru's face. "You heathen traitor! " he screamed. "I ought to beat some respect into you! "

"Is that a challenge?"

"No, my dear Roh'mach. I would never dream of challenging you."

"So you're going to beat some respect into me?" Uhuru glared at him. "Either call me out now, or stow it."

Skulk's jaw dropped. So the lion stooge was daring him to fight! The former Krull was gone, and this was indeed Uhuru, a force to contend with, the Roh'mach. He drew back a step and spat angrily. "Gah! If I wanted to wet my jaws with a coward's blood, I'd go hunting! "

Uhuru's eyes narrowed. "I will choose not to take that as a challenge to my honor this time. But you have stirred up sedition, and you eat last until you learn how to behave."

Skulk looks to Shenzi. "Do I have to put up with this?"

"Apparently so. He's clearly the unchallenged ruler, or hasn't anyone told you half a challenge is less than nothing."

Skulk gritted his teeth. Without a word, he walked away stiffly, ignoring the occasional chuckles or snickers that sounded behind him.

Shenzi waited until the ruckus had died down, then rose quietly. Glancing around quickly, she made sure no one was watching. Seeing no spying eyes, she delved into the shadows. She pa.s.sed under a hollowed out ribcage and made her way around the hissing geysers behind it to an isolated corner of the graveyard.

She smiled as she spotted Skulk sitting in front of an enormous skull, its surface yellowed with age. Pacing slowly up to him, she sat down. "C'mon, Skulk. No need to sulk." She t.i.ttered slightly.

His eyes glowed eerily in the greenish light that permeated the graveyard. "Why do you put up with him?" he asked, hurt. "Why didn't you help me?"

"I can't fight all your battles for you. If you want something, you must take it." She sighs in exasperation. "Why can't you be a little more like a female?" Getting up, she turned to leave, but looked back over her shoulder coyly. "On the other hand, I do get excited when you get your fur up." She paced by directly in front of him, swatting his nose with her tail playfully as she headed by.

Skulk sat transfixed for a moment, unable to move. Finally he leapt up and shook himself roughly. He paused for a moment, then padded off in the direction she had taken, his eyes fixed on her lithe body.

Skulk followed Shenzi to her private quarters that had once been Uzuri's corner. There in the privacy of a cleft in the rock, Skulk brushed past her in the dim light and fondled her cheek with his paw. Finding no resistance, he kissed her pa.s.sionately. "Shenzi, I'm on fire."

"On fire?" She kisses him and rubs past him. "Just a little flame, or a real bonfire?"

"Oh G.o.ds, let me show you." His breath was ragged and rapid, and she could almost hear his heart beating in the quiet of the cleft. "Are you ready?"

"I am ready. Ready to be Roh'mach." She took a swipe at him with her paw. "I wanted you to know what you are NOT getting as long as that Uhuru is running the show. Oh, but power makes me s.e.xy-very s.e.xy. I'd take you to the corners of your wildest fantasies."

"You should not lead me on like that, " he said through clenched teeth. "Maybe I won't find you very s.e.xy when YOU'RE ready."

"I doubt it." She rubbed her cheek against his and nibbled his ear gently. "You're heart is pounding. You want to be next to me. You want me."

"Stop it, Shenzi! " He crept into a corner and shuddered. "Don't lead me on like that-I can't stand it."

"No one is leading you on. It's very simple. When Uhuru is history, we will come here and make love till your heart stops."

"But how could we fight against the lion's Roh'mach? We won't have anyone to answer to the King."

"Who needs the King? He doesn't let us on his hunting grounds anyhow. Ever think of that? What use is a Roh'mach that pals around with lions anyhow?" She whispered, "When you know someone's weak spot, you can go in. That's how you kill a gazelle. You go for the weak spot. So how do you get the lions to cooperate?"

"Do they have a weak spot?"

"Not to kill them, just to secure their cooperation."

"Well-hmm-you know, they love their children as much as we do."

"Yeah? So?"

"So if we could get a cub...."

"They would kill you."

"Sure, if a direct a.s.sault, but the occasion calls for subtility. We could have them at our mercy."

"Is this another of your theatrics here, or do you have a suggestion??"

