CHAPTER 10:  YOUNG GUR'MEKH

	Gur'mekh had a powerful gift, one that could have been used for 
great good or evil, but could not be ignored.  
	While Shimbekh or any of the priests would have been happy to 
teach him to control that power, Gur'mekh had plans of his own.
	"I will not spend my life telling lovesick young bak'rets which 
male to pursue!  I will not sit around on my haunches telling others 
where to find the best hunting!"
	Gur'mekh felt that his powers carried an awesome responsibility.  
He often said with pride that through him would rise up a great race 
that would take second place to no one, not even the lions.  And to 
those he trusted, he would describe a puphood vision of standing on the 
promontory of Pride Rock.  "It is my destiny.  I must prepare for it 
with heart, mind and body."
	When he was hungry, Gur'mekh and his adolescent friends would raid 
the Roh'mach's private cache of food.  They knew they would be safe, for 
Gur'mekh could feel a guard coming and escape.
	He was a braggart and a manipulator.  His perception of others' 
thoughts gave him the power of effective flattery and effortless lies.  
His friends would say that he could charm the feathers off a weaverbird 
and get handouts from a cheetah.  His enemies said similar things, but 
their language was less flattering.  
	Though Gur'mekh felt himself superior than his associates, he 
spoke kind words to them, telling them what they wanted to hear with 
ease.  So he was idolized by the ragtag group that ran around with him, 
particularly young Jalkort who thought the moon and sun rose solely for 
Gur'mekh.  
	Gur'mekh actually loved Jalkort, for Jal's heart was noble and 
unselfish, and he believed in the greatness of Gur'mekh's ideals.  To 
Jalkort, every liberty Gur'mekh took was justified by his great goals.  
	Once Gur'mekh was angry because Jal was late for the hunt, and he 
began fuming and complaining to the others.  But someone told him that 
Jal was out hunting him a rabbit for him.  Gur'mekh was silent and 
waited patiently until mid-moon for Jal to come proudly bearing his 
"surprise."
	"I'm sorry I was late," Jal said, depositing a fat hare at 
Gur'mekh's feet.  "The other one was too scrawny.  I wanted to get you a 
good rabbit."
	Gur'mekh looked into Jalkort's eyes and saw the love there.  "My 
brother," he said, nuzzling Jalkort, then tearing into the small carcass 
with more pride than hunger.  And from that moment on, Jalkort and 
Gur'mekh were always referred to as "the brothers."
	Everytime something disappeared, eyes would turn to follow 
Gur'mekh, but no matter how they tried to trick him into admitting 
guilt, he sidestepped them and always had perfect alibis for himself and 
his friends.
	As he grew older, Gur'mekh's ambitions rose from simple mischief 
to power mongering.  He wanted a position on the ruling council.  
Prestige appealed to him, and he had an eye to one day becoming the next 
Roh'mach.  And there were suspicions that his desires reached even 
higher.  To his friends that seemed only natural for the founder of the 
master race.  To them, the world owed him a debt it could never repay by 
any other means.  
	He applied to Memnekh for a position on the council.  When the old 
female asked him if he had studied, he replied, "Yes, diligently."
	He listened to her thoughts and every time she asked him a 
question he would quote back the expected answer.  She nodded her head 
each time, but frowned at him.
	"Did I do well?"
	"You did too well.  I always expect one or two errors."  Memnekh 
grumbled, but she had to give him the benefit of the doubt.  And so he 
entered the Clan Council under a cloud of suspicion.
	Gur'mekh used the thoughts of his enemies and of his prey against 
them.  He could corner better in a hunt than hyenas with three times his 
age and experience.  He could anticipate moves in a fight and rethink 
his strategy.  He was a great hunting master, and assumed the position 
with a clear right to it.  But though he brought in steady meals, 
everyone was afraid of him.  
	Actually there was one hyena who was not afraid of him.  He was 
very mentally disciplined and a formidable foe.  Demrath, son of Ber.  
Demrath was a philosopher, great in a fight but even better in an 
argument.  And though he was not gifted psychically, he could best 
Gur'mekh in either kind of struggle.  Just how bitter that strength was 
hated only became clear to Gur'mekh when Demrath began dating Lenti, the 
object of his childhood infatuations.


