"My father, Ahadia"you've heard about him, haven't you?"

"He's the Lion King, isn't he?"

"Yes."

"That makes you the Prince then?" She gasped.

"No, Prince Consort."

"Oh, that explains a lot." She shook her head. "I didn't think a prince would want to kill himself. I take it you don't get along with your brother?"

"Actually I like my brother. He's not very clever, but his heart is in the right place."

She clucked her tongue. "Then that leaves one possibility. You have a girl. I bet she's stiffed you for the Prince, hasn't she?"

"No." He had quickly denied it, but it didn't seem that impossible. "This isn't just any lioness and it isn't just another girl problem."

"That's what they all say."

"Yes, but there's a curse behind this. Evil spirits. Makedde was treating me for this eye problem when his brother Rafiki tried to tell my future."

"Rafiki! " She stopped eating. "Lord, honey, you just got to tell me all about this. Evil spirits you say? A curse?"

For well on an hour or more he poured out his heart to her, and as he did, he watched her nod her head gravely once in a while. It made him cry to tell it, but they were tears of healing, and he felt much better.

Out of lion manners, he waited to hear her story. But she would not talk of herself much. One thing she would saya"Jalkort, the father of her cubs was dead, killed unjustly for the murder of the Princess Avina. "He ate after she had died, but of all the foolish things he's done, he did not murder your Aunt. Someday I must face the King and plead his case."

"Though he is already dead? What will you accomplish?"

"He was my husband."

"You are a romantic, " Taka said, kissing her cheek. "If I was in trouble, I wouldn't mind having you on my side. Perhaps I can arrange a meeting."

Fabana felt compa.s.sion for Taka and taught him all of the pa.s.s phrases and signs that would let him pa.s.s safely through her lands. But most importantly, she gave him some advice that would change his path forever. "I know the mandrill of which you speak. He told my fortune too. He said that I would meet friends in unexpected places, but they would turn on me in my hour of need. You have not turned on me. My advice is to forget the prophesy--it is a piece of nonsense that has cost you dearly. Apologize to your lover. Kiss your mother. Make your father proud of you. And remember old Fabana. If you do become King someday, teach your children that we all have a heart and soul under our different hides." She pulled her pups close to her. "Lift the ban for their sakes."

SCENE: THE CONFRONTATION.

Sarabi was in tears when Mufasa found her. He nuzzled her affectionately and turned to face her when she looked away. "Sa.s.sie, tell me about it."

"It's Taka. He's gone."

"What do you mean by gone?"

"Gone. He's left the Pride Lands. He begged me to come with him, and I thought about it. Now I wish I had. He's out there alone, m.u.f.fy! He's kind and gentle, but he doesn't know a thing about life in The Big World."

It came as a complete surprise to Mufasa, though he believed her at once. "Did he say where he was going?"

"No. He just left."

"Sa.s.sie, don't cry. I know how much you love him. We all love him. Maybe when he cools off, he'll come home."

"Do you think so? Do you really think so?"

"Yes. But it may be a long while. He's a proud lion."

She looked down. "What will I do? I always thought it would be Taka and I--just the two of us and our cubs. What's left for me? I will grow old alone and unloved like poor Barata."

Mufasa felt a lump gathering in his throat. "Sa.s.sie, I'm going to tell you something, and it's going to sound awful under the circ.u.mstances." He looked her in the eyes. "I didn't want to get in my brother's way. But things have changed, and I have to say this or I'll burst."

"Is it what I think it is?"

"Probably." He nuzzled her gently. "Oh G.o.ds, Sa.s.sie, I feel like such a wretch! Like the lowest thing that ever crawled out from under a stone. But I love you. I've always loved you. There were times I would have given anything if you loved me instead of Taka. But I don't want to lose my brother or hurt him in any way. All my life I've felt like I was being torn in two directions. I can't bear to lose both of you. Don't hate me for being truthful."

"I don't." She nuzzled him. "I've always known how you felt. You can't hide a thing like that."

"Maybe you don't love me the way I love you. At least you like me, don't you? I mean, I'll make sure you always have what you need. I'll take care of you. If you'll be my mate, I'll do anything for you--anything."

"Even forgive Taka?"

"You make it sound so hard. He's my brother. I want him to come home."

"I need time to think about it, " Sarabi said.

Mufasa nodded. "Of course."

Excusing herself, Sarabi rose and padded away slowly. She wandered through the tall gra.s.s of the savanna alone with her thoughts. Everything had been simple once. Love had been a cub once, but now it was a lioness. A lioness who chooses as she wills the lion to desire and the lion to pity.

Now she was acutely aware that her love for Taka was a beautiful sisterly love, but one that did not need or even want to be expressed in pa.s.sion. On the other hand, m.u.f.fy stirred feelings in her that were new and a little frightening, but very wonderful. Ever since Rafiki had whispered his advice to her, Sarabi said nothing to Mufasa but observed him carefully. She was flattered, honored, and even a little sad to think how he yearned for her but said nothing. Now he was gentle and kind, and he came to her with honest longing. She could hardly resist. She hardly wanted to. She desired him as she had never needed Taka, and it filled her with shame. Shame that if anyone had worked to earn her love, it had been Taka. Shame that her love could not be earned. Shame to think how she would destroy him when he found out.

