CHAPTER:  TO THE VICTOR GOES THE SPOILS

	Togo felt a thrill as he watched his brother atop the kopje, the 
breeze blowing his mane back from his forehead.  It was hard to believe 
the rambunctious brother he had grown up with had grown into the stern 
faced lion making his way down the rocks.  Togo sighed deeply at the 
wonder of it all.
	He was about to join his brother when he felt a gentle touch at 
one shoulder.  Glancing around, he saw a lioness beside him, a smile on 
her face as she gazed at his hazel eyes.  "Your Majesty," she said, 
bowing her head in a curtsy.
	Togo chuckled.  "Oh, hello.  I'm sorry, but I'm not--"
	"Oh no you don't!"  Another lioness trotted rapidly over.  "I saw 
him first, you hussy!"
	"WHAT?!"  The first lioness flattened her ears and growled.  
"Don't even THINK about trying that stunt, dear.  He's big, he's 
beautiful, and he's all MINE!"  She looked back at the shocked Togo.  
"I'm sorry," she giggled, her voice returning to normal.  "Forgive her, 
Sire.  Now where were we?"
	"Nowhere, really," Togo stammered.  "You see, I'm not the--"
	"See?!"  The second lioness shouldered her way in roughly.  "His 
Majesty has taste AND class...qualities you obviously lack, hon.  Now 
get lost."
	"Ladies, PLEASE!!"  Togo thundered.  They fell silent, staring at 
him in adoration.  "Please don't argue like this."
	"And sooo assertive," the first crooned.  "What a monarch!  
Please, Sire, choose me!  I shall rule by your side with loyalty.  We'll 
bear our children in happiness and joy.  Our love will shake the earth!"
	"But I'm NOT the king!"  Togo finally said.  "My brother is."
	The lionesses fell silent and peered over at Kombi, who was 
already beginning to attract a crowd of his own, then looked at each 
other.
	"He's YOURS," they chorused, and sped off towards Kombi.  "Sire!  
Your queen is here!  Our love will shake the earth!"
	Kombi groomed his mane and looked at his nails.  "Check it out, 
Togo!  They're fighting over me!"
	"Which do YOU want?"
	He looked at both of them.  "Decisions, decisions!  Oh, it's not 
easy being King."
	Togo smiled quietly and sat down, wondering if Kombi would survive 
the realization of his dreams.  He lay down, resting his maned head on 
his forepaws, watching the tips of the grass sway and move in the gentle 
breeze that caressed the land.  The sound of feminine voices drifted 
back to him and he sighed deeply.
	A slight touch at his shoulder startled him and he turned his head 
to see a young lioness standing close by, the quiet one he had noticed 
earlier, the one who had been cowering under Ambia's abuse and had then 
suddenly slashed at him, giving the brothers the crucial instant they 
needed to make their move.  She smiled nervously at him.  "Are you still 
undecided?  Do I have a chance?"
	"The line for queen is right over there.  It looks like you'll 
have some stiff competition."
	"I don't want to be queen.  I'm standing in THIS line."
	"Really?"
	Her smile quivered and vanished, and she looked away quickly.  
"You find me unattractive?"
	"Oh no, it's not that."
	"Is it Ambia?  Has his touch made me unworthy?  Togo, I have to 
know."
	"It's just--I've been number two all my life.  Nobody's ever 
preferred me before--for anything.  This is so strange."
	"I find that hard to believe.  You're so much handsomer than your 
brother."  She smiled shyly.  "My name is Amara."
	Togo smiled.  "Hey, you're all right.  My name's Togo."
	"Yes, I know.  That's a pretty name."  Tears came to her eyes.
	"What's wrong?  Why are you so sad?"
	"I was saving myself for you."  Her jaw trembled.  "Ambia forced 
himself on me."
	"Oh gods!"
	"I either came to him, or he would have killed little Saieti."  
She looked away.  "What will I do if the cubs are his?  I mean, we 
weren't together long, but it could happen."  She reached over and 
nuzzled him.  "Could you still want me?  Could you want the cubs?"
	"You poor thing," Togo said, wiping her eyes with his paw.  "What 
a thing to say!"  He nuzzled her in return.  "Amara, I want you.  I've 
wanted you ever since I saw you beautiful, frightened eyes full of 
tears.  I wanted to kiss those tears away and make you happy."  He half 
whispered.  "You will be their mother, and that is all that matters to 
me.  That and the chance they might be mine."  He smiled and put his  
paw on her left shoulder.  She purred softly and rubbed him down his 
whole length, then nuzzled him passionately.
	"Hey Togo!" Kombi shouted.  "Help me make up my mind!"  He was 
surrounded by five amorous lionesses, clearly in his element.
	"Have a race or something," Togo said.  "Can't you see I'm busy 
now?"
	Togo nuzzled her, and she lay her head against his mane and walked 
away, leaning on him.
	Without seeing him, Kombi was rubbing the lionesses and giggling.  
"Where did he go, anyway?  You'd think he wasn't interested in girls!"