CHAPTER 10A:  LOOKING FOR LOVE

	Gur'mekh loved Lenti.  If he had to choose between her and all his 
other grand dreams, he would have had a hard decision indeed.
	Lenti had never liked Gur'mekh, but he determined to do something 
about that.  He exhibited his usual flattery, guided unerringly by his 
psychic sense, but it rarely got him more than a begrudged `oh, hello.'"
	Lenti was rarely impressed by flattery, and Gur'mekh's reputation 
had preceeded him.  A shy and quiet sort, she resented Gur'mekh's 
attentions.  She only loved the quiet and thoughtful Demrath.
	One evening Gur'mekh stood just few feet from her bed as she 
settled down for the night.  He regaled her in his fine voice with words 
from La'kresh:

		Come celebrate the moonlight with me, dear
		Entrust your magic to my vigilance
		And I shall watch over you

		Who shall worship your perfect beauty
		And wait upon your good pleasure
		As I have done in vain my darling

		Stars abound in the vault of heaven
		But far more beautiful than they
		Are the eyes of my beloved!

		Cruel is death for the unloved
		Who never knew the kind response
		To their grand remonstrations

		Come to me with willing heart
		And let our passions be as one
		Pledge to me and stir my very soul!

	Lenti came to him and smiled.  "Very good, Gur'mekh!  You 
memorized that whole poem just for me!"
	"I was hoping you'd like it."
	"I do.  I'm crazy about it.  You'll have to perform it at my 
wedding.  Demrath likes poetry too."
	"Demrath?"
	"Yes.  If I needed an excuse not to marry you, it would be him.  I 
suggest you give up now before he finds out you're making passes at me.  
He's the jealous type."
	This angered Gur'mekh, especially because Demrath was so well 
liked, and most people thought Demrath would be Roh'mach when Amarakh 
retired.
	Gur'mekh decided that he had sold himself short.  "If she does not 
like my praise, what WOULD she like?"  
	The next day he followed her at a distance, and when he finally 
got the chance to speak with her alone (and that was not easy) he 
strolled to her casually to avoid suspicion.
	She sighed in disgust.  "Oh, it's you."
	"Well, aren't we discrete!"
	"I'm sorry.  Hello, Gur'mekh.  Nice weather, isn't it?  Well, I 
have errands to run...."
	"Your small talk is as good as your manners."  He cleared his 
throat.  "Look, I need you to do a personal favor for me, OK?"
	"That depends on what it is--and if you'll leave me alone for a 
change."
	"It's nothing naughty, and yes, I'll leave you alone for the rest 
of today if you'll help me."
	"OK, you've made it worth my while.  What's on your mind?"
	"I have this problem with my eyes.  I think I'm getting cataracts, 
but I need someone with sharp eyes to see if they're clear."
	"Why don't you go to the healer?"
	"She doesn't like me.  I don't think she'd tell me the truth, and 
if she did, she wouldn't want to help me."
	"I don't like you either.  Not that it stops you from reciting 
erotic poems to me in the middle of the night."
	"At least you're honest.  Please, Lenti.  You don't want me to go 
blind, do you?  I mean, you're getting to marry the one YOU love.  
You're set for life.  Why should you wish more harm on me?"
	"I don't hate you.  I just don't like you.  Sure, I'll look in 
your eyes if you promise to behave yourself.  This isn't one of your 
tricks, is it?"
	"If it was, would I tell you?"
	"Yes.  I believe you would.  Bluntness with bak'rets is your one 
good trait."
	"You're refreshingly honest."
	"But why here when were alone?  That's what I don't understand.  I 
know you've been following me all morning."
	"I don't want anyone to know if I'm going blind.  Surely you can 
understand that?  And I don't want Grou'besh to have the satisfaction of 
knowing I'm worried."
	"She is a bit of a prig."  She smiled and laughed, something that 
made Gur'mekh light up like the full moon.  He admired the light of her 
ka that shone from her gentle face, and it took all his strength not to 
melt in front of her.
	Lenti came close and looked into Gur'mekh's deep amber eyes.  
"They look fine to me.  I really don't see...."
	"Look harder."
	"Oh!"
	She froze, her gaze locked into his, staring straight ahead as 
Gur'mekh fondled her soul, violating her privacy.
	"I can see now.  You don't like people who talk too much or brag 
about their accomplishments.  You like quiet males that are good 
listeners.  You like gentleness and shyness, but not TOO shy."  He 
touched her cheek with his paw, and she gasped.  Drawing close until his 
nose almost touched hers, he searched her with his eyes.  "You think I'm 
shallow, that I have no deep feelings or tenderness.  You don't think 
I'd ever show my vulnerable side.  Now tell me, what is your favorite 
color?"