"You bet your sweet fangs I have a suggestion. Let me whisper it in your ear when I have made you mine. I will make you Roh'mach or die trying, but tonight is ours."

"I don't take credit, " Shenzi said. "Just remember, the faster Uhuru is out of here, the sooner we take the vows."

SCENE: INVITATION TO THE DANCE.

The morning sun felt warm against Isha's fur as she sprawled in the cool gra.s.s. Always an early riser, she took joy in the thought that the other lionesses would be stuck sunning themselves on the hard rocks; between the drought and last night's fire, there was precious little gra.s.s left to lie on at the moment.

Rolling over, she saw her small son Habusu sitting up, peering intently at something out of her line of vision. Leaning over, she nuzzled him. "What are you doing, Habu?"

He glanced over his shoulder at her. "Look, mama, there's Togo and Kombi. Can I go play with them, pleeease?" He looked at her mournfully. Isha couldn't help but laugh.

"All right, you little scamp! Go ahead, but stay close to Uzuri; I don't want you all wandering off, now."

He smiled broadly. "I'll be good! " He scampered over to the others.

He was unexpectedly flattened by Togo. "Hey, Habu! Wanna play Mud Tag?" Togo asked.

Habusu got up shakily. "Uhh, yeah, I guess."

Kombi smiled menacingly. "Good, then ... you're IT! " With a brutal shove, he sent the poor cub sliding down the slope to land in a mud puddle. Dragging himself out of the brackish water, Habusu's eyes brimmed over with tears as he listened to the two laughing. Unable to bear it any longer, he turned and fled.

His progress was tracked sharply by two sets of dark eyes. Shenzi and Losara stood behind a stand of dry gra.s.s, with Losara's pup Bashak lying next to her. Looking at her friend impatiently, Losara shook her head.

"Shenzi, what are we doing here? What if we get caught?"

"Hsshh! Here he comes." Shenzi bared her teeth in a huge grin. "Perfect." She glanced down at the bored pup next to her, and her grin widened. "Bashak, are you having fun?"

"No ma'am." Fidgeting, he nuzzled his mother. "Mama, I'm bored, " the pup said crossly. Losara looked at him, and smiled gently.

"Why don't you go play with the cub? We won't be long."

"Okay." He trudged off. There was no cub in sight, but he did spot a locust on the gra.s.s. He patted at it with his paw and it jumped. He followed it, and it jumped again. He sprang up locust-like, laughing.

A blur of tawny lightning tore through a gap in the bushes and slammed into him, knocking him over. Rolling to a stop, he caught his breath.

"Cripes! Why don't you look where you're goin! " Bashak stared at the sodden ma.s.s before him. "What happened to you?"

Habusu looked at him miserably. "Uh, nothing." He blinked, confused. "What are you, anyway?"

"I'm a hyena, silly. My name's Bashak." He peered at Habusu worriedly. "Uh, what about you?"

Habusu's chest swelled proudly. "I'm Habusu. I'm a lion! "

Bashak looked at him, eyes wide. "Wow! I've never seen a lion up close before! " But he looked at him again. "They look much bigger from a distance."

"That's cause I'm not full grown."

"How big will you be when you're full grown?"

"See that bush?" Habusu smiled. "Bigger than that."

"No kidding! " He thought a moment. "Then you'll be as big as me! " Grinning, Bashak leaped on Habusu, and the two rolled in the dust, shrieking with glee. Habusu twisted lithely, bringing his greater weight to bear on the hyena pup, pinning him to the ground.

The sound of footsteps padded up to the bush. Losara poked her head in, pushing aside twigs with her nose. "Okay, Bashak, time to go..." she broke off, staring, her eyes narrowing at the sight of her child pinned under the paws of a lion cub. Shenzi's head joined her. "Well, well, well, what have we here?"

Habusu shrank away, frightened by the looming females. "Look mama, " Bashak said excitedly. "This is my friend, Habusu. He's a lion! Only he's not full grown yet."

"I see that." Losara swallowed heavily. Dredging up a smile that felt too big for her face, she looked at the youngsters pleasantly. "Time to go home, now."

Bashak's face fell. "Aww, man, " he whined. "Do we have to?"