CHAPTER:  SAD TIDINGS

	A couple of days after Togo and Kombi's mantlement, Uzuri began to 
watch the eastern border, hoping for news of her sons.  "Come on, Ugas.  
Why the secrecy??"  
	All of the lionesses had been strictly charged to escort Adhama to 
Uzuri's spot the moment she appeared.  It seemed likely that she would 
be the messenger.
	Rumors had circulated about the goings-on.  Uzuri was none too 
free with her information, and while most of the lionesses knew that 
Togo and Kombi were going to see Ugas, not one of them fully understood 
the situation.
	"He had no sons," Ajenti said.
	"I think he wants someone from our pride," Isha told her.  "I have 
my own personal reasons for believing that.  Good reasons."
	"Not as good as mine," Ajenti said with a sly wink.  "What do you 
think, Sarafina?"
	Fini sighed.  She had been moody for the past few weeks, and this 
business with Togo and Kombi only renewed her melancholia.
	At that moment, Habusu came among them, very excited.  "I saw 
them!"
	"Who??"
	"Togo and Kombi!"
	"Good news??"
	"The best!  Where's Uzuri??"
	The hunt mistress had retired to her cave, trying to get a little 
rest.  Then she would go back out to the eastern border and wait again.  
The strain was telling on her.  It was also taking a toll on her 
hunting--two days hunting yielded only a small duiker and a thompson's 
gazelle.  Very slim pickings for a pride of full grown lions and their 
cubs.
	Habusu practically bounced up.  "Guess what, Uzuri!  I just saw 
Togo and Kombi!"
	"You did?  Where??"
	"Right next to the Pride Lands!  They took over the eastern 
kingdom when Ugas died.  How about that!  Now you can sneak down and see 
them whenever you want."
	"Yes," she said, her heart almost stopping.  "I see."
	"I knew you'd be thrilled."
	"Yes, of course."  Uzuri's jaw began to tremble, and tears filled 
her eyes.  "Thanks."  She looked away before he could see her cry.
	Ugas' voice came back to her across the void.  "I'm old, and when 
I'm dead, all the tears in the world won't bring me back."  For a few 
moments she was paralyzed with grief and guilt.  But as soon as soon as 
she could move, she hurried across the savanna for Rafiki's baobab.  It 
was the only place she could safely express her feelings.
	Rafiki was scrying the future.  Without even looking up, he said, 
"Come in, Uzuri.  I've been expecting you."
	She looked at the bowl of water.  "Just how much do you know?"
	"I knew you would come by."
	"And how about Ugas.  Is he?"
	"Yes, he is."  Rafiki fondled her cheek and wiped a couple of 
half-dried tears from her eyes.  "So you found out today, did you?"
	"Habusu told me."  Trying to keep her composure, she sat stiffly, 
her jaw held so tightly that her chin could not tremble.  "I want you to 
help me.  Ugas, my husband, must be mourned."
	"Of course."
	"I want you to come with me.  My heart is heavy, and I have no one 
I can tell.  I need someone, Rafiki, as once you needed me."
	"What an honor," he said, giving her paw a squeeze.  "Uzuri, Ugas 
was my good friend.  He spoke often of you.  He would ask me about Togo 
and Kombi.  Too bad he never met them--his own sons."
	"It was too bad."
	Rafiki wanted her to release her pent-up grief.  It tortured him 
to see her like that.  "Where do you want to hold the ceremony?"
	"Our special place.  The bank of the stream that runs along the 
border of our kingdoms.  There is a patch of reeds there.  We would meet 
there at times."
	"I know."
	"He told you?  Did you know him that well?"
	"Very well.  I'll keep your secret, but you must keep mine.  I 
have a little something for you."  
	He reached in a gourd and pulled out a lock of golden fur.  "I 
brought this back for my shrine."  He watched as she sniffed of it and 
took in the old fragrance.
	She stroked the lock of his mane.  Her eyes welled up with tears 
and she bent to face the ground.  "Ugas!  My beloved Ugas!"
	Rafiki put his arms around her neck and held her to his heart.  
"Uzuri, how it breaks my heart to see your grief.  I know what it's like 
to lose a mate.  I will pray for you day and night."
	"You're a good friend.  I knew you would understand."
	Rafiki gave her a little squeeze and patted her shoulder.  "You 
were always a queen to me.  You always will be."
	Uzuri sniffed and dried her tears with a paw.  "Until high moon."  
She took her grief and locked it away inside, then walked out of the 
baobab with what dignity she could summon.