	"Blue," she stammered.  "Sky blue."
	"You are surrounded by blue.  It is filling you like the heavens.  
It is covering your memories, covering over our little talk.  You try to 
remember looking into my eyes, but it was only the blue, the sky blue.  
Close your eyes and count to eight, and when you open them, I'll be 
gone."
	Lenti shut her eyes, unsure why she felt the need.  A few seconds 
later, her eyes opened.  She felt a little disoriented, and shook her 
head.
	She wandered around aimlessly for a while, trying to remember 
where she was headed.  Gur'mekh encountered her.
	"Hi, Lenti!"
	"Oh, it's you, Gur'mekh."
	He smiled gently.  "You looked a little distracted.  Thinking of 
Demrath?"
	"Uh, yes."
	Gur'mekh blossomed into a warm smile.  "He really loves you.  I 
would have given anything to make you my wife, but I'm glad you found 
someone that will make you happy.  If he doesn't treat you right, tell 
me and I'll come thrash him."
	Lenti smiled shyly.  "Why that's very sweet, Gur'mekh!"
	"I have a personal favor to ask of you, Lenti."
	"Well that depends on what it is, and if you'll leave me alone."
	He hung his head.  "You don't really mean that, do you?  I mean, I 
didn't realize you felt that way."
	"Well I...."  She was confused and a little ashamed.  "What's the 
favor, Gur'mekh?"
	"We've never been really good friends.  I know a lot of it is my 
fault.  I'm painfully shy."
	"You??"  She laughed.
	He hung his head.  "Please don't laugh.  I try to hide it.  Too 
hard.  I drive off all the really good people like Ber and Demrath.  I 
think if Ber would even say hello to me, I'd shine like the sun.  But 
they all think I'm shallow and callous."  He drew near to her.  "I'd 
give anything for a second chance.  Please, Lenti, when you are a 
respectable married lady, you will speak to me once in a while, won't 
you?  Or maybe ask Demrath to let me hunt with him once in a while?"
	"Why Gur'mekh, I had no idea!"  She looked at him appraisingly.  
"I can't promise anything, but I'll bring it up.  If you weren't in 
trouble all the time, I'd have a much better chance of success."
	"I only do those things to fill the hole."
	"What hole?"
	"Forget it.  You're just trying to be nice."
	"I'm just trying to understand.  Stop speaking in riddles."
	Gur'mekh's jaw quivered and his eyes misted up.  "Lenti, there's 
only one thing I've really wanted out of life, and that's happiness.  
I've been denied happiness, so I seek my pleasure where I can find it.  
Someday it will catch up with me, but till then it gives me a reason to 
go on living."
	He looked away from her, but she walked around to face him.  "Why 
Gur'mekh, you're crying!"
	"Don't stare at me!"  He turned again and burst into tears.  "I 
don't need your pity!  Forget I said anything, OK??"
	Before she could reply, Gur'mekh ran out.  He scrambled up the 
ridge and into the small cave that served as his home.  Balling up in 
the back corner, he began to sob brokenly.
	A couple of minutes passed, then predictably Lenti's quiet tread 
mixed with his crying.  "Gur'mekh?"  She nudged him.  "Gur'mekh??"
	"Oh, it's you, Lenti."
	"I want you to understand that my heart belongs to Demrath.  I 
don't think of you as a lover, only him.  But I see no reason why we 
can't be friends.  You, Ber, Demrath and I.  Maybe I can even get my 
parents to meet you.  IF you behave yourself for a while and stop these 
pranks."
	He looked up at her and wiped his eyes.  A meek smile began to 
warm his features.  "I'd like that.  Don't worry, I'll be good."
	"And you could settle with being my friend?  You'd understand 
where to draw the line in this relationship?"
	He tapped his lower jaw with his paw.  "Yeah.  But it's OK for me 
to be a LITTLE jealous of Demrath, isn't it?"
	"Well, just a little."  She smiled.  "How do you feel?"
	"Much, much better.  Thanks, Lenti.  You know, from now on, I'm 
just going to be myself.  If my friends don't like me for who I am, then 
they aren't really my friends."
	"That's the spirit!  Make a clean break with the past, Gur'mekh.  
And someday you will find what you're after.  I just know it."
	She smiled, nodded, and trotted away to find Demrath.  And as soon 
as she was out of hearing range, Gur'mekh's mouth curled into a large 
grin.  He chuckled.  
	"If Demrath wasn't around, I'd be here to pick up the pieces, my 
darling little Lenti.  He'd want some nice husband taking care of you 
after he was gone.  Someone like--well--like me!"
	Gur'mekh was determined to fulfill his great destiny.  He saw 
Demrath as the largest obstacle in his way.  He needed a way to 
overpower him so he could work on the Roh'mach herself and finally turn 
his gaze to Pride Rock.  And standing by his side would be Lenti.