Pity for Taka filled her. She strained to tell the difference between pity and love. Was there really such a gulf, that her heart so quick to cry at his b.u.mps and sc.r.a.pes could not beat in time with his? Is it really so different to be with one lion or the other? Can she not learn to love when her wild heart is tamed with vows? Can she feel the heat his ardor and not be warmed?

She tried to think of Taka coming to her in the shadows, flush with the expectations of his wedding night. She heard his quiet voice with an edge of pa.s.sion asking, "Are you ready, beloved? Are you ready?" She imagined herself looking into his eyes the way they looked the last time he saw her, deep and longing. "I am ready." Her heart raced, but it was fear, not desire. "No, I'm not ready! " she said aloud. "I don't want him! Not that way! Oh G.o.ds, he would know! " She collapsed in the gra.s.s, sobbing. "Aiheu help me, I love them both, but I don't want to marry Takaa"I'd almost rather die! " She opened her eyes, seeing the savanna through a blurred film of tears. She blinked as a shadow pa.s.sed overhead. Looking up, she saw Ahadi's majordomo gliding by.

She hunched over, praying he wouldn't see her down here, crying like a hungry cub. With relief, she saw him heading away towards the river. She felt lucky; his sharp eyesight rarely missed anything on the ground.

She started to head back home, but paused, thinking. His sharp eyesight rarely missed anything, even Taka! He could find Taka! Galvanized into action, she burst from her hiding place and sprinted after him, trying to keep him in sight. "Zazu! Wait! "

High above her, the hornbill sped toward the river, the wind whistling past his ears dulling any sounds that might have reached him. Gliding down to a smooth landing, he paced over to the river's edge, eager to begin his noontime ritual. In a quiet spot in the shade of the reeds, he took in a deep breath, stretched his wings, and dipped one foot in the water. "Sheesh! " He pulled out his leg quickly. "Perfect."

He backed up a few steps, took a flying leap, and after a few powerful strokes of his wings, folded and dropped like a stone into the cold water.

"Ooo-hoo-HOOO! " He splashed about until he got used to the frigid tide. It felt good in the oppressive heat. Singing, he splashed about, soaking himself from his primaries clear through to the down.

"Mai-sie, Mai-sie,

Your eyes are driving me cra-zy,

Pluck a dai-sy,

Ask it if I am true.

"You'll pull off the fragrant petals,

And watch as each one settles,

I love you so, and off we'll go,

To a paradise made for two."

A goose with her goslings watched with harmless amus.e.m.e.nt. One of the goslings swam over and had to stare a little more closely.

"What'cha doing?"

"Who? What?" Zazu shook off his head and looked at the youth. "Oh, I'm just tidying up."

"I thought you were in trouble."

"Hardly." Zazu laughed.

The small ball of feathers looked back unblinking.

"Was there something else?"

"Gee, that's a big beak. What are you?"

"I'm a hornbill."

"I like hornbills."

"Thank you." He smiled. "Best run along or you'll get splashed. Hornbills do a lot of that"

Pushing along the bottom with his feet and flapping his wings, Zazu made it back to the bank with a great deal of effort. He fanned his wings to shake off diamond droplets, and began to use his beak with surprising finesse to preen his feathers. The show was over, and the gosling went back to its mother to fish for prawns.

It was nearly time to gather the mid-day news for Ahadi. In return for his services, Zazu lived a safe life. He could pick the choicest fruits from the trees where predators made their stealthy living, for he was corban--off limits--to all who would enjoy a well-fed hornbill.

When he was nearly dry enough to take off, a lioness came out of the bush. "Zazu! Thank heavens you're still here."

"Sarabi! Good morning."

"It's NOT a good morning, " she said with distress. "When you make your rounds, tell me if you see Taka. He's run off, and I'm worried about him."

"Run off, you say? That whining little imp? I didn't think he had the nerve." He rubbed his eyes. "I wouldn't worry about him. He'll come back when he's had a taste of the bush."

"Zazu! I know you don't like him, but you do like me, don't you?"

"Of course I do. I value your friendship highly."

"And you like Mufasa, don't you?" She didn't even wait for an answer. "Listen, it's important for m.u.f.fy and I to know where he is. Besides, that would be some real news for the King. Akase is going crazy worrying about him."

"I'll get right on it."

Zazu spread his wings and in a moment he was up beyond the tops of the trees, headed off to make his rounds.

"Good luck! "

SCENE: THE MANTLEMENT CEREMONY.

The next morning, the green plain of the Pride Lands was covered by zebras, antelopes, elephants, giraffes, and many other peoples who pushed and shoved for the best position. Zazu, the King's majordomo, strutted about nervously. He had never spoken before such a huge audience before. King Ahadi looked drained, though he kept up appearances. Queen Akase had a difficult time sitting still beside her husband. She stared into s.p.a.ce.

Sarabi and Elanna were wards of the queen, and were invited to sit with the royal family. It was especially a comfort for Sarabi to be next to Akase and smell the familiar smell of her milk mother.

"Zazu, " Sarabi asked quietly, "Have you seen Taka?"

"I'm sorry. I've put out word all over, but I'm afraid he's long gone."

"Oh." She bowed her head.

"Even Gopa the stork hasn't seen him, and nothing escapes Gopa. But I can fly out past the boundary if you wish. After the ceremony of course."

"It won't be necessary."