CHAPTER:  ALWAYS ROOM FOR ONE MORE

	Rafiki knew Ugas well.  Too well to think that there would be no 
problems caused by his death.  Habusu had unknowingly unleashed a 
thunderbolt into dry grass, and the news would spread like a brush fire.
	Isha quietly poked her head inside the baobab.  "Rafiki, do you 
have a moment?"
	"Yes, dear."  He looked into her large, sad face.  "I bet I know 
what you're here for."
	"You're very perceptive," she said.  "Did Ugas tell you about us?"
	"That he did.  He always called you `blossom.'"
	"There is a story behind that name," she said.  Rafiki had a 
strong suspicion that he was going to hear it, and he settled back while 
the anguished details came pouring out, punctuated by fits of sobbing.  
He was genuinely interested, but prayed that she would hurry up and 
leave before someone else came by.
	"And we used to meet at our special place by the river," she 
continued.  "There was a patch of jasmine there.  He would tell me that 
I was the prettiest blossom of them all.  The name stuck."
	"You will pray for him tonight, I trust?"
	"More than that," she said.  "He deserves so much more.  But I 
can't tell the other sisters.  I mean, none of them knew I was seeing 
another lion.  They would look down on me."
	"I understand."
	"At midnight, I was hoping that you and I could meet at our 
special place by the flowers.  You understand, don't you?  I mean, I 
can't let that poor, dear lion go to the stars without someone who 
understands what he meant to me hearing a few good words."
	Rafiki put his arms around her neck and gave her a hug.  "You 
poor, dear lady.  We'll see what we can work out."
	Just then, Ajenti stuck her head in.  "Oh, you're with someone 
else.  I just have this thorn in my paw."
	"My shoulder was stiff," Isha said.  "It feels much better now.  
Come on in."
	Limping as well as she could, Ajenti waited until Isha was out of 
hearing range.
	"Oh Rafiki!" she said, bursting into tears.  "Isn't it awful about 
Ugas!  Surely he told you about me?"
	"Yes, my dear.  He was Misha's father.  He used to call you 
`Squirrel.'"
	"Indeed.  There's a story behind that name.  The first time we 
were together, there was this squirrel in the acacia tree, and...."
	Just as Rafiki was settling down to hear another story of love's 
labors lost, Sarafina pushed her head in.
	"Oh, you're with someone.  I can come back later."
	"No, it's fine," Ajenti said.  "He just pulled a thorn from my 
paw."
	"You're lucky," Sarafina said.  "I have this pulled muscle in my 
shoulder."
	Ajenti started to leave.  "If you want to check on me at mid-moon, 
you know where I'll be.  Please see if you can be there."
	Rafiki sighed.  He knew exactly where she would be at mid-moon.  
She would have a bigger thorn in her heart than in her paw when the 
truth came out.
	Sarafina watched until she left.  And when all was quiet, she fell 
before Rafiki.  "Oh gods, you have to help me!" she stammered, tears 
running down her cheeks.  "I've kept this thing bottled up inside me and 
If I don't get it out, I'll just die!"
	"You just found out about Ugas?  I didn't think it wise to tell 
you, knowing that you and he were close."
	"I knew all along!"  She covered her face with a paw and sobbed.  
"Why didn't you tell me he was Uzuri's husband!  Why did you let me make 
such a fool of myself!  This is all my fault!"
	"My dear, don't be so hard on yourself!  Nothing is your fault."
	"But it is, don't you see??"  She looked him piercingly in the 
eyes.  "It's all my fault!"  She added in a weak whisper, "We were 
making love at the time!"
	"Oh my gods!"
	"And when he was dying, he thought I was Uzuri.  He said, `Forgive 
me, for I've been unfaithful to you.  It's only you I loved!'"
	Rafiki bowed his head and tears streamed down his cheeks.  "Tell 
me he didn't say that!"
	"He did," she said, her heart crumbling.  "Oh gods, I feel like 
such a wretch!  My own sister's husband!  And I killed him!"
	"You did not kill him!  Age killed him.  Old age, Fini!  At least 
he died with someone who cared by his side."
	He reached down and kissed her cheek, lovingly stroking her face 
and ears.  "Don't believe his little confession.  He wanted Uzuri to 
feel good, but I knew that lion.  He spoke highly of you, and used to 
brag that your daughter had your lovely eyes.  He loved you, Fini."
	"He said that?"
	"Yes, I swear."  He stroked her gently.  "You and your sister 
Uzuri are both beautiful and sweet and intelligent, and so wonderful.  
He was lonely because Uzuri would not stay with him.  Maybe he saw in 
you the things he loved in her."
	She looked at him perceptively through her tears.  "I know how you 
feel about her.  That's the nicest thing you could have said to me."
	"I meant it, Honey Tree.  Every word."
	She reached up with a paw and stroked his face.  "I can hardly 
bear to look at her, knowing what she's going through.  Can you meet me 
at mid-moon by our special place?  Maybe Aiheu will be merciful to me 
and help me find inner peace.  My life has not been worth living for 
weeks now."
	"How could I refuse you, old girl?"  He patted her shoulder.  "I 
may be a few minutes late, but I'll be there."

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