CHAPTER 11:  BLISS BY PROXY

	With crushing heartbreak, Gur'mekh watched as Demrath and Lenti 
pledged to each other in a public ceremony.  Sildresh watched her only 
son take the vows, deeply stirred.  Gur'mekh was also deeply stirred, 
but to bitterness.
	The other hyenas, who all liked Demrath, felt they had just 
witnessed a beautiful event.  Gur'mekh only saw that his chosen one--the 
one he would have made Grand Emperess of Pride Rock--was marrying his 
most hated enemy!  Clearly she did not deserve him or the empire, but it 
was too much for Gur'mekh to put behind him.  He determined that one way 
or the other, he would take his share of happiness.
	On the evening of their wedding, Gur'mekh followed the newlyweds 
to their private sanctuary.  What he planned would have made Demrath to 
fight him to the death.  For hiding out nearby where he could hear them, 
Gur'mekh laid down in the grass.  Gur'mekh closed his eyes and quietly 
mouthed, "Lend me your thoughts, Demrath.  Lend me your feelings, 
Demrath.  Let me see through your eyes, Demrath.  Let us be one, you and 
I."
	He concentrated until he went into a deep trance.  Though his eyes 
were closed, he could see Lenti's face through Demrath's eyes.  She was 
gazing on her husband with mixed joy and shyness.  
	"Lenti!" Gur'mekh uttered.  After a few moments, a smile came to 
his face.  "Oh yes, Lenti!"  He took in a deep breath and let it slowly 
out.  With a grunt of pleasure, he rolled over on his back, shedding his 
own identity to feel more clearly the intoxication of the moment.  He 
chuckled and said, "I bet your boyfriend Gur'mekh is biting his leg over 
this!"
	"Shame on you!" she said.  "I really feel a little sorry for him."
	"Sorry?  For him?"
	"Sure.  He's always wanted the one bak'ret he can't have.  There 
are a dozen others who'd give their whiskers to get him behind the 
bushes."
	A fleeting smile came to Gur'mekh's face.  "But not you?" he 
mouthed.
	"No.  I said I felt sorry for him, not that I loved him.  I only 
want you.  I've always wanted you.  Now don't stand there on your 
wedding night and talk about Gur'mekh!  Come to me, darling!  You're my 
husband--make love to me!"
	Gur'mekh pushed anger to the back of his mind as Demrath rubbed 
full length down Lenti's side.  He gasped, abandoning himself to a 
passion that made him drunk with joy.  The corners of Gur'mekh's mouth 
began to twitch, and his paws trembled.  "I love you, Lenti!" he 
murmured.
	"Beloved," she sighed, swept away by a passion Gur'mekh had only 
dreamed of, a passion that he could sense but not possess.  
	"Oh gods, can you feel me tremble!"  Gur'mekh shuddered and 
stifled a cry of passionate fulfillment.  The episode felt like an 
eternity, but in moments it was over.  Suddenly his eyes opened and he 
looked around, expecting to see her beautiful face and feel her lithe 
body next to his.  But he was alone, terribly alone, looking up into the 
cold sky.  He found himself mired in a deep abiding emptiness and, for 
the first time in his life, very ashamed of himself.  
	"Never again!" he hissed.  "Someday I will have her to myself, but 
not this way!  Oh Gods, I feel so awful!"
	Gur'mekh slinked home, more determined than ever to settle his 
score with Demrath.  "Bite my leg indeed!  Pfah!!  At least Lenti had 
the decency to pity me!"
	But the more he thought about her pity, the more angry he became.  
"When I'm Emperor of Pride Rock and the world bows before me, she'll BEG 
me to make love to her!  She'll beg me just to NOTICE her!"  He sniffed 
in contempt.  "And as for YOU, Demrath, we have an appointment to keep